Nictin dashed pass the guards and into the fog of the Misty Thicket.
He was looking for Fydlin and it was always an easy task. He knocked three
times on the door of an abandon mud home owned by a old halfling. "Come in"
He herd and he slammed the door. He dashed over to Fydlin who sat with a
glass of sham pane. "Weren't you just drinking?" Muttered Nictin to him.
Fydlin smiled "It isn't for me. Then he threw it o Nictin. "Its for you,
congratulations.druid." Nictin smiled and took a sip. "Do you really think
so Fydlin?" He asked. Fydlin nodded. "Three miracles is the point and from
what I've seen you're meant to be a druid." Nictin sat on a rust old chair
and leaned back into the wall. "I can't believe this" Fydlin stood up and
lit a pipe. "Why?" He asked. "Well our entire family from great great
grandfather Selean to Rictin we McFiddles have always been warriors and now
the last two in the line are a rogue and well hopefully a druid." Fydlin
shrugged "Not that odd the way I see it." "We have always been a partying
family a rogue trait and dad is often fond of nature a druid trait. It all
ties in kind of." Nictin nodded. Then he smiled "I can't wait to tell dad."
Fydlin smiled "Yeah but you realize he is the only McFiddle or halfling in
this case that is going to be happy about that. Nictin frowned "What do you
mean?" Fydlin chuckled "Think about it you're the sworn son of Rictin the
mighty its almost written you are to be a warrior. You changing is like a
ogre marrying a gnome. Think about the warrior leader is going to think.
Think of what the Mayor is going to think!" Nictin frowned and nodded. He
didn't even think of that. He was always the type to worry about what
others thought of him and this wasn't a good trait for someone going
against a family tradition. Fydlin patted Nictin on the shoulder "Don't
worry about it." He smiled then walked towards the door. "Where are you off
to?" Nictin wondered. "I'm off to the muffin raiders" Grinned Fydlin.
Nictin laughed. The muffin raider was a gang of thieves who had a nasty
habit of stealing Crumiun the gnome's goods before he received the
shipment. Especially the muffins. You know your going to get cough" Smiled
Nictin. Fydlin shrugged and left.
Nictin left minutes later and sat by a tree in the thicket. He began
to worry about what his future held. He already thought the thicket was big
what about the entire world? Three continents of dangerous people and
allies alike. And one full of lizard men born to kill. How as he going to
survive in a world like that? At least I have my family he thought then he
squinted his eyes towards shadows moving by the gates. Tall shadows moved
towards the gates Nictin widened his eyes. Oh my God. He thought dad is
home already. He got to his feet and dashed towards the barbarians. There
where three of them. He looked to them happily and they wore no face. Only
sadness. He became confused. He looked to the one he had always notice his
dad talking to he wore a long scare down the side of his face. Then he
looked to the shaman. His arm was missing and he wore bandages across his
chest. The third one looked dead almost he was so white. He was shivering
and making strange noises. The lead barbarian got down on his knee and
looked to Nictin. "Master McFiddle I presume." He said. A feeling of
distress boiled with in Nictin what was going on. The barbarian put his
large hand on Nictin's shoulder. He could feel the strength of this mighty
warrior just form this touch. It seemed as if he was made of a cold steel.
His armor was now blood stained and it appeared not to be normal blood.
Some was bluish and around his helmet it glowed like a green stain. His
head was now bleeding. A chilly wind seemed to float around his body almost
as if anything he came in touch with would have a chill run through it. He
began to shake and fell to the ground near Nictin. Malcolm came by and both
he Nictin and the reminding barbarians tried to pull the fallen warrior
into the woods as not to attract more unneeded attention. "Well at least he
isn't dead." Sighed Nictin. "If he were dead he wouldn't be able to tell us
what has happen." None of the barbarians spoke or commented. Almost as if
they where waiting for an answer to what happen themselves. "And at least
you two seem.um.ok." Nictin said as he looked to the shivering barbarian
and the one clutching where his arm once was. The panicky barbarian stared
at Nictin "Are you calling us lucky." His voice was so cold that it hurt
Nictin to hear it. "Lucky!" He screamed in pain. He grabbed hold of Nictin
and began shacking him rapidly "Don't you get it you idiot their gone all
gone and I survived your saying I'm lucky why the hell am I alive I should
kill you and show you how lucky the others were." Nictin was released as
the barbarian fell to the ground unconscious. The one missing his arm stood
over him "Sorry lad, we have had some hard times." He smiled weakly and
threw the body of the lead barbarian by a tree. Minutes later he awoke. The
shaman began casting a blue healing aura around him and he became stronger
with ever blast of the energy. "Nictin." He beckoned and he walked over to
him. The barbarian gripped towards his belt and pulled out a jug of water.
"It is going to be very difficult to explain everything that has happen.you
better sit down." Nictin and the others sat around the barbarian who now
lay hunched on a tree. He closed his eyes took a breath and began his
story.
