Death of Heregyth — The Red Book of Westmarch

The ill-fated twin from Rohan chooses death rather than life as a brood mare for a half orc

Caves of Isengard: Interrogation Chamber

Something within this tight space warns of impending doom. Hazy light from a window high above displays a mere shadowy representation of the room\'s capabilities. A table overlooked by a seat above can be dimly seen in the center of the cavern. The half-glint of glass containers can be vaguely descried upon the western wall.

The passing days have done nothing to help Heregyth\'s spirits, or, for that matter, her wounds. She sits, chained to the wall at her wrists, her dress caked in dried blood, though her wounds have been roughly tended to. There is a gash along the line of her scalp and another through her abdomen, and a slashing wound along one thigh. Discarded food bowls are scattered about here--she has been fed--but the girl sits in filth.

There is no day or night here, either, and most of the time, if the girl is not crying, her voice can be heard babblign to herself. At the moment, she just stares, empty-eyed, at the darkness.

[Zevra(#26812)] Zevra is an orc. That\'s about all that he can say for himself, for he has little else going for him. He\'s rather smallish, on the scrawny side (at least compared to most goblins) and he lost half of his teeth in a particularly nasty scrap over a dead dog a few months ago. This has left him with less than half of his yellow teeth and a particularly gap-toothed visage.

The orc slinks his way into the room that\'s holding the unfortunate prisoner and lets out a wheezing laugh. \"You\'s dead yet? I be wantin\' a bite to eat, I does.\"

A scream pierces the quiet of this room, but that\'s nothing new--the girl\'s screams might be familiar by now. No other voiced answer does she give--instead, she picks up a bowl and throws it across the room toward the sound of the orc\'s voice, her throw foreshortened by those chains.

[Zevra(#26812)] The orc lets out another raspy laugh, swatting the bowl away before it hits him. \"No.. not dead yet, but Zevra\'s a smartsy orc. Yeees.. You be dead soons, aye?\" What\'s going through his dim brain is anyone\'s guess, but the goblin approaches the woman and reaches for the chain. \"Boss says I can\'t be killin ya\'s.. but if you dies on your own, that be a differin thing.\"

\"No!! Go away! no!!\" The girl ineffectually swats at Zevra with the short chains, but she also kicks with her feet--then stops abruptly.

\"What do you mean, die on my own?\"

[Zevra(#26812)] Zevra slaps a hand out at her to try and smack her when she assails him, unphased by her swats. \"What I means is.. if you dies on your own, it won\'t be Zevra\'s fault. So we goes for a walk.. and you has an accident, aye?\" One has to wonder how a goblin like this even functions. He moves over to the table and pulls a metal rod from a pile of tools that have unsavory purpose, then makes his way back to the chained woman and begins trying to pry the bracket that the chain is looped through from the wall.

\"Walk?\" Heregyth\'s voice is full of fear. \"Walk?\" she repeats, then pushes herself up. \"Right. We can go for a walk.\" Franctically, her eyes search the dark for a weapon. Something. Anything. As the orc comes close to her to unfasten the chains, she shudders.

Zevra grunts and swears, prying at that bracket for some time before it finally breaks free of the stone wall. His horrendous breath is probably washing over her with each grunt, though it only smells as putrid as the rest of the scrawny goblin. As the chains clatter down to the stone floor the orc laughs. \"Walkin\'s time.\" He reaches down to grab the chain and carelessly pull her along toward the door, holding the metal bar in his other hand.

It\'s not as if Heregyth has any choice in the matter, and now she stumbles after the orc, her legs weak from so many days of being chained up. She says nothing.

[Zevra(#26812)] At Zevra walks along, he\'s giggling at his own ingenuity now. The chain is clenched tightly in one hand that\'s pulling Heregyth, and with the other he\'s banging the metal rod against the wall and doors while singing a little tune. \"They takes the peoples to Isengard, to Isengard, to Isengard..\" The melody halts as he finishes with a deadpan \"To eats them!\"

\"We walks and walks, and then yous will get hurts. Then Zevra gets his supper.\" The logic is that there is no logic, because this orc is as dumb as a stone. \"We can\'t do it here.. no no. Boss wouldn\'t like that.\"

It\'s only because Zevra is pulling along the prisoner by chains that no one has stopped him yet. It looks official enough, after all.

