Vengeance For The Dead[Solo/Flashback]

[Desmus Marrudius]

Day13 Summer, 488AV

The sun rose as it did every day on the Sea of Grass, but the normal everyday goings were at a standstill this day. The Marridius Pavilion was in turmoil and the sites of blood and disembodied limbs liters the ground on the west side of the small tent like city. "Desmus please no!" A womans voice cried out as she clung to the arm of he lover. "You will be killed like the others! Please let the others go without you!" Desmus removed her clinging arms from him and sat her down upon the bed, then reassuringly put him hands upon her shoulders. "Aela, I must go. It is not only fathers wish but my own as well. This pack of Glassbeaks are bold and it is very likely they will return to attack again. The next time it could be father or you that is lost and I cannot allow that to happen." Desmus leans in and kissed his bride "I will be fine trust me, please." he gave he nought but a gentle smile and rose. Aela wiped her tears as he walked out of their tent and said"Goodbye, my love."

Desmus walked between the rows of tents joined together in the Pavillion before he finally reached the other warriors. All of the women and children had been told to stay away to keep them from becomingore upset, now only the warriors lined the west side of the encampment. Desmus walked into the crowd of warriors before he found his eldest brother Tarlok. Tarlok was a Giant of man, standing nearly seven feet tall and weighing almost 300 pounds of solid muscle. "Hail little brother!" Tarlok boomed in a voice that was known to be able to emasculate even the most notable of warriors. "I see dear Alea was not able to make you back down, it's a pity now I have watch your hide as well as my own!" Tarlok chuckled and seemed to make the air tremble as he did so. "Well I couldn't just allow you to go off and get yourself killed" Desmus said in a sarcastic voice "Then I'd have to ride all night to find your body and drag it back here" The two brothers burst into laughter clearly hiding their sadness for the death of their freinds by mocking eachother. "ENOUGH!" a voice boomed out from behind then crowd of men. Then on instinct by the reconizing of the voice all the warriors parted reveLing their great Patriarch, Constantine.

"Thirteen" Constantine said in a sad yet somehow angry voice "Thriteen of your people are dead. And you two joke and play as if nothing has happened! I have raised idiots! The only man that survived has just passed away. I stayed at his side till the end, and I come here to see no remorse or signs of sympathy for any of these people or their families!" Constantine said his eyes filled with tears. "We are sorry father" Boy of the men said in sync. "I know yo are boys, but sorry dosent cut it. Not for this. You two go. Take six men and hunt this pack down and kill them all. Don't come back without the Alphas head, do you understand. "Yes father" the two said again. Then Constantine turned his back and walked away towards his tent. "Well you heard him Little brother. I'll get them others ready you just prepare yourself" Tarlok said with a conceded smile. "Ok Tarlok, and thank you." said Desmus as he walked towards the stables.

"Hello old friend, are you ready for another hunt" Desmus said to his horse Drakor. "It seems like we will go into the very bowls of hell this time. I hope wears ready" Desmus ran his hands along Drakor's side and them rubbed his back. The Drykas very very intouch with their horses and Desmus could feel that Drakor was just as scared about this as him. Desmus then took a soft blanket from the rack behind him and gently layer it on the back of Drakor, making sure it was centered. He then took his Yvas and placed it upon Drkor as well making sure to tighten where it needed to be tighter and loosen it where it was too tight. He ran his fingers along the buckles and straps before he Finnaly decided it was ongood enough. He moved in front of Drakor and placed his forehead to his and said"All will be well friend, I promise."

[Desmus Marrudius]

They had been tracking the Glassbeaks for three days now. The Drykas were expert tracker and here in the Sea of Grass they werecometely in their element, but there inlaid the problem, so were the glassbeaks. The party of Drykas warriors sat upon their horses, all being cautious keeping their eyes on the surrounding reeds, except for one. Desmus kneeled upon the ground running his hand through the grass feeling out the footprints and the direction the broken grass lay. "They stoped here shortly, then continued south." He said to the other warriors. "How far ahead are the Desmus?" Tarlok asked "About a day I think." said Desmus. The warriors the rode south hard and fast, Desmus and Tarlok in the front leading the charge. It was very reckless to rush into any Glassbeak but they were tired of hunting and ready to end this. After ridind till nightfall they stopped and we up camp. It was silent that night, but no man slept.

