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Part 5: For the Blood!
6th June 2019
Another full moon shone over Nazmir tonight as a eeriness of fate overcome the orcs of the Red Blade. Everything had led up to this, through all their trials and tribulations! Only one camp remained, Zalamar! Sharguul and Xuja would have to be there! Tonight the orcs would abstract some revenge and this time they wouldn’t be falling in to anymore traps because of Roji. Old Roji, working against clan Red Blade from the start. Fearing for his family, forced to do the most dishonourable acts. Perhaps his kin would be at Zalamar also? Rrosh’tul Kargnar Bloodpaw called the orcs over as he prepared them for battle, reminding them to obey his command without question. Kargnar then ordered Kran to get Roji who was being held captive by the orcs, Roji would follow them in to the village but be bound by the hands.
The orcs arrived around the outskirts of Zalamar and noticed that the sky was full of bats. They congregated over the village blocking out most of the moonlight. The blood trolls were on watch, perhaps expecting a attack but on this night they would not be prepared for what was about to hit them! Suddenly the orcs saw the same faceless ghost the others had been seeing over the last few weeks, it approached them and as it did it disappeared. A strange mist surrounded the orcs that would make it harder for them to be detected by the blood trolls! Was this faceless ghost helping the orcs all along? Swiftly Kargnar directed the clan to attack the trolls and one by one they all fell, Zalamar has been cleaned out and the remnants of Xuja’s blood trolls had fallen.
An odd discovery was made, a path of broken scrolls lead down towards a twisting cave. As the orcs followed the scrolls a shocking discovery was made, the remains of tortollans old and young! Their bodies were thrown out with vast amounts of their belongings, Roji’s family didn’t make it out of Zalamar alive as he fell to his knees visibly distraught! Amongst the belongings of his fallen family was a scroll, it began to glow with a silvery light. While faint at first, it soon began to glow brighter, the light from the scroll projecting out to a open area ahead of the orcs. The forms of Roji's family slowly began to appear in the light. Their ages range from ancient to newborn, the tortollans did not look in any particular direction as they begin to gather. By the time they had all appeared before the orcs, thirty tortollan stood waiting. The final one to appear was a female tortollan who was be around the same age as old Roji. As with the others, she didn’t look in any particular direction. She did however begin to speak.
“Roji, If you are having to listen to this then you know what fate must have befallen us. We know that you must have tried everything and anything you could to rescue us, but in the end, time simply wasn't on our side.†The female tortollan had a pained expression on her face as she continue speaking. “Do not blame yourself, my dear, you've always tried your hardest to do right by us. Not all tales get to have a happy ending and this is not the end of our family's story just yet. Down in the pit, we have hidden the eggs from harm. They at least, are safe. Take them, Roji. Take care of them. And tell them the tales that we will not get to hear. I am afraid this is goodbye, my dear, this may be the end of this chapter of ours, but we will watch over you from the next. Farewell!†Each member of the family said their final words to Roji as they begin to turn and walk away, the light that made them up becoming dimmer and dimmer until it faded away entirely. Roji pleaded for them not to go but it was too late, the scrolls magic had been used up, the orcs were left to listen to Roji's heartbroken wails of sorrow. The tragic scene played out in front of the orcs as many of them were getting very emotional at what they just witnessed.
Peering down the hole of the cave the orcs would see a figure casting some sort of blood magic ritual, they would have to get closer to see who it was. As they walked down the twisting path of the cave they noticed it was decorated with the most exotic of blood troll items, vials of blood and other strange substances, bones of the fallen including skulls on wooden pikes and vases containing organs from the freshest of kills. Other oddities made up the cave such as strange markings plastered on the walls in a primal dialect that they didn’t understand, on closer inspection they realised it had been painted on with blood. A strong wind suddenly shot past them as it blew the torches out! Everything went dark, they couldn’t see a thing! What sort of magic was this? Gaar’thok would dramatically fall down the hole, his body plummeting to the bottom as the remains of the dead broke his fall. A blood troll would be there as she smirked at his arrival before casting a spell upon him, his feet and hands were instantly shackled as he was dragged away. The torches reignite as they heard a faint laughter from down below. Who was toying with the orcs?
