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Hours must have passed, casks of empty wines lies around and in the floor, dead sleep, dead drunk is the ogre Grumblejack. Sakkarot looks at the sleeping ogre and finally says in a slurred voice, “See, I’m not in charge just because I’m handsome...” the bugbear stops and then immediately runs for the outdoors where pukes up his guts. He returns, smelling terrible and still stumbling drunk. Sit down in his chair and order more wine.
“Boasting is easy. Prove your words, ogre!” And Sakkarot Fire-Axe slams his empty chalice on the table.
“Then you’ve been speaking to fools, ogre,” says the bugbear with a sneer. “Certainly, a strong bugbear is more than a match for the weaker races ... like ogres.”
The Fire-Axe, during a meal, stretches and yawns and downs a chalice of strong wine. He then comments: “You call this strong wine? I’ve had a gallon and I can barely feel it,” boasts the bugbear warlord.
”Only to what is worth hunting.” he says slightly changing the subject, you hear the noise of the chair being pulled back, clearly indicating that the bugbear is no more sitting. You begin to wonder why he did that, and then you remember he once told you that he had been chased off his tribe, and you start to think that somehow, you were approaching what happened. ”But you are clearly a hunter.” he says and you is surprised on how close the voice sounds ”What are you hunting?”
”Back in the tribe, the younger ones used to play hunt the human.” he says toying with his cup. ”One, and in my time it was always me, would be chosen to be the human, and the others would hunt him.” he smiles with nostalgia as he continues ”There were several approaches to this game. Usually one would impress the others displaying combat prowess, or hide until the others gave up to hunt him. It was a good training, except for the human, that ended up beaten, and sometimes dead.”
”Fire is a tool. And as every other tool, should it be abused, there are always consequences.” he touches his breastplate, reminding you of his brand ”I’ve been burned enough to respect it.” Sakkarot breaks the eye contact as he admits ”I know I didn't answered your question. I’ve made fire a symbol.” he says indicating his flaming axe ”But to play? It’s seems it has been ages since I last sat down like this...”
Are you afraid of the fire, Nahia? asks Sakkarot
Sakkarot laughs with you, but not an uneasy one”It was a question, nonetheless.” he says finally. ”Great men, well in this case, great woman are forged in fire.” he stand from where he was sitting, walking over to Nahia and guiding her to sit again ”It is the privilege of lesser bugbears to light the flame.” he says pouring more drink in her cup. ”One should never have to pour their own drink.”
”There is truth in your words.” says the bugbear when you mention the Asmodean ways. Sakkarot look at the banner, as if lost in deep thoughts as you continue, it’s only when you stands ready to leave he says ”Again, my manners must be of a savage.” looking around he says ”I brought you here because I thought you wanted a calm place to talk, away from the horde, the noise and the smell. But I must insist, you asked me two questions, and answered only one.” ”Last time, you told me the same thing, how you wanted to live. You say simple, though abundant, wants. And what is it that you want?”
"And you? What are your plans after all of this is finished?"
”That’s an interesting notion. It is however, too soon for any speculation about it. I know what must be done, and for Asmodeus, if that is what is required of me, I would have it in no other way.”
That question brings a genuinely smile to his face. ”You got it a bit wrong there.” he says picking up his cup. ”It is not worthless. Think about it. The Island lies in ruins and despair, the Victor army failed, the king himself is dead. His daughter murdered. There’s nothing to stop the murderous bugbear horde to destroy Talingarde.” He pauses for a moment, giving you time to understand the situation. ”It is then, when Talingarde is in its darkest hour, a lost scion of some great house arrives from the mainland, huge army at his back, guided by his faith in Asmodeus. He marches against the undefeated bugbear horde, and slay each and every of them. The monstrous leader included.” ”With the horde defeat, Talingarde has a new ruler, one that serves Asmodeus. The Mitran faith is banished, for it allowed their followers to die at the monsters hands. The Asmodeus faith is restored and their temple restaured.” ”Now, tell me Nahia, do you still consider it worthless?”
