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[KingAragorn93]

Chapter 1: The Ogmies

Roderick, a wanderer, walked down a dirt path winding through a forest. Birds chirped, insects buzzed, and squirrels, chipmunks, and the sort scuttled around the trees. It was looking to be another beautiful sunny day, and Roderick picked up his traveling pace, hoping to reach his destination within two days. That destination was a village called Windsborog, and there he hoped to restock on food, arrows, and hopefully bathe. He, himself even noticed that his smell was rather unpleasant and knew that bathing would do him some good.

His path wound through the forest and was supposed to just go around the outer rim of it. If you took paths through the heart of the forest they would lead you to all kinds of odd creatures, and none of them very friendly. He knew of the dangers, so making sure it was the right path he had set off yesterday.

No Orcs, or Goblins, or Trolls of any sort had crossed his path, which he had mixed feelings about. He wouldn’t look forward to meeting and Orc, but meeting and killing Orcs was a big part of how he survived. The Orcs usually carried some amount of Bronze, Silver, or Gold coins and those coins bought him his weapons, clothing, armor, food, drink, and so on and so forth. In other words he was jobless. He was a jobless adventurer, although adventure rarely showed its face in Algion, or at least not in these parts of it. He was actually in a very calm part of his world, which was named by the Elves the "founders" of it.

The day stretched on little by little, and Roderick didn’t slow down. He wanted to reach Windsborog soon because his food was running very short and he was out of arrows for hunting. He was a good shot with a bow, better with a blade (he had a sword in fact, a family heirloom), and was also extremely talented at sneaking and being stealthy. His ancestors where actually the top spies of Evansbroth ( One of the two countries of men ) and they served the king. Unfortunately however his parents died when he was young and he raised himself. He had never met his family, but instead gained there abilities although they where worn down compared to the abilities of his ancestors.

Still, sufficient enough they proved and Roderick quite commonly had the advantage over a foe, being able to sneak up on it, and catch it unawares. That is why he felt quite safe as he continued on down the path. The sun reached the center of the sky, but he didn’t eat, wanting to save his provisions, that as I said earlier, where dwindling.

Roderick pushed on for quite some time before stopping dead in his tracks. Up ahead was a party of Orcs, camped out on the path. They snorted, and growled, and snarled fighting over scraps of bread. Roderick, using his stealth crept off the path and went into the trees away, being able to keep an eye on the beasts, while hiding himself cleverly so that the Orcs didn’t see him.

"That scrap is mine, scum!" Bellowed one of the big ones. The smaller Orc he was talking to shook his head and retorted back

"It’s mine you fat pig! We’ve been starving while you have been pigging away! We’re hungry too!" Most of the Orcs agreed to this comment, and the bigger Orc picked up his large mace, swinging it around threateningly.

"The only thing I hate more than bread is meat of my kind, but with you I’ll make an exception!" Suddenly the large Orc swung his mace, and beheaded the smaller one. The large Orc stepped over the body, and smiled showing off its wicked teeth. In a flash the large Orc was on top of the smaller one and was taking chunks of flesh from its body.

Roderick turned away, sickened. He didn’t look for a long while, but stayed at his post for a long time hoping the beasts would move on so he could continue on, but they remained camped. In all there was fifty of them, or close from what Roderick could see. He soon became stiff, and when day reached night Roderick was done waiting. He slowly, and quietly got to his feet and crept off going deeper into the forest. He walked away, and until he got a good distance between himself and their camp did he dare venture to where he thought the same path might be. His original plan of course was to wait for the Orcs to move on, but that looked faulty. So now, he was going to, or planned to venture into the forest, and find the path that he had a left again, but this time be ahead of the beasts. In other wording he wanted to cut around them.

He traveled through the trees making (what he thought to be) the right turns, and as he had planned came upon the path once more. Unfortunately for our hero did not see the overturned sign, covered by ivy and weeds that read "Wrong Way! TURN BACK!" Instead from his view that path looked the same and he made up his mind that everything had went according to plan. This, just like his idea of the Orcs moving along was faulty.

He continued down this path for a decent amount of time, but it was now dark and the fear of the Orcs made him camp more early than he would’ve liked. He strayed off the path about fifty yards, and found a clearing. There he laid down and it was quite some time before he was able to close his eyes and drift off to sleep.

He woke up with a jerk and got to his feet instantly. He was fine. His pack was untouched and his weapons where the same. He rubbed his eyes and gathered his pack (after having a roll which was the last morsel he had) and walked back to the path. He walked faster, sometimes jogging wanting to make up lost time. He went deeper and deeper into the forest with each stride, and of course he didn’t know this until it was too late.

After traveling along this way for some time, the path began to narrow, and became more rocky. He ignored the changes and pressed on. Just like not taking the narrowing of the path as a sign he didn’t take the trees getting thicker, and growing closer together as a sign either. Before long the trees became so thick you couldn’t even see sunlight. Of course Roderick was confused by this, but that didn’t dampen his hopes in the least bit. He was sure that he had taken the right way, and he was sure that Windsborog grew nearer.

