Chapter 2: The Warrior Awakens

Somewhere outside the border forests of The Village of Sparrows the war was getting closer. In the hour before the dead hours. A company of Humani warriors was all that stood in the way of the Elder forces advancing into the southern area of the Hollow. Commander Charles Nottestad was acting fast to reinforce the borders all he could….but he knew it would not last.

"The scouting team has not returned sir…we need to think of a new course of action our resources and hold in this region are being lost to the Elders advances. How should we move ahead sir?" Captain Nero of the Scouting and Espionage squad said as he took his seat at the war table. Soon the Captain of the Vanguard, and the Captain of the Berserker joined, they bowed and said nothing as they took their seats.

Commander Nottestad stood up at the head of the table and looked out…he was thinking back of a time when the table was once full…"may the Gods rest their souls" he muttered as he began.

"Nice of you three to join me, we are almost at our end here, we must discuss the contingency plan set back by the King…We must not let the Elder forces enter the border woods, too many have slipped through as it is…Any objections?"

The three Captains each shook their heads and remained silent as the Commander walked out for a second. He looked up in the sky as a star shot across the sky, he smiled weakly as he remembered an old legend he once heard. In the distance there was a rustling in the enemy camp, Commander Nottestad sighed as he though about his family back home, how he promised his daughter he would come back. "Well honey, it looks as if I might have to break that promise, I hope that in time you will forgive me."

Behind him the Captain of the Vanguard was leaning against a post on the tent smoking from his pipe. He withdrew the pipe as he exhaled a trail of smoke bellowed from his nostrils like an angry dragon "Sir, the search team has returned…the Elders force will be on top of us within the hour…if we are to hold them off with the contingency...I think it would be wise to go ahead and do it now…" the Captain said as he waited for his answer. He took his pipe and took a long drag from it once more as he watched Commander Nottestad.

Commander Nottestand remained silent as he walked in, the Captain was not long after him as he took out his sword and struck the table, with such ease the Commander looked calm as the table broke into two. He looked up as he sheathed his sword once again "I am enacting Contingency plan XIV…burn the forest…" Commander Nottestad said as he walked to his personal quarters. Each of the Captains got up and without a word they bowed…as they walked out Commander Nottestad sighed as he listened to the calm cool night air "the war has finally come home, I hope that the time we buy is enough..." he said as he walked into his quarters. Once inside he stripped his officers armor and dawned a charcoal black armor made of the burning Diamond, only the Kings trusted allies had this set, the pauldrons themselves were made of elder dragon bone encrusted with the diamond. In the sun it would gleam with a harsh light, those who dare to touch it are cursed, but still the Commander strapped up. After he attached his weapons, a long sword bearing his family crest, and a battle-axe made of refined Mithril. He was dressed for war. As he was preparing to walk outside there was commotion behind him, as he turned there they were…seven feet tall warriors dressed in sleek armor as black as night. Commander Nottestad smiled as the wind picked up, the lantern candle was blown out as he heard a clicking sound as the last thing Commander Nottestad saw before everything went dark was the Elder Assassins guns.

As the guns went off the Commander had already rushed them, drawing his long sword he sliced the bullets with ease as he jumped and landed a kick to the side of one of the assassins face guard, the other one roared in rage and shot his gun off again hitting Commander Nottestad's armor, it bounced off as the roar of a dragon was heard the Commander cut through the first assassin as he whirled around to face the other. "So this is how you Elder bastards get the jump on us, using simple bastards like you." He said as he got into a battle stance, his sword held with both hands as he remained calm. The Elder Assassin laughed, it sounded almost like a serpent hissing as it threw the guns in the air. As the assassin did so Commander Nottestad heard the flap of his tent swing open as a young warrior ran in "SIR! THE ELDERS HAVE ARR…" the warrior was cut short however as the assassin threw a dagger into the throat of the warrior, as blood gushed out into the darkness Commander Nottestad took advantage and swiftly ran behind the assassin. He took his sword and pierced the Elders soft armor and skin as it's guns hit the floor the Assassin gargled and roared as it pulled a knife and struck out with it's dying breath the knife punctured Commander Nottestads under arm right above his heart. The Commander dropped to a knee and pulled the knife out, he examined it in the dark and saw his fate…the knife was covered in Dwarven hellfire…it was a poison so lethal, its said to have even brought a dragon down. The Commander laughed as he peeled off his chest plate and threw the knife down. As he stood up the Captain of the Berserkers came in "how bad is it?' he asked with a blank expression. Commander Nottestad shook his head "It is only a flesh wound, hurry we need to get to the forest and set the plan in motion.