And so they talked. For a long time, Sakkarot answered and asked questions to Rose and Mysty, Hound and Nahia keeping quiet, observing and listening to it all. At some point, Rose decided to go After Seren, to signal the end of the mission, taking with her Mysty and Hound, leaving Nahia and Sakkarot alone in the Lord council room. Then at Nahia’s question he smiles sadly and answer ”You see, like you, I’m a betrayer of my own kind. I’m leading them to death, though they know it not.” he looks sideways into the lord bedroom direction and continues ”As for me, if I am lucky enough, I’ll be only dead.”
"To burn and destroy, to cause fear and despair. To prove the Mitran faith is nothing more than an illusion." he answer and then asks ”Why the cardinal did not sent you with the others?”
”Of course there was a military reason” says the bugbear ”that however, could have been said for any other castle alongside the wall. There were others that would have put some weeks closer to the bigger cities.” and at Hound commentary he adds ”And this is not the only one that never have been breached.” Then he enters the room and sit at one of the chairs ”This should be a good place.” he look around once more before continuing ”The terms are the same as before, he says to Mysty, Hound and Rose, a history for a history. Within some limits, I’ll do my best to any question you ask, and you answer one of mines.” he stops then, waiting for any question you may ask of him.
”Well, it’s not really that bad.” says the bugbear chieftain ”We’ve had the honor to make the wizard our delivery boy.” After inspecting the mage laboratory for some more seconds, Sakkarot moves up again, ending up in the last floor. He then walks into the council chamber; the large chamber is austere and conservatively appointed. There is little more here than a heavy wooden table and a few chairs. Lord Havelyn’s personal banner hangs on the western wall – a Mitran sun crossed by sword and key. Sakkarot spends some time looking at the symbol before saying, mostly to himself ”I’ve often wondered why the cardinal chose this place to be the crushing point.”
Walking into the door that lead into the hallway with the stairs to the next floor, Sakkarot asks ”And you? What kind of legacy will you leave? Traitors of your own kind, betrayers of the innocent.” Climbing the stair, you reach another hallway lit by two torches on sconces. Looking into the door, the mage laboratory. ”There were rumors about a fire-addicted wizard defending this tower.” he says after a closer inspection ”I take he is dead as well?”
”Legacy?” he asks with a sad smile. ”Mine is a bitter one.” he says giving it a last look at the names, before continuing ”Do you know what are in those doors?” he asks mentioning the two doors in the hallway. Mysty/Nahia: Sakkarot is ignoring Rose half-question on purpose.
"The purpose of this army is not to keep anything." he says answering Mysty question and moving up from the seat room into the stairs that lead to the second floor. "We'll raze and destroy everything in our path, thanks for the suggestion Rose, but that is not my objective." going up the stairs, you happen across a hall. It's walls, names written on it. You reckon it should be about a bit over than two hundred. "A memorial perhaps?" asks Sakkarot after looking at the names.
"It is appreciated." says Sakkarot "But this was not my accomplishment." he says gesturing that you should sit in the Lord's seat. "Unless I am mistaken" he says to Mysty "The Cardinal gave the knot a clay seal, to be broken when the mission was complete."
"Sourat arrived alone, and never mentioned anyone else in our brief conversations." he walks then inside the bottom level of the keep, one great open room that also holds the Commander’s Seat "This should be their main hall. What end had Lord Havelyn?"
"One called Sourat came to our camp one day, carrying armors and weapons marked for Talirean military." he stops at the keep's door and continue "We made an agreement, he told me that you sent those weapons. I would pay you for then. Unfortunately, despite of my warnings, he refused my protection, and I was to late to prevent his death, and the death of scores of my bugbears. "
”I assume this place has a prison” says Sakkarot looking at the Keep ”I’ll gladly accept the prisoners, Mysty Shadowflame. Come the morning, after the town slaughter, I’ll send them to my lieutenants.” Then he turns to Rose and answer “I am not sure of the exact nature of all creatures. From the reports, I know there are some ogres, orcs, trolls and giants. Possible more.” ”You are right. I own you.” he anwers Nahia, then he get up from the table, and after ordering some of the bugbears to guard the place and it’s entrance he continues ”Walk with me.” he says indicating that he want to see the Fort.
