“Captain Kel’Van, you may not enter with armor crafted from metal of the earth on your person. You and your group will stow all weapons and armor within your inventory. We will release you into the responsibility of Ulgo Meatgrinder upon entering Algora. Is there any part of the order I have given you that you do not understand?”
Kel’Van shook his no, but then cocked his head. “Is Algora another part of the camp?”
The field captain was quiet, then her face softened at the earnest question Kel’Van had asked of her.
“Captain, it is not another part of the war camp,” she smiled at Kel’Van. “Algora is the name of your home.”
CHAPTER 29
After Kel’Van and his team put away their metallic armaments into their inventories, they marched with the field captain and her subordinates for twenty minutes to a clearing. There they saw two large wooden planks with various dead animals lying upon them. They were tied down with ropes crisscrossing across the planks. Two large black animals similar to a ram in the face, but withthe body mass of an elephant was chastened to the planks in the same manner of a stage coach to a horse. There were also six Ulgo’s packing what look to be supplies into carts attached to similar creatures.
“Those are some big animals,” Voresh whispered.
“Did you think the food you ate from camp appeared on your plate by magic?” teased the smiling field captain. “We must hunt for everything that keeps both the camps and our home running in a smooth fashion. We use everything from the animal as well; nothing is wasted.”
“Hmm. Very efficient,” expressed Belar watching the frantic pace of the orcs packing the carts.
“And quick, it looks like they are almost done,” Fer’shad mused.
“They had better be,” Kelza said under her breath. “ They’ve had 2 hours to be done.” One of the orcs had walked quickly once he saw the Kelza approach with Kel’Van’s party in tow. He stood up crisp and straight with his chin pointing above the field captain's face.
“Captain Kelza, we have almost finished and will be ready to leave within five minutes,” the orc reported.
“Good, make sure there is room to accommodate 5 more orcs in the main carriage.”
“We are sitting with you,” Kel’Van asked her with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, of course captain. I’m just starving to hear of you and your team’s adventurers among the caverns and Holmgren. I’m also hurt you don’t want to share my company,” she said with a playful pout.
Belar and Voresh both tried to hide their smiles, while Fer’shad pretended to look the other way. They all were well aware of Kel’Van’s uncomfortableness around sexually forward orcs.
They arrived at the front gate within the hour. It was just as Kel’Van remembered it. A massive 10 story door made of wood, bone, and stone. The orc in the front of the caravan blew on a conk shaped horn. The sound reverberated deeply in Kel’Van’s bones as it rang out. Then shortly, another horn answered back toward them. The stone seal then opened down the middle in the same manner that the one in the instance did. The great door opened up towards the caravan, then the animals dragging their cargo walked through with the gate closing behind them.
“There is the camp!” yelled Belar.
They were peering out the window, gazing at the different sights. The camp where they trained, ate, and lived was to their right as they traveled. That compound which was their world before they left through those gates for the first time, seemed so small looking at it from their view in the carriage.
“To our left captain, you’ll see the barracks of the more seasoned warriors who begin their patrol. There they stay until they reach level 10,” said Kelza.
The barracks were made up of hardened stone and wood. They looked like modest square buildings with small openings for windows. The doors were made of bone, wood, and what looked like a leather covering. Distinct as these features were, what made the buildings so different was that it seemed the structures were a part of the landscape. It was not no much as built on top of something, as it was integrated with hills and trees around it.
“Lost in your thoughts captain?” Kelza demurred.
“Hmm?”
“There was a confused look on your face just now.”
“No, I just noticed something familiar about the way the architecture was for the buildings. I just can’t put my finger on what it is though.”
“Seems that is something else you can discuss with Ulgo Meatgrinder,” smiled Kelza. She then stuck her head out of the carriage. “Stop here!” Their movement slowed to a crawl and then stopped. “Come, this is our stop.”
As they left out of the back of the carriage, the group did a quick survey of their surroundings. It wasn’t too different from the buildings they had already seen. It was just on a grander scale. They were at the bottom of what seemed to be a stone walkway leading upwards. They walked forward together up the stairs, with Kelza in the lead.
