Legends

The Chosen

On the fifth day of Agack in the year of the Blooded Ram the Snarling Rat tribe
attacked our homeland, with their foul magicks and dread armies, they attacked and
destroyed our Cavern outposts at whim, they killed our females and children, they even
broke the old laws by stealing the bones of our ancestors. Their power was such that
in two weeks they took White mountain, our second oldest Cavern-home, killing the two
thousand warriors who defended it. Of the four thousand in that cavern-home only the
scout Bekash survived the onslaught and he returned telling of Dread creatures that
appeared immune to the weapons of our brothers (May they fight forever beside the
Ancestors).

It seemed that nothing could be done about the Snarling Rat's and their allies
until Grummsh, eldest of the Shaman told of ancient magick's that could transform a
chosen few into heroes, heroes who would stride like giants amongst their brothers,
heroes to destroy the Dread creatures and protect the tribe.

On the twentieth day of Agack in the year of the Blooded Ram, Shaka, Chieftain of
the Horned Vipers sent forth twenty of his best veteran warriors with Grummsh on a
quest to seek the Focus-stones that could be used to create the Chosen. Of this quest
none would speak but let it be known only half their number survived that quest though
it took but two months to complete.

Whilst the shaman Grummsh sought the means to protect the tribe, Chief Shaka took
the Horned Vipers into the mountains and conducted raids upon the tribe of the Snarling
Rat, destroying supplies and gathering information so that the Chosen would be prepared
when they arrived to deal with their enemies.

The seventh day of Okarr, in the year of the Blooded Ram, on this day Grummsh
returned to the Horned Vipers with the remaining veterans, in his possession were three
Focus-stones and the ingredients for many mystical potions, choosing but three of the
veterans Grummsh sealed the three and himself into his cave and none saw him for two
days.

The ninth day of Okarr, in the year of the Blooded Ram, to our eyes this day has
dawned bright indeed, at first light three warriors sundered the great rocks covering
the Shaman's cave and strode with purpose down the mountainside, seeing this Chief
Shaka gathered the remains of the Horned Viper tribe, now totalling only one and a half
thousand warriors and led them to battle. This day would see the victory or death of
the Horned Vipers.

Into the seething masses the Chosen strode, shining blades swinging left and
right, their power was great indeed. Our enemies could not withstand such aggression,
and started to fall back under the onslaught. It gave our forces strength to see such
power. Oh how the Snarling Rats cowered before our might. Not until half their army
had been destroyed did their Dread creatures rise. The Chosen upon seeing the
abominations abandoned their wanton slaughter to attack the creatures for which they
had been created. No words can describe the fury with which they clashed, they fought
for many hours upon that battlefield, a dance of deadly blades, a battle of revenge and
wrath, a conflict of indescribable ferocity such as had not been seen in aeons, until
finally the Chosen were victorious. Lifting the heads of the Dread creatures in
triumph the Chosen screamed out their victory across the plains, to show all that the
Horned Vipers were not the conquered but the conquerors.

The Horned Vipers took this victory to heart and although outnumbered four to one
they followed Chief Shaka into the very midst of the Snarling Rat horde, slaying and
destroying on all sides, their trust in their chief complete. Upon seeing this the
Snarling Rat tribe dropped their weapons and begged mercy, but Chief Shaka would not
have any of that, the Snarling Rats had taken the bones of the ancestors and must be
punished, their tribe was disbanded and merged with that of the Horned Vipers, their
name dishonoured and remembered now only as the second regiment of the Horned Vipers.

This was the first merging of the tribes and as all Teutonic Hobgoblins know,
should the Horned Vipers ever again have need then the Chosen would rise to protect the
tribe, for the welfare of the tribe is all that matters.