DORULL STORIES - LEGEND OF ROSHNAK
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A couple of days had passed since Roshnak
Baanar arrived at the ice maiden’s castle, located in the dead center of Tyrsh.
A couple of very interesting, but also quite hard days, which put the young orc
under numerous trials. And as he found out whence the threat is coming from,
Roshnak felt especially motivated, to do everything she asked from him. First
and foremost, Ch’ybal had to teach him the language of the stars, otherwise the
orc wouldn’t even be able to understand the magic, let alone try and control
it. Luckily, the ice maiden knew quite a fast way of achieving that. By
establishing the mental connection with Roshnak, she was able to transfer all
of the necessary knowledge.
Roshnak possessed a pronouncedly strong intellectual
fortitude. He was absorbing everything that the maiden threw at him as a
sponge. Ch’ybal knew immediately, she wasn’t wrong, when she decided on
choosing this young orc. A perfect specimen, a perfect tool, with which she had
a chance of defending her home, and therefore probably saving the entire
Dorull. Ice maiden could feel Badzanogh’s anger. She knew the reasons for his
decision, which spurred him to leave his cave, his hiding place. She might have
understood his motives, but she could never justify his killing spree. So much
pain and suffering disrupted the balance of nature. And the torrent of souls,
flooding into the shadow realm, threatened to do the same with that dimension.
Ch’ybal feared, if that was to happen, the ripples between the worlds could
potentially destroy the entire planet.
In just two days, Roshnak completely mastered
the magic of ice maiden. But, before he could begin to use it, his body had to
become resistant to the extreme colds. Otherwise, the channeling of these
spells would cause incurable injuries, and not long after that, even death. For
that reason alone, Ch’ybal led the young orc towards an especially constructed,
quite large room, completely enclosed and seemingly isolated from the outside
world. As soon as she closed the door, all and any sounds from the outside
disappeared. The room was empty. Besides the bed, one table and the chair.
There were no windows, no decorations, just a bland white floor and walls. It
looked somewhat eerie.
“You are going to spend some time here.”
Ch’ybal explained “Once your body gets used to the cold, you’ll be allowed to
leave.”
“Why?” Roshnak asked.
“Your body must become stronger, more
resistant, before we take the next step.”
“How am I to do that locked in this room?”
“Everlasting ice will make you stronger, trust
me.” Ch’ybal said “I’d advise you to spend your time meditating. Dealing with
the extremely low temperatures, could often be very strenuous for the mind as
well.”
“What about the exercise?”
“They are quite useful too.” Ice maiden
nodded, “Now, take off your clothes.”
“What?” young orc’s cheeks slightly blushed
“What for?”
“Unprotected body will adapt to the cold much
better.”
“Is that the reason why you are naked too?”
Roshnak asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I was born from ice. I
am incapable of feeling cold.” Ch’ybal retorted “To tell you the truth, I could
never get used to the cloth. It is far too rough and restraining.”
“I don’t know, it feels good to me.” Roshnak
said begrudgingly, taking off the last piece of clothing “And quite warm.”
“You’ll soon find out that it is
unnecessary.” the ice maiden said, leaving the room.
Orc was left alone. At first, he could not
sense any change. This wasn’t that bad. But Roshnak did not know, the
temperature began lowering gradually, as soon as Ch’ybal left. Until, some ten
minutes or so later, when he began to shake uncontrollably. He jumped in
an attempt to warm himself. And then he tried running around the room, but to
no avail. What’s more, he felt it became even colder, by doing so.
Just then, on one of the walls, Roshnak
noticed several etched symbols. The room was warded against magic, orc realized
as he now knew the language of the stars. If he was to succumb to the
temptation and try to ease the pain, he couldn’t do it with the usage of
spells. There was no shortcut, Ch’ybal seemingly thought of everything. He had
to obtain the resistance naturally. Her advice regarding mediation was the only
feasible option. And Roshnak acted upon it, just a couple of minutes later.
Several days had passed since then. How many
exactly, orc did not know. Four or five, perhaps even more, judging by the
visitations from the ice maiden, who from time to time, brought him food. Those
were the only moments when Roshnak was awake. Cold bothered him less and less,
with every passing day. And by the beginning of sixth, he woke up not feeling
any discomfort. He did look a bit different. His skin was pale and gray. Tips
of his fingers were almost blue, but he could still move them without any
problem.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Ch’ybal
asked, as she placed a full platter of roasted meat on the top of the table.
“Strange.” Roshnak answered.
“Are you in pain?” asked the ice maiden.
“No.” Orc retorted.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
“Perhaps you feel heat, trying to burst out of
you?” Ch’ybal sounded worried.
“No, nothing.” Roshnak said “I can’t feel
anything wrong.”
Ice maiden came closer, placing the palm of
her hand on the orc’s chest.
“And this?”
“What, your touch?”
“Does it hurt?” Ch’ybal nodded.
“No.” Roshnak retorted.
“Excellent!” ice maiden exclaimed smiling
“Follow me.”
