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"Greetings.." came a dark shadowed mysterious voice. "Please sit, this should not take.. too long.." A slender hand reaches forward snapping their fingers across something. What? A flint stone? Perhaps. Either way, there is a sudden spark, followed shortly after by a sudden flame. The glittering green eyes illuminate in the light of the candle. The candle flame dances in their emerald orbs. Staring the person sitting across from them in the eyes. The light of the candle did little to illuminate anything past an old worn wooden table, and chairs. The candle sitting in the middle of the table with its light expanding outward. The light grew dim with each passing inch leaving the two people at the table shrouded in shadows. Not much light was needed for these two brethren. After all barbarians can tell one another from Scent alone.
"I hear you are about to go on a long Journey brother." The voice came from a pair of soft curving lips that twisted upwards in a smile of welcome to one they know so well. "Indeed I am my sister, but I can not tell you the nature of such a journey, at least, yet.." Before she could say something in argument he held forth a large, strong, yet gentle hand. "I know dear brethren you would go with me in all things, but you and I know full well there are journeys in life one must face alone." The other seemed to contemplate this for long moments as the silence drug on. Before Finally nodding once. A long whisper of air passed as she sighed saying. "Indeed brother some things are meant to face alone. But if I cannot go with you, at least still take my aide."
The shadows moved as the other figure stood silently. Glimpses of fur, beads, even a dangling feather or two were caught amongst strange tribal markings as the woman moved in the light. Then the hand reached forward and placed a long slender object upon the table. The large mans battle worn face and soft loving eyes were exposed to the light next as he leaned forward to examining what was laid before him. He eyed it curiously before turning to the female saying in a very inquisitive tone. "..A stick..?" A small chuckle comes from the woman was she sits again engulfed in the darkness. "Not just a 'stick' dear brother a staff. And not just any staff. This staff has a lot of meaning behind it, as well as a lot of power. But to understand I must first explain how it came into being" He nodded slowly sitting back into his chair. Pulling forth a traveling skein he opened it, offering some of the strong smelling concoction to his sister who politely refused patting her own skein at her side. He grinned taking a long pull of their family's homemade brew while he settled in to hear his sister's tale.
"You remember once not too long ago, a member of the Imperial Army came, and burned our home. I do not recall if you were there for it, but I am sure you have heard the tale?" He only nodded, as she decided to continue speaking. "MM, yes well there is more to it then that more I am sure if you did not already know would have learned in time" They both eased into their seats relaxing, for it seems all barbarians have time to hear the battle, war, and glory stories of their brethren.
"Aye, we had to make that Imperial dog pay for his crimes. We heard tale through the wind the fool had stepped into our lands again. So we set right out. Two of our brothers followed with me in pursuit, heading north across the mine fields. We meet with a ranger along the way. He too was on the pursuit of this fiend and joined our party. We cornered the wretch in the Hyun Moo shrine. Oh yes, we cornered him, we beat him until he begged for mercy. Mercy.." She laughs sardonically. "Oh he got mercy alright." Her hand reaches down to pat her blade lovingly. "Aye, the others gave him to me. Me in my torturous rage, I cut the things from him that made him male, dragging my blade through his gut I twisted out what heart their was, sadly, there wasn't. Go figure.
Then my blade yanked up in one swift motion I loped off his head." Both of them smile knowingly to themselves. Ahh one loved to see a wretched townie pay for his crimes. "I claimed the pieces of him I cut off, Aye the shriveled mess hanging on the cave wall. My mounted trophy, serving as warning to all."
They both hold up their skeins of brew in silent toast, taking a long swig, they both set back again. Her voice carried softly again as she went on. "Our older brother, Rexy came out from the deeper rooms in the cave. Him, and other brothers of ours, all carting wood, tinder, and coal. I eyed them suspiciously. Rexy grinned menacingly at me stating they were off to burn the Imperial Palace. Wanting to know if I wanted to join. Burn Buya? Most certainly. Still in the heat of my blood lust o grabbed an arm full of wood, and headed out with them. We snuck our way silently into the throne room. We worked fast stacking wood, and tossing rotten meat everywhere. It was going to be a night Buya would never forget. Meanwhile, our brother Mnementh had traveled to the Sunken tree, where the infidel had struck again. Druids toiled to put out the flames and heal the wounds of the wilderness. Mnementh sifted through the ashes and brush, finding a smoldering bit of earth still burning/ He picked it up, carrying the burning coals in his hands.
