The Last War — Legacy Forums — Strolen's Citadel

Re: The Last War

#521

OOC: Sorry for my unexpected absence guys. Long story.

IC:

"Where is Holly" The King asked the servant mid sentence.

"I-I-I I don't know s-sir"

"Find her. Do whatever you have to to find her. Start with the rooms of her "friends". Make sure they find her, and if she isn't found within ten minutes, then I want those friends out of here. Shove them out through the underground tunnel. The one constructed two years back."

"Y-Yes sir"

"Oh, and one more thing. If you can't find her within ten minutes, you will be going with them."

As the door shut, a finely carved cup was promptly hurled across the room.

What the hell was she thinking leaving the castle at a time like this. She had a duty to her people. She knew since she was young that she had to marry the prince of Edori to unite the two kingdoms. Instead she had decided to run around with swords and arrows putting her life in constant danger. He had known that it was not proper for a lady to learn how to fight with a sword and bow. He had told her mother and father this, but they did not listen.

Now look what they have done. The people of Palaten were under the control of another power, her very parents trapped, and only the proposed marriage would get the Edori Army to lend rescue, to Palaten and to Halbad. But instead of doing the right thing, the honorable thing, the civilized thing, Holly was willing to let her parents lose all that they had worked for, just so that she could have an adventure.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Some time later, Arthur found himself walking through a very dark tunnel out of the castle. The silence was immense, and only the rustle of the gaurd's torch and the soft thudding of feat were audible over the deafening silence in this dark tunnel that seemed to go on forever.

Arthur made sure to stay very close to the Gaurds. He had several reasons. One, there was a seven foot tall monster next to him. Two, He remembered Baldwin's face quite well from an incident on the street outside of a particular inn.

He was intimidated by both, even more so than by the many gaurds who were there to ensure that they left. A servant from the castle had the same idea, keeping very close to the gaurds as well.

A moment later the gaurds stopped. The silence in this place had been broken. Somebody was playing...a harp? The tune was faint, barely audible, but also very clear. It intrigued Arthur. The exact feeling of it could not quite be described. Sometimes he thought that it was Eerie, sometimes it was sad, and always it was beautiful.

The gaurds were not so caught up in the tune. They took it to be confirmation that somebody else was inside the tunnel, and they took no chances. Slowing the pace, almost all of the gaurds went far ahead to find the intruder, while the other two gaurds and the rest of the party waited for a few minutes and then continued on. This way, they would not be taken off gaurd, and none of their captives would have a chance to use that as leverage.

Some time later, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief as they emerged into the cold night air, about one mile outside of Halbad, never having found the intruder. The music still played though, that same short tune over and over again. It was unnatural. The sound of crickets and night insects was a very welcome sound indeed.

Then the gaurds went back into the the tunnel, carefully disguised as a bush, and Arthur felt his relief vanish.

OOC: Sorry to everybody who wanted to stay inside the castle, but I could see no other way to get anybody to the action. The underground path here is not the same one that Holly used.

Ambrosia is not nearby. The music box has an unnaturally long range, one not hindered by the laws of sound, but obviously, she is getting closer.

Re: The Last War

#522

OOC: No need to apologize to me Nobody. Saved me some scheming. I knew outside was where we needed to be.

IC: Baldwin paced the clearing like a caged animal. Bending low, looking for signs of tracks, human or otherwise. He sniffed the air as well. He looked at Rory, who, thankfully, looked well rested. Baldwin's questioning glanced asked about the music. Rory's return glance said "I don't know." On thing he did know, was that Holly was out here somewhere and they needed to find her. He fell into himself, ready to tap into sweet flow of the magik once again. Remembering Brother Tantus' words about fire, he turned hos thought to that direction. A small tendril of flame sprang to life on his upturned palm, the light reflected in his eyes as was the blue glow of the final judgment sword when Baldwin drew it with a steely rasp. The glow was dim...but slowly growing in intensity. Baldwin looked about the group. "Come on. We've got to keep moving. He looked at the servant who accompanied them. "What is your name?"...

Re: The Last War

#523

Captain Kraggis staggered back into Halbad well after midnight through the shattered north gate on foot. He had intended to order the Legion to pack themselves into the city, but the men had figured that out quite some time ago. He was lucky he was recognized by one of his own men among many dozens guarding the gate... the torches they had set up outside illuminated him well enough that the nervous archers didn't turn him into a pincushion as he approached.

"Get this gate blockaded!" he yelled at the Legion men there. "Pile rocks! Prepare defensive positions! You there! Replace those timbers! Move!" The soldiers did not obey at first. He noticed the men were eyeing him suspiciously in the flickering light... but then they started moving and piling up fortifications. The Captain's orders made sense to them. Otherwise, they might have simply killed him and gone back to doing whatever they thought best to survive the night. Other officers had gone mad and issued orders that had gotten a lot of men killed.

Kraggis said to a Black Hand man standing there. "Your horse. Now." Cavalryman Woods led Kraggis to where the horse was tethered. The Captain swung up into the saddle. "Where is Fellstrom?" Woods answered, "City Center, sir. Near the castle gates. On Market Square, at the biggest house."

Captain Kraggis scowled, "Take charge. Get the gates sealed up. Don't let anyone in, for any reason. I don't care if it's your own mother with fresh baked muffins." Then he wheeled the horse around and galloped toward the center of Halbad.

Re: The Last War

#524

Centurian FellStrom was using his resources to best ability. And that meant The Drunken Man. There was a deal going that if he took point in the main road leading into the market square, that he could have all the ale on any man here.

It was a profitable deal.

The man was almost single handedly keeping the losses at a one-one ratio. For starters, he was keeping the spirits in the outpost up. The cloud of stench that eminated from this man did not match the gut wrenching one that these undead creatures posessed, but it helped. And by keeping the area near him well lit, the men could see that he was still alive. A comforting beacon to frightened boys and scared veterans.

Futhermore, FellStrom did not know how this man had gotten so supernaturally strong, but it was definately helping them. The Drunken Man had even taken on one of those bastard creatures with the glowing red eyes. It had come in through a side alley with some other possessed men and had single-handedly killed over a dozen of his men before FellStrom, dressed in plain soldier garb to avoid notice as an officer, called The Drunken Man over for drinks.

About two dead men later, the creature was hurled through the wall to a house, and out the window on the other side. They never did manage to kill it, its bones seemed to repair themselves and it got away, but it left them alone.

In the meantime, he was using his other recources to the best of his abilities as well. Rumor had reached them that these things buned like knidling. The rumor was right, but the problem was that even kindling takes several seconds to light, and that was several seconds amid violent combat. Not so easy. They had however made good use of this strategy combined with some nets. It worked well, taking out four or five of the dead each time, unfortunately, the nets too had burned with their quarry.

FellStrom watched the battles, watched the enemies tactics, but most of all, watched his men. Morale was a precarious thing, and the nature of this fight wore them down.

