LordWolx

Boys at Work The boy and older man had been almost entirely silent for fifteen minutes now as they laid side-by-side, concealed beneath the roots of a long-dead tree that curled out of the ground like the tendrils. The dust storm they'd been in recent had coated their clothing in dirt, which made their presence all the more difficult to detect. The pair of cuani were about as well camouflaged as they could be, now it was just a matter of staying quiet until just the right moment. Remaining silent was proving more difficult for the boy than the older man, as his mind raced with questions. He was keeping one hand over his mouth to try and hold back his voice, but he knew it was only a matter of time until he would ask his companion something. To help stall the inevitable, the boy focused on himself for a few moments. His skin, which was almost as grey as stone, had been smeared with just the right amount of dirt, and his snow-white hair was concealed beneath his equally dirty hood.

Visible Burdens Relief erupted from Jane's mouth in the form of a loud sigh as she finished lowering herself into the cool, refreshing waters. Two hands lifted up water to run it through her shoulder-length black hair and down her torso. The soothing river instantly eased the soreness that plagued her impressive muscles, while also starting to clear off the dust that had been slamming against her towering body for the past two hours. It had been three days since she and her companions had emerged from the underground tunnel, and they group had been moving almost nonstop since. Between those vast hordes of horrific spider-creatures, and the seemingly unstoppable power of that brute, Barathrax, Jane had wanted to get her family and friends as far away from that long forgotten and abandoned dwarven city as possible. Hence the moment she had stepped into the light of the sun, she'd enlarged herself enough to be able to comfortably carry all five of her companions at once. Then, despite

A Dilemma of Upmost Importance Dara Aspyra continued to stare across her vast throne room in complete silence, just as she had been doing for the past three hours. It wasn't the vast portrait of herself that filled most of the opposite wall that had her eye, nor was it the twin rows of fully-armoured knights that silently flanked the red carpet that ran from her throne to thick, wooden doors. The various chests of jewels and gold, gathered up and presented to her over centuries by the various warbands that constantly waged war across her realm, also weren't the source of her focus. No what she was focused on was something of far more importance. A decision that, once taken, could not be reversed. Would not be reversed. She most certainly would make sure of that. Frustration began to boil over, and Dara carefully placed two fingers on one of her temples to help calm herself. The last thing she wanted was a wrinkle on her perfect, pearl-like skin, or a split in her silky white hair

Death Comes to the Dain Empire The Dainus Mountains are the very heart of dwarven might on Nubila. It was said to be the most impenetrable stronghold in the world at the time, greater than even the mighty fortresses of the Bhal empire in Decura or the lost Pyne empire on the now forgotten continent of Epsila. So sturdy was the fortress-filled mountain that it was thought that no army, bar one from the titanic race of the crou, could ever hope to penetrate it. The mountain was just too solid, and the vast cellars were full of so much provisions it would take centuries to starve out any defender. And to consider a frontal assault on the mountain was the equivalent of considering suicide. It would take weeks of throwing wave after wave of soldiers willing to die against the colossal gate, and even then you'd be lucky to crack the enormous stone doors. Even defenders outnumbered a hundred to one could hold this fortress for years, all the while inflicting terrible losses on an attacking

Just Politics I almost fall to my knees. What I just heard... to take it all in is almost impossible. I feel completely overwhelmed and every fibre of my being screams that this is a lie, a trick to try and sow chaos among my people. But deep down I know that everything I've just been told is true. Undeniably true. The words came from Beld and, while I haven't known him long, I trust him enough to believe his warning. Draymo... He and that human queen planned this from the day they met, during their little private talk. It was he who set up his brother to die. It was he who sent the soldiers most loyal to his father to their deaths. It was he who spread chaos throughout the Dainus Mountains to tear apart what little support Emperor Duros had left, which made his coup all the easier to pull off. After all, what little soldiers Duros had remaining were hardly enough to hold off the angry mob that kicked down the throne room's door. When Draymo cried at his father's funeral and assured

Man on a Mission This cannot be allowed to happen. I have to do everything I can to prevent such a horrible thing from happening. Unfortunately I cannot rely on help from anyone, especially not after what Sir Sigmund just told me. Sir Sigmund... I can barely imagine how terrible this has all been for you. To be trapped in a suit of armour for the rest of your life, forced to obey the que- Hazel's commands without question must tear at your very soul. To think I had to verbally deny everything about Hazel's rule just so you could explain what is going on, and even then I'm sure there is still plenty you still cannot tell me. For now this is enough. I will do this. I will risk my life, especially if it is to avoid such senseless slaughter. As I suspected, Hazel had been getting information on the movements of the dwarves, which had allowed her to set up traps in advance to tip any battle in our favour. The one giving her all this vital news was none other than Prince Draymo himself. It

Glorious Victories I cannot understand how it all came to this. How did we go from almost establishing peace with the Dain Empire, to outright waging war against them? In just three months my optimism, along with my hope for a better and brighter future, burned away. There was no chance at building our new home on the foundations of diplomacy and peace now. Now it would have to be built on the bodies of both our foes and my people, and the worst part is that everyone else seems perfectly fine with this. In fact, some seem glad that we're fighting the dwarves. The surge of men that have eagerly volunteered to fight has bolstered our total fighting strength almost tenfold, and those that don't instead work thrice as hard to construct defences or help craft weapons for our ever-growing army. How could this happen? I know exactly how, and am reminded of the answer as I walk past the hill that leads up to my queens cottage. I look up to that small home that once seemed so humble and