Disclaimer: Goblin Slayer and Warhammer Fantasy are properties of Kumo Yagyou and Games Workshop respectively. I own nothing here except for the few OCs I create or any character abilities and background info that I make.
Wake Up
The creaking of wood, the beating of hooves and the crunching of dirt and rocks made a steady rhythm as the wagon was pulled along the dirt road leading towards the village. It was a rather chilly morning with northern winds passing gently across the lands. And even though it was still in the middle of summer, the skies were ever in a state of twilight, the sun very rarely taking so much as a peek from behind the thick clouds and grace the lands of Ostermark with it's warm glow. Some of the locals could even claim to count in one hand the number of times they saw the sun within a whole year, as if it was far too shy to reveal itself.
Suffice to say, the northeastern-most province of the Empire of Man was always dark and bleak to watch even in the brightest of days. But that did not stop the one driving the wagon from humming a merry tune as she held on to the reins of her workhorse, a soft smile upon her face as she idly took in the sights of the land around her.
The Brunwasser River lay to the west, just a stones throw away from the road. Wide enough and deep enough for an Imperial Great Ship to navigate it's channels with relative ease. Past the river lay a large stretch of open land, and within it were large fields of wheat and barley, all of which were now in the process of being harvested by farmers.
Thick woodlands covered much of the land to the east, the treeline standing about a hundred yards away from the road and stretched as far as her eye could see. Already she could see a group of people going into the woods, either to collect some timber or to hunt for wild game. And even further east was the majestic World's Edge Mountains. Their snowy peaks touching the skies as their enormous forms loomed over the land like mighty titans of stone.
The lands all around her possessed a certain beauty about it that Tanya Stahlhart never grew tired of, even after living here for nearly nineteen long years. And she could even see herself living here for longer still, maybe even start a family of her own.
People from other provinces may often scoff and scowl at the lands of the Empire's 'East March', with those Reiklanders and Middenlanders in particular often wondering as to how anyone would even want to live in such a cold and dreary place. To which Tanya would say that their lands were as good as any of the other provinces in the Empire of Man. It was just not suited for lily-livered Reiklander dandies and unruly Middenlander drunkards.
If one had both the will and the stomach for hard work, as well as a good head on their shoulders, Ostermark would prove a haven for any who seek to make it their home. For these lands were rich and fertile, perfectly suitable for raising livestock or growing crops, rivaling Averland in terms of yearly harvests despite being the breadbasket of the Empire.
And today, on the sixteenth of Erntezeit, Tanya was on her way to the village to make deliveries, her wagon laden with crates filled with fresh produce, sacks of barley, several heavy jugs of fresh milk, a few bags of cheese and a few more crates filled with eggs. The fruits of her labor.
As she continued to draw near, the tall wooden palisades and watchtowers of the village began to loom over her. The village of Essental was one of several small frontier settlements located on the southeastern corner of Ostermark. It was a small community home to a little over two hundred imperial citizens. A total of three entrances allowed access to the village, from the north, the south and the west. The entrance to the west stood on the banks of the river where a sturdy bridge of thick oak and stone allowed the villagers to traverse the river and reach the fields on the other side. The main road that leads from Peak Pass in the south snakes upwards and cuts through the center of Essental and that of a few other settlements. So this village also serves as a decent stopover for travelers who are on their way to the larger towns further north or onto the provincial capital itself.
On the entrance leading into the village, two men stood guard, members of the local militia. These two were armed with longrifles and axes. Their only visible form of protection were thick padded jackets worn over woolen tunics and trousers and a pair of worn leather shoes. Tanya silently wished they would never have to see battle.
"Good morning Tanya. Pleasure seeing you again" one of the men said to her as she drew nearer, a man in his middle years with a thick beard adorning his strong features, and with a faint scar lining his left cheek.
"And to you as well Wulfrik" she gladly returned the greeting to the former State Army sergeant. Wulfrik was once a Handgunner for the Ostermark State Army and had served for nearly twenty years along with her father. He had since left the State Army and now lives here in Essental, serving in the village militia.
"Care to linger a bit? Not often we get to see something a lot less boring and a lot more pretty you know" the other man called out to her, a younger man in his mid twenties with shoulder length blonde hair and a light stubble forming around his chiseled jaw. Brown eyes looking at Tanya rather appreciatively.
Tanya laughed at that as she turned her head around and looked back at the man. "Not today Erik. Go find some other pretty thing to gawk at you silly ficker"
To his credit, the young man named Erik took her somewhat colorful denial in stride and simply smiled more broadly. "One day it would be you seeking me out Tanya. And that day draws near "
"I doubt it!" she shouted back in retort, not missing a beat as she turned her gaze back to the path in front of her, shaking her head slightly in amusement. Which increased further when she heard the distinct sound of Wulfrik's hand slapping against the back of Erik's head, causing the younger man to cry out in pain.
That was a bit of a routine of hers whenever she went to the village, Erik would try to get her to stay for longer than she intended, bearing obvious amorous intentions towards her. And she would casually rebuff his attempts with a smile and a few joking words.
Erik was a strong and capable man, with a charming face that was complimented by his lean and wiry build. She had known him for quite some time, and ever since he moved into Essental a few years back, he had been trying to woo her at every chance he could get, always proclaiming that she would one day be his. And she liked him well enough actually. She would have welcomed his continued advances and maybe even agreed to become his woman, had it not been for the fact that the man had this annoying habit of chasing every other pretty lass in the village and had been known to sleep with more than a few of them.
And besides, Tanya was in no hurry at the moment to take a husband. Even though she was already at the age of nineteen, the age when young women like her would usually take a man, she still decided not to. Her sister took higher priority over such things and she was already doing rather well for herself without having to rely on a man. Marriage could wait.
As she passed through the main road in Essental, Tanya neared the first destination of her deliveries, the inn. It was a large wooden structure of sturdy make with three floors and enough rooms to accommodate at least fifty guests looking to stay in the village for a night or two. And of course, the inn was also the place for any man looking to have a few steins of good Ostermark beer and a plate of warm food after a days work.
She pulled on the reins and brought the mare to a stop before promptly hopping off of the wagon. Her boots made an audible squelch as they made contact with the muddy earth. Brushing back a few of her long auburn locks and fixing up a few of the creases on her dress, she made her way into the inn.
