Salak sat quietly on a rock in the vale; he was exhausted, annoyed and bored. There had been little to do in the empire lately he felt a now common depression coming over him
How long have I been a recruit for? He asked himself then shaking his head he smirked slightly, oh how his slow advancement weighed heavily on his mind, slowly he thought about all that had changed since he first joined the empire and a feeling of anger washed over him
“He was the apprentice of the emperor…not that the emperor would remember”
Salak hissed at the memory, that fool Chak…but he was right…Tziak would barely remember him…how had it come to this? He was once the apprentice of the emperor now he was nothing, standing up he angrily kicked a stone.
I wonder…is there anyway to ask the emperor for the apprenticeship again Salak mused to himself then sighed as he decided that it was unlikely
Salak you idiot you are a failed priest, a failed apprentice and a failed troll of the empire. The thought hit Salak harder then he would off expected it to.
Standing up Salak strode off muttering to himself about finding herbs to give him a strong, deep…and dreamless, sleep.
Friday, 12 October 2007
Sins in Sleep
Darkness
“Why son? Why did you do this to me?” cried a familiar voice, Salak’nor frowned he was standing in a small hut…it was familiar…looking around he recognised that it was his families’ old hut.
“Why little one? Why?” cried the voice again, Salak looked around…and almost fainted when he saw who was calling out, it was his father, lying in a heap on the ground with blood running down the side of his head.
“Did you not care for me? Was I a bad father?” asked Sal’kaz.
Salak’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly as he tried to contemplate an answer the world shifted and everything changed.
Darkness
“Salak…this is all your fault” Salak looked around, they where in a forest setting, seeking the speaking and he soon found her, it was his mother, her skin was marked with burns.
“What have you done to us my boy? What did we ever do to deserve this” she asked
Salak swallowed loudly and muttered a response, taking a deep breath he spoke again louder “You were disloyal!”
His mother laughed “He deserved nothing less!”
Salak tried to respond but the world spun and once again change came
Darkness
“Brother, how could you do this? I thought we where close” Salak knew who this was straight away turning he looked at his sister, she sat on a rock and her skin was incredibly pale, looking around Salak noticed that this was on the verge of a forest. Salak looked at her before speaking,
“I…regret what I did, however I had no choice” Salak said slowly and quite quietly,
“You heartless bastard, you are not sorry” Said his sister Seril, she wore the same smirk that Salak himself so often wore, her voice was as sarcastic and mocking as Salak’s was.
“Choice? You always have a choice you fool, oh little brother, teller of lies, life of sins!” this was from a second voice deeper and stronger than Salak’s own, looking around he saw his younger, much larger brother standing near him.
Salak opened his mouth and then shrugged
“Your right, I don’t care, if I had not done what I had to, I would be dead also…I prefer it this way” after speaking Salak smirked
The world started to twist and change was coming, all that followed was the laughing of his brother and sister.
Darkness
“Oh Salak, my heart, you where a fool” Salak froze, slowly he turned around to see a familiar troll standing near him, she was slightly shorter than Salak and thin like he.
“…Tal’ai…” whispered Salak
Salak stood shocked and before he realised it, there where tears running down his face,
“Oh Salak” Tai’ai moved over to him and hugged him, Salak held her shaking slightly from sobbing. After a moment Tal’ai pulled away from Salak, and he could see she was crying also
“Good bye Salak” murmured Tal’ai
“No…wait…wait!” Salak shouted but the world was already shifting.
“TAL’AI!” Screamed Salak, breathing heavily he looked around to see he was lying in a hut a troll came to the opening and frowned, despite the late our this troll was still in leather armour,
“Alright priest” asked the warrior
Salak nodded and muttered a thanks before watching him leave, lying back down into his bed fearing the coming of dreams.
“Why son? Why did you do this to me?” cried a familiar voice, Salak’nor frowned he was standing in a small hut…it was familiar…looking around he recognised that it was his families’ old hut.
“Why little one? Why?” cried the voice again, Salak looked around…and almost fainted when he saw who was calling out, it was his father, lying in a heap on the ground with blood running down the side of his head.
“Did you not care for me? Was I a bad father?” asked Sal’kaz.
Salak’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly as he tried to contemplate an answer the world shifted and everything changed.
Darkness
“Salak…this is all your fault” Salak looked around, they where in a forest setting, seeking the speaking and he soon found her, it was his mother, her skin was marked with burns.
“What have you done to us my boy? What did we ever do to deserve this” she asked
Salak swallowed loudly and muttered a response, taking a deep breath he spoke again louder “You were disloyal!”
His mother laughed “He deserved nothing less!”
Salak tried to respond but the world spun and once again change came
Darkness
“Brother, how could you do this? I thought we where close” Salak knew who this was straight away turning he looked at his sister, she sat on a rock and her skin was incredibly pale, looking around Salak noticed that this was on the verge of a forest. Salak looked at her before speaking,
“I…regret what I did, however I had no choice” Salak said slowly and quite quietly,
“You heartless bastard, you are not sorry” Said his sister Seril, she wore the same smirk that Salak himself so often wore, her voice was as sarcastic and mocking as Salak’s was.
“Choice? You always have a choice you fool, oh little brother, teller of lies, life of sins!” this was from a second voice deeper and stronger than Salak’s own, looking around he saw his younger, much larger brother standing near him.
Salak opened his mouth and then shrugged
“Your right, I don’t care, if I had not done what I had to, I would be dead also…I prefer it this way” after speaking Salak smirked
The world started to twist and change was coming, all that followed was the laughing of his brother and sister.
Darkness
“Oh Salak, my heart, you where a fool” Salak froze, slowly he turned around to see a familiar troll standing near him, she was slightly shorter than Salak and thin like he.
“…Tal’ai…” whispered Salak
Salak stood shocked and before he realised it, there where tears running down his face,
“Oh Salak” Tai’ai moved over to him and hugged him, Salak held her shaking slightly from sobbing. After a moment Tal’ai pulled away from Salak, and he could see she was crying also
“Good bye Salak” murmured Tal’ai
“No…wait…wait!” Salak shouted but the world was already shifting.
“TAL’AI!” Screamed Salak, breathing heavily he looked around to see he was lying in a hut a troll came to the opening and frowned, despite the late our this troll was still in leather armour,
“Alright priest” asked the warrior
Salak nodded and muttered a thanks before watching him leave, lying back down into his bed fearing the coming of dreams.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Champions come again
Salak’nor had felt extreme surprise at how much had passed since he was last in the empire.
Kel’jiin was now exiled from the empire, deemed by two separate blood drinkers a traitor and a heretic.
The champions of the primal gods were all so being reselected, one for each aspect, this process was well on the way, and one potential aspect for each had been announced.
For Shirvallah the tiger there was the blood drinker Rlaris, an old troll yet one of immense strength and fighting skill, Salak’s knowledge of the troll was limited yet he had seen the old troll in action a few times and had been impressed. Umkankik, the last champion of Shirvallah had been a legendary warrior; Rlaris has a lot to live up to…
For Hir’eek the bat there was Mneri, a new troll to the empire, she was a priestess, a quiet oddly reserved troll. She had a lot to fulfil to live up to Hir’eek’s expectations…Tziak the last champion had became High Priest and then the emperor! Yet Salak had a feeling that she would do well.
