The Black Throne

[Oddood198]

The land of Kargeth is a massive, sprawling continent with a multitude of inhabitants. It was a land known for its peace and prosperity, where all its people lived in harmony, be they Men, who were in Kargeth since long before recorded history, or Elves, the nomadic people who had come at the dawn of the age, and all the others, there was peace. The Dwarves of the deep ground shared their metals and precious stones, the Ents of the forests gave their wood freely, the Wizards of the aether used their magic for the benefit of all, the Dragons of the high mountains acted as peacekeepers, warding away threats of any kind from the peaceful land. Even the Orcs, reclusive inside their firemountain, gave away the mysterious brews they created that could lengthen ones lifespan and save anyone even from near death.

But, no land is untainted of blood. The end of the Golden Age was marked by Elven hunters striking down a Dragon peacekeeper in cold blood, to take its scales and teeth as trophies. The Dragons retaliated against the Elves, and in doing so burned a forest of the Ents. While striking back at the Dragons, the Ents crushed a large city of Men. In their vengeance against the Ents, the Men inadvertently collapsed the richest mines of a Dwarven city. The dwarves struck back at Men, but the Orcs in their firemountain were caught between the two, and suffered greatly. The Orcs retaliated, and destroyed a library of ancient knowledge of the Wizards. The Wizards struck back, and their powers hit not only the Orcs, but swept across the land of the Elves, too. Thus was the circle of war made, and so it went that soon, every race was fighting for themselves, aiming to wipe out all the others. This sparked the Age of Blood.

The first great battle in the Age of Blood was the only recorded victory for the Dragons, as they took to the skies and attacked human cities all across Kargeth, and in one night, all of Man, the first race in the land, was wiped entirely from Kargeth, leaving no survivors.
Soon after this, the Wizards used their magical arts to strike out at the dragons, fire and ice rained from the sky, striking the beasts down, and water flowed from deep in the ground, drowning them all. And when all the dragons were gone, fearsome beasts and savages from beyond the borders of Kargeth flooded in and brought destruction, fearing no longer the great wardens.
Next, the Ents attacked the Orcs at their firemountain, but it was a foolish endeavor. The Ents burned when they came near the firemountain, and the Orcs hunted down the survivors. When the last Ent fell, so too did all the trees of Kargeth crumble to dust.
The Orcs, now actively fighting, moved to topple the Wizards, who themselves were relentlessly attacking the Elves. Between the Elves and the Orcs, the Wizards stood no chance, and were all slain. When the last Wizard died, all the magic in the land disappeared; it lost its ability to sustain life, and the clouds moved to block the sun.
The Orcs and the Elves fought a long and bloody battle, but no winner could be decided, so the Orcs returned to their firemountain, and the Elves to their plains.
The Dwarves had built their strength up in this time, and they moved at once to strike down both the weakened Orcs and Elves. Victory was within their grasp, but they were attacked ruthlessly by the beasts and savages that had come into Kargeth, and forced to retreat to their home below the ground.

The Age of Blood has gone for thousands of years now, and the warring between the Elves, Orcs, and Dwarves has never stopped, and the savage tribes and monstrous beasts still roam the wilds of Kargeth, looking for land and food. The forces of all three races has steadily weakened over the milennia. Metal belongs almost solely to the Dwarves, the Orcs have their mysterious elixirs that make fearsome warriors of them, and the Elves know the land better than any other, and with each race having these advantages, none could best the other.
But, in the constant bloodshed, all the races have brought themselves to endangerment, and could soon all be destroyed in an instant.
Without the trees and the wood from them, there are no fires even on the darkest and coldest of nights, and shelter is hard to come by.
Without magic and the aid it provides, illness is common and even the smallest scratches can bleed for weeks, and never fully heal, and even the sky has darkened.
And without the security given by the Dragons, the races of Kargeth face dangers from outside their own borders, which could easily be the end of them all.

But, there is hope. An ancient legend of a great leader who will arise from Kargeth, and unite it's people. Under him, it is said, the trees, magic, and safety can be returned, and peace restored to Kargeth that will match the Golden Age. In the center of Kargeth, in a dangerous wasteland, there is a castle that has stood since before the dawn of time itself, and inside is the Black Throne, and the legend holds that whoever sits in the Throne will be the one to unite all the people of Kargeth and usher in the new Golden Age. But he must hurry, before the remaining races are all lost in a final, bloody battle, that will be the end of life in Kargeth.



Hello everyone! I'd like to welcome all of you reading this to 'The Black Throne'. This is the first RP I've made for a very long time, and I'll admit I'm a bit rusty as a GM (not that I was any good to begin with) but I'm hoping I'll still be able to run this so it's fun for everyone wanting to join! Now, I'll provide you with some information about the world...



RACES.

There are currently three races of people in Kargeth: The Dwarves, the Elves, and the Orcs. There are also the savage tribes from beyond Kargeth, and the mindless beasts that roam it, but neither of these are available to players, and little is known about them. Please, at least read the race descriptions before choosing one...


DWARVES: The Dwarves were first seen as a very odd and quaint people by the other races. Who would want to live underground when the air was fresher and the sun brighter on the surface? But, the Dwarves preference to their tunnels was understood when the others learned of the great wealth they had found in metal ore and other treasures that kept them below the ground.
Dwarves themselves are shorter than the other races, a fully grown Dwarf is equal in height to an older Elven child. They are strong, though, their arms are thick and powerful, with muscles built up from years of mining, or other work. Most Dwarves grow their hair and beards out long, and the main reason is for warmth in the cold underground tunnels, it's not uncommon for Dwarves that live on the surface to be completely clean-shaven. Dwarves are the longest living people in Kargeth, they usually live to be at least 90 or even 100 years old. Dwarves remain almost in their prime until their final few days, where their strength rapidly fades and they can do little but wait their death.
The Dwarves main asset in the war is the metals they mine and forge into powerful weapons and armor. A battalion of Dwarves in steel plate and tower shields effectively makes for a mobile fortress. They fight with swords, axes, hammers, most anything they wish, really, depending on the skill of the individual.


ELVES: The Elven people are not native to Kargeth, but are a nomadic people that came in the early years of the Golden Age, but over thousands of years they have lost all knowledge of their other home, what it was like, and where it was. Now Kargeth is as much home to them as any other race, and they'll fight to own it.
The Elves are a powerful people, large and strong, a fully grown Elf could tower at least a full head and a half over an Orc. They have hard, strong facial features, and long, pointed ears that angle back sharply. Most Elves have some kind of tribal tattoos on them, there's no main reason for it in their culture, but they use it to distinguish one another easily, and put fear into their foes. The Elven people have short lifespans, fully maturing at 12 years, and rarely living past 25.
The advantage the elves have is mobility and knowledge of the land, contrasting to the Dwarves and Orcs, who mostly stay holed up in their homes, the Elves run and wander throughout Kargeth, exploring it, learning it. Elven warriors are often lightly armored in battle, wanting to simply run in, attack, and run out before they can be attacked themselves.


