NPC - Briarthorn (Short story)

[Kìmbra-silvermoon]

[[First time posting a fan fiction, a taste of something I am working on centered around my character Briarthorn, a druid born under a blood moon. This is a rushed first draft, but I needed to put something down to get me started so I apologize in advance for the poor quality.]]

“Looks like the Champion has another mission for us” Captain Halberd said in his usual jovial fashion as he approached his team.

“Aye, seems we be doin most o’ the werk for that one lately” the red bearded dwarf grumbled as he sat beside the large docile looking bear; affectionately rubbing behind her ear and getting a satisfied groan from her in return.

“Somehow I think you’d still find a way to complain if our mission was to raid a tavern and drink all their stocks of ale, Angus” The gnome rogue retorted in her almost childlike tone, feet swaying idly as she sat up in the rafters of their little house, much to the amusement of the raven haired priestess idly reading through one of her many books. “You know he’s a crack shot, Risk…so why do you insist on provoking him every chance you get?” Briar always loved the accent of the priestess, at least when she was in her human form. It sounded almost musical, unlike any other she grew up with.

“Alright you lot, enough of your nonsense. I don’t have the time or patience to replace either of you if this turns into another fight” Sighed the captain, trying to look stern as he admonished his group; but Briar could see the corners of his lips slightly curled into a smile.

They were an odd bunch, the outcasts of the alliance which meant they hardly ever got sent on any of the major missions like the Champion did. If anything, they were seen as errand runners, doing minor missions to aid the Champion in what ever task the likes of Thrall and Khadgar asked of them. Since coming through the portal to chase down Garrosh after he’d escaped, they’d been mostly kept in the barracks, fending off minor invasions alongside the Champion when needed. On rare occasions they were sent out scouting enemy encampments or to retrieve artifacts of lesser power. Anything deemed really important the Champion seemed to take care of personally.

Occasionally they would be joined on certain missions by one hero or another, but those missions were very rare and often they would be left to take care of business by themselves.

---

Briar thought back to how she’d first met this group of outcasts, a chance encounter while assisting the forces in fighting through the Iron Horde to get through the dark portal. The thunderous roars of the horde as they poured forth from the portal, only to meet head on with the Alliance forces camped around the crater surrounding the massive carved stone structure. The light from the portal almost too bright to stare at, the green glow unnatural and unnerving to one so attuned to nature as Briar.

Try as the druids and priestesses might, there just didn’t seem to be an end to the mending required to keep their forces fighting. The Iron Horde seemed endless, the fallen started to pile up from both sides, the cries of agony making it almost impossible to concentrate and summon the healing energies of nature.

She didn’t know how long they’d been going for like this, but it felt as though she was pouring her very soul into every spell she cast. Her limbs beginning to feel heavy, harder and harder to move or cast even simple spells. Yet still the Iron Horde kept coming, cutting a path through the soldiers before her until finally there was no one left between her and a menacing tusked grin. The large beast of an orc muttered something she couldn’t understand, but the intent was obvious as he raised his vicious looking axe for the killing blow. Briar closed her eyes, slumped to her knees before him and prepared to leave this world.

The whistle of the axe starting to come down sent a chill through to her core, but it was short lived as the sound of metal striking metal rang sharply in her ears. Her glowing azure eyes opened to see the blue cloak with a gold rampant lion emblazoned waving before her. “I know this is contrary to my teachings lass, but now is not the time to be praying to the light.”

His hair was almost as silver as the blade he so skillfully wielded, despite the heavy looking armor and shield he bore, it almost looked as though he was dancing with the grace of his dodges from the orcs clumsy swings. But that was not what mesmerized Briar at all, it was the fact that despite all the carnage and chaos surrounding them, this man was smiling and seemed to delight in the frustration of the orc trying to kill him.

“That’s the Captain, Halberd by name, but we just call him Captain” came a childlike voice from beside the still kneeling druid. Briar turned to see a small brightly green haired gnome dressed in leather, sitting upon a crate and cutting slices of what appeared to be a stolen apple from the commanding officers rations. “Don’t let the grey hair fool ya, that old dog could give Fordring a run for his money. He ain’t half bad for a human if’n you ask me. Stupid old dog, never learns….hold this will ya?” tossing the half eaten apple to Briar as she rolled off the back of the crate and vanished from sight. It was then Briar noticed what the gnome had, another orc was attempting to sneak up behind the Captain, axe poised to strike from behind as the first orc kept him distracted.

“No one kills the Captain until he finishes paying off his debt to me!” yelled the gnome, suddenly appearing in a puff of smoke just above and behind the sneaking orc. A pair of matching daggers, though with her size they looked more like swords, plunged into the sides of the orcs neck with a grizzly spray of green blood. “If you keep saving me like this, I’ll never get a chance to die” Halberd said with a laugh as he sidestepped a heavy downwards swing of the orcs axe. Seeing his opportunity as his opponent overextended his reach at having expected his cohort to succeed and going all in. Halberds sword came down with a final blow, no sound was heard from the orc as his still blinking head fell away from his body and rolled to a stop right before Briar.

