by Natalie Steimle

Created on: April 02, 2009

Journey Starts

The tired soldier rode his horse through the town gates. It was a small town, but one in the enemy's path. A hundred thousand orcs were headed towards them.
He rode swiftly from town to town, warning the people, but they refused to listen. They were stubborn folk and refused to believe that their peace was ending.
Orcs had not been seen in this land for over a hundred years, why would they come now? Hope was fleeing from the soldier's eyes. These were his people and they were too stubborn to listen to one of their own.

He tugged his hood back over his head, coming in doggedly from the edge of town to the center to make his announcement. At the town's center well, he stopped his horse and dropped out of his saddle. His soft brown boots were stained and travel worn, but made no noise nor print on the ground. His long sword thumped against his side and loose chain mail shirt inside it's plain scabbard. His cloak masked him well and fell evenly to the ground as he stepped down. He was tall, as high as his horse, but needed more height to gain the eyes of the stubborn folk he now had to speak with. He kept his hood on as he cleared his throat to speak.
It had been quite a while since he used it.

"People of Ceritan!" He spoke loudly and with authority to gain their attention and thought. "I bring news from outside your lands!" People started to gather around him, eager for news, much more for curiosity sake than interest. He cleared his voice throat again to keep it going. "Orcs are coming from the northern passage! A hundred thousand strong! Heed me and come out of the valley to the high lands for safety!"

Immediately people laughed. One came out and started arguing with him. "Orcs?! In this valley?! You're been drinking too much ail good man!"

"There has been no sign of orc nor troll since our founder's days!" a man in back shouted. "There is no fear of such creatures here! Go back to your king jester!"

The soldier stood firm. "I tell you this not in jest," he spoke clearly, "but in warning!
If you do not come to the highlands, than all shall fail you! They are too strong for the Soldiers, Rangers or Knights! You have no hope for survival if you do not flee now!" Many more laughed.

A figure approached him, serious and not laughing, making their way cautiously through the crowd. This caught his eye because the movements were graceful, yet very sure of themselves, a combination not known to human kind but to elves alone.
The person stopped before him, clearly

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