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<blockquote data-quote="narayan" data-source="post: 7365501" data-attributes="member: 6677509"><p><strong>Vandrok within the Hills of Kumbakarna</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Vandrok breathed easier with each step further into the hills. All around him on rocky slopes, ghostly faces of the hill tribe peered at him from crude stone dwellings as the path meandered through one of their villages. Before each doorway, stern warriors stood sentinel, ever vigilant, as were their well-trained beasts.</em></p><p> <em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok moved on without pause knowing he had nothing to fear from them. 'Children of Kumbakarna' were free to pass through their villages so long as they kept a respectful distance from the wives and offspring of the tribesman. In many ways Vandrok considered the warriors of the hill tribe to be brothers. After all they worshipped the same god and often fought the same enemies.</em></p><p> <em></em></p><p><em>On occasion Vandrok was invited to their wild dances and feasts which was a rare honor. Only their temple, private elder council meetings, and some religious/cultural gatherings were off limits to the uninvited. And yet, even now after years of sharing the same ground he was no closer to truly understanding them. The hill tribe did not teach their language to outsiders and rarely spoke of their customs, history, and the many strange secrets of their origins.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Malachias, the warrior shaman who taught him about Baezu, explained very early in his teachings that Vandrok would never have the same relationship with Baezu, or the tribe, as he did. They would never offer him a wife or his own stone hut to stand guard over. His offerings and his bravery would be rewarded by the tribe, and Baezu himself, in other ways.</em></p><p> <em></em></p><p> <em>Three of the warriors waited by the path for Vandrok to approach. They knew well before he came near to expect him. News traveled fast through the hill tribe. Even at this late hour their shamans, scouts and trained beasts let nothing come near their villages undetected. Vandrok recognized one of the warriors as Kedaras, a young, rather foolish good-humored sort who often broke the warriors code to remain silent and expressionless towards outsiders. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Kedaras:</strong> <span style="color: #808080">"Bless Baezu you on fine hunt!"</span> He says in broken common. </em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> <span style="color: #000066">"Did you see a stranger pass by shortly? A man, a Caishian."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Kedaras:</strong> Stares back, confused <span style="color: #808080">"I saw no cow... or man upon this path. Maybe goat?"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> Sighs. <span style="color: #000066">"Nevermind. Blessed is Baezu! This great cat will make a fine pelt to hang in the temple!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Kedaras:</strong> Frowns <span style="color: #808080">"Baezu take this offering, but the temple has no need of hats."</span> </em></p><p> <em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok snorted and lowered the carcass of the heavy dire puma at their feet. Likely it would take all three of them to carry it, but so be it. He was in no mood to detour away from the shelter of his own caves. Vandrok continued on, hefting one wild boar beneath each of his arms. His headache may have lessened but his thoughts were still clouded and uncertain.</em></p><p> <em></em></p><p><em>What was it the Caishian said? </em><span style="color: #B22222"><em>~Seek out the great pit of Bet'Shava!~</em></span><em> Vandrok huffed. He could think of a thousand other ideas less foolhardy than that. Still he would take his advice and seek out the newcommers who came by the path of blood. Whoever this Wrenwil was, he was curious to hear what he had to say about the coming doom. </em></p><p> <em>_____________________________________________________</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>As Vandrok approached the back entrance to Kumbakarna's caves he was greeted by the ever-ugly, grossly fat and ever-angry Bugbear, Hrugaga. The Bugbear (who often liked to title himself 'elf-slayer') had a large purple birth-mark around his right eye socket and cheek that looked very similar to the bruise left by a black-eye. Early on in life Hrugaga's tribal shaman attempted to burn off the mark with a torch on more than one occasion, worsening his appearance further with pale, veiny burn scars and a blackened, pussy ear. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok could only assume the constant taunts and ridicule of his former tribe led to his penchant for over-eating and eventual banishment. Hrugaga was certainly maligned in his thinking being altogether quick to anger, unusually cruel and terribly violent (even by Vandrok's own standards). Yet despite his many faults, Hrugaga was tolerable enough to be around so long as his looks weren't the topic of comment and there was food to be had. Hrugaga was fortunate that Kumbakarna was so forgiving and tolerant towards his children because Vandrok himself was not so much. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok remembered several prominent warriors within the legions of Skull Mountain that hailed from Hrugaga's tribe. No doubt Hrugaga himself never had the chance to serve, (only the bravest, fittest and strongest were chosen from each tribe) but Vandrok understood that to be a blessing, even if Hrugaga himself did not.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>At times Hrugaga appeared to envy Vandrok's service within the legions of Skull Mountain, pestering him for tales of glory and slaughter. He enjoyed speaking of his own conquests (barely half of which could be considered plausable) against humans, dwarves and elves most of all. He even hinted more than once that he'd attempted to cook and eat an elf, a thought that made Vandrok queasy in his guts. Whatever wrong could be done between one race to another never warranted that sort of barbarism.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Hrugaga:</strong> -Speaking Goblin- <span style="color: #8b4513">"Vandrok! Dar magaan o huur daagaan?"</span> He asks quickly, stepping forward from the back entrance to the caves wielding a great axe. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> -Speaking Goblin- <span style="color: #000066">"Duun rhuur."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Hrugaga:</strong> <span style="color: #8b4513">"Draal'delen! A shuuch araan a khrelaan hakhaan or rhaluuc kec akuur khruul!"</span> The bugbear states hungrily licking his lips. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> <span style="color: #000066">"Dar ar kaan akech daan shuush magaan a shakaan duun huukhaagec shuush daan tekaan!"</span> Vandrok states rather impatiently. Part of him wanted to question the gluten about the mysterious Caishian who must have slipped past his guard, but then opted against it, shouldering his way past him instead. </em></p><p><em>__________________________________________________</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok wasted no time delivering the swine to the kitchens, warning the cooks that Hrugaga would be close at his heels with a ravenous appetite for fresh bacon. The cooks groaned and laughed knowingly, offering Vandrok a pitcher of ale to quench his thirst. Vandrok took a moment to rest by one of the great cook fires, seating his bulk upon a barrel gulping down the foamy brew with satisfaction.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Just then a hissing voice whispered from behind his neck, almost forcing him to spit ale in surprise until he realized it was only Rhast, the smallest and most foul of Kumbakarna's other children.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Rhast:</strong> -Whispers- <span style="color: #cc6666">"Vaaandrokkk! Where have you been?!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> <span style="color: #000066">"On a hunt you vile vermin!"</span> He curses, wiping away the foam from his lips with one hand as the other swings blindling over his shoulder hoping to knock the offending creature off his perch.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Rhast:</strong> <span style="color: #cc6666">"You don't know about the visssitors?!"</span> Rhast asks with insatiable curiosity, effortlessly dodging the blow so easily it would seem he ignored it, leaping down to floor level slinking past Vandrok's legs into the light of the cook fire.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Few creatures ever revolted Vandrok so much as Rhast, who looked for lack of a better definition, as some sort of hideous cross breed between a rhat and a kobold! Resembling something like a partially shaved cat covered in short red/brown hair, Rhast's grey/pinkish hide was leathery and thin revealing a prominently bony skeleton beneath that could move around on all fours as easily as not. His vaguely reptilian skull was a bit large for the rest of his body, as was his thin rat-like tail.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Rhasts large eyes were a sickly yellowed tone of milky white with striking orange, yellow and red irises that glowed eerily in the shadows. His ears were thin, pink and veiny sitting well back behind bony eye sockets. Along his snout, forehead and belly were leathery scales. His hands and feet were extremely dexterous with very long fingers and toes ending in small sharp claws.</em></p><p> <em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> <span style="color: #000066">"You mean the Caishian dragon shaman named Svexyn and the one he calls Wrenwil who came by the path of blood?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Rhast:</strong> Gasps gleefully. <span style="color: #cc6666">"How did you know that?!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Vandrok:</strong> <span style="color: #000066">"I don't need eyes and ears as hideous as yours to know things."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Rhast:</strong> <span style="color: #cc6666">"Did you know that the one-eyed half dwarf smuggler was touched by a shaman of Kalia?! Or that he smashed in the skull of Kumbakarna's pet demon with a hammer?!"</span> Rhast asks grinning revealing small but very sharp fangs.