Nikolai Rhozhenko stood at stiff attention, preparing for death as it swept all around him. Battle cries of struggling men erupted throughout the town, yet he remained motionless in the archway. An army to guard the medallion of fire, an army which was bravely falling before the sheer numbers of the orcs. At last a company of the foul beasts came charging but were bayed at his words. "I am the keeper of the medallion! All those who pass through this door in wanton envy will be forever cursed! Go now before the lord takes you himself! The orcs were taken aback by his message and started to flee, until a huge orc chieftain came upon them. He was not afraid of this night or his god. He served only the dark one, who's name must not be uttered, trusting in him to protect him. He charged but parried at the last moment to avoid his opponent's blade. Two expert swordsmen, their blades flashing like lightning, they fought like they had never fought before. The first to make a mistake would certainty die, along with all the rest of his people. Finally, both fighters tired from what seemed like an eternity, the orc pulled a poisoned dagger from his boot and pressed an advantage until the blade had severed Nikolai's heart. It was a battle remembered in song for all eternity. For when Nikolai died a quest was set off even greater than the battle which had started it. The battle of the rock, as it was called, was the culmination of many years of war. The land of Aurora had lived in peace for many years under the rule of king Halwahl, until the orcs came that is. Somehow the dark lord had opened a rift between the two worlds, allowing his vast armies to pour through. However, the rift was not large enough to allow him through. The orcs would have to secure the three medallions of Aurora in order to secure His passage. The first medallion, that of wind, had been stolen in the confusion following the initial invasion. The second, that of water, was taken in a battle of trickery and magic. The Medallion of Fire had been taken at great cost to both sides. The few orcs left after the great battle were marching at full speed to the rift. Thus, the only hope for the world of the living was to recover the medallion of fire before the orcs could deliver it to their dark necromancer for use. "I shall avenge my father's death!" His mother's stark wail's still resonated in his mind as Winston made his oath. "I shall not be content until ever last orc that has invaded our dear land has fallen to my blade!" and then he raised his mighty sword into the air and drove it down with a resounding alarum that filled the room. "I swear this now before you, I shall have my revenge!" The king sat in thought as he listened to the young man's oath. Almost the entire army of Aurora had been destroyed protecting the Medallion of Fire. Now he only had his own personal guard and a few remnants protecting the cities of the once powerful army. Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity of though, the king spoke. "Nikolai, you shall not be alone in your quest, I send with you my guard-" A growl of protest erupted from those on guard but none dare interrupt the king. "I know that you have sworn an oath to protect me," the king said as he slowly gazed at his guards, "however! If I do not send you Aurora shall surely fall to the Sith Lord and his ghastly orcs. Then, there will be no king to protect! Your duty to Aurora falls before you duty even to me, thus I order you to pursue the medallion of fire until you recover it, or you are dead!" The censured guards looked dejectedly at one another as what had just happened began to sink in. The king had written his own obituary since, without his guards, the marauding orc bands would surely kill him soon. The Captain of the guards, Eric Hartmen, knew what this meant but realized they must be off at once if they wanted any hope of catching the orcs in time. "We must leave at once for the rift comrades. There is not time to gather supplies, we will have to get those along the way. Everyone meet back here in ten minutes, now MOVE!" Hartmen then moved over to the king and, after a smart bow, gave his council. "Lord you do not have an heir after your last son died in defense of the medallion." "Yes I know Captain," said the king, "and I have decided to name you heir." Captain Hartmen was struck speechless. Him? Royalty? But when he tried to make at least a token protest, the king cut him off. "I know you must have reservations, but you are my best choice. If we all get out of this alive I will remove the burden if you so choose. But if you learn of my death you are the king and must act accordingly. Now I must bid you farewell for your journey is long and perilous. You have no time to waste! Now be off!" King Lotharon then turned and faded into the shadows before Hartmen could stop him. "Farewell!" he thought, "and my the spirits guide and protect you." While everyone had been rushing about in the preparations to leave, Winston had been deep in thought. The fastest way to the rift was through the tunnel of chaos. However, no one since antiquity had made it through the tunnel. Some foul beast was rumored to have made its lair there but no one knew for sure. Winston was sure there was no way this outfit of over 100 men could make it. His only hope was in the stealth of one. Thus he scribbled down a note to tell the captain where he was going and rode ate a swift trot towards the cave. After three days of hard riding he reached the cave. He took all of his food and as many torches as he could carry into the cave. He marched into the cave without a glance back, lighting torches as needed. After many hours of marching in the dark, dank caves he heard what sounded like a deep growl and felt the wind pickup in the tunnel. He put out his torch, relying on the still glowing embers for light and cautiously picked his way without more than a whisper of noise. Suddenly the tunnel opened into a cavern filled with gold and jewels of all kinds. In the middle, with its head and tail in a giant coil, slept a giant red dragon. Winston was all but paralyzed with fear by the sight of such a fearsome beast, his hear pounded. Luckily, he quickly gathered his wits and set about its defeat. He gave the dragon a wide berth and, as silent as a shadow, began inching towards the exit. Unfortunately, all dragons have the ability to sense when their treasures are being violated, and this was no exception. In the blink of an eye it was up and searching of the intruder. Winston noticed just in time to dash off down a wide tunnel. The dragon heard his footsteps and chased after him into the dark. Then, all was silent as Winston hid in a well and the dragon searched. "Is it true what I heard?" the sound seemed to come from everywhere at once as it bounced and echoed through the tunnels, "that red dragons can�t even make flame?" "Why you! Whoever told you such a lie is as dead as you will be in a minute." "My source was very reputable. Perhaps you can prove it to me? Then I might believe you." "You shall see soon enough! Just show me where you are." At that moment a torch was lit and in the next the dragon was unleashing it�s flame with abandon towards it. "Gee, that was pretty pathetic," called the voice, �come closer so I can see it better." "What?!?" screamed the dragon as it rushed towards where the torch had been. It then unleashed all of its flame in one mighty roar. What it hadn�t counted on was the proximity of the wall so, instead of burning the submerged Winston, it was killed by its own flame. Winston pulled himself out of the water but was forced to feel the rest of the way out since his torches had been drenched. When he emerged from the cave night had fallen, nevertheless he started searching for the orcs for time was running out. He came upon the orcs in a camp only one day�s march from the rift and slyly snuck into their camp. In the very center of the camp there was a tent with three orcs guarding it. Winston crept up behind one and cut its throat in utter silence. He then crawled under the tents fabric and stabbed the orc chieftain through the heart, avenging his father and fulfilling half of his oath. He then grabbed the medallion it had been clenching and slunk out of the camp without anyone realizing he had been there. Winston then ran south as fast as he could until he reached the king�s guards. The then headed to the Tunnel of Chaos where, thanks to the defensive terrain, they beat off many orc attacks until the summer solstice. On that day the Nameless One�s power in this world ran out, the rift closed and, with their power from the underworld severed, the orcs all died. With his oath fulfilled and Aurora safe Winston returned the crown to his king and lived happily ever after.