Malak Warhammer's Arc

Chapter 1 of 6

Malak Warhammer stood in the dirt courtyard and watched his recruits fumble their weapons. The green-skinned warrior had seen too many lowland villages burn. He dreamed of building an army strong enough to protect them all. But these farmers and merchants could barely hold a sword straight. He turned and walked toward the massive structure behind him. The brownish burgundy bunker rose from the earth like a fortress. Its thick walls would shelter his army during training. Inside, officers could plan defenses for every lowland settlement. Malak pushed open the heavy door and stepped into the dim interior. Maps covered the wooden tables. Weapon racks lined the stone walls. This command center would be where weakness turned into strength. He nodded once, satisfied. His army would train here until they were ready to defend their people. A soldier dragged something into the room behind him. Malak turned to see a training dummy shaped like a massive bird. Its feathers looked real in the torchlight. Sharp talons jutted from its base. The warrior grabbed a practice sword from the rack and handed it to the nearest recruit. He pointed at the dummy. The young man swung hard and the blade bounced off the target's chest. Malak demonstrated the proper strike, his weapon cutting clean through the air. The recruits would practice on these dummies until their arms ached. They would learn to fight the threats that haunted the lowlands. One day, his army would stand ready. Outside, workers hauled a black siren onto a wooden platform. Malak stepped through the doorway to watch them secure it. The device would warn every settlement when danger came. He had ordered three more built for the distant villages. When raiders appeared on the horizon, the alarm would scream across the lowlands. His soldiers would have time to respond. Farmers would have time to hide. Malak crossed his thick arms and stared at the recruits still practicing in the yard. They looked weak now, but they would become defenders. The bunker would make them strong. The training dummies would sharpen their skills. The sirens would give them warning. Everything was finally in place.