He walked along, pushing tree limbs overhanging the path aside, and trying to avoid large rocks that where popping up along the path at the same time. He was becoming dreadfully annoyed, and when he was smacked in the head by a tree branch he didn’t see right away he, was infuriated.
"CURSE IT!" He screamed to himself, and as you know nothing answered. He was very alone, and now his forehead throbbed with pain resulting from the tree branch collision. He forced himself to wave it off, and through his stubbornness didn’t give up. After all he had picked the right path, and after all, he supposed that paths can sometimes get harder to travel by, but eventually they would clear again, and his sprits would soar. Right? Wrong. Instead of clearing up the dirt paths turned to mud and he had to take the lightest steps or else one of his boots would get stuck and he would have to pry it out of the muck.

The path than turned back to solid dirt, but now it was rockier, and narrower than ever before. He held his head in despair, but of course stubbornness kicked in again and he continued on. After a while he was ready to turn back when something pale and small darted across the path and into the trees. Roderick stopped in his tracks and went to draw his sword, but his hand grabbed nothing but air. His sword was gone. The sheath was empty.

Roderick was stunned, but felt a tickle on his nose. It was red hair...he looked up. There he saw perched on a tree branch another pale creature, but this one had long red hair on its head which almost fell to the forest floor. Roderick also saw to his dismay the thing had possession of his sword. The thing made sure to give him a long look at it before leaping to another tree branch.

It landed with perfect balance, and suddenly everything hit Roderick hard. He knew what the thing was. It was on Ogmie. He remembered back to a conversation he had with an old man in a pub a good two months ago.

The man was bent, and clutched at his pint of beer as if it was his last chance for survival. Roderick had walked in and the strange man had welcomed him over to a seat next to him. The man had raised his eyebrow at Roderick’s appearance, but said nothing of it.

"You’re a stranger in there here parts, mate. Am I right?" The man sputtered in between long coughing spells.

"Yes." Replied Roderick, unsure of the old man’s nature so he was hesitant to answer, but answered anyway.

"Well than mate, I’m sure you’re an adventurer. Am I right?" The old man coughed some more, and produced a dirty looking handkerchief and spat into it. He placed it back into his pocket and eyed Roderick.

"I guess you can say that..."said Roderick still very unsure of the man.

" Well in that case I would have to assume mate, that you know all about foreign creatures and such...I mean being an adventurer and all you must have s-se-s-see-." The old man could not get the word out, and burst into another coughing fit. He clutched at the his beer mug, and then took a large swallow from it. He stopped for a moment breathing heavily, and once again eyed Roderick.

" Well mate, before I interrogate you anymore, I will introduce myself. The name’s Gedrock, and I live on the upper floor of this pub, mate. Enough about me though, as I was about to say mate, I suppose you know all about various creatures that roam these lands. You might mate, but I think I know about a creature you don’t know about..." said the old man, trying to poke at Roderick’s curiosity.

In reality Roderick didn’t really care, and already he was growing tired of the chat.




CONTINUED

[KingAragorn93]

"What might this creature be kind sir?" Said Roderick, humoring the stranger. The man’s face turned grave and he made sure no one was watching them when he leaned forward and said one word.

"Ogmie."

"Ogmie?"

" Yes mate. Ogmie, Ogmies for plural, they are little pale devilish things, some with long red hair, some bald. They live deep in the ancient forests, and eat man flesh. Our flesh mate." The old man than drained his mug and signaled for another. When he got it he continued speaking.

"There sneaky little bastards too. They can jump extremely far and are very balanced and cunning. If you ever run into one mate, remember that they come in packs and have clans. Just a heads up mate." After his final word, the man passed out and Roderick left the pub puzzled.

Now, he was in a forest, and an Ogmie had his sword. He ran after it and went to grab its long hair, but it jumped to another limb not so far away. Roderick was shocked at its agility, but ran after it yet again, and failing yet again at grabbing its hair. It jumped again, and landed on another branch, and this repeated for quite some time. He wasn’t aware that he was heading straight for a trap. The Ogmie taunted him and showed off its rotten pointed teeth.

Roderick came so close each time but failed again and again and again. He was on the verge of giving up. He ran forward again and was about to jump up at the red hair of the Ogmie put the ground wasn’t there. He fell ten feet and hit a dirt floor. Suddenly he realized that the Ogmies had dug the pit he was in now and covered the hole with branches. He was dumb enough to let his sword be taken by the sneaky devil, and now he was like a mouse in a trap.

The ogmie leaned over the hole and grinned evilly at him. The ogmie then turned around and let out a shrill shriek and fifty more appeared at the top of the hole. They pointed at him and laughed and jeered at him until he called up

" COME DOWN HERE AND LET ME KILL YOU, YOU DIRTY LITTLE RATS!" But it was no use. They continued to laugh at him until he punched at the dirt wall of his container, but it was packed tight and pain shot through his hand. The Ogmies laughed at him some more as he screamed in fury.

