As Sytze saw the young Gladiator sprinting towards to bushes, he walked to the gnomes. Blood coloured the grass and their bodies lay lifeless next to each other. For some strange reason it was a peaceful pose. Rethne had done her job well, perhaps too well and that scared him. She had killed the six without hesitation or reservation and he did not like it. We should sort things out soon, Sytze thought and he started looking for his trusted weapons.
A few minutes went by and still Stanislav wasn’t back.
‘Any of you two know where our young gladiator went off to?’ Sytze asked, not really looking at either of the two women.
‘No idea, but who cares anyway? Rethne responded with a sneer.
Sytze wanted to open his mouth and respond to her remark, but thought different of it and pretended to ignore her. A discussion was something he wasn’t in the mood for right now anyway. When he looked at Kitty, however, he saw anger in her eyes and feared the worst. She spoke, but to his surprise not to Rethne, but to him.
‘He went off to get Duncan and Salem.’
‘That’s a great idea!’ Sytze responded sarcastic. ‘We could’ve better carried the weapons with us, instead of them coming our way. Now we have to wait here the entire day.’
‘He couldn’t stand the smell and look of these gnomes, plus..’ and Kitty lowered her voice, ‘I think he couldn’t stand having Rethne around him for the moment.’
Sytze sighed. ‘Fine, let us get every weapon and move out of this graveyard. We’ll set up camp over there.’ He pointed to a small place behind the gnome’s wagon. There was a tree standing in the middle of the open space and it was split into two parts. This was probably caused by lightning, because there wasn’t a leaf growing on the tree anymore.
He picked up every weapon he could find and saw Kitty and Rethne doing the same. They walked to the open space and threw the weapons on one pile. While Kitty ordered Phaere to hunt for food and the Halfling began sorting their weapons, Sytze gathered wood for a campfire. Not that a fire was needed right now, it was in the middle of the day, but he was hungry. He hadn’t eaten for almost two days and neither had Rethne. Hopefully Phaere will bring enough with him to stop this annoying twisting in my stomach. He thought to himself. If not, then I can always go hunting myself.
When Sytze came back, Rethne had sorted the weapons and Kitty was busy with her hair. Women, he thought and couldn’t help but smile a little. As the day went by, Phaere returned with a few conies. It was more than sufficient for the three travellers and their animal companion. Rethne made a delicious meal out of them with a few herbs she found in the surroundings and the rest of the day the three spent time by telling stories, maintaining their weapons and eating. When they finished their last meal, Sytze folded his arms behind his head and stared at the sky. It was a beautiful day. Small, white clouds passed by slowly, clearly visible by the sheer blue sky. He closed his eyes and drifted off. It had been an uneasy night and he hadn’t slept yet…
Board Story - The story
It was dark when Sytze woke up. He let out a loud yawn and opened his eyes. He saw Kitty sitting next to Phaere, apparently keeping watch, and Rethne lying on the ground. Her legs folded as she slept on her side. Sytze stood up and walked to Kitty. She didn’t have much sleep either last night and had trouble keeping her eyes open.
‘Why don’t you take a nap as well, Kitty? I’ll keep watch for now.’
The young woman looked up to him and without saying anything, she walked to the tree where he slept just a few minutes ago. Just before she closed her eyes, she thanked the young ranger and wished him good night. Sytze sat himself down on a large rock near the campfire and sighed, this could be the beginning of a very long night.
After a few hours keeping watch, Sytze suddenly heard twigs breaking somewhere away from the camp. He stood up and scouted the surroundings, hoping to catch another sound, or the source of it. His eyes were fixed on the trees to his right and after a couple of seconds he heard a voice coming from the forest. Whatever it was, it closing in on their sleeping place…
He cleared the place of the smouldering fire and grabbed his bow and quiver, but when he wanted to put it on his back, he noticed he didn’t have any arrows. Great! He cursed at himself. I should’ve checked my arrow supply before falling asleep! Well, time for plan B then. Walking to the place where Rethne had stashed their weapons, he took his black cape and swung it over his back. The hood he threw over his head so that it blocked a large portion of his upper face, blackening the rest. He then picked up his silver katana with the red and black handle and engravings in his right hand and his dagger in his left hand. Swinging it in a circle a couple of times, he kept them crossed under his cape and sneaked towards the cause of the sounds. Almost entering he darkness of the forest, he turned and looked at Phaere.
‘Wake them if it gets too dangerous’ he whispered.
The wolf stood up and let out a small howl, as if it understood what the young man had just said. With that, Sytze turned around quickly and vanished in the woods, swallowed by the darkness.
Voices of men reached Sytze’s ears. He stood behind a small bush, just large enough to cover his body and watched to group of men walk by. They were whispering. When the first couple of men came within Sytze’s hearing range, he heard them talk about an ambush. Apparently the three friends and their loot had been spotted by a bandit in the afternoon and it would seem he brought some of his friends with him. Sytze lowered his body and looked at the men. In the moonlight he could clearly see how they looked like. They wore torn clothes, some had scars on their head and others missed an ear or even an eye. Their weaponry ranged from bow and arrow, to longsword and hammers. He couldn’t precisely tell how many there were, for he heard more voices than he saw bandits. Sytze focussed on the group and wondered what to do. The bandits had obvious trouble finding the resting place of the other two women and he was now happy he didn’t wake his two companions. Should he have alarmed them, the noise would certainly have attracted the bandits and they would’ve been in a perfect ambush place. He watched the bandits and saw them moving away from his former camp. Just when Sytze was about to sigh of relief, he heard another voice telling the bandit group to turn left. One of the men had recognised this place…
No! He yelled to himself. This cannot be!
A couple of bandits had passed by, when Sytze jumped out of the bushes. In the moonlight he could see the surprised faces of the fighters and immediately he struck a bandit with his katana in the belly, causing the man to fall over in pain with an agonised look on his face. He then ripped his katana out, twirled around and hit another bandit with his dagger in the back. A small thumb could be heard when the dagger penetrated the flesh and hit the bone. In his eye corner, he saw a sword coming, but turned just in time to evade it. In a reaction the furious bandit tried to stab him with a dagger he carried in his other hand, but Sytze parried it, let the man trip and drove his katana into to back of the laying bandit. He stood up, twirled his blades rapidly and grabbed them so that they were pointing in a different direction. His weapons were now, instead of pointing to the front with the sharp ends of the blade to the inside, largely behind his back with the cutting edges to the outside. In a fight with many opponents, or when the fighting went very fast, he always twisted his blades. Although the force behind his blows was small this way, his speed increased and he was more deadly.
Bandits moved in one by one and the fighting frenzy started. From all sides swords, arrows and other blunt weapons came flying in. In the darkness of the night, Sytze kept moving, twirling and evading blows, his cape swinging with every move and his blades sparkling with blood in the moonlight. The bandits were obviously not strong and very capable warriors, but what they lacked in technique, they made up in sheer numbers. All this, just for three adventurers? He thought and dodged another blow, jumped backwards, deflected a second blow and drove his katana trough the side of a third bandit. He then grabbed a thin tree, twirled around it and struck another bandit in the chest.
After a couple minutes of fighting with such speed, Sytze stated to get tired. His agility and speed decreased and his strikes were not so ferocious anymore. He moved back, towards the camp, hoping for help from his companions, for he knew he wouldn’t last long at this rate of fighting. When he was almost there, Phaere suddenly leapt out of the bushes and snapped the neck of one of the bandits. His friends were already aware of the threat of combat!. Kitty came rushing in wielding her scimitar, while chanting a spell. Hope grew in Sytze’s heart and he moved towards a warrior wielding two weapons at the same time. When the warrior almost reached Sytze, a loud crack was heard and the man fell, blood coming out of his mouth. Behind him, Rethne held a dagger in each of her hands, covered in blood. Suddenly a huge lightning bold thundered down from the sky and hit two bandits, leaving nothing but ashes and melted steel. Kitty had finished her spell and had called on lightning.
However, there were still enough bandits and the battle raged on. In time, the companions were driven back to the place where they had just spent the day eating in peace.
‘We have to flee from this place!’ Kitty yelled. ‘There are too many of them, we can’t handle them all!’
‘Never!’ Rethne screamed back. ‘I’m not fleeing from this worthless rabble!’
The two women looked at Sytze, but got no response. The young warrior was too busy dodging blows and dishing out damage to notice anything of the screaming.
Kitty started to cast another spell, but just before she finished it, she heard yelling from her left.
<Not more bandits? We can’t handle them all!>
<Nay my friend, don’t you recognise the sounds?>
Kitty looked up and to her surprise she saw Salem, Duncan and Stanislav charging in. Light came radiating from the sorcerer and when he pushed his arms in front of him, a huge red ball was shot from his hands. It reached a group of bandits and exploded, throwing three bandits of their feet. Meanwhile, Stanislav was wrecking havoc on a few fighters with his staff and Duncan moved to the pile of weapons to grab his trusted katana. He moved as quickly as he could towards Sytze, who was twirling around with his blades, and joined him in the fighting. When the Kensai came rushing in, Sytze took a few steps back and let Duncan work his magic on the remaining bandits. By now Duncan’s speed and skill outclassed that of Sytze by far and he was afraid to only be in the kensai’s way. The ranger was too tired of the endless fighting and too injured to play any real role in the remaining combat.
Sytze staggered back, holding his arm in which he was just severely cut and looked to his left. There he saw Salem preparing another spell. Salem moved his arms in strange directions in front of his face and his hands began to glow. Pointing them at a man shooting arrows at Phaere, a strange orb was suddenly shot, leaving the bandit disintegrated. With that, the remaining bandits tried to flee, but Rethne, Duncan and Phaere finished most of them before they could even move into the coverage of trees. The fight was won, but had taken its toll. Phaere, as well as Sytze, was heavily scarred, while Rethne and Kitty were out of breath. Kitty had depleted all of her spells and wouldn’t be able to cast until the next day…
‘Why don’t you take a nap as well, Kitty? I’ll keep watch for now.’
The young woman looked up to him and without saying anything, she walked to the tree where he slept just a few minutes ago. Just before she closed her eyes, she thanked the young ranger and wished him good night. Sytze sat himself down on a large rock near the campfire and sighed, this could be the beginning of a very long night.
After a few hours keeping watch, Sytze suddenly heard twigs breaking somewhere away from the camp. He stood up and scouted the surroundings, hoping to catch another sound, or the source of it. His eyes were fixed on the trees to his right and after a couple of seconds he heard a voice coming from the forest. Whatever it was, it closing in on their sleeping place…
He cleared the place of the smouldering fire and grabbed his bow and quiver, but when he wanted to put it on his back, he noticed he didn’t have any arrows. Great! He cursed at himself. I should’ve checked my arrow supply before falling asleep! Well, time for plan B then. Walking to the place where Rethne had stashed their weapons, he took his black cape and swung it over his back. The hood he threw over his head so that it blocked a large portion of his upper face, blackening the rest. He then picked up his silver katana with the red and black handle and engravings in his right hand and his dagger in his left hand. Swinging it in a circle a couple of times, he kept them crossed under his cape and sneaked towards the cause of the sounds. Almost entering he darkness of the forest, he turned and looked at Phaere.
‘Wake them if it gets too dangerous’ he whispered.
The wolf stood up and let out a small howl, as if it understood what the young man had just said. With that, Sytze turned around quickly and vanished in the woods, swallowed by the darkness.
Voices of men reached Sytze’s ears. He stood behind a small bush, just large enough to cover his body and watched to group of men walk by. They were whispering. When the first couple of men came within Sytze’s hearing range, he heard them talk about an ambush. Apparently the three friends and their loot had been spotted by a bandit in the afternoon and it would seem he brought some of his friends with him. Sytze lowered his body and looked at the men. In the moonlight he could clearly see how they looked like. They wore torn clothes, some had scars on their head and others missed an ear or even an eye. Their weaponry ranged from bow and arrow, to longsword and hammers. He couldn’t precisely tell how many there were, for he heard more voices than he saw bandits. Sytze focussed on the group and wondered what to do. The bandits had obvious trouble finding the resting place of the other two women and he was now happy he didn’t wake his two companions. Should he have alarmed them, the noise would certainly have attracted the bandits and they would’ve been in a perfect ambush place. He watched the bandits and saw them moving away from his former camp. Just when Sytze was about to sigh of relief, he heard another voice telling the bandit group to turn left. One of the men had recognised this place…
No! He yelled to himself. This cannot be!
A couple of bandits had passed by, when Sytze jumped out of the bushes. In the moonlight he could see the surprised faces of the fighters and immediately he struck a bandit with his katana in the belly, causing the man to fall over in pain with an agonised look on his face. He then ripped his katana out, twirled around and hit another bandit with his dagger in the back. A small thumb could be heard when the dagger penetrated the flesh and hit the bone. In his eye corner, he saw a sword coming, but turned just in time to evade it. In a reaction the furious bandit tried to stab him with a dagger he carried in his other hand, but Sytze parried it, let the man trip and drove his katana into to back of the laying bandit. He stood up, twirled his blades rapidly and grabbed them so that they were pointing in a different direction. His weapons were now, instead of pointing to the front with the sharp ends of the blade to the inside, largely behind his back with the cutting edges to the outside. In a fight with many opponents, or when the fighting went very fast, he always twisted his blades. Although the force behind his blows was small this way, his speed increased and he was more deadly.
Bandits moved in one by one and the fighting frenzy started. From all sides swords, arrows and other blunt weapons came flying in. In the darkness of the night, Sytze kept moving, twirling and evading blows, his cape swinging with every move and his blades sparkling with blood in the moonlight. The bandits were obviously not strong and very capable warriors, but what they lacked in technique, they made up in sheer numbers. All this, just for three adventurers? He thought and dodged another blow, jumped backwards, deflected a second blow and drove his katana trough the side of a third bandit. He then grabbed a thin tree, twirled around it and struck another bandit in the chest.
After a couple minutes of fighting with such speed, Sytze stated to get tired. His agility and speed decreased and his strikes were not so ferocious anymore. He moved back, towards the camp, hoping for help from his companions, for he knew he wouldn’t last long at this rate of fighting. When he was almost there, Phaere suddenly leapt out of the bushes and snapped the neck of one of the bandits. His friends were already aware of the threat of combat!. Kitty came rushing in wielding her scimitar, while chanting a spell. Hope grew in Sytze’s heart and he moved towards a warrior wielding two weapons at the same time. When the warrior almost reached Sytze, a loud crack was heard and the man fell, blood coming out of his mouth. Behind him, Rethne held a dagger in each of her hands, covered in blood. Suddenly a huge lightning bold thundered down from the sky and hit two bandits, leaving nothing but ashes and melted steel. Kitty had finished her spell and had called on lightning.
However, there were still enough bandits and the battle raged on. In time, the companions were driven back to the place where they had just spent the day eating in peace.
‘We have to flee from this place!’ Kitty yelled. ‘There are too many of them, we can’t handle them all!’
‘Never!’ Rethne screamed back. ‘I’m not fleeing from this worthless rabble!’
The two women looked at Sytze, but got no response. The young warrior was too busy dodging blows and dishing out damage to notice anything of the screaming.
Kitty started to cast another spell, but just before she finished it, she heard yelling from her left.
<Not more bandits? We can’t handle them all!>
<Nay my friend, don’t you recognise the sounds?>
Kitty looked up and to her surprise she saw Salem, Duncan and Stanislav charging in. Light came radiating from the sorcerer and when he pushed his arms in front of him, a huge red ball was shot from his hands. It reached a group of bandits and exploded, throwing three bandits of their feet. Meanwhile, Stanislav was wrecking havoc on a few fighters with his staff and Duncan moved to the pile of weapons to grab his trusted katana. He moved as quickly as he could towards Sytze, who was twirling around with his blades, and joined him in the fighting. When the Kensai came rushing in, Sytze took a few steps back and let Duncan work his magic on the remaining bandits. By now Duncan’s speed and skill outclassed that of Sytze by far and he was afraid to only be in the kensai’s way. The ranger was too tired of the endless fighting and too injured to play any real role in the remaining combat.
Sytze staggered back, holding his arm in which he was just severely cut and looked to his left. There he saw Salem preparing another spell. Salem moved his arms in strange directions in front of his face and his hands began to glow. Pointing them at a man shooting arrows at Phaere, a strange orb was suddenly shot, leaving the bandit disintegrated. With that, the remaining bandits tried to flee, but Rethne, Duncan and Phaere finished most of them before they could even move into the coverage of trees. The fight was won, but had taken its toll. Phaere, as well as Sytze, was heavily scarred, while Rethne and Kitty were out of breath. Kitty had depleted all of her spells and wouldn’t be able to cast until the next day…
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"
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werebeargoddess
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Kitty sank down against a tree. She was worn and tired. She didn't think that she could travel, even if she wanted. And from the looks of it, nor could any of the others. Of all of them, though, Sytze looked the worst. She wanted to heal him, but she was out of spells. At this point, if she tried to heal him, indeed, if she tried to heal anyone, then it might kill her. She sighed, then thinking that nobody was watching, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
When she awoke, it looked to be mid-morning. Looking around, she saw that the others were already awake. Rethne was working on her weapons, probably cleaning them. Duncan and Salem were deep in conversation. Sytze seemed to be asleep. Good, thought Kitty, He looked pretty injured yesterday. Kitty couldn't tell what Stanislav was doing; but as soon as he realized that she was awake and watching him, he hurried over to her.
Stanislav sat down next to her, handing her some food.
"You looked tired," He told Kitty as she ate. Kitty nodded for him to continue as she ate.
"It's a good thing you got some sleep," he continued, "You and Sytze both looked as though you would faint."
He was silent for a bit, then said, "The others and I have been talking, but we wanted to wait for your and Sytze's opinions before we decided to do anything else. Rethne wanted to wake the two of you, but Salem wouldn't let her. She was pretty annoyed." Stanislav smiled; so did Kitty. So much had happened since she had first joined the group, that she wasn't scared of him, or even, really, of any of the other men in the group; not the way she had been before.
"But anyway," said Stanislav, "We were talking about continuing to the Bal'nur caves. Now that we have out weapons, we won't have much trouble. What do you think?"
Kitty considered this. At the start, she had never considered coming this far with them But now... Now they were so much closer, the six of them. Except perhaps Rethne. But when she really thought about it, she wanted to travel with them. She wanted to help them find this treasure. She liked being with them. They were her friends, and she felt she owed it to them that she help them. She nodded. "Yes, I think we should," she told him.
Stanislav nodded, and stood up. "All we need to do now is wait for Sytze,"
he told her.
He was about to leave when Kitty grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Stanislav, wait." Stanislav stopped and looked at her, sightly suprised.
"Stanislav- I just want to say, thanks. Out of everyone, you've been the kindest to me, even though you've had the most reason not to. And I-I appreciate that." Kitty shook her head, trying to put what she felt into words.
"I - I haven't had that many friends. Ever since my village was destroyed, the only friend that I've really had was Phraen. But you- you've been the closest thing I've had to a human friend in a long, long time. And I thank you for that."
Kitty finshed, and looked at Stanislav. He was thinking hard, but she couldn't read what he was thinking. All at once, he smiled, sat down again, and put his arm around Kitty, startling her.
"Then I am much honored, Druid One," he said, as she laughed.
When she awoke, it looked to be mid-morning. Looking around, she saw that the others were already awake. Rethne was working on her weapons, probably cleaning them. Duncan and Salem were deep in conversation. Sytze seemed to be asleep. Good, thought Kitty, He looked pretty injured yesterday. Kitty couldn't tell what Stanislav was doing; but as soon as he realized that she was awake and watching him, he hurried over to her.
Stanislav sat down next to her, handing her some food.
"You looked tired," He told Kitty as she ate. Kitty nodded for him to continue as she ate.
"It's a good thing you got some sleep," he continued, "You and Sytze both looked as though you would faint."
He was silent for a bit, then said, "The others and I have been talking, but we wanted to wait for your and Sytze's opinions before we decided to do anything else. Rethne wanted to wake the two of you, but Salem wouldn't let her. She was pretty annoyed." Stanislav smiled; so did Kitty. So much had happened since she had first joined the group, that she wasn't scared of him, or even, really, of any of the other men in the group; not the way she had been before.
"But anyway," said Stanislav, "We were talking about continuing to the Bal'nur caves. Now that we have out weapons, we won't have much trouble. What do you think?"
Kitty considered this. At the start, she had never considered coming this far with them But now... Now they were so much closer, the six of them. Except perhaps Rethne. But when she really thought about it, she wanted to travel with them. She wanted to help them find this treasure. She liked being with them. They were her friends, and she felt she owed it to them that she help them. She nodded. "Yes, I think we should," she told him.
Stanislav nodded, and stood up. "All we need to do now is wait for Sytze,"
he told her.
He was about to leave when Kitty grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Stanislav, wait." Stanislav stopped and looked at her, sightly suprised.
"Stanislav- I just want to say, thanks. Out of everyone, you've been the kindest to me, even though you've had the most reason not to. And I-I appreciate that." Kitty shook her head, trying to put what she felt into words.
"I - I haven't had that many friends. Ever since my village was destroyed, the only friend that I've really had was Phraen. But you- you've been the closest thing I've had to a human friend in a long, long time. And I thank you for that."
Kitty finshed, and looked at Stanislav. He was thinking hard, but she couldn't read what he was thinking. All at once, he smiled, sat down again, and put his arm around Kitty, startling her.
"Then I am much honored, Druid One," he said, as she laughed.
I wanted to change my sig, but I can't think of anything to change it to 
The Caves of Bal'nur
Authors note: Check Duncan's background here post #10
The group walked through the thick forest floor with Sytze and Rethne leading the way with the map. The rest of the group came after them, Duncan made up the rear. The group had decided to travel to the caves of Bal’nur after all.
After the battle with the bandits, the group’s spirits were high. They had discovered that together they made a great team, and they had become good friends as well.
Rethne’s map showed that the caves would be at the end of the forest, by the foot of a great mountain. They were now nearing caves, and although they had the map, they still would have to search for the entrance which would be hidden.
Once they reached the mountainside they started searching for the entrance, but without any luck. They sat down after a while to take a break and discuss what to do.
As they were talking things over, Salem suddenly stood up.
“Listen!” he said while looking about “We are not alone”
Duncan stood up as well, listening…
“What is it?” Stanislav whispered concerned
“I can hear them well now” Duncan said
“Hear what Duncan? Kitty wondered
“Ogres, Goblins and Orcs” he said, “A lot of them”
“I’ll go take a look” Sytze said “Wait here”
After a few minutes he returned
“There are a whole lot of them, many more than we can handle, we need to find the entrance fast and get out of here”
The group got up quickly and resumed their work of finding the entrance; Sytze stood guard with his bow in case anyone should see them.
After a few minutes of searching, Kitty spotted something unnatural about a bush by the cliff. She gently moved the bush aside, revealing an opening in the cliffside.
She summoned the others, who quietly congratulated her on the find. As they walked into the cave, Sytze spotted a scout patrol of goblins not far away. He readied an arrow, while telling the others about the threat.
Suddenly one the goblins spotted the group and called out.
Sytze quickly killed the scouts with his arrows, but the damage was done, the enemy knew they were here…
Duncan was the last into the cave. He tried to cover the entrance with the bush as best he could.
