Runecraft is In essence, defying fate. It spits in the face of natural law and takes all and gives none. Even though it is a gift from the gods, one cannot stop and think about why. Why did the gods give us something that spits in the face of nature itself?
Ramblings of a mad philosopher. 756 AD
It was a dark, stormy night.... Just kidding. It was a nice autumn evening when I got my first Rune. I remember laying. next to a pine tree In a state of pure relaxation. Of course, the heaven's couldn't have that and they branded me with my first Rune. Floki said. As he told the story, a couple of warriors sitting around, the fire winced. No doubt having experienced something similar.
I can still remember. The searing pain that Seems to flow through my body, reeking havoc and While blessing me with the immense power that was contained in the Rune.
“Hey Floki Your parents were well off. Why didn't they buy a awakening potion?” Asked one of the soldiers sitting around the fire. “Ha please, while my parents were pretty well off, they had no money to waste on buying an awakening potion. Plus, I didn't even know that I was Rune scripted at the time.” Floki responded.
One of the younger soldiers looked around and quickly spoke up. “ What Rune do you have Floki?” another one of the soldiers responded. “that's the most offensive thing you can say to a Rune scripted, as it's the key to their power and their weaknesses.”
“Nah, it's alright. My Rune is the Rune of Inguz, It allows me to build muscle faster and Learn and memorize how to do things much faster and Most importantly, it speeds of my movement 50 times over”
“Alright, that's enough of a break. Let's get started.” Floki said while picking up his axe. The soldiers around those fire started to move, picking up their weapons and some supplies.
They quickly shifted into a triangular formation, with Floki taking point as one of the more experienced soldiers in the band.
“Let's move out.” shouted Scorn the leader of this particular band of soldiers. “remember that the mission is to plunder the main keep of the encampment so that the main army has to fight malnourished troops.”
“Why don't you announce it to the whole world?” Replied one of the veterans, A few chuckles later and the band was underway.
15 minutes later. At a pre prepared hiding spot.
“Hey Ansuz use your room to scope out the Encampment.” Ordered Scorn. The man in question grunted in affirmation. Scorn then turned and the dress the rest of the soldiers. “I'll be frank here. Some of us are going to Valhalla today. It's nearly impossible to reach the keep and burn the supplies before the alarm is raised. As such, Floki here will be acting as bait for the rune scripted lieutenants of this encampment.
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Silence, was the response. This plan was not new to them as they had been told in great detail what their roles were to be in this attack. As the rest of the bands left the hiding spot, Floki was left alone.
He sighed and started to walk calmly to his position in the attack. He made a quick prayer to the gods and hoped that he would get into Valhalla If he should die in the coming battle.
There was a very high chance that he would die in this battle as he would be fighting two lieutenants of the Imperial Army of the Eagle. The Imperial armys regular troops were very unskilled compared to the regular troops of The Blood Ravens (The tribe of the main character) It was another story when it came to their rune scripted warriors. They were fierce and highly trained, with almost the best weapons that they could Forge.
Unlike in the Blood Ravens, where the strong survived and the weak died, The Imperium was a place of general peace, tranquility, where one survived With hard work and intelligence instead of strength and will.
This was not to say that The Blood Ravens and the Imperium We're constantly at each other's throat In actuality, they had many skirmishes along the border to keep the opposing side on their toes while preparing their fresh recruits (Or giving their veterans a chance to fight.) They also had very. Militaristic gods and deities which all encourage them to go to war to improve. All of these factors led to a complex relationship between the Imperium and the Blood Ravens confused many of their allies. As from an outsiders perspective, it would seem that they hated each other to the bone.
Currently the encampment that he would be raiding was an Encampment of veteran soldiers.
He would take the hardest part of this raid because of his rare grade rune, which was part of the Norse Runes. (The power of a Rune had comes from its Mythos or it's mythological origin. Generally runes that are part of a set Are more powerful than singular runes This is because they draw mythos from the. Whole collection, not just one rune.)
He sighed yet again having finally reached the location.
At this distance even he could see the encampment With its. Numerous rows of tents built with thick hide and campfires dotting the landscape. Flags and banners flew majestically in the wind on top of the officers huts.
Floki walked even closer Ignoring the centuries that tried to stop him From entering the encampment. “This is a restricted area. Identify yourself!” the man shouted with spit going flying. I scoffed and continued forwards slowly drawing my axe. The man tried yet again “Don't take another step or you will be considered a criminal and executed on the spot.” It was at this moment that I struck, swinging my axe at an almost perfectly horizontal angle.
* Swish
Blood splattered and the world went quiet.
And then all at once a pandemonium started. Soldiers who were fully armed rushed in trying to kill me in revenge for the sentry. But they would be too slow as I was already on the move, slitting throats of those who had not yet put on armor.
5
10
15
Finally, after killing fifteen of them the armored soldiers arrived, They shouted something unintelligible, I smiled and charged. They met my charge with hard steel, Spears and Shields Slowly surrounded me, trying to flank me.
This was the standard maneuver against Rune scripted warriors and while it might have worked for a lesser We're inscripted warrior. I was one with a Norse rune.
My rune glowed with a bright red light and suddenly all of those who had tried to flank me, as well as those that stood in my way were dead their heads ripped from their torsos.
Just as I was about to complain that it was too easy, I felt the world shift. The activation of a Rune I thought as I quickly reactivated my Rune and turned to face the presence.
Standing there with was a Middle-aged Warrior whose face was filled with scars. His steel armor, shining. in the evening sun.