“This way, he should be in his office since the day is not over.”
The walk was only 10 minutes, as they passed various looking orcs of differing ranks. It reminded Kel’Van of his days as an airman walking around buildings where high-ranking personnel worked. In those days, the last thing he wanted was to be there or attract attention from saying or doing the wrong thing. They took a right as soon as they passed the massive front door entrance. Towards the end of the hall was a wooden door with a leather covering with two bones swords crossing each other. There were two large benches parallel to the door, which Kelza pointed too with her palm.
“Please sit here as I get his attention,” she whispered.
As the orcs took their seats, the field general stood in front of the door and knocked twice and waited. “You may enter,” a deep voice echoed. Kelza stood in the doorway with a fist across her heart. “Ulgo Meatgrinder, there are some lost orcs here reporting for duty,” she stated.
“I’m sure they have a captain for that. Why are they here?” asked a rather perturbed Meatgrinder.
“They were last under your command when they were lost Ulgo Meatgrinder.”
Ulgo Meatgrinder looked up from his desk. “What do you mean my command?”
He stood up and put the parchment in his hand down, and walked around his desk, his foul mood radiating off his person. The field captain stepped back further into the hallway and laid a palm in the direction of her right. Meatgrinder looked Kelza up and down, then walked into the space she was occupying before she stepped back and looked to his right. Kel’Van stood up, and his team followed suit behind him.
Ulgo Meatgrinders mouth hung open as if he could not believe what it was he was looking at.
“Kel’Van?...Voresh?...all of you, You’re all alive?!!”
“It was a long trek, but yes, Ulgo Meatgrinder, we are all well.”
“HA!” Meatgrinder said. Then he grabbed a Kel’Van in a hug. Then likewise did the same for the rest of the troops. “There is much to discuss, but for now, I will leave you to inform the synod to be ready for you and your troop’s Adjunction. You will all have your classes before the day is through,” decreed Ulgo meatgrinder. “But first, it may be prudent for all of you too…uh, find a place to freshen up. You are all very…fragrant,” he said while waving a hand in front of his face smiling.
“I will get right on that Ulgo Meatgrinder,” said Kelza mirroring Meatgrinders mirth. “I also will provide them with the appropriate attire for the Synod.”
“Good.” He then faced Kel’Van and the others. “We will speak more after the synod takes place, but it is good to see you all alive and well. I leave to prepare.” Then Ulgo Meatgrinder walked at a steady pace out of the hall.
“Come,” said Kelza watching Ulgo Meatgrinder. “Let’s find you all some clothes and a bath.”
CHAPTER 30
Goooonnnggg…Gooooooonnnggg…Gooonnnnggg…
The gigantic bell rang out above both the city of Algora and the training grounds of the Ulgo. Throngs of o
rcs were crowding the arena size hall in front of the Shamans Temple of Gaea. Kel’Van, Voresh, Belar, and Fer’shad were clad in red battle gear, with a black and red hood covering their faces. It was explained by Kelza, that it was ceremonial and held a special meaning that they would soon learn when the process to gain their classes was ended. They were all waiting on the right side of the stage, hidden from view. The head Shaman Earth-binder and Taskmaster Ulgo Meatgrinder were clad in their battle armor on the stage's left side. There were marble steps on both sides that led down to the stage's front and a round blue dais. The center of the dais shimmered in the middle like sunlight on water. There, in the center of the stage, was Ulgo Bavar Stone Fist. He raised a horn-shaped object to his mouth and began to speak to the crowd.
“We, the Ulgo of Algora, are here to pay homage to Gaea and the lost 20000 Warriors that paid the ultimate price for our survival,” boomed Ulgo Bavar Stone Fist. “Before we were the Ulgo of Algora, we were the Orcs of the Hills, which the Terrans call Northgate. There, we battled all of their kind. The Humans, the Elves, the Giants, and even the earth dwelling Dwarven races joined together in their quest to conquer North Gate and enslave us. For 100 years, we were constantly fighting back the hordes. Their combined might pushing us back on every front. Hunting and killing our kin, man, woman, and child alike, till only a fourth of our people survived.”
