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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 896106" data-attributes="member: 2012">I'm back for another installment of my World of Kulan story hour.  I'm going to try an update this one once every few weeks or so but still have to be careful not to type too much.Heck, if it goes well, I might try updating Realmsian Dragonstar too.  (No promises though.)THE ALLIANCE (cont.)A rise overlooking a winding valley:Dabuk looked down into the valley fuming. His hands shook with rage, as he gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand and his horse’s reins in the other. His father sat beside him on Hindle, also enraged, but more controlled than his son could ever hop to be when confronted with the beasts.They had found the ogres that had destroyed Burnholm.Halfway down the valley was an encampment of half a dozen of the brutes – laughing, howling, and eating something that was once sentient. The two rangers could smell the burnt flesh in the air.“We can take them,” Dabuk wouldn’t be able to stop himself, if his hatred for the beasts took over.“Maybe,” Garth looked over his shoulder to see how far the others were behind them. Only Kellin was visible to the naked eye because of his height and size. “We need to wait for the others. Bactra and Thessa’s magic will tip the scales in out favor.”“I don’t need help to kill ogres, father.” Dabuk was breathing heavily trying not to let his rage cloud his judgement.“I know that,” Garth was trying to stall his son so the others could reach the rise before his son did something rash. “I didn’t say that their magic was needed to kill the ogres. I meant that if those brutes down there have a shaman amongst them, Bactra and Thessa will be able to counter the beast’s magic.”“I know what you’re doing, father.” Dabuk didn’t turn his head towards his father, unwilling to take his eyes off his mother’s killers. For that’s how he saw all ogres. They were all guilty for the crime their kin had committed that day. “Stalling should be beneath you. Soon you’ll start lying just to keep me from living my life. I’m not a child anymore, father. You need to realize that. You can’t protect me from the world.”“Ten more minutes.” Garth knew his son was right. He hadn’t been there for him or his beloved Eiithinia when the ogres had attacked. It ate away at him that his obsession with duty and justice and cost him his family. He lost his wife and his brother’s wife, a true friend, in one day and his son had become a stranger to him in the years that followed.It was his fault and he had sworn to never risk his son’s life needlessly. He hadn’t counted on Dabuk to grow to be so reckless. He had blamed Carl for the boy’s wild streak for years. But soon he realized he was his mother’s son. She had always been wild and carefree. It was why he had loved her so much and why he would fight to death before he’d let his son die if he could.Carl instinctively looked back towards the others. The ten minutes had passed and he knew his son wouldn’t wait much longer. It didn’t matter. He’d ride with his son against an army if he had to. He owed it to the boy and to his mother.Kellin waved to Carl just as Dabuk’s patience to a crashing halt.“They’re pulling up camp! I will wait no longer!” Dabuk kicked his horse and was soon riding across the edge of the valley towards a path that was the only path of the descent into the valley they had found.“Damn it!” Garth spurred his warhorse on and drew his sword. “Dabuk don’t, wait for the others!”“No!” Dabuk disappeared down into the valley, towards the ogres, as fast as his horse could take the steep path.Garth followed his son down into the unknown danger that lay ahead. I will not lose him too, he thought.*                                        *                                        *Meanwhile:“There they go again.” Kellin was tired but not fatigued. He could run for miles more before that would happen. “We must hurry, I think Dabuk is about to do something foolhardy.”The ogre man increased his gait until he was running flat out. Soon Hougwarth was running next to him with the others just behind, their mounts foaming at the mouth. The war ponies would be the first to die if this pace kept on for much longer.“What is he thinking?” Thessa patted her fatigued pony trying to ease its uneasiness with her gentle touch.“He’s not, that’s the problem.” Bactra’s horse was nearly as tired as the rest of them. He could easily force it ahead of the two giants in the lead but didn’t want to hurt the animal.“I have a feeling that we’re not going to like what we find once we catch up to them. If we catch up to them.” Mesik didn’t like riding. He was much happier simply walking from place to place, taking his time.“Agreed.” Bactra started to go through the spells he had memorized in his mind. He would need his most powerful magic this day – he could feel it.The five companions came to the path just as Dabuk and Garth reached the ogre camp.*                                        *                                        *</blockquote>

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