Re: The Last War

#525

Holly moved silently down and down into the light's of the city center. There it was loads and loads of men slept where they fell and another was coming in on horseback. Holly didn't have time to hide. she was in plain view and she knew that wasn't good. The horses trots came closer and closer. Holly looked around for a wall to jump over or a house to dart into. The only house she thought looked abandoned was a large house but something in her gut told her not to enter. she was running out of time and before she knew it she was running quickly into the big house. as she closed the door behind her she knew she should of followed her gut instinct. inside a room up stairs was brightly lit and she could hear a young girl's voice upstairs talking in a loud whisper. Holly pulled her sword out and walked slowly towards the voices. She placed on foot on the stairwell and listened "There must be a way to kill him" said the youngest of the female voices "He's an ogre alright but if we do not succed then we will be killed ourselves" Holly lowered her head slightly and watched the light flicker through the doorway. What Holly didn't know was this was the house which Centurian FellStrom had occupied after the pillaging of the day. Holly walked slowly up the stairs and stopped outside the door. "Shhh"came a voice behind the door "i think i heard something. Holly held her breath and dared not to move. To top off all that she heared a movement at the door back down the stairs and the shuffling of horses feet outside on the pavement. This was bad.

Re: The Last War

#526

Kraggis finally located the General. "Centurion" Fellstrom was of course, a "general"; or whatever you called it: the highest order of commander of military forces. A centurion was merely commander of 100, or approximately, a Master Sargeant or Master Chief, (or "OkTerLungZist" if you were of the Orkish persuasion.)

But Fellstrom was an unusual General. He was not the usual political hack out of his element in battle. Not so. He was still affectionately called by the title "Centurion" because he had indeed commanded 100, winning the respect of his over-enthusiastic warriors the hard way... by training and beating them one at a time, or in twos, or threes, or whatever it took to prove he was worthy to lead. And lead he did. He commanded 100, then 500, then 1000, then 5000 and more.

Enemies? Beaten not by twos or threes. Nay. Fellstrom, or The "Fell Strom" or "Evil Hurricaine" had beaten dozens in his time. Scores. As a leader he had beaten Hundreds, and Thousands. He was a Man's Man. One to whom every aspiring soldier looks up to because he walked the talk. He had been there, and done that. When he gave a soldier an order, that man would give every drop of his blood trying to carry it out.

Some men have it. Others have earned it. Fell-Strom did both.

When Kraggis met Fellstrom in the square, it was as an inferior to a superior, but as equals who understood each other. Fellstrom saw that the Captain had potential to lead to greatness, but needed to purify himself and find real strength.
.
.
.
Kraggis dismounted and saluted. Blood dripped down his face, neck, and wrists. "Centurion, I have ordered the north gate closed. The men are fearful, but they can hold it. You should send reinforcements."

The general said, "Carl, you look beaten. Get some rest in the house. That's an order."

Captain Kraggis looked into the flint-grey eyes of "Centurion" Flavius Fellstrom and saw there was no use arguing. "Yes, sir."

He noted a tall drunken man down the road leading to the town square, and squinted. What?? Impossible. At that moment, the drunk effortlessly flipped a charging zombie onto its back, miraculously breaking both legs on the creature in the process. The soldiers rushed up and hacked the squirming figure to pieces until it was still.

Well. Apparently Fellstrom had the situation under control! Pulling off his bloody helmet, Carl Kraggis stumbled into the manor house to find a bed.

Re: The Last War

#527

Grumple saw Hol-lee disappear into a big house. She was fast! (For a human.) But Grumple couldn't run in after Hol-lee. Many bad men rode up on horses outside the house. The bad men got off horses and started to go in.

Grumple lurked behind an ox-cart. Grumple was distracted. Grumple was really, really good at Lurking, but the ox smelled really, really tasty. It turned its mighty head toward Grumple, lowered its horns, and scowled in a disapproving fashion. Clearly, this ox was at least as smart as a troll, and doubtless realized it smelled really, really tasty.

Or, more than likely, it realized Grumple smelled really, really nasty.

Either way, the ox bellowed, kicked Grumple fully in the chest, and ran off down the street at full speed with the cart... leaving a somewhat embarrassed troll sitting out in the open street grinning his most best-est friendiest grin at a very large group of very bad men. With lots of very, very bad axes, bows, and swords.

Re: The Last War

#528

Holly looked down into the hall way of the large house. This wasn't good it was one of the enemy one of the legion. She turned to the door and immediatly ran into it through the gap. The talking stopped abruptly and every eye in the room looked towards Holly herself. Holly turned slowly and looked at the three girls sat by the window. they had obviously lived there before there house had been taken over but now what looked like fine dresses were covered from head to toe in dust grime and all other dirty things. Holly backed up to the door and closed it slowly not to make a noise. If Kraggis was fast enough to look up he might just of seen holly flick into the first room he came to up the stairs on the right. Holly stared at the girls and walked slowly over to the small bed just in the left corner of the room keeping her eye's on the girls all the time and her hand near her sword. one of the girls opened her mouth and then closed it again. the oldest one by far stood and stared straight at Holly "What are you doing here?" she asked moving a step or two closer. Holly pulled her sword out a bit and let the girls see just incase they thought they would start something. "I am searching for a way out of the town so that i can see what is going on out front" Said Holly abruptly. The girls looked at each other and then turned back to Holly "i'd be careful if i was you" said the middle one "this house isn't the safest place to be if your an enemy of the legion! he only keeps us for his own pleasure" Holly looked quickly at the door and started for the window. She looked down but it was quite high up and there didn't seem to be anyway of escaping that way. "Damn it" she called out a little bit louder than she expected it to come out. Out in the city center just to the right where she had come from not long ago she saw a Familiar figure darting around. It was grumple. Holly looked back into the room quickly making sure none of the girls were doing anything which she didn't wish for them do before. Before turning round and looking back at grumple. She put her fingers to her lips quickly and gave a short blast of a wistle. Holly hoped that Grumple was the only one who heared that. Holly hoped that none of the soldiers heared her whistle and be alert and she hoped that the soldier out at the bottom of the stairs didnt hear it either.

Re: The Last War

#529

Most of the bad men looked surprised, but a few smiled back at Grumple. Big grins.

Big grins, yes, but somehow in the torch light, not so friendly-looking. "Uh, oh," said Grumple to himself. He heard a whistle from across the street, but couldn't pay attention to that at the moment.

"Wattare we gots here?" said one grinning bad man who drew his sword. "Come on, boys, we gots some fun with this one here!" The other men drew weapons and started smiling themselves as they moved toward Grumple. "Give us the spear, ugly boy, an' maybe we'll go easy on you" growled the man. The group fanned out and moved to surround Grumple. Grumple looked around nervously, then up.

Grumple quickly reached up high with the barbed spear and hooked the balcony overhead. Before they could grab him, he had sprung and clambered up the spear onto the balcony, retrieving it with the prehensile toes of one foot. Tossing it up to his hand, he repeated the climbing maneuver up onto the roof.