ORCS: The Orcs have long been considered a mystery of Kargeth, even in the Golden Age they rarely came down from their firemountain. They have always stayed there, using their special means of extracting the essence of the firemountain into liquid form, which often had unpredictable effects. They used these potions to improve the health of all the races of Kargeth, though that was not nearly all they could do.
The Orcs have wide skin tones, ranging from grey, nearly black, to pale green. Their bent noses, rather large teeth, and guttural voices give them an altogether fearsome appearance, but despite this most Orcs have a gentle nature, but as a whole have become hardened by war. They have a lifespan almost exactly like the Men of old.
To their advantage in the war, the orcs use their elixirs from the firemountain, which can have effects ranging from healing their wounds, improving their strength, or even send them into a bloody rage where they can't distinguish friend from foe. The Orcs use fragments of the firemountain itself as weapons and armor, jagged black stone that glows with the life of the firemountain itself.



WORLD.

The land of Kargeth was once a paradise for all people, but has been ravaged by countless years of war raging across it. When the Ents died, the trees all disappeared, and with it, the land's supply of wood. Wood for building, burning, crafting, the whole supply was cut off. There is still plant life growing in Kargeth, of course, but it can only flourish in a rare few spots, where the war doesn't reach.
When the Wizards were wiped out, the magic left Kargeth, and left the land as a whole weaker. Life could barely grow anymore, the rain ceased, and the sun was forever dimmed by a wall of clouds, making Kargeth a cold, cold place, though it never snows. It had an affect on all the people that still lived; they grew fatigued quicker, and had to rest more and more. Wounds and injuries they sustained took much, much longer to heal, and even then never fully went away. But, the current generations have all been born and raised with these weaknesses, and have adapted to living with them as if it was normal.
With the loss of the dragons, who once guarded its borders, Kargeth was invaded by savage tribes of people who seeked only to kill, and monsters that devoured everything they could find.
Resources in Kargeth are scarce, food must be constantly hunted down, water is almost non-replenishing, and warmth is a commodity impossible to find in the wild.


LEGEND.

This is the verse that puts hope in the hearts of all people, of their chosen leader who will bring peace and reunite all races for a second Golden Age. No one knows where the legend came from, or who wrote it, only that they weren't much of a poet.

When blood and war take Kargeth
And peace is all but forgotten
One will rise out of the ashes of war
And put an end to the strife of all.

He shall sit upon the Black Throne
And rule the land from there
He shall have power unchangeable
Under him pain will have no place.

He will overcome many obstacles
Relying on his strength, and his allies
And when finally he takes his place
All people will unite with one common goal.

OTHER STUFF.

Next is character sheets, I suppose.


Name:
Race: (Only Elf, Dwarf or Orc, please.)
Gender:
Age:
Appearance: (The only guidelines I have is what's written in the race description. This section includes clothing, also.)
Equipment: (This will be your weapons, armor, and anything else worth taking note of.)
History:


That's probably about it, I guess. If anybody's confused or I didn't explain something well enough, feel free to PM me or ask about it here. Enjoy!




Here's my CS, I guess, such as it is.

Name: Durek Shameblade

Race: Orc

Gender: Male

Age: 39

Appearance: Durek is a large, powerful Orc, smaller than an Elf, but still huge for his kind. His skin is green, but is so pale it could almost be mistaken for grey. His face is mean-looking, by the standards of most, but his own recognize the soft, but worn, features in it. He has black eyes, round as a wheel, filled with lament. His nose is large and curved downward, and his mouth is filled large, powerful teeth. A scar runs down his face, starting below his left eye, going down diagonally through his bent nose, and stopping to the side of his mouth.
His black hair is tied up in a braided knot above his head, and were it to be let down, would fall to his shoulders.

By way of clothing, Durek wears plain trousers and a tunic, and over this he has a thick, soft leather coat for warmth. He wears gloves and thick boots most of the time, and wears a plain hooded cloak over everything else.

Equipment: Durek carries a a firestone ax, mined and carved from the firemountain itself, like most weapons used by the Orcs. It has a rough, jagged edge to it, more like a crude stone saw than a proper blade, but still very effective in combat. The black stone pulsates faintly with the life of the firemountain.
In a satchel on his belt, Durek carries a handful of firemountain elixirs, useful for several different situations.

History: When he was young, Durek never thought he would be caught up in the war, not so much as all the soldiers were, at least. Durek worked most of his life in the section of the firemountain that had been set aside for crafting weapons from, and for many years he worked to create weapons and armor from the precious firestone, crafting each piece while it was still attached to the wall, chipping away at it very precisely, just enough to shape and free it, so none of the firestone would go to waste.
Firestone crafting was very difficult labor, for the stone was strong, and even the smallest chips required all of an Orc's strength to break free, and Durek grew strong through the task.

During his time as a crafter, Durek befriended a young Orc maiden named Rishal. Rishal and he grew close and soon found themselves to be in love, they became engaged and were happy for a long time. But, Rishal always had one passion that Durek did not share: she wanted to go and fight in the war, to try and save the Orc people from the dangers that assailed them. Durek did not wish her to leave to such dangers, but supported her desire regardless.

As life went on and the two became older, they finally married, and very soon thereafter Rishal joined the Orcish military and left to fight in the war. It didn't seem very long at all before Durek got word of Rishal'd death on the battlefield, killed by an Elven skirmish team. His beloved Rishal, who had longed to make a difference for their people, had been killed, with no theatrics, no heroics, she was just unfortunate enough to be taken by surprise and felled.
Durek wanted Rishal's dream to live on, so he himself joined the army, deciding to make a difference in her stead. Durek signed on as a regular footsoldier, issued a sword and shield and sent out to fight. For whatever reason, Durek turned out to be an outstanding soldier. He wasn't particularly skilled, and he wasn't superiorly powerful, compared to some of the other Orcs there, but he somehow managed to fight well and survive in every battle he was involved in during his five years of fighting in the war, through sheer luck if nothing else. He became a recognized and well-respected warrior, and even rose to become a knight of the firemountain, a revered warrior class among the Orcs. He found that he was enjoying himself for the first time since Rishad died, even though he still mourned her death, he had managed to fulfill her dream and rise up to be a person of importance, and he quite liked being so respected.
However, Durek's success couldn't last forever.
One day, the battalion Durek led engaged an Elven warband not too far from the firemounatin. The Elves were outnumbered ten to one, but they still fought viciously, like cornered animals.
During the battle, Durek had been knocked down and wounded, and tried to drink an elixir to help his wound to recover and take away the pain, so he could at least withdraw from the front to get some proper treatment. But Durek made a very simple mistake; in his hurry tp drink the elixer so he could move before he was killed, he drank from the wrong bottle. Instead of helping him to mend, the elixer sent him into a murderous rampage across the battlefield, wounds all forgotten. Elf and Orc alike fell before his mighty attacks, and he fought until his body gave out from exhaustion.

