The aftermath of the night's battle is a quiet respite from the evening's earlier tumult. The Urag raiders and the Northerlings have made a truce--not an alliance, perhaps, but a sullen peace. Both sides count their dead and lick their wounds. Shortly before dawn, a parley is planned in Jenn-Dai's tent between Yarga and those with whom he would speak: the tribal leaders and yourselves.
Before the conference with the Urag war-shaman, Dai-thon seeks out Khom-Bei for a quiet word. "My mother would speak to you alone, Khom-Bei."
Khom-Bei rubs sleep from his eyes, it's been a long night with many wounded needing his skills. "Take me to her, Dai-thon."
Dai-thon leads Khom-Bei to the large tent at the center of camp, where his mother waits. He holds open the flap, and the gentle smoke of a cookfire issues forth.
Khom-Bei ducks under the tent flap and bows deeply to Jenn-dai, "Dai-thon said that you would speak with me."
Jenn-Dai looks up from where she sits, meditating. The poultice Khom-Bei placed under her armpit is clearly visible. She nods a short table to where she has set out two bowls of wine. Khom-Bei must kneel to sit before it. "Yes, Khom-Bei. Come in. Close the flap. There is something of import we must discuss. Your friend, Kane, and his battle."
Khom-Bei pulls the flap closed and moves to the table. He kneels and waits patiently for Jenn-dai to speak.
The older shaman rises and paces about the tent. "He is a valiant and selfless warrior, this one. You have travelled far together, it is plain."
Khom-Bei nods, "He is true to his mission. He does not waver in his hatred of the Dark Ones."
Her voice is calm. "And you by his side, walking the path that the Great Father and the spirits speak of."
Khom-Bei looks down and speaks softly, "You know the story of my clan, Jenn-dai. You know that I cannot be at peace while the Dark Ones still walk the land."
Like a snake, the older woman is on you. Suddenly, her left arm is about your throat and her right hand draws her dagger from her boot-top. She holds the tip of the blade in the hollow under your right ear. A tiny drop of blood trickles its way slowly down your neck. She hisses, "By my fathers, I swear I should let your lifeblood spill upon this tent floor, that you shame us and the Powers so. In a louder voice, she adds, "To the Urag, sha gharol is a holy rite! Did you think I would not see your subterfuge?"
Khom-Bei tenses and remains motionless, "Jenn-dai, I did nothing wrong. The Great Father would not have granted me the power to aid Kane if it were not in His plan."
Another hiss of fury. "Boy! You invite the wrath of Rugash! He is called He-Who-Watches for a reason."
Khom-Bei says, "If the One-Eyed One has objections, so be it. I will face him with the Great Father at my shoulder." He reaches up slowly and tightly grasps Jenn-dai's wrist, twisting her blade away from his neck, "You may remind me of my obligations to my ancestors and that I have been neglecting them, Jenn-dai, and I am always grateful for your wise counsel, but you shall not tell me how to fight the battle before me."
Jenn-Dai allows him to push her wrist aside, relenting her grasp and rising but still gripping the knife. "Never trifle with rites, boy. Such pride will be your undoing. Know that you only breathe now because you are the last of your clan."
Khom-Bei stands and faces the older shaman, "The Great Father gives me the power that I use to fight the Dark Ones, if He is.... unhappy with me, I have faith that He will make it plain. You have my respect and my gratitude, Jenn-dai, but if you ever draw steel against me again, you will no longer have either."
Jenn-Dai regards the younger shaman quietly. "You are not the boy who left these prairies long ago." she says after a time.
Khom-Bei gazes steadily into the older womans eyes, "No, Jenn-dai, I have seen much and it has tempered my purpose to a fine edge."
From outside, Dai-thon announces that Kane and Thragga have arrived and opens the tent flap for them. Several tribal elders are also admitted. Within, Jenn-Dai and Khom-Bei appear to be glaring at one another, but the moment passes and Jenn-Dai welcomes the newcomers. "Be seated. We have much to discuss this night. Is Yarga here yet, Dai-thon?"
Kane bows to the old woman and takes a seat in the tent.
Thragga bows and squats beside Kane.
Khom-Bei kneels at the low table again and pours wine for Thragga and Kane, taking his proper place as host in the elder woman's tent.
Dai-thon nods. "The chieftain is here, my mother."
Two armored Urag raiders enter before their leader, look about the tent to inspect it for trouble, and then nod. Then Yarga himself enters, a bowlegged, broadshouldered Urag, and approaches his appointed seat opposite you. He has a naked sword in his hands.
Jenn-Dai says, "There is no need for weapons here, chieftain."
Yarga shakes his head. Still standing, he offers the sword to Kane, hilt first. It formerly belonged to Shazumoth.