Just as he finished, a giant ogre came thrashing through, its eyes read with bloodlust and combat glee. Duncan drew his katana while moving backwards from the beast. The ogre pulled out a huge iron club and advanced on Duncan.
As Duncan parried the first blow of the creature, he felt the immense strength behind the blow. The ogre struck again, but Duncan was able to dodge the blow. The next blow came too fast and Duncan was smashed into the cave wall. Feeling victorious, the ogre picked Duncan up by the throat and started tightening the grip. Duncan fought desperately against the strangling hold on his throat. He stiffed his index and middle finger and stuck them in the creature’s eye. The beast roared in pain, but it did not let go, instead it tightened its grip. Losing consciousness, Duncan felt a strange stirring within him; he could feel some wild power rising up within him, building up a tremendous force. He opened his eyes and trembled with the incredible force that was taking hold of him. His head was filled with excruciating pain from the lack of oxygen and the terrible power that was surging through him. He felt himself losing hold of reality…
Just as he felt himself slipping into darkness, he sensed a release of the wild magic within him; he heard an enormous explosion which seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth. He fell to the ground, free of the ogre’s grip and slipping into unconsciousness.
He opened his eyes and saw Kitty with a worried look on her face.
“Wha- What happened?” he asked weakly
“I don’t know, we heard a blast, and when we looked back the ogre was nothing tiny pieces, and the cave entrance was blocked by a rubble of boulders” she answered
“We found you unconscious but unharmed” she continued
“Stanislav carried you back here” she said and looked up at the gladiator who had a worried look on his face.
“Where’s here?” Duncan whispered, still sore from the ogre’s grip.
“Look for yourself” she said and helped him sit up
“We are found the treasure” she smiled
They were in a small room, apparently of dwarven origin. On the walls hung all sorts of weapons, and armor, and on the floor stood several large chests.
When the rest of the group saw that he was up they came over with worried expressions, all except Rethne who was trying to pick the lock of one of the chests.
“I’m all right” Duncan said as he staggered to his feet.
“You sure?” Stanislav asked worried.
“Y- Yes, in fact I feel remarkably well” he replied, just as surprised as everyone else.
“That’s incredible, that blast completely destroyed that huge ogre” Kitty said
“What was that anyway? Sytze asked
“I have only seen such destruction once” Salem said “That was when one of my teachers showed me his strongest spell, it was called comet.”
“But could one of our enemies have cast that spell?” Stanislav asked
“No, that’s a very potent spell, only a few arch-mages know it” Salem replied “there is no way that any of those beasts would be able to cast a spell like that”
“They didn’t either” Duncan said “I think I cast it,”
“What?!” the group asked almost as one
“That cannot be?” Kitty asked “You’re no wizard”
“No, it might be true” Salem interrupted “Tell me Duncan, who was your parents?”
“Well, my father was a barbarian warrior, and my mother was an elven sorceress” he replied
“I see, Duncan my friend, I know what you are” Salem said with a smile
“What do you mean?” Duncan asked worried
“You are a wild mage, one with the wild uncontrollable magic surging through their veins” Salem said “You were lucky with that spell, you could’ve just as well summoned a flock of furry rabbits instead” everybody smiled at this thought.
“All right you berks!” Rethne interrupted “Enough of this happy family chat, after this sod blasted the entrance, we’re kinda stuck in here!”
“Relax feisty one” Stanislav said “We’ll get out of here; there must be another exit somewhere”
Rethne only mumbled some unintelligible curse and went back to picking the locks of the chests…
“By the way Duncan” Stanislav said “I found this when I picked you up, looks like some large egg. You were holding on to it” Stanislav showed Duncan a large egg. It was the size of a man’s head and was completely white.
“Looks like your magic summoned something as well” laughed Salem
“I just wonder what it is” Duncan said as he picked up a cloth bag and put the egg in and went to look at the treasure with the rest of the group…
Authors note: Check Duncan's background here post #10
The group walked through the thick forest floor with Sytze and Rethne leading the way with the map. The rest of the group came after them, Duncan made up the rear. The group had decided to travel to the caves of Bal’nur after all.
After the battle with the bandits, the group’s spirits were high. They had discovered that together they made a great team, and they had become good friends as well.
Rethne’s map showed that the caves would be at the end of the forest, by the foot of a great mountain. They were now nearing caves, and although they had the map, they still would have to search for the entrance which would be hidden.
Once they reached the mountainside they started searching for the entrance, but without any luck. They sat down after a while to take a break and discuss what to do.
As they were talking things over, Salem suddenly stood up.
“Listen!” he said while looking about “We are not alone”
Duncan stood up as well, listening…
“What is it?” Stanislav whispered concerned
“I can hear them well now” Duncan said
“Hear what Duncan? Kitty wondered
“Ogres, Goblins and Orcs” he said, “A lot of them”
“I’ll go take a look” Sytze said “Wait here”
After a few minutes he returned
“There are a whole lot of them, many more than we can handle, we need to find the entrance fast and get out of here”
The group got up quickly and resumed their work of finding the entrance; Sytze stood guard with his bow in case anyone should see them.
After a few minutes of searching, Kitty spotted something unnatural about a bush by the cliff. She gently moved the bush aside, revealing an opening in the cliffside.
She summoned the others, who quietly congratulated her on the find. As they walked into the cave, Sytze spotted a scout patrol of goblins not far away. He readied an arrow, while telling the others about the threat.
Suddenly one the goblins spotted the group and called out.
Sytze quickly killed the scouts with his arrows, but the damage was done, the enemy knew they were here…
Duncan was the last into the cave. He tried to cover the entrance with the bush as best he could.
Just as he finished, a giant ogre came thrashing through, its eyes read with bloodlust and combat glee. Duncan drew his katana while moving backwards from the beast. The ogre pulled out a huge iron club and advanced on Duncan.
As Duncan parried the first blow of the creature, he felt the immense strength behind the blow. The ogre struck again, but Duncan was able to dodge the blow. The next blow came too fast and Duncan was smashed into the cave wall. Feeling victorious, the ogre picked Duncan up by the throat and started tightening the grip. Duncan fought desperately against the strangling hold on his throat. He stiffed his index and middle finger and stuck them in the creature’s eye. The beast roared in pain, but it did not let go, instead it tightened its grip. Losing consciousness, Duncan felt a strange stirring within him; he could feel some wild power rising up within him, building up a tremendous force. He opened his eyes and trembled with the incredible force that was taking hold of him. His head was filled with excruciating pain from the lack of oxygen and the terrible power that was surging through him. He felt himself losing hold of reality…
Just as he felt himself slipping into darkness, he sensed a release of the wild magic within him; he heard an enormous explosion which seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth. He fell to the ground, free of the ogre’s grip and slipping into unconsciousness.
He opened his eyes and saw Kitty with a worried look on her face.
“Wha- What happened?” he asked weakly
“I don’t know, we heard a blast, and when we looked back the ogre was nothing tiny pieces, and the cave entrance was blocked by a rubble of boulders” she answered
“We found you unconscious but unharmed” she continued
“Stanislav carried you back here” she said and looked up at the gladiator who had a worried look on his face.
“Where’s here?” Duncan whispered, still sore from the ogre’s grip.
“Look for yourself” she said and helped him sit up
“We are found the treasure” she smiled
They were in a small room, apparently of dwarven origin. On the walls hung all sorts of weapons, and armor, and on the floor stood several large chests.
When the rest of the group saw that he was up they came over with worried expressions, all except Rethne who was trying to pick the lock of one of the chests.
“I’m all right” Duncan said as he staggered to his feet.
“You sure?” Stanislav asked worried.
“Y- Yes, in fact I feel remarkably well” he replied, just as surprised as everyone else.
“That’s incredible, that blast completely destroyed that huge ogre” Kitty said
“What was that anyway? Sytze asked
“I have only seen such destruction once” Salem said “That was when one of my teachers showed me his strongest spell, it was called comet.”
“But could one of our enemies have cast that spell?” Stanislav asked
“No, that’s a very potent spell, only a few arch-mages know it” Salem replied “there is no way that any of those beasts would be able to cast a spell like that”
“They didn’t either” Duncan said “I think I cast it,”
“What?!” the group asked almost as one
“That cannot be?” Kitty asked “You’re no wizard”
“No, it might be true” Salem interrupted “Tell me Duncan, who was your parents?”
“Well, my father was a barbarian warrior, and my mother was an elven sorceress” he replied
“I see, Duncan my friend, I know what you are” Salem said with a smile
“What do you mean?” Duncan asked worried
“You are a wild mage, one with the wild uncontrollable magic surging through their veins” Salem said “You were lucky with that spell, you could’ve just as well summoned a flock of furry rabbits instead” everybody smiled at this thought.
“All right you berks!” Rethne interrupted “Enough of this happy family chat, after this sod blasted the entrance, we’re kinda stuck in here!”
“Relax feisty one” Stanislav said “We’ll get out of here; there must be another exit somewhere”
Rethne only mumbled some unintelligible curse and went back to picking the locks of the chests…
“By the way Duncan” Stanislav said “I found this when I picked you up, looks like some large egg. You were holding on to it” Stanislav showed Duncan a large egg. It was the size of a man’s head and was completely white.
“Looks like your magic summoned something as well” laughed Salem
“I just wonder what it is” Duncan said as he picked up a cloth bag and put the egg in and went to look at the treasure with the rest of the group…
This is my signature.
Sytze stood in the corner of the treasure room leaning against the wall with his arms and legs crossed. He was deep in thoughts. His bow lay in front of him, with an arrow just near it. The ranger had his head turned to the ground and because he still had his cape on, his eyes were blocked from sight. The rest of the group was busy checking the treasure room out. It was fairly weird that they found it so easy, without being harmed in any way. Too easy actually, but perhaps that was Rethne’s doing. On the way through the dark tunnels, which were only visible because of a spell from Salem, she had found and disabled many traps that would’ve otherwise turned any man into a sad, broken pile of flesh and bones. The few enemies that they had encountered were taking out by Sytze's trusted bow before they could even reach one of the friends.
When the party had reached the treasure room, everyone’s mouth fell wide open of amazement. Even his own. The floor was littered with gold pieces and chests. One more beautiful crafted than the other. Cold, red and silver tapestries coloured the ceiling, giving the room an even more mystical look when the light touched it. Weapons and armour of all kinds could be found hanging on the wall. Especially Stanislav seemed to appreciate that. The last couple of the days the boy had done nothing but complain about his metal armour. Well, armour, it were more a bunch of metal plates strapped together by some self-made ropes, so his complaining was pretty much well-founded. The young gladiator had looked around the room with such enthusiasm, that Sytze had to hold his laugh when Stanislav had finally found a prefect fit. Rethne had done nothing but walk from one chest to another, hoping to get hold of the most expensive stuff available. While doing so, she had a gleam in her eyes and she obviously enjoyed herself. Salem, on the other hand, was busy looking for scrolls and other magic items. Having the highest lore of the group, together with Rethne, they sorted everything of value. Kitty and Phraere were eyeing the ceiling. The young woman couldn’t keep her eyes of the beautiful tapestries and their magnificent symbols. Duncan, like Sytze, paid almost no attention to the valuables around. He was busier trying to recall his recent encounter and how on earth he got this strange egg. Every now and then he scratched his head, feeling the sore bump on his head.
‘This is just great.’ Sytze mumbled under his hood.
‘What is great?’ Duncan asked, as he walked towards Sytze, abandoning his own thoughts for the moment.
‘Us sitting here. You blew up the only exit that we knew about and we have no idea if there’s another exit.’
‘Or entrance!’ Stanislav interrupted dryly. The gladiator had just taken on his new armour and had picked up the discussion between the two warriors.
Sytze rolled with his eyes under his hood, before he took it off.
‘Yes, or entrance, Stanislav. Regardless, even if we find another exit…’ and Sytze looked at the gladiator ‘…or entrance, we got half an army of orcs, goblins and ogres waiting outside. What is that anyway with those creatures? They seem to roam these lands with more numbers each time we encounter them.’
‘Stop being so negative’ Rethne replied, while picking a lock of a huge wooden chest. ‘You really have a touch for lifting the mood, don’t ya?
‘I’ll say’ Stalem said in agreement with Rethne. ‘I’m sure we’ll find an exit sooner or later.’
Sytze sighed and pushed himself off the wall. He picked up his arrow, put it in his quiver and hung his bow at his back.
‘Well, unless we find another ogre, let our friend Duncan here go to battle with it and then pray he will blow an exit for us with a comet spell, I’m not sure how much time we’ll spent here. Especially now our little thief is so preoccupied with all these shiny things here.’ And Sytze pointed at Rethne. Hearing Sytze’s remark, Kitty had to hold a hand for her mouth in order not to burst out in laughing.
‘Very funny,’ Duncan replied sarcastic, but with a grin on his face. He quickly shifted the subject of discussion ‘Say, why don’t you pick up any equipment? There’s enough choice here and most weapons or armour are quite enchanted.’
‘True,’ Salem interrupted. ‘First class equipment is what the former dwarf inhabitants made here.’
‘That may be so,’ Sytze said, ‘but I’ve got my own equipment and they serve me just fine. Besides, I don’t think I’ll be able to find a better katana or bow for me anyway.’
Sytze stopped talking for a moment and turned to Duncan.
‘Would you trade your katana for any other weapon here?’
‘Err, not really.’ Duncan replied
‘But there’s other stuff than bows or katanas in this place. How about an amulet, or this dagger?
Salem picked up a dagger and held it in the sky. The dagger was made of gold and had little green and blue emeralds engraved in its handle. The top of the dagger did not end straight, but more in a curve and the end had a red glow, as if it was poisoned. When Rethne saw the blade, she quickly jumped towards Salem and grabbed the dagger out of his hand, leaving him staring baffled at his empty hands.
‘It seems that dagger is spoken for.’ The sorcerer replied when realising he didn’t hold the magic item in his hands.
‘I say we head out of these caves while we still got the energy.’ Duncan suggested suddenly.
‘Agreed. Take any valuables you want, or need, with you and lets get going. I’m not sure how long we’ll be walking around in this dungeon, but I prefer to start looking while I’m still young, awake and not that hungry.’ Sytze replied. ‘Besides, I’d rather be outside in the forest, than walking around in this dusty, dark and small place. Even if that means fighting against ogres and risking a comet on our head from Duncan.'
‘Ones again, very funny.’ The kensai said, this time without a grin on his face.
‘I’m sorry, Duncan. I couldn’t resist.’ responded Sytze with a smile. And with that, he eyed his friends to see if they were all ready. Everyone was packing their bags, except for Kitty, who was staring at some strange necklace…
When the party had reached the treasure room, everyone’s mouth fell wide open of amazement. Even his own. The floor was littered with gold pieces and chests. One more beautiful crafted than the other. Cold, red and silver tapestries coloured the ceiling, giving the room an even more mystical look when the light touched it. Weapons and armour of all kinds could be found hanging on the wall. Especially Stanislav seemed to appreciate that. The last couple of the days the boy had done nothing but complain about his metal armour. Well, armour, it were more a bunch of metal plates strapped together by some self-made ropes, so his complaining was pretty much well-founded. The young gladiator had looked around the room with such enthusiasm, that Sytze had to hold his laugh when Stanislav had finally found a prefect fit. Rethne had done nothing but walk from one chest to another, hoping to get hold of the most expensive stuff available. While doing so, she had a gleam in her eyes and she obviously enjoyed herself. Salem, on the other hand, was busy looking for scrolls and other magic items. Having the highest lore of the group, together with Rethne, they sorted everything of value. Kitty and Phraere were eyeing the ceiling. The young woman couldn’t keep her eyes of the beautiful tapestries and their magnificent symbols. Duncan, like Sytze, paid almost no attention to the valuables around. He was busier trying to recall his recent encounter and how on earth he got this strange egg. Every now and then he scratched his head, feeling the sore bump on his head.
‘This is just great.’ Sytze mumbled under his hood.
‘What is great?’ Duncan asked, as he walked towards Sytze, abandoning his own thoughts for the moment.
‘Us sitting here. You blew up the only exit that we knew about and we have no idea if there’s another exit.’
‘Or entrance!’ Stanislav interrupted dryly. The gladiator had just taken on his new armour and had picked up the discussion between the two warriors.
Sytze rolled with his eyes under his hood, before he took it off.
‘Yes, or entrance, Stanislav. Regardless, even if we find another exit…’ and Sytze looked at the gladiator ‘…or entrance, we got half an army of orcs, goblins and ogres waiting outside. What is that anyway with those creatures? They seem to roam these lands with more numbers each time we encounter them.’
‘Stop being so negative’ Rethne replied, while picking a lock of a huge wooden chest. ‘You really have a touch for lifting the mood, don’t ya?
‘I’ll say’ Stalem said in agreement with Rethne. ‘I’m sure we’ll find an exit sooner or later.’
Sytze sighed and pushed himself off the wall. He picked up his arrow, put it in his quiver and hung his bow at his back.
‘Well, unless we find another ogre, let our friend Duncan here go to battle with it and then pray he will blow an exit for us with a comet spell, I’m not sure how much time we’ll spent here. Especially now our little thief is so preoccupied with all these shiny things here.’ And Sytze pointed at Rethne. Hearing Sytze’s remark, Kitty had to hold a hand for her mouth in order not to burst out in laughing.
‘Very funny,’ Duncan replied sarcastic, but with a grin on his face. He quickly shifted the subject of discussion ‘Say, why don’t you pick up any equipment? There’s enough choice here and most weapons or armour are quite enchanted.’
‘True,’ Salem interrupted. ‘First class equipment is what the former dwarf inhabitants made here.’
‘That may be so,’ Sytze said, ‘but I’ve got my own equipment and they serve me just fine. Besides, I don’t think I’ll be able to find a better katana or bow for me anyway.’
Sytze stopped talking for a moment and turned to Duncan.
‘Would you trade your katana for any other weapon here?’
‘Err, not really.’ Duncan replied
‘But there’s other stuff than bows or katanas in this place. How about an amulet, or this dagger?
Salem picked up a dagger and held it in the sky. The dagger was made of gold and had little green and blue emeralds engraved in its handle. The top of the dagger did not end straight, but more in a curve and the end had a red glow, as if it was poisoned. When Rethne saw the blade, she quickly jumped towards Salem and grabbed the dagger out of his hand, leaving him staring baffled at his empty hands.
‘It seems that dagger is spoken for.’ The sorcerer replied when realising he didn’t hold the magic item in his hands.
‘I say we head out of these caves while we still got the energy.’ Duncan suggested suddenly.
‘Agreed. Take any valuables you want, or need, with you and lets get going. I’m not sure how long we’ll be walking around in this dungeon, but I prefer to start looking while I’m still young, awake and not that hungry.’ Sytze replied. ‘Besides, I’d rather be outside in the forest, than walking around in this dusty, dark and small place. Even if that means fighting against ogres and risking a comet on our head from Duncan.'
‘Ones again, very funny.’ The kensai said, this time without a grin on his face.
‘I’m sorry, Duncan. I couldn’t resist.’ responded Sytze with a smile. And with that, he eyed his friends to see if they were all ready. Everyone was packing their bags, except for Kitty, who was staring at some strange necklace…
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"
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werebeargoddess
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Kitty looked closely at the necklace. There was something oddly familiar about it. She knew she had seen it from somewhere... but where? Perhaps she had seen it on her travels, or in her village, beore it was destroyed. But where? Silently, she mindcalled over to Phraen.
<Do you recognise this?> She asked, holding the necklace out to Phraen. Cautiously, the wolf sniffed it, and sneezed.
<Not really. I know I've smelled something like it before, though.>
<Oh? And what would that be?> Kitty was becoming curious.
<Humph. It kinda smells like a mixture of Stanislav after rolling in dirt and sweat, and Salem after casting a spell. You might want to ask them about it.>
Kitty nodded, and walked hesitantly over to Salem. He was talking to Duncan, and the two stopped talking as she came over. She still feared them a little; and was nowhere near as comfortable with either of them as she was with Stanislav, or even Sytze. They looked at her questioningly, completely unaware of her fear. She started to shake unconsiously, though neither of them noticed. Stop being silly, she told herself. They're your friends. They're not going to do anything to you. Will they? She shook out the thought, and looked at Salem.
"Do you recognise this?" she asked him. Salem took the necklace from her, and looked at it closely, frowning. Kitty tried desperately to quell her fear. The way Duncan kept staring at her wasn't helping at all. After a while, Salem handed her back the necklace saying,
"Nope. I haven't seen anything like it. But it's definately magical. When we have more time, I might have more time to study it for you. But now we've got to get out of here."
Kitty nodded her thanks, and went to pack her things up. It didn't take long, because she didn't have much. She could see Rethne watching the necklace covetously, but Kitty put it safely around her neck before she could do anything. Once she had her things together, the group left the treasure room. There had been a fork in the passages; the group took the second path, knowing the first would take them back to the blocked entrance. It wasn't long before Kitty was quite firmly lost. At least some of the others seemed to have some semblance of direction, for nobody argued.
" I don't like it," Sytze muttered to her. Kitty started; she hadn't heard the ranger come up beside her. Sytze smiled apoligetically.
"Sorry I scared you. I've noticed that you scare pretty easily."
Sytze shook his head. "Like I said, I don't like it hear. It just doesn't feel right. But it's got to be harder for you, seeing as you are a druid, and revel in the balance."
Kitty sighed. "Yeah. I don't like it here either," Kitty admitted. "It's just so- so stuffy in here. Like it's really old, and can't o anything. I don't want to be in these caves, when I could be outside, actually doing something." Kitty laughed shortly, then continued, "But I have to admit, Sytze. I'm kinda glad that we're both here, because I know that then, I'm not the only one who has a connecton with the Balance, and that I'm not the only one who feels is uncomfortable in caves"
Sytze laughed, and said, "That makes two of us."
Then Syzte stopped, and Kitty, seeing this, stopped as well. The others, realizing that the two of them weren't right behind them, turned and came back. Sytze walked to the front of the group, turned to Kitty, and said,
"Kitty, don't you have a light spell?"
Kitty nodded, and started to cast it. When she was done casting, Sytze gestured for her to follow, and started to inspect the ground and walls as Kittý's spell illuminated the area. When he was done, the two walked back to the group.
"We've got to be careful," announced Sytze. "There's a large group of..." but whatever else Sytze wanted to say, he couldn't, because he was struck from behind. As he fell to the ground, Kitty twirled. She started to draw her weapon, but it was too late. Goblins, and what looked to be bugbears, were upon them Before Kitty could draw her scimater, one of them swiped at her. Kitty felt intense pain in her left arm. As she blacked out, however, the strange amulet around her neck started to glow...
<Do you recognise this?> She asked, holding the necklace out to Phraen. Cautiously, the wolf sniffed it, and sneezed.
<Not really. I know I've smelled something like it before, though.>
<Oh? And what would that be?> Kitty was becoming curious.
