I'm trying something new...

Once, dragons and men coexisted.

They shared a peace forged in wisdom,

a peace that lasted many generations.

All that was lost when mankind disrupted

this balance in a sudden onslaught.

Man fought dragon in a savage war

that shook the foundations of their world.

This war was called The Scouring.

Defeated and humbled,

dragons vanished from the realm.

In time, man rebuilt and spread his

dominion across the land and

on to the islands beyond.

A millennium has passed

since those dark days ended.

``~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``


"Are you awake?" a women exclaimed as my eyes were slowly opening. "I found you unconscious on the plains. I am Lyn, of the Lorca tribe. You're safe now. Who are you? Can you remember your name?"


"Yes, I do, my name is Kara. Where am I?"

"Kara? What an odd-sounding name... but pay me no mind. It isa good name. I see by your attire that you are a traveler. What brings you to the Sacae Plains?"

Suddenly there was hollow sound of voices arose in the far.. voices of men talking to one another. Also the deep voice of metal clanking against one another.

"Hm? What was that noise? I'll go see what's happening. Kara, wait here for me."

Lyn had stood up and hesitantly left..
As I looked around I saw that I was in a small tent. To the right of the small pallet bed which I lay was a large wooden box used as a counter, on it was hand carved bowls. There were many shelf's to the left. Lyn rushed back into the tent with bitter haste and worry. She had her hand on the hilt of her sword which I had not seen until now, numerous rope belts tied around her waste from which her sheath was sustained.

" Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains! They must be planning on raiding the local villages. I... I have to stop them! If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here, Kara!"

"No! I won't stay. I intend to help you." I'd exclaimed.

"Well, can you use a weapon?"

" I am a strategist, I can be of some help."

"Ah, I see... So you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession, but... Very well. We'll go together!" Lyn beamed.

We left into the plains crouching low to the ground and almost crawling. Lyn kept looking at me to ensure my safety. The grass was long and flowing for it was windy and cool outside, there was not tree in sight. Beneath us was a gentle drizzle of dew on the grass glimmering from the bright rays of sun. Lyn was much faster then myself, I was not used to crawling around like mad beast in the field. However, she seemed to be used to the knee-braking activity, she is a tribes women after all. She is probably well acquainted with these fields of grass..this wide expanse of dazzling mirrors.

"Over here! If you want to help, Kara, I could use your advice. I'll protect you, so stay close to me." She looked at me expecting a answer that I was not yet ready to give. But nonetheless I had to conjure up something. I then looked at her and said:

"I hope to make this easy... Lyn, you are the blue unit. The enemy units are red. Do you understand?

"Yes I do. Continue"

"Very well. Essentially, battle consists of blue, and red units. You shall wait for the red unit to first try and strike the blue then you will began attacking. I am only here as a strategist.. therefore I cannot fight. As you take down the hand of what I assume to be their leader you will then make way to him if you can.. Understood?"

Lyn nodded and then made her way over toward the the enemies. She was filled with courage and yet filled with fear at the fate she'd hoped not to endure. For as do I, if she did die.. she hoped with luck it would be a quick death. Why would a girl's love for people she did not know drive her to such a bold action? She must be skilled with a sword if not a little to be wielding one in such a gallant manner. Lyn was crawling and now at ground level with the bandits who were making their way past the plains.

One of the men stopped in his steps and looked in the direction of Lyn. "That bandit spotted me! He's coming this way.. I should close in and attack." at that single moment Lyn jumped to her feet and drew her sword. The bandit, not expecting such a move from a women, stumbled back then pulled a hand axe from his leather belt. Lyn swiped her sword across the man's chest only to miss him. She then fell to her knees avoiding the axe to what would have wounded her neck, as she was on her knees the he took advantage of that moment and kicked her in the back knocking her to the ground.
The bandit threw his axe at the ground where Lyn fell. She quickly rolled unto her back avoiding the the projectile, standing to her feet she brought back up her blade then slashed the man in the arm. For he was too busy trying to grab up his axe. The man being foolishly dramatic fell to the ground in what looked to be writhing pain.. Lyn saw that there was no blood on him, not on his arm. Only a light pink scratch, she observed him as he dramatically fell to his face limp.

"The other has gone! We must find him!" Lyn ran back to me. We both for a moment stared at the man lying on the ground as if he were dead. I then turned to her.

"You have fought wonderfully. A job well done!" I said with what felt like a slight grin on my face.

"We must stop the last one, I only took down one. Come! We must hurry!" Lyn ran off in the direction of the local villages. We did not go but two miles until something caught her eye "Here's the other bandit over by the ger to the west."

"By what?"

"You don't know what a ger is? It's a type of round hut. Many nomads live in huts like these." Lyn and I ran over to the bandit.

He noticed us before we ever reached him. "Kara, you must not come with me!" after she said this I stopped and stood watching her approach the brute man. Trying to withhold a laugh from his voice he said to her "

"Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta Beast? Haha foolish girly!" he drew out a full axe.

Lyn's eyes widened when she saw what she was about to face. I could not restrain myself, I ran to her side. "Kara, if fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!" I drew back as Lyn tightened her grip on the sword and slashed at the bandit. He fell back grabbing his scared arm then with all his might swiped the axe at the girl missing her. She thrust the blade forth at the man missing. He then, with such force, thrashed his axe at the girl. She swiftly jumped back making the man fall into the ground. As her turned to get up In a moment he was face to face with her blade, as she moved it up to cut downward the man kicked the sword from her hand. She looked at her sword and ran to attempt retrieve it until she was hit in the head by a rock. Due to the massive size of the rock, Lyn fell to the ground herself. The man charged at her when she thrust her leg into the man's stomach throwing him down a large hill "Gahhh!" The man yelled until a small thud was heard down the hill.

"Whew... That was close. I sorely underestimated him." Lyn said while panting for breath . She turned her glance to me "Sorry if I worried you. I'll need to be stronger if I'm going to survive... Strong enough that no one can defeat me."

After that fight we returned to her tent and swiftly fell into a deep slumber. The next morning I opened my eyes to the beautiful sight of a graceful smile.

"Good morning, Kara! That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you." She walked over to me then sat on the edge of my bedding. She looked as though something was on her mind..

"Say, Kara... I want to talk to you about something. You have some experience in the ways of war, I can see. Would you allow me to travel with you?"

"I would need to get permission from your parents first Lyn..." I muttered rubbing my eyes.

"My mother and my father... died six months ago. My people -the Lorca- they don't.. I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... they killed so many people. The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people. I am so young, and my parent are old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. No one would follow me.." Tears filled the young girls eyes. Such a expression of sadness.. I wondered why she lived alone, and now I know why. She wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed.

"I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long... No. No more. I will shed no more tears. Thank you. I'm better now." She gave me a light reassuring smile. Then had a sudden thought
"Kara, I want- I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Kara, tell me you'll train me, that you'll let me travel with you!?"

"Of course I will. You are welcomed to come with!" I could not hold back the smile on my face as she almost immediately brightened up.

"You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, hank you! We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do! Right?" She stood up looking over joyed.

"Of course we can." We both could not restrain our silly laughs. How glad I was that Lyn was happy! When then started packing our things and headed off.