They continued along the Glassbeaks trail for a few hours until one of the warriors said stop. "It seems like they split ways" he said "I've never known them to do that" they all got off their horses and began to survey the area. It was indeed an unplanned occurrence. Should they honestly spilt up, but backtrCking to find the right trail could cause them to lose the trail. Desmus examined the trail that led to the left. It went over a slight bend that caused him climb up to examine the rest. He finally reached to top and screamed"It's a trap!" All the warriors pulled their swords and readied themselves. The Glassbeak that Desmus saw lunged for him but he fell back down the bend causing it to just barley miss him. Two other Glassbeak charged for the warriors. "Desmus!!!" Tarlok screamed for fear of his brothers Death.

Desmus rose to see his friends fighting for their lives one of the warriors was already dead, his head devoured by a Glassbeak. Then one of the warriors pieced the side of one of the demonic birds causing it to squeak in pain. It turned and hit the man with it's head sending him flying into the air. Tarlok seized the opportunity and brought down his blade upon the birds neck severing it causing a loud crackling sound from the sound of it's neckbone cracking under the presure of Tarloks blade. When it fell the other two looked at eachotherthen charged in a fit of rage towards the warriors. They quickly killed two more of the warriors causing blood and inards to littler the ground around him. Desmus regained his composure and rushed to his brothers aid. One more of the warriors was killed and one of the Glassbeaks now rushed towards Tarlok, it lunged fir him but he dodged, then sent his fist into the birds head sending it flying towards the ground. Another of the Drykas warriors went over to put it down but in rose and removed his throat. Desmus rushed towards it and plunged his sword into it's back, then removed it as quick as he could and kneeled beneath the beast and brought his blade up into it's skull and through the top of it's head.

The last Glassbeak backed away from the remaing three warriors. They made him tremble in fear as they approached, but they were no comparison with whatwas to follow.

[Desmus Marrudius]

The last of the Glassbeaks now faced the remaining three Drykas warriors. Their weapons were fixed upon him, sonn they would descend upon the Glassbeak and he would be no more. The Glassbeak backed away from the warriors covered in it's own fear, then they heard it. The dreaded roarish sqauk streMed across the heavens like thunder and rattled the very ground they stood on. In came over the bens bend slowly revealing more Nd more of itself to the Glassbeak and warriors. It stood nine foot tall and weighed over 500 pounds. It's body was cover in scars and holes from Drykas and other glasbeak alike. This was the new alpha, and no one dare contest him. It approached the last of the three Glassbeaks, the in an instantNious movement clamped it's beak around it's head and pulled it apart. The bird fell dead.

"By the gods" said Tarlok "This will be some story little brother" Desmus griped his sword tighter"Yes, I supposed it will" he answered. The other warrior backed away"Your both crazy, we can't beat that thing. I'm leaving here alive!" the other Drykas warrior said then turned and began to run away stoping his blade in the process. "No you fool!!" said Tarlok then the bird roared once more and took of towards the man. Desmus and Tarlok dove out of the way. It was only seconds before the Glassbeak caught the man, and only minutes before he devoured him. "Listen Desmus" Tarlok said with intense eyes " this thing is old, mean, and pissed off. Thu don't get that big by being stupid either, so this isn't going to be easy. When he curves again aim for his legs. If we bring him down we can end it easily." Desmus nodded at his brother. His size certainly did not make him stupid.

The beast charged and they dodged again. He charge again, and once more they moved from his path. He charged once more"NOW!" Tarlok yelled. Desmus rolled just ou of the birds path then swung his sword hard against the birds leg, but it didn't fall. Instead once they blade made contact and it's blood hit the ground it turned sharply towards Desmus bringing it's hurt leg and clasw up towards him in a upward slash. It claws hit Desmus, ripping throughhjs armor and diving into his chest and up his face. Desmus staggered back clenching his eye in pain, but he thanked the gods once he opened it. But the blood blurred his vision.

