Prologue
Raising the Flag of Rebellion
AN 1212 (AZ 1449) - Autumn
The Ruins of Oris, The Darklands
From birth, Urgill was consecrated to the gods as a warrior maiden. Even so, she never felt comfortable in armor. Of course, she could never say this to her father. It was he who consecrated her. Her elder sister was given in marriage and bore children as any Urg should, but Urgill was different. She would never know a husband's touch or hold a child of her own until her sacred mission was complete.
She stood at the head of her own little war-band. Fifty and six Orghim, ten and six Trollim, four Ogrim, and eighty and two thrall-beasts of all sizes. Besides the maid-thrall Urggit and the Trolwif Marah Sidhe, Urgill was the only female. Perhaps a few of the monsters were female as well, but they hardly counted. It was not the natural order for Urghin to go off to war, but it was because the natural order was disturbed that Urgill was consecrated a warrior maiden.
Her father, along with a couple of his choice warriors, looked on her war-band approvingly.
"You will do well, my daughter," he said. "You will go west and you will make a covenant with the humans. You will fight for them and in return, they will fight for you. The Death-speaker will fall and our people will be free once more."
Urgill never knew a time when her people were free. It was after the hated Death-speaker, the Monarch Lich, crowned himself King of Kings that she was born. Her cursed birth was turned into a blessing when she was consecrated. Rather than being born to live and die a slave, through her the gods would deliver her people. She was a most holy instrument and all her life had been spent striving to live up to this great destiny.
"Yes, Father," she replied. What more could she say?
"Orgnud has crossed the sea before," her father said. "He will guide you safely to the western shores. I will be looking to the west, awaiting your return. Tarry not too long, for I and my warriors thirst for first blood."
Though the thought of the great burden placed on her shoulders made her ill, she dare not show any weakness.
"I will not fail you, Father," she vowed.
Her father smiled proudly.
"Of course you will not. The gods made you for this great purpose and they will not forsake us in our hour of need."
Her father turned his attention to her war-band, raising his sword and his voice as he said, "All of you, your blood is pledged to my daughter! In living and in dying, you serve her! Serve her well and you will have your reward in this world and the next! Nakeesh!"
"Nakeesh!" the war-band shouted in reply.
Her father rested his hand on Urgill's head and told her, "Go, my daughter. Go and do the gods' work for our people's sake."
Urgill bowed low to her father, their future king, who lead their people in a new age of freedom. All would rally to his banner and their lands would truly be theirs again. Urgill would not fail. She could not fail.