The Blood Lines of Ravenswood
(Some parts edited from original for spelling, grammar and continuity.)
Part 1- The Battle of Innocence
Prologue
The flames of the fire flickered and spat erratically. Dark figures sat huddled around the heat, the smell of cooking meat offering little comfort to the morale of those gathered there. Blackened fingers pulled back the strapping, caked in blood, that was bound around his wrist. The Black Orc stood up spat at the fire and turned his back to the flames. The fire cast his great shadow over the prisoners they had taken from the last raid. He liked this plan, the humans would send their warriors to rescue the lord's children, and then he would have a real fight on his hands. He offered a delightfully evil smirk to the empire children, who continued to cower in a bundle beneath the tree.
Suddenly the orc chef in a dirty white apron and chef hat stood up, "roast stuntie for anyone who wants it." The Black orc noticed several of the smaller orcs and grots rush to get their share first. He would have to teach them a lesson, he thought, biggest gets first pick.
After bashing a few skulls and squelching a snotling underfoot the Black Orc grabbed a Goblin by the throat, "Give them Empire brats some water then shut them up for the night, good and tight... but don't kill 'em or I'll tear your innards out and you'll be breakfast!"
The frightened Goblin limped pathetically towards the children. The goblin tossed a stolen waterskin at the children, "drink up hum......" He cut himself off as he thought he saw something move in the trees behind the huddled kids. Walking past the trees he took a look around, his eyes taking a second to adjust without the fire to illuminate the area. He didn't even have time to cry out before the arrow thunked into his green chest.
Amid the din of the orcish feast, nobody noticed the missing goblin. Smiling darkly, Morannon drew the arrow free from its already cooling corpse. This would be too easy. He would kill the sentries, grab the children and run. They were wasted as an orcish meal; let them learn the true meaning of pain as Druchii slaves, instead.
Then suddenly a flying, blood coated skull launched itself through the air. Morannon spotted the skull and started running backwards as to avoid it, but with a loud thunk the skull landed directly on morannon's head. This caused the elf to drop to his knees and give a loud groan, dropping his bow. Amidst all the chaos round the campfire the orcs and grots turned around, the biggest orc shouting, "Get him!"
Before either side could move, a blinding blue light erupted from between the trees accompanied by a terrific crash of thunder. Spilling between the gnarled trunks with eardrum-bursting bellows came bounding masses of screaming Saurus Warriors, a ferocious Oldblood at their head; their toothed swords hacked down the first rank of the Orcs, dark, greenish blood spattering upwards as their unstoppable charge ploughed into the warband.
In the chaos of the moment, the Black Orc rushed to the children. Grabbed them by the hair of their heads and launched them onto his broad shoulders. Morannon slowly came round from the shock of the bloodied skull but then the well aimed, hobnailed boot of the Black Orc thumped viciously into his groin.
Screaming in agony, Morranon fell to the floor. He thought to himself this could not get any worse, but it could. As he lay there squirming in pain he felt himself being pelted with rotten vegetables. He could only see lizards hacking away at the orcs and then he saw a stegadon heading straight for him.
He picked up his bow and drew back an arrow. He realised he could save his own life, or shoot the orc who was carrying the childeren. He had an idea, he shot the left leg of the stegadon, and it blundered to the right, about to trample on the fleeing orc.
"Stinking Lizard scum" grumbled the Black Orc, almost out of breath. A thick dirty band of metal around his head began to glow with unworldly light. Great talons lifted the Empire brats from his shoulders. Blackfist grinned, grabbed the leash from around his Wyverns neck, jumped onto the filty beasts back and rose up into the darkness.
Quali-zotec aimed his giant bow at the flying monster. It was hard to aim, when you were on the back of a stegadon,he thought. Beside him skinks were shooting downwards at the orcs. He launched his giant arrow at the heart of the wyvern skewering it. As he saw the beast tumble dawn, he wondered, would it be enough?
Tehexi watched the wyvern taking to the skies and clicked out a string of orders to his fellow skinks, who began firing their darts at the massive winged beast. Seeing his spawning brother Quali-zotec fell the massive beast he bounded quickly over to his terradon and ordered the wing into the sky to catch the children, Loqrikai had ordered the children be saved at all costs, and who was he to argue with the will of the Old Ones. Tehexi stopped his terradon just below the falling children. The terradon was wide enough to catch them both, but as he did the terradon buckled under the impact. The creature soared tawards the ground, Tehexi desperately trying to pull the terradon up. At the last moment the beast regained control and crashed inside the stegadon howdah.
Cursing under his breath, Morannon slowly lifted himself to his feet, wiping rotten vegetables off himself whilst scanning the surrounding woods for the source of the pelting. At first, they seemed to have disappeared, until he noticed that some of the lizardmen and orcs had broken off from the fighting to enjoy a particularly grisly feast. Smiling cruelly, Morannon reached into his quiver, and drew fourth a thick, barbed arrow, the most potent of venoms dripping from its tip. Drawing back the string of his bow, he let loose, watching with satisfaction as it pierced the thinner scales of the terradon's underbelly, right below its claws. The terradon gave a pain-filled shriek, and began to flail about in midair, it's hold on the children released as it sought to pull the painful arrow free and stop the liquid pain from flowing into it from the wound.
Tehexi for some reason found himself inside the howdah of the stegadon that had been sent with them. Pulling himself off of the wounded terradon he watched an arrow hit the flailing terradon's back end, and the children slip off the howdah. Screaming out some quick saurian, a kroxigor below the stegadon heard it and grabbed the falling kids. Turning he walked away from the battle with the children cradled in his scaly arms.
Red eyes glowed menacingly in the shadows. Bogshat the Shaman watched the greenskins falling apart and could feel the waagh diminishing. With his last bit of green strength he summoned a giant green hand to carry Blackfist to him, "Another time, we'll get the scum!"
The sourfaced Black Orc and the Shaman then crept off into the darkness.
Chapter 1
The single candle flickered in the darkness, the anxious mother sat clenching her fists, staring at the flame. The long hours of this dreadful night were endless. A tear fell down her cheek, her heart empty. Silence was all around her. How could such a day happen, what could bring such terror to her home. The Castle was silent with the absence of her lord and his men; and where were her children?
Soon footsteps could be heard echoing through the hallways towards the room where she sat, the metallic clink of armour obvious. There was a light rapping at her door and a voice asked, "milady?"
She recognized the voice, "enter Johan."
The door opened slowly and the head of one of the high ranking knights of the blazing sun looked in, "the lord has returned milady, he asks that you meet him in the great hall".
She felt sick in her stomach. She looked at Johan for an explanation, but there was none. She followed the knight through the hallways, dimly lit. One half of herself excited hoping to see her children, the other half horrified, scared to hear any bad tidings. As the approached the brightness of the great hall there was much excitement and shouting. She saw her husband moving about the hall, bellowing orders to the men. Lord Franz Austermann seemed even more imposing than usual, his features contorted with seething rage as he directed those soldiers with any proficiency in medicine in their efforts to heal their comrades. As he noticed his wife's presence, Franz's bearing immediately lightened, though the smile upon his face as he beheld her was a strained one.
"It is good to see you, my dear... The days of late have held little comfort for me. We were forced to defend a village from a force of vile elven corsairs, and lost the trail of the children during the battle. We routed them, but at great cost... and our children are still out there... "
Her face was ashen, eyes pleading, "Then Franz, PLEASE! release my sister, she can help us!"
Anger again flashed across his face, "Myriam! I cant do this for you. I love you but your sister is a Witch! an Enchantress!"
They both stared at each other wordlessly. Suddenly, from outside the Great Hall the echo of heavy boots and armour could be heard making their way to the hall. A pair of Knights of the Blazing Sun entered and walked over to Franz, the pair saluted and waited to be acknowledged.
"I'm sorry dear but I must handle this", Franz told his wife as he turned to the two knights, "Cornus, Altair, what have you to report?"
"Sir, two more settlements have been sacked, there were no survivors and we cannot confirm the attackers, but we did notice a lot of arrows that look like Dark Elf handiwork, look!" Franz stared at the black feathers.
"But it doesn't make sense Sir, because there were also the bodies of many greenskins lying around"
Momentarily the Empire Lord looked worn and tired and then anger flashed across his face again, "Blast it, rest and recuperate what little you can. We ride out at first light!"
Meanwhile...
Mordraine stood in the open doorway of her cell. Five bloody months she'd been in there. She looked at the object in her hand, lightweight, hard, thin metal arrow head, it had served her well and she looked at the crumpled heap of the dead prison warden at her feet. She looked at the slip of paper that had been attached to the arrow that had come in through her window just three days ago, 'Best of Luck, Morannon' she crumpled it, grinned and walked quietly away from the cell.
Chapter 2
Blackfist took his axe from the orc boss' neck.He had found a tribe of greenies with the shaman and had challenged the leader of the tribe. Easy-peasy, thought Blackfist.
"Any ovver of you pansies wanna challenge me? Or are ya too scared of ya new boss?"
A gigantic orc, more like a troll than an orc, stood up and unsheathed the largest scimitar Blackfist had ever seen, even bogshat paled at it. Blackfist gulped as he readied himself.
The towering orc spit on the ground before charging Blackfist. The scimitar swung around with surprising speed but Blackfist has able to bring his axe up and block it. The force of the blow sent Blackfist's axe flying but the black orc wasn't about to lose to a greenskin. Lowering his head he rammed the monsterous orc in the gut, causing it to drop it's scimitar, and the pair began to grapple.
