Kalendra: Hunt for the Nocturnus

Chapter 2: Rite of Passage

(Viewpoint: Marrow. Marrow is a Sarcoh, a group of nomadic, crocadilian humanoids, and Huruk is an Orc)

          My name is Marrow. My adopted brother, Huruk, and I are members of the Claw tribe. My father is our leader and carries on the sacred tradition of tailing the ancient Godsire to scavenge from its kills and take its scales and hairs to complete our rite of passage and to forge tools, weapons, and armor. We live in the Black Swamp, and scrape out an existence with an uneasy balance with Goblins, Trolls, and Orcs also living in the area.

         To complete our rite of passage, Huruk and I, along with three additional hunt-mates, would have to take a scale from the Godsire. It is easier said than done. The beast is very easily agitated and quick to crush those who are stupid enough to agitate it. Smaller beasts called Saber-claws tail behind it and feed off of the kills it leaves behind. I guess you could say the odds weren't necessarily in our favor.

          We left the safety of home that day not thinking that our hunt would go any worse than we thought it was going to go. We began to try to strike up conversation with our hunt-mates to ease everyone's nerves. "I believe the Deity of Huntmanship is watching over us today to make sure we all are safe in such a difficult hunt" I said confidently. "Yes, I believe so as well." a huntsman called Scarn replied to me. " We. . . do. . . good. . ." Huruk struggled to say. My adopted brother was found as a child in the ruins of an Orc camp destroyed by the Godsire. We walked for almost three hours before we reached the center of the swamp, where the Godsire slept. I slept in an extremely large crater that was created by the sheer weight and size of the beast. We began to approach in a crouched, grouped position towards the beast. We had gotten about halfway to the beast from our previous position before growl was heard behind us. We turned around and saw three Saber-claws beginning to circle our group. Saber-claws have huge, four-clawed feet and two large fangs in there mouths. They have long, catlike tails and dark brown fur. They snarled and growled at us as they circled around. We grouped up into a defensive position and readied our spears and clubs. Huruk raised his club and swung it defensively in the air to try and intimidate the beasts. They remained unphased by his attempts. One of the Saber-claws charged toward the left side of our formation, where Scarn was located. His attempts were futile to stab at the beast with his spear before it tore him to pieces. Huruk flew into a rage and crushed the attacker's skull with his club. It let out a weak whimper before its head hit the ground. The other two charged us in response. One of them was felled by my spear as it approached. The other, however, slaughtered the remaining hunt-mates before Huruk snapped its neck. Only Huruk and myself remained, surrounded by the bodies of our allies and the fallen beasts.

          From behind us we heard a loud and heavy breathing. The Godsire stood behind us. Its mouth was as large as a medium sized hut, and its body was as long as two of our home village. Its breathing grew louder and more agitated as it realized we had woken it from its sleep. We only had one option, run. We both ran as fast as we could as the beast bellowed deafening roars and stomped behind us. It crushed everything in its path and we realized we needed to find a way to stop the beast before it reached the village. We turned to face it, and it stopped in stunned awe by us standing against it. It roared mere feet from us. Huruk, in defiance, roared back at the beast. It raised its massive, clawed hand at us, and, just before it could slaughter us, a blast of light knocked it to the ground. A blue-clad knight stood before us. It was as nearly as tall as the Godsire and held a sword with a curved blade that had a scale balance hanging from the guard. He spoke in a deep, but soft, voice.

"You both have proven yourselves worthy of joining The Order of Balance. I am the Avatar of Balance, of course. You will both be required to head to the Temple of Clairvoyance in the town center of Shiva. All ties to guilds, tribes and families will be broken by this pact, but, I you do not accept this offer, your lives will be forfeit. Good luck on your journey to the city. I will be watching you, and Clairvoyance will guide you both there."