The rhythmic hammering of shaping steel echos through the forge as two humans work the slowly yielding metal. The larger, older human lands blow after blow, while the younger, less stout man holds the piece in place with a set of heavy tongs. The work pauses as the albredine rings on both of their hands flash briefly with an inner light. An outside voice imposes itself upon both their thoughts, “Gents, could use a hand here, it’s getting ugly faster than the Half Pint Inn on ‘Tog appreciation night.”
Snorting loudly Samsaren quickly hangs his forging hammer on the wall. “Send a thought to our friend about a gate, I’ve a beacon.” Eckan nods quickly, his thumb lingering a moment on his ring, before he starts buckling on armor. Samsaren grabs his shield, fastening the weapon harness as he steps out of the forging society.
Reaching into his longcoat he pulls forth a ruby red crystal shard. Raising it the shard skyward, it flashes into a beam of red light that slowly fades from view. Moments later a red-gold fountain erupts, as a moongate appears before the men. Stepping through, the warriors find themselves just inside the Western gate of Crossing.
Nodding a quick thank you to the Magi, Samsaren turns to the gate guard. “Open the gate.” The guard pales before stammering, “B-b-b-ut,m’lord, the monsters!” Sighing, Samsaren launches himself up the stairs to the battlements, uncoiling a heavy rope as he ascends the steps three at a time. Tossing the loop over one of protrusions he launches himself over the wall. Eckan meanwhile grins at the guard, “Gee thanks, get him all wound up BEFORE a fight!” before chasing off after his patron, using the rope to descend.
As one of the guards moves to dislodge the rope a clear Elven voice calls out “Waaait!” followed by a giggle. As the guard looks up in surprise an Elven warrior, armadillo armored with the straps not quite right, and a somewhat askew balaclava charges up. Pushing her cupcake shield up her arm to free her hand she grabs the rope with a quick “Thanks!” and drops out of sight with a quiet giggle, landing in an indignified heap upon the ground. The nearby guardsman, startled turns to his fellow “Isn’t she wanted for..” the other snorts, disengaging the rope from the parapet, “Go on down and arrest her, I’ll wait.” The second guard then tosses the rope over the side. Synamon hastily scoops up the rope before jogging over to where the Paladins are conferring with another warrior, before dropping the mess at Samsaren’s feet.
Maltris grins at Synamon, smiling a quick welcome before addressing the larger Paladin. “It started with wood and rock trolls, nothing too exciting. However now we’re seeing gargoyles of various hues and I’m sensing something worse behind it.”
Samsaren nods, “We’ll hold here, find the source”. The Ranger nods, reloading his quiver with spare arrows from a bundle in his pack. With a final glance, he runs into the wilderness, backtracking the advancing enemy.
Cracking his knuckles, Samsaren takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly “The militias will focus on protecting the walls and what’s inside, but that leaves too many souls beyond without protection. We’ll advance into the heart of it and try to thin the ranks before the creatures can spread and cause more damage. Pace yourselves, this could last a while.” Hefting his shield and drawing forth a wickedly spiked mace, Samsaren begins advancing towards enemy.
As the front ranks of the charging horde smashes into the Paladins, the two begin to weave and dance through the gargoyles. Shields interweaving the two paladins constantly shift to keep strikes from each others backs. As the horde pushes in harder an alfar warrior, blade and shield as black as ink steps into the fray. The men shift to take advantage of the additional blade as yellow sparks envelop the gargoyles’ wings, dragging them down. Once grounded, red tendrils leap from the hands of the Elf, wrapping themselves around the limbs of her enemies and sapping their strength.
As a trio of large onyx hide gargoyles push Eckan from the defensive formation, moving in to land heavy blows, another warrior slips into the battle. Leaping seemingly from the shadows, violet eyes flashing, Sendithu’s glaes blade rips effortlessly through the wings of the beasts, grounding them, before a quick spin sends the blade piercing through the back to their stony hearts. Patting the startled Paladin on the head, Sendithu carefully steps through the battle, leaving the dead and crumbling remains of her victims behind her.
As she arrives near the larger Paladin, he slams the nearest gargoyle viciously in the face with a shield before stepping to Sendithu to sneak a quick kiss upon her cheek and sidestepping to land a heavy strike to another enemy. Slowly the foursome drive back the bulk of the crowd, the remaining gargoyles clearly having lost their will to engage such foes.
