The Orcish Wars Part 3
By
Justin Asselstine
The character Gawyn Trakand is copyright of Robert Jordan, creator of The Wheel of Time. Places used in this belong to Verant Interactive.
Gawyn looked at the tracks in front of him and realized he was gonna have to make an important decision. He had been following the orcs that had taken his friends, Kaene and Phawn, for two weeks now. The few orcs had met up with one of their patrolling armies and had been traveling together since then, but now the orcs were splitting up. There were tracks going north towards Neriak and tracks going east towards the Ocean of Tears. The problem was that Phawn footprints were going north and Kaene's were going east.
Gawyn now had to decide which to follow first and possibly let the other one die. He wanted it to be a hard choice, but it wasn't. Kaene was his best friend, but Gawyn couldn't handle the thought of what the orcs might be doing to Phawn, the woman he loved.
Gawyn hopped back up onto his horse and sped of in the direction that Phawn's tracks led. As he rode he made a promise to himself that he would come back for Kaene as soon as Phawn was safe.
As time went on Gawyn realized that the orcs were taking Phawn to Neriak.
"How am I ever gonna get into Neriak," Gawyn thought to himself. "That place is filled with Drow that want to chop my head off."
Gawyn continued to ponder how he would get in as he rode towards Neriak. Finally he arrived at the Nektulos Forest. It would take about a day from the entrance to get to Neriak.
Gawyn decided to set up camp just inside the forest. He didn't set a fire, fearing a Drow might see it and come investigate. After eating a meal of bread and cheese Gawyn fell into a fitful sleep. Dreams of orcs and Drow torturing Phawn swam through his mind all night. Finally he awoke sweating.
"I have to hurry," Gawyn thought to himself.
Gawyn cleaned up his camp. He let his horse, Menlynus, run loose knowing the horse would stay nearby in case Gawyn needed it. Gawyn began to make his way through the forest when he heard a twig snap behind him. He spun around and drew his magic sword, Altashere, from it's sheath. Gawyn let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw who it was. It was a human woman who Gawyn knew well.
"I was passing through the Commonlands when I ran into Myrik. He said you were going to try and rescue your friends, so I decided you could use my help," the woman said.
The woman's name was Binkkey and she was a powerful druid and a good friend of Gawyn and Phawn.
"I am so glad to see you," Gawyn exclaimed. "The orcs took Phawn into Neriak. I was wondering how to get in, but now with your magic you can make us invisible and we can walk right in."
"It doesn't work that easily. Yes I can make us invisible, but the Drow are magical people and some will be able to see through our invisibility using magic. We must still be very careful," warned Binkkey. "Well if were gonna go we best do it now." Oh yes, I forgot. Here," Binkkey said handing Gawyn a necklace and slipping a similar one around her neck. "These will make it so we can see each other even when we are invisible."
With a wave of her hand and a muttered word Binkkey disappeared from Gawyn's sight. Gawyn slipped the necklace over his head and Binkkey reappeared.
"Well at least we now they work," Gawyn said. "Now let's go."
Gawyn and Binkkey set off through the forest towards Neriak. They walked on in silence for a couple of hours until Binkkey held out a hand to stop Gawyn. She pointed at a group of rocks down the path.
"That is a stone guardian," she whispered. "It's magical and can see through my spell. If we walk past that it will take human form and attack us."
The two adventurers snuck off the path and made their way around the pile of rocks. Gawyn thought they had made it by safely, but when he walked around the next tree he bumped into something. Suddenly a huge rock form shot up in front of him.
"Whoa," Gawyn yelled as he stumbled backwards.
Gawyn tripped over a tree root and fell backwards and then the stone guardian was before him.
"Die impudent human," the thing said.
Gawyn put his hands in front of his face as a sudden burst of flame appeared in front of him. He thought that this was to be the end of him, but nothing happened. Gawyn opened his eyes and looked around. Ten feet away getting up of the ground with a black streak across its chest was the guardian and standing over him was Binkkey with her magic staff in hand.
Gawyn quickly got to his feet and drew his powerful magic sword Altashere.