Durek awoke back in the firemountain, bound in chains and under guard. He was taken to a trial where he was unable to defend himself from being branded a traitor and a war criminal. He was sentenced to exile, to live away from the firemountain and wander Kargeth until he died. He was stripped of his titles, his respect, all his possessions, and even his clan name, and cursed to be known as 'Shameblade', for the shame his crimes had brought him, until he died. He was thrown from the warmth of his home into cold vastness of Kargeth, with nothing but the tattered clothes he wore.
He had a hard life outside the firemountain, most Elves and Dwarves tried to kill him on sight, and even his own people refused to help an exile. Durek wandered a long time, courting death daily, resorting to any means necessary to survive; banditry, looting from battles, stealing, anything.

It has now been ten years since Durek's exile began, and he has grown accustomed to the harshness of living in Kargeth alone. Now, suddenly, he seeks to fulfill the ancient legend and sit in the Black Throne, becoming the hero sung of since long before the Age of Blood, although he knows he'll need to find allies to aid him, he'll let that come as it will.

[Wolfsong]

Well, this looks interesting. Dark, but interesting. I like it already. *dusts off the non-gm side of herself*

This is the verse that puts hope in the hearts of all people, of their chosen leader who will bring peace and reunite all races for a second Golden Age. No one knows where the legend came from, or who wrote it, only that they weren't much of a poet.

Name: Hikiera L'lioth
Race: Elf
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Appearance: 7'3'', with long black hair falling over her shoulders in straight lines. Her skin is pale, due to the lack of sunlight. She wears heavier clothing than most, having a dark green shirt and a mottled brown and green jacket, with a tail that goes below her knees. Thigh-high black boots. On her right cheekbone is a spider-shaped tattoo, and a snake with a wolfish head curls around her left arm, with the open maw of the angry animal on her palm.
Equipment: She carries a hunting knife for skinning meat, and a strong bow carefully crafted from wood-like materials.
History: As a youth, which in elven terms would be between 6 and 7 years, Hikiera was trained by her parents in the ways of fighting and killing, both direct and stealth. Her parents, the leaders of the tribe, raised her to take over for them when finally they would pass on. She learned to hunt, locate water, know the difference between a good shelter and one that would collapse in the night, to avoid the most dangerous of creatures, and most of all to kill. She grew with a strong sense of duty, and ignored her own pastimes and desires, devoting herself to her lessons.
One day, a battle was to be held with the orcs near the great firemountain. Her parents left her with the rest of the elves deemed unable to fight, placing her in charge till they returned. Hikiera had the youths pull back and wait. Time passed slowly, and she practiced her drills while she waited. Eventually, as the sky began to darken, she knew they had taken far too long. Instructing the elves to remain while she scouted out, she slunk away to the battlefield. Before her eyes lay the many slain, orc and elf alike. There were more elf than orc, however, and it was clear who had won this day.
Viciously angry, she kicked the body of an orc and, finding that unsatisfactory, tore into it with her hunting knife, satisfying herself by imagining its screams as she ripped it apart. Swearing she would find the one who killed them, even if she had to wander the world forever, she cut her hand, making it a blood pact. Filled with her bitter hatred, she returned to the others, informing them of the outcome of the battle. They left the area quickly, moving further into the country. Hikiera worked tirelessly with them and herself, training till she was harder than rock itself, till she could almost never feel pain. Her clan became a vicious one, and she destroyed any orc settlement she came across, carrying out her dark vengeance in her quest to find the one who destroyed her family, her world.

Will this do, cap?

[ClaecElric4God]

Meh, you're so evil...
I..I don't know...if I have...time for...this...
How long do I have to think about this?

[Oddood198]

Wolfy! Yeah, character looks good, accepted. one thing I think I failed to specify, though, there's only one firemountain, and all the Orcs live on that, there aren't any others, and few Orcs outside it.

Meh, you're so evil...
I..I don't know...if I have...time for...this...
How long do I have to think about this?

I am, aren't I?
Take as long as you need, I don't plan to close applying off anytime soon, so whenever you're ready, give us an answer.



And I'll probably kick this off before too long, hopefully. I want to give people time to see it and get CS in so... maybe a week? I dunno, probably around a week.

[ClaecElric4God]

Well, I mulled and debated and pondered and thought and all that good stuff, and I'm afraid I won't be able to join, Odd. Sorry if I got your hopes up. I just have tons on my plate with 3 RPs already, two jobs, studying, and on top of all that my computer decided to contract a virus that I can't seem to get rid of, so it's moving like a snail and keeps freezing up on me.
Have fun, though! I'll be cheering you guys on from the sidelines.

[Wolfsong]

Whoops, sorry about that. Edited!

[Diamond Dragon]

*slinks in* This looks interesting... I'd like to join, but I have a question; are half and halfs allowed? Such as half dwarf, half elf?

[Oddood198]

Wow, there IS someone else interested in joining. Awesome.

As for half breeds... I suppose it's possible, if you really want one. I will say, though, that it would be extremely rare, considering the entirety of the races are at war with each other, and that such a character would probably be about as bad off as one could be in Kargeth. Each race they belonged to would hate them for their other half, and the one they don't have a part of would hate them doubly as much as if they were a full-blood. They'd be cast out of their own home, hunted by their own kind, and really be even worse off than an exile. Though, I suppose if you really want to do it, you can go for it. Just don't expect things to be easy for them.

[Cheetah]

I've never been part of an RPG before, but it looks like fun. If you don't mind putting up with me, I think I'll give it a try. Here goes.

Name: Sendre Ember

Race: Orc

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Appearance: Lean, wiry, and about average height for an orc. Dark brown skin. His grayish-white hair is shaggy but not really long. Narrow, steel gray eyes. His clothing is light and simple. Unlike most orcs he doesn't wear armor because he prefers to use speed and agility as his primary defense. He's not exceptionally strong, but knows how to win a fight using his other abilities.

