The Epic Story

By: Patrick Berger aka Timeraider Chapter 2

Darkness. Black, all-consuming darkness. He opened his eyes and looked around. After a quick look through the hut, he stepped outside into the light. Two Charr centurions were keeping guard next to the door. They quickly saluted before taking leave and walking towards one of the barracks. Like they should, He thought by himself. After all, I am the one and only Graw Ashblade. He grinned, revealing some of his huge cat-like teeth. Graw Ashblade was one of the famous generals of the Ash legion and holder of the Shadowblade, an elemental longsword imbued with the power of shadow that could slice through stone as easy as water. While walking through the camp, he noticed an unusual tension. Before he could ask one of the centurions what was happening, one came running towards him. The young centurion stopped before Graw and brought a quick salute. General Graw, we need your advice quickly, The guard took a quick breath, clearly exhausted from the running. One of the Asura prisoners casted some foul magic and now is claiming to be one of the descendants of Xenesh. Graw leaned on his sword. And why can't you show me his corpse if that Asura resisted out dominion? But General, He is defending himself with magic shields and even our fire shamans can't get through those, the guard whispered. We hoped you would know a way of destroying those foul cowardly shields. Graw drew his sword. Alright soldier, bring me to the prisoner so I can show him his place. Graw followed the centurion to the small cages. While coming closer, he could already hear the buzzing sound of magic shields being raised. He looked at his sword and noticed the shadowy energy surrounding it vibrated as if it could feel the magic being used nearby. Graw looked up to the cage the centurion was heading for and noticed a small Asura sitting inside, with two magic shields surrounding it. The Asura opened his eyes. Ah, you must be the leader of this pack of

animals, the Asura said while standing up. You see, I need that sword of yours for an experiment like never seen before. Graw laughed. And why do you think I would give up my sword, especially to an imprisoned Asura as yourself. Imprisoned?, the Asura held his hand on the lock and opened the door. I think you are the one making the mistakes here. Graw quickly looked at one of the nearby centurions. Haven't you locked the cage, soldier? He shouted while stepping away from the magic shields. The Charr centurion drew his weapon. I did lock the cage General, we even made sure all prisoners were locked up tight, he must have opened the lock in some way!. The Asura stepped forward. Charr, give me the sword before anyone hurts himself. Graw swiftly sized up the Asura. If you want my sword, you will have it, Graw ran towards the Asura. You will have it, sticking through your body! And he dashed forward. The Asura stood frozen next to the cage. I am Xanthalis, Descendant of Xenesh and I will have your sword, he shouted while forming another magic shield. And if I cannot have it, none of us can! Graw ran forward, using his sword to cut through magic. Unwillingly, all magic shields got tore up by Shadowblade. See if your magic can protect you from this! Graw shouted while jumping into the air, pointing his blade towards Xanthalis. For a second surprise took over Xanthalis mind when Graw sliced through his magic shields, but quickly shrugged off any emotion. He felt the magic flowing through his body and grabbed all he could. He kept gathering power and the moment Graw jumped towards him he channeled all of it to his hands and released the spell. Graw's tactical insight showed him nothing but a victory, but the moment he touched the ground and swung towards the Asura, he felt a tiny hand gripping the swords handle before feeling a enormous gust of air causing him to get blown away. Still confused and lying about twenty feet from the Asura, he looked up. He saw the Asura holding his blade, but both were encased in some kind of crystal. Groups of Charr now came to witness the battlefield. Graw roared. Someone give me their blade, NOW! Graw looked around with fire in his eyes. He could barely contain his anger while a centurion came closer and gave him a sword. Graw held up the sword and swung at the crystal, but the sword merely touched the crystal when the iron shattered into thousands of pieces flying in all directions. Graw felt a torturing pain and collapsed onto the ground.