The ground begins to tremble as a monstrous roar blasts through the battlefield. Seeming at first like a small mountain made mobile a forty plus foot rock guardian composed of diamondique crashes through the forest line. Burning eyes focusing on the Paladins holding the line in front of the gate, it advances swiftly despite its massive size.
As holy mana gathers around him, Samsaren turns to Eckan "Don't let it touch you". Murmuring a quiet prayer under his breath a glowing net of brilliant white light begins to outline the contours of his muscles. As the same light washes over Eckan, Samsaren's arm begins to tremble with the focused power of his holy wrath. As the guardian sends a wagon sized fist crashing down, the Paladin unleashes a powerful cry to Truffenyi, his voice echoing off the walls behind him.
The mighty blow crashes downward on the Paladin as he thrusts his pavise shield upwards, shedding the blow like water against a slate roof. Hurtling himself forward, Samsaren crashes his upraised shield into the unprotected leg of the gigantic construct, knocking if off balance. As it lowers its other hand to catch itself, Eckan summons his own magical strength, locking the giant in place with his gaze, if only for the briefest of moments.
Seizing the opportunity, Sendithu races across the outstretched arm, as rapidly as a bow-launched arrow. A quick flip over the guardian’s slowly moving head gives the briefest of openings, allowing her to lodge a glaes blade against a small seam in the beast's neck. As she carefully rolls to safety, Samsaren turns and hurls his sterak axe two handed towards the weight bearing arm of the creature. The axe smashes into the wrist, shattering diamondique and giving a lion's voiced roar of its own.
Bereft of balance the beast topples, landing face first in the road. Before it can begin to right itself, Eckan launches himself upon its back, racing forward to smash the head of his akabo against the hilt of the blade, sending it deep into the beast’s skull.
With a groaning sigh the beast grows still, its form losing cohesion and it crumbles to dust. In the pile sits a somewhat worse for wear blade, and a very dusty Paladin. As Samsaren and Sendithu slowly walk over to Eckan, the Elf pinches her companion affectionately. "And you can go ahead and rehone that blade, Mister". Samsaren laughs softly, giving his Squire a helping hand back to his feet. "A small price for a victory beloved, and one I can live with."
Snorting loudly Samsaren quickly hangs his forging hammer on the wall. “Send a thought to our friend about a gate, I’ve a beacon.” Eckan nods quickly, his thumb lingering a moment on his ring, before he starts buckling on armor. Samsaren grabs his shield, fastening the weapon harness as he steps out of the forging society.
Reaching into his longcoat he pulls forth a ruby red crystal shard. Raising it the shard skyward, it flashes into a beam of red light that slowly fades from view. Moments later a red-gold fountain erupts, as a moongate appears before the men. Stepping through, the warriors find themselves just inside the Western gate of Crossing.
Nodding a quick thank you to the Magi, Samsaren turns to the gate guard. “Open the gate.” The guard pales before stammering, “B-b-b-ut,m’lord, the monsters!” Sighing, Samsaren launches himself up the stairs to the battlements, uncoiling a heavy rope as he ascends the steps three at a time. Tossing the loop over one of protrusions he launches himself over the wall. Eckan meanwhile grins at the guard, “Gee thanks, get him all wound up BEFORE a fight!” before chasing off after his patron, using the rope to descend.
As one of the guards moves to dislodge the rope a clear Elven voice calls out “Waaait!” followed by a giggle. As the guard looks up in surprise an Elven warrior, armadillo armored with the straps not quite right, and a somewhat askew balaclava charges up. Pushing her cupcake shield up her arm to free her hand she grabs the rope with a quick “Thanks!” and drops out of sight with a quiet giggle, landing in an indignified heap upon the ground. The nearby guardsman, startled turns to his fellow “Isn’t she wanted for..” the other snorts, disengaging the rope from the parapet, “Go on down and arrest her, I’ll wait.” The second guard then tosses the rope over the side. Synamon hastily scoops up the rope before jogging over to where the Paladins are conferring with another warrior, before dropping the mess at Samsaren’s feet.