For Bethekk there was the elder Shoa, Salak had met her a few times but didn’t know much off her except she seemed arrogant, not uncommon given her station however. Kel’jiin the last champion of Bethekk…for all his faults was a legendary hunter within the empire, and a great warrior. Perhaps arrogance is a common attribute in Bethekk’s favoured?
For the twin snakes of Ula’tek and Dara an elder by the name of Zig’Tuul. Last time Cai and a troll named Zulhan had been selected to represent light and darkness, this time but one was chosen. Perhaps this was due to Zulhan’s horrific downfall…hmm…even the gods do not see all ends it seems. Salak had not met Zig’Tuul yet, he had heard that the troll was a drunkard and seemed an odd choice for a champion…yet Salak had faith.
And for Shadra…no thing…no one for the venom queen. Yet Salak had had a strange…experience he had been told that he was apparently being watched as a potential champion. Of course nothing had been announced, Salak doubted it, he was too weak for such glory.
Kel’jiin had quickly found Salak and over the span of a few days explained everything to him, apparently he was the “Consort” of Shadra, Salak found this odd and hard to believe, yet it seemed the truth. There last meeting had not gone soo well, in fact Kel’s rage may of killed Salak had it not been for Mneri’s intervention, thank Dambalah that Salak had been able to send that spirit for help…although he had doubted Mneri’s powers to sense spirits, she was no witch doctor.
Kel’s anger had been aroused due to Salaks…statements, he was pathetic in Salaks eyes, perhaps…perhaps he was the consort of the venom queen, but no way would Salak listen to him complain about Bethekk betraying him.
Fool! His arrogance was his downfall! He was as bad as Shalkis in Salaks eyes…worst because he still pretended to be something to the empire!
And yet he was likely to take Shadras champions place…perhaps reinvited back into the empire.
Damn these politics!
Salak had been gone to long from the empire, his mind unadjusted to politics, he only dared weave his manipulation on the least important and weakest minded…oh how sad everything had become.
When will the emperor come…Salak needed guidance…and no high priest existed.
Salak must find Tziak he must!
Kel’jiin was now exiled from the empire, deemed by two separate blood drinkers a traitor and a heretic.
The champions of the primal gods were all so being reselected, one for each aspect, this process was well on the way, and one potential aspect for each had been announced.
For Shirvallah the tiger there was the blood drinker Rlaris, an old troll yet one of immense strength and fighting skill, Salak’s knowledge of the troll was limited yet he had seen the old troll in action a few times and had been impressed. Umkankik, the last champion of Shirvallah had been a legendary warrior; Rlaris has a lot to live up to…
For Hir’eek the bat there was Mneri, a new troll to the empire, she was a priestess, a quiet oddly reserved troll. She had a lot to fulfil to live up to Hir’eek’s expectations…Tziak the last champion had became High Priest and then the emperor! Yet Salak had a feeling that she would do well.
For Bethekk there was the elder Shoa, Salak had met her a few times but didn’t know much off her except she seemed arrogant, not uncommon given her station however. Kel’jiin the last champion of Bethekk…for all his faults was a legendary hunter within the empire, and a great warrior. Perhaps arrogance is a common attribute in Bethekk’s favoured?
For the twin snakes of Ula’tek and Dara an elder by the name of Zig’Tuul. Last time Cai and a troll named Zulhan had been selected to represent light and darkness, this time but one was chosen. Perhaps this was due to Zulhan’s horrific downfall…hmm…even the gods do not see all ends it seems. Salak had not met Zig’Tuul yet, he had heard that the troll was a drunkard and seemed an odd choice for a champion…yet Salak had faith.
And for Shadra…no thing…no one for the venom queen. Yet Salak had had a strange…experience he had been told that he was apparently being watched as a potential champion. Of course nothing had been announced, Salak doubted it, he was too weak for such glory.
Kel’jiin had quickly found Salak and over the span of a few days explained everything to him, apparently he was the “Consort” of Shadra, Salak found this odd and hard to believe, yet it seemed the truth. There last meeting had not gone soo well, in fact Kel’s rage may of killed Salak had it not been for Mneri’s intervention, thank Dambalah that Salak had been able to send that spirit for help…although he had doubted Mneri’s powers to sense spirits, she was no witch doctor.
Kel’s anger had been aroused due to Salaks…statements, he was pathetic in Salaks eyes, perhaps…perhaps he was the consort of the venom queen, but no way would Salak listen to him complain about Bethekk betraying him.
Fool! His arrogance was his downfall! He was as bad as Shalkis in Salaks eyes…worst because he still pretended to be something to the empire!
And yet he was likely to take Shadras champions place…perhaps reinvited back into the empire.
Damn these politics!
Salak had been gone to long from the empire, his mind unadjusted to politics, he only dared weave his manipulation on the least important and weakest minded…oh how sad everything had become.
When will the emperor come…Salak needed guidance…and no high priest existed.
Salak must find Tziak he must!
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
An Old Wound
Salak’nor cursed as he stepped over the Gnome corpse, the ugly thing had attacked him out of nowhere, and to make matters worst, it had caused him to dirty the hem of his black robes, sighing he sat down on the ground.
He was tired, the shadow magic he was using was far more physcially and mentally taxing than those shamanistic arts. Lying back on the soft grass, shadowed by trees he slept…
With a start Salak awoke, he looked around, it was almost night moving himself into a sitting position he loved at his left arm for a moment, then mechanically unwrapped the red silk cloth around his upper arm. As the flesh beneath the cloth was revealed Salak grimaced, in the moonlight the words that never healed on his arm glittered brightly, standing out against his skin, they read in the ancient Gurubashi
“All Hail Hakkar”
Salak looked at the disgusting “scar”...he had carried it for soo long and yet no amount of regeneration or even magic of the Emperor himself could heal it, it brought back so many memories. For a moment he simply stared at it before sighing and shaking his head, curse you Rathess…you sit beside the Emperor as his guard and yet you were capable of this only a year ago…
Salak never understood why Tziak trusted the fool priest, yet it was not Salak’s place to question the ruler of Trolls.
Rewrapping the cloth around his arm he stood up and looked around
When would he find another of his empire? He had been gone too long...for all Salak knew the emperor could be dead...no not that never that...the spirits would tell him...wouldn't they?
And so the priest walked off into the night, with renewed fears of what he would find once he met his brothers and sisters again.
He was tired, the shadow magic he was using was far more physcially and mentally taxing than those shamanistic arts. Lying back on the soft grass, shadowed by trees he slept…
With a start Salak awoke, he looked around, it was almost night moving himself into a sitting position he loved at his left arm for a moment, then mechanically unwrapped the red silk cloth around his upper arm. As the flesh beneath the cloth was revealed Salak grimaced, in the moonlight the words that never healed on his arm glittered brightly, standing out against his skin, they read in the ancient Gurubashi
“All Hail Hakkar”
Salak looked at the disgusting “scar”...he had carried it for soo long and yet no amount of regeneration or even magic of the Emperor himself could heal it, it brought back so many memories. For a moment he simply stared at it before sighing and shaking his head, curse you Rathess…you sit beside the Emperor as his guard and yet you were capable of this only a year ago…
Salak never understood why Tziak trusted the fool priest, yet it was not Salak’s place to question the ruler of Trolls.
