Somewhere I can belong Chapter 12
The Mound I
Rambling from Rohan: Greetings and salutations to all, this chapter could only come into being with the help of my good friend Kev. I hope you enjoy the story and I'm thinking that an interlude might be coming up soon describing the tale behind Natures Wrath, it's quite the fun blade, not a clever cleaver but important none the less. Well then enough of my rambling, on to the story. Sorry it took so long for the update, finals, graduation, among other things weighed heavily upon my mind and spirit. On the plus side my severe almost hatred of individuals has given me great inspiration for several future characters.
Many leagues from the besieged city of Aaron's Mill, a lone figure caught his first glimpse of what had been the sacred mound of Ehlona. Peering from the lip of a creek bed he saw the devastation, what had been a vibrant landscape now was little more than a barren wasteland. The ground was an ashen grey and the closer to the mound the bleaker the land became. It was though the land was caught in a perpetual winter, Quinn sank back into the creek bed and thought of what would have to be done,
"The mound is an ancient place of power novice, those that control it, influence the very land around it. This blight will continue to spread." His companion began to lecture.
"Well mentor, if the orcs have controlled the mound for so long why is the devastation not spread to the entire region." Quinn asked matter-of-factly to his ethereal mentor.
"What can I say novice that hasn't been said already, orcs are dumb and more importantly it takes a lot to deconsecrate a sacred place. By the way of things it looks like all that was beautiful of this place has been reduced to ash. So it would be safe to say that not much time is left, thanks to that foul abomination of a god!"
"Yeah he's a real swell foul breathing orc. So to save the day I need to kill everything on the mound and then reconsecrate it?"
"Well I would hope that you somehow manage to survive, but if you want to die in pursuit of a noble goal, far be it from me to stop you. Besides I could always use the company of another spirit bound to this world." She added while batting her eyelids
"I'll try to stay alive."
"Good, I'll hold you to it. Now move faster we need to cover as much ground as possible before we're spotted."
Not bothering to rise from the creek bed Quinn added, "Don't you mean I'm spotted mentor. I don't think that they'll be able to see you."
"I'm hurt novice. Don't you think of us as a team? Just because I am a spirit does that mean that you do not think of me as a partner? I'm not a zombie, I am a spirit held to this plane by divine mandate. That doesn't happen to everyone. I mean after all that we have been through, you wound me novice you truly wound me if I still had eyes I would be crying."
Staring at the hurt expression in the elf's ghostly face Quinn took a chance and hoped that this time what was saying was the truth and bowed, "Mentor we are a team, and I apologize for any disrespect."
"Quinn you were doing so well, and then you had to ruin it by going off and apologizing. You're getting better though, never take anything for face value, there's always something more to it."
"I see mentor. I apologize for not seeing it before."
"Also, Quinn, stop apologizing for everything, there are things that are beyond our abilities to control or influence. No matter what we do there are things we cannot influence." In the core of her being she knew that this lesson would be the most difficult for Quinn to master, and one she knew he never would. Quinn was what he was and nothing she said would change that about him. "Have you thought about how to take the mound from the orcish squatters?"
"Yes I was going to politely ask them to leave by presenting them with written documentation that they do not own the property and demand that a third party be called into mediate the situation."
"Did I hit you one to many times in the head, novice!"
"I'm not finished yet mentor."
"Oh do continue. I'm all ears as to how you are going to convince the orcs to leave."
"While they were distracted I was then going to call down lightening upon them, until all that remained were their charred remains."
"I hate to tell you this novice, but we've tried that already. It didn't work so well."
"You actually presented them with a deed?"
"Are you daft novice of course not!" Images of fleeing back to the grove filled her mind as she mentally chastised herself for a failed plan.
"I know, but there is are some gems of truth in it. We can't take on the entire group of orcs that are there. No matter how deserted it is, there has to be some sort of cleric there to, 'Keep the fires burning' and some acolytes as well. They'll overwhelm us if we try to defeat them all at once. But if we take out a group of acolytes, then one of us strikes at the cleric while the other keeps the rest of the acolytes busy. Then we team up to finish the task."
"Good plan novice, it might just work. Now then what might go wrong?"
"We're spreading our forces to thin, there is a good chance that we will not be able to join up and that each of us will be on our own. If that is the case then we do what we have to do."
"Good plan and good justification."
"I'm a restrained optimist mentor."
"Novice, what in the abyss is a restrained optimist?"
Unsheathing Natures Wrath and holding it in the ready position he replied, "I hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
"You really didn't have a happy childhood did you Quinn?" As she was speaking Quinn resheathed the obsidian scimitar an after a moments consideration pulled out a knotty piece of oak and uttering several words in a hushed tone, it exploded in size. "I give you a perfectly good blade and instead you grab a stick. You don't bring a stick to sword fight!"
