Southbound

The following piece of literature tells us of an elf named Kaivokalma, and how he came to find the village of Tel�Ruid while caught in his wanderlust. If one looked, they would find earlier versions of the following story, telling of Kaivokalma�s birth, the many years of his childhood, and his development into adulthood. We will forego that part of the story, because to be rather blunt, it�s a bore. I�m sure many of you reading this may think to yourself, �Oh, narrator. I�m sure you�re wrong in that it was a bore. �Something� must have happened in those hundred and fifty years!� In turn I will answer you, dear readers. I know you don�t wish to hear about his family, his training, or his silky blond hair! You want adventure, a story that will keep you guessing around every tree! Here is that story, dear readers.

�Shh!� Kaivokalma whispered as loudly as he dared.

His green eyes shot to an owl in the tree above where he stood. The large bird was creating quite a commotion over his presence, Kai thought. The entire forest was probably aware of his position by now.

�Hoot, hoot!� It had obviously not heeded Kai�s attempt to quiet the feathery noisemaker.

A branch snapped. No longer did Kai care about the owl, his eyes and ears were fully upon the figures just shy of thirty yards north of him, their forms outlined in a pale glow. The moon wasn�t out tonight, giving Kai the full advantage over the approaching group. That is unless they happened to be elves also. With a quiet oath, Kai climbed up the tree, finding rest next to his previous antagonist.

After acclimating himself to his surroundings, he found a crotch between two large branches to rest his back, all while having the approaching party in full view. While watching them he realized they were not of elven blood. No elf in their right mind would make that much damn noise tramping through the woods. Kai took a second and glanced to his left. The owl was side stepping down the branch towards him, and he caught himself before he laughed aloud. There was just something about the owl that struck a cord of amusement. It was the way the owl was walking, or perhaps the curious look in it�s eyes, but whichever it was, it looked like it was dancing. Kai shrugged while forcing the image from his mind, the group was almost ten yards from him now.

�Orcs.� He whispered.

Calmly he notched the first arrow. There were four of them, which means it would take about twelve seconds to dispatch the party of grunting nuisances if all went as it should. Kai let his first arrow fly. It found its mark in the fatty flesh of the trailing orc�s neck. The other three didn�t notice, too busy grunting about their thirst for blood and battle. Typical conversation for such a race, he assumed. The second fell in the same fashion, the remaining two continuing to walk and talk. Not until the leading orc asked a question of the third, did it dawn on him that two of his brethren had been laid low. The remaining two quickly drew their weapons, yelling grunts into the trees around them. A moment passed, the trees had yet to respond, and the wary orcs were on the verge of panic. An arrow flew, the second doubled over and landed flat on his face. The red tip of a broad head shown through the back of his neck.

�What business do you have in these woods, orc?� Kai demanded calmly.

The orc started, almost dropping his weapon before he regained what composure he had left.

�We be�ba lookin� fur da� elves ov� da� Glade! Who ya� be dat be strikin� down me�ba friends?!�

Already knowing the apparent direction, due to the southbound orc posse, Kai pressed on with another question. �Which direction is this Glade?�

A crooked grin came over the orcs hideous visage. �It be�ba in da� west!�

�Wrong.� A smile etched across Kai�s thin lips as he spat the words to the orc.

Kaivokalma spent the remainder of the uneventful evening following the trail of the southbound orcs.
Ahead of him sat what he had to assume was a blacksmithy. Thick wafts of smoke were billowing out of the chimney in periodic intervals, and a dull red glow hung about the building like a gloomy cloud. Across the woods to the east he could only make out the shapes of homes both large and small. Turning his green eyes again south, he squinted to see reflections of homes, guildhalls, and he couldn�t imagine what else, upon a large lake. He would wait there until morning before venturing into �Da� Glade.�

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> The following piece of literature tells us of an elf named Kaivokalma, and how he came to find the village of Tel�Ruid while caught in his wanderlust. If one looked, they would find earlier versions of the following story, telling of Kaivokalma�s birth, the many years of his childhood, and his development into adulthood. We will forego that part of the story, because to be rather blunt, it�s a bore. I�m sure many of you reading this may think to yourself, �Oh, narrator. I�m sure you�re wrong in that it was a bore. �Something� must have happened in those hundred and fifty years!� In turn I will answer you, dear readers. I know you don�t wish to hear about his family, his training, or his silky blond hair! You want adventure, a story that will keep you guessing around every tree! Here is that story, dear readers. > �Shh!� Kaivokalma whispered as loudly as he dared. > His green eyes shot to an owl in the tree above where he stood. The large bird was creating quite a commotion over his presence, Kai thought. The entire forest was probably aware of his position by now. > �Hoot, hoot!� It had obviously not heeded Kai�s attempt to quiet the feathery noisemaker. > A branch snapped. No longer did Kai care about the owl, his eyes and ears were fully upon the figures just shy of thirty yards north of him, their forms outlined in a pale glow. The moon wasn�t out tonight, giving Kai the full advantage over the approaching group. That is unless they happened to be elves also. With a quiet oath, Kai climbed up the tree, finding rest next to his previous antagonist. > After acclimating himself to his surroundings, he found a crotch between two large branches to rest his back, all while having the approaching party in full view. While watching them he realized they were not of elven blood. No elf in their right mind would make that much damn noise tramping through the woods. Kai took a second and glanced to his left. The owl was side stepping down the branch towards him, and he caught himself before he laughed aloud. There was just something about the owl that struck a cord of amusement. It was the way the owl was walking, or perhaps the curious look in it�s eyes, but whichever it was, it looked like it was dancing. Kai shrugged while forcing the image from his mind, the group was almost ten yards from him now. > �Orcs.� He whispered. > Calmly he notched the first arrow. There were four of them, which means it would take about twelve seconds to dispatch the party of grunting nuisances if all went as it should. Kai let his first arrow fly. It found its mark in the fatty flesh of the trailing orc�s neck. The other three didn�t notice, too busy grunting about their thirst for blood and battle. Typical conversation for such a race, he assumed. The second fell in the same fashion, the remaining two continuing to walk and talk. Not until the leading orc asked a question of the third, did it dawn on him that two of his brethren had been laid low. The remaining two quickly drew their weapons, yelling grunts into the trees around them. A moment passed, the trees had yet to respond, and the wary orcs were on the verge of panic. An arrow flew, the second doubled over and landed flat on his face. The red tip of a broad head shown through the back of his neck. > �What business do you have in these woods, orc?� Kai demanded calmly. > The orc started, almost dropping his weapon before he regained what composure he had left. > �We be�ba lookin� fur da� elves ov� da� Glade! Who ya� be dat be strikin� down me�ba friends?!� > Already knowing the apparent direction, due to the southbound orc posse, Kai pressed on with another question. �Which direction is this Glade?� > A crooked grin came over the orcs hideous visage. �It be�ba in da� west!� > �Wrong.� A smile etched across Kai�s thin lips as he spat the words to the orc. > Kaivokalma spent the remainder of the uneventful evening following the trail of the southbound orcs. > Ahead of him sat what he had to assume was a blacksmithy. Thick wafts of smoke were billowing out of the chimney in periodic intervals, and a dull red glow hung about the building like a gloomy cloud. Across the woods to the east he could only make out the shapes of homes both large and small. Turning his green eyes again south, he squinted to see reflections of homes, guildhalls, and he couldn�t imagine what else, upon a large lake. He would wait there until morning before venturing into �Da� Glade.�
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