Weapons: Sendre uses a pair of long knives for close combat. Each one has a long prong used for trapping the enemy's weapon. For long range attacks he has a small recurve bow that he swiped off an elf and painted black.

Personality: Sendre is very cocky, loves to challenge himself, and has a very short temper. He's usually either very happy or very mad, because he's such an energetic person. Experience has helped him be more serious when necessary. He also has an insatiable curiosity and is a quick learner. Sendre doesn't hate the other races so much as look down on them as being inferior.

History: Sendre's parents were killed in the war when he was young. As an orphan, he was trained as a soldier. For the last couple years Sendre has acted as a scout because he's quick, agile, stealthy and pretty much considered expendable. He really likes his job, but gets in trouble at times for doing more than just scouting. Sendre has also secretly been experimenting with making new kinds of potions, which is frowned upon since it's dangerous to do and he has no training in making even regular potions.

That's about it. Let me know if I left anything out.

[Wolfsong]

Cheetah! I haven't seen you in FOR-EV-ER!!! Welcome back!
And welcome to an rpg! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[Diamond Dragon]

sorry, back, and with a character this time~

Name: Known only as Gale
Race: A hybrid of dwarf and elf.
Gender: Female
Age: 16, but because of her elven blood, she looked like an adult.
Appearance: To any of the pure blood races, she is considered to look strikingly like the long-dead race of humans. She has a height that is right in between elf and dwarf, and a physique that is neither elven slim, nor dwarf robust. Her complexion is a surprisingly dark brown, almost midnight brown, and hazel eyes stand out against them. her ears have a bit of a point, but nothing close to the slim, sharp point of a full blooded elf. Her black hair is long and formed in dreadlocks. She doesn't exactly have tattoos; they're more like permanent makeup. She outlines her eyes in white, with the corners curling in intricate swirls, representing wind. Her lips are colored white as well, and on each fingernail, a white arrowhead is carefully painted on. She wears a dark blue tunic, black leggings, and brown soft but tough leather boots to keep from being heard. Over top it all, she wears a mottled cloak that matches her surroundings. If she moved a certain way, she can appear almost invisible. She stole this from an elf, and it has saved her life on more than one occasion.
Equipment: A thick longbow and arrows that she hangs on a side quiver that hooks to her belt are items she made herself. She also stole a metal staff and a saxe and bowe knife from a traveling dwarf. Sometimes she will tie one of the knives to the staff with sinew, creating a spear.
History:

Gale only remembers her mother, a full blooded elf, and probably the only elf ever to resent all the war and hate. Her mother always told Gale her birth was...illegitimate. Gale never knew if that mean illegitimate in the eyes of the elf people, or in another sense. either way, her mother never was willing to explain it, nor would she talk about her dwarven father. All that Gale knows is that her mother left her home right before she was born, knowing she would be resented and her child killed. She raised Gale single handedly, teaching her all she needed to know about survival, and urging her not to get involved with the war. She said Gale didn't have any reason to join in, even if she was hated by the two halfs of her own kind. Narrow run ins with all three races confirmed the fact that Gale would never fit in with any of them.

About two years ago, both mother and daughter were attacked by a monster. Gale was wounded, but her mother was killed from the encounter, and taken away (presumably to be eaten) before she could even get a chance to mourn. Before then her name had been Irrma'li, but on that day she changed her name to Gale, now knowing she would be forever alone. Her only company would be the howling winds. Since then, she has stayed in a cave; the last place she lived with her mother before she was killed. She has respected her mother's wishes of not getting involved with war...but she's now a thief; stealing from any travelers that come close (or while she's out exploring), and often teases them with snide remarks, or paints their faces while their asleep. Who cares if they get angry? They already hate her. She would love very much to take her revenge on the monster that attacked her and her mother, but so far, she hasn't had any luck finding it again, either its a rare creature, or thier kind don't come out into the open often.

[Oddood198]

OOC: Accepted, Diamond. Can't remember if I said that or not already. Now then, sorry this took so long, guys, wish I had an excuse. But, without further ado, I declare The Black Throne open for business and posting!


Durek's eyes bolted open and his hand darted to his axe, he was about to swing it overhead to defend himself when he realized he was staring at only the cloudy night sky. He had been dreaming, first of peaceful days long past, and then of the nightmarish torment that followed. The Orc sighed, heaving himself from where he lay on the ground, wrapped in his cloak, up onto his feet. It was early in the morning and the air was cold but Durek didn't mind, he had been dealing with the cold for a long time now.
He placed his axe back in the holder loop hanging from his belt, and stretched his arms outward, working out the stiffness from sleeping on the ground for hours. Durek turned to look to the south, the direction he had been travelling from, and saw a faint dust cloud rising several miles away. They're getting closer. He thought. Durek was being pursued by a group of the savage tribespeople from the mountains to the north. It wasn't his first encounter with them, but it seemed like a big group, and he didn't care to try his luck against them alone. Better not waste time. He thought as he grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder, then began walking north, with the eventual destination of the center of Kargeth.
He put his hand to a pocket of his trousers, and sighed with a bit of relief when he heard the crinkle of old paper there. The paper he carried was the most important thing in all of Kargeth, to him. It was a secret long lost, that he had, by chance, uncovered, and it was a key to ending the war that had devastated the land.
Looking onward, Durek surveyed the land ahead of him, the next few miles were rough hills and rocky ground. Durek hated this type of terrain, it was too easy for Elven warbands to hide in, but he didn't have much of a choice at the moment. Making sure his axe was ready and he had a few elixirs prepared, Durek carried on into the hills, resigned to face whatever else Kargeth decided to throw at him.

[Cheetah]

OOC: Here goes. My first RPG post. Hope it's okay.

