Falling Fire : Chapter 01

Chapter 1

Icefyre, a wizard from The Valley of Silver Rains, happened upon a bestraggled youth whom he took in under his wing and offered the abused barbarian a chance to be schooled in weapons and as much civility as he could handle. Clan destroyed and nowhere to turn Cho-Hag accepted. Later when wounds healed and Cho-Hag dared venture he met a robust healer named Makai. They quickly became friends and introduced Makai to Icefyre. Joined by a child named Ricky. Thus began Icefyre's fighting school.

Meanwhile, Auwyne, a young scout of future prosper found his way from the Empire of the Iron Mountains to this region not yet named. One day forging for food, the young Auwyne found something a little larger than a rabbit in his trap. Jester, being the fool he was, just walked into the awaiting bunny trap. Raglin, the chubby scout, came to investigate the commotion. Jester, assuming that Raglin had ensnared him, attempted to provoke a fight. Auwyne's heard the voices and seeking accompaniment, stepped in and helped resolve the issue. Afterwards, the three became friends and traveled together.

Icefyre noticed the growing prowess of Cho-Hag and let him help in the instruction of the other two. Then began his search for more pupils that could benefit under his guidance. One night when Icefyre was casting his rituals and chants, Auwyne had seen the spectical and went to investigate. Increasing curiosity got the best of Auwyne and he made himself noticeable. Icefyre, startled, paused and invited the travel worn scout into his encampment. After getting a little history from the distant travleler he awoke the sleeping barbarian and so began a curious friendship.

Auwyne thinking that he and his friends could benefit from the wizard and barbarian's tutalage joined his small group with Icefyre. They officially began a shire on 22nd day of the 10th cycle of the moon 5 years prior to the new millenia. Accepting Icefyre as the leader of the group, the group started to enlarge. Auwyne rose through the ranks of the newly formed weapon handlers and became the shire's first champion. As the group grew popular and funds came to the shire, other Kingdoms recognized them as a part of The Valley of Silver Rains since Icefyre's roots are deeply planted there. Needing a calling, the shire named themselves The Land of Falling Fire, for the sky rained lightning upon the ground so commonly.

Over several moon cycles, the shire grew in numbers and amazed the supporting kingdom, and it granted them be called a baroney. With the large numbers and variety of interests began the guilds. Cho-Hag dominated all other barbarians and named himself Chieftain. Auwyne followed a darker calling, founded the assassins guild with Jester at his side, renamed himself Death Jester to feel more justified. Raglin's forte' was the wilderness and so he instructed those who also lived with the land. Helwasten, a villager close by proved his worth by assuming the duties of training all warriors in the baroney. Makai already experienced in spells, established himself as the spellmaster and tutored those interested the world of spellcraft. From the east came an oriental warrior named Rafael and his brother Vance, an archer of quality skill, and to the ranks practiced fighters. Danjo joined the baroney with a segregated group of warriors. Mikil followed a faerie and found himself in this area, and being a lover of nature, began his druidic path of life. Weezer , a youth, much too youthful to be learning the ways of the sword, started proving himself able to handle anything an older person training could do.

Icefyre's travels took him permanently away to a forgein land, unknown, including by Icefyre himself. Cho-Hag being one of the first and a popular persona took his first step and assumed the role of baron. Cho-Hag met a lady from a neighboring town which caused his absence from the barony, for weeks at a time. During these weeks, the prime minister and the champion fought and struggled for the right to ascend the throne. Upon Cho-Hag's return, he found the baroney in such turmoil that most its subjects had left for a reprive from the struggle. Having no knowledge of the battle, he solved the discrepancies and finished his term in a dwindling and unpromising barony.

