Has anyone wondered where the other heroes are during this new battle against Diablo?
I don't own any rights to Diablo or Diablo2 or hellfire or LOD or any thing else I'm forgetting to list. The idea for this story is my own. Leanne is my own char, don't try to steal her or she will skin you alive.
I am trying a bit of song in here. If you want the full effect find a copy of a J.S. Bach string concerto. Any string concerto will work but I like Bach.
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The forgotten heroes.
C) 1
In a cramped mess tent dozens rowdy would-be heroes drank and told stories of fighting great beasts with only a club or bare hands. A few Rogues looked on at the drunken men with great distaste, hating the need to fight beside them. The Rogues missed their home; the great and ancient monastery had been over run with dark demons and vile corruptions of their sisters.
One of the men fell over and passed out from too much ale. A pair of the Rogues came forward and grasped the large smelly man under the arms and proceeded to drag him out the tent. The two Rogues dumped the man under a wagon to sleep it off; they were about to enter the tent once more when a call rose up near the wall. The two Rogues were very similar in appearance. Both had red brown hair and green eyes and tall lean frames. Their only differences were that one was shorter than the other and each of them preferred a different kind of bow.
They had their bows strung and drawn before they even reached the wall a few yards away. Kashya was speaking with someone thru the gate, her tone wasn't any harsher than normal so the two Rogues assumed it was another farm hand turned hero. Kashya stepped back and swung the gate open a few feet, letting a slim woman slip in before slamming the gate shut behind her.
The woman was tall and dark haired with a deep tan that was beginning to fade, she wore a heavy cloak that hid her form. Her face was gentle and kind but shallow with hardship and hunger, she looked ready to trade insults with hell itself then sing a rousing course.
She dropped a heavy bag to the ground beside her and held out her hand to Kashya. Kashya didn't even cast a glance at the hand before turning and walking away. As Kashya passed the two Rogues she shouted an order, "find the traveler a tent and help her settle in." the two Rogues hurried to obey, one sizing the bag and the other leading off toward the tents set aside for outsiders and merchants.
The woman smiled at the two Rogues after they had lead her to a small tent near Charsi's makeshift forge. She dropped her bag in a chest inside before turning to the two, "my name is Leanne. I am but a humble bard come from a far distant town of troubles. Would I be able to perform for your sisters in return for your protection?"
This was rather surprising for the two because they had meet few bards or other entertainers that knew how to address the Rogues. Or anyone, warrior or not, that traveled alone at night anymore. This woman was more than she appeared to be.
The taller of the two Rogues nodded and gestured to the other, "yes traveler me and my sister would very much like to hear your songs but we cannot guarantee your protection you should talk to Akara or Kashya first." She turned to go but her friend stayed her for a moment. "Oh, I'm sorry Leanne. This is a time of trouble for us and I am forgetting my manners. My name is Aliza and my silent sister is Isolde. Sleep well and may the great eye watch over you." With all the pleasantries done the two Rogues turned and left the bard standing there with a faint smile on her lips.
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The next day a simple awning was put up near the central fire, put there to keep the near-constant rain off someone's head. The entire encampment was talking about the strange woman who arrived last night claming to be a bard. Many found it hard to believe a lone woman could survive out on the plains without some skill in battle. Others wondered where she came from and what songs and ballads she would know.
Akara had given the woman her permission to perform, against Kashya's protests that it would be a distraction. Kashya began stalking around the camp shouting orders for the walls to be watched and the gates guarded. The Rogues knew not to cross her when she was like this. Kashya was new to the rank of 'battle eagle' but only her insecurity showed it.
Aliza and Isolde were among the few Rogues that had no work to do at the moment, so they went to hear Leanne's songs. They found seats around the fire as everyone began to gather. Most of the men who were sober enough to fight went of with a small group of Rogues to clear out a cave full of demons and undead. Those around the fire where mostly those unable to fight or merchants staying near their wares and the few refugees from local farmsteads.
Leanne came out from behind the giant water cart and walked under the awning. As she sat down she drew a small harp from under her heavy cloak. She ran her fingers along the bow of the wood and drew a few strings tight. The crowd was talking in hushed whispers about her and her cloak, wondering if she was hiding some gross deformity.
The entire encampment fell silent as her fingers brushed lightly across the strings, letting a gentle sound into the air. Her finger began to dance, making the harp sing like a hundred birds. She stood up, still playing as she began to sing. (Start music)
Hear now,
The gentle cry of the newborn babe
Listen to the mother's song
Hear me,
Fear not the dark night
Mother will chase away the demons
Hear not the dark
Hear not the howls
Hear only,
Mothers voice
Hush child,
Sleep now that mama's here
Worry not my little son,
Rest easy my young daughter,
Mother will save you.
