XXV - Long march of the BMHOn a sunny day the back streets of Hydlaa are filled with noise. On the left merchant Dunbar's low voice is advertising freshly picked vegetables. On the right loud clanking echoes from Riverton smithy, as new plough is being forged into its shape. To the front, a fountain is being cleaned. Man of rather burly appearance is standing on high ladders, carefully removing moss and dirt from the exquisite details of the statue of Laanx. His concentration is only led astray by distant coughing from nearby alley. There, in the darkest corner, lives a dirty homeless bum. He coughs counstantly, and in-between takes a sip from his bottle. Amidst the hectic marketplace, many an ordinary man go about their everyday chores.
One sunny day however, a new sound thunders from the north. Nothing but a low humm at first, the sound soon increases to such an amplitude, it's impossible to ignore. The citizens of hydlaa stop their doings for a moment and stare at each other, puzzled. People are familiar with city guard's alarms, but this constant tone is not among them. The sound lasts for a full minute. Some people are already getting uneasy, covering their ears, when the tone diminishes and finally, ends. A moment of silence follows. Slowly the citizens of Hydlaa return to their daily tasks, disregarding the strange event as yet another wonder of Laanx. The silence is once more replaced by the common chatter of Hydlaa's marketplace.
It is only when people return to their businesses, when they realize that not everyone were unaffected by the strange sound. Merchant Dunbar refuses to make trades. The smith Riverton stands in his doorway, blocking the way of customers. Zjui the statue cleaner remains motionless on top of his ladder, his eyes focused on the far horizon. Even the homeless bum now stands stern on top of his ragged matress. Unbeknownst to the people in the market, hundreds of men all around Hydlaa have similarly halted their doings. Accountants, bankers, teachers... now simply stand still, as if paralyzed. But all these different people have one thing in common... they are the Burly men of Hydlaa. And they are being hailed.
Later that day, streets of Hydlaa are in chaos. All over the city, members of the BMH had left their duties, guilds and friends, to join their brothers. They gathered at the north gate. City guard stood ready to defend the entrance, should the ever-growing mass of men turn violent. Against expectations, however, these men behaved themselves admirably. They informed the gate officer that they were free citizens of Hydlaa, and as such, had the right to come and go as they pleased. The guards could do nothing but watch, as thousand of Hydlaas strongest men walked out through the gate and into the wilderness. Quick actions from the local Vigesimi office prevented an economic catastrophe, but it would never the less take weeks to find replacements for all those jobs.
The Burly men of Hydlaa had departed. Led by their strongest member, as was accustomed, the BMH marched north. On the front, guiding the way, walked Jonathan Riverton. He was a hulk of a man, both tall and broad. Years of hammering at the Riverton smithy had made him very strong. And his strength had brought him the position of local leader among the brothers. After all, voting was done by arm wrestling. Jonathan was a freeman. It was stated in the founding constitution of the BMH that any member must use all his devotion into training of physical strength. Marriage was considered to conflict with this rule. The guild rules also denied female members, as their presence was found to distract male members during guild meetings. Of course the only guild meetings that BMH ever held, were the daily gym sessions. Such were the rules, laid down by the founders, and they were followed to the point. Every evening these freemen would gather at the local gym to "discuss important matters". Their mission - to find and wield such strength that no chains would be strong enough to enslave them - the freedom through strength. And there was Jonathan Riverton, strongest of them all. It was said about him that on the weekends he would leave and head deep into the forest to arm wrestle with the horrid beasts known as ulbernauts. But no one knows for sure, perhaps they are just rumors.
After days of marching, the men could finally see the north wall of the Yliakum dome. There, on a distant ledge they noticed a figurine of a man. Arams Zjui, the statue cleaner squints his eyes. Blocking excess light with his hands, Arams stares at the figurine for some time. He then begins to talk: "I see a badly mutilated old man. He is just standing there, holding something in his hands... a great horn. But judging from his physique, he's too weak to get any sound out of that instrument. Perhaps he's a messenger... or a decoy."
Arams is disrupted by violent coughing. It is the homeless bum from the alley. He cautiously looks over both shoulders, then whispers: "No! No! It is h-him! He! He blew the horn, yes! I can smell it! It was his s-sound! I know it!".
Arams looks up to guild master Jonathan, who now towers over the duo. The homeless bum continues: "Johnny, you know it too, no-o? You can feel it! Heh-heh.". He searches a little flask from his ragged pocket, and takes a sip. "I have been threatened, imprisoned, beaten and spitted on, yes! But I've never feared! No! Never, but now! On the ledge, Johnny... he is s-strong! Oh crap!". The stench of excrement begins to emanate from the bum's trousers.
Jonathan seems unaffected by the disgusting smell. He replies: "Strong or not, we have to find out why someone called for the BMH universal gathering. And this... man might know some answers to that. Dunbar and Zjui will investigate, the rest of us will camp in these woods. Dunbar, Zjui, report back to me before sunset. And Oolaf... go wash yourself.". The bum only has time to say "S-strong, I tell you!". Then his stomach growls again and he runs towards a nearby pond.
