Role

Chapter 2

A Promise to Ruin
Added Thu Dec 28 06:38:53 2023 at level 18:

With a roar like mountains falling, like a conflagration burgeoning, Irgech, Ograk, and Orcag leapt forward, an unstoppable avalanche of plated iron and sharpened weaponry aimed at the village's gate.
It was a stout piece of construction to be sure, numerous logs criss-crossed to form a sturdy bulwark. Irgech expected it to take several blows to fell, even from he and his companions. He was surprised therefor as the gates swung open.
The portal opening at their rampaging approach was shocking, but not so shocking as to penetrate the battle lust of Ugrak and Orcag. Their strides lengthened, and they plunged through the gates a step or two before Irgech himself.
These villagers were no fighters, true, but what they were was whalers. As Ugrak and Orcag made their entrance, great nets fell atop them like the hand of some outraged god, the weighted strands flooring them in an instant.
A flood of humanity poured between the buildings now, these pitiful, small creatures brandishing vicious harpoons and pronged spears. They fell upon the pinned giants, whaling impliments ringing off armor as often as they dug into flesh.
Irgech halted, aghast. As quickly as that their raid, the work of weeks was made into nothing. As quickly as that, the strength of the fire giants was little more than dogmeat.
It was an embarrassment, and bitter bile rose in his throat. He would not allow it. Irgech's massive hands settled upon the gate, and with a wrenching heave of his mighty shoulders, he dragged the barrier closed.
The wood ignited beneath his grasp, the rage felt throughout his frame spilling forth from his flesh. Malice and chagrin twisted his features as embers fell from where he held, tongues of incandescent flame leaping outward to catch the walls.
Irgech tipped his face back to the sky, and he roared aloud his denial, his fury at the failure of his comrades, the manifest failure of his people to be the strength they so espoused.
Did they simply hold Kiadana because if they were to leave, they would end up as Ugrak and Orcag? The very thought sickened him.
Answering his roar was a keening bellow all its own, the unquenchable avarice of flame set loose. Great gouts of flame seethed all about the village now, the wall turned from protection to enclosure by his will alone, or perhaps...
Through gritted teeth, through eyes gone slitted with hate and fury, Irgech met the gaze of a face seemingly composed entirely of the calamity he had wrought. The face smiled, a smile that promised ruin unending.
-----
When Irgech entered the village, it was to the soft crunch of ash beneath his boots, and the low crackling of fire not yet gone out. That face seemed to move with him now, a visage at the edge of his vision.
"There is only one law. There is only one proof. Let us make ash of it all, so that only the strong are left. In time they, I, shall be ash as well." He spoke this last to the face in the flames. "All shall be ash, even me. But today, I AM NOT."