“I think you dropped something…” Briar said without thinking, rising to her feet only to kick the severed head back towards the Captain and the gnome, whom exchanged looks for a brief second before bursting out in laughter. It was from that moment they had formed an odd little group, returning to the fight and clearing a path for the arrival of the Champion along with Thrall and Khadgar just as they made the final push back and finally through the Dark Portal.

[Moothilda-aszune (Moothilda)]

I think it’s great to see stories from the mission table

I think this story makes a good intro to a mini series, I would love to see what mission The Champion has to them and how they deal with it

[Kìmbra-silvermoon]

[[Well you asked for it, so here it is. Sorry it is so rushed, but I hope you enjoy it all the same]]

“Tell me again why we’ve been sent to steal a bunch of stones from ogres?” Risk asked with a pout that made her already childlike appearance seem even more so of a petulant kid.

“They’re gateway stones, Risk. If you spent as much time listening to the mission reports as you did swindling the Alliance troops, you’d know this” Captain Halberd said with a resigned sigh and shake of his head at the green haired gnome.

“You’re telling me those big brutes actually do more than eat and fight?” she persisted, despite the glare from Halberd.

“Aye lass, the Ogres actually built a surprisingly sophisticated transport hub around Outland…” the priestess chimed in.

“Which we be here te take o’er fer the Champion, quicker than flying. Even Maul knows tha’, don’t yah girly” Angus added with a ruffle between the lumbering bears ears; Maul in turn responding with a huff and a lazy glance towards Risk.

Briar smiled as she followed behind the group, listening to her odd little family argue as they headed towards to Ogre outpost. The large stone structure starting to come into view just over the rise. With a wave of his hand, all chatter was silenced and the ease with which they had been travelling quickly shifted into a more serious tone.

“Risk, feel like taking a look to see what we’re dealing with?” Halberd asked, keeping his gaze on the structure and looking around for immediate effects.

“Sure thing boss” Risk replied with playful smirk.

“Don’t call me….boss” Halberd turned to correct the gnome, whom had already stealthed and headed towards the structure.

The remaining group waited for Risk to return with information, but judging by Halberd’s expression was taking longer than usual. Just as he was about to speak and presumably order them to attack, a scuffle broke out between the two Ogres standing guard at the entrance to the stone tower.

“What…” The priestess started to ask, only to be interrupted by a childlike laugh from behind, turning to find Risk casually striding out from behind a rock and tossing a haunch of meat over to Maul whom sniffed at it with great interest.

“Well there are eight in total, but maybe seven soon seeing as someone’s lunch went missing mysteriously. You never should get between an Ogre and his food” the gnome stated with an evil grin.

Halberd glared at the gnome, turning to watch the pair of Ogres fight and not so successfully hiding his grin from the gnome. Sure enough the tussle resulted in the smaller of the two Ogres being bested, laying in a beaten and bloody pile beside the entrance while his partner scowled and rubbed at his empty belly.

“Time to move…Risk, sap” Halberd commanded, already getting to his feet and heading towards the structure. They had done this countless times already, the gnome having already vanished from sight before the Captain finished speaking. Just before they rounded the side of the tower to reach the entrance, a heavy thump was heard followed by a groan and then silence.

The group entered the tower, the ground floor empty and cast in a lazy orange glow from the hearth at the center of the room. Crates and bags stacked against the walls, more than a few had been opened and checked, obviously by Risk to look for the stones…or anything else worth taking.

“Stones are in the top floor, locked in an iron box and guarded by three brutes. Three more on the second floor.” Risk reported in hushed tones as the group headed up the stone stairs as quietly as possible.

“Ogres are simple minded, that works in our favor” The priestess offered with a wry smile, slipping to the front of the group to peer over the edge of the entrance of the second floor. A look of concentration clouding her face which began to shift and change. The smooth alabaster skin starting to brown and turn furry, her ears shifting and becoming pointed. Her almost button nose elongating and stretching into a muzzle just as her voice changed from the soft musical tones Briar enjoyed to something more gruff as the priestess chanted something, her eyes turning from sapphire to clear white as her body went rigid.

From above there were words and sounds of confusion as one of the Ogres began to stumble about, clumsily walking towards his cohort and raising his club and bringing it down with sickening crunch. “Six to go…” Risk chimed in merrily before vanishing from sight into the shadows. The third Ogre turned to face the sight of the possessed, noticing the blank stare in his friends eyes he was smart enough to know he was being mind controlled. Before he could raise the alarm however, the little gnome appeared from the shadow behind him, daggers drawn and cutting him down with a startled blood choked gurgle.

“Five….er….four to go” Risk corrected herself as she watched the possessed Ogre suddenly turn on his heel and clumsily walk towards the window and plummet from sight to the spikes below. “That was cruel, remind me not to get on yer bad side, Flea” the gnome said to the grinning Worgen priestess as the group ascended fully to the second floor.