The wind whistled through the sparse patches of tall, brown grass Sendre used to conceal himself. He was laying face down, flat against the ground. He shivered with the cold, but made no move to warm himself. He couldn't move. The elven warband was dangerously close.
He hadn't spotted them until it was too late. Unable to avoid them, Sendre had quickly applied a heavy coating of dirt to his clothes and hair and found a shallow slump in the earth to lay in. Luckily, the elves seemed to have a destination in mind. Had they been tracking, and looking for signs that would lead them to an enemy, they doubtless would have discovered the lone orc. Had the day been any brighter, Sendre's cover would have done him no good. But it was a dark day, with an especially thick blanket of clouds over the sun. You could barely tell it was daytime at all.
The elves were so close that Sendre could hear a couple of them discussing the likelihood of an oncoming storm. They seemed to agree that a storm was likely and that it would be a big one.
Sendre had no idea how they could tell that, though he found it fascinating. However, a more pressing issue demanded his attention.
If these elves continued in the direction they were headed, they would soon come across the rest of the scouting party. There mission was to find a fresh water source so the larger army could advance. Sendre always stayed out longer than the rest. It would be getting dark soon, so the others were probably all there by now. The time between when they were gone and when they set up a watch so they could sleep was always the most dangerous because they were always careless.
If the elves happened upon them now, they would easily wipe out the orc scouts.
But trapped as he was, unable to move without being discovered, Sendre couldn't very well go warn them.
I'll just have to wait, Sendre thought to himself, Once they're out of sight I can circle around and get ahead of them.
“The storm's coming on fast!” the elf commander shouted. “We'll make camp here!”
No! Sendre screamed inwardly. The elves had stopped right in front of him and were now hastily preparing for a storm.
They had chosen this low spot in the valley, in the middle of a small cluster of rocky hills, as it would be sheltered from a storm's fierce winds. There would be no rain, of course, but a bad enough storm could have winds strong enough to cause devastating damage, sometimes even carrying good sized rocks. And lightening could strike anywhere. Low ground was the safest.
I have to warn the others. Sendre thought, gathering his resolve. Moving slowly and being careful not to disturb the grass around him, Sendre reached in his coat for his potions. He withdrew a speed enhancement potion and waited for the right moment to use it.
The elves were busily digging a shallow ditch to take refuge in. They were preoccupied, but if he tried to run now they would easily overtake him. Elves were taller and thus faster on foot than orcs were and had better stamina. Even if he could stay ahead of them, he couldn't go straight back to camp without leading the elves to his comrades. And if he tried to lead them away he'd never lose the elves. He would have to wait until the storm was closer and take his chance then. The elves would be unwilling to risk following him. Of course, that meant he would be in danger himself. But better to be killed in the storm than let an elf have the satisfaction.

[Wolfsong]

OOC - HALLELUJAH ITS ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!!
hehehehehehehehe!

Hikiera crept forward slowly, her eyes locked on the scene before her. Down below her, the dwarves worked steadily away, mining precious ore. Some were already working it in their forges, creating new armors and weapons for them to use.
But not if she could take them!
Her lips curved into a smile as she took in the sight. What luck, finding this place! That cave they'd taken to avoid the approaching storm was proving to be a godsend. With the materials below and whatever else they could find, this would be a true treasure trove!
She leaned forward just slightly, her hair falling over her shoulders as gravity called.
Oslon, her best scout and the one who'd found this, leaned over the rock beside her, eyeing the busy and oblivious dwarves below. "Shouldn't be too hard," he breathed, hardly making any sound, and only her sensitive ears could have caught it. She nodded in response, eyes lighting up at the thought of what was ahead. Bloodshed and loot, what better could they have?
Summon the others," she mouthed, her hand dropping to the knife at her belt. Oslon nodded and slid away, his soft leather boots making no noise on the rocky floor.
Hikiera crept forward, only partly drawing her knife. If some freak light caught that metal... She successfully made her way around the rock walls, finding herself a grand perch on the opposite wall where not only did she have a clear view of the miners below, but it was perfect for picking them off. She sat there quietly and motionlessly, waiting.
Seconds later, Oslon appeared once more on the ledge opposite. He glanced around a moment before finally spotting her, and when he did he nodded in appreciation. He raised a hand, indicating everyone was ready. She nodded, then made a quick cut motion across her throat, gesturing at her bow. He nodded and disappeared again. She settled herself, counting to twenty very slowly. Then, she held up her bow, resting the arrow lightly, drawing the string. She suddenly pulled straight back, her hand touching her ear, the other adjusting instantly to her target. She focused, pausing a moment to be ready, then released.
The arrow shot straight and true, taking out one of the dwarves at the furnace. As he fell back, he bumped into another couple, knocking all three of them into the fires. Before the startled men could react, elves poured from the tunnels, overwhelming the warriors taken by surprise. Hikiera threw her bow over her shoulders, yanking her knife from her sheath and diving from her spot with a snarl, lips drawn back to reveal teeth sharpened into fine points. She landed on a panicking dwarf, stabbing him through the simple helmet and into his brain. She lunged from the falling body to the next one, smiling smugly. This was perfect, this was so perfect!
Suddenly, new sounds filled the air, and she paused, trying to discern where they were. Suddenly, from a tunnel to the left, a whole new horde of dwarves appeared, well armored and armed to the teeth. Hikiera shrieked like an animal, furious at the neat trap this place had suddenly become. "Oslon!" she shouted, leaping up. "Get the injured out of here! Ny'tal, take five and charge 'em! Rest, rally to me!"
The last she saw of Oslon was him leading a few others out a back tunnel. She faced the oncoming midgets, flexing her snake-drawn arm. The other elves formed up behind her, and she watched, waiting.
The dwarves stayed in a body similar to our turtle, with the long-distance units still back in the doorway. Hikiera motioned to her men, and they began to fan out. She crouched down, grimacing. One chance to get out, one chance to still win. If they could pull this off....
The dwarves, as the elves slowly began to surround them, began to prepare themselves. Then, suddenly, came the loud cries of their long-distance units as they were brutally cut down, leaving only the square in the middle of the elfin circle.
"Get them," Hikiera hissed, and as one they lunged forward.

[Diamond Dragon]

Ooc: Oh man, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize this started! Ok, I'm posting now!"

Bic: Once Olson and the other injured elves were out and well away from the tunnel, a patch of rock seemed to move; and a cloaked figure became visible. The cloak covered the figure almost completely; the only thing visible was the lower half of the face. The skin was almost as dark as the night, but the snow white lips stood out starkly against it.

"I wonder what's going on in there..." Gale murmured to herself, snow white lips pulling back into a smirk. Noiselessly, she slipped into the tunnel and traveled down into the place of the dwarves. At least...currently it was. She watched as both halves of her kin fought it out savagely, and scoffed silently. How idiotic. No wonder her mother was so against her getting involved with this war. All it did was kill everyone. And for what? More territory? Who needed that when everything was so ugly and lifeless? No thanks to them.

Well, the only upside to this battle was that with all the fighting, she would hardly be noticed. The perfect time to do a little...borrowing. Clutching her metal staff and a large burlap sack, she glanced around at the already-fallen dwarves and elves, looking for anything useful. They were obviously the best, since they wouldn't fight back, nor would they need whatever they had on them hereafter anyways. Hm... knives and bow. She already had those. Heavy armor... nah, she had no need of those. Now one of those large leather pouches could be useful. Then she saw a large, ornate-looking sword.

