Do You Use That to Climb?

The sea air blew through the window as Moringar lifted his head to accept its embrace. He looked out to the sea searching for something. Placing his hands on the table he felt over his weapons the weapons of a hunter., the weapons of his trade and his life.

A small knock came at the door that disturbed him from his meditation. The door opened and she walked in, he sighed,  "I had a feeling you would be coming to see me soon my lady,  what is it you seek?  He turned to look at the young girl, she was only a few years younger then him. Her raven black hair was semi-curly and cut to her shoulders. Her dark emerald eyes met his as she smiled. "Do you really think you can take on the baron of the sea alone? I come to stop your sacrifice or at least offer my hand...to help."

Moringar turned around to look over his gear smiling, "well my lady trying to stop me is pointless, and as pushy as you make yourself. I take it talking you out of joining me is not a question to be asked. Very well then! I do hope that sword and shield over your back is not just for show." Now it was her turn to smile behind his back, "I have bloodied this blade on flesh and undead on my days of travel if that is what you wish to hear. Now let us see your chosen instruments... of the hunter I mean."

She made her way next to Moringar and looked over the weapons on the table. She smiled and nodded "ah I see you are an archer, and those are impressive daggers, but what is this chain with three spiked balls at the end do you use it to climb?" Yet another sigh "if you live long enough you shall see my lady, now do you have a name or do I stick to my lady?" She turned and curtsied in a mocking way "Ashintina Hawkfeather at yer service my lord." Moringar smiled, "well met and very cute we leave at first dawn, do not make me regret it". With that she left the room and as the door shut Moringar smiled and shrugged to himself as did Ash as she walked away.

The sea was choppy as the ship made it's way across. Moringar whistled as he made his way to the side of the ship to find Ashintina throwing up over the side. "I do say lady Ash I take it you have not travelled the open sea as much as one may think?" Spitting over the side she turned to Moringar "Stuff it! It just takes me time before I am used to it." Moringar smiled as he handed her a cloth "fair enough when your able meet me in my quarters we must talk about what we will face on our adversary's ship. I think you will find it very interesting." With that Moringar walked away whistling as Ash threw up yet again after nodding to him.

After she cleaned herself up she entered the cabin. Moringar sat there looking over some scrolls with a bottle of fine brandy and glasses at the ready. Standing up he poured the brandy into the glasses, "here Ash this will help, please sit, there is much to discuss." Moringar sat down and took a small gulp of his brandy as he smiled to Ash. She smiled back and sat down while gulping down a shot of the brandy. Feeling a little better Ash relaxed in her chair, "so how is it Morn you have all this free reign on the ship as you do? I mean we are in the Captain's quarters if I am not mistaken." Morningar or Morn as he was now called smiled and shot back his drink. "Well that's simple Ash it's my ship, but will save that tale for another day. What we have to discuss now is our enemy and his crew. We will be dealing with a full crew of the undead led by a master vampire." Ash's mouth dropped she heard the rumors but never figured them to be true, she was all ears to Morn from then on.

The next night the fog ran it's thickest and the moon casted an errie glow over the ship. Moringar stood at the rail looking out into the fog. Ash walked up next to him she was clad in a metal breastplate and carried her sword and shield. Moringar looked her up and down and smiled, "I do hope you don't fall overboard with that armor. " She laughed at him "oh I won't famous hunter and where is your armor or do you prefer tight leather and the look of a thief." At this he laughed thinking if you only knew my lady. He checked over his gear and made sure all is in place while quickly looking into the fog. "It's time Ash they will be upon us soon if you have any tricks up your sleeve now is the time to have them ready." She only turned and smiled to him thinking oh you shall see. 

Ash made her way to the middle of the ship, she placed her sword and shield by her feet as she kneeled down. Morn watched as she made gestures with her hands over her weapons. "Ah yes pray to who you need Ash it will be needed this night." She gave him an evil look and went back to her gestures while a fire like glow encased her shield and sword she looked back and smiled. Morn nodded and thought to himself well that's impressive and useful.