Auwyne, Cho-Hag, Raglin, Jester, Shadow, Helwasten, and Dragon survived through this tragedy, and began Auwyne's term, to build and create new ways to allow the barony to survive. Auwyne married and surely proving with Cho-Hag as his champion, a better monarch, the barony grew slowly over a few moon cycles. As a more solidified group, they expanded their relations with a distant baroney far to the south called Silverwater. There they were to make what name they could and seek ally of the most honorable sort. Success was minimal but it was a start. No support from the parental kingdom since the departation of Icefyre, The Land of Falling Fire held them in very low regard. Nowhere nearing its height, still sent representitves to CLAN (the meeting of the kingdoms and lesser holdings of land). Those who went were Auwyne(Baron), Cho-Hag(champion), Jallen(prime minister), Helwasten(warrior ranked as the best), Danjo, Takeda, Jester, and Raglin. In hoping to help and increase a better relation with The Valley of the Silver Rain, being invited to join their encampment was a hopeful start.

Once arrived from an ungodly distance of travel, they almost immediatly met with hostility from the prince consort of our parent kingdom. Due to the late hour in which they arrived, they felt disappointed at the greeting, but understanding. Everyone rose early on the first day of CLAN. They started unpacking and Cho-Hag was first among many to be insulted by the prince consort of VSR. His reknown hammer was mocked at and Cho-Hag chided for carrying such a massive weapon. Not that the prince consort knew how many he slew with the hammer that everyone underestimated. The next few hours were of snide remarks and serious doubts about VSR's continual support, but gladly took up conversation with Gai-Jin the monarch of VSR's neighboring kingdom. The Land of Falling Fire were impressed with the ernest king and became friends with him and his CLAN represenatives.

After a paced breakfast and organizing morning, everyone but Cho-Hag left to forage for vittles. Cho-Hag was very eager to display his skill with his weighty hammer. More than one fell to its devasting blows, many were very impressed, but still the prince consort (even though he was on the battlefield) did not want to engage Cho-Hag in fear he might have to eat the words that he so easily spilled forth that day. Later he was joined by Helwasten, Jallen, Danjo, Auwyne, and Takeda. They joined in the mass battles and met a few hours later to enter their first jugging tournment. Hoping that they were ready and not having a lot of experience, they were missing their quick - Jester. He showed just in time with Raglin. Jallen had chained Cho-Hag for safety purposes. The judges of the contest had checked our weapons, found that we were missing a dagger for quick. In a rush, the group went to find one that they could us, promising the return of course. When VSR was asked to loan us the weapon they denied us! Thus began something they had no idea how to control! Our rescent friends from Silverwater happily lent one of their weapons. Our first game we had Jester as the quick, Cho-Hag as the slash, Danjo as flailman, Auwyne as polearm, Helwasten was the shieldman. We lost but we learned a great deal, so on the second match we switched a few position, like all of them. Danjo as the quick, Auwyne as the slash, Jester as the flailman, Helwasten as the sheildman, and Cho-Hag working the polearm. The first two goals scored were the team opposing us. After the three unanswered pionts scored by us, they were frustrated. They then scored one more against us. So sad, even after having a point removed from our score we became victorious with a five to three win. They thought the change made them much more competive. The next match against Auwyne's former kingdom Iron Mountains. The judge made Cho-Hag remove his spiked collar after not caring for two whole matches. The match ended almost as quickly as it began. Falling Fire did score one before their opponent scored their third. They aniticipate that they would fare much better in the following year.

Everyone in the entourage from Falling Fire had either joined in the ditch battles or rested. Cho-Hag was again chained to the ground as Helwasten and others were in the fray. Cho-Hag was approached by a lovely, firey haired wench whom asked if he would like to be free. Cho-Hag declined the offer and expected her acceptance of the answer. As he turned his back he felt a dagger point. The chains fell and he was ordered to march. Simon, a traveler himself, met with Bubbles and she reported that Cho-Hag was his. At that mention, he guided his newly aquired slave to an area called Seracen City. Then given over to another red hair woman, Cho-Hag was put to demeanial tasks. After his duties were done, Cho-Hag put forth all his effort to finding an escape route in which he could follow. Noticing that none from his land were coming to save him, he began to make life difficult for the Seracens. They almost promptly released him of his own accord.