CHAPTER CONTINUED as soon as I write more.

[KingAragorn93]

anybody want to rate?

[Warrior93]

Good! Good! Continue!:D

[KingAragorn93]

The taunting went on for quite some time, and at first they dared to throw rocks at him, but he would pick them up and fire them back cracking skulls. So the Ogmies stopped this, but continued taunting him, at least until nightfall. Then they left him, to go hide from the bigger creatures that came out at night.

Roderick fell asleep and woke up to more taunting. He was in despair and lashed out a series of the worse curses that came to mind at them, but they smiled back and then taunted him some more. He was going crazy down here, and again they left him at nightfall, and came back in the morning. Roderick now was very hungry, and felt weak from it.

On the third morning he could barely stand, and the Ogmies where very gleeful about this, so they taunted him some more. Roderick couldn’t even raise a finger to stop them. That night they used a pulley system to raise him out of the hole. The used two long ropes, and a make shift stretcher. The stretcher was lowered down with five Ogmies on it, and they using all their strength pushed Roderick onto it, and got on them selves. Then, with two ends of the ropes, 25 ogmies for each they pulled him up along with the other five Ogmies.

It was tough for them because Roderick couldn’t be balanced on the stretcher that was tied to the ropes, and would fall off. He couldn’t even try to balance himself, and fell again and again. The Ogmies discussed this, and added straps (more rope) to the stretcher and tied him to it. After much work they got him up, and carried him away, but being only three feet in height and weighing forty pounds each it took a good twenty of them, the rest carried spears and flanked the twenty with the burden.

Roderick how ever knew nothing of this, because he was passed out. He didn’t know that they carried him five more miles deeper into the forest, and he didn’t know that they reached the entrance of their stronghold when they did. It was past midnight, and a hole, covered by a round steel shield (belonging to a famous warrior named Razicuel who was ambushed by Ogmies on his way through the same forest two hundred years ago) that was incredibly heavy, and took another ten of the creatures to move it. Then, with the hole open, the dropped Roderick down it, feet first and he fell ten feet yet again, slightly stirring.

The Ogmies went down after him, leaping down the hole and landing on their feet like cats. The last one left had to push the shield back over the hole by himself, and the Ogmies knew this so they left their strongest one behind who stood at five foot three, and was incredibly muscular for an Ogmie. With some difficulty he shut it, and climbed a very tall tree which was his post.

It was a crude wooden box, placed in the middle of forked branches so it was balanced well. It was insulated by old cloaks and traveling blankets (stolen from other travelers, now dead) and the Ogmie, named Thurgal had a old Orc short bow, but the new man’s bow had now been given to him. It was much better, and Thurgal was happy as he fingered it. He was a sentry, so incase a beast of some sort was to find the shield covering the Ogmies' stronghold entrance, Thurgal shot it with arrows, and most beasts in the heart of the forest where ferocious but couldn’t climb trees.

Thurgal smiled sickly as he continued eyeing the wonderful new bow he had received.

*

Below the ground, Roderick was carried to a cell with old iron bars. The Ogmies threw him in carelessly and locked the cell door. More crude cells where lined against the same and opposite wall. In other words it was the Ogmie dungeon. Roderick was barely awake, but the Ogmies delivered food to him, and he ate what he was able to get down. After eventually finishing the meal he was able to sit up and look around. The floor and ceiling where dirt, he could tell by touch because sight didn’t matter. It was pitch. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his face, and he went to bed feeling awfully frightened.

He woke up, not being able to tell if it was night or day. It was still dark, but now an Ogmie was lighting torches along the dirt walls. After awhile the Ogmie had lit them all, and Roderick looked around him. He was sitting in one of many cells, and all he could see was this one corridor, but he was sure there where more. His curiosity was slowly absorbed by sleepiness, and he slept.

Again he woke up, and could not tell how long he slept for. The torches where still lit, and Roderick had no idea how to get out of his predicament. He studied the Ogmie behavior, but nothing came to him. After many days ( Or so it seemed ) he could tell that at the beginning of a day he was served breakfast. Then the Ogmie came around and lit the torches which burned for a day, or what seemed to be a day. Then he would be served dinner, feel drowsy, and fall asleep and the cycle continued the next day.

Roderick had now thought about things for a long time. When his food was delivered he didn’t eat it, and the result was odd. He felt hungry, but not drowsy. Then a light bulb shined in his head. The Ogmies had planted something in his food to make his sleepy, day after day until whatever his food contained made him so sleepy he couldn’t fight back as his enemies ate him.

The thought alone made Roderick shudder as he wrapped his jacket around himself. Through the new few days he didn’t eat, and feeling hungry, but not tired he began to try to think of a plan. None of the passing Ogmies had keys so that was hopeless. He had to wait for something special to happen, and to his good luck something did happen.

Through the Ogmies talking he had discovered that on that very night there would be a banquet in the main hall. A guard with keys was set to watch the prisoners (prisoner,Roderick was the only one) while this was happening. He figured that the only way to get out was to attack the guard while he wondered close to the cell and steal the keys.