\"Yes...yes...Walk and walk. Not anywhere the Boss would see you...and the Boss and his spies would see you here in the caves, wouldn\'t he? So out in the woods is best...\" The girl has no energy but this--the first tiny ray of hope for either life or a certain death--gives her some strength.

[Zevra(#26812)] \"Yeees.. the woods. You can hits a tree, bust your head. That will kill ya\'s.\" Zevra heartily agrees with this idea and gleefully drags her along faster, the chains rattling in the lightless corridors. He sings some more, but then grows quiet as they reach more populated areas.

Heregyth is still quiet, but the girl breathes easier as they start to emerge from the caves--and her eyes dart every which way, seekign freedom.

[Zevra(#26812)] There are imperceptible changes as they travel down the dark tunnel. The air begins to get colder. Autumn is in full swing outside and the air is cold and wet from the precipitation. Zevra still drags his prisoner in chains along with an aloof expression, broken by the occasional gap-toothed smile. Perhaps the goblin\'s dumb plan will prove a success, if only because no one suspects him mentally capable of plotting anything worth doing?

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

For any who might sense the scent of anger in the are, they would run.....

For any who might feel the vibrations of coming death, they would run.....

Deep with in the caves, a snarl radiates outwards from the depths of evil, and the stone walls vibrate from being struck. Blinding anger has awoken, and it rumbles upwards as if chasing something to the surface.

Heregyth now turns, repeatedly looking over her shoulder, a sense of unease growing about her. As she looks one more time, her brows knitted, she turns back toward Zevra and tries to shove the orc forward. \"Run!!\" she hisses. \"Run or you get nothing to eat at all!\"

[Zevra(#26812)] The poor, foolish Zevra pauses and looks back towards the tunnel, dropping the metal rod and lifting a hand to scratch his head. \"No.. nothin\' to eats if they comes. When she shoves he starts moving again and picks up the pace, grumbling. \"Always takin Zevra\'s supper, they are. Not todays. Zevra\'s gonna eat you before they catch up, out in the woods.\" He doggedly continues, the chains rattling loudly down the corridor.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

Anger has a voice, and it roars out a warning from the deep darkness of the caves. Steep paths, darkness and the terrible stench of death act as a ward to keep visitors from venturing into the tunnels. It is as it should be, but on this day evil lashes out.

A human escaped... an Uruk responsible...... certainly blood will be spilled this day if only to cleanse a realm of wrongdoing.

Into the winter air a figure emerges. Masked so to cover his face, this figure could be anyone or anything. \"Stand and be ready for judgement!\" this mysterious figure snarls forth as he and several others raise their weapons.

[Grijit(#21369)] Among those that emerge, is Grijit. This one is not so tall, and not so well equipped. But speed and vigilance makes up for his lack of equipment as he sniffs the air.

\"There! That way!\" He points.

\"Move you idiot!!\" Heregyth cries as the figures emerge from the cave. She tries to yank on the chains that Zevra is dragging her by. \"Or stand and fight! But DO something!\"

[Zevra(#26812)] \"Oh.. ooohs.\" Zevra\'s bold words are far less bold now, but the gap-toothed, scrawny goblin isn\'t giving up his supper yet. What purpose does this ugly, dumb orc even serve? He\'s not armed. He looks over at the challenger and lets out a growl. \"No judgings! I ain\'t doin nothin wrong!\" Heregyth\'s advice works it\'s way through his thick head, \"And I ain\'t lettin\' ya stop me!\" He releases his hold on the chain and snatches up the metal rod again from the floor, standing his ground.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

A low growl emits from under Wulfnut\'s helm as he emerges from the darkness of the caves. \"I am one of the master\'s chosen... would you challenge me any more than you would challenge our master?\" he hisses. As he speaks, his voice vibrates against the metal of his helm, creating a chilling sound to his voice. As the figure speaks, he brings forth is Short Broadsword, allowing the winter sky to reflect upon its polished surface. \"Stand against me and you will die for the woman is reserved by the master himself!\"

[Grijit(#21369)]

Flanking the masked figure wielding the broadsword comes Grijit. He wields a frighteningly large war hammer, that would surely crush a skull as easily as an eggshell with one blow.

