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Hearing the tales of battle from the honorable Vah Shir, Dantte set out for the front lines of battle. Never liking magic, he gritted his teeth and reminded himself of the glory to be won in Rallos' name and stepped between the great wizard spires in the Dreadlands. A wave of dizziness washes over him as round and round the magic of the spires circles him. And then suddenly, the magic is gone, replaced by a great cavern the humans call the Nexus. Surrounded by millions of tons of rock, Dantte's senses scream for the freedom of the open tundra plains where he grew up. Taking out the maps he bought from some iksar in the Dreadlands, Dantte makes his way to the Grimling Forest Vah Shir Outpost with the speed of a wolf.
Glad to be finally out of the tunnels of the underdark, he enters the outpost seeking news of the great war. A captain of the guard points Dantte towards the General who is leading the efforts. The General tells Dantte that the mighty Vah Shir have been fighting over the precious acrylia mines with the Grimlings for ages now. The tide of Grimlings never ceases and the two armies are basically at a standstill. Recently, the General was on a campaign where he slew a Grimling Commander. This commander dropped half of what they suspect is a key to the inner sanctum of the Grimling fortications within the nearby Acrylia Caverns. Of course, Dantte extends his services to take the key half and find the other and destroy everything in his path to this inner sanctum. The General, not wanting to lose his half of the key tells him that he must first prove himself a hero of the people.
Pondering over this matter as he walks out of the General's office, Dantte runs across a scout by the name of Husman. Apparently Husman has plans to raid a nearby Grimling village for the sheer glory of it. It then dawns on Dantte that if he helps the scout, he will earn glory and prestige among the Vah Shir. But in order to be assured of success, he must find his clan mates and assemble a proper raiding party. Going to the local bank in the outpost...blah blah blah....writes out a few magic wires to Soandso...and a few days later, Dantte is joined by his clan mates Zumo, Treana, Laeena, and Bostica
Off to battle! After purchasing a marble acrylia sphere from the local merchant, Dantte hands Scout Husman the sphere to signal the beginning of his rite of passage. Scout Husman takes up his sword and shield and leads Dantte's band of adventurers out into the forest. The moon sky, perpetually dark from never seeing the sun, is strangley quiet. Only the distant gurgling of the nearby stream that runs in the canyon that splits this forest in half can be heard. That is if you really consider this a forest. Huge skinny stalks topped with a mushroom like head tower over the band of raiders like umbrellas. Grimlings...what were they? By all accounts heard, they are sneaky little gits. Dirty and weavers of dark magic, they seem to steal souls and use them as pawns to fight their wars. Not very powerful individually, but instead hunt and protect their lands in large numbers.
Scout Husman leads the Dantte's band out of the outpost and, before entering the forest, tells everyone to stay low and be quiet. Husman then crouches low like a cat on the prowl and sets out into the forest for the Grimling encampment. Being quiet by nature, Treana, Laeena, and Bostica quietly follow Husman...looking back and cringing at Dantte and Zumo. Dantte shrugs at Zumo and crouches down about 2 inches and loudly screeches in his plate armour. With a series of clanks and screeches and cha-chink-cha-chinks, Dantte and Zumo set out as quietly as they can following Husman too. Husman looks back just once and shakes his head as well as he tries to put more distance from himself and the pair of large barbarians in metal armour.
Cresting a hill and then descending into a small valley, the band of raiders stop on Husman's signal.
Husman says, "Ahead is the evil Grimling village I have been scouting for days now. On my signal, charge the encampment and slay every Grimling you see. By the way, if I were to die, the mission is a complete failure."
Rolling his eyes, Dantte stands up and says to his compatriots, "Charge!!!"
Running at top speed, Dantte comes barreling over the hill into the surprised group of Grimlings. Seconds later, a weak shout is yelled behind him, "For the glory of the King! We...<trails off>"
Swinging his magic weapons back and forth with reckless abandon, the Grimlings fall one by one...most were to surprised to even charge the berserk barbarian. Trying to match Dantte's fervor, Laeena, Treana, Zumo, and Bostica charge over the hill with Husman throwing columns of fire, poison bolts, and dazzling lights into the throng of the Grimlings. After the initial charge, the Grimlings realize their position and lock themselves down for a fight to the death. Not even close to matching the fury of the raiding band, the Grimlings fall quickly to steel and magic...not one person in the village was left alive in minutes.
