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Deafened by the screams of terror, you draw your blade and begin racing towards the city walls, thinking your best chance of survival would be to fight alongside the Honor Blades rather than risk escaping the chaos that was engulfing the entire city.
Feet pounding across the stone pavements, you dodge and weave your way amidst the crowds of panicking Minotaurs, their screams of fear assaulting the ears as you, Gorrack and Lorna search for a way through the packed city streets. Dozens of buildings lie in smoldering ruins to either side you with more balls of fire screaming down from above to create plumes of smoke. The thick black columns of smoke lifting up into the warm breeze to clog the air.
Swerving around a corner, you narrowly miss bumping into heavily built orc, who growls at you angrily, before chasing after the Honour Blades, who seem intent upon reaching the gates. The sound of beating drums calling them to battle and the thunderous blare of war horns guiding their footsteps.
The streets slowly empty out as the people flee towards the temple, allowing you a glimpse of the thousands of Honor Blades gathered by the gates. A massive Minotaur in ornate golden armor stands upon the battlements, his ringing voice loud and clear for all to hear. "Today we face the day that Ice Eyes has long feared would come to pass! The Troll Kings have returned! They have come to take our land and wipe us out! But we shall not give in! By the will of the Lightbearer we shall fight! And we shall honor the deeds of our Lord Ice Eyes! For Honor!"
Gorrack listening to the Minotaur's impassioned speech, smiles grimly, before hefting his battleaxe. "It looks like they're readying themselves to attack."
Seeing the long lines of warriors forming up into solid square formations, you'd have to agree with Gorrack's assessment. The Honor Blades were indeed preparing to sally forth, no doubt in the hopes of eliminating the enemy siege engines that were raining down hell upon the City. A noble if not futile endeavor that would most likely cost the lives of many warriors.
For even with the City in the condition that it was in right now, it was still far more defensible than launching an all out assault into the open, where the abyss knows what would be waiting for them. And if they were right and the Troll Kings were outside the City gates, they would not be alone. A sea of enemies would be between them and their target.
You briefly consider heading back the way you've come, when a firm hand grips you by the shoulder and spins you around, forcing you to the meet the steely hard gaze of Minotaur warrior in full battle raiment. His sea blue eyes gazing at you up and down with a face built of stone, taking note of the frayed edges of your worn out clothes, before resting upon your nicked blade. "What are you doing here? This is no place for your kind. Everyone must take shelter in the temple till the battle is done."
1. Battle alongside the Silver Horns and Gold Tips?
Breathe tightening in your chest, you charge forth headlong into battle, the powerfully built troll king with deep forest green skin and bright ruby red eyes staring at you hard with pure malevolence. The ugly bastard, no doubt blaming you for all that has befallen his warriors.
Battering aside the Honor Blades that were attempting to surround him, Bagrodar plows forward through their ranks to meet you.
Arms still aching, you speed past the dazed and wounded minotaurs who reel away and take a running leap as you try to plant your blade deep in the creature's thigh. The immense troll bellowing out in agony, before swiping away at you with a fist that sends you careening hard into the dirt.
Blood dripping down your cheek, you clumsily get back up onto your feet in time to see Gorrack blast past you with bloodshot red eyes and blackened skin to tackle the Troll King. The pair of gigantic warriors grappling with each other in an epic struggle that shakes the very ground. Gorrack managing to disarm Bagrodar, before being rocked back by a punch to the throat.
Worried for your friend, you take a step forward, trying to come up with a plan to take down the beast, when Lorna places an arm upon your shoulder. "Here, you'll need this, if you want to pierce his flesh." She hands you a blade made of pure light that almost appears glasslike with a wicked curved spine that reminds you of a dagger. "It's the blade of Dumathol."
You struggle for a moment to remember where you've heard that name before, when you hear Gorrack grunt again in pain as the Troll King manages to collect his mace and strike the big orc in the ribs, dropping him to his knees.
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Gripping the light weighted weapon in your hands, you rush forward again, the wind whistling past your burning hot ears. However this time you're not alone as dozens of Honor Blades stream past you to attack the beast. Bagrodar hammering them back with wide swings from it's mace, shattering bone and mangling armor like it was nothing.