His brother was locked in a death match with the beast. Blood covered both of them as the traded blow after blow. Desmus rushed over to help in the fight causing his brother to look away from the beast. It clamped it's beak down on his shoulder. Desmus could hear the crunching of his bones over the sounds of his brothers screams of agony. "No you bastard!!!" the bird tossed aside Tarlok and turned his attention to Desmus as he screamed. The beast roared again and made it's way towards Desmus. "Come at me you foul spawn of hell!!!" it charged at Desmus. Desmus stopped and waited. The beast drew closer and closer until he was almost face to face with it. Then he swung his sword in the side of it's head splintering its feathers and scLez causing blood to pour and from this seeping wound. The Glassbeak stumbled slightly sideways and fell, leaving fresh bloodstained soil where is skid across the ground. It rose again, but Desmus no longer feared this imposing beast. It tried to attack Desmus with it's claws, but Desmus brought his blade up and met it with a crushing blow crippling it's claw. It sqauked in terror and realization as Desmus approached the downed beast. It made one last desperate attempt to escape but Desmus drove his sword down into the birds wing causing it to writh in pain. He then picked up his brothers sword and removed it head.

Desmus staggered as he removed the beasts precious beak. Then he pulled he sword from the bird and sheathed it. He let out a faint whistle then Drakor appeared on the borizion. He took the nessary items from his bag on Drakor and set his brother body a blaze."They shant feast on you brother." with that he climbed upon Drakor and muttered"Take us home boy" before collaping.

Desmus awoke to the sounds of sobs and murmuring. He managed to open his eyes and found that he was staring at the ceiling of a tent. "Desmus!" he heard in a loud, sad, surprised voice. Followed many shocked gasps" Your awake!" Desmus slowly raised up to see Alea at his bedside, her face tear streaked, and the tent he was on filled with his clan. "Drakor brought you back three days ago" she said "You were covered In blood everyone feared you wouldn't wake up" "I'm awake now, I told you I would return to you" he said with a tears begining to fill his eyes "but the others were not as fortunate as I" Aela hugged him and kissed his cheek. Then his father entered the room. "Fathe..." he began to say before he was cut off" do not speak boy, the state I. Which you returned tells me all. Did Tarlok die honorably?" Desmus nodded at his father " Good....good. I am truly glad you are ok my son. I have something for you." constantine revealed a red cloth. He opened it and inside was a necklace. Made purely from the Glassbeaks beak." Judging by the size of the beak there was no wonder so much harm befell you. Here take this my son." he put the necklace on Desmus " It is a testament to your greatness, wear it with pride"

[Gossamer]

. Character: Desmus Marrudius Experience: Horsemanship +1, Riding +2, Tracking +1, Planning +1, Leadership +1, Weapon (Bastard Sword) +3, Lore: Understanding The Moods Of One’s Strider, Seeing Ones Brother Die Before One’s Eyes, Near-Death Battle With Glassbeak, Witnessing A Massacre Award Glassbeak Necklace Additional Note: I enjoyed the thread and that you tackled the subject of what Drykas men face daily. However, I have a couple of quick comments. They aren’t meant to come down on you harshly, just to inform you a bit more about Drykas culture. Drykas women would not cry and weep and beg their husbands to stay home. They know the men’s duty is to protect the pavilion. Also, Drykas do not have stables, their horses wander free and would come when whistled for. There is no such thing as Hell so using swears like ‘Spawn of Hell’ wouldn’t really work. The Dyrkas don’t burn their dead either. They leave them out on the grass for things to eat. It’s the way of the Grasslands. Spelling and punctuation should be carefully watched. Most browsers, Firefox included, has built in spellcheckers as you type. Please use these. Your posts had a TON of spelling errors that would have taken about five minutes to correct in firefox. Finally, you can’t have Swordsmanship as a skill. You can have Weapon (Broadsword) instead… so please make that correction on your Cs. Any issues, let me know. .