This, however, was not as easy done. The guard never came close to Roderick’s cell, and even if he did, there was doubt that Roderick could attack, or kill the guard without him making a fuss to warn the others. Roderick was outnumbered by many so that was hopeless, and even more hope crushing was that the guard was gone at the end of the banquet, and Roderick was still locked up.

The same thing happened, and Roderick ate his meals every so often not to arouse suspicion, and so he didn’t starve to death, but every time after periods of non-eating the drowsiness wore off. A drug that only worked if taken for a long time it was, and Roderick understood this, so he was able to survive but not able escape.

The anxiety in him grew and he longed to see the sun again. He wanted to get out of this whole and never come back. Curse his foolishness! He was doomed to live among these horrible creatures until they discovered he was not taken their cleverly place sleeping drug and kill him.

One day out of boredom he began to dig a little hole in the floor of his cell. He continued this until his fingers reached a triangle shaped stone, thin and sharp. He smiled at his ounce of luck. He now had a weapon. He still had no clue how it would help him as he sat in the dark fearing he would go crazy. After a long time, by his tallying on the wall, five weeks and three days, another banquet was supposed to happen ( a celebration of the capture of another man ). Roderick pondered on who it would be, when the Ogmies tossed him in the cell next to Roderick’s. It was Gedrock, the old man from the pub.

[KingAragorn93]

"Aye, so they got you too, mate?" Was all he said until the guard appeared. When the guard did appear, Roderick guessed from his stumbling that he was drunk on something. Thanks to some luck, and a chance the guard passed out by the foot of Roderick’s cell. His spirits leapt as he stood up and crept to the Ogmie guard.

" Oh yes my little friend, revenge is a dish best served cold, and cold it is down here."He whispered as he slid his arm through the bars. The Keys hung on the guard’s belt along with a dagger. Roderick got the keys first, being very cautious but luckily enough the guard was in a very deep sleep. Roderick grinned at his luck and with the keys unlocked his, and Gedrock’s cell. Gedrock was as expected very thankful, but Roderick put a finger to his lip.

"Do you know where they keep the weapons? I had a very precious sword, but the evil things took it. Tell me, and maybe we can get out of this accursed pit alive." Gedrock didn’t reply for a long while until nodding. He signaled for Roderick to follow him, and so he did. They wound through many dark corridors, seeing no guards. They went on for a time, and Roderick was surprised at the Gedrock’s memory as he opened a door. Inside it where a bunch of weapons, and it took Roderick awhile, but eventually he found his sword although his bow was nowhere to be found.

"My bow isn’t here." He said softly, eyeing the room one last time.

"Mate, we better go. The Ogmies ‘ill catch up with us, mate."

" Alright..." Said Roderick hesitantly. He grabbed his sheath and sword and tied it to his waist. They then looked around.

"Do you know the way out?"Asked Roderick quickly, fearing they would be discovered. Gedrock looked up at the ceiling, thinking, and then said

"No." Roderick paused and thought. They could climb back up the hole if Roderick could lift Gedrock, and Gedrock pull him up, but he didn’t remember the way back to the hole. Roderick looked at Gedrock for a moment.

"Do you know the way back to the hole they brought us through?" He asked, feeling oh so anxious to get out of the dreadful place. Again Gedrock said ‘No’, and Roderick sighed.

"Then we better find an exit, and quick. When they come back and find the prisoners gone, we’re as good as dead." So both men continued forward being able to see thanks to the torches. The tunnel wound quite a ways, and soon they became extremely fearful.

The feast would be over soon, and when an Ogmie came by the whole of them would find himself and Gedrock. Then they would, most likely, kill them both. The chance of this happening increased as they both ran down the never-ending tunnel.

It was quite some time until they came to a fork in the path. Gedrock said left, and Roderick just wanting to get as far away from their cells as possible nodded and they pressed on. Roderick feeling uneasy drew his sword and looked ahead picking up the pace. The path had gone on for awhile when they came upon another fork in the dirt tunnel path. Right went up, and left went down so Gedrock and Roderick took right.

The incline was big and this gave the men hope. With every step they took it brought them closer to the surface. Then, their hopes where dashes when the path went down hill again. They ran on. By now they had been fleeing for at the least an hour. If they didn’t find an exit soon the Ogmie army would slaughter them like calves.

"Mate, we’re in trouble."Said Gedrock, fear etched into his voice. Then out of nowhere a screech was heard, replied by many more.

"RUN!"Bellowed Roderick and the two men sprinted down the tunnel. There footsteps could be echoed off the walls as Ogmie screams could be heard not so far behind. This only encouraged them ro run faster and push their bodies tp the limit, but yet the Ogmies grew nearer. They seemed to never tire as horrible cramps found Gedrock’s chest.

"Go on, mate. I can’t run no further." He sputtered as the Ogmies closed in the distance. Roderick didn’t know what to do, but made a decision fast. He lifted Gedrock onto his shoulders and continued their flee. The path continued to turn and twist, and the torches where becoming less and less frequent along the tunnel walls. Yet Roderick pushed on, fearing for his life.

