The adventures of Wolfgard

He sits quiet, gazing into the slowly dying blaze that not too long ago, had been a roaring campfire. Fiercely devouring its wooden prey, rapidly turning the logs into coals and ashes. The once raging miniature inferno that had been casting long shadows on the close by mountain cliff was now a smoking heap of embers barely shinning its reddish light on its surroundings.



Almost hypnotized, he stares at the fire pit but more precisely at the two last charred logs lying parallel to each other. One on each side of a field of cinder reminding of two mountains separated by a ravine, a path. He is captivated by the small shy flames appearing and disappearing randomly, seemingly chasing each other on the burnt surface of the wood.



The delicate touch of two silks white hands slowly clamping onto his jaw, gently pulling him out of his daydreaming. Languorously, he shifts his gaze from the smoldering rumble to the beautiful visage of his wife Athya. She carefully lay a kiss upon his lips then releases her satin grip and slowly rise. A delicate smirk appears on her lips as she turns and saunters toward the leather tent.



“Good night,” he almost says as the feline silhouette gracefully ambles away but instead, afraid of ruining the moment, he keeps his words in his mind and his eyes on her curves.” Kiith have the reputation of being great spirit hunters... well this one has no doubt captured my soul” ... At the same moment that Athya disappears behind the thick hide of the tents wall, a gust of wind suddenly emerges from the west, furiously reigniting the dying fire and casting a swarm of spark flying in the night sky. The breeze is strange, almost unnatural and it sends a chill down the young nuruk’s spine. Wolfgard can almost swear that he hears wolves howling tangled in that draft, calling him, pleading him to join the hunt. Instinct takes over and suppresses all rational thinking. In an instant he grabs the basic and starts marching westward.







…







The moon has just disappeared behind the ivory peak of Double Iron Mountain but it still radiates its silver light upon a sinuous path commonly known as Mira Pass. Mira pass is a deep gorge scarring Double Iron Mountain range from west to east. It owes its name to the Miragaia, a bloodthirsty dinosaur species roaming the area. Legends has it that this crevasse once crawled so deep below the sea level that lava pooled at its bottom.



Carefully prowling west, senses on high alerts, the nimrod advances scrutinizing the vast landscape surrounding him. So far nothing out of the ordinary but the uneasy feeling is still deeply imbedded under his bronze-like skin. A glint at the far edge of his vision catches his attention. The fading moon glow must have reflected on steel or jewel. Betrayed by a twinkle of moon light, the silhouette of a humanoid now clearly stands out from its dark surroundings.



-Who can you be? Ally ...or enemies? Whisper Wolfgard to himself.



Baaaammmmbi...ennnnnemy... The answer seems to come out of thin air, like a wisp conjured from the nether worlds, bitter, intended as a curse. The disembodied words ring like thunder to the young nuruk.



-Orderrr...growls Wolfgard. I can’t let you get away...



Instinctively, without thinking further, Wolfgard howls. The sound dies into the distance, apparently unheard. Even the enemy seems unruffled by it. Immobile, the strangers observe each other for what seems an eternity. Heart pounding, senses on high alert Wolfgard waits patiently. Distant howls from the east suddenly break the silence. The pack is answering the call to war, hungry for Orders blood. Eyes steady on the target, Wolfgard observes the uneasy gestures of the target. Then Coldheart appears to the horizon, rapidly moving through the rough terrain but without a sound, like a ghostly shadow of death.







Time is finally right. Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Wolfgard lunges across the plains fueled by hatred. Bambi, the nuruk traitor anticipates the attack and darts toward the west. The gap is rapidly closing between the foes as the pursuer's speed is uncanny. The pursuit abruptly ends when Bambi stumbles on a lounge of sleeping reptiles. They immediately surround the intruder convinced that dinner is served but Bambi turns to face his humanoid assailant sword in hand with a wicked grin. He barely giving any attention to the scaled beasts around him.



-Hello! Spits Bambi as he strikes first blood.



