FrettzoRoog
&
Kalmar
Some time ago...
The cold mountain winds sang down the mountains and valleys of the far northern realms. That far and distant land of oak and pine, mountain and hill, valley and stream was a rugged paradise all to its own. It was a sacred place to many of the creatures that now inhabited its numerous environs, from beaches to glades to highlands. From the great exodus to the north led by their Wolf-God Roog the Vallamir of the North had found themselves a homeland challenging but rewarding to inhabit.
High on the hill beneath the mountain so-called Dun Haen in the Valla tongue the monastery of Yn-’e-Kynweir-Alwyld sat, holding onto the rock and stone of its foundation like a perched eagle. All about the base of the hill the monastery had been erected upon now sprouted a veritable forest of settlements. Longhouses of simple planked wood, huts carved out of the boughs of fallen trees, and even the beginnings of stacked stone dwellings with branch and leaf roofing. Following in the footsteps of the Wolf-God, they too built their homes and housing by hand and with dedication that revealed much of their own spirit.
Up atop the hill the gates of Yn-’e-Kynweir-Alwyld lay open, yawning wide and welcoming. The monastery had become a sanctuary for many, not just the Cenekyn of Roog, and its many courtyards and halls bustled with life. Each had taken an oath, either for a lifetime or for more discreet moments of their lives, to serve the monastery in some way. The Cenekyn that lived and resided in the Kynweir-Alwyld lived as guardians, protecting the local landscape and practicing their craft through constant exercise and meditation.Those Valla who had not taken the path of the warrior instead acted as their caretakers, doing menial tasks in exchange for lodging within the great monastery and time to reflect on themselves on their lives. It was not a idyllic life by any stretch of the imagination but through dedication and meditation many had found much of themselves inside those doors.
In the largest of the courtyards, a field of simple stone tiles that thrust out around the Reodweir, Roog and the Cenekyn were in motion. As he had promised so many years ago, Roog had begun teaching the guardians of the Valla the skills they would need to protect and serve their people. At first these skills had simply been those of survival, Great-Wolf teaching his followers the many secrets of the forest and forming them into competent woodsmen all their own. As the Vallamir under his care picked up these skills rapidly Roog soon found himself in need of knowledge he did not himself possess readily. Through meditation and contemplation Roog had sought to form the ways of the wolf into an art of combat, developing movements and actions to serve as martial arts the Cenekyn could eventually learn and master. It was this exact art the Cenekyn practiced so fervently now, their Order each day growing in skill.
As the Cenekyn went through the motions of his martial art or sparred with one another Roog simply sat beneath the Reodweir in quiet observation masquerading as mediation; today he had no desire to see deep into his thoughts and would rather enjoy the wind on his face and the sight of his people. His Valla form, cast in the image of himself and the Valla as one, served adequately as such a body but his thoughts always fell back to his wolfen body; that was the vessel in which his soul felt most at home. As he sat cross legged beneath the tree Roog considered the oddity of his situation; how many, he wondered, could not cross the threshold into oblivion and instead reincarnated repeatedly between forms?
Roog’s eyes flashed as he caught sight of something on the horizon, burning brightly as streaks of fiery paint stretched across the blue tapestry that was the sky. They were enormous even when seen from so far afield and each burned violently as they streaked across the heavens. Roog stood only to leap up to the boughs of the Reodweir, one hand holding him in place as his eyes followed their trajectory; these were as nothing he had ever seen. Sensations of awareness struck him like a maul, the realization dawning on him that these were not natural occurrences by any means and were ever the more dangerous for it. The Cenekyn, noticing their master’s movements, now gathered enmasse to observe the icons of destruction on their path with similar worry.
Roog! Kalmar’s voice snapped within Roog’s mind.
Roog’s eyes darted to his surroundings, searching for the source of the very familiar voice. It quickly dawned on him that Kalmar was not directly in his vicinity and had instead relied upon their mental connection to contact him. Unsurprisingly, given the circumstances. Conjuring up what he considered the most likely way to return such thoughts, Roog echoed his creator’s call with one of his own.
Kalmar, Roog’s thoughts intoned, uncertain if over such distances he could return such summons, The sky is alight, creator; I trust you have an answer?
It is Veradax, Kalmar answered. Orvus’s sphere. I am going there to deal with it. I need you to stay on Kalgrun. Get to the Hunter’s Eye, and prepare for whatever might come next.
