Episode 13: Just Walk Away!

Arcane Isles Podcast – Episode Title: "Just Walk Away..."

Step into the blood-soaked fields of battle in this heart-pounding episode of Arcane Isles, as Borkum the Battler rises from the brink of death to become the phantom avenger his enemies never saw coming. With his shattered arm useless, a mysterious rune-carved axe in hand, and the battlefield aflame with chaos, Borkum must turn the tide against hill giants, ogres, and impossible odds.

As villagers fall, allies vanish, and Hawk Tuah is taken hostage in the town courtyard, this gripping Dungeons & Dragons-inspired fantasy adventure plunges listeners deep into raw emotion, brutal combat, and heroic sacrifice. Will Borkum survive his final stand? Will the gods grant him one more victory? Or will the barbarian’s tale end beneath a hill giant’s blade?

⚔️ Featuring:

• Barbarian vengeance & epic one-handed battle scenes
• Rune-blessed magical weapons & mythical creatures
• Allies like Lykxnzzl, Brindle, and Elaria in a desperate last stand
• Hawk Tuah’s harrowing abduction & near-death struggle
• A fateful decision that echoes through the Arcane Isles

🧙‍♂️ Perfect for fans of high fantasy, grim heroism, and immersive storytelling in the spirit of Critical Role, The Witcher, and Dragon Age.

🔮 Subscribe to Arcane Isles on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform for weekly episodes packed with D&D-style battles, magic, lore, and adventure.

#ArcaneIsles #DungeonsAndDragons #FantasyPodcast #BorkumTheBattler #DNDStorytelling #DarkFantasy #HeroicTales #FantasyAudioDrama

Transcript

Just Walk Away…

I turned to the battle behind me and heard the screams of anguish of friends and foes alike. Giants and ogres were engaged in a vicious hand-to-hand battle with my friends and allies, the villagers. The villagers were giving a heroic effort, but they were just simple villagers. Battle was not for them. Many of the villagers were lying on the ground wounded or worse, dead. I could not see my friends Lykxnzzl, Elaria, Hawk Tuah or Brindle at first glance. I began to fear the worst had happened.

I looked down and my left arm and could see the gapping flesh wound exposed; the flesh had been peeled back like an apple peel. I could see my pale shattered arm bone. By the grace of the Gods, the Pale Giant’s axe had caught my arm with just a glancing blow. A direct hit from his battle axe would have severed my arm clean off. Blood was dripping freely down the wound. I ripped some cloth from the pale giant’s body and tied a makeshift bandage trying to stop the bleeding to the best of my ability. I tried to lift my left arm, and it did not move; it hung at my side uselessly. Pain erupted through my body like a tidal wave. 

I saw the giant’s diamond near him and hid it beneath the body for later recovery. If I survived this day intact. 

The hill giants and ogres had no idea their pale friend was dead. So sure of my demise at his hands they had charged forward into the ranks of the villagers to do as much killing as they could. This would be those simpletons undoing. I now had the element of surprise. 

I gripped the giant’s axe with my right hand, and found I could still balance the great weapon, although it would be awkward. Examining the axe, I found the steel had a bluish hue to it, something I had never seen before. Runes were engraved in the blade and handle. Several precious stones were also embedded into it. I had never seen such a beautiful weapon. Holding it carefully, I could feel an electrical energy emanating from it. My hand tingled. Despite its massive size, it was not as heavy or as unbalanced as it appeared. For a moment, I relaxed and grinned from ear to ear. 

I really needed two hands to wield the axe with maximum killing effect. But for now, in the crises of the moment, one hand, would have to do the killing for two. I had no time to tarry on the field this day; there was still slaying to do this morning. Much more slaying.

I turned toward the battle line and charged forth. Normally, my bravado would have the best of me, and I would have yelled and hollered, but this battle plan called for stealth. I would be the phantom warrior from behind. The shadow they did not expect. The ghost of vengeance. 