He could hear the Ogmies footsteps now, frightfully quick sounding. Roderick went on and on until, to his horror, he was stopped at a dead end. Roderick walked forward and felt the end of the tunnel. It wasn’t dirt, but steel. Suddenly Roderick figured out it was a steel door. He looked around for a handle as the Ogmies grew close. He found it, but in fright it took him a couple of times to grab it properly and turn it. After getting his grip, he turned the handle, and the door swung out. Then, the Ogmies appeared fifty feet away. Roderick’s mouth went numb as he ran through the door. The Ogmies stood there for a few seconds giving Roderick the time to get through the opening. He then began to push the door shut again, but it wouldn’t budge. Gedrock stood up, just as the Ogmies charged.

They pushed it closed, and just as it shut in place the Ogmies reached them, and their bodies could be heard bouncing off of it.

"COME ON!"Roderick screamed, and Gedrock, now with some strength in his old battered body ran side by side with Roderick. Then, the tunnel began to go up again and they reached another dead end, but this time looking up they realized that this was the bottom of the whole they where dropped down. This was figured out, right as the Ogmies got through the steel door. On instinct Roderick got down on one knee, and lifted Gedrock ( who was six foot two, and two-hundred thirty five pounds ) to the top. Gedrock was able to reach the shield blocking the whole and pushed it off as the Ogmies rushed forward in pursuit.

He climbed out of the whole, and was filled with joy at the sight of light. He turned back down and extended his hand down to Roderick. Even if he jumped, their hands where six inches apart. He could hear the Ogmies close behind as fear began to consume him. Then, and Ogmie ran forward, followed by seventy more. Roderick saw this, and jumped on the Ogmies head. He then jumped in the air, and with the boost was able to grab Gedrock’s hand.

The unfortunate Ogmie got his neck broke. Roderick and Gedrock then pushes the shield back in place as the Ogmies jumped up. An Ogmie head hit the shield right as it was set back in place. Roderick held it down, and Gedrock ran down the forest path and picked up a large rock, weighing around a hundred pounds. He was only able to pick it up for a second before he lost his grip. The rock was to heavy.

Roderick saw this, and called to his companion, or at least companion for now,

"Come here and hold this!" Gedrock nodded and ran forward. He pressed down on the shield as more Ogmie heads banged against it. Roderick grabbed the rock as the Ogmies continued to bump their heads on the shied. Just as Gedrock was about to be pushed off of it, Roderick set the huge rock down on top of the shield. Gedrock let go, and the Ogmies seeming confused stopped jumping up at it.

Luckily (again) for Roderick and Gedrock, Thurgal the Ogmie sentry had just woken up from a nap, or else both of them would have had an arrow stuck in them. Roderick saw the Ogmie, standing in the box perched in the tree like a nest. He saw also that he has a bow, and that it was his bow, and just in time saw that there was an arrow strung in it.
He ducked as the arrow whizzed past his head. He turned to Gedrock.

"Run up ahead, I’ll be there soon. I have to get my bow back." and with that began to climb the tree, after his bow, and the large Ogmie that held it. He reached the nest as the Ogmie drew a long dagger. The Ogmie swung it at him, but Roderick ducked, and punched the Ogmie in the nose giving him the opportunity to get himself fully into the makeshift "nest".

"Give me my bow back."Roderick said calmly, but the Ogmie charged and went to stab Roderick in the heart, but he dodged and with the force, the Ogmie fell out of the tree and hit the ground some third feet below.

Roderick sighed and picked up his bow. He then climbed down the tree, carefully so that he didn’t fall down like his enemy had. When he reached the ground, he walked over to the large Ogmie’s body.

It looked to be dead, and Roderick stepped over it. Then the Ogmie sat up, Roderick not noticing. Roderick was about to walk forward and find Gedrock when a sharp pain ran through the back of his calf. He fell forward onto his stomach, and felt the Ogmie on his back. Thurgal had stabbed him in the calf, and crawled on to Roderick’s back. With dagger in hand it raised in with hate in its eyes above it head and went for the killing stab when another arrow zipped through the air and landed right in between Thurgal’s eyes. It fell dead, and Roderick looked up, and to his amazement saw Gedrock, standing next to an elf who had his bow drawn. Roderick smiled in disbelief, but then fainted in pain.

[KingAragorn93]

*

When he woke up the elf and Gedrock where chatting by a campfire. He lay a little ways away from them on a blanket. His calf hurt horribly, and when he tried to move it the pain was so horrible he screamed. The elf looked up and saw that he was awake. He walked over to Roderick and smiled.

"I’ve heard you had quite an adventure, down in the Ogmie pit."said the Elf, his expression placid. Roderick then remembered what happened and began shooting out questions.

"Where are we? What happened? Did they capture us? Who are you?...What is-" but the elf cut him off by putting his hand up.