The fog turned into a ghostly green as the sounds of another ship was heard. Before anyone knew it a small horde of undead sailors broke over the side. There eyes a hellish green screaming as they charged the crew with ancient swords. Moringar unleashed a spell that turned the undead to flee and even jump into the icy waters below. Those that didn't flee crossed blades with the crew and Ash. Like a wave she crashed into the undead, sword and shield burning all she sliced or smashed. Moringar made his way to the back of the ship firing arrows when the chance came.

Moringar looked over the battle saying to himself this is too easy. As he thought this a concussive boom echoed across the ship. Some sailors flew over the side while everyone else was knocked to the floor. A lone figure emerged in the middle of the ship holding a staff made of bone. He was dressed in a long blood red robe his hood covered his head and face. The staff glowed a green color as a wave of magic broke over the ship. All the dead rose even those of the crew and began to fight again. Moringar cursed as the tide turned on them, firing an arrow at the sorceror it broke against a magical shield as the sorceror looked to Moringar with his glowing eyes. He looked for Ash with an idea at the ready. "Ash! Get the sorcerors attention!", she looked to Morn and nodded.

Bashing an undead in the face with her shield she charged at the sorceror. Using the staff like a sword they clashed against one another. Morn moved with haste to find himself behind the sorceror, he grabbed the silver chain with the spiked balls and swung it. The chain hit its mark as the spiked balls embedded themselves into the sorcerors arm. The sorceror hollowed in pain as his arm started to smoke and burn. As Moringar was about to pull the chain he was kicked in the head and crashed to the floor, standing over him baring his fangs was a new foe the master vampire.

He stood there above Moringar smiling, he wore dark leather pants and black boots. With no shirt he was ripped with muscle, he looked young by face but his eyes glowed red like the fires of the abyss. His fangs glared in the moonlight as he hissed at Morn. "You travelled far for your own death hunter and I see you brought me a plaything excellent." With twin swords he lashed out at Morn. Parrying the incoming blows Morn used his famous long daggers of fire and ice. They traded strikes producing sparks each time there blades met.

Near there fight another raged on as the sorceror and Ash kept on with there own. The sorceror came on without mercy as his staff struck sword and shield backing Ash to the railing. She had a plan and using her sheild she rolled behind the sorceror grabbing the silver chain. He hollowed in pain as she finished what Morn set to do. Pulling the chain the pain was so immense he dropped his staff which broke the sheild spell. Rolling back into the fight her blade of fire slid into the sorcerors stomach, he screamed as his insides burned he toppled over the railing into the sea with the silver chain dropping to the floor.

Morn caught a glimpse of the sorceror as he fell over the railing and smiled thinking good work Ash. There blades moved like lightning showering the deck with sparks as they clashed. Neither was letting up in the fight as the dance of blades continued. The vampire hissed at Morn, "your human stamina will not last forever soon oh so soon you will make a mistake." 

The vampire screamed as he looked down to his leg and found the silver chain wrapped on to him burning his flesh. Moringar took the opening and drove both daggers into the vampire, "it's not me dammned one who has made the mistake!" The vampire stumbled back with Morn still driving his daggers into his chest. They both crashed onto the floor with Morn not letting up. Blood gushed everywhere as the last bit of un-life left the vampire and started to become dust. 

Morn got up and retrieved his chain while looking to Ash, "now you see my lady why this weapon joins me in my hunts. " Ash just gave him a look and smiled "yeah I may have to get me one of those"...

Blood on the Grave

Standing on the out cropping of rock Vareloc looked out over the ancient graveyard with a smile. The young soldier standing behind Vareloc shivered as he held the reigns of the horses they rode upon. "Master if I may why here of all places? You said we must leave for a grand mission. The enemy is routed and soon we shall bring order back to this land of the north. Hell the grand lord of nation's himself has declared to visit this land!" Vareloc's smile turned to a snarl but he did not look back. "Yes young one I know, though this is a critical mission that will change the future as we know it and you my young friend shall have a very important role soon. First however tie the horses before we enter the cemetery and follow me."