Shouting and cursing, some of the men ran into the house and started noisily up the stairs. This was the last house in the row on this side of the street. When they got up to the balcony, Grumple knew that he would have to fight his way down... or jump across the narrow street to the house Hol-lee had gone in.

Grumple backed up, and sprinted across the gently sloping roof to the edge and jumped like one of the big green jumpers he ate so many of. Arms and legs flailing, he landed with a THUMP! on the balcony across the street and grinned again. There was Hol-lee, right inside! Grumple knew Hol-lee would be glad to see him.

Re: The Last War

#530

Carl Kraggis had just lowered himself into a tub of hot water; his only bath in days. A nervous young lady was pouring a kettleful of boiling water into the tub to warm it further when there was the sound of a whistle, then shouts of soldiers outside were heard, then a loud THUMP somewhere upstairs.

"Damn!" he swore, and almost got up out of the tub. But no, he had orders to get some rest and by the gods, he was going to get some. Still, it couldn't hurt...

He looked at his chain mail slung over a chair; his sword leaning out of reach. "B****!" he ordered the woman, "Put my sword next to the tub! And be careful with that hot water, dammit!"

Let the Legion handle the interruptions. After all, there were some 5000 of them.

Re: The Last War

#531

Outside the city walls, in the dark of night, an eternity away, there was movement amidst the dead bodies. A twitch of a finger. The flutter of an eyelid. Then heads roll back and forth as the ears strain to catch the sound of the music box that played everywhere, and nowhere.

Now the fingers flex and claw the dirt, pulling the arms forward. Unnatural energy combines with residual energies in any whole flesh that may be found in a man lying on the field of battle. Muscles twitch anew, much as they had only a half-hour ago when such twitchings had faded.

A dead man sits up, then swaying, stands. It listens. Its head turns back and forth. Old passions are gone. A new hunger grows, consuming all thought and all reason. A hunger to taste life once more.

Dozens of dead men sit up, then swaying, stand. Then more, and more, and still more; a rising tide. All the slain who were abandoned by their comrades in the hideous battle earlier that night are rising to their feet. Rising, and moving forward to seek out the living. Walking, then running silently in the darkness. Find the living.

There. Over there. A few of the living are outside the walls of Halbad. The dead will seek them first.

Re: The Last War

#532

Holly smiled as she looked up to the roof where Grumple had just jumped. There were some men looking out of a high window just across the square. Holly pulled her bow out of nowhere and pulled the string back. An invisible arrow powered it's way across the square hitting home in one of the legions hearts as he hung out the window trying to see where Grumple had gone. There were angry shouts which just couldn't be ignored and then Holly made the biggest mistake of her life. She called out "Grumple down here come on we have to get out of here" Holly quickly placed her hand over her mouth and looked towards the door. Hopefully the soldier from the legion had gone by now so Holly decided to take her chances. She ran swiftly to the door and ran towards the stairs running into a young girl carrying a jug obviously coming from the bathroom. The girl gave a yelp and then screamed thinking that it was one of the enemy and she was about to die. Before Holly could do anything the whole house seemed to errupt into noise.

Re: The Last War

#533

Grumple saw Hol-lee. Saw the bad men outside (lots of bad men outside.) Heard Hol-lee's idea, "...we have to get out of here."

Good idea! Grumple sprang ahead of Hol-lee and ran down the stairs. A group of bad men were coming UP the stairs. Grumple decided to use his head. Literally.

Grumple plowed into the group headfirst. At high speed, troll noggin struck human head encased in heavy steel; never a fair collision. The laws of physics were upheld once again, and the man sank lifeless to his knees, helmet staved in.

Grumple yanked his spear out from the convulsing form of a second soldier which the weapon had "happened" to have found its way into, and grabbed Hol-lee before she was pinned to the wall by a third. The two heros ran into a lower level bath room with a heavy door. Grumple slammed the door and jammed the spear into it, wedging it shut using the weapon.

The troll heard the all-too-familiar sound of a sword being drawn over by the tub, and turned, as did Hol-lee.

"YOU!!" shouted three voices simultaneously as Black Hand Calvary Officer Captain Carl Kraggis, Part-time Princess Holly Mayleaf, and Grumple -- well, Grumple the Troll and That's Pretty Much It -- all saw each other's faces at the same time.

(Of course, in the case of Captain Kraggis, they saw a bit more, but we're not discussing that now, thank you very much.)

Re: The Last War

#534

Holly drew her sword instantly and held herself in a defense ready stance. She watched Kraggis carefully eyeing every movement he made. Not the best of places for a fight thought Holly as she moved her eye's quickly around the room to work out the size and shape of the room. Holly's plain would be to fight but at this point it was better if they left now. Holly turned quickly and pulled at the spear but it didn't seem to budge. Holly turned back to Kraggis and awaited his move. would he attack or would he talk. Holly had a fair idea.

Re: The Last War

#535

Baldwin threw himself facedown into the moist earth of the forest floor. Searing heat washed over his body, singeing his exposed flesh. The firey explosion that filled the clearing cuased the ground to rumble, knocking limbs from trees, exposing the stricken looks on his companions faces in stark relief. About a dozen undead were immolated in the funace like heat. About 15 more continued to press forward through the dense tangle of trees. Baldwin sprang up and slashed furiously at the onrushing zombies with the glowing blade of Final Judgment, hacking limbs and slowing the undead advance long enough for his companions to gain some distance. Rory staggered backwards, eyes aglow, ready to cast again. The group ran through the woods pell mell with the errie music of Ambrosia's music box filling their ears and sending their frayed nerves closer to the snapping point. The zombies were moving quickly, quicker than anything dead had a right too, towards the group as they headed toward the walls of the city. Toward the other group of their enemies...toward the legion.

Today was going to be a long day...

Re: The Last War

#536

The Captain threw a full pot of boiling water at Grumple who attempted to knock it to one side, but succeeded only in having the scalding water fly full into his eyes. Grumple roared in pain, and clawed at his eyes, blinded. The deafening sound might have given pause to a lesser foe, but Kraggis moved quickly and shoved over the cast iron tub on the stumbling troll for good measure. Grumple was trapped sitting on the floor with the tub across his legs, one of which was now broken at the knee. In pain and unable to see, Grumple struggled under its great weight... although what with the gallons of perfumed water that poured over him, he was noticably cleaner and smelled really lovely (for a Troll).

Not pausing in the least to notice Grumple's fresh appeal (for a Troll) for some reason, Kraggis grabbed up his chain mail hauberk and circled Holly with his sword out toward her. "It's you, isn't it?" he spoke slowly. "We've been looking for you, little blonde girl princess." He wrapped the chain mail in his left hand in a way that would allow him to use it as a shield or as a heavy chain in a fight. His movements were practiced and left no doubt that beating him would not be easy.

