Kala sends a present to the Asur
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:02 am
The night was quiet in the valley. The stars were a spectacular display in the velvet blue background behind the Blackspines. A peaceful song from the strings of an Ulthuani dulcimer drifted in the night air. The Asur camp was at rest.
But a light appeared in the darkness of the mountain shadow and the camp was stirred to alert. The sharp eyes of the Shadow Warriors caught it first. It was not the sickly violet light of Druchii dark magics. It was the red-golden glow of a forest fire. Yet only scrub grew on this part of the foothills.
The first sounds came to the keen Asur ears as the commanders dressed their lines. It began as a low rumble like a distant waterfall. Then it slowly grew to a roar like an avalanche. It seemed a thousand hammers beat upon the ground in a symphony of fury.
The light grew until the valley glowed red. The sound became deafening and was punctuated by squeals of unspeakable agony. When the first ones came into view the light and noise became clear. It was not the fall of a thousand hammers. It was the hooves of a stampede. Several hundred head of beautiful elven steeds had been doused with oil and set ablaze. The herd had been sent running down the canyon from the Wrath Gate burning, terrified, agonized and dying.
The hellish stampede thundered through the Asur camp uncontrollable and blind. Most had to be speared or shot to be put out of their misery. Many died on the hoof. A trail of burning bodies snaked up toward the mountains.
The mayhem was short lived. The camp was brought under control within half an hour. Some scorched tents and a few overturned soup kettles were the extent of the damage. Charred corpses and the lingering smell of burnt horsehair were all that remained.
As the camp tried to come to grips with the horror that had just been inflicted upon them, a white stallion galloped into camp. It was not burned, but it dripped red. A horsemaster soothed the beast and brought it to rest. Cut deeply into the hide of its flank was a message in Druchii runes:
Dear Asur,
Thank you for all the heads of my Druchii, bloody suits of Naggarothi armor and the other lovely gifts that you have delivered to me, along with your warm regards, over the course of your incursion into the Wrath Gate. I was particularly touched by the present left on my writing desk when you held the Gate fortifications.
In repayment for your thoughtful generosity, I am returning all of your mounts captured over the course of the battles. I know how you Asur dote upon your horses.
I hope that this gift conveys my most sincere sentiments upon this glorious celebration. The Wrath Gate is sealed again! Perhaps you should barbecue?
May you ever be as successful in the future,
General Kala Kodai of House Velari
Eternal Thorn in the Asur Side
-------------------------------------------------------
Reality Check -
OK, I just had to do it. The temptation was just too strong. The moment was just too right. The stars aligned and the karma was handed to me like the keys to a new car for all the little Asur taunts in my journal (which I confess are sometimes quite amusing).
To the Druchii players who helped seal the Wrath Gate, I offer congratulations. To the Asur players, I offer my sincere hopes that this little poke will be taken with humor and/or renewed zeal to continue playing and writing good fluff. That and the hopes that you won't stalk me and throw bricks through my apartment window.
To all I would like to say that both the game and the story are far from over.
But a light appeared in the darkness of the mountain shadow and the camp was stirred to alert. The sharp eyes of the Shadow Warriors caught it first. It was not the sickly violet light of Druchii dark magics. It was the red-golden glow of a forest fire. Yet only scrub grew on this part of the foothills.
The first sounds came to the keen Asur ears as the commanders dressed their lines. It began as a low rumble like a distant waterfall. Then it slowly grew to a roar like an avalanche. It seemed a thousand hammers beat upon the ground in a symphony of fury.
The light grew until the valley glowed red. The sound became deafening and was punctuated by squeals of unspeakable agony. When the first ones came into view the light and noise became clear. It was not the fall of a thousand hammers. It was the hooves of a stampede. Several hundred head of beautiful elven steeds had been doused with oil and set ablaze. The herd had been sent running down the canyon from the Wrath Gate burning, terrified, agonized and dying.
The hellish stampede thundered through the Asur camp uncontrollable and blind. Most had to be speared or shot to be put out of their misery. Many died on the hoof. A trail of burning bodies snaked up toward the mountains.
The mayhem was short lived. The camp was brought under control within half an hour. Some scorched tents and a few overturned soup kettles were the extent of the damage. Charred corpses and the lingering smell of burnt horsehair were all that remained.
As the camp tried to come to grips with the horror that had just been inflicted upon them, a white stallion galloped into camp. It was not burned, but it dripped red. A horsemaster soothed the beast and brought it to rest. Cut deeply into the hide of its flank was a message in Druchii runes:
Dear Asur,
Thank you for all the heads of my Druchii, bloody suits of Naggarothi armor and the other lovely gifts that you have delivered to me, along with your warm regards, over the course of your incursion into the Wrath Gate. I was particularly touched by the present left on my writing desk when you held the Gate fortifications.
In repayment for your thoughtful generosity, I am returning all of your mounts captured over the course of the battles. I know how you Asur dote upon your horses.
I hope that this gift conveys my most sincere sentiments upon this glorious celebration. The Wrath Gate is sealed again! Perhaps you should barbecue?
May you ever be as successful in the future,
General Kala Kodai of House Velari
Eternal Thorn in the Asur Side
-------------------------------------------------------
Reality Check -
OK, I just had to do it. The temptation was just too strong. The moment was just too right. The stars aligned and the karma was handed to me like the keys to a new car for all the little Asur taunts in my journal (which I confess are sometimes quite amusing).
To the Druchii players who helped seal the Wrath Gate, I offer congratulations. To the Asur players, I offer my sincere hopes that this little poke will be taken with humor and/or renewed zeal to continue playing and writing good fluff. That and the hopes that you won't stalk me and throw bricks through my apartment window.
To all I would like to say that both the game and the story are far from over.
