Sturm stared out at the gathering clouds before him, rising up from the city of Kefalo down below in the distance. He stood atop his lookout tower hidden in the trees of the mountainside forest he stood in. There had been rumors of war and turmoil in the city. Of course to Sturm this was the nature of the city, no different then planting an acorn and getting an oak.
Sturm cared little for the doings or people of the city. He figured the best thing would be for them to all destroy each other and let the damn thing collapse back into the ground. But at then other times he felt pity for the folks within. After all they were human of one sort or another. Though their souls, minds, and bodies were infected with the city ways that lead to decay in all three faculties.
Great smoke had gone up from the city for the past month. There had been fighting between two factions of the city. One faction called themselves the Matons while the other the Koinon. Both fought for their causes yet Sturm could care less about the difference between them. What he did care about was the war which was causing the city and its stench to stretch further and further towards his home and the home of his people in the mountains.
Soon like a cancer the city and its ways would reach them and Sturm was figuring out what he could do as the war continued to grow in intensity. The Matons and Koinon recruiting villagers from the surrounding countryside to aid them in their foolish struggle. The Matons used a shiny metal circular object Sturm was told held great power in the cities to convince the villagers to fight and die for their cause. While the Koinon used sophistry and great words to convince the weak of mind to fight and die for their cause.
None had approached Sturm’s village, at least not yet. But there were rumors some were close. Sturm gasped as he saw a column of men coming up a path to his village, it was the Matons, Sturm could tell by the metallic shine of their armor and contraptions. Sturm made a sharp whistle that was echoed through the trees back towards the village. Then he descended and raced home.
As he entered he saw an emissary of the Matons dressed in a thick black suit. Around him were the partly mechanized warriors of the Matons. Sturms own warriors parted way as he made way to the emissary. The man was a portly and short fellow with a golden glass circle in his eye. When he saw Sturm he stepped back with one foot and bowed low.
“What do you want?” asked Sturm.
“Good man, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Stein and I’m here on behalf of the Maton party of the great city Kefalo. We are currently in a struggle with the backwards dogs of the Koinon sect and are in desperate needs of study troops to help us in our valiant struggle. Today I have come to your mighty village to see if there are any who could pledge themselves to our cause.”
“And why would we do that?”
“Ahh.” Mr. Stein’s eyes gleamed.
He turned behind him and waved his hand forward. Two soliders rushed forward with a large box between them. They set the box down in from of Mr. Stein who opened it revealing piles of the golden circular objects the city people loved so.
Sturm walked forward and knelt down taking a handful of the objects and let them run through his hands.
“What use do we have for shiny trinkets?” asked Sturm.
Mr. Stein’s eyes widened in disbelief “Shiny trinkets? Why don’t you understand this is a small fortune, you could buy a whole village with this!”
Sturm stared at Mr. Stein not blinking.
“Don’t you see the value of what is before you?”
“Value? What use would a free man of the mountain have for such foolishness from the city?” asked Sturm.
“Foolishness? Why this is the very stuff that makes the world go round!” exclaimed Mr. Stein.
“I have no use for such trinkets and without them our world goes around just fine.”
Mr. Stein shook his head “I know you mountain people are stubborn. But I would strongly advise you take me up on my offer. For should we find that you are aiding our enemies…it will not go well for you. I beg of you to consider my offer. We’ll return soon to see if you have not changed your mind.”
“My answer will be the same then as it is now. Leave my mountain and do not return. Your war is not mine. None of my men will die for your cause, now or ever. And we will not aid your enemy for we do not care for your squabble. Just stay off this mountain and away from ours and you will have no trouble from us.”
Mr. Stein shook his head clicking his tongue “You are a foolish and prideful man. You will wish you had taken this offer when the times comes.”
With that Mr. Stein turned to his entourage and motioned for them to leave. The soldiers rushed up grabbing the box of shiny trinkets and left.
That night Sturm sat in the longhouse at the head of the village with the men of the village gathered around.
“I cannot help but think this war will be at our doorstep sooner rather than later. And that we will have to deal with it.” said Sturm.
A mumble of agreement went up from the gathered men.
“Both sides are more than a match for us. The Matons have their machinery and the Koinon their numbers. All I care is that we defend what little land is ours and prevent the destruction of the mountain as much as we can.”
“We will need aid for this.” said Aedan a veteran warrior of the village.
“Where are we to find aid? The surrounding villages have either pledged themselves to the Matons or the Koinon. And double crossing them will result in the destruction of their village.”
“We will not go down the mountain for help, but rather up.” replied Aedan.
A murmur went through the gathered men.
“Surely you can’t be serious.” stated Balzac another veteran warrior.
“I am.” replied Aedan.
Sturm sat back and thought “We have done battle with the Mountain Lord since time immemorial. They have always been our mortal enemies, why would they aid us?”