"Ah mentor. but this is a very good stick. Great for strikes to the one, two, and six."
"What about the other 5 angles novice, a bladed weapon would serve you far better. It's a more civilized weapon and any civilized being can understand the elegance that goes with the way of the blade." She added with a smirk.
"Mentor, but why should I use a civilized weapon against orcs when since they aren't civilized and would not appreciate it."
"Novice stop using logic against me this instant." Her shrill voice pierced the early morning calm and seemingly echoed through the area. The shillelagh, nearly fell from his hand as Quinn stared in shock at his mentor. "Oops." She said while cringing.
Soon Quinn heard the sounds of rushed footfalls and harsh screams in orcish emanating from the mound. "Well novice my plan is working perfectly, the acolytes are spreading out searching. Thus leaving the mound relatively unguarded. My tactical skills know no bounds."
"Mentor, you must be the luckiest dead elf in existence."
"Well all strategy had at least a little bit of good luck."
"Stop smirking mentor, that was not planning that was just luck."
"Or a sign that Ehlona truly favors our quest." Shaking his head at her last remark, he chanced a look over the edge of the creek bed and caught sight of three orcs rushing towards the creek bed with all the grace of drunken hill giant. Spit and drool flew from their gaping maws as the beasts raced for Quinn's hiding place. Looking down at shillelagh in his hands a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. There was no more running, no more hiding from challenges. Whether he succeeded or failed no one would know and most importantly there would be no praise. Grasping the shillelagh in his right and his shield in his left and with a grin on his face, Quinn spoke a simple statement that ended the racing thoughts, "Just the way I like it."
The four orcs were unaware of Quinn's presence, they were far more concerned with avoiding the barbs of Kreigon's spear. The enraged orc had ordered them to find the source of the screech that had interrupted his chanting. They all knew that Kreigon was looking for any reason to send them to Grumush's side, or as they called it having your head ripped off and then stuck onto the altar. They all had agreed the further they were from the altar searching the better off they would be. It was then that the lead orc, saw a figure climb out of the creek bed and walking towards them. From his walk alone the leader of the three knew he wasn't an orc, and thus reacted as orcs do. Shouting something in his accursed tongue to the others. Immediately a pair of orcs grasped javelins and let them fly, while the other pair grasped their axes above their heads and screaming out to Grumush they charged the lone druid.
Quinn was not waiting idly, already druidic words were flowing from his mouth as the first of the two spells he cast began to take affect followed soon by the other. He was prepared as much as he could be and smiled as the first closed for combat. The javelins had been thrown wide and he was in no danger, raising the shillelagh in a salute to the orcs he yelled out to them as they neared, "Ehlona's Wrath hath come."
The first orc was distracted by what he had heard, the cry had been in orcish and the confusion of hearing it from one who wasn't an orc confused him. As he tried to understand what was taking place a sudden and terrible blow struck his face ending his confusion and his life in a single blow. The blow had been to much for the orcs skull to handle and it caved in around Quinn's weapon and held it firm, granting the other orc a perfect strike at Quinn.
The cut was broad and deep with blood flowing freely from his arm, the remaining orcs hollowed at the sight of fresh blood and rushed in to join the kill. The fools did not know that any animal was far more dangerous when it was hurt. Rolling away from the first orc Quinn muttered a spell through the pain and the blood flow was quickly staunched but not fully healed. The orc that had wounded was closing again. So confident of his kill that he dropped his axe to his side to move faster, Quinn rose in front of him and before the orc had the chance to raise his axe to block Quinn's strike, the beast was already following backwards never to rise again. The remaining pair held their ground shocked at the ease that their comrades had been slain, and as the druid approached them they howled out to Grumush for strength. Their god did not answer them.
Atop the mound, Kreigon, Favored Soul of Grumush, watched the cursed follower of Ehlona dispose of the remaining pair of orcs. Where the other orcs had worn some kind of armor, this orc wore none, everyvisible inch his body was covered with crisscrossing scars or elaborate tattoos that wove in and out of one another in a never ending series of loops. His head had been shaved bald and still more tattoos adorned his skull.
Finally, a challenge worthy of him, this was why he was ordered to remain here with these weaklings, with this one's blood he would prove his worth. Crying out to the heavens he chanted for his gods favor, and his prayers were heard. His considerable bulk grew in size and layer after layer of his god's protection fell over him. "This shall be no contest." Kreigon's voice boomed. That said he quickly began another series of prayers to his dark deity, a blast of spiritual energy darted towards Quinn while his other spell cast would not harm Quinn directly, it would cause his demise all the same.