He tried opening his eyes, but everything stayed dark. Bringing his hands to his head, he carefully felt his face with his fingers. He noticed someone had wound a bandage around his head. Confused and angered as he was, he ripped off the bandage and opened his eyes. Still in shock he looked in the mirror, darkness coming over his mind. One of the Charr medics came into the field hospital. While coming in he noticed Graw, out of bed and looking into a mirror. General, you should get some rest. The injuries are quite severe and you need to rest, else your recovery will take a lot more mooncycles, the medic whispered while walking towards Graw. We can not afford to lose such a remarkable warrior in the coming battles. Graw looked away from the mirror. He silently walked to his bed but quick as light he punched the medic, causing the charr to kneel down and gasp for breath. Graw's anger could be felt from miles away while he roared into the air. RECOVERY! I am blind at one eye and you call that RECOVERY!, Graw grabbed a blade and held it against the medic's throat. I should kill you were you stand for allowing this to happen!. The medic looked up to Graw. But General, the iron splinter pierced your eye, there was nothing we could do, he said while trying to avoid being cut by the blade. Even the gods could not have saved your eye. Graw threw away the blade. There are no gods, you speak to me about lies of the flame legion, Graw slowly moved towards the purple crystal, still standing as a beacon in the middle of the prisoner cages. While walking towards it, he called for a centurion. Soldier, have the shamans already tried removing the crystal? The centurion made a quick salute. Yes General, but they did not succeed. It is a strong kind of magic which apparently only can be broken by something known as Xenesh's Amulet, so I am told. Graw looked up and sighed. The only thing that can get my sword and my reputation back is finding an ancient amulet that has been lost for a couple of centuries. If there would be any gods, they would have picked me an ill fate. Graw turned to the centurion. Bring me two of the best soldiers available in this camp and meet me in my hut. Graw retreated to his hut, washed his face and strapped his official general armor back on. After that he walked into the tactics room, where he encountered two Charr waiting for him. One clearly was a heavy armored warrior, the other seemed to be one of the Charr shamans serving the legion with their destructive magic. General, you were looking for the best soldiers there were? You have found them! both of them proclaimed while saluting Graw.

Hours passed as Graw gave instructions to his two soldiers. Tactics, describing the terrain, possible enemies and their weaknesses. No subject stayed untouched. Graw did not like losing and always made sure he was prepared for anything, he felt they would need it on this journey. After he was satisfied with the new experience brought onto the two centurions, he stood up. We shall first rally to Xenesh's crypt, I am sure no Asura would leave his treasure unprotected but we will smash his defenses to pieces. By getting this artifact, we not only free my legendary sword, but also give ourselves a chance to drain all magic enchants from Ebonhawk's defenses. They will fall at our feet and die. The Charr shaman gave Graw a thoughtful look. Why haven't we retrieved this artifact before, if we can destroy Ebonhawk with it?. Graw sighed. Because we can't use the artifact ourselves. If we went and retrieved it, it might get stolen from us. Instead we now have humans and other invaders dying during their journey to find the artifact, thinning their army, Graw grinned. But now we will be able to use it, with some ''cooperation'' of the Asura trapped inside the crystal. Charr guards, centurions, farmers and more came to watch how Graw and his companions left. All three of them dressed in full gold-plated armor with red-dyed mail underneath, more impressive then even the Seraph in full ornate, walked out the gate. Days passed as the charr marched through the forests, now and then killing a deer or rabbit for their meat. Graw was surprised of the low amount of living creatures they encountered, but concluded they probably were spooked of their appearance. The darkness quickly fell over the forest, while a Charr warrior was swiftly gathering some wood for a fire. Suddenly the charr froze, he clearly heard something coming closer. Taking out his blade he waited anxious, ready to battle anything that attacked him. Looking around, he noticed some faded shadows moving through between the tree. A snarl broke the silence and a hyena jumped from behind one of the tree's and leaped at the charr. The warrior tightened his grip on the sword and dodged the hyena. While the hyena flew past him, he grabbed the beast's tail and swung him around before releasing him. With an howl of surprise the hyena flew a couple of yards before hitting a tree, breaking his neck. Meanwhile two other hyena's came closer. Approaching from different sides they tried to ambush him. The charr saw one coming, but also heard the other one behind him. Before the hyena knew what was happening, the warrior jumped towards the animal and jammed his blade into the throat of the beast. As quick as he could he grabbed up the dead hyena and threw it towards the other one. The hyena that was left backed away slowly, but the warrior was walking towards him. Then the charr recognized a familiar smell. He