“Because if they don’t then the plague of the city will destroy them next.” replied Aedan.
“Still it will be hard to convince them to aid us and that’s if we can even get to them without being torn limb from limb.”
“I know which is why I’ll go myself to request their aid.” replied Aedan.
“You will not go alone, me and Balzac will accompany you.” replied Sturm.
Balzac’s eyes widened for a moment and then he sat back shrugging “So be it, if it’s a chance to save the village.”
“We will leave tomorrow morning.” said Sturm.
The next morning the three started their trek up the mountain. By dusk they were deep into the Mountain Lord’s territory. Balzac looked around with caution expecting at any moment a horde of hairy giant horned beasts to descend on them with their great spears and hammers as had happened so many times before. All three of them were hardened veterans but knew they were taking a great risk.
As the light started to fade from the sky Balzac heard a rustling behind them. Within a moment great forms rushed out of the forest and surrounded them. Towering over them were hairy and horned beasts snarling and holding various weapons in their giant paws staring down at the men and pawing the ground with their hooves.
One beast that stood taller than the rest lowered his weapon and approached the three cautiously “If you have come to do battle, you should have brought more.” said the beast.
“We are not here for battle, we are here to request an alliance.” replied Sturm.
The beast’s eyes widened then he began laughing “You Sturm, do you not think I recognize you? I smelt your loathsome scent hours ago and have been looking forward to running you through ever since, as you’ve done to so many of our own.”
“Strike me down and you will ensure the destruction of your mountain.”
The beast snarled “You would not dare, even one such as you has respect for our home.”
“It is not me you have to fear but what is coming beyond.” Sturm turned and pointed towards the city.
The beast stared off into the distance making out the smoke in the fading light with its superior vision “What do you mean?”
“The war of the city has reached our village. And as you know the war will only grow until it has devoured the entire mountain. It has already taken the lower villages and recruited the higher ones. Ours is the only one left that has refused to take part in the woes of the city. But we had an emissary come yesterday and he will be back, next time with force. Our village can only fight so many, we are hopelessly outnumbered. It is only through an alliance with the Mountain Lord that we can hope to defeat the sickness from the city and keep our mountain safe.”
The beast stroked its long mane in thought “You would have an alliance with us?” he asked.
“Yes.” replied Sturm.
The beast leaned forward so Sturm could better see his face.
A long scar streaked across his right eye “Do you recognize me Sturm?” asked the beast.
“You are Gholgroz a commander of the Mountain Lord and the one who slew Killian, though he did leave you with that scar.”
“And you would ally with one who struck down your brother?” asked Gholgroz.
“For now. One day when the threat of the city is destroyed or kept in check and before your or I’s life is through I intend to have your head mounted over my mantle place…but that will not be for some time.”
Gholgroz let out a deep and loud laugh “Sturm, sometimes I forget you are human and almost have respect for you. Come, I will take you to the Mountain Lord though I cannot guarantee your safety.”
“That is a risk we are willing to take.” replied Sturm.
“Very well but first you must have your eyes covered.” a few warriors around them removed cloth strips that had wrapped around their arms and then draped them over the three’s eyes.
They were led on for what seemed like hours. Sturm was sure they had backtracked more than once. But eventually the stench of beasts and the bleating of the Mountain Lord’s main keep could be smelt and heard. They heard a large wooden gate creak open as they were led through.
When their blindfolds were removed they stood in a large open area around a great throne. Around them were hundreds of beasts all snarling, growling, and bleating at the three. Their weapons all at the ready. On the great throne sat the Mountain Lord. His horns curved back many times and he stood almost twice the size of the warriors around him. His right claw rested on a the haft of a great wooden hammer nearly the size of a small tree with many runes carved into the surface.
“Gholgroz, my finest commander. You have brought me my greatest enemy and for this you shall be greatly rewarded. My hammer has long thirsted for his blood.”
“Oh great lord, I ask that you let him speak before killing him.” said Gholgroz.
The Mountain Lord eyed him curiously “Speak?…Very well Sturm, what final words do you have to say?”
Sturm explained to him the predicament they faced and his request for an alliance.
At the end of this the Mountain Lord began a loud bellowing laugh that was taken up by the surrounding warriors. “Sturm I have heard many tales in my time but none as absurd as that. You have said yourself that you cannot handle this threat, so what use would you be to me and my people? Better to get rid of you and then deal with the plague of the city myself. You will die, as humans are destined to do.”
“Lord, please, we do not know the threat the city represents.” said Gholgroz.
The Mountain Lord stared at Gholgroz “Watch your tongue Gholgroz, the humans have little to offer us. We will speak of dealing with the city later, now the humans die.”
A great roar went up from the surrounding warriors that was suddenly hushed when a loud explosion rocked the entire mountainside.