"Running he headed to the palace. Not once did he scream, not once did the great warrior cry as the searing coals burnt his flesh. As they tore apart his hands in the flame. Never did he turn from his objective, never did he cry in anguish. He came in through the doors looking about. He smiled at us, and the work we had done. 'Let the fires they started in our home be the fires to start the ones in theirs. For truly, this is all their fault.." He placed the hot coals upon some of the brush and worked to stir the flames. A druid from the tree curious as to what was going on had followed him. He stood in shock at the events unfolding around him. I looked up and recognized the man as a friend of mine. Alkatraz.
"I went to him he said before I could reach him that he could not take part in this. I nodded to him telling him leave. He still refused. He could not take part. But he could watch, and learn from are little festivity. He watched as Mnementh dropped the hot coals. Running to his aide the druid try to heal our brothers hands. But you know our brother. He refused and help. Not acknowledging the pain Mnementh worked to light the first branch. He passed it to DarkTurtle, then another, to Rexy, and so on. Until finally we stood their torches blazing, we cast them into the wood pile.
"The flames caught fast. Oh my brother it was a beautiful sight." Her eyes stare off wistfully. "you should have been there. The flames burned the fine rugs, the silken drapes, all of it. Vlad and his Shaman niece came. Her wicked powers stirring the flames higher as her body walked through the flames untouched. She danced and laughed in mysterious verse. Intrigued I went forward watching. I did not see the flames flickering off my armor. I did not feel the them kiss and singe my skin, all I could think of was the fire, the revenge, the sweet ecstasy of it all. I heard voices yelling, but I paid no head. Red came over my vision. My rage was reaching its height. I danced insane, like woman gone made amongst the flames. Rexy braved their heat to grasp my body, pulling me fighting and flailing form from the flames. I do not recall what happened after that too well.The other barbarian stared on in odd fascination of the story, yet anger, and a bit of sorrow passed his eyes hearing his sister was hurt. Anger that she had been so stupid, sad that she had been hurt. She waved him off. "I was told they carried me back home. Where they tried to heal me but to know avail. So our brothers Vlad, and Nokio, lead by Mnementh, carted me to the Sacred grove, Rexy following along swearing and vowing in his worry to promptly throttle me if I lived. There, in the grove, Alkatraz and his brethren awaited me. They toiled long and hard to keep me alive, to mend the wounds and ease my pain. When I came out of my rage, shivering from the effects, I opened my eyes, leaning over me was this dear druid friend of mine. Alkatraz. He had me in the water, my head laying upon his lap as he toiled with herbs, trying to ease me. Nokio fanned the me trying to keep me cool. Rexy paced about in wild frenzy, worried and trying not to let his rage cloud his judgment. He turned and ran to my side seeing me awake and reaching out to him. He squeezed my hand and scolded me instantly." She laughed then, the other joined her. "You know our brother, ever watchful, always concerned. Sometimes I think he is more like a father, then a brother" She leans over whispering. "But don't tell him I told you that." She winked at the man who smiled nodding, and took another drink of the brew in his hands.
"Once I was awake they knew the worst of it was over, Now it was only a matter of time. Thunder cascaded my ears. Thunder, soon identified as the beat pound of horses hooves. Crumble invaded the grove along with several others. While our family had been taking care of me one of our other brother's had been taken prisoner, and was being held captive. Crumble was putting together a team to go in and get him. Rexy stood along with the others. There as nothing any of them could do for me but leave me with the druids. They pulled their axes and clubs and set out towards Kimchon where our brother lay. Once they left, so too did the other druids. I needed rest. There was nothing else to be done. The druids retreated within their grove, and awaited incase they were needed again. I pulled my self out of the water. Alkatraz watched in pure fascination, as I forced myself passed the pain, to stand. 'How' was all he could get out. I waved him off. 'When you are a barbarian you learn to survive past all the pain to carry on.' He argued with me I needed rest. I turned a burning dread gaze upon him and he backed off. 'I will not let my brother fall hands to any of the Imperial army, or anyone else for that matter.' He nodded simply and offered to me then, some clothing. My armor had be cut from my flesh as they tried to heal me. It was ruined in the fire. I waited for him to return with clothing, though my apparent comfort with my nakedness seemed to throw the druid off." She laughed then. "We are born naked, we will die naked, why not live that way?" banging their fists on the table in agreement they laughed again.