Rewrapping the cloth around his arm he stood up and looked around
When would he find another of his empire? He had been gone too long...for all Salak knew the emperor could be dead...no not that never that...the spirits would tell him...wouldn't they?
And so the priest walked off into the night, with renewed fears of what he would find once he met his brothers and sisters again.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Salak returns
Salak’nor stumbled through the Vale, it had indeed been a tiring venture, not only had he been attacked by humans and had some odd conversations with spirits, but his departure from the empire on Spiritual matters (mostly rituals) had been wasted. He had been unable to get his hands on more than 4 human children, it was disgraceful the amount of guards the humans were using in small villages.
Luckily the spirits had made the beasts of the Vale passive and he had travelled through it unharmed, sighing he rested on a wall frowning.
He knew he wasn't powerful, yet once he gave up his elemental powers to once again pursue a path of Light and Shadow, to better serve the Spider Queen he realised how weak he was. A strong wind could probably kill him right now, it was sad, at the age off...what age was he now...well into his thirties he must be! Whatever, at his age he should be able to do powerful things with the spirits, but he could hardly heal a cut or hold a shield…
He needed training, and he needed to learn more of these priestly ways as his elemental shamanistic powers were not beyond him. Those spirits of elements had accepted his new path and would never help him again, now voodoo magic and the spirit world was his new powers…one in which he had no skill.
HE had been in the empire longer than many, and had less power, less respect…but then do I care?
No I guess not, I am not powerful and perhaps never will, yet I can still serve Shadra…that makes me happy.
How the mighty have fallen Salak...you have become so pathetic...once you were..NO Silence your thoughts fool!
Looking down at his chest he cursed
Yet it would have been nice to not have lost my tabard…getting up he moved further into the Vale, hoping to run into a Troll of the empire before he died of hunger…
Luckily the spirits had made the beasts of the Vale passive and he had travelled through it unharmed, sighing he rested on a wall frowning.
He knew he wasn't powerful, yet once he gave up his elemental powers to once again pursue a path of Light and Shadow, to better serve the Spider Queen he realised how weak he was. A strong wind could probably kill him right now, it was sad, at the age off...what age was he now...well into his thirties he must be! Whatever, at his age he should be able to do powerful things with the spirits, but he could hardly heal a cut or hold a shield…
He needed training, and he needed to learn more of these priestly ways as his elemental shamanistic powers were not beyond him. Those spirits of elements had accepted his new path and would never help him again, now voodoo magic and the spirit world was his new powers…one in which he had no skill.
HE had been in the empire longer than many, and had less power, less respect…but then do I care?
No I guess not, I am not powerful and perhaps never will, yet I can still serve Shadra…that makes me happy.
How the mighty have fallen Salak...you have become so pathetic...once you were..NO Silence your thoughts fool!
Looking down at his chest he cursed
Yet it would have been nice to not have lost my tabard…getting up he moved further into the Vale, hoping to run into a Troll of the empire before he died of hunger…
Shadra's Message
Salak had been gone again from the empire, he hated it but he always needed to go into seclusion, he found it difficult to find sacrifices for his rituals amongst the Vale, and always would rather use lesser beings than other trolls.
Sitting on a large hill in the edges of the vale on his return to the empire…to his master Tziak he heard something…his spirit seeing abilities were not great, he found a place to relax and closed his eyes, the lesser spirits he commanded were acting…
Mad
There was no other word to describe it. He commanded them with his will, yet they were restless, and he could not properly command them. Soon he sensed something of such power his vision went white…he could no longer sense individual spirits or see their forms, just power…infinite power.
A voice spoke to him and when it did he screamed with the pain it caused…but also how exultant it made him feel
“My servant, get up, the lesser beings come…get up and fight…I shall grant you strength”
Salak’s eyes snapped open and he spun in time to see a human with a dagger charge at him, attacking the man’s mind he quickly left only a gibbering fool, rocking back and forth. Keeping low he moved though the forest till he saw a man with a large sword and plate armour, even from this distance Salak knew it was one of those paladins.
Salak poor stealth skills however betrayed him and the paladin turned and ran right at him, in that moment Salak knew he could not win…poor, weak Salak did not stand a chance. He would of froze and waited to die only the choice was not his own, his arms moved in strange gestures at their own accord, his mouth muttered words of power and burned his throat, a blast of shadow took the Paladin in the chest, yet he came on. As his sword flashed towards Salak’s throat the troll ducked with unnatural swiftness, especially for one as puny as the little troll priest, hammering his fist into the Paladins face he used the shadowy arts to reach into the Paladins mind and take control.
The Paladin moved, jerkily, towards a large empty space his eyes wide in fear of what he could not prevent, stopping he stood their unable to move. A rustling sound came from the left, then from the right then from in front and behind, soon he was surrounded by countless amounts of spiders, as they climbed up his body burying under his armour eating his flesh, eating through his flesh he gained enough control to scream and then fell to die a long and agonising death.
The Paladin however was not the only one with no free will however, Salak himself did not have any control during the entire battle. He had watched as his body did deeds both physical and magical beyond his abilities or understanding, as the human died the young troll felt himself sway, unnatural strength left him, magical strength also vanished and he fell into a world of darkness…
Waking up Salak looked around, fear made his heart smash painfully into his chest. The world was black there was nothing but darkness and after what seemed an eternity and voice spoke out, as cold as any magiks used by the frostmane tribe but also inhuman…and yet also in a way, feminine.
“What is wrong my creature…my servant….why do you fear this place?”
“Who…who speaks?...I demand to know…in the name of the Emperor!”
The being that could not be seen laughed
“Your emperor holds no power over me…at least not as I am now…and as to whom I am…all you have to do his think and you should know…your blood should know…”
Salak licked his lips both fear and hope in his voice
“G…great mistress, my Queen Shadra?”
The voice laughs
“Not quite” said the voice “and now for a more fitting surroundings”
The darkness…melted, it ran away and in its place was the Gurubashi Arena…only it was not a ruin it was beautiful, it was as if it had been cared for and maintained since it was built…and it did not look old either.
Out of the corner of the Arena came a Troll female, she stood in front of him, with light blue skin and blue hair, she was more beautiful than anything that Salak had ever seen. He had never been good with females, despite how they were subservient, he had always been nervous around them and the beauty of this Troll made it worst. Soon he realised he was staring at her and he cursed himself…she’s a spirit you fool, for all you know a powerful one! Be respectful, but be proud! Bowing Salak spoke to the spirit avoiding staring at the appealing beauty of the creature
“It was you who saved my life, and I thank you, but please tell me, how can a lowly priest of Shadra help you, were you sent by the emperor?” asked Salak
“I told you he holds no sway over me at the moment…what do you think of the surroundings? Of this Place?”
Salak pondered whether to speak his mind, she was not a troll…surely she would not judge him as a weakling due to his thoughts…slowly she spoke
“It is indeed beautiful Great Spirit; I would dearly love to examine it in more detail”
“And what write poems about it? Oh do not look so surprised, I see into your thoughts, I have been given certain abilities until my job is done….you are not he average Troll…this I like and so I think shall my mistress. I do not judge a Troll on his battle prowess, I do not think that your interests in reading non-Troll texts or anything to be ashamed of…although to keep it too yourself is indeed wise. Well this place is only a memory of the Arena how it was, nothing more than an Illusion”
The female troll walked right up to Salak making him swallow audibly, she reached out touched his amulet and smiled slightly
“You wear this still, even after the tricks that monster Hakkar played on you, tell me do you consider yourself a priest of Dambalah or Shadra…oh yes I know both but which is foremost in your mind?”