The gigantic Orc managed to lock Blackfist into a vicelike bearhug. Blackfist's arms were uselessly pinned against his sides. As the giant greenskin squeezed, Blackfist thought quickly. He dropped his body-weight then jumped up, both his feet onto the giant Orc's thighs, and with the momentum of the surprise-jump Blackfist headbutted the greenskin, crushing the orc's nose into a bloody mess which resulted in Blackfist being released from the grapple.
The giant orc, stunned by the pain, stumbled backwards groggily as Blackfist stepped forward, a jagged but sharp blade sliding into his hand from inside his iron wristband. With a roar of triumph, Blackfist drove the crude knife into the giant orc's throat, severing its windpipe in a spray of gore. As the giant orc crumpled before him, Blackfist reached forward, and, grabbing hold of his fallen enemy's hair, gave a mighty tug, pulling its head free and bearing it aloft for all to see.
"Ize da winner!" He roared, concious of the other orcs awe and fear, "Anyone else?"
"I tells ya scum! Da bigger dey are da harder dey fall!", He looked around at the cowaring greenskins; Bogshat could feel green energy tingling in his fingertips. Blackfist threw the orc head into a nearby campfire, "Cook him up for breakfast ladz! if ya wanna learn how to fight a bigun, then take me as your Warboss and I'll teach ya good!"
Blackfist picked up his axe and held it high above his head he cried out
"WAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!", the orcs drew their weapons and held them aloft in reply.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!"
Bogshat smiled wickedly, the power of the wagh coursing through his body. He knew Mork and Gork would make him the most powerful shaman in the world, and Blackfist was his puppet.
The greenskins went about their hustle and bustle. Blackfist approached Bogshat, "Well wot ya reckon then?" Bogshat scanned the camp, it wasnt big, mostly goblins, some orcs, and a couple of old Black Orcs.
"Snot a nuff Blackfist! we needs more ladz an we needs some Boars and Wolves to take on the Empire 'orses!, we'll have ta go deeper into the Badlands... Sum Trolls would be good too."
"Ok, but it gonna take a while to get all dat, and we ain't gonna have any real fights until we get back", Blackfist told the shaman in reply.
"It cant be 'elped, but dont woory, we'll be back soon."
The massive black orc sighed and turned back to the camp, he went about smashing some heads to get the camp ready to move out.
Chapter 3
Tehexi drew the circle in the dirt as he had many times before, and stepped into it before spreading the small leaves around it. Closing his eyes and concentrating he opened his mind and felt the presence of Loqrikai.
"The children have been secured", the skink priest spoke to the spiritual presence.
"Excellent, keep them safe and do not let their family reclaim them, it is too dangerous for them here at the temple or home with their parents."
The skink priest removed a purple crystal from beneath his tunic. thought for a moment then said, "What should be done now? With the children secured, do we just wait or go on with the next stage of the journey?"
The purple crystal became hot and the skink dropped it to the ground, the spiritual voice within and beyond the circle said, "This area is dangerous. It is swarming with the green skinned creatures. Call the saurus and kroxigors, we will have to scour the area."
"Yes o knowledgeable one."said the clicking voice of Tehexi.
Tehexi nodded absently to himself as he went about the hidden camp, issuing his commands to the various elements of the small warband. Excessive force would prove dangerous now; he would have his skinks patrol the woods as scouts, but none of the larger, less stealthy elements would be deployed. The children, spoken of in one of the rare moments of awakeness of the great Slann of the temple city, were obviously instrumental to the great plan of the Old ones. Those mindless, brutal scale-less ones would likely just eat them; they could not be allowed to get their wish.
The priest continued to walk through the camp scanning it's occupants. The saurus were preparing their blades and the kroxigors appeared to be sleeping. His spawning brother Quali-Zotec was re-fitting the rigging on his stegadon, where the priest's terradon had crashed. Tehexi sighed, he wasn't going to be able to get a new terradon until they returned home. Making his way over to the children, who were obviously still frightened but this time not tied up, simply watched over by one of the younger saurus. He grabbed some fruit from a small pile the chameleon's had collected and sat down with the children.
The children looked tired, worn and scared. Staring at the scaley hand of the giant lizard, the girl, too tired to cry anymore, looked at her brother for a sign. Anson nodded at his sister, he took some fruit and bit into it, then the girl followed his example. The children were starving hungry and ate and ate under the lidless gaze of the lizard.
Quali-Zotec blew on a horn on the front of the Howdah. Skinks appeared from different parts of the forest and scampered up the legs of the stegadon. The skink warrior nodded at the kroxigor builders who had been repairing the hole and went to join their brethren.
"Prepare your selves spawning-brothers. Load up the bow and check that your blowpipes are full."
Tehexi sighed as Quali-Zotec went about the business of preparing the camp for battle. He looked back at the children and saw how frightened they were from everything around them. Thinking for a second the priest began to speak to them in his rough and broken riekspeil, "pleasssse not be ssscared little onessss, we are not going to wirt you."
The children looked slightly amazed to hear some words they could understand come from the short lizard, so Tehexi took the advantage, "my name issss Tehessshi, what are your namessss?"
The pair looked at each other for a second and then the brother spoke up, "uhh... my, my name is Anson and my sister is Kelsie."
The closest thing possible to a gentle smile appeared on the skink's face and then the younger sister asked, "when can we go home?"
The skinks eyes looked wide wet and sad. "Wome? no ssssssorry, not safe for you to go wome for now, lotsssss of troublessss at your wome".
The girl looked like she was going to start crying again but the skink stopped her; "Come, we have to beeess movingsss" and he gestured for the children to stand up. Anson gave his sister a melancholic half smile; and the children followed the skink towards the main gathering.
Meanwhile, within the Badlands...
The mad red eyes stared ferociously, all its bristles shining filthily, white froth dribbling from its tusks. The gigantic boar hunched up its muscular bulky shoulders, lowered it's head and suddenly charged forward, full of rage, towards Blackfist. Who side-stepped quickly whilst landing a well aimed punch into the boar's head; the beast tumbling into a stunned ungraceful flump, dazed.
"Tie im up ladz, that one's mine, now lets get sum more!"
Chapter 4
Morannon smirked as he entered the human bar, his drawn cloak concealed most of his elven features, and he kept to the shadows as much as possible. Sitting in one corner he asked for a glass of water from the barmaid that came to his table. Looking around slowly he wondered how long it would take her to arrive, but then again he told himself, she was never late.
Five minutes past by. Morannon was just about to consider her late. The Tavern door burst open with a sudden crash as two burly men fell into the establishment, loud with drunken laughter. Morannon was probably the only person who noticed, amidst the chaos, a dark cloaked woman slip into the building. Sensing his stare she looked him right in the eye, and telepathically said, "well, get me a drink then", she smiled darkly and sat down next to him in the shadows.
Mordraine sipped her wine, "so where are the children now?"
"I believe they are being held captive by the reptillian creatures in a forest south of here"
"And what of the greenskins?"
"No idea human. Are the horses ready?"
"Yes", the female forced this out as she inwardly snarled at Morannon's last comment.
"We shall set off at morn then", Morannon stated dryly.
"Wish you'd stop calling me human, you know what I am."
Morannon grimaced a little, "well, daughter, you sure ain't an elf."
"No, I am half elven but a pure witch, father... you should be careful of the women you rape from now on... I dont want any other siblings thank you."
"Then we're agreed on that then." said Morannon, grinning. Mordraine said nothing but grinned back at him, clenching her first underneath the table.
Whilst this grave meeting was occuring, a gathering of similar malicious intent came about in the Badlands...
Blackfist rode his boar to the meeting of the black orcs, most of them had now won the trust of the boars with a day of 'eadbutting contests. One of the orcs sounded out, "boss, look what the grots caught."
A pair of roaring trolls struggled individually under the ropes and chains desperately tied around their bodies to subdue them. Several gobbos pulled on the chains, the wild flailing sending quite a few sailing through the air.
Blackfist smiled wickedly, "Oy!!! Skranky!"
"Yes Boss!!" Said Skranky, one of the harder and more clever of the Boar Riders.
Blackfist pointed at the trolls, grinning, "See that! those is yer new mates. Ya be clever now and make friends with 'em; find out where der mates live, and promise dem Stuntie meat to make 'em come on a journey... does it good and I'll get Bogshat to give you a special Chopper!"
Skranky grew with pride at being chosen, the orc went over to the struggling troll and Blackfist turned back toward the shaman who was sitting on a rock and feeding off the wagh energy.
"What you think now Bogshat?", the massive orc asked of the shaman.
"I think this be a good start Blackfist", the shaman replied as he felt the wagh flow through his viens, "but we need more."
"Hmmpph", the black orc replied as he turned to watch Skranky wrestle with the troll.
"I've been travelling in da Great Green", said Bogshat. "An I know where there is some good ladz. A day's south from 'ere, there is a gathering of Savage Orcs, I feels it in me bones... we should get 'em to join us."
"Savage's!", said Blackfist, "They're bloody nutters!"
"Yeah?"
"Brilliant! I luv's it... PACK UP LADZ!!!! We've sum marchin ta do!"
Chapter 5
Lord Franz looked at the village from the saddle of his magnificent warhorse. "Another one destroyed, damnit", he yelled, the stress of these constant raids was truly beginning to show on the veteran's face.
Cornus and Altair rode up from around the corner of one of the burned houses, "no survivors sir, and it looks like druchii handiwork yet again."
