09-10-2015, 04:51 AM
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Venjo grinned, as he jumped down into the arena. “Not bad, death knight. I was a little worried there a few times, but ya seemed pretty confident.”
“The outcome wasn’t in doubt.” Raal coldly replied.
Venjo’s grin grew wider, as he walked gingerly towards Raal, a green hand clapping him on his undead shoulder.. “Good job all the same, Raal. It seems ya live up to the tales.’
Raal’s eyes widened at this. “...How do you know of me.”.
“My dad, he knew Zal’an’jin.” Venjo said with a smirk, and for the first time Raal was startled. “they talked some, yeah, an’ you came up a few times ‘fore he died . He had a lot to say about ya. More of it was good than bad..” Venjo shrugged. “But you be a lot older than the one he talked about, so maybe you got over some o’ them flaws.”.
Raal chose not to reply as Venjo Gingerly took the axe he was holding and struck it into Zae’jins body with gusto, blood spraying all over the weapon. “S’long as you help us like he helped you, we be gettin’ along just fine, mon.”
Raal smiled despite himself. “Zal’an’jin… You remind me of him.”.
Venjo turned to him with a smile, but let it fade as he continued with his ceremonial duties, and Raal finally got a better look at the weapon the Troll warrior held. Fine, polished black steel was set onto a finely polished, oaken shaft. The tooth of the giant Raal had fought before was attached to the back of the axe-blade, and the top of the weapon was adorned with a pitted and chipped skull - Raal immediately recognized it as dwarven. The weapon was unadorned save for it’s hilt, white and blue scales adorning the handle.
“Raal Deathwind, you have gathered all three items we asked for. The Skull of a dwarf, the scales of a dragon, and the tooth of a giant. You did this using the cunning and strength worthy of a troll. You’ve even managed to beat one o’ the best of our men. You are a troll in truth, an’ we recognize ya as such. Take your axe, an’ your place among the trolls. Ya’ve proven yourself deservin’ of them.”.
Venjo’s face was serious, as he offered the weapon to Raal, holding the axe palms-up towards him.
“I graciously accept, Venjo. Nothing would honor me more than knowing I can once again count on you and yours as allies. No, as kin.” Raal said solemnly, grasping the axe carefully, before holding it up to the sky. A chorus of Trollish cheers(and some jeers) immediately followed.
Ven’jo’s smile returned to him, before he held up a ball of bluish light.
Raal’s head quirked slightly to the side. “What is this?”
Ven’jo clasped the ball of energy into Raal’s free hand, and Raal unconsciously found himself absorbing it, a bluish light filling his body as he felt the omnilium within his being increase even further. “this be the power Zae’jin left behind. He ain’t around to use it, an’ you won it fair and square.
--------
Raal found himself looking away from the village only a few hours later, mounted as always on his skeletal steed. Peering out, he still saw nothing but snow for miles upon miles. The village Venjo called home used the best defense possible - Being in the middle of absolutely nowhere - and Raal doubted that he’d be able to find the place again without utilizing the map he was given.
He was about to motion to his horse to ride, before hearing a pair of footsteps crunching through the snow behind him.
“You really are plannin’ on leaving already, aren’t ya, Deathwind?” Venjo’s voice yelled from behind him. “I was expectin’ it to happen, but this is pretty fast. Troll hospitality not good enough for ya?”
Raal shook his head. “It has nothing to do with it.” Raal replied. In Truth, Raal would have enjoyed nothing more than staying longer in the village.
He felt Venjo pat his shoulder from behind, and had to admit that for the big troll to be able to do that even while Raal was mounted on horseback was no less than amazing. “I was makin’ a joke. I get it, prime. Ya got big goals, and it’s a big world. You wanna see more of it before decidin’ on what to do, yeah?” Venjo asked.
Raal shrugged. “I plan to leave for a brief time. I wish to find out where my people are, now that I’ve learned more of the area. I plan to travel for some time, learn more about the different realms of this omniverse, and then return to help destroy the dwarves. You’ve got the ability to call my communicator if I’m needed before then.”
“And then what, yeah?” Venjo asked.