"No mere sword can hurt a stone guardian," Binkkey told him.
"This is no mere sword," Gawyn replied.
The stone guardian charged at Gawyn. Gawyn sidestepped out of the way and slashed sideways with Altashere. The sword sliced through the guardian's arm like a hot knife through butter. Gawyn spun around and slashed with Altashere three times. The guardian dropped to the ground in pieces, and then it dissipated into ashes.
"Wow, that sword is amazing," Binkkey remarked as they started of down the path, invisible once again.
"I found it on an orc. I took it since it was too beautiful to leave with the orc corpses," Gawyn replied. "Oh yeah. I wanted to thank you for saving me back there."
"No problem," Binkkey replied. "What are friends for."
The two continued on in silence. Finally they could see the dark gates of Neriak.
They spotted guards near the entrance. Walking in the shadows to be safe the two friends made there way slowly towards the guards. There was a small area between the guards and the wall that they could slip through. Gawyn conjured a globe of darkness into that spot knowing that is was already dark enough that the guards wouldn't notice the globe. They snuck through the magical darkness and came out inside Neriak. Gawyn took a moment to look around. The city was undeniably beautiful, with tall spires and magically enchanted buildings everywhere. Gawyn decided that someday he would like to return here.
"I think I'm probably the first humans ever to sneak into this city," Gawyn whispered to Binkkey as they continued through the shadows.
"Yeah," she agreed. "Do you have any idea where Phawn has been taken."
"No, but I have an idea," he replied.
Gawyn walked up to a nearby ogre and dropped his invisibility.
"Where has the Wood Elf woman been taken," Gawyn asked.
"Oooh, a human. Me gonna bash em good," the Ogre said.
"I am a loyal follower of Innoruk," Gawyn lied. "Attack me and you will anger my god. Now tell me where the Wood Elf is."
With that Gawyn pulled out Altashere and held it to the ogre's throat.
"Innoruk want's me to kill the girl. Now tell me where she is or be sacrificed to the Prince of Hate."
"Don't hurt. Me tellem where da elf is," the Ogre replied. "The ambassador told em to take da elf girl to da Maiden's Kiss. Dem gonna have some fun wit dat girl," the Ogre said with a smile.
"Where is the Maiden's Kiss," Gawyn asked.
"Dat is in da third gate," the Ogre replied.
Gawyn resheathed his sword and started down the path, the still invisible Binkkey behind him. As soon as they reached the next side street they slipped into the shadows and Binkkey made Gawyn invisible again.
Gawyn and Binkkey snuck through the shadows until they reached a gate. On the other side was a waterfall flowing into a huge lake. The two humans waited until someone passed through the gate and they snuck through before the gate could close. They continued through two more gates like that one and then they were in the third gate area. It took only minutes before Gawyn and Binkkey found a huge sign with the name The Maiden's Kiss on it. The stopped just outside the door.
"How can we open the door and remain invisible" Gawyn thought to himself.
Gawyn's question was answered for him when the door flew open and a Drow was launched through it. A large Ogre stepped out through the door.
"Stay out of da Maiden's Kiss. Dem girls don't like you," the Ogre said before heading back in.
Gawyn and Binkkey ran through the doorway as the door swung shut. Naked Drow women danced on top of the tables.
"Why would they bring Phawn to this place," Gawyn thought to himself. The it dawned on him. "Oh damn I have to find Phawn."
Gawyn motioned for Binkkey to follow him downstairs. When he reached the bottom he saw a hall full of doors. Gawyn heard sounds of pleasure from behind the doors. He could not open the doors while invisible or he would alert the whole place to his presence. He was still trying to decide what to do when he heard something different. Coming from behind the door to his left was a different sound. It was a voice not of pleasure, but of fear and anger. Also it wasn't the deep, sultry voice of a Dark Elf female, it was the beautiful, musical voice of a Wood Elf. Gawyn through the door open and charged in followed by Binkkey.
The sight he saw filled him with uncontrollable rage. there on the bed laid Phawn, her tunic torn and a dagger to her throat. Sitting over top of her was a Drow. Unable to remain calm Gawyn's invisibility dropped.
