The Wall Of Doom
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The Wall Of Doom
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"The end is nigh… Where everything initially began is hard to say, as all deeds are interwoven in the long run… But I remember… It seems a lifetime ago… How I, Arruns, a young officer in the XXIIIrd legion of the mighty western empire darcania, got my first command of a patrol. The XXIIIrd was stationed on the edge of an immense wilderness, appropriately named "Uzza hathor" or "dark hell". In these vast woods, several pictish tribes dwelled, entangled in relentless battles amongst themselves for as long as man could remember. Ever since its arrival, the XXIIIrd had explicitely kept aloof from these tribal wars. However, rumours concerning the oriëntal emperor-mage Payches-Ra, uniting all picts under one terrifying rule, became more and more persistent. Therefore, the legate, commander-in–chief of the XXXIIIrd legion, was sending patrols into the wilderness, with increasing frequency, ordering them to report any irregularities at once. Thus, i was sent out to encounter a dark fate…"
With these words, spoken by Arruns the chronicler, the saga of Odoric begins. The image of Arruns burning the books he has written about Odoric is set in a dark and distant future… His recollections take us to the Tanarach-pass, where an immense Wall is erected by the Darcanians to defend the only passage through the zagross mountain-range from the Pictish threat. When Arruns’ patrol is slaughtered by the Picts, he manages to escape into the dark woods and barely reaches the confinement of the Wall.
The Legate is furious when he learns what has happened and decides to send an entire Legion to the woods. Led by the Legate himself, the legion marches into the "Dark Hell" , determined to wipe out the nearest Pictish settlements…
Only a few Darcanian soldiers make it back to the Wall… the legion has been led into a trap by the Picts who seem to be organised by a mysterious scarlet warrior.
When the fleeing soldiers get back to the wall, they meet with the cohorts of the legendary Drackx, commander of the Kaduzar, Imperial Guard of Emperor Kühhr. Drackx saves the life of Durias, a surviving centurio, from an arrow, cast by the mysterious scarlett warrior who killed off the Legate right before the eyes of all troops.
Together with Drackx and the Kaduzar, a Shadow-Warrior has arrived at the Tanarach-pass. When the massed Pictish armies attack the retreating Darcanians, the Shadow-Warrior stands alone against the Pictish hordes…
Of course, this warrior is none other than Odoric…
Some pages from the book:
The Saga Of Odoric continues in the next chapter "The Heart Of The Serpent" :
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