The Howling Waste
The end of the journey fast approaches.The greatest test the group has faced is coming.In the north they will find their destiny.In the Howling Waste
The group camped on the border.The snow fell hard and there was no chance for a fire.
Tadhg sat scratching wolfbane's head as he looked at the waste that confonted them.
The Barony of Makar was a desolate place as far as he could see.The ice spread out like a giant sheet spread over the landscape.In the distance he could see the beginning of trees.
Even here he could see the darkness spreading around it.
It was as if a gloom emanated from it.They called it the Howling Waste.
Something even more sinister was there than the usual wolves and bloodthirsty northmen.
"We move out,now" he said as he walked towards the huddled group.
He could feel a darkness hanging within his soul.It was like a great weight around his neck.
He hefted Dunmharu and stuck it on his back.
When they were mounted they rode out.They could not help but think of the darkness ahead of them.
It was growing.
The group sat on the ground making final preparations.At sunset they would enter the howling waste.
The landscape meant that the horses would have to be left in the eaves of the forest.They had found a natural hollow in the ground that sheltered them from the elements.They had to make ready for battle.
Tadhg pulled on his breastplate.He buckled it on with a sense of purpose.The rest of his armour soon followed.
Finally all that was left was the helmet made by the armourer in Tara.He looked over it and remembered those days that seemed an age ago.
He noticed a symbol covered in the blood of recent battles.He rubbed it off and discovered the symbol of the wolfhound that he had forgotten was there.He pulled on the helmet with a sigh.
He looked round at the men that surrounded him.He thought back on the day when he had entered the council hall full of excitement at a great adventure.It had been something he had wished for for since he was a boy of six.
It had finally come and it was something different than he had ever expected.The only thing that kept him going was the thought that he could someday return to Tara.
He petted wolfbane unconciously and waited for Dusk to approach.
Aeryck watched as his friend donned his armour. There was oviously alot on Tadhg's mind. Aeryck imagined that it would probably serve better not to trouble him at this early hour. Instead, he would only sit and wait, keeping watch over Tadhg in the meantime.
The group walked through the murky forest.The gloom sucked the strength from Tadhg.
"I hear whispering.There is something in the forest."
Tadhg gripped his axe as tightly as he was able.He was sweating profusely,despite the freezing wind.
He looked around and saw the point where the gloom was darkest.
"Its coming from that clearing" he said rather unnecessarily.The entire party were already staring at the point.
Tadhg felt a pull.His body seemed to have a mind of its own.He started walking towards the clearing.His mind was screaming stop but his body did not respond.He knew the rest of them were feeling the same.
They stepped into the clearing and blackness closed in on them.....
As Aeryck felt the strange tug at his body it seemed that he should want to move into the clearing as the others were doing, yet he didn't move at first. He could feel the pull, but at the same time, it was as if he had a choice to go or not. Perhaps this breastplate had stranger properties than he had first imagined.
Seeing Tadhg lead the group, Aeryck quickly decided to stay at his friend's side. Tadhg had been acting strangely these last few days of travel, and Aeryck had been quite concerned. He would not abandon him now. He would fall by his side, or see his brother home, one or the other.
Aeryck moved forward into the clearing, at Wolfbane's flank, and was suddenly surrounded by darkness...
"YOU ARE HERE AT LAST" said a deep voice
A deep voice filled with malice and hate.Incredible power lurked behind that voice.Every word bit into the very souls of the group.
Tadhg felt unending horror at the mere sound of the voice.
Tadhg opened his eyes.They stood in the centre of a dark cavern.A dim light shone from the walls.Shadows shrouded the cavern.
At the edge of the light stood a man.He was taller than any of the group.He seemed to be the same age as Tadhg.He would have been handsome had his face not been twisted in a savage snarl.
Tadhg looked into his eyes.It was his eyes that commanded attention.His pupils shone with a bright red.His eyes made him seem ancient.Incredible intelligence and a terrible power showed themselves in those deep pupils.
As soon as Tadhg looked on him he knew he had made a terrible mistake.The group were like a candle in the face of a winter's storm.He knew they had no hope of besting this man.
"I HAVE BEEN wAITING FOR YOU.YOU FOOLS,YOU HAVE BEEN LED INTO THE TRAP THROUGH YOUR OWN ARROGANCE.YOU CANNOT HOPE TO STOP ME.I WILL DESTROY YOU AND THEN DESTROY YOUR BELOVED TARA."
