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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Breakstone" data-source="post: 135433" data-attributes="member: 481">Fast-forward a month or two...Rykken almost knew the caravan was coming. Born in a village far away, Rykken had been a fighter, a merc-for-higher, and, mostly, a wanderer. Born with powers that granted him great strength of speed and mind, the human warrior was always restless. But he had heard a calling, and that calling was along this road… Karak had conflicted feelings. He’d joined this caravan a month ago, when he stumbled upon it bleeding and defeated in a fight against orcs that took his temple to Moradin. So far five of the men he’d met had died. Three were blue-coats, caravaners who were quiet and nonchalant. Karak supposed they were in a better place now. The other two were different. One was an elf, and a wizard. Karak’s dwarven instincts immediately marked this fellow, who’s name happened to be Gar, as a possible enemy. The last man was a fellow dwarf named Falco of the Stonedragon Clan. Falco was a good man, and a great fighter. Moradin’s strength had flowed into Falco through Karak’s guiding hands many a time in battle. Karak’s suspicions for the elf had grown and grown until finally Gar saved Falco from a fate worse than death. However, the sacrifice wasn’t enough. Falco and Gar had planned to meet up with the caravan in at least three days after escaping from the blue dragon Skyla. The caravan had waited five days. Then eight. Then ten. Finally, they had to move on. Karak was thinking these things when Jake Dragon, the caravan leader, called his attention. “Karak! I’d like you to meet Rykken. He’s agreed to help protect our cargo.” Rykken’s black hair blew silently in the breeze. The two adventurers met eyes and silently nodded to each other. “Karak’s skilled in the arts of healing and battling.” Jake continued. “And you?”“…I’ve got a sword,” Rykken spoke in a deep voice, “and I can run.” “…okay…” Jake coughed politely. “Let’s keep moving! We’ve got to reach Venix by Windsday!” The caravans creaked forward.   Scav-Nur hated humans. No, hated wasn’t the word. Loathed was more like it. They deserved worse than slavery, but enslaving them was what he was hired to do. Scav-Nur adjusted the red skull mask that covered his orcish face and silently patted his viper’s huge, scaled head. It hissed up at him, tasting humans on the wind…   Rykken breezed through 40 feet and swung his bastard sword overhead and into the side of an orc, spraying blood into the dusty road. The orc bent over, clutching the wound, red skull mask dropping. “Nmad namuhs!”  With that, Rykken twirled his sword once again and sliced clean through the orc’s neck. Suddenly, a 30-foot-long viper, hood blazing out behind its hissing, deadly mouth, struck in. Its fangs pierced Rykken’s shoulder, drawing blood.  From behind a rock, Karak barrel-rolled, crossbow TWANG-ing as a bolt flew through the air and CLANGED into one of the orcs. The orc barely flinched as he pulled out a longspear and advanced Rykken. A second orc suddenly flanked Rykken with a longspear of his own, pinning the warrior. ‘Trapped!’ Rykken thought, doom looming over him in the form of a viper and two orcs. Suddenly a glaive sliced into the back of one of the orc slavers. Locke, a ranger traveling with the caravan, appeared, brandishing the long weapon and a fiery snarl. He and the orc were engaged in ranged combat with melee weapons.  Rykken spun and swung low, bastard sword biting into the knee of an orc. The orc cried out and fell to the ground in a spurt of crimson blood. The viper launched itself again, biting deep into Rykken’s arm. Rykken suddenly felt faint, perspiration showing on his now pale skin.  Karak rolled from behind his rock and fired another bolt that struck an orc in the head, flipping it back. Jake Dragon rose from his hiding place and began sneaking behind the snake. The orcs continued to fight, one striking Rykken in the kidney. Rykken cried out, the world swimming about his head. He had to get out of here…  One of the orcs grinned through its white skull mask and advanced Rykken, raising its mace for the final blow. The grin left its face with cry cut off and it fell forward. Jake Dragon stood behind it, wielding a bloody sword.  Soon the orcs were cut down and the viper scared off. Karak healed the wounded through Moradin’s might, and Jake cut free a trail of slaves who were following the orcs. He waved his sword high above his head like a banner and announced, “Venix by tomorrow!” Cheers rose amongst the caravaners…Still more to come!</blockquote>

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