It was clutched in the death-grip of a fallen dwarf. Both the long blade and the hilt had ornate etchings carved in flowing swirls. Gale's hazel eyes practically glowed.That was hers. It was practically made for her, she knew it. Gaze fixed on her ultimate prize, she glided forward, her figure seeming to drift in and out of sight as she moved. Her eyes flicked from the sword to the battle. It was doubtful anyone would notice her, but you never know.

[Wolfsong]

OOC - ooh yes, the first interaction of the game!

Hikiera cut down the last of the dwarves, making satisfied sounds in the back of her throat, almost like purring. Ny'tal and the others were just finishing up, leaving only elves in the cavern room. Their catch was a good one, and bound to keep them in good condition for a long time.
She turned, carefully pulling her arrows free from the carcass next to her. This one had good armor, she'd be sure to take that. The knife was well made as well, decorated and sturdy. She carefully slipped that away; she'd compare it to her usual knife later.
Suddenly, a new movement caught her eye. Slipping from the cavern with an ornate blade clutched in their hands was an odd figure, smaller than an elf but taller than a dwarf, with clearly enough elfin blood that they weren't orcs. That left only one explanation - a half-breed! Of elf and dwarf no less!
Hatred and disgust rose in her, and with a snarl she lunged after the figure. Realizing they were spotted, the half-blood fled from the cave, with Hikiera hot on their heels.
"Half-blood!" she hissed angrily, hands going to her bow. Trying to aim while running was difficult, but she couldn't let this thing escape with their hard-won spoils. Nor, indeed, could she let such an affront to their blood exist. She strung her arrow quickly and fired as fast as she dared, just as they exited the cave. The arrow flew near, but she clearly missed. She watched a while, debating chasing after, but common sense said that running after her by herself, into hostile territory was a bad idea. With luck, Hikiera would find her body after some animal had finished with it.
"Go ahead and run," she snarled, pulling the string of her bow back again, an arrow cocked for a final shot. "You can't run forever, half-breed." and she fired. Without waiting to see where it went, she turned back to the cave to round up the spoils. Everyone got to pick the bodies, but the rest was to be shared among the group.

OOC- hope that was okay Dia!

[Diamond Dragon]

Ooc: That's alright!
Bic:

Gale gazed in awe at the prize she now held in her hand. The blade looked like silver as the light from the fires glinted off it, and a single blue gem was imbedded in the pommel, along with blue dyed leather wrapped around the hilt. It was perfect...just perfect. Then she heard a loud snarl. Glancing up quickly, Gale just had time to dash away as an elf (obviously the leader of the pack) lunged at her.

She fled from the cave, her cloak flapping behind her, and the elf in close pursuit. She heard the other spit out the word half-blood, and she responded with a mocking "Full blood! How dreary it must be to be only of one race!" The words had scarcely left her mouth when an arrow zipped by her. Of course she was being shot at...she couldn't expect anything less. She heard the elf again say something, but before she could answer, another arrow zipped by, this time ripping through the fabric of the cloak, and grazing her left shoulder. She winced, feeling warm blood begin to trickle down her arm. "Stupid elf." she muttered under her breath. Now her cloak had to be repaired AND washed.

Gale kept running until she reached a protective rock formation. Then she examined her arm. Though it was dark, her night vision was exceptional, and she could see the wound wasn't that bad. Still, it hurt. She probably should have taken a pouch of healing herbs with her this time around. But really, she hadn't expected to find that raid. Gale held up the sword again, leaning her staff against the rock and running her hand down the flat of the blade. still, it was completely worth it. Though it was a pity she didn't have a chance to get a scabbard. Oh well, she'd just try to make one herself. Maybe one of her traps held a creature who's hide would make good leather. Picking up her staff again, she began to cautiously walk back into the direction of her cave, zigging and zagging in a way that made it difficult to see her with the cloak on.

[Oddood198]

OOC: I'm sorry it took so long! I've had many things going on, and games, people, stuff, also happy belated Easter, camera and a robe, gah! I'll try not to take off like that without warning again.


Durek froze as the sound of clashing weapons reached him, it sounded like metal on metal, with some stone. Likely some Elves and Dwarves had come across one another and were fighting now. Durek did have to go this way, but he really didn't want to get caught up in a fight between the races, especially if neither side was his own. He looked back, peering into the distance, and saw that the cloud of dust rising up form the distance had gotten a bit closer; his pursuers were closing the gap, slowly but surely.
Durek sighed, savages behind, and a battle ahead. With no other choice, Durek altered his course of movement to take him in a wide arc around the sounds of engagement, but still a small enough one he wouldn't add too much time to passing through the area, although it did put him at a slight risk of being spotted, but if they were really in such an intense battle, they would probably not notice one figure slinking away on the horizon. Advantageously for Durek, though, was that if any other war parties were nearby, they would be drawn to the ongoing battle and have less chance to see him, with a bit of luck, he would be able to navigate his way through this dungeon completely undetected. Then again, luck seemed to have it in for Durek.

[Wolfsong]

"Everyone got their share?" Hikiera asked. Everyone instantly answered affirmative, straightening and readying to go. Hikiera lead the way from the caves, glancing around cautiously. Just because they'd attended to the main group didn't mean there weren't stragglers or cowards trying to save themselves. She would deal with any and all mercilessly.
Outside again. She glanced up at the sky, thinking how ready to storm it looked. After a moment, she cupped her hands to her mouth and mimicked the sounds of one of the more dangerous predators wandering the hills. She waited, as the sound echoed across the rocks. Soon, a similar sound but gentler came back. Nodding at the others, she followed the sounds to Olson's group, hidden safely in the shelter of an overhang. The place was tucked neatly in between rock formations, covered by a ledge. But for Olson showing her, even she might have missed the hole completely.
"How many?" she asked, dropping into the darkness.
"Fourteen, taken by surprise. Could have been worse." His voice sounded disembodied, though she knew he was right next to her. Her eyes adjusted quickly, however, and she could make out the forms around her.
It could have been a lot worse. Still, they'd come out alive, and after inspection the injuries didn't seem to be permanent, save scars and bruises. Nodding, she settled, and told everyone to rest, but remain silent. Heaven knew what else was in this mountain, and until everyone was ready to travel again, they would remain here for a time.