Blood rapidly pumping through your veins, you slide in between the troll's legs, and slash hard at the Bagrodar's feet as you pass through to the other side. The Troll King dropping to one knee with a cry of pain, rocking the land beneath you.
Unable to believe how easily the weapon pierced the Troll's flesh, you strike again and again at the Troll King, who clumsy tries to defend himself. The great warrior struggling with all his might to stand back up, only to tumble back down.
You move forward to finish him off, when you hear a cold voice snap at you from behind. "Enough!"
Stiffening at the strange command, you hold your ground, the blade of Dumathol still in hand and wonder if you've imagined the voice. Again you move to strike, only for the voice to repeat itself. "Enough warrior! This battle is over! We have won!"
In the sudden stillness that sweeps across the battlefield, you slowly turn around, and see Lord Iron-Heart in blood splattered armor cross the blood soaked battlefield towards you, his expression filled with weariness. "There has been enough blood spilled this day, he is no longer a threat to us or our city. Let him be."
If you weren't already hunched over from exhaustion, you think you would have fallen down in shock, your jaw dropping open in utter amazement. Lost for words, you try to understand what he is trying to say, but it makes no sense, no sense at all. "My Lord, if we do not kill him now, he'll return."
Iron-Heart let the left side of lips dip into a slight smile. "Look around you. The trolls have abandoned him and I will not slay a defenseless creature."
Defenseless! Bagrodar almost single handedly wiped out two companies of Honor Blades in a matter of seconds, and who's to say the trolls would not return, once they realised their leader was very much alive.
Face reddening in anger, you open your mouth to speak again, when Lorna throws you a warning glance as if to caution your next words.
(Click here if you decide to ignore the commander's orders and slay Bagrodar.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
"He doesn't deserve to live!" You spit out, and slam the weapon deep into the side of the troll's neck, causing Iron Heart to lift his great sword. "You fool! You've dishonored us! We do not kill needlessly!"
You smirk back at him. "Curse you and your damn honor! You can keep it!"
"Seize him!"
The nearest Gold Tips lurch towards you, when a brilliant white light bursts in the air, blinding you. A firm arm grabbing you from behind and dragging you away. "You just had to do it your way!"
Recognising the voice as Lorna's, you stumble after her and make your escape from the battlefield.
Battlefield Results
-115 Health Points
Companion Reputation, (-1 Gorrack and -1 Lorna are both displeased with your actions.)
Loot
After creating enough distance, you take shelter beneath a grove of trees and setup camp for the night. Gorrack clearly angered by the way you've handled the situation, flares his nostrils at you and moves off to search for firewood. Lorna not much better,silently mutters curses underneath her breath, while shooting death stares at your back.
Sarsonel, however seems pleased with your work and grants you more power. You've gained a permanent Health Boost from the Demoness Sarsonel. (Demon's Love = +20 Health Points.)
You search for the weapon Dumathol, but later learn from Lorna that the weapon she had summoned from the ethereal realm had vanished after striking the troll king.
Side Quest Completed
(Click here if you decide to comply with commander's orders and stand down.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
You stand there for a moment longer, the fire in your belly burning fiercely, when finally you sigh heavily and lower your blade. The rage inside of you dissipating to nothing. If Lord Iron Heart believed honor was more important than the lives of his people, there was nothing left to say that would change his mind. "As you wish Lord."
Battlefield Results
-115 Health Points
Companion Reputation, (+1 Gorrack and +1 Lorna are both pleased with your actions.)
Loot
Lord Iron Heart while grateful to you for your efforts on the battlefield has learned that the City of Tarriel has somehow fallen into the hands of the trolls.
Distraught over this news, Lord Iron Heart prepares to march out once more, but unfortunately you cannot go with them. The demoness choosing this moment to sink her claws into you, forces you to leave without so much as a goodbye to the Silver Horns, who in some ways you've come to respect.
To your surprise the weapon Dumathol that Lorna had summoned still remains in your possession despite the weapon not being of this world. (Dumathol The Blade Light -24 Resilience + 5 Health Points from each engagement/Scenario.)
Side Quest Completed