The Rise of The Immortals

Chapter II : The Ranger

The Sun's rays were almost diminished. Cries from Alidora could still be heard, yet a lot more had already been silenced. An inhuman slaughter had taken place which left behind indefinite lifeless bodies and the ones who still lived had become soulless. Bodies were being piled up and burnt as the beasts danced around the pyres following whatever sick customs they were accustomed to. As mothers prayed carrying their lifeless children, as the men cried at the sight of half torn torsos of their loved ones, there was no answer from the skies. Their Gods had abandoned them.

Leaving behind the mourning ruins, an elf limped slowly away from the grave massacre. Her bow hanging idly from her shoulders as she held her guts with one hand to prevent them from spilling out through the large gash that ran across her well structured waist. Her armor was beaten and broken and tainted with blood, more her own than others. Coughing blood once in a while she still limped putting as much distance between her and the burning city as she could.

"Coward.....Bloody COWARD!" she thought to herself as she felt her legs strained against her own weight. She sat down by a boulder as she vomited some blood. The wound needed to be healed but her mana was almost totally spent. She tore some more of her cloak and wrapped around her wound tying it tighter. After finishing she held it tight as she looked at the dark sky, losing her will to live every moment she breathed.

Tears welled up in her ocean blue eyes as she thought about her sisters. Twenty five strong blood elves, led by their Captain Shir'lene Arlot, sent by the Ranger's Guild of Belador, to scout the outskirts of the city. Many such expeditions were sent to achieve reports of incoming invasions. Alas, just like every other, this one too failed to notice any upcoming danger. When the devils attacked, there was no option left but to face them head on.

Arrows met with armors, knives met with axes, a handful met with hundreds. Their fate was sealed the moment they heard the battle cries. All that was left to do was to hold them back long enough to provide the civilians time to evacuate. But even that became an impossible task as the Orsimer Shamans came at them with bolts of lightning shooting out of their palms, as spears of the trolls painted the skies, as the mounts of the savages trampled through the ranks and their siege machines turned stone to dust. Soon the world around them darkened as the last fort of defense crumbled to the ground.

Now the Captain lay with a single drop of life left within her. All her sisters had fallen, brave comrades she shared her meals with for years, even a few young ones she had trained herself. They all lay in foreign soil, losing the right to be cremated in their own lands. She, who had sworn an oath to guard them with her own life, had to flee from the battlefield. Shame and sorrow filled her heart as her pale skin glistened with blood, sweat and tears.

Namora, her lieutenant, was the last of her company that she came across. That is all that was left of her. A look at the lifeless eyes of her heartiest comrade took away the last bit of courage accompanying her heart as she flung her short-sword towards the nearest enemy and chose the path of retreat. After a vehement struggle through the scores of enemies she finally came across a hidden pathway and followed it to the outskirts of the once booming city.

"I have to inform the Guild, they must know of this tragedy as soon as possible", she thought melancholically. Being an elf her regeneration was far better than that of a human. Yet the serious extent of her injuries and excruciating pain that haunted her every joint made it almost impossible for her to push through. Still she stood up and recommenced her journey towards the woods.

"They would spend at least a week to enjoy the spoils of their victory. Resting and hiding in the woods is the most viable option for I lack any form of transport and it is impossible to travel to Drakensburg in this condition." Various thoughts crossed her mind as she willed herself forward bit by bit.

Drakensburg was the nearest civilization that resided in a valley between the Goldenfang mountains. It was not a fourth as large as was Alidora, but was quite resourceful and housed various markets and blacksmiths. The Ranger's Guild had a few agents functioning in the valley. Her own heart failed to accept her cowardly action of fleeing the battle, she had no idea how she would explain it to the Guild.

After hours of her solitary floundering she finally arrived to a dense overgrowth in the forest. The sky had taken a brighter shade as dawn was approaching. Hers feet gave way for one final time as she slumped to the ground resting her back on a thick trunk. Hunger gnawed at her belly yet her exhausted eyelids closed as she fell into a soft slumber. Shivering time to time she curled her legs as close to her chest as she could and gave her exhausted figure the rest it most essentially required.

Three hours of an uncomfortable snooze later, her hunger overcame her exhaustion and forced her into a sitting position. Her pain had lessened a bit and the healing process felt improved. She stood up and proceeded to check her surroundings for edible berries or fruits. The Sun could be sighted kissing the horizon as sweet chirping filled the dense greenery. Suddenly her keen senses perceived a feeble energy of human life coming from not much far ahead. Curiosity took hold of her as she limped forward.

Her arrows had run out and her sword lay embedded in the eye of an Orc, far within the city. She was in no condition to put up a fight in case she came across a foe. Thus the investigation was to be handled with caution. Upon entering a clearing she saw a human male, precisely in his late twenties lay slumped against beside the hollow of a large tree trunk.

The man was bare-chested and was quite well built. He owned a pretty face with long dirty blonde hair falling over his closed eyes. Yet his torso seemed to be marred with age old scars which have healed over the years, proving that the man had quite the experience in close combat. His left thumb seemed to be injured and the way he rested signified that his right ankle also possessed some recent wound. Light stubble filled his cheeks and chiseled jaw. Soft snores seemed to leave his slightly parted lips.

"A runaway", thought she as she trudged slowly towards the resting man. She located a sleeping mare tied to a nearby tree. A few food items were loaded on her. As she neared the man and knelt down, she noticed that in the wide hollow lay two young girls, wrapped in torn clothing and rags, snuggled together in deep slumber. Apparently the man had planned to stay on guard but his own exhaustion led him to perform a lousy job at that. Her heart became warm with sympathy as she perceived that they had a very thin escape as she noted the injuries retained by the older girl. The girl must be extremely exhausted to sleep soundly even with all the wounds.

"By the least you managed to save your daughters brave one", she murmured softly. "May Corellon defend you from further peril. " After enchanting an ancient prayer of health and life she slowly stood up and stumbled towards a nearby liginfruit bush, picking up a handful of the juicy berries. She munched on a few and left the rest beside the man.

Now with her belly satisfied she sat a little further, on a fallen log. A slight belching raised her throat as her wound was still in quite a serious shape. As she eyed the strange man, she noted that on his right bicep, an ancient symbol depicting a reptile-like creature was drawn very distinctly. The mark seemed quite familiar yet she could not pinpoint the exact text in which she had come across such a symbol. She decided to ask him of it as he would wake up. For now they seem to require the rest and so does she. Drowsiness took over her yet again as she lied down painfully on the log and nodded off. Who knew what lay ahead of them.