The Spear Falls

The howl of the icy wind stung their faces, the shared grimace of the three warm weather natives truly set the miserable yet determined the mood of the moment. Sharp eyes narrowed with focus and brutal intent searched the windswept icy terrain for signs of their prey, with a low grunt one of the three, a large Orc nodded to the horizon and peered down at his one of his companions, a sleekly muscled gray tiger. Growling in response the enormous beast padded over to the edge of the small rise and lifted it's nose to the air sniffing, tilting it's head and sniffing again, razor sharp claws sliced into the ice beneath it's great paws and a low rumbling growl left it's maw with a murderous intensity before looking back at it's companions. The massive Orc grinned and drew two wickedly curved axes from it's belt, nodding over to a tall lith young Troll who crouched just out of sight bow in hand and arrow knocked. Grinning broadly the young Troll whistled and what had appeared as a patch of snow opened it's glowing blue eyes and rumbled out briefly before taking off with the large Tiger down the small rise, both disappearing from view as they left.

The stink on the wind was intense enough for their three Horde to smell their prey long before they heard the steady creek of wagon wheels...the chink of mailed boots and the clink of plate. Peering down the young Troll noted three wagons and 15 armored guards and snorted as he spoke "Damn dey was wrong...das twice as many as we expectin". A large meaty green hand clasped the Troll on the shoulder as the Orc peered down at the passing alliance infantry "Fear not brother, the Spirits favor us and demand blood be spilled", to which the Troll grinned and nodded rising up and drawing his bow back "well den les not keep dem waiting eh?" and let an arrow fly. The whistle of the shaft traveling through the air was the only warning given that day, thudding through the throat of an armored man who clutched at the shaft and fell to the snow gurgling. The cry immediately went up in the ranks below as swords were drawn and men called out the alarm of ambush.

Gripping the reigns of the wagon the lead teamster whipped them wildly trying to get the wagon to move faster, cursing his luck he looked back at the chaos as men spread out looking for their attackers, and never saw the nearly six hundred pounds of lethal Tiger that slammed into his body smashing bone to dust against the sturdy wood of his own wagon. His suffering cut short as the great beast snapped it's powerful jaws down on his throat, crushing his jaw and tearing it along with his entire throat from his flesh, his screams muted in a spray of gore as he slumped down in the seat, his last view that of the great beast pouncing onto the back of a terrified soldier with a roar that split the air. The screams of men meeting the other great cat from the rear of the column were interspersed with the steady twang of a bow as the young Troll singled out the men below by rank going for commanders and working his way down, his lethally efficient fire striking the armored men between joints and exposed portions, only to finish them off as they exposed an unprotected expanse of body in their terror.

Flipping his visor up a large blonde human below roared with rage and unslung his mighty sword and slammed it against his chest, sending golden sparks of light in every direction. Dropping his visor he turned and began to charge up the hill towards the young Troll, the sight of the vessel of holy wrath acting as a rallying call to his fellows, the cry of battle going up among his men as they formed up around the wagons. Seeing this the large Orc leapt landing in front of the Paladin who paused a moment to look over the towering mass of green flesh that now blocked his path, bright blue eyes watched as the Orc raised his axes in the air swinging them in a downward arc that send eddying trails of snow in their wake as the air bent and whipped violently around the savage looking weapons. The great orc sneered at the human and with a grunt 4 carved wooden totems slammed into the snow around him sparking and glowing with power, the impact sending snow into the Paladins face. With a growl the human wiped off his his visor and roared in rage charging the heathen, their weapons slamming together with a clang that made bone ache and muscle tense from the force. Whirling backwards the Orc proved quite agile for his size cleaving the human's shoulder armor with a well placed axe strike, embedding the weapon in the plate and drawing first blood. Enraged by the blow the human deftly batted aside the follow up blow from the offhand axe and leaned in smashing his plated visor into the Orc's face crushing his nose and spraying blood down the beasts face. Stepping back and spitting the blood from his face the Orc wasn't fast enough to block the wicked slash of golden light that followed cutting his chest wide open and sending his blood into the snow at his feet. Clutching his wound with his one hand the Orc roared in pain and rage, gripping his remaining axe in hand he rolled to his left and called upon the spirits who responded with an unearthly howl as wolves of pure spiritual energy burst forth from the ground and leapt at the Paladin battering his armor and howling, spinning the Paladin around as he swung wildly at the beasts trying to clear a path to the Shaman that never came. Sensing his edge the Orc rushed the human leaping into the air and coming down at the paladins side with a vicious swing that cut deep into the space between pauldron and helmet, nearly severing the human's head in a single strike. As the Paladin stopped, the great orc rolled around his back, freeing his axe from the pauldron and whipping back around with a reverse cut that sent the human's head flying to land in the snow a few feet away. Looking over his shoulder the Shaman watched as the body stood before falling forward into the cold snow, grunting in approval as even in death the human never relinquished his sword.Turning back around he watched the battle unfold as the humans, without leader, and their finest soldier slain tried to escape into the snow, the horrifying screams in the distance bearing testament to the brutal efficiency of the great Cats murderous skill.