"What," the startled Drow asked in disbelief, but that was the last word he uttered.
A primal scream erupted from Gawyn's mouth.
"Noooo," he screamed as Altashere flew from it's sheath.
The sword flared bright red as it slashed once, twice, three times into the Drow's chest. Finally the flare died as the Drow slumped to the ground very dead. Gawyn spun around in time to see Binkkey help Phawn to her feet.
Phawn ran towards Gawyn and threw her arms around him. Then she kissed him more passionately than she had ever kissed anyone before. Gawyn finally broke off the kiss as he realized where he was.
"Binkkey, quickly make us invisible," Gawyn said.
Binkkey handed Phawn one of the see invisible necklaces and spoke a few words. They quickly made their way upstairs, expecting a fight at ever corner, but none came. Apparently screams were quite common coming from the rooms downstairs. Gawyn and the others quickly made their way out of the city.
Encountering no resistance on the way out of the city they made there way quickly to their horses in the forest, but what they saw there was bad. Binkkey and Gawyn's horses were surrounded by ten Drow soldiers. Knowing that a fight was inevitable, Gawyn drew his sword. Binkkey readied her staff as Gawyn handed her sword, which he had brought with him, to Phawn.
"Menlynus, attack, Gawyn shouted and the horse burst into action, kicking two of the Drow into the chest easily breaking their ribs.
Gawyn and Phawn charged towards the Drow as Binkkey through fire towards the enemy. The Drow were completely surprised and they were beaten quickly.
Gawyn and Phawn hopped onto Menlynus and Binkkey mounted her horse. They rode of towards Freeport and the Lordknights headquarters.
Three weeks later Gawyn sat on a hill with his arms around Phawn. They looked up and watched as the flaring red sun slipped below the Butcherblock Mountains. Then Gawyn looked down at the city before them. Crushbone, home of the orcs. On the other side of the hill sat a huge army gathered from many powerful guilds. There camped the troops of the Lordknights, the Mysterian Knights, the Lords of Law and the EverKnights.
Tomorrow was to be a big day. Tomorrow they would charge.
By
Justin Asselstine
The character Gawyn Trakand is copyright of Robert Jordan, creator of The Wheel of Time. Places used in this belong to Verant Interactive.
Gawyn looked at the tracks in front of him and realized he was gonna have to make an important decision. He had been following the orcs that had taken his friends, Kaene and Phawn, for two weeks now. The few orcs had met up with one of their patrolling armies and had been traveling together since then, but now the orcs were splitting up. There were tracks going north towards Neriak and tracks going east towards the Ocean of Tears. The problem was that Phawn footprints were going north and Kaene's were going east.
Gawyn now had to decide which to follow first and possibly let the other one die. He wanted it to be a hard choice, but it wasn't. Kaene was his best friend, but Gawyn couldn't handle the thought of what the orcs might be doing to Phawn, the woman he loved.
Gawyn hopped back up onto his horse and sped of in the direction that Phawn's tracks led. As he rode he made a promise to himself that he would come back for Kaene as soon as Phawn was safe.
As time went on Gawyn realized that the orcs were taking Phawn to Neriak.
"How am I ever gonna get into Neriak," Gawyn thought to himself. "That place is filled with Drow that want to chop my head off."
Gawyn continued to ponder how he would get in as he rode towards Neriak. Finally he arrived at the Nektulos Forest. It would take about a day from the entrance to get to Neriak.
Gawyn decided to set up camp just inside the forest. He didn't set a fire, fearing a Drow might see it and come investigate. After eating a meal of bread and cheese Gawyn fell into a fitful sleep. Dreams of orcs and Drow torturing Phawn swam through his mind all night. Finally he awoke sweating.
"I have to hurry," Gawyn thought to himself.
Gawyn cleaned up his camp. He let his horse, Menlynus, run loose knowing the horse would stay nearby in case Gawyn needed it. Gawyn began to make his way through the forest when he heard a twig snap behind him. He spun around and drew his magic sword, Altashere, from it's sheath. Gawyn let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw who it was. It was a human woman who Gawyn knew well.