"Come on, little girl. You always wanted a piece of me. You can just put down that sword and let's have some real fun. Or do you prefer the touch of misshapen monsters?"

Their swords touched, once, twice. Kraggis parried Holly's weapon to one side, then suddenly swung the chain mail into her legs to knock her off balance as he attacked, using his greater strength to his advantage.

Unable to see, Grumple tried to pull his legs free from the tub. The pain was awful, but they were coming loose. (Besides, Grumple didn't like that "misshapen" crack). However, the bath room door was also coming loose from the soldiers outside slamming their shoulders into it to get in.

Re: The Last War

#537

OOC: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

TEN THOUSAND YEARS WILL GIVE YOU SUCH A CRICK IN THE NECK!!!!

Well, OK, maybe it hasn't been quite that long, but it feels like it. Anyway guys, I have been out with what might have been Mono (the kissing disease, wink wink, nudge nudge). Two days ago, I couldn't drink more than a sip of water at a time (and even that was very painful), couldn't eat food at all, had a fever of 102, and was dehydrated enough that there wasn't any blood on the cotton ball after they drew my blood.

Not good times.

However, I return to you all, this day, in surprisingly good health, able to drink a full half-glass of water, and able to eat soft solids, like extremely butterized mashed potatoes.

Much better times.

-Nobody

Post Script
POG, I have PM'd you

Re: The Last War

#538

Holly jumped over the chainmail as it slashed at her legs, this isn't going to be easy she thought to herself as she blocked another slash with her sword. She jumped back with surprising agility and made a quick sweep for Kraggis. The swords connected once again and sparks flew as metal began to heat under the friction. Holly staggered slightly as the sword connected with her arm making a less than friendly gash down it. She moved again dodging the sword again and again. The swords connected again and again. Holly pushed her force into Kraggis hoping to knock him over. Of course it didn't work Kraggis pushed Holly into the door banging it shut again. Holly's eye's closed quickly then flashed open. Anger was building up inside her this man had helped to destroy her home to kill her parents, To kill all those innocent people and he wasn't going to get away with it. She would kill him maybe not today but one day. Holly swang herself forward all her power back the pain in her right arm gone, her strength seemed renewed. She kicked out with her boot and then swang down with her sword from above. But as she done this she moved more to the side with the fluid, rapid motion of water over rock.

Re: The Last War

#539

OCC: Hey, No, I'm really glad you're getting better. Take care of yourself.

Callista: Nice writing. I'm pleased to see Holly was up to the challenge of the Cap'n. But he's not done yet.

IC:
"DAMN!" cursed Captain Kraggis as the blonde parried his sword again and again. It was infuriating. This "princess" seemed always to be one fluid motion ahead of his attacks. He had the strength, but she was definitely more skilled. Yet, his weight and strength should be decisive, if he could only pin the b**** into a corner and injure her beyond that scratch on her arm.

"$#it!!" he cursed again. When she had parried his sword aside that time and sidestepped, her razor-sharp blade spun back around and lunged right between his legs! Barely missed, as he jumped back. Blood trickled down his thigh. That was too close! Visions of Lieutenant Half-a-Man Hanley flashed through Kraggis' mind.

Meanwhile, Grumple eyes, swollen and blackened with blood, were quickly starting to grow back a new layer of lens to replace the boiled outer layer. He could see light now between his clenched eyelids. Two shadowy forms jumped around the room, indistinct, their blades moving so fast Grumple could only hear them. The burning sensation in his face made Grumple rub and blink, as he stood up on his good leg. Ow! Ow! Ow! Grumple's left knee practically paralyzed him with pain as it moved. But Grumple knew something had to be done to save his friend. Loud noises came from the hallway. Arms and a leg or two of the bad men outside were starting to push through the door.

Balancing on the right leg, Grumple gathered strength and picked up the edge of the cast iron tub, weighing nearly 400 pounds. It rose slowly and then flipped over against the door, smashing the arms and legs of men. Their screams mixed with the groan of splintering wood as they were trapped, squirming like foxes in a snare.

Grumple grabbed up his spear (as it fell from the door and gleefully cut off one of his toes), and squinted at the two sword fighters. So fast! Grumple drew back and was ready to hurl the hungry black weapon. But Hol-lee... The bad man... Hol-lee... which was which?

Which was which?

"MY SPEAR!!" roared Captain Kraggis. "PUT IT DOWN, YOU STUPID-A$$ TROLL!!"

"Ahhhh." smiled Grumple. "That one."

Grumple threw.

Re: The Last War

#540

OOC:
Pog, with great reluctance, I will have to countermand you on your last post, I hope this will not cause conflict with you, as I highly respect your writing. I have PM'ed you why, but for everybody else, the undead are fast and dangerous but small in numbers. They are not a gigantic shambling mound only able to defeat foes in ratios of ten to one. I am trying to get away from that conception of undead. Some time ago I posted the rough specs, but I can do so again if needed. Anyway, not a big deal, but one requiring mention.

I will say that there are about fifteen undead left in this group after the fireball. Thats still plenty... Trust me.

IC: Jonas ran as fast as he could, which was not as fast as he wished. Not fast enough by two dog sleds.

In the last few days, he had seen the warnings in the city go off, the city attacked by horrible numbers, the city rent into two by some evil darkness in the night, and frankly, Jonas did not think that anything could have scared him more.

He was wrong.

When he had heard the warnings of the Legion go off, he had hoped that it was a rescuing army here to save the city. A miracle to be sure to get here so fast, but it had to be rescuers. Instead, he found himself ejected from the castle, left with unknown strangers, and thrust into this mess. Those men were no rescuers. Maybe they were Legion and the rescuers were still coming, but he did not think that they were Legion either. Not by any evidence that he saw. Not fighting like that.

More importantly, he couldn't keep running forever. His legs were tiring, and he could still here the pounding of feet behind him. He hoped that they would get tired soon, but they didn't sound tired.

Re: The Last War

#541

OOC: Don't sweat it Nobody. I just haven't been online for a couple of days. I've edited my post and hope it fits your vision. Lemme know if it doesn't. Feel better. Calista I'm impressed. I gotta run Chinese New Year calls. I'll likely post tommorow.

POG

Re: The Last War

#542

OCC: Um, thanks, Nobody. I thought there were more of the undead by now, too. Since a bunch came from Palaten and they had killed a number of the Legion, I thought they would arise within an hour and sort of add to the numbers. I'll should leave these guys to you awhile until I get a better grasp.

IC: Grumple blinked and threw.

The spear sped through the air at Kraggis, who had only the barest moment to react. Even though the bath room in this mansion was huge, it was not nearly large enough in which to evade a thrown spear. Kraggis knew that The Tooth wouldn't miss anyway.

But he also knew this day might come; when the black weapon would be used against him. Even as Grumple drew back to release, Kraggis was already turning away from Holly, and swinging up the chain mail shirt as a flexible shield. The problem was, Holly was barely three steps away, and with her usual dexterity, moving quickly back toward Kraggis.