Husman, out of breath but ready for more, says to Dantte, "Good. We have taken the camp, but they are sure to send reinforcements to retake it. We must hold them off until we can claim the scalp of an officer."
Smiling at his comrades, Dantte relights the camp fire and prepares for whatever the Grimlings might send at them. Knowing that Husman must stay alive to sing the praises of their deeds, Dantte goes to each in the band and tells them, "Husman must stay alive for us to claim our glory."
An hour later, Husman's sharp cat ears detect a rustling nearby the camp. Over the hill charges a handful of Grimlings...to their death. Again, with reckless abandon, Dantte's band individually charge the Grimlings and slay them before they even get close to the camp. The battle is over in ten minutes. Twenty minutes later, another handful of Grimlings charge into the camp but this time from the rear! Sneaky gits they were. A couple actually made it into the camp and headed immediately for the Vah Shir...their most hated enemy. Frantically blasting each of the Grimlings, Zumo and Bostica flex their power and call down god-like forces upon them. Then another wave of Grimlings suddenly appear! Dazzling lights and flashing colours spring from Treana's hands entrancing the Grimlings and charming them into catatonic states where they stood. Seeing Dantte whirling his weapons in a death circle around him, Laeena does not even try to get close to that battle. Summoning her druidic powers, she makes spikes and brambles spring around Dantte in a protective barrier to make each Grimling that touches him recoil back in pain from it. Sitting to regain her some of her magical stamina, Laeena is hit from behind from yet another Grimling. Turning with an anger that even Dantte cannot match, she deftly smacks the Grimling across the face with her hammer and then promptly burns him to ashes with druidic fire.
When the wave of Grimlings has finally passed, the adventurers catch their breath. Surprisingly, each of them are hardly hurt. The Grimlings are confirmed weak in a one on one battle, but they come in such great numbers. Calling upon Karana, Bostica summons a bear to her side to aid in the battle. Zumo also summons up a spirit companion to aid in the cause. Treana, taking out a tiny dagger, tosses it into the air and casts her spell. The dagger grows into a sword and a magical shield appears next to it. Working in unison, the sword and shield circles Treana in a protective way. Thinking this is going to be a long day indeed, Dantte grabs a Grimling pot and starts preparing stew for dinner.
The Grimlings indeed do come again and again...wave after wave. The hours roll by with not much rest for the weary. The day passes and yet they continue to fight. The night comes and goes, and the tired band of adventurers are still fighting on. Where is this Grimling Officer that will end the mission? How can they send so many of their own to die? Two days pass of constant fighting and still no sign of the officer. Then suddenly, they stop attacking. Thinking that there will be a final charge, the exhausted band struggle to stay awake and build a second wind. Yet, they never come.
Finally, Husman says, "Looks like we have beaten them back. Yet, without the Grimling Officer that I came for, I have no proof for my commander that we have lived gloriously. Let us head back to the outpost and rest, my friends." Growling, Dantte slowly follows Husman back to the outpost...looking back only once and thinks about his lost glory.
At the outpost, the adventurers rent a room for the night and bed down for the better part of a day. Laeena, needing more rest, headed off on the winds of nature to regain her energy amongst the wilds of Tunare's forests. As they recuperate from the two days of fighting, a surprise visitor knocks on Dantte's door.
Dantte opens the door and says, "Galanthas! Well met my friend, but you have missed a most depressing adventure."
Galanthas, having just gotten his message to join up for some adventure on the moon, sets out to re-inspire the band to take up the good cause again. Galanthas explained how on the way here, he ran across a Scout Danarin and how he was ready to lead a raid into a large Grimling camp and slay a certain Grimling Officer who was reported sighted in the area.
