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Grey Mountains
Dominant Race(s): Orcs
Places of Significance:
Allegiance: Neutral (borderland of Brettonia and the Empire)
Population Size: Unknown
Services: Orc Blacksmiths
Overview: These mountains separate the Kingdom of Brettonia and the Empire of Mordiheim. Both kingdoms push most of the marauding Orcs in their lands to this area, thus creating a very large Orc population.

Map Location/Picture:

Once the sun had gone behind the mountains they moved from their hiding place. It was a cloudy night, perfect for them to attack. Valen kept his sword sheathed so that the reflective steel would not give him away. Dar had a large wooden club that could be consider a small tree. Guards patrolled outside the wall, as well as on top of it. Valen snuck up behind one guard, grabbed his mouth and in one swift motion broke his neck. He crept forward a ways and did the same to another guard. He killed a third and then the only guards left were those at the gate. He could see in the darkness on the other side of the guards Dar ready to strike. The gate was well lit, but Valen didn't worry. In a flash he rushed the gate. He brought his sword off of his back and then stabbed one guard through the back. The other guard was about to react and then his head was crushed by Dar's massive club. Valen nodded in appreciation when they heard yelling from atop the walls, they had been spotted. Dar smashed through the gate with his massive shoulder, and Valen charged in behind him, cutting down the guards before they could react. They began to fall back into the courtyard, and more guards came down off of the walls and out of the buildings in the fort. It wasn't long before there were some 200 Bandits before them, as well as more above on the walls with guns and crossbows.

After Dar and Valen were finished with the Bandits they proceeded to search the buildings. Most of them were barracks and store houses. They eventually came across a room with the goods the Bandits had robbed from travelers. It was mostly fine clothes and some weapons and armor. There was also 300 Gold, Valen gave that to Dar, who stashed it in his pockets.

They found another building that appeared to be a guard house, there were lots of weapon in here. When they entered Dar made some excited sounds and ran over to one of the weapon racks. He pulled off a strange weapon, a Ring Blade. Valen looked at Dar quizzically, the weapon was pretty, but did not fit his fighting style. Dar then found a stairwell and ran down the steps. Valen followed, curious as to why he was so excited. The stairs led to a basement and a row of cells. They held some very miserable looking people. Dar was at the end of the row of cells looking into a cage and knocking on the bars. Valen ignored him for now and awoke a prisoner in the cage in front of him. "Do not be afraid, we have killed the bandits above. Do you know where the keys are?"

The prisoner looked up at Valen with hope, and Valen thought that he might even begin crying. He pointed to box on the wall, "in there." The prisoner began to awaken his cell mate, and then the whole prison was full of excitement of finally being set free. Valen opened the cells one at a time and the prisoners rushed out and then went up the stairs. He then came to Dar who was talking with an Elf girl in one of of the cells. "Do you know each other?"

Dar nodded emphatically and she looked at Valen, "who the hell are you?"

"My name is Valen Gray. Your friend Dar found and resc-."

Before Valen could finish Dar snatched the keys out of Valen's hand and opened to cell door to his friend. The girl jumped up and gave Dar as bug a hug as she could. Dar returned it, somehow not crushing her. After they were done Dar let the girl down. "I'm Tira. Thanks for rescuing us." She looked around at nothing awkwardly and then said, "ok, it's been nice meeting you. Bye!" She waved awkwardly and then took the Ring Blade from Dar and hung it over her shoulder.

Dar stopped her by gently grabbing on to her other shoulder. "What!?"

Dar talked in the way he talked for a bit. "But we don't know him."

He talked some more, "ok, maybe, but so what? We don't need anybody."

"That was one time and you know it! They caught me off guard!"

Dar put his hands on her shoulders and talked to her in a very calming tone.

"Ok fine." She looked at Valen who had stayed where they left him, "hey you, you want to come with us?"

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"Not particularly, but he feels bad leaving you alone after you helped him free me and all. So you want to come with us?"

Valen thought for a moment. After he figured he had nothing better to do, and since traveling in a group sounded like a fun change in habit. "Sure."