Maltris grins at Synamon, smiling a quick welcome before addressing the larger Paladin. “It started with wood and rock trolls, nothing too exciting. However now we’re seeing gargoyles of various hues and I’m sensing something worse behind it.”
Samsaren nods, “We’ll hold here, find the source”. The Ranger nods, reloading his quiver with spare arrows from a bundle in his pack. With a final glance, he runs into the wilderness, backtracking the advancing enemy.
Cracking his knuckles, Samsaren takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly “The militias will focus on protecting the walls and what’s inside, but that leaves too many souls beyond without protection. We’ll advance into the heart of it and try to thin the ranks before the creatures can spread and cause more damage. Pace yourselves, this could last a while.” Hefting his shield and drawing forth a wickedly spiked mace, Samsaren begins advancing towards enemy.
As the front ranks of the charging horde smashes into the Paladins, the two begin to weave and dance through the gargoyles. Shields interweaving the two paladins constantly shift to keep strikes from each others backs. As the horde pushes in harder an alfar warrior, blade and shield as black as ink steps into the fray. The men shift to take advantage of the additional blade as yellow sparks envelop the gargoyles’ wings, dragging them down. Once grounded, red tendrils leap from the hands of the Elf, wrapping themselves around the limbs of her enemies and sapping their strength.
As a trio of large onyx hide gargoyles push Eckan from the defensive formation, moving in to land heavy blows, another warrior slips into the battle. Leaping seemingly from the shadows, violet eyes flashing, Sendithu’s glaes blade rips effortlessly through the wings of the beasts, grounding them, before a quick spin sends the blade piercing through the back to their stony hearts. Patting the startled Paladin on the head, Sendithu carefully steps through the battle, leaving the dead and crumbling remains of her victims behind her.
As she arrives near the larger Paladin, he slams the nearest gargoyle viciously in the face with a shield before stepping to Sendithu to sneak a quick kiss upon her cheek and sidestepping to land a heavy strike to another enemy. Slowly the foursome drive back the bulk of the crowd, the remaining gargoyles clearly having lost their will to engage such foes.
The ground begins to tremble as a monstrous roar blasts through the battlefield. Seeming at first like a small mountain made mobile a forty plus foot rock guardian composed of diamondique crashes through the forest line. Burning eyes focusing on the Paladins holding the line in front of the gate, it advances swiftly despite its massive size.
As holy mana gathers around him, Samsaren turns to Eckan "Don't let it touch you". Murmuring a quiet prayer under his breath a glowing net of brilliant white light begins to outline the contours of his muscles. As the same light washes over Eckan, Samsaren's arm begins to tremble with the focused power of his holy wrath. As the guardian sends a wagon sized fist crashing down, the Paladin unleashes a powerful cry to Truffenyi, his voice echoing off the walls behind him.
The mighty blow crashes downward on the Paladin as he thrusts his pavise shield upwards, shedding the blow like water against a slate roof. Hurtling himself forward, Samsaren crashes his upraised shield into the unprotected leg of the gigantic construct, knocking if off balance. As it lowers its other hand to catch itself, Eckan summons his own magical strength, locking the giant in place with his gaze, if only for the briefest of moments.
Seizing the opportunity, Sendithu races across the outstretched arm, as rapidly as a bow-launched arrow. A quick flip over the guardian’s slowly moving head gives the briefest of openings, allowing her to lodge a glaes blade against a small seam in the beast's neck. As she carefully rolls to safety, Samsaren turns and hurls his sterak axe two handed towards the weight bearing arm of the creature. The axe smashes into the wrist, shattering diamondique and giving a lion's voiced roar of its own.
Bereft of balance the beast topples, landing face first in the road. Before it can begin to right itself, Eckan launches himself upon its back, racing forward to smash the head of his akabo against the hilt of the blade, sending it deep into the beast’s skull.
With a groaning sigh the beast grows still, its form losing cohesion and it crumbles to dust. In the pile sits a somewhat worse for wear blade, and a very dusty Paladin. As Samsaren and Sendithu slowly walk over to Eckan, the Elf pinches her companion affectionately. "And you can go ahead and rehone that blade, Mister". Samsaren laughs softly, giving his Squire a helping hand back to his feet. "A small price for a victory beloved, and one I can live with."
<3 so much fun
ReplyDeleteI love these.
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