<Humph. It kinda smells like a mixture of Stanislav after rolling in dirt and sweat, and Salem after casting a spell. You might want to ask them about it.>
Kitty nodded, and walked hesitantly over to Salem. He was talking to Duncan, and the two stopped talking as she came over. She still feared them a little; and was nowhere near as comfortable with either of them as she was with Stanislav, or even Sytze. They looked at her questioningly, completely unaware of her fear. She started to shake unconsiously, though neither of them noticed. Stop being silly, she told herself. They're your friends. They're not going to do anything to you. Will they? She shook out the thought, and looked at Salem.
"Do you recognise this?" she asked him. Salem took the necklace from her, and looked at it closely, frowning. Kitty tried desperately to quell her fear. The way Duncan kept staring at her wasn't helping at all. After a while, Salem handed her back the necklace saying,
"Nope. I haven't seen anything like it. But it's definately magical. When we have more time, I might have more time to study it for you. But now we've got to get out of here."
Kitty nodded her thanks, and went to pack her things up. It didn't take long, because she didn't have much. She could see Rethne watching the necklace covetously, but Kitty put it safely around her neck before she could do anything. Once she had her things together, the group left the treasure room. There had been a fork in the passages; the group took the second path, knowing the first would take them back to the blocked entrance. It wasn't long before Kitty was quite firmly lost. At least some of the others seemed to have some semblance of direction, for nobody argued.
" I don't like it," Sytze muttered to her. Kitty started; she hadn't heard the ranger come up beside her. Sytze smiled apoligetically.
"Sorry I scared you. I've noticed that you scare pretty easily."
Sytze shook his head. "Like I said, I don't like it hear. It just doesn't feel right. But it's got to be harder for you, seeing as you are a druid, and revel in the balance."
Kitty sighed. "Yeah. I don't like it here either," Kitty admitted. "It's just so- so stuffy in here. Like it's really old, and can't o anything. I don't want to be in these caves, when I could be outside, actually doing something." Kitty laughed shortly, then continued, "But I have to admit, Sytze. I'm kinda glad that we're both here, because I know that then, I'm not the only one who has a connecton with the Balance, and that I'm not the only one who feels is uncomfortable in caves"
Sytze laughed, and said, "That makes two of us."
Then Syzte stopped, and Kitty, seeing this, stopped as well. The others, realizing that the two of them weren't right behind them, turned and came back. Sytze walked to the front of the group, turned to Kitty, and said,
"Kitty, don't you have a light spell?"
Kitty nodded, and started to cast it. When she was done casting, Sytze gestured for her to follow, and started to inspect the ground and walls as Kittý's spell illuminated the area. When he was done, the two walked back to the group.
"We've got to be careful," announced Sytze. "There's a large group of..." but whatever else Sytze wanted to say, he couldn't, because he was struck from behind. As he fell to the ground, Kitty twirled. She started to draw her weapon, but it was too late. Goblins, and what looked to be bugbears, were upon them Before Kitty could draw her scimater, one of them swiped at her. Kitty felt intense pain in her left arm. As she blacked out, however, the strange amulet around her neck started to glow...
I wanted to change my sig, but I can't think of anything to change it to
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Golden Lion 86
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The Goblin Horde, Part 1
Kitty fell, and the amulet around her neck started to glow. Its yellow gemstone flashed and faded to black. Suddenly, her body started to glow, and a column of golden light appeared underneath her, stretching to a height of ten feet. Kitty floated up the column, and as it faded, she landed on her feet. She opened her eyes, and they glowed with the same golden light as her amulet.
"An amulet of second-wind!" cried salem. "Of course! The gemstone used was dreadfully familiar. Now we know."
"Indeed." Kitty said. "My head doesn't even hurt." she smiled.
"Glad to have you back!" Stanislav said as he drew his gladii.
Duncan drew his own blade and charged the goblins, who numbered five dozen. Stanislav joined him, as did Kitty, with newfound strength. Rethne faded into the shadows and headed for the exit, where a dozen bugbears, large, strong, and well-armed, entered the cave. Salem began to cast a fire spell, to try and subdue the bugbears before they did any harm.
Duncan beheaded several goblins with a swing of his sword, and continued along his path to the bugbears. Stanislav bludgeoned the goblins with his fists and knees, and plowed through them like a cargo wagon. He also wanted to get to the bugbears before they got to the more fragile members of the party.
Salem cast a flame arrow at one of the bugbears, and he was struck in the neck and incinerated. He began to cast another spell, and raised his hands. At that moment, an arrow pierced his hand, and he winced in pain. The spell fizzled, and Salem backed away, toward a wall. Duncan saw this and changed his course to slay the archer group, leaving the bugbears to Stanislav. Rethne, in the meantime, appeared from the ceiling and jumped on one of the bugbears, thrusting her blade into its neck. The bugbear was mortally wounded, but it would not go down without a fight. Grabbing her sword arm with unnatural speed, he pulled her off his back. A crack was heard, probably a fracture in her forearm. Rethne cried out in pain and thrust her other blade at the bugbear. She hit him in the side, but his ribs deflected the blow. He backhanded her, and she lost consciousness, and before Salem threw a blinding light cantrip at him, he threw Rethne away. Her body was small and easy enough to throw far, and she hit a stalactite with her back, and another crack was heard, this one more severe than the first. She fell near Salem, and he pulled her to safety. The bugbear, in the meantime, was blinded, and Stanislav reached him in time to knock him down, and letting Rethne's neck-stab finish him off.
Salem tried to cast another spell, but found that he could not, as his right hand was numb. Kitty ran to him, leaving her share of the goblins to Duncan. She pulled out a pair of light shears, and clipped the arrow on both sides. She then infused the remaining stump with a magical healing oil, and pulled it out of Salem's hand. The oil eased the extraction and the pain, but with her first consciousness went her spells, and she could do nothing further but bandage the wound until healing magic was again available. She gave him a pat on the shoulder for moral support, and, drawing her scimitar, charged the bugbears, in order to help Stanislav, as Duncan had the goblins at bay, and steadily declining in number. She noticed that Sytze was still unconscious on the floor, but she could not move him very far, despite her magical enchantment. The amulet, it seemed, infused one with vitality, but not much strength. She turned to Stansialv. He was busy fighting bugbears, but she had to find a window of opportunity and call to him. He was fighting a bugbear, slightly taller than the gladiator, who wielded a club. The bugbear swung at Stanislav, and, dropping his second sword, he caught it with his hand. The impact was painful, but parrying it with a sword would have been worse. With a surprisingly quick thrust, he stabbed the bugbear downward through the neck. The beast fell, just as Duncan joined the fight. Kitty saw this as her moment to call out.
"Stanislav!" she cried. "Sytze needs to be moved away from the battle!"
"Done deal!" he said. Turning toward the largest bugbear, he threw his remaining sword at him, hitting him in the strenum. The magical enchantment on the sword made it extremely sharp, and the sternum was punctured like a sponge. The bugbear fell with a loud thud. Pulling out his two auxiliary swords, Stanislav made it to Kitty, rolling on the floor and stabbing one more bugbear in the backside of his knee, and leaving his head to Duncan when he was done with his current enemy. Only seven bugbears remained when Stanislav got to Sytze, picked him up, and carried him to Rethne and Salem. In the meantime, a bugbear came after Stanislav, and it fell upon Kitty to hold him at bay. She was a good swordswoman, but she was physically weakened. She swung her sword at the bugbear, cutting through his flesh. The creature roared in pain, but swung his paw at Kitty's face. She was struck, and began to bleed from her nose and mouth. She turned back to the bugbear and struck again. The amulet apparently dulled her pain, but she would have to deal with it when the magic wore off. The bugbear was hit again, but this time, Kitty's sword hit his organs, wounding him. He lashed out again, this time at kitty's side. There was a crack of ribs and vertebrae, and Kitty was thrown to the side. She cired out, expecting pain, but none came. She tried to get up, but felt a dull numbness halfway through her back, and fell back. She drew her dagger and threw it at the beast. It was struck between the eyes and fell. Stanislav had just put Sytze down and saw that Kitty was hurt. He cried out in rage and ran to Kitty, knocking over another bugbear that came to finish off the druid. In his anger, he turned on the fallen bugbear, and crushed his skull with his boot. Duncan had felled two more beasts, but his arm was cut. Three bugbears remained, but Duncan needed help. For Stanislav, though, Kitty came first. He ran to Kitty, and saw that she was bleeding. He picked her up, and she smiled at him, but he could see that she was hurt. He noticed an irregularity in her back, and hugging her close, snapped it back into position. She could walk now, albeit barely. He helped her to the group's retreat, and joined Duncan in finishing off the other bugbears.
When the battle was over, Stanislav and Duncan had suffered a few cuts and bruises but nothing major. Sytze had a headache, and Salem had a pierced hand, and could not wield magic. Rethne had a horrible back-ache, but one that time would cure. Kitty, on the other hand, was in bad shape. Her back and ribs were sore, and her face was bruised. She breathed with difficulty, and barely moved. Stanislav could not bear to see her thus, and turned to Salem for help. Salem suggested that Kitty might heal better in a forest, where she could draw upon the forces of nature. Phraen, who had gone outside during the battle, to hold off a second wave of goblins, came to Kitty and licked her hand.
Stanislav pickeed her up and ran outside. He looked for a nearby forest, and the nearest trees were a few miles away. He started in that direction, bidding the others to follow.
"You are NOT the group leader, child!" Rethne cried. "Or have you forgotten?"
"Silence, assassin, before I break you in half!" Stanislav lashed out. "Kitty is hurt! You have no say here unless you want to help!"
Rethne recoiled in momentary fear. Stanislav had always been a daunting figure, but his generous nature and timid tendencies made him less imposing. Now, he truly became a fearsome foe. Kitty, whom he had befriended, and began to love, was hurt, and he would kill all who impeded her convalescence, or die trying.
Kitty fell, and the amulet around her neck started to glow. Its yellow gemstone flashed and faded to black. Suddenly, her body started to glow, and a column of golden light appeared underneath her, stretching to a height of ten feet. Kitty floated up the column, and as it faded, she landed on her feet. She opened her eyes, and they glowed with the same golden light as her amulet.
"An amulet of second-wind!" cried salem. "Of course! The gemstone used was dreadfully familiar. Now we know."
"Indeed." Kitty said. "My head doesn't even hurt." she smiled.
"Glad to have you back!" Stanislav said as he drew his gladii.
Duncan drew his own blade and charged the goblins, who numbered five dozen. Stanislav joined him, as did Kitty, with newfound strength. Rethne faded into the shadows and headed for the exit, where a dozen bugbears, large, strong, and well-armed, entered the cave. Salem began to cast a fire spell, to try and subdue the bugbears before they did any harm.
Duncan beheaded several goblins with a swing of his sword, and continued along his path to the bugbears. Stanislav bludgeoned the goblins with his fists and knees, and plowed through them like a cargo wagon. He also wanted to get to the bugbears before they got to the more fragile members of the party.
Salem cast a flame arrow at one of the bugbears, and he was struck in the neck and incinerated. He began to cast another spell, and raised his hands. At that moment, an arrow pierced his hand, and he winced in pain. The spell fizzled, and Salem backed away, toward a wall. Duncan saw this and changed his course to slay the archer group, leaving the bugbears to Stanislav. Rethne, in the meantime, appeared from the ceiling and jumped on one of the bugbears, thrusting her blade into its neck. The bugbear was mortally wounded, but it would not go down without a fight. Grabbing her sword arm with unnatural speed, he pulled her off his back. A crack was heard, probably a fracture in her forearm. Rethne cried out in pain and thrust her other blade at the bugbear. She hit him in the side, but his ribs deflected the blow. He backhanded her, and she lost consciousness, and before Salem threw a blinding light cantrip at him, he threw Rethne away. Her body was small and easy enough to throw far, and she hit a stalactite with her back, and another crack was heard, this one more severe than the first. She fell near Salem, and he pulled her to safety. The bugbear, in the meantime, was blinded, and Stanislav reached him in time to knock him down, and letting Rethne's neck-stab finish him off.
Salem tried to cast another spell, but found that he could not, as his right hand was numb. Kitty ran to him, leaving her share of the goblins to Duncan. She pulled out a pair of light shears, and clipped the arrow on both sides. She then infused the remaining stump with a magical healing oil, and pulled it out of Salem's hand. The oil eased the extraction and the pain, but with her first consciousness went her spells, and she could do nothing further but bandage the wound until healing magic was again available. She gave him a pat on the shoulder for moral support, and, drawing her scimitar, charged the bugbears, in order to help Stanislav, as Duncan had the goblins at bay, and steadily declining in number. She noticed that Sytze was still unconscious on the floor, but she could not move him very far, despite her magical enchantment. The amulet, it seemed, infused one with vitality, but not much strength. She turned to Stansialv. He was busy fighting bugbears, but she had to find a window of opportunity and call to him. He was fighting a bugbear, slightly taller than the gladiator, who wielded a club. The bugbear swung at Stanislav, and, dropping his second sword, he caught it with his hand. The impact was painful, but parrying it with a sword would have been worse. With a surprisingly quick thrust, he stabbed the bugbear downward through the neck. The beast fell, just as Duncan joined the fight. Kitty saw this as her moment to call out.
"Stanislav!" she cried. "Sytze needs to be moved away from the battle!"
"Done deal!" he said. Turning toward the largest bugbear, he threw his remaining sword at him, hitting him in the strenum. The magical enchantment on the sword made it extremely sharp, and the sternum was punctured like a sponge. The bugbear fell with a loud thud. Pulling out his two auxiliary swords, Stanislav made it to Kitty, rolling on the floor and stabbing one more bugbear in the backside of his knee, and leaving his head to Duncan when he was done with his current enemy. Only seven bugbears remained when Stanislav got to Sytze, picked him up, and carried him to Rethne and Salem. In the meantime, a bugbear came after Stanislav, and it fell upon Kitty to hold him at bay. She was a good swordswoman, but she was physically weakened. She swung her sword at the bugbear, cutting through his flesh. The creature roared in pain, but swung his paw at Kitty's face. She was struck, and began to bleed from her nose and mouth. She turned back to the bugbear and struck again. The amulet apparently dulled her pain, but she would have to deal with it when the magic wore off. The bugbear was hit again, but this time, Kitty's sword hit his organs, wounding him. He lashed out again, this time at kitty's side. There was a crack of ribs and vertebrae, and Kitty was thrown to the side. She cired out, expecting pain, but none came. She tried to get up, but felt a dull numbness halfway through her back, and fell back. She drew her dagger and threw it at the beast. It was struck between the eyes and fell. Stanislav had just put Sytze down and saw that Kitty was hurt. He cried out in rage and ran to Kitty, knocking over another bugbear that came to finish off the druid. In his anger, he turned on the fallen bugbear, and crushed his skull with his boot. Duncan had felled two more beasts, but his arm was cut. Three bugbears remained, but Duncan needed help. For Stanislav, though, Kitty came first. He ran to Kitty, and saw that she was bleeding. He picked her up, and she smiled at him, but he could see that she was hurt. He noticed an irregularity in her back, and hugging her close, snapped it back into position. She could walk now, albeit barely. He helped her to the group's retreat, and joined Duncan in finishing off the other bugbears.
When the battle was over, Stanislav and Duncan had suffered a few cuts and bruises but nothing major. Sytze had a headache, and Salem had a pierced hand, and could not wield magic. Rethne had a horrible back-ache, but one that time would cure. Kitty, on the other hand, was in bad shape. Her back and ribs were sore, and her face was bruised. She breathed with difficulty, and barely moved. Stanislav could not bear to see her thus, and turned to Salem for help. Salem suggested that Kitty might heal better in a forest, where she could draw upon the forces of nature. Phraen, who had gone outside during the battle, to hold off a second wave of goblins, came to Kitty and licked her hand.
Stanislav pickeed her up and ran outside. He looked for a nearby forest, and the nearest trees were a few miles away. He started in that direction, bidding the others to follow.
"You are NOT the group leader, child!" Rethne cried. "Or have you forgotten?"
"Silence, assassin, before I break you in half!" Stanislav lashed out. "Kitty is hurt! You have no say here unless you want to help!"
Rethne recoiled in momentary fear. Stanislav had always been a daunting figure, but his generous nature and timid tendencies made him less imposing. Now, he truly became a fearsome foe. Kitty, whom he had befriended, and began to love, was hurt, and he would kill all who impeded her convalescence, or die trying.
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
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Golden Lion 86
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The Goblin Horde, Part 2
"Lead on then." Salem said, forcing a smile, despite his lingering pain. "We all want to see her healed."
"Good!" Stanislav said, and ran off toward the forest.
Twenty minutes later, he came to the forest. He was exhausted: a large fighter, he was built for fighting and carrying, not for running. He made his way to a small clearing, and laid Kitty down. She was starting to stir, and opened her eyes. Stanislav turned to the nearest tree and started to ram it. The leaves were dry and started to fall off. Kitty reached for Stanislav, but her arm dropped. Stanislav gathered the leaves and made a bed for Kitty. He laid her on it, and sat down, trying to recover his strength. The other friends came to the forest just as Kitty had been accomodated. Sytze, also very fond of Kitty, sat down at her side. Phraen came to Kitty and started licking her face. With Sytze on one side and Stansialv on the other, Kitty felt safe. She gave one hand to Sytze, and one to the gladiator. Stanislav took her hand into his paw, and stared at it for a moment. The blood was starting to return to it, and he smiled. Kitty looked at him and tears began to flow down her face. She was truly happy. Then she looked at Sytze, and her smile disappeared.
She realized that she loved them both, but knew she would have to choose before the adventure came to an end. Stanislav had been far closer to her, and less shy than Sytze, but the ranger also was her friend, and he cared for her as much as Stanislav. Stanislav had helped her in battle, and had carried her to her place of healing, exceeding his running abilities, and pushing his strength to the limit, but she knew Sytze would have done the same if he were as big as Stanislav and if he could carry her weight without difficulty.
So it came down to attributes. Both men were warriors, and good ones. Stanislav had an immense edge on a purely physical level, whereas Sytze was more skilled. Stanislav was young and handsome, despite the many scars he had sustained while fighting in the pits, but was he too young? Sytze was a true man, also young, but mature. He had fewer scars, due to a less deadly lifestyle, and greater skill. He too, was handsome, and she did not know what to think. They were both good-natured, though Sytze was more reluctant to help strangers, a result of his maturity, and knowledge than not all strangers were trustworthy. She just did not know.
Thousands of thoughts rushed through her mind as he fell asleep. She would have to think on it another day. Suddenly, the group heard more voices and a smell of goblin hide assaulted their nostrils. A few arrows flew through the air, and hit the nearby trees.
Stanislav hugged Kitty to keep arrows from her, and Sytze got up and drew his blade.
"Not again!" He said, and with that, he and Duncan charged the new horde.
"Lead on then." Salem said, forcing a smile, despite his lingering pain. "We all want to see her healed."
"Good!" Stanislav said, and ran off toward the forest.
Twenty minutes later, he came to the forest. He was exhausted: a large fighter, he was built for fighting and carrying, not for running. He made his way to a small clearing, and laid Kitty down. She was starting to stir, and opened her eyes. Stanislav turned to the nearest tree and started to ram it. The leaves were dry and started to fall off. Kitty reached for Stanislav, but her arm dropped. Stanislav gathered the leaves and made a bed for Kitty. He laid her on it, and sat down, trying to recover his strength. The other friends came to the forest just as Kitty had been accomodated. Sytze, also very fond of Kitty, sat down at her side. Phraen came to Kitty and started licking her face. With Sytze on one side and Stansialv on the other, Kitty felt safe. She gave one hand to Sytze, and one to the gladiator. Stanislav took her hand into his paw, and stared at it for a moment. The blood was starting to return to it, and he smiled. Kitty looked at him and tears began to flow down her face. She was truly happy. Then she looked at Sytze, and her smile disappeared.
She realized that she loved them both, but knew she would have to choose before the adventure came to an end. Stanislav had been far closer to her, and less shy than Sytze, but the ranger also was her friend, and he cared for her as much as Stanislav. Stanislav had helped her in battle, and had carried her to her place of healing, exceeding his running abilities, and pushing his strength to the limit, but she knew Sytze would have done the same if he were as big as Stanislav and if he could carry her weight without difficulty.
So it came down to attributes. Both men were warriors, and good ones. Stanislav had an immense edge on a purely physical level, whereas Sytze was more skilled. Stanislav was young and handsome, despite the many scars he had sustained while fighting in the pits, but was he too young? Sytze was a true man, also young, but mature. He had fewer scars, due to a less deadly lifestyle, and greater skill. He too, was handsome, and she did not know what to think. They were both good-natured, though Sytze was more reluctant to help strangers, a result of his maturity, and knowledge than not all strangers were trustworthy. She just did not know.
Thousands of thoughts rushed through her mind as he fell asleep. She would have to think on it another day. Suddenly, the group heard more voices and a smell of goblin hide assaulted their nostrils. A few arrows flew through the air, and hit the nearby trees.
Stanislav hugged Kitty to keep arrows from her, and Sytze got up and drew his blade.
"Not again!" He said, and with that, he and Duncan charged the new horde.
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
Sytze drew his blades, twirled them around a couple of times and then stuck them in front of him in the grass. He touched his quiver and let out a sigh of relief; while unconscious he hadn’t lost his arrows. He squat himself in front of Stanislav, who was protecting Kitty with his own body, and placed his arrows, like his blades, in front of him. Three at the time. Within seconds almost all of his arrows were stuck in the soft, green grass. Salem, in the meantime, pushed his mind to the limit. His hands were hurting too much for spell casting to become possible. Yet he tried to reach utter concentration if he wanted to be of any use in this battle.
When the goblin fighters closed in on the party, Duncan ran out to meet them. He couldn’t count their exact numbers, but there were many. Goblin archers and fighters streamed from the dark cave where the friends just exited from. The small exit from the cave seemed like a portal from hell, goblins with crudely forged weapons flowed from it like a river from a mountain. Almost reaching the goblins, Duncan quickly looked one last time at his friends. Kitty and Rethne were of no use in this battle, they were too injured. Salem wouldn’t be decisive in this battle either. If he would be able to cast at least one spell, it would already be an accomplishment.
Suddenly a sword came flying at him from his right. He quickly blocked it with his katana, grabbed the goblins neck with his other arm and snapped it like a twig. While spinning, he twirled his katana around and managed to kill or injure another four goblins. Duncan then dove forwards, dodging a rain of arrows aimed at him. He had to try to reach the goblin archers! They posed a great threat to the entire party and especially Stanislav and Kitty. Moving in on them, a dozen or so goblin fighters rushed to meet him. Duncan looked fanatically around for an opening, but couldn’t find one. There were just too many goblins!