\"Hand the woman over to the Captain, and we will ease your agony. By a week.\"

[Zevra(#26812)] \"You wants to eat her yourself! I wasn\'t gonna kill her. Nooo.. Zevra knows what the Boss says. No killin\'! I knows that!\" The dull-witted orc points back towards the depths of the tunnels with the rod. \"You don\'t need to be here! Leave me be!\" His free hand is flapped at Grijit. \"Go ons!\" Maybe he was dropped on his head.. a lot.

The girl isn\'t waiting to hear the result of this argument. No sooner than Zevra has dropped her chains than she takes off, chains clanking as she runs. She\'s weak, wounded, and scared out of her mind.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

\"See to it that the Uruk dies.\" Wulfnut says flatly as he glares at Zevra. Glancing over his shoulder to those that follow, he adds, \"He put us all, including our master, at risk. See to it that he suffers.\"

Turning to look upon the woman, the Captain\'s neck arches forth as if he were peering intently at her from under his helm. \"And for you...\" he says as he approaches Heregyth, \"For your purpose, you need no legs nor arms.\" An evil chuckle emits from under his helm as he takes a step closer. \"Which shall it be, woman? Which shall you loose for your part in this escape attempt? Or....\" he says, pausing both his laughter and his words, \"Or... are you an innocent, taken advantage of by a stupid fool of an Uruk?\"

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

Snarling as the woman offers no response as she runs off into the wood, Wulfnut takes off in a chase. Red flickers in the eyeholes of his helm and he lifts his weapon as he races forth. Nearing the woman, he swings his blade, aiming to take off a leg. \"Do not defy me, woman!\" he roars out as he strikes.

Wulfnut furiously attacks you with his Short Broadsword!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

[Grijit(#21369)]

Grijit takes off, closely behind Wulfnut at first. He lifts his mask, revealing a menacing growl before he closes in on the addle brained orc, Zevra.

But as the Captain\'s blade finds its mark, the air fills with the smell of blood -- human blood - and it sharpens Grijit\'s senses even more. Raising the warhammer high above his head, he lets the terrible head crash down upon the foot of the grunt, in an attempt to shatter the bones of Zevra\'s foot into a million pieces.

The blade hits, drawing a long streak of red blood as it rips through Heregyth\'s dress and leg, yet it does not take off her leg. She limps on, trying to escape.

You try to flee from Wulfnut, but he blocks your attempt!

[Zevra(#26812)] Zevra gapes for a moment, his slow brain putting the pieces together. \"Kill me?!\" He shrieks in outrage, drawing back his hand with the metal rod. Grijit is faster though, and the warhammer smashes down on his bare foot, shattering all the tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges. He howls out in pain, the cry echoing through the tunnel. \"Me foot!!\" The rod is swung in a flailing fashion at Grijit.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

The scent of blood fills the air as the Captain\'s strike meets flesh. \"Man-flesh.....\" Wulfnut hisses as he closes the space between himself and his target. Leaping forth, he aims to fall upon his opponent, clearly aiming to squash all hope of escape. \"Attempt escape now and all of my kind will be on your trail, seeking to pick the flesh from your bones.\" he hisses towards Heregyth while seeking to trap her under his bulk. \"I am your only hope to survive. My brothers don\'t have the same ..... control.... I have.\" Pausing only a moment more, he adds, \"Answer, submission or I leave you to the fate of being an orc meal!\"

[Grijit(#21369)]

The weight and force of the blow sinks the heavy hammerhead into the wet ground with a sickening plop, pinning the shattered pieces of Zevra\'s foot underneath. Grijit\'s mouth breaks into an eerie grin, so pleased is he with the hit. But before he could draw his breath to let out a victorious laugh, the Zevra\'s desperate swing connects, and the rod him in the jaw interrupting him mid-ha.

Spitting out a bloodied tooth, Grijit releases one hand that holds the shaft of the great warhammer to pull off the flap of skin that came off, and to block any future lucky blows from the grunt. \"For that, I will make you eat your own tongue.\" A roar of anger blown into Zevra\'s face should dissipate any hope that this Uruk Hai is joking.

