Wodens Mist Cloaks the Fallen

WODENS MIST CLOAKS THE FALLEN
As told by Thegwius of the high-council, scholar
and guardian of the Wodens order
---

Dawn breaks into the plains of Gatharok, our lines stand near the eastern woods, sun glitters in the swords of my brethren as they stare into the deep lines of our foes. I, along with Errath the Red, One-Eyed Shoth and Garoth Stromheart, ride forth to meet their champions in the middle of the plains. Four of their greatest soldiers and commanders ride to meet us. We hail our enemies with respect though hate grows stronger in our hearts. I quickly study my opponents and see that they are tall and strong warriors from their island to the west. They have arrived to claim their revenge on our folk for years of raids and murders on their isles.

THEGWIUS, SCHOLAR AND GUARDIAN OF THE WODENS ORDER:
Lead your men back west over the ocean or the crows dine on your corpses before sunset.

ARAL OF THE WESTERN ISLANDS:
You and your men have raided our isles long enough, we will see to it that each one of you lay dead before we sail back through the dark seas to the lands of the elder Gods. The bloodthirst of our people scream to rip off your heads and leave your body rotting on these cold plains.

THEGWIUS, SCHOLAR AND GUARDIAN OF THE WODENS ORDER:
I am the messenger of the high Woden and the keeper of secrets of his halls. Alone would the one-eyed God crush your pitiful forces under his might, his strength is great in us, leave this field for good!

ARAL OF THE WESTERN ISLANDS:
We fear not of your weak Gods, the strength of Danu may drive our forces through your lines and smash your pathetic excuse for army before you even manage to draw your steel!

Errath the Red draws his sword and holds it to the skies up high.

ERRATH THE RED, COMMANDER OF THE NORN:
Hail Woden! Hail Thor! Today we shall valiantly drive off these invaders! Mother Earth, guide our blades to bring swift death for our foes! May the crows aim our arrows to strike straight and fast to shatter the lines of our enemies, and let Thor burn our hearts with thunder as we charge over the open fields to do battle with our enemies!

Aral of the western islands looked upon Errath the Red with fear and hatred in his eyes. His heart was questioning, but his arm stood strong, he turned and rode back to his forces, as did we. We readied our lines for charge, drew our swords, the breaths of our steeds and brothers formed a mist over the cold air upon our lines. We aimed our bows, picked up our shields and waited. With spears ready we looked far into the lines of our enemies. We prayed for our fathers, we prayed for our Gods.

And then, screams filled the air as our foes began to drive themselves through the plains, rain fell heavily upon our forces as we raised our axes and let our calls to rise to the halls up high. Clouds of arrows blackened the skies, Errath the Red raised his sword and readied his steed.

"For Woden! For the glory of the north! For our the glory of our fallen, charge my brothers in arms! Charge!"

And we charged.

---

[ TO BE CONTINUED-PERHAPS ]

THE BATTLE MAGE OF DANU
---

And thus, the Celtic warriors charged. Their lines clashed with ours, their woad warriors against our berserkers. Their Briton steel against our Nordic sword. I rode forth to do battle, three I killed from my right, two fell for my left, my brave steed rushed forth through the lines of swords and spears.

THEGWIUS, SCHOLAR AND GUARDIAN OF WODENS ORDER:
Come thunder, come rain! Let Thor bath your bodies in the rain of thunder! Open the great gates for our fallen, let Valhalla take our finest! Onward!

It was then that Celtic sorcerer, Amakath rose above his lines, wielding spells of war and calling their ancient fathers for aid.

AMAKATH OF THE NINTH CIRCLE:
Come down Lug! Blast these weak northmen with your might!
Come holy Danu! Swallow our foes with your strength!
Let none of them survive to tell the tale of this day!
May the crows alone sing the tale of their doom!

And then, skies rained fire, huge balls of fire were sown down amongst our lines, fires swallowed our brothers as those fiery stones exploded with death and devastation. The sorcerer still forth summoned!

AMAKATH OF THE NINTH CIRCLE:
Let none of them run away from thee, oh Lug the great!
Come holy Danu! Swallow them all!

Then the earth itself opened below our very feet, hundreds of men fell to the depths of the earth. Screams filled the air and I knew that doomed we were should we not take out that wizard. Then, out of nowhere, a brave Nordic champion emerged from the lines and stood up to challenge the sorcerer Amakath.

VILMARIN, THE CHAMPION OF THE NORTH:
To your end you have arrived foul sorcerer! No more will you wield the spells of destruction against my brethren! Now, wizard, die!

And thus it was that Vilmrain, the champion of the north, drove his axe deep into the chest of a sorcerer.

AMAKATH OF THE NINTH CIRCLE:
So my time has come to join mother Danu, but alone I will not depart from this plane!

Spoken of such the wizard grabbed Vilmarin's axe and spoke of a words unknown. His axe bursted int flames and swallowed all of Vilmarin. He screamed in anguish, but still thrusted his axe deeper into the heart of his foe. Ultimately he fell dead to the ground. So died Vilmarin, the great champion of the north, but his death was not in vain. Now we had a change to rally our lines and push against our enemies! Drive them back to their own land!

THEGWIUS, SCHOLAR AND GUARDIAN OF THE WODENS ORDER:
Come my warriors! Hold fast your lines, draw your swords! Today we shall let the wolves of the north dine well upon the filth of the Celtic flesh! Come! Drove the enemy back to the sea from whence it came!

Having thusly said, our lines gathered again around the four of us, we charged to the mists of the battle, countless were the bodies of our foes who fell for our axe and spear. Raging Celts came against us smashing three of our warriors with a single swing of a sword, these beasts were of inhuman size! The strength of Danu had flown through them giving them strength beyond dreams and size of a cave trolls, they cared not of their defense, they only thirsted for blood, and they rushed towards me. Sixteen of great giants, deformed by their frenzy, wielding deadly axes and swords, and it was then I realized that the waves of the battle will not stop easily in this storm.

[ NEXT: ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST STORM ]