Chapter 10
The dwarves ran and ran. Not a single one of them paused or slowed, for they knew it would mean their deaths. As they ran the sounds of battle faded behind them, until they could no longer hear the sounds of death and dying. Yet still the dwarves ran, Grimil not letting them stop for any reason. Several hours passed until finally they exited the swamps and Grimil allowed for the group to pause. As one the dwarves threw themselves on to the ground sucking in air as fast as their lungs would permit. After a few moments Handrel stood up and addressed the group. "Brothers. We lost much this day to the hordes of our enemy. Brave dwarves all, gave their lives for the expedition and ultimately for our escape. We have no food, no shelter, and no help. We are far from home, which means we cannot turn back." He paused as he turned and took the few remaining dwarves in his gaze. "We must drive forwards to our goal. We are so close to our destination, that the mountain looms before us. We owe it to our fallen brethren to finish our task, and show our enemies our conviction." As he spoke Handrel's voice slowly filled with conviction and passion. He gestured and looked to each dwarf in turn trying to stir their passion. Yet many turned away, their faith in Handrel having already been lost.
The Blessed Gunner took this opportunity to speak up, his ruined and torn robes dangling. "It was not Handrel who saved us against the kobold vermin. It was not Handrel who saved us from the undead at the crossroads. And it was not Handrel who brought down the ogres to save his kin. Why would we follow you any further into death and danger? The ancestors call for us to make sound decisions and investments." The Blessed Gunner stood up clasping his golden book and stared hard into the eyes of Handrel. "And you Handrel are no longer worthy of my investment." The other dwarves all nodded in agreement, while Handrel seemed to collapse in on himself. "Brothers, there is one among you who has shown courage, conviction, self-sacrifice, and dwarven stubbornness. The ancestors would have us make sound investments, and I say this dwarf is an investment solid as the mountain stone. I say Grimil shall lead us!" The other dwarves all grumbled and nodded, all knowing what the Gunner had said to be true. Grimil walked slowly to the front of the little group, his chainmail clinking softly. Once at the front he turned and faced them all his face looking exhausted yet still with the stamp of determination. "Brothers, we have been through a lot to get here today. We have trekked many miles, have faced down kobold vermin, and helped the dead back to their slumber." As Grimil spoke the crowd gave a rumbling and grumbling response, which as he continued slowly grew in volume. "We have taken down goblin and ogre, and yet still more kobolds and undead. It is clear now that some strange forces are arrayed against us and our quest. Yet has that stopped us? Ney it has not stopped us, it has filled our hearts with fury and dwarven stubbornness. We continued on because we go to start a new home. Our old home a glorious as it may be, is fighting the losing fight. It is dying from the inside. The very mines that have sustained us and made us strong are now barren and weak." Many dwarven faces turned from having faces filled with determination to that of sorrow when they contemplated their home. Others hung their heads in shame for having thought of abandoning their quest to help their home. "We have lost much on our march to find a new home. We have lost kith and kin, heirlooms and belongings to the angry hordes that persues us. Many gave their last breath so that we may escape and continue on to our new home. Should we give up on our quest and betray those sacrifices?" At this statement the dwarves looked up as one and gave a resounding no. Grimil gave a determined and hopeful smile, while he turned to face the road. With a quick swing of his pick he pointed down the road and towards the mountains in the distance. "Well then enough talkin and let's get goin." Cryed Grimil as the little group took off at a sprint.
And so the dwarves continued their journey to the mountains, full of conviction and determination. Yet for their enemies the battle had not ended. When finally Kranth Morningbrew fell to the hordes of undead and goblins Tolestus and the Great Grey appeared on either side of the battle field. Tolestus standing amongst his undead was the first to speak of the two. "Well my short and molding friend, what brings you to this battle field so far from you hole?" The Grey's face momentarily purpled with rage before he quickly marshalled himself . With a quick snap of his fingers he summoned forth his demon general, unknowing that it was working for Tolestus. The creature's job had been to destroy the army of goblins and kobolds, yet the dwarves had done such a successful job that the creature had remained silent on the matter. Now however it knew that it might full fill that bargain. The Great Grey's face twisted into one of arrogance and assumed superiority. "The great and mighty Tolestus, had best watch his tongue or I might have the inclination to have it removed." Tolestus gave a great laugh before he responded, hate and disgust apparent on his face. "Is that so Grey? Well I might just have to dispose of you then wont I?" With the conversation now dead and at an end Tolestus began to chant in an unknown and arcane language and to weave his hands through strange patterns in the air. The Grey's smug smile quickly fell from his face when Tolestus began his chanting and the Grey realised what he meant to do. The goblin clearly in a panic now, turned to the great demon and his troops and screamed. "GET HIM! GET THE WIZARD!" The horde of goblins and kobolds jumped to action and charged forwards to do battle with the shambling undead horde. Poisoned dirks met decayed flesh and spears to the back punched through rotting flesh, yet it meant little to the undead. They could no longer be poisoned, and their organs were of no use anyways so impaling them meant nothing to them. The goblin and kobold horde as deadly as it was to the living was near harmless to the undead. Undead that were speared simply continued to walk forwards and tore the goblin wielding the spear apart. Stabs in the back had sharp teeth and nails turned upon them in response.