The soldier's step quickened as the news of this gave him confidence. After tying the horses they made there way through the grounds. Each burial was shown by a sword, helmet, or shield. This was a burial ground of ancient warriors one Vareloc prized upon finding. They reached the middle of the grounds and found a burial cairn that lead underground. The young soldier looked over at the dark elf covered in heavy armor. The sliver of moonlight graced across Vareloc showing the white tattoo that covered his face like a skull. Entering the cairn the young soldier brandished a torch as they descended into the darkness.

"There on the walls torches once lit, ignite them if they will still burn for your human eyes." Vareloc looked to the young soldier as his grey eyes became a small dot of light in the shadows of the torchlight. The soldier was able to light three of the four torches. It was sufficient enough to show the contents of the room. In the middle sat a tomb with no lid. Around the tomb in the walls were holes where soldiers in armour laid to rest. There swords or axes held to there chests. In the middle tomb was another soldier with a two handed blade laid across his body. His dark red torn cloak draped across his remains, while his battered armor glinted in the light.

The young soldier peered inside the tomb with confusion. "Master I still don't get it I see no scrolls or items of power, there weapons and armor are useless, there is nothing in this tomb of value!" Vareloc turned on the soldier "oh but that is where you are wrong my young friend." Vareloc smiled as he bellowed a word of magic power! The soldier flew back and crashed against the wall. Throughout his body he felt as if his soul was being torn away. Vareloc without a second of remorse descended on the soldier with his blade in hand. His sword pierced through the leather armor and came out his back with a splash of blood against the wall and out the soldier’s mouth. The young soldier looked in Vareloc's grey eyes while his life ebbed away he felt as if he was torn apart as his essence flowed out of him and into a gem in Vareloc's other hand.

Vareloc pocketed the gem and cleaned his sword off. After sheathing the blade he walked over to the tomb and brought the gem out again. He looked over the emerald gem and looking deep within could see a shadow of the soldier screaming. Vareloc tossed the gem in the air and spoke more words of power. The gem stopped in the air and hovered above the warrior's chest in the tomb. The gem started to spin in the air like a spinning blade. It shot straight down like an arrow and punctured deep into the warrior’s chest. A green glow came from the warrior’s eyes and his skin regenerated over the husk of his body. His skin became a light grey and his veins glowed with a hellish green. The warrior bellowed to the sky as he sat up. He looked to Vareloc who stood back watching the scene unfold with a smile. The warrior bowed to Vareloc as he left the tomb his cloak moved like a ghost when the wind entered the cairn.

"General Belworn I presume leader of the blood warriors and highly skilled with the greatsword. I am Captain Vareloc Blacksteel your master and awkener I ask you this now will you follow me to bring chaos upon this world and flood the land with the dead as our army like ages past?" Vareloc awaited the generals response sword and spell at the ready. The general lifted the red hood of his cloak over his head the green glow to only be seen within. "No master I will not while you hold such a mundane weapon!"

The general moved to one of the torch holders on the wall and pulled it outward. The tomb slid to its side revealing a chest of ornate design. Vareloc watched the general as he moved to the chest and used a key he had in his armor. The chest opened with a click and inside was a blood red cloak folded around something. The general removed the cloak and pulled out a club like mace. It was made of the blackest steel and on the four sides it showed a screaming face with a spike jutting from the mouth. The general picked up the blood red cloak and handed it as well as the mace to Vareloc while kneeling before him.

"Now I shall follow you to the abyss and beyond my master and so shall any other warriors that you a rise. My sword is yours while death and fear shall follow in our wake!" With that Vareloc bowed to the general. He took the sword and tossed it by the lifeless soldier. He brandished the cloak and held the mace high a spark of red lightning snaked along the mace. "Excellent general for we have much work to do and it begins now...