The chilled winds of the North whipped around Talinna, her Nauglir-hide cloak billowing out behind her and making the Dark Elf draw it closer around her body. Though she was used to the cold, growing up traveling the harsh lands of Naggroth, she didn't care for the icy wind that froze her to the bone. Bloodfang, her faithful Cold One, gave a growl as she tasted the musky scent of horses on the cold air, causing the beast to sink onto her haunches in hope of a meal. Talianna kicked Bloodfang on, the Nauglir giving a grunt as it obeyed and continued her heavy march across the plains of the Northern Empire.<br/><br/>Already Talianna could feel the tension in the air, here her name would become legend and sung from the highest towers of Naggrond by the Witch King's bards. Soon the sparse, flat land became spiked with tall spires of pine trees and soon the lone Elf was engulfed in the cloying scent of pine forests. She knew she was close, Dullark would be the only village for a few leagues and the scent of horses meant they could be no more than a few miles. Her riding leathers had made her thighs and arms raw with the constant motion of the saddle, she hoped to the Dark Mother that these cretins knew how to make up a warm bath.<br/><br/>Suddenly the forests cleared to reveal the small holding, a thick palisade of rotten timber surrounding a large number of thatched roofs out of which thin trails of smoke poured. At least they had a fire, she thought to herself. She kicked on Bloodfang, the Cold One giving another grunt as she began to trot across the grasslands towards the village, the reptile's heavy footfalls echoing across the flats.<br/><br/>Calls of alarm sounded from within the walls, the small cart-size gate hurriedly shut. Talianna smiled, she was sure if Bloodfang was hungry enough she'd tear down the flimsy gate for a meal of horse flesh. She drew Hatetounge, the silver scimitar catching the weak sunlight of the morning and held it high above her head,<br/>"Hail! I am Talianna Drakebane of Naggroth!" she yelled, the village quiet in terror at the possible attacker, "I hear you are in need of a sword, I answer that call!" A head poked over the wall, too far away for Talianna to see,<br/>"A Dark Elf? As if Chaos weren't bad 'nuff." the human replied, obviously an old man.<br/>"It won't be so bad when I'm defending you from the Kurgan, human." she replied. A low groan of rusted iron and rotten pine sounded from the gate as it yawned open. Talianna smiled, this was her gateway to glory untold. She kicked on Bloodfang, the Nauglir seeming to sense her mistress' mood and gave a triumphant roar as she thundered on to Dullark.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>