The BlackSand Tournament I: Round I, Duel VI
From Velbi Trimmer of the Muscle Mountain
Velbi Trimmer of Muscle Mountain (10349)
The winter wind was blowing strong through the night. Snow mixed with hail stormed down the sky and covered the streets of what was one of the few remaining barbarian camps in Muscle Mountain. That was Velbi’s birth place. The camp where she became a warrior. A warrior so skilled to be undefeated amongst both fellow women and man. No one dared to challenge her, and everyone adulated her.
That winter night had brought the majority of the inhabitants to the camp tavern: a fairly large wooden building that was now hosting close to fifty people. A large fire in the middle of the room provided light and warmth, as well as serving as a big bracer for roasting. Few tables and chairs were scattered, having being pushed around by the rowdy crowd.
They had convened to celebrate Velbi’s latest success. Once again she had raided the nearby forested hills to hunt for the were-beasts threatening the camp. She had ventured alone in the woods and come back with the heads of five beasts as trophy. “A good hunt” she smirked remembering the fights. She had carried her long blood sword and in less than tree days she had easily ended several of those beasts. Her sword permanently stained in the blood of her victims.
“To Velbi, the trimmer of monsters!” A men cheered raising his mug of all. “Aye!” “To Velbi” “To our champion” other echoed. “To Velbi Trimmer of Muscle Mountain” someone else yelled. Everyone lifted their mugs in approval and started chugging the ale. Chants, laughs and dances followed as the magic of the ale spread amongst the crowd, inhabiting their senses and infusing men and women with liquid courage and energy.
The party continued on for hours into the night until the strong win swung the tavern door open, letting in cold snow and hail. Everyone looked towards then entrance as a large, black crow stormed in and dropped a letter right in front of where Velbi was sitting. The crow then disappeared back into the night as quickly as it had come.
Everyone went quiet, intrigued by what that might be. So far into the mountains, the camp very rarely received letters from the outside world. Any communication was a big, welcome surprise.
“Read the letter” someone asked, obviously to Velbi. “Come on Velbi!” someone else said. Not many amongst the crowd could actually read so Velbi felt obliged to comply. She quickly scanned the letter, which turned out to be quite exciting news. “It is a call to participate in the BlackSand tournament” she announced. “A city near the Salt Sea. They promise gold prices and glory to their champion.”
At those words the fellow barbarians in the tend erupted in cheers and dances again, chanting “Velbi the champion of BlackSand” “The glorious BlackSand fighter” “The champion of Muscle Mountain.” Velbi started laughing, she truly enjoy their support. “I assume I am your champion” she laughed out raising her mug. “To BlackSand then” she announced confirming her decision to participate: “This sounds like another great hunt!”