Age of Aggression
Chapter 1: Vanguard

Vanguard was his rank, not his name, they never had names. Vanguard was a Montith, one of the many races of Thalandor, and one of the largest. Vanguard stood just less than seven feet tall and was very muscular. His eyes were a light red colour, as were all true Montith; his ears were also pointed but roughly human size. His white hair was dreadlocked and tied into a ponytail, his nose was pointed and a constant frown stretched across his face. His skin was bronze in colour, and unlike most true Montith he had no horns growing backwards from his forehead. Being hornless was not bad; it meant he had a special role in his life. This is why he is the Vanguard.

Vanguard continued rowing his small boat, lucky it was Montith make otherwise he'd sink. His mission from the Arishok (General in the Montith tongue) was to go to the Human lands, and determine whether it was worth the effort to save it. The Tal Montith, the Montith's philosophy, determined a person's role in society for the rest of their life. In the Vanguard's case it was to serve the Antaam (Army). For the Human lands, it determined whether it should be conquered or converted, that was the Vanguard's mission, to determine that.

Vanguard was dressed in the lightest armour that could be provided…clothes. His great sword, Asala (Soul) lay beside him in the boat; it was silver in colour, warm to the touch, and thirteen foot long. Behind Vanguard sat a small bag, with simple provisions, food, water, a journal to record his mission progress and a cleaning rag to get rid of any blood that Asala spilt during his mission.

Vanguard's boat stopped in the shallow water, he picked Asala up in her sheath and tied the buckle across his shoulder and chest, and then he picked up his bag of provisions and tightened the spring before wrapping the strong around his wrist and hand. The moment Vanguard set foot upon the sandy shores of this new land he noticed the smell difference.

Back in his homeland tea and incense filled the air, he missed it already. This new land smelled like wet dog. Vanguard's eyes scanned the sandy beach, no people to see. Vanguard walked further up the beach, the sand eventually changed into green grass, with nearby dirt roads. There was a nearby wooden sign on the side of the road. Vanguard walked up to it, and read it. The sign pointing the west read "Haven, 20 miles" the hand pointing to the east read "Loterthang, 45 miles"

Vanguard looked to the west, all he saw was the dirt road leading towards mountains, and he decided to walk to Haven due to less walking. Vanguard set about his walk, eventually the cold mountain air wafted away the smell of wet dog from Vanguard's nostrils, a better alternative he thought.

By nightfall Vanguard had made a small haven of his own in a cave. The cave was inhabited by a bear, one that proved no match for Vanguard because after half an hour in the cave he was roasting bear meat on a stick over a small fire. After Vanguard had devoured half of the bear (Montith needed a big meal every day) he took out his journal, a small inkwell and a quill. He opened the journal on the first page, dipped the quill in ink and began writing.

Day One

I have landed on the Human shores. So far I have come into no contact with any of the natives of this land, a good start. This place is nothing like my homeland, no smell of tea or incense, just wet dog and cold mountain air as of yet, at least the native bears taste fine, but even tougher to chew.

This place is colder too, nothing like the jungle cities, or maybe it's because I'm heading towards a mountain. First I intend to travel to a Human village called Haven, somewhere in the mountains, I'll gather more supplies there, and then carry out the first part of my mission, observation.

After that, if nothing impedes my process, I shall move onto the next settlement. If this land is anything like the Arishok described then it must be primitive, unenlightened compared to us. I want to see this for myself, as that is my mission.

Vanguard waited for the ink to dry before closing the journal, he put his quill, journal and ink well bag in his bag before chewing more bear meat. After eating the rest of the bear meat he placed his bag of provisions under his head and let the fire die out. Vanguard's last thoughts before his sleep were that of his homeland, the jungle trees, the smell of tea, the perfect society. What kind of land was this compared to home?