Sytze saw Duncan looking around. The Kensai was almost panicking, like he needed to get somewhere. As if lightning stroke, Sytze suddenly realised what Duncan wanted to reach. He grabbed four arrows from the ground, held three in his left arm, in which he also held his bow and put the fourth on his weapon. Stretching the bowstring, he brought the arrow to his eye…
Just when Duncan thought he was never going to reach the archers and decided to charge a small goblin instead, he heard a sharp sound at his left ear and his hair blew in the air, as if the wind played with it. When he realised what passed him, the object had already hit its target. Sytze had shot a goblin standing not far from Duncan. The arrow had flown only a few centimetres past Duncans head and had hit its target straight in the neck. The goblin would’ve never known what hit him. Within seconds Duncan heard another three sharp sounds pass him and he now knew what it meant. In front of him lay three goblins, each with an arrow sticking out of its neck or face and Duncan immediately made use of the small opening Sytze had just made. He dogged thee incoming arrows, ignored two charging goblins and went straight for the archers. Duncan ran as fast as he could, switching his katana from his left hand, to his right. The goblin archers, surprised by the warrior who suddenly stood in front of them, panicked and started to run away, their shrieking voices calling the attention of the goblin fighters. Taking profit of the situation, Duncan threw his blade through the belly of one of the goblins, pulled it out and hit two goblins in the back that tried to flee from the combat. He then wanted to charge a fourth archer, but when he made one step, a low thud was heard and the archer fell on his back with an arrow sticking out of its chest.
Sytze picked up another two arrows and straightened himself. Duncan was out of immediate harm and most of the goblin archers were now taking care of, either killed by Duncans katana or his own arrows. He looked over the battlefield and saw four goblins approaching him, their eyes burning with hatred over their lost companions. They closed in on the ranger fast. Sytze put two arrows on his bow, turned the weapon a few degrees and aimed on the furious goblins. He wanted to release the arrows, but suddenly his vision blurred and he tumbled forward! Almost losing consciousness, caused by the still painful blow he received in the dungeon, he shook his head and tried to recover. Get a grip! He mumbled to himself. He pulled himself up and raised his head. When he released his bowstring, one goblin was hit right between the eyes, while the other got hit in the shoulder. The goblin twirled around and fell on the ground, it was knocked out. He then grabbed his katana with his right arm, waited for the other two goblins to reach him and spinned around as fast as he could, moving his katana in the form of a cross. One goblin was struck in the chest, while another received a large cut in the face.
Suddenly huge cones of ice flew down from the sky, wrecking havoc on a small group of goblins! Icicles, as large as a normal mans’ hand, pierced the skin or smashed the heads of several enemies. Sytze looked around and saw Salem falling slowly on the ground, unconscious. The sorcerer had used all his energy and his body was exhausted. A smile crossed Sytze’s slips, but disappeared as fast as it came. A small group of goblins had taken notice of Salem and closed in on the sorcerer!
‘Stanislav!’ Sytze yelled, ‘Go to Salem, he needs help!’
The young Gladiator loosened his grip on Kitty and turned around to see what was happening.
‘But Kitty…’
‘Kitty will be fine!’ interrupted Sytze the gladiator. ‘Phaere will defend her. Besides, I’m still standing here.’
Stanislav grumbled and reluctantly stood up. Giving Kitty a last look, filled with love and sorrow, hoping nothing would happen to her.
‘Hurry up, Stanislav! I can’t shoot them all down!’ Sytze almost screamed, while drawing his bow ones again and releasing an arrow. The goblins were closing in on Salem and he was totally defenceless.
When Stanislav saw Salem lying there helpless, he came to his senses and rushed towards the goblins, drawing his gladii. Within seconds he had disabled two opponents and killed a third one.
Sytze released a sigh of relief when he saw Stanislav taking care of the few goblins that made it towards Salem. He overlooked the battlefield and to his surprise, there were barely any enemies left. The fast death of a lot of goblins, caused by Duncan and himself, had caused the moral to drop. When Salem had cast his powerful spell, the goblin group panicked and chaos had spread among their ranks. Duncan used this to his full advantage, picking out one enemy at the time and killing it.
After a few minutes, the battle was over. The wood was filled with goblin bodies and the grass was coloured with disgusting red and black blood. The air was filled with the sickening smell of dead, invading the nostrils of each of the friends.
‘We have to get out of here,’ Duncan suggested. ‘There may be coming more.’
‘I agree,’ Sytze replied. ‘I wouldn’t want to stay near this graveyard anyway.’
‘I’ll carry Kitty’ Stanislav offered immediately.
Sytze turned his head and gave the young gladiator a strange look, but didn’t comment.
‘Very well, you carry Kitty.’ Sytze turned around and faced Duncan. ‘Can you carry Salem?’
‘Sure,’ Duncan replied. ‘But what about Rethne and what are you going to do?’
Sytze sheathed his blades and placed the few arrows he had left in his quiver. ‘Rethne will manage to walk along with you, I’m sure. As for me, well, I’m going to look for some herbs around here. Kitty, Rethne and Salem both need healing and each of us got our fair share of bruises and cuts.’
‘What if you are attacked by another horde of goblins. Or even orcs or trolls?’ Duncan asked with a worried look on his face.
‘Hmm, you have a point there.’ Sytze answered. Even though he was more than capable to take care of himself, especially here in the woods, his head was still hurting, he had little energy left and had almost run out of arrows. He thought for a moment and looked around until his eyes fell on Phaere. There was little choice…
‘I’ll take Phaere with me.’ Sytze said, with a hesitating tone in his voice.
The wolf looked up and then faced Kitty, who was barely conscious.
<You want me to go with him? There’s no telling how he will react when he’s alone with me...>
<Yes, I trust him and I trust you, Phaere. Besides, it was his own idea...>
<And don’t worry my dear friend, we’ll be fine>
With that the wolf walked towards the ranger and growled at him.
‘Very well then,’ Sytze said. ‘We’ll be off. Take as much space between yourselves and this place as you can, then set up camp and make a fire. We will return with food and herbs when the sun is starting to go under. Try to cover up as much of your tracks as possible. Don’t worry about us, we will find you.’
He grabbed his hood and threw it over his head. He gave the group one last look and signed Phaere that they were leaving. The wolf and the ranger took off and within seconds they were out of sight, swallowed by the green of the trees and bushes. Leaving the rest of the party behind…
When the goblin fighters closed in on the party, Duncan ran out to meet them. He couldn’t count their exact numbers, but there were many. Goblin archers and fighters streamed from the dark cave where the friends just exited from. The small exit from the cave seemed like a portal from hell, goblins with crudely forged weapons flowed from it like a river from a mountain. Almost reaching the goblins, Duncan quickly looked one last time at his friends. Kitty and Rethne were of no use in this battle, they were too injured. Salem wouldn’t be decisive in this battle either. If he would be able to cast at least one spell, it would already be an accomplishment.
Suddenly a sword came flying at him from his right. He quickly blocked it with his katana, grabbed the goblins neck with his other arm and snapped it like a twig. While spinning, he twirled his katana around and managed to kill or injure another four goblins. Duncan then dove forwards, dodging a rain of arrows aimed at him. He had to try to reach the goblin archers! They posed a great threat to the entire party and especially Stanislav and Kitty. Moving in on them, a dozen or so goblin fighters rushed to meet him. Duncan looked fanatically around for an opening, but couldn’t find one. There were just too many goblins!
Sytze saw Duncan looking around. The Kensai was almost panicking, like he needed to get somewhere. As if lightning stroke, Sytze suddenly realised what Duncan wanted to reach. He grabbed four arrows from the ground, held three in his left arm, in which he also held his bow and put the fourth on his weapon. Stretching the bowstring, he brought the arrow to his eye…
Just when Duncan thought he was never going to reach the archers and decided to charge a small goblin instead, he heard a sharp sound at his left ear and his hair blew in the air, as if the wind played with it. When he realised what passed him, the object had already hit its target. Sytze had shot a goblin standing not far from Duncan. The arrow had flown only a few centimetres past Duncans head and had hit its target straight in the neck. The goblin would’ve never known what hit him. Within seconds Duncan heard another three sharp sounds pass him and he now knew what it meant. In front of him lay three goblins, each with an arrow sticking out of its neck or face and Duncan immediately made use of the small opening Sytze had just made. He dogged thee incoming arrows, ignored two charging goblins and went straight for the archers. Duncan ran as fast as he could, switching his katana from his left hand, to his right. The goblin archers, surprised by the warrior who suddenly stood in front of them, panicked and started to run away, their shrieking voices calling the attention of the goblin fighters. Taking profit of the situation, Duncan threw his blade through the belly of one of the goblins, pulled it out and hit two goblins in the back that tried to flee from the combat. He then wanted to charge a fourth archer, but when he made one step, a low thud was heard and the archer fell on his back with an arrow sticking out of its chest.
Sytze picked up another two arrows and straightened himself. Duncan was out of immediate harm and most of the goblin archers were now taking care of, either killed by Duncans katana or his own arrows. He looked over the battlefield and saw four goblins approaching him, their eyes burning with hatred over their lost companions. They closed in on the ranger fast. Sytze put two arrows on his bow, turned the weapon a few degrees and aimed on the furious goblins. He wanted to release the arrows, but suddenly his vision blurred and he tumbled forward! Almost losing consciousness, caused by the still painful blow he received in the dungeon, he shook his head and tried to recover. Get a grip! He mumbled to himself. He pulled himself up and raised his head. When he released his bowstring, one goblin was hit right between the eyes, while the other got hit in the shoulder. The goblin twirled around and fell on the ground, it was knocked out. He then grabbed his katana with his right arm, waited for the other two goblins to reach him and spinned around as fast as he could, moving his katana in the form of a cross. One goblin was struck in the chest, while another received a large cut in the face.
Suddenly huge cones of ice flew down from the sky, wrecking havoc on a small group of goblins! Icicles, as large as a normal mans’ hand, pierced the skin or smashed the heads of several enemies. Sytze looked around and saw Salem falling slowly on the ground, unconscious. The sorcerer had used all his energy and his body was exhausted. A smile crossed Sytze’s slips, but disappeared as fast as it came. A small group of goblins had taken notice of Salem and closed in on the sorcerer!
‘Stanislav!’ Sytze yelled, ‘Go to Salem, he needs help!’
The young Gladiator loosened his grip on Kitty and turned around to see what was happening.
‘But Kitty…’
‘Kitty will be fine!’ interrupted Sytze the gladiator. ‘Phaere will defend her. Besides, I’m still standing here.’
Stanislav grumbled and reluctantly stood up. Giving Kitty a last look, filled with love and sorrow, hoping nothing would happen to her.
‘Hurry up, Stanislav! I can’t shoot them all down!’ Sytze almost screamed, while drawing his bow ones again and releasing an arrow. The goblins were closing in on Salem and he was totally defenceless.
When Stanislav saw Salem lying there helpless, he came to his senses and rushed towards the goblins, drawing his gladii. Within seconds he had disabled two opponents and killed a third one.
Sytze released a sigh of relief when he saw Stanislav taking care of the few goblins that made it towards Salem. He overlooked the battlefield and to his surprise, there were barely any enemies left. The fast death of a lot of goblins, caused by Duncan and himself, had caused the moral to drop. When Salem had cast his powerful spell, the goblin group panicked and chaos had spread among their ranks. Duncan used this to his full advantage, picking out one enemy at the time and killing it.
After a few minutes, the battle was over. The wood was filled with goblin bodies and the grass was coloured with disgusting red and black blood. The air was filled with the sickening smell of dead, invading the nostrils of each of the friends.
‘We have to get out of here,’ Duncan suggested. ‘There may be coming more.’
‘I agree,’ Sytze replied. ‘I wouldn’t want to stay near this graveyard anyway.’
‘I’ll carry Kitty’ Stanislav offered immediately.
Sytze turned his head and gave the young gladiator a strange look, but didn’t comment.
‘Very well, you carry Kitty.’ Sytze turned around and faced Duncan. ‘Can you carry Salem?’
‘Sure,’ Duncan replied. ‘But what about Rethne and what are you going to do?’
Sytze sheathed his blades and placed the few arrows he had left in his quiver. ‘Rethne will manage to walk along with you, I’m sure. As for me, well, I’m going to look for some herbs around here. Kitty, Rethne and Salem both need healing and each of us got our fair share of bruises and cuts.’
‘What if you are attacked by another horde of goblins. Or even orcs or trolls?’ Duncan asked with a worried look on his face.
‘Hmm, you have a point there.’ Sytze answered. Even though he was more than capable to take care of himself, especially here in the woods, his head was still hurting, he had little energy left and had almost run out of arrows. He thought for a moment and looked around until his eyes fell on Phaere. There was little choice…
‘I’ll take Phaere with me.’ Sytze said, with a hesitating tone in his voice.
The wolf looked up and then faced Kitty, who was barely conscious.
<You want me to go with him? There’s no telling how he will react when he’s alone with me...>
<Yes, I trust him and I trust you, Phaere. Besides, it was his own idea...>
<And don’t worry my dear friend, we’ll be fine>
With that the wolf walked towards the ranger and growled at him.
‘Very well then,’ Sytze said. ‘We’ll be off. Take as much space between yourselves and this place as you can, then set up camp and make a fire. We will return with food and herbs when the sun is starting to go under. Try to cover up as much of your tracks as possible. Don’t worry about us, we will find you.’
He grabbed his hood and threw it over his head. He gave the group one last look and signed Phaere that they were leaving. The wolf and the ranger took off and within seconds they were out of sight, swallowed by the green of the trees and bushes. Leaving the rest of the party behind…
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"
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werebeargoddess
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Phraen padded along silently beside Sytze. He was rather worried about Kitty. It had scared the wolf to see her so weak and frail. He had been her animal companion for years, and the only time that she had looked like, or even worse, than this, had been when her village had been destroyed so many moons ago. He shook his fur out, growling a little as he did so. He still got cold paws when he thought about what happened. Sytze looked at him worriedly, then turned his gaze back to the path.
Sytze moved off the path when he spotted some herbs. Phraen explored the area, all the while staying relatively close to Sytze. I ought to tell him about Kitty's past, thought the wolf. I know she'll tell him when she's ready, but by the time she is, it may be too late. She's already told Stanislav, but that's partly because she's already comfortable with him. She may not get the chance to tell Sytze, so that leaves it up to me. He considered the ranger for a moment. Huh. He's a ranger, so I shouldn't have too much trouble mindspeaking him. It won't be as easy as mindspeaking Kitty, but it'll have to do.
Carefully, Phraen reached for Sytze's mind with his own, and mindspoke him. Sytze started in shock, dropping his herbs.
<Sytze, a word with you.>
<Phraen??? I thought you could only mindspeak Kitty! She's not dead, is
she?>
<No, she isn't, but she is precisely the reason for which I need to speak with you.>
Sytze looked guarded and suspicious, but he nodded. <Go on.>
Phraen lay down on the grass, sighing. This was going to take a while.
<Several years ago there was... a tragic event in Kitty's life. One that changed her for all time. As you may already know, her village was up near the Spine of the World. And as you may also know, there are bands of raiders there. Some villages are attacked, and some weren't. Kitty's village was one of the unfortunate villages that was destroyed. However, both Kitty and I survived. Kitty was severely injured. She was even raped, but luckily did not end up with child. Otherwise, she would not be traveling with us now. In fact, she was even worse off then she is know. But she managed to feign death, and so did I. Because of that, we managed to escape. I think she would have killed herself right then and there, she felt so horrible, but my presence there with her kept her from doing so. And... there was something else, too. I can't remember exactly, but I think we may have been visited by Silvanus himself, but I can't remember exactly. You'll have to ask her yourself sometime. But that is beside the point. The point is, she changed that day. In the space of a few hours, she lost all of her friends and family, except for me.>
Sytze sat there, dumbstruck. He had never known, never realized, never even guessed that any of this had happened. She had never said a word...
But it makes since, doesn't it? When she started to freak out when the boy told us about what had happened to his village, I thought she just simply didn't want to see the carnage. But no. She was scared- afraid that the same thing would happen to her all over again. And it's no wonder she's always so shy and nervy around me and the others; except for Rethne. If I had been raped, I would act the same way.
Then he had a thought. <Stanislav knows doesn't he, Phraen? She always seems so comfortable around him. She must have told him.>
Phraen nodded his shaggy head.<Exactly correct. She told him back at that village that we went to.>
Phraen gave Sytze another one of those looks that bugged Sytze so.
<She cares about you, Sytze. She cares for you and Stanislav. If she had to choose between the two of you for a mate, she would not be able to do so, she would have so much trouble. But know this. It takes alot for Kitty to place her complete and utter trust in one person, much less two people. You should feel obliged to have such, and that Stanislav has the same. If I were you, I wouldn't be jealous that she feels for Stanislav the same way she feels for you. Reserve your judgement for something more important. For now, let's continue to look for tjose herbs.>
Sytze nooded, somewhat relieved to know about Kitty's background. He would have to tell her of his own sometime, given the chance. Swiftly, he got up, picked up the herbs he dropped, and continued his search.
**********************************************************
Stanislav looked at the setting sun, and back at Kitty. He didn't like the color of her face. They had found the area to set up camp some time before. Kitty hadn't yet said a word. Salem came over and knelt beside Stanislav.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Not well. Her breathing is ragged, and she hasn't said a word yet. She's deathly pale, see? I'm afraid we might lose her if Sytze does not return."
Salem nodded. "Try to eat something, Stanislav. We would not want to have Kitty healed just to have you fall over in a faint." With that, he handed Stanislav some food, and walked off.
Stanislav was not humored a bit, but ate anyway. When he was done, he took Kitty's hand and waited. As he soon found, however, he did not have to wait long, for there was a shout nearby. Stanislav turned, still staying by Kitty's side, and smiled. He could see Sytze waving his arms and shouting; Phraen by his side. Hope at last.
Sytze moved off the path when he spotted some herbs. Phraen explored the area, all the while staying relatively close to Sytze. I ought to tell him about Kitty's past, thought the wolf. I know she'll tell him when she's ready, but by the time she is, it may be too late. She's already told Stanislav, but that's partly because she's already comfortable with him. She may not get the chance to tell Sytze, so that leaves it up to me. He considered the ranger for a moment. Huh. He's a ranger, so I shouldn't have too much trouble mindspeaking him. It won't be as easy as mindspeaking Kitty, but it'll have to do.
Carefully, Phraen reached for Sytze's mind with his own, and mindspoke him. Sytze started in shock, dropping his herbs.
<Sytze, a word with you.>
<Phraen??? I thought you could only mindspeak Kitty! She's not dead, is
she?>
<No, she isn't, but she is precisely the reason for which I need to speak with you.>
Sytze looked guarded and suspicious, but he nodded. <Go on.>
Phraen lay down on the grass, sighing. This was going to take a while.
<Several years ago there was... a tragic event in Kitty's life. One that changed her for all time. As you may already know, her village was up near the Spine of the World. And as you may also know, there are bands of raiders there. Some villages are attacked, and some weren't. Kitty's village was one of the unfortunate villages that was destroyed. However, both Kitty and I survived. Kitty was severely injured. She was even raped, but luckily did not end up with child. Otherwise, she would not be traveling with us now. In fact, she was even worse off then she is know. But she managed to feign death, and so did I. Because of that, we managed to escape. I think she would have killed herself right then and there, she felt so horrible, but my presence there with her kept her from doing so. And... there was something else, too. I can't remember exactly, but I think we may have been visited by Silvanus himself, but I can't remember exactly. You'll have to ask her yourself sometime. But that is beside the point. The point is, she changed that day. In the space of a few hours, she lost all of her friends and family, except for me.>
Sytze sat there, dumbstruck. He had never known, never realized, never even guessed that any of this had happened. She had never said a word...
But it makes since, doesn't it? When she started to freak out when the boy told us about what had happened to his village, I thought she just simply didn't want to see the carnage. But no. She was scared- afraid that the same thing would happen to her all over again. And it's no wonder she's always so shy and nervy around me and the others; except for Rethne. If I had been raped, I would act the same way.
Then he had a thought. <Stanislav knows doesn't he, Phraen? She always seems so comfortable around him. She must have told him.>
Phraen nodded his shaggy head.<Exactly correct. She told him back at that village that we went to.>
Phraen gave Sytze another one of those looks that bugged Sytze so.
<She cares about you, Sytze. She cares for you and Stanislav. If she had to choose between the two of you for a mate, she would not be able to do so, she would have so much trouble. But know this. It takes alot for Kitty to place her complete and utter trust in one person, much less two people. You should feel obliged to have such, and that Stanislav has the same. If I were you, I wouldn't be jealous that she feels for Stanislav the same way she feels for you. Reserve your judgement for something more important. For now, let's continue to look for tjose herbs.>
Sytze nooded, somewhat relieved to know about Kitty's background. He would have to tell her of his own sometime, given the chance. Swiftly, he got up, picked up the herbs he dropped, and continued his search.
**********************************************************
Stanislav looked at the setting sun, and back at Kitty. He didn't like the color of her face. They had found the area to set up camp some time before. Kitty hadn't yet said a word. Salem came over and knelt beside Stanislav.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Not well. Her breathing is ragged, and she hasn't said a word yet. She's deathly pale, see? I'm afraid we might lose her if Sytze does not return."
Salem nodded. "Try to eat something, Stanislav. We would not want to have Kitty healed just to have you fall over in a faint." With that, he handed Stanislav some food, and walked off.
Stanislav was not humored a bit, but ate anyway. When he was done, he took Kitty's hand and waited. As he soon found, however, he did not have to wait long, for there was a shout nearby. Stanislav turned, still staying by Kitty's side, and smiled. He could see Sytze waving his arms and shouting; Phraen by his side. Hope at last.
I wanted to change my sig, but I can't think of anything to change it to
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Golden Lion 86
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Convalescence
Two hours had passed and there was still no sign of Sytze. The sun was shining by now, and Kitty was starting to look a little better, but the herbs were still badly needed. Stanislav took off his backpack and started rummaging through it. This was the fifth or sixth time he had done so in the last few hours.
"It has to be here!" He said. "Damnation! Where is it?"
"What are you doing?" Salem asked, but Stanislav paid no heed. He was busy looking for something to help Kitty with.
"Yes!" He said. "I have it, finally!" He looked at Salem, who was standing between Kitty and himself, looking inquisitive. "Out of my way."
Salem stepped aside, and watched as Stanislav pulled out a small pouch.He poured out a small pile of brown powder and offered it to Kitty. He helped her head up and she swallowed the chocolate. Stanislav knew nothing of herblore, but he had to do something! He had used chocolate once before to make Kitty feel better, and hoped the magic stuff would help again. She swallowed another mouthful and Stanislav laid her head back.
He put the pouch near her bed of leaves and began pacing again. Kitty tried to say something to calm him down, but her strength failed her and she got back to resting. Her bones had taken the majority of the damage, but her lungs had been bruised and her heart was shocked and weakened during the impact.
Suddenly, Stanislav heard a goat. Then another and a third. He stopped and looked in the direction of the sounds. He looked back at Rethne and motioned his hand from her to Kitty.
"You!" He said. "Comfort her!"
"Again you forget your place, boy!" Rethne protested, trying to keep some measure of dignity in the face of Stanislav's agitation.
Stanislav gave her an angry look, pulled out his swords, and made off toward the goats. He pulled the pouch of gold out of his backpack on his way toward his quarry, and disappeared.
"He has gone raving mad, I tell you!" Rethne said. "He was ready to kill me! You all saw it!"
"He is worried." Duncan offered an explanation. "He will be back to normal when Kitty is better."
"Right," Rethne said. "Maybe then I can discipline him for his insolence."
"Let him be, Rethne," Salem said. "And comfort Kitty. He knows that as the only other lady in our party, you are closer to Kitty than either of us."