Worfgard quickly realized that he is out match, his adversary moving around him slicing deep with every strike and easily dodging and parrying his clumsy blows. But he is not afraid, all he has to do is distract his enemy long enough for Coldheart to join the fight. Body weakening from the loss of blood, breathing heavy Wolfgard drops on one knee pressing his bone shield on the ground to prevent himself from falling flat in the dirt. Soon it’s Bambi’s turn to be out matched as Coldheart joins the melee. Vision blurred, confusion setting in his mind Wolfgard raise its shield on last time in a weak attempt to defend himself but Bambi seals the deal with a precise strike to the throat, cutting deep and sending a spray of blood into the air. The limp body of the young hunter crashes heavily on the dusty ground but is soon after joined by the bloody carcass of his assailant.







...







He sits abruptly as a gust of air loudly rushes into his empty lungs. Puzzled, he looks around at the stone wall of the dark and damp chamber.



-What happened?...Flashing vision of Bambi’s blade painfully biting his flesh.



The atmosphere is heavy with humidity and smells of mold and wet earth. Scattered candles slowly burning, they flicker their dim lights, scarcely illuminating the surroundings and revealing a massive wooden door at the far end of the room.



-Bad strategy?... Flashing vision of a frantic chase down Mira pass.



He sits there, naked on the muddy floor for a while, catching his breath, piecing together the recent events. Tenuously rising to his feet, he leans on the cold moist wall. He then starts to plod toward the exit of the mystical cavern.



-Was I at the wrong place at the wrong time?... Flashing visions of the lethal strike that sent him to oblivion in a shower of his own blood.


He pushes lumberingly on the heavy oak door and reveals steep stairs carved into the rock, leading toward the surface.



Flashing visions of Bambi the renegade’s bloody corpse crashing upon the rocky ground of Mira pass.

-Naaah... hmmpf!!! I was exactly where I needed to be…at precisely the right moment…He finally says, wicked smile printed on his face.

The angry midday sun is cruelly casting its blazing rays on the burning sand. A searing breeze slowly brushed upon the endless dunes, caressing the ever-changing landscape. Covered from head to toe in earth-tone leather and silk clothing the kneeling nuruk scrutinize the wavy horizon. Something catches his attention at the edge of his sight. Dark elongated shapes dancing like a den of royal cobras hypnotized by a kiith snake charmer's music.

-"Another mirage?" spits the nuruk. Squinting his eyes, he focuses his gaze on the distorted silhouettes. "Humpf...nah, those must be stone pillars... maybe I can escape that dreadful sun over there." murmur's the traveler to himself as he slowly rises. Then, suddenly movement catches his attention and he drop right down on the sands. Roughly halfway between him and the stone formations, on top of a rippled hummock, is now standing a mysterious figure. Long dark hairs tied in a loose ponytail graciously streaming behind him. The dark skinned man is of average height and build but there is something more about him. Something... mystical... unnatural, a perfect amalgam of grace and power, inspiring awe with his sheer presence. Like an howl, with calculated precision the stranger then set's his piercing gaze on his observer.

-"How can he!!"spits Wolfgard incredulously. At that very moment a sudden rush of adrenaline erupts into Wolfgard's body. Confusion set in for a brief moment as: fear, wonder, panic and reverence hustle into a whirlwind of contradictory emotions. Without warning and with uncanny speed the stranger pounces with knees high and arms spread like wings then falls behind the mound that, moment before, served him as a pedestal. Instinct take over and the young nuruk instantly engages in pursuit of the mysterious man.

...

Panting and exhausted by the frantic chase through the sea of burning sand, Wolfgard is now at the foot of a massive rock formation. He pauses for a few seconds trying to catch his breath, observing his surroundings for signs of the elusive man. In front of him an alien world reveals itself. It seems like an enormous volcano froze amidst of a violent eruption. This mountain range is dominated by four dark gray peaks seemingly challenging each other's supremacy over the barren and devastated surroundings. Deep crevasses with pointy ridges reminding of a gaping megalodon jaw, tall crooked stone towers leaning menacingly, sharp-edged boulders of all sizes scattered randomly. A river of gray sand separates the quadruplets of spires. Crude dark grains of rough sand drastically contrasting with the pale ocean of silky dust-like sand he had crossed to get here.

Sense on high alert, Wolfgard advances carefully into the entrails of the grotesque mountain range.

-"Hey wait!!" He suddenly shouts lifting one hand in an impossible attempt to reach but the man vanished once more, leaving the young tracker alone with the resounding sound of his voice.