As I charged the line, I could see the butcher lying on the ground with a hill giant about to smash the poor bloke’s head in head with a wooden club. I reached the butcher just as the hill giant swung his club at the butcher. I swung my battle axe hard, hitting the hill giant squarely in the back. The heavy weight of the axe penetrated the giants armored leather tunic and sunk several inches into this back. The giant reared backwards and convulsed violently, dropping his club to his feet. I knew immediately the giant’s spine was severed in two. It was a perfect hit. The giant fell to the ground and passed into the hereafter, not knowing that I, Borkum the Battler, was his final undoing. 

The butcher looked up at me in shock, “By the Gods Borkum, I thought you were dead young fellow!”  

“There is plenty of day light left this day for that to happen,” I laughed as I ran to the next hill giant. And then the next. And, then yet another. Again and again, I struck the giants and ogres from behind. They knew not what phantom menace was behind them as they were two busy looking fighting the villagers to their front. I severed giant’s legs, spines and arms on this day. Yellow ogres’ heads were separated from shoulders and sent rolling through the green grass of the fields giving me thought of a game that could be played.

Soon I could hear some of the villagers cheering me on, “Borkum! Borkum! Borkum!” they would yell over and over and over. I kept up my pace, it was as if I had become possessed by a demonic barbarian force. I lost all control of what I had become. I was a different person. I saw the world in colors I had never seen before.  

As I struck down the last giant, I brought my axe down onto his head and watched as it sank all the way to his shoulders, cleaving his melon sized head into two parts; his white brain mattered seeping out of the two halves.  I searched for more foes and saw none. And for a moment, I was sad. There were no more foes to kill this day. Or, so I thought.

I saw Brindle waving at me at the far end of the field. He had been so small the giants and ogres had overlooked him in the heat of battle, which worked out fine for him as he ran about pricking at their legs with his dagger. 

Lykxnzzl was walking towards me. Covered in blood, he looked battered and bruised. But he was smiling from pointy ear to pointy ear, his pearly whites highlighted by his midnight dark skin. 

I could see Elaria, the proud cleric, her amor wrenched from the many blows she had suffered, already rendering aid to the wounded; offering her potions and words of healing. She looked up and smiled. I smiled back. 

But where was Hawk Tuah? My heart then stopped as I searched the battlefield. Instantly, a wave of panic set in, “Hawk Tuah” I yelled!  

“Hawk Tuah” I yelled again! Over and over.

The others began looking all about for her. Somehow in the heat of battle she had disappeared. Fatigued though I was, I began running across the field, looking among the dead and the wounded, yelling “Hawk Tuah! Hawk Tuah!” 

I screamed the sweetest words to ever come from my mouth over and over. Lykxnzzl and Brindle also yelled for her as they searched the field. But she was not to be found. Then, over the din of the battlefield, I heard what sounded like a baby bird calling my name. I stopped and cocked my ears to hear it again. And, there it was.

“Help Borkum!” I could hear a young girl calling my name frantically; “Help Borkum!”

I turned to see Edward’s sister at the top of the nearby roof jumping up and down and yelling and waving frantically at me. She was pointing wildly towards the town courtyard. It is where the women had gathered for safety this morning.  I immediately understood the crises before me. 

I raced towards the town’s courtyard running as fast and as hard as I ever had run in my life. My legs burned like bonfires from running so hard. My lungs screamed out in pain. I was not sure if my heart would give out from all the exertion this day. I could hear Edwards’ sister yelling over and over for me to hurry; to run faster. I could not stop now. I would rather die than fail at what must be done. 

As I turned the corner into the town’s courtyard, I could see Hawk Tuan being bludgeoned by a hill giant while two ogres watched and laughed with glee. Hawk Tuah stood alone unarmed; her staff was broken at her feet. She was bleeding profusely. Her face was blackened and swollen from being struck so many times by clubs. But in her defiant way, she still stood, standing before the towns cowering women and children who she had been defending. 

I could see Edward lying on the ground next to her, blood oozing from his head which was now cracked open like a melon. To the hill giant’s amusement, and unaware of the turn of events on the battlefield, he was toying with Hawk Tuah as if the giants had won the battle this day. The giant was torturing her as he hit her several more times about the head and shoulders. Each blow sending chunks of Hawk Tuah's flesh and blood flying.