“Then… I’ll return with an army of orcs at my back, and we’ll work together to crush the dwarven scum permanently.” Raal stated.
“We.” A familiar voice retorted.
Raal looked back to see the source of that voice. While Raal assumed Venjo had simply brought a guard, he realized now that he’d been followed by none other than Zul’kis.
“I hadn’t expected to see you. I thought you had issues with how I do things.”.
Zul’kis shrugged. “Not enough to get in your way, Death knight, if that’s what you be worrying about. I be coming with you, though.”.
Raal thought about that for a moment. “and if I refuse to bring you with me?”
Zul’kis grinned savagely. “then I be followin’ anyway.”
Raal stood silently for a moment, red eyes darting across Zul’kis’s features. “Why are you coming with me?” Raal asked, not bothering to deny the boy. In truth, it would be good to have company.
Zul’kis shrugged. “I be young, but I want to be helpful to my village, my tribe. I feel like I’d be learning a lot from followin’ you on this travel ‘cross the verses. And besides… it’d be a good way to add some exotic heads to my collection.”
Raal thought about that for a moment. “As long as you can be of use. I’d rather a troll be guarding my back than anyone.”.
Zul’kis grinned, Hefting a large cloth bag with him. “I got supplies for the road. An’ I know a shortcut back to the nexus. Are you ready to go?”
Raal considered the question for a moment. Surely, he felt at home in this village. A few days might not be so harmful… But at the same time, he mused, there must be other primes out there, right now, growing stronger. To assume he’d meet no opposition, was not at this moment competing with some human or dwarven prime, was foolish. No, he did not yet have time to rest.
“Let’s not waste any time. Lead the way, Zul’kis.” Raal said with an almost pleasant tone. He hadn’t felt like this since the second war, when he first was resurrected as a death knight. The power to take on anything, and the drive to take on any task. Raal would not squander this chance. This time, he would not fall. Not to his traitorous brother, not to alliance dogs. This time, his horde would sweep the omniverse clean of kingdom filth, and his name would become synonymous with fear by any survivors that clung to their life in the shadows.
Venjo grinned, as he jumped down into the arena. “Not bad, death knight. I was a little worried there a few times, but ya seemed pretty confident.”
“The outcome wasn’t in doubt.” Raal coldly replied.
Venjo’s grin grew wider, as he walked gingerly towards Raal, a green hand clapping him on his undead shoulder.. “Good job all the same, Raal. It seems ya live up to the tales.’
Raal’s eyes widened at this. “...How do you know of me.”.
“My dad, he knew Zal’an’jin.” Venjo said with a smirk, and for the first time Raal was startled. “they talked some, yeah, an’ you came up a few times ‘fore he died . He had a lot to say about ya. More of it was good than bad..” Venjo shrugged. “But you be a lot older than the one he talked about, so maybe you got over some o’ them flaws.”.
Raal chose not to reply as Venjo Gingerly took the axe he was holding and struck it into Zae’jins body with gusto, blood spraying all over the weapon. “S’long as you help us like he helped you, we be gettin’ along just fine, mon.”
Raal smiled despite himself. “Zal’an’jin… You remind me of him.”.
Venjo turned to him with a smile, but let it fade as he continued with his ceremonial duties, and Raal finally got a better look at the weapon the Troll warrior held. Fine, polished black steel was set onto a finely polished, oaken shaft. The tooth of the giant Raal had fought before was attached to the back of the axe-blade, and the top of the weapon was adorned with a pitted and chipped skull - Raal immediately recognized it as dwarven. The weapon was unadorned save for it’s hilt, white and blue scales adorning the handle.
“Raal Deathwind, you have gathered all three items we asked for. The Skull of a dwarf, the scales of a dragon, and the tooth of a giant. You did this using the cunning and strength worthy of a troll. You’ve even managed to beat one o’ the best of our men. You are a troll in truth, an’ we recognize ya as such. Take your axe, an’ your place among the trolls. Ya’ve proven yourself deservin’ of them.”.
Venjo’s face was serious, as he offered the weapon to Raal, holding the axe palms-up towards him.