Salak licked his lips and spoke quietly…fearfully
“The great mistress has always been known to me…I would like to say Dambalah…but in my heart I must….must say Shadra”
The female nodded and smiled
“It is good you speak the truth”
She wondered off a bit and spun around before speaking
“I am a messenger from Shadra, she is watching you. A number of the old Champions have failed little priest, and as such all most be re-selected. Many will be watched, one of witch are you little priest. Shadra has her eye on you so be wary, she wanted you too know this.”
Salak felt dizzy and stared at the spirit
“Me…A Champion…I am too weak…too pathetic”
“No…no you foolish little priest, she knows you are weak, she knows you are cowardly, but she has seen other things in you that are appealing. But you are not yet chosen, there could be dozens of more appealing candidates, I was only giving you a message from my Queen. Now little priest, return to the land of the living and return to your Empire and your Emperor, you have been gone from his side too long, and your lack of training has made you weak indeed.”
She turned and as she went to step into a shadow she stopped and spoke almost in a caring voice
“Salak, your father’s death hangs over you as does your ancestors…and your tribe under Hakkar’s influence, the voices you heard, and the ones Hakkar wished to trick you with.
All of this is a burden. Your father died saving you Salak, and has great strength in the spirit world as his faithfulness to Shadra in life has granted him.
Your Tribe is no longer that of Hakkar, you may have the blood he can control but Shadra and Dambalah shall shield you from its worst effects, you can cast of the tribes name from now on.
The voices you heard were Hakkar…but in your…ahh…confrontation with misled Rathess, that was Shadra who saved your will and life…and that mark on your arm will someday be healed…do not hold it against Rathess any longer, he is no longer a puppet of Hakkar as you should know…and Shadra is happy you still wear her necklace and the symbols of the spider on your robe.”
Salak listened and his eyes watered slightly with memories of all the events of his life and he spoke in a shaky voice staring at the spirit that still remained in Troll form
“Are you truly a messenger? Are you sure you are not the Spider Queen”
The female troll laughed slightly and winked before pointing at him at which point the world exploded into harmless flame.
Sitting up with a jolt Salak wondered if it was a dream, only the half eaten corpse of the Paladin told him otherwise…getting up he stumbled further into the Vale…he most return to his Empire…to his master…
Sitting on a large hill in the edges of the vale on his return to the empire…to his master Tziak he heard something…his spirit seeing abilities were not great, he found a place to relax and closed his eyes, the lesser spirits he commanded were acting…
Mad
There was no other word to describe it. He commanded them with his will, yet they were restless, and he could not properly command them. Soon he sensed something of such power his vision went white…he could no longer sense individual spirits or see their forms, just power…infinite power.
A voice spoke to him and when it did he screamed with the pain it caused…but also how exultant it made him feel
“My servant, get up, the lesser beings come…get up and fight…I shall grant you strength”
Salak’s eyes snapped open and he spun in time to see a human with a dagger charge at him, attacking the man’s mind he quickly left only a gibbering fool, rocking back and forth. Keeping low he moved though the forest till he saw a man with a large sword and plate armour, even from this distance Salak knew it was one of those paladins.
Salak poor stealth skills however betrayed him and the paladin turned and ran right at him, in that moment Salak knew he could not win…poor, weak Salak did not stand a chance. He would of froze and waited to die only the choice was not his own, his arms moved in strange gestures at their own accord, his mouth muttered words of power and burned his throat, a blast of shadow took the Paladin in the chest, yet he came on. As his sword flashed towards Salak’s throat the troll ducked with unnatural swiftness, especially for one as puny as the little troll priest, hammering his fist into the Paladins face he used the shadowy arts to reach into the Paladins mind and take control.
The Paladin moved, jerkily, towards a large empty space his eyes wide in fear of what he could not prevent, stopping he stood their unable to move. A rustling sound came from the left, then from the right then from in front and behind, soon he was surrounded by countless amounts of spiders, as they climbed up his body burying under his armour eating his flesh, eating through his flesh he gained enough control to scream and then fell to die a long and agonising death.
The Paladin however was not the only one with no free will however, Salak himself did not have any control during the entire battle. He had watched as his body did deeds both physical and magical beyond his abilities or understanding, as the human died the young troll felt himself sway, unnatural strength left him, magical strength also vanished and he fell into a world of darkness…
Waking up Salak looked around, fear made his heart smash painfully into his chest. The world was black there was nothing but darkness and after what seemed an eternity and voice spoke out, as cold as any magiks used by the frostmane tribe but also inhuman…and yet also in a way, feminine.
“What is wrong my creature…my servant….why do you fear this place?”
“Who…who speaks?...I demand to know…in the name of the Emperor!”
The being that could not be seen laughed
“Your emperor holds no power over me…at least not as I am now…and as to whom I am…all you have to do his think and you should know…your blood should know…”
Salak licked his lips both fear and hope in his voice
“G…great mistress, my Queen Shadra?”
The voice laughs
“Not quite” said the voice “and now for a more fitting surroundings”
The darkness…melted, it ran away and in its place was the Gurubashi Arena…only it was not a ruin it was beautiful, it was as if it had been cared for and maintained since it was built…and it did not look old either.
Out of the corner of the Arena came a Troll female, she stood in front of him, with light blue skin and blue hair, she was more beautiful than anything that Salak had ever seen. He had never been good with females, despite how they were subservient, he had always been nervous around them and the beauty of this Troll made it worst. Soon he realised he was staring at her and he cursed himself…she’s a spirit you fool, for all you know a powerful one! Be respectful, but be proud! Bowing Salak spoke to the spirit avoiding staring at the appealing beauty of the creature
“It was you who saved my life, and I thank you, but please tell me, how can a lowly priest of Shadra help you, were you sent by the emperor?” asked Salak
“I told you he holds no sway over me at the moment…what do you think of the surroundings? Of this Place?”
Salak pondered whether to speak his mind, she was not a troll…surely she would not judge him as a weakling due to his thoughts…slowly she spoke
“It is indeed beautiful Great Spirit; I would dearly love to examine it in more detail”
“And what write poems about it? Oh do not look so surprised, I see into your thoughts, I have been given certain abilities until my job is done….you are not he average Troll…this I like and so I think shall my mistress. I do not judge a Troll on his battle prowess, I do not think that your interests in reading non-Troll texts or anything to be ashamed of…although to keep it too yourself is indeed wise. Well this place is only a memory of the Arena how it was, nothing more than an Illusion”
The female troll walked right up to Salak making him swallow audibly, she reached out touched his amulet and smiled slightly
“You wear this still, even after the tricks that monster Hakkar played on you, tell me do you consider yourself a priest of Dambalah or Shadra…oh yes I know both but which is foremost in your mind?”
Salak licked his lips and spoke quietly…fearfully
“The great mistress has always been known to me…I would like to say Dambalah…but in my heart I must….must say Shadra”
The female nodded and smiled
“It is good you speak the truth”
She wondered off a bit and spun around before speaking
“I am a messenger from Shadra, she is watching you. A number of the old Champions have failed little priest, and as such all most be re-selected. Many will be watched, one of witch are you little priest. Shadra has her eye on you so be wary, she wanted you too know this.”