"Well you're still alive novice, although you might want to get that cut looked at, it might become infected if its not washed and treated properly."
"Well I suppose I could lay down here for a few days while I heal naturally, I'm sure the fact that I just killed four of the orcs brethren would not endanger me at all."
"One more thing novice, I gave you sword for a reason. It's more than just a shiny blade it has powers that are beyond…." Suddenly Quinn was thrown back several feet through the air. "Hmm Spiritual Weapon very clever. His mentor commented with the detached tone of an observer. "Now listen to me novice pull yourself up and make him come down here to you, I suggest something big and destructive..." Her voice ended abruptly and as Quinn pulled himself up of the ground no sound came from his as well, and not from lack of trying. No matter how hard he yelled. His voice had been taken from him as well as his spell casting leaving him incredibly vulernable.
A look of utter determination came upon Quinn's face, he knew this spell, its strengths and its weaknesses. Gamgee has cast it upon him one night after he grew annoyed at his apologizing. It was ranged spell and all he had to do was to leave the area affected. Glancing backwards he saw firebrands moving closer to the mound. He would have to finish it quickly before he was overwhelmed, quickly drawing Nature's Wrath Quinn cut a slash in his pack letting the soil inside flow outward in a slow stream. Shouldering the pack again he began to race up the mound leave a trail of soil in his wake, the rich brown soil stood out in sharp contrast to the dead almost ash like soil. With each step he took closer to the summit he felt his throat slowly beginning to open again and with it his voice returned.
Reaching the summit Quinn had his first real look at the orc, he was massive and both of his massive hands, which were the size of bear's paws, clutched a vile great axe dripping with a black fetid liquid of some kind. Time seemed to stand still as an eerie silence till Quinn snarling out in orcish yelled out, "You're standing on my goddess's mound."
The orc responded by gouging out a furrow of dirt with his feet, "Fool, I am Kreigon Favored Soul of Grumush, I will smite you with my god's power and feast upon your heart and adorn my altar with your hide." Yelling out battle cries in their own native tongues the two closed for combat. A wild swing by the orc was blocked by Quinn's blade but the force behind the blow nearly drove him to his knees.
"You're a disgrace to worship a woman." Kreigon screamed as their weapons were crossed."
"At least my goddess has two eyes!" Quinn yelled back.
"Your goddess is not here mine is, this is his place of power and you will die here by my hand fool." Quinn was not moved by the beasts taunting and stepped back from the stalemate, Roaring Kreigon closed the distance only to find Quinn not there, he had sidestepped the charged orc and brought his blade across his side without even being noticed. The blade had pierced the layers of protection laid upon him as if there were none, and his blood flowed from the wound freely.
"Such a wound will not slay me fool."
"Ehlona's vengeance is patient, and if it takes many cuts to slay you so it shall." As the pair resumed their duel another battle was taking place as one by one the orcs that reached the mound fell dead to a phantom. Their weapons could not slay that which was not alive and their god did not answer their pitiful prayers for aid. Time and time again a flaming blade appeared striking through armor setting another orc on fire, When the blade did not appear often an orc would simply drop to the ground lifeless without a mark or scorch upon them. As the last of them choose discretion over valor and fled for the wild, only then was a rich sylvan voice heard above the silence of the battle, "Don't die on me now novice."
Quinn and Kreigon had fallen into a pattern as their struggle brought them back and forth over the summit of the mound, blood flowed freely from both their bodies but neither would yield. Howling out to his god the orc brought the broad face side of axe toward Quinn brandishing it as though it were a club. There was no time to parry, or avoid the blow, all he could was brace his shield and hope it held, and for a brief moment it did but only a moment. The wooden shield exploded under the force of the blow casting shards into both opponents, pain flooded through Quinn as he was thrown to the ground by the force of the blow. In that instant he knew that the sickening crunch he had heard was not only the loss of his shield but that of his shield arm breaking as well.
Kreigon approached the prone druid, confident of his immenant victory, that was until he saw the druids sword arm dart out slashing through his ankles hamstringing him. His legs gave out under such a massive girth and he crashed into the ground. "How nice of you to join me down here favored soul of Grumush are you going to watch the clouds all day as well in silent contemplation of how you can worship such a failure of a god."
Kreigon halted his prayer screaming out in insult and pain, "I will feast on your entrails. I will not kill you, I will leave you begging for death as I sacrifice your crushed body to my god" The insult had brought Quinn enough time and the effects of the spell he cast were nearing completion, his arm was slowly repairing itself as bone, muscle and flesh all reknit themselves together. Quinn's shield arm no longer hung limply at his side battered and broken, some shards of the broken shield still clung to his arm but his arm was healed. Kreigon rose as well with his weight now easily supported by his repaired limbs as well.