Still can't believing their luck at this recent turn of events, the intrepid adventurers set out to find Scout Danarin. Easily found already preparing his weapons to set out on his own, Dantte offers the services of The Outward Eye to join the raid. Accepting quite enthusiastically, Danarin leads the half stealthy and half noisy band thru the forest of mushrooms. With more caution this time, the party waits for Danarin's signal to charge the camp.
The order is given and the party charges into the Grimling Village. Being the first to get there, Scout Danarin enrages the Grimlings in the camp and incurs the wrath of half of the village. Surrounded, Danarin dodges left and right like the cat that he is trying to stay alive. Knowing that he is in trouble, Dantte and Galanthas berserkly slash thru Grimling after Grimling trying to get to him. Watching their backs, Zumo and Bostica and Treana deftly blast the Grimlings that try to flank the pair. Finally reaching Danarin, the three join up and proceed to mow down the Grimlings. Once the camp is clear, Danarin explains how the Grimlings will once again send war parties to oust them from the place. Although bleeding quite badly, Danarin refuses healings from Bostica and Zumo. Admiring his warrior spirit, Dantte shakes his head and thinks that to himself that he must keep an extra eye on the cat lest he die.
With the perking of Danarin's ears, Dantte returns back to his alert battle state. Zumo yells, "From behind!" The adventurers spin around just in time to receive the first charge of Grimlings. More numerous than the last waves that they fought two days ago, the ferocity of the Grimlings overwhelm the band and actually push them back in a tight circle around in the center of the camp. Slowly winning the battle back to their side, the raiding party push the Grimlings back only to immediately receive the next charge of the Grimlings. But that was just a ruse. The real attackers were a pair of magic wielders standing higher up on the hill. Their target...Scout Danarin. Receiving blast after blast of magic, Danarin falls gravely injured. Seeing the threat, Treana and Bostica blast them off the hill. After helping to finish up the last of the Grimlings, Zumo goes over to Danarin and inspects his wounds. Knowing that he won't survive another wave of Grimlings, Zumo suggests we leave the camp and bring Danarin back. Dantte agrees, as a dead storyteller is of no use when trying to earn glory amongst their people. The dejected band quietly sneaked off into the dark back to the outpost to save Danarin. Thankful, Danarin promises that next time they will succeed.
Upon reaching the outpost, the Vah Shir guards came running out to take over the care of their scout. News spread quickly that the recent incursions into Grimling territory has raised the alertness of the Grimlings. Vah Shir spirit shamans set immediately to work at getting Scout Danarin back to battle readiness. At this time, Scout Husman ran into the fort for the Outward Eye heroes. Panting for breath, he quickly exclaimed that the village where they were all at yesterday is full of commotion. He definitely thinks that the Grimling Officer is there checking up on the defenses of the camp.
Scout Husman says, "Gather your forces quickly. If we hurry, we can catch him their in the village and slay him where he stands!"
Seeing as how their names are known by many of the Vah Shir at the outpost now, Dantte's chest puffs out with pride. His determination to win glory for Rallos Zek shines in his eyes as he draws his weapons and prepares to head out with Scout Husman to finally prove to these people that he is the one that will rid the Grimlings from their lands. Seeing as how the last battles turned out, the other four adventurers start their magic weaving placing heavy enchantments on each other in preparation for the slaughter. Zumo summons the various animal spirits of the bear, wolf, and cat to make Galanthas and Dantte more powerful and resilient. Calling upon Karana, Bostica asks for his protection for each of the raiding party. Galanthas, hailing to Ki, calls upon the earth to further protect himself and Dantte. Treana, weaving magic out of thin air and drawing upon her own magical power, summons forth mystical energies to speed the actions of the fighters. With a bear protector, spirit wolf, and animated sword+shield in tow, the rugged band follow Scout Husman out into the dark forest yet again.
Adrenaline running thru his veins, the tingling of mighty magics around him, Dantte can't help but grip his weapons tighter in anticipation of the upcoming battle. Thinking to himself, "The strong will prevail, and nothing we have met yet in this accursed forest are stronger than the combined might of him and his companions. Now only if this blasted cat can live up to the reputation of being fierce in battle that his people are known for." Knuckles white with breathless expecation, they come to the valley they set up for the charge days ago.