Salak felt dizzy and stared at the spirit
“Me…A Champion…I am too weak…too pathetic”
“No…no you foolish little priest, she knows you are weak, she knows you are cowardly, but she has seen other things in you that are appealing. But you are not yet chosen, there could be dozens of more appealing candidates, I was only giving you a message from my Queen. Now little priest, return to the land of the living and return to your Empire and your Emperor, you have been gone from his side too long, and your lack of training has made you weak indeed.”
She turned and as she went to step into a shadow she stopped and spoke almost in a caring voice
“Salak, your father’s death hangs over you as does your ancestors…and your tribe under Hakkar’s influence, the voices you heard, and the ones Hakkar wished to trick you with.
All of this is a burden. Your father died saving you Salak, and has great strength in the spirit world as his faithfulness to Shadra in life has granted him.
Your Tribe is no longer that of Hakkar, you may have the blood he can control but Shadra and Dambalah shall shield you from its worst effects, you can cast of the tribes name from now on.
The voices you heard were Hakkar…but in your…ahh…confrontation with misled Rathess, that was Shadra who saved your will and life…and that mark on your arm will someday be healed…do not hold it against Rathess any longer, he is no longer a puppet of Hakkar as you should know…and Shadra is happy you still wear her necklace and the symbols of the spider on your robe.”
Salak listened and his eyes watered slightly with memories of all the events of his life and he spoke in a shaky voice staring at the spirit that still remained in Troll form
“Are you truly a messenger? Are you sure you are not the Spider Queen”
The female troll laughed slightly and winked before pointing at him at which point the world exploded into harmless flame.
Sitting up with a jolt Salak wondered if it was a dream, only the half eaten corpse of the Paladin told him otherwise…getting up he stumbled further into the Vale…he most return to his Empire…to his master…
The servant of Hakkar
After leaving a shop in Orgrimmar Salak had felt something odd turning around he saw the heretic Rathess walking over to him
"How is your master today heretic" sneered Salak, he truly felt betrayed by one he trusted.
"Better than you if you call me heretic again" Rathess replied calmly
"You are but a servant of the Blood God" snarled the priest of Shadra
What came next he had not been expecting Rathess denied nothing he laughed and Salak then felt something strange like a presence in his mind
"Kneel" ordered the heretic
To his despair Salak found himself kneeling he then felt something else talk through his mouth a strangely cold women's voice
"Leave him be, he and his line are under my protection you shall not have him!" it spoke
But this was said in an ancient tongue...yet he understood it. The pain that racked his body when she spoke through him was unbearable but Rathess said something and laughed Salak thought it was "Why you can't help him Shadra" but Salak knew this was a Soulflayer trick it was the blood god and this heretic in his mind not the goddess blasphemy to think such things.Trying to gain what power he had for an attack, Salak soon realised he was too weak but then he felt as if some more power was flowing into him, before he could think where it came from he struck out attacking Rathess, this made the heretic have to fall back...but only slightly.
"My father escaped your master and so shall I"
"No Salak'nor you are already his” snarled the heretic
Salak grasped his necklace of Shadra he spoke weakly...he felt his strength drain away...
"I am free, free" but even as he said it his will was melting away and Rathess once again intruded on his mind.
"KNEEL!" said the voice it was all around him now
"No...Free" replied Salak feebly
"KNEEL NOW!" the voice the sound smashing into him, destroying his will.
Feeling himself fall he kept desperately muttering about being free but it was no good, his will was not his own. As he kneeled he watched as the heretic engraved something on his left arm it was in the language of the ancient Gurubashi it read "All hail Hakkar"Rathess studied the priest for a moment
"the power you TRIED to use against me failed although the power wasn't your own it seems...." he shook his head and looked upon the weak priest mockingly
"now for the final test...JUMP"
Slowly Salak walked over to the edge and was about to jump he couldn't resist but then something spoke in his mind the women's voice this time not speaking but ordering
"I have protected your blood line too long to let this happen now remember what the Soulflayer done to your tribe your family RESIST!"
Salak was suddenly aware that Rathess was still talking he heard his last words again
"JUMP"
"No" Salak said in a weak voice
"NOW" the commanding voice said again but this time it held little sway but to drain his strength
"BLOOD FIRE DEATH" roared the priest swinging his staff at Rathess
"Fool!" shouted the heretic and he easily grabbed the staff Salak had swung at him and twisting it Salak lost balance and fell where he whimpered
"Fo...for the venom queen" but his voice held no conviction he looked up at a angered Rathess who firmly pushed Salak so he fell head first to the ground.
Salak could no longer feel the voice in his mind....Shadra NO he though furiously it is the Soulflayer playing tricks on me. Struggling through his pain he opened his eyes to see the Heretic looking down at him, he then used some foul magic to heal the injured priest Salak felt the foul magiks working on him and though he would be sick...but he was so weak he thought he was going to die
"FOLLOW ME" ordered the heretic
This time there was no resistance voiced or physical Salak followed Rathess "I'm doomed" though the priest but just as he was walking he saw out of the corner of his eye, a troll wearing the imperial Tabard but so did Rathess and his power over Salak vanished as he fled.
"He...a servant...of....Soulflayer" whimpered Salak
The mage Zucha looked at him smiling friendlily "ahh we have way with dealin with im mon"
"No...don't understand he...no slave…too powerful I must warn Tziak the.....high priest must know".The mage nodded and bowed "go I will keep an eye out for dis person".
Salak then limped of to warn the Empire of this new dangerous threat and hoped that he would not be under-estimated.
"How is your master today heretic" sneered Salak, he truly felt betrayed by one he trusted.
"Better than you if you call me heretic again" Rathess replied calmly
"You are but a servant of the Blood God" snarled the priest of Shadra
What came next he had not been expecting Rathess denied nothing he laughed and Salak then felt something strange like a presence in his mind
"Kneel" ordered the heretic
To his despair Salak found himself kneeling he then felt something else talk through his mouth a strangely cold women's voice
"Leave him be, he and his line are under my protection you shall not have him!" it spoke
But this was said in an ancient tongue...yet he understood it. The pain that racked his body when she spoke through him was unbearable but Rathess said something and laughed Salak thought it was "Why you can't help him Shadra" but Salak knew this was a Soulflayer trick it was the blood god and this heretic in his mind not the goddess blasphemy to think such things.Trying to gain what power he had for an attack, Salak soon realised he was too weak but then he felt as if some more power was flowing into him, before he could think where it came from he struck out attacking Rathess, this made the heretic have to fall back...but only slightly.
"My father escaped your master and so shall I"
"No Salak'nor you are already his” snarled the heretic
Salak grasped his necklace of Shadra he spoke weakly...he felt his strength drain away...
"I am free, free" but even as he said it his will was melting away and Rathess once again intruded on his mind.
"KNEEL!" said the voice it was all around him now
"No...Free" replied Salak feebly
"KNEEL NOW!" the voice the sound smashing into him, destroying his will.