"Many of the tribes joined my banner, things are not going to be good for the south lands." finishing his drink, he get up and continues "Making matters worse for poor Talingarde, small bands of creatures unaligned with me approach the breach. How could these beasts know already about this break in the Watch Wall? Someone must have told them. Probably best to leave. This region is about to become very dangerous."
”Ah, yes. I remember it now.” he says simply and then says to Nahia ”I must confess. I was not expecting… this.” he finishes looking around at the fort.
”New friends? What happened to the other two?” says the bugbear looking at the other villains. ”We didn't have the pleasure of meeting before. I am Sakkarot.”
"You two." says Sakkarot in a calm voice pointing at Hound and Mysty with his flaming axe ”Stay exactly where you are. Tonight nothing will stop that horde, and to them, you are nothing more than humans to kill.” He then turns to Nahia and Seren saying ”I understand now, why the Cardinal chose you.” and with that, he walks in the table taking some of the meat pie.
Not much later, scores of slaughter lusting monsters enter the yard, giving pause only because Grumblejack is laughing and not attacking the survivors. The horde parts opening way for Sakkarot that looks at the scene for just a second before bellowing to the ogres.
That’s enough to set the horde into a killing frenzy, running past the yard, passing in the side gate, heading into the unsuspecting city.
The bugbear looks the newcomer with interest, his hands never far from his great axe.
"Tell me master Hale. What use do I have for a working trebuchet in the roof of a keep that I'm about to abandon?" he asks.
”Well met Master Hale” says a happy Sakkarot.
He grunts and nods. “Thorn has faith in you. If you weren’t his best, he wouldn’t have sent you. Do this and your names will be legend. Now go. Hail Asmodeus!” Sakkarot then leaves the tent, leaving you to plan your assault. Tell me what you’ll do in the night, before you depart in the morning.
He grunts and nods. “Thorn has faith in you. If you weren’t his best, he wouldn’t have sent you. Do this and your names will be legend. Now go. Hail Asmodeus!” Seren: This is one of the Things that make the watch wall famous. Never in history it has been unfiltered.
”I see, my manners must be like of an savage bugbear of the north…”
“Tomorrow you must depart this camp. It will never be truly safe for you here. Over the next week, more tribes will rally to my banner. I will promise them blood and give them steel. Then at last I will be ready to march. A week after that – I will be poised to strike. I will move my horde to the valley just north of Balentyne. There we will wait for your signal. Fire this rocket into the air. Within the hour, we will attack. Make sure that the way is ready.”
Sakkarot look at Nahia and then says ”I’m still waiting your history.” he sits down again, and put his axe in the floor ”There is too much yet at stake, not everything can be predicted. I…” he look lost in thoughts ”I will have my role in the war to come. More than that I cannot say for the same reason I’ll not allow you to take Timeon.” he get up again ”You are tested, trained and chosen. Even then, it is suicide to let all your plans into enemy territory. After your mission, if we have the opportunity…”
Still waiting Eric answer he looks to Nahia ”Kill, burn and destroy. The only ones that will escape are the ones we let then live, so they can spread the word. Death has come to Talingard. I’ll bring fire and force theirs army to meet me in battlefield, and if Thorn Seventh Knot did not fail their mission, Talingard will be ill prepared to deal with this invasion.”
