3. The DHE Legacy

The DHE Legacy


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    The DHE Legacy

    In the predawn darkness of a forest stand a lithe blue-haired Elf, a Half-Orc, and an Elf whose often-serious demeanour, black arrows and bow proclaim him a Shervash Archer. As two stand jesting about someone called Mog leading a Crusade to smite that most dangerous of monsters, the Pointy Toothed Rock, another watches on a little amused, but suspicious that a trick is being played on them. The Half-Orc accepts a parchment from a courier and reads it aloud, “Jiyyd is under attack from orcs.” _The three turn and pass through a pair of wooden gates then hurry along the rough paths of a barbarian settlement until exiting the shabby place via another pair of gates. They run and the Half-Orc outpaces the Elf who outpaces the Archer. First Half-Orc then Elf turn right at a crossroads their steps never faltering. The Elf whirls about and in the moment it takes her to turn an arrow finds its way to her bow and then to the hobgoblin who chased her. She runs onwards but the delay has cost her and an orcish mage blocks her way and lifts its hands to incant. Picking up her pace she corners the sturdy wooden gates of another town to take cover with a wall between her and the orc. She was not fast enough to avoid the acid that has burnt through her leather armour and her skin. She takes stock. The Half-Orc is there but only one among many and everywhere are there defenders kitted out for battle.

    The defenders talk of tactics until suddenly the gates burst open and orcs flood through and try to beat them back. Standing behind the orc fighters are an orcish mage and one vigilant elven Warrior who strikes at it from behind before the mage has even noticed him. Red droplets seep out through the Warrior’s torn armour and trickle downwards to meet the land. His scimitar and axe land a flurry of blows on the mage to prevent it using its magics and thus does the Warrior protect from harm all those who shelter inside the town. He acts alone. The Elf does not see the Warrior who defends her with his life’s blood.

    There is a lull. The defenders rest and heal and cast protections and revise their tactics. A dwarf shouts above the noise of the crowd,_ “Sumuns at da gate!” It is opened and all see the Warrior standing there enmeshed in vines that lash him with acid. The Elf sees him and runs straight into the vines in an attempt to reach his side but becomes entangled in them herself as do the healers who run to the Warrior’s aid. The flesh of his legs stripped near to the bone he can no longer support himself. The Warrior falls to the ground and the vines cover him. They cannot reach him in time. The Elf tears herself free and howls at the Warriors loss. As someone heals the Elf’s mangled legs a word emerges from her anguished cries, "Lof!" _Outside a small square building sits the Elf bathing the Warrior’s skin clean of blood. She moves to talk with the defenders on occasion and sometimes stops to listen to the sounds of far off battle, but always does the Elf return to the Warrior.

    The distant clash of steel has quieted and the fighters enter the town. Among them is a dwarven cleric who passes by the Warrior’s body and enters the square building. The Half-Orc follows, as does the Elf with the Warrior cradled in her arms. The Half-Orc pays all manner of tribute to the Warrior with his words. He is better than a Warrior. He is a good sort. He is a true artist whose hands can make things of such beauty that perhaps Moradin trained him. A distraught Elf asks the cleric if she and her god are willing to channel the return of the Warrior’s spirit to his remains and is told that he has no wish to live again. The Elf will not believe this and anger flares in her as she launches into a tirade at the cleric for daring to say that. In kindness the cleric explains that the Warrior rejects her reaching for his spirit. A desperate hope lights the Elf’s eyes and by her words she is now convinced that the Warrior simply will not trust his spirit to this cleric’s god. As her heart and mind cling to this idea the Elf does not notice the other two leaving and speaks two names,_ "Eowien. Vell’cam." _Hours pass. The Warrior is dressed in a soft blue robe that bears the Elf’s scent. His head rests in her lap as the she strokes the lines of his face with a lovers’ caress. Sometimes she bends her lips to his ear and murmurs tender words meant only for him. Every now and then her lips brush his cheek or his forehead or the scar that runs from his left eye. There is little sign of grief.

    The Half-Orc has a healer treat the Warrior’s body to prevent decay for a time. He leads the Elf out of the town towards the setting sun and though the slight Elf’s legs shake under the weight of the Warrior and buckle on occasion she will not relinquish him. As the last glow of the sun fades beyond the horizon the travellers pass into a canyon. Near to exhaustion the Elf’s blue eyes focus on a series of locations then linger on an exquisitely made combat dummy that stands on a ledge high in the canyon above. Her eyes drop down the cliff face and she moves forwards to lay her precious burden in its lee. She draws a blanket up over him and kisses his cheek as if he were a sleeping child then pulls the covering over his face.

    Having left the canyon, Elf and Half-Orc and are reunited with a wounded and shaken Archer on a long hill. While the Elf tends to the Archer's wounds the Half-Orc retuns black arrows and bow to him then goes on his way trusting in the Elf's care._
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  • // 😄 amazing story thank you for turning me on to this froo 😄


  • Nice story, Liked my description wink wink.
    Now if you'll excuse me, the voices want me to burn something again.
    dashes off with a box of matches and lighter fuel

    -DnD_Freaky_Geek :tux:

    Ivellios Starmist- Man in black with a black bow, your local family friendly MIB agent

  • A

    ((i really liked that story i well most likely end up reading it again))

    -Amir :tux:


  • ((bump… it is a good story, needs to be read again))


  • //That was very sweet, and it really burns that one of the best bow crafters, the FEW who know how to craft cherry and Elm is GONE now ~_~ what with Cotten being AWOL lately. A few bits about the story, number one it was a great telling El, but there were times in the beggining I got confused. Next time use names. I got turned around trying to figure if you ment Elf El, or Elf Lof. I understand you wanted to up the surprise that the Warrior elf was Lof, but at the very least you could have told the tale through Eluriel's eyes or even in the third person using El's name, and even the half Orc. All in all it was good I liked it and I'm sad now, Cike didn't get a chance to talk with Lof much.