"It would not harm you," Duncan said with a grin. "to develop a maternal instinct!"
"You hope in vain, lad." Rethne returned the grin. She went to Kitty's side and sat near her, feeding her the occasional mouthful of chocolate powder. In half an Hour, Stanislav returned, looking happier than before. He bore four buckets of Goat-milk, but his money pouch was almost empty. He asked Salem to help him get a fire started. They gathered twigs, branches, and leaves, and Salem cast a minor fire cantrip. Duncan pulled out a kettle out of his pack, and handed it to Salem. Stanislav, in the meantime created a suspension pole, in order to hang the kettle from. He poured in the milk, and waited for a few minutes before pouring in into one of the mugs Duncan had pulled out of Kitty's pack. He came up to Kitty and he and Rethne helped her up while the others also took a drink from the kettle. Rethne reached for the chocolate powder, but Stanislav stopped her.
"Too much can be bad for the liver." He said. He poured the liquid into Kitty's mouth, to help her regain some strength. he looked at Rethne again. "Thank you for looking after her. I am in your debt."
"Well, I'll tke that gratitude in terms of respect, kid." Rethne said, but there was no malice in her voice.
"No problem, m'lady." Stanislav said with a smile.
Rethne shook her head and got back to the rest of the group to take a drink. Something interesting caught her eye as she made her way to the campfire. Out of the mouth of the treasure cave, a bugbear emerged, probably a survivor of the battle. His head was bleeding, and looked a little lopsided. This was the one Stanislav had trampled.
"Look!" Rethne said to Stanislav. "A survivor."
"Good," Stanislav replied. Rethne looked puzzled. "Kitty needs meat." He waited thirty minutes for the beast to get to the forest, but not long enough for him to notice the group. Stanislav pulled out his swords and sneaked up on the creature. He was not usually stealthy, and though he would take the beast by surprise, he would still face it with a sword before killing it. He grabbed the bugbear's shoulder and turned him around. He thrust his gladius into the beast's chest, and pulled it out. He then picked it up and carried it on his shoulders toward the group. Duncan helped him skin the beast and separate the edible from the inedible. Half an hour later, Stanislav and Rethne helped Kitty up again, and fed her. She did not eat much, and was growing noticeably thinner, but she ate a small bit, and went back to sleep.
Suddenly, the group heard a rustle through the bushes. Duncan and Stanislav got up, weapons at the ready. They hadn't slept in two days, and Stanislav had not even had any milk or bugbear-meat, but they were like hungry, tired Lions, and they would fight like the mighty beasts to keep the group from harm.
Much to their relief, the beast emerging from the bushes was none other than Phraen, followed by Sytze, carrying a bushel of herbs. Sytze looked tired and hungry as well, and he looked at Stanislav with understanding this time. The two men made their way to Kitty, and Duncan went back to the campfire, understanding that this was a moment for Kitty, Sytze, and Stanislav, and no one else. Duncan vacated the campfire, and rinsed the kettle in a nearby pond. Three buckets of milk now remained, and these were magically sealed by Salem for later use, as were the many pounds of raw bugbear meat that remained. Sytze stroked Kitty's hair, and she forced a smile, despite her pain. He then went over to the campfire, and began to brew a potion, using some of the milk and meat. He smiled inside, glad that Stanislav's instinct and concern had gotten him the remaining components.
"Sytze is back, Kitty!" Stanislav said, shedding a pair of tears. "You will be well soon!"
Two hours had passed and there was still no sign of Sytze. The sun was shining by now, and Kitty was starting to look a little better, but the herbs were still badly needed. Stanislav took off his backpack and started rummaging through it. This was the fifth or sixth time he had done so in the last few hours.
"It has to be here!" He said. "Damnation! Where is it?"
"What are you doing?" Salem asked, but Stanislav paid no heed. He was busy looking for something to help Kitty with.
"Yes!" He said. "I have it, finally!" He looked at Salem, who was standing between Kitty and himself, looking inquisitive. "Out of my way."
Salem stepped aside, and watched as Stanislav pulled out a small pouch.He poured out a small pile of brown powder and offered it to Kitty. He helped her head up and she swallowed the chocolate. Stanislav knew nothing of herblore, but he had to do something! He had used chocolate once before to make Kitty feel better, and hoped the magic stuff would help again. She swallowed another mouthful and Stanislav laid her head back.
He put the pouch near her bed of leaves and began pacing again. Kitty tried to say something to calm him down, but her strength failed her and she got back to resting. Her bones had taken the majority of the damage, but her lungs had been bruised and her heart was shocked and weakened during the impact.
Suddenly, Stanislav heard a goat. Then another and a third. He stopped and looked in the direction of the sounds. He looked back at Rethne and motioned his hand from her to Kitty.
"You!" He said. "Comfort her!"
"Again you forget your place, boy!" Rethne protested, trying to keep some measure of dignity in the face of Stanislav's agitation.
Stanislav gave her an angry look, pulled out his swords, and made off toward the goats. He pulled the pouch of gold out of his backpack on his way toward his quarry, and disappeared.
"He has gone raving mad, I tell you!" Rethne said. "He was ready to kill me! You all saw it!"
"He is worried." Duncan offered an explanation. "He will be back to normal when Kitty is better."
"Right," Rethne said. "Maybe then I can discipline him for his insolence."
"Let him be, Rethne," Salem said. "And comfort Kitty. He knows that as the only other lady in our party, you are closer to Kitty than either of us."
"It would not harm you," Duncan said with a grin. "to develop a maternal instinct!"
"You hope in vain, lad." Rethne returned the grin. She went to Kitty's side and sat near her, feeding her the occasional mouthful of chocolate powder. In half an Hour, Stanislav returned, looking happier than before. He bore four buckets of Goat-milk, but his money pouch was almost empty. He asked Salem to help him get a fire started. They gathered twigs, branches, and leaves, and Salem cast a minor fire cantrip. Duncan pulled out a kettle out of his pack, and handed it to Salem. Stanislav, in the meantime created a suspension pole, in order to hang the kettle from. He poured in the milk, and waited for a few minutes before pouring in into one of the mugs Duncan had pulled out of Kitty's pack. He came up to Kitty and he and Rethne helped her up while the others also took a drink from the kettle. Rethne reached for the chocolate powder, but Stanislav stopped her.
"Too much can be bad for the liver." He said. He poured the liquid into Kitty's mouth, to help her regain some strength. he looked at Rethne again. "Thank you for looking after her. I am in your debt."
"Well, I'll tke that gratitude in terms of respect, kid." Rethne said, but there was no malice in her voice.
"No problem, m'lady." Stanislav said with a smile.
Rethne shook her head and got back to the rest of the group to take a drink. Something interesting caught her eye as she made her way to the campfire. Out of the mouth of the treasure cave, a bugbear emerged, probably a survivor of the battle. His head was bleeding, and looked a little lopsided. This was the one Stanislav had trampled.
"Look!" Rethne said to Stanislav. "A survivor."
"Good," Stanislav replied. Rethne looked puzzled. "Kitty needs meat." He waited thirty minutes for the beast to get to the forest, but not long enough for him to notice the group. Stanislav pulled out his swords and sneaked up on the creature. He was not usually stealthy, and though he would take the beast by surprise, he would still face it with a sword before killing it. He grabbed the bugbear's shoulder and turned him around. He thrust his gladius into the beast's chest, and pulled it out. He then picked it up and carried it on his shoulders toward the group. Duncan helped him skin the beast and separate the edible from the inedible. Half an hour later, Stanislav and Rethne helped Kitty up again, and fed her. She did not eat much, and was growing noticeably thinner, but she ate a small bit, and went back to sleep.
Suddenly, the group heard a rustle through the bushes. Duncan and Stanislav got up, weapons at the ready. They hadn't slept in two days, and Stanislav had not even had any milk or bugbear-meat, but they were like hungry, tired Lions, and they would fight like the mighty beasts to keep the group from harm.
Much to their relief, the beast emerging from the bushes was none other than Phraen, followed by Sytze, carrying a bushel of herbs. Sytze looked tired and hungry as well, and he looked at Stanislav with understanding this time. The two men made their way to Kitty, and Duncan went back to the campfire, understanding that this was a moment for Kitty, Sytze, and Stanislav, and no one else. Duncan vacated the campfire, and rinsed the kettle in a nearby pond. Three buckets of milk now remained, and these were magically sealed by Salem for later use, as were the many pounds of raw bugbear meat that remained. Sytze stroked Kitty's hair, and she forced a smile, despite her pain. He then went over to the campfire, and began to brew a potion, using some of the milk and meat. He smiled inside, glad that Stanislav's instinct and concern had gotten him the remaining components.
"Sytze is back, Kitty!" Stanislav said, shedding a pair of tears. "You will be well soon!"
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
Even though the herbs brought by Sytze helped to ease Kitty’s pain, she still wasn’t mending, something which the entire group could see. After Kitty had fallen asleep, Sytze called a meeting.
“We can’t stay here” he said, “Kitty is fading, she doesn’t have much strength left, and I can’t heal her, she needs a cleric’s aid”
“But were can we go?” asked Stanislav, with a worried expression on his face, “We don’t know where we are”
“No” Salem said, “I actually think we are not too far from Marith. The tunnels must have brought us closer to the city”
“How do you know?” asked Sytze “Even to a ranger such as myself, this forest looks awfully usual”
Salem smiled, “No, I don’t recognize the forest, but I can feel the magic from the wizard’s academy, I used to study there”
“Very well” Rethne interrupted “How far are we from the city then?”
“Perhaps two days of hard march” Salem responded “But I don’t know if Kitty will be able to handle two days of hard marching”
“Don’t worry about that” Stanislav said with a grin “I’ll carry her”
Sytze looked at him with a scowl “All right, we should leave as soon as the sun rises, I have a bad feeling about this place”
Satisfied with the plan, the group went to sleep, while Rethne took first watch…
After a few hours, Rethne woke Duncan for his watch. As they were talking, Duncan suddenly put a finger to his lips, signaling Rethne to be quiet.
“I think I heard something” he said “sneak over to those bushes and see if you can spot anything”
Rethne put on her hood and crouched through the bushes, disappearing for a while…
After some minutes she returned.
“Well, what did you see” Duncan asked with a worried expression on his face.
“Goblins, goblins and more filthy goblins” she responded. “Judging from the number of torches out there, I would guess there were several hundreds of them. There might be bugbears with them as well”
“That many” Duncan asked thoughtfully “that’s too many to fight, especially in our current condition. I think we should wake the others and try to sneak away towards Marith”
“Good idea” Rethne whispered. And with that, they started to wake the other members of the party.
The group was soon underway, with Salem and Sytze leading the way, Kitty who was carried by Stanislav in the middle, and Duncan and Rethne in the back.
The group made good speed, although slowed down by Kitty. However, they were still not safe, and had to take every precaution against being seen.
Suddenly Duncan and Rethne heard a strange sound. Turning around; Duncan heard an arrow flying past himself, hitting Rethne who was just about to toss one of her throwing knives. Duncan took Rethne’s knife and tossed it in the face of their assailant goblin before turning his attention on Rethne who was screaming with pain and terror from the arrow which was sticking out of her abdomen.
“What happened?!” Stanislav yelled nervously
“We’ve been spotted, that’s what” Duncan replied quickly “RUN, we’ll be right behind you!”
As the rest of the group was hurrying along, Rethne was losing control. She was panicking and screaming about dying.
“Rethne, look at me” Duncan said, trying to draw her attention
“Stop rattling your bone box you sodding berk! I’m going in the dead book so you just pike off and take a hike to the maze!” she screamed frantically
Not understanding anything of this Sigil slang, Duncan slapped Rethne hard across her cheek, leaving her stunned
“Now you listen to me!” he commanded “You are not going to die, you will live, but we need to reach Marith if we don’t want to be eaten by those filthy goblins, so get a grip woman!”
Rethne nodded, still stunned by the blow
“Now I’m going to pull out that arrow, so you just try to relax” he continued. “Goblins usually don’t put hooks on their arrows, so you should be fine.”
Rethne nodded, and closed her eyes tightly, and with one swift motion, Duncan pulled out the arrow. Rethne screamed with the pain but seemed relived now that the arrow was out.
Duncan could hear the goblins closing in on them, so he picked Rethne up and started running after the others, luckily the gladiator had left a path of crushed bushes and broken twigs so he had no problem with finding the way.
However he had to hurry if he was to have any chance of reaching his companions and the elven city of Marith before the goblins caught up with him…
“We can’t stay here” he said, “Kitty is fading, she doesn’t have much strength left, and I can’t heal her, she needs a cleric’s aid”
“But were can we go?” asked Stanislav, with a worried expression on his face, “We don’t know where we are”
“No” Salem said, “I actually think we are not too far from Marith. The tunnels must have brought us closer to the city”
“How do you know?” asked Sytze “Even to a ranger such as myself, this forest looks awfully usual”
Salem smiled, “No, I don’t recognize the forest, but I can feel the magic from the wizard’s academy, I used to study there”
“Very well” Rethne interrupted “How far are we from the city then?”
“Perhaps two days of hard march” Salem responded “But I don’t know if Kitty will be able to handle two days of hard marching”
“Don’t worry about that” Stanislav said with a grin “I’ll carry her”
Sytze looked at him with a scowl “All right, we should leave as soon as the sun rises, I have a bad feeling about this place”
Satisfied with the plan, the group went to sleep, while Rethne took first watch…
After a few hours, Rethne woke Duncan for his watch. As they were talking, Duncan suddenly put a finger to his lips, signaling Rethne to be quiet.
“I think I heard something” he said “sneak over to those bushes and see if you can spot anything”
Rethne put on her hood and crouched through the bushes, disappearing for a while…
After some minutes she returned.
“Well, what did you see” Duncan asked with a worried expression on his face.
“Goblins, goblins and more filthy goblins” she responded. “Judging from the number of torches out there, I would guess there were several hundreds of them. There might be bugbears with them as well”
“That many” Duncan asked thoughtfully “that’s too many to fight, especially in our current condition. I think we should wake the others and try to sneak away towards Marith”
“Good idea” Rethne whispered. And with that, they started to wake the other members of the party.
The group was soon underway, with Salem and Sytze leading the way, Kitty who was carried by Stanislav in the middle, and Duncan and Rethne in the back.
The group made good speed, although slowed down by Kitty. However, they were still not safe, and had to take every precaution against being seen.
Suddenly Duncan and Rethne heard a strange sound. Turning around; Duncan heard an arrow flying past himself, hitting Rethne who was just about to toss one of her throwing knives. Duncan took Rethne’s knife and tossed it in the face of their assailant goblin before turning his attention on Rethne who was screaming with pain and terror from the arrow which was sticking out of her abdomen.
“What happened?!” Stanislav yelled nervously
“We’ve been spotted, that’s what” Duncan replied quickly “RUN, we’ll be right behind you!”
As the rest of the group was hurrying along, Rethne was losing control. She was panicking and screaming about dying.
“Rethne, look at me” Duncan said, trying to draw her attention
“Stop rattling your bone box you sodding berk! I’m going in the dead book so you just pike off and take a hike to the maze!” she screamed frantically
Not understanding anything of this Sigil slang, Duncan slapped Rethne hard across her cheek, leaving her stunned
“Now you listen to me!” he commanded “You are not going to die, you will live, but we need to reach Marith if we don’t want to be eaten by those filthy goblins, so get a grip woman!”
Rethne nodded, still stunned by the blow
“Now I’m going to pull out that arrow, so you just try to relax” he continued. “Goblins usually don’t put hooks on their arrows, so you should be fine.”
Rethne nodded, and closed her eyes tightly, and with one swift motion, Duncan pulled out the arrow. Rethne screamed with the pain but seemed relived now that the arrow was out.
Duncan could hear the goblins closing in on them, so he picked Rethne up and started running after the others, luckily the gladiator had left a path of crushed bushes and broken twigs so he had no problem with finding the way.
However he had to hurry if he was to have any chance of reaching his companions and the elven city of Marith before the goblins caught up with him…
This is my signature.
‘Why are you stopping?’ Salem asked.
Sytze had just turned around, looking for his other companions. Stanislav, who was carrying Kitty, was walking right behind them, but Rethne and Duncan were nowhere in sight.
‘We’ve lost two of our friends. We need to stop, for else they will not know the way to Marith.’ Sytze sighed and turned his head upwards, eyeing the stars. Because he had to take care of Kitty’s injuries, he barely had any sleep this night and he wondered when they would finally get some rest. The attacks had seem endless the last couple of days and it was taking its toll on everyone.
‘Salem, do you know which way we have to go to Marith?’
‘Sure,’ Salem responded and pointed northwards. ‘I’m guessing it will be a few hours walk. Maybe two at this travelling speed.’
‘I see,’ Sytze mumbled. He faced Stanislav who was breathing heavily. The boy was getting tired from the walking and carrying Kitty and Sytze felt sorry for him. ‘Stanislav, keep walking in that direction, don’t stray from that course.’
The gladiator was watching Kitty breath slowly, but peacefully and raised his head when he heard his name. With a questioned look on his face, he approached Sytze. ‘I assume you have a plan?’
‘That I have, but I do not have time to explain it to you. Now get moving, you’re the slowest of us all now and you need to get distance between yourself and the goblins at all times, less you bring yourself and Kitty in danger.’
Mentioning Kitty’s name and danger in one sentence was enough for Stanislav. He set off, northwards.
‘Care to explain yourself, Sytze?’ Salem asked.
‘We both saw Rethne got hit by an arrow. With two friends crippled and unable to walk, we are way slower than those goblins.’ Sytze stopped talking for a moment and aimed his eyes southwards. He fixed his sight and saw Duncan and Rethne coming out of the bushes. Goblin voices were chasing them, but the vile creatures were nowhere in sight.
‘So this is what we’ll do. Since you are the only one who knows where Marith is located, you should go with Stanislav and Kitty. Our Druid is in a bad shape and needs go get healing as soon as mortally possible. But,’ and Sytze paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, ‘you need to carry Rethne.’
Salem eyes widened in surprise. ‘I...I’m not sure I can carry her all that way.’
Sytze smiled ‘First of all, Rethne is a Halfling thief, so don’t expect her to be that heavy. Secondly…,’ but before continuing he turned around again, guessing how much time they would have before the goblins got here. ‘Secondly, you have a strength spell memorised, right? Well, use it.’
Salem stood still for a moment while Duncan came running in, carrying Rethne.
‘We don’t have all day, though.’ The ranger said dryly.
Salem suddenly moved his arms and after a few seconds a white glow covered him.
‘Give me Rethne’ Salem said with a determined expression on his face.
The moment the sorcerer had said so, Duncan looked at him baffled, but did as Salem had asked.
‘Now what?
‘Now, Salem’ Sytze said, ‘you journey to Marith. Do not turn around and wait for us. Move swiftly, for Duncan and I will cover your tracks and turn in a different direction. We’ll try to lure the goblins with us and make it through the night. At dawn we will head to your Elven town. Get Kitty healed there in the meantime and have her send Phaere to find us, or send some elven backup, so we can destroy our goblin followers. Also, with their help we should be able to find Marith. Either way is fine, though´ Sytze paused for a moment, catching his breath. He was becoming more tired with the minute. Night after night without decent sleep was catching up with him. In his entire life, he had felt this tired only ones and that was when he had lost his friend Ahrand. He had been searching for him for days without sleep until he just dropped unconscious in a tavern. There he had been taking care off and he had slept for days. His condition was not so bad this time, but still, he felt pretty damn tired.
´Very well, my friend.´ Salem responded. He threw Rethne over his shoulder, who objected to being treated like a piece of meat, but was silent just as quickly when Duncan gave her an angry look. ´I will wish you luck, my friends. Until tomorrow and…and be careful.´ Then Salem took off, running northwards, chasing Stanislav.
----------------
Sytze had just turned around, looking for his other companions. Stanislav, who was carrying Kitty, was walking right behind them, but Rethne and Duncan were nowhere in sight.
‘We’ve lost two of our friends. We need to stop, for else they will not know the way to Marith.’ Sytze sighed and turned his head upwards, eyeing the stars. Because he had to take care of Kitty’s injuries, he barely had any sleep this night and he wondered when they would finally get some rest. The attacks had seem endless the last couple of days and it was taking its toll on everyone.
‘Salem, do you know which way we have to go to Marith?’
‘Sure,’ Salem responded and pointed northwards. ‘I’m guessing it will be a few hours walk. Maybe two at this travelling speed.’
‘I see,’ Sytze mumbled. He faced Stanislav who was breathing heavily. The boy was getting tired from the walking and carrying Kitty and Sytze felt sorry for him. ‘Stanislav, keep walking in that direction, don’t stray from that course.’
The gladiator was watching Kitty breath slowly, but peacefully and raised his head when he heard his name. With a questioned look on his face, he approached Sytze. ‘I assume you have a plan?’
‘That I have, but I do not have time to explain it to you. Now get moving, you’re the slowest of us all now and you need to get distance between yourself and the goblins at all times, less you bring yourself and Kitty in danger.’
Mentioning Kitty’s name and danger in one sentence was enough for Stanislav. He set off, northwards.
‘Care to explain yourself, Sytze?’ Salem asked.
‘We both saw Rethne got hit by an arrow. With two friends crippled and unable to walk, we are way slower than those goblins.’ Sytze stopped talking for a moment and aimed his eyes southwards. He fixed his sight and saw Duncan and Rethne coming out of the bushes. Goblin voices were chasing them, but the vile creatures were nowhere in sight.
‘So this is what we’ll do. Since you are the only one who knows where Marith is located, you should go with Stanislav and Kitty. Our Druid is in a bad shape and needs go get healing as soon as mortally possible. But,’ and Sytze paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, ‘you need to carry Rethne.’
Salem eyes widened in surprise. ‘I...I’m not sure I can carry her all that way.’
Sytze smiled ‘First of all, Rethne is a Halfling thief, so don’t expect her to be that heavy. Secondly…,’ but before continuing he turned around again, guessing how much time they would have before the goblins got here. ‘Secondly, you have a strength spell memorised, right? Well, use it.’
Salem stood still for a moment while Duncan came running in, carrying Rethne.
‘We don’t have all day, though.’ The ranger said dryly.
Salem suddenly moved his arms and after a few seconds a white glow covered him.
‘Give me Rethne’ Salem said with a determined expression on his face.
The moment the sorcerer had said so, Duncan looked at him baffled, but did as Salem had asked.
‘Now what?
‘Now, Salem’ Sytze said, ‘you journey to Marith. Do not turn around and wait for us. Move swiftly, for Duncan and I will cover your tracks and turn in a different direction. We’ll try to lure the goblins with us and make it through the night. At dawn we will head to your Elven town. Get Kitty healed there in the meantime and have her send Phaere to find us, or send some elven backup, so we can destroy our goblin followers. Also, with their help we should be able to find Marith. Either way is fine, though´ Sytze paused for a moment, catching his breath. He was becoming more tired with the minute. Night after night without decent sleep was catching up with him. In his entire life, he had felt this tired only ones and that was when he had lost his friend Ahrand. He had been searching for him for days without sleep until he just dropped unconscious in a tavern. There he had been taking care off and he had slept for days. His condition was not so bad this time, but still, he felt pretty damn tired.