The hill giant and ogres had snuck in from behind and had been attacking the women and children who in our failure, we had left unguarded. Hawk Tuah, hearing their cries for help, ran to their aid. Edward, with the best visual advantage, could see the crises that was unfolding in the courtyard, turned and peppered the attacking giants and ogres with every arrow that he had. 

I could also see several ogres and hill giants dead, they had been filled with Edward’s arrows. Too his credit, he had taken many giants and ogres out with his elvish bow. And, when he ran out of arrows, he grabbed a dagger and went to Hawk Tuah and fought with her at her side.   

"No!" I screamed with all the oxygen I had left in my lungs. The giant and ogres turned towards me, shocked and caught off guard as the bloody demon I had become swept in amongst them.  I leapt high into the air and used my body as a battering ram, knocking the hill giant backwards and into the glass window of a village shop.

The ogres pounced onto me and began to strike me about the head and shoulders with their clubs. I could feel nothing from the impacts. Numb was I do pain now. But the damage was happening evermore.  My skull was cracked open. Blood poured profusely into my eyes my wounds, blinding me. I struggled desperately to see the yellow ogres before me. 

In blind haste, I swung my battle axe ferociously, not sure if I was striking at friend or foe. When the first swing connected, I could hear the foul ogre scream as the battle axe sliced across his stomach, freeing his innards from their captivity. The ogre fell backwards screaming trying to hold his newly exposed and freed stomach inside of him. 

His companion struck me on the head from behind and a galaxy of stars exploded throughout my head.  I staggered forward and felt another blow across my shoulder. I fell forward barely able to stand, and fearing this to be my end, as my last act of a barbarian, I spun around and set the axe free from my hand. It was a blind throw. An act of desperation. I knew not where the axe might fall and who it might hit, if indeed anyone.  I had to trust in the old gods that I worshiped, and the newfound steel in my hand. The ogre’s scream that followed my act of desperation was my reward. 

I stumbled forward wiping the blood from my eyes and could make out the ogre lying on the ground; the great battle axe had embedded across into chest. His yellow eyes were wide open as they had not yet time to close from his sudden and unexpected death. I grabbed hold of the battle axe and yanked it free. The gaping chest wound spewed frothy blood across me as his heart beat one last time.

Two of the three interlopers were now dead. There was still one more giant menace left and the worst was yet to come.

“Drop your axe!” I heard a voice bellow loudly. I turned towards it. With what little vision I could see with, the hill giant had hold of Hawk Tuah and held her by her hair. Her feet dangled off of the ground. He had a large dagger across her throat. 

“Drop your axe or the girl loses her head.”  

“Damn,” I screamed to my inner self.

 “If she loses her head, I assure you, I will return the favor to you!” I yelled as I set the axe to the ground.

“I am walking out this cluster of a village, and the girl is going with me. She will be a perfect hostage if you get my drift,” snarled the hill giant, as he slowly walked backwards, taking my semi-conscious Hawk Tuah with him as his prize.   

I could hear the women screaming in fear for Hawk Tuah’s safety.

I could hear Hawk Tuah ask almost inaudibly, “Borkum? Is that you?”

“I am here Hawk Tuah, you are going to be okay, I promise you!” I yelled. The fear of losing Hawk Tuah overtook all the pain that my body was feeling.

I spoke calmly to the giant. They are simpletons after all.  I was willing to negotiate with him; “If you let her go, I will not pursue you,” I offered. “But, if you don’t, you will know pain like never before.”

“You are one tough son of a bitch, I will give you that barbarian,” The hill giant sneered. “You just refuse to die. So, no, I will slip on out of here with my little prize here and get off this island. But I am keeping the girl. Just in case you get brave and try and do something stupid.”

Hawk Tuah was slipping in and out of consciousness, forcing the giant to have to carry her. As he shifted to account for her weight, he let the dagger slip and he cut her throat slightly.

I stepped closer.  

“Stay back!” The giant thundered. “Don’t step any closer.” 