As they walked out the battle had started already, war machines were pouring into the camp, Elders killing scores of men while the tougher Humani soldiers held the ranks as the captains gathered with the Commander "Sir…our men have all put it to a vote, you must go…get to the King and give him this…do not let anyone stop you" he said as he handed Commander Nottestad a scroll, it was sealed with a blood spell only a true rogue would know. Commander Nottestad tried to protest, but he fell to a knee "I am weak, I am not the one that needs to take it…I will die before I reach the next village…" He said as he stood back up. He held the scroll as a young warrior, barely old enough to be apart of the military ran up "Sir, the forces are retreating we fear that a bigger attack is coming, what do we do sir…what do we…" there was an explosion that caught everyone off guard, someone had started the contingency early. The ground began to quake as the Captains all looked to another and nodded in silent agreement as they looked to the young warrior "What is your name boy?" The Captain of the Vanguard asked. "My name sir…my name is Zach sir…Zach Parsons, I hail from the town of Valorfort." They all watched as an Elder War Machine climbed the hills…it was a giant monstrosity, blades spilling from it and guns on top as if it were some land ship. "Zach take the Commander and get him to the next town over…it is The Village of Sparrows, hurry now he has not much time left." The Vanguard Captain ordered as he took the boys shoulder and put him with the Commander. Zach helped the captain up as he walked towards the Border Forest, the fire had already spread as the sky turned blood red. The ground quaked and began to break. A giant fissure opened behind Zach and Commander Nottestad as they ran as fast as they could. Behind them, the screams of man were drowning out the explosions. After many hours silence was supreme, not even the sounds of war machines could be heard, Zach was on his last once of strength as he looked ahead and saw a lone cabin.

"Commander sir…hold on were nearly there….were nearly there…" He said as he looked at Commander Nottestad, he was unconscious and pale. Zach knew he would not last very much longer, so he began to push his limits as he heard a rustling behind him. After a few minutes the movement stopped, Zach took notice as he stopped and laid the Commander down. "Come….come out you cowards." Zach said as he tried to slow his breathing when he turned. Out of the darkness three Elder assassins stepped from the forest and into the plain, they took off their masks as they took a minute to access the situation. Their leader stepped forward "Humani warrior, you ran away from battle…your behavior is that of a coward, if you wish to redeem yourself…then give up and we shall let your death be swift…if not, then your fate will be the same as his…"the assassin said as he drew his blade. Zach did not back down as they drew in closer, he centered himself as brought his weapon to the ready. As one of Elder Assassins launched himself a sharp *THWACK* cut through the air. The assassin dropped instantly with a hatchet stuck in it's skull, immediately after, a loud *THUMP* filled the air as Zach's ears popped, he looked over and saw a large man dressed like a hunter beside him. The man almost looked happy as he launched himself at the assassin leader, a series of strikes and parries later the Elder dropped back as the mysterious man reached down and withdrew his Hatchet from the assassins skull and threw it into the air as the Leader of the assassin growled and nodded as the other assassin roared with anger throwing his daggers straight at the mysterious man. The man caught the first dagger as he threw it back striking the Elder in the chest, the second struck at his feet as the man scoffed. The assassin heaved as it dropped to a knee, Zach came up and threw himself at the leader, as they fought, trading blows back and forth as the assassin began to loose ground.

