Vinnie of the eastside, the way eastside, was legbreaker and enforcer for the local underworld boss. A troll by race but an ox in nature; he was renowned for the amount of punishment he could endure. Recently he had a run-in with some assasins who quite possibly may have been phantoms but he never had opportunity to find out since he and a strange Gaijin who called himself Adam X ended up journeying into the city's sewers and doing battle with a demon.
"Sure are a lot of em" he spoke with a gravely voice that sounded as if he were gargling acid in his spare time. "This might be a bit interesting." What he had been referring to was a large invading force which had begun to gather outside the city gates of Citadel. The invaders belonged to the infamous Horde who had been known to sail the oceans and destroy entire cities in short fashion.
"This is going to be quite unpleasant, Troll. I suggest that we devise a plan of attack or fortification of this city's defences if we are to live." Adam X always spoke with an air of superiority and a tone of anger as if the world had wronged him. Some say he had been touched by a demon from birth and that was probaly the reason for his disposition. One thing for certain, he was the fastest anyone had ever seen.
"No need for planning ,Adam. I say we go out there and kick their butts."
"I'm not sure if it will that simple but if you think so please be my guest." Vinnie approached the captain of the guards and told him of his plan to parley with the Horde commanders and negotiate a nonviolent solution. Actually that would have been the lie he would have used had he been a little more eloquent in speech.
"I going out there to see what I can do." With such a simple statement the guard opened the gates and let him through. As the Horde turned it's attention to the very large troll exiting the city, Adam X leaped over the city walls to take a position of stealth and watch the events for any sign future survivability. "I am Vinnie of the east side, the waaaaaay east side," he boasted, "and this is MY city. If you want to destroy it you are going to have to go through me!"
"Challenge accepted." A large Gaijin stepped forward to meet Vinnie. "We shall fight in the circle of combat and you shall die by my hand. If you are to be the victor then we shall spare YOUR city." He laughed at Vinnie as men began to circle making an arena of combat.
"Oh this will be worth a laugh," thought Adam. "At least I'll get to see how well they fight to gage my chances" The combatants circled each other brandishing their weapons. The Gaijin had his ax and the Troll had only the incredible claws which he had used to rend many a foe in the past. Their battle was brief but brutal. The gaijin had gutted Vinnie but unfortunately dropped his guard thinking himself the victor when the tough as nails troll struck from below returning the favor and ending the light in the gaijin's eyes.
"I have bested your man. Now leave here and never return"
"I won't do that. Although you fought handsomely that dead soldier does speak for me." A statuesque goth stood before the bleeding troll looking down with knowing superiority. "However it seems that my ranks have an opening. I'll spare you life if you decide to join me." Vinnie seemed to be pondering the proposition.
"Take the offer stupid." Adam rose from his place of hiding. "Don't be a fool and die needlessly for these people."
"And you are," asked the goth.
"Adam X."
"Pleased to meet you Adam. My name is Morgoth and this is my Horde." Adam turned to look at Vinnie who had managed to get to his feet. He held his innards with both arms pressed against his waist. He was doing quite remarkably for a nonregenerating troll.
"Take the offer Vinnie." Vinnie looked to be hesitant is accepting the offer until his wounds tore open even further causing him to drop to one knee. "TAKE the offer before you die."
"I accept." He spoke as a man resigned to defeat. He stood once more and cleared his throat to make an address to his new brethren. "My brothers, do not kill those that lay within these walls. If you encounter resistance injure, and maim them instead. Break bones if you must..." He didn't make if much further in his speech when the Horde no sent into a frenzy by talk of maiming and broken bones charged the gates in a blood lust.
"Good job stupid. Now everybody you wanted to save are more than likely going to find a horrible end because you had to open your big mouth."
"Oops, my bad." The people of Citadel never stood chance as the gates were breached and most of the populace was decimated. With aid of Adam and a badly injured Vinnie a monk and his charges were able to escape to the nearby forest to watch their home be razed to the ground.
Loward awoke in a field at the edge of the woods near the ruins of Citadel. He had seen its destruction through vision as though the events past were fresh in his memory. A ghost made it's presence known to him as he sat up to look at the shuffling zombies within the city walls. It was the Gaijin from his dream. The one who had been defeated by Vinnie from the east side.
"I would not enter there boy unless you wish to join us. Follow the path of the monk and you shall make your way towards you destiny. Citadel will become a destination for your return but that day is not close. Let this be your only warning."
Loward gathered his gear and left his campsite behind. "I wonder what ever happened to those two?" he thought. He walked away from the ruins of Citadel knowing that he shall return someday and perhaps with the next chapter of the story it began.