"All in good time, but for now I’ll tell you where we are. We’re still in the forest, but we’re close to the border. Windsborog is the closet village, and so we go there next. Then all your questions will be answered, but for now sleep and rest you leg. There are still miles to walk tomorrow, so be prepared to work hard." Then the Elf walked back to Gedrock and they continued talking.

It was quite some time before Roderick was able to drift off to sleep. When he did he dreamt of long dark tunnels and screaming voices. He woke up at the crack of dawn, and the Elf and Gedrock we’re already getting ready to move on. They lifted Roderick up, and helped him walk letting him put his weight on their shoulders. He limped along and it slowed down their pace.

The path widened an hour after they set off, and this lifted Roderick’s spirt. They continued on for hours without taking a break, and soon day was turning to evening. The elf said they should continue, and they did. It was past midnight when they exited the forest and came upon farm land. The path wound through cornfields and apple tree orchards, and so on.

"Windsborog is only four miles further. Come." said the elf never slowing down. Gedrock and Roderick where very tired, and soon became angered at the elf’s persistence, but it was only four miles so they continued without complaint.

Finally the entered a wooden gate and before them where the many shops and Inns, and houses of Windsborog. No one was on the street, but before standing there five seconds a guard on a horse trotted up to them.

"What do you have to do here in Windsborog so late?" He asked gruffly, puffing out his chest. The elf smiled and replied calmly

"My comrade is injured and all we want is fresh supplied, rest, and time to heal his wounds."

"I don’t see any injury or wound on your friend" Replied the guard stubbornly. Roderick suddenly burst out

"Just let us pass! I’ve been stabbed in the calf by an Ogmie’s dagger, now kind sir step aside! I don’t remember having to be interrogated before entering the village!" The guard was taken aback, but stood his ground.

"Show me it then. Show me your wound and I will let you pass." The guard was hesitant after Gedrock pulled up Roderick’s pant leg a little showing the guard the deep gash caused by the Ogmie.

"Fine you can go, but allow me tp ask you one last thing. What in all of Algion is an Ogmie, and why where you stabbed by it?"

"It is something that you never would want to meat, mate."Said Gedrock slowly. "My friend here was stabbed by it because that’s what Ogmies do. They hurt people. Now strand aside, mate, because we’re ‘a coming through." With that the three of them moved along and found the closet Inn.

"Hello, we would like a room please. Three beds, and if you will bring a bowl of water and some towels." Said the elf as calmly as ever. The lady looked at them oddly, but then said

"That’ll be thirty five gold coins." The elf smiled and unhooked his pack from his back while Roderick leaned on the counter. He pulled out thirty five medium sized gold coins and gave them to her. She nodded slowly and said

"Third door on the right." The trio thanked her kindly and with the elf and Gedrock supporting Roderick they managed to get in the room, and lay Roderick down on the bed. Soon after the same lady came in with a glass bowl of water and three white cotton towels. They thanked her yet again, and she just nodded still looking uneasy.

"Now we must clean your wound. I have a cleanser from my home land in my pack. Gedrock, can you please take it out for me? It’s a little glass bottle." Gedrock agreed and found the bottle of elf cleanser easily. He gave it to the elf who poured it into the water, which turned a light blue color. Roderick was amazed by this and looked at it in disbelief while the Elf dipped a towel in. He cleaned Roderick’s wound with it, and to Roderick’s further amazement the wound closed. There was no sign of him being stabbed at all.

"How...?What? Uh." He sputtered, but the Elf smiled calmly. He only replied giving Roderick the smallest information possible.

"It is a cleanser of my people, and that is all you need know at the moment. Now rest and tomorrow all your questions will be answered, but sleep because tomorrow you are in for a long story." Roderick was still confused, but slept easily on the nice bed. It was his first comfortable sleep for the longest time, and Roderick took it with much gratitude.

END CHAPTER 1

[KingAragorn93]

Anybody.....?

[Warrior93]

I think it is Great! The details are wonderful

[e.Blackstar]

I rather like it. Though "Ogmies" is a little hard to wrap one's mental tongue around, and slightly reminiscent of a childhood bedtime monster story. :o


All in all very good. :D

[KingAragorn93]

Ogmies rhymes with Og-pies.






I know I suck at making names for things...lol.

[KingAragorn93]

Oh, and thank you for the positive feedback.

[KingAragorn93]

:) Now I have an excellent plot in mind. Chapter 2 up as soon as finshied AKA in a week.

[KingAragorn93]

Chapter 2 Gedrock’s Tale and Windsborog



When Roderick opened his eyes he was the only one in the room. The early morning sun’s rays crept through the windows as Roderick sat up. He got out of bed and walked into the lobby and spoke with the women at the counter.

"Hello, have you seen my companions?" He asked, holding back a yawn. She nodded and without looking up at him replied

"They went out about two hours ago." Roderick thanked her and figured that he should just wait in the room, and so he did. Morning reached noon and still there was no sign of them. He lie on his bed for some time resting his sore muscles. Yesterday’s events had tired him horribly, and had taken much of his strength.