Mother will save you…
Leanne sat down with the last verse, her fingers slowing on the harp. All around the encampment everyone sat in silence, forgotten was all tasks and chores. Leanne sat in silence with her head bowed. The drunkard that Aliza and Isolde had dumped under a wagon the night before threw his tankard to the ground. "That arnt no song. Lets hear the one of old mad King Leoric who lost his son and then his mind."
Leann sat up strait and cast a glare at the man; he withered under her gaze and sank down in an attempt to get away from her eyes. Her harp disappeared under her cloak and she stood up, her face hardening as she began another song with only the deep silence as music.
Lost in the darkThe child ran in fear
Terror hunted the frightened soul
The dark king searched
Under dark tomb and crypt
The dark king found not!
Terror had consumed the soul
Terror had warped the form
Terror had stolen the son
The dark king lost son and mind
The dark king flung himself into hate
And hate cursed him forever to rule
The dark king rules now those he sent to die.
Laugh not at the dark king
He has lost more than many would ever have.
Laugh not, laugh not…
She walked off and disappeared into her tent before the last words had fully settled into everyone's mind. The whole encampment snapped back to life as everyone began to discuss this new song of a rather new legend. The tale of King Leoric was new to the world and thought of as a joke by many. Most in the encampment had not thought of what it would be like to lose everything because of their own hands.
Part of the gate exploded in fire as demons swarmed forward, trying to take the distracted defenders off guard. The Rogues reacted quickly, firing arrows into the masses of demons and beast. Those few warriors that had stayed behind now grabbed up their weapons and charged into the thick of it where the gates once stood.
Kashya stood near the praying Akara, firing freezing arrows into the demons. The defenders where being pushed back into the encampment, every beast that fell was replaced by another while the small demons simply climbed back to their feet and charged again. The encampment would soon fall.
From the shadow of the wall slipped a dark shape, it leapt at the invaders. As soon as light touched it, it was reviled to be a single girl. The way she tore thru the evil ranks with twin wrist blades she could only be a Viz-Jaq'taar, an assassin. She turned and cast two small orbs into the air before dashing back into the shadows. She faded away as the two orbs struck the trees, exploding and raining burning braches down on the demonic shamans hiding under them.
The defenders fought harder as they saw the small demons no longer rising after a deadly blow. The shadowy assassin appeared occasionally attacking where the fight was thickest. Akara had stopped praying and now watched the battle, she was the only one who saw Leanne come out from her tent and stand near the fire.
The battle was still raging strong as several undead began pushing past the demons and beasts. Powerful hits didn't faze them and the assassin's traps only left them singed but unharmed. Those few undead pushed past the defenders, leaving many warriors and Rogues lying dead.
The undead shuffled forward as the warriors tried to stop the rest of the enemy from following the undead. Kashya fired her arrows of ice as fast as she could, finally felling one of the undead. She had to drop her bow and draw her sword as three of the undead creatures turned to fight her. The last zombie shuffled forward, toward Akara, intent on the kill.
Akara didn't move, didn't finch as the zombie Corpse fire bore down on her. The zombie fell forward as its legs were cut from under it. Leanne had cast off her cloak reviling sparkling red leather armor, the Leather of Aut, stained trousers, and two of the finest, oldest most powerful daggers from ages past. The first one, Black Razor, had taken the legs from the powerful undead while the second, Wizardspike, drove deep into its back, piercing the black heart.
Leanne sheathed her daggers and drew her bow, Flamedart, she strung it with practiced ease before raining fiery arrows amongst the remaining demons and evil beasts. Her first shot pierced the heart of the remaining undead fighting Kashya. Kashya gave a snarl of aggravation before swooping up her own bow; the two of them thinned the ranks of the attackers with fire and ice.
Finally the last demon turned and ran, only to die with a burning arrow in its head. Akara wasted no time as she began ordering those standing to bring the wounded to her. Kashya started reordering the defenses and the merchants and farmhands began gathering tools for the repairs the walls and gates. None saw Leanne take her cloak and slip back in her tent, except a silent shadow near the walls.
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You want more? You just goanna have to wait. It shouldn't take me long to get the next chapter. This chapter only took me a few hours to write and proof.
There may be more 'songs' later but I have never written them before. If some one is willing to help with music selection and lyrics let me know.
Wizardspike, Leather of Aut, Flamedart, and Black Razor are all from the original Diablo and/or Hellfire. And no you haven't seen everything she has. Leanne is based off of my Bard from Hellfire; I made some changes but only to fit the story better.
I need names of warriors, barbarians and sorcerers. I am asking you readers for help because it took me 3HOURS to come up with Leanne. My bard is named 'dancer of death', I can't come up with names easily in fact I usually steal them from whatever books I have on hand.
HIT THAT REVIEW BUTTON!!!!