"There is some good news though Sir," said Cornus. "There were a few foul Elves left behind, one of them, he's out cold, but he's still breathing..."
"Excellent!" Said Franz "Give him water, get him nursed, I want to know everything he knows.... Altair, give the orders to set up camp and bring the scribe to me I want to send a message to Robert de Mortaine."
"Sir! Sir! Urgent news from the castle! The witch has escaped!"
The sentry ran as fast as he could toward the mounted Franz and handed the scroll to him breathless. Lord Austermann unfurled it and read it, his eyes flaring with anger as he did.
"Summon Kaitana Shadowblade, the witch must not be allowed to meet up with these vile druchii", Franz yelled as he looked around, "and where in Sigmar's name is that scribe!?!"
A nervous and stressed scribe, arrived. Franz spat out his dictation and the scribe wrote quickly.
"Cornus! take five men with you and ride hard west, give this to Mortaine, we need his help and he owes me; meet us towards the Badlands a week from now."
"Yes sir!"
Franz paused a little, "Has the dark elf revived yet?"
"Yes Sir, we're just about to start asking him questions." Franz was expressionless, "I'm not interested, kill him."
Cornus saluted as he recieved the scroll and turned toward the main force, selecting his riders and departing. Altair walked over to the bound druchii and ensured he would draw breath no longer.
A dark cloaked figure emerged from the shadows of the empty buildings and made its way silently over to Lord Austermann. "You summoned me?" a sinister female voice asked as the figure knelt before Franz.
"Kaitana." Said Franz, "The B*tch has escaped!"
"I said she would, Lord."
Franz Austermann nodded his head slowly, "She is my wife's sister, and so I was leniant... Kaitana, do what needs to be done, do it anyway you think best and I'll reward you highly."
Kaitana nodded, slipped away, and after nimbly jumping onto her steed, she was gone.
The lord rubbed his temples and sighed as he tried to think, the druchii had gone very far inland, this was more than just a raid, it has to have some purpose. His children are still missing, and their kidnappers have yet to make any demands, it scared him more than any army. And recent reports of lizard creatures hiding in the forests also worried him, this area is not exactly prime territory for the cold blooded, what could be going on...........
Chapter 6
They had ridden hard for three days, Morannon and Mordraine had; looking for Morannon's dark kin. Yesterday, in a forest near the Empire border they had found some bodies, already a day cold and dead. They were Druchii, and close by in a stream, the dead bodies of Lizard creatures. Morannon was puzzled that this race should be so far from their native land; Mordraine had severed the reptilian fingers off the dead and secretted them away into a waxed leathern pouch.
Elsewhere...
"Here! Boss! Report of dem gobbos hidin' in the caves, with squiggly beasts n' all.
And dey have loadsa mushrooms and a shaman!"
"Great! Gerrin there, kill der boss and make them surrender to us. But don't kill too many of dem lads, we needs them!
And with that blackfist led his bodyguard into the caverns. Bogshat stood outside the cave as the orcs began to funnel in, summoning up the now considerable wagh energy to scrye ahead. Leaving his body his mind slowly made its way through the caverns, passing Blackfist and coming to something that scared the bog out of him.
"Blackfist!!!!!!!" the shaman yelled as he rejoined his physical form, "its a trap!!!"
Just as Bogshat yelled, Blackfist turned his head swiftly to listen. From out of the darkness a couple of crossbow bolts flew past Blackfist's face and hit an Orc to his left side, the bolts were swiftly followed by a thrown hand axe!
"Stunties!!!" yelled Blackfist. He grabbed a nearby orc and carrying him as a shield ran into the darkness shouting "Kill em!" Crossbow bolts thumping into the Orc body he held.
Suddenly several round shapes seemed to emerge from the cave. When he got closer, Blackfist realised that they had made a shield wall. From the position the dwarfs stood, the greenskins could not atack the dwarven flanks, so could not make use of the weight of numbers. Suddenly, in the midst of battle, Blackfist noticed the stuntie leader. He had a flowing straw blonde beard, and weilded a large hammer that with every swing pulverized a greenskin.
"Dat one's mine", the massive orc told himself silently.
The orcs smashed into the wall of dwarves and seemed to bounce off of the defensive position they had set, but Blackfist was a different story. Throwing the now quite dead orc at the wall, he lowered his shoulder and burst through the dwarves. The sounds of combat turned into a nothing more than a din in Blackfist's ears as he bashed his way toward the powerful dwarf. The Dwarf hero whirled his great Hammer towards Blackfist's head, almost crushing his chin! Blackfist thumped down on the shaft of the axe, causing a shake so aggresive that the Dwarf dropped his treasured weapon! But Blackfist was thrown aside, forced against the cavern wall, by the massive bulk of one of Skranky's Trolls, who'd been told that "crunchy lunch is in dat Cave!"
Brokk Snorrisson hammered another goblin, but where was that huge orc, he wondered? He realised that if he killed it in combat he would break the orcs, and if the opposite happened the dwarfs would not be able to escape. The organ gun launched a volley on the troll, seeming to kill it, only to have it reel back to it's feet. Another dwarf then chopped off its head to make sure it coudn't get back up again. Then Brokk sighted that orc again, determined to finish it.
From all the puncture wounds cause by the Organ Gun, Troll digestives fluids were seeping out all over the floor. Various Dwarves were recoiling backwards in pain, their boots melting into their flesh. Blackfist grabbed a stunned nearby Dwarf and hurled him towards their Organ Gun, in panic, the crewmen peppered their kinsman to death. "Bogshat! do summin!" Shouted Blackfist as he powered a mighty punch into Brokk Snorrisson's face.
Bogshat was always several steps ahead of his dim-witted partner, summoning up his energies long before the yell for aide. He did not want to break his concentration in reply to the massive orc and so continued to ready his spell, one that could shake the very foundation of the earth, as was his intent.
Bogshat started drooling and frothing at the mouth. The power flowing through his body given to him by Mork was too much for his body to take and there was a loud BANG. The burst of magic propelled the orcs backward out of the cave into a cow field. Blackfist, standing up rounded angrily on Bogshat. Only he wasn't there, his robes and staff were there but jumping on top of them was a bright purple squig!
The squig stopped jumping. Turned a dark shade of red, started to grow larger and larger, swelling into a repulsive mass and then another BANG!!!! The squig burst into a mess of filth all over the jawdropping Orcs that stared in disbelief. Standing where the squig had been was Bogshat! "Borrox! I hate it when dat 'appens!" He looked about him, at least the ladz were out of the Cavern.
Blackfist roared, "ow, dos stunties is gonna getsit now!" Climbing back to his feet and grabbing the nearest weapon to him, a choppa that looked more like a butter knife in his hands, he prepared to charge back at the caves. As he approached, Bogshat blocked him with his goo-covered staff, which nearly caused Blackfist to turn the chopper on the shaman, had it not been for the rumbling of rocks as the cave's entrance collapsed on itself.
Skranky started crying, "dey killed one of me Trolls boss! Now I've only got two left. We cant let dem gets away with it!" Blackfist was just about to smack Bogshat in the mouth. Bogshat stared Blackfist in the face, thinking to himself, 'go on den, I'll rip ya to pieces' but Blackfist quickly turned away from the shaman, kicking a nearby orc in the ribs instead; "C'mon! we're leaving, theres is Savage Orcs we gotta meet up with!"
Chapter 7
As Tehexi walked beside the two children he talked with them, trying to be the closest thing a giant lizard can be to a friend. They had been marching for a while now, moving through the forests of the Empire trying to find one that was far enough away from human settlements to attract no attention. Quali-Zotec stood atop the massive stegadon and looked at the saurus oldblood who was their battle leader, and then back to their true leader, the priest Tehexi.
Tehexi gave a nod to Quali-Zotec, prompting his brother to give a sudden blast on his battle horn that was quickly followed by other musicians in the army; then silence.
'Strange?' thought Tehexi, as he looked about him. That sudden noise should of startled every bird in this area of the forest, but not a single one took to the sky. The Lizardman army continued slowly and as quietly as it could through the forest, all the time feeling as if it were being watched. The priest clicked out a string of orders and a scar-veteran made his way over to Tehexi.
"I know Garlasssh is a bit sssscary, but sssstay near wim little oness", the priest said to the two children, to which Anson nodded silently, taking his sister's hand. The priest then ran over to the stegadon his brother sat upon, telling him to summon the chameleons back.
A sudden terrifying high pitched screech shattered the silence of the watchful forest! All lizard eyes looked up through the tree-tops to the darkening sky. The children cowerred and began to shake. Flying above the trees were a couple of foul Harpies, circling and screaming. "Quick!", shouted Tehexi, "Deeper into the foresssst, getssss under cover!"
Quali-Zotec needed no order to be given, aiming the massive great bow into the sky and firing, the spear-like arrow nearly decapitated one of the foul creatures as it hit home. As the harpies screeched and dove towared the lizards, Garlax pulled to children to cover and the returning chameleons opened fire with their poisonous darts. As the Harpies soared higher into the sky, until they had disappeared from sight, yet it seemed from all around, rose the sound of horns blowing and the thick vibration of a bass battle drum. Tehexi gave a mental order to all his kin, and haphazardly the lizards made the best of forming a defensive circle. All wondering from which direction the threat would come.
Morannon signalled tt the witch to stop moving. He whistled a bird call and from all around, dark elves were appearing, with their cruel armour strapped to them, their wicked crossbows glinting in the low sun.
