DORULL SAGA - SWAMP OF DEATH
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Moorg was riding fast towards
Gaaran, the village of the wild orcs he recently stumbled upon. He was
unfamiliar with these parts of the mountain, as goblins never dared to venture
this close to the orcish lands. He had no choice but to head back there, hoping
they could help. Moorg was still wary because of their previous encounter. He
could never learn to trust them. Goblin slowed his wolf as soon as they
approached the village. He was ready to run away on the first sign of danger.
He managed to escape once, the second time he might not be so lucky.
But Moorg had no reason to worry,
orcs were still under the influence of his horrific, magical display of power.
Just above that piece of stone, where he trapped and killed those unfortunate
soldiers, orcs build up a shrine. A rock formation, decorated with feathers,
bones and wooden sticks. An altar in devotion to him. Chieftain was standing in
front of his dilapidated wooden hut, covered in dry straws, moss and mud. He
waited for Moorg to come closer, before he bowed to him.
“Master goblin, Gannag was eagerly
awaiting for your return. Please come in.”
Moorg decided to remain silent. He slowly dismounted his riding wolf, proceeding to walk by, not even once
looking at Gannag. The inside of the shack pleasantly surprised the goblin. It
seemed orcs weren’t so wild after all. The chieftain apparently knew of comfort.
Walls were lined in roughly tanned leather. Almost the entire floor was covered
in thick hides. In the left corner sat a couple of well made, wooden chairs and
a table. One shelf, filled with various pots, jugs and cups, stood on the
opposite wall of the room. In the other one, there was a quite large bed and
some chests filled with clothes. It was even decorated with some nice animal
drawings.
“How well do you know Laorn?” Moorg
asked immediately, as he sat on the nearest chair.
“Very well, I spend all my life
in…”
“I am interested in caves.” goblin
interrupted the chieftain “Largest, deepest and darkest of them.”
“There are hundreds of caves in the
mountains.” Gannag was confused “Can you be more specific?”
“It’s a dark, deep hole.” the
goblin said “Dangerous and deadly. It is a place which even orcs fear.”
“A lot of caves are filled with the
creatures from the deep. Only bravest dare to venture in.” chieftain nodded
“But none as deep, as the hole near Khoill.”
“Khoill?” the goblin stood up.
“Orcish village of Khoill, master.”
“Where is Khoill?”
“To the north master, almost three
weeks ride away.” Gannag said “But please master, I beg of you, don’t go there.”
“Why not?”
“Those orcs are bad. They are evil.
They hate us. They keep their cozy place, only to themselves.” the chieftain
fell on his knees “Please master, do not go there. They will capture you, make
you do things for their pleasure.”
“What kind of things?” Moorg asked.
“Fight. Kill. Pleasure them in any
way they deemed fit.”
“Are you making this up?”
“Certainly not my master. Everyone
here is living proof of what I’m saying.”
“How come?”
“We were once their prisoners.”
Gannag said “Their slaves.”
“But you escaped?”
“No, they let us go. Actually, they
sent us here.”
“Why?” Moorg asked.
“They had very little use of
broken, dying fighters.” Gannag smiled “They dropped us here to die.”
“You seem, well…fine to me.”
“Something in this place kept us
alive.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” the
goblin turned genuinely curious.
“Maybe it was so, at the beginning.
But now, after what feels like an eternity, it’s more a curse, than a blessing.”
“Eternity? I don’t understand. How
long are you here?”
“Truth to be told, I lost my count
after hundred or so winters.” Gannag shrugged his shoulders “Some are much
longer here, than me.”
“Impossible!” Moorg was surprised
“You don’t look that old.”
“I am as old as I was on that day,
they threw me out from the Khoill.” the chieftain retorted “It’s the
punishment, for all of those horrible things we did, in that damned place.”
“Tell me then, why didn’t you try
and end this curse?” Moorg asked promptly.
“Well, I wouldn’t know where to
begin with.” Gannag took a second to think “You have powers beyond our means,
master. Perhaps you could help us.”
“First, tell me everything you can
remember from Khoill.” goblin said “And I mean it, every little detail could be
important, if I am to help you.”
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