He seemed to spit the last word.Utter hate came from his mouth as he said the word.
"Never,you will not harm Tara.Tara shall never fall while I have blood in my body." said Tadhg as he ripped the huge ace from his back.
The rest of the group had already drawn their weapons.
"HA HA HA.YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR OUTDATED RELICS SCARE ME?I AM POWER.I AM DEATH.I AM MARVALT."
"FIRST WE WILL HAVE SOME FUN."
With that he raised his arms to the high ceiling and chanted in along dead language.
The ground shook under the group.Suddenly creatures sprinted towards the group with talons raised.They looked as if they had been pulled from darkest nightmares.
They were upon the group in seconds and battle was joined.
Aethelmaer listened to the booming voice of Marvalt, chanting words of an ancient language. With that the ground shook, and towards them came nightmarish creatures, Aethelmaer looked at his comrades at his sides, and strung his first arrow. He let it loose, and feeling lightning in his arm at the same instant, he struck the first creature dead between the eyes. It crashed to the ground and slid a few feet before coming to a stop before the group. The others, stood ready and as the creatures came closer, Aethelmaer took out his sword and then the creatures were upon them...
A frenzy overcame Aeryck all of a sudden. He saw only Tadhg out of the corner of his eye. Marvalt became a blur, and each of the creatures began to move towards him and his comrades very slowly. He seemed to have ages to decide exactly what move he would make next as he began to swing his sword into the creatures bodies.
One after another of the beings began to fall, not only by Aeryck's sword, but by his brothers' as well. Yet, as many as he cut down, more still came...
Aethelmaer dropped one of the creatures and then they were upon them.Dunmharu clove horns and limbs from the terrible monsters.The axe seemed to have a mind of its own.
Tadhg looked around.The group were fighting for their lives as more and more creatures came out of the darkness.
Tadhg spun in an arc crashing his axe down on the head of an unfortunate monster.He kicked the body away to release the blade from the creatures skull.
Though it was obvious that they could not hold out forever.More and more monsters came.
Suddenly Tadhg's axe shone with a blinding light.It surrounded the group in a circle.The creatures stopped on the edge of the light.Seemingly reluctant to enter the brightened circle.
"ENOUGH!" roared a voice.
From its demonic sound Tadhg knew it was Marvalt.
The creatures suddenly dissapeared.One by one they were gone until the group were standing alone facing Marvalt.
"I AM DONE PLAYING WITH YOU FOOLS.NOW YOU WILL MEET YOUR END." he said in a terrible voice.
Marvalt drew a blade of demonic proportions.Spikes stuck from it in horrific angles.It was a deep red.The colour of blood.
He charged the group with a scream straight from the depths of hell.Marvalt moved as fast as a cheetah,blows hammering down on the beleagured defenders.
He raised his blade above his head and screamed
"KYAZAX"
Lightning streaked out from his blade.The entire group was blown to the ground.
Tadhg was in agony as the bolt coursed all over his body.
Marvalt walked towards him with fire in his eyes.
"NOW YOU TADHG SHALL DIE.YOU HAVE LED THIS FOOLISH EXPIDITION HERE.YOU WILL DIE FIRST!" he said as he pointed his finger at the stricken form.
Tadhg was lifted into the air.He was helpless dangling in front of the huge form of Marvalt.
Marvalt screamed with maniacal laughter as he drove the point of his blade deep into Tadhg's stomach.
Tadhg dropped to the ground.His life blood seeping from a gaping wound in his torso.
Tadhg opened his eyes and saw the scene around him even as he lay bleeding on the ground.Marvalt was heading towards Aethelmaer.
Suddenly wolfbane stood up over the form of Aethelmaer.
Flames covered wolfbane's body.He seemed to be changing form.The massive dogs legs grew to the shape of a human.His head changed shape and he stood upright.
A giant of a man,easily over 7 foot stood staring at Marvalt.A look of absolute fear crossed Marvalt's face.
The giant man opened his mouth and spoke.
"HELLO BROTHER" he said to Marvalt.