Orvus; one of the cruel First Born. I remember your words on him well. I shall do as you say, creator. I wish you swiftness and success.
Roog needed no further prompting. With a howl half-man and half-wolf Roog leapt from boughs of the Reodweir, his form erupting in flame and smoke and ash before the great wolf burst forth from the remnants, black flames of his hide violently rippling in the wind. In an instant he was coursing across the hills and mountains, making easy travel from the harsh terrain of the North. At this pace it would take him merely hours to reach the hunters eye, his untiring limbs carrying him rapidly across the continent with the speed of a ravenous flame.
Kalmar, however, was not finished. Roog, he had said again.
As Roog hurled across the forests and fields his thoughts burned once more with Kalmar’s psychic call. His response was quick as it was brief. Yes?
There was a pause - an unusually long one - before Roog’s creator spoke again. You may consider me your father, if you wish.
Roog continued running, muscles heaving with effort. His own response was equally lengthened, consideration clearly biting at the edges of his thoughts. As he crashed forth from the undergrowth and onto the plains south of the northern mountains, now free to travel at full pace with little hindrance. A sense of dread awareness dawned on Great-Wolf and Roog paused in his run, coming to a stop as he looked onwards towards the eye.
I understand... May your steps be swift.
Roog would never hear from Kalmar again.
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Roog arrived at the sands of the Hunter’s Eye, his hide rippling with life from the constant and rapid travel. With the fires of his body bristling Roog stepped up to the waters around that most sacred of places and simply strode across, paws pressing to the surface but not once disturbing the placidity. His senses called to him, with sights and sounds and deeper things, telling him others of considerable power had already arrived, no doubt at the summons of their mutual creator. He knew most of them by scent alone and as he finally reached the shores of the island itself he let out a howl calling to the creature whos’ flesh had served as the crucible for Roog’s own.
The first to arrive was Fenris, from whose eye Roog had been born. He came bounding across the water, as though it was solid ground, and then looked down at the much smaller wolf expectantly.
”Fenris,” called Roog, his voice seemingly more wolf than man as he spoke to the wolf even more worthy of the term ‘Great’ than Roog himself, ”I trust Kalmar has guided you to this place as well. Orvus, dark First-Born, and his cruel intentions threaten Kalgrun; it is our purpose to resist him. I expect more will soon arrive to assist in this endeavor.
Fenris merely offered a wordless nod.
The next to arrive was a small falcon, its brown feathers speckled with red. It landed in the sands before Roog, and looked at him. You are Roog? a telepathic voice spoke inside Roog’s mind.
It seemed Roog would be in for a day of introductions if Kalmar had called the whole forest to his aid; an interesting prospect but one that gave Roog pause. Surely if so many creatures were to be called to aid the demigod then what he was to face was considerable powerful indeed. Furthermore, if Kalmar himself was needed elsewhere it spoke of even greater dangers poised against Kalgrun. Nevertheless, Roog and his would-be companions would have to face whatever presented itself.
”I am, son of wind and sky. And you?”
Arryn, Avatar of Kalmar, the bird answered, and indeed, his aura was almost indistinguishable from Kalmar’s. I do not know what might attack us, where it will attack from, or if we will be attacked at all, but Kalmar wants us all here so we can offer a unified response.
”There is wisdom in such action; the pack is stronger than the wolf. Do you know of others he has called?”
Gorm the Troll, and Shynir the Griffin, Arryn answered swiftly.
”Then here we shall wait.”
Roog’s eyes turned then to the sky, watch the streaking tails of the asteroids burning in the sky. They had continued to rain from the heavens, no doubt from the sphere Veradax as Kalmar had warned. The wolf’s eyes squinted, practically glaring at the sky, hunting for the point from which they entered into the world. Soon the rest of Kalmar’s motley band would arrive and no doubt soon after their enemy would surely arrive; then there would be violence.
Some time later, there was the distant cracking sound of splintering wood. A sound which came ever closer, and was quite familiar to Roog. Then Gorm came bursting from the forest. “Brothers,” the colossal troll boomed, earning glares from both Fenris and Arryn.
Roog paid only the slightest heed towards Gorm as he arrived, looking over his shoulder before turning back to the skies. With Arryn’s announcement of who would arrive he no longer worried himself over his companions and instead turned to deepening thoughts of what their foe might be. What could possibly warrant such a response, Roog had little clue.