Kane accepts the sword solemnly and says, "It is a great honor. Your warrior was brave and strong,"
It's a fine Tol Nedran blade, probably wielded once by a Vorghol officer and taken on a raid. A conspicuous insignia, D, is embossed on the blade near the hilt, exactly like the D-initial forged on near the handle on Khom-Bei's great hammer.
Kane lays the sword down beside him. He will inspect it more closely at a later time.
Khom-Bei pours wine for himself and the Urag chieftain and extends a full bowl to him.
Yarga raises the bowl offered to him as the others lift theirs. He sniffs at it, then drinks. "An end to the Dark Ones!" he shouts. He drains the bowl, then folds his legs underneath himself.
Kane and Thragga repeats Yarga's toast and drains their own bowls as well.
Khom-Bei refills the wine bowls and sits back on his heels.
Jenn-Dai demands, all business. "So say we all. Why then did you assault us, Yarga? Many brave warriors lie dead this night."
Yarga shrugs. "Because of what the Beast has done. Your people fuel his drive for power."
Kane says, "What has the Beast done now?"
Yarga says to Kane. "Because you stood for truth, I believe you. Lies are a tool of the Dark Ones and you are no servant of theirs. Nor those with you."
The Urag chieftain knocks back another bowl.
Kane bows his head. "We stand against the Dark Ones to our last dying breath."
Khom-Bei refills the chieftain's bowl again, looking around the tent for another wineskin to replace the rapidly emptying one in his hands.
Yarga intones, "Long have we known that Thumgath the Beast holds the Northerling levies for the King in Dolgur. Now, he has taken the Bright Moon people and made of them, an abomination. We know not how he does this, only that it must be stopped. I believe he will do the same with the other Northerlings as well. Thus, to stop him, your people must either leave these prairies and go far from his reach....or die."
Khom-Bei looks to Jenn-dai, waiting for her to speak.
Jenn-Dai has not touched her wine. "What abomination?" she asks.
Yarga says, "A colussus. He has melded their bodies together, so that even in undeath they move as one giant." He drinks some more. "He has built this and aimed it against Yarga, who is scourge to the Vorghol."
Jenn-Dai breathes in sharply. "How...how has he done this?"
Yarga shrugs.
Thragga looks towards Khom-Bei for an answer.
Khom-Bei says, "I know of none of the Dark Ones that have powers such as these. Khilur is the only of their lords who might have this knowledge and he is no friend to the Beast."
Yarga says contemptuously. "Khilur is a dried up sack of bones. We suspect Thumgath uses some sorcerous tool, perhaps from the old days."
Kane says, "This sounds like the work of a Necromancer."
Khom-Bei says, "If the Beast has a new ally, it bodes ill for us all."
Yarga makes a fist. "If you would not serve the Beast, then flee from these lands, or Yarga will kill you."
Thragga sets his hand on his axe-handle.
A dark shadow seems to cross Khom-bei's face, "And if we would fight the Beast? Would you have us fight you as well?"
Yarga says, "Who stands in my way, dies!"
Kane says, "Why can't you join forces and rid the land of these abominations?"
Jenn-Dai says, "We work against the same foe."
Yarga says, "If the Northerlings stay, then the Beast will use you for his colossus."
Khom-Bei says, "Jenn-dai can send out riders to the clans to warn them. The women and children will leave and the warriors will fight. Would you pass up so many allies, Yarga?"
Yarga considers this. The lined face, scarred from so many battles, seems to soften. Then he laughs. He seems to find this hysterical and the tribal elders look to one another, worried. "Allies to Yarga! Yarga! Whose name leaves the Vorghol tremble!" He says to Khom-Bei, "Yarga sets no limits on this war, Northerling. Are you prepared for this?"
Khom-Bei stands and hauls himself to his full height, "You forget who I am so soon, Urag? I am last of the Coldwind clan, the Dark Ones took away the limits of my war long ago."
Kane says, "We have long ago dedicated our lives to bring an end to the Dark Ones. We have killed many and are hated by the Dark King."
Yarga laughs some more. The coarse Urag laughter peals out like an out of tune church bell. His followers join in, like good lackeys.
Jenn-Dai says, implacably, "Only a fool laughs in such times."
Yarga snaps, "Very well! Alliance with the Northerlings. But do not hold me back with your scruples and odes to your Great Father, Northerlings! Yarga answers to no one but himself and He-Who-Watches!" He raises his bowl again. "The end of the Beast!"
All in the room raise their bowls of wine and join in the toast, drinking deeply.
Bowls drained, the three Urag raiders rise and depart from the tent.
Dai-thon says to Kane and Khom-Bei, "Yarga! Alliance with Yarga is like trying to chain the lightning!"