[Cheetah]

The storm wasn't as bad as the elves had made it out to be. But still, Sendre found it tiring to fight against the wind. There were occasional flashes of lightening, but they were far away. The speed potion he'd used to outrun the elves had worn off and now he was jogging lightly, pacing himself as he made his way back to camp. The wind carried the high pitched shriek of a monster not too far off. Sendre stopped and ducked down, quickly surveying the area around him. The uneven terrain made it easy for a beast to hide in. And the sound echoed around the rocks so much it was impossible to tell what direction it came from. Well, every orc knew there was safety in numbers. Sendre took off with new urgency, hurrying to the campsite. He began to feel more comfortable and relaxed as he climbed the final hill. Down below was the camp for the orc scouting party. The sight that greeted him froze him in his tracks. His campsite was in ruins. The meager shelters he and his comrades had erected were demolished. Their few belongs were scattered and trampled. The bodies of four orcs lay still and mangled.
It took Sendre only a moment to snap out of his surprised daze and drop to the ground, pressing his belly against the earth and peering down at the campsite.
The beast responsible was still stomping about angrily, searching for something else to kill, blinded by its insatiable bloodlust. Its massive body was covered in thick, matted fur. Judging by its patches of missing hair, its broken horn and one disfigured leg, it looked like many people had tried and failed to kill this particular beast.
Sendre growled angrily and grabbed his bow, quickly stringing it with practiced ease and readying a black arrow. He wanted nothing more than to kill the creature that had slaughted his companions. But even while he was taking aim he realized that it would be a foolish and wasted attempt. Alone, and armed with the light weapons he was accustomed to, Sendre knew perfectly well that he had no chance against this creature. A year or so before, Sendre might have ignored that fact and challenged the beast anyway. But his time and experience as a scout had matured him. He knew there was nothing to be gained by dying as well.
"I'm sorry." Sendre whispered, looking sadly at his fallen comrades. He reluctantly replaced his bow and arrow and crawled far enough away from the beast for him to safely stand and run away. He would have to be careful to stay downwind of the monster, but he was sure he could circle around and get back to his company. He would report to his commanders about what had happened. Angry with his own inability to avenge his comrades, Sendre used his adrenaline to put plenty of distance between himself and the beast. Its savage screams followed him as he ran. For miles it seemed, they echoed through the valley. It finally dawned on Sendre that he should have been out of earshot long ago. Yet the sounds were as loud and fierce as ever. The beast had caught a new scent and was on the move again. It was following him.

[Diamond Dragon]

"Brilliant..." Gale murmured as the storm broke over her. She knew it had been coming, but she hadn't expected it to come this quickly. Still, aside from the wetness, it wasn't that bad. The wind didn't bother her though. In fact, she enjoyed it as it blew around her, throwing her cloak out like a pair of wings behind her and caressed her face. It was just like her; going anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes she felt as though the element was trying to speak to her. If she could just listen close enough, she would discover the secrets it wanted to whisper to her.

All at once she heard something. Instinctively, she turned her head towards it, her slightly pointed ears moving very slightly. After a few moments, she heard the sound again over the wind. It was the battle roar of a creature of some kind. And it made her heart beat faster.

Though she knew she should probably just continue back to her cave, she felt drawn to the sound. It reminded her of the sound of the monster that had killed her mother. Perhaps it was the same creature. Either way, she couldn't know until she checked it out. So she changed her direction, and started making her way towards the creature's roars.

[Wolfsong]

Hikiera slipped in-between the rocks, her bow in her hand. Driven by a desire for meat, she had ventured from the hole her company had holed up in.
However, she had not expected to find such a beast...nor did she expect to become the prey.
A huge beast, cat-like with long saber teeth, had ambushed her in a tight space, which she'd barely escaped unscathed. She had taken cover in the rocks, watching, but she hadn't seen it. Yet, instinct told her it was still there. The scent of a hunter, of blood and flesh, was there, a smell she knew far too well.
Suddenly, there was a new scent, one she hadn't smelled in a long time. Her eyes widened, then narrowed.
"Orc," she breathed.

[Diamond Dragon]

Well, it certainly wasn't the monster that killed her mother, but it was certainly as vicious. Gale watched from behind a crest of rocks as the creature prowled, looking for prey. It certainly had some earlier. Gale knew that because she came on the scene just as that elf from earlier ran off to the rocks on the opposite side. In all honesty, she couldn't blame her. That monster was a devil, and no mistake. Even so, she wanted to watch and see what would happen. She would be safe as long as the creature didn't catch sight, sound, or scent of her. But just in case it did...

Gale hid the stolen sword and her staff in a crevice in the rocks. Then she pulled out her long bow from her side quiver, and knocked a long arrow onto the sinew string. If she could get a clear shot, she would put the arrow through its brain.

[Cheetah]

"Well, this is just great." Sendre muttered.
The beast had caught up with him. Strangely, rather than charge at him like it should have, it was biding its time. It seemed distracted as it sniffed the air. Was there something else out there that had caught its interest? It was too good to hope it might be more orcs. As a scout, Sendre was well aware of where the main army was, and he knew his scouting party was completely on its own, and as far from the fire mountain as orcs usually went.
No. Something else was out there.
The beast roared again as it eyed Sendre and carefully stalked closer. It was distracted and moving cautiously. But it was still going to attack him.
Even using a speed potion, Sendre didn't think he could outrun this creature. While keeping his attention focused on the monster, Sendre studied his surroundings. It was an exceptionally rocky area. A promising looking crevice caught his eye. A crack in the rocks along the bottom of a short cliff looked like it might be just big enough for him to take refuge.
The only problem was it was too far away.
A scrambling sound on the other side of the rocks caught the beast's attention. It shifted its gaze for a moment, sniffing the air hungrily.
"Found something bigger, huh?" Sendre guessed. "Then you don't need me."
With that, Sendre dashed towards the cliff, sliding into the crevice. The beast jerked its head back as Sendre moved suddenly. His movement triggered the beast's killing instinct and it lunged to catch him. Sendre could imagine the massive claws ripping through him as they barely missed him.
The beast scrabbled at the crevice, trying in vain to reach its enormous paws in to snag him.
"Size isn't always an advantage." Sendre said with smug satisfaction. But as the monster paced angrily outside his protective shelter he had to admit that he wasn't much better off than before. Once again, he was trapped in a very uncomfortable situation. And this time he couldn't see a way out of it.