The last fading echo dies in the stony maze and is almost immediately replaced by weird squealing and groaning in the distance but it's rapidly getting closer. Very soon the nuruk is detecting movement all around him, shades moving fast in the shadows. The squealing noises now sound like maniacal little laughter. They are taunting him, mocking him apparently excited for the meal to come. Finally, a majestic dinocrocuta leaps into the light, bearing her fangs, growling. The matriarch snaps her jaw at the imbecile who dares to trespass into her territory. The beast start to circle the defiant trespasser. She's gauging the intruder, drooling with anticipation of the rich taste of fresh meat. She snaps her jaw once more but this time her pack moves in. Dashers charge from the shadows moving with surprising speed. The nuruk hunter easily dodge and deflect the relentless attacks of the dashers and manages to kill one of them but by doing so he commits a deadly mistake as he stops paying attention to the real threat for the briefest moment. Excruciating pain suddenly arises into the nuruk's left leg as he feels his flesh being shredded and his bones shattered under the incredible power of the dinocrocuta's bite. The beast brutally shakes her head determined to ripe the impudent fool to pieces. Confident that her assault has surely incapacitated her foes she releases the leg but before she can bite the neck of her prey to finish him, a razor-sharp blade plunges through her left eye and exit below her right ear, killing her instantly. Stunned by the demise of their queen the dashers scatters in confusion.

The predators have fled for now but Wolfgard knows they will be back. His wound is serious and he needs to find a shelter rapidly to tend to his injury. The sun as now disappeared behind one of the high pinnacles, night is fast approaching. The wounded nuruk look around for a place to set up camp or to make his last stand if need be.

That's when he notices that the mysterious man he was chasing earlier is now standing in the distance, arms crossed, looking straight at him. The stranger slowly nods at Wolfgard in an approving gesture, then turns around and saunters away.

-"Wait!!... who are you!?!? Whah...hmpff...arrg!!"grumbles Wolfgard in frustration, as the stranger simply keep walking and disappears behind a massive boulder. Wolfgard is compelled to follow once more. He rises strenuously and start dragging himself despite the horrible pain pulsing from his mutilated leg.

The narrow mountain trail unexpectedly open up and on the ground, the coarse gray sand littered with shards of sun-bleached bones fragment slowly concede dominion to its pale soft counterpart. The night is setting by then and the sun is now just an orangish glow on the far horizon. The brutal heat of the day is rapidly being replaced by a vicious cold. The first stars are already shinning their shy twinkles into the black moonless sky.

Wolfgard rubs his eyes and shakes his head to make sure he is not hallucinating as he distinguishes what seems to be small town, or maybe fortress on top of a high rocky peninsula that stretches into the desert. A guard tower reaching for the haven from the highest close-by peak overlooks the entire region. Wolfgard discern a great stone building on the flat part of the peninsula. A solid structure built with stone blocks taken from the very mountain it sits upon. He can tell that this is not a simple edifice, there is something spiritual about it. He perceives an undeniable link with the place, it's like coming back home even though he has never set foot upon this ground. At the foot of the cliff, below the seemingly overhanging fortified temple, a rudimentary settlement of semi permanent structures is established. Situated approximatively in the middle of this small outpost, stands a massive leather tent decorated with painted scenes. A pack of hunters chasing big game in the wilderness or warriors bravely charging into the enemy lines but also of feasting and celebrating after a hard earned victory. Smaller tents are scattered chaotically around the main pavilion and a few campfires are already burning, perfuming the air with the smell of smoke and roasting meat. Despite the setting darkness, its with no difficulty that Wolfgard notices that there is a lot more space inside the rudimentary palisade surrounding the encampment then what is currently occupied. Resembling skeletons picked clean of flesh by scavengers, many abandoned habitations framework stood as undeniable witness of a more favorable past.

Weak and shivering the injured nuruk calls upon his last ounce of willpower to get to the entrance of the main tent. As he get close to the entry he can now clearly hear the charismatic words a soft female voice. " ...as many before him, pursuing the eternal hunt ...". Wolfgard brushes a side the bead curtain to step inside and instantly feel the caress of the pleasant warmth on his exposed skin. A sweet incent flagrance mixing harmoniously with the cooking stew is filling the air of the dimly lighted room.

