The Great Warriors Three
The challenge for Araphant, Ho-Gun, and Roderick, was appearing somber and appropriately forlorn. True, the small village of Summershaw had largely been destroyed, and many villagers and common folk had lost their possessions, and in some cases, their very lives. And truer still, the main culprits, Balcoth and Talwart had fled upon their winged small dragons, after alighting the better part of the bridge in flames.
But truthfully, seeing the bulk of the invading army crushed and vanquished before them, having slayed so many orcs, Easterlings, trolls, and any number of dark beasts of the enemy, was that not something to celebrate? The three warriors all thought so, to some extent or another, and indeed, once the great clean up had begun, and the safety of their situation finally set in, many a night were spent over meed, ale, and wine, with Tir’s dog bowl filled with some mixture therein as well, as the champions toasted their victory and friendship.
But throughout the festivities, they also couldn’t shake the heavy threat upon each of their hearts, a lingering doubt, of something undone. It took Roderick, the noblest one among them to voice it aloud, but once he did, they all consigned to follow it through.
A mysterious map fragment the group had discovered in their adventures had initially led them to the conclusion that Anghor was under threat from agents of evil. Victorious against the main army’s forces, the three warriors did not forget another advancing threat, that from Mount Gundabad, and a company of orcs and goblins which sought to augment Balcoth’s forces. Saewen, the commander of the Smiling Hawks and perhaps their most stalwart ally, agreed to accompany the men, along with some of her best warriors, to destroy the threat to Anghor once and for all.
After a few more tankards of ale, Saewen, Araphant, Ho-Gun and Roderick, along with his faithful canine Tir, said their good-byes in Summershaw and set out for the Grey Mountains and the lands of Anghor beyond, in search of a quarry already on the move!
Having been caught in no small amount of danger as they navigated the mountain passes, the group’s spirits dropped low as they cleared what was once The Aviary, home to Saewen’s troupe, and a calamitous battle that saw the monument fall to the enemy. While passing the grounds now though, an otherworldly evil lurked in their thoughts, and nameless voices rang throughout its crumbled walls. Tir trembled uneasily, sensing a darkness the others felt deep in their bones. Someone, or something, had taken hold of the old Aviary, and it would take more than their small group to dislodge the threat. They left that place, post haste, wondering if they may need to return soon.
On the low marshes, the hunt for the Gundabad orcs, goblins, and too many trolls slowed, a difficult quarry to discover. Throughout the summer and into the fall the hunting party searched and pursued, helping a small village near the White River after a massive storm, before heading to the foothills of Teardrop Mountains, and then ultimately circling back south through the Westerly Wood and finding a vanguard of the forces. There they battled again beside frozen farmlands just north of the Grey Mountains. Saewen’s Hawks fought well, and the Brazen Warriors Three repelled a second ferocious charge of orc captains as they attempted an outflanking maneuver. Tired but victorious, they chased the shadow agents back towards Mount Gundabad, picking off stragglers as they went.
Confident of their immanent victory they passed, yet again, south through the Grey Mountains and came upon Mount Gundabad from the north. To their shock though, they spied the Talwart, returning on his dragon whelp through the fury of an early winter snowstorm. For two full days the group contemplated an attack, but just as they were about to spring into action, they were set upon by Dragon Worshipers patrolling the hills. In the chaos, Talwart’s dragon flew yet again, breathing wreathed flame upon Saewen’s remaining hawks and scattering the group to the winds.
Araphant, Ho-Gun, and Roderick returned to Anghor Thom, satisfied they had eased the direct threat to the city and discovered the hiding place of their nemesis. But the defeat at the hands of the Dragon smarted them, and all three vowed to gain the support of their group before traveling back and ridding that evil mountain of Talwart and his cronies.
Having returned to town earlier than the rest of the group, the three took the time to settle into a calm few months as winter passed. Ho-Gun trained and developed new skills. Roderick spent time with Tir, training and enjoying long walks together. And lastly Araphant shared quality time with Saewen. The two of them nurtured a budding friendship that could possibly turn into something more while both worked with Crackpot Daniels, the ex-bandit turned reformation project.
All of them appreciated the time together, and perhaps even more the quiet time in town, reflecting and regaining their strength and fortitude for the challenges to come.