"There is an orcish encampment to the south, and a tribe of savage lizards nearby", reported a young elf to the dark one.
"Excellent, I have a few amendments to make with them, Forward!"
Franz waited on the hill, to his side was the Brettonian general, and behind him were 200 brettonian knights, and the whole of Franz's own order, the blazing sun knights. Decked in fine golden armour, their black banners fluttering in the wind, they were a fearsome sight.
Suddenly Cornus and Altair came racing up the hill, "we have news sire, the children are in possession of the lizards and are still alive."
"Excellent, let us ride."
Bogshat looked up from the scrying pool, "der is gonna be a big fight Blackfist, is you ready?"
Blackfist grinned and grabbed his massive axe, "always ready."
As the four forces realized the battle was soon to be upon them, they only wondered what could come of it.
Tehexi thought only of the mission, the children cannot fall into the Druchii's hands, but the numbers are against them.
Franz, of protecting his land, his people, but most importantly his flesh and blood, he did not care what creatures stood before him, he would protect them all.
Morannon and Mordraine felt the lust for revenge boiling over in their veins, it would be a bloody battle, all would fall before them, and the children would be returned to their dear auntie.
Bogshat could only dream of the wagh this battle would create, and his pawn, Blackfist, would bring it about willingly.
The time was nigh.
Chapter 8
Tehexi summoned forth magic and caused a silence amongst the trees. The Lizardman army was motionless, waiting. From all around, at every corner could be heard the breaking of twigs and branches.
A sudden scream!
Through the trees running towards the Lizardman camp ran a group of naked screaming berserk dark elves, metal swords spinning in their hands. A volley of arrows flew out over the treetops towards the encampment.
The chameleon skinks let loose on the frenzied wytch elves, downing many of them with their potent frog venoms. The saurus took the brunt of the arrows upon their scaled shields, but a few were hit in their softer places and downed.
The saurus began to form a double ranked circle around the camp, while a powerful scar-veteran intercepted the wytches and finished the group of advance fighters in a spectacular display of bloodshed, a small scratch being all he received for his trouble. The Lizardmen went silent again as the watched the trees and waited.
From the eastern tree edge; small vicious darts were shot, volley after volley; Dark Elf Shades hiding in the tree-tops firing their repeated bolt-throwers whilst remaining out of view. Skink archers returned fire, firing blindly into the trees. Suddenly, from the west, five muscle-bound Cold Ones appeared, black armoured knights with spears brandished, making a swift charge into the west side of the Lizardman defences.
The cold one cavalry thundered into the lizardmen forces, punching a hole into the thin ring, but being brought down by the kroxigors inside.
"NOW!" screamed morannon, the dark elf warriors smashed into the hole, making good use of the small distraction. The lizardmen were still reeling from the cold ones and were caught off guard.
As the sky darkened, and the roar of battle rose higher; a fire flamed bright within the surrounding woods. Wytch elves drew their own blood; one hysterically threw herself into the flames. The power of raw magic brewed in the sky; but which way would it go? The dark sky and uncontrolled blaze was a beacon, witnessed by both Blackfist and the greenskin horde, near to the west, and to Franz and his approaching Empire battle host, to the east.
Blackfist Roared "WAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" and his warriors behind him chorused, charging down the hill into the dark elf rear. He realized that he could kill a few things, get revenge on the lizzies, and escape with the children before the empire and bretonnian army charged down the hill into the flank and took the children off him again. Blackfist looked to the north and saw he was a bit too late, as he could already hear the sounds of thundering hooves.
As the orcs and empire drew ever closer, the storm and battle raged, the blood of elf and lizard flowing freely. Kaitana knelt behind a tree and watched the half-elf witch preparing a spell. The chaotic energies of the storm and wagh began to take form around Mordraine.
"Guess it's time I earned my pay", the assassin whispered with a delightful smile, drawing her twin knives and running out of her cover at the distracted sorceress.
Blackfist cut himself further into the druchii and lizard horde, not caring who he cut down on the way. He began to get bored, could nobody in this fight match his skill? Then he saw a druchii warrior, greatly skilled, beheading saurus and greenskins alike with his magical blade. Blackfist grinned, showing his fangs as he bounded over the corpses to meet his new foe. Blackfist bellowed a mighty deafening roar; clenching both his fists so tightly that his own nails dug into himself, his black blood dripping to the ground. Those around him, shocked into silent non action. He drew two thick and heavy daggers from his belt and launched himself onto the powerful Druchi warrior…
...Kaitana jumped to the ground. Mordraine turned swiftly, tossing a blurr of greenish dust towards Kaitana's face. Kaitana screamed in anger, blinded by the burning dust, flailing wildly at the witch. Mordraine backed off and laughed as she returned to her concentrations, leaving the assassin to the mercy of any druchii who would notice the open target.
Morannon turned quickly as he noticed Blackfist flying at him, but it was not fast enough, the two went down to the ground hard, Morannon's off arm shattering with a sickening snap. The druchii screamed in pain and rage as he drew a dagger and placed it into the orc's gut.
Robert looked over at Franz and nodded, lowering the visor on his helm and spurring the Bretonnian Knight into full charge toward the ensuing chaos. Franz signaled to Cornus and Altair, and the three leaders of the Knights of the Blazing Sun yelled out the attack.
Morannon's vicious blade twisted in Blackist's gut and was then pulled sharply out, Morannon trying to do as much damage to the Black Orc's innards as he could; the mind-searing pain just made Blackfist even madder than he already was. Blackfist grabbed Morannon's head by the hair, and with his other vice like hand, grabbed hold of Morannon's already broken arm and yanked vicously; Morannon screamed in mindless pain as his arm was dislocated entirely from his shoulder.
Skanky's two Trolls came bounding into the fray and squared themselves up against Tehexi's stegadon while on the eastside the Druchii were stunned and confused, trapped between the Lizards and the Bretonnian/Empire alliance, that was smashing its way to the centre of the battlefield.
Franz smashed his lance on an orc’s shield, the impact causing the creature to topple with a metal-hoof induced death. Franz rode into he woods, the lizards recognized him for what he was and let him past, when he sighted the children in the care of a green skinned lizard. He marched towards them, the children's faces lighting up, when a goblin with a knife jumped on top of him, making him drop his sword and fall of his horse, with the goblin on top, ready to cut out his throat.
Kelsie screamed as she watched the goblin fly through the air at her father, Tehexi heard the scream and turned his magical energies at the insolent greenskin, lightning arcing from his fingers and sending the creature flying through the air before it landed in a charred lump. The priest smiled lightly and tried to turn back to the evil sorceress, but he was too late, the brunt of the fireball took him head-on and engulfed the chosen skink in deadly flames.
Quali-Zotec screamed in rage and stormed his stegadon forward, firing the great bow into one of the massive trolls and impaling the other on the stegadon's mighty tusks. But the trolls were not slain and struck back against the creature, burning its hide with their toxic bile and cutting into the beast with their claws.
Morannon needed something, anything to help him survive. His arm was useless, but the massive orc had not counted on what his other could accomplish, even without a sword. Ignoring the pain he drew out a bolt from his quiver, one coated in potent venoms, and tried to put it into Blackfist's open wound.
From the shadows of the forest, Bogshat's beady red eyes glimmered with controlled power. The Wagh was good. He summoned all his malice and intention towards the Trolls and in response they moved frantically, their claws shredding the Stegadon to pieces, one succeeded in ripping open a main jugular vein of the giant reptile; it wobbled, collapsing to the ground.
Morannon succeeded in getting the poisoned arrow head into Blackfist's messy wound. The Black Orc was losing alot of blood and his movements were slowing down but he still had strength enough to strangle this Dark Elf; his thick grubby thumbs pushed deeply into Morannon's windpipe.
Mordraine screamed an incantation as loudly as she could; black shapes appeared in the sky above her; ethereal Harpies materializing as if from nowhere. The stegadon toppled over on top of the pair of trolls sending Quali-Zotec to the ground hard, but he was still able to pull himself back up, and hearing the screech of harpies he coordinated the last of the chameleon skinks to open fire on the winged fiends.
Cornus and Altair led the charging knights through the orcs toward the mess that once had been a stegadon, the two heroes went after the trolls, attempting to finish what the massive beast had started.
Franz ran to his children and scooped then into his arms, embracing them for but a second before running with them back to his horse. Robert rode up beside him and fended off a few adventerous goblins, buying his close friend and trusted ally time to escape.
Kaitana was still blinded, but had regained her other sense and now used her ears to see. A corsair came for the supposedly easy kill but was surprised to find his arm removed before he could raise it to strike, and even more surprised to feel himself die. Kaitana tried to re-orient herself and finish the job she was assigned.
Morannon struggled for air. He pulled the arrow out, which caused the orc to grunt, and put it into the orcs neck with what little strength remained of him. Blackfist lost his grip upon Morannon's neck. He slumped to the ground, dead. The poison had worked its way to his heart and his ruptured innards were a bloody mess around him where he lay.
Mordraine cackled and gathered up the energies to finish off the children bearing knight, but was stopped short when she found a knife sticking out her throat. Just as Bogshat was about to cast his spell, a giant palanquin appeared out of the woods, the venerable mage priest Loqrikai had come to help.
Bogshat jumped into the thick undergrowth and made his escape through tracks too deep and narrow for the palanquin to follow, "Curses! Bloody Blackfist! Stinkin’ impatient git! %$£$*£*£!!!! We should have waited! Next time I'm gonna pick a general that’s more Klever dan strong..."