-"Rholtar be praised you made it!! Welcome to Hiraeth Wolfgard." Declares the nuruk priestess spreading her arms open in a warm welcoming gesture.

-"Who are you? How do you know my name? How did you know I was coming? Why.." Questions Wolfgard in a distrustful tone, visibly taken aback. Wolfgard's primal instinct scream at him to run, to fight, to defend!! But soon those emotions are supressed by the calm suiting voice of the priestess.

-" I'm Oorali, Voice of Rholtar and Keeper of Hiraeth. You are amongst friends Wolfgard. I see that you are wounded. Let me..." Words fades and vision blurs as Wolfgard collapses heavily on the rugged carpet floor, unconscious.

...

-"A token of water, for I was blind but now I truly see," softly says the hooded figure as he carefully lies at the altar ten bundles containing cactus pastes. A well-known source of water that will keep you well hydrated when traveling through arid terrain.

-"A token of food, for I was hungry and cold and I was met with hospitality " murmurs once more the kneeling man while setting on the altar ten well wrapped fresh pieces of pegomastax meat, deliberately selected from this morning hunt.

-"And a token of health for my body was shattered but now is whole," solemnly proclaims Wolfgard as he hangs ten suture kits on the altar.

The young hunter, slightly limping, exits the temple's toward a small but luxuriant garden. In fact a small white marble fountain from which softly flows clear water allowed the vegetation to proliferate on an otherwise baren rock. Wolfgard notices Oorali peacefully sitting at the end of a thin paved path, on both side of which is carefully set memorial stones honoring the memories of fallen rangers. Ambling towards The Keeper of Hiraeth, he advances quietly and randomly stops in front a memorial stone with the name Frinz.

-" You have come to thank us and say farewell I suppose?" Softly says Oorali, The Voice of Rholtar.

-" Yes...I...hum...I wanted to...humm" Awkwardly stuttered the visibly uneasy nuruk, he had never been good with words.

-" Haha You don't have to. You have been touched by Rholtar. The doors of Hiraeth are for ever open to you as they are to all those who can prove their worth in the eyes of Rholtar. Now you better hurry up if you don't want to get stock in that storm" titters Oorali turning her head toward the east with a hint of mockery.

Looking eastward at the horizon Wolfgard notices that a storm is brewing. A vicious one by the look of the black angry cloud building up in the distance. Without wasting any time the nuruk hunter straps his travel bag on his back and set his half mask over his mouth and nose leaving only his deep black eyes exposed.

-"Rholtar, rides with me!!" exclaims Wolfgard as he leaps once again toward his destiny.

OOC: text that is (written in red like this is translation) 




A terrifying roar echoes from the icy opening of a deep cavern. Moments after, a muscular white furred ape barges out. The massive ape was alerted by the commotion created by the combat that just took place close to his lair. He is enraged and ready to unleash his wrath upon the miserable trespassing fool who dares to disturb his peace.

The hunter stands up slowly, holding his shoulder to stop the bleeding from a Snogutan vicious bite. He peers all around him to find the source of that thundering roar, but heavy snowfalls combined with freezing gusts of wind makes it difficult to determine the exact provenance of the apes defiant war cry. Still trying to catch his breath after that arctic drill smashed his ribs with a frozen rock and despite the poor visibility, the wounded hunter now distinguishes a huge ape furiously pounding its chest. Cursing at himself for having been so careless, the hunter takes a defensive stance. He assumed, in vain, that the howling winds of the snowstorm rushing between the icy crevasses and steep peaks of the treacherous glacier, would suffice to muffle the tumult of his last combat. His mistake is obvious now, for he has attracted the attention of a territorial Abominable Ape.

-"Good thing he is alone, although I wish I had time to tend my woun..." starts Wolfgard to himself but the ferocious primate charges the moments he sets his gazes upon the intruder.