The girl made an awkward sort of smile, "ok, cool. Let's go." She headed up the stairs and Dar followed right behind her. Valen waited a moment considering of how his life was changing in unexpected ways recently and then followed them up the stairs as well.

Valen, Dar, and Tira replenished their food supplies and then left the bandit fort. The prisoners had stolen any remaining horses and were all long gone into the night, headed back to their homes. Valen began wondering why he was staying with these two. He didn't owe them anything, he had decided he would not fight them, and he certainly didn't need them but still he felt like he shouldn't leave. They hiked into the mountains for aways until they came to a small cave. Tira turned around and said to Valen, "we will stay here for the night, if that is ok with you."

Valen was getting the clear impression that this girl didn't like him very much, but he ignored it, "very well. I do not require sleep. I will keep watch."

She looked at him warily for a moment, "Dar told me that you bit into a bandit's neck back in the fort, you're a vampire aren't you."

Valen smiled, "yes, I am. But don't worry, I have had my fill of blood tonight."

She still looked a little worried, but she lied down on the ground and Dar lied down next to her, ever her protector, even in sleep. Valen turned about and watched the night. He smiled after a couple hours of not hearing Tira's breathing become rhythmic with sleep.

***

Valen watched the sunrise, the clouds were thinner this day and so we could feel some of his strength being sapped, but he had always enjoyed watching the dawn. Tira and Dar woke not long after. They ate a sparse breakfast of their limited food. Dar offered Valen some food, but he declined politely. After that they headed back into the forested mountains. After a couple hours of walking Valen finally asked, "where are we going?"

Tira laughed, "why? too much walking for you?"

Valen rolled his eyes, "no, I am just wondering if you have any actual plan or if we are walking around aimelessly."

She took a moment to respond, "Dar and I have a safe house, it is about another day's walk from here."

***

It was nearing noon when they heard a small mountain stream. Tira changed directions to follow the sound and they came out of the underbrush a few yards away from Azura. Tira immediately clutched the ring blade over her shoulder at suddenly seeing a new person, Dar just stood there staring with about as much thought as he usually had, and Valen stood off to the side. He could feel something strange about this woman that he had never encountered before. For one he could not smell her blood.

At seeing her remove her hood Tira lightened the grip up on her Ring Blade slightly, but she still kept her hand close to it. Dar stood in awe at seeing her. Valen, seeing that neither of them would likely be talking anytime soon approached and bowed, "greetings, my name is Valen Gray, these are my comrades, Dar and Tira." He motioned to each of them. "I have traveled some ways, but am just passing through at the moment. As for my friends, they live in these mountains." He looked back at them, hoping someone might hop into the conversation, but Tira just nodded, she looked like she might cry. Dar just stood there the same he had been standing before. Valen ignored them and turned back to Azura, "what brings you to these parts? It is not safe to travel through the mountains alone." He was still wary of this woman, and would not fall for her beauty. He had seen too many terrible things wrapped in beautiful packages.

A couple tears began to stream down Tira's face, but she quickly got rid of them with her gloved hand and then she kicked Dar in the leg to get his attention. Dar broke out of his trance like state, and then went over to the stream to get some water, but he kept on taking glances back at Azura. Tira on the other hand walked away from the conversation and to the outskirts of the forest. She had her back turned from everyone else.

Valen payed little attention to this. "Hmm, I understand. But there are better and safer ways to pass through the mountains. Perhaps the Pass of Helm? That is the safest roadway through the mountains. It is a couple days walk to the west from here though. Is there anything I could do to help you in your search? I may know something that may help you."

As soon as she uttered the words "Demon Lord" Valen began to understand what she was, and with this knowledge Valen could feel the lust for battle coming over him like never before. One part of him wondered if it were even possible for her to die, and the other part urged him to plunge his sword into her chest. He controlled himself, at least for the moment, "I would not know where to find a Demon Lord. I am no priest, but would not Demons reside where they are comfortable? in a place where they have followers?" Valen clenched his fists tightly so they could not be used for anything else, but otherwise he kept is expression blank.

Valen stood for a moment before speaking. "It is not a matter of whether or not you are enemy..... Are you familiar with the Order of the Blood Dragons?"