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Just then the cook notices Rhast and sends a heavy iron skillet flying in his direction. <strong><span style="color: #808080">"GET OUT VERMIN!"</span></strong> He shouts. Rhast dodges the skillet (which sparks off the stone floor with a loud <strong>CLAANG!</strong>) slipping towards the door on all fours.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Vandrok smirks and downs the rest of the pitcher. <span style="color: #000066">~Half dwarf smuggler? What do the shamans of Kalia need to know from him?~</span> Bothersome as Rhast was, few creatures had a better knack for getting their nose into everything's business as Rhast did. With his help there was likely very little indeed the visitors could keep to themselves. Vandrok intended to learn as much as he could. Perhaps the shamans of Kalia were also investigating this coming doom?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>[Vandrok:</strong> What do you do?<strong>]</strong></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="narayan, post: 7365501, member: 6677509"] [b]Vandrok within the Hills of Kumbakarna[/b] [I]Vandrok breathed easier with each step further into the hills. All around him on rocky slopes, ghostly faces of the hill tribe peered at him from crude stone dwellings as the path meandered through one of their villages. Before each doorway, stern warriors stood sentinel, ever vigilant, as were their well-trained beasts. Vandrok moved on without pause knowing he had nothing to fear from them. 'Children of Kumbakarna' were free to pass through their villages so long as they kept a respectful distance from the wives and offspring of the tribesman. In many ways Vandrok considered the warriors of the hill tribe to be brothers. After all they worshipped the same god and often fought the same enemies. On occasion Vandrok was invited to their wild dances and feasts which was a rare honor. Only their temple, private elder council meetings, and some religious/cultural gatherings were off limits to the uninvited. And yet, even now after years of sharing the same ground he was no closer to truly understanding them. The hill tribe did not teach their language to outsiders and rarely spoke of their customs, history, and the many strange secrets of their origins. Malachias, the warrior shaman who taught him about Baezu, explained very early in his teachings that Vandrok would never have the same relationship with Baezu, or the tribe, as he did. They would never offer him a wife or his own stone hut to stand guard over. His offerings and his bravery would be rewarded by the tribe, and Baezu himself, in other ways. Three of the warriors waited by the path for Vandrok to approach. They knew well before he came near to expect him. News traveled fast through the hill tribe. Even at this late hour their shamans, scouts and trained beasts let nothing come near their villages undetected. Vandrok recognized one of the warriors as Kedaras, a young, rather foolish good-humored sort who often broke the warriors code to remain silent and expressionless towards outsiders. [B]Kedaras:[/B] [COLOR=#808080]"Bless Baezu you on fine hunt!"[/COLOR] He says in broken common. [B] Vandrok:[/B] [COLOR=#000066]"Did you see a stranger pass by shortly? A man, a Caishian."[/COLOR] [B]Kedaras:[/B] Stares back, confused [COLOR=#808080]"I saw no cow... or man upon this path. Maybe goat?"[/COLOR] [B]Vandrok:[/B] Sighs. [COLOR=#000066]"Nevermind. Blessed is Baezu! This great cat will make a fine pelt to hang in the temple!"[/COLOR] [B]Kedaras:[/B] Frowns [COLOR=#808080]"Baezu take this offering, but the temple has no need of hats."[/COLOR] Vandrok snorted and lowered the carcass of the heavy dire puma at their feet. Likely it would take all three of them to carry it, but so be it. He was in no mood to detour away from the shelter of his own caves. Vandrok continued on, hefting one wild boar beneath each of his arms. His headache may have lessened but his thoughts were still clouded and uncertain. What was it the Caishian said? [/I][COLOR=#B22222][I]~Seek out the great pit of Bet'Shava!~[/I][/COLOR][I] Vandrok huffed. He could think of a thousand other ideas less foolhardy than that. Still he would take his advice and seek out the newcommers who came by the path of blood. Whoever this Wrenwil was, he was curious to hear what he had to say about the coming doom. _____________________________________________________ As Vandrok approached the back entrance to Kumbakarna's caves he was greeted by the ever-ugly, grossly fat and ever-angry Bugbear, Hrugaga. The Bugbear (who often liked to title himself 'elf-slayer') had a large purple birth-mark around his right eye socket and cheek that looked very similar to the bruise left by a black-eye. Early on in life Hrugaga's tribal shaman attempted to burn off the mark with a torch on more than one occasion, worsening his appearance further with pale, veiny burn scars and a blackened, pussy ear. Vandrok could only assume the constant taunts and ridicule of his former tribe led to his penchant for over-eating and eventual banishment. Hrugaga was certainly maligned in his thinking being altogether quick to anger, unusually cruel and terribly violent (even by Vandrok's own standards). Yet despite his many faults, Hrugaga was tolerable enough to be around so long