Karzak Skytalon's Arc

Chapter 1 of 10

Karzak Skytalon sharpened his blade against the whetstone, each scrape echoing through the empty barracks. The troll warlord's face burned in his mind—the beast who had killed Commander Thrace three winters ago. He would find the monster, no matter how far the hunt took him across Valgyr. Word had reached him yesterday of fresh attacks along the northern trade routes. Merchants whispered of brutal raids, of camps left in ruins. The warlord's work. Karzak strapped his blade to his belt and grabbed his pack. The hunt would lead him north, where the snow-capped mountains met the dark forests. Three days of hard travel brought him to the ambushed camp. Charred wood and debris littered the ground. Torn tents lay scattered among overturned supply crates. The smell of ash still hung in the air. Karzak moved through the wreckage, his talons crunching on broken glass and splintered planks. He found deep gouges in a wagon wheel—troll claws, thick and wide. Fresh tracks led northwest into the forest. The warlord had been here no more than a week ago. Karzak's feathers bristled. The trail was warm. He would follow it until he found the beast. By nightfall, he spotted the towering volcanic spire rising above the treeline. Dark caves dotted its surface, carved with ancient raptor markings. The Spire of Ekek—an old stronghold his people had abandoned years ago. Karzak climbed the worn stone steps and entered the main chamber. Dust covered the floor, but the structure held firm. He set his pack down and moved to the wide opening that faced northwest. From here, he could watch the forest below and track movement for miles. The spire would serve him well. This would be his base while he hunted the warlord. Karzak unfurled his maps across a stone table and marked the camp location with a claw. The hunt had truly begun. He activated the old command console in the corner. The screen flickered to life, casting blue light across the chamber. A holographic projection appeared—the troll commander's face rotating slowly in the air. Thick tusks jutted from his jaw. Scars crossed his gray skin like a map of battles won. Karzak stared at the image, his beak grinding. This was the face that haunted him. The beast who had torn Commander Thrace apart while Karzak watched from across the battlefield, too far to help. He reached out with one talon and touched the projection. The light rippled but held steady. Soon this hunt would end. Soon he would stand face to face with the warlord, and only one of them would walk away.