Kane says, "Better than having him attacking you."
Khom-Bei laughs loudly, "Is it so frightening to have him at your shoulder, Dai-thon?"
Dai-thon turns to his mother.
Jenn-Dai sips at her wine. "These are dangerous days we live in, my son. We do what we must."
Hours later, the Urag raiders have departed the camp. They have agreed to meet and parley again in three days with the Northerling braves after the rest of the clan has made their way to safety in the lands to the west. You three stand with Jenn-Dai, watching the raiders slip off into the dark forest as the sun comes up.
Khom-Bei turns and extends his hand to Jenn-dai, a knowing smirk on his face, "Dangerous days indeed, Jenn-dai, we all do what we must. You will send riders to the other clans?"
Jenn-Dai says, "I will need messengers. The hunting grounds of the Night Masks are two days ride south of here. They would have been Yarga's next target. They must be warned of what is abroad in the lands." She says no more, but her implication is clear.
Khom-Bei looks to Kane and Thragga, "We will take word to the Night Masks, if they can be found."
Thragga says, grinning toothily, "We are Hunters. We will find them."
Kane says, "Let's hope that's all we find."
As Kane and Thragga prepare to leave Jenn-dai's camp, Khom-bei speaks quietly to the Northerling woman, "I wish no ill to you, Jenn-dai, you have been my friend and counselor, but I must follow my heart in this fight. I will not disgrace our people with cowardice, but I will do battle as I see fit."
Jenn-Dai replies, kindly, "I would expect no less from a Coldwind. And Ghar-tei's son. He was always strong-willed, as you." She passes him a talisman, a small charm made of bone and leather. "Who wears this can turn away the Dark Ones more easily. Use it wisely..."
Khom-Bei ties the leather cord around his neck and bows deeply, "Thank you, Jenn-dai. For your words as well as your gift."
The older shaman turns away to her clan's business. You three race out into the rising sun.
You ride long and hard across the Howling Lands, headed south into the territory of the Night Masks, a secretive people who prefer camps in deep woodlands. Kane nearly loses his Angharan charger negotiating a swift-flowing stream, and Thragga manages to eat the contents of Kane's entire saddlebag while he is running alongside your mounts. You race on through the day and into the night, and you soon enter the dense forests to the north of the Westwall.
The tall Urag leans against a tree, to catch his breath. He blinks in the gloom to clear his vision.
Kane says, "So what's for dinner? Thragga go catch us a few rabbits, you after all eat all the food."
Thragga says, "I thought you brought dinner..."
Kane says, "I did, and you ate it on the way here."
Khom-Bei climbs down from his pony and begins to search the nearby trees, looking for the marks the Night Mask clan use to leave messages. He finds marks, perhaps a day old, carved into a nearby rowan tree. The tribe passed this way, headed south.
Kane says, "I swear if I didn't pull it away from you, you would have eaten my saddle bag."
Thragga strings his bow and says, "Wait here. Try not to get killed until I return."
Kane laughs, "Just make sure you bring some food back, oh great hunter."
The Urag slips off into the dark woods silently.
Kane says to Khom-Bei, "Some how I think the war bow is a little bit of overkill for rabbits."
Khom-Bei picks up a few fallen branches for a fire and chuckles, "I'm not sure that Thragga understands the idea of 'overkill'."
The two Hunters settle under an old rowan, chatting of their journey, as Khom-Bei lights the fire.
Just as the fire blooms to life, and you warm your hands at it, looking forward to cooking whatever game Thragga brings, the sound of galloping horses is heard. Shouts, steel on steel, the twang of an Urag warbow, then more shouts.
Kane says, "Sounds like your friends...we better move before someone gets hurt."
Snatching up his hammer, Khom-bei runs into the woods toward the noise.
Kane runs after Khom-Bei, sword in hand.
Thragga stands at the edge of a clearing. You race up behind him from a dense grove of trees. Beneath you, in a broad treeless dale bisected by a stream, two riders in armor race away to the west, about a dozen mounted warriors in the livery of Northspike, the Barony ruled by Thumgath the Beast. Leading the charge is a mounted Vorghol Captain, pointing at the Urag with his sword and cursing at him.
At the distraction presented by Thragga, the two riders try to escape their pursuers, but the Vorghol Captain orders his men to continue the pursuit. "Don't let them get away! And kill that Urag!" he shrieks.
Khom-Bei skids to a stop next to Thragga, his hammer at the ready.
Thragga plucks another arrow from his quiver. From his perch on the rise, he has already downed one rider and now takes aim at the Captain. "I was wondering when you'd get here..." he mutters, focussed on his prey.
Kane come up next to his friends and mutters to himself "And so it begins..."