Bogshat slipped and fell, tumbling down a steep slope; tumbling and turning 50 feet or more. Scratched, soar, and badly bruised, but now safely far away enough from the mayhem to head grudgingly back to the Badlands... on foot... with not even a Squig for company, "Bloody Dark Elfs!, bloody humee scum! Lizards...PAH!!!, bloody useless greenskins...”
Loqkrai moved slowly in the woods, Huge lightning bolts coming from the sky,frying dark elves and greenskins alike, any shots against him were repelled, and any elf or greenskin who tried to lay their hands on the venerable creature were overcome in terrible pain. Bogshat heard the lightning bolts and ran quickly, but the mage priest sensed him, a huge celestial rock contacted with the earth, leaving a huge smoking crater and little bits of what remained of bogshat.
As the orc leaders died, their waaagghh had gone with them and slowly and surely they started retreating from the battle, as did the elves, only to be slaughtered by the brettonians and knights of the empire. Morannon, to tired to escape from the wrath of the lizards, pulled out the knife and drove it into his own heart, his blood coming out his mouth as his life drained away.
Chapter 9
The battle was coming to a bloody close, the orcs were fleeing from the magical might of the venerable slann and the alliance of men was driving out the last of the dark elves. Loqrikai looked around slowly at what had once been his warriors; few remained of the once proud saurus while a wounded Quali-Zotec made his way over to the ancient being.
Robert, Franz, Cornus, Altair, Anson and Kelsie looked at the floating toad creature in amazement, such a creature they had never seen before. Franz could barely stave off the tears as he held his two children, finally returned to him.
Loqrikai slowly read the mind of the skink that bowed before him, learning all that had transpired, and then turned his gaze to the group of humans. As the sky overhead began to clear he spoke to them with his mind.
"Children of humanity, I thank you for your aide in destroying these vile abominations of the great plan," Loqrikai projected these words into each of their minds.
"The battle before you is far from over though, the ones called Anson and Kelsie have been blessed by the twin tailed comet, and their fate will be tied to the fate of you all."
"Many enemies will come to destroy them over their years, the chaos gods know of them already, but you must stand resolute in their defence."
Franz Austerman looked at his children. The horses were nervous among the bloody mess of the battlefield. Robert de Mortaine rode up to Franz and the two rode slowly towards Loqrikai. The giant toad's eyes watched them as they rode nearer.
"What is this, and why?" said Franz to Loqrikai. Mortaine removed his high plumed helmet; the air was fresh upon his face and he breathed in deeply, the woods stank of blood and fire. The Empire and Bretonnian soldiers got off their horses and started searching the grounds for those who were hurt but not dead.
Loqrikai looked at them unblinkingly, "this is all I can tell you, the rest of the plans can not be seen even by me."
The ancient toad looked at Quali-Zotec for a second, the skink instantly responding with a few clicks, running over to the saurus and talking to them.
"Please take the warning I have given you, these foes will be nothing compared to the ones who know what the children mean, you must be ready and strong."
The Slann floated over toward the assembled saurus and the few skinks, and then they all disappeared, every single last lizard in the battlefield.
The remaining dark elves ran far away, until they were out of breath, the draichmaster who now led them spoke, "this isn't the last they will see of us, and we will have our revenge.”
Time past by, three long years and life settled down to what could be called relatively normal in the castle and lands of Lord Franz Austermann. Occasionally there were troubles on his borders, but that truly was normal.
After the fateful battle, a report was sent to the emperor, but the knowledge that the Austermann children were special was kept a secret. Franz didn’t want any unneeded attention, and he never again heard from the Lustrians who had saved his children those days past.
Anson was coming of age, a young man of 16 now he had been sent to the castle of Robert de Mortaine, his father’s trusted friend. It was Austermann tradition to learn soldier craft outside of the home and Anson, now a squire, has started the long path to knighthood. Kelsie stayed at home, still only being 13, and was blessed by visions. A wise woman of the empire was quietly brought to the castle to looks after her, and is now training her to harness the power.
All seemed well…
Part 2- The Darkness Returns
Chapter 1
"Faster!" shouted Anson, laughing out loud. He dug his heels into his horse's flank and the steed's hoofs kicked up sods of earth as it sped along the plain. His mate laughed too, Banksi kicked his horse into speedy action and raced to catch up with Anson. In the distance could be seen the banners and pendants of the Jousting event that was being held in honour of Robert de Mortaine's marriage.
The pair raced back to the castle grounds, the tournament would begin soon and they didn't want to miss the real knights in action. Banksi pulled up beside his friend and laughed as he passed him by. Anson had been practicing well the last few days, finally getting the hang of the lances that Robert had made him use, the weighting was so different from the Imperial ones, but today was a joyous occasion, and training at such a time was out of the question for the Bretonnian.
As Anson and Banksi reached the excited crowd, from upon their horses the lads could see over the heads of the audience. One Bretonnian Knight, in dark velvet red cloak and matching shield and helmet plume charged... IMPACT!!!! The lesser skilled knight fell to the ground, the crowd cheering.
A trumpet sounded and everyone turned to see a massive, black and dark silver knight, in black plume and upon a huge black stallion, ride slowly into the joust; the crowd fell silent under the awesome presence of this warrior.
Banksi was ecstatic, "oh the Black Knight, this is going to be great." Anson craned his neck to try and get a better view. The black horse trotted forward slowly, making it's way to the end of the rail and the red plumed knight turned to face him.
Both were handed a brand new lance by their squires, who immediately backed off and watched. The crowd was very silent, the red-plumed knight was extremely skilled, but the black knight was truly unbeatable.
A trumpet blew. Both warhorses bowed their heads and charged. Hoofs thumped noisily to the ground and each knight, a blur of black and a blur of red, the pair levelled lances at each other; the audience, as one, stopped breathing...
CRASH!!!!
The red knight was thrown from his horse back into the mud; the audience groaned and then cheered, fanatically. The Black Knight sat still upon his horse; slowly looked around, stared briefly towards Anson then looked away again; turned his back to the crowd and road away from the joust.
"Wow", was all Banksi could say, "I wonder who the Black Knight is, he's incredible."
Anson looked after the black armoured knight for a second but then turned his gaze around the crowd. He noted that he couldn't see Robert anywhere, but then again, it was the day of his marriage, something important must have dragged him away from the tournament in his honour.
"Let's go see what the knights are doing", Anson suggested and Banksi nodded, they both turned their horses and made their way around the crowd to where the knights prepared for their match.
"Anson, Banksi", a stern voice spoke as the two youths approached the tents. They both turned in their saddles to see one of their teachers, an old veteran fighter who constantly scolded them about their childish antics.
Aldric scowled at the pair, "you two know you are not supposed to be back here."
"No Aldric, we just wanted to see the Black Knight", said Banksi, forlorn. Aldric shook his head, gazed up to the sky in disbelief, then grinned, "The Black Knight has already gone, he doesn’t.... hmm, interact with the rest of the men. So come now, you only get to go in there when you've earned your shields and spurs."
Anson and Banksi followed Aldric on horse, away from the joust tents to the main gathering in the next field; Lots of hectic activity was afoot as people settled down, sitting at many tables, in the warm open air, for Robert de Mortaine's wedding banquet.
Aldric grabbed the reigns from the pair, "now get down here and go find your master to pay your respects, got it?"
The pair dismounted quickly, "yes sir." Aldric then led their horses away, leaving the pair to look at the grand banquet that was being prepared. Anson looked toward the centre of the longest table and spotted a standing Robert talking with his father, he nudged Banksi with his elbow, "let's go over."
As they approached, Lord Austermann turned his head and spotted his son coming closer, a gentle smile played across his face and he was about to say something when a scream split the air.
Everybody looked towards the scream and saw a beautiful dark haired woman, covered in jewellery and a flamboyant dress. Standing proudly with her hands upon her hips. Around her were gypsy musicians. They began to play, fiddles and drums, and the gypsy queen started to dance, hypnotically entrancing the audience as she swayed rhythmically to the music. The beat of the drums quickened as she danced nearer and nearer towards the Lords Austermann and Mortaine... Anson and Banksi watched, amazed.
A brief thought crossed the mind of the young Austermann, where had that scream come from, but it was lost in his awe of the beautiful dancer that moved toward them.
She moved like a wisp of smoke, her movements seeming to blur under the hypnotic effect of the music. Robert was confused at first, he did not remember anything like this planned, but then again, something like this was definitely old man Austermann's style.
Franz thought that this was a bit unsuitable, for Roberts wedding day; but she was beautiful, a flickering mirage, a glimmering goddess. The smell of incense and the beat of the drums were intoxicating.
’There was a sound again, someone screaming?’, Anson’s mind tried to sort the contrast out.
A violent smash to his head made Franz Austermann fall to the ground. What was going on here, there was chaotic activity all around him. People shouting and screaming, the sound of music had stopped, mayhem was everywhere.
A brief flash of steel caught Anson's eye, gone only moments later, but drawing his attention to the blurry dark figures who were now darting in every direction through the crowd. But he forgot about this in an eye blink when he again caught sight of his father through the tumult.
Through eyes blurred by pain, Franz beheld the gypsy woman in shock.
"You! It can't be!"
The illusions shrouding her body had peeled away to reveal a face that was all too familiar to him; one that he had thought he had seen the last of, three years before…
"Hello my sweet brother-in-law." Said Mordraine, victoriously grinning at Franz as he tried to stand to his feet.