Shynir was the last to arrive, landing upon the beach with a flap of her wings, before quirking her head to gaze at the others curiously.
The entire group assembled, all that was left to do was wait, as Arryn studiously scouted the fringes of the continent with Hunter’s Sight. Time passed as the sun moved in the sky, while meteors and motes continued to fall.
I see something! Arryn suddenly snapped. I’m looking through its eyes. It is huge. Everything is fleeing from it. I can’t get a better look… Then he set his gaze on Roog. It is on the southern tip of the continent, and it is coming north, destroying everything in its path. Go. Intercept it, and kill it.
The bird flapped his wings, and the three beasts of Kalgrun suddenly blinked and looked around. I have imbued them with the knowledge of its location. Go!
Roog’s eyes sweeped from above to the southward horizon, Arryn’s thoughts echoing in his skull. The answer to his thoughts had at last arrived and now there would be time for action. With no words Roog strode from the beach and entered a loping charge, once again hurtling through the forest and dodging through trees with lightning reflexes. The others would have to keep up in their own ways, either flying above the canopy or smashing through it as Gorm did. The pace would need to be swift if Arryn’s words were to be believed; destroying everything in its path was not some simple danger. Roog steadied himself and thought to Kalmar’s words, the words of a creator finally recognizes his true nature. If this vast entity was to be Roog’s nemesis, Death-Wolf could only begin to imagine the odds which his man-father would do battle with.
A black storm appeared on the horizon, growing in vastness with every passing second. It lorded over a valley in flames. Thick billows of smoke rose to meet the storm, fueling it further. The land began to change as ash fell, coating everything in a fine grey. This vegetation was constantly being disturbed as every sort of animal, from the smallest shrew, to the mighty Vitasaurs, ran away from the danger. Birds flocked in the skies as the ventured north to escape the raging and unnatural fires that spread with hate.
In the distance, a harrowing roar shook the very skies, as a beam of scarlet energy erupted from the clouds, tearing into a hillside with unbridled fervor. The creature was there.
Roog glared into the heavens with bronze eyes flaring with determination, the hackles on his back rising as an inferno. Glowing teeth were bared and the Death Wolf heralded the creature with a monstrous howl of its own. He picked up his pace into a loping run, paws pounding into the water of a nearby stream but not once dipping beneath the surface as he hurled himself full speed and straight towards the infernal invader. Though Roog had not spoken with the others of his temporary pack, the wolf-god assumed rightly their instincts would guide them well as his own served him. His eyes studied the beast, looking for anything at all that would hint at a weakness while its scarlet rays tore into the earth.
As he drew closer the beasts form could be seen in brief flashes. Vast barbed appendages flickered in and out of the clouds as its maw erupted across another hill. Fire spread as the world lighted in flame. Perhaps more alarming were the other creatures that flew in the clouds. At first invisible, now seen in clarity. A vast host of winged reptiles, massive in size and blackened in appearance. They were still but ants to the main threat looming up above but they had numbers.
Roog started as his eyes began to parse the sheer scale of the monstrous entity hovering high above in Kalgrun’s skies. Its size alone was obscenely daunting, not to mention the veritable horde of creatures now flocking about its personage. The Wolf stopped in his tracks, suddenly very much aware of the full threat this monster posed. Nevertheless, he could not wait until his allies arrived or the damage would be considerable; something would need to be done. The wolf in his heart roared to life, clamoring for direction, and Roog set his fiery heart ablaze.
Roog dove into the underbrush and crashed through it, hurtling through the landscape till he neared the swarms of creatures clouding the great beast. A blood-curdling howl echoed across the hills, bouncing from tree to tree and garnering the attention of a number of the vast host. Their paths remained mostly unaffected, as frustrating as it was, and Roog quickly came to terms with the fact that he would have to bring them down somehow. For now he continued his howl, seeking to garner attention from the swarm or perhaps the beast itself.
A few of the winged creatures tore off from the clouds and headed straight for the wolf god. As they got closer more details could emerge. From their dagger like teeth, to the red glow of their eyes. They had an appetite for pain and destruction, for the thoughts of such a creature were seldom else then twisted anger.