[Zevra(#26812)] \"Make hers a meal! I\'ll eat her!\" Zevra calls in a sort of crazed, pain-filled wail as he hears the threat of the Captain towards the woman. Then Grijit is pulling the hammer away, along with the dermis on his flappy foot. \"Aiiieee!!!\" The goblin shrieks in more agony, and tries to scramble back away from the bigger Uruk, tripping and falling to the damp floor of the tunnel.

With a shrill scream, Heregyth now falls to the ground, Wulfnut pinning her there. \"And what would be my fate here?!\" she spits at him in defiance. \"Some hideous fate of your own devising? Trapped for years in that foul cave with some terrible purpose?\" Even saying those words makes the blood drain from her face, and she tries to scramble out from under the creature.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

As the woman\'s spit strikes the metal of his helm, Wulfnut draws his hidden face to within inches of Heregyth. \"Your life and purpose now belongs to our master.\" He snarls as he shifts against the woman\'s struggles. As he moves to counter her fighting form, his longsword is drawn upwards so that the tip rests against her neck.

\"Hold still woman!\" The Captain snaps impatiently. The scent of blood is strong, and the struggles urge on the instincts of a killer. Digging the tip of his blade into her neck threateningly, he adds, \"Hold still or die!\"

[Grijit(#21369)]

The Uruk Hai with the war hammer watches the crippled grunt escape into the caves, leaving a bloody trail that even a three legged cow could follow. His attention shifts to the drama that unfolds between Wulfnut and the captive woman. He steps closer and listens, letting out a snort that knows no pity.

\"It will not be so bad,\" Grijit lowers himself, to be on eye-level with the woman with the sword tip upon her chin. \"Listen to the Captain. In fact, if you do not put up a struggle, we will even let you see your dear brother.\" Grijit smiles, a mixture of saliva and blood oozing from the hole where his tooth once was. \"Oh yes. We know where he is. Now, will you do as the Captain says?\"

\"Oh, I will go to my brother now, I think.\" Heregyth smiles and some peace fills her eyes even as a tear starts to trickle down one side of her face. Mustering all the strength she can, she jerks forward suddenly so that unless Wulfnut was prepared for the movement, the sword tip will drive into her neck, opening a vein there, blood and life spurting out furiously.

[+POLL] Announcement: Wulfnut(#28036) has changed the poll to: New Year\'s Trend: Suicide by Orc

[Zevra(#26812)] Somewhere down the tunnel, Zevra is stumbling in a crippled fashion, wailing piteously for his foolishness. All that work and he didn\'t even get to eat the woman. Orc-life isn\'t fair.

[Wulfnut(#28036)]

Sweet red human blood silently coats the blade of evil as a snort of frustration echo\'s through the metal helm of the Orc Captain. \"Stupid human.... \" Wulfnut hisses as he rises up from the woman. Kneeling beside her, he pauses to seek out the end to the rise and fall of the woman\'s chest. Reaching up, he brazenly removes his helm. \"How sad...\" he mutters into the open air, \" you could have served the greatest among us all.\" Shaking his head, he draws his blade to his lips and lashes out his tongue to lick the life blood from the metal. \"At least we\'ll eat good this night.\"

With a single thrust Wulfnut returns his helm to his head as he rises to his feet. \"Bring the body to the Arena!\" He calls out, \"We\'ll hold games to see who feasts upon the spoils!\"

[Grijit(#21369)]

They watch as life slips from the beautiful girl who seem terribly out of place in this nightmarish forest, surrounded by beasts who, indeed, inhabit nightmares.

Slowly, Grijit straightens his back, and a look that, in the proper light, could be interpreted as contempt, flits across his face. But it is gone in an instant.

\"Captain,\" Grijit says softly, leaning in slightly so that only Wulfnut could hear. \"It was not your fault that she died in your hands, despite orders to ensure she lives. And if asked, I will tell them so. That it was that miserable grunt\'s fault.\" He then turns, and joins the rest of the \"boys\" for a celebratory feast in the Arena.