“I graciously accept, Venjo. Nothing would honor me more than knowing I can once again count on you and yours as allies. No, as kin.” Raal said solemnly, grasping the axe carefully, before holding it up to the sky. A chorus of Trollish cheers(and some jeers) immediately followed.
Ven’jo’s smile returned to him, before he held up a ball of bluish light.
Raal’s head quirked slightly to the side. “What is this?”
Ven’jo clasped the ball of energy into Raal’s free hand, and Raal unconsciously found himself absorbing it, a bluish light filling his body as he felt the omnilium within his being increase even further. “this be the power Zae’jin left behind. He ain’t around to use it, an’ you won it fair and square.
--------
Raal found himself looking away from the village only a few hours later, mounted as always on his skeletal steed. Peering out, he still saw nothing but snow for miles upon miles. The village Venjo called home used the best defense possible - Being in the middle of absolutely nowhere - and Raal doubted that he’d be able to find the place again without utilizing the map he was given.
He was about to motion to his horse to ride, before hearing a pair of footsteps crunching through the snow behind him.
“You really are plannin’ on leaving already, aren’t ya, Deathwind?” Venjo’s voice yelled from behind him. “I was expectin’ it to happen, but this is pretty fast. Troll hospitality not good enough for ya?”
Raal shook his head. “It has nothing to do with it.” Raal replied. In Truth, Raal would have enjoyed nothing more than staying longer in the village.
He felt Venjo pat his shoulder from behind, and had to admit that for the big troll to be able to do that even while Raal was mounted on horseback was no less than amazing. “I was makin’ a joke. I get it, prime. Ya got big goals, and it’s a big world. You wanna see more of it before decidin’ on what to do, yeah?” Venjo asked.
Raal shrugged. “I plan to leave for a brief time. I wish to find out where my people are, now that I’ve learned more of the area. I plan to travel for some time, learn more about the different realms of this omniverse, and then return to help destroy the dwarves. You’ve got the ability to call my communicator if I’m needed before then.”
“And then what, yeah?” Venjo asked.
“Then… I’ll return with an army of orcs at my back, and we’ll work together to crush the dwarven scum permanently.” Raal stated.
“We.” A familiar voice retorted.
Raal looked back to see the source of that voice. While Raal assumed Venjo had simply brought a guard, he realized now that he’d been followed by none other than Zul’kis.
“I hadn’t expected to see you. I thought you had issues with how I do things.”.
Zul’kis shrugged. “Not enough to get in your way, Death knight, if that’s what you be worrying about. I be coming with you, though.”.
Raal thought about that for a moment. “and if I refuse to bring you with me?”
Zul’kis grinned savagely. “then I be followin’ anyway.”
Raal stood silently for a moment, red eyes darting across Zul’kis’s features. “Why are you coming with me?” Raal asked, not bothering to deny the boy. In truth, it would be good to have company.
Zul’kis shrugged. “I be young, but I want to be helpful to my village, my tribe. I feel like I’d be learning a lot from followin’ you on this travel ‘cross the verses. And besides… it’d be a good way to add some exotic heads to my collection.”
Raal thought about that for a moment. “As long as you can be of use. I’d rather a troll be guarding my back than anyone.”.
Zul’kis grinned, Hefting a large cloth bag with him. “I got supplies for the road. An’ I know a shortcut back to the nexus. Are you ready to go?”
Raal considered the question for a moment. Surely, he felt at home in this village. A few days might not be so harmful… But at the same time, he mused, there must be other primes out there, right now, growing stronger. To assume he’d meet no opposition, was not at this moment competing with some human or dwarven prime, was foolish. No, he did not yet have time to rest.
“Let’s not waste any time. Lead the way, Zul’kis.” Raal said with an almost pleasant tone. He hadn’t felt like this since the second war, when he first was resurrected as a death knight. The power to take on anything, and the drive to take on any task. Raal would not squander this chance. This time, he would not fall. Not to his traitorous brother, not to alliance dogs. This time, his horde would sweep the omniverse clean of kingdom filth, and his name would become synonymous with fear by any survivors that clung to their life in the shadows.