Clan Red Blade pushed on, obviously worried about their fallen friend. There’s only way to help him and that was continuing on to the end! The orcs finally made it down to the bottom of the cave and as they entered the clearing Sharguul and Gaar’thok lay before them. Blood magic had bound them to the floor as they both were in tremendous pain! Xuja the Bloodgiver appeared, she had a bloody shield around her as she cackles at the orcs. Three blood spheres were positioned near her, feeding her blood with a beam of magic. How would the orcs approach this? “So ya finally found us then ‘ave ya? Da Red Blades in all ya glory!†Xuja said as the orcs of the Red Blade suddenly had the same bloody shackles cast upon them, they were unable to move or even speak! “Foolish ov’ ya ta come down ‘ere. Da powa I wield is something ya can only dream of! Finally I ‘ave ya all where I wanted ya! Da satisfaction of executing ya all in front of one of ya Loa!†the Bloodgiver said as her cackles echoed around the cave.
“Ya may wonder why I was there to begin with? I shall tell ya! G’huun, oh G’huun. I needed ta find a way ta help my blood god! I walked tis world searching for answers, then I found ya on ya small hill worshipping some loa called Akashok and his pack! Hah! Hah! Hah!†Xuja took great delight in this, walking towards the orcs mocking them. “Ya loa would be food for the return of G’huun! But I sensed something was was protecting them, it was tis one!†Xuja’s bloody finger pointing directly at Sharguul as she turns back to the orcs smirking. “Da one that whispers in da shadows, da one that protects Akashok and his pack. Da unborn one! Sharguul! Ya know he has a soft spot for ya? The followers of his father, ya great wolf! It was easy ta trick him, to lure him out!†Xuja says licking her fingers flirtatiously. “It was I who reversed da magic in ya mad orcs axe! How is he? I hear he’s now crawg foddah now! I presented da mad one to Sharguul and da stupid beast fell for it! It was easier then I thought! But Sharguul resisted, for a long time he would not call out for his father! He would not bring Akashok ta me!†Xuja’s delight turning in to a frown. “He did something unexpected, I sensed da message da mad one got. He called for Akashok’s followers. I then sent an assassin ta kill ya all, but ya all to stubborn! I see old Roji, the assassin is with ya! Ya failed me tortollan! Now ya whole family has paid da price! Da blood was sweet, da cries and screams from da men, women and children! Hah! Hah! Hah!†Xuja words were sickening. “Now ya know why ya die orcs, now ya lives will fill a final purpose. G’huun will rise and ya will be his first meal back in tis world!â€
Sharguul closed his eyes with every last bit of energy started to concentrate, a chill swirled throughout the cave as Xuja turned around in disgust, “What are ya doin’ you stupid mutt?†Spirits of the dead began to appear around them all and a fully formed spirit approached the orcs. It was a older orc and the image of a blademaster. His spiritual beads hanged from his neck as he unsheathed his sword. The sword ignited in a spiritual flame as the blademaster as quick as a flash broke the chains of the orcs, freeing them all from their shackles! The ghostly orc would raise his head and would reveal a orc of legend. Krogon Devilstep! He did not speak, he simply nodded his head towards them and charged at Xuja, leading the orcs in to battle! They followed him, shouting Red Blade war cries at the top of their lungs! “Krogon Devilstep, your spirit still lurks around that tree. I’m glad you answered this one’s call!†Sharguul said delighted. “What!? NO! YA FOOLS WILL ALL DIE! GUZINCHA!†Xuja was not happy!
