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They say that every so often, you can hear a mighty cry echo throughout the mountains of Highland.
Some cower in fear upon hearing it;
While some are drawn to confront it.
Others actually welcome it;
And then a few simply chuckle at it.
In any case, many have become familiar with that loud, roaring cry.
“HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!”
----
“Th-that yell! Is it-?”
“Aye. It be his alright…”
Deep within the mountain range of Highland, a sole tavern was exposed the fabled cry.
A young pilgrim and an aged dwarf were but a few within the stony shelter that took notice.
“So then… that means he draws near? The fabled one of Highland?” the shaggy, brown-haired vagabond asked.
“SOMETHING’S drawing near, alright. “Fabled One”, ya say? More like “Fabled Fool” if you ask me.” The red-haired dwarf remarked as he stroked his beard.
The confused pilgrim stared back questionably as he fiddled with the cap on his head.
“”Fabled Fool”? I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand. I was told a dangerous berserker wandered the continent. That cry announces the harbinger of death and destruction…” he voiced with concern.
“Destruction is right. Everything else beyond that is just a thing of chance, lad. I don’t know where these odd rumors are coming from. I be guessin’ it could be word spread from too many a drunken stupor, but that just be a guess. Lad, if there is any reason to see him dangerous, it’s because the yellin’ freak of nature be nothing more than an idiot with a big axe. If there ever be a reason to run, it be after the crazy one had far too many ales. But even than, it’d just be because of the axe in his hands that he’d be swingin’ around like his own personal toy.” The Dwarf explained.
“But… I heard from a few towns back about the many praises to his name and---“
“Did any of these folks even tell you what it is they praise about him?”
“Well, no, but---“
“Then you got nothing, lad.”
The pilgrim sighed a solemn sigh.
“Surely there must be SOMETHING real to his name. Why else would word of him spread far to other lands as it did?” he thought. “Just listen to that vicious cry! It sounds like joke at all! How could one as fierce and ferocious as that NOT live up to such a legend?!”
Once more, the fabled cry rang out, this time being louder and clearer than ever before.
“HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“He’s here!” The pilgrim shouted in excitement.
The wizened dwarf shook his head dubiously.
“Aye, and just stand back and watch as he---“
Without further notice, a mad figure rushed in, and straight through an unoccupied table like a hot knife through butter.
“—as he does that…” the dwarf finished plainly.
“Ahoy, Mates of Gall Tavern! Bask in luck as you bare witness to the great and mighty Rothgar McJuggernaut!” the new arrival proclaimed
All eyes were on the crazed man clutching his big, blackened axe with little effort despite his seeming slim build. He had short, messy dark brown hair partially lopped over burning bright amber eyes. He wore a long, tattered, white coat over a sleeveless black shirt, wrinkled white pants, and brown leather boots. What really stands out, however, are the numerous belts strapped around various parts of his clothing.
“Of all things, lad, could you honestly take a name like THAT seriously?” the Dwarf asked.
“...um… well…” the pilgrim gulped.
In an instance, the big black axe crashed to the floor, leaving the handle sticking out of floor as its owner immediately approached a nearby table wench.
“Aye, Sadie! You’re a sight for a sore man!” Rothgar told the brunette worker with his makeshift “charming” smile.
“Heh. That’s a new one…” Sadie muttered to herself.
“No wonder I keep coming back to this place! You’ve gotta be the loveliest working lass in the hills of Highland!” he flirted.
“Yes. And I’m sure all of the other servant girls are just as flattered by that very line…” the coy woman answered.
“Well, it’s hard to complain when everyone’s a winner, but I speak the truth that this title is for you alone.” He assured her quite confidently.
Despite, or perhaps in spite of McJuggernaut’s persistence, the girl remained aloof and resilient as ever. Eventually, the talkative axe man took to changing the subject.
“So, my luscious lady; have you happened to see my friend Nimbus around these parts? I owe him a sparring match from the last time, and I’d rather not delay an epic struggle.” He suddenly asked.
“Yeah. About a week ago, in fact. By the way, don’t you think it’s rather rude to call Folde by his middle name so loosely like that?” Sadie replied.