It was spear or sword, and Kraggis knew which would hurt worse. His mind was focusing on that critical moment in the warrior's way of total concentration. Time seemed to slow down for one vital second. The swinging hauberk seemed to float upward and over in a circular motion, slapping at the incoming spear which hurtled gracefully toward his naked chest. He did not hear the troll's grunt as it threw. He did not hear the rattle of the links of woven armour as they struck just behind the spear's jagged head. He barely felt the slash across his exposed thigh from the tip of the princess' sword. Nothing mattered but keeping that spear from finding a home in the center of his heart.

In barely more than one or two beats of that heart it was over. It worked. The spear was deflected away and down by his side. Falling over from the wound to his leg, Captain Kraggis refocused on Holly barely in time to deflect her next stroke with his own sword. His good leg shot out and kicked her boot, causing her to stumble. It bought him only a second, but that was enough.

With a twist, he dropped his sword and snatched up the spear, pointing it at Holly. The bathroom door splintered open with a crash, and men of the Legion started to push past the overturned bathtub and into the room.

The troll said something raspy that sounded remarkably like "Uh, oh" and grabbed Hol-lee... then dove headfirst out the ornate stained glass window, shielding her from the shattering panes of glass with his free arm. They fell out into the dark street behind the manor house.

Carl Kraggis struggled to his feet, as the first of the soldiers pouring into the room knelt down to try and stop the copious flow of blood pouring down the leg of the naked officer. The Captain slapped him away, and shouted, "Let go of me, you fool! Go capture that woman and kill that troll!"

He gripped the spear and looked at it admiringly, hungrily. Still ignoring the blood as it pooled on the floor under his foot, he grinned. A wicked grin, filled with malice and sadistic pleasure. The Tooth was his once more!

Re: The Last War

#543

Holly stood up slowly and brushed herself off. She tore the sleeve off of her shirt and pulled it tight round the cut on her arm. Holly turned to grumple helped him up then put her arms round him and pulled him into a tight hug and a large kiss on the cheek "thanks" she said sweetly looking up to the window they had just plummated out of and hearing the angry shouts of the legion within. Holly turned quickly and started to jog to one of the outerwalls. She turned quickly to Grumple "do you think you could climb this wall and fasten this rope onto like a ledge or something" she said hastely pulling a long rope out of her cloak which she had grabbed up before being thrown out of the window. She turned just in time to see a large group of the soldiers running out of the house and looking each and every way. "Never mind" she whispered quietly into Grumples ear "come on we will get away from here and then find a way out" Holly turned immediatly grabbed at Grumples arm and started to run towards a place she knew would get her and her friend out of the city and to the out into the open. Of course as soon as she had run out of the darkness clutching the troll in her hand the legion had seen her and were quickly on there pursuit. Holly ran as quickly as she could making as many zigzagging directions she could always dragging Grumple along with her. Not a moment to soon they came to a large wall covered once again in Ivy. Holly turned and listened for the sounds of footsteps. They weren't far off but they had just enough time to get through the door if they could ever find it. It was a large brown, metal, rusty door that she was looking for and if they saw it they would recognise it immediatly "look that way" she said to Grumple walking in one direction and feeling over the surface of the Ivy.

Re: The Last War

#544

Grumple hopped about on one leg while feeling around for the door.

"Diz-zit?" whispered Grumple to Hol-lee, sounding rather like a rusty hinge himself as he tapped along the wall. He had found some sort of hidden surface. There was a heavy metallic "clang" under the troll's knobby knuckles, although the entrance was hard to see in the darkness. Grumple stuck a ham-sized hand into a rusty indentation in the metal, braced his legs, and pulled.

"Ow! Ow! OW!" Grumple bit his own tongue trying not to holler out from the pain in his left knee... but the door did not budge. Grumple could hear men moving down the street toward them.

"How open diz?" he whispered again, louder, sounding like an asthmatic alligator. Hol-lee was peering at the door. Bad men closer now. They had torches, too. Grumple didn't like torches. They hurt. And Grumple couldn't run fast. Couldn't see too good, either.

"Hol-lee open now?" Grumple was past whispering. Sounded more like a small rockslide, really. "NOW??"

Re: The Last War

#545

Breath came to Baldwin in painful gasps as he hacked away at the limbs of the zombie that had ventured too close. The glow of Final Judgement illuminated his face as he face the fell creature in a macabre dance. It was the third one he had battled and he'd paid the price in blood. He bled from a score of wounds as the creatures moved on him with a manic frenzy. If not for deft manuevers designed to separate the creatures using the terrain, rocks, trees and the like he would have been slain long ago.

"Winn!" Rory called out from his perch on the ivy covered wall of the city. It was unknown what had happened to the legion but the city walls were mercifully unmanned. Baldwin dispensed with circling feints and slashed his adversary's head off with a well timed blow. He shuddered as the body fell, no blood flowed from the corpse, a maiden from Palaten. Baldwin was torn apart inside. Three of the four were "civilians" animated by the ghastly sorcery. Fighting the foul denizens of the Black Wind was preferable to this.

Taking three bounding strides he leapt upward and grasped his brother's hand. Rory swung him upward where along with the others he continued the climb to the top of the wall...

Re: The Last War

#546

Clothes mostly on, Captain Kraggis sat on the overturned tub as one of the Legion's better medics sutured up the slash in his thigh. Holly had missed the artery, but once again come periously close to the Captain's prize possessions... more prized perhaps than the black spear he gripped while he endured the stitching. He studied it. The iron rod that that stupid troll had screwed into the shaft was strong, but too narrow to grip properly. How could a Troll manage a gimlet-hole anyway?... Kraggis wondered. He'd have to get that shaft replaced. The Tooth had to be perfect.

Carl made no noise and was careful not to wince more than a little as the thick needle pulled the catgut in a neat pattern back and forth across the wound, pulling together the slashed flesh. Whatever the man had poured into the wound burned like hell, but meant that flesh-eating maggots would not be needed. The Captain already knew he would not lose use of his leg. Just had to take it easy for a few weeks.

Kraggis didn't have a few weeks. He wasn't sure he or his men had a few days. He concentrated on what had to be done:
1) Get that troll and that woman.
2) Stop those zombies.
3) Secure serious food supplies for the Legion.
4) Get into that castle.

Somewhere in there he had to get some sleep. Dawn would be here soon.

Where was Lord Belzar? he wondered. And Voramis? Not that Kraggis wanted to see either of them. For all he knew, one of them had raised the dead for their inscrutable ends.

"Send out another patrol!" he yelled at an orderly. "Find that blonde!"

Re: The Last War

#547

The dark Voramis stood in the darkness, still. His arms were outstretched, and the gloved hands touched nothing. But he felt, all around. The spiders at far distances stirred and responded; their limited thoughts coalescing and combining into a picture that grew more and more clear in his collective consciousness...

