Ruig nearly jumps out of his seat, clearly surprised that Ruglan has spoken.

"Balga's beard, man! I thought you were mute."

Turning to Atan he continues. "I am on a wander from the Ghurugil, my Order. We are dwarves of mighty Urox, and excel at battling the spawn of Chaos in their subterranean lairs. Many of the Ghurugil travel across the land lending their aid where it is needed. I met Draxim, then Ruglan, and decided to hire them for a short time. We were on the coast road headed toward Tunlura when we came across Grugni's house and the dead broo. I think you know the rest."

"A battle?!" Tagra exclaims, one eye growing large while the other hides under a bushy lid. "Aye, a battle. A battle like I never seen. Three warbands come north along the valley and we scattered to the forest an track em."

While he speaks, Tagra keeps his eyes fixated on Atan and Yimris. It is clear that he wants the elves to absorb every word.

"Two packs a filthy broo kept to river, march straight for Osender. They were no skulking in the shadows like they ought. The devils had purpose. We caught em at a muddy creek and harried the pack through the evenin. Next day we all come back south with the broo all food for crows. That's when we saw the rest a them. It was an army I think. Many broo, many weapons. They came up the shoulder a the Turguts in a great mass a brayin rage. We followed, musta been a hundred us. Thousand them. They went up into the mountains, not carin who knew."

Tagra takes a long draught and continues.

"Up and up they went, north an east. Along the upper slopes they marched, through those great fields of rock. It was last night that they reached the high point, that Old Kurlew. That's when the fires came raining down."

Tagra stands at this point, energized and envigorated by thoughts of the battle.

"We were silent there ona mountain side or we woulda cheered. The Golden was back and at the glory time! The sky fires came down among the broo and the rocks burned. Crash of lightning, blast of thunder! We drew closer so there would be no escape."

"Then, there comin down from Old Kurlew was the mountain itself. A giant man that roared and hurled stones like oxcarts. The broo were many and died as many. A wonderous thing to see!"

"But there were no Golden, but an elf you see. A tall thing with black hair on a mighty steed. He an four o his kin were riding through the broo hackin them down all that came against em. The fire came down at his command, but the broo were thick. The giant an these elf folk were all surrounded there. They fought out, then were surrounded again. We could not wait! The Merek Lek came up the hill and shot those broo bastards down. The dark sky was ablaze with fire and the flash of tempest. I don know how many fell, but the broo came on us then, charging down the mountain."

"We were out of arrows by midnight an still they came. The elf lord an his giant were push back to Old Kurlew, an made the broo pay for their approach. That is the last I saw of them until nigh mornin. Our lines were broken and we drew the foe into the forest. Many of us fell. Far, far too many. The others fled. I fled. In the morning, with this ragged wound in my gut, I was found by the elf lord an one of his own."

"Without a word the rider pulled me across his saddle and raced through the forest. I fell into darkness, though I don't know why. The wound was hurting but not so much. When I awoke it was this evening and the lights of this village nearby. The elf lord said 'Go, warn the village and all you can find. There is nothing between them and the darkness. To arms!'"

"The elf rode off then. Now, I am here."

Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/3/03 7:26:06 am