Chapter One
Braham Eirsson hiked through the snow covered Shiverpeak Mountains. True to their name, the peaks of the range reached high into sky, making them frigid even in the summer. His thick, heavy leather boots crunched through the snow. He wore a long coat of wolf's hide with a wolf's head made into its right shoulder. Its tattered hem brushed the snow around his ankles. The coat left his chest exposed. Like the rest of the Norn race, the cold did not affect him like it did the smaller races, like humans.
He hunted for wild beasts for meat and trophies. After all the troubles he had experienced, he needed a good hunt to clear his mind. First there was Scarlet and the Molten Alliance, then the dragon Mordremoth, and most recently the undead king Palawa Joko.
However, the mountain was eerily quiet. The arctodus, ice drakes, alpine wolves, and even griffons were gone. It was as if they had fled from something. What could scare the mountains' fierce predators was unknown to Braham and worrying. He hoped it was not another dragon, like the Claw of Jormag, but if it was, he would face it like he did the others.
His ears caught a sound around the side of a cliff. Braham hefted his massive mace and crept to the edge of the frozen stone cliff. It was like the skittering of insects, only stronger. He peaked around it.
A pile of monsters came into view on the other side. Minotaurs, wolves, griffins, arctodus, and drakes were all mingled together at the base of a giant spike that pierced deep in the mountainside. Another type of creature crawled over and around the pile, small creatures that looked like large, fleshy beetles.
The creatures noticed Braham and charged towards him. The mighty Norn smashed down with his mace, crushing several of them, but the rest just swarmed around him. The creatures lashed out at him with teeth and claws, tearing through his leather pants and boots. Braham embraced the bear and grew bigger, his hide tougher. He stomped on some of the creatures and smashed others as he retreated backwards. The creatures continued to attack him. Some climbed up his legs and bit his back and shoulders. Braham ripped them off with his claws.
Braham's back foot slipped over the edge of mountain. His momentum carried him further over. For a heartbeat he hung in the air with one foot still on the ground. Then he was falling. Snow and stone rushed up to meet him. The air fled his lungs and consciousness fled his mind.
The swarm of creatures milled around the top of the cliff. Their target out of reach. They milled about for a few moments and moved on.
The common room was a long room with several tables down one side. A large fire burned on a raised floor in the middle of the room. It kept the room warm even with the massive door open and cooked spitted animals. Kegs of ale were stacked against a back wall. The people sat at table or stood in groups as they celebrated.
Raven went over to the kegs to refill her empty tankard. She passed a group of three Norn arguing about who was stronger. Her blood ran hot with power and alcohol.
"I bet I could beat you," Raven said.
"You think so, little girl?" the largest of the three Norn asked.
"I will take that bet," said a Norn with a short, blonde beard.
"Don't let the little girl beat you, Ulgar," one of the other Norn said and the others laughed.
Raven took off her dark coat to reveal a sleeveless shirt and shorts. She stood in front of her challenger. He towered over her. She barely reached his chest. Each of his arms and legs were bigger around than she was.
"Go ahead and hit me with your best shot," Ulgar said.
Raven threw a punch at his stomach with her enhanced strength. The Norn doubled over and gasped for breath.
"So you can throw a punch," Ulgar said as he recovered. "Can you take one?"
Ulgar swung his meaty fist. Raven dodged it and landed another punch. The Norn swung both arms and caught Raven in a bear hug. He lifted her off the ground and squeezed. Raven struggled against his grip, but could not break free. She teleported above and behind the Norn and wrapped her legs around his thick neck. As she squeezed, Ulgar fell backwards and slammed her against the ground. The impact drove the air from her lugs, but she kept her hold. The Norn struggled for a moment longer, then he finally tapped out. Raven released him and they got up.
"That was an impressive move," the Norn said. "As tiny as you are, you have great strength and skill."
"Thank you. Maybe we can wrestle some more later," Raven said with a wink.
Raven carried her tankard of ale and a large chunk of meat back to the table she shared with her companions. The group sat around a long, wooden table in a large common room. The table and chairs were built for a race larger than humans. The common room was filled with those people. They called themselves Norn. Each of them stood a head and shoulders taller than Koryu or Oliver. Aside from the humans and Norn, there was a third race, one of hunched over, feline humanoids. A group of four of them occupied one corner of the room.