needed to warn Graw! Ogre's nearby! OGRE'S! and he started running but before he could make it to safety, he felt a big wooden club hit his back. Lying down on his back, he saw the big shadow of an ogre leaning over him. He heard a Charr war-cry behind him, but he felt the life draining out of him. He knew he at least alarmed Graw and drew his last breath before going into the darkness. Graw was looking in the fire, sitting in their temporary camp with his shaman companion. He sent out his other guard some time ago to gather some wood for the fire, but it was taking to long. Suddenly he heard the breaking of branches and right after that a voice, a Charr voice. Knowing something was wrong he called his shaman and while blowing his warhorn he ran into the woods, rallying towards the voice of his dying friend. Arriving at the cleared meadow, he immediately charged the first ogre. Unaware of the nearing threat, the ogre was ripping off the dead Charr's armor. Before he knew what happened, he felt an agonizing pain in his leg, causing him to kneel down. Looking up, he looked right into the face of a grinning Charr warrior. Graw slowly sliced through the face of the ogre before swinging his sword around, cutting off the ogre's head. Only two ogres left. Meanwhile behind him, he heard the shaman chant the old language. Calling onto the power of the old flame, he conjured up a rain of fire. The ogre's got hit by burning flares and tried to ward off the falling flame. Graw threw his sword towards one of the ogre's, making it fall onto its knee's before returning to him. The ogre tried to get up, but the last thing he saw would be the sight of a fiery ball coming right at him. Meanwhile the other ogre stood up and took out his warhorn, but before he has a chance to blow it he got knocked back against a tree by one of the shaman's air spells. Graw came closer and stabbed his sword into the ogre's head, piercing the head to the tree. Graw looked back at his fallen partner. Let that be a warning for all creatures, never get into a fight with a Charr, Graw said while walking back to his dead warrior. We must prepare a proper burning for this hero. The shaman shook his head. We do not have time for that, General, while taking out a ball of fire. We must do it the quick way before more ogre's come this way, you are to important to die in the hands of these savage brutes. Graw did not like the plan, but he realized it was the only choice. Ok, do what you have to do, soldier. The shaman raised his arms, calling onto the powers of fire for a cleansing fire. When the fire started to turn flesh into ash, they turned around and left to destroy their camp and move on towards their destination.

Mourning the lost, they continued their way to the mountains. During the nights they spoke of their stories, their accomplishments and their losses. During the day they traveled many miles, only stopping to drink water or quickly grab some salted bacon to eat. Graw was very cautious, making sure they weren't being followed by anything. This once all was Charr territory, he told his companion. Before the Ebon Vanguard, the Norn and the Dwarfs came to brutally defile this place, we roamed these lands. We knew everything that happened within miles and our greatest warriors were born and trained here. All that is left now are destroyers, unleashed by the unknowing Humans and the extinct Dwarfs. At least someone paid for trying to take over these lands. The Charr shaman nodded. But we will once more rule this world, General. The Humans are weak and will be crushed under our feet the moment we take their last two strongholds. Graw lifted his hand. We are getting closer, watch your steps and tread slowly. Suddenly a rumble could be heard. Graw quickly spotted the origin of the sound. Two Norn are standing at the entrance to the crypts, it seems like they are delving into the ground, Graw whispered at the shaman. We must not let them find the artifact before we do. Graw felt something hit his head and his sight got blurry. Behind him he heard his friend getting slammed to the ground and a high pitched voice. An Asura voice. We found ourselves some spies here, friends, Graw heard the Asura talk to two big Norn with drawn weapons. I have seen a lot of foolish things, but two Charr sneaking up on people in Human territory is new for me One of the Norn, a big female hunter, stepped out of the shadows. We do need to ask them some questions, lets make sure they don't struggle while we use some rope to restrain them. Next thing he noticed was the hilt of a sword bashing into his head, causing him fall down. Last thing he saw before going unconscious were flames, then darkness took over.