The Woodmen had come far, back and forth their journey had led them over the mountains. All of them were tired from the contest of strength against the Anduin's mighty stream. With rafts of crude making they went over the waters and now they were home. Mirkwood at last! Whunjo could have kissed the nearest tree, lush and green it was! Their homeland smelled like no other place and Kalf cheered loudly aswell as Gelert his hound! Uhruz took up a handfull of dirt and rubbed it together between his mighty hands to feel the soil. It soothed him. Only these four had the energy left to stand.
For yes joy was shared by many, but now arms were aching, lungs needed air and eyes closed without the will to open again. The group of adventurers had found themselves a spot on the shoreline. It looked comfortable and free of danger, for once Uhruz though spoke with wisdom, "Brodr.. we are home.", and with that he meaningfully batted the head of his axe. The gesture returned Whunjo from his reverie, "Joah brodr, you are right. In truth, we have left safety behind us with our arrival.", he spun on his heel to his nearest comrades, "While the others lay at ease, let us go look ahead. See if we truly can spend time here in idleness!" Uhruz nodded, Whunjo was always right after all. Kalf scratched at his scarred throat, the thought of catching something for roasting urged him. So he let out a sharp whistle and Gelert came along, the beast going well ahead of them with it's snout to the ground.
The forest looked green and ancient as it always did. Ut could have been his lack of nourishment or weariness, but it disoriented Whunjo, "I have never been in these parts, Uhruz.. Kalf.. You both know where we are?" The men shared a glance and then looked around. Kalf walked up to an ancient pine and chopped some bark away with his hunting knife before he dug his fingers into the sticky sap beneath. He sniffed at it, wriggled around with it on his fingertips, "Hm.. I uh.. think that we are south of home..." He was in doubt by the looks of things, "Though something is not quite right..", Uhruz grumbled roughly and lifted a thick branch from the ground, beneath it's shadow a colony of ants was about it's business as he watched with a dull expression.. Many of them appeared to be dead or dying as if one of them by accident had carried a poison within the dark tunnels where it's queen lay. The huge man dropped the branch and he stared up to the roof of leaves that blotted out the sun. "I killed wargs here before.", the man uttered quietly, his brow wrinkled deeply as he got lost in dim memory, "Long ago." Whunjo rubbed his beard as his eyes scanned the surroundings. He no longer felt like a stranded drifter, but perhaps he still was. Being a Woodman was one thing, but he counted himself as a farmer foremost, a man that only left his property when urgency rose. He had less knowledge about the forest as he perhaps would or should have.
After a while both concluded they were south of Honeyspot, their hometown. Less than a day of walking even, they were almost there. Whunjo felt his feet turn to blocks of stone and a lump of iron drop in his stomach. So close , so close, the prospect threatened to immobilize him completely until his companions moved up, "Why is the sun shining through the trees overthere?", Kalf exclaimed.. They went to investigate.
Their feet were ploughing through thick slippery muck before long, the devastation before them was phenomenal! Trees lay all around, burned, rotting, chopped up. The earth itself was black as tar and craters filled with water were all around. Cadavers of animals were scattered all around in between rotting wood, something terrible had happened here and it was nothing by what suggested natural means. The men were taken off-guard, it ached them to see the state of the forest like this. Whunjo was staring wide eyed in disbelief, Kalf rubbed his head trying to keep it from falling off, Uhruz grunted disapproval. The large man was the first to shake off the surprise and he immediately went forward towards strange fungi growing on a stump, "What are these Kalf? ..I have not seen them before!!" Kalf came closer as he regained his coincious state, "Uh? ..", he clutched his beard, "Never seen the like, they do not look edible at any rate!" Strange fungi were growing out of the moldy bark, pinkish skin with grey lines and red stains on it. Unappealing by the looks Uhruz did what he always does best, he chopped at one of the heads!
Whunjo came running after them and suddenly stopped as a cloud burst free into the giant's face! Kalf only just escaped it and immediately wild coughing went up in the air and a vile stink! "BLARGH PHBT ARGHughhll...", the giant retched and had it not been for the meagre diet he had to live off on he may well have spilled his innards' contents over the land! "This.. blughug... land is cursed.. we are arghh.. no longer home!!", the man roared in frustration!
"Joah.. you are home.", a voice came in from behind them. A man clad from head to foot in black muck stood there with a sharp spear aimed for the three scouts while Gelert had disappeared in the distance in it's search for truth and fun. Both sides were frozen for a moment, until Uhruz came forward to greet the figure, "Brondaz of the Shadow-walkers!!" "Uhruz of the Border-walkers..", the man replied, "We had not expected to ever see you return!" They both grabbed one another by their arms tightly and to one's surprise or not, Uhruz' strength was matched on fairly equal terms by this newcomer's grip. They were a sight for sore eyes upon eachother, "Could say the same.", Uhruz merely replied to the other giant, he pointed at the landscape, "What has happened here?" The one in black shook his head, "Few of us know. It was as if the Spirits themselves had decided to lay the land down.. or the Elves, but no, it was neither. It would not be their way." Whunjo and Kalf shared a glance, the hunter whistling for his beast again as Uhruz kept speaking, "We are returning home. It calls. My father calls." Brondaz smiled, "Then go, me and my warriors are watching these lands. The road north is safe from danger for now. It will hearten the village to see the return of Uhruz again, ahahaha!"