Aethelmaer stood in shock and awe of the circle of light the axe had created. With a another shake all of the monsters dissappeared from sight, and Marvalt standing there watching the group. He spoke some words in his deep demonic voice, pulled a sword and yelled out: KYAZAX! Then a huge bolt of lightning struck the group down. Tadhg feeling the worst of it, the others that were already up helped him up, and we all stared at Marvalt. More words echoed from his mouth, saying that Tadhg will be the first to die, because of his leading the expedition. Marvalt came closer, and with his mighty blade, he sank it deep within Tadhg's torso. He pulled it back out and pushed Aethelmaer away from Tadhg's aid, and as Marvalt was standing over him, Wolfbane stood over him. Only this time he seemed on fire, and he began to change form! Aethelmaer couldn't believe his eyes, as Wolfbane changed to human form. Aethelmaer had forgotton how to move, he was so bewildered, as the shadow of the new form, totally covered Aethelmaer. It spoke which only made Aethelmaer more amazed: HELLO BROTHER.
"LYCAN???!!" screamed Marvalt in absolute rage and confusion
"NO,IT CANNOT BE.I KILLED YOU.YOU WERE DESTROYED." said Marvalt as he gripped the demon sword tighter.
"I LIVED ON.I WILL NEVER DIE AS LONG AS THE SPIRIT OF TARA SURVIVES.I LIVED ON IN THE THE COURAGE AND BRAVERY OF ALL TARA." he said as he threw his arms in the air.
Tadhg's axe flew into his hand.It had seemed huge to Tadhg,yet it fit perfectly into the huge palm of Lycan.He held it like a long lost love.
For the first time since they had seen Marvalt,Tadhg saw fear in his eyes.
"NO,I WILL NOT LET YOU RUIN MY PLANS.YOU CANNOT STOP ME.I HAVE GROWN EVEN MORE POWERFUL." said Marvalt with a desperate scream.
"I MUST FINISH WHAT WAS STARTED.YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED LONG AGO BROTHER.I WAS THE ONE WHO STOPPED THE FULL FORCE OF YOUR POWER FROM DESCENDING ON THIS GROUP OF BRAVE TARANS.THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH OF THESE MEN IS WHAT GIVES ME MY POWER." he said as he stared down Marvalt
"NOW YOU DIE BROTHER" with that he charged Marvalt with his axe raised.
A titanic clash of energy smashed when the two weapons met.Blows rained down from either side furiously.Any one of them would have clove a normal man in two.
Lycan was hugely strong.His blows with the power of earthquakes behind them.
Marvalt moved with astonishing speed.He seemed to have the reflexes of a cat.He parried and struck as fast as lightning.
Lycan roared ferociously.He swung his axe in a huge arc.The blade came crashing down on the demon blade with such force that that terrible blade broke in two.
Lycan smashed the hilt of the axe into Marvalt's face.Marvalt fell to the ground.Still he opened his hand and a bolt of lightning hit Lycan square in the chest.
Lycan kept walking,it did not seem to affect him.
"YOUR EVIL MAGICS WILL NOT AVAIL YOU." he said as he walked towards him.
"THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE ENDED A THOUSAND YEARS AGO." as he said this he hefted his axe and swung it viciously.
Lycan severed Marvalt's head from his body.
As he did so light ripped from his body and the cavern was bathed in light.
Marvalt had gone.There stood Lycan with a look of triumph on his face.
"IT IS OVER.AND WITH THAT MY TIME IS OVER.EVEN AS WE WERE SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER,SO WERE WE BOUND TO EACH OTHER.HE IS GONE.NOW I MUST LEAVE." he said looking at the shocked group.
Lycan stared at the struggling form of Tadhg on the ground.
"ALAS,THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU TADHG.THE ACCURSED BLADE STRUCK YOU.IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME."
Even as he said this the huge man seemed to be fading.He became less and less clear.Just before he dissapeared he threw the axe on the ground.
"TAKE THIS AXE TO FODA.IT WILL SIT THERE UNTIL TARA IS IN ITS HOUR OF NEED."
"THE SPIRIT OF TARA LIVES IN YOU ALL.KEEP IT WELL IN MY ABSENCE."
With these final words he dissapeared.The group looked around and found they were on the floor of the forest.The entire cavern had dissapeared.
The group walked to where Tadhg lay on the ground. Aeryck kneeled beside him and said
"Tadhg,can you hear me?Marvalt is dead,It is over"
Tadhg struggled to open his eyes even as the last of his life blood seeped from his body.He spoke through bloodied lips.
"Then my mission is over.Do not let them forget.You are all my brothers.Live on and make Tara great" he said as he drew a rasping breath.
"For the glory of Tara." he said quietly as his last breath escaped him.
A wolf howled in the distance.
"He is dead" said Aeryck.
