At last his work was done. The great gray Orc stood at the forefront of the massive Hall as the final stake was driven into the ground. He let out a roaring shout of joy, which his brethren took up shortly thereafter, the sound filling the forests around them. He informed the Cheiftan himself, and was extremely pleased with his response. A feast! What better way to celebrate not only the completion of the hall, but the ceremony that would now occur. Kark explained it in as few words as possible, knowing the Cheiftan would be aware. Surely the One-Eye had been keeping his Chosen informed as well.
"Cheiftan, it is time. He has told me and I have prepared for the passage. He Himself will be watching, to ensure no folly. If you will accompany me to the Hall, I can present you with the Fury."
There was a simple nod, and a following. Once they had traversed the ground between the Cheiftan's home and the Hall, they took up their respective positions on either side of the doors. Kark began speaking in the old Orcish tongue, summoning up the power and benevolence of Gruumsh. The One-Eye granted him such, and before long, Kark began entering into the mindset he needed. His eyes began to glow a soft blue; out of character for his dulled red eyes. The blood of untold millions began to pour from his mouth, run as tears from his eyes, flow lightly from his nose, and even leak from his ears. The glow began to become more intense, and change from blue to a yellow, and finally to the bright red that embodied the power. The great gray Orc raised a massive right hand, and slowly reached inside of his own chest; the hand moving through as though intangible. The doors to the Hall swung open, and the One-Eye himself exited. He approached the gray Orc, exactly his height, though much larger at the same time. He held a deck of cards in his right hand, and placed it into a fold in Kark's armor, seeming to be made for the deck, as his left hand moved with the gray one's. Once both hands were placed inside of his chest, there was a slow pulling, and before long the air filled with the deep screams of the gray Orc, the Fury finally being truly pulled away tearing at his insides. When it was ripped from him, the small talisman returned to its original form. As the great gray Orc crumpled to the floor, still gushing blood, the One-Eye turned to Koruush. He approached, and held out the dreaded and coveted axe to him with one hand, looking upon his Chosen expectantly.
"Take from me the Fury, and begin your journey. It will be a long one, and you will face more hardship than you will ever be able to comprehend, but if you fight for my glory and my honor, I will smile upon you, my Son."
The One-Eye let out an earth-shaking laugh as he waited for the Chosen to take the blade.
Behind him, the great gray Orc began to glow that soft blue again, the deck of cards an especially brilliant shade. The blood stopped flowing, and he raised slowly from the ground. His armor glinted from his own reflected light as the blood seemed to wick away from his body, floating slowly towards the Fury and its new Master. The great gray Orc was free of the burden, but this was only the beginning of the journey. He would have to leave the Cheiftan's side for some time as he regained control of his different faculties, and his body readjusted to its original source of power. The one thing he had sacrificed in total to the Will of Gruumsh as a show of loyalty. The First Deck. He breathed calmly as his body slowly lost its glow, and he stood behind the One-Eye as he too waited for the Cheiftan to take possession of the one thing that could bring the peace Kark sought for all. They great gray Orc had played his most important part, and was happy to become a footnote in the history of his people.
"Cheiftan, it is time. He has told me and I have prepared for the passage. He Himself will be watching, to ensure no folly. If you will accompany me to the Hall, I can present you with the Fury."
There was a simple nod, and a following. Once they had traversed the ground between the Cheiftan's home and the Hall, they took up their respective positions on either side of the doors. Kark began speaking in the old Orcish tongue, summoning up the power and benevolence of Gruumsh. The One-Eye granted him such, and before long, Kark began entering into the mindset he needed. His eyes began to glow a soft blue; out of character for his dulled red eyes. The blood of untold millions began to pour from his mouth, run as tears from his eyes, flow lightly from his nose, and even leak from his ears. The glow began to become more intense, and change from blue to a yellow, and finally to the bright red that embodied the power. The great gray Orc raised a massive right hand, and slowly reached inside of his own chest; the hand moving through as though intangible. The doors to the Hall swung open, and the One-Eye himself exited. He approached the gray Orc, exactly his height, though much larger at the same time. He held a deck of cards in his right hand, and placed it into a fold in Kark's armor, seeming to be made for the deck, as his left hand moved with the gray one's. Once both hands were placed inside of his chest, there was a slow pulling, and before long the air filled with the deep screams of the gray Orc, the Fury finally being truly pulled away tearing at his insides. When it was ripped from him, the small talisman returned to its original form. As the great gray Orc crumpled to the floor, still gushing blood, the One-Eye turned to Koruush. He approached, and held out the dreaded and coveted axe to him with one hand, looking upon his Chosen expectantly.
"Take from me the Fury, and begin your journey. It will be a long one, and you will face more hardship than you will ever be able to comprehend, but if you fight for my glory and my honor, I will smile upon you, my Son."
The One-Eye let out an earth-shaking laugh as he waited for the Chosen to take the blade.
Behind him, the great gray Orc began to glow that soft blue again, the deck of cards an especially brilliant shade. The blood stopped flowing, and he raised slowly from the ground. His armor glinted from his own reflected light as the blood seemed to wick away from his body, floating slowly towards the Fury and its new Master. The great gray Orc was free of the burden, but this was only the beginning of the journey. He would have to leave the Cheiftan's side for some time as he regained control of his different faculties, and his body readjusted to its original source of power. The one thing he had sacrificed in total to the Will of Gruumsh as a show of loyalty. The First Deck. He breathed calmly as his body slowly lost its glow, and he stood behind the One-Eye as he too waited for the Cheiftan to take possession of the one thing that could bring the peace Kark sought for all. They great gray Orc had played his most important part, and was happy to become a footnote in the history of his people.