Mordraine, back from the grave, his cannot be... She walked up to him and embraced him, kissing him fully on the mouth. He had no strength and tried to push her away but he couldn’t, her lips were icy cold. She pushed him away forcefully he fell to the ground losing consciousness.
Robert finally broke free of the spell and saw the people around him being killed, he looked in horror at the woman he had sworn seen die three years ago and drew his sword.
"Whatever evil this is, I will defeat it, to arms!", he yelled and charged at the witch, but before he could swing his blade, she moved like lightning underneath his reach and came back up, throwing the Breton through the air like a rag doll. The knight hurtled through the air, impacting with a table and dropping to the ground, unconscious. Mordraine laughed coldly at the sight, and then began to advance towards Franz, her fingers curling like talons as she did.
"Get away from my father!" Anson bellowed, slamming into her from the side and throwing the sorceress to the ground. With a snarl of anger, she stood, tossing the youth off her with a single hand, the other reaching for a dagger tucked into her robes.
As the sorceress stabbed at the young Austermann, Banksi dove and pushed Anson out of the way.
"No", Anson screamed as he hit the ground, watching in horror as the witch plunged the dagger into the chest of his friend. Banksi's hands clutched at the metal for a second as he fell backward, his body falling limp. Anson went to his friend, but seeing there was nothing he could do for him, he glared in anger at the one who had taken his friend's life.
Ignoring Anson, Mordaine knelt down over Franz' unconscious form. Dipping her finger in the blood on the dagger's blade, she traced a bloody rune on the lord's forehead. The symbol flared for a moment, and then faded away, the blood seeping into his flesh.
"You owe me a debt of pain, Austermann... but from today, I will see it repaid in full!" She said, her voice low and filled with malice and hate.
Anson ran at the dark witch again, but she stopped him with a vice like grip on his neck; he grimaced in pain.
"Now nephew, that’s no way to treat your Aunt," grinned Mordraine, "Where's your little B*tch of a sister? I want my niece."
A shout was echoed in the background, "Call to arms! Call to arms!" The sounds of horses grew nearer. Anson was dropped to the ground, struggling to regain his breath.
"Don't worry nephew, I'll soon be back for you", Mordraine smiled wickedly at the boy, "if I cannot find your sister, your power will have to suffice."
Mordriane grabbed something from within her robes and threw it at the ground, a bright flash erupted and a plume of smoke. Anson coughed more as he tried to clear it from his eyes. When it did clear, she was gone.
As the smoke started to clear, knights on horses moved around haphazardly, trying to make sense of the mayhem and calm people down. There were no foes to be seen. It seemed to Anson that many women were crying, he looked to his father's body, and watched as loyal men-at-arms surrounded Franz to tend to him.
Anson made his way over to Banksi's body, Banksi's chest was covered in blood soaked clothing. As Anson looked, he saw Banksi's body shaking!
"He's alive! He’s Alive! Somebody help please!!!"
Chapter 2
Several days had passed since the unexpected appearance of the once thought to be dead, Mordraine. Anson was walking slowly through the castle's halls thinking quietly.
If I am so special, why can I never protect anyone? Banski survived on luck alone, and my father has fallen into a mysterious illness.
The young Austermann rounded a corner and stopped short of being bowled over by the Bretonnian Lord.
"Full of thought young Anson?" said Robert de Mortaine, a cheerless but kindly expression on his face. "What's troubling you?"
"I just wish I understood why all these bad things keep happening, what’s so special about Kelsie and I? No one will explain anything to me."
Robert sat down on a bench against a wall and gestured for Anson to sit. "I think it's about your blood, Anson. You have the memory of all your ancestors within you, and so too does your sister." said the weary Bretonnian.
Anson looked at his feet for a second before moving to sit with Robert.
"It doesn't make any sense, I wish it would all just go away."
"Now don't say things such as that, you are blessed and there must be a reason for such a blessing, young imperial", the Breton replied.
Anson thought again, "how is my father, has his condition improved?"
"The poison in your father's body is still keeping him close to death; but it will not kill him. Neither though do we know when he will awaken... the wise ones are doing their best for him."
Anson stood up and walked to a nearby window and turned back to look at Robert.
"I don’t know all the old histories Anson, you need to speak to your mother, but your father has forbidden her to talk of these things. Your uncle maybe could explain things to you but we know not where he is... but your ancestors, on your mothers side, were very special people and I suspect that the answers you seek run in your bloodline and from whence it came."
Anson thought some more on this, "then I need to go and find him."
"I thought you might say that", Robert replied. "Your training is not even close to complete, but the situation is a difficult one."
There was a silence between them, "I will look after your mother and father as guests in my castle; you should go home and check on your sister, Aldric will accompany you."
As Anson left Robert’s castle with the company of Aldric, a terrified man on a horse came charging to castle. As the man came closer to the castle he shouted something faint at first but quickly louder, "kings of old are coming AN UNDEAD KING IS COMING!" The peasant said that last word as army of undead rose just over the hill.
As the Brettonian watch guard reached Anson, Aldric and Aldric's mounted guard, they all turned back to the Castle; galloping at full pelt. Aldric blew loudly on his battle horn... return horns were blown from the castle towers. Anson looked back over his shoulders and the materialising form of an undead horde dominating the horizon. His heart pounding he followed the others into the castle entrance; the portcullis slammed down behind him and the great oaken doors were shut fast.
Aldric jumped from his horse and ran about shouting orders, war was his element, and these monsters had obviously come for it. Robert heard the horns and was out in the courtyard in mere moments, a squire following him with his battle gear. The watch guard ran to Robert and informed him of the things he had seen, and the Breton's expression went grim.
"So be it, archers to the battlements, ready the knights in the courtyard, and prepare the trebuchets."
It was a bewildering five minutes of hectic activity. Anson was taken up to the protection of the higher levels and he watched the activity down below through the narrow slit of an Archers window. Down below, two main bulks of activity formed into orderly groups. On one side, about twenty knights lead by Robert de Mortaine, on the other side another twenty knights lead by Aldric. Men-at-Arms randomly gathered all about. Then in the far corner Anson saw The Black Knight on his own, talking to an old man in rich clothing. Anson's jaw dropped momentarily in surprise; he had thought that Robert was the Black Knight. Then Anson looked towards the approaching undead army, now only a quarter of a mile away.
As Anson looked he could distinctly see a golden chariot being pulled along by skeletal horses at the head of the massive undead host. The hundreds of skeletons were marching in an orderly fashion towards them. It was something he had never seen. He was always told that the undead lacked any sort of organisation.
As the host got closer flaming skulls started to fall on the castle and the sky turned black with the forms of carrion beasts. Anson heard a scream in his ears as one of the guardsmen behind him was hit by the deadly projectiles of the catapults, and then heard the creak of wood as the massive rocks were lobbed back by the trebuchets. The chunks of stone tumbled through the ranks of the abominations and splintered many of the constructs, but they kept coming toward the castle.
Anson's eyes were drawn back to the courtyard as Robert's wife appeared. She wore the trappings of a mage of the college of light, which surprised the young imperial; he had thought she was but a simple maiden.
As another skull landed in the courtyard Robert shouted, "Archers take Aim!" Several men-at-arms were suddenly flung aside as a large insect creature erupted out of the ground its pincers gleaming.
With no hesitation Robert shouted "Fire" and turned toward the strange beast, charging towards it.
Anson couldn’t think or move, just stared in stunned silence, a witness to the whole battle. The giant undead Scorpion blocked off Robert’s attack but as it did so his knights to the left and right of him followed through, the unnatural monster easily destroyed.
"Open the door!" Shouted Mortaine. The Portcullis started to rise, the archers covering the entrance with volley after volley. The Black Knight positioned himself, alone, in front of the opening door; his warhorse snorting with passion. Aldric and his unit were right behind, and Robert’s knights were reorganizing themselves after finishing off the Scorpion.
As the gate opened the ground in front of the gate erupted into hundreds of figures as the dead started to rise out of the ground. The Black Knight's blade whirled through the air, tearing apart the fragile undead without an arm ever lifted against him. He and his black steed cut a swath through the abominations, his path obviously leading him slowly to their leader, the figure in the chariot. Robert prepared his Knight's at the entrance; ready to sally forth into the hole the knight was creating.
Anson watched as Robert's wife Cassandra began to weave her hands through the air, a bright light collecting at them. The door to Anson’s room burst open. His father stood rigid in the doorway; his face pale and his eyes wide, blood trickling from his nose. "Anson! You must leave! Leave now! Get away from here before this battle is over!" His father pleaded. Then collapsed to the ground his arm outstretched towards his son. Anson grabbed his father’s hand, which trembled.
"Go!" Said Franz again. Then slipped back into the other world, his mind vacant, his eyes staring into space. Anson held his father but a moment longer before running out of the room to the stables behind the castle. He still had his sword and his bow (though Robert had been trying to make him put it down forever), and he knew that he had to find his sister.
When he reached the stables he quickly untied his steed from the posts and was glad to see it was still saddled. He could still hear the din of battle, and he regretted leaving the Bretonnians to fight it alone, but he knew he had to leave; they must have come for him.
The Black Knight charged into the first of several skeleton chariots. Smashing bones asunder as his warhorse crushed the bones of skeleton steeds. The knight pulled on his reigns and turned, other chariots were coming up behind amidst them upon a golden chariot, a fowl Tomb King. Aldric and his knights flew past and met the might of the undead chariots head on. The Black Knight looked back towards the castle and saw Anson appear on horseback and head off, skirting the walls of the castle. The Black Knight pulled away from battle and rode towards Anson.
