Author's Note

behold more of the lore of Orgran's world!

Chapter 15: FLASHBACK, GRAB THE POPCORN!!!

It was the 1st of the Netherborn incursions, and no small one at that, the kingdoms of Man, Dwarf, Elf, Undead and Dragonkin were being pushed back, and even when we made them pay in blood for every inch, they came back with interest. The armies of each race alone could not survive, so five heroes arose to unite them and turn the tide.

And that’s when things changed, with the united efforts of all five factions, each race covering another’s weaknesses, we managed to push back against the Netherborn until they were in a corner. The first time since this damn war, Mylinia was winning against the evil.

Then the final battle, the confrontation with the Nether Lord, came, and the five heroes came together to lead the assault. Selena: the Human Swordmaster, Interse: the Undead Warlock, Onera: the Elven Druid, Hearth: the Dragonkin Sniper and me…

Orgran: the Dwarven Battlemaster.

With our combined might we rolled over the weakened enemy forces, it was our chance to turn the battle into a slaughter and we took it. We made them pay for every soldier they tortured, every innocent they killed, every family they tore apart for their sick desires. And so it was that we six left the armies of our united peoples to mop up the remaining soldiers as we came face to face with a beast that would only be seen as normal in nightmares.

The Nether Lord stood 20 feet high, he wore no true armor, instead the bones and scales of all he has slain decorated his body as one more symbol of his monstrous desecration, using those fallen by his hand to protect himself. His claws were scratched and dull, stained with still dripping blood, and again the bones of the fallen were adorned on them, further defiling them with gems that were filled with dark energies. His face was the only thing not covered in this ‘jewellery’, a wolf like head with no fur but the rough purple skin that defined a Netherborn, only his head had two curled horns like that of a ram.

“So… the five gather to slay the one, if I wasn’t so powerful I’d say this was unfair… well it is for you, anyway.” the maleficent being chuckled, mocking us.

“We shall put an end to your tyranny monster! No more will fall by your hand!” Onera called out.

“...wrong...” it was too fast to stop as the monster launched a sphere of magic at our Elven friend, and we froze as we saw him fall to his knees, clutching his heart that fell out of the hole through his torso, eyes wide in terror and agony. “There is no stopping me, now four others will fall.”

“ONERA!” Selena called out in shock and heartbreak, then turning around and charging the giant in her rage. “DIE YOU BASTARD!” she leapt up to strike.

“SELENA WAIT-” but I was too late, the Nether Lord backhanded her away like it was nothing, the force smashing her into a wall, the impact leaving no trace of the warrior’s identity.

“Let’s see you backhand this!” Hearth called out, aiming his Infernus Rifle and firing off a cascade of ember-infused shots. The Netherborn simply waved his hand and the bullets stopped, then dropped to the ground.

“My turn.” the bastard spoke as he broke off one of the bones of his armor and launched it with a flick, impaling it through the Dragonkin’s neck, we were helpless to watch as another fell, choking on his own blood.

“We can’t win.” I said. “He’s just slaughtering us one by one… Interse, run, I’ll hold him off.”

“I am not running, Orgran!” the Warlock shouted. “You are my friend! I will not leave you to die!”

“YOU NEED TO GO TO OUR PEOPLE AND STOP THEM FROM COMING HERE! If they all charge in they’ll suffer our fate, now go!” he was still reluctant. “Please… as a friend, grant me this last wish.” tears ran down our eyes as we looked at each other, then he turned and ran.

“A coward’s plan.” the Netherlord declared. “I will kill them all eventually, your pathetic attempt at stopping me is futile.”

I said no words and just roared in anger, my blades clashing with his claws, my stone walls against his magic, my hammer against his fist.

But no matter how long I could stand against him, I became more and more exhausted, unable to endure as long as he could, until I fell to one knee, too tired to even stand.

“Just as I said.” he lifted his foot, prepared to crush me like an ant. “Futile.”

I awaited the blow, but opened my eyes as I heard a roar of pain, and I saw the Nether Lord crumbling to dust, and Interse standing there, channeling the mutual curse spell.

“No…” I gasped out, and as the leader of the Netherborn fell, I ran to my friend, who collapsed, seeing his feet begin to turn to dust as the curse brought its effect down on him.

“Interse… you stupid, stupid bastard.” I manage to get out as I start crying, knowing now that all my friends were gone.

“...Orgran.” Interse coughed out. “I could not… let you die… like this…”

“And you think this was any better?”

“You… have a chance… to make new friends... I… do not…”

“But the alliance, undead were being treated equal now, you had a chance…”

“No… not really… Orgran… grant me a… last wish…”

“Anything, old friend.”

He thrust his hand through his ribcage and pulled out his heart made of black stone and green lines of necrotic energy pulsing. “Hold still…” and with his last act he punched a hole through my chest, placing his heart next to mine, and I screamed as new magic entered my system, healing my wounds and burning itself into my veins.

His voice called into my mind. Now even in death, Orgran… I can protect you, my first friend…

I woke up with a gasp of shock, grasping my chest…

“Holy shit… note to self, drink more beer before bed.”