"I staggered from the grove. Alkatraz standing at the entrance. I don't know what he thought. But he was definitely thinking something." She purposefully left out the details of the exchange she had with the young druid. After all that wasn't important. It also wasn't anyone's business. "I made my way back to the kingdom of Buya. The palace was a blaze. The army was distracted trying to put out the fire. They did not notice me in my new garments given to me by Alkatraz. Mere simple spring gowns. I looked like a healer. No one minded me. True they are not common clothing among us, but they come in handy." She left out how dear the gift had been. As well as why it had been dear. Again this was not the place, or time.
"I wandered near the fire. Staggering, the pain clouding me. I did not cry out however. But I could not make it with out aide. I heard it then, a strange voice, in the fire. ~Come to me~ It called. ~Come to me Jade, child of mine I will aide you..~ My head told me to stay back I had enough flames for one day. But my heart refused to listen. And you know when your head and heart conflict, you always follow your heart. I went towards the fire. Oddly it parted for me. ~Yes, come to me, I shall protect you..~ Each step I went deeper and deeper into the roaring fire. Braved the heat once again. But I was untouched. I reached a point where the fire was hottest. The coals around me covered the ground in which I walked. Yet, I was untouched. The love and care my brethren gave me, the love and protection the druids had offered, guarded me like a shield against it all. Glowing amongst the flames I looked about. And there, smoldering the brightest, were the first coals. The coals, the imperial army had used to start this. The coals Mnementh hat carted in his bare hands to start this blaze. The coals that had started it all. Burned and seethed before me. Seething around a staff. A staff, that would oddly, refuse to burn. ~Yes you have braved me this far, come to me I will aide you.~ It kept calling. So I leaned forward and closed my hands around the staff. It was cool, unmarred on touched. I clutched it close to me a moment. I could feel the essence of the fire with it ins soft smooth wood. I ran my fingers along it lovingly. Then wrapping my hands around it I leaned upon it. And it held me up. I smiled in rapture, leaning upon this staff I made my way out into the night."
The man's eyes drifted to the staff upon the table between them. All she did was nod softly. "But there is more I made my way out of the town of Buya. Walking leaning upon my staff I headed for Kimchon. Along the way I thought about what I was going to do once I got there. I needed a weapon, a way to fight, some how. I leaned upon my staff and pondered the whole way. The staff was very strong, but it wouldn't be enough to do any damage. It needed more. Along the way I caught up with another young warrior, and Alkatraz. I settled for a moment taking a rest. They both said I shouldn't go on. But I refused to listen. I had to help my family. The warrior nodded, that was why he was here. He had heard the call and had taken up his blade to help the barbarian family. A family, he was trying to prove his worth too. Ahh yes, he was a young barbarian, just not amongst his brethren, at least yet. I still pondered, and I asked Alkatraz if he had a dagger or something of some sort. Shaking his head, the druid kept nothing of violent nature upon him if he could help it. The young one however did offer an old dagger. It wasn't much but it was all he had and was willing to give it. I smiled to him taking the dagger. I pulled the blade from he handle and began to sharpen it. A fire was made, I heated the blade some and shaped it more. I stretched it out. Made it longer, thinner. Not the short stout blade it was. I gave it a wicked curving edge as the others watched in amazement. I am not a perfect smith. In fact I am not a smith at all. Or at least not at the time. But I do not know what came over me. It was as though the fire had a purpose for the blade, and use me as it's tool of self expression to make it into what was needed. Taking the long deadly curved blade I mounted it upon the staff. Now I had something ready to fight with. Standing again the others at my side we made our way slowly to Kimchon..
"When we got there, a fight had already ensued. Rexy beating upon the gate trying to get in. Crumble was inside trying to get aide to our brother Qwertyer. Then I seen it the ones responsible for this mess. A member of the foul Imperial Army. But not just any member. Lethy, the very infidel that burned the wilderness! How that wretched man got his soul placed back into another body was beyond me. Not actually it wasn't his sniveling butt probably paid off a shaman or other such healer to resurrect his him. I snarled I wanted to kill him again, to make him pay for his doings. Another stood by hi side. A diviner. Oh yes she claimed to be neutral in all of this. Yet it was her home my brother was held in. The next was a complete blur as my rage boiled forth again. I stepped with my feet wide holding my staff in both hands. I was ready to fight. In an instant Crumble had the gate open and our brethren stormed inside. They ran inside after Qwertyer. Crumble, Rexy, and I faced off against the Diviner as she showered spells of insidious nightmare upon us. We were deaf, we were blind. Noises of ungodly volume invaded our ears, but we fought on. Then it came. A rain of hell fire, my brothers rolled out of the way, but I could not. Trapped in the center it rained down upon me. I clutched the staff and closed my eyes a waiting the death. I felt it burn along m skin, but soon it was gone. The flames licked at me sure. But I was unharmed! I looked down to see my staff glowing faintly. Looking around quickly, no one had seen what happened. This was could for I could not explain it. The glow fade and died. I ran forth wielding my staff, and shoved it into the wenches gut. I speared strait through her, but she did not die. Her mystical powers kept her alive. I did not know how to fight such a monster. I rolled and stood again preparing for another bout. I heard a strong stern voice then. 'Jade' It was Crumble. 'Go inside young one, help the others, you can not fight this..' I was about to protest when I saw the look in his eyes. I simply nodded and walked inside, looking over my shoulder to watch as Crumble drew his axe." Long moments of silence passed between the two people. Each one noting the power of a diviner, each noting what their brother was capable of.
