It is now dawn here on the isle of Mel’uur. To the north is the brilliantly blue Sea of Courage. To the east is a great thicket of tangled trees and vines, a jungle, as far as the eye can see, hazy in the morning humidity. To the south and west are sands and rocky hills, sparse vegetation ekeing out a minimal existence there.
A gentle breeze blows your way, and dark birds begin circling above, looking down at the huge number of bodies below to feed upon.
This is enemy territory and you are very far behind their lines. Every where you look are the symbols of dragons and chaos. It has been a long night and all of you are dirty, bloodied and tired.
You make a strange bunch, actually a very strange bunch. There is Gashnak, a bear of an orc who seems to be very much in love with the incredibly hot, redhaired elven babe Alex.
There are the humans Wilford, the duellist and Malik the recovering amnesiac archer.
Going on there is Kayla, a golden haired, dark tatooed barbarian queen with a habit of not liking clothes in hot weather.
There’s Relmek, an old orc gladiator covered in scars. He’s pleased with the death of Alingin, but knows that the struggle for freedom is far from over.
There’s the strangers from Aldrazar, the blind elven warrior Gowen, the deranged gnome titan Fendarus, and the cheerful and large-breasted Wendy. They are a long way from home and are looking for a way back.
There’s Kazier, the dark garbed elf with an equally dark mindset. However his injuries from the previous combat have left him critically wounded and unconcious. Even the ministrations from the unusual priestess Wendy cannot awaken him.
Then finally there is the young half elven lass Brigit and the dark haired Millicent.
All of are bone-weary, exhausted by all of their extreme combat exertions. Though an innocent did die in one of Alingin’s traps, they did manage to save three others and their own lives as well.
Together they are on the outer terrace of what was once the library, before it had been mostly blown to bits along with the poor Lorna. Their weapons and armor have been recovered, finding the equipment for Wendy too.
With an arm around Alex, Gashnak holds he elven woman to him. They are both hurt from a dozen minor injuries, but then again all of them are. "We’re gonna get found out and soon. We need to take a ship, the little dragon one, and get the hell out of here. There’s twelve of us and the damn thing can only hold like eight if we cram people in."
With some despair he sighs. "There is also the need for food and water. It looks like some of us will have to stay behind so the others might make it out alive."
Wendy looks to Gashnak and gives a toothy smile. She longs to chew on one of her cigars, but they have been gone for quite a while now. She sees how he and the elf are together and finds such a pairing very amusing and uplifting. His behaviour is odd, as is that of Relmek’s. They are not like the orcs she is familiar with.
"I am somewhat confused as to where we are, but I do gather these people you all killed last night will have friends. I agree that we need to escape. Sadly, I am not much of a sailor.
Putting her hand to the hammer symbol of her goddes at her throat she turns to the other orc. "Relmek, you were prisoner here on this island for a long time, what do you suggest we do to escape? I can pray to Thora for guidance but she doesn’t like to be asked for too many favors unless you’re in battle."
The hugely muscled Relmek casually puts his bloodied flail over his shoulder. "Well there is the nearby port city of Trazaan, with about a hundred thousand Kilmoorians there. I don’t think we would have much luck going that way. We’d get killed, or worse, caught alive. These bastards sure know how to mete out pain."
Hearing this the teen Brigit grimaces. "I just want to make it back home to my father to let him know I’m still alive. He’ll be terribly worried, I’m all he has.
"Besides, we need to get back to Corvel, there’s total war going on in Holaf right now and they need everyone! Especially people like you. By the way it’s really good to see you again Captain Maurice. What happend to Alric, Dril, and the little pixie Talia?"
With that Gashnak gives a chuckle. "It’s not Captain Maurice any more Brigit, it’s Gashnak. And as for everyone else I pray to Rellian they are fine back in Corvel. It’s a long story, one we don’t have time for now."
Millicent gives him a small smile. "I’m just glad you all kept me and Brigit from being the sex toy of a Kilmoorian pig."
Wrapped in just a white sheet with a furred cloak over her back, Kayla decide’s it’s her turn to add to the conversation.
"Making it back to Akrindor is what I must do. No wonder the Kilmoorians are so evil-tempered, this endless heat and humidity would be the death of any normal person. It makes sense why they are so dark looking, they’re all burnt."
Outside, in the early morning air, the dark, leathery wings of a dragon can be seen. It has a long, serpent-like neck and is dark green and black in coloration. This great beast is unlike other dragons you may have seen in your encounters. It is absolutely huge, the size of a ship if a ship could fly. It soars high, circling about the estate.
To the front of the estate is coming the personal guard and soldiers of Marijid Alingin’s brother, Hazan Alingin. He is aware of what is happening, having been alerted by one of his brother’s guards the day before after the group escaped.