Feeling himself fall he kept desperately muttering about being free but it was no good, his will was not his own. As he kneeled he watched as the heretic engraved something on his left arm it was in the language of the ancient Gurubashi it read "All hail Hakkar"Rathess studied the priest for a moment
"the power you TRIED to use against me failed although the power wasn't your own it seems...." he shook his head and looked upon the weak priest mockingly
"now for the final test...JUMP"
Slowly Salak walked over to the edge and was about to jump he couldn't resist but then something spoke in his mind the women's voice this time not speaking but ordering
"I have protected your blood line too long to let this happen now remember what the Soulflayer done to your tribe your family RESIST!"
Salak was suddenly aware that Rathess was still talking he heard his last words again
"JUMP"
"No" Salak said in a weak voice
"NOW" the commanding voice said again but this time it held little sway but to drain his strength
"BLOOD FIRE DEATH" roared the priest swinging his staff at Rathess
"Fool!" shouted the heretic and he easily grabbed the staff Salak had swung at him and twisting it Salak lost balance and fell where he whimpered
"Fo...for the venom queen" but his voice held no conviction he looked up at a angered Rathess who firmly pushed Salak so he fell head first to the ground.
Salak could no longer feel the voice in his mind....Shadra NO he though furiously it is the Soulflayer playing tricks on me. Struggling through his pain he opened his eyes to see the Heretic looking down at him, he then used some foul magic to heal the injured priest Salak felt the foul magiks working on him and though he would be sick...but he was so weak he thought he was going to die
"FOLLOW ME" ordered the heretic
This time there was no resistance voiced or physical Salak followed Rathess "I'm doomed" though the priest but just as he was walking he saw out of the corner of his eye, a troll wearing the imperial Tabard but so did Rathess and his power over Salak vanished as he fled.
"He...a servant...of....Soulflayer" whimpered Salak
The mage Zucha looked at him smiling friendlily "ahh we have way with dealin with im mon"
"No...don't understand he...no slave…too powerful I must warn Tziak the.....high priest must know".The mage nodded and bowed "go I will keep an eye out for dis person".
Salak then limped of to warn the Empire of this new dangerous threat and hoped that he would not be under-estimated.
Curses Through Blood
The troll sat by the river on the outskirts of Orgrimmar thinking...Salak found himself doing a lot of that lately a hundred curses on his bloodline and ancestors....no that wasn't fair it was the blood god’s fault he corrupted our Blood.Salak'nor was apart of a Gurubashi tribe that had in its unfortunate history became unwilling slaves of the Soulflayer this was one of Salak's biggest secrets he had told two people in the Empire funnily one of the Trolls he told was the one he had believed would kill him for it, but he was actually the one that didn't name him of the Atal'ai Tribe. Salak's father was one of the first to have the courage to escape....and survive from the Blood gods rule and how Salak praised him for it, for many generations as far back as before the dawn of the twin empires his ancestors had been priests of the Loa Shadra and now so was he and unlike the last few generations he didn't have to do so in secret. Now he was a witch-doctor of the Gurubashi Empire a true priest of the goddess and maybe he would finally get some training in the ways of Voodoo which he has not had since his father died. Laughing to himself for wasting his time reminiscing Salak stood up to return to the city when he heard it again the voice in his mind how DARE the Soulflayer imitate Shadra to her own priest it was the cursed blood in his veins that let the Blood God talk to him well Tziak can help me he will cleanse me as he had promised blocking out the voice he smiled then a horrible thought crossed his mind...what if the voice truly is Shadra I'm not able to shoulder such a responsibility
you can and you shall whispered the voice
"Shut up leave me alone" screamed Salak madly he froze, focused and felt the voice buzz away he calmly regained his composure and marched his way back to the city to prepare for the Imperial meeting.
you can and you shall whispered the voice
"Shut up leave me alone" screamed Salak madly he froze, focused and felt the voice buzz away he calmly regained his composure and marched his way back to the city to prepare for the Imperial meeting.
The tale of Salak's escape
Salak told the tale of his escape to many of his fellow trolls in the empire.
By his own mouth this is what happened...
Salak’nor grew up amongst the Atal'ai Tribe, some of the most loyal servants to the Blood God Hakkar. Salak however was different, his whole family was different, and while their blood cursed them as a kind of link to Hakkar their loyalty lay elsewhere. For as far back as Salak can tell, his direct ancestors were always priests of Shadra, most likely he was even some sort of descendant of High Priestess Mar'li.
When Salak was 15 his father, Sal’kaz give him an amulet, on the middle of the amulet was a large engraving of a spider around the outside of the amulet were smaller engravings of a tiger, a panther, a bat and a snake. His father told him to keep it secret, to keep it safe for if any of the tribe saw it then everyone related to Salak would be destroyed.
Four years later they Atal’ai Trolls became restless, they began searching for dissent in their ranks, and for fear of his families Sal’kaz took his oldest son, his wife and his other son Sek’ri and his daughter Seril and fled the tribe.
All was going well until one day, when Salak’s father was away to the near by stream Sek’ri began muttering to himself. He then got up and walked over to Salak, two years his younger Sek’ri was still far taller and stronger than Salak. He just looked at Salak for almost 5 minutes then when Salak prompted him he spoke
“Salak, father has led us astray, we must return to our great god and beg forgiveness for what he has done to us…come cast aside that disgusting amulet and we shall return to the tribe”
Salak stared in disbelieve. Sek’ri had always been the most obedient of the three children and yet here he was, wishing to defy their father…Salak’s response was spoken with his usual smirk and hint of sarcasm
“Indeed brother, do you think Hakkar will not just destroy us, what does that fool care for mortals? He will just destroy us for the fun off it, do not be an idiot younger brother…go and help mother prepare dinner”
The order was not lost on Sek’ri in flushed and spoke angrily
“You may be the older Salak, but you are weak, even as a priest you are weak, magically, physically is that not prove enough that your disloyalty to the great god has punished you…but fine if you will not see reason then you shall die!”
Salak had no time to move his brother cannoned into him landing on top of Salak, Sek’ri proceeded to beat Salak. Sek’ri’s weight was too much and his strength to great, Salak would have died if the gods had not blessed him that day.
A rustling came from the trees to the left and a tall female troll stride out, the “twin” of Salak, they looked strangely alike apart from the obvious differences between male and female. She was as thin as Salak and as short, but was actually a bit stronger, she also had taken the same path as her twin and as she saw Sek’ri attacking Salak she threw her hand out, lightning flew from her hand as the spirits attacked Sek’ri.
As Salak watched he felt something hit his head and he blacked out…
Waking up Salak stood stiffly, he heard talking to the right, sneaking over he looked and almost screamed at what he saw, their lay his mother dead and his sister bound, Sek’ri was talking to other trolls who Salak recognised as of the Atal’ai tribe. They then spoke
“Were is your bother Sek’ri? And that fool of a father?”
“Salak is over their some where” replied Sek’ri with a gesture “as to where my father is, your guess is as good as mine”
“Do you think we can find Sal’kaz?” asked one of the tribe, a minor priest by his markings
His question was answered by a roar, he turned just as Sal’kaz’s axe took his head of his torso, Salak smiled, his father was larger than most trolls and as a Shaman knew both the ways of magic and war, as his father combated three trolls at one Salak moved up to his brother and spoke coldly
“Well Sek’ri, this time I shall destroy you, you have betrayed us, I can not let you live”
In answer Sek’ri took out his axe and smashed it at Salak who ducked and smiled
“you’re tired little brother, and I have yet to spend my strength…even a weakling like I can kill you now!”
