Goji had never been one to shy away from a call to arms. His heart beat in time with the thrum of battle, and as much as he didn't mind the brief moments of peace he carved out for himself, the thrill of combat was something he couldn’t deny. The Draugr were unlike anything he’d faced before, abominations of the dead that would test every ounce of strength in his body. This war would not be won by strategy alone—it would be decided by raw, unyielding force.

Lumikki's summons had come with an unspoken understanding: for this fight, strength in comradery and numbers was everything. That’s why Goji had answered the call. He had left Orchidia behind and embarked on the long trek to Fjallgard. If there was one thing he had come to know, it was that they needed to prepare, and well, to face a challenge like this. And with a city as renowned for its skill and resourcefulness under her thumb, there were no doubts in his mind that such wheels were already in motion.

As he arrived at the base of the mountain, Goji could feel the weight of the moment. Such a bold city of stone, its towering walls and sturdy architecture speaking to the might of the dwarven people who called it home. It wasn’t necessarily a place of luxury or comfort, it was a place forged for war. The dwarves had long been masters of crafting weapons and armor, and now, with the coming of the Draugr, they would arm those willing to fight with tools forged not just in metal, but in ancient magic. The weapons would be enchanted, imbued with runes that would give their wielders power beyond what they had ever known.

When the time came to choose a rune, Goji didn’t hesitate. Uruz. The rune of strength. For him, there was no other choice. He wasn’t a man of subtlety or intricate strategies. He was a warrior who relied on sheer might, and the Uruz rune would magnify that power, making him even more of a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. His muscle, his charge, everything to do with his brute power would be heightened, giving him the strength to crush any enemy that dared stand before him.

He had seen the other runes, each offering different powers: intellect, speed, resilience but none of them called to him the way Uruz did. Goji was a warrior who lived for the fight, and the thought of gaining even more strength, becoming even more unstoppable in the heat of battle, was irresistible.

The dwarves had already begun their work everywhere, the sounds of hammers striking anvils echoed through the air. Weapons were being forged, armor was being shaped, and the runes were being inscribed with care. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation as he watched the craftsmen work despite the dire circumstances waiting just outside. This was where warriors were made, where strength was forged into something more than just muscle and bone. The Hrútr clan had not only built a city, they had built an army, one ready to fight and to win.

Admiring for a moment the freshly fused tattoo-like sigils that glowed lightly from the back of each of his palms. The feeling of the runes pulsing within his veins emboldening him, a steady thrum of power that seemed to hum with life in his hands. The Uruz rune, etched into each, was a silent promise of strength, raw and unrelenting. He could feel it coursing through him now, the magic already beginning to make its mark on his body. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and a familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through his entire being. He was ready.

As he stepped out from the gates of the city's borders, the cold mountain air biting at his skin, Goji's eyes narrowed toward the horizon. The battlefield awaited him, the cries of the fallen already carried on the wind. He could sense the Draugr out there, an endless tide of undead ready to swarm. But he would meet them head-on, with the kind of strength that only the Uruz rune could bestow. The infusion in his hands wasn’t just a boon; it was a symbol of his resolve. A battering ram built to smash through whatever stood in his way.

Then, as his boots hit the snow-covered ground, a familiar presence brushed against his senses. A presence he knew all too well—one of a friend, a comrade. Someone who had fought beside him before, and someone who would again. Goji’s lips curled into a rare grin, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for a glimpse of them.

The battlefield would be hard and unforgiving, but with the imp at his side, perhaps it would be a more interesting experience than expected. The thought of facing the Draugr alone was never something Goji feared, but the idea of fighting alongside someone who knew him, who understood his drive, that was something different.

With one final breath, Goji stepped forward into the fray, the power of the Uruz rune surging through him. The war was about to begin, and with Altuo by his side, Goji couldn’t help himself. “Figured you’d show up,” he called over his shoulder. “Don’t go getting in my way now, wouldn’t want to have to drag your sorry ass out of the fight.”

His words dripping with that familiar cocky confidence. Goji was always ready for a fight, but there was something about the idea of taking on the undead with Altuo by his side that made it all the more exciting. “Try not to get yourself killed, alright? I’ll be too busy crushing these Draugr to save you.”

He hefted his balled fists with a satisfied grunt, eager to get started, knowing full well that Altuo wouldn’t back down from a challenge. "So, whoever downs the most buys drinks later if we survive?"

[ WC - 994/2500 ] @Altuo Dorian