His spells were exhausted and Quinn knew that Kreigon was far from finished, reaching back with his healed arm he drew his own scimitar he made ready to fall into the 7 count and hoped that skill alone would be enough to slay his foe. Both blades were now perpendicular to the right side of his body resembling an F; Natures Wrath in his right hand was near his hip while his own blade was near his shoulder. Kreigon wasted no time in assuming a new form he merely advanced howling out to Grumush with his blade raised high.
Not wanting to face the beast head on Quinn again sidestepped and began the seven count, he lead with his right arm as it darted out to strike at Kreigon's exposed legs, while his left simultaneously struck high aiming for his neck. Kreigon howled in fury as the first blow struck and hastily dropped the axe to block the strike to his neck, the blows were not done yet as Quinn's right blade followed through and struck the same area guarded by the hastily raised axe, before following through to join the other blade in a mirrored image of his beginning form. The fourth hit came from the left blade as is dove again for the orcs unguarded legs, scoring another shallow cut, "If I have to orc I will bleed you out a cut at a time!"
No longer waiting for an opening Kreigon struck hard and fast with an overhead swing hoping to split the druid in half only to have it blocked by Nature's Wrath. Darting back from the forced block, Quinn follow through with the last two strikes of the 7 count, his left blade struck for the right side of the orcs muscle thickened neck, as expected Kreigon's axe again checked the blades advance. "I see your pattern fool, I will kill you slowly." The orc spat out.
Quinn was unfazed by the proclamation and smiled as he readied the last blow; in the seconds that it took for Kreigon to utter his threat the next blow was already coming. It was from the left blade again but Quinn did not seek the same target, pulling back the blade he reversed his hold on the blade so the cutting edge was now on the other side and flipped his wrist over to strike at the other side of his neck. The thickened muscle and hide slowed the blade, but still it found the artery and blood sprayed from the wound like a crimson fountain. Screaming in rage the orc twisted away from Quinn's cruel blades and let his own gushing blood spray out and blind the druid and howling out in rage cast another spell. A force of pure malevolence threw the blinded druid away nearly to the edge of the summit where he nearly slumped to the ground before bracing himself with his blades. Seeing his foe disabled and momentarily blinded, Kreigon dropped his guard and covering wound with one of filthy hands began to utter words in orcish that rushed from his gnarled lips in a hurried prayer.
The blow had taken the breath away form him but Quinn was far from beaten, though he could see it from where he was. For a moment he wondered why he saw the world through a haze of crimson, till his mind cleared and he remembered. He heard the rushed words and knew that soon Kreigon would be healed once more and he could not let that take place. He could barely move and he had no spells left to strike back with, time froze as he considered his options that were rapidly becoming none. Unbidden a nearly forgotten memory bubbled up form the depths of something his mentor had once said, "Novice, victory in battle and in life is knowing when to take a reckless chance knowing that it all likelihood you will die." In that instant Quinn knew what he had to do, ignoring the pain he broke into an all out run with his blades leading the way. Within seconds Quinn had reached his foe and threw whatever strength he had left in a desperate lunge drawing the blades across the Kreigon's midline in hopes of disembowing the beast.
The shock on Kreigon's face was complete as he became aware of his desperate lunge. There was no way to parry or block the blows, those he would have to take but there was a counter. As the blades began to slice into him the part that delighted in the pain laughed at the exsuisite pain as they cut into him, a moment ago the strikes would have proved fatal but not anymore. Blood rushed from the parallel cuts on his and in that same instant he dropped his axe and brought both of his massive arms into a brutal bear hug of Quinn squeezing with all the divine power that flowed through him, and delighted in hearing the druid's ribs break in his grasp.
The pain was so brutal Quinn could not even black out form it. The broken shards of ribs were piercing shredding the inside of his body and in that instant he knew that he had failed his mentor, his friends, and everyone. Through pain wrecked sobs he screamed in failure.
"Where is your goddess now fool!" Kreigon ranted as he threw Quinn to the ground. His old scimitar tumbled from his now rebroken arm as he tumbled end over end. "Scream again fool, it is the sweetest music in all the land." Kreigon's voice boomed above it all. Until he heard another scream, it came from the nearly crushed shell of a human. It was no human scream it was something else, something else entirely.
Ramblings part II: The next chapter will be out much sooner than the last update I swear it. We'll be hooking back up with Gamgee, Thrack, Crystal, Barbarian - trainee, & Drunken Monk as they sortie out. Not all of them will make it back.
