The Necromonger's Eve

How Krakish Earned His Title As Stormkiller

Krakish and his newfound friends were rowing with him. Dragon-Skin was better at it while the smaller one seemed to lag behind. Dragon-Skin had said that the necromancer was somewhere in Arinfell since zombies, as he called them, group towards their master unless ordered otherwise and the zombies had all been going to Arinfell. It was not a sound theory but the only they had. But Joshua said they'd need an army and so began the two-day journey of rowing to Krakish's home. As promised Krakish began the tale of how he earned his title.

Krakish's people were dependant on the Raids. It's how they earned gold and women, or husbands in some cases. But when Krakish was a mere fourteen the coast from which their boats took sail were hammered by a never-ending storm. It wasn't long until Krakish's people had discovered that a wizard was responsible. Krakish's father Velt Waverider led his people to war against him but the wizard was protected by stone golems the broke Velt's army. They crushed his men with their fists and their axes broke against their backs. Velt died in the battle knocked to the ground before being stomped on by a golem. Krakish heard this news a day after the battle.

"No. Please no!" He sobbed into the corpse they brought back. He tried to pull his father closer and closer even though his body would go no further. His throat was dry and he just kept crying, this made his tribesmen think he was weak. But in his tears, he swore to Crom that he would avenge his father. He picked up his father's ax and ran to the beach, he knew the golems could not be killed but they were slow and he out moved them and rolled into the tower. Killing the wizard was his only goal and one he would do or die. The wizard had another golem as his personal guard but Krakish toppled over the golem by sidestepping at the right moment and golem fell down the four levels of the tower. 

"You will not kill me, Savage. Civilization will conquer this land and your deaths will be nothing but a smear on my bib." Said the Wizard.

"I KILL YOU IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER VELT WAVERIDER!" Krakish shouted at the top of his lungs.

The wizard struck him with a bolt of lighting. His ribs felt rubbery and his muscles tingly but somehow he got up through the excruciating pain. The wizard tried to strike him again but Krakish lopped off his arm and bit his throat out. The taste was unpleasant but the joy of killing the one responsible for his father's death was immeasurable. He felt better instantly. The golems became nothing more than statues. The storms faded and Krakish became the Chieftain of his tribe. He worked to make up for the lost Raids sacking town after town with a rapid pursuit. And what was supposed to be a story of his title but instead became a history of his time as Chieftain.

His first move was to unite the tribes of the Outer Islands. The Outer Islands were to the very north of Weteria and were frigid all year round winters freezing the bay that led them out into the mainland. His first war was with Glutog Orksmasher, and it was a very quick war. Glutog's men were not prepared to wage war given the famine caused by the rain wizard. Krakish tore their lands and massacred their people. But the younger generation he kept. These were kids at about eleven or younger. Then with two out six islands under his control, he moved on to Vadma the Mother famous for her twelve sons and ruler of the largest islands. With swift movements of troops and the constant act of cutting off supply lines, she fell in a month. His war was halfway over and many fought with Krakish after Vadma's fall. He kept them with the notion that they only defected because Vadma was dead. But only seven of her sons died in the sacking of her village. Five had run to Krakish's next target: Fedor the Unblooded. He had no tribe but had managed to rise the ranks to Cheiftan. Krakish the engaged in a long a duel with Fedor rather than wage a war. Krakish was victorious. Vadma's sons swore a blood oath to kill him, but he's never seen them since. The other three islands then formed a coalition of sorts to fend off Krakish and his raiders. In a bloody battle, they were defeated. Krakish cut down any who opposed him and there were many. 

"When exactly will we get there?" Asked Dragon-Skin.

"A few days. But with just the three of us? Maybe longer." He replied.

They groaned but Krakish knew that they'd wouldn't give up now. After all, it was too late to turn back. Krakish was ready for home, but his rage surged as he thought of his dead brothers back at the mainland. He would kill the monster that did this at any cost.