After living for a month in relative peace, Hodoo was met with a fatal reminder of how the hearthlands really are.
On his way out to mine, he spotted a warrior near the mine. Then another. And
yet another on horseback.
Less than a moment before the hearthwinds could return him safely home, one of the warriors initiated a chase; and within seconds, poor Hodoo was lying on the ground in agonizing pain.
Then nothing.Hodoo Jr arrived just in time to watch one of the warriors haul his father's corpse off into the unknown, while the horseman trotted just in and out of sight.
Eventually, the horseman came right up to the gate. He just sat there for a while in silence.
Then he spoke.

Again, he trotted off out of sight.
Over the next quarter of an hour, the horseman trotted in and out of view outside the walls as Hodoo Jr mulled over the loss of his beloved father.
During one instance, two of the warriors could be seen in the distance, butchering an unlucky animal.

When the horseman had seemingly disappeared, little Hodoo Jr gathered the courage to go outside. To see if, perhaps, his father's corpse was anywhere to be found. All he found was the carcass of the animal left to rot by the murderers.
Distressed by the absence of a body to lay his father to rest, Hodoo Jr went to the mine, only to find it left in ruins.

Poor Hodoo Jr is left cold and alone, contemplating the future. With nothing but an empty grave to commemorate his father's lifetime. With no justice to be served to his murderers. It is a sad day, indeed.

[hide]Right after I renewed my subscription, too.