...There were people moving outside the city walls. A few had gotten inside Halbad. Nearly all were cold, and without pulses. The undead. Raised by what power?

There were a few living, climbing up a wall. They were unimportant now.

There was something else outside, further away. Some force or power. The spiders of the forest and field had not experienced it before, and the picture was unclear. But at the nexus of the power, was a human. Warm. Still alive, as seen or felt by the spiders.

Voramis struggled to focus on that.

Re: The Last War

#548

The steel door remained stubbornly locked shut. Grumple was about ready to go apoplectic what with trying to appear patient and calm while the woman fiddled with the thing, all while the Bad Men were coming nearer and nearer.

Too late. They were here.

"STAND! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!!" shouted the leader of half a dozen of the men. They started running toward Holly and Grumple.

Grumple looked at his hands, confused. No weapons. Did that mean he should try to drop something or not? And the bad men were running, at least some of them. Why did not the bad men stand? Why was everything so difficult? Oh, well.

"RAGFRAGGN GEEKWDS!" cursed Grumple (he was really upset, so I hope you can forgive the bad language) as he snatched up a rain barrel and threw it in the darkness at the torches just down the street. It went a fair distance and knocked down one of the bad men with a shattering crack and a big splash, and extinguished two torches.

Only two. A long way from the darkness Grumple needed to fight these guys. Five of them now. And Grumple with a busted leg.

"Got it!" whispered Hol-lee to Grumple. From Hol-lee, a whisper always sounded like a cool night breeze. (Grumple never sounded much like that, as may have been noted.)

The doorway into total darkness creaked open with a rusty screech. Three arrows clanged off the door and the wall beside them.

"STAND, IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR!" yelled a man, as he and others ran up to them.

"Go Now!" croaked Grumple, sounding like whatever the exact opposite of a cool night breeze might sound like. He shoved Hol-lee through the door into the gaping maw of total darkness, and jumped in himself.

"Ow! Ow! OW!" hollered Grumple. Bad leg. Forgot about that for a second.

Re: The Last War

#549

Tantus was brought before the King of Halbad. His face was deeply lined and it seemed that much more than his fifty years of wearing the crown weighed on him. Part of Tantus, the trained monk part of him wanted to sympathize. His city was in ruins, most of his men were dead, and he was now trapped inside his last line of defence with no seeming way to escape. The smell of fear that oozed from the battered old man was enough to make the animal part of Tantus' brain snarl with the urge to attack, to remove the weak and ill.

Two guards stood at his sides, short swords drawn and ready to strike killing blows into his unarmored hide. Somehow he had gotten seperated from Holly, Grumple, and the others andthen there had been a...misunderstanding.

"Good work Corporal Damar. I'm glad to see that we have been able to capture at least one of the enemy legionnaires." The King said. "I want him put to question, find out what he knows." The King ordered.

"Milord, the Royal Inquisitor is among the dead." Corp. Damar said hesitantly.

"Well, then consider this your first interrogation, Royal Inquisitor Damar." the King said.

Re: The Last War

#550

When Jonas got to the wall, he quickly scrambled up it as fast as possible. Undead men and women clawed with a rabid urgency at the bottom of the wall, as if they could climb the vines by sheer force of will. As if they too were running from something. As if they too were trying to get up this wall to escape something that would kill them, or maybe worse. Then Jonas realized how rediculous such an idea was, that they were mindless creatures who would kill them in a moment, and worse.

Jonas began to wretch again at the nauseating smell from the rotting men and women. Nothing came out as his stomach tried to empty the now vacant space inside. It was for this gag reflex that Baldwin had paid his price in blood, and Jonas was grateful that this man had fought to save his life. Jonas remembered the ghost stories that he had heard as a child about how anybody bitten by a zombie would become a zombie, but he also remembered that zombies were supposed to be slow.

He hoped that both tales were wrong, not just the second one.

Now, for the first time since they had left the tunnel, he looked around at who he was travelling with.

"Where is the man with the book?" he spoke in a timid voice.

Arthur was missing.

Re: The Last War

#551

Not far away, Arthur was running aimlessly through the woods for his life. Two of the undead creatures followed him in close pursuit.

He tried to make out the forest floor. Without a torch, the darkness in the woods was complete. He could barely see, and if he were not in danger of his life, he would never run so fast. Running through the dark at full sprint was a sure way to sprain an ankle. He hoped that his pursuers sprained theirs first. If they had not tripped the first time, he would not have survived.

He was running with Baldwin, Rory, and Jonas, fleeing for his life. As he tore down the path, his pack caught on a heavy branch, and it tore open. His book fell to the ground. Without thinking, he stopped and ran back to get it. It wasn't until he was bent over the book, and picking it up that he had realized the gravity of the mistake, but it was too late.

The rest were already yards ahead of him. He grabbed his book and tried to run, but a clawing hand wrapped itself around his leg. He kicked with all his might at the clawing hand, not even looking back, and it was only a minute later that he realized that the dead man had fallen on Arthur's torch, and had become a blazing effigy of fire before it had let go.

That fall had saved him. It had not only stalled the two undead that followed him now, but several of the others following them had avoided the fire completely and continued after the others.

Now, Arthur spent all of his mental focus concentrating on the ground and trying not to trip on anything, with the smell of death behind him. One of his two pursuers was at least a few days old. Arthur however did not gag on the smell. He was well used to the smell of death. All of those countless lives that he had been unable to save. Each one a wound to his heart.

Then, as if in slow motion, his feet came out from under him, and he felt himself hit the ground, his book sliding a few feet away.

This was it, his captors would surely get him. Without realizing it, he looked back.

Right then, a point of brilliant light illuminated the forest. Streaks of Blue-White, like twisted daggers, struck out at the two, and Arthur's vision, along with the Ball-Lightning, was gone just as quickly as it had started.

His first reaction was to get his book and run, but just as he had put his hand on the thick leather binding, a deep growl from only a couple of feet off made him freeze. All he could see was a pair of grey, reflective eyes, looking at him without moving. Mimicking those eyes, Arthur decided that not moving was a very good idea, and that not moving at all was an even better idea.

He felt like a deer watching for a wolf, except that he couldn't run like a deer could.

Re: The Last War

#552

Baldwin pulled Jonas up to the top of the wall where Rory was crouched down in a protective circle. "We lost Arthur!" This from Rory who was scanning the woods just in time to see a blue-white light in the near distance.

"Gates!" Baldwin swore. "We've got to go get him."

Rory made a face at his brother, "You daft? The little scamp couldn't keep up an got what was coming."

"You've got a short memory brother. Think about Dugal." Rory looked chagrined. "And besides," Baldwin continued even if he hadn't saved Dugal, he's part of the group now."

Rory fumed, his brother's sense of honor would kill them both one day. "Jonas," he said quietly, "You don't have to come. See if you can find the others, Holly especially." Jonas turned to go. "Wait." Rory said taking a medalion from around his neck. It was composed of carved jade and depicted the sun and moon. He looked down at the forbidding woods and its hidden dangers. "I want you to give this to her from me. Tell her not to fear. I'll return to retrieve it."

