Disclaimer
I AriesKerbouchard do not in any way shape or form own,
nor am affiliated with the characters, names, races, or places used in this writing.
They belong to the good people of TSR and Wizards of the Coast; I have no claim upon them.
Darkness Dawning
Chapter 1
Keldar Drakenmord sighs heavily as he slashes yet another orc across the throat. When were they ever going to stop trying to lay claim to Hell Gate Keep he wonders as he works his way around towards the supply wagon, every month or so the orcs come down in force and try to route the guards of the Keep, and every month or so the orcs get slaughtered en-mass. "Damned things breed like rabbits." the driver of the supply wagon shouts over the ring of steel and the cries of the wounded and dying as he buries his axe into the skull of an orc. Keldar merely grunts and sends an orc's hand flying in an arc of blood, with another sigh he pulls out a dagger and plants it in the orc's chest even as his kriss blade whips up and around to take another orc's head off at the shoulders. "Seems to me like there are more of them then last time." he comments as he leans on the wagon for a breather while the vanguard from Silverymoon chases the last of the orcs back into the foothills of the mountains. After the guards return they see to the wounded and spend a couple of hours burying their dead, the orcs they pushed off to one side of the road for the wolves to feast upon. That finished they resume their trek to the Keep to bring in some much needed supplies, they hadn't gone far however before the light began to fail. Finding a nice little niche in the side of the road that offered a small overhang from a low ledge they made camp and slept in shifts taking turns at watch. Just before dawn the orcs returned in force nearly catching the watchmen by surprise, Keldar draws his massive kriss blade from its sheath on his back and moves to join in the defense of the camp when something zips out from above and behind him catching the driver of the wagon in the back of the neck. Diving to the side the occult slayer rolls to his feet and casts a glance up at the ledge spotting three shadowy figures with what appeared to be tiny crossbows. The slayer growls in annoyance and confusion pondering the meaning of those tiny crossbows as he runs up the rock wall and leaps over to the ledge. Diving into a roll as soon as he lands he leaps to his feet stabbing the nearest figure in the stomach the point of his blade shearing out through its back even as he turns towards the remaining two using the body as a shield as miniature quarrels thud into the body. Thrusting the body from him he rips his blade free and rushes the two figures noting curiously their red glowing eyes, he slashes at the one on the right as he kicks at the one the left grunting in annoyance when his blade rings loudly in the predawn air. He gains a little satisfaction however as his hobnailed boot slams into the other figures faces knocking it backwards off the ledge, twirling his blade around he feints at the remaining figures head then pulls back masterfully and stabs at its chest. The figure gasps audibly as the blade slides home piercing a lung and severing its spine. As the sun begins to peak over the mountains Keldar looks into the face of his dying enemy and gasps in shock and horror to see a dark elf.