Three friends ventured to the far north. The icy wastes claiming many lives. After days of travel of frost biting their bodies they finally stumbled upon the ancient ruins. Seeking shelter from the endless biting winds they gathered what materials they could to burn.

But it was not enough.

Gola was the first to succumb to the chilly embrace shivering as his friends tried to keep him warm. His breathing and heart slowing to a near stop. Tolf tried to stoke the fire to keep the flames burning but they flames were slowly shrinking.

Next was Kane. The cold was even sinking through his fur as he laid on his side. His breathing slowing. Tolf cried out shivering watching those he cared about slowly succumbing to the cold hand of death.

Tolf yelled into the cold night air. His own heart beat slowing down. He looked up at the moment feeling tears freezing in his eyes begging for mercy and to go into peace. He could not hold on any longer.

"No...I shall not take you now. You shall become my Rider unto this world. I shall release my grasp on the hearts of your friends but they shall no longer be what they were. Just as you will no longer be what you were." A voice said in Tolf's ear.

Then he felt it. A surge of strength and power. A sense of duty to do. He stood up feeling the weight of his armor and a massive sword on his hilt. He turned to look at his friends seeing Kane was much larger than before. Shackles and chains wrapped around his body giving him a fierce look. He stood on all fours growling as an electrical energy pulses through his form.

Gola stood on all fours as well his fur bursting with blue flames. A collar and chain had appeared around his neck that connected to Kane's. Kane and Gola looked towards Tolf expectantly. Their minds were intact but they had new enhanced urges and insintcs and a sense of loyalty and duty.

Tolf knew what to do. He climbed onto the back of Kane drawing his sword as they rushed out of the ruins to serve his new purpose. He unfurled his draconic wings as Kane let out a howl of crackling electricity as Gola bared his flaming maw.

He was the Rider of the Northern Wastes. To test and challenge those who would call themselves Heroes. He and his companions would test them and if they were unworthy dispatch them to death's frigid embrace.

●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●

A boss level-up I got with  DarkWolfSwordsman65 and  BlackTolfgan


Characters from left to right, top to bottom: Gola'Waya, Tolf and Kane

Art is © Croft
Story is © DarkWolfSwordsman65

Gola'Waya is © GolaWaya
Tolf is © BlackTolfgan
Kane is © DarkWolfSwordsman65

Click Here to View the Original