“Just walk away. You can still leave here. Just leave the girl. You have my word.” I offered with all sincerity. I was trying to negotiate. 

“Your word means nothing barbarian. Nothing.” He countered.

I stepped forward again and he quickly tightened the knife across Hawk Tuah’s throat. 

I was very afraid.  I was not sure what to do. 

“I can tell you are sweet on this young girl barbarian. But, if you do not walk away and let me leave, I will give her back to you in two pieces, I swear it.” He roared. 

I stepped back slowly, giving the hill giant some space.

“Now that’s a good lad. I guess you are not as dumb as you look,” he laughed as he hoisted Hawk Tuah over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He turned to make his getaway, when suddenly his head arched back, and a puff of smoke exploded about his head. He stumbled backward as the sudden impact of what had hit him had dazed him.

“He is all yours Borkum!” my furry footed halfling friend Brindle yelled out to me. The ever blessed and lucky Brindle had seen me running, and knew something was amiss. Brindle followed me as fast as his little legs could carry him. Then he snuck in behind the giant and when the giant turned to run away with Hawk Tuah, Brindle was ready with one last magic missile. He let the missile fly at point blank range, right at the giant’s face causing him to be disorientated for a moment, but not seriously hurt.

I charged forward and leapt high into the air and struck the giant with both legs sending him staggering forward causing him to lose his balance and fall to his knees. I was able to pull Hawk Tuah from his grasp and hand her off to the ladies.  

The giant was tough and immediately jumped back to his feet and came swinging at me with his dagger. If he was going to die, he was going to make sure I went with him.

I darted to the left and to the right. I landed a few blows with my right hand, but they did nothing against his bulk. Several times I ducked and dodged the giant’s dagger but not by enough, and I could feel my flesh being peeled back with the sharpness of his blade. 

I grabbed a flowerpot and struck this thug in the head. But, without my axe, this fight was merely a delay in the inevitable conclusion. 

The giant knew I was trying to get to the axe, and he maneuvered himself between me and my weapon. We continued our dancing for several more minutes. Neither one of us gained the advantage. Neither one of us inflicting serious damage. We were perfectly matched at this moment.

I then tried to dart to the side of the giant, when I caught my foot on a loose cobblestone. I stumbled and fell to the ground. My gods had betrayed me at last. The giant leapt forward and straddled me with his great bulk. 

“Time to die barbarian!” he cried out as he plunged the knife with both hands at my chest. 

In my last act of defiance, I raised my right hand and caught his hands. I pushed with all my might back as he slowly lowered the knife to my chest. I watched it get lower and lower, till I could feel the point of it pricking my chest. And, still he kept pushing. 

I could feel the cold blade begin to press through my ribs. I knew this would be my end. I stared up into the sun and peace flowed through me like a river. I would die in battle like my forefathers had. I could now meet them in the afterlife, and I could walk proudly with them. Death was to be my greatest reward. 

And, then the pain suddenly stopped. 

Was I dead? If I was dead, why did I still see the daylight? I glanced at the giant and could see a green vine had wrapped itself around his neck and like a great serpent, was choking him. I watched as he dropped the knife and was desperately struggling to free himself from this unexpected threat. 

The giant’s eyes began bulging in his head from the choking vine. More vines emerged from the courtyard wrapping themselves around him pulling him off of me. In a few moments, he was cocooned inside of an ever-constricted set of vines that were slowly constricting him to his slow and violent death. I could see his legs kicking till the very end; then they kicked no more. And, yet the vines continued to constrict crushing his body. Blood soon began to emerge from the green cocoon.

My barbarian’s death had been delayed yet again, I got back to my feet and turned to the ladies to see who had prevented me from my travels to the afterlife. Oddly, I was angry at this moment.  

My bruised and very gravely wounded Hawk Tuah was standing in the courtyard with Brindle holding her up. She was shaking uncontrollably; she could barely see as he eyes had been swollen shut. She was very possibly slipping into the hereafter. She looked up at me and smiled.

At that moment, in our shared moment of victory, I yelled the words that I would later regret; “You know, I had everything under control!”