The events of the 3rd of Timber, 1068With the sun long set, and the moon hidden behind heavy cloud cover, Vatek began making his nightly rounds. His body was wrapped in a long cloak, his mace cradled loosely in his hand, the ex-guardsman skulked through the sands silently, leaving only the faintest imprint of his boot heel in the sands.
Outside of the Goblins in their brazen daylight raids, and the hordes of camels roaming the edges of their territory menacingly, this fortress was surprisingly quiet. All the better - these people, they deserved a reprise from the horrors of the sands, and a few months of the
average dangers would seem positively calming compared to scar-covered hell-women, and invisible goblin horrors bent on attacking Dodik's head-on.
Movement in the distance caught his eye. There was a faint flicker of torch-light in the nothern most gate tower's lower window.
No guards ever enter that tower, this isn't right. Quietly Vatek snuck towards the tower, and loitering briefly outside, he pulled a leather mask from a pocket sewn inside his cloak and slid it over his head. The cloak discarded, the leather-clad Dwarf darted around the corner and through the cracked door, his voice low and commanding, "Stop! No more movements!"
The Dwarf was beefy, his muscles large and knotted from apparant heavy use. Long matted hair hung down his back in a makeshift queue, and on each shoulder he carried a large barrel, the words "long-term storage" written in big dripped-red letters. The dwarf continued to move, gingerly placing the two barrels beside the staircase up, and brushed black powder from his hands. He turned, and Vatek inhaled sharply at the smooth steel weilders mask that covered the bearded face.
"Stand at attention, what mischief are you causing in here."
"Thatta'd be nonna' yer' business," rasped the Dwarf from behind the metal. Torchlight glinted off the visor, making it an ominous shimmering of orange and black. "Ah'd suggest ya' turn an leave now."
"I'd suggest you answer my question, or I'll leave you trussed outside of Major Merkil's office. I assure you, he will not be as gentle as I."
There was a snort of laughter, and the Dwarf lumbered forward, gloved hands raised up in a mockery of a boxing stance. Vatek sighed, and stepped into the room, his stance light as he weaved side to side. "You have to make this difficult, don't you?"
"Nothin' was difficult b'far' ya' showed up."
"It's up to me to protect this fort from scum like you. If I have to do that through violence, I will."
"Ya' talk too much."
"Oh? Does that distract you?"
"Nah, it jus' makes me wanna' hit ya'arder."
Vatek dodged a hard right swing, wincing as the Dwarves hand connected with a wooden support pillar. There was a crack, the wood splinted, a fracture running down the center. Taking a chance, Vatek darted in, punching out with a quick jab to the Dwarfs sternum. Twisting and dropping, the Dwarf leaned into the hit, catching it with the top of his steel mask. Vatek howled as his fist throbbed in pain, his reaction time slowed just enough.
The masked Dwarf punched out hard with his left hand, catching Vatek in the stomach. Gasping for air, Vatek stumbled backwards and tripped over a pick, carelessly cast aside. As he dropped to the floor, he was set upon. The dwarf silently worked him over, the punches to the face and chest were just to keep him down, it was the steel-shod boots stomping repeatedly into his gut and groin that were doing the real damage. Bones cracked, something tore, and Vatek flirted dangerously towards the black edge.
"STOP!"
The blows did just that, suddenly abating. Opening one eye, Vatek saw the mask wearing dwarf cross his arms across his chest, his head tilted slightly as Stravitch strode towards him. Elation flared briefly, dying away as he saw Stravitch... bow his head, teeth grit as he was berated by the other in a tone too low to be heard. The ex-captain lashed out and pushed the one in the mask.
"Now see here you daft bastard, I'm perfectly fine with everything you've done up to this point, but I gave you specific things I would not abide, and hurting my little assistant was one of them."
"How was I t'know'e was yer little thrall? He's wearin' that le'dder mask."
"I step away for two minutes... and I find this. Unbelievable, Telamon. Unbelievable. Fine, finish what you're doing, I'll take care of this."
"See ya' come back quickly, we've got more barrels t' move."
Stravitch moved over to Vatek's form, and squatted down - what might have passed for a look of worry on his face. The ex-captain reached out and pulled the mask from his face, clucking his tongue as he tucked it into the collar of his suit. "This will certainly make things awkward between us, but you should know you're mouth is sealed on this one. No word of...
this to anyone, or I'll leave your corpse at Aryn's step with a note saying you're the one killing the nobility."
Vatek tried to nod, to speak, but he was too weak. Stravitch waited for a response, and when it didn't come, he gave a shrug. Telamon spoke from near the door. "'tis a terrible thing t' hold secrets, of ana'one here, ah would know. But ah trust ye'll do the right thing, if not fer' yer own disposable life, than fa'r the good of all yer' friends. Fer they're happiness."
Stravitch rocked Vatek with a hard right to the jaw. The lights in the tower exploded, millions of stars that blinked into existance with a brilliant pain. His conciseness slipped away as they vanished, their energies quenched by darkness.
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Topic: Migrursut: What Comes After The World Ends? [Epilogue] (A Community Fort) (Read 390040 times)