It was not the first Abominable Ape that hunter faced on this wind-battered glacier. In fact, he had harvested the spirits of one of those majestic creatures without even suffering a scratch. Perhaps too confident in the outcome of the imminent battle, Wolfgard stand ready to repel his aggressor's blow. That's when he realizes that a small army of primates is rapidly closing in on him, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Taken aback by this sudden turn of event Wolfgard barely manage to deviate the attack from the charging chieftain. As the battle rages on the frozen plateau, Wolfard focuses on staying clear from the frightening attacks of the patriarch, which, therefore creates opportunities for the minions to pierce his defenses. A carnage scene is drawing itself around Wolfgard as he cuts down the screechers and arctic dills, spraying their blood upon the immaculate white snow.

The lifeless body of the last arctic drill falls heavily on the snow-covered ground and the next moment, blinded with vengeful rage, the Abominable Ape leaps towards Wolfgard and crashes heavily on him sending him to the ground. Pined under the crushing weight of the monster, Wolfgard awkwardly strikes but the beast doesn't appear to feel pain from the wounds he manages to inflict. Deep into a berserker rage the ape keep kicking the nuruk to the ground and punching him on the face while the Snogutan keep slapping and biting.

The situation is dire and Wolfgard start to panicking. He tries to reach for his backpack to heal some of his wounds but the crazed ape rips the bag from him and send it flying over the cliff.

The battle is lost, Wolfgard tries to escape without success and the primates keep beating on him. At the brink of death, Wolfgard is about to resign himself to his grim fate but then, on the corner of his eye he recognizes a slender yet powerful figure moving swiftly. The apparition abruptly stops to meet the desperate gaze of its dying follower and similarly to that first time they crossed paths, in the burning dunes of dasher desert, the entity gracefully jumps raising its knees high and spreading both arms like if it was going fly away and disappearing into a nearby crack in the icy ground.

Fueled by a gleam of hope, the ranger gathers what left of his strength and pounce between two Snogutans toward and the opening revealed by his nimble patron. Using his shield as a sled, he skims over the snow, reaching the breach in time to evade his executioners mighty assaults.

Rapidly descending into the dark frozen bowels of the glacier, Wolfgard can hear fade the frustrated howls of rage from his angry assailants.

-Where is this going?!? Asks the nuruk to himself as the darkness quickly swallow him. "I need to trust in him, yes...trust in him..." repeated Wolfgard as he passes out. He continues his descents, unconscious, sliding in the smooth ice tunnels, carved by running water from the warmer days of summer.



...



Wolfgard the wanderer arrives on time at the small clearing that had been designated as the meeting point. It was a peaceful patch of grass, cuddled between the high rocky peaks of a nearby mountain and a thick deep green pin forest.

In fact, moments after wreaking revenge upon this Abominable Ape and his minions who had almost sent him to the laughing troll a few days earlier, Wolfgard received a crow with a message from a fellow huntress. She was inviting him for a trip into the land of the enemy, an offer he could not refuse for he still has some scores he needs to settle with the western faction.

On many occasions Wolfgard travel into the west part of the island and the thought of going back have nested in his mind since that day when he and Motodragon assisted Mayor Avianna with the protection of the lands of the Forsaken. The trio had chased and executed the infamous Finhorn.




Sitting next to a small campfire enjoying a pint of beer, the huntress was patiently waiting.

-"Contente de voir que t'es à l'heure" (Happy to see that you are on time) . Says the huntress. "T'en veux une?"(Do you want one?) She adds, extending her left arm holding an ale.

-"Aaah Merci"(thanks) he says as he grabs the drink and sits on the opposite side of the fire. "Je vais réchauffer un ragout à la viande des neiges et je te raconterai mon aventure sur le glacier pendant qu'on mange. Rholtar soit loué je m'en suis sorti par la peau des fesses haha."(let me heat up some of the snow meat stew and ill tell you about my adventure on the glacier wile we eat. Rholtar be praised i made it out alive by a thread.)  Says Wolfgard a little embarrassed.

-"Parfait, ensuite je t'expliquerai ce que j'avais en tête pour notre...randonnée..." (Perfect, after that ill explain to you what i have in mind for our...hike...)answered Oohoo.

The two nuruks exchange for a while and Wolfgard swear that if not for Rholtar's apparition he would have been the one "ending up in a stew". Oohoo shares her plan and shortly after, well fed and ready for adventure, they snuff the fire and depart toward the west.




The rangers travel in silence through the plains and wastelands leaving the domain of the warthogs behind and carefully making their way into the realm of the wolfs . Always seeking vantage point on the hills and mountains but also tracking the foot steps on the ground.