´Very well, my friend.´ Salem responded. He threw Rethne over his shoulder, who objected to being treated like a piece of meat, but was silent just as quickly when Duncan gave her an angry look. ´I will wish you luck, my friends. Until tomorrow and…and be careful.´ Then Salem took off, running northwards, chasing Stanislav.
----------------
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"
Duncan let out a loud yawn when the two settled in a huge tree. The green leaves covered them from sight, but Sytze had positioned himself in a way that he could observe the ground.
‘Will you take first watch?’ Duncan inquired.
‘Sure,’ Sytze responded, but not willingly. This could very well become a very hard struggle against the sleep.
‘How’s your leg doing, Duncan?’ Sytze asked.
While the two had covered their friends’ tracks, the goblins had found them and the two warriors had to run for their lives. Every four minutes or so they stopped running in order to kill the small group of goblins up front. In one such fight, the goblins numbered many and Duncan got hit in his leg. That was the last time they had fought a goblin group, the fights simply became too dangerous.
‘I’m fine,’ Duncan said ‘but are you sure we distracted the goblins from our friends’ trail? And are we safe enough here?’
Sytze said nothing for a while; he was too caught up in his own thoughts. He retraced his steps and wondered if his friends and the two of them were really safe. He was fairly sure he had covered Salem’s and their own tracks well enough, but he just hoped the goblins had taken the bait. Salem and Stanislav weren’t fast and if the goblins walked straight after them and found their trail, they would surely be caught. Sytze shivered at the thought of capture, the torture would go beyond his imagination. Immediately his thoughts went back to Kitty and what Phraen had told him. Sytze shook his head and forced his thought to abandon him, they were too painful…
When he came to his senses again, he answered Duncan’s question.
‘We are safe enough. As for our friends, I can only hope.’
Those were the last words the two said to each other. Duncan dozed off and let Sytze alone with his thoughts.
------------------
‘Marith!’ Salem yelled. ‘We’ve found it! Thank you dear wizard academy!'
The sorcerer had caught up with Stanislav over more than an hour ago and together they had set for Marith. On their way they hadn’t encountered a single goblin.
‘I’m not sure… what Duncan and Sytze have….have done, but they sure did a hell of a job.’ Stanislav said, while breathing heavily. Even he was nearing exhaustion.
‘I just hope they are alright.’ Salem responded.
They walked through the gate and immediately an elven cleric came walking towards them.
‘Greetings Salem, I heard you were in need of assistance?'
‘Nevfalas! Salem responded, almost screaming. ‘How are you my friend?’
‘I’m just fine, my dear sorcerer. You and your friends, however, look as if you just tumbled off a cliff.’
‘You’re not far off’ Salem responded with a smile, but when he looked at Kitty and Rethne, he came to his senses.
‘We need a clerics aid, but since you are here, I guess you already knew that.’
‘Some of our scouts saw you arrive,’ Nevfalas responded. ‘They informed me of your condition and that some your friends need help.’
‘Kitty needs immediate healing.’ Stanislav said desperately.
‘I will see to that at ones.’ Nevfalas replied. ‘Are the two women the only ones in need of healing?’
‘Yes.’ Salem responded. ‘Although two of our other friends need some help as well.’
‘Then they will receive it. But why are they in need of assistance?’ Nevfalas asked.
‘That I will tell you later. Please just send a small band of elves to find them. I’m sure that if they will not find our two friends, our two friends will find them. Wait until dawn, though, for else the searching will prove pointless. In the meantime, please take care of these two. Quickly’
‘Very well then. I trust your word and judgment, Salem.’
With that, the four friends followed the elven cleric…
‘Will you take first watch?’ Duncan inquired.
‘Sure,’ Sytze responded, but not willingly. This could very well become a very hard struggle against the sleep.
‘How’s your leg doing, Duncan?’ Sytze asked.
While the two had covered their friends’ tracks, the goblins had found them and the two warriors had to run for their lives. Every four minutes or so they stopped running in order to kill the small group of goblins up front. In one such fight, the goblins numbered many and Duncan got hit in his leg. That was the last time they had fought a goblin group, the fights simply became too dangerous.
‘I’m fine,’ Duncan said ‘but are you sure we distracted the goblins from our friends’ trail? And are we safe enough here?’
Sytze said nothing for a while; he was too caught up in his own thoughts. He retraced his steps and wondered if his friends and the two of them were really safe. He was fairly sure he had covered Salem’s and their own tracks well enough, but he just hoped the goblins had taken the bait. Salem and Stanislav weren’t fast and if the goblins walked straight after them and found their trail, they would surely be caught. Sytze shivered at the thought of capture, the torture would go beyond his imagination. Immediately his thoughts went back to Kitty and what Phraen had told him. Sytze shook his head and forced his thought to abandon him, they were too painful…
When he came to his senses again, he answered Duncan’s question.
‘We are safe enough. As for our friends, I can only hope.’
Those were the last words the two said to each other. Duncan dozed off and let Sytze alone with his thoughts.
------------------
‘Marith!’ Salem yelled. ‘We’ve found it! Thank you dear wizard academy!'
The sorcerer had caught up with Stanislav over more than an hour ago and together they had set for Marith. On their way they hadn’t encountered a single goblin.
‘I’m not sure… what Duncan and Sytze have….have done, but they sure did a hell of a job.’ Stanislav said, while breathing heavily. Even he was nearing exhaustion.
‘I just hope they are alright.’ Salem responded.
They walked through the gate and immediately an elven cleric came walking towards them.
‘Greetings Salem, I heard you were in need of assistance?'
‘Nevfalas! Salem responded, almost screaming. ‘How are you my friend?’
‘I’m just fine, my dear sorcerer. You and your friends, however, look as if you just tumbled off a cliff.’
‘You’re not far off’ Salem responded with a smile, but when he looked at Kitty and Rethne, he came to his senses.
‘We need a clerics aid, but since you are here, I guess you already knew that.’
‘Some of our scouts saw you arrive,’ Nevfalas responded. ‘They informed me of your condition and that some your friends need help.’
‘Kitty needs immediate healing.’ Stanislav said desperately.
‘I will see to that at ones.’ Nevfalas replied. ‘Are the two women the only ones in need of healing?’
‘Yes.’ Salem responded. ‘Although two of our other friends need some help as well.’
‘Then they will receive it. But why are they in need of assistance?’ Nevfalas asked.
‘That I will tell you later. Please just send a small band of elves to find them. I’m sure that if they will not find our two friends, our two friends will find them. Wait until dawn, though, for else the searching will prove pointless. In the meantime, please take care of these two. Quickly’
‘Very well then. I trust your word and judgment, Salem.’
With that, the four friends followed the elven cleric…
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"
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werebeargoddess
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Kitty woke up in a clean, well-lit room. It must have been mid-morning, because from what she could tell, her window pointed east, and the sun was shining through it. Kitty shook her head, tried to sit up, failed, and fell back into bed again. She hurt all over. She had bruises in places that she had forgotten could be bruised. Her arms, legs, and back were sore. And on top of that, she had a mild headache. But the sheets on the bed were clean, and there was a pitcher of water, as well as a cup, within easy reach. Only then did she realize that she wasn't even wearing anything, and that someone had taken her clothes. Dearest Silvanus. Why me? Where am I, to be stripped completely of the few things I own?
Just then, there was a low growl, and Phraen jumped nimbly onto her bed. He carefully walked over to her, licked her face, and lay down next to her, sighing. He was radiating content. Kitty gave a joyous yelp (it was rather hard, since her ribcage hurt), and threw her arms around his neck, and sobbed. She didn't know what brought the tears on, but let them fall nevertheless. Phraen leaned into her, comforting her with his presence and with silent words. it was a few minutes before she calmed down enough to mindspeak.
<Love, where are we? I don't recognize this place. I don't think I've been here before. And the others- Oh, blessed Silvanus, are they alright? They haven't been too taxed, have they? Gods, they probably hate me know, after that. Surely they think me weak, since I couldn't keep up.>
<Don't worry about it, Kit,> he told her. <We're in Marith. We've been here for a little over a week and a half. Mind, you've been out of it the whole time. Don't worry about the others. They've all rested up, and are fine. They still love you as much as before; in fact, there are certain members who love you more.>
Kitty nodded. <Stanislav and Sytze, you mean. Phraen, what am I going to do? I mean... I love them both. Eventually I'm going to have to choose between them.>
Phraen was silent for a moment.< I know this sounds rediculous, Kit, but all I can say is to follow your heart on this. It's the one thing that will never fail you.>
Kitty nodded, closing her eyes. She knew her friend was right. But she was too tired to think about it now. As she drifted off to sleep, she dreamt of a singing ranger, the wind stirring his hair...
***********************************************************
When she awoke again, she found that she and Phraen weren't the only ones in the room. Rethne was slumped over in a chair, asleep. Kitty was rather suprised by this. Not by the fact that someone was keeping watch on her, should she wake, but the fact that it was Rethne. She and Rethne hadn't overly gotten along, and Rethne was the last persone who Kitty thought would help. She doubted that Rethne had volunteered.
But she was in for a suprise. Rethne stirred, awoke, and started when she saw that Kitty was awake.
" 'Bout time you awoke," the halfling told her. "Everyone's been worried sick about you,. Especially Sytze. Mind, he hasn't said much to me or the others, but he seems to have found a pasttime in talking to you, even though you're asleep. Oh, and before you say anything, you don't need to worry about Stanislav. He's been as worried about you as Sytze, but otherwise he's fine.."
Kitty was rather suprised by this but of news. She was touched by the way Sytze and Stanislav were looking after her.
There was a knock on the door, and Rethne went to answer it. Shyly, Sytze stepped into the room. He and Kitty looked at eachother. Neither of them noticed that Rethne had slipped out, with Phraen folloing behind her. The door closed, and that snaped them out of their reverie. Hesitantly, Sytze walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, near Kitty's head. Then, still moving hesitantly, he took her hands in both of his. He didn't meet her eyes at first.
"Phraen told me about- about what happened. To your village. I just wanted to say that- that I'm sorry about it. I mean, you're such a wonderful woman. I- I Haven't met many women like you. You're probably scared to death of what could happen. I-I don't want to scare you off. Gods, I'm not that kind of person, who goes chasing after women just for pleasure. I can't do that. I'm just not like that. Gods, you probably think me some kind of fool and idiot for saying this stuff. But, Kitty, I love you. I don't know how else to say it. You don't have to accept it, in fact I wouldn't be suprised if you rejected me. But... I could never put you through what ylou've been through again. What you had to go through at you're village- that was just plain horrible. I couldn't do that to you." He broke off, tears flowing down he cheeks.
Tears were flowing down her cheeks as well. Why hadn't seen it before? Yes, Stanislav was her friend, but he never gave her the same sort of love that Sytze did. How could she have been so blind? After several minutes of struggling, she managed to choke out,
"Sytze, listen to me. I love you also. I don't know how I could have missed it before. I don't know how I coul have been so blind. Sytze, I care for you, so much..."
She stopped, and looked into his eyes. His met hers, and they both smiled. Gently, he bent down and kissed her gently. He pulled away, blushing. Kitty smiled, and chuckled.
"Do think you can walk?" he asked her. "Because I think te others would be happy to see you awake."
Kitty pondered this. "I - I think I can walk. My head hurts a little, and I might need some help walking, but otherwise I think I could. I could easily get some tea for my head, so that takes care of that problem. But, Sytze, I don't mean to seem brash or anything, but I- I'm not wearing anything. Someone took my clothes."
Sytze blushed further, muttering "of course", then he rached for something that was on the floor at the foot of the bed. They were clothes, and he handed them to her. Then he turned and faced the wall, still blushing, as she dressed...
Just then, there was a low growl, and Phraen jumped nimbly onto her bed. He carefully walked over to her, licked her face, and lay down next to her, sighing. He was radiating content. Kitty gave a joyous yelp (it was rather hard, since her ribcage hurt), and threw her arms around his neck, and sobbed. She didn't know what brought the tears on, but let them fall nevertheless. Phraen leaned into her, comforting her with his presence and with silent words. it was a few minutes before she calmed down enough to mindspeak.
<Love, where are we? I don't recognize this place. I don't think I've been here before. And the others- Oh, blessed Silvanus, are they alright? They haven't been too taxed, have they? Gods, they probably hate me know, after that. Surely they think me weak, since I couldn't keep up.>
<Don't worry about it, Kit,> he told her. <We're in Marith. We've been here for a little over a week and a half. Mind, you've been out of it the whole time. Don't worry about the others. They've all rested up, and are fine. They still love you as much as before; in fact, there are certain members who love you more.>
Kitty nodded. <Stanislav and Sytze, you mean. Phraen, what am I going to do? I mean... I love them both. Eventually I'm going to have to choose between them.>
Phraen was silent for a moment.< I know this sounds rediculous, Kit, but all I can say is to follow your heart on this. It's the one thing that will never fail you.>
Kitty nodded, closing her eyes. She knew her friend was right. But she was too tired to think about it now. As she drifted off to sleep, she dreamt of a singing ranger, the wind stirring his hair...
***********************************************************
When she awoke again, she found that she and Phraen weren't the only ones in the room. Rethne was slumped over in a chair, asleep. Kitty was rather suprised by this. Not by the fact that someone was keeping watch on her, should she wake, but the fact that it was Rethne. She and Rethne hadn't overly gotten along, and Rethne was the last persone who Kitty thought would help. She doubted that Rethne had volunteered.
But she was in for a suprise. Rethne stirred, awoke, and started when she saw that Kitty was awake.
" 'Bout time you awoke," the halfling told her. "Everyone's been worried sick about you,. Especially Sytze. Mind, he hasn't said much to me or the others, but he seems to have found a pasttime in talking to you, even though you're asleep. Oh, and before you say anything, you don't need to worry about Stanislav. He's been as worried about you as Sytze, but otherwise he's fine.."
Kitty was rather suprised by this but of news. She was touched by the way Sytze and Stanislav were looking after her.
There was a knock on the door, and Rethne went to answer it. Shyly, Sytze stepped into the room. He and Kitty looked at eachother. Neither of them noticed that Rethne had slipped out, with Phraen folloing behind her. The door closed, and that snaped them out of their reverie. Hesitantly, Sytze walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, near Kitty's head. Then, still moving hesitantly, he took her hands in both of his. He didn't meet her eyes at first.
"Phraen told me about- about what happened. To your village. I just wanted to say that- that I'm sorry about it. I mean, you're such a wonderful woman. I- I Haven't met many women like you. You're probably scared to death of what could happen. I-I don't want to scare you off. Gods, I'm not that kind of person, who goes chasing after women just for pleasure. I can't do that. I'm just not like that. Gods, you probably think me some kind of fool and idiot for saying this stuff. But, Kitty, I love you. I don't know how else to say it. You don't have to accept it, in fact I wouldn't be suprised if you rejected me. But... I could never put you through what ylou've been through again. What you had to go through at you're village- that was just plain horrible. I couldn't do that to you." He broke off, tears flowing down he cheeks.
Tears were flowing down her cheeks as well. Why hadn't seen it before? Yes, Stanislav was her friend, but he never gave her the same sort of love that Sytze did. How could she have been so blind? After several minutes of struggling, she managed to choke out,
"Sytze, listen to me. I love you also. I don't know how I could have missed it before. I don't know how I coul have been so blind. Sytze, I care for you, so much..."
She stopped, and looked into his eyes. His met hers, and they both smiled. Gently, he bent down and kissed her gently. He pulled away, blushing. Kitty smiled, and chuckled.
"Do think you can walk?" he asked her. "Because I think te others would be happy to see you awake."
Kitty pondered this. "I - I think I can walk. My head hurts a little, and I might need some help walking, but otherwise I think I could. I could easily get some tea for my head, so that takes care of that problem. But, Sytze, I don't mean to seem brash or anything, but I- I'm not wearing anything. Someone took my clothes."
Sytze blushed further, muttering "of course", then he rached for something that was on the floor at the foot of the bed. They were clothes, and he handed them to her. Then he turned and faced the wall, still blushing, as she dressed...
I wanted to change my sig, but I can't think of anything to change it to
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Golden Lion 86
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Lover's Folly, Part 1
Sytze helped Kitty up, and they both left the room, to go enjoy the fresh air and the company of their friends. Kitty looked forward to the sight of more friendly faces, and smiled at the thought of seeing them engaged in discussion, or shopping for supplies, which was certainly a pleasant change from seeing them fighting, drenched in sweat and blood.
She found Salem talking to Nevfalas, probably catching up on old times. They were both drinking tea, but Salem had a bottle of something stronger on the table, so the course of his evening was already set. Kitty smiled to herself as she imagined the oldest and wisest member of the group singing drinking songs with his clothes on backwards.
Duncan and Rethne both looked through a weaponshop for a new blade, or a magical trinket that will aid them in combat. The two had grown close during their stay and were as engaged in shopping as they were in talking to each other. Duncan had picked out a wakizashi to complement his blade, and Rethne had taken a second rapier. She also wore a new suit of armor. It looked very light, but it was not leather. Upon close inspection, black plates could be seen on the otherwise smooth surface of the armor. It was Elven plate mail, every bit as strong as Human or Dwarven craftsmanship, but much lighter. Rethne noticed Kitty and turned around and waved to her. As the only other lady in the group, Kitty had become something of a sister to Rethne, and despite the latter's quick temper and generally angry and evil disposition, the two could be considered true friends. Kitty waved back and continued toward the central courtyard.
Stanislav stood there, talking to an herb-master. He had not bothered to join the other friends in shopping. Instead, he was interested in medicinal herbs for Kitty, and was growing impatient with the shopkeeper's incessant questions about the exact kind of herb he needed. Stanislav was no master of herblore, nor was he a healer, so he understood a negligible fraction of the herbmaster's words. Stanislav was bright, and could learn much. Had his life not put him on the warrior's path, he might have made a decent wizard. However, his potential for learning was just that: potential. He had been a slave-gladiator for the majority of his life and had not learned much beyond some folklore, certainly nothing that would help him now. Sytze walked up to the shopkeeper, and pointed out a blue flower. The ranger had three distinct advantages over Stanislav: first, he was a ranger, hence an herbmaster of no small skill. Second, he was a healer; and third, he had spent the last half-hour with Kitty and knew exactly which parts of her body required further healing. Stanislav looked at Sytze and smiled. He knew that for all his initiative, the gladiator was no healer, and he was glad that Kitty also had Sytze as a friend. Sytze could heal her where Stanislav's love and care alone could not.
Sytze collected the flowers from the shopkeeper and turned toward Kitty. He walked up to her and gave her the flowers. Stanislav followed and smiled when he saw that, though Kitty still looked like a few of her bones here and there ached, she was much better overall.
"Hello Kitty!" he said. "I am glad to see that you are better. I wished to visit you on several occasions, but Rethne insisted that I stay out. She said you needed privacy. I wish I had come to you earlier, but it's good to see you."
"Indeed, I asked Rethne to watch the door." Kitty said, rubbing her sides nervously. "I was undressed, and did not wish anyone to see me that way." she looked at Sytze, knowing that statement was not entirely true. "I'd give you a hug, my friend, but my bones are still a little sore from where the bugbear hit me."
"I am sorry about that." Stanislav said, looking down. He could not bear to look Kitty in the eye, because it was after all he who failed to react quickly enough and come to Kitty's aid.
"WHat for?" Kitty asked, smiling. "You didn't inflict the wound."
"But I did not stop the bugbear in time." Stanislav replied.
"Well, you were carrying me to safety," Sytze said. "So either one of us could be to blame, but I think it is best not to dwell on such matters. All that matters is that Kitty is allright now, and there is no permanent damage."
"Indeed." Kitty said. "Umm... Listen, Stanislav, I need to talk to you." Kitty said uncomfortably, knowing that the news she had to deliver would not be pleasant. She hesitated, and then decided to delay the inevitable. "Please, come to my room this evening."
"Very well." Stanislav said with a smile.
"Please," Kitty said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "It's very important. Do not forget."
"Never!" Stanislav said. Kitty smiled.
She wished Stanislav had done something to hurt her. As strange as this though was, it would make hurting him all the easier. She wished at least that he'd engaged in shopping even for a while instead of worrying about her. That way, she would know that he cared less than Sytze, if only by a little. Alas, her conscience would know no peace in that respect. Both men loved her equally, but she loved only Sytze. She imagined what life might have been like with the gladiator, but then she realised that it could never be. First, Stanislav was two years her junior, and though it seemed little enough, it was an ocean of difference at that age. She then realized that even if they waited until they were on the same side of the child-adult border, she still would feel uneasy in a relationship with a younger man. She then realized that even if she could come to terms with their age difference, there was still the greater issue of their size difference. Kitty was not a small woman, and was actually taller than average, but she was still of delicate build, and could never enter intimate relations with a man three times her size without serious risk of injury.
Kitty smiled at Stanislav again as he handed her a basket full of the medicinal flowers. The gladiator quickly caught his mistake and pulled the basket back. He decided to join Kitty and Sytze in their walk and carry the basket himself. Sytze gave him a glare, but the gladiator was too busy enjoying Kitty's proximity to notice. Stanislav had not acquired much of a sense of tact during his years as a gladiator, and did not understand that Kitty and Sytze needed privacy. Kitty looked at Sytze uncomfortably and saw that he was about to dismiss the gladiator. Sytze was a good person at heart, but he was still secretly bitter with Stanislav over their rivalry. Despite his knowledge that the contest for Kitty's heart was won, he still felt anger every time Stanislav looked at Kitty, or smiled at her. He knew that it would all stop as soon as he found out that Kitty's heart had chosen, but until then, Stanislav would have to tread with care. Kitty knew this, and understood that she had to control Sytze's anger. The ranger was not as mindful of Stanislav's feelings as Kitty was, and could snap at any moment. Kitty put her hand on Sytze's shoulder and looked him in the eyes. He understood that Kitty wanted Stanislav to leave peacefully. He relaxed, and let Kitty speak.
"You needn't carry the basket," she said. "I can manage, and if not I, then Sytze certainly can."
"But I will walk with you," Stanislav said. "I might as well carry it. There is no need for you to strain yourself. You are still weak after your injury."
"Weak?" Kitty asked with a puzzled look on her face. "I survived, didn't I?"
"That's not what I meant to say." Stanislav said, looking at the ground again. "I meant that you are not yet fully healed."
"I know what you meant." Kitty smiled. "But I will still manage. Please, go to the others. You have not rested in a long time. You need to relax."
"It's allright." Stanislav said. "I will shop some other time. Being with you is the best relaxation I can think of."
"Please," Kitty implored. "This really is unnecessary. You have done so much already. You needn't stay here with me. Sytze can keep me company."
"But I'd rather be with you than with the others."
"I..." Kitty said, then sighed. She could no longer get Stanislav to leave without asking him, and she could not risk her secret being exposed before she mustered up the strength of heart to reveal it. Sytze saw this and intervened.
"Listen, Stanislav," he said. "Duncan wanted to speak with you. We passed him on the way here."
"Duncan?" Stanislav asked. "Wouldn't he have simply come and summoned me himself?"
"He was busy." Sytze said. "He asked me to tell you."
