And Monsters

Master Riven had been away on his vacation for 4 days. Korvus had finished all his chores and the studies left for him quite early and was without a doubt the most board that a 18 year old magus adeptus could be. He could have gone home to visit for the week but after his fathers death last year he found his visits with his mother to be a bit too trying to endure. His mother was living in denial that anything was wrong and had almost completely ignored that his father had even died. Whenever he went home for a Holiday he would try and get his mother to talk to him about missing dad, but she would just quote some famous Winterhaven philosopher about life, cycles and acceptance.

Instead he decided to use the scrying orb to see what was happening in the village. For the last year and a half he had been taking Su Ming to village festivals and escorting her to any event that happened to pop up. He desperately wanted to invite her into the tower but master Riven forbade any villager entering. He said it would be too much for them and may cause problems. He touched the orb and spoke the incantation, adding her name at the end and visualizing her face. Peering into the orb he could see her out on the snow cap. She was gathering Winters' Bite flowers for her family. The flower was used in many medicines and potions and was very hard to find due to its white color and ability to grow in the dense snow. He grabbed his cloak and decided to go join her. As he glanced over his shoulder at the orb he saw them. Frost Tooth goblin tribe. Su Ming walking with her eyes at her feet scanning the snow however, had not seen them at all.

Korvus sprinted for the door to the tower, his mind racing for what to do. All the men from the village would be down the mountainside this time of day working and hunting. Master Riven should be back soon but there was no time to wait for him. None of the spectral servants in the tower were capable of combat. There was no one to ask for help. He knew she was as good as dead but had no choice but to go after her. He barked orders at a servant as he dashed out the door," Tell Master Riven to come find me." He began his run up the side of the mountain, the air biting into his lungs and his legs trembling from strain. By the time he reached the area where he had seen them there was nothing but scuffled snow. He looked around and found small bits of hemp rope pieces. "They had to tie her up", he thought, "That means she is still alive." He could see the trail where the pack was dragging her off. There was a slight red tinge in the snow every few feet. He ran along the trail trying to look ahead and spot them. "They can't travel as fast as me", he said speaking to himself out of a nervous need to feel like he was not alone," They have a prisoner to drag." Korvus was scared beyond words. He knew inside he was running towards his own death. He began to question his judgment,"Maybe I should wait for help", and then his motives,"Do I even like Su Ming this much?" "None of it matters", he said out loud," If I back down now I will be broken for the rest of my life. If I run now, I will always be a coward." Korvus pressed on as fast as he could, until he saw something in the distance.

The four smallest goblins had stopped and were fighting over a piece of meat that the larger goblins had left before pressing on. Korvus made a conscious effort not to look to see what the meat was in fear of it being a familiar arm. The wind was blowing against him. He knew that meant the goblins would not hear him as his strode up behind them and they were far too busy with the food to look up and see him. Korvus stopped 50 feet from the group and began to focus. The snow melted around his feet. Titanic eruptions of explosive fire, he recalled and mimicked Master Riven's words from 3 years ago. The gout of flames covered a 15 foot diameter circle. The rush of flames heated the mountainside, melting snow and creating a back draft that smelled of charred flesh and dead goblin. Small bits of cloth and flesh drifted in the air and settled around Korvus. "Well, now I'm sure they know I am coming."