The Rangers: Bloodstone

- (groans) Yeah. - We play and call it work!

Ahoy!

Looky what we got here.

Headripper, cut his lights.

Oi!

Oh, I've seen this face before.

What do you think he's thinking in his little brain?

An orc with a brain bigger than a man's?

Quite the conundrum.

If I wanted to hear your talk,

I'd rip it out your face,

and smack against me sword!

Ain't that right, Headripper?

Do you know why he's called Headripper?

You see,

when people talk,

and he don't understand them gits,

he thinks rippin' their heads off

makes 'em easier to understand.

He ain't the sharpest tool.

Ain't that right, Headripper?

You talk lot for an orc.

I suppose you have a brain?

Is that what I

should call you then?

Brain, does it work?

Clearly one as civilized as yourself

must have heard of Mograh the Merciless?

Him,

I've heard of.

You, I'm afraid not.

Oi, do you fight in a den?

Stupid pea brain!

Must I do everything me self then?

Lazy moppet!

You stay here and watch this dog.

Yes, Master, find the Bloodstone I will.

Search every village in the Grimmock Mountain.

Oi, I'm no moppet.

Ranger.

- 'Twas in this moment, I realized,

the search for my daughter may have come to an end.

Was all my waiting and tracking in vain?

I'd been bested by this vile creature.

Mograh may have been an orc,

but an exceptionally clever orc he truly was.

Perhaps, by design?

A by-product of dark wizardry indeed.

If 'twas my end,

I knew in my heart,

in the afterlife, I could tell my sweet Reina

I tried to avenge her.

Daddy, don't leave!

Reina, love, you know daddy must do

as the king orders, right?

And besides, who else will be the eyes

and ears of Lieutenant Brander Noke?

He's hairy, though.

Yes, indeed, he is.

Quite a hairy man, isn't he?

And you know who else will be there?

Flynt Tanner.

He'll have daddy's back.

Big man.

Indeed, he is.

And let's not forget Corser, daddy's mate.

I served with him since basic.

I'll miss you, Daddy.

Oi, Headripper.

Feelin' like your king of the castle then?

Hackin' and sackin' defenseless pasties.

Oi!

Feelin' sensitive, are we?

That sack of skulls ain't doin' it for ya?

Oh, I ain't tryin' to steal your loot.

Or maybe I is.

Who was it who found them pasties in the village?

Me!

Who was it that got himself ambushed by rangers?

Oh, that's right!

You!

What's that, Master?

I'm the smartest orc you've ever seen?

Why, you're too kind, Master.

What's that?

You've got a message for Headripper?

Pea brain!

Forget you're worthless trophy skulls,

and find the Bloodstone!

Oh, and do whatever Mograh the Merciless says,

'cause he's smarter than you.

Time to tell the Master we've got no slaves,

no trophies,

and no Bloodstone.

He will skewer us and feed us to the fire breather.

Everything reminds me of her,

the Jays singing,

tree branches dancing in the wind.

Orc raiding parties have scoured my home village

in the Grimmock Mountains.

Alone on the outskirts of the Short Hills,

I track the wretched green skins

responsible for killing my family.

My daughter's body never recovered.

Only a tear from her dress.

My brother rangers

inform me these orcs are slavers.

I suspect Reina to be with them.

They had better pray not a single scratch be on her!

I hold a hawk-delivered-letter from Lieutenant Wolf.

I fear his orders will be to abandon my daughter's search

and fall back in the ranks.

Time is my greatest enemy now.

I hope orders align with my will.

- Drustan, I hope this letter reaches you

by the time you return to your village.

Our brothers in the north have trapped the orcs responsible

for the destruction of your home.

You'll find them in the Short Hills.

Through their bravery and inquisition,

they discovered the true motive behind their pillaging.

One, simply known as the Master,

has ordered them to find the Bloodstone.

At this point, little else is known.

For the rest of our brothers,

the time to seek out

and extinguish the orcs who raided your village

has come to a halt.

We've just received orders from Count Thriese

to eliminate trolls in the The Bickerburg Hills

I understand if choose to stay behind

and pursue the orcs who slewed your family.

We can fend off the trolls without you.

Revenge may seem a satisfying conquest.

Just remember, killing the orcs

won't replace the feelings of loss that pain your soul,

but will serve as a good distraction in the interim.

Be wary of the one they call Mograh.

He and his companion take orders directly from the Master,

not infamous for enslaving and toying with prisoners.

May your loved ones reach the heavens in peace.

Lieutenant Brander Noke.