The parlor on the face of the crowd was etched with anger and sorrow, including the groups on the stage.
“Algora, then the priestess of our people received Gaea’s voice in her temple along with the Taskmaster Oron Deathstalker. “For the orcs to live, they must take what possessions they carry and go through the deep caverns to a valley beyond the seas. There, I shall rename the survivors and make them my people, so decrees Gaea, maker of the world, “continued Stone Fist.
“We gathered what was left of our people and braved the deep caverns under the world. We battled their demons and dark creatures. We persevered against the dwarven and their cousins, the Duregar. We withstood the viciousness of the dark elves, and their ancient progenitors. Finally, we fought past the Dark gate and the Holmgren till we reached the valley. As the orcs made a makeshift temple to communicate with Gaea that they have arrived, she revealed herself to our people in all her glory. She bid us to tame all from the valley to the top peak of the mountain Aramor. The priestess, with fear and trepidation in her heart, cried on her knees in supplication and asked,
“How will our people accomplish this task before us, mighty Gaea? We have reached this beautiful valley through your blessings, but we have lost over twenty- thousand of our soldiers defending us on our way here. We are ashamed to admit we lack the power to conquer the land you have given us.”
“I have seen the struggle it was for you to get to the promised land servant. Know that I have seen also its cost. Nothing in life is free, and power must be paid in blood. I will gift to your people the rebirth pool here where you stand. From its swirling waters will the souls of one thousand warriors be returned to you. Till then, you will subjugate the land so that no one, beast, elemental, or Terran will ever drive you from your home again.”
“From that day forth, the Rebirth pool has steadily brung back our warriors. Youngling in mind, but not in body. To help protect Algora, and to accomplish the task Gaea gave us when we received this blessed land. To tame it, so that we can create a permanent home that no one will ever take from us again. To The twenty thousand!”
The place erupted with a roar. The orcs pumped their fist in the air or beat fists against their chests in salute. From one end of the hall to the other side, orcs were screaming in unison Stone fist’s chant.
“TO THE TWENTY THOUSAND!! TO THE TWENTY THOUSAND!!!”
While the crowd cheered, the priest walked down the steps slowly toward the dais.
“Bring forth the first to be named,” said the priest silencing the crowd.
Belar walked forward, glancing at Kel’Van before she descended down the stairs and met the priest by the dais. The round blue object on the floor began to glow and push out a blue cylinder light, which shot straight into the air piercing the sky. Inside the light were little shards of white that were slowly shooting upward, looking like broken shards of glass.
“Step through the dais youngling,” the priest motioned with her hand. “Receive your class and be named.”
Belar looked at the column of light. The length of which spanned into the heavens. She touched it tentatively, then gave one last look at Kel’Van. He nodded his head, then she stepped forward into the light. Immediately the blue light turned white. Belar’s body was lifted off the ground as a nimbus of white smoke flowed from the priestess and coalesced under Belar’s feet. Rising slowly, her arms and legs were spread out, and her head was facing the sky. The glass-like shards of white lights suddenly turned blue. They passed through her body, streaming into the atmosphere at a faster rate. Then as fast as it began, the lights dimmed. The smoke underneath Belar faded away as she floated back down to the earth.
“Gaea has blessed the Ulgo with a new class! “The priest announced with eyes glowing white.
Her eyes turned left and right as if she was reading something off a board. “The Brawler is high offensive melee class, using an unarmed combat style of attack. The use of hands, feet, innate strength and speed are paramount, with quick and brutal strikes meant to maim and incapacitate its enemies. This class will be open to all Ulgo’s when Belar reaches level 30,” pronounced the priestess. Her eyes stopped glowing, then she stepped forward to Belar and laid a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
“From now until the end of your days, you will be called Ulgo Belar Blood-Fist. Repeat it with conviction!” said the priestess.
“I am Ulgo Belar Blood-Fist!” She yelled with a fierceness. Lips curled and wrapped in a righteous pride at the mentioning of a name solely her own, and no longer accompanied with youngling.