”I’ll not question your faith in this boy, but I would not take him with you in this mission. Aldencross is his home, are you sure he is up to kill his entire family? More than that, will he be able to do it?” Sakkarot get up from his chair still holding his axe ”There’s too much at stake, and the boy knows too much.” the bugbear look at each of you and continue ”He has too much ties to that place, and he is untested. I cannot tell you what to do with him, if you want to keep him, I’ll trust your judgment, but I’ll not allow this boy go to Aldencross. This entire endeavor in on your shoulders, and he’ll only get in your way.” the bugbear look sad as he continues ”This is not the safest place for a human, but I assure you he will have my protection in this camp. If you do not agree, I’m afraid that I can’t allow him to leave this camp alive.”
”Very well said” laughs Sakkarot ”And what a bite it will be!” he then look at you ”I am an outcast myself. Was it not for the Fallen One, Long ago I would have been burned down by my kin. I can see what they cannot. And I know that our future lies not in the savage gods of the North, but with Asmodeus.” as he finishes, you hear it as if it was a bitter truth.
”The Cardinal can be a really ruthless master, but even then he always let us free to pursuit our own agenda. What your plans are? What do you hope to accomplish besides of vengeance?” asks the bugbear.
The bugbear look to Zerik ”I see now. I’ve heard rumors, histories and legends about Chargammon’s. A terrible beast, said to kill anyone and anything that enter his lair. The oldest and foulest Dragon of this land. I think his spawn must not be different from its sire.” he stops for some seconds and continue ”If you would honor me, I would hear more you’re your time serving him.” Then he turns to Eric ”When you say Timeon, you refer to Timeon of Balentyne? The lost squire of lost knight Sir Balin?” After he turns to Seren, you see resolve in his eyes ”But you are special. You were chosen to make the Asmodeus will in this land come to pass. If you fail, all of this if for nothing. All ambitions, and plans rest now upon your shoulders. And that is exactly what the Dark Prince saw in you. In all of you ” he adds looking to everyone preset ”The strength to carry his will and plans on this land.”
”I will not tell you anything about my past, you can be curious if you want that. About joining? Well, put a maniac with a knife in your neck. Even a gambler knows when he as to give in.” Damien chuckles petting Ace. ==//== ”I see” says the bugbear ”Do you want to share you history?” he says looking to Johan ”Rotgut may have made me a bit push in my desires.”
Sakkarot turns to Zerik and says ”The rest is what I’m trying to uncover, you mean?”
”I’ve been serving the Dark Prince long before Thorn was called Thorn. I wanted a means to unite the north and bring war to Talingard, Thorn wanted revenge. This axe” he says showing his flame axe ” was made to seal this pact.” he looks now to Johan and Damien
”Yes, yes I can see that… It will work just fine…” he says more to himself ”That’s is a grand cause, and I think you’ll do it just fine! And for all that noble talking rabble, the Mitrans know how to make someone life a hell.” says the bugbear.
”The Cardinal is a Mad man, but a genius nonetheless. I know not what he is planning other than this invasion, I have my suspicions, but that, will have to wait until our friends here share their part.” he says with a smile looking at Johan, Eldred and Damien.
”I see you all are reluctant to share your past, but you still press me to share mine.” he stops thinking for some moments then he continues ”That is tremendous impolite of you. If you want hear from me, let’s share histories. ” then without waiting for your agreement he began ”I meet the Cardinal on the Frozen North. Our meeting was not one of coincidence. The Fallen One had guided my steps and the Cardinal. Myself, I was hoping for means to unite the north, the Cardinal, looking for a way to avenge himself against the Mitran Faith. It was only logical we would form an allegiance.” you clearly knows his history is not finished, but he turns then to you waiting your share of history.
”I understand you.” he says to Eric ”I am a kind of outcast myself. Were it not for The Fallen one, I would not be here today. Long ago burned down by my tribe for being different.” he sips a little more in his cup ”But what about the future? I know not what the Cardinal has planned for you, but even then he always give us freedom enough to pursuit our own agenda.” he ask Eric.
Sakkarot turns to Johan ”Well said. There’ll be opportunities aplenty for those who can see then. But tell me about what you did before you joined the cardinal. Were you always one of the Asmodeus faith?” Then he turns to Damien ”And you, what about yourself? What made you what you are today?”
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