Chapter 1: The Two Horsemen

My name is Zachary S. Basker, and this is how I died... Well I didn't die per se, I just disappeared. I don't know how I'm talking to you or how you're listening. So, I'm going to start from the beginning.

I am a Baskerian, that is to say I'm a human from the homeland of Basker. I was raised by my father alone. My father never told me what happened to my mother. In the past I had asked my father so many times about my mother, but he always keep quiet. I am flat-footed and unlike my peers I am untrained in the art of war because of my handicap. I do enjoy making and enchanting weapons. My father, who is a solder in the Baskerian Army, is pleased with my skill under the teaching of his longtime friend Uncle Marko who is a Dwarf and a Master-Enchanter.

Wars between my homeland Basker and Stonebeach, the mountainous homeland of the Orcs, have been raging for quite a long time: the Orcs trying to invade Basker and the Baskerians defend their land. The Orcs want to invade and control Basker to have access to the crystal mines which are found underneath Basker under the protection of Basker's allies, the Dwarfs who inhibited the underground region of Tremour directly beneath Basker. The alliance between the Baskerians and the Dwarfs was based on the crystal. The Baskerians supplied the raw crystal to the Dwarfs to be enchanted by them for use by the Baskerians as improved ammunition. In exchange the Baskerians helped the Dwarfs with advanced human technology to improve the economy and livelihood of the Dwarfs. Therefore both stood to benefit from the alliance.

There is yet another region largely unknown and unvisited due to its dangerous terrain. It's called Stonebeach. Its inhabitants are the Orcs, a secluded,ugly and physically intimidating race. They rarely mixed with others keeping to themselves.

Despite the strong resistance and heroism shown by my people to stop the Orcs marching into Basker, but neither our regular weapons, nor the enchanted ones made by the Dwarfs worked. The result was devastation and destruction of our army but also villages and towns. The aftermath of the battle was one of havoc. The Orcs took over Basker completely.

While this was happening I was underground with Dwarfs because of my physical restraint. Still I wanted to go up and fight. But uncle Marko my teacher and guardian would not let me he said, "boy,you can hardly walk how can you fight? stay until we find your father." Then I told him, "fine but let me look for him uncle." "No you stay here I will get someone to look for him." Said uncle Marko. I said nothing but I had already made up my mind to go.

Through a maze of secret tunnels, which I knew well, I made my way to the surface. And what I saw shocked me to the bone. Mutilated Bodies of men,women and children some of them still alive bleeding their last drop of blood. Utter destruction beyond just winning a war. Walking through the butchered bodies my people made me sick to my stomach. I threw up and was unable to walk I sat down the center of the bloodbath and thought if my father was still alive. I got up and tried to look for him dead or alive.

As I was walking through the mayhem, I heard a deep voice... way too deep to be my fathers saying,"destroy everything you fools!" I hid a broken wall hoping they wouldn't spot me. Suddenly I heard a loud scream. It sounded like a man in great pain, I turned around and my heart almost stopped for that man was non other then my my father beaning dragged by a group of Orcs. I saw a dead man with a rifle next to me. Without thinking I picked the rifle, and started shooting at the Orcs. One of the shots knocked off the helmet of one of the Orcs. He shouted in anger, "bring me the scum who shot at me!"

I found myself, after having been dragged harshly, standing in front of me was a typical Orc who seemed to be the leader this group,unusually huge,wearing the Orcish armor which was meant to throw fear into their enemies. This particular Orc had the half his faced brunt off from a previous battle. He said with a deadly voice, "So you're the ape who shot at me with a toy HA you make laugh." Before I had the chance to say anything my father said, "Do what you want to me but please leave him out of this!" But the Orc group leader pull my fathers head back and said, "you are in no position to plead with me, ape because you soon be dead just like the other apes." Then one members Orcs group said "I think we found the "Hybrid" sir, see look at his eyes."
"Hmm, Okay." Said the Orc leader as he proceeded to stab my father right in front of me. The smiles on their faces still haunt me to this day.

I found myself being dragged again towards the ship that they arrived in. Then all of a sudden I heard the sound of a horn that the Dwarfs used to announce an impeding attack. I noticed the confusion and shock that followed among the Orcs. Clearly they were not expecting a retaliation from the Dwarfs. In no time the Dwarfs were upon them like lighting. The Orcs were out numbered and their resistance to magic was thus greatly weakened. They were simply wiped out. Of course I was happy for me and my father to be saved but I was equality surprised to see the Dwarfs, with such swiftness and courage led by uncle Marko. Normally the Dwarfs were peaceful and not too keen on fighting. Even their physical shape, short,thick bearded and smiling faces does not tally with the warrior's physique. Uncle Marko untied me and said, "Son, you see what happens when you don't listen to me. Now let's go back my house, your father needs immediate attention."