The year is 952. King Cedric II has been killed. Uncertainty and fear runs rampant across the lands of Corvel . . .
From Greyhelm, across Corvel, travelled the little band. Their destination was the capitol, Blariston. A covert war was being fought here against Kilmoorian infiltrators and spies. When King Cedric was murdered the assassins had help. Two Kilmoorian warships had travelled upriver to Blariston from the Sea of Trade. They attacked the city during the murder, causing much confusion and chaos. Much work needs to be done here to root out the agents of their enemy, Kilmoor.
Much trouble is across these lands. In Holaf, Duchess Lea, a Kilmoorian ally, causes dissent and trouble in the surrounding provinces. There is now open warfare against Holaf as loyalists try to dislodge the Kilmoorian puppets.
To the north comes rumors from the Goblin Nations that they have now unified under a new and powerful leader. It is only a matter of time before the goblin hordes come marauding to the south.
Because of all this madness, Prince Marcus was not crowned King on St. Barlo's Day as originally planned. Too much turmoil is going on for him to take the mantle of leadership right now.
Once in Blariston, the group that had journied from Red Shore, to Goodland, to Greyhelm and beyond broke to go their separate ways. This little band had gone through many adventures together and their parting was not easy.
The group was made up of Kazier, an elf from Brudic. Dril Moonblade, an ill-tempered sprig. Galith, a carefree pixie from Green. Victor Norelven, a human mercanary from Tseraq. Jinx, a pleasant girl who thinks she brings bad luck. And Maurice leChavilier, a flamboyant orc with the delusions that he's an elf.
Orlando Vine, the orc constable from Blariston, sends Maurice and Jinx north to the Province of Sigel. Tales of slaughtered homesteads has reached the capitol, some dark power is at work.
The party says their farewells, all hoping they will meet again. They have gone through a lot so this last gathering is emotional.
Maurice and Jinx get their horses and supplies, heading northward to Sigel. They are to meet with Duke David at Bird's Keep. Hopefully something can be done about these awful killings. To Maurice and Jinx it certainly sounds the work of the vile goblins.
Riding into Sigel the land here is mountainous with many dark and tangled woods. A light covering of snow has dusted the land.
Maurice wears finely crafted leather armor of green and brown, all of elvish design. It had once belonged to the adventurer Ara of the Seven Winds before it had come to him. A red bandanna is around his head and at his side is his trusty saber.
Jinx wears practical clothing of blue and gray. Her red hair is kept tied back, her hood pulled up over for protection from the harsh, winter chill.
The two are finally nearing the city of Bird Keep. The altitude is very high and the temperature is very cold. After a bit the two riders encounter two others on the road. They are Methos, a young man who happens to be a wizard, and Alric Meir, a pixie that also has magical powers. Introductions are made and joining up, they go up the road towards their destination.
Methos has just reently graduated from a local mage school. He owns a small keep but hasn't been home for four years. His younger brother manages the place in his absence. Methos dresses in dark clothes and carries a shortsword at his side. Across his cheek and forehead runs a ragged scar.
The diminuitive Alric also owns a home somewhere. Whether it is a beehive or empty nest remains to be seen. The pixie is only about ten inches in height, and keeps his head shaved. Across his body are swirling tatoos in blue and green. His clothing, such as it is, makes him look like a tiny savage. Small, wasp-like wings flex continuously on his back.
As they go along the pixie mistakes Maurice for an orc, noting that his skin is green. However Maurice just shrugs it off, showing his pointed ears and tells that his flesh is camoflauged. Jinx tells Methos and Alric not to worry about it.
Moving up the road they pass by a farmhouse. Something is wrong, there is blood in the air. Jinx stays with the horses while the others move up cautiously to investigate. Maurice tries to be stealthy, since he's an ‘elf,' but tromps through the snow crunchily.
There are many animal footprints around the place, livestock slaughtered everywhere. The body of a man lies slumped on the porch, horrific wounds to his midsection and there is a pool of blood beneath. Nearby is a pitchfork that he had fought with and some bristly fur is caught in it.
Checking the inside of the place they find a grisly nightmare. It's a shambles with many mauled and mutilated body parts everywhere. What makes it even more awful is that all the remains seem to be those of children. Out back Methos sees more carnage and death.
As Maurice checks around the rooms, searching for survivors, Alric tells him to "Scream if you need anything." All he finds are more bodies and all this slaughter starts getting him angry.
Carefully Alric buzzes in behind the lumbering orc. His little ears heard something, a slight bumping. A panel in the floor pops open and a small child leaps out and runs for all she's worth. Maurice scoops her up and she screams and cries, her little fists beating on him.
With her yelling and flailing, he takes her back to Jinx. The kid instantly clings to her, still bawling hysterically. "Take care of her," he growls, turning back to the house.
Methos and Alric have heard rumors about events like this. Goblins from the north or demons coming down to cause terror and death. It is an awful sight.
"Can you smell anything, orc?" Alric asks Maurice. The large warrior just shrugs.
"I'm an elf, not an orc. See my ears? They are pointed. Pointed like an elf."
The small pixie just blinks a few times, staring at him and wondering as to his state of mind.
Jinx runs up to the group as they are scouting the many animal tracks out back. "The girl saw it all! One of her brothers is out there, still alive maybe."
"Take her to the keep and tell the Duke what is happening." Maurice draws his sword. "Let's find this kid and take care of the beast that did this."
Alric flies high, going above the tree trying to help scout. Maurice and Methos follow a pair of bloodied bear prints in the snow. Then from out of the brush erupts a huge, shaggy bear. One paw swipe connects with Methos and he is sent sprawling.
