 About Norlannan Tigersoul the RangerNorlannan
Bio
If you have ever had the chance to meet me and possibly become an acquaintance then you would notice that I always wear a piece of cloth around my neck, always. Underneath this cloth is the only physical scar on my body. For those who have the privilege of becoming one of my few friends you will find out the story about this scar of mine.... But then again, this tale would be incomplete without it. It all started when I was a young adult, I was spending the day sparring with my master as I did a lot back then. My master, Altalis, was a great man. He taught me how to do almost everything I can do today. He was a big influence on my life and if given the choice I would have spent the rest of my childhood with him learning everything he was willing to teach me. Well on this day a strange new elf appeared in town. The elven village I lived in, Trangoul, was populated by 140 or so elves but we all could pretty much tell when a new face arrived. He seemed a bit suspicious but the fact was he was new in town and most new comers are looked upon with some caution. Well later that day a scout came rushing into town right to the Hall of Council. Almost as soon as the door slammed shut behind him did a huge barrage of arrows come flying into town. My master and I ran for cover towards his house, about halfway there we noticed a huge group of orcs were rushing from that side of town. We both immediately ducked between the 2 nearest buildings and hid. I noticed that these orcs had surrounded the village in a huge ring and had all charged into town after the arrows ceased. Most of the men who took up arms were shot up with arrows, those who chose to try and flee were killed by the orcs. After a small battle the orcs were victorious and rounded up all the bodies and brought them to the center of town where that suspicious elf was waiting. I told Altalis that I was going to sneak up closer to see what was happening. I crept up to a small ditch and covered myself up with some of the surrounding terrain. I noticed that this elf was going through the victims one by one and with a small dagger was cutting the back of their necks. He went through all the slain elves and the women and children who couldn't fight were then brought to him, he did the same thing to them. After doing so he ordered an orc to execute the elf that was just cut. After a couple dozen more elves were killed, an orc came rushing into the center carrying an elf with him. He was talking about how he found the elf hiding in an alley. I thought to myself "Oh no! Altalis!". I started to crawl closer and closer until I could see the elves face. It was Altalis. I had to do something, I had to save him. I quickly and quietly rushed back to Altalis' house and went into his small armory room that he had. I searched around frantic looking for something very special... then I found them, Altalis' rapiers. I took them out of their case and rushed back to the ditch as quick as I could without making noise. As I got closer I could see the strange elf cutting the back of Altalis' neck, I decided to ditch silence for speed and started running with all my might, I saw one of the orcs closest to him raise his axe, with a loud yell I screamed out "ALTALIS!!". With that, every eye in the village was on me, I had both rapiers clenched tight in my hands. A couple orcs rushed me and cornered me, I slashed and stabbed at them connecting with a few of them, but I was no match for these beasts. One grabbed 1 of the rapiers while another pummeled me to the ground. They tied me up and brought me over to the mysterious elf. He took his dagger, which glowed of blue, and cut into my neck. I did not scream, no way was I going to let these monsters have the pleasure of hearing my pain. My eyes began to water a bit but I did not cry. I looked over at Altalis, he was in bad shape, barely able to keep his eyes open. I looked around for the other elves, but they were nowhere around. I feared they had finished them all off. I noticed that strange elf was standing there eyeing me and Altalis. He began to walk towards us. As he approached he unsheathed his glowing dagger. I knew what he was going to do with that dagger, we were both done for. Then my ear started to tingle. I heard something. I heard footsteps. They were footsteps alright but they were to light to be orcish feet. Just then I heard something else... HWSHHHHH! I dropped to the ground and laid flat. Out of the forest came an arrow, a single arrow. It landed in the ground just 3 feet in front of me and about 5 feet in front of this strange elf. The strange elf looked at the arrow sticking out of the ground, looked up, closed his eyes, then fear overcame his face. "RUUUUUN" he screamed in orcish. Just then arrows started raining down from the sky. They were landing everywhere, some making their way into orcs and others hitting just ground. I closed my eyes as the arrows kept coming. The thought of getting struck was the only thing racing threw my mind. After I heard them stop a smile came across my face. I opened my eyes and looked over at Altalis to make sure he was ok. As I looked over I saw him kneeling down, looking straight up. As he fell to the ground I saw that 3 arrows had made their mark, right in his skull. My body tensed, I was about to cry when a group of elves appeared. They checked the bodies of the dead. One of them came up to me and untied me. He had white hair and dark green eyes. He stood me up and wrapped my neck in cloth to stop the bleeding. I looked at Altalis, then at the elf who untied me. I asked him "Who are you? Why have you come?", and in orcish he replied "Don't ask questions that have answers you are not prepared for.". He looked up and walked away. The group of elves walked into the forest, slowly disappearing from sight. I wanted to cry, there was nothing else I could do. I had to mourn for those which died, but crying was not the answer. I walked around town, looking for somebody, anybody. I looked everywhere, finding only fallen elves with arrows littering their bodies. As I found the dead bodies I looked at their necks to see the terrible marks that mad elf left, they were numbers. As I examined the bodies I noticed that they all had already slain by the orcs before the other elves came. I started remembering the numbers, keeping in mind the highest number I've seen. I was at number 136 when I noticed I couldn't find any number higher. I wondered what these numbers meant. I returned to Altalis' body and pay him my respect before leaving. I started to walk away and something gleaming caught my eye. It was a blade, laying in the ground. I went over to pick it up, it was one of Altalis' rapiers. I picked it up and searched for the second, I noticed the handle, it was over by Altalis' body. I bent over to grab it and as I did I noticed the mark on the back of Altalis' neck... 137. I froze. Quickly I rushed to the nearest house. I searched the house for a mirror, I found one. I smashed the mirror and held a broke part to the back of my neck. As I looked in the mirror I read the number... "138". I now knew what these numbers meant. Altalis was the 137th elf to die in this town, I was to be number 138. I was to be the last to die but now I am the only to live. I took the rapiers, what little gold I managed to find, some food and water, and left that city. I left with no intention of ever returning. I learned a great lesson that day, trust nobody. Even though those elves saved my life, they had to take the one that was closest to me. The memory of that day still pains me, I lost everything I had that day, but in return I was offered the greatest advantage any warrior could ever have, nothing to lose. |