"Nictin your father was not your average warrior but the leader of a
band of rebels known as the Brilliant Knights of the North. The group was
mostly made up of barbarians who lived horrible lives inflicted with the
pain given to them by the creatures of permafrost. Hundreds of troops
battled every day against goblins and it seemed as if the war was ours
until we learned of their leader. A dragon or wurm led them. Her name is
Lady Vox and when she entered the battle field we lost many men. The
goblins began to set fire to villages near Halas and we could only fear the
day that the dragon brought her forces to the gates of Halas for it is
there that she would defeat us. Halas is the heart of the barbarian empire
it is our home with out it all would be lost. We felt as if the end was
near when your father joined our forces. He had gifts unimaginable for a
halfling. He had the power of three of our warriors and his blade took the
lives of not only goblins but greater creatures that reigned in Vox's army.
For years he battled with us taking occasional breaks back to Rivervale to
make a family and then to father it. Until he learned of the Ice Giants who
now where enlisted in Vox's army. These beast where of the 48th season and
believe me that is more then a worthy match for your father and it would
take him plus at least three spell casters to take one down. This is when
he decided to take less breaks and he even battled more at our sides. He
mentored me and told me that one day he would be the one to sit at Vox's
throne and return order to Ever frost. Months ago we learned where that
throne was. Permafrost a deadly dungeon where the dragon lurked her self.
We trained for months and even did our own attacks on ice giant and goblin
settlements in the area to get ready to enter the dungeon. Days before your
father went back to the north we had a three rogue spies go into the
dungeon and scout out a little map to where Vox was. Only one of them came
back and tired of the pain we had been going through we decided that it was
time to strike. Darfe was the smart one Nictin he was the only one who knew
he wasn't ready to battle her. And even I had been to bold to admit we did
not yet stand a chance or have enough men. Or strong enough ones at that.
And now we have completely destroyed our chance at living peacefully." He
stopped and bowed his head "They are all dead Nictin. Over three hundred
young warriors and shaman. The dwarfs you had spent the evening before with
and.your father." Nictin fell in to shock. His heart dropped to his stomach
and he began to shake wildly. Large tears came to his eyes and he grabbed
at his hair. "No" He cried "NO" He twirled in circles not being able to
come to grips with what happen. He began screaming nonsense to the heavens
and the barbarians ushered off Malcolm who was trying to run over and
comfort his grieving friend. Everyone except the lead barbarian left Nictin
alone to scream. He smashed at threes his hands turned bright red and
bleeding and the trunks of the trees where scratched with bark falling all
over the ground. It began to rain when he screamed and ever time he gave a
yell it seemed to thunder. The barbarian noticed this oddly. At last it was
over and Nictin sat blankly looking into nothing. The barbarian sat by him
and rubbed his back. Nictin sniffled and got up the two began to enter
Rivervale. Inside halflings stood all along torn confetti lay on the
ground. Its leader was not to be found. Wasted colors lay in the damp grass
and the mayor him self wore a sad face. Fydlin was standing in the middle
of the crowd swinging his blade madly. As he entered everyone seemed to
stare at Nictin. He saw his mom weeping and when she looked at Nictin she
ran off into the crowd unable to cope with seeing his face. The crowd
looked at Nictin looking like they where waiting for a response. Nictin
looked up and dried his tears afraid to look like a coward even in his
moment of grief. "I am." He began he looked and saw Darfe in the crowd even
he showed tears. "Sorry to inform you all." He continued then saw the mayor
raised his hands over his face in a tantrum. "That my father" The warrior
leader flung his blade into a wall and kicked at a large bucket. "Has been
murdered by the dragon Vox." People began to mumble loudly and children
wept. "But I .his son Nictin" The rain began to pour again and a sound of
thunder roared in the sky. "Will avenge my fathers death." He bowed his
head and heard people crying of Nictin's insanity. Fool, idiot, and cretin
they yelled and Nictin walked home sadly not wishing to be spoken to.
Fydlin caught up and the two did not speak to each other. When they come up
to the pass to their home they where stopped by none other then the warrior
guild leader "We will begin first thing tomorrow son's of Rictin and for
long hours we must work speedily and." "No" Nictin said softly. The warrior
guild leader gritted his teeth. "No time for grieving McFiddle we need
revenge now.." "I said no and I stand by it I will not be a warrior." The
leader gasped enraged. "What nonsense are you implying?" Nictin looked to
him more serious then he had ever been in his life. "I am to be a druid and
I will do what it takes to become one." The warrior leader shook his head
"You're a disgrace to your family's name Nictin. Then he smiled to Fydlin
"How about you you're the oldest son you should be able to do this right!?"
Fydlin smirked and revealed his piercer no longer afraid to reveal who he
was. "Sorry bud but where both screw ups." The warrior leader shook his
head not believing what he was hearing. "Your all a disgrace you sicken
me." He screamed. Fydlin smiled "Yup a couple of screw ups."