As you watch, one rider is struck down by a hurled Tol Nedran spear. This is the undoing of the second, who turns to aid the first. As the second rider reins in, the horse stumbles and throws the rider clear.
The Tol Nedrans give a whoop and a cheer as their prey topples. They close in. The Vorghol Captain grins with a fanged mouth. Thragga chooses that moment to loose at him.
Thragga's arrow catches him in the chest. The Vorghol Captain is knocked backwards off his mount, which races off into the woods. Thragga looks to each of you.
As Thragga's arrow strikes the Vorghol Captain, Khom-bei steps into the clearing and yells across it, "Face me, you cowards!"
Kane rushes over to attack the fallen Vorghol. He races down into the clearing at top speed, fiery sword blazing.
Thragga left his axe behind in camp, so he fires at warrior who hurled the spear. The black Urag arrow catches the warrior under his armpit, felling him.
Khom-Bei raises his hands and calls to the Great Father, "Give us your blessing, Great Father, and aid us in this fight."
The Tol Nedrans rally. The Vorghol Captain scrambles to his feet. He is too furious to think about his fallen prey just nearby. "Bring me that Urag's head!" he shrieks. Four of the riders obey, urging their horses up the steep slope towards Kane and Thragga just beyond.
The first fallen rider lies very still. The second fallen rider on the ground rises, draws a longsword, and defends against Tol Nedran swords.
Kane charges the first rider to meet him. His flaming blade flares like the sun as he cleaves off the rider's arm. The man shrieks and drops at his feet, his empty horse galloping past Kane.
Right behind him, the second rider spurs in on Kane. Kane is sliced across the bicep as the second rider gallops past. Two more follow closely on his heels, swords swinging.
Kane dodges both riders and scrambles down the steep hillside past them.
The Vorghol draws his rapier and grins at Kane, eyes glittering red, blade held en garde. "Fool..."
Thragga looses another arrow, this time at the Vorghol. The arrow catches the Captain in the shoulder. He plucks it out and hurls it down in contempt.
Khom-Bei focuses on the Vorghol Captain, "Foul beast, I command you to be gone."
The Vorghol looks towards Khom-Bei, then sneers. He raises his blade, but recoils, shudders, and cries out, staggering backwards. Right before Kane, his form catches fire. A shriek goes up from the Vorghol, then a sound like a fiery tree falling as the flaming figure staggers backwards and explodes in a puff of light and smoke.
Ash rains down on Kane, dusting his dark hair, as the Tol Nedran troopers look on in terror.
Beside him, Thragga says, "Kai, Khom-Bei!"
As the Vorghol disintegrates and the soldiers look for leadership, Khom-bei raises his arms and yells, "I will feast on the souls of any who stand against me! If you wish to live, you will flee for your lives!"
Kane rears around and heads back up hill to attack the rider who passed him.
They're looking at you now with terror, unsure of what to do.
Kane raises Light Bringer and shouts, "Who will be the first to taste my blade!"
The Tol Nedran sergeant spurs his horse back. "Easy, now, easy..." he says, tentatively as Kane approaches.
Kane says, "Fight or be gone, you dogs! I have no time for lackeys!"
The second armored rider stands beside Kane, sword held high.
Four of the Tol Nedrans rear their horses back and pace away from Kane.
Thragga looses an arrow into the sergeant. The arrow takes him under the chin and he topples from his horse. His men heed Kane and Khom-Bei's words and without a reply, turn their mounts and flee off through the woods.
At Kane's side, the second rider collapses, grievously injured.
Kane rushes to support the fallen knight.
As their enemies flee, Khom-bei elbows Thragga in the ribs, laughing, "They bought it."
Kane says, "Khom-Bei! Quickly, this man is in need of your help."
Thragga looks disappointed. "I still have arrows left for them..."
Khom-Bei moves quickly to aid the fallen rider.
The riders wear the badges and armor of Ress Oathkeepers, their insignia obscured with mud and dirt from long riding. The second rider is limp in Khom-Bei's arms.
Thragga squats by the first rider. "This one has gone to the Powers..."
Khom-Bei removes the critically injured warrior's helmet and a long plume of red hair spills out, a freckled female face with blue eyes. The shaman lays his hands on her and calls to the Great Father, "Heal this warrior in your service, Great Father."
The woman's armored form is suffused with light as Khom-Bei's imprecation calls down divine energy. Her breathing becomes more regular and the wound in her side knits and closes.
Kane says, "Will she make it?"
Khom-Bei says, "I think she will.""
Her voice is tinged with the burr of Ress. She sits up beside Khom-Bei, breathing more easily now. "Aye, I think I will, sir. And I'm most grateful for th' rescue. Oathkeepers are we, and I'm Raelere by name. And ye?"