As they drew close, their jaws opened further and from their jaws erupted red flame, not unlike the beam from the larger creature, its presence looming up above as it destroyed without remorse.
Roog watched with a glare as the swarming beasts unleashed what amounted to their wrath. From the moment they came within reach Roog was certain they posed little threat in small numbers to him. A barking roar leaped from Roog’s throat, the sound rippling through the flames of his assailants and dispersing it harmlessly. A howl followed suit before Roog burst into motion, running up the vertical trunk of a tree and leaping from it to get within striking distance of one of the creatures. Proximity told him that they would be easy prey if they remained so intent on striking him with small numbers. For now he would need to keep them busy and whittle them down, awaiting the arrival of his pack so they might deal with the far greater danger above.
Then, a familiar crashing sound was heard.
Although much slower than Roog, the blessing bestowed upon them by Arryn had enabled them to take the most direct possible route. That, and luck, had been enough to ensure they arrived at roughly the same time. Fenris bounded through the forest, turning aside trees, and Gorm followed in the wake of his destruction. Shynir flew alongside them, before suddenly turning upward and vanishing into the clouds.
Fenris and Gorm found Roog standing before the bodies of the winged beasts. Upon noticing the slaughter and arrival of new foes, several more dragons had now peeled off to face them. Fenris turned toward them and bared his teeth as they approached, before breaking into a run. He leapt into the air with a sudden speed, biting into one midflight. His momentum carried him past the dragons, who now had to turn to engage him as he landed and discarded their comrade like a used-up toy.
Meanwhile, Gorm looked down at Roog, an idea suddenly springing to his primitive mind. He reached down to pick Roog up…
Roog’s hide whipped and snapped at the air as more dragons dove to join the fray, the arrival of his pack turning the fight to his favor. With several allies now able to engage, Roog could hope to turn his attention towards the vast entity now darkening the sky above. Ironically, it was Gorm who presented the first potential option. Unlike their first meeting, Roog let the Great-Troll’s hand wrap him in its embrace. “Good pupper,” the troll said.
As Gorm pulled back for a throw Roog set himself ablaze, hide burning up as all but his burning heart died away to the jet-black inferno. Gorm let out a roar of pain as his arm launched forward and let go.
The throw carried the firebolt that was Roog high into the sky, hurtling like a lightning strike gone backwards up into the air. The blaze-that-flew left a trail of flame in its wake as it rapidly ascended towards its target, the multi-limbed horror hovering high in the heavens. A dragon, no doubt acting by some infernal will, threw itself in the way of the black only to be split asunder in Roog’s fiery wake.
From the black-fire burst a Valla, naked and furious of visage, that struck the body of a dragon clinging close to the hide of the Gate Lord. Roog’s hands gripped the beast by its horns and ripped, a howl-like roar scorching the heavens as he tore its head free from its form. As the body dropped like dead weight Roog leapt higher into the sky, plunging the horns of the dragon’s disembodied head into the flesh of his mortal foe as he at last made that final distance. With his makeshift climbing tool Roog began to ascend, ripping the dragon head from the creature’s scutes to leap to the next vantage on his path towards the beast’s head.
Noticing the parasite upon itself, a massive clawed hand began to fall upon Roog, poised to crush him as the creature bellowed in anger.
Roog’s eyes went wide as the talons of the massive beast hurtled towards him, slow and threateningly. The naked Vallamir broke into a sprint across the strange landscape of the monster’s body. Clawed hands and feet dug deep or found purchase where they could, desperately attempting to keep out of the Gate Lord’s clutches. With a howl-like roar Roog lept at the last second before the claws struck him, getting partially dashed aside by the oncoming slash. His own claws dug in deep, holding tightly to the hand as it receded back up into the air.
The hand was brought up and out over the crackling storm, until it hung before the creatures face. A thing of pure malice, twisted by hatred. From its maw, shot a beam of scarlet energy at Roog, seemingly careless of it's own appendage.
Roog watched as he hung from the talons of the vast creature, eyes wide as he rose above the clouds to stare directly into the face of his enemy. Jaws distended and light disgorged from the yawning orifice. In an instant Roog let his heart consume his body, Valla form obliterated in seconds by the oncoming blast. From what little was left of his form burst the black wolf Roog, howling as he leaped from the now scorched claws of the Gate Lord to savage its face with raking claws and tearing jaws.
