The Journey to Nordaka Part 1 - The Sleeping Tree

The night was clear but a strange green hew held over the moon high above the water. Morn looked out of the window of the ship staring at the moon with concern. "It’s been like that for a month now lad and the color is getting stronger by the day. Not that I am one for bad omens but I don't think that color is going to be bringing gold or wenches to our laps anytime soon." Forge laughed hard but also kept his eye to the moon as well as Morn. Morn turned back to the table and picked up his cards. "Speaking of wenches I wonder where..."

The door flew open and the cool sea air hit them both at the table. Ash walked in with the look of death to her and a smell of sickness on her breath. "Finish that sentence and I'm tearing that tongue of yours out!" She sat down with the boys and took a long drink of her ale. Forge watched with a smile and nodded his approval to Morn. “Even the sea won’t keep this lass from a good ale ha-ha!”

Ash put her cup back down and smiled. "That's much better; see only three times today I had to run to the deck I'm getting better at this sea thing as I said I would." Morn and Forge laughed hard "well ill say its better then when we first met that's for sure." Forge chimed in "of course your attention was on that vampire captain so that must have helped in some ways." Laughing together they raised their glasses to all the past battles they have had.

"So tell me again how far this journey to this castle of yours is and how long do we have be on this blasted boat anyway?" Ash was getting irritated but that's when Morn had the most fun with her. "First off the Rapiers Edge is not a boat we have held this ship in our family for many generations my lady of the sea. Second we are going to the stronghold of Torith Nordaka past the black sands and nestled in the mountains of the Dragons Tail. A long journey one must endure to train among the Order of the Silent Hunters if the lady still wishes to follow this path of course."

Ash gave Morn that look again that she always gave him when he was passing the line with her as Forge stared at the moon smiling at their bantering. “So when is the wedding then?” Ash now gave Forge the look as he rumbled with laughter. "He only wishes, anyway Morn you know I do, how many times must you ask me that? Have I not proven my resolve with all we have been through so far?" Beyond the sickness Ash was getting very irritated with Morn at this point and her voice gave an edge to it.

"Take no offense my lady you need to understand the trials you face will be tough and you must have no doubts about this, because once you join us there is no turning back. I just never want you to have regrets, because if you do you will fail and people will die. We are sworn protectors and silent assassins against the darkness if we did not take these oaths and risk our lives many would suffer and die." Morn turned to look at the moon with Forge as a dread of the unknown filled him. As Ash sat and stared at them both silenced and running his words again and again in her head.

The journey was relatively quiet and by the time they docked Ash only threw up once more. They entered the small port town of Calem and made there way to the local tavern. As they entered it was fairly quiet except for a few men arguing in the corner about an evil creature that haunted the road. The glint in Morns eye was noticeable to Forge as he looked away and sighed. Ash heard Forge sigh and looked to the dwarf as he looked back and shook his head to her as he knew what was coming next.

Morn walked straight over to the men and presented himself. "Pardon me gentlemen I overheard your discussion and being a bard as am I am always looking for new tales to tell, if you would I would inquire of this evil you speak of." The men looked at each other and back to Morn both shouting at the same time in his face. "Sod off bard!” Morn turned around with a smile to Forge as his fists closed and as he was about to turn around Ash walked past Morn with a smile of her own, "Allow me my oh so famous bard."

Forge laughed till he almost fell to the ground as Ash batted her eyes at the men and soon enough they were singing like birds in a forest. Forge turned to Morn as he brought a round of ales over "seems we just needed a women's charm lad ha-ha!” Morn glowered at Forge "so it seems my old friend so it seems." The men explained how the road to the black sands was cursed as many travelers were disappearing from the open road. Morn listened to every detail trying to determine the source of the abductions. Finally the key was revealed as the men spoke of the large holes in the earth covered in gore and blood.

Morn waited till they got their own tablet and presented them with the conclusion to the missing people. "It’s a Cyclops were dealing with maybe two at that a male and a female. There known to take there victims back to their cave and then tear them apart to eat the organs. The large holes in the ground would be made by the cudgels they carry. Cyclops eyes fetch a mighty price and would help with the journey ahead." Forge looked to Morn, "you know me lad I didn't come all this way to turn around at a mere Cyclops or two." Morn patted Forge on the back and looked to Ash. "I fought a troll and survived what's a couple of Cyclops at that."

The next morning they made there way along the road looking for the holes that the men spoke of. All around the road was relatively clear except for a few bunches of trees here and there. Another hour into their journey they found what they were seeking. The holes were large indeed and covered with blood, gore, and dirt. It wasn't long till they found a trail along the road where the trees started to thin out leading into a small bog.