"I was passing through the Commonlands when I ran into Myrik. He said you were going to try and rescue your friends, so I decided you could use my help," the woman said.
The woman's name was Binkkey and she was a powerful druid and a good friend of Gawyn and Phawn.
"I am so glad to see you," Gawyn exclaimed. "The orcs took Phawn into Neriak. I was wondering how to get in, but now with your magic you can make us invisible and we can walk right in."
"It doesn't work that easily. Yes I can make us invisible, but the Drow are magical people and some will be able to see through our invisibility using magic. We must still be very careful," warned Binkkey. "Well if were gonna go we best do it now." Oh yes, I forgot. Here," Binkkey said handing Gawyn a necklace and slipping a similar one around her neck. "These will make it so we can see each other even when we are invisible."
With a wave of her hand and a muttered word Binkkey disappeared from Gawyn's sight. Gawyn slipped the necklace over his head and Binkkey reappeared.
"Well at least we now they work," Gawyn said. "Now let's go."
Gawyn and Binkkey set off through the forest towards Neriak. They walked on in silence for a couple of hours until Binkkey held out a hand to stop Gawyn. She pointed at a group of rocks down the path.
"That is a stone guardian," she whispered. "It's magical and can see through my spell. If we walk past that it will take human form and attack us."
The two adventurers snuck off the path and made their way around the pile of rocks. Gawyn thought they had made it by safely, but when he walked around the next tree he bumped into something. Suddenly a huge rock form shot up in front of him.
"Whoa," Gawyn yelled as he stumbled backwards.
Gawyn tripped over a tree root and fell backwards and then the stone guardian was before him.
"Die impudent human," the thing said.
Gawyn put his hands in front of his face as a sudden burst of flame appeared in front of him. He thought that this was to be the end of him, but nothing happened. Gawyn opened his eyes and looked around. Ten feet away getting up of the ground with a black streak across its chest was the guardian and standing over him was Binkkey with her magic staff in hand.
Gawyn quickly got to his feet and drew his powerful magic sword Altashere.
"No mere sword can hurt a stone guardian," Binkkey told him.
"This is no mere sword," Gawyn replied.
The stone guardian charged at Gawyn. Gawyn sidestepped out of the way and slashed sideways with Altashere. The sword sliced through the guardian's arm like a hot knife through butter. Gawyn spun around and slashed with Altashere three times. The guardian dropped to the ground in pieces, and then it dissipated into ashes.
"Wow, that sword is amazing," Binkkey remarked as they started of down the path, invisible once again.
"I found it on an orc. I took it since it was too beautiful to leave with the orc corpses," Gawyn replied. "Oh yeah. I wanted to thank you for saving me back there."
"No problem," Binkkey replied. "What are friends for."
The two continued on in silence. Finally they could see the dark gates of Neriak.
They spotted guards near the entrance. Walking in the shadows to be safe the two friends made there way slowly towards the guards. There was a small area between the guards and the wall that they could slip through. Gawyn conjured a globe of darkness into that spot knowing that is was already dark enough that the guards wouldn't notice the globe. They snuck through the magical darkness and came out inside Neriak. Gawyn took a moment to look around. The city was undeniably beautiful, with tall spires and magically enchanted buildings everywhere. Gawyn decided that someday he would like to return here.
"I think I'm probably the first humans ever to sneak into this city," Gawyn whispered to Binkkey as they continued through the shadows.
"Yeah," she agreed. "Do you have any idea where Phawn has been taken."
"No, but I have an idea," he replied.
Gawyn walked up to a nearby ogre and dropped his invisibility.
"Where has the Wood Elf woman been taken," Gawyn asked.
"Oooh, a human. Me gonna bash em good," the Ogre said.
"I am a loyal follower of Innoruk," Gawyn lied. "Attack me and you will anger my god. Now tell me where the Wood Elf is."
With that Gawyn pulled out Altashere and held it to the ogre's throat.
"Innoruk want's me to kill the girl. Now tell me where she is or be sacrificed to the Prince of Hate."