Salak threw out a hand, lightning smashed into Sek’ri and then fire encased the troll, he fell and death came to him. Sal’kaz finished with his opponents and looked at Salak nodding slightly, there was tears in is eyes and he avoided the burning carcass that had been his youngest son.
Quickly, son and father moved to Seril’s bound form, untying her he checked her wounds healing what he could, kissing Seril with a rare showing of compassion he moved off to gather their things Salak smirked and spoke teasingly to her
“How did you let yourself get caught?”
She snorted before replying “I would of killed Sal’kaz only I was jumped by two other trolls, I managed to kill one of them…and you…how could you let a fool like Sal’kaz beat you?”
Salak shrugged smiling; neither he nor his sister had ever liked their fool brother.
Salak and Seril saw their father burying their dead mother he turned to them speaking in an emotionless voice
“We should get going my children; there is a lot of land left to travel”
And so the journey through the forest continued Salak grew depressed, his mate a female priest of Hakkar would be probably hunting him now most nights he sat thinking about it….the journey was not made pleasant.
When they were almost to safety they started to relaxed more and more every day, on a bright morning, Salak and Seril walked off for a while, chatting and laughing they didn’t see the trolls till they struck, Salak fell as the shadow bolt hit him in the back, Seril as quick as always gathered her power and struck back at the attackers. Getting up Salak saw there were three trolls, by their garb two were hunters and the leader was a priest. Seril threw a shield around herself of lighting and shouted at Salak
“Go! Tell father they have found us…don’t worry about me just go!”
Salak spun and ran back to the camp, once there he shouted for his father, out of the bushes fell the older troll, he was wounded, despite the danger Salak could not keep the sarcasm out of his voice
“I Suppose that you know about the Hakkari following us?”
Sal’kaz just nodded and breathing heavily he spoke
“We must get going, your sister is resourceful, going back for her would be suicide…and I am too injured to do much good.”
Salak was about to argue with a shout could be heard behind him…it was his sister
“For Shadra! For the Venom Queen”
As the shout echoed a massive pillar of flame burst from the area he had left is sister…not knowing if the flame was hers or another Shamans eh cursed and followed his father.
They spent half a week travelling; barely stopping for rest, the toll it took on the injured old troll was worrying, and if that was not enough, on the 4th day after the last encounter, just as they prepared dinner a young cocky shadow hunter burst forth to attack Salak. Luckily his father, despite injuries, was able to summon the elemental spirits to destroy the fool with what seemed liquid flame.
Just as the shadow hunter died a laugh came from the east, spinning they saw an old troll coming out, Salak recognised him, he was of great importance and power smiling he spoke
“Well well, you two have led us on a merry chase, why Hakkar wants you so bad is beyond my understanding, but the God wills it and so…you –must- return with us…living would be nice, but dead is just as good”
Salak spoke as his panting father lifted his axe
“Be gone old man, you can no make us return to the God of blood!”
The old priest laughed
“Indeed…perhaps someone else could persuade you?”
From behind him stepped a female troll of great beauty, she was slightly shorter than Salak, and and rather thin, she also wore the robes of Hakkar, at the sight of her Salak spoke in a voice of disbelief and pain
“Tal’ia…”
Tal’ia…his mate, the only female he had ever cared for not of his blood…and all she did was stand there watching, the old priest laughed
“Come, come Salak…not so arrogant now? Where is your usual sarcasm? You no longer smirk...are you pained by boy? How can you be, you should of known that she would not betray her god for another troll…especially such a pathetic specimen as you…now return with us peacefully or suffer the consequences”
Salak shook his head not daring to speak, as he did the old priests smile twisted into something dark, the old troll spoke
“Very well Salak, if you will not come with us then you shall die!”
Shadow surrounded Salak, suffocated him, he heard his father run past him and then a smashing noise as the troll was hurled back from the priest…however he could see nothing but darkness and just as he realised he had no chance the darkness vanished. Turning he saw his father lying on the ground staring in disbelief, looking forward he so the old troll on his knees and shocked expression on his face, as he fell forward Salak saw a knife protruding from his back.
Looking to Tal’ia he saw her just as she leapt at him and hugged him holding herself of the ground. She hung on is neck sobbing for a moment whispering to herself in a shocked voice over and over again
“What have I done…what have I done….what have I done”
Salak took her and set her on the ground kissing her slightly before speaking
“you saved me my love…you saved me…”
She looked at him and kissed him again for what, in Salaks eyes lasted an eternity, yet as she stepped back away from his it seemed that the eternity had barely been a second. She spoke quickly
“I...I must go…I must return to my god”
Salak stared and spoke just as quickly
“You can not he will kill you!”
She shook her head
“Perhaps but I must, or else he may take revenge on my family…I can’t…I can’t”
Turning she sprinted off
Salak returned to his father…still feeling shocked at what all had happened, looking at the old troll he realised how pale he was, leaning down he saw that his father had landed on a large tree splinter and had went through his back and almost out of his chest, he tried to summon some healing power but his father shook his head
“No…no my son…you must keep your strength, keeping following the way we planned and leave this place…you must live and serve her…she watched out bloodline for generations and blessed us enough so one of us could live…go serve her my boy…go..”
Watching his father die, Salak got up and slowly turned into a wolf and fled the forest.
A year later Salak found a new family…the Second Gurubashi Empire…and from their worshipped his Goddess and a new deity…Dambalah…he also found a master who helped teach him what he needed to know of the gods…a Troll known as Tziak.
By his own mouth this is what happened...
Salak’nor grew up amongst the Atal'ai Tribe, some of the most loyal servants to the Blood God Hakkar. Salak however was different, his whole family was different, and while their blood cursed them as a kind of link to Hakkar their loyalty lay elsewhere. For as far back as Salak can tell, his direct ancestors were always priests of Shadra, most likely he was even some sort of descendant of High Priestess Mar'li.
When Salak was 15 his father, Sal’kaz give him an amulet, on the middle of the amulet was a large engraving of a spider around the outside of the amulet were smaller engravings of a tiger, a panther, a bat and a snake. His father told him to keep it secret, to keep it safe for if any of the tribe saw it then everyone related to Salak would be destroyed.
Four years later they Atal’ai Trolls became restless, they began searching for dissent in their ranks, and for fear of his families Sal’kaz took his oldest son, his wife and his other son Sek’ri and his daughter Seril and fled the tribe.
All was going well until one day, when Salak’s father was away to the near by stream Sek’ri began muttering to himself. He then got up and walked over to Salak, two years his younger Sek’ri was still far taller and stronger than Salak. He just looked at Salak for almost 5 minutes then when Salak prompted him he spoke
“Salak, father has led us astray, we must return to our great god and beg forgiveness for what he has done to us…come cast aside that disgusting amulet and we shall return to the tribe”
Salak stared in disbelieve. Sek’ri had always been the most obedient of the three children and yet here he was, wishing to defy their father…Salak’s response was spoken with his usual smirk and hint of sarcasm
“Indeed brother, do you think Hakkar will not just destroy us, what does that fool care for mortals? He will just destroy us for the fun off it, do not be an idiot younger brother…go and help mother prepare dinner”
The order was not lost on Sek’ri in flushed and spoke angrily
“You may be the older Salak, but you are weak, even as a priest you are weak, magically, physically is that not prove enough that your disloyalty to the great god has punished you…but fine if you will not see reason then you shall die!”
