Trials of Azeroth

Chapter 6

The early morning sun shone through the towering pine trees, birds twittered and sang as they swooped through the undercroft and there was not a single bit of breeze in the air. The trio trudged along down the winding dirt track, making their way north, tired and stiff after already walking miles just to get where they were now. For some reason, their griffon flight terminated at the great dwarven city of Ironforge, and with no flight path to the town of Southshore, the warrior, hunter and mage were forced to walk. They had already spent the night traversing west through the snowy tundra of Dun Morogh and had just made it to the comparative paradise of Loch Modan by dawn. They were battered and beat, but spirits were still high. Somewhat.

"In the name of the High Tinker, how far have we walked!" Groaned Fizzbiscuit, struggling to keep up with his gnomish legs. He received no reply.
"Gods, my legs hurt." He continued. "I think I've got about a dozen blisters on my le-"
Codin snapped, emerging from his happy place he had placed himself in.
"Fizzbiscuit, do you want me to carry you?!" He asked, stopping in his tracks.
"No, of course not!" Replied the Mage.
"Good. Then stop complaining!"
The warrior resumed walking at his normal pace, falling back into his happy place. Hwinion was quiet, as always, still trying to shake off his hangover. After another hundred meters, Fizzbiscuit regretted not taking up Codin on his offer.

They made their way past the small town of Thelsamar, and carried on north west towards the Algaz station outpost and the tunnel that led further north through the Mountains of Khaz.
But, whilst they were coming up to the Silverstream Mine, they heard commotion to the left side of the road. They all instinctively went to investigate. They looked through the trees to find one of the local mountaineers locked in fisticuffs with 3 grizzly looking forest bears.
The dwarf wore the signature green hood and steel plate armour of the Loch Modan mountaineers and wielded a large, ornate Warhammer with ease.
"Come on, you Bastards!" He laughed, as one of the Bears began to charge his way. He turned swiftly to avoid it, and followed through with a blow from his hammer that near floored the animal. The bear reeled and roared in pain, and retreated back to its comrades. The 3 bears then began to encircle the dwarf mountaineer, closing in on him step by step. The dwarf simply raised his Warhammer over his head and waited for the first bear to step close enough. As the bears closed in, a sense of urgency began to take hold of the trio spectating the fight.

"Come on, you bloody bears! Attack, damn you! Hahaha!" Laughed the dwarf. One complied, and began his charge, picking up speed as he ran. It seemed to shake the ground as its huge paws thumped the ground. The mountaineer cocked his body to deliver a blow, but before the bear and hammer could connect, an arrow whistled over his shoulder. It found itself the bear's neck, which in turn let out a roar of pain and charged forward fanatically. Codin let out a cry as he charged forward himself, with sword and shield raised. He sped past the dwarf and plunged his sword deep into the bear's neck. The dwarf, not hesitating, then brought his hammer down on the beast's back, cracking it's spine. A second bear then charged into the fray, but before it could even get close to the two warriors, Fizzbiscuit shot off a fireball at the bear, cooking it where it stood. But, by the time they turned back from roasting beast, the 3rd bear was already bearing down on the warrior and mountaineer. They reacted quickly, feigning away from the bear whilst lashing out with their own weapons. Codin hacked and slashed away, the mountaineer swung his giant hammer wildly and the elf hunter shot the animals hide full of steel tipped arrows. The beast fell, not knowing what had hit it. It didn't get back up.
"Hahaha! Many thanks, friends. That was getting a little dicey, there! Well met!" Laughed the mountaineer, adrenaline coursing through his system.
"Well met indeed, friend. Allow us to introduce ourselves. I'm Codin, that's Hwinion and that's Fizzbiscuit." Replied Codin.
"Greetings Codin, Hwinion, Fizzlebiscuit."
"No, Fizzbi-"
"I'm Belmin Hammerbrand. Mountaineer and wielder of the Hammerbrand Warhammer." He introduced. "Allow me to buy you all a drink at the inn at Thelsamar. It's the least I can do!"

The trio looked at each other. Their facial expressions all told the same tale.
"That would be very kind of you, Belmin." Thanked Hwinion.
"As long as there's beer, I'm in." Laughed Codin.
"And as long as it means I get to rest my feet, I'm in as well." Added Fizzbiscuit.

After walking back to the neat little dwarvern town and plonking themselves down in the inn with a pint of ale each and and some fresh bread and cheese to share, they began to tell their stories to the mountaineer.
"So you boys are headed to Southshore, eh? Sounds like a hell of a journey." Said Belmin, scratching his long ginger beard.
"Indeed." Nodded Codin, taking a swig of his drink. The warrior sat back and thought as the dwarf and gnome chatted away.
'He wouldn't be a half bad addition to this trip.' He thought.
"You know, Belmin, if you're not busy, you could accompany us to Southshore and back. It might pay well, and there'd be some good action." Suggested the warrior. The dwarf did not need much convincing.
"Alright, sounds good. I'm in." He replied, bearing his fierce grin.
"Oh... Ok." Replied Codin, slightly shocked. The mountaineer finished his drink, took a bite of his bread and stood up.
"Hold on. I'll be right back." He said, heading out the door.
"Where are you going?" Asked the gnome, struggling to see over the table.
"To quit my bloody job!" Laughed the dwarf.