Cassandra finished her spell and a profound calmness came over the Bretonnians as the sky cleared and light filtered down from the heavens. Down to the lowliest peasant they felt this calmness and ignored the fear in their hearts at the undead, promising that they will do their best to destroy the foul creatures. Aldric and Robert moved to the Tomb King and joined in a dual assault upon the leader of this army.
Bretonnian knights ploughed deep into the mass of bones, creating a massive dust cloud as they did so. Rising up through the dust there appeared the figure of the Tomb King, sick soulless yellow eyes glared at Robert de Mortaine, and a greenish grey other world light began to spread outwards from the Tomb King, as he held his ancient staff aloft.
The Black Knight caught up with Anson, as the lad was reaching the secondary road that lead away from Castle Mortaine. Anson, looked up at the black clad warrior, a muffled shout came from within the black plumed helm, "Ride boy! Ride fast!"
Anson kicked his heels into his horse and followed the Black Knight as the warrior left the road into a nearby wood. As Anson rode as quickly as he could he looked back at the black knight just to see a dozen arrows stick into the knight’s armour.
Out the sky a Mummified figure leapt from a giant bird, "Those mortal fools think the lowly prince there are fighting is I!" shouted the Creature. He drew his gaze towards Anson then back to the Black Knight.
"You will die!" the creature bellowed as he drew forth his golden blade.
The Black Knight casually broke of the shafts of the arrows embedded in his armour. He looked at Anson and his voice resounded from within the dark cage of his plates.
"Ride Anson, I will find you once I have dealt with this creature", Anson heard these words and continued on through the woods, hearing the scrape of metal as the knight once again drew his blade.
"Do not die", were the words that escaped the knight's lips as he spurred a charge at the undead warrior that had confronted them.
Anson rode quickly into the woods and was swiftly out of sight. The frustrated Mummy King hesitated, should he chase the boy or fight off the knight, but the choice was made for him. The Black Knight leapt from his steed throwing all his body weight into the Mummy King. The Creature fell to the ground but quickly stood up again pushing the Black Knight into the muddy stream; the mud and water made it difficult for the dark hero to find his ground.
The Mummy swung his ancient blade for the Knight's neck, but the skilled warrior brought his blade up and stopped it, pushing the undead creature back. He pulled himself to his feet and squared off with the lord of undeath.
The Prince's staff threw a burst of energy at Aldric, unhorsing the warrior in a flash of green light. Robert strayed only a second before striking at the undead creature. On the main field of battle, a few Brettonian knights had fallen. Aldric was on his knees, battle chaos about him, but Mortaine and his knights ploughed into the final undead chariot and crushed it to dust... the remaining undead host were mere skeletons and they were fading fast.
The Undead king jumped back using his foul craft to create a thick mist in front of the Black Knight. The Black Knight was disorientated and as the mist cleared, found himself surrounded by almost a dozen shambling skeletons; as he started smash them to pieces he could see the Mummy king striding off towards the woods.
As the Bretonnians crushed the last of the undead army into dust, the Black Knight fought a similar battle within the forest. Battling his way to his steed to give chase once more after the mummy and the child of fate. As he cleaved the ribs of one creature he could only think to himself that he must protect Anson, his destiny must be fulfilled.
Chapter 3
Kelsie cried as the surface of the glass scrying ball clouded over. The images she had seen didn’t make sense, nor offered any conclusion, but she knew her brother was in danger. She also knew that her brother was trying to reach her. Granmarie, her teacher and protectress, sent by the Empire, put her hand gently onto Kelsie's shoulder. "You must be calm child, worrying will not help your brother, save your strength."
Kelsie looked up at the woman, trying to stop her tears, "I cannot help but worry, he in danger, is there nothing I can do Granmarie?"
The old woman looked back down with kindness in her eyes, "simply pray my dear."
She looked up for a second as if in thought, and then went quickly to the door. She opened it to reveal the head guardsmen Johan, who had been about to knock.
"Yes Johan, what is it?"
The look on his face revealed pure confusion at how she had known he was there, but then he remembered that she was a magic user of some sort.
"Ahem… there are riders coming, about six of them... we're not expecting anybody, so I thought it best to let you know", Johan told the girl’s teacher
.
"Fine", said Granmarie, "Have your men be on guard and vigilant Johan, and put a scouting group together, Prince Anson, is on his way and he is in need of help."
Johan raised his eyebrows in surprise then quickly went about his business.
"Alright Kelsie, tell me, who is approaching the castle?"
The girl seemed surprised at the question, "I do not know, Johan just told us about them."
Granmarie had a scowl cross her face, "I know that", it quickly subsided to the gentle smile, "use your scrying my dear."
Kelsie turned back to the ball and wiped the last of the tears from her eyes, concentrating on the clear orb that rested in front of her.
"Concentrate Kelsie, make everything else disappear except for the ball and that which you want to see, control the vision."
Johan went to the barracks and quickly called out a trio of names, their owners falling into line before the captain of the guard.
"Ok, the young Lord Anson is on his way from the west, he is alone and probably being pursued, you need to find him quickly and make sure he gets here safely, understood?"
The three guardsmen ran to the stables after hearing this, making all haste to find the youth, Johan then went to the front gate and stood in it's opening awaiting the arrival of the group of riders.
Kelsie stared into the glass globe and relaxed her forehead; she could feel her mind's tension sliding away. Within the globe she projected her mind’s eye and waited for the image to appear. Breathing softly she looked deeply; Granmarie stroked Kelsie's hair protectively.
"They are men, Empire clothing. They are lead by a mature man with long grey hair; he is slim but very strong; they have urgent news." the young girl said.
Johan raised a hand in greeting to the riders as they pulled up to the gate. The grey haired man raised his hand in reply as he reigned in his steed. Dismounting swiftly he walked over to the guardsmen. The other riders reigned in a half circle behind the leader's steed and waited.
"Hail", Johan said to them. "What brings you to castle Austermann?"
The grey-haired Empire man offered his hand in friendly gesture,
"I am Fitz Jacobo of the northern marches, up past the city of Talabheim. I am a close friend of Argon Ravenswood, that being the brother of Lady Austermann; - it is imperative that I speak with her."
A flashing image filled Kelsie's inner mind, a standard flapping in the wind, a dark heraldric raven surrounded by seven silver stars. She saw this banner and then her brother, standing below it, with an older man who shared many features with Anson. There were vivid sounds of battle, and then another face appeared, a female one with sharp elven features, and darkness flaring in her eyes.
"Now I have you my darling niece", the voice of Mordraine laughed in the girl's ears, the strain on Kelsie's mind bringing darkness to her, and leaving her to the care of Granmarie.
Back outside Johan replied to the emissary, "then I am sorry to report that Lady Myriam is not present on this day, she has gone to Castle Mortaine for the wedding ceremony of Lord Robert."
Concern and fleeting dismay past across Fitz Jacobo's face, "We have ridden far already, how far is it to this Castle of Mortaine?"
Before he could reply, Johan was interrupted by he sound of horses cantering towards him from behind. Not knowing what was afoot, Jacobo's men were ready to draw swords Johan put his hand up to stop them.
"Tis a'right", said Johan; "My men here are off on urgent business."
The three riders were off in a blur as they rode with all haste in the direction of Castle Mortaine to intercept Anson.
"Lord Robert's castle lies to the west by about..." Johan was suddenly cut off by a great explosion behind them from within the castle. Running inside the gate, Johan and Fitz could see the wall of little Kelsie's room had been blown outward, and over the form of the girl stood Granmarie and another woman, a dark sorceress.
"Quickly Lazzam”, Fitz shouted as he saw what has happening. One of his companions jumped off his horse and threw back his hood, revealing his olive skinned eastern appearance and bald head; thick gold earrings dominated his face.
Johan ran to the castle calling for men at arms, followed by Fitz and his men apart from Lazzam who stood alone. The strange man slapped his hands and held his arms aloft; sending forth magical energy to the aide of Granmarie. The protectress pushed her energies against the magic of Mordraine. The dark sorceress cackled as she felt the energy of another joining the fray.
"Do you actually think you can stop me?!?"
"I will not let you take her", the old woman replied as she gritted her teeth and focused more power.
"Then you will DIE!"
The once half-elf threw her arm in a wide arc, sending two bursts of raw magic at the pair of mages that stood between her and her target.
Granmarie's head was thrown back by the onslaught of dark magic, her nose started bleeding from the pure force of will, stumbling back a couple of steps; Lazzam too was thrown to the ground but quickly recovered. Mordraine reached to grab hold of Kelsie, in response Granmarie sent a blast of arcane fire which burnt into the skin of Mordaine's outstretched hand; she grimaced in pain.
"B*tch! Stupid old...” Mordraine threw a dark force into Granmaries body, sending the old woman flying, smashing into the stone wall behind her; she groaned, broken in pain as she fell to the floor.
Lazzam concentrated on the dark sorceress, but his magic was repelled with a slight movement of the witch's hand, sending him to his knees.
"Well my darling niece, I think it is time we left", the dark sorceress said as she raised the girl off the ground with her magicks. Johan and Fitz burst into the room as the sorceress was completing her last spell.
"Ah Fitz, be sure to tell my sister that I am taking our dear Kelsie to see her family."
