KronosFire
Experienced
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2019
- Posts
- 40
A Dark Destiny (closed)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/71/39/697139897494bff4062c743aca471128.jpg
Ta'Vern stood on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. He'd seen a number of wonders in his twenty-two years, but none of them matched this one.
He watched waves smash the cliff below and listened to the thunder. The power displayed before him was wonderous. When he'd left the Changeling mountains, he didn't have a plan other than to escape the war between humans and orcs.
He looked to the east where a trail of smoke had been lifting into the sky all morning. He expected to find a settlement there.
* * *
The Cliff Tavern looked old and worn, but it was warm inside and the food was edible. Ta'Vern sat in a dark corner of the room where no one could see when he removed the mask covering his mouth. Two jutting tusks would quickly give away that he was more than human. He was half orc and was hated by humans and orcs.
His exceptional hearing was useful in gathering information. He learned of more lands on the other side of the ocean. It took most of his coin for passage on a ship.
The voyage lasted a fortnight, and Ta'Vern was relieved to stand on land. He hoped to never travel on the sea again. He headed to the nearest tavern for a meal and for information about the area.
The food was passable, and he listened to small group of men on the other side of the room who were planning a raid on a elven settlement. They spoke of a lovely treasure.
Elves made the finest swords, and the cost to buy one was more money than he would ever acquire. For a moment he considered asking to join the group, but he suspected an outsider would not be well received.
Although the men rode horses, Ta'Vern had no trouble keeping up. He stayed far enough behind that they were unable to see him, but with his keen sight, he could see their every move.
They rode south over grassy plains for two days. Ta'vern was amazed when they arrived at a forest that covered all the land for as far as he could see.
He'd wondered how the raiders planned to enter the elven settlement without being discovered. Talk amongst them of a mage didn't impress him. All magic was a sham.
The raiders reached the elven settlement before dawn the next morning. The raiders split their forces. Half rode deeper into the settlement to make quick attacks and lead the elven warriors away from the settlement. The rest waited an hour for dawn then charged into the clearing where a large temple stood.
The remaining elven warriors were easily overwhelmed by the large raider group. Ta'Vern saw this as his opportunity to get an elven sword. A short time later he was surprised to see a line of elven women with hands bound behind their backs, a metal ring around their necks, and ropes on the rings kept them attached to one another.
Could this be the lovely treasure? There was so much commotion no one noticed his entrance into the settlement. He quickly found a fallen elf with a sword. Three raiders lay dead nearby.
He took the sword and prepared to leave. The line of enslaved elven women came into his view. The eyes of the woman in front caught his. Her soul appears to shine - the thought almost made him laugh. Nevertheless, he couldn't deny the pull he felt from her.
Ta'Vern's speed and strength came from his orc side. He quickly ran to the elven woman, cut the rope between her and the next elf, lifted her into his arms, and ran.
The sounds of men on horses pursuing them was soon left behind.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/71/39/697139897494bff4062c743aca471128.jpg
Ta'Vern stood on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. He'd seen a number of wonders in his twenty-two years, but none of them matched this one.
He watched waves smash the cliff below and listened to the thunder. The power displayed before him was wonderous. When he'd left the Changeling mountains, he didn't have a plan other than to escape the war between humans and orcs.
He looked to the east where a trail of smoke had been lifting into the sky all morning. He expected to find a settlement there.
* * *
The Cliff Tavern looked old and worn, but it was warm inside and the food was edible. Ta'Vern sat in a dark corner of the room where no one could see when he removed the mask covering his mouth. Two jutting tusks would quickly give away that he was more than human. He was half orc and was hated by humans and orcs.
His exceptional hearing was useful in gathering information. He learned of more lands on the other side of the ocean. It took most of his coin for passage on a ship.
The voyage lasted a fortnight, and Ta'Vern was relieved to stand on land. He hoped to never travel on the sea again. He headed to the nearest tavern for a meal and for information about the area.
The food was passable, and he listened to small group of men on the other side of the room who were planning a raid on a elven settlement. They spoke of a lovely treasure.
Elves made the finest swords, and the cost to buy one was more money than he would ever acquire. For a moment he considered asking to join the group, but he suspected an outsider would not be well received.
Although the men rode horses, Ta'Vern had no trouble keeping up. He stayed far enough behind that they were unable to see him, but with his keen sight, he could see their every move.
They rode south over grassy plains for two days. Ta'vern was amazed when they arrived at a forest that covered all the land for as far as he could see.
He'd wondered how the raiders planned to enter the elven settlement without being discovered. Talk amongst them of a mage didn't impress him. All magic was a sham.
The raiders reached the elven settlement before dawn the next morning. The raiders split their forces. Half rode deeper into the settlement to make quick attacks and lead the elven warriors away from the settlement. The rest waited an hour for dawn then charged into the clearing where a large temple stood.
The remaining elven warriors were easily overwhelmed by the large raider group. Ta'Vern saw this as his opportunity to get an elven sword. A short time later he was surprised to see a line of elven women with hands bound behind their backs, a metal ring around their necks, and ropes on the rings kept them attached to one another.
Could this be the lovely treasure? There was so much commotion no one noticed his entrance into the settlement. He quickly found a fallen elf with a sword. Three raiders lay dead nearby.
He took the sword and prepared to leave. The line of enslaved elven women came into his view. The eyes of the woman in front caught his. Her soul appears to shine - the thought almost made him laugh. Nevertheless, he couldn't deny the pull he felt from her.
Ta'Vern's speed and strength came from his orc side. He quickly ran to the elven woman, cut the rope between her and the next elf, lifted her into his arms, and ran.
The sounds of men on horses pursuing them was soon left behind.
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