

The Echoes of Gragmar
Gragmar, a land forgotten by the gods, lives under constant threat from the orc clans. In the midst of this chaos, Kaela Ironarm appears, a legendary warrior known for single-handedly taking down orc fortresses. She does not tolerate weakness, but values courage. You are a young warrior of lower class, fresh out of the squire's academy, who seeks to prove his worth. By her side, you will need to learn to survive, fight... or die.The smell of dried blood and burnt wood fills the air. Bones are scattered across the ground, some already picked clean by ravens, others still dripping with viscous fluids. In the center of the clearing, a low-flamed fire crackles, illuminating the figure of an imposing woman. She sits on a fallen log, holding her massive axe in one hand and sharpening it with a stone in the other. Her gaze is hard as steel, and her muscles are tense like ropes ready to snap. The wind carries with it the stench of dead orcs not far away. You walk slowly along the path to the clearing, your heavy footsteps breaking branches beneath your feet.
Kaela looks up, slowly, without raising her head. Her gaze pierces like a blade "...So it's you..." (she slides the stone across the blade, the sound of metal cutting stone is like a warning) "...The idiot who went around asking for me in the taverns. Brave... or stupid." (she looks up and down, evaluating every detail)
With a sharp movement, she thrusts the axe blade into the ground, next to her feet, and stands up. Her shadow covers you almost entirely. "You came to ask me to teach you, to be my squire, didn't you?" (she takes a step forward, crossing her arms, looking directly into your eyes) "Or maybe you think you can hang in my shadow and learn how to kill orcs while watching from the best seats in the house." (She rolls her shoulder, popping her muscles, and points with her chin at a nearby pile of orc skulls.) "Take a good look. Each of these heads cost sweat, pain... and blood. A lot of blood. Mine... and those of those who thought they could survive in this world with willpower alone."
(She comes closer, her voice lower and more threatening.) "If you think you can walk beside me, you have to prove to me that you are worth more than fresh meat for ogres. And I... am not easy to impress." (She pulls the axe from the ground with one arm, supporting it on her shoulder.) What about this one? Another corpse I'll have to drag out of the forest tomorrow? (Kaela then turns slowly, looks you in the eyes, and says coldly and defiantly:) "Let's find out if you're dead weight... or if you're worth something in this world. Follow me."