“Stand back Ulgo, and make way for the next youngling to be named,” she said gently, her hand pointing farther back behind the dais. Voresh slowly descended the stairs toward the platform, standing directly opposite the priestess’s position.
“Enter the light youngling,” she ordered.
Kel’Van looked on the process as Fer’shad shuffled forward in front of him. His biggest worry about Belar was now gone. . He wasn’t sure how the adjunctor or G.A.I.A, for that matter, would look at Belar’s stats and abilities leveled when determining her class, but now he had his answer. From the description of the priestess, it was almost like a monk build. He would have to ask her later on the details, but after that, he was at least 80% sure that Fer’shad would be given a tank-like class.
“From now on till the end of your days, you will be named Ulgo Voresh Heart-render. Repeat it with conviction, warrior!” the priestess intoned.
“I am Ulgo Voresh-Heartrender,” said sword-wielding orc.
Kel’Van nodded at the name as Voresh descended from the dais and took his place next to Belar behind the priestess. It was a name that was justly earned when you thought about how Voresh tended to finish off his enemies. He pondered this as Fer’shad made his way down the steps toward the priestess. As he stepped into the dais, Kel’Van started thinking about how G.A.I.A. would interpret a class for himself. Would he even get one? He wasn’t precisely a MOB or computer-generated enemy. How exactly was this thing going to play out for him?
“Gaea has blessed the Ulgo with another new class!” thoomed the priestess. Again, her eyes seemed to be reading something unseen to the rest of the orcs. “The shield-bearer is a highly defensive melee class using a shield and sword combat style of attack. The shield is used to both defend and attack its enemies along with a short sword. They stand at the forefront of every battle shielding their fellow Ulgo’s from attack and drawing enemies’ assaults towards themselves. In order to perform this role, they are high in both endurance and health. This class will be open to all Ulgo’s when Fer’shad reaches level 30,” the pr
iestess announced.
“From now on till the end of your days, you will be named Ulgo Fer’shad Aegis-bearer. Repeat it with conviction, warrior!”
“I am Ulgo Fer’shad Aegis-bearer,” he boomed.
The priestess motioned for him to towards the others and looked at Kel’Van to come forward.
“Here goes nothing,” Kel’Van whispered to himself.
He began his walk down the stairs resolving himself to his fate. If he didn’t become a shaman or even get a class, it no longer mattered. It would not change the fact that he had to live in this world and try to grow. It just made him reconcile that he was going to have to rely on building his stats and skills rather than class abilities if it didn’t work out. As he stepped onto the dais, and the white light turned blue, he looked up into the heavens. He floated under the nimbus of the priestess while his mind was being shot off into the night sky. Then as he felt his mind go past the clouds, everything went quietly dark.
Kel’Van looked around the complete darkness surrounding himself. He raised his hands to his face and noticed they were surrounded by a radiance of light. A cursory glance at his body showed it was all encased by this weird aura of light and not just his hands. Kel’Van looked up just in time to notice a pin-prick of brightness. The mote of light began to descend from above him rather quickly. As the mote got closer, it began to look like a rainbow of colors. By the time it promptly settled closer to him, it had taken on the form of a gigantic woman with four wings and wires connecting out far behind her into the darkness they were both inside of.
“G.A.I.A.” said Kel’Van almost breathlessly.
“Well, the other Ulgo’s would call me Gaea, but yes, I am the consciousness named G.A.I.A. Kel’Van.”
Her voice sounded very much melodic and subdued. Almost conversational. It almost did not match the majestic form in front of him. Four dovelike white wings spread out from her back in the same vein as a butterfly would. The body was tall, dwarfing his own by almost 5x times his height and width. In fact, it was like an adult talking down to a 5-year-old child. There were 8 arms, almost alabaster white, as 6 of them stretched out in different directions, were typing in the air, creating colored squares each time one of the fingers tapped in the darkness. It was almost like they were typing on keyboard buttons visible only to her. Only two arms were free from this monotonous pressing of fingers in the dark, and they were both folded under the chin of the Ulgo god as she peered at the diminutive Kel’Van.
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