As the path started becoming tougher for the horses they tied them up before entering the bog. Morn started to look troubled while Forge and Ash took notice. Forge looked to Morn "Are you thinking what I'm thinking lad?” Forge’s eyes darted around, “but it can’t be they say there all supposed to be sleeping around this time." Morn nodded his head "Maybe my old friend that moon means more then we think. I hope you brought some of those alchemical fire bottles I got a feeling were going to need it."

Ash looked to them both with a confused look "are you boys going to clue me in here or keep me in the darkness?" Morn stopped and looked her dead in the eyes with his one eye "were not dealing with a Cyclops here Ash this is something far more dangerous and ancient, were dealing with a bog tree and an angry one at that." She looked very confused "what in the gods is a..."

Before Ash could finish her sentence a gnarled root burst out of the ground sending all three of them in different directions. Forge cursed as he grabbed his battle staff from his back with multiple gears built into the shaft and an electric current running through the middle while dodging a root looking to crush him. "For once lad why can’t we be wrong just once is all I ask?!" After hitting the ground Morn rolled to the side dodging another root while grabbing his bow "yeah but think of the tale will have to tell after this!" Ash was already up with her sword and shield fighting back another root. "That's if we even survive this, I suggest less words and more fighting!"

Morn rolled over to his other side dodging the root while firing one arrow after another at it. The magical arrows pierced through the root as a guttural roar could be heard in the distance. Ash was cutting at the root breaking wood off as it hit her lion headed shield forcing her back. Forge struck the root with his staff as an electrical bolt burst from the staff into the root and another roar was heard.

The roots shot back into the ground and the bog became as quiet as a tomb.

Morn turned to Ash and Forge, “I hate to say but now might be the time to start getting worried!" Morn had an arrow at the ready when the sound of a crashing tree as loud as thunder came from the distance. Ash looked to them waiting with her shield at the ready. Out in the distance a huge form shot into the sky and was plummeting straight for the trio.

The bog tree had used its three roots to vault to there location. Morn fired an arrow that sunk into the tree with little effect "Move now!" The tree crashed into the ground before them. It was an old grey tree that was at least the size of two large men, ranging at twelve feet high with no leaves and multiple branches. The three roots were thick and about twenty feet long writhing like serpents.

The trio formed a triangle with Ash in the front. "We need to circle it, magic and fire is its only weakness. Be careful of the roots and the branches don't get a hold of you. It’s a creature of brute force that is slow and that is our advantage to surviving this.” They broke off circling the tree weapons at the ready waiting for the time to strike.

Morn unleashed his arrows while dodging the roots and keeping far back from the branches. Forge slammed his battle staff into the roots sending lighting into the tree with a small effect. Ash moved in closer cutting off some of the decayed branches with her emerald sword that Forge had crafted for her.

The battle was tough but the trio seemed to be winning until the tree showed its true form. Within the trunk of the tree a wide gaping mouth appeared and roared in Morns direction. The force of the roar slammed him into one of the bare trees behind him almost knocking him out. The tree took this opportunity to crush him with its root. A large crash came as the root slammed into the ground. As the dirt settled Forge looked in fear to find his friend crushed. What he found however was Ash on top of Morn a few feet away from the root.

When she saw Morn fall without a second thought she dropped her sword and shield, ran and dived at Morn rolling the two them out of the way of the crashing root. Morn looked up into her eyes and found a new resolve for this woman as she had just saved his life. She looked back into his one eye and as if she was reading his mind she whispered to him. "Now do you doubt me?" He laughed and whispered back "never again, but were not out of this yet and we seem to be weaponless and that is not good."

Forge sighed with relief but also saw there dilemma and knew it would be now or never to use the fire bottles he had in his bag. Using words of the ancient language he summoned a dome of light blue energy over him as he dove into his bag seeking a small chest. The root crackled as it slammed into the dome. Another root crashed against the dome as Morn and Ash saw the roots crash against the dome. "We got to help him that shield will only last for so long." Morn said to Ash as they made there way up from the ground. Ash ran to her sword and shield as Morn found his bow a few feet away.

"Ash flank it with me and push forward as best you can, oh and now is good time to use your shield!" Morn ran to the trees side and unleashed a flurry of arrows where he saw the mouth open from before. Ash moved in chopping the branches as they attacked her, and dropped to a kneeling position in front of the tree behind her shield. The lion’s mouth on her shield roared at the tree as a magical fire shot out and burned the tree. The trees mouth opened again but this time Morn knew what to do as did Forge as they both fired their arrows and the bottled fire into its mouth.