While the goblins were being slowly torn apart, the little kobolds seemed to be having a much better time of the battle. They carried clubs and slings all of which were blunt, which meant they could batter the dead things to bits. They also had their shaman with them who began to shower the undead in holy spell after holy spell. Yet despite the size of the monster horde the zombies slowly began to win forward, pausing only to feast on fresh corpses and those not quite dead yet. The Great Grey saw the truth before him, he was unprepared his troops were being eaten. In frustration he turned on the demon who simply stood to the side not becoming involved in the fighting. "You miserable worm! Get into that fight NOW!" The demon gave a nod as f to obey, and waded into the battle. Yet it quickly became clear he did not agree with the goblin about who's side he was on. With great sweeps of axe and sword he tore apart the goblins and kobolds from behind. This turned the slow loss into an outright route, as the goblins and kobolds began to flee. The Great Grey to, began to flee and it was at this point that Tolestus's spell went off. The sky immediately began to turn a black and red ash colour, which to the Grey seemed like a fire. Yet it was not the sky that drew his attention, but what rained down from the sky. Great balls of fire began to rain down, intent on crashing into the fleeing monsters. Billowing smoke as they fell they began to impact on the field amongst the goblins, kobolds and even undead. Where ever they landed death followed. Each blast incinerated dozens of creatures at a time and set hundreds of others on fire. One poor troll was not incinerated by the first blast so was hit with another two, its pitiful roar abruptly ending. The Great Grey knew he was doomed and should flee yet the spectacle of his life's work being blown apart froze him to the spot.
This would have been the end right there for the goblin if not for the kobold shaman who suddenly jumped into the way of the meteors and blasted those that headed for the goblin apart. With each shuddering THUUM and flash of green blue energy the Grey regained his wits. His eyes finally focused on the object of his hate and spells of retaliation filled his mind. He began to wave his staff around through the air and gesture strangle arcane symbols. Tolestus spotted this and quickly fell into chanting of his own. The Grey reached a crescendo and with a barked command and gesture bolts of green lighting began to strike out towards Tolestus and his shambling undead. Tolestus just finished his chanting in time to erect a magical barrier that protected him from the lightning. Yet not so for his minions who when struck by the lightning immediately exploded sending dust an bone fragments in all directions. The Demon noticing the flashes of arcane energy stopped from his slaughter of monsters and saw that Tolestus would need assistance. With a bellowed charge the demon raised is unholy blade and charged back down the field towards the combatants. Yet the Grey was prepared for this, and when the Demon came in range he turned and focused the lightning on the demon.
The Demon which normally would be ready for an arcane assault was caught unawares, as it had thought to catch the Grey unawares. The lightning struck the demon with such force that it blasted him to the ground. Its skin began to cook and its limbs bent and contorted into unnatural angles while smoke and steam began to pour from the demon's mouth. The Grey continued his lightning while he fished into his robes for an aritfact that would allow him to finish off the demon quickly. The creature saw this and knew that his doom was assured. With the last ounce of strength remaining to it and just before the Grey brought his artifact to bare the demon threw one fire ball. It was a small thing and would never do harm to the Grey with his magical protections, yet the Grey was not its target. The ball of hellfire lazily flew through the air as the Grey raised his small medallion and blasted the Demon with such fury that the creature was incinerated and blasted from existence. Yet the ball of flame flew through the air and connected with the back of the kobold shaman's head. The small creature had been so focused stopping the meteors for its master that it had not noticed the ball of flame.
The battlefield and resounded with a loud BOOM that knocked everyone from their feet. When the smoke was blown away by the impact of a nearby meteor, it was seen that the ground where the shaman stood was nothing but a crater and the Shaman was gone. The Grey while he shakily rose from the ground saw the meteors unblocked resumed their course for him. He knew he was finished yet still his will to live was great. He raised his medallion high and crushed it in the palm of his hand. The sound of the crack and splittering was heard across the field by Tolestus despite the loud explosions of the meteors. Tolestus quickly flew into another incantation and gestures determined to stop the goblin. Yet it was too late. With a flash and the sound of a thunderbolt the Grey was gone. Where he stood but a moment ago was immediately stuck by the remainder of the meteor spell. Yet Tolestus knew the Grey had escaped. He smiled though when he saw that the weapons and artifacts of the dwarves were still intact. He went over and quickly scooped them into one of the magical pouches of his robe. He turned and opened a magical door back to his tower, a smug smile on his face. he knew that the Grey was still alive and a threat, yet he was confident that the battle today spelt the end of his foe. With those final thoughts he stepped through the door and disappeared.
OOC- Well here we are chapter 10, I hope everyone has enjoyed the read so far, for here comes a potentially interesting part. I have opened the story up to suggestions. Anyone may post what they think should happen, or what they would like to have happen next. People may also take possession of a character (other than Grimil, and of course the bad guys) and tell me what they would prefer for that character to do in the next entry. I will seriously take any and all suggestions. However if it is SEVERELY plot changing for the story, it will be put to a vote and or (if no one votes) I will take artistic license and "alter" how the suggestion takes place. Also for those who pick a dwarf they may choose a fittingly dwarf name for their char (Im fairly open for names, however I will not accept anything rude). Every dwarf is armed with one weapon, their clothes, armour, and a few tools/items. Silverpicks have picks, candles, and chainmail. Everhind has crossbow(24 bolts), chainmail, woodsmen ax. Gemchipper has chainmail, hammer, chisels, and gems, (blessed gunner has holy book). Stronghammers have hammer/shield, chainmail, forging equipment. Handrel has ax, chainmail, map, and deed of rulership. Anyways tell me what you think and here are the dwarves available.
Grimil- Stronghammer (me)
Silverpick-available
Silverpick-available
Silverpick-available
Everhind-Brewster-Dwdal
Gemchipper Blessed Gunner-available
Gemchipper-available
Stronghammer-available
Stronghammer-available
Handrel-available
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Topic: The Founding of a Home (Read 10646 times)