"Don't hurt. Me tellem where da elf is," the Ogre replied. "The ambassador told em to take da elf girl to da Maiden's Kiss. Dem gonna have some fun wit dat girl," the Ogre said with a smile.
"Where is the Maiden's Kiss," Gawyn asked.
"Dat is in da third gate," the Ogre replied.
Gawyn resheathed his sword and started down the path, the still invisible Binkkey behind him. As soon as they reached the next side street they slipped into the shadows and Binkkey made Gawyn invisible again.
Gawyn and Binkkey snuck through the shadows until they reached a gate. On the other side was a waterfall flowing into a huge lake. The two humans waited until someone passed through the gate and they snuck through before the gate could close. They continued through two more gates like that one and then they were in the third gate area. It took only minutes before Gawyn and Binkkey found a huge sign with the name The Maiden's Kiss on it. The stopped just outside the door.
"How can we open the door and remain invisible" Gawyn thought to himself.
Gawyn's question was answered for him when the door flew open and a Drow was launched through it. A large Ogre stepped out through the door.
"Stay out of da Maiden's Kiss. Dem girls don't like you," the Ogre said before heading back in.
Gawyn and Binkkey ran through the doorway as the door swung shut. Naked Drow women danced on top of the tables.
"Why would they bring Phawn to this place," Gawyn thought to himself. The it dawned on him. "Oh damn I have to find Phawn."
Gawyn motioned for Binkkey to follow him downstairs. When he reached the bottom he saw a hall full of doors. Gawyn heard sounds of pleasure from behind the doors. He could not open the doors while invisible or he would alert the whole place to his presence. He was still trying to decide what to do when he heard something different. Coming from behind the door to his left was a different sound. It was a voice not of pleasure, but of fear and anger. Also it wasn't the deep, sultry voice of a Dark Elf female, it was the beautiful, musical voice of a Wood Elf. Gawyn through the door open and charged in followed by Binkkey.
The sight he saw filled him with uncontrollable rage. there on the bed laid Phawn, her tunic torn and a dagger to her throat. Sitting over top of her was a Drow. Unable to remain calm Gawyn's invisibility dropped.
"What," the startled Drow asked in disbelief, but that was the last word he uttered.
A primal scream erupted from Gawyn's mouth.
"Noooo," he screamed as Altashere flew from it's sheath.
The sword flared bright red as it slashed once, twice, three times into the Drow's chest. Finally the flare died as the Drow slumped to the ground very dead. Gawyn spun around in time to see Binkkey help Phawn to her feet.
Phawn ran towards Gawyn and threw her arms around him. Then she kissed him more passionately than she had ever kissed anyone before. Gawyn finally broke off the kiss as he realized where he was.
"Binkkey, quickly make us invisible," Gawyn said.
Binkkey handed Phawn one of the see invisible necklaces and spoke a few words. They quickly made their way upstairs, expecting a fight at ever corner, but none came. Apparently screams were quite common coming from the rooms downstairs. Gawyn and the others quickly made their way out of the city.
Encountering no resistance on the way out of the city they made there way quickly to their horses in the forest, but what they saw there was bad. Binkkey and Gawyn's horses were surrounded by ten Drow soldiers. Knowing that a fight was inevitable, Gawyn drew his sword. Binkkey readied her staff as Gawyn handed her sword, which he had brought with him, to Phawn.
"Menlynus, attack, Gawyn shouted and the horse burst into action, kicking two of the Drow into the chest easily breaking their ribs.
Gawyn and Phawn charged towards the Drow as Binkkey through fire towards the enemy. The Drow were completely surprised and they were beaten quickly.
Gawyn and Phawn hopped onto Menlynus and Binkkey mounted her horse. They rode of towards Freeport and the Lordknights headquarters.
Three weeks later Gawyn sat on a hill with his arms around Phawn. They looked up and watched as the flaring red sun slipped below the Butcherblock Mountains. Then Gawyn looked down at the city before them. Crushbone, home of the orcs. On the other side of the hill sat a huge army gathered from many powerful guilds. There camped the troops of the Lordknights, the Mysterian Knights, the Lords of Law and the EverKnights.
Tomorrow was to be a big day. Tomorrow they would charge.