The brothers quickly climbed down the wall, and ran quickly into the shadows of the forest. They were immediately assualted by pitch darkness, sounds of pursuit, fear slamming into them like prickly needles. A small group of zombies were chasing them as they ran like phantoms over twisted roots and moss covered rock. Far from being slow, the zombies were nearly as fast as they were. One mistake would be costly. Baldwin led the way, Final Judgment bared, blue glow a comforting beacon in a world gone mad

Re: The Last War

#553

Holly slammed the door quickly behind them and breathed deeply. She turned slowly to what would of been the inside of the tunnel. To her left was a large torch which wasn't lit but was in a short moment. The light blinded her as all darkness left the tunnel. It was a low winding tunnel leading what seemed for hours eastwards. Holly began to walk silently forward letting her feet touch the ground softly. "This tunnel" she said quietly looking back at grumple for a moment "leads another part of the city. I know it's not taking us out yet but it brings us closer to a climable wall which we should be able to climb over." Holly smiled a weak but passionate smile. Her mind focused on finding Rory and the others. She hoped that they were all right. After about what seemed like three hours they came to a dead end. Holly looked around them and then found what she was looking for. She walked forward slowly and touched one of the larger bricks which formed the wall ahead. It was misshapen and seemed to of been scratched at as if this tunnel had used as a tomb before. Holly pushed gently on the stone. As her weight put pressure on the brick it began to move slowly but surely. In the end there appered to be what looked like a door handle. Holly grasped it and with all her might pushed against the door. If someone had been standing outside this door they wouldn't of noticed it as it did just look like the wall. The door unfortunatly swang open with ease and Holly fell flat on her face at a pair of feet. Holly quickly jumped of the ground and pulled her sword out from it's holster holding it high to the strangers face. What Holly didn't know was that she had just run into Jonas. Wether he knew it was her or not was a diffrent matter Grumple might of given it away. Holly watched him wearily then found her eyes travel down to one of his hands. In that hand he held a glimmering medalion. Holly looked at it carefully then her mind found where she had seen it before "where did you get that?" She asked menace filling each word "And who are you?"

Re: The Last War

#554

Grumple had fallen from the darkness of the street into the greater darkness of the passageway. By good fortune, Grumple landed unhurt, which, of course, meant landed on his head.

Alternately rubbing his lumpy noggin, painful knee, and oozing eyes (which may or may not have been working right then) Grumple saw sparks from flint scraped against steel, and then his friend Hol-lee was seen lighting a torch.

Hol-lee had landed on her feet, as usual, and walked ahead. She seemed to know where to go, so Grumple struggled to a standing position, and started hopping after her on one foot. It was a very strange but rhythmic cadence -- what with alternately hopping on one good Troll foot with a damp "splat" sound, alternating with the hollow "clunk" sound made by the Troll's sturdy skull as it bounced off the low roof of the tunnel.

"Splat!" "Clunk!" "Splat!" "Clunk!"
"FFRAG!"
"Splat!" "Clunk!" "Splat!" "Clunk!"
"GRAZZEN!"
"Splat!"... :hyper:

...and so on down the tunnel following the unseen woman's voice, punctuated with somewhat-syncopated Trollshaw curses.
.
.
.
Finally Grumple caught up to Hol-lee who was talking to some man at the end of the tunnel. Hol-lee did not look happy.

[OCC: Note: Finally, after months of careful consideration, I found a purpose for the hopping green emoticon!]

Re: The Last War

#555

Jonas knew who she was. She was Holly Mayleaf, proposed bride to the prince of Edori, and the person for whom he had been ejected from the castle. He had only seen her face once before, and that had only been an extremely brief glimpse, but it was his job to remember important names and faces.

He also knew that look. A look like that in a royal meant bad things for the person under the chopping block. It dawned on him right then and there, that even if he managed to get himself and her back into the castle, that whatever he had done to upset her (it was well known that noble women were extremely fickle in their moods) there was not much he could do to keep his head for the following day.

So, making a decision that might not have been completely well thought out, he ran.

He did not realize his mistake until he smelled that nauseating smell to his left. Obviously, he went right. Nothing followed, The undead were now rushing at Holly and Grumple. There were only two of them, but they were fast.

___________________________________________________________________________

A few moments later, Jonas was panting in an alley. Realizing that he still held the medallion, he placed it around his neck for safe keeping. Maybe he should not have run, but it was too late now.

That haunting music played on in an endless loop, over and over again. It never changed.

Deciding that the best course of action now, was to find some people other than Holly MayLeaf, he started going through the Alleys with great care, similar to the way he had before. The last thing he needed was to see some great undead creature looking back at him.

Right before him was the last thing that he needed to see. A pair of glowing red eyes fixed on him with a potent urgency. For the third time today, he ran for his life. He ran through dark alleys, and darker houses, over dumpsters and furniture alike. He did not stop, the feet behind him did not stop. For every thing that he went over or around, the thing behind him smashed through. It was impossible strong.

He opened a heavy wooden door to one house, and ran in, but the creature got his arm and bit down with animal instinct. Jonas tore his arm away, tearing the flesh of his arm down to his hand, the creature's grip slipped on the blood that covered Jonas's arm and hand, and he shut the heavy wooden door behind him, barring it into place with a heavy wooden beam.

The creature pounded on the door, threatening the hinges that secured its place in the wall. Jonas looked around his temporary place of asylum for a way out. There was none. He was in a store house. There were no windows, and no doors.

It was chance luck that he noticed the trap door in the corner. He rushed over, and pulled on it. He pulled on it, and it came up. He fell ten feet down the wooden boards that made stairs downwards, into a cellar and landed on his back with the wind knocked out of him. Jonas had never had the wind knocked out of him. It was the strangest thing. He was not hurt, but he couldn't breath right, and he couldn't move, even though nothing was wrong with him.

This was an after-thought. Above him was a burly man holding a woodsman's axe.

"Move and you die" He said in calm tones.

Re: The Last War

#556

Arthur kept deadly still, and just as silent. As long as those grey eyes held still, so did he.

"Koga, Relax" Came the soft melody of a female voice. For the first time, those grey reflective eyes came off of Arthur, and then they dissapeared altogether.

"You have to come with me. Get up now". Arthur was pulled to his feet in a quick sure motion. "There are more coming, follow me"

The woman pulled a blue, glowing stone from her pocket, and suddenly the darkness was gone. Arthur did not have the chance to get a look at her. The rock was off to a good sprint, and Arthur, not wanting to stay behind, was right behind her.

About two solid minutes of running later, Arthur was panting and out of breath, but the woman had stopped.

"You are safe now. We are in a Sacred Grove. Evil cannot progress here. This one is not very large, but it is the closest one to Halbad. I suggest that you stay put unless you wish to die."