The mysterious man took the injured assassin and pulled the dagger from his chest, as he did, the assassin looked up and was surprised "YOU! Your but a youngling…but I see you have no idea what you are…" and with a short laugh it hung it's head "kill me…you traitor…kill me…" it said as it went silent, the man took the dagger and slammed it into the back of the assassins head, blood sprayed over the man as he dropped the assassin. He looked to Zach to see how the battle was going before walking to see the injured man that Zach had carried out into the open.

Zach swung his sword high as the assassin parried with a dagger before revealing a short sword, as the assassin thrust towards Zach's unguarded chest, Zach brought up a knee into the assassins crotch causing it to swing out wildly with the short sword. Zach pushed the assassin away and twirled his blade over his head and came back down as he held the blade in a guard stance, he gestured the assassin to come to him as he smiled. The assassin growled in anger as it tossed the dagger at Zach, as Zach deflected the dagger the assassin launched out and kicked the sword from Zach's hands, Zach fell back as his sword fell to his side. As the assassin raised his short sword to kill Zach, he closed his eyes as he accepted death, as the blade was brought down a loud *CLANK* sounded above Zach.

As Zach looked up the mysterious man had his hatchet locked on his short sword, the man reached out and grabbed the assassin by it's collar and pulled it in close, when the assassin looked at the mysterious man it's eyes grew wide before it smiled and whispered something Zach could not hear. With a final wet *SLICE* the assassin dropped, the man threw his hatchet to the ground as he turned around and held out his hand to help Zach up. As Zach stood up he grabbed his sword and sheathed it as he walked to Commander Nottestad, he was sweating now which was a sure sign he was near the gates of death. The man walked beside Zach "let me carry him, I can run at your speed so that you can run at top speed…I have a carrier about half a mile out." He said, his voice sounded familiar to Zach, but he could not put his finger on it. As they ran for the carrier he noticed that the man was not even breathing hard, Zach was astonished as they reached the carrier. As the man loaded up Commander Nottestad, Zach climbed in beside him.

Zach looked down to see the man, he was taller than most Humani and Elf he knew, and was better kept for a normal hunter. "I am Zach, this is Commander Nottestad of the 43rd armed defense force for the Humani Kingdom." Zach reached out to offer a handshake "If I may ask, what is your name Hunter?" he asked. The man sighed as he shut the back of the carrier and he hopped in the front as he turned the carrier over. He drove towards the Village of Sparrows, he didn't take his eyes off the road as he finally spoke. "you call me a Hunter…that is quite fitting, but my true name is Hunter, I am an outdoorsman for this Village…The Village Chief will be able to help your friend, it looks like he was poisoned by a powerful and dark concoction…and it's nice to meet you Zach."

As Hunter entered the Village he sped on to the old man's house, as he arrived he saw that he was standing outside waiting already. As Hunter stopped he hopped out, in the back Zach was already out and was dragging the Commander out of the bed. Hunter went to help, as he grabbed one side of the Commanders body he walked to the old man. "Old man, I need you to help this man, he has been poisoned…he…" but the old man caught him off guard before he could finish "hurry you fool, bring him in and put him on the bed." As Zach and Hunter both nodded the old man had moved faster than Hunter has ever seen, when they entered, the bed was already turned down. They laid Commander Nottestad down as the old man came up, he put a hand over his wound and instantly knew the poison.

His hands moved like lightning, preparing a salve for the wound, soon he was done. As he rubbed the salve on the Commanders wound he looked up to Hunter and Zach. "You two are lucky to have gotten him here when you did…now you." He said as he pointed to Zach "wait for him to come around, and you." He said as he pointed to Hunter "follow me…" The old man began to walk towards the locked part of his house. As Hunter followed the house changed from a lighter color, to a dark and very well kept room. As the old man walked behind a chest the door closed "now prepare yourself young Hunter…after tonight you will no longer be just Hunter…you will be the Warrior."

And with that Hunter stepped up to the chest, the old man held up a key, the key was so ancient Hunter felt as if it was going to crumble to dust, still he sighed and inserted the key into the chest's keyhole. The lock clicked and gave way, and as Hunter opened the chest he knew that his life was about to change forever...