Peeking over the crest of the hill into the Grimling village, lots of activity can be seen from the Grimlings as they desperately try to construct solid defenses for the protection of their town. No officer is in view, but it looked like he was still in the vicinity giving instructions as to how to build the defenses.
Dantte says, "Now is the time to attack! Now! Before they build walls that will greatly improve their defenses."
Scout Husman, growling and crouching low like a cat on the prowl, gives the signal and the companions rush the village. Three Grimlings standing together trying to piece yet another section of wall stare up the hill, once again stunned at the sight of a large barbarian barreling down at them. Dantte, at a full run, tackles the three with arms spread out wide. The three tiny Grimlings struggle to stand up and get away from the berserk barbarian, but, with flying knees, headbutts from a spiked helm, and mailed fists, Dantte crushes and pummels them where they lay. Zumo, calling forth spirits of frost, systematically blasts Grimling after Grimling down. Also running at full speed, Galanthas dashes into the throng with the agility of a cat. Going for the most vulnerable spots, all that is seen in the blur that is Galanthas is a trail of bodies with throats slashed and vital organs either stabbed or cut free from the confines of the body. Running a short distance behind Galanthas, Treana makes her way to a nearby Grimling caster and pokes it in the eye with her dagger. Screaming with fury, the Grimling tries to throw a magical bolt at its assailant but the bolt just bounces off Treana's magical shield. Sensing an attacker on its master, Treana's sword and shield quickly cuts the offending Grimling down with a bash to the chest and a chop to the legs leaving the Grimling bleeding to death with half of its legs gone. The ensuing melee is over in minutes as the band of six with three magical companions slaughter all but one Grimling in the village. The last of them runs screaming over the hill to call for reinforcements.
A short distance away from the village, the last survivor of the Grimling village runs to Grikplag. Grikplag had been sent by the Grimling Commander to reinforce the local villages and erect defenses to "keep the cats." Having heard from the survivor the ease at which the village was overrun, Grikplag calls upon an officer to lead three groups of Grimlings to take back the camp. The Grimlings set out at once to take back what is theirs as Grikplag moves on to the next village to speed up the construction.
Knowing that numbers are to their advantage, the Grimling Officer sends one group to the rear of the village and takes the other two groups to the front. With a shrill whistle, the Grimlings in the rear charge the camp and engage the strangers. A few seconds later, the Officer sends another group up the front of the camp right into the rear of the offending off-worlders and their hated Vah Shir leader. Spells of ice storms and fire bolts and magical missiles rain down on the vermin below from all angles. But for some reason, they seem to have almost little to no effect. The Officer thinks to himself that these must be powerful people indeed. Seeing as how the battle is going, he decides that having three to one odds is not enough. Time to reinforce his troops. Sending in the last of his forces and charging down himself, the Officer shrieks with glee as he knows they will slay all. Bounding down the hill at full speed, his confidence is shattered as a large humanoid raises his spear and a short female weaves her brightly glowing scimitar his way. Feeling his body consumed by the raging spirits of the land and nature's wrath grip and bind his feet to the ground, the Officer knows that this battle was over before it ever began...
Wiping his blade of blood, Galanthas calls Dantte over and kicks a body on the ground. "This who we came for?" says Galanthas.
Dantte bends down, lifts the mutilated body of the Grimling Officer, pulls out a knife, and scalps the ugly thing. "Aye. Suren an ugly fella he is." Handing Scout Husman the scalp, Dantte says, "Is this proof enough fer ye commander?"
Scout Husman takes the scalp and says, "Yes! This will do nicely! I will sing your praises to all that I meet. Quickly now, we must return to the outpost and report. Here, take this. This is a copper medallion that I won for exceptional service to my people. I am sure to get another one, but to you this medal will be more valuable to my superiors."
On the way back to the outpost, Scout Danarin comes running out to meet the adventurers. Apparently, the spirit shamans are very good at the healing arts as their is not a trace of battle on him. Danarin says, "Dantte! We must go quickly to where we did battle! One of the Grimling captains are there resetting the defenses of the town. If we can catch him, I am sure he can be squeezed for more information."
