A purple dawn rose over the small province of Tannahill. A young watchman, 17 years of age was waiting for a caravan. The winter had been rough, and there was little food left. Snow and slush still covered the ground in some places. The caravan should've been there a week ago, and if It didn't arrive soon people were going to starve. The watchman began to nod off, when a moaning off in the distance caught his attention. A man covered in a blood stained cloak, color now indistinguishable, limped along the road.
- - - -
The watchman ran down the ladder and helped the fellow to the small city. He had a large gash on his leg, clearly left by a sarkel... giant scorpion creatures that stood 8 feet tall, and had sycthes in place of claws. This would need to be reported back to Lord Kelaan immediately. "Can you walk?" The watchman, Durandal, asked. "I...I think so. There were so many of them. We didn't stand a chance!" He stammered. He reeked of piss, blood, and death. He'd clearly been on his own for quite awhile. "How long have you been traveling?" Durandal asked calmly. "Th..three days. My son was with me too... he died of infection and a broken leg." Durandal grimaced as they entered the bazaar.
Many eyes greeted them as the turned the corner onto the main city road leading to the palace. The city was full of its usual assortment of gaurds, beggers, and poor merchants selling what little old spices and cheap, ragged cloth they had left. A man came running out of the barracks to greet them, it was Tier, captain of the Tannahill royal gaurd. "What the hell happened out there?" He asked Durandal. "No time, go on ahead and warn Kelaan we may be facing a sarkel infestion." Tier nodded and ran towards the palace as fast as he could. If there were sarkel about, Kelaan needed to know.
Tier ran up the stairs to the palace as fast as his legs would take him. He knew just how dangerous sarkel could be, despite the fact that they were uninteligent beasts. He felt as if he had been running for hours until finally he reached the royal chamber. Kelaan was lying on the floor motionless, foaming at the mouth. Tier stepped back and took in the sight... he was clearly poisoned, but at this point he wasn't sure if it was a dumb cooks accident or treason. The sound of foot meeting tile echoed behind him, but he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Atrox, his ambitious Lieutenant, Durandal's brother, and arse. "My my my, Tier... you just can't help yourself can you?" He chuckled. "I always knew you were a power hungry snake, but did it really warrant this?" Tier turned around, he had known Atrox since he was born. He had always been a wierd one. Silent, tactful, sarcastic, and somehow loved by everyone.
"And do you have any evidence that I did it, Atrox?" He held his gaze on Atrox for what seemed to be eternity before he finally responded. "No, I guess I don't, not that it really matters. We should worry about the Sarkel out in the woods instead of mindless bickering. If we don't hurry that apprentice of yours, Durandal, might end up like your father." Tier moved to draw his blade but thought better of it. He would be guilty of murder then, and it would be wiser to use Atrox against the sarkel anyway.
Durandal was pinned to a tree by an exceptionally large sarkel. The defense force had fallen in a little under a minute, and they were going for the trebuchets now. In that split second period of distraction, Durandal felt somthing slide along his torso. It didn't even hurt, blood just gushed out in front of him and some organ slid down his leg. Stunned by terror and shock, the creature used the moment to skewer him to the tree with its barbed tail. Suddenly he felt a massive weight lifed off him as the Tier's blade met its tail. Durandal tried to say somthing but all that came out was blood and a sickly gurgling noise.
Atrox and Tier were back to back as five sarkel surrounded them. It seemed to be the last of the wave, but one on one alone with a sarkel was practicly suicide. two of them hurled themselves at Tier, whilst the other three stood motionless. Durandal was confused until he saw the tiny cuts on them. They literally exploded and turned into pulp. "Since when did Atrox get so fast..." he thought as Tier finished off the other two.
Tier dropped his blade and ran over to Durandal. He was motionless, pinned to the tree by the remaining stump of a tail. a large pool of blood surrounded him and some organ, probably nessescary lay in the middle. "IT WAS ALL FOR ****ING NOTHING!" He screamed in defeat,and kneeled down in the pool of blood. "It's a real pity you should say that Tier... What happened to the good natured fellow I used to know?" Tier turned around, not knowing whether to kill Atrox or vomit. It didn't hit him until then that he'd left his blade laying on the ground, and Atrox appeared in front of him with inhuman speed. "You know Tier, it may be fun being dead. If life is an adventure then maybe death is too. Hell, quoting yourself, "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming "HOLY **** what a ride!"
Tier knew it was too late, he didn't even bother trying to run for his sword as Atrox pierced his gut and retracted the serrated blade, tearing flesh and intestines out with it. Atrox threw him down on the ground and kicked his face in 'til it looked like a mangled, broken piece of flesh. "I can't believe they made weakling scum like you a captain!" Atrox taunted as he sliced his limbs off. "I always was stronger than you... And Kratos, and Elzix, and Durandal! That only leaves two left, doesn't it? Kind of sad, really. I'd like an endless supply of pathetic weaklings like you to tear apart piece by piece!" He laughed as he delivered the killing blow into Tier's heart.
That's all I have for now, before I proceed I'll need two things: A replacement for the word "asshole" since I don't want to sound biased, and a list of medieval clothing, preferably with pictures.