It was still rather early in the morning so there were not a lot of people inside, many of the chairs and tables lying empty. The inn's serving girl was currently cleaning one of the tables while idly singing some unknown song in a foreign tongue. And then there was the inn keeper herself who stood behind the bar as she wiped a large mug clean with a piece of clean cloth.
"Good morning Bertha" she said in greeting as she waved to the woman. At this, the woman named Bertha glanced up from the mug she was cleaning, and the moment she saw Tanya she smiled widely at her.
"And good morning to you dear! How are you doing?" the other woman exclaimed as she put down the mug and began to walk out from behind the bar.
"I'm doing just fine" was her reply as she walked up to the woman. "I brought everything you asked for. It's waiting on the wagon just outside"
"My, already? Thank you very much"
Bertha Steiner was the owner of the Red Horse Inn. She was a stoutly woman, with thick arms, large hips and an equally large bust. Her long dark hair was worn in a simple braid and framed a round face with pinkish white skin. Tanya had known Bertha since she was just a child, being a close friend of her mother. She was a kind woman, hard working and with a good knack for running a business. She was also the one who had supported her and her little sister during harder times, acting almost like a second mother to them.
"I'll have it all unloaded in a few moments" Tanya offered and she was about to do just that when Bertha stopped her.
"Nonsense. You've done enough already. My boys will handle the rest" Bertha stated rather gently but firmly, still wearing that warm and kindly look she had. And then side turned her head to the side, and roared.
"HANS! FELIX!"
Tanya winced at the sheer volume of her voice and mirrored by the serving girl, her singing brought to an abrupt halt due to Bertha's ear splitting bellow. Truly, this woman had quite a set of lungs.
A moment later, the door next to the bar swung open and a pair of young boys stepped out, who looked completely identical to one another and were both wearing rather dour looks upon their handsome faces. Hans and Felix were Bertha's twin sons, only a few years younger than Tanya. They were both slightly taller than her, their lean and fit bodies covered by their clean woolen shirts and trousers. Their hair was of the same black as their mother's and with the same pinkish white skin.
"What?" the two teens said in unison, sounding very much annoyed.
"Go and unload the cargo from Tanya's wagon and bring it inside the storeroom" was Bertha's stern command to the two boys.
"Alright" they said in acknowledgement, also in unison and still looking rather annoyed by their mother's task. When they saw Tanya though, the twins immediately lost the dour looks on their faces and smiled at her.
"Hello Tanya" Hans greeted.
"You look great" Felix added.
"As always" and Hans finished.
"Stop your flirting and get a move on already!" Bertha shouted at them in annoyance, causing the twins to quickly move out and proceeded with their chore.
Tanya could not help but giggle in amusement as she watched them leave. Those two were like her own little brothers, so she found their obvious desire towards her rather adorable. She heard the inn keeper sigh a little, causing her to look back towards her. Bertha was smiling ruefully as she stared out towards her two sons.
"If only my sons were just as hardworking as you and helped me more around here, instead of spending a lot of their time dreaming about becoming knights or adventurers"
"Well, young men at that age do have a certain lust for adventure and fame. But they'll soon grow out of it though" the younger woman spoke rather sagely.
"And speaking about men…" Bertha's demeanor hardened as she folded her burly arms beneath her bosom and gave her a rather questioning look. "How fares that Northman of yours?"
The way Bertha phrased that question and coupled with her strict tone of voice brought a faint blush to Tanya's face, making her frown a little in slight embarrassment. "First of all, he is not my Northman. And to answer your question, he is doing quite well. Although he has yet to awaken"
Bertha harrumphed as she listened to her words, fixing her with a disapproving look.. "Well I hope it stays that way. No good will come of that man's presence, I tell you. I know of his vile kind. The moment he wakes up, he will force himself upon you before taking you to whatever frozen hell that spat him out"
She could hardly believe what she just heard, scoffing at such a ridiculous notion as she placed a hand on her hip. She knew of Bertha's hatred for the men of the far north, which she herself happen to share. But unlike her, Tanya was not so quick as to cast unfair judgement upon someone and spurn them so, especially if they were in dire need of help
"Oh by Sigmar's teeth, don't be absurd! Nothing of that sort is going to happen! And besides, I don't think he is some Northman barbarian like you and the others believe him to be. He is probably just a Nordlander, or maybe even a Kislevite who got into some trouble and just ended up here"
Bertha shook her head at that, still stubbornly refusing to see things her way. "I know a Northman when I see one. His strange hair and armor alone is evidence enough. He also has enough muscle on him to put most veteran State Troopers to shame. You don't become like that without having lived a harsh life full of battle and carnage"
She was about to retort when a cheerful voice chimed in from the side, one that possessed a distinct Bretonnian accent.
"Well, if that man really is a Norscan raider like Bertha claims, then I say he is the most handsome Norscan I have ever seen!"
Both women looked to the side as the inn's serving girl walked up to them, carrying a bucket of water in one hand and holding a washcloth in the other. She was a buxom young woman who was slightly older than Tanya, her long chestnut colored hair framing her comely face. Her skirt reached all the way to her ankle and the long sleeves of her dress covered much of her arms. But the dress was tight around the waist and chest, fitting her voluptuous form quite nicely and with it's low cut serving to reveal a healthy amount of cleavage. Her almond brown eyes twinkled with mirth as her luscious lips formed into a playful smirk.
"Is that so?" Tanya replied rather dryly, her eyes looking at the other woman with amusement.
"Oh yes!" the serving girl confirmed quite enthusiastically, desire evident within her tone. "In fact, I wouldn't mind getting spirited off by him and forced to become his wife. My, such strong and magnificent children the two of us would make, don't you think?"
Tanya could not help but go slack jawed and wide eyed upon hearing the woman's words, not expecting such a declaration from her. She barely even knew the man, much less spoken to him and yet she was already casually talking about bearing his child. Honestly, her friend Giselle could be rather shameless sometimes. Although she could hardly disagree with some of the points she made. The man they were talking about was quite fetching to say the least.
Bertha on the other hand did not share Giselle's opinion. The innkeeper was looking at her serving girl with utter disbelief and no small amount of disgust, as if the maid had just told her she would willingly spread her legs to a Beastman.
"Foolish girl. I'll have none of that kind of talk coming from you Giselle. Now get back to work" was the older woman's stern reprimand. The serving girl merely rolled her eyes at that but she nonetheless complied as she began to walk away, only for her to turn back toward Tanya and spoke once more. Her tone honey sweet.
