A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

The peoples that had migrated to these forests long ago had been very skillful, as well as sophisticated. However in the deep dark areas of the forest the darkness and solitude of the forest overcame them and ignorance took root, until all that was left was this smattering of crude wooden shelters that housed a people, who preyed upon their own kind.

Cannibals. Within walking distance of the greatness of their ancestor's architectural accomplishments the descendents lived out their lives in squalid barbaric conditions, a mere shadow of their former glory.

This northern most area of the Attorgron Forest was avoided by all because of the savagery of the barbarian peoples who roamed through it. Though fierce and warlike as a people their primary method of attack was by sneaking up on their victims and ambushing them.

Their primary weapon was the poison tipped darts they blew from long ornamented blow guns, which seemed to be their one technological accomplishment as a society. They were completely devoid of mercy.

They had one weakness though, which I intended to exploit as had my grandfather. They were a superstitious people. We lay uncomfortably in the concealment of the boulders waiting for night to come, while being bit and gnawed upon by the millions of insects that this forest was infested with. Patience against the torment came somewhat easily, as the fear of being noticed by the savages could lead to something altogether worse than a bug bite and some itching.

Steadily the day wore on until dark shadows hung over the clearing. The darkness of the night soon followed. Fires from the native village blazed forth lighting the night sky up, echoing the need by even these heartless savages to keep the darkness partially at bay at least superficially.

The natives had begun to dance and shuffle around the flickering fires worshipfully chanting as they did so to their latest superstitious thraw of the moment. Suddenly a whoosh of noise punctuated the chanting sounds the natives were making, which was underscored by corresponding showers of sparks breaking off into the air from the large ceremonial fires.

Soon puffs of smoke plumed up from their fires and their chants came to a sudden halt as the fires they were thronged around extinguished abruptly into grey clouds of smoke.

Fearful murmuring took over at the strangeness of the event. Suddenly a loud pop could be heard followed by a bright streak of white light rising above the canopy of the forest, which exploded with a deafening crack like thunder above the clearing.

A thousand sparks tinged with blue and white burned briefly in the night sky. Some of the natives screamed out in fear, but most were held motionless in a speechless terror. In the dark stillness after the burst of sparks in the night sky five hooded figures marched out in a phalanx formation from the surrounding forest.