Ratni Čekić
srijeda, 06.03.2013.
Bretonnia (warband) background story part 2: Jaws of the night
Another day on the road. Another night under a clear sky, far away from the comforts of my castle. I should probably be worried by the events that unfolded. I should maybe feel some doubt in myself and my abilities. Yet the event did only one thing, and that is to harden my resolve. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
We travelled for days until we stumbled upon an abandoned house. Its doors were barely holding themselves in their hinges.
I let Torgar break those doors down, only to be rewarded by a female scream.
There was a woman inside, huddling in a dark corner. She seemed frightened and hungry. But at least she was clean. She must have been one of the nobles as I could well see nobility in her features. Besides, she reminded me of someone I once knew.
I managed to calm down the lady, thinking nothing of it when she rejected to come into the sunlight. What a fool I was. Yet the Lady preserved us once more. But I’m getting ahead of myself again.
We gave her food and water, yet she rejected our kindness. We thought she was too scared to eat. Well, we Bretonnians thought that in any case. The red haired lunatic wanted to cleave her head and be done with it, and I barely managed to restrain him. His brother did not move a thing. ‘What savages’ I thought then. How wrong I was. For as soon as the sun set behind the trees, she seemed to grow stronger, and her demeanor changed. No longer was she scared little girl, too afraid to eat a crumb of bread. She was tall, pale and arrogant like the noble from the Empire or Bretonnia when I think about it. Suddenly, she thanked us for bringing her dinner. The way words slithered over her tongue awoke some fear within me. And rightly so, for as she knelt beside me with a strange look in her eyes I felt my will sag, and bend to her own as I was taken by a surprise. A Vampire, this scared little woman. And yet I could not move as her mind-claws already embedded themselves in my psyche. Then she changed, right in front of my eyes. Her jaws opened to much for a mortal being, and she jumped forward to embed them in my exposed neck. Luckily for me, that lunatic was close by and her head ended, not on my neck but under my feet. While the body still stood for a moment before toppling, as well.
Humbling experience, yet it showed me two things. Darkness will never prevail, and the Lady will always take care of her faithful.
Bretonnia (warband) background story
It was a dark night. One of those when spirits walk the earth beside the living. I Aragorn of Carcassone was for once not afraid of undead spectres, for the lady was with me. I tied my horse near a lake on the edge of my property and took a stroll through the forest as always when I needed to think.
It was not so many days from a dream. That fateful dream that would change everything for me. It is the time it seemed, to choose. Keep my position and power as the knight of the realm or answer the call of the Lady. I sat down beside the lake remembering.
Night was dark as it is today. Yet stars reflected in still surface of the lake. And there it was reflected in the surface of the lake. A city, great city with streets filled with riches and happiness. Yet then everything changed, and a great comet followed by a barrage of smaller ones crushed the magnificent city from the face of the Earth. Then monstrosities came and inhabited the ruins. Some residents survived and fought with those beasts for survival. Then magical stones were discovered. As all the chaos, and suffering. And in the midst of all that there was an ancient chapel underground, and within it blade plunged within a solid block of stone it’s blade shining like silver. I could see beautiful female face reflected in it and then it was gone. I fell in the chaos of battle surrounded by few of my comrades. I could recognize my squire and faithful captain of my guard Avandor. Yet I could not recognize bare chested dwarf with red hair like a crest of a rooster, and neither did I remember heavily armored one with black hair and blue eyes.
A choice. What to do. To make a pledge to the lady, or remain comfortable in my father’s castle living from the work of my peasants. Ah …
It wasn’t much of a choice, I was and will always be the man of the Lady. I unsheathed my sword and kneeled in front of the Lady’s chapel. And made a vow. I will not rest, I nor will I eat before first thinking of proving my worth to the lady. My life is not mine anymore, may the Lady hear my pledge.
Nothing happened, what did I expect? A ray of light shining upon me? Ah… well that’s it, time to prepare for the journey to the city of Mordheim. As I emerged from the forest, it seemed to me I heard a voice. I turned around, yet nothing was there. Yet I noticed silver gleam in the grass near the tree. It was an old oak that weathered countless decades here at the edge of my land. I picked it up. It was a silver coin, with a star in the middle. It must have been a sign. It would be enough. I went to my castle to take care of the papers and prepare for the journey.
Next day as I called upon my servants, to pack provisions for a long journey Sir Avandor cornered me. He guessed what was in my mind, cause he knew of my dream. He offered to accompany me right away, without a moment pause. I hesitated for a moment and yet did not refuse as I well remembered the dream. If it was will of the Lady, I will see it through. We immediately started to plan the journey. Yet the problem were our squires, we could not leave them behind as we were responsible for their training. Leur and Gawain were strong and true lads. Twins. Dark of hair and bright of eyes, a rare combination. We made necessary plans, and then I proclaimed that my lands and castles are to go to my nephew Torgar, which was often shunned by the rest of the knights as he reputedly had northern blood in his veins.
First week of the journey was easy as we were ridding through familiar lands kept safe by efforts of Carcassone knights. Best knights in all of Bretonnia. Yet on the eve of eight day, we hear fighting, and strange chanting in the forest. I unsheathed my sword and ran to investigate. Leur stayed with the horses, and Avandor followed me, his blades drawn.
Soon we stumbled upon a clearing where we saw a curious sight. There was strong, barechested dwarf wielding large double headed axe, fighting against ten orcs. And leaned against the tree was dark haired armored dwarf not doing a thing to help the red haired lunatic in his battle. He just chanted and sighed.
We could not let poor dwarf fight against such odds, and so we charged the orcs. After a short battle, we managed to break them, and they fled to the forest. Expecting gratitude I was surprised when bare chested lunatic brought me down with a single blog from his hamfisted hand. I was stunned for a moment, yet I recovered swiftly and returned the favor. After what seemed an eternity armored dwarf and Avandor brought us apart. I was relieved if I might add for as strong as I was, I could barely hurt the dwarf despite having a foot of height over him.
After combat armored dwarf introduced himself as Thorgrim Gortrekson and the slayer as Thor. He explained Thors dismay as we routed the orcs. He wanted a noble death in battle. And I owed him for taking it from him. I would have to find him another.
I opened my mouth to reject him, yet I remembered the dream with two dwarves fighting beside us against the overwhelming numbers of bests.
“It is as the Lady wishes!”, I accepted their company, and we continued our journey toward the city that is soon to become our destiny. One step closer to death or the life of servitude to the Lady. Only time will tell. For now, we fight.