And with that Mordraine, and Kelsie, disappeared.
Chapter 4
Anson was covered in scratches, petty wounds from running into the woods. In panic, with the Mummy King not far behind him, Anson had decided to run off and away from any main path. It hid him well but he was soon lost and didn’t know in which direction he was now half running in. Tired, he had slowed down.
"AAarghhH!" An angry and fearsome voice shouted in the distance. Anson knew it was his foe. His heart was pounding but he also knew that he couldn’t be seen. The Mummy King had lost his prey.
"Cursed Child, when I find you I will consume your flesh and steal your soul, and your ancient blood will be added to me", the tomb lord yelled as he cut apart a bush in front of him, searching the undergrowth for the child.
Anson remained quiet as he continued in a direction he could only guess was east, he hoped that something would happen to remove this creature from his trail; then he could regain his bearings out in the open.
The Black Knight had pursued the Mummy King and was watching him from a hundred yards away. He perceived that Anson was nowhere to be seen and that the undead king was at a loss. Keeping hidden, the Knight pulled a small package out from his tunic, fire flint and sulphurous powder. He quickly gathered kindling and lit a small fire; knowing that his fellow Bretonnians would soon see the rising green smoke... He then began to pray and meditate, calling upon the Lady.
The three riders continued toward the woods just west of castle Austermann, they had heard the blast, but knew that there were many others to take care of that problem, whereas there are only these three sent to find the young Lord. Above the tree line the lead rider perceived a wisp of strangely coloured smoke.
"A signal", he cried with a gesture toward it, "hurry your pace."
"Where are you child?” The mummy asked menacingly as he sliced his ancient blade through another withering branch. Despite being dead, it has obvious how frustrated the creature was at the current situation. It heard a rustling in the undergrowth ahead and sprang forward with the full weight of his blade ready to strike forth at Anson.
The Black Knight moved quickly, sweeping in between the two and bringing his shield across the blade of the ancient being, turning it aside. Turning his shield swiftly face down, the Black Knight revealed a burning branch grasped within his shield arm fist. He thrust the flame towards the Mummy king, making contact with the dry and dusty cloth that formed the undead king's body.
The Mummy King screamed in anger. Fowl green light burst forth from his fingertips, shooting to the ground. As the mummy became engulfed by flame and smoke, the earth around began to shake and rumble. The Black Knight stumbled back as he tried to keep his footing on the shaking ground, his gaze turned to Anson, who was attempting to pull himself up as well.
The howling of the Mummy King continued as the flaming bandages began to light the dead branches underfoot, spreading the blaze. From inside the menacing empty sockets of the creature's skull a yellow light gleamed through the flames.
"I shall see you in HELL!!!!” the once proud and noble king cried as he fell apart on the forest floor.
From here and there, about six mole hills appeared and exploded as skeletons began to erupt from the ground, yet as they appeared they fell to pieces, the unnatural animation of their bodies 'shutting down' as the black spirit of the ruined Mummy King became naught but dust.
The ground became silent and still.
Anson stared at the Black Knight in disbelief.
"No sense in burning down the entire forest", the voice of the Black Knight echoed from under his helm as he reached for his water skin and doused the small blaze that had been started by the remains of the enemy.
Turning once again to Anson he spoke, "We should keep moving."
The Black Knight put his hands to his helmet, twisted it a little and then lifted it slowly off his head. His face remained hidden by black material that was wrapped firmly against his face and a bandana of the same material covered his forehead and hair. All that Anson could see of his rescuer’s face were his eyes, which stared fiercely yet friendly back towards Anson.
The knight’s eyes were dark but bright. His left eye all but a squint as Anson discerned a deep scar across the knight’s brow. Strangest of all to Anson was that the skin around the knight’s eyes was dark brown. Anson couldn’t help but stare at this secretive and mysterious knight.
"Not all men are white Anson." Was the knight’s only explanation, "Come, this way," and the knight headed off through the trees.
Meanwhile…
Kelsie found herself in a dark room lying upon a cold stone floor, the room was lit by four dull red lanterns, one in each corner... there were still many shadows within the room left untouched by the dull lights. It was very cold.
Mordraine stood next to her niece. Her hand a burnt mess, ruined by the magic of Granmarie; the audacity of it made Mordraine furious... and it bloody hurt.
"Ella!" said Mordraine, and Kelsie looked up to see a shuffling shape appear out of the darkness, a skinny girl dressed in rags, maybe about sixteen years old. Her skin was pale and she looked filthy. Her lifeless eyes just stared into space. The girl shaped thing shuffled her way towards Mordraine. Mordraine lifted up the girl’s skinny pale arm, pulled back the sleeve, and lifted the limp wrist to her lips. Kelsie saw Mordraine’s fangs as she opened her mouth wide and bit into Ella's arm.
Kelsie watched, horrified. Ella remained motionless, a willing slave. Kelsie looked in awe at the blistered and melted fist of Mordaine. As her aunt sucked the life from Ella, her misshapen hand began to heal, swiftly and instantly, it was back to normal.
Mordraine let go of Ella, who slumped to the ground. Mordraine clenched her fist a couple of times. Smiled to herself and then wiped the blood from her lips. She stared back at the horrified Kelsie.
"Welcome to Sylvania darling", Mordraine said and grinned, "It's your new home."
Chapter 5
Soon after the battle in the forest, Anson and the nameless knight were met by the riders and brought to castle Austermann. There they learned of Mordraine having taken Kelsie away with her to Ravenswood, deep in the heart of Sylvania. They now sat around the war room of Lord Austermann, trying to discern the next step they should take.
Fitz stood and spoke, "this is what Argon feared would happen, we need to be after them as soon as possible."
"You would need an army to enter into Sylvania," said Johan. "We are spread out too thin. Lord Austermann's retinue is still in attendance at Castle Mortaine, I have no men I can spare from here without leaving Castle Austermann unprotected."
"You're protection has already proved futile", Lazzam said in a grave and monotone voice.
Fitz Jacobo, lit a pipe he'd taken out of his belt pouch; and looked around at the motley crew.
"Where is Argon?" said Anson "and why I have I never met him before? and why wont my mother talk about him or our family; and how is it that Mordraine is alive, she was killed years ago..."
"Well," spoke Fitz Jacobo "Firstly, Mordraine is not alive, neither is she dead; she is a twisted mess of evil. When alive she was tormented by being neither human nor dark elf, now her torment is tenfold because she is neither alive nor dead... all that she is now is HATE, and she hates everything; especially the bloodline that she was born of."
Lazzam turned his head to Anson, the many rings in his ears jangling lightly, "the other questions you have cannot be answered here, save that I can tell you Ravenswood lies within Sylvania as well."
"The Lady Myriam, could she not go in place of Anson?" The nameless knight asked of the others.
"She could, but to go to her would waste precious time", Fitz replied gravely, "the time we have is very limited since the next full moon is but a fortnight away."
"What has the moon to do with any of this?" the dark Brettonian asked.
"Everything." said Lazzam. "She'll be able to open the first gateway then, and if she can.... learn... from the young girl she'll be able to locate the second gate."
None of this made any sense to the Black Knight, Anson or Johan.
"It's too complicated to go into right now," said Fitz "Powerful magic is afoot that will effect all of us; know only this... She must be stopped, or at least we must get the girl away from her so that Mordraine cannot get to the second gateway."
"Fine, so we know we must go to Ravenswood and get Kelsie back, who is going?" The Black Knight asked.
"Myself, Lazzam, the other riders in my party, Anson and yourself, sir knight", Fitz replied cooly.
"I request that you take Cornus and Altair as well", Johan added. To which Fitz nodded, "that is agreeable."
"I would like to go as well", a voice stated from the doorway of the war room, all eyes turned to see Granmarie leaning against the doorframe, obviously still drained from her battle with Mordraine.
It was getting dark and it had been a very hard day on all of them.
Anson and the Black Knight were shattered from their ordeal with the Tomb King. Fitz and Lazzam and their three men at arms had travelled long and hard to get to Castle Austermann; and Granmarie was still pretty shaken up.
Johan went about making preparations; and after Lazzam had done some healing upon Granmarie using fine metal needles, they all retired for the night... at first light of dawn they would make for Sylvania.
As this group slept, another man, far away at castle Mordraine, sat up in his bed for the first time since being sending his son away, he looked slowly around the room. His wife was asleep in her chair, her hands under her head as it lay on the bed he sat in. Moving slowly he got up and went to the window, looking up at the sliver of moon that hung overhead. Opening the window silently, the curtains blew to the side and covered him for a moment; before falling back to reveal only the open window. Because the moon was but a slither, most of the stars were quite visible. After staring idly into the heavens, breathing in fresh cold air that quenched his soul, Lord Austermann fixed his eyes upon a bright constellation, of seven stars in almost a perfect circle.
"Franz? You’re awake! What are you looking at?" said Myriam from the bed.
Franz continued to look towards the stars, "Sigmar's Crown" he replied.
Franz turned back to his wife as she pulled herself up from her seated position, his face quite serious, "Myriam, what has your sister become?"
Her face went ashen as she moved over to him, "I do not know my dear, but please do not strain yourself, you still need to rest."
Myriam led him back to the bed and lay him down, her gaze turning out the window as she realized what the timing meant, dark days would be fast approaching if Mordraine was after it. She laid her hand soothingly on her husband’s forehead and soon thereafter the pair fell asleep.
Chapter 6
(And now we are at the present place in the story, more transcribing to come as it progresses.)