"By the way Tanya, when that man finally wakes up, do inform me will you? I would love to pay him a visit and give him a proper Ostermark welcome, but with a touch of Parravonese" she winked at her rather suggestively as she said that last part.
Tanya sighed tiredly at that and nodded, smiling wryly. "Yes, whatever you say Giselle"
"Tres bien!" the other girl exclaimed happily in her native tongue before finally turning around once again resuming her work.
"Little strumpet. Seems that barbarian has already driven her into heat, when he hasn't even done anything yet." Bertha muttered as she cast Giselle a rather dirty look, before turning her stern gaze to Tanya. "I hope you don't go having the same ridiculous notions as her"
Now it was her turn to roll her eyes in exasperation."Of course not"
Bertha nodded at that, pleased by her answer. And then her previously stern demeanor softened, and her tone of voice took a more gentler tone as she said her next words. "About what I said earlier Tanya. I am not trying to discourage your kindness towards others. I just want you to be more wary of those who would seek to abuse your kindness is all. I do not want anything bad to happen to you and Anna"
Tanya smiled appreciatively at that, happy with her words. Bertha can be quite stubborn and overly protective sometimes, but it warmed her heart to know that she truly cared, and that was what made Tanya so fond of her.
"Don't you worry Bertha. Nothing bad is going to happen to us"
After Bertha's sons had finished unloading some of the cargo from her wagon, the innkeeper gave Tanya the proper payment. After exchanging a few more words, she finally bid the older woman goodbye and left the inn, getting back on her wagon and continued her round of deliveries.
Her next stop along the way had been the local gunsmith's shop, located just further down the same street as the inn. Mauser Gunworks was the name of the humble establishment in front of her. It was much smaller in size compared to the inn but solidly made, constructed with thick oak and finely hewed stone with tiled roofs. And the man who owned this place was currently outside and in the process of opening the shop, taking down the wooden covers on his glass windows.
"Good morning Andreas" she greeted the man as he placed the wooden board to the side before turning around to face Tanya.
"Hello lass. Fancy seeing you again on this fine morning" the man said to her in a gentle fatherly tone, cracking a smile at her as he did.
Andreas Mauser was the village's Master Gunsmith. He sold firearms and ammunition as well as conducts repairs or modifications on guns. And as his occupation suggests, Andreas also crafted guns, and the weapons he made were all of excellent make. All the gunpowder weapons currently used by the local militia were made by him. And people from other towns and villages would often come to Essental to purchase his firearms instead of going all the way to the provincial capital of Bechefen just to buy some. The reason for this was that his works were reputed to be the best in all of Ostermark. Some would even claim that the quality of his firearms could match the ones made in the great city of Nuln, all the while being much more fairly priced.
The man himself was an aged gentleman in his late fifties, sporting a thick grey beard that covered much of his entire jaw and with his equally gray hair cut short and kept nicely trimmed. He wore a simple woolen shirt and trousers with a padded leather vest and a pair of sturdy leather shoes. But despite his age, Andreas Mauser was still a strong man, most evident in the thick muscles bulging from beneath his clothes. On his slightly wrinkled face was a prominent scar, one that ran down the left side of his forehead then past his left eye and ended just above his jaw. A mark gained from a battle long past.
Despite the nature of his profession as well as his rather intimidating appearance, Mauser was one of the kindest and gentlest souls Tanya had ever known. She actually found Bertha to be scarier than him, which was kind of ironic considering that the woman cooked food and brewed beer for a living while this man built and sold powerful implements of war.
"I see that you brought what I asked for. Very good" Mauser said as he began to walk towards the back of the wagon.
"Here, let me help you carry that sack of barley" Tanya said to him as she walked over to the back of the wagon and began helping Andreas in moving the heavier goods.
"No need for that Fraulein. I can handle this by myself" Mauser respectfully declined demonstrated the veracity of his claim by easily lifting one of large sacks of barley. "And the exercise can do these old bones some good"
"As you say" Tanya said to him as she stood to the side, though she still kept a wary eye over him and ready to step in when it looked like he needed some help.
After placing the heavy sack on the porch floor, Mauser let out a quiet sigh of content before turning back to her. "That should do it. Let me just go get your pay. I'll be back in a moment"
Tanya smiled at him and nodded as Mauser made his way into his shop. While she waited, Tanya looked around her for a bit and she noticed that some of the other villagers were now coming out of their homes and going towards whatever business they may have planned for the day. A few of them waved at Tanya and greeted her as they passed her by, to which she happily returned. A few more moments passed and the front doors to the workshop opened and out came Mauser, holding withing his hand several pieces of silver shillings.
"Here you go" Mauser said as he handed over the money to Tanya.
She took the amount and opened up her coin pouch and placed the money inside, before looking back at Mauser. "Thank you Andreas"
She was just about to turn around when the older man spoke to her again. "I was wondering lass," Mauser began, causing Tanya to turn her attention back to him, before he continued. "Do you still happen to have your father's old longrifle with you?"
Slightly puzzled by that unexpected query, Tanya nonetheless nodded. "Yes, I still have it. Why do you ask?"
Mauser did not answer her question though, instead he followed up with another of his own. "And do you have enough powder and shot for it?"
Tanya frowned at that a little, wondering why he was asking her that but she still answered. "Um… Yes I believe so. But why?"
Just like before, he did not answer. Instead he turned around and went back inside his shop, much to Tanya's confusion and slight annoyance. She did not have long to wait though, for barely a minute later, Mauser returned. And Tanya saw that he was holding a leather bag with him and the man handed it over to her. Tanya quietly took the proffered item and then opened it. Inside she saw about several dozen paper cartridges that she knew contained gunpowder and lead rounds.
She turned her eyes back to Mauser and gave him a rather flat stare and spoke in an equally flat tone. "You planning on sending me to battle, old man?"
"Just a little something for extra security" Mauser said to her rather kindly, his old eyes containing a bit of mirth.
"Against who exactly?" she deadpanned at the older man.
"Why, any who would bear unsavory intentions towards you and your sister of course" he replied in a slightly chiding tone like he would to a child.
"Ugh!" Tanya gave out an exasperated sigh as she shook her head a little. And hear she thought Bertha was being the overprotective one. But she could not exactly say that she did not appreciate this act. It was good to know Mauser cared so much about them. She would still try to decline though.