Ash moved back as Morn and Forge came to her side. The trees mouth opened wide as the fire burned it out from the inside. Within seconds the tree became a burned out husk, and a new part of the landscape. Bruised and bloody they made there way back to their horses and then the road.

That night as they camped Forge watched as Morn and Ash would toss small flirting gestures at one another and make eye contact more then they ever did before. As he prepared healing salves for them he watched as he smiled and gave off a small laugh. They both turned to Forge asking what was funny. Forge smiled at them "you were right lad this will be some story to tell indeed, and you Ash are welcome at any battle this dwarf is ever in." They all laughed but Forge held back his true intentions for laughing.

As he watched them both and the new way they acted toward each other it would seem his young friend the once lone wolf had found his mate at last and she would be by his side till the stars no longer pierced the sky. He smiled to himself thinking the fates have strange ways indeed...

Hollow Eyes

Dawn appeared over the horizon as the young man lay against the tree. His clothes were torn and a look of insomnia was upon his face. After the events he witnessed at the Krakens Eye how could one ever sleep again. He stood up checking the short blade he had on his side ignoring the blood caked on the blade. He thought back to the nightmare he witnessed days before...

The two young soldiers stood upon the wall laughing about some jokes they were making about the younger women of the village. There names were Trevor and Simon and they joined the guards watch to impress some of the females back home while bringing honor to their fathers. They had been friends since they were children and found when it was time to become soldiers they joined together.

In the night air screams had erupted from the village as the soldiers looked out with wide eyes. They watched as a small army of undead soldiers came from the path of the ancient graveyard and descended on the village in a matter of minutes, slaughtering all in there path while burning the homes as they passed.

Simon snapped away and ran to the signal bell ringing it to alert the other soldiers. Trevor could not keep his eyes off from all that was happening. A moment later the commander was making his way to the wall yelling about. Trevor was memorized as magic was being cast from a ghost like woman. What they saw next terrified the men as the villagers rose from the dead and began to dance under the glow of the fires. This was enough for Trevor as he ran to the left of the wall making to jump off and save his skin. Simon yelled after him but as he turned to tell his friend to follow him a swarm of the undead had scaled the wall and were clawing and biting Simon as he screamed into the night.

Other screams came from his fellow soldiers as they were being torn apart and before he knew it a young boy from the village was upon Trevor. He was able to throw the boy off and produce his sword. Trembling he shouted for the boy to stop but the boy howled and charged into his sword. Trevor kicked the boy off his sword with tears of panic in his eyes as he didn't look back and jumped over the wall...

He began to focus on the day as he stood from the tree and still wondered how he was able to survive the fall. He needed to find someone to get the word out about what happened at the fort. With a goal in hand and tears of rage for his friend he continued on while the screams echoed back to him in his mind. His thoughts continued to find Simon and the childhood they shared. It was the one thing that would keep him going no matter how many more days this journey would continue to take.

As another day passed however tears had gripped Trevor and he screamed to the sky in anguish. His resolve was breaking but in the far distance he found salvation. The outline of an inn along a road was becoming visible and he began to thank all that would listen for this symbol of hope...

The inn was filled with a few people eating and drinking as a man that looked to be in his thirties sat in the back playing a fiddle. He wore dark leathers adorned by various belts that chained together. Over his eyes he wore a dark grey bandanna to cover his eyes. A raven sat on his shoulder looking all around the inn watching for the slightest of movements.

The door flew open as a young tattered soldier collapsed to the floor. The tavern keeper and his wife ran to Trevor with some water and tried to revive him. One of the older men looked to the symbol Trevor wore, "by the gods he is from the Krakens Eye! That's four days journey from here and look at his clothes do you think the fort has been attacked?!"

The tavern keeper shot a look of concern to the old man "we won’t know anything till this boy revives and when he does will know more but till then we wait. There is no need to bring alarm till we know why he is here, hell for all we know he could be a deserter." With that said they picked the boy up and brought him into one of the rooms to rest. The fiddle player just continued to play as he smiled to himself waiting for the events to unfold themselves in the days to come.

Night descended over the inn and brought a few more people in but no word yet of the soldier who collapsed through there door hours ago. Night had passed into the next day as Trevor began to stir. That evening as the same crowd listened to the fiddle player Trevor came out to tell his tale. The fiddler stopped and listened with the others as Trevor recounted his nightmare. The people of the tavern gasped with horror as he continued his story with every detail.