Halberd stepped past the pair with a shake of his head, moving towards the next set of stairs. By now the sudden silence from below would have alerted the remaining Ogres. Sure enough gruff voices began to stir from above, one in particular whom seemed to be in command shouting orders before suddenly speaking in broken common tongue “We know you there, can smell you…” followed by the laughter of his comrades.

“Well no use for subtlety now…charge!” Halberd shouted as he ran for the stairs and heading up to the group. Flea’s gruff voice heard from behind as the Paladin was bathed in a golden light, the faint shimmer of a shield enveloping him just before he got out of sight. “Hey, that’s my job” Briar complained, earning another toothy grin from the Worgen as they both set off after the captain whom was already engaged with the enemy by the sounds of it.

Atop the tower Halberd was already fending off two of the three Ogres while the third and much larger stood by watching menacingly. Soon the odds were in the groups favor as they all crested the stairs and onto the roof of the tower, the last to arrive being Maul whom made a dash for the closest Ogre and began to swipe and bite at the surprised brute. The priestess began to chant the same spell as earlier while staring at the third Ogre, but instead of her eyes turning white as before, they opened wide in shock and horror. “He’s a Warlock!” she yelled out just as the Ogre began to chant in his own gruff voice. A large axe bearing form starting to materialize out of the ether, red flesh covered in spiked armor stepping forward and taking a heavy swing at the Captain. “Blasted Felguard!” Halberd grunted as he barely managed to block the swing in time with his shield, being sent stumbling back against the crumbling wall. Briar sprung into action, summoning up the energies of nature beneath the advancing Ogre Halberd had been fighting with, thinking to take advantage of the uneven fight. Shouting in anger and confusion as vines spring forth from cracks in the floor to grasp and wrap about his feet and legs, climbing higher until he was snared in a web and unable to move. Briar wasn’t done yet, seeing the sweat starting to form on the Captains brow she knew he was becoming tired and weary. Again she felt the energies flowing through her, summoning the rejuvenating power of nature and casting it at the Captain. A brief green glow surrounded him, seeming to give the Paladin a second wind as he threw a smile Briar’s way before pushing the Felguard back and began the dance of fending off his blows while landing a few of his own.

The moment was short lived as a scream exploded from behind Briar, the Priestess dropping her staff as she fell to her knees and clutching at her head. A purple haze swirling about the Worgens head as she was wracked with agony. Briar caught the smirk on the third Ogres face as he pointed his own staff at the worgen while muttering an incantation. A curse, typical of the warlocks to resort to such things. Rage began to grow in Briar as she called upon her magics again, this time directing them at Flea as she dispelled the curse while rushing to her friends aid. The Warlock continued to grin despite his curse being removed. The priestess was still down on her knees, no longer screaming in agony, but she was no longer capable of fighting. Once more the Warlocks staff raised, this time directing his spell at Briar whom was tending to the worgen.

“Oh no you don’t” a childlike voice suddenly spoke up from beneath him, followed swiftly by a flaring pain between his thighs as he was firmly kicked. The incantation stopped immediately as the Ogre dropped his staff and doubled over while clutching at his crotch. Staring at the ground as he dropped to his knees, his vision was met by a pair of steel capped leather boots, following them up to meet the gaze of the gnome rogue whom despite his kneeling position was still at least a head shorter than him. “Hello handsome” was all the gnome said before plunging her daggers into his defenseless eyes.

Halberd raised his shield as he prepared for the downward swing of the Felgaurds axe, but it never came. Lowering his shield he looked over to the warlock to see Risk withdraw her daggers from the twitching Ogre before letting him slump dead on the floor. The energies tying the demon to this realm suddenly vanishing. “Always ruining my fun, Risk” Halberd said with a laugh as he walked towards the rogue.

“Captain!” Risk’s shouted as the final ogre finally managed to break free of the tangling vines and made a rush for the Paladins defenseless back. But before he could take more than two steps a pillar of fire and holy light struck down from the heavens, engulfing the brute and sending him running screaming over the edge of the tower.

“Aye, nuthin like the smell o’ burning Ogre in the mornin” Angus chimed in as he sat on a crate watching Maul give the final crunching bite to the remaining Ogre’s throat.

“Lets get the stones and get out of here, I’ve had enough of Ogres for one day” Flea growled, stomping over to the iron lock bock and snatching the three faintly glowing stones to stow away in her pack. Even Risk knew better than to say anything to the priestess when she was in this sort of mood, the group following close behind as she descended and the stairs and exited the tower past the still swaying guard below.

Briar gave the guard a worried look but hurried past and caught up with the Captain “What about the guard?”

“BANG!” A sudden gunshot rang out, followed by a cheery “What guard?” from Angus behind. Despite herself, Flea cracked a smile as she looked down to the dwarf striding beside her.

[Moothilda-aszune (Moothilda)]

Thanks for the quick service

I love the dynamic of the group
And the way you describe the moments is really good