Kalf seemed pleased with himself that his sense of direction had not gone lost, the destruction was the only reason that he got put off, still Whunjo was not so easily gladdened, his mind went out to other matters by the looks of it. Brondaz spoke again, "Come, let me speak fair! We have seen the brave attempt to cross the Anduin and even now your friends are being led by ours, look there they come!" And so it was, led by warriors both male and female all in black and armed with triangular clubs or spears led the grumbling and tired bunch onwards, "Be glad.. for all we know atleast. Orks prowl at the shores, as if they search for something.. Best go now! With haste!"
And thus on they went.. only once had Whunjo demanded to make a short stop to the few warriors that led them home. There were Elgiz , Asatrid, Kalf and he himself.. again with Gelert the Unbehaving. They went through a march of muck and they had to hold their hands on the trees to keep themselves from sinking deeper. Asatrid was fearful of the black waters and the place as a whole. This to her did not appear like home. She was on her father's back as he stumbled onwards. Elgiz was ever a quiet man, he was the one that came along without complaint as the adornments in his beard and around his neck jingled happily. They ended up on a small hill, with stumps encircling the top like a crown. Only Whunjo himself dared to enter as first, though fairly the others had no idea about this place and what the man's interest in it was. It became clear swift enough though, "Kalf.. I know this place." He hopped on his feet to bounce Asatrid a bit higher to keep her from slipping away, "Joah? Well that is good hm?" Then Whunjo grabbed something from the earth, a shard of pottery by the looks of it, the man was seething with outrage, "They have destroyed it!!" The others went quiet. "Destroyed this sacred grove!! These oaks and birches have stood tall since the day of our earliest forefathers!!", truly that may have been an exaggeration, yet his anger came from deep. In fact, it felt like the entire area was vibrating with it, but neither of the others seemed to feel it. Or show it. Asatrid spoke first, "Where are the Spirits!?" Whunjo had forgotten himself in his tantrum as he went from stump to stump, uncovering more broken remnants , "Probably went away!! Or perhaps furious!!" The girl wept immediately. Elgiz had drawn his large cudgel , "What godless thing dared do this..?", he wondered aloud.. "I know not!!", Whunjo yelled , thinking the question was aimed at him, "But they will pay for this with their heads, whomever they are!! Their blood will feed the soil they wracked!!" Kalf swallowed, it appeared for a moment to him as if Uhruz' spirit had taken hold of his younger brother's body! They wasted no time now anymore, "Onwards!", Whunjo commanded at the startled warriors in their black cover.
Luckily the forest had been spared quite a distance before the village even could be heard, moods were tempered by wariness and the sense of returning home. Birds whistled here, black squirrels skipped from one branch to the other. And then most their hearts beat in their throats.. The walls of earth with tall palisades on top of them, the clamour of many voices and cattle combined the people outside that were going about their daily lives. The guards at the gateway nearly dropped their weapons as they could see who had arrived, "Whunjo!", one of the men yelled instantly and ran up to grab and squeeze his shoulders and face. "By Bema they have returned! Let them in!! Let them in, the sons of Tunaraz have returned!!"
It was a merry reunion, like a ripple through the crowd people were echoing the guardman's words. Merchants yelled in confusion as people left them with their wares in the midst of transactions.. Some others even pulled their oxen along , not wanting to let the beasts behind to come have a look at the commotion. Hands grabbed at the brave adventurers that had gone and come from far and wide. Kalf smiled happily trying to keep Gelert at his side while Asatrid was holding his free hand, a bit taken aback by the sudden rush of people. Other children of the village came running and suddenly stood still, looking up in awe at the giant that was Uhruz.. and more of the like happened. Like fate itself had wanted it or only the dominating will of a powerful chieftain alone. So it was the village brought them to the hall. A young boy was sitting in Whunjo's neck and a smile was on the man's face, forgetting already the hardships of their quest like snow melting in sun's light. While he was followed by his friends and family. Ursell would probably never forget the sight, she hunched her shoulders in humble manner and came along, especially so when a few glances were spared for her and those not hailing from this settlement themselves.
It was then at the gate of the hall itself they came. Everyone grew silent. Whunjo's hands were held against the doors, "Ready?", he said with a sudden solemn expression. Kalf nodded, Uhruz rumbled, "Joah." They went in.. followed by atleast half the village. The place was packed and there he stood. A broad figure with hair coloured like iron and the stern gaze of a man that had suffered the weight of the earth and had endured it. "Fadir..", both brothers said simultaneously. They were no longer the packleader nor the great warrior. Just two sons looking for the approval of their sire.
The man approached them , only his boots made a sound. So quiet was the cheering crowd all of a sudden, "My sons! You have returned!", he said.
The journey at last was completed.
A new chapter was to begin.
((Hereby, a thank you to all those that have partaken in the story of the Woodmen for any duration it was possible. Made it an immersive , deep and even educating experience! A thank you for all the good fun we have had!
Also a thank you for all those that have read their stories! For the great feedback that kept me going where at times I doubted if it was worth the time and effort!
The journey of the Woodmen has been completed, but perhaps the true story of their lives only now begins! So for a final time, my deepest gratitude for all the fun and support! - Whunjo ))