Leaning back against the wooden wall of the small building the large Troll rumbled in laughter as the Young Troll flanked by the large Orc relayed in animated detail the outcome of the battle to a group of Horde soldiers. A cheer went up as they savored the fine Dwarven spirits looted from the wagons and the tale went ever on. Rubbing his neck the large Troll rose from his spot and quietly exited the building, his nostrils flaring as an uneasy feeling of dread slowly spread down his spine. He didn't need to turn to see the darkened Form step from the shadows of the building...he felt it, his voice measured and respectful as he spoke "Ey Dere Doc...wha can ah do for ju hmm?". Several moments passed before the whispering response confirmed the unpleasant tightness he felt in his chest "Mah son...one of de Tribe be in great dangah", to which the large Troll turned and responded "Who? how?". Holding a finger to his lips the Shadowy form placed a hand on his shoulder and urged him to follow away from the others as he spoke "She fallen to Darkness...Spirit trapped...in de odd Place...ju undahstand Zon'krul?". The large Troll nodded and turned to head back to grab his spear "Les go ah be ready in a few-" but his words were cut off by the shadowy form whose hand raised to stop him. "Ju dun undahstand...she be de Bwon's now, he taken de prize an.." Zon lowered his head finishing the thought"..he ain gunna give her up witout his debt be paid". The Shadowy form paused a moment and nodded his head looking down "All mus pay de price..an her mate intend to do it". Snapping his gaze up Zon shook his head furiously"Uru? No ah won allow it", to which the shadowy form responded "Den who? Hmm, ju dun choose who pay de debt, it jus-" his words being cut short by the soft response...almost unheard at first "Ah pay it". "Wha?" the shadowy form responded with confusion, "Ah said ah pay it Doc...mah blood for hers" Zon spoke, his voice deepening with resolve. "NO! ah can't do dis...jur famileh. jur mate is gone Zon..tink of jur children" the shadowy form responded with clearly noted horror in his voice "Ah refuse!, ah won do dis".

Snarling the large Troll turned and gripped the Witch Doctor by the Robes and shoved his face in his "Ju do as ah say old mon, ju make dis happen...or as de Bwon my witness ah march to hell, get her mahself", his face lowered in darkness the old Witch Doctor whispered "...jur children Zon..how am ah s'posed", but his words were cut off by the large Troll resting his firm hand on the old Witch Doctor's shoulder "Mah children..dey will undahstand, death for de ones ju love, de greatest honah one have..make de deal", and turned to slowly walk off into the chilly darkness of the night. His eyes lifted up to watch the stars above, wrapping his cloak about himself tighter he let out a long breath and walked towards the cliff edge that set their camp from the valley below. Shoving his spear into the snowy ground he tied his cloak about it, and drew his warblade staring down at it for long moments before hanging it on the spear haft. Closing his eyes he listened to whistle of the frigid air on the cliff surface and lowered his head, every doubt, every sin in his life came back to him in that one instant and his foot stepped back from the surface. Shivering on the edge of the rocky expanse below he suddenly felt a warmth wash over his body, soft, tender a touch on his cheek forcing his head to raise, his eyes opening quickly he was bathed in the soft light of a presence that he alone could see. A name rushed from his lips in a confused bittersweet moment "Zha'la..", and his fingers rose to feel the silky touch of hair in his fingers "mah mate..ah...am sorry". His words were silenced by the touch of a soft blue finger on his lips as the beautiful face of a Troll woman manifested before him, her radiant gaze illuminated by love, her voice an angelic echo in his mind "Shh mah love, time to come home", her fingers slipping down into his hand as she looked back to him with a tender smile.

The cold wind surged down the small copse of trees, blowing the shadowy robes of the old Troll who stood watching in silence, his eyes settled on the solitary Troll on the cliff surface who slowly stepped over and disappeared into the silence below. The updraft of wind blew the cloak from the spear tip, and tired eyes watched as it drifted over to rest at his feet. Many times had he stood at the edge of the abyss and watched life drift from one place to the next...but in that cold dark place, where the moon cast her mournful gaze over the cliff...the collector of Souls fell to his knees in the dark..and wept.