"I don't have enough money for this though. It's too much" She argued again, though her protests sounded a bit weak this time.
"Not to worry. That's all on me" was his answer. But when he saw that she was about to decline again, Mauser spoke again. "Just think of this as a way of doing this old man a favor"
"Very well. If it helps you sleep more soundly at night then fine, I'll take these" Tanya then gave the old man a knowing look and smirked at him. "But I'll still be paying you back for it though"
The Master Gunsmith simply chuckled at that and nodded. Tanya climb up her wagon again and placed the ammo bag on the back before holding onto the reins of her horse and urged her beast forward, and her wagon was once again on the move. She turned back to the older man and waved at him. "Goodbye for now Andreas. I'll see you again"
"Take care lass. And say hello to Anna for me" Mauser said and waved slightly back to her.
Turning her sights forwards, Tanya continued her round of deliveries. "Let's see… where to next?"
It was afternoon when Tanya had finally returned to her house. She brought the wagon just outside the barn before finally getting off. Her wagon was now mostly empty, with only the bag full of cartridges that Mauser had given her occupying the space within. And the coin pouch she brought with her earlier was now several pounds heavier than when she left this morning. A rather profitable day for her.
Tanya had now unhitched the horse from the wagon and was about to lead her inside the barn when a cheerful voice called out to her.
"Tanya!" a young girl's voice called out. That immediately brought a smile to her face and she turned round to face the one who said it.
A young girl of about fifteen years of age met her eyes, only slightly shorter than her in height. She had the same long auburn locks as Tanya, but while she allowed her hair to hang freely, the younger girl wore hers in a simple pony tail and fastened by a blue ribbon. She also possessed the same youthful and elegant features with a slightly sun kissed complexion gained from regular hours spent outdoors. The simple cotton spun dress she wore hugged her slender form and despite her age, she was already beginning to fill it out rather nicely. Clear signs that was now nearing the cusps of womanhood.
Though she was happy and proud to see her younger sister Anna slowly growing into a fine young woman, she secretly hoped she would not have to go and fend off any hot-blooded admirers and overly annoying suitors. That was a job meant for her father, not her.
The girl quickened her pace as she drew near and upon reaching Tanya, she enveloped her in a warm embrace, one that she gladly returned.
"I'm glad your back" the girl said to her shortly before loosening her hold on the older girl and craned her head slightly to look at her, sparkling blue orbs meeting emerald green ones. "How was your trip to the village?"
"It was nice. We made quite a bit of coin through all the deliveries I made" she flashed the young girl with a proud smile before she continue. "And how was your day? Anything happened while I was gone?"
The younger girl shook her head at this as she made a playful pout with her pinkish soft lips. "Not good. Chores are all done but it was boring! And since you were gone I had no one else to talk to. I wish you would let me come with you the next time you run errands"
Tanya laughed softly at that in amusement. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Well, tell you what. Next time I go to the village, I'll take you with me. We can go over to the inn and spend some time with Bertha and the others. Sounds good?"
"Yea, that would be nice"
"It's a deal then" she winked at the younger girl as she said this, gently exiting her hold as she lead the horse back into the barn, the other girl following after her.
"How was he doing while I was gone? Has he awoken?" Tanya asked her younger sister as she slowly brought the horse near the trough and allowed the mare to have a drink.
"No, our barbarian is still asleep" Anna said as she went to the side and grabbed the nearby pitchfork and speared a large chunk of hay. "He stirred a little bit every now and then, but nothing much"
"I see" Tanya was a little disappointed to hear that. She had been silently hoping for him to wake up today, so that she could finally start learning more about their mysterious tenant.
Anna brought the hay over to where the horse stood and set it on the ground, which the mare happily ate. "He's healing rather nicely. I finally removed his bandages earlier and then I applied more of that salve you made on his wounds. "
"That's good to hear. I'll make a new mixture later" she was glad to know that their tenant was recovering. Suffice to say, he was not in the best of conditions when they first brought him over to their house.
After the horse was finished eating Tanya lead the beast inside it's stall and exited the barn, closing it's doors and locking it tight before heading into back into their house. She of course picked up the little 'present' that Mauser had given her when they passed by the wagon. That drew Anna's attention as she looked at the bag in her hands.
"What is that?"
"Just something that Mauser gave me earlier. For 'extra security', he said" Tanya rolled her eyes in amusement.
"Oh, I see" Anna said, knowing exactly what her older sister meant. Then an idea crossed her mind "Say, do you think I could go take out father's old rifle tomorrow and do some practice with it?"
"Hmm… " she hummed a little as she considered her request, until finally she shrugged her shoulders and looked back at Anna. "Alright, you can do that. But only after all the work around the farm is done. Are we clear on that?
"No problem!" was her sister's enthusiastic reply, happy to finally be allowed to use her father's weapon. Tanya merely smiled at that as she opened the door to their house and they walked inside.
The residence of the Stahlhart family was a humble one, but of sturdy make. The walls were made of rough stone covered in a thick layer of mortar. Thick wooden rafters held the tiled roofs up and with the ceilings built rather low. Having only enough room for one to stand comfortably and not bump their head. A few small windows served to let bit of light inside, illuminating it's slightly cramped interior. A wooden table stood in front of them surrounded by two pairs of chairs. Only one pair was used as the other previous occupants of this house were no longer here. A small fireplace stood to the side with a fire already alight, serving to further light up the inside of the house with it's warm glow. A few shelves stood near the table, containing a variety of jars and bowls. Their small kitchen stood just behind the table and right next to it was a door that lead to the larder at the back of house.
On the far side of the hall next to the dining table was another door, a small flight of stairs was on the other side which lead to the second floor. Tanya placed her things on one of the chairs by the table before turning to Anna.
"I'll go and see how he is doing. Can you prepare supper for us?"
"Alright" Anna nodded and did as her sister instructed.
Tanya proceeded to go up the second floor. A few of the floor boards made a slight creak as she walked up the stairs. She soon found herself in a short and narrow hallway with three separate rooms. One of the rooms served as a storage, where Tanya and Anna kept many of their family's old belongings. Another room was located on the far side of the hallway, which once served as their parents' bedroom but was now where Anna and Tanya slept. Directly adjacent to that was their old bedroom. And that was where their mysterious tenant resided.