The day wore on, and soon reached night and his friends had not shown up. He lie down and drifted off to sleep. Suddenly he woke up, and the Elf and Gedrock stood there but they looked bloodied and battered. Roderick wanted to ask so many questions, but found out he couldn’t. He just couldn’t speak. He could, though, move his head slightly, and becoming even more bewildered, and now slightly fearful listened as the Elf began to speak.

"Our friend Gedrock has taken the liberty of putting a very weak paralyzing spell on you. Don’t be frightened, but we didn’t wanted to be bombarded with questions, and felt that we should speak and you should listen. I will ask you what you a question and if you want to know it nod your head, and if you don’t shake your head. Understood?" Roderick felt angry that they had did this to him, but he nodded never the less.

"I take it you want to know my name. It is Therishall. Now, do you want to know where we’ve been all day?" Roderick nodded.

"We happened to be in the woods with twenty of volunteer Windsborog archers. We took posts in the trees and Gedrock flushed the Ogmies out. Th archers took them down, and in their confusion in was quite an easy task, however a hunting party had been out, and when they discovered us...well you can tell from the looks of us. The soldiers are fine, just a little banged up, but we have succeeded of ridding the army of Ogmies out of the forest.

Now do you want to know how Gedrock found me yesterday?" Roderick nodded slowly, but this time it was Gedrock who spoke, after he had sat down on a small chair.

"Roderick, when I first saw you at the pub some months back I had a hunch I knew who you where." Roderick was surprised at Gedrock’s speech. He had never spoke like this.

"Do you know who you’re ancestors where?" He asked Roderick. Roderick shook his head.

" They were servants of the king of Evansbroth, one of the countries of men. I am sure you know of Evansbroth. Well you see when your ancestors we’re alive the dark land of Dagronia marched against them. There one of the largest and fiercest wars to place, and The Dark King himself found one of you’re ancestors named Ramzicuel, brother of the great warrior Razicuel, and chose to fight him one on one. Now, this was the first time The Dark King had ever chosen to do this, but in any matter the party of monsters surrounding him took some steps back forming a great ring around The Dark King and Ramzicuel, and they met each other in combat. The Dark King was too powerful and ending up slaying his opponent, but in the process was stabbed in the chest." Gedrock stopped and took a drink of water, clearing his throat.

"Now just like The Dark King challenging someone to a one on one battle was a first, him being wounded was a first and The Gods left a mark on that very moment. Well, with their leader on the sidelines, the Goblins, and Trolls, and Ogmies, and other beasts to fowl to name fell to the wrath of Evansbroth. They carried their King back home and their he healed in all of his darkness for a three Thousand years and now he is regenerated. As I said earlier though The Gods left a mark on the moment and they sent me a message." Roderick’s jaw would’ve dropped at this moment if not for him being paralyzed.

"Oh, I am sorry Roderick, I left out something...."Roderick was so confused that his head hurt. Gedrock smiled and said

"I am not what I appear to be....I am the last wizard of the old ages that still roams this world. I am a very powerful being, but my powers have now weakened with age, but powerful I still remain. Now let me continue on with my tale. The Gods had made a choice, but before I say this you must understand. The Gods are not good nor evil, they have no sides in our wars, they simply created us. Now, The Gods said this. A decedent of Ramzicuel is the only being of this world, and will be the only being of this world that can wound and kill The Dark King. That means you, Roderick."

Roderick’s eyes became very big and his heart sped up to a very fast pace. He didn’t want to believe Gedrock, he couldn’t believe Gedrock, and he needed proof. He needed something.

"Now I’m sure you don’t believe me, but listen to this. Why do you think your parents we’re killed? They we’re killed because The Dark King wanted them dead, and fortunately for you, and for this world’s sake you survived. If you want more proof, watch.

[KingAragorn93]

Gedrock then took a few steps back from Roderick’s bed, and then suddenly a blinding light filled the room, causing Roderick to close his eyes, and even making Therishall flinch. When the light vanished Roderick had to eyes had to focus, and when they did what he saw amazed him.

Standing before him wasn’t the beer bellied old man that Roderick had helped rescue from the Ogmies, and he wasn’t the old man he had met at the pub, instead he was a magnificent old man with long flowing silver hair. His face was slightly wrinkled, but other than that there was no sign of age. He wore purple silk robes, and had a belt of gold with a sheathed dagger, and he bore an old oaken staff.

Roderick was shocked and he would have screamed but couldn’t. He lie in awe as the Wizard and the Elf smiled.

"Now that you witness what I truly am I will further explain things that happened from past to present so listen closely, and don’t speak. Three thousand years ago after The Dark King was gone and peace ensued I cam upon the Elven city of Valerian, wounded from the unexpected attack of an Orc. There this very Elf healed me with the same thing he used on you, and we became friends. Our friendship has lasted three thousand years and will continue.