Cho-Hag, after being released, raced back to the battlefield to inform everyone on what had happened. Then sensing a start of a grand adventure, went back. Mistress Misty, the final ex-owner of Cho-Hag, was thouroghly shocked to find that he returned, armed and dressed for war. As he approached, the Seracens began to be concerned about the heavily armed barbarian walking freely in their city. Cho-Hag sought Misty and when found, offered his services, which she whole-heartily accepted. Everywhere she went, Cho-Hag went. The Seracens noticed the dedication he performed and a few began to parlay with him. Cho-Hag began working the plan to wreak havoc on his first night of CLAN. Auwyne and the others had already started forming their allies against the Seracens. As the night went on, the first sign that Falling Fire's raid was going to start was Jallen walking into the tent in which a few people were. Coincidentally Cho-Hag was in it. Jallen asked to speak to Misty. This began a heated discussion that started to bring a lot of unwanted attention from the still drinking Seracens. Both sides were together. In the center of sixty warriors, mages, assassins, and drunks were Misty and Jallen screaming at each other. Both sides were tentative about who was going to throw the first blow. After a while the intensity decreased and Falling Fire took back their champion and not a blow was swung.

Approaching midnight, Falling Fire returned to their camp and found Gai Jin drinking and talking. Raglin and Jester had retired for the night. The rest conversed with the Mystic Seas king for hours. Seemed to them that they learned more about running their barony here than the year and a half trying to get knowledge from VSR.

The following morning Auwyne, still upset about the theft of his champion, started formulating a plan against the Seracens. Cho-Hag also not satisfied with the lack of battle. They knew each other well so they began to pool their resources to teach respect to those who knew them not. The Tournament in which Falling Fire traveled from thier distant land for, had been canceled. They knew they had some of the better fighters there and wanted to prove it. So Auwyne and Cho-Hag began their search for powerful allies in which to help them fight the odds when raiding Seracen City. Also another matter came at hand. Auwyne had requested to see the current monarch of VSR on many occasions and was avoided, so with Mystic Seas offering a helping hand began another set plan for CLAN Court! The two conspirators made alliances with many, including Silverwater, Green Dragons, Dark Water, Golden Plains, and more... They were sure to seal the alliance with drink. As Auwyne and Cho-Hag stumbled back to thier camp, they happened to see Simon. Simon being one of Cho-Hag's captors was unaware of their presence because he engaged in the pursuit of a young lady. Auwyne could not resist so Cho-Hag introduced the two and Auwyne assassinated the slaver. Then continued their walk back to camp with a little spring in their step.

In morning of CLAN Court, the monarch and champion of Falling Fire updated the rest of the group about the day's events that was going to happen. Taking special precautions, they took their place behind VSR's monarch and prince consort. Court went by, and as predicited, VSR never mentioned the barony. So with their allies in place (over half of the people present at court), a distraction in the court brought their cue to eliminate the king and prince consort. It went unnoticed. Cho-Hag quickly asked permission to speak to the court officals. Once called upon, The Land of Falling Fire approached the court and disarmed. Gasps of shock ran through the crowd when realized the eight person entourage was cranked up for war. Cho-Hag deftly spoke in a voice that shook even the monarchs on their thrones, announcing and pointing proudly at the once royalty that treated them so poorly, now dead by their hands. Much to the disbelief of Falling Fire, they were cheered on. Then made a brief announcement that the barony had seceded from VSR and were offically accepting Gai Jin's invition to be under their protection.

After the court was over, VSR declared war on Mystic Seas. For little did Gai Jin know the prize in which was taken from them. Thus begins the Northwest War.

Proudly parlaying our allies, and thanking them for their assistance, the group went back to camp. Once arriving they were told that the king of VSR was a member of the fighting group Annihilis and that they were planning on "justly" slaying the respresentative the Falling Fire. Disturbed by the news they started with their precautions. Cho-Hag arranged for the groups stay at Seracen City. Just after they arrival of Falling Fire Annihilis had been spotted just outside the city. Using the advantage of close to one hundred fighters, started to goad them. Annihilis realizing that their revenge wasn't worth the effort, then left. Then Falling Fire began their own celebration.

The morning of the last day, packing had begun and finished before Falling Fire saw VSR again. They had the audacity to ask why. Falling Fire just replyed 'We don't like you!'. For the most part that ended any relations with VSR.