Koryu Rell, Oliver Queen, Raven Kwynn, and Rii had appeared on a new world, one they learned was called Tyria. They were in a large, snow covered settlement called Snowlord's Gate in the foothills of the Shiverpeak Mountains. Several buildings were open for parties and they had joined the revelry. The group spread out to enjoy the festivities.
"That was a fun fight," Raven said. "These big guys are pretty tough."
"Nice to hear our girl is tougher," Koryu said. "To Raven!"
"To Raven!" the others said.
Koryu sipped his mug of ancient dwarven ale. "This is a pretty good drink. Full bodied, rich, with a hint of caramel. Remind me to grab some kegs to take back to the Cafe."
"I might have to try one of those," Oliver said as he set down his dark ale. "What is this all about?"
"It's a moot. There doesn't seem to be much of a meaning, other than just to celebrate life," Koryu explained.
The statuesque red haired demoness Rii led a group of Norn hunters through the forest outside of the Norn village. They were hunting for trophies for the moot. They followed the tracks of a pack of minotaurs. Finally they reached the pack near a river. One of the minotaurs was larger than the others, the alpha of the pack.
Rii strode forward, out of the trees. The minotaurs looked up. The large one charged forward. The ground shook under its feet. It hit Rii and knocked her back. However, Rii slashed it with her clawed fingers at the same time. Rii hit the ground and rolled to her feet. She sprang forward and drove her hand deep into its chest and ripped out its heart. The minotaur fell over.
"That was a great hunt and you have a great trophy," one of the Norn said.
"You should take this to Ido the Tanner to have the trophy prepared before the Great Hunt," another said.
Rii stood over the body of the minotaur and ripped off its head.
After the rest of the group each found their own trophies, they took them back to the village and gave them to Ido the Tanner. While he prepared them, one of the Norn elders came and invited them to participate in the Great Hunt. Knut Whitebear, one of the Norn leaders, had captured an ice wurm for the hunt.
The group climbed the stairs to the top of the cliff overlooking the village. A female Norn stood at the top and looked at the group as they reached the top.
"Hail to the finest hunters of the season! Follow me if you dare – and ready yourselves for battle!"
The top of the cliff was flat and covered with snow.
"We must draw out the ice wurm. Kill the hatchlings."
The group spread out across the field and killed small ice wurms as they appeared from the snow. The hatchlings were several feet long and had four pincers around their mouths. Rii ripped several in half with her claws.
The ground shook as as massive ice wurm appeared. It rose up above the plateau. It stood about twenty feet thick and a hundred feet long, at least the part they could see.
"There's our prey! Go on hunters, show us what you can do!" Eir called out.
Everyone converged on the giant ice wurm. The Norn hunters used bows and axes against its thick hide. Rii fired blasts of hellfire. The ice wurm roared and swung its body around, knocking everyone back.
"Keep at him!" Eir cried. "He's reeling."
Rii conjured a sword made of black flames and jumped onto the wurm. She plunged her blade into it up to the hilt. Meanwhile, the other Norn continued to attack the wurm's base. The wurm fell over, dead. The Norn scattered to avoid being caught under it. The ground shook again as it hit.
The Norn celebrated their great victory and decided to celebrate with some drinks.
Rii and a group of Norn entered the common room. The Norns cheered Rii and demanded drinks. It turned out that Rii had killed a particularly large minotaur and a massive ice wurm. Rii and the Norn took their celebration to a table in the corner.
"Someone is talking about dragons around here," Raven said. "Apparently they have caused a lot of problems. One forced the Norn from their homeland up north to here."
"Why not go kill a dragon while we're here?" Koryu asked.
"If an entire race couldn't defeat one, then how do you expect to?" Oliver asked.
"I'm a lot more powerful than most people and you're a lot more skilled. We'll put together a unit and go hunting."
"I've heard mention of a place called Lion's Arch. It's a major city. We'll probably want to go there first."
"Sounds like a plan."
The group continued to drink and eat with the Norn. They wrestled with some of the locals and joined in some hunts. Night fell and the group slept with many of the others on the floor of the common room.