Chapter 3- Fresh Blood and a New Friend
Wielding his mighty sword, he approached his foes, ready to strike them down at moments notice. The three bandits spread out across the worn path and drew their weapons. One of the scoundrels was two heads taller then others and held a rusty axe, still wet with blood. Roland knew that he must die first. By then, the three men had surrounded Roland and where laughing at his misfortune. But secretly, Roland was laughing at theirs. For he knew that in several moments, all three lifeless bodies would spread in a pool of blood across the path.
Egging the largest thief on, Roland began his battle. He was not scared. He was smiling. He knew these petty fools would be no match for his superior training in swordplay. As the first strikes were taken, Roland was knocked back by the might of the axe man’s blow. He had not expected such a hard attack, so Roland disposed of him quickly. The fire inside him was charging with every swing the large man took at him. Roland parried the next attack and sprinted forward towards the giant running his sword right up into the large neck above him. But that did not kill him right away. Choking with pain he staggered while Roland ripped the sword from the large mans bleeding neck. He then with one deep breath carved right through the oversized rogues neck, ending his pathetic and worthless life with ease. “One down, two to go,” he thought as he moved on to the next assailant.
The two remaining swordsmen were as good as dead. With Roland on the move, his blade rained down on the next victim. The man luckily blocked the punishing blow just in time to save his life. But not for long. The warrior swung his blade at Roland, but Roland ducked and cut the foolish enemies’ ankle. He then fell to his knees and Roland struck his sword through the chest of the steel-wielding fighter with a satisfying sound of a punctured lung.
Seeing his partner die in such pain, the last bandit turned and ran. Running after him, Roland heaved his sword. It flew through the air and struck down the running coward. With all three men dead, Roland picked up hid belongings and mounted his horse.
After riding along the path for hours through the deep forest, he reached a clearing. Here stood a cabin. With the candlelight permeating through the dusty windows into the dark forest Roland approached. Maybe this was his chance to find the situation of Halador and the Kingdom that ruled it. He dismounted his horse, drew his sword, and continued on foot. As he grew closer to the cabin, he could spot nobody inside. He slowly walked up the stairs and into the open door. The cabin was a mess, the table was toppled and everything was a strewn. Inside was a body of a man with a bottle of wine in his hand. After looking around the room for danger, Roland approached the body. He was breathing; he was alive. He shook the man until he woke. With his eyes open, the man yelled. He did not know what was going on. All he knew was that there was an armor-clad knight standing above him with a sword in his hand. Roland calmed the man down, telling him that he meant no harm. They began to talk.
After speaking for some time, Roland found that this man used to be a protector and General of the King of Halador, but was now a simple man named Alric. He left his duty as a leader two years ago when he saw the destruction of his kingdom inevitable. He knew they were weak and that a new evil was arising in the land of Halador that would soon try to take over. So, he left and took his family out to these woods, built a cabin and lived there. Two days ago, men of the Kingdom of Halador found where Alric and his family had gone. They came to these woods while Alric was in the nearest town shopping for supplies. They killed his two children and his wife. A note was left from the King saying that it was he who betrayed the Kingdom by leaving and it was his fault if the Kingdom topples. After finding his family dead with this note he began to drink and had passes out the day before hoping he would never wake up. But here he was, and he had to make a choice. He had nothing left except his pride and dignity. Roland knew this, and knew that he needed someone like Alric to lead him through these lands and to help keep him out of danger. Alric was a trained fighter and was smart. After much talking, Roland convinced Alric that he would come with Roland on his quest and maybe even take some revenge for himself.
Alric collected his few possessions and donned his armor. Picking up his sword, he left the cabin, and left his life behind. He was out to take what had been taken from him. He wanted revenge for his family. But he would also help Roland. Together they took off through the forest atop their horses towards the darkness that was taking over this beautiful land.
-Grant
Egging the largest thief on, Roland began his battle. He was not scared. He was smiling. He knew these petty fools would be no match for his superior training in swordplay. As the first strikes were taken, Roland was knocked back by the might of the axe man’s blow. He had not expected such a hard attack, so Roland disposed of him quickly. The fire inside him was charging with every swing the large man took at him. Roland parried the next attack and sprinted forward towards the giant running his sword right up into the large neck above him. But that did not kill him right away. Choking with pain he staggered while Roland ripped the sword from the large mans bleeding neck. He then with one deep breath carved right through the oversized rogues neck, ending his pathetic and worthless life with ease. “One down, two to go,” he thought as he moved on to the next assailant.
The two remaining swordsmen were as good as dead. With Roland on the move, his blade rained down on the next victim. The man luckily blocked the punishing blow just in time to save his life. But not for long. The warrior swung his blade at Roland, but Roland ducked and cut the foolish enemies’ ankle. He then fell to his knees and Roland struck his sword through the chest of the steel-wielding fighter with a satisfying sound of a punctured lung.
Seeing his partner die in such pain, the last bandit turned and ran. Running after him, Roland heaved his sword. It flew through the air and struck down the running coward. With all three men dead, Roland picked up hid belongings and mounted his horse.
After riding along the path for hours through the deep forest, he reached a clearing. Here stood a cabin. With the candlelight permeating through the dusty windows into the dark forest Roland approached. Maybe this was his chance to find the situation of Halador and the Kingdom that ruled it. He dismounted his horse, drew his sword, and continued on foot. As he grew closer to the cabin, he could spot nobody inside. He slowly walked up the stairs and into the open door. The cabin was a mess, the table was toppled and everything was a strewn. Inside was a body of a man with a bottle of wine in his hand. After looking around the room for danger, Roland approached the body. He was breathing; he was alive. He shook the man until he woke. With his eyes open, the man yelled. He did not know what was going on. All he knew was that there was an armor-clad knight standing above him with a sword in his hand. Roland calmed the man down, telling him that he meant no harm. They began to talk.
After speaking for some time, Roland found that this man used to be a protector and General of the King of Halador, but was now a simple man named Alric. He left his duty as a leader two years ago when he saw the destruction of his kingdom inevitable. He knew they were weak and that a new evil was arising in the land of Halador that would soon try to take over. So, he left and took his family out to these woods, built a cabin and lived there. Two days ago, men of the Kingdom of Halador found where Alric and his family had gone. They came to these woods while Alric was in the nearest town shopping for supplies. They killed his two children and his wife. A note was left from the King saying that it was he who betrayed the Kingdom by leaving and it was his fault if the Kingdom topples. After finding his family dead with this note he began to drink and had passes out the day before hoping he would never wake up. But here he was, and he had to make a choice. He had nothing left except his pride and dignity. Roland knew this, and knew that he needed someone like Alric to lead him through these lands and to help keep him out of danger. Alric was a trained fighter and was smart. After much talking, Roland convinced Alric that he would come with Roland on his quest and maybe even take some revenge for himself.
Alric collected his few possessions and donned his armor. Picking up his sword, he left the cabin, and left his life behind. He was out to take what had been taken from him. He wanted revenge for his family. But he would also help Roland. Together they took off through the forest atop their horses towards the darkness that was taking over this beautiful land.
-Grant