Opening the door to their old bedroom, Tanya went inside but did so gently as to not disturb it's occupant. The inside of the bedroom was sparsely decorated, having only a small table with a chair on one side and a small cabinet on the other. A small window provided the only source of illumination. And right beneath the window was a bed with a mattress filled with straw. And there was someone sleeping on top of it at the moment. Tanya walked toward the bed and stopped at the foot of it. She then peeled off the thick woolen blanket covering the sleeping figure.
It was a young man. A very handsome young man, with silvery white hair, ghostly pale skin and a powerful, muscular physique. Like solid marble, sculpted to perfection. He was laid mostly bare at the moment, wearing only a pair of clean cotton trousers. His body was covered by numerous scars, all of which he had undoubtedly gained from countless battles in years past. But despite all this, it did very little to diminish his allure. It gave him an almost primal sort of beauty and spoke loudly of his power and resilience. Despite herself, Tanya actually felt the need to run her hands across his hard flesh and trace every scar with her fingers.
And when her eyes finally settled upon his youthful face, taking in his fine and chiseled features, Tanya felt her body grow hot despite it being a rather cold day. A few faint scars also marred his face, one on the side of his chin, another on his left brow and a slightly longer one running across the bridge of his nose. And just as how the numerous scars that lined his body did little to lessen his attractiveness, so did the scars on his face did little to lessen his beauty. She felt the sudden desire to cup his face within her hands, and gently press her lips to his own.
She immediately shook her head and banished away such carnal thoughts. Tanya brought her hands to her face as she grew a deep shade of red, feeling quite ashamed at herself. What in Sigmar and Shallya's name was happening to her, feeling such desires towards this man when she hardly even knew him or much less talked to him. She was suppose to take care of him and nurse him back to full health, and nothing more.
After taking a few deep, calming breaths, Tanya allowed her more practical side to take over as she began to examine her mysterious patient's condition. She pressed the back of her hand to the side of his neck, feeling his temperature. She could tell that he was no longer burning hot like he was days prior. She was glad to know his fever had finally broken. Aside from the numerous scars he bore, he currently had fresher wounds upon his body. Several cuts on his arms, a deep cut upon his left thigh, another cut on the side of his forehead and then a much larger wound upon his belly. All of which she had properly cleaned and closed shut using needle and thread.
She had found him floating down the river while she and Anna were washing their clothes. She immediately went to his aid, carried him out of the water and brought him to shore. By the time she was able to treat his numerous wounds he had already lost so much blood. She feared that despite her best efforts, he was still firmly within Morr's cold grasps. But much to her astonishment, this man had proven more resilient than she thought. That was nearly five days ago.
When Bertha and the others had learned of what happened, they immediately went over to her house and to check up on them. And of course, upon seeing him, Bertha immediately believed him to be a Norscan and so did the others. Time and again they kept telling her to get rid of him, that no good would come from him. Even Anna had been rather suspicious of him at first.
But she could not fault the others for being deeply wary of him, thinking he was one of the merciless, murdering savages of the far north. His ghostly pale skin suggested one who had not felt the sun's light in a long time. The numerous scars decorating his powerful physique spoke of one who had spent nearly his entire existence fighting and killing, living a life full of hardship. The strange color of his hair, a silvery white, hinted at some sort of mutation after being exposed to the corrupting influences of Chaos. And when she had opened his eyes the previous day to check on it, she was surprised to see his irises being a deep shade of crimson.
Tanya turned her eyes away from him and looked to the nearby table, where all his armor and weapons were placed.
The suit of armor was composed of multiple layers of overlapping steel plates that were firmly riveted upon a layer of hardened leather, all of which were painted a dark shade of gray and lined with thick white fur. A suit of chainmail had been worn beneath it as well, also dark gray in color. And he had with him a steel forged great helm with multiple slits at the front, which also seemed to have a pair of stumps on the side, hinting that it was once decorated with horns.
All these things pointed to him being one of the foul and corrupt servants of the Dark Gods. A vile Norscan barbarian, whose despicable kind lived only to reave, rape and slaughter. By all the laws of the Empire, and by the will of Sigmar Heldenhammer, she should be slitting his throat right now before throwing his corpse upon a burning pyre.
But she can't do that. Will not do that. For how could Tanya bring herself to take the life of an innocent?
She left the side of his bed and walked closer to the table, taking a closer look upon it's contents. There were many items he had on him, some were clearly designed for the sole purpose of ending lives, others seemed to be geared more towards simple utility, and a few were simply too strange for her to discern their purpose.
A simple shortsword made of castle-forged steel, a small round metal shield, a set of throwing knives, and what seemed to be a pair of exotic looking daggers that possessed three curved and wickedly sharp blades. These were all clearly weapons.
There were also a few bottles that contained some unknowns liquids, a couple pieces of flint, a small roll of metallic wire that was securely fastened to two wooden handles, lock picks, a few scrolls and a ring. The scrolls were the most seemingly benign of the whole lot. And yet, all of her instincts told her not to open those however. And Tanya was one who never ignored her instincts.
Suffice to say, all these weapons and items were not the sort of things you would find on a Norscan raider. They preferred large battle axes, not shortswords. They used large kite-shields or broad round-shields, not a small metal targe. They did not like using knives as throwing weapons, they much prefer a javelin or a hatchet. Norscan's also did not like using exotic or strange weapons. They were too simple minded for that. And a proper Norscan raider doesn't carry mysterious scrolls or bottles containing strange liquids. Unless they were a Chaos Sorcerer of course.
The weapons and items this mysterious newcomer had with him were not the kind of things that a Northman barbarian would use. If anything, all these items looked liked something that belonged to a Witch Hunter, or at least some veteran mercenary. And then there was that small necklace he wore.
Going back to his side, Tanya bent slightly down and brought her hand to the small tag he wore around his neck, studying it. It was about the size of her thumb and made of solid gold. There were no other markings upon it, save for a couple of words engraved upon it's surface.
Adventurers' Guild
She turned her emerald eyes away from the tag stared at his still sleeping face. A soft smile graced her lips.
"Rest easy, adventurer. You are safe here. I won't let any harm come to you"
She did not know who this young man was or even where he came from. But she knew deep inside her heart that he was no Norscan or some other foul servant of Chaos. She would do her utmost to bring him back to full health. And then she would do her best to aid him in returning to the lands he came from.
