The Vanquishing of a Staff

[Runabarn 1028]

((Dialogue in common for ease of reading))

 

Spoiler

 

 

It was just another day in the orcish desert. The searing sun scoured the sands mercilessly. Off in the distance, the honorary uruk known as Shanka roamed the lonely roads. A sight catches her eye, two silhouettes off in the horizon. She decides to approach and investigate.

 

As she approaches, she recognizes the orc Mok'han. Before him, a certain druid waves a trinket about, demanding passage. She narrows her gaze on the druid, recognizing the face with mild annoyance. She approaches the two, intending to figure out what's going on. Once she's close enough to listen to their conversation, everything becomes clear. It would appear the druid is trespassing, refusing to pay tribute.

The elf spins a tale about a necklace given to him by a pevious rex, which allegedly grants free passage through uruk territory. The honorary scoffs at this. She knows well that no uruk, not even the rex, has the right to grant "protection" from Krug's will, for none are above Krug.

 

The druid was given an ultimatum. Pay tribute, or pay in blood. The druid refused the first, then attempted to flee. It seems he had chosen the latter. The old druid's efforts were in vain, more orcs showed up on the road to give chase. Theycaught up with him and brought him down. As his lifeless body hit the ground, so did his staff. Strangely enough, the staff wailed and squirmed on the sands next to his slain master, quite the odd sight.

 

Those gathered all stared at the staff cluelessly, unsure of what to do about it. All except Shanka, who knew exactly what to do. Such druidic gimmicks were of no surprise to her, she had leaned much about them in her past. She hastily picked up the staff and wrapped it up in leather, binding it tightly. The staff tried to resist, but it was futile. She turned to her brothers, slinging the leatherbound staff on her back.

 

"This thing... it is an abomination, twisted druidic life. We must destroy it."  She said to them.

"Then we will bring it to the lava pits, near the fort of Lak." Mok'han responded.

"We must do it quickly... It knows what's coming." The staff rattled and shrieked from inside its bindings. They all nodded, not wasting any more time.

 

They set off to the nearby pit, a fiery hole atop a small dune, lava flowing from the depths of the earth onto the surface. They climbed to the top and gazed down into the fiery cauldron. Shanka stepped forward, taking hold of the bound staff. It shrieked and wailed, sensing the immense heat from the environment. Just about as the staff was leaving the grasp of the honorary, flinging towards its doom, it made a last ditch effort. A surge of druidic energy, the staff grew a sharp branch right through the leather wrappings. It shot at great speed towards Shanka, piercing her right shoulder in the blink of an eye.

And so it seemed that time stood still, with the staff hovering above the fiery pit, holding onto the elf's flesh. The orcs were speechless, until one of them suddenly gave the order to cut off the branch. But then Shanka slowly raised her arms. She coiled her hands around the stake piercing her shoulder. And with a pained groan, she ripped it from her flesh, leaving it to fall at last into its doom.

 

The staff let out a final shriek as it was immolated, flames flaring up as they consumed the being. Shanka simply stood there, keeping a hand on the gaping wound, bandages stained cimson.

"It had to be done..."

 

 

Aren'iril is no more.

[Song Druid 1486]

Somewhere far away an Elf breaks down in fits of anguish and sorrow as he feels the final moments of his companion's life. 

[𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖍 2451]

Vorgo would hear of the flatting of the druid, grinning with great happiness at Shanka's pursuits. He would gaze out his window, gazing at Elphaba's door speaking to himself "Droodz ahm globz, nub pey tribuut laht ahm flahtted."

[Elad™ 560]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.