She pulled out a few more glowstones from a Duel Utility belt around her waist, and tossed them to the ground forming a curved line, and then tossed one in front of Arthur.

"Are you wounded?"

For the first time since this whole ordeal, Arthur finally saw what she looked like. Before now, all he had had was a sillouette of her shadow against the blue light.

He immediately forgot what he was thinking. She was beautiful. She stood 5'11, tempered fair skin, perfect build, and not a single feature was out of place. Arthur had never believed at love at first site, but she could be his exception.

She wore what appeared to be a thick, light green cloth from head to toe, with solid metal bracers, boots, and shoulder paudrens, all shaped into a leaf pattern, the vine and stem being silver colored (or polished steel), and she wore a dark blue metal breast-plate with a polished steel outgraving of a dragon in flight on it. Rather than the thick garnments taking away from the curve of her figure, it seemed only to add to it, to make her even more beautiful. The dual utility belt fitting onto different places around her waist were in places that seemed to suggest...

Arthur was instantly enamoured with her. He was unable to speak, unable to think about anything but her.

Then Baldwin and Rory arrived...

Re: The Last War

#557

...entering the sacred grove in a cacaphony of thunderous silence. The blazing glow of Final Judgment was quenched like a flaming brand plunged into icy water. The brothers stumbled to a halt, glancing about.

Rory knew, without knowing how, that the undead would not pursue them here. He looked about awestruck, at the powerful lines of magik that protected the sacred grove.

Baldwin only had eyes for the woman who stood before him. His sword dropped to his side, nearly falling from his hand. Her effect on his body was visceral. He nearly swooned, light headed. He felt more strongly than when he was beguiled by the dryad in the forests those many weeks ago. This was very different, the dryad's effect on him was merely illusory, slight of hand by comparison. This was real. He struggled to speak.

Rory was not unaffected, she was striking. He looked at his brother and Arthur and shook his head, covering his mouth to hide his smile. "My lady," he asked, oozing all the charm he could muster, "I am Rory McVey. This is my brother Baldwin, and Arthur, a trusted companion." He bowed with a flourish worthy of a courtier of any royal court in the land. "Please honor us with your name."...

Re: The Last War

#558

Grumple was surprised to see that the soft man took one look at Hol-lee -- and then ran away.

That's what men usually did when they saw Grumple! (Either that, or start hitting, if they had weapons and lots of other men around.) Whatever. Grumple shrugged.

Then there was no time for deep philosophical thoughts. Two undead came running at them from the way the soft man had just run off. They did not look any more friendly than he had, but they were coming, not going.

Grumple stepped forward to try to block them from getting at Hol-lee. But Grumple lost his balance trying to hold his weight on one leg, and fell back with one zombie on top, clawing at the troll's face. The second one scrambled over the two and went for the woman.

In many ways, Grumple and his foe were alike. Both were strong, fast, and totally primitive in fighting style. They slashed and bit, grabbed and wrestled, rolled and twisted in a furious explosive tangle of arms, legs, and teeth.

There were differences. Grumple with a broken leg had trouble getting leverage and the pain was almost more than he could bear. Fortunately for him, a troll can suppress attention to pain in order to fight. Also, Grumple was stronger. He managed to push back the man's arms and then twisted one until the bones snapped at the elbow. It didn't matter. The undead man seemed oblivious to pain. It bent its neck and bit off one of Grumple's fingers. It would have gotten more except that the raging troll made a fist of what remained and slammed the zombie in the face. Rotting flesh sprayed about. The jaw was broken loose and face bones splintered under the force of the blow. More importantly, the blow also had an effect on the undead's coordination. Grumple got astride the ex-man and followed up with a series of bone-crushing punches to its head. Bit by bit what was left for brains inside were pulverized and sent flying across the alley. Its arms and legs quivered and jerked spasmodically, and finally lay still.

Grumple struggled up onto his good leg and sucked his sore hand. "SCRATZG!" he cursed. That was the finger that had grown back just last night.

Grumple looked around to see how Hol-lee was doing.

Re: The Last War

#559

"You may call me Kethal" She replied. Arthur found himself distracted by her melodious voice.

"Are you alright? Your friend Baldwin looks injured. I saw him fight, it was a wonder that he was not hurt more. One of those things even bit me" she said revealing a hand wrapped in a piece of cloth.

Suddeny Arthur came out of his reverie. "You are injured? I, uh, I am a healer. Le-let me see it." Without sparing a moment of concentration he let a hundred threads of magic go forth, forming a perfect pattern, unique every time, no two weaves identical.

Where there was once a bite wound, there was now unmarred skin underneath a bandage.

"Why did you not use your healing magic to destroy these unholy creatures?" she said quietly.

Despite her soft tone, Arthur felt like he had just been barraded. He immediately took a step back, nearly into a defensive stance "No! Its not like that, uh, well, what I mean is, I can't hurt, er, I'm not divine, or well of course I'm not divine, but what I mean is, I can only heal things... If, uh I had tried to use it against them...it doesn't work like that."

Kethal sighed. This was one of the reasons she stayed in the woods so often. You never could get a straight answer out of people.

"Can you heal him?" she motioned to Baldwin as he tried to explain himself.

Arthur swallowed mid sentence. "Um y, yes I can." Arthur let his focus come away from her as he used his magic to Heal Baldwin. Most of these wounds were superficial, they were easy to heal, and he made short work of it, sending a chill of intense cold into each of Baldwin's wounds as they healed themselves faster than a wounded troll.

Arthur felt like a complete idiot. The only time he had said anything, and he had managed to put his foot into his mouth. She must think that he was a dunce. As he healed Baldwin, he racked his mind as to how to impress her.

Nothing came to mind.

"Rory," Kethal turned her focus to the diplomat of the small party of three, "there is a person about a mile in that direction. I think that he is the necromancer controlling these undead. If we can kill him, then we can stop all of them. Unfortunately, I don't know how to get close to her. She is well gaurded, and I am unable to get past all of them. I have some help coming, but it will not be here for some time, and the longer she lives, the stronger she will get. do you have any ideas?"

Re: The Last War

#560

OOC: Nice post Dream. I felt like I was there.

IC: "Kethal" Rory let the name roll off his tongue like honey. Fitting, he thought. "I've a way to get us to this necromancer but I need to prepare. It will take me twenty minutes or so." Rory drank in the curves accentuated by her garb. Curiosity overcame compulsion, he paused before asking, "How do you know of the controller of these undead? When I get us to her what should we expect? How will we wage battle?" The answers, Rory knew would give him insight not only into their enemy but into Kethal as well.

Baldwin shook his head, unable to tear his gaze away from the vision before him. Rory, he knew, was asking questions that had to do with strategy and tactics. These were questions that he should have thought of, should have asked. Chagrined, he turned away from looking directly at her. This took a prodigious amount of will. He sat cross legged, Final Judgment across his thighs, determined not to allow his infatuation with Kethal affect him during the coming battle.

Rory looked at Kethal expectantly...