Captain Halgresh of the guard stood slightly shorter than Aldrun, a self proclaimed Folk Hero, both being Half-Orcs many folk think they wouldn’t like each other coming from different tribes. However, the two were sharing glorious stories from their childhoods and having a jolly time together.
“Speaking of goblins,” Halgresh’s voice turned serious, “We’ve had some troubles with a large raiding party, they try attacking every few days.”
“I would love to join.” Aldrun was still riding the wave of fun stories, not changing his tone to match the Captain.
“Amazing, I’ll make sure you’re paid the same as the other guards.” Captain Halgresh picked up his voice again with Aldrun’s eagerness. “Who knows, you could make a home here, settle down maybe?”
Aldrun pondered for a moment, he had lots of fun and sorrow for the past hand worth of winters since leaving his tribe. His leather armour worn, sword dulling but the people he had met and helped in his adventures and the many more to come.
Seeing Aldrun’s conflict, Halgresh spoke up again, “I don’t need an answer now, we’ll get you outfitted and wait for the next attack.”
Aldrun nodded and shook Halgresh’s hand.
Half a moon cycle had passed since Aldrun joined the town guard to fight against goblins. The Captain gave him food, bedding, coin, and new equipment. Aldrun had also made quick friends with many of the locals including the Lord of the town, Albert Hender, the Lord was a human like most folk in town. Aldrun found it hard to judge age unless they were very young or very old. Everything else between blended together. Albert had a large scar on his face going from near top of his ear across to between his nose and mouth.
Despite the pleasant things in his life now, Aldrun couldn’t help but feel empty and trapped in the town, longing for the sights and sounds of the wilds, meeting new people every day, and helping everyone he could.
“There you are!” The familiar voice of the Captain caught Aldrun’s attention. Turning around, he saw Halgresh’s face with a wide grin. “Patrols have reported goblins coming toward town. It is time.”
“Wonderful!” Aldrun for the first time since joining the town felt excited and was doubting the claim of goblins the past half hand of nights.
The two Half-Orcs ran across the town, warning folk to stay inside, and gathering more guards to assist. Shortly they were on the edge of town with a two hands’ worth of guards at the ready. Cresting the distant hill, a large group of goblins formed, silhouetted by the morning sun behind them.
It didn’t take long before the goblins had breached the wooden gate and were running through town, Aldrun and the Captain cut the goblins down with ease. The issue arose with their numbers, while individually goblins posed no threat, the amount was worrying.
While moving back to the town square one goblin proved too dextrous for Aldrun, avoiding each attack. Aldrun knowing this one was smart and seemingly confident in it, Aldrun kept up his standard blows which all missed before he twisted an attack catching the small green creature off guard.
The slash across the body would normally end a typical goblin or at the very least make it flee in terror, however this one stood its ground. Hair began sprouting out of the wound as its skin turned a dark grey, growing to the size of a horse but resembling a semi-humanoid hound. Catching Aldrun off guard, it swung with a clawed arm, but Aldrun’s new armour took most of the blow.
Taking paces back, Aldrun looked at the shape-shifting fiend. A Barghest, a large black wolf with facial features of a goblin. Aldrun had heard they lead goblins through fear and manipulation. He also heard that they can fly and turn invisible, although others say it just seems that way because of their speed and power.
Aldrun readied himself for the new opponent. The beast bounded toward Aldrun with a great force. Raising his sword, Aldrun deflected the barghest’s leap, quickly following through with a slash to its shoulder. Aldrun could see how people could think it could fly as it took another leap over Aldrun. Narrowly missing a razor sharp claw to his head, Aldrun took a lead on the next attack, moving in before the beast recovered from its leap.
The sword tore into the shoulder wound, tearing it open further. The beast letting out a guttural howl. Aldrun winced to the sound for a moment, but it was long enough for the beast to disappear. Aldrun spun around, looking in all directions with no sign of the fiendish foe. Noticing the pool of blood, and a small trail of blood that follows into a circle making its way Aldrun.