The creature roared, fury mixed with pain as Roog did his work. He shook his head mightily, and with it’s vast hands clawed at it’s own face to remove Roog.
Roog was once again on the move, barely dodging the smashing strikes of the beast as it tore at itself to extricate him. Roog’s flaming heart pounded in his chest, black blood flowing like rivers through him as every new position was assaulted in the beasts ferocity. Where the wolf had thought he’d be safest he had quickly found himself in the greatest danger, so willing the monstrosity was to do harm onto itself just for the chance to slay the Wolf. Beginning to get desperate as the claws inched closer and closer with each new strike, starting to graze his hide as the beast caught onto his ploy, Roog hurled himself towards its eyes. Burning like a shooting star, Roog dove into the eyeball of the beast and turned into a whirlwind of gore as he urgently drove himself deeper, ripping and tearing with everything at his disposal to escape the Gate Lord’s clutches.
The very storm seemed to boom with the fury of the creature as it screamed in anger and frustration. To get rid of the parasite that had bore itself into one of its eye’s the monster plunged two long claws into the hole and tore into Roog’s sides as it pulled out, screaming as pain rocked it’s body.
Roog howled in pain as the Gate Lord finally found its mark, two of its powerful talons punching through his ribs on either side of his body. Jet black, oily blood poured from his wounds as he was retracted from the gory mess where once the Gate Lord’s eye had been. Determination ground against overwhelming pain as Roog’s weakening limbs fought against the beasts grasp. Roog’s fiery body licked at the Gate Lord’s paws as he tried to free himself, the means of Roog’s fiery suicide made all the more difficult overwhelmed as he was by the pain.
Then a screech sounded from above, and a dark shape descended from the clouds, its swift speed bolstered even further by gravity. While the monster was busy with Roog, Shynir swept down upon the Gate Lord, raking her unnaturally sharp claws deep into the creature’s back.
The creature’s tentacles shot out after Shynir, as the Gatelord let drop the man wolf, it’s claws blackened and burned. Shynir pulled her claws free and disengaged, veering off to the side. She saw Roog fall, let out another screech, and swooped down after him.
As Roog and Shynir plummeted to the ground, the Gatelord screamed again, now bloodied and bruised, it began to fly up, further and further as it burst free from the clouds. It then began to retreat from whence it came, it’s massive body raining blood from the sky.
Shynir was not fast enough to intercept Roog before he would hit the ground. Fortunately, Gorm had remained nearby, wanting to stay close to the action despite having no immediate means to join the fight. All the giant troll had to do was reach up and catch Roog in one hand, while Shynir swerved to avoid them.
Roog landed in the arms of the giant troll with a grunt, wounds pumping blood as the fires as the edges of his flesh began to set himself alight. At last Roog let go, body billowing into black flame as his corpse was dropped by the surprised troll. Roog emerged from the smoldering ashes, his Vallamir body once again returned to the world, with two obvious, fresh scars at either side of his torso. With one deep breath Roog took in the world again and looked up at the troll.
”Thank you for catching me.”
Gorm grunted. Shynir hovered nearby, wings flapping as she gazed out toward the Gate Lord’s retreating form. She looked as though she was about to pursue, but then Fenris came running toward them from the left. The Desolate Dragons still pursued him, though their numbers were greatly reduced. Shynir sped off to assist him instead.
By the time the dragons were dealt with, the Gate Lord had vanished beyond the horizon, his course carrying him away from the continent. Fenris was limping, one of his legs scorched by dragonfire, while Gorm’s burned hand was slow to recover. Shynir, quite sensibly, had decided not to pursue the creature alone. They gathered around Roog, as if awaiting his direction.
Roog waited upon a large boulder in his Valla form, simply cross legged and staring out across the landscape. His black brow remained furrowed and it was clear his thoughts were of distant places far from the shores of his home. At last he was stolen from his thoughts, his vision turning to the collected beasts now spread around him. A moment later and he realized they were waiting for him. Several thoughts passed through his head before he finally spoke.
”I have failed. My foe yet stalks the world and for that I am to blame. However, we have succeeded in sparing as many lives from the suffering it intended to inflict as possible; from that we can take solace. As I am, I am incapable of doing as our creator intended; I must leave Kalgrun to find the solution to my failings. As I am away I leave Kalgrun’s protection to our pack; the land will be safe in your care."