"I went in side to find our brother. I found the others in there trying to get passed yet another gate. Finally came an idea. First one brother jumped over it, whilst a second was pushed over the top by a third. I got stuck on the wrong side of the gate trying to bust it in.
"Finally one of the three on the other side opened the gate and we swarmed passed cornering the foul dog from the imperial army. Death was coming for him. In the mean time the battle raged outside. Soon came a dark shadow of Crumble's huge form followed by the diviner. It seemed she was listening and behaving to every command Crumble or Vlad gave. What had happened outside, and why she was doing this now. I know not. I did not witness it. More arrived on the scene and the chaos soon broke up. Qwertyer was safe back in the hands of his family. Crumble was a bit on edge. He roared as the Diviner came near. I shoved her back away from him. Vlad went to Crumble. Before I could see what was going on Rexy's rage, and all the turbulent emotions he experienced built up inside him. The man had seen far too many of his family hurt and it sent him into a frenzy. His muscles contorted, he shifted and reverted to a natural state. A wolf stood there frothing and angry. I pulled back a ranger who wanted to help and nearly got his arm tore off. 'Let him be, he knows you not. Especially when he is like this.' He turned and took off to the other side of the dwelling. I pushed the ranger back and followed shortly after Rexy. I found him backed into a corner, growling in a raged state.
"I sat, laying this staff next to me. Its presence calming and soothing me. I called out to our brother silently. Offering my hand. The dizziness swimming my head. It was all I could do. But I had to make sure our brother was well. He approached, and I was able to give him a reassuring hand. I patted him once before the haze over took me I remember seeing the ceiling above. My agony brought something back in our brother, his muscles shift he was himself again. He pulled me to him protecting me, aiding me again. Like a loving father. Vlad was there too helping. I reached for him, asking him to make sure he grabbed my staff, I could not leave it behind. We left the Diviners home, I in Vlad's arms clutching my staff close to me.
"Knowing my family was at last safe I relaxed. When I relaxed the pain came. The darkness over took my vision. When I awoke I was laying with in the cave, my family near by watching. I felt around, and sure enough it was there by my side. Clutching it I got up slowly. I leaned upon it again and it supported me. I used to over the next few weeks while I recovered. When I needed it, it was there. I kept it on me. When I felt I was going to falter, it held me up. I think the essence with in, was what helped me heal as fast as I did. The fire and its ability to create and give life, gave life to my body and helped it mend. Yet.." she strokes the wood lovingly. "it was a deadly fore. It was a brilliant weapon when I needed it and aided me in fighting even when I was wounded." Her eyes dance upward as she looks at her brother. "This is why I am giving it to you to take with you on your journey. So it can help you stand when you think you cant. It can protect you against things you think might kill you, it can help you fight when you are down to nothing else. It maybe the deciding factor in the outcome of your journey. Then again, it may be just a simple walking stick. If nothing else it is a reminder that I am here if you need me, and that someone is at home thinking of you, laving you fo the wonderful brother you are. Take it, and return with it to me swiftly from your journey" The other barbarian sat in awe, and blinked back the tears of emotion that swept over him. He stood grasping the staff slowly. "I will sister.." came a husky voice. "And I will see you again no worries.." With that they embraced. He turned staff in hand and walked from her. Setting out on the next road he was to travel. She waved as she watched him go. Her long fingers then found her moist lips, dampening them she reached over and snuffed out the candle. The darkness prevailed over all, nothing was left except a small voice saying.. "Good luck Guerrilla"
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.:|Wielder of the Spear of Fire|:.
.:|Cleaver of Manparts|:.
.:|Eye of the Horde|:.
Isto Chath
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