Jonathan turns around and looks towards the distant ledge again, but the cliff is nowhere to be found! "I do not like this..." He mutters. "One who relies on trickery like this, has no right to wield any strength.", Jonathan thinks aloud. On the same second, he spots a small dot on the corner of his eye. His eyes flash wide open and he roars with all his strength: "Incoming!". Jonathan launches into sprint towards the woods, but is sent flying through air by the impact shockwave.
From amidst the smoke a chillingly deep voice calls: "I agree. And so. I have come.". As the BMH stumble up from the ground, they spot the badly mutilated figurine rising from the crater. The smoke seems to move away as he steps forward. With every step, pebbles beside his feet fling into air. The figure approaches Jonathan and hands out his arm. The guild master squints his eyes as he speaks: "A challenge! You know our rules.".
Jonathan grabs the mutilated arm in his fist and crushes it with all his strength, but it seems hard as solid stone. The figure replies: "Of course. I set them.". Realizing that he is unable to move his opponents arm an inch, the guild master surrenders his status.
The mutilated man begins to speak: "Brothers. It is imperative. That you listen. Carefully.". "A storm is. Coming." He continues to speak of a war unlike any other. One that would consume everything and everyone that we know.
As the BMH listen to their new leader, Dunbar and Zjui return from their patrol. They report to Jonathan that they did not see anyone. They stand amazed as they realize the old mutilated man is standing next to them. The old man notes: "But someone. Did see. You.". At the same moment a huge armour walks in from behind them. From it's hollow shell, a voice calls: "I have come.".
The mutilated old man smiles with what little mouth he has left and hails: "Brother. We have need. For you.".
The armour replies: "I know, brother.".
Suddenly the armour falls silent and motionless. One by one it's pieces fall to the ground. Each part bore deep into the soil, as if they weighed tons. Only the horned helmet still levitates in the air. Slowly it too begins to descend. As it comes into reach, the old man gently takes the large helmet onto his frail looking hands. He lifts it high above his head and releases it. The helmet slowly covers the man's beaten face. As it slides into place, an eerie white glow begins to emanate trough it's visor. It sends out an aura that sends chills down Jonathan's spine and makes Oolaf want the pond once more. The glow quickly spreads until the old man shines too bright to look at. In an instant, the pieces of the armour explode from the ground, shaking the entire area. They fly in to cover the old man, who now appears almost transparent. Fighting to stay on his feet, Jonathan witnesses the completion of the armour.
The BMH gather around the armour, who begins to speak in dual voice: "Brothers, it is imperative that you listen carefully. A storm is coming, a storm unlike any other...". He spoke of the war again.
At the end Jonathan asked the armour: "Who are you?".
The armour replied in dual voice: "We are Cherppow, brother.".
*edit*
The next day Cherppow gathers everyone around the crater. He explains that a great evil is rising in distant lands. A force that would destroy everything in its path. An evil so powerful that only by joining their forces they could hope to stand a chance against it.
Jonathan asks in disbelief: "Ulbernauts are the most powerful beasts in the world, and I have beaten them. How could this evil hope to best us?!".
Cherppow looks towards the smith and replies: "You do not understand. This evil I talk about is not of the world. But they will come to the world... and destroy it.". "You have trained strength so that no chain could enslave you. This evil is the strongest of chains.", Cherppow continues.
"Anyone who feels so, may leave...", the armours voice echoes, "...but if you join me, and I will train you to become stronger than you ever imagined. You have trained to protect your own freedom, but I will train you to protect the freedom of everyone around you. And when you are ready, I will stand beside you. And we will face this enemy together.".
A silence follows, until Oolaf the homeless bum steps forward. "I'll f-follow you!", he coughs. Next Jonathan steps up and says: "You beat me in arm wrestling. Lead on.". One by one, every single man steps forward. Others due to obedience, others intrigued by the promise of strength.
"You trained them well, Jonathan", Cherppow notes. He then orders the former guild master to take all the men to the gates of Bronze Doors. Surprised by the task, Jonathan asks Cherppow why he won't lead the men himself. He gets a cryptic reply: "There are others.". Continued by: "Go now, I will join you there in six days.". Cherppow then turns and walks away. Jonathan motions the BMH to pack up for the journey. Soon they hear a thundering explosion. Looking back, Jonathan sees a crater where Cherppow was just ten seconds ago. Squinting his eyes, he notices a tiny dot on the sky.
"So the ledge didn't disappear... it was destroyed." Jonathan thinks to himself, both in awe and fear of Cherppows strength.
Elsewhere a group of rather burly men make their way along a dirt road. They hear crashing sounds from nearby woods, but when they go to investigate, they are approached by hulking armoured character. One of the men steps forward and states: "We are the Burly men of Ojaveda, identify yourself stranger!". The armour replies: "Brothers. I am Cherppow.".
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I believe Mr. Tyberghein will fit in nicely. Congatulations Jorrit!
Where ever you are. Well, now that you're reading this, obviously behind a monitor of some kind. 