He has contacted the sea dragon Mel’uur and the mighty monster is coming here to feast on the flesh of those who would invade or defile it’s sanctuary or it’s human servitors.
With Hazan is an army, with cannons, archers, and footsoldiers numbering in the hundreds. They are dark garbed with cloth headgear and long, green plumes. Their beards are long, dark, and curly. They are here to take back the estate and destroy utterly those enemies who have desecrated the sanctity of Kilmoor.
Hazan Alingin glares at those at the walls, waving a sparkling scimitar in his hand. "My poor brother Marijid has been murdered by infidels who would violate the children of Shal-ekk. May you die the deaths of a thousand cuts!"
The dragon swoops down and attacks at one of the open rooms where the group is meeting. With quick thinking from Fendarus and Malik one of the extra barrels of smoke-powder is used to blow up in it’s face, causing it to roar in pain and rage, flapping away.
The great beast is wounded but far from dead. Now it is hurt and angry, very very angry.
All realize that they must hold out, low tide is just about over but the dragonship below can just barely scrape to the outside.
Brigit and Millicent go below to the cave, to prepare to leave on Marijid Alingin’s dragonboat.
Kayla laughs, seeing the enemy before her. "We’ve faced worse at Dramen Del! But if this is to be our final battle it will be one where our tales of valor and courage will be known to all! Songs will be sung of us this day!"
Our heroes go to the wall of the estate, prepared for battle. It is indeed a battle of epic proportions, with clouds of arrows, blasts of cannons, explosions of magic, and fiercely savage hand to hand conflict.
As the sea dragon Mel’uur flies downward to incinerate them, Fendarus hurls upwards a great barrel of gunpowder, right into the monster’s gaping jaws. Malik’s flamed arrow is right behind and strikes true, causing the container to explode thundrously. The dragon’s mangled body comes crashing down across the front wall, wings threshing madly, acidic black blood spraying everywhere.
The Kilmoorians charge, giving fierce war cries, and are met with cannon fire from the defenders. Though their ranks are thinned, they still number in the hundreds.
The front gates are battered down and bloody close combat is what settles the conflict. These people are ones who are used to battle, and the ferocity in which they exhibit give even the confident Kilmoorians some pause.
Gashnak slashes with his twin blades, Alex doing the same next to him. Together the Kilmoorians die in droves, a rare one getting even the chance to take a weapon strike.
Gowen whirls about with his thin sword and Fendarus brutally chops and hews with his red axe. Corpses soon begin to pile up.
Malik fires a never ending stream of arrows, striking dozens of the enemy dead. Wilford battles on with all the skill of a proper duellist.
Relmek smashes and crushes with his flail, all about him are explosions of armor and crimson. Spectacular and brutal.
Kayla fights savagely, a total barbarian, half naked and tatooed, great sword in hand. Wendy strikes back and forth with her warhammer, calling upon Thora to aid them through this struggle.
In the end, when the dust settles and the sounds of battle die down, the defenders are victorious. Hazan has been killed in the charge, his body, rent and bloodied along with so many others.
Malik has fallen at he top of the wall, several arrows in his chest. His last thoughts were of his friend Borem, the armorer. As conciousness faded from him forever, he finally remembered who he really was . . .
Wilford is critically wounded as well. A piece of shrapnel has all but taken off his right leg above the knee. He suffers quietly, thinking of the distant Lady Elundra Lorechester of Red Shore, wondering if he will ever meet her. Wendy does her best to save him, and does barely.
Though they are victorious once more against the hated Kilmoorians, they will all know of the dragon’s death. The full weight of island will come down upon them and in that battle there will be no chance of survival.
With a bit of time on their side, Wendy creates a gate, one to hopefully take them back home to their distant world of Aldrazar. Relmek, the scarred gladiator, wants to go with them. "My home is gone," he says. "My king, my family, my friends. I can’t ever go back."
Taking her time the priestess does indeed make the proper spell to bend time and space. Gowen, Fendarus, Relmek, and finally Wendy herself give their farewells and step through. On the other side they go to their destiny, whatever it might be.
Malik’s body is wrapped carefully, and put into the dragonboat. So is the unconcious Kazier and barely alive Wilford. The great treasures of the estate of Marijid Alingin are left behind, but not before Gashnak goes through with a torch to set the place afire. A few coins are taken, so people will know they were actually there.
At low tide the boat sails out, onto the Sea of Courage. Millicent takes care of Wilford and Kazier, making sure they have plenty of food and water.
Kayla gazes back at the flames now engulfing the magnificent structure on the cliff, somewhat satisfied. Brigit keeps track of what little supplies they have and helps Gashnak who is now piloting the vessel. And Alex, she looks at the orc whom she first met as Maurice, and wonders if he will have what it takes to get them home . . .
TO BE CONTINUED . . . .
Chronicled by Ken Paynter aka...Gashnak
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