She brought her hand to his face and gently caressed his pale cheek, the smile she wore growing slightly. Before she finally turned about and walked out of the room, intent on helping Anna prepare their supper as well as make some nice warm stew for their sleeping adventurer.
The next day Tanya and Anna were back with their same daily routine, working around the farm during this cloudy Backertag morning. Tanya was at the hen house feeding the chickens while Anna was over at the barn, bringing some hay to the cows and the horses. The two Stahlhart sisters lived on a farm just a few minutes away from the village. Their house was built on top of a low hill right next to the river, facing to the east and thus had a decent view of the woods and mountains. And just slightly to the south of their house were the fields where they grew their crops.
Tanya's father was a Captain of the Imperial State Army of Ostermark. While her mother was a Priestess of Shallya. Using all the earnings he made after many years of loyal service to the Emperor and the Empire of Man, he purchased a sizable portion of land just outside of the village of Essental where he and his wife built their house and small farm.
The farm served as Tanya and Anna's main source of livelihood, and through their hard work the two sisters were able to survive out here in the very frontiers of the Empire and lived comfortably. But despite all that, it just wasn't the same without their parents. Things had been much better when her mother and father was still there.
As Tanya finished feeding the chickens and exited the hen house, she placed the bucket of feeds on the ground and then stretched her arms a little. She breathed deep the crisp morning air before letting out a sigh of content. She took a moment to watch the surrounding lands, enjoying the view as she always liked to do every now and again. It looked to be just another calm and sleepy day, and she silently wished it would always be this way.
But in this world they lived in, peace was a luxury that people could seldom afford. And the price to maintain it was steep. Usually paid for in blood. And out here in the province of Ostermark, there was a price that the people had to pay for enjoying the fruits and riches offered by these lands. And their foul creditors would always return to collect on their dues.
As she looked towards the distance, Tanya noticed something odd. She could see a group of people emerging from the nearby woods. And they were running as hard as they could, as if their very lives seem to depend on it. This brought a puzzled look to her face, wondering what it could be those men were running away from. Had they perhaps ran into some dangerous beast while they were hunting? She hoped nothing too bad would happen.
And then she saw more figures emerging from the woods, moving at a very fast pace. Riders, Tanya discerned. Riders mounted on large wolves, a dozen of them. These canine riding unknowns quickly closed the distance between them and the fleeing hunters, and tore them apart.
She gasped in fright at the sight, instinctively bringing her hand to her mouth. What in Sigmar's name was happening? Who were those things that so brutally killed those men? She had not long to wait for an answer however, as even more figures soon came charging out from the woods. Scores upon scores of them. Some of them were rather large while many more were more diminutive in size. And all of them were headed towards the direction of the village.
Even from this considerable distance, Tanya could hear the loud cacophony of bestial war-cries that soon filled the air. She turned her sights towards the village, eyes wide and full of worry. As the horde of unknowns continued their approach, several dozen muzzle flashes erupted from atop the palisades and watchtowers, followed by the audible reports of gunfire and a thick cloud of smoke.
Many of the marauders immediately dropped to the ground and remained unmoving, undoubtedly perishing from the deadly volley of gunfire. But it did little to stop the incoming horde however.
It was clear for Tanya to see that their village was being attacked, but by who or what exactly, she did not yet know. But the answer to that particular question would soon reveal itself however. More than a dozen of the distant attackers detached itself from the main horde and changed course. Heading directly towards the direction of their farm house. And as they drew closer, their forms became clearer to her eyes. And she saw green.
She wasted no more time. Dropping the small bucket of feed to the ground, Tanya ran towards the barn and called out to her sister.
"Anna! Anna!"
She saw her stick her head out from behind the barn doors, looking quite puzzled, wondering what her sister was being all hysterical about.
"What? What is it?"
"Get back inside the house!"
Anna was taken aback by the amount of force behind her sister's words and by the fearful expression upon her face. "But, why?"
"No time to explain. Just go, now!" Tanya all but pleaded to her, her desperation evident within her voice.
Anna did not need to be told more and quickly did as her sister said, ran towards the safety of their house as fast as she could. Tanya closed the doors of the barn and then took a nearby length of chains and wrapped it firmly around the handles before finally securing it with a lock. She hoped this would be enough to keep those filthy monsters out of the barn.
With that done, Tanya ran towards their house as well and as quickly as she could, knowing that those intending to do them harm were almost upon them. She passed through the entrance of their home and then closed it behind her. She moved the iron wrought latch near the door's handle, closing the door firmly shut. She then turned towards Anna, whom she noted wore a obvious look of alarm and confusion upon her youthful visage.
"What is it? What is going on?"
"Greenskins" was Tanya's simple answer as she hurriedly closed all of the windows.
That one words was enough to send a chill down Anna's spine. And it was enough to spur her into action. "I'll go get father's rifle"
She ran up the stairs with all haste while her older sister went over to their dining table and toppled it, eliciting a loud bang as the solid hardwood collided with the stone floor. And then she heaved the table over to the door and pressed it firmly against it. She went over to one of the windows on the side and peered through the small gap between the window boards, trying to see any signs of their coming attackers.
She did not have to wait long as mere moments later, more than a dozen forms came into view. Thin and wiry builds hunched slightly, their leathery hides a sickly green in color. Their faces were gaunt of cheek with sharp, slightly hooked noses, yellowish goat-like eyes, sharp pointed ears and mouths filled with sharp, dirty teeth. Most of them wore ratty furs and rough hides while a few wore almost nothing except for dirty loincloths. And clutched within their grubby hands were an assortment of weapons in the form of clubs, daggers, axes and spears. All of which were shoddily made and rusty but were still undoubtedly lethal in the hands of these little devils.
These creatures all laughed, howled and gibbered in their own foul tongues as they began spread around the Stahlhart's property in search of food and easy prey. Upon seeing the nearby hen house, one of them broke down it's doors with it's spiked club before going inside followed by several more of it's foul kin, where they began to butcher Tanya's chickens and devour them. Others tried to break down the sealed entrance to the barn, no doubt seeking to slaughter the cows and horses inside and eat them as well. Thankfully the thick oak doors and the sturdy chains holding it shut resisted their violent attempts to gain entry. But these green cretins proved relentless as they continued to hammer upon the doors with their crude implements. And while they busied themselves with the barn, a few more ran towards the other side of the farm, no doubt seeking to plunder the Stahlhart sisters' crops.