"Well, allright." Stanislav said. He turned to Kitty and smiled as Sytze clenched his fists. "I will see you this evening in your room then." He walked off.
Sytze helped Kitty up, and they both left the room, to go enjoy the fresh air and the company of their friends. Kitty looked forward to the sight of more friendly faces, and smiled at the thought of seeing them engaged in discussion, or shopping for supplies, which was certainly a pleasant change from seeing them fighting, drenched in sweat and blood.
She found Salem talking to Nevfalas, probably catching up on old times. They were both drinking tea, but Salem had a bottle of something stronger on the table, so the course of his evening was already set. Kitty smiled to herself as she imagined the oldest and wisest member of the group singing drinking songs with his clothes on backwards.
Duncan and Rethne both looked through a weaponshop for a new blade, or a magical trinket that will aid them in combat. The two had grown close during their stay and were as engaged in shopping as they were in talking to each other. Duncan had picked out a wakizashi to complement his blade, and Rethne had taken a second rapier. She also wore a new suit of armor. It looked very light, but it was not leather. Upon close inspection, black plates could be seen on the otherwise smooth surface of the armor. It was Elven plate mail, every bit as strong as Human or Dwarven craftsmanship, but much lighter. Rethne noticed Kitty and turned around and waved to her. As the only other lady in the group, Kitty had become something of a sister to Rethne, and despite the latter's quick temper and generally angry and evil disposition, the two could be considered true friends. Kitty waved back and continued toward the central courtyard.
Stanislav stood there, talking to an herb-master. He had not bothered to join the other friends in shopping. Instead, he was interested in medicinal herbs for Kitty, and was growing impatient with the shopkeeper's incessant questions about the exact kind of herb he needed. Stanislav was no master of herblore, nor was he a healer, so he understood a negligible fraction of the herbmaster's words. Stanislav was bright, and could learn much. Had his life not put him on the warrior's path, he might have made a decent wizard. However, his potential for learning was just that: potential. He had been a slave-gladiator for the majority of his life and had not learned much beyond some folklore, certainly nothing that would help him now. Sytze walked up to the shopkeeper, and pointed out a blue flower. The ranger had three distinct advantages over Stanislav: first, he was a ranger, hence an herbmaster of no small skill. Second, he was a healer; and third, he had spent the last half-hour with Kitty and knew exactly which parts of her body required further healing. Stanislav looked at Sytze and smiled. He knew that for all his initiative, the gladiator was no healer, and he was glad that Kitty also had Sytze as a friend. Sytze could heal her where Stanislav's love and care alone could not.
Sytze collected the flowers from the shopkeeper and turned toward Kitty. He walked up to her and gave her the flowers. Stanislav followed and smiled when he saw that, though Kitty still looked like a few of her bones here and there ached, she was much better overall.
"Hello Kitty!" he said. "I am glad to see that you are better. I wished to visit you on several occasions, but Rethne insisted that I stay out. She said you needed privacy. I wish I had come to you earlier, but it's good to see you."
"Indeed, I asked Rethne to watch the door." Kitty said, rubbing her sides nervously. "I was undressed, and did not wish anyone to see me that way." she looked at Sytze, knowing that statement was not entirely true. "I'd give you a hug, my friend, but my bones are still a little sore from where the bugbear hit me."
"I am sorry about that." Stanislav said, looking down. He could not bear to look Kitty in the eye, because it was after all he who failed to react quickly enough and come to Kitty's aid.
"WHat for?" Kitty asked, smiling. "You didn't inflict the wound."
"But I did not stop the bugbear in time." Stanislav replied.
"Well, you were carrying me to safety," Sytze said. "So either one of us could be to blame, but I think it is best not to dwell on such matters. All that matters is that Kitty is allright now, and there is no permanent damage."
"Indeed." Kitty said. "Umm... Listen, Stanislav, I need to talk to you." Kitty said uncomfortably, knowing that the news she had to deliver would not be pleasant. She hesitated, and then decided to delay the inevitable. "Please, come to my room this evening."
"Very well." Stanislav said with a smile.
"Please," Kitty said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "It's very important. Do not forget."
"Never!" Stanislav said. Kitty smiled.
She wished Stanislav had done something to hurt her. As strange as this though was, it would make hurting him all the easier. She wished at least that he'd engaged in shopping even for a while instead of worrying about her. That way, she would know that he cared less than Sytze, if only by a little. Alas, her conscience would know no peace in that respect. Both men loved her equally, but she loved only Sytze. She imagined what life might have been like with the gladiator, but then she realised that it could never be. First, Stanislav was two years her junior, and though it seemed little enough, it was an ocean of difference at that age. She then realized that even if they waited until they were on the same side of the child-adult border, she still would feel uneasy in a relationship with a younger man. She then realized that even if she could come to terms with their age difference, there was still the greater issue of their size difference. Kitty was not a small woman, and was actually taller than average, but she was still of delicate build, and could never enter intimate relations with a man three times her size without serious risk of injury.
Kitty smiled at Stanislav again as he handed her a basket full of the medicinal flowers. The gladiator quickly caught his mistake and pulled the basket back. He decided to join Kitty and Sytze in their walk and carry the basket himself. Sytze gave him a glare, but the gladiator was too busy enjoying Kitty's proximity to notice. Stanislav had not acquired much of a sense of tact during his years as a gladiator, and did not understand that Kitty and Sytze needed privacy. Kitty looked at Sytze uncomfortably and saw that he was about to dismiss the gladiator. Sytze was a good person at heart, but he was still secretly bitter with Stanislav over their rivalry. Despite his knowledge that the contest for Kitty's heart was won, he still felt anger every time Stanislav looked at Kitty, or smiled at her. He knew that it would all stop as soon as he found out that Kitty's heart had chosen, but until then, Stanislav would have to tread with care. Kitty knew this, and understood that she had to control Sytze's anger. The ranger was not as mindful of Stanislav's feelings as Kitty was, and could snap at any moment. Kitty put her hand on Sytze's shoulder and looked him in the eyes. He understood that Kitty wanted Stanislav to leave peacefully. He relaxed, and let Kitty speak.
"You needn't carry the basket," she said. "I can manage, and if not I, then Sytze certainly can."
"But I will walk with you," Stanislav said. "I might as well carry it. There is no need for you to strain yourself. You are still weak after your injury."
"Weak?" Kitty asked with a puzzled look on her face. "I survived, didn't I?"
"That's not what I meant to say." Stanislav said, looking at the ground again. "I meant that you are not yet fully healed."
"I know what you meant." Kitty smiled. "But I will still manage. Please, go to the others. You have not rested in a long time. You need to relax."
"It's allright." Stanislav said. "I will shop some other time. Being with you is the best relaxation I can think of."
"Please," Kitty implored. "This really is unnecessary. You have done so much already. You needn't stay here with me. Sytze can keep me company."
"But I'd rather be with you than with the others."
"I..." Kitty said, then sighed. She could no longer get Stanislav to leave without asking him, and she could not risk her secret being exposed before she mustered up the strength of heart to reveal it. Sytze saw this and intervened.
"Listen, Stanislav," he said. "Duncan wanted to speak with you. We passed him on the way here."
"Duncan?" Stanislav asked. "Wouldn't he have simply come and summoned me himself?"
"He was busy." Sytze said. "He asked me to tell you."
"Well, allright." Stanislav said. He turned to Kitty and smiled as Sytze clenched his fists. "I will see you this evening in your room then." He walked off.
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
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Golden Lion 86
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Lover's Folly, Part 2
Kitty held back a tear once she realized what Stanislav must have been thinking. He thought Kitty wanted to announce her love for him, but hesitated in Sytze's presence, so she decided to do so in private, possibly even over a cup of tea! Little did he know that the exact opposite was true. Once Stanislav was out of sight, Kitty jumped into Sytze's arms and kissed him.
"Thank you." she said. "You have no idea how much what you did meant to me."
"I don't want to see you upset." Sytze explained with a smile. "I hope he doesn't upset you further when you tell him the news."
"He won't." Kitty said. "He'll take the news calmly. I am sure of it. At least I hope so."
"I hope so too," Sytze said. "Because I will be outside your door, and I will fight him if he so much as hints at anger."
"Why do you hate him so much?" Kitty asked. This sort of reaction was uncharacteristic coming from the otherwise shy and tranquil ranger.
"I don't hate him," Sytze said, realising that his outburst alarmed Kitty. "I simply don't want him to lose his cool and harm you."
"He won't harm me." Kitty said. "Don't you worry."
She smiled at Sytze and they walked back to her room, where she spent the next few hours on her bed, talking to Sytze. The fresh air did her good, but the encounter with Stanislav and the suppression of her emotions had drained her. She fell asleep around noon, and slept until the evening.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the evening, she woke up, but decided to remain in bed, awake, but relaxing. Her door was open, and about half an hour after she woke up, she heard footsteps. She got up slowly, and was sitting upright just as Stanislav walked in. He was dressed in fine red silk, the likes of which he had never before dreamt of seeing, let alone possessing. He was unarmed, and bore a basket of blue flowers. These were not the medicinal flowers, but a different sort, purely ornamental. He smiled when he saw Kitty, and coming up to her, he handed her the basket. She took it and smelled the flowers. The smell was pleasant, but brought tears to her eyes nonetheless. Before long, she was crying quietly, and Stanislav knelt before her.
"What's wrong?" he said. "You looked happy a moment ago. Perhaps I should leave, and let you sleep some more?"
"No!" Kitty said, reaching out to Stanislav before he got up. "Please stay." She spent a few moments drying her tears and concentrating on the task at hand. "I asked you to come here because I need to talk to you."
"Yes," Stanislav said, his smile broadening. He stood up. "You told me it's important. I am listening."
"It's about our love." Kitty said. Her heart began to pound faster, knowing the inevitable grew ever closer. "I..." she sighed. "It can never be."
A bright flash of light assaulted Stanislav's mind as he realized what had happened. He thought she was going to say yes, and she said no! The gladiator went limp. His smile faded in an instant, and tears poured from his eyes. He felt his strength fail him, and he fell to his knees, using Kitty's bed for support. Kitty immediately jumped off her bed and put a few feet between herself and the gladiator. She knew Stanislav wouldn't harm her, but Sytze's warning echoed in her subconscious. She stood there, tense, for a couple of minutes, waiting for Stanislav to get up, and do something, say something. However, he just sat there, barely breathing. After a few more seconds, she walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He shuddered as her hand touched him. It felt icy cold now, and it shocked him out of his stupor.
He stood up and faced Kitty. His face was red and he was visibly nervous. He mustered up courage to speak.
"May I..." he began. "May I ask why?"
"It's just that..." Kitty started to answer, but hesitated. It is bad enough being rejected, but for reasons that are outside his control? That is worse! Stanislav did not choose to be young, or to be big, but the choice had to be made regardless! The choice was mine to make, and he has no right to question it! Kitty grew a little angrier as she perceived a touch of impudence in the gladiator's question. "Because!" she said. "Because you are too young for me, and because you are three times my size!"
"My size and age are out of my control!" Stanislav said defensively, suddenly shocked by Kitty's anger. "I thought you loved me! Back in the forest, your eyes said it all!"
"My choice is made, Stanislav!" Kitty said. "Now leave me!"
"I... I..." Stanislav began to speak, but words failed him. His tears began to flow again, and he truned around and walked toward the door.
At that moment, Sytze stormed into the room, unsure of what was going on.
"I heard yelling!" He said. "Step away from her, gladiator!"
"Huh?" Stanislav turned around with a blank expression on his face. "Oh, it's you!" Stanislav's eyes then focused on Sytze. "What do you want?"
"I want Kitty to be safe from you." Sytze answered.
"Kitty is always safe when I am around!" Stanislav protested. "I meant no one any harm!" he looked around desperately. "I should leave."
"Wait!" Kitty said. "You are young," she put her hand on Stanislav's shoulder. "There will be others."
"No, there will not be." Stanislav said. "Even if there are, how many will agree to having me as a soul-mate? There are few, if any ladies my age in the adventuring profession, and certainly none even half my size."
"Well..." Sytze joined in, trying to lift the mood of the discussion. "You can always pick out a nice half-orc if you wish!" he began to laugh, encouraging Stanislav to lighten up.
"Thank you," Stanislav answered, taking Kitty's hand into his, and removing it from his shoulder. "I respectfully decline." He walked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of sight, he broke into a dash, and in a few minutes, he was in the local inn. His face was red again, and covered in tears. He was bleeding from his mouth as a result of biting his lips. He stormed into the inn and walked up to the bar.
"Please," he said. "Give me a keg of warm milk."
"Are you cerrtain, lad?" the bartender said. "Ye look like ye could use somethin' strrongerr."
"Thank you." Stanislav said. "Milk will do."
"As ye wish." the bartender replied.
After a few minutes, he handed the gladiator a keg of hot milk. It had recently been boiled, but Stanislav did not realize it. He recoiled from the boiling hot liquid at first, but then reconsidered. He let go of the handle and grabbed the keg itself. He downed the entire keg, ignoring the searing pain that ran from his mouth to his stomach, as well as his in hand. He finished the keg and put it down, pulling back his lobster-red hand. He thanked the bartender, handed him a gold coin for the drink, and went upstairs and into his room. He spent half an hour sitting on his bed, staring at his weapons-belt on the wall. As a gladiator, he saw many of his companions deliberately injure themselves. They said that the physical pain inflicted by their weapons was preferable to the emotional pain of captivity. He never believed them until he drank the hot milk. For the time the milk scalded his organs, he had forgotten about his lost love. He looked at his right-hand gladius again, thinking over the endless possibilities. He stood up and went toward the wall, drawing his sword. He went over to his writing desk, and sat down, extending his left arm onto the table.
After all, Senex always said men do crazy things in the name of love. Stanislav thought as the blade came down. For a moment, there was pain, but then it subsided and Stanislav knew calm for a few minutes before he lost consciousness. It is calm of a sort. He thought as all other thoughts faded in his mind.
Sytze followed Stanislav into the inn, and sat at the bar once the bartender told him what the gladiator had done, and what turmoil he was in. Sytze thought it best to let Stanislav be alone for a while. When he heard the noise of broken furniture upstairs though, he ran up to find out. He found Stanislav unconscious on the floor, with his hand pinned to a leaning table by one of his own gladii.
"The fool!" Sytze said to himself as he rushed to pull out the gladius.
Kitty held back a tear once she realized what Stanislav must have been thinking. He thought Kitty wanted to announce her love for him, but hesitated in Sytze's presence, so she decided to do so in private, possibly even over a cup of tea! Little did he know that the exact opposite was true. Once Stanislav was out of sight, Kitty jumped into Sytze's arms and kissed him.
"Thank you." she said. "You have no idea how much what you did meant to me."
"I don't want to see you upset." Sytze explained with a smile. "I hope he doesn't upset you further when you tell him the news."
"He won't." Kitty said. "He'll take the news calmly. I am sure of it. At least I hope so."
"I hope so too," Sytze said. "Because I will be outside your door, and I will fight him if he so much as hints at anger."
"Why do you hate him so much?" Kitty asked. This sort of reaction was uncharacteristic coming from the otherwise shy and tranquil ranger.
"I don't hate him," Sytze said, realising that his outburst alarmed Kitty. "I simply don't want him to lose his cool and harm you."
"He won't harm me." Kitty said. "Don't you worry."
She smiled at Sytze and they walked back to her room, where she spent the next few hours on her bed, talking to Sytze. The fresh air did her good, but the encounter with Stanislav and the suppression of her emotions had drained her. She fell asleep around noon, and slept until the evening.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the evening, she woke up, but decided to remain in bed, awake, but relaxing. Her door was open, and about half an hour after she woke up, she heard footsteps. She got up slowly, and was sitting upright just as Stanislav walked in. He was dressed in fine red silk, the likes of which he had never before dreamt of seeing, let alone possessing. He was unarmed, and bore a basket of blue flowers. These were not the medicinal flowers, but a different sort, purely ornamental. He smiled when he saw Kitty, and coming up to her, he handed her the basket. She took it and smelled the flowers. The smell was pleasant, but brought tears to her eyes nonetheless. Before long, she was crying quietly, and Stanislav knelt before her.
"What's wrong?" he said. "You looked happy a moment ago. Perhaps I should leave, and let you sleep some more?"
"No!" Kitty said, reaching out to Stanislav before he got up. "Please stay." She spent a few moments drying her tears and concentrating on the task at hand. "I asked you to come here because I need to talk to you."
"Yes," Stanislav said, his smile broadening. He stood up. "You told me it's important. I am listening."
"It's about our love." Kitty said. Her heart began to pound faster, knowing the inevitable grew ever closer. "I..." she sighed. "It can never be."
A bright flash of light assaulted Stanislav's mind as he realized what had happened. He thought she was going to say yes, and she said no! The gladiator went limp. His smile faded in an instant, and tears poured from his eyes. He felt his strength fail him, and he fell to his knees, using Kitty's bed for support. Kitty immediately jumped off her bed and put a few feet between herself and the gladiator. She knew Stanislav wouldn't harm her, but Sytze's warning echoed in her subconscious. She stood there, tense, for a couple of minutes, waiting for Stanislav to get up, and do something, say something. However, he just sat there, barely breathing. After a few more seconds, she walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He shuddered as her hand touched him. It felt icy cold now, and it shocked him out of his stupor.
He stood up and faced Kitty. His face was red and he was visibly nervous. He mustered up courage to speak.
"May I..." he began. "May I ask why?"
"It's just that..." Kitty started to answer, but hesitated. It is bad enough being rejected, but for reasons that are outside his control? That is worse! Stanislav did not choose to be young, or to be big, but the choice had to be made regardless! The choice was mine to make, and he has no right to question it! Kitty grew a little angrier as she perceived a touch of impudence in the gladiator's question. "Because!" she said. "Because you are too young for me, and because you are three times my size!"
"My size and age are out of my control!" Stanislav said defensively, suddenly shocked by Kitty's anger. "I thought you loved me! Back in the forest, your eyes said it all!"
"My choice is made, Stanislav!" Kitty said. "Now leave me!"
"I... I..." Stanislav began to speak, but words failed him. His tears began to flow again, and he truned around and walked toward the door.
At that moment, Sytze stormed into the room, unsure of what was going on.
"I heard yelling!" He said. "Step away from her, gladiator!"
"Huh?" Stanislav turned around with a blank expression on his face. "Oh, it's you!" Stanislav's eyes then focused on Sytze. "What do you want?"
"I want Kitty to be safe from you." Sytze answered.
"Kitty is always safe when I am around!" Stanislav protested. "I meant no one any harm!" he looked around desperately. "I should leave."
"Wait!" Kitty said. "You are young," she put her hand on Stanislav's shoulder. "There will be others."
"No, there will not be." Stanislav said. "Even if there are, how many will agree to having me as a soul-mate? There are few, if any ladies my age in the adventuring profession, and certainly none even half my size."
"Well..." Sytze joined in, trying to lift the mood of the discussion. "You can always pick out a nice half-orc if you wish!" he began to laugh, encouraging Stanislav to lighten up.
"Thank you," Stanislav answered, taking Kitty's hand into his, and removing it from his shoulder. "I respectfully decline." He walked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of sight, he broke into a dash, and in a few minutes, he was in the local inn. His face was red again, and covered in tears. He was bleeding from his mouth as a result of biting his lips. He stormed into the inn and walked up to the bar.
"Please," he said. "Give me a keg of warm milk."
"Are you cerrtain, lad?" the bartender said. "Ye look like ye could use somethin' strrongerr."
"Thank you." Stanislav said. "Milk will do."
"As ye wish." the bartender replied.
After a few minutes, he handed the gladiator a keg of hot milk. It had recently been boiled, but Stanislav did not realize it. He recoiled from the boiling hot liquid at first, but then reconsidered. He let go of the handle and grabbed the keg itself. He downed the entire keg, ignoring the searing pain that ran from his mouth to his stomach, as well as his in hand. He finished the keg and put it down, pulling back his lobster-red hand. He thanked the bartender, handed him a gold coin for the drink, and went upstairs and into his room. He spent half an hour sitting on his bed, staring at his weapons-belt on the wall. As a gladiator, he saw many of his companions deliberately injure themselves. They said that the physical pain inflicted by their weapons was preferable to the emotional pain of captivity. He never believed them until he drank the hot milk. For the time the milk scalded his organs, he had forgotten about his lost love. He looked at his right-hand gladius again, thinking over the endless possibilities. He stood up and went toward the wall, drawing his sword. He went over to his writing desk, and sat down, extending his left arm onto the table.
After all, Senex always said men do crazy things in the name of love. Stanislav thought as the blade came down. For a moment, there was pain, but then it subsided and Stanislav knew calm for a few minutes before he lost consciousness. It is calm of a sort. He thought as all other thoughts faded in his mind.
Sytze followed Stanislav into the inn, and sat at the bar once the bartender told him what the gladiator had done, and what turmoil he was in. Sytze thought it best to let Stanislav be alone for a while. When he heard the noise of broken furniture upstairs though, he ran up to find out. He found Stanislav unconscious on the floor, with his hand pinned to a leaning table by one of his own gladii.
"The fool!" Sytze said to himself as he rushed to pull out the gladius.
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
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werebeargoddess
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The group sat in a private room off of the main common room of the inn, where they wouldn't be disturbed. After seeing what Stanislav had done to himself, Sytze had gone quickly to fetch a healer. He had then summoned the rest of the group, to wait and see what would happen with their friend.
Kitty sat on the edge of one of the couches, holding back tears. This is all my fault, she thought. This would have never happened if I had never told him about what I felt. Oh, Silvanus, I should know by now. She closed he eyes, refusing to let the tears fall. Phraen padded over to her, laying his shaggy head in her lap. SOme of her distress must have shown through on her face, for Sytze came over to her, and sitting down next to her, he put his arms around her comfortingly. Kitty rested her head on his shoulder, giving him a weak smile of thanks. Sytze gave her a slight smile in return. Kitty closed her eyes.
"It's not your fault, Kitty." Salem told her from where he stood on the other side of the room. "You had no idea that he would go off like that. None of us did. You did the right thing, I think, to tell him that you thought it wouldn't work."
"He's right, love." Sytze told her gently. "None of us could have antcipated it. You shouldn't hurt youself over it."
"Duncan looked up from inspecting his egg. "I'm sure Stanislav'll be fine, Kitty. He's strong, so it'll take much more than a simple trick like that to do him serious damage. He'll be up and about in no time."
Kitty looked up at him. "That is all external damage, though. What of internal?"
Rethne, who had been standing in the corner of the room, looked up and snorted. "Kitty, Stanislav is just a boy, still! Children his age aren't scarred by events such as this, at least not for life! Before you can count to twenty, he'll be out and about, doing this and that, eager for the next adventure! He's not going to remember this forever, you know. Knowing that lad, he'll get over this rather quickly."
Kitty closed her eyes. Oh, how Rethne was wrong about that. She had been about Stanislav's age, maybe a bit younger, when her village had been ransacked, and those bandits had done those things to... she shoved the thought away. But maybe Rethne was right, in one sense atleast. What Stanislav commiting suicide by stabbing himself to the desk was nowhere near as bad as the things that had been done to her and her village. And the effects on him, ultimately, will be nowhere as near as bad as the effects of what had happened to her and her village were on her. She was still having nightmares, sometimes... Besides, Stanislav was still relatively carefree. It took quite a bit to daunt him. <Good thinking, Kit.> Phraen told her suddenly.