Back on the matter how ever, when I met you at the pub I had a very strong suspicion that you where none other than the decedent of Ramzicuel. Well I left to Valerian and spoke with Therishall, who is in fact, a big part of the Elven council. There we decided on further action and in conclusion decided that you must be studied until my guess was proven. It was proven when I saw you with that blade. It was Ramzicuel’s blade, the same blade that pierced his evil flesh, and the same blade you will use to kill him.

When the Orcs invades your home and killed your parents they moved in on you. It was very lucky that they saw the same blade you now possess on a shelf near to where you where sleeping. They fled from it. You then raised yourself in the wild, and learned the human tongue in your teens by venturing through villages and hearing people talk to one another.

Now then after learning the human tongue, and gathering yourself together you returned to the place your parents where killed. You returned home, and found the sword, on the same shelf, untouched. How it was untouched you may wonder, know one knows. My assumption is that The Gods left none other than a mark on the battle between Ramzicuel and The Dark King, but on the blade Ramzicuel wielded.

You took this blade and continued what you decided was your life purpose. To kill monsters and steal their coins to make a living, not knowing that something much bigger was in store for you. Now, only weeks ago you wondered through one on the ancient forests of Algion, and I tracked you with none other than my friend. We we’re to late to rescue you from the trap the Ogmie set from you, so I told Therishall to walk ahead, and I got myself captured. When we went to the armory I knew it was you by the sword you selected from the armory. Now there is more to the mystery. How the Ogmies we’re able to steal the sword from you I have only an idea. I think the that the spell that the Gods left among your sword would only last until you took possession of it. Then I believe it wore off.

Now I forced you to carry me because I wanted to see what kind of person you were. I discovered you were a very kind, protective, even loving person and that is why I choose to tell you this because I know that even though you tell yourself you won’t except your destiny I know you will.

Now we escaped the Ogmies luckily enough, and while you where getting your bow and closing the shield, which happens to belong to a very great uncle of yours, none other than Razicuel’s, which I must add that we will have to pick up, I was up ahead getting Therishall, and after than you know all that happened. My tale is over, now you I will take my spell off of you, and you can ask questions."

Then Roderick felt his body moveable again and he sat up on his bed staring at his two companions who now seemed like strangers. He looked at Gedrock for a long time and then spoke.

"Is you’re name really Gedrock?" He asked slowly, trying to comprehend everything he had just been told.

"Yes it is" Replied Gedrock, smiling slightly. The room was filled with silence for a long time when Gedrock spoke again.

"Tomorrow, or soon after we much recover the shield. It is the only shield that can withstand blows from The Dark King’s blade. Tomorrow for sure though we must restock and regroup. Then we decided on which path to take. I think we should start towards Valerian. They’re we would be safe, and they’re we would decide our next move. For now we should all get some rest and sleep on it"

Sleep on it they did, and no one woke up until noon.

[KingAragorn93]

*

The following morning they got up and went into town right away. There they bough arrows firstly filling up both Therishall’s and Roderick’s quiver. Next they bought food that would last for a time and bathed. After restocking and feeling refreshed they sat in their room and made plans on their next step.

"We will have to go back into the forest and collect Razicuel’s shield. It is the only shield that will block one of The Dark King’s strikes." Gedrock said slowly.

"Why didn’t you grab it when you where there yesterday?" Asked Roderick. An annoyed expression appeared on Gedrock’s face, but he answered in a normal tone.

"Because you are the only one who can carry it away from where it is. It was an enchanted shield and the enchantment is very simple. Razicuel was the only one who could possess the shield, and once he died the shield couldn’t be moved far away from the place it was when Razicuel passed. Of course a direct descendent can, but no one else. The Ogmies where lucky that the shield fell so close to their entrance hole or else they wouldn’t have something blocking it."

Roderick nodded and picked up his sheath and sword. He began cleaning the blade with a cloth and water while speaking.

"What do we do after that?" He asked. Gedrock paused and stared at the ground for some time. He then slowly spoke.

"We should go to Valerian. There we can make plans on how to attack The Dark King." Roderick nodded yet again and after one last wipe he sheathed his sword.

"When do we leave?" Roderick asked.

"Soon." Therishall said quietly. Roderick stood up and buckled the sheath to his waist. He then put the quiver of arrows and bow on his back. To his mild surprise Therishall also had a blade. A long whit Elven blade. He sheathed it and buckled it to his waist while Gedrock picked up his staff and grabbed his pack. The other two did the same, and walked down the hallway into the lobby. They thanked the lady behind the desk and walked outside. It was still early and they set off then and there. The company walked down to the gate and followed their path back towards the forest. They walked in merrily and sang songs and talked, the day wearing away.

They reached the boundary of the forest and followed the path back to the Ogmie hole. Unfortunately for them a party of Trolls stood on the path and they froze as one spotted them.



END CHAPTER 2

[KingAragorn93]

Someone..?

[Halasían]

Interesting story. The content is good though maybe the writing of it could be more inspiring as it seems to come off a rather dry. For example, where the wizard starts telling of history, it could have a more dramatic feel to its telling. Just my humble opinion here as the next peerson may love it as written.

[KingAragorn93]

No problem, I'll take any advice from anyone.