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Innoruuk's CurseBy Ferrel Chapter 2 – Fear and Hate Murrel sighed happily and wandered through the sacred forest. She had plenty of herbs at home, but she simply loved to spend time in the mystic woods. The gnoll maid particularly loved to have the whole area to herself, like she did today. Skipping and lilting along one of the many trails, Murrel soon found herself in a part of the forest she was not familiar with. It was cold and seemed to soak the light into darkness. Looking around her, she could see no way out. In a panic, Murrel started to run. No matter which way she turned, she seemed to press deeper and deeper into the ebon blackness of endless night. With tears streaming down her face, Murrel howled for help, she howled for Lucine. She howled until her throat grew sore and raw. When she couldn't howl any longer, Murrel simply staggered through the forest, whimpering soft pleas to anyone. "I'll help you my dear…" On the training field, the small gnoll militia practiced their sword techniques. Lucine's ears twitched and he paused in his exercise. Snapping back to reality, he just barely deflected the blow his training partner had aimed at him. "Stop a moment. Do you hear that?" asked Lucine. The gnoll across from him simply shook his head, "Hear what? With all the blades clashing and the officers yelling, I can barely hear you." he replied. Lucine turned his ear towards the sacred forest and listened carefully. "No, there is something. I think I can hear someone howling. Its… mother!" Bounding away from his partner, he sprinted across the grounds, closing the distance as fast as he could. "Lucine! Where are you going?" called an officer after him. Chuckling, the gnoll whom was training with Lucine remarked, "He heard his mother calling." All the others laughed and went back to their training, not giving their friend a second thought. "Who are you?" asked Murrel, her voice raspy, as she backed away from the thick, harsh tone. "I am here to help you. You do want help don't you? Is that not enough?" said the darkness. As it spoke, the engulfing darkness slowly took form. Murrel watched as the forest crept in on itself. Slowly, from the shadows, a figure approached. "You… you're… hideous!" she squealed. The poor maid could do nothing but stare in terror as the creature took form. He was tall and slender with wiry limbs and a hunched back. Blue skin, dotted with green pockmarks seemed to glow in the forest's dim light. As long fingernails extended towards Murrel she found the energy to howl Lucine's name once more. With a cruel smile, the figure moved to set upon the terrified gnoll maid. "Do not fear my dear girl, I will save you from all the pain of this world." Lucine heard the howl and shivered in fear. It was a low, mournful howl, one that he had heard only once before. It had come from a gnoll who knew it was going to die. Pressing every bit of courage he had forwards, Lucine charged into the sacred forest. Thin limbs beat at his face and thorn bushes tore at his legs, but nothing stopped the gnoll. Through some means he did not quite understand, Lucine knew where to run. He could sense that he was close. His mother was near, and something terrible was with her. Murrel whined and sank to her knees. She pleaded softly, "Please… don't." Again, the cruel laugh came to the gnoll maid's ears. Slowly, the figure reached out for Murrel. His claw like nails settled lightly on her head, slipping through her fur. As he started to close his hand, his attention was torn from the young woman. He was certain he heard something crashing through the forest. Lucine sprung out of the darkness and knocked the creature away from his mother with a vicious backhand. "No!" shouted the boy, "You'll not touch her unless you kill me first!" "Lucine, no…" gasped Murrel, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Smiling at the youth, the figure straightened himself a bit and rubbed his jaw. He rested his hands on his hips and looked the lad over before growling, "You are nothing to me boy. You have no idea with what you are dealing with. I am Innoruuk, the god of Hate!" A slight tingle ran down the youth's spine. The shamans had spoken of this god before and this creature seemed to match what they expected him to look like. Searching for his strength, Lucine gripped his training sword tightly. "I do not fear you Innoruuk! God or not, I wont let you hurt my mother!" "Your mother is she?" asked Innoruuk, "You're willing to die for her when you're young and she has lived her life?" Lucine nodded at the god and placed himself directly in his way. "I owe her everything. I love her." Innoruuk shattered the darkness with laughter so hideous that both gnolls covered their ears simply to remain sane. "Love? What does love gain you? Nothing! Only through hate can you find gain. Hate me boy," snarled the god. Stretching his arms to the sky, Innoruuk chanted a brief spell and called forth dark lightening. From ominous clouds far above, streaks of light shot down and struck Murrel, causing her to writhe in pain. "NO!" shouted Lucine as he pounced on the dark god. Moving swiftly, the youth buried his sword into Innoruuk's chest, not stopping until he felt the hilt crack against bone. With a gasp, the young warrior let the sword go and stumbled back. Growing in pain, Innoruuk stumbled back a step. Despite the wound, a smile again crossed his face. He wheezed at Lucine, "See boy? Hate has made you powerful. Hate helped you to defeat me this day. Join me and I promise you even greater powers!" That was the last day that any of the gnolls saw Lucine. Murrel managed to survive the dark gods attack, but what she had lost was far greater. The poor maid never spoke again and died alone only a year later. No one will ever be certain what happened for sure, but most assume that Lucine accepted Innoruuk's offer, for even though his clan never saw him again, Norrath did. |
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