"Well that settles it!" One of the middle aged men in the inn stood up and placed a hand on Trevor's shoulder. "Tomorrow you and I lad will ride to the city of the north and bring this to King Ison himself, I will make sure you get an audience to tell of all you have told us. Will make sure the king sends back an ample amount of soldiers to retake the eye and slaughter the evils that brought this nightmare upon you! Do not feel a coward lad from what you told us you made the right choice who knows how stronger this evil could become if word is not sent your a brave and lucky lad to make the choice you did."

The others cheered and each of the patrons, eight including the inn keeper and his wife came to thank the soldier for his bravery and courage. In the excitement the raven on the fiddlers shoulder flew up in the rafters to watch over all those in the inn. The fiddler stood up and called the attention of everyone in the inn. "Tis troubling times indeed but this lad shows that with a stout heart one can overcome many horrors and make the most difficult of choices. For this lad’s courage and sacrifice to bring us such news I have a very special song I would play this night before your journey begins tomorrow my friends. Also allow me to buy each of you a round of ale to celebrate the victory that is to come over the nightmares that have not been heard of in these lands in years."

The patrons cheered and the inn keeper and his wife got everyone a mug of ale. The blind fiddler bowed to the small crowd and began to speak an ancient language of magic. The fiddle began to glow and rise as if there was an invisible ghost holding it while the fiddle began to play in mid air. The crowd cheered in awe as the fiddle player smiled the most evil of a grin.

The raven hawked in the rafters and the fiddler as quick as a spark had conjured three ethereal daggers that glowed with a white mist in between his fingers. The crowds cheers soon turned to screams as the fiddler threw the ghost daggers into the crowd each finding there mark with ease. The patrons fell over dead with the daggers thrust into there necks or eyes with a perfect precision. Trevor fell from his chair and ran to the door yelling for Simon and how this shouldn't be happening but the blind fiddler was quicker and cared not for his tears as Trevor fell over with three ethereal daggers sticking out of his back. The raven cawed from the rafters as it glided down to land on the fiddlers shoulder.

The fiddler walked around the bodies as the fiddle kept playing on by the invisible musician. No one made a sound as they all lay dead on the tavern floor. The fiddler checked each ones pocket and removed any valuables they held. Then the fiddler walked around the wooden bar and found a bag with potatoes of all things. As he smiled he dumped them out onto the floor and threw the bag over at Trevor.

Before he left the bar he poured himself a hard drink and started to hear the cries of a baby behind him. He found the door and entered into what he found to be the innkeeper and his wife's bedroom. In the far corner were a wooden cradle and a baby girl crying into the night. He walked up to the cradle and looked over the child sighing. "It tis a pity little one that you are part of this ordeal but you see I can not let word of this out just yet when there is much at stake for the future. I am however without a heart and will give you this gift." He placed his palm on the baby’s forehead and spoke words of an ancient language as a purple glow came from his palm. "If the fates allow you to come of age you will witness this night through my hollowed eyes. You may seek me out for revenge if you wish but train well because I will only grant you life this one time."

With that said he made his way back into the room of the dead bodies. He knelt besides Trevor and conjured a new blade that was longer but still made of mist. The raven cawed from his shoulder as the fiddler cut into Trevor's neck sawing his head off. He placed the head in the rucksack and grabbed his fiddle. Shutting the door behind him to the inn he made his way to the small stable where he grabbed the nearest horse and rode out into the night.

Four days later he came to the destroyed village and found the boys story to be true in every sense. Soldiers stood on the walls and along the gate to the Krakens Eye but there faces were rotted and aged. A voice came from the top wall as Vareloc looked upon the blind rider with curiosity. "You’re foolish to come here blind man all you will find is death though if that is what you seek we would be happy to oblige?" Vareloc held the order to have him slaughtered as he was very curious as to why this rider was here.

"No my lord actually I came seeking you to offer my services. My visions have shown me much and as such I bring a gift for my lord." The fiddler reached behind him and took the head out of the sack raising it high in the sky. "One of the soldiers of this keep escaped looking to bring the news of your conquest. I must report that all he spoke to have also perished and no word has passed since unless any others escaped."

At this point Kriska came behind Vareloc with a smile looking down at the blind man and the head he held. She whispered into Vareloc's ear "as I said my love one did escape but his word will not pass to any ears except for those of the dead. I know of this man he is of the order of blind assassins known as the Shadowed Eyes. They sacrifice their eyes for magical abilities and an animal that becomes their eyes. Our God favors there work I believe he would make a welcome ally with many talents you could use." Vareloc smiled at Kriska and looked back to the rider, "leave the head at the gates good sir and welcome to the Krakens Eye. I would most indeed be interested in your services, come through and let us speak"....