“The one that carries one of the four blades, strike down the spheres! Drain her power!†Sharguul pleaded, he was talking about Gashuk. He had been studying the strange blade they had found in Zal’amak. Back then Rhonya Steelheart had used it to slice open a similar sphere so with precision it should work again! Xuja screamed at the top of her lungs, “SILENCE!†as she attempted to stop Gashuk in his tracks. Luckily for Gashuk the orcs were well drilled by Kargnar, he had told them to protect the mystical orc as he did his thing. Xuja’s attempts to stop Gashuk had failed, she desperately tried to stop him even chaotically causing parts of the cave to fall down! Xuja then changed tact, she attempted to drain the soul of Sharguul and with a bloody beam he twisted in his shackles and cried out in pain! Xuja soaking in every moment of it!
Xuja stared in excitement at the end of Sharguul, the unborn wolf facing the full might of the bloodgiver’s dark magic. Surprisingly a ghostly orc spirit appeared and ran in between the beam! Saving Sharguul and sacrificing himself, the orc looked familiar to some. It was Kargush, he had sacrificed himself yet again for clan Red Blade. What a legend! Undeterred by Kargush she started again, this time a another ghost of the past would aid the clan, it was Sadok Sharptongue! He looked over longingly at one orc, Rhonya Steelheart. His face turned to determination as he conjured a bolt of ice that froze Xuja’s beam and eventually shattering it! The shattered pieces of ice splintered in to the direction of Xuja causing dagger like icicles to pierce her bloody shield. Rhonya and Sadok would look at each other, it felt like a eternity but it was only a few seconds. Sadok smiled at Steelheart before turning around and joining Krogon and the other orcs in fighting Xuja. Rhonya wiped away a single tear on her cheek seeing Sadok again, his spirit had came back to help clan Red Blade but deep down she knew he came back for her. The moment past as she composed herself, a new found flame rose inside her as she rejoined the fight!
Gashuk with the help of the orcs protecting him had managed to destroy all three spheres that was aiding Xuja, she was now vulnerable! Whats that? It sounded like a drum beat, a very primal sort of drum beat. Just when Xuja thought things couldn’t get worse a mad dancing orc spirit arrived! It was Razaron Madeye, Xuja snarled as she tossed a blood beam at Razaron, the spirit of Madeye still had the moves, he slipped under the beam, kipped up and elegantly rolled towards Xuja slashing both of his axes in to her legs! “ARRRGH! Ya mad dancing orc, Sharguul ya don’t play fair summoning him!†Xuja remarked. “I didn’t summon this one, Xuja!†The unborn wolf stated, “Den? Aaah! Ya all goin’ ta pay for this! G’huun take you!†No they weren’t, Xuja was finished. Her shields were down and it didn’t take long before she was beaten. “Nooooooo! Mercy! Mercy! Aaaah!†and with that Sharguul had been freed and without hesitation the wolf stalked his prey! The fallen Xuja had put her hand up asking the Dark Fang to stop, Sharguul didn’t, he pounced on the Bloodgiver ripping her apart as blood splashed across the nearby orcs! Sharguul composed himself as the orcs could see he was weakened from the whole ordeal he had been put through. “It is done! Xuja the Bloodgiver is dead. The pack is safe, I am safe. I thank you oathbound orcs, Akashok smiles on you this day!â€
Gashuk looked around the cave and noticed a cloak in the corner of the room, he searched the cloak and saw it was of orcish design, perhaps it belonged to one of the orcs here? Inside the cloak was some unhatched tortollan eggs in perfect condition. Roji had found his future, a bittersweet moment for the old tortollan. “We must leave, this one hasn’t fully recovered, there is one last favour I ask of you. Take me to your camp, the Red Blade camp.†Sharguul said and with that they made the long trip back, along the way saying goodbye to Roji. The orcs had sparred him of death to raise the children of his children, to pass on what he had learnt. When the orcs arrived at Red Blade’s camp Sharguul told the orcs that he would not survive if they didn’t restore what he had lost, Sharguul was a shell of his former self and the only way to save him would be to perform a ritual. The Blood Moon ritual, to empower him with the blood that was taken from him. Sharguul lay down in camp exhausted and spent. Tonight proved how important family will forever be, beyond life and death, For the Blood!