Tanya could feel her previous fears ebb away and replaced by hatred as she witnessed the destruction these vile Greenskins wrought upon their farm, undoing many years of hard work. Their very presence defiling their precious home.
"Curse these filthy mongrels! Morr take them all!" she angrily hissed, eyes filled with fierce loathing and no small amount of murderous intent.
Her attention was briefly turned away from the green menaces as she heard her sister approach. The younger Stahlhart carried with her an old Hochland long rifle and a the bag of cartridges that Mauser gave her the day prior.
"Here it is" Anna said as she handed over the rifle and ammo bag to her older sister.
Tanya took the rifle and immediately began the rather long and tedious process of loading the rifle with practiced ease. As she ripped off the top of the paper cartridge with her teeth and began carefully pouring it's lethal contents into the muzzle of her gun, Tanya still maintained a close watch of the Goblins outside.
At the moment those creatures had still yet to noticed them, being to busy ransacking the farm and devouring anything that seem edible in their yellow eyes. Part of her sorely wished to shoot every one of the wretched things as just punishment for their crimes. But the more rational part of her mind implored her to remain hidden within the confines of their house. One or two of the beasts she could handle, but more than a dozen at the same time was far too much. Such a confrontation with these monsters would not end well for her and her dear sister. They needed to stay hidden and wait for help. Hopefully, the men over at the village would defeat the invading Greenskins and then come to their rescue.
But just as she finally finished packing the powder and shot firmly within the barrel, cocked back the hammer and placed the percussion cap, their luck finally decided to abandon them.
One of the Goblins outside, a scrawny and filthy thing armed with a crudely made bronze axe, walked out of the hen house with a dead chicken in hand, bloodied and devoid of feathers with a few chunks already ripped out of it. The Goblin took another bite from it, ripping off it's bloody flesh with it's pointed teeth and chewed. As it did so, it looked around the area a little while. Until it tensed, and began sniffing the air. And whatever this foul thing must have smelled, it seemed to like it, if the horrid smile that crept up it's ugly face was any indication.
Tanya wondered what it was that this monster was smiling about, until the Goblin turned it's sights towards her direction, eyes gleaming with vile intent. She gasped in alarm, worry clearly evident upon her fair face. Anna noticed the look her sister wore and grew worried as well.
"What is it?"
Tanya swallowed nervously as she tightened her grip upon the rifle "I think one of them knows we're here"
And as if to confirm her statement, the Goblin began calling out to it's kin in it's own harsh and guttural tongue, pointing towards the direction of the Stahlhart house. Without any hesitation, all the other Goblins began heading towards the house, faces twisting into sneers, the desire for slaughter and the hunger for soft and comely human flesh making their tainted blood quicken.
Knowing full well that there cover was blown and there was no use hiding anymore, Tanya put a bit of distance between her and the window and then shouldered the rifle, aiming down on the sights as she pointed the muzzle through the small gap on widow boards. After taking a brief moment to aim, Tanya finally squeezed the trigger.
The loud report of her longrifle was quickly followed by a plume of thick, greyish-white smoke, somewhat obscuring her vision. But her shot remained true, as the first Goblin she sighted was blown back and crashed onto the ground, now sporting a sizable hole near the center of it's chest. It did not get back up.
Tanya felt no small amount of satisfaction in killing her very first Goblin. And by Sigmar, more would soon follow. But whatever elation she might have felt was soon replaced by mounting dread as the sudden death of their kin spurred all the other Goblins on. They rushed headlong into the house, weapons bared with murderous intent. Tanya wasted no time and began reloading her rifle once again, her heart racing.
The green skinned creatures were soon smashing their weapons upon the door, each strike reverberating through the air and almost making the Stahlhart sister's teeth rattle. But the door was thick and well made, it would not fall down so easily. But the windows were a different matter. Some of the Goblin were soon hacking upon the window boards, intent on breaking through them to reach the two fresh and comely prizes that awaited them inside.
Anna involuntarily cried out in fright as he watched all the monster trying to get inside. Her heart racing, Anna glanced at her sister who was still in the process of reloading the rifle, noting the worried expression she wore while her hands shook slightly in fear. The maddened laughter of the Greenskins trying to tear into their home brought her attention back to them. She needed to act.
Turning around, Anna quickly headed towards their small kitchen, hurriedly looking for any kind of weapon that she could use. Another loud report from her older sister's rifle made her jump up, hearing her curse as she began another long process of reloading the gun. This spurred Anna on as her hands soon found purchase upon their meat cleaver.
Facing the green marauders once more with the cleaver in hand, Anna rushed towards them, her sights set upon one of the foul bastards looking into the hole in managed to make on one of the window boards. Letting out a shrill cry, Anna raised her weapon in preparation before swinging it towards the Goblin. Fueled by strength born out of desperation, Anna buried the blade of the cleaver deep into the Goblin's face, splitting it's head almost in half and spurting dark blood, staining the front of her dress.
The creature cried out in pain as it fell back, the cleaver still dug deep into it's face. Anna stared wide eyed, stunned at what she had just done, hands shuddering and breath turning into short gasps.
"Anna get back!"
She heard her sister cry out as she felt a hand grasp her arm and pulled her back, just in time to prevent another Goblin from reaching out through the hole on the window board and grab her. Stumbling back deeper into the house, Anna watched as her sister Tanya resumed reloading her rifle. Just as she cocked back the hammer and placed the cap on the nipple of the hole, one of the Goblin were able to tear a sizable hole through the window on her left.
One of the Goblins began to climb through the hole it made, it's face a mask of mad glee, cackling maniacally as stared evilly at the two young women. Tanya had other ideas though as she raised the rifle stock in preparation before smashing it's butt onto the Goblin's grinning face, knocking it back and sending it crashing back outside, face caved in and bloodied.
Another Goblin soon tried to pass through the hole on the window but it too was quickly forced back when a round punched cleanly through it's head, sending it sprawling lifelessly on the ground. Tanya slowly backed away from the window and deeper into the house, the smoke from her gun's discharge stung at her nose and made her eyes water. But as the other Goblins were almost through the other windows and with another one already trying to climb through the hole made earlier, Tanya knew there was no winning in this whole fight. There was just too many of the Goblin for the two of them to handle.
She turned towards Anna. "Get back upstairs! Find a way to escape through the windows!"