Oohoo stops suddenly and raises her hand in Wolfgard's direction, signaling to him to stop. Peering through the fine curtain of cold mist like spring rain Oohoo points out in the horizon at a small band of humanoids.

-"Quatre Vumpa Rogues"(Four Vumpa Rogues) whispers Oohoo. "Nous allons leur tendre une embuscade."(We will ambush them) She continues softly as she points to a little patch of shrubs just ahead.

Wolfgard has never fought against Vumpa Rogues before but he has heard of them. It is said that these deadly assassins are outcast. That they possess occult powers that makes them incredibly deadly but it is also said that they sometimes carry valuable treasure.

The trap is set and the unsuspected band of thugs is walking straight into it. A quick nod at each other and the nuruks jumps to attack like a pair of hunting smilodons. The surprise is complete and the leading rogue is soon biting the dust. The Vumpa's are quick to get a grip on themselves and they are determined to make their assailants pay for the death of their boss. A violent skirmish follows, injuries are given and taken on both sides but ultimately the nuruks are victorious.

The tales about these vile creatures were right after all. Not only did Vumpa Rogues had proven to be ferocious and deadly but they also carried many valuable items. Mysterious potions with a yellowish tint, pages from a strange journal and an ancient relic were looted from the Vumpa Rogue's corps.

The dead bodies are carefully hidden into the nearby vegetation and the rest of the scene is rapidly wiped of clues of the recent skirmish.

-" La pluie va faire le reste"(The rain will take care of the rest)Says Wolfgard giving a last look at the scene. The subterfuge would probably not foul an expert eye but with the help of the rain washing away the blood stains it would buy them some time in case a patrol came by.




The travelers continue unchallenged, moving ever deeper into the Order lands. They cross wind battered frigid plains and thick mountain ridge forests. They climbed mountains where the setting sun briefly pierces the agitated sea of cumulonimbus, momentarily setting the skyline ablaze with bright orange and deep red as it solemnly sinks behind the horizon, pursuing its perpetual voyage.

The nights are cold in that part of the island and the wind is relentless but at least the rain as stopped by the time they find a shallow cavern. Sheltered from the chilly breeze, they lay a fireless camp to regain some energy. In the morning the wind has died out and the sky is clear. The dawn chorus of the morning birds is well undergoing when the nuruk break camp. Well rested after an uneventful night, they get back on the hunt....



...



-"Regardez-moi ce qu'on a ici !?"(look at what we have here!?) Said Wolfgard from the top of a low cliff. "On dirait bien qu'une petite leafbord a décidé de venir jouer dans la forêt et si j'me trompe pas je la connais bien celle-là".(Looks like a little leafbord decided to come and play in the forest and if i'm not mistaken, i know that one) Last time Wolfgard and Elphaba faced each other was many months ago when the raging spirits of war had merged their essence of wrath to the very molten core of the earth and spewed titanium ore along the spines on Agonia. Feeding upon the blood frenzy engendered by this valuable metal. Elphaba was but a whelp back then yet already capable of slaying the majestic Mythungas.

The two forsaken warriors carefully prowl toward their foes, moving like predators. They both know that if the target is alerted it would most likely end up as an exhausting pursuit in the forest. Silent like a shadow Wolfgard moved in first but the leafborn is not surprised, with lightning reflexes she jumped on her feet ready to defend herself. The two enemies silently circled each other, gaging their opponent. That's when Oohoo appeared from behind distracting the leafborn for a fraction of a second and Wolfgard seized the opportunity to draw first blood, followed immediately by Oohoo. Elphaba defends herself bravely against her two aggressors but swiftly fell under the might of their assaults.

-"Il n'y a rien de valeur sur elle"(She has nothing of value on her)
-"Bah c'est pas grave, prend tout quand même. Moi je porte déjà les choses du p'tit lightfoot"(Bah it doesn't matter, take everything anyways. I'm already carrying the stuff from that little lightfoot)
-"Mieux vos pas trainer dans les parages"(Better not linger around)
-"T'as raison, on se pousse avant que la cavalerie se pointe!!"(You're right, lets move out before cavalry shows up!!)

...