H O L G A R T H
Holgarths eyes narrowed as the situation unfolded, his gaze shifting between the entities gathered in the vault. Some of the creatures he knew off, but most were strange to him. He smelled the stench of sorcery in the room, and the reek of rot and death. The scent reminded him of the crypt where he had fought Geur-Nagh, and he suspected these new devils were of a similar mold. Whatever they were, Holgarth knew they were dangerous. He would have to be careful and patient, and strike when the time was right. He ceased his struggle for the moment, but would not let himself relax. As soon as the Witch released him, he had to be ready to act. Ready to fight.
The Warden remained in the center of the room, motionless. A few of the others spoke to her, but if she noticed, she gave no sign. When they had all woken, she started to speak. Her voice could not be properly described. It sounded like the ice cracking beneath your feet, like the blade rasping against your ribs, like your home burning in the night. Most of all, it sounded like something not of this world. Holgarth could understand the words, somehow, but he knew deep down that they had not been uttered in any tongue he spoke. Other than fear, perhaps.
The King is in need of aid, the Warden said,
And you have been chosen to aid him. To do this, you will be let loose from this place. Your belongings have been returned to you, and once this briefing is concluded, you will be free to roam as you wish. You will, however, do that which is asked of you... or you will die trying.Holgarth did not know wether he wanted to laugh or growl. He decided on neither, and held his tongue. The Witch had spoken to him like this on the day of his defeat. She was working her magic now, somehow, but he could not see it, nor hear it or smell it. It was a subtle kind of sorcery, if sorcery it was, unlike any that Holgarth had ever experienced before. How could he fight that which he could not understand? If only he could reach her with the Underblade... In his mind, he could see how the shadowed edge of the fell sword split her neck from her body; how her lifeless corpse slumped to the ground. Strangely, though, even in his daydreaming there was no blood. And when the head stopped tumbling, facing him,
it smiled. Holgarth blinked hard, gritting his teeth. She was already in his head, and she wasn't even looking at him!
To the east of the Kingdom, the Warden continued,
lies the land of Sulfrey. The Sulfreyans are our friends and allies, and keep the rest of the eastern hordes at bay. It is a rich and powerful land, ruled by a living god known as Ael-Gol. We know surprisingly little about this being other than that it is ancient, seemingly immortal, and extremely powerful. This has been a great benefit to the Kingdom, as Ael-Gol and his armies have defeated the barbarians of the east time and time again. Holgarth listened intently at this point. He knew of the Sulfreyans. They were fierce warriors, with horned helmets and curved blades. Their knights rode winged reptile nightmares called Wyverns, with daggers for teeth and poisonous barbs on their tails. Holgarths tribe had fought these easterlings during his campaign to conquer the Hills and beyond, and it had been some of the bloodiest battles he'd won. He had not expected them and the White Tigers as allies, but figured that it probably was a wise move for both parties. What the Witch could want with them, though, Holgarth could only guess.
That is however also the problem. The easterlings are all but spent at this point, and our reports indicate that several clans have taken up worship of the false god. Naturally, this cannot be allowed to proceed. The King has sent agents to... solve the situation, but we have not heard from them for over a fortnight and suspect the worst. Your mission is threefold: First, you will locate the agents and, if possible, rescue them. When last we heard from them, they stayed at the Golden Chalice Inn in the city of Malasta. If they have been compromised in any way, your mission is instead to kill them. They are three in total; Tristana, Yorleif, and Nashur. Second, you will investigate their findings and see if you can finish what they started. Last, but not least, you will infiltrate the court of Ael-Gol and slay the false god king of the Sulfreyans.This time, it was useless to resist. Holgarth tried to stifle a chuckle, but it was no use. Soon, he was laughing out loud, the vaulted room booming with his voice. This would be the death of him. This would be the death of them all. But what a death it would be! To fight an immortal foe, to take the chance and risk everything on an impossible bet... he could not help but to feel joy at the prospect. And if he lived, he would come find them. They would see. Holgarth continued laughing even as the Warden finished her speech. She did not stop him.
You are all enemies of the Kingdom. Monsters, villains, traitors... Blackguards, all. You have been chosen, because noone will believe you work for the King. You have been chosen, because noone will care if you die. Do your best, or do your worst - it matters not. Know only that you will do what I have said. That is all.Holgarth continued laughing as the Warden fell silent. He expected the guards to come and take them away, but noone came. His laughter trailed off. For a moment, all wass silent. Then the rumbling began - quiet at first, but deafening within moments. It was as if a mountain toppled over, as if a river of rocks flowed through the room. He couldn't think for the noice, couldn't speak. Then suddenly, something impossible occurred. The walls started moving, folding and slithering and breaking apart. The room caved in on itself, and it was all Holgarth could do to scream as his doom came crashing down on him. The Warden remained motionless in the center of the room, but he could have sworn she was smiling. Just like her head had done in her dream.
Darkness.I am awake.I must break free.I must have vengeance.Open your eyes.Holgarths eyelids snapped open. The light blinded him, but his eyes soon adjusted themselves. He was no longer in the Maw. He could feel the soft caress of the wind on his skin, feel the warmth of the sun on his face. He was in a field of tall grass. In the distance was a great forest, and beyond, high mountains. There was a river somewhere nearby; he could hear the water running. It was in the evening, just before dusk. The sun had not yet set, but was about to. Free. He was finally free. He did not understand why or how, or where, but there he was. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the grass and the clean crispness of the air.
Then he saw them.
The Witch was nowhere to be found... but the others were. Monsters, creatures, and other entities. Unknown factors. Most certainly threats. He reached for the Underblade at his belt, and found to his surprise that it was there. Resting one hand on the hilt, he decided to speak.
I do not know how or why we have come to be in this place, he said in a low voice,
But know this. I am Holgarth Half-Blood, King o' the Hills and the High Places, and you would do well to keep out of my arms reach. Who, or what, are you?
Dragonydas,
Crimson Flame,
CitrusArms,
Xaltwind,
Noctis,
Lemons,
Marik,
Carlyle,
Ozyamandias644,
Lurking Krog