"But w-what about you?!" Anna cried out to her sister.
"I'll hold them off! Buy you time to escape!" was her stern reply as she reloaded their father's rifle in her hands.
But her words brought horror to Anna's heart, feeling an uncomfortable weight settling at the bottom of her stomach. She could hardly believe what her sister was asking her to do! She could not abandon her to these things. She won't do it!
"Come with me then! You can't stay here!" she desperately pleaded, her blue eyes beginning to well with hot tears.
"Please! Leave now!" was Tanya's equally desperate plea to her younger sister before she turned towards one of the incoming Goblins and shot the green skinned beast point blank.
Anna could see that the windows had now been broken down and the Goblins were beginning to climb through, all of them filled with vile intent. And yet still her sister stood her ground and hastily reloading her rifle as she stared down the monsters. Just as their father had done when a large band of Norscans attacked their home years before.
Anna could feel her despair clawing at her heart, hot tears now flowing down her cheeks. She can't leave her sister behind. She cannot abandon her. She was all she had left in this world, her only remaining family. And where would she go even if she tried to escape? She doubted she would last long out there, all alone. And that is even if she does manage to escape. Chances were good that these Greenskins would just run her down before she could get far.
She could feel her strength leaver her, her despair threatening to overcome her. They needed help. They needed someone to come and save them. Someone. Anyone!
Images of that handsome yet ghostly pale young man with the silvery hair flashed through her mind. For a brief moment Anna cursed herself for thinking about that Northman barbarian in the face of their coming doom. This was not the time to be fantasizing! That's when realization struck her.
"He can help us"
With renewed hope filling her troubled heart and bringing strength back to her limbs, Anna quickly turned around and ran up the stairs as fast as she could.
Tanya glanced back at the direction of her retreating sister, and a sad smile formed on her soft lips. Knowing that she finally heeded her words and decided to save herself, Tanya was glad to know that her sister would at least have a chance. Now she only needed to buy as much time for her to escape. She knew not what horrible fate awaited her at the hands of these Goblins, but she would endure it all just so her sister would be spared from it. Another Goblin closed in on Tanya, it's rusty sword raised high. Only through the timely swing of her rifle's butt was she able to knock the filthy little savage back.
But more were coming through the windows, their evil intent plain for her to see. And Tanya still held her ground.
While the older Stahlhart sibling made her desperate last stand, the younger Stahlhart ran towards the door of their old bedroom, and all but smashed it open in her desperation. There he was, their mysterious guest. Still lying on the bed with his head propped up by a pillow and a woolen blanket covering his form. Anna walked up to him, grabbed a firm hold on his shoulders, and began shaking him quite roughly.
"Hey you! Wake up! There's Goblins downstairs and we need your help!"
But despite her efforts, the man remained asleep. His handsome face still a mask of serenity as he lay on the bed. If things weren't so desperate at the moment, Anna would have caressed his cheeks and maybe even tried kissing him again, just as she did last night when her sister wasn't present. But at the moment, all she felt towards this man was mounting frustration and anger for his continued lack of response.
"Please wake up!" she shouted at him as she started slapping the side of his face. "Wake up, you pretty faced barbarian! We need your help! Please, wake up already!"
And still he did not wake up. Still fast asleep as he had been for nearly a week now. Anna's attention was soon drawn to the sound of another gunshot from down stairs. Which was soon followed by the pained and frightened cries of her sister Tanya while the Goblins howled and laughed. A look of abject horror was plastered upon her comely face, dreading whatever terrible acts those monsters would inflict upon her dear sister.
She needed to wake this man up. She needed to get him to help her and save her sister, before those filthy Greenskins can do any more harm to her. She hurriedly looked around her, trying to find something that would help her wake the man up. Her eyes soon settled upon the bucket of water at the foot of the bed, the one she forgot to put away last night after washing up this sleeping fool.
Anna stood up and went over to the bucket and picked it up with both hands. Turning her lovely blue orbs towards the sleeping man, filled with both anger and fear.
"Verdammte! Wake up! NOW!"
She screamed the last word at the very top of her lungs as she emptied the entire bucket of water over him. That seemed to do the trick, as the man suddenly bolted right out of the bed, startling Anna by the suddenness of his action.
Completely drenched and looking rather pissed off at the abrupt and particularly rude awakening, the pale skinned and silver haired stranger glared at Anna, causing her to instinctively step back. His crimson eyes looked deep into her own blue orbs with a calculating quality to them, his previously serene countenance now a cold and expressionless mask. Now that he was back on his feet, Anna realized that this man was actually much taller than she previously thought, and coupled with his musclebound physique, made Anna look that much smaller in comparison.
Now that this man was finally awake, Anna soon felt fresh fear within her, remembering all those warning Bertha gave her days prior. That he was quite possibly a Northman or some sort. And that his kind was evil and would no doubt seek to do unspeakable things to her if given the chance. There was a very real possibility that she might have just brought even more trouble upon her head, but she would not relent.
Her sister was in trouble and she needed his help to save her.
"Please, help us" she pleaded.
He did not say anything. When another round of evil laughter came from the Goblins downstairs and accompanied by Tanya's terrified cries and pleas, the man still did not say anything.
But his crimson eyes began to glow with an eerie light however, filled with bloodlust. He walked towards the nearby table where his weapons and armor stood, and he took his sword.
Author's Notes:
Hey all. Just wanted to welcome you all to a brand new story of mine, a crossover between the manga/anime titled Goblin Slayer and Warhammer Fantasy. Yup, you read it right. This is a story that I have been cooking up in my head for quite some time now and I wanted to see how it would play out. A whole what if scenario similar to my other story, Lord of Death. And as you can see, just like my other story, The Slayer's Tale is also rather dark and gritty. With the possibility of being filled with a whole lot more mature content than Lord of Death. This is a crossover between two particularly grim and dark stories after all, so I will be staying true to style and them of both universes. No sugar coating.
But of course, this is mostly an experiment of mine though, as a way of practicing a slightly different style of writing with a completely kind of story. So chances are good this will just remain a humble one shot, for most of my extra time is still being devoted to writing my other story. But if somehow this story starts to pick up some popularity, then I might just go and post the next chapter and make this a whole new series.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this story of mine. Please, leave me a comment or a review. I wanna know all of your thoughts and any suggestions or criticisms you have about the story. It helps, really.
Until next time all. John out! :D