<They are all right. Stanislav will be fine. But, Kitten.... you should tell them exactly about what happened. Sytxe already knows; I told him myself, when you were ill. But the others... they have a right to know.>
Kitty sighed inwardly, and scratched Phraen's ear. He was right, of course. After a while, the healer returned. Everyone looked up expectantly. "Well?" Salem asked, as the others nodded.
"You needn't worry at all," the healer told them. "Your friend will be fine. He's not the first that I've seen do that. Luckily, his sword didn'y hit any major arterie, and it only grazed his bone." The healer frowned slightly. "But, it would be a good idea if none of you visited him for the time being. I'm not really sure how sane exactly he is, or for how long he had been, ah, unstable. Seeing as you all know him, he probably won't attack you, but you never can be sure. If you need anything else, well, I'm sure that you know where to find me." With that, he left.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, as least we can breathe easier." Salem said cheerfully. "If you want, I can go order us all something to eat and drink..."
Everyone nodded, abd began requesting specific things. Kitty, for some reason, felt much more cheerful and happy than she had been. Salem nodded, and once he had gotten everyone's orders, set off for the door. Before he made it, however, there came this loud cracking sound. Salem twirled around, and everyone looked in Duncan's direction. The egg he held started to sway back and forth slightly. There came several more cracking sounds, and with an especially loud CRACK! the top of the egg flew open. Out of the top appeared a large, feathery head that was faintly owl- shaped. With a soft noise, the head swiveled around and landed it's gaze on Duncan...
Kitty sat on the edge of one of the couches, holding back tears. This is all my fault, she thought. This would have never happened if I had never told him about what I felt. Oh, Silvanus, I should know by now. She closed he eyes, refusing to let the tears fall. Phraen padded over to her, laying his shaggy head in her lap. SOme of her distress must have shown through on her face, for Sytze came over to her, and sitting down next to her, he put his arms around her comfortingly. Kitty rested her head on his shoulder, giving him a weak smile of thanks. Sytze gave her a slight smile in return. Kitty closed her eyes.
"It's not your fault, Kitty." Salem told her from where he stood on the other side of the room. "You had no idea that he would go off like that. None of us did. You did the right thing, I think, to tell him that you thought it wouldn't work."
"He's right, love." Sytze told her gently. "None of us could have antcipated it. You shouldn't hurt youself over it."
"Duncan looked up from inspecting his egg. "I'm sure Stanislav'll be fine, Kitty. He's strong, so it'll take much more than a simple trick like that to do him serious damage. He'll be up and about in no time."
Kitty looked up at him. "That is all external damage, though. What of internal?"
Rethne, who had been standing in the corner of the room, looked up and snorted. "Kitty, Stanislav is just a boy, still! Children his age aren't scarred by events such as this, at least not for life! Before you can count to twenty, he'll be out and about, doing this and that, eager for the next adventure! He's not going to remember this forever, you know. Knowing that lad, he'll get over this rather quickly."
Kitty closed her eyes. Oh, how Rethne was wrong about that. She had been about Stanislav's age, maybe a bit younger, when her village had been ransacked, and those bandits had done those things to... she shoved the thought away. But maybe Rethne was right, in one sense atleast. What Stanislav commiting suicide by stabbing himself to the desk was nowhere near as bad as the things that had been done to her and her village. And the effects on him, ultimately, will be nowhere as near as bad as the effects of what had happened to her and her village were on her. She was still having nightmares, sometimes... Besides, Stanislav was still relatively carefree. It took quite a bit to daunt him. <Good thinking, Kit.> Phraen told her suddenly.
<They are all right. Stanislav will be fine. But, Kitten.... you should tell them exactly about what happened. Sytxe already knows; I told him myself, when you were ill. But the others... they have a right to know.>
Kitty sighed inwardly, and scratched Phraen's ear. He was right, of course. After a while, the healer returned. Everyone looked up expectantly. "Well?" Salem asked, as the others nodded.
"You needn't worry at all," the healer told them. "Your friend will be fine. He's not the first that I've seen do that. Luckily, his sword didn'y hit any major arterie, and it only grazed his bone." The healer frowned slightly. "But, it would be a good idea if none of you visited him for the time being. I'm not really sure how sane exactly he is, or for how long he had been, ah, unstable. Seeing as you all know him, he probably won't attack you, but you never can be sure. If you need anything else, well, I'm sure that you know where to find me." With that, he left.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, as least we can breathe easier." Salem said cheerfully. "If you want, I can go order us all something to eat and drink..."
Everyone nodded, abd began requesting specific things. Kitty, for some reason, felt much more cheerful and happy than she had been. Salem nodded, and once he had gotten everyone's orders, set off for the door. Before he made it, however, there came this loud cracking sound. Salem twirled around, and everyone looked in Duncan's direction. The egg he held started to sway back and forth slightly. There came several more cracking sounds, and with an especially loud CRACK! the top of the egg flew open. Out of the top appeared a large, feathery head that was faintly owl- shaped. With a soft noise, the head swiveled around and landed it's gaze on Duncan...
I wanted to change my sig, but I can't think of anything to change it to
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Golden Lion 86
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Bearer of the Necklace
Stanislav lay in his bed, looking out the window. it was midday, on the third day since his injury. His body had healed, but his heart would take longer. He sat up and saw that Duncan was standing near the window, looking down at the courtyard. When he heard the gladiator stir, he turned to him and smiled. Apart from Kitty, Duncan was the closest person to Stanislav, having become something of a brother to him. Both were warriors, and they had much in common.
"So," Duncan said. "I see that you have come to. How is your arm feeling?"
"Fine, thank you," Stanislav said. "It is fully healed."
"I see," Duncan said, and after a short pause, he continued. "And your mind?"
"Back to normal," Stanislav said, scratching the back of his head. "That was rather foolish... what I did, I mean, wasn't it?"
"Indeed," Duncan replied. "Had all of us worried for a while. Good to see that you have come to your senses, though."
"Kitty must think me a fool now," Stanislav said, getting up and putting on his armor and weapons. "It was bad enough that she thought I was too young, but now I have proven that I am immature as well. DAMN!"
"I doubt that she will hold a grudge," Duncan said. "She had been more angry at herself for all of this than at you. You had better go to her and make peace."
"You are right, as always," Stanislav said. "Come, let's go downstairs. I could use some fresh air."
They left the room and went into the courtyard. There, the other friends went about their business. Kitty was there also, and she smiled when she saw the two warriors come out. She walked over to Stanislav, and examined his arm without saying a word. Sytze also came over and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Kitty looked to the ground, and did not speak. Sytze helped her out:
"I am glad to see you are well," he said. "Kitty and I, as well as the rest of us were worried, seeing as how you'd never done anything like this before. It was very unusual, but I hope you feel better now."
"Thank you, friend," Stanislav said. "I am better. It was a lapse in judgement, a foolish juvenile impulse. Kitty would not have wanted it so, and neither would anyone else."
"That's right," Kitty looked up and said. "So don't EVER do it again!"
"We shall see," Stanislav said with a grin.
"No!" Kitty said, unamused. "Promise me! Never again!"
"Allright," Stanislav said, his smile melting away. "I promise."
"Good," Kitty said, cracking a smile. "Now, how about you get yourself some supplies. Everyone else has shopped here but you!"
"Allright," Stanislav said with a grin. "Well, which way to the weapon shop?"
Rethne pointed to the sky. Stanislav looked at her and grinned, but she was not amused. Then, he looked up and saw a flaming ball flying toward the courtyard. Stanislav jumped onto Kitty and Sytze, shoving them aside, and Duncan grabbed Rethne and ran a few feet. Salem was already an appreciable distance from the group. The ball landed and exploded just as the friends took cover. Before long, another one shattered the village wall. A human appeared just beyond the breach. With a thunderous voice, he roared:
"Who bears the amulet of life?" he said. "I want it back, and I want the wielder as well."
Kitty shuddered. The amulet was the one she wore, and she would give it willingly to save lives, but something told her the assailant was not in a benevolent mood. Sytze came up to her and pulled it off. He waved it over his head and yelled to the man:
"Here it is!" he said. "You want it? You can have it!"
Kitty looked at Sytze, and it was evident that pain was in her heart. Sytze knew this, and so did Stanislav. He walked up to Sytze.
"Thief!" he said, striking Sytze on the head with the flat of his hand. "This is MY amulet."
When Sytze was down, Stanislav knelt down and whispered to him as he struggled to remain conscious:
"Stay here, make her happy!"
Rising up, Stanislav looked at the man, then back to Kitty. It was obvious that none of the group could stand up to the mage, so a sacrifice had to be made. The man looked at the young gladiator and grinned. He extended his hand toward Stanislav, and the necklace floated to a height of ten feet. Suddenly, Stanislav began to glow and collapsed into a tiny glowing sphere, which was promptly absorbed by the necklace. The necklace fell to the ground and disintegrated, reappearing in the mage's hand. The mage's grin broadened and he threw another fireball at the group. This time, evereyone was knocked unconscious. The mage surveyed the carnage again, and laughed. After a few seconds, he grew tired of this scene and left, taking the neclace - and Stanislav - with him.
Stanislav lay in his bed, looking out the window. it was midday, on the third day since his injury. His body had healed, but his heart would take longer. He sat up and saw that Duncan was standing near the window, looking down at the courtyard. When he heard the gladiator stir, he turned to him and smiled. Apart from Kitty, Duncan was the closest person to Stanislav, having become something of a brother to him. Both were warriors, and they had much in common.
"So," Duncan said. "I see that you have come to. How is your arm feeling?"
"Fine, thank you," Stanislav said. "It is fully healed."
"I see," Duncan said, and after a short pause, he continued. "And your mind?"
"Back to normal," Stanislav said, scratching the back of his head. "That was rather foolish... what I did, I mean, wasn't it?"
"Indeed," Duncan replied. "Had all of us worried for a while. Good to see that you have come to your senses, though."
"Kitty must think me a fool now," Stanislav said, getting up and putting on his armor and weapons. "It was bad enough that she thought I was too young, but now I have proven that I am immature as well. DAMN!"
"I doubt that she will hold a grudge," Duncan said. "She had been more angry at herself for all of this than at you. You had better go to her and make peace."
"You are right, as always," Stanislav said. "Come, let's go downstairs. I could use some fresh air."
They left the room and went into the courtyard. There, the other friends went about their business. Kitty was there also, and she smiled when she saw the two warriors come out. She walked over to Stanislav, and examined his arm without saying a word. Sytze also came over and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Kitty looked to the ground, and did not speak. Sytze helped her out:
"I am glad to see you are well," he said. "Kitty and I, as well as the rest of us were worried, seeing as how you'd never done anything like this before. It was very unusual, but I hope you feel better now."
"Thank you, friend," Stanislav said. "I am better. It was a lapse in judgement, a foolish juvenile impulse. Kitty would not have wanted it so, and neither would anyone else."
"That's right," Kitty looked up and said. "So don't EVER do it again!"
"We shall see," Stanislav said with a grin.
"No!" Kitty said, unamused. "Promise me! Never again!"
"Allright," Stanislav said, his smile melting away. "I promise."
"Good," Kitty said, cracking a smile. "Now, how about you get yourself some supplies. Everyone else has shopped here but you!"
"Allright," Stanislav said with a grin. "Well, which way to the weapon shop?"
Rethne pointed to the sky. Stanislav looked at her and grinned, but she was not amused. Then, he looked up and saw a flaming ball flying toward the courtyard. Stanislav jumped onto Kitty and Sytze, shoving them aside, and Duncan grabbed Rethne and ran a few feet. Salem was already an appreciable distance from the group. The ball landed and exploded just as the friends took cover. Before long, another one shattered the village wall. A human appeared just beyond the breach. With a thunderous voice, he roared:
"Who bears the amulet of life?" he said. "I want it back, and I want the wielder as well."
Kitty shuddered. The amulet was the one she wore, and she would give it willingly to save lives, but something told her the assailant was not in a benevolent mood. Sytze came up to her and pulled it off. He waved it over his head and yelled to the man:
"Here it is!" he said. "You want it? You can have it!"
Kitty looked at Sytze, and it was evident that pain was in her heart. Sytze knew this, and so did Stanislav. He walked up to Sytze.
"Thief!" he said, striking Sytze on the head with the flat of his hand. "This is MY amulet."
When Sytze was down, Stanislav knelt down and whispered to him as he struggled to remain conscious:
"Stay here, make her happy!"
Rising up, Stanislav looked at the man, then back to Kitty. It was obvious that none of the group could stand up to the mage, so a sacrifice had to be made. The man looked at the young gladiator and grinned. He extended his hand toward Stanislav, and the necklace floated to a height of ten feet. Suddenly, Stanislav began to glow and collapsed into a tiny glowing sphere, which was promptly absorbed by the necklace. The necklace fell to the ground and disintegrated, reappearing in the mage's hand. The mage's grin broadened and he threw another fireball at the group. This time, evereyone was knocked unconscious. The mage surveyed the carnage again, and laughed. After a few seconds, he grew tired of this scene and left, taking the neclace - and Stanislav - with him.
Taste my Leonine Fury, mortals!
‘Noooo!!’ Kitty yelled when she woke up. Her voice streamed over the elven village like the waves of an ocean over a beach. Her outburst woke the others, while elves came streaming from buildings to help the injured. Each of the friends looked around confused, wondering where the mage had gone off to. Sytze slowly stood up and checked his body. Except for the bruise on his head, he felt fine. He squeezed his eyelifts while he stared at the sky, focussing on nothing but the endlessness of it. He was boiling inside, boiling with anger. How could Stanislav had done such a thing, how!? Suddenly he felt an arm on his shoulder and a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
‘Are you alright?’ Salem inquired. Sytze turned around and faced the sorcerer. A worried expression covered his face and his eyes were standing wide open. His pale elven skin glittered with sweat. Salem was obviously exhausted by the meeting with such a powerful mage.
Sytze sighed. ‘I am fine, my friend. A few scorch marks here and there, but nothing serious. How are the others?’
As good as they can be, under circumstances.’ Salem replied. ‘What do you propose we do now?’
A small silence fell before one of the two spoke again.
‘I…I am not sure.’ Sytze replied. He stared to the ground and let out a deep sigh. ‘I guess it would be best to pack our stuff and prepare ourselves for a hunt. We can’t abandon Stanislav to that mage, although he deserves to. Damn his foolish behaviour! He is still young, he should not have done such a thing...’
Salem smiled comfortably at the young man. ‘You know you don’t mean that. If he did not throw himself in front of the mage, you would be the one who was taken and our gladiator friend would do anything to get you back.’
‘Perhaps you are right, my friend.’
‘I know I am.’ Salem answered with a wide grin. ‘Now lets get packing.’
Sytze turned around and searched for his other companions. Duncan was desperately trying to get his owl, for he was worried about its well-being. Apparently it had flown in a tree when the first fireball had hit the courtyard. The kensai kept yelling at his new companion, but the newborn wouldn’t get out of the tree coverage. The owl was obviously shaken by the whole ordeal Still, it was quite a hilarious sight and a smile crossed Sytze’s face.
When his gaze fell on Kitty, however, his smile quickly disappeared and he started to feel uncomfortable.
‘Kitty…?’
The druid sat leaning against Phraen. Sobbing over the loss of her good friend. She did not hear her friend’s voice.
‘Kitty!’ Sytze said ones more, though this time he was almost yelling.
Kitty looked up and dried her eyes. She slowly stood up and looked at Sytze.
‘What…what’s the matter.’ She replied with a trembling voice. Stanislavs capture had hit her hard.
Sytze walked up to her and put his arms around the druid, in an attempt to comfort her.
‘We will get him back,’ Sytze hushed, ‘I promise you that.’
He kissed her forehead and looked her deeply in the eyes. Her blue eyes were filled with tears and it gave her an innocent look, peaceful look. What did we get ourselves into, he thought.
‘Listen, Kit. Send Phraen out to start looking for Stanislav, then get your stuff and meet us back here again, as quick as you can. Alright?’
Kitty gazed to the ground, as if she was trying to regain her senses again. When she looked the young ranger in the eyes, her innocent look had been replaced by determination. But that was just appearance and Sytze knew it. She was heartbroken inside.
‘Very well, see you soon.’ Kitty answered.
Sytze loosened his hold on Kitty and let her walk away to her animal companion.
After a couple of minutes, the entire party was ready to go. Duncan had managed to get his new companion out of the tree and the animal was sitting peaceful on the kensai’s shoulder. Apparently it felt secure in Duncan’s company, for it sat relaxed on his left shoulder. Duncan’s katana covered his right shoulder and both Duncan and the owl discovered quickly enough that that was an unsuitable place to sit. A small brawl between the animal and half-elf had quickly developed.
Sytze looked at the city and his body and mind felt heavy. It was with pain in his heart that he had to leave the elven city this soon again. He had found some peace inside the walls. Worries only occasionally made it to his mind and a blanket over comfort had settled over his heart. In the days he had spent here, his eyes were graced by the beauty of the city and its inhabitants. Yet he also missed the travelling and his former search. Even though he had felt at peace within Marith, there was always something nagging in the back of his mind. He couldn’t put his finger exactly on it, but sensed it had to do something with his old friend. He couldn’t stop searching. Not yet. Sytze smiled and looked at his companions. I’ll come back here someday, he thought. But not yet, not yet fair city.
‘Can’t you track this mage?’ Duncan suddenly asked Salem. ‘I mean, you are a mage right. Don’t you sense a magical trace. A residue, or something like that?’
Salem closed his eyes and leaned on his quarterstaff. A small blue glow began to cover his body and it seemed as if he was floating. When the air around Salem became blurred and hot, Duncan’s owl flew up in the air. It was all an impressive sight.
‘Yes, I can.’ Replied Salem dryly, but in a very serious tone. ‘That way.’
He pointed eastwards, to entrance of the elven city. In the direction where the group had come from days ago.
‘Don’t tell me we’ve got to get back to the caves?’ Rethne sighed.
‘I’m afraid so my halfling friend.’
‘So be it,’ Kitty responded. ‘Lets get Stan back. Phraen will be waiting for us as well.’
With that the group set off again. Back into the wilderness, back to the caves of Bal’nur and back to the place where their nightmares had become reality. Back, to retrieve their lost companion.
‘Are you alright?’ Salem inquired. Sytze turned around and faced the sorcerer. A worried expression covered his face and his eyes were standing wide open. His pale elven skin glittered with sweat. Salem was obviously exhausted by the meeting with such a powerful mage.
Sytze sighed. ‘I am fine, my friend. A few scorch marks here and there, but nothing serious. How are the others?’
As good as they can be, under circumstances.’ Salem replied. ‘What do you propose we do now?’
A small silence fell before one of the two spoke again.
‘I…I am not sure.’ Sytze replied. He stared to the ground and let out a deep sigh. ‘I guess it would be best to pack our stuff and prepare ourselves for a hunt. We can’t abandon Stanislav to that mage, although he deserves to. Damn his foolish behaviour! He is still young, he should not have done such a thing...’
Salem smiled comfortably at the young man. ‘You know you don’t mean that. If he did not throw himself in front of the mage, you would be the one who was taken and our gladiator friend would do anything to get you back.’
‘Perhaps you are right, my friend.’
‘I know I am.’ Salem answered with a wide grin. ‘Now lets get packing.’
Sytze turned around and searched for his other companions. Duncan was desperately trying to get his owl, for he was worried about its well-being. Apparently it had flown in a tree when the first fireball had hit the courtyard. The kensai kept yelling at his new companion, but the newborn wouldn’t get out of the tree coverage. The owl was obviously shaken by the whole ordeal Still, it was quite a hilarious sight and a smile crossed Sytze’s face.
When his gaze fell on Kitty, however, his smile quickly disappeared and he started to feel uncomfortable.
‘Kitty…?’
The druid sat leaning against Phraen. Sobbing over the loss of her good friend. She did not hear her friend’s voice.
‘Kitty!’ Sytze said ones more, though this time he was almost yelling.
Kitty looked up and dried her eyes. She slowly stood up and looked at Sytze.
‘What…what’s the matter.’ She replied with a trembling voice. Stanislavs capture had hit her hard.
Sytze walked up to her and put his arms around the druid, in an attempt to comfort her.
‘We will get him back,’ Sytze hushed, ‘I promise you that.’
He kissed her forehead and looked her deeply in the eyes. Her blue eyes were filled with tears and it gave her an innocent look, peaceful look. What did we get ourselves into, he thought.
‘Listen, Kit. Send Phraen out to start looking for Stanislav, then get your stuff and meet us back here again, as quick as you can. Alright?’
Kitty gazed to the ground, as if she was trying to regain her senses again. When she looked the young ranger in the eyes, her innocent look had been replaced by determination. But that was just appearance and Sytze knew it. She was heartbroken inside.
‘Very well, see you soon.’ Kitty answered.
Sytze loosened his hold on Kitty and let her walk away to her animal companion.
After a couple of minutes, the entire party was ready to go. Duncan had managed to get his new companion out of the tree and the animal was sitting peaceful on the kensai’s shoulder. Apparently it felt secure in Duncan’s company, for it sat relaxed on his left shoulder. Duncan’s katana covered his right shoulder and both Duncan and the owl discovered quickly enough that that was an unsuitable place to sit. A small brawl between the animal and half-elf had quickly developed.
Sytze looked at the city and his body and mind felt heavy. It was with pain in his heart that he had to leave the elven city this soon again. He had found some peace inside the walls. Worries only occasionally made it to his mind and a blanket over comfort had settled over his heart. In the days he had spent here, his eyes were graced by the beauty of the city and its inhabitants. Yet he also missed the travelling and his former search. Even though he had felt at peace within Marith, there was always something nagging in the back of his mind. He couldn’t put his finger exactly on it, but sensed it had to do something with his old friend. He couldn’t stop searching. Not yet. Sytze smiled and looked at his companions. I’ll come back here someday, he thought. But not yet, not yet fair city.
‘Can’t you track this mage?’ Duncan suddenly asked Salem. ‘I mean, you are a mage right. Don’t you sense a magical trace. A residue, or something like that?’
Salem closed his eyes and leaned on his quarterstaff. A small blue glow began to cover his body and it seemed as if he was floating. When the air around Salem became blurred and hot, Duncan’s owl flew up in the air. It was all an impressive sight.
‘Yes, I can.’ Replied Salem dryly, but in a very serious tone. ‘That way.’
He pointed eastwards, to entrance of the elven city. In the direction where the group had come from days ago.
‘Don’t tell me we’ve got to get back to the caves?’ Rethne sighed.
‘I’m afraid so my halfling friend.’
‘So be it,’ Kitty responded. ‘Lets get Stan back. Phraen will be waiting for us as well.’
With that the group set off again. Back into the wilderness, back to the caves of Bal’nur and back to the place where their nightmares had become reality. Back, to retrieve their lost companion.
"Sometimes Dreams are wiser than waking"