Salak had no time to move his brother cannoned into him landing on top of Salak, Sek’ri proceeded to beat Salak. Sek’ri’s weight was too much and his strength to great, Salak would have died if the gods had not blessed him that day.
A rustling came from the trees to the left and a tall female troll stride out, the “twin” of Salak, they looked strangely alike apart from the obvious differences between male and female. She was as thin as Salak and as short, but was actually a bit stronger, she also had taken the same path as her twin and as she saw Sek’ri attacking Salak she threw her hand out, lightning flew from her hand as the spirits attacked Sek’ri.
As Salak watched he felt something hit his head and he blacked out…
Waking up Salak stood stiffly, he heard talking to the right, sneaking over he looked and almost screamed at what he saw, their lay his mother dead and his sister bound, Sek’ri was talking to other trolls who Salak recognised as of the Atal’ai tribe. They then spoke
“Were is your bother Sek’ri? And that fool of a father?”
“Salak is over their some where” replied Sek’ri with a gesture “as to where my father is, your guess is as good as mine”
“Do you think we can find Sal’kaz?” asked one of the tribe, a minor priest by his markings
His question was answered by a roar, he turned just as Sal’kaz’s axe took his head of his torso, Salak smiled, his father was larger than most trolls and as a Shaman knew both the ways of magic and war, as his father combated three trolls at one Salak moved up to his brother and spoke coldly
“Well Sek’ri, this time I shall destroy you, you have betrayed us, I can not let you live”
In answer Sek’ri took out his axe and smashed it at Salak who ducked and smiled
“you’re tired little brother, and I have yet to spend my strength…even a weakling like I can kill you now!”
Salak threw out a hand, lightning smashed into Sek’ri and then fire encased the troll, he fell and death came to him. Sal’kaz finished with his opponents and looked at Salak nodding slightly, there was tears in is eyes and he avoided the burning carcass that had been his youngest son.
Quickly, son and father moved to Seril’s bound form, untying her he checked her wounds healing what he could, kissing Seril with a rare showing of compassion he moved off to gather their things Salak smirked and spoke teasingly to her
“How did you let yourself get caught?”
She snorted before replying “I would of killed Sal’kaz only I was jumped by two other trolls, I managed to kill one of them…and you…how could you let a fool like Sal’kaz beat you?”
Salak shrugged smiling; neither he nor his sister had ever liked their fool brother.
Salak and Seril saw their father burying their dead mother he turned to them speaking in an emotionless voice
“We should get going my children; there is a lot of land left to travel”
And so the journey through the forest continued Salak grew depressed, his mate a female priest of Hakkar would be probably hunting him now most nights he sat thinking about it….the journey was not made pleasant.
When they were almost to safety they started to relaxed more and more every day, on a bright morning, Salak and Seril walked off for a while, chatting and laughing they didn’t see the trolls till they struck, Salak fell as the shadow bolt hit him in the back, Seril as quick as always gathered her power and struck back at the attackers. Getting up Salak saw there were three trolls, by their garb two were hunters and the leader was a priest. Seril threw a shield around herself of lighting and shouted at Salak
“Go! Tell father they have found us…don’t worry about me just go!”
Salak spun and ran back to the camp, once there he shouted for his father, out of the bushes fell the older troll, he was wounded, despite the danger Salak could not keep the sarcasm out of his voice
“I Suppose that you know about the Hakkari following us?”
Sal’kaz just nodded and breathing heavily he spoke
“We must get going, your sister is resourceful, going back for her would be suicide…and I am too injured to do much good.”
Salak was about to argue with a shout could be heard behind him…it was his sister
“For Shadra! For the Venom Queen”
As the shout echoed a massive pillar of flame burst from the area he had left is sister…not knowing if the flame was hers or another Shamans eh cursed and followed his father.
They spent half a week travelling; barely stopping for rest, the toll it took on the injured old troll was worrying, and if that was not enough, on the 4th day after the last encounter, just as they prepared dinner a young cocky shadow hunter burst forth to attack Salak. Luckily his father, despite injuries, was able to summon the elemental spirits to destroy the fool with what seemed liquid flame.
Just as the shadow hunter died a laugh came from the east, spinning they saw an old troll coming out, Salak recognised him, he was of great importance and power smiling he spoke
“Well well, you two have led us on a merry chase, why Hakkar wants you so bad is beyond my understanding, but the God wills it and so…you –must- return with us…living would be nice, but dead is just as good”
Salak spoke as his panting father lifted his axe
“Be gone old man, you can no make us return to the God of blood!”
The old priest laughed
“Indeed…perhaps someone else could persuade you?”
From behind him stepped a female troll of great beauty, she was slightly shorter than Salak, and and rather thin, she also wore the robes of Hakkar, at the sight of her Salak spoke in a voice of disbelief and pain
“Tal’ia…”
Tal’ia…his mate, the only female he had ever cared for not of his blood…and all she did was stand there watching, the old priest laughed
“Come, come Salak…not so arrogant now? Where is your usual sarcasm? You no longer smirk...are you pained by boy? How can you be, you should of known that she would not betray her god for another troll…especially such a pathetic specimen as you…now return with us peacefully or suffer the consequences”
Salak shook his head not daring to speak, as he did the old priests smile twisted into something dark, the old troll spoke
“Very well Salak, if you will not come with us then you shall die!”
Shadow surrounded Salak, suffocated him, he heard his father run past him and then a smashing noise as the troll was hurled back from the priest…however he could see nothing but darkness and just as he realised he had no chance the darkness vanished. Turning he saw his father lying on the ground staring in disbelief, looking forward he so the old troll on his knees and shocked expression on his face, as he fell forward Salak saw a knife protruding from his back.
Looking to Tal’ia he saw her just as she leapt at him and hugged him holding herself of the ground. She hung on is neck sobbing for a moment whispering to herself in a shocked voice over and over again
“What have I done…what have I done….what have I done”
Salak took her and set her on the ground kissing her slightly before speaking
“you saved me my love…you saved me…”
She looked at him and kissed him again for what, in Salaks eyes lasted an eternity, yet as she stepped back away from his it seemed that the eternity had barely been a second. She spoke quickly
“I...I must go…I must return to my god”
Salak stared and spoke just as quickly
“You can not he will kill you!”
She shook her head
“Perhaps but I must, or else he may take revenge on my family…I can’t…I can’t”
Turning she sprinted off
Salak returned to his father…still feeling shocked at what all had happened, looking at the old troll he realised how pale he was, leaning down he saw that his father had landed on a large tree splinter and had went through his back and almost out of his chest, he tried to summon some healing power but his father shook his head
“No…no my son…you must keep your strength, keeping following the way we planned and leave this place…you must live and serve her…she watched out bloodline for generations and blessed us enough so one of us could live…go serve her my boy…go..”
Watching his father die, Salak got up and slowly turned into a wolf and fled the forest.
A year later Salak found a new family…the Second Gurubashi Empire…and from their worshipped his Goddess and a new deity…Dambalah…he also found a master who helped teach him what he needed to know of the gods…a Troll known as Tziak.
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