Amtgard, Shire of the Iron Springs

Fangs and Darkness

Contributed by Spehiroth Von Hellscream
Nov 09, 2005 at 08:03 PM
After much time of rebiulding from the destruction that befall the shire of Iron Springs, funds were running low. Supplies were nearly exhuasted, people could not return to work until many of the shops were completed. The sheriff saw dark times ahead unless they could finish and return to thier miniing. He kneew they needed help, and quickly. He went across town to speak with the town mage Lady Squeak. " Mi' lady I would like to request that you lead a small caravan of whats left of our treasury to Mystic Glades. I would like you to pick your escotrs and leave post hast for the aide." " Well I am still in preparations for the coronation.... but I know someone who can take them all the way." " Thankl you Mi'lady you could not believe hwo much this is appreciated." Everyone knew the fair and beautiful Squeak. Many would have gladly joined her to seek aid for the shire. Unfortunatly there are still bands of goblins and orks threatening the saftey of the underprotected shire. Many of the capable fighters had already left to deal with these threats leaving mostly inexperienced fighters behind for defence. She quickly listed the remaining fighters and made her decision. Rex was the son of an old royal guard. He took to fighting trying to impress his family and keep honor on their name. Short and frail, for he was barely a man. With a heart of courage he accepted. Argo was a young nomad, from a barbarian tribe not far from the shire. He found himself excited by the shire, its attractivness to evil proved he could go back a great warrior. With a swift chop he fell a large tree and boisterously laughed "let us go now then!" In the rebuitl tavern she found in the midst of a bar brawl a beautful golden haired warrior woman who gave no name, only a price and proof of her skills for sale. Winning the fight she gave a small price and asked when they left. Finallt they would need a person who was experienced and coueld think like the evil that constantly seiged them. She picked the traiterous Sephiroth Von Hellsceam. The same dark skinned scimitar weilding man that worked for the sorceress. With a strange honor sytsem and undoubteble loyalty to his "Lord" he stopped his helping rebuild and prepared to leave. Finally the party was assembled and left. All traveled light and moved fleet of foot, lest they be ambushed and robbed. Lady Squeak lead them slightly out of the way to a large canopy of tress in a mountain valley. Here she explianed that they would find another mage to finish the trek with them. they followed trails and subtle signs well into the night. Near mid night they decided to set camp. they all quickly dispersed to accomplish their camp duties. shortly after much ruckus and and yelling, Rex was the first to return with full waterskins. He set down the skins and looked to see the abscence of fire. That is when he noticed dozens of gleaming yellow eyes staring up above to the sack of treasure hanging securely in the tree. He drew his sword and immediatly lunged into the pack swinging swift and accurate. " BAD DOG! BAD DOG! NO GOLD FOR YOU TODAY! HUNT DOWN A QUIRELL YOU MANGY MUTT!" The wolves all snarled and barked and immediatly jumped in for a kill. All the others heard the yells and the barks and immediatly ran to the camp. Upon seeing Rex attemp to fend of what appeared to be a giant wave of gray and white fur with glistening teeth they jumped in to the fray. Argo drew his sword-axe and lunged in with a yell that paralyzed many of the wolves. The warrior woman routed a large number and sytematically picked them off. Sephiroth moved to the center and and threw deadly knive at those still in the bushes. Squeak did no t know waht to do. most spells were to dangerous in such packed fighting. She searched for an opening when she heard a loud tinkleing of metal follwed by a barely audible scrap. To her horror two wolves had climbed the tree, gnawed the rope of and were dragging it away. Without a second thought she rushed after those thieving wolves. She stripped the flesh from one and immediatly after electricuted the next, but the last wolf pounced baring his fangs, and a look of death in its eyes. Squeak curled back in anicipation of the pian to come , whn the beast head suddenly flew over her and its body landed at her feet. She looked over with a graciuos smile and was shocked by the gleaming white teeth, and well trimmed goatee of Sir Rift. He gabbed the sack and yelled for the rest to fall back to him. They all reluctantly manuevered back to him and stodd on guard. Suddenly a loud creak and a low rumble cast across the valley. Roots and vines shot from the ground entangeling the wolves in a field of imovable foliage. the night went quiet with the awe of all present. Squeak broke the silence, " Thanks Ju ju. The help would have been better earlier, when we were looking for you but know is fine." Through the field of of wolf shaped vines emerged a man, apparently a teenager Dressed in tones of the earth and leathers. hold a quaterstaff. " Ahhhh, why would you need me? It wouldnt be to finish the journey to the elven city of Mystic Glades? You rely on me to travel there eniterly to much. Yet that is my service to the shire." "Thank you Juju I owe you yet again." Squeak explained everything to him and intruduced them all. Rift explained that he was talking with Juju about any hoards that might be in the area. He decided this held precedence. So Sqeak entrusted them with the money and began her journey back to the shire. Within a few days the party was only a day form the Capitol of Mystic Glade. They all decided they would push themselves to reach it quickly. as the team joked and jested woth the end in sight they were stopped short bby a group of people in cloaks. Sephiroth moved forward. " Let me handle them, I know how these type are. Hello there. Bueatiful night is it not?" The lead figure pulled back the hood to reveal an angular face and large almond eyes set in skin the color coal. "Give us the money and you shal live. " the team immediatly recognized the race. Drow. Elves of the underdark. "Listen this treasure you speak of aaarrrrghghghghhahfasdjkfh!!!" were the words of Sephiroth as all the figures threw off their cloaks and a javelin peirced through his shoulder. He fell and rolled off to side. The Argo, Rex, the unamed warrioress and Sir Rift charged in and meet their steel to enemy steel. Juju stayed back and luanched into an assualt of spells, guarding the money. Sephiroth knowing he was useless dissappeared from sight and traveled as quickly as he could towards the capitol city. The batlle raged, slowly taking its toll on the herioc team. Taking wounds and exhuation the fought with every ounce of strength and will in them, slowly being manuevered into a tight circle around Juju and the sack. The team was bieng worn out. Their defence was falling and seemed lost. Argo looked out into the rising sun. His gleamed with sudden hope. A platoon of elven swordsmen had come to their aid. In a fury of need to not fail he hefted the sack and bomed at them all, " RUN WITH ME!" Lifting his sword-axe he charged through with his compatriots by his side to make a smalll break and have the drow turn into the uncoming cavalry charge. Just yards away they reset and charged back in, finally defeating the horde of dark elves. in the capitol city they all sat in tavern drinking and cheering to mision well done. the shire would gets its aid. Boisterous and jovial they did not notce when the tavern went quiet until the commander of the guard stood at their table. " Soryy to interrupt your night, but one of my solders found this on the body of the mistress leading the pack of drow." sir rift took the rolled parchment, spread it out and read outloud. " Mistress Illhanna Varuzzt, That Rabble from Iron Springs have survived my wolves, They head towards Mystic Glades. They can not be allowed to reach it. A young slender fair haired barbarian, a short very young fighter, a curvy fiery blonde, a tall muscular knight (possibly with mohawk), a short brownskined male with a birth mark on his face, and a very slender young male obvously a nature lover. Stop them at all costs! (its signed with a massive paw print) The hereos look blankly at each other, wondering only what danger awaits them.
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