[Wolfsong]

Hikiera listened carefully, letting her sense of hearing and smell take precedence. She couldn't figure out where it was, though she was sure it was near.
Suddenly, something slid into the crevice, and her hand shot to her knife. For a second, she hoped it was another elf, she could work out a good plan with one of her clansmen. Then she got a better look at them, and froze, a hiss escaping between her teeth.
Orc!
Hissing, she lunged forward, grabbing him by the throat. As she raised her knife for the kill, a huge claw suddenly came at her head. She shot backwards into the crevice, jerking the orc with her, just barely avoiding having her head bashed in. The huge thing was perched right on top of them!
She recalled the orc clutched in her grasp. For a time she debated killing him then and there, when she remembered something she'd learned about them.
"Orc," she said, her voice dripping with malice and anger. "Your potions. If you want any chance of me letting you leave here alive, I want something to help me take that thing down." Her knife-hand shot up, resting the blade at his throat. "You give me what I want. If its anything but, I will kill you. By my hand, or by my Shade, I will find you and kill you. Are we clear?" she pressed the knife in slightly to make her point.

[Cheetah]

Sendre's eyes widened in surprise as a female elf suddenly showed itself in the shadows and lunged at him. Before he knew it, he was dragged deeper into the crack and a knife was pressed against his throat.
She hissed at him, demanding his potions.
No way! Sendre thought instantly, glaring angrily as the shock of finding an unwelcome crevice companion wore off. Even if he could bring himself to believe she might let him leave here alive, as his natural enemy, he couldn't aid her. Every orc in the military was sworn to keep secret the use of the potions. But in the face of his current situation, Sendre was forced to rethink his resolve. There was a blade pressed firmly against his throat and a vicious cat-like monster only a few feet away. He could really see no other option but to use this elf. But he wasn't an idiot. He knew full well the only reason he was still alive was because she needed a means of escape. The moment he gave her what she wanted, the elf would undoubtedly finish what she'd started. She wasn't going to leave him in this crevice alive.
Sendre glared up at her, coming to a decision. "Fine. I'll give you what you want." he said. "But just so you know, it only works on orcs. I can give you a potion that will increase your agility and reflexes. But it will also poison you. Take one and you'll be dead before the next sunrise. Unless I fix you an antidote."
Sendre carefully pulled back the edge of his coat to reveal the tiny bottles of potions stuck in sockets around his belt. The bottles were made from the black rock of the fire mountain, but each was marked with a different colored symbol.
"If you care to take your chances," Sendre said with as much confidence as he could muster, "the yellow one is the one you want."
Sendre remained tense and on edge as he waited for her decision. If his plan worked she would be able to compete with the monster just as he'd said and hopefully kill it. And if she believed his lie about being poisoned, then she wouldn't kill him. Not when she thought her life was in his hands. It was a gamble, but apparently she didn't know anything about the potions, or she wouldn't have needed him alive to tell her which one she wanted. Hopefully she didn't know enough to realize that anyone could safely drink them.

[Diamond Dragon]

Gale quickly became tired of waiting. She had seen the orc dash towards the crevice where she had last seen the elf (He was probably dead by now), but nothing else happened. And she also realized she probably wouldn't be able to get away without the beast detecting her, and going after her. Looks like she had to kill it herself.

With a resigned sigh, Gale drew back her bow at full length, wincing from the train of her grazed arm. She watched the creature closely, taking into account the wind and how it would affect the arrow. Finally she saw her chance. Quickly standing up, she aimed the arrow at one of its eyes, then let it fly.

[Wolfsong]

Hikiera hissed, but recognized the best choice. Those potions were her ticket to freedom, but it meant leaving the orc alive. well, it was only for a day. She could get him later.
"Fine," she snapped, snatching a potion. "I'll play your game." Grinning viciously, she suddenly shoved him back, wedging him between two stones. "Wait, while I hunt."
The beast suddenly roared in pain. she rushed toward the opening, taking a quick drink of the potion as she went. The beast was tearing abut, an arrow embedded in its face, perhaps an hair's breath from its eye; almost lethal. So someone else was out there. Snarling, Hikiera lunged out, leaping onto its back with her new found speed as it thrashed around. Clutching tightly with her legs with her right hand holding no to its shoulder, she plunged her knife into its right eye, pushing till it connected with the brain.
She leapt off as it collapsed, landing lightly on her feet. Her head shot up, scanning the cliffs above. In a moment she sighted the half-blood from earlier, with her bow.
It was the distance that gave the human-like half-breed the advantage. Hikiera couldn't cross the cliffs fast enough, though she was sure her reflexes were better. An arrow was faster. She didn't feel like any more hunting today anyway, so she didn't consider it.
Dropping slowly into a crouch, her eyes never leaving the half-blood, she crept back till she was before the crevice. She stopped there, not going inside. On the contrary, she cocked her head, smirking slightly. She held that position a moment, then turned back into the crevice.
"Now, orc," she said, holding up her bloody knife. "The antidote."

OOC- funny, when I write out Hikiera, I'm always reminded of a cat.

[Oddood198]

Durek was going along his way, doing his best to avoid conflict from the war parties he had heard or the savages pursuing him, when suddenly, he heard a loud roaring sound unnervingly close in front of him. It sounded like it was just over the nearest hill, actually. Sure enough, as Durek crept forward to get a look, he saw a giant beast covered in fur roaring and smelling the air around it. As he watched, Durek heard the "twang" of a bowstring and saw the east throw its head back, and just a second later an Elf darted out of a crevice in the stone and slaughtered the beast.
Durek scanned the hills for a moment before spotting the archer; well-hidden, rapped in an Elven cloak, most would have missed the archer, but Durek was handy to Elven tricks. Slowly, quietly, Durek backed up, using the hill for cover, and moved around the area where the beast had been slain.
He came up silently behind the archer, placing his axe back on his belt, and sat on a rock next to the cloaked figure. "Hunting large game, aren't you?" He asked, announcing his presence, "Most Elves hunt smaller, like Orcs or Dwarves. You impress me."

[Cheetah]

Sendre watched as the elf female leaped out of the crevice. He grinned to himself. "Stupid elf." He muttered with satisfaction as he withdrew a potion marked blue. He downed the potion in one gulp and waited for it to take effect. He would be ready when she came back. The fight ended much sooner than he'd anticipated and the elf was suddenly back again. Blood dripped from her knife. Looking at her now, he really couldn't see much difference between her and the blood-thirsty, savage monster she'd just killed.
"Now, orc," she said to him, "the antidote."
Sendre grinned back at her, showing his oversized fangs. "Don't worry." he told her in a deep threatening tone, "I'll make sure you can't die from poisoning."
With that, Sendre jerked free of the rocks, his heart pounding wildly thanks to the rush of adrenaline the potion gave him. If he wanted to take out this elf while she was still using a potion then he would have to take her by surprise. Fortunately, she hadn't thought this through and removed his potions before leaving. It was mistakes like those that Sendre knew to take full advantage of. "I'll kill you long before you can die from that!"