Iceclad

Korbuk: “Just take it with you!”

Kuron: “I dinna understand!”

Korbuk: “Am I speaking Ogre, or do you just not speak Common?”

Kuron: “I dinna understand what it’s got t’ do with anythin! It’s jist a rock!”

Korbuk: “I can’t explain it. Before I found you I found dis rock, and I just couldn’t leave it behind. I had a vision of someone carryin’ it around, but it wasn’t me, and den I saw some creature, and den I saw a forge.”

Kuron: “And then ye saw a another bottle tipped t’word yer drunken smile!”

Korbuk: “Real funny. Would ya please just take dis and get going! I’m gonna stay here and try ta figure out da rest of da vision while you look around.”

Kuron: “Bah, Fine! Gimme th’ stupid pebble…”

Just as night fell, and before he knew it, Kuron found himself following a glowing path leading him through the forest emanating from Korbuk’s rock. It really worked! He stumbled a bit as he trudged on, holding the stone at arm’s length, where was this thing leading him? As he came into a clearing the stone hummed and glowed with a new intensity, but Kuron could see nothing. Using his other senses, however, it was easy to tell he was not the only one nearby. Smells and sounds from some vicious creature were thick in the clearing. Kuron doused the rock and concentrated on his breastplate, fading from view just as the creature thrased its way through a nearby shrub.

It look like a very large man, completely white, covered in intricate tattoos, and walking on all fours. Every muscle on the beast appeared tense and strained uncomfortably at all times. Long serrated bones protruded from its spine trailing all the way down its back which shook violently every time the beast moved. It’s barrel-like chest heaved rapidly as it sniffed and snarled at the ground, obviously trying to find Kuron. Blood dribbled from its mouth almost constantly, but whether it was the creatures own or not it was impossible to tell. Kuron held his breath completely, trying not to make a sound. The creature snuffed in frustration, seemingly disappointed. It turned to leave but before doing so it half-dug a small hold in the ground with it’s wickedly angry claws and grunted as it hunched into a squat directly over it. Kuron held back a snicker and held his nose.

The deed finished, the creature lazily kicked some grass over the mess and rushed off into the forest. Kuron took out the stone and pointed it in the direction the creature went. The stone glowed softly as the mystical path snaked out of it once again – but it didn’t go in the direction of the creature, it went straight down towards the pile the creature had left behind. Kuron scowled. “Aw great…” he groaned. He walked over to it and poked it with a stick, but was surprised to feel it was rock solid!

A little while later Korbuk and Kuron could be seen huddling over the strange lump the creature had left behind. From Kuron’s description Korbuk informed him that it was known as an “Ukun”, and that they are the war-dogs and tracking hounds of the Legions of Discord. Ferocious and unrelenting, they have been known to pursue their targets even while grievously injured, stopping only for death.

Korbuk: “Amazing! And dis came from dat creature?”

Kuron: “Aye, shat it right out and th’ stone pointed to it and not th’ bugger ‘imself.”

Korubk: “Sounds like an Ukun, but dey only eat meat. Dis one looks like it ate rocks!”

Kuron: “Or metal!” Kuron tapped it with his axe producing a “tink” noise.

Korbuk copied this action with his gauntlet producing the same noise.

Korbuk: “Ya, it IS metal…dis is some kinda ore! I’ve never seen anyting like it!”

Korbuk suddenly gazes off into space.

Kuron: “You alright?”

Korbuk blinks confusedly and then focuses on Kuron again.

Korbuk: “Ya…ya I am. I just had anodder vision! I saw dis great sword being held by a true warrior. I saw it come out of it’s sheath, parry a blade, and den slash right through some lesser warrior’s armor. With each of deez actions, it made dis sound…”

Korbuk taps the ore with his gauntlet, producing the same true ring of metal from before.

Korbuk: “I bet dis was dat weapon, or could be someday…we need a really skilled smith ta work wit dis metal…an’ I know just da one!”

Kuron sighs.

Kuron: “Here we go again!”