Maurice hacks it across chest hurting it. Above the combat hovers Alric who tries to cast a spell to stop the rampaging bear but it fizzles. From the ground, Methos uses his own magics to try and make it go to sleep. The great bear shakes it's head but does not fall unconcious. It yawns and staggers before turning tail to run. As it runs Maurice hacks at it's backside making a nasty wound and causing it to yowl.
The bear rushes off with the elven dressed orc chasing in pursuit . .
Some time earlier that day something strange had happend. Gargash Kilmoor, a Tauren from the world of Azeroth, had chased an enemy through a dimensional rift. His foe had been the wicked sorceress Frantasia. She had been killed but he had been unable to return through the shrinking portal back to where he had come from. His comrades Grathsnik, Gowen, Fendarus, Rajeen, and Illidin remained back at Beast Keeper Mountain. Gargash rubbed his horns and wondered where this land of snow and ice was.
Running after the wounded bear, Maurice realizes that it is getting away from him. Thinking of the missing child, he does his best to stay close. Going into a clearing he sees a large, armored, bull-headed creature. It's a minotaur, a creature of chaos.
"Minotaur!" He yells over his shoulder at Alric and Methos who are following him. He continues to chase after the running bear, while they both emerge into the clearing and see the large, horned being.
Not wasting any time the pixie weaves a spell, but it goes wrong. The magic doesn't work right, the minotaur doesn't fall over asleep. Instead all three suddenly lift into the air and float, just staring at each other. Methos looks over at the armored minotaur and sees that it isn't acting hostile, so he does nothing for the moment.
Eventually Maurices loses sight of his quarry, and heads back to re-group with the others. When he sees all three floating in the air he wonders what the hell is going on.
The minotaur speaks, introducing himself as Gargash Kilmoor. His last name invokes a very negative response from everyone. Kilmoor is the land of their hated enemies. "I am lost," the floating creatures says. "I don't know where I am."
Gargash is a very suspicious individual, but he seems to be truthful. Soon the miscast spell fades and all three sink back to the ground. There is still the wounded bear and child to find.
Gargash is quickly told what is going on and all four then start following it's tracks. After a time they encounter a wounded hunter, next to a tree. His name is Terak and he'd been attacked by a rampaging bear. Maurice looks at Gargash, studying his reactions.
"Why are you looking at me, orc?"
"Hmmm, go and wonder why, Kilmoor."
Alric heals Terak with a few spells, pointing the way the bear went they again give chase. They get to a rocky plateau and lose the tracks. The prints just end. Looking over the area nothing can be found, no caves, no blood, nothing.
The pixie uses his magical powers to speak with the nearby rocks but they don't tell him anything useful at all. Rocks are rocks after all.
Suddenly Maurice realizes it must have been the man they had run into, Terak. He's a shape-shifter, which explains all the different animal tracks and his wounds.
They rush back towards the house but cannot find him. Jinx is there with several armed guards from Bird's Keep. She is on her knees praying for the souls for those who had been killed.
Gargash, of course, does draw attention. He's still confused. The terms everyone is using, Sigel, Corvel, Nia, are all places and things he's never heard of. He tells of his adventures on Azeroth and his struggle against the sorceress Frantasia and her minions. However he is still viewed with heavy suspicion.
"If you are a friend then you have nothing to fear," Says Maurice.
The guards remain at the ruined farm to take care of the dead. From their manner it seems that they have done this before. It is all so very sad.
Getting their horses the small group heads on up the road to Bird Keep. They talk to Gargash, telling him a bit about this land he has come to. There is the Ice Goblins to the north that come south to attack the lands of Corvel. He's also told about Kilmoor and why they are their enemy. Also mentioning his last name should never be done again.
Bird Keep comes into view with it's high stone walls with turrets on top. Inside there is a large, open marketplace. Some unusual half goblins are seen. "Let's get some warm food and a place to stay," says Jinx pulling her cloak tightly about her shoulders.
The horses are stabled and all four go to the Drink and Fight Inn. Many stare openly at the odd bunch and keep their distance. Rooms and baths are paid for and all freshen up.
Down at the bar they do some talking. Gargash tells about himself and shows off some of his double eagle gold coins. His strange story about another world just might be true.
Methos talks about having a home that his brother takes care of. He's been away to mage school for the past few years. Some weeks earlier he ran into Alric, and they have been running together ever since. Both can use magic so they have a lot in common, even though one is human and the other is a pixie.
Jinx had talked for a bit when she got the guards at the keep. The little girl's name was Malive and her missing brother was Tasar. Not much hope for finding him alive now. Also the farm is not an isolated incident, the stories about other places being attacked and other people killed are terribly true.
Soldiers have been sent out to try and find the monsters responsible for this, but they either find nothing at all or do not return. It's believed that the outer areas around the Keep are being wiped out in preparation for a large attack. Such slaughter also causes a degree of fear and panic, the hallmarks of chaos.
The group drinks wine and ale while they talk. They become more familiar with each other as well. Maurice munches on leafy elf food and does a great job faking that he likes it.
There are orcs tending the bar. The bartender has an eyepatch with three tusks. His name is Derig and his wife's name is Grah. He runs the bar and she cooks and serves up the food.
It's agreed they need to meet with Duke David to try and see if they can help. They finish their drinks and meals and head off to get some sleep before tomorrow comes . . .
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Chronicled by Ken Paynter aka...Maurice leChevalier