as his looks weren't the topic of comment and there was food to be had. Hrugaga was fortunate that Kumbakarna was so forgiving and tolerant towards his children because Vandrok himself was not so much. Vandrok remembered several prominent warriors within the legions of Skull Mountain that hailed from Hrugaga's tribe. No doubt Hrugaga himself never had the chance to serve, (only the bravest, fittest and strongest were chosen from each tribe) but Vandrok understood that to be a blessing, even if Hrugaga himself did not. At times Hrugaga appeared to envy Vandrok's service within the legions of Skull Mountain, pestering him for tales of glory and slaughter. He enjoyed speaking of his own conquests (barely half of which could be considered plausable) against humans, dwarves and elves most of all. He even hinted more than once that he'd attempted to cook and eat an elf, a thought that made Vandrok queasy in his guts. Whatever wrong could be done between one race to another never warranted that sort of barbarism. [B]Hrugaga:[/B] -Speaking Goblin- [COLOR=#8b4513]"Vandrok! Dar magaan o huur daagaan?"[/COLOR] He asks quickly, stepping forward from the back entrance to the caves wielding a great axe. [B]Vandrok:[/B] -Speaking Goblin- [COLOR=#000066]"Duun rhuur."[/COLOR] [B]Hrugaga:[/B] [COLOR=#8b4513]"Draal'delen! A shuuch araan a khrelaan hakhaan or rhaluuc kec akuur khruul!"[/COLOR] The bugbear states hungrily licking his lips. [B]Vandrok:[/B] [COLOR=#000066]"Dar ar kaan akech daan shuush magaan a shakaan duun huukhaagec shuush daan tekaan!"[/COLOR] Vandrok states rather impatiently. Part of him wanted to question the gluten about the mysterious Caishian who must have slipped past his guard, but then opted against it, shouldering his way past him instead. __________________________________________________ Vandrok wasted no time delivering the swine to the kitchens, warning the cooks that Hrugaga would be close at his heels with a ravenous appetite for fresh bacon. The cooks groaned and laughed knowingly, offering Vandrok a pitcher of ale to quench his thirst. Vandrok took a moment to rest by one of the great cook fires, seating his bulk upon a barrel gulping down the foamy brew with satisfaction. Just then a hissing voice whispered from behind his neck, almost forcing him to spit ale in surprise until he realized it was only Rhast, the smallest and most foul of Kumbakarna's other children. [B]Rhast:[/B] -Whispers- [COLOR=#cc6666]"Vaaandrokkk! Where have you been?!"[/COLOR] [B]Vandrok:[/B] [COLOR=#000066]"On a hunt you vile vermin!"[/COLOR] He curses, wiping away the foam from his lips with one hand as the other swings blindling over his shoulder hoping to knock the offending creature off his perch. [B]Rhast:[/B] [COLOR=#cc6666]"You don't know about the visssitors?!"[/COLOR] Rhast asks with insatiable curiosity, effortlessly dodging the blow so easily it would seem he ignored it, leaping down to floor level slinking past Vandrok's legs into the light of the cook fire. Few creatures ever revolted Vandrok so much as Rhast, who looked for lack of a better definition, as some sort of hideous cross breed between a rhat and a kobold! Resembling something like a partially shaved cat covered in short red/brown hair, Rhast's grey/pinkish hide was leathery and thin revealing a prominently bony skeleton beneath that could move around on all fours as easily as not. His vaguely reptilian skull was a bit large for the rest of his body, as was his thin rat-like tail. Rhasts large eyes were a sickly yellowed tone of milky white with striking orange, yellow and red irises that glowed eerily in the shadows. His ears were thin, pink and veiny sitting well back behind bony eye sockets. Along his snout, forehead and belly were leathery scales. His hands and feet were extremely dexterous with very long fingers and toes ending in small sharp claws. [B]Vandrok:[/B] [COLOR=#000066]"You mean the Caishian dragon shaman named Svexyn and the one he calls Wrenwil who came by the path of blood?"[/COLOR] [B]Rhast:[/B] Gasps gleefully. [COLOR=#cc6666]"How did you know that?!"[/COLOR] [B]Vandrok:[/B] [COLOR=#000066]"I don't need eyes and ears as hideous as yours to know things."[/COLOR] [B]Rhast:[/B] [COLOR=#cc6666]"Did you know that the one-eyed half dwarf smuggler was touched by a shaman of Kalia?! Or that he smashed in the skull of Kumbakarna's pet demon with a hammer?!"[/COLOR] Rhast asks grinning revealing small but very sharp fangs. Just then the cook notices Rhast and sends a heavy iron skillet flying in his direction. [B][COLOR=#808080]"GET OUT VERMIN!"[/COLOR][/B] He shouts. Rhast dodges the skillet (which sparks off the stone floor with a loud [B]CLAANG![/B]) slipping towards the door on all fours. Vandrok smirks and downs the rest of the pitcher. [COLOR=#000066]~Half dwarf smuggler? What do the shamans of Kalia need to know from him?~[/COLOR] Bothersome as Rhast was, few creatures had a better knack for getting their nose into everything's business as Rhast did. With his help there was likely very little indeed the visitors could keep to themselves. Vandrok intended to learn as much as he could. Perhaps the shamans of Kalia were also investigating this coming doom? [B][Vandrok:[/B] What do you do?[B]][/B][/I] [/QUOTE]
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