“ “Folde”? Honestly? I thought that was some obscure moniker of his. For real? I mean, I clearly remember all the children back in the old days call him Nimbus. I never did understand the laughing and pointing that followed, though.” He pondered.
The servant woman groaned in disbelief as she was about to resume her usual business away from the dubious man until another thought occurred to him.
“Actually, I remembered him being accompanied by a companion of sorts. Dark, long hair and dressed in white. An unmistakable beauty if I ever saw one.” She suddenly brought up.
“That’s an interesting description. I didn’t know my old pal associated with effeminize mates like that.” Rothgar remarked.
“No, it was a woman. And one you’d not normally see around these lands. She seemed so sweet and kind, but that sword she wears at her side seems to say otherwise. One look would make you think she’s much too frail for the thing, but you never know about those foreign types.” Sadie explained with a nod.
In response, Rothgar nodded back in agreement, but not with full conscious understanding of what was said until…
“…woman?!” he cried back.
“Yes, a woman. A surprisingly formidable one, but she is a woman, regardless. It looks like your eternal rival is finally trouncing you at something big for once.” Sadie smirked.
“A woman?” Rothgar repeated. “That’s impossible! As well as I know the man, there’s just no way! Nimbus is a loner! He likes being by himself! He’s too awkward around the ladies!”
As McJuggernaut cycled through an endless list of excuses, the dwarf and pilgrim watched on quietly.
“To be honest, I’d figure not to many ladies would be interested in a man with a reputation as notorious as his, but if he’s not as ferocious as they claim…” the pilgrim began.
“Aye, it’s just his lack of tact.” The Dwarf finished.
After he got tired of his personal rant, the self-fashioned berserk yanked his trusted axe out of the damaged floor.
“That’s it. I must hasten my reunion and see this woman of his…” he said aloud.
“Hmph. I’d doubt a girl like that would be interested enough in some brute like you to leave Folde. Not like you even have the kind of luck with any other girl.” Sadie scoffed.
“What nonsense to you spout, m’lass? I have no desire to steal away my longtime comrade’s beau! No, instead, I indeed to see for myself if this woman of his is the genuine thing! Did you not say earlier that she may be dangerous? Then if so, I have to make certain that he may not put his life at risk!” he declared dramatically while pointing his axe outward. “And what are you talking about! There are plenty of women in the Highland Country that adore me much like you do!”
The amused woman simply replied with a mocking chuckle, then immediately resumed her usual work without hindrance.
At the same time, the resolute Rothgar was about to make his grand entrance until he noticed the dwarf and pilgrim who have been watching him the whole time.
“Ah, Old Man! You decided to enjoy yourself at Gall Tavern, too?” he asked.
“Indeed I am, Rothgar. It’s a fine, peaceful place for me to rest. Let’s hope for the Tavern’s sake that you keep it that way.” The Dwarf replied.
“Aye, but you can’t let yourself rust away like that at your age. Come on, Old Man! How’s about we see if you prove your might to me for once!” Rothgar proclaimed as he pointed his axe at him.
“You be 100 years to young and a thousand times too dim to be able to match me, Mr. McJuggernaut.” The Dwarf taunted. “Ask me again when you get more experience, and some proper common sense along with it.”
Rothgar scoffed as he slung his weapon over his arm once more.
“Fine, then. We’ll settle this another day. But it’s just as well as I’m in a hurry.” He said back.
Immediately afterward, he turned towards the door with a tenacious look in his eye.
“None shall escape the might that is the great Rothgar McJuggernaut! Farewell!” he cried.
And with that, he took off towards the door and right out into the wild, sprinting at full force. His established cry once again echoed through the air.
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Back at the tavern, the greenhorn pilgrim could only stare in bafflement after what had just transpired.
“This is no jest? That was really him?” the pilgrim asked.
“It’s just like I said lad. That be your “dangerous, wild berserker” that wanders merry Highland bringing destruction himself, Mr. Rothgar McJuggernaut.”
 Chicken Yuki · Thu Oct 02, 2008 @ 11:07pm · 2 Comments |
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