The Mountain Lord stood up from his throne “What was that?”
“It is the city Mountain Lord…it comes for you.” said Sturm smiling.
The Mountain Lord’s eyes flashed with anger. “Gholgroz go see what that was.”
“What about the humans?” asked Gholgroz.
“I will leave them be for now, go and see what happened.”
Sturm, Aedan, and Balzac were thrown into a cage.
A few hours later in the night Gholgroz returned. He knelt before the Mountain Lord and reported “Great lord, the village of Kazac is no more. The humans from the city attacked in the night with great flames and slew the warriors, women, and children there. They were after the lines that glitter in the cave.”
The Mountain Lord let out a great roar that echoed far down the mountain. It sent chills down the spine of the three in their cage and no doubt every human within the valley.
The Mountain Lord turned to Sturm “You will help us in this fight and then when they are destroyed, we will kill you.”
“You can try.” replied Sturm with a smile.
The Mountain Lord nodded and ordered for their release.
Sturm now sat on top of his lookout towering, watching the gathered camp of Koinon forces below. Next to him was a beast of the Mountain Lord’s with a mighty bow larger than Sturm himself on its back. They watched the Koinon below who had attacked the village a few nights before.
Their forces spread out all along the mountain. Unlike the Matons with their mechanized weaponry and armor, the Koinon all wore rags and seem disheveled. Many were weak, ugly, and deformed. But they numbers far exceeded the Matons and especially the mountain forces. They had crudely made single shot firesticks and exploding orbs as well as bottles that burned when lit and spread fire when thrown. They were preparing for a great offensive against a Maton encampment closer to the city, but the Mountain Lord had other plans for them.
However Sturm had plans of his own as well. He wanted the Koinons to attack the Matons and then in the confusion rush down and root them both out. But the Mountain Lord simply wanted the blood of the Koinons.
However he was still in the mountain and Sturm was here on the ground. He had convinced Gholgroz of his plan who though wary, was willing to go against the exact wishes of the Mountain Lord as long as the Koinons were destroyed.
Sturm saw a couple of men in long coats walk among the disheveled group and get them up. They were ready to head out it seemed. The group slowly assembled gathering their weapons and started walking. The group seemed to be kept together by the men in long coats who barked orders and gave nudged and “encouragement” with their clubs.
The group began moving down the mountain towards the Maton encampment. The entire mountain seemed to come alive with the number of Koinon soldiers. They seemed like a horde rats with the way they moved and marched. In that group alone was nearly ten times the number in the Sturm’s village and yet he knew this was just one detachment of the Koinon main forces.
Sturm had ordered his men and the beasts to follow behind the Koinon after they had set out. As the last of the Koinon forces drifted out of sight down the mountain Sturm began to move from his post.
The mixed forces of the mountain made their way down until the sounds of battle could be heard in the distance. Sturm climbed up into a tall tree where he could better see the battle below.
Sturm watched as the Koinon forces swarmed over the Matons like ants. The Matons fought back fiercely with their mechanized weaponry and armor. The Matons wielded powered saws the cut through wave after wave of Koinons along with great machines that belched flame incinerating any Koinon in their path. However the Koinon with their bombs, fire, and greatly superior numbers seemed to be winning the day. The forces of the Matons were scattered and some had begun to retreat.
Sturm climbed down from the tree and ordered an attack. Flanking the Koinon forces, the mountain forces charged into them taking them by surprise. As they charged in Sturm fired with his 4 shot repeater before engaging the enemy with his ax. The Koinon’s were cut down like wheat before the scythe. The few remaining Matons equally surprised were cut down as well.
Those that tried to retreat were swiftly hunted down by the fleet footed mountain beasts. They returned with the heads of the captured enemies. One of the fat bellied pig like leaders of the Matons and one of the rat like crazed looking leader of the Koinon were brought before Sturm and Gholgroz.
The pig leader began quaking and started sputtering “They will give you a small fortune for my return, all of the coin you could ever desire, just please spare me.”
“Coin?” asked Gholgroz turning to Sturm.
“It’s a shiny piece of metal they worship.” replied Sturm.
“It makes the world go round!” exclaimed the pig leader before Sturm’s ax bit into his head.
Next they turned to the rat leader. His eyes darted around shiftily. He stared up at Sturm “There is still time to join in our revolution brother! We will smash the pigs and make the land our own once again!”
“The land has never been the land of rats.” replied Sturm this time Gholgroz’s claw ending the rat’s life.
The two then stared off towards the bellowing smoke of the city.
Sturm still staring at the city spoke “One day Gholgroz I will have your head over my mantle piece, but until then we have a greater threat to handle.”
“And one day I will run you humans from my mountain but today this greater evil comes first.”
And with that they headed further towards the city with their forces in tow.