Not winded in the least and charged from success of the previous mission, The Outward Eye set off with Danarin once again...this time much more cautious and prepared for the upcoming battle.
Grikplag, sensing that the troops that he sent to the previous village are slain because they have not returned yet, pulls out his whip and sets his minions to work even faster to erect the walls. He thinks to himself that he needs to get out of here. He will set his officer to stay and manage the defense of this town, but Grikplag must report this new change of events to the Commander. Leaving double the number of Grimlings then before that were guarding this encampment turned fort, he hopes that they will be able to turn the wretched invaders back. This is their land, rightfully stolen.
Scout Danarin leads the battle hardened group to the village where Grikplag just was an hour later. Seeing the wooden walls standing tall in front of the camp, he ducks back down and starts to discuss strategy. Danarin says, "Dantte, I think you should send part of your force behind the camp so we can attack them from two sides. But I am not sure how we are going to get over that wall to get into the village."
Dantte says, "There be not enough of us to split our forces as such. We should stick together and charge as one."
Bostica says, "I'll take care of the wall."
Danarin sighs, "Ok, you know your abilities more than I do so I will trust in you. We will wait on your signal little hobbit."
Bostica stands up, casts a spell to fill her with an avian spirit, and then flies off to the top of the wall and into the fort. Surprising the Grimlings who thought that they were safe from attack from the front, Bostica flies right into the midst of them and calls upon Karana yet again. Waves of rolling energy centered around the little halfling spread out in a destructive circle as the ground itself splits and heaves. About a dozen Grimlings standing near her instantly die by falling in cracks and ravines created by the earthquake that ensues. The wooden walls tumble down in great heaps of what could barely be called splinters at this point. As suddenly as it all began, the upheaving earth stops and suddenly all the ravines snap shut forever burying the Grimlings unfortunate enough to fall in them. The Grimling Officer, the only one that was not stunned by the entire display rallies forth and leads the charge to take down the little halfling. Bounding over the hill and what's left of the wall comes Bostica's little bear protector. Jumping an incredible distance, it locks its paws in a bear hug around the Grimling Officer and bears him down. As the dust settles from the destruction, the rest of The Outward Eye charge into the Grimling village. The Grimling Officer, after just getting his footing once again and tries to fend off the bear, is suddenly assaulted with whirling blades to his back from Galanthas. Dantte wades into battle lopping off Grimling heads left and right. Zumo charges into battle with his spear held straight out in front of him piercing not one but three Grimlings in his charge, his spear acting like a harpoon fired from a ballista. Treana, not being one to be outdone, stands from a distance and starts weaving strands of green magic. Centering the spell on a group of casters raining magical bolts from inside a Grimling shack, she reverses gravity within the shack. The surprised Grimlings fly straight up, smashing their bodies as they crash thru the roof of the ill made shack, and then plummet back down from the sky to land in pieces upon the bloodied ground. Slashing and blasting thru the Grimlings, the brave adventurers fight for an hour straight clearing out the entire camp. Not one Grimling lived.
When the battle is over and the night is quiet again, Dantte turns to Danarin and says, "Where be this captain ye were talking about?"
Danarin replies, "He must have left just before we got here, not that in your battle lust he would have lived anyways. I shall need proof of that officer there to take back to my commander."
Dantte walks over to the Grimling Officer and scalps it just like the last unfortunate one. He hands Danarin the scalp and says, "Here ye go."
Disgusted a bit, Danarin says, "Here, you take this in appreciation of your services to yet again helping us to reclaim our lands. I shall head back to the outpost now to report our mission success. Best of luck to you and your band." Danarin hands Dantte a silver medallion.
Heading back to the outpost after sifting thru the rubble for treasure, The Outward Eye war party are surprised by a welcoming party hosted by the Vah Shir. Tables were set outside with various foods and drinks, which the cats seem to scarf down faster than Dantte...who was too busy boasting and telling stories of battle from the front. During the celebration of their success, another Vah Shir scout approaches Dantte and pulls him aside.
"I am Scout Derrin and we must talk..."