They turned right, heading through a rather
long, narrow hallway, before reaching the chamber almost twice the size of the
one Roshnak had spent the previous several days. Over six foot tall,
translucent crystal, protruded out from the floor, in the exact center of the
room. On the ice ground, brimming with small cracks, spreading a couple of
yards away from the crystal, orc noticed a few concentric rings, scribed in the
magical runes of the star language.
“Come closer.” Ch’ybal said “Place your hands
on the crystal, and empty your mind.”
Roshnak obeyed without question. He had no
idea what to expect, but he didn’t need to wait for long. The crystal started
pulsating in bright, white light, as soon as he placed his hands on the
surface. Tender tingling sensation went through the tips of his fingers, once
the energy began to spread. Just about ten seconds later, the orc was
completely enveloped in a translucent, magical sphere. Ch’ybal patiently awaited
for that moment, carefully tucking her hand inside, almost to her elbow.
“Taemk nis thelen ur senuir.” Roshnak could
clearly understood the words of ice maiden, who begin casting the restoration
spell, in the language of the stars.
Almost immediately, the orc felt the healing
powers of the magic. His skin was no longer ashen gray and frostbitten. It
restored its previous tone. Even his fingers looked much better. The entire
process lasted no more than a couple of seconds, after which the sphere simply
disappeared.
“Lift that bucket.” Ch’ybal pointed at the
corner of the room.
Roshnak readily jumped.
“Hold it with both of your hands.” The ice
maiden waited for him to do so. “Try and freeze the water, but be careful not
to destroy the bucket.”
Roshnak took a deep breath.
“Taemk nir malnneg reib.” orc said loudly.
Barely visible glimmers of light appeared out
of his palms. The small puff of smoke, resembling the mist, surrounded the
bucket in its grayish cloak. Roshnak kept his concentration, channeling the
magic, until he could hear a barely audible crackling of the wood. And in that
moment he stopped, and once he looked down, instead of the water, inside of the
bucket was a block of ice.
“Excellent!” Ch’ybal laughed wholeheartedly
“This spell will be quite useful, when you face Badzanogh. But you must
remember to weaken his flames, before using it.
“How am I supposed to do that?” Roshnak asked.
“Be smart. Keep your distance.” the ice maiden
retorted “Elemental could turn you to ashes with a single breath.”
“Together we could have many more chances.”
the orc said “Why don’t you come with me?”
“I can not leave Tyrsh.” Ch’ybal said,
sounding somewhat dismal “My energy would withered in mere seconds, outside of
the ice realm.”
“What if we are to allow Badzanogh to enter
Tyrsh?” Roshnak wasn’t giving up “That way, you could fight him too.”
“You don’t understand, orc.” Ch’ybal said “If
Badzanogh sets even a foot inside of the ice realm, that would be the end of
me, along with every other being that walks, crawls, swims and flies.”
“Impossible!” Roshnak exclaimed “But how?”
“His everlasting flames are strong enough to
melt all of the ice in Tyrsh.” Ch’ybal frowned.
“That amount of water would drown half of
Dorull.” orc understood.
“And those unfortunate ones, who are to
survive, will witness the tearing in between ours and the shadow realm.” The
ice maiden finished her somber thoughts.
“How come?” Roshnak asked.
“Because, all of those souls of the departed,
trying to find a way across to the shadow realm, would overwhelm the
interspace. They would tear the thin fabric separating our two planes.” Ch’ybal
said “Now, come. Perhaps you’d like to try your other powers.”
Roshnak nodded, ready to follow after the ice
maiden. But before they even went through the hallway, Ch’ybal suddenly
stopped. A painful grimace twisted her face, as her entire body shriveled in
agony. She felt the deaths of at least a dozen orcs. And it was quite close.
Much closer than she expected.
“Quickly!” Ch’ybal yelled, as she snapped back
“There’s no time to lose!”
“But I did not…”
“Badzanogh reached Vur-Paan.” the ice maiden
said.
“How can you tell?” Roshnak asked.
“I can feel it.” Ch’ybal shook her head.
Orc rushed through the hallway, and then
turned to the left, towards the portal chamber.
“Open the door, fast!” Roshnak screamed.
“Yes, of course.” the ice maiden was already
pouring a handful of red powder on the symbols carved in the floor.
Gogron’s symbol lit up. His doors were still
active. That meant the Vur-Paan wasn’t destroyed. Well at least not shaman’s
hut. Second or two later, Ch’ybal’s symbol became active.
“Taemk khal nir!” the ice maiden yelled.
Ring flashed, as the passage between the two
gates connected.
“Remember.” Ch’ybal said “Be sure to keep your
distance at first.”
“Alright.”
“And don’t waste your energy and strength all
at once.”
“I won’t.”
“Good luck, orc.” Ch’ybal bowed.
“Thank you.” Roshnak retorted, as he stepped
toward the magic doors.
“Good luck…”
Orc was once again inside of the interspace.
Only this time, there was no concern nor fear in his heart. He was determined
to stop Badzanogh, to save the Tyrsh, Chaygor, and even the entire Dorull. The
task which seemed almost impossible. The task, that will make the legend out of
Roshnak Baanar from Vur-Paan.
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