Tales of barghest turning invisible were true, but Aldrun knew where it was. Keeping the trail of blood to the sides of his vision, he pretended to let down his guard. The fiend took the bait. The blood trail stopped and moved toward him. Spinning and ducking, Aldrun slashed his sword in the direction. He felt it connect with the beast as it let out a yelp.
Aldrun feeling very proud in foiling the barghests plan quickly found himself tackled to the ground as he felt his leg flaring in heated pain. Still unable to see the beast, Aldrun felt his hand empty, his sword missing. Yelling out in pain, he kicked with his other leg, hitting an invisible force, repeating to kick and struggle as it gnaws his wounded leg. Aldrun adjusted his kick further away, hoping to hit the open wound. It worked. The now familiar heavy growl let out again, Aldrun immediately feeling relief on his torn leg.
During the fighting neither Aldrun nor the beast seemed to have noticed the Lord look in confusion as Aldrun was slashing and the flailing around by himself.
“Aldrun! Are you alright?” The Lord’s voice caught the ears of the barghest and Aldrun, both seizing in the moment. Aldrun felt the weight of the beast release and move away.
Aldrun frantically looked for the drops of blood finding them leading toward Lord Hender “Barghest, swing now!”
The Lord still confused, looked at Aldrun and saw where he was looking. The trail of blood leading toward himself, sword already drawn and at the ready, took a stab, but felt nothing hit. The Lord quickly found himself on the ground like Aldrun. Smelling and feeling a hot foul air as the Lord rose his armoured forearm to his face as a force clamped down.
Aldrun reached, grabbing and pulling the beast off. Although invisible, its size made it easy to hit and grab if you know roughly where it is. The Lord seeing Aldrun without a weapon locked eyes with the half-orc and threw his sword, Aldrun swiftly catching it moved closer to protect Albert.
“I have an idea.” The Lord pulled out a white ceramic flask, decorated with a holy symbol. He uncorked the top and swung the open end toward where a small pool of blood was growing. Water flew out, covering the area. Bursts of steam and another howl, the fiend was visible. It looked as tired as Aldrun felt. In a last act, the beast leapt towards the Lord. Aldrun stabbed into the air, the blade finding its way between two ribs. The fiend fell short of the Lord as its breath slowed and came to a quick end.
Aldrun spent nearly both hands’ worth of nights recovering from the fight, his spirit still strong, but his leg was not so much. Halgresh and Lord Hender visited Aldrun throughout the days, both grateful for helping defend the town and protect the Lord. Once Aldrun felt ready, he returned to his duties patrolling the town, keeping an eye out for trouble.
The Lord was walking with Halgresh, the two approaching Aldrun, “Aldrun, good friend” The Lord walked with open arms.
Aldrun’s mind went buzzing with excitement, “Another goblin attack?”
“Uh.. no, that’s what we wanted to talk about with you.” The Lord dropped his arms to his sides. “I, we, feel that you don’t belong here. You’re better suited to travelling and helping those on the road. A hero to all folk, not just to my town.”
“What of the goblins?”
“It seems without their barghest they have scattered, if you wish to stay you can, but I believe you will help more people out there than stuck here. Saving farmsteads, stopping evil, finding greatness…”
“Sir.” coughed Halgresh
“Right. Before we send you on your way, we wish to give you a gift. As a thank you for protecting me and my town, you may keep the armour and sword, and as a personal thanks I give you, your own title.”
“Thank you, I shall take care of the armour and blade.” Aldrun hesitated for a moment, stuck in thought. “What is a title?”
“From now to the end of time everyone shall know you as ‘Aldrun, Slayer of Fiends.’, Now go forth and bring glory to your name.”
Aldrun’s face lights up with a renewed excitement. He had never received a title before, “Thank you Lord, I, Aldrun, Slayer of Fiends shall follow your word.”
The following morning Aldrun set out of town after a night of revelry and celebration to Aldrun’s departure. As he left down the road, he looked back to the Halgresh and Lord Albert Hender waving goodbye. As Aldrun turns back to the road, the Lord gives a wink and a slight nod to the side showing his scar.
