The Storm

Zaofen and his squad continued their march to the bridge, darkness was slowly coming from the horizon, and they hadn't made it half way. He thought for a minute then yelled to the squad, "We will keep going till we can't see each other, and when that happens stop and come to me. I will light a torch and we will rest for tomorrow to continue our mission, understood?" There was a low grumble of acceptance and then silent again, the only sound the sound of their feet beating the hard earth.

When the moon was the only source of light, Zaofen lit his torch and stopped. He turned to his men "Ok fetch some wood and we'll set up camp here for tonight." He sat down and thought of what to expect at the bridge, will they be fighting off a horde of warriors or just a bunch of useless peasants, as he sat water began to fall from the sky. A storm was brewing. He got up and bellowed, "Change of plans, we need to keep going, we don't want to be stuck in bad weather, now drop the wood and move!"

At this the squad was off again, they legs aching, but they knew what they had to do, reach the bridge.

As the dawn approached, so did the bridge, the storm was starting to rage and Zaofen knew they needed to get inside quickly. The men were happy to see the bridge, and they started murmuring. When they reached the bridge they quickly entered the living quarters to find a few worn militia men and an elderly man in robes. Zaofen's men quickly spread out and set up for a sleep, while Zaofen walks to the top of the bridge, the storm making the waters to dangerous to cross any other way then this. His mind was focused on one thing, defeating his enemy, then returning home to his brother, the only one he cares about, that is left in this world, that wasn't already close to him at this moment.

He headed back inside and sat down with his men, and engaged in idle chat with them. Now they wait for the enemy.

Zaofen sat with his squad, they too had noticed something seemed strange, how it was raining and no slaves were even heard of in this area, it seemed to be a set up. He decided to check with the guards, they said little, mainly about talking to Caleb, the old man that seemed to be in charge. He went upstairs onto the Stone arch that was over middle of the bridge.

Zaofen walked up to Caleb and pushed him up against the wall, "What do you know, geezer?" Caleb was quiet, Zaofen knew something was up and stood back, just avoiding the knife that Caleb had tried dissecting him with, Zaofen looked at the old timer, he was old, but quick and sharp, he is probably a spy... nonone ever picks the old guy to be the spy...

Zaofen drew his blad and ran at Caleb, the old man easily dodging the strike and slashing the arm off. Zaofen's right arm fell to the ground, the pain was unbearable but the only thing he could do was fight, he could not let this traitor get away. He let out a roar "For Sadon!" and drew his axe, his blood still flowing out.

He stood and he heard what he wanted to hear, the pounding feet of his troop coming up the stairs, their weapons drawn. Before caleb could do anything, they were on him, bringing him down to the ground, he wasn't dead, but he soon was going to be. Redgar looked on in astonishment as Vincent lifted the old geezer's head and said "Would you like the honours?" Zaofen walked forward, his arm lying behind him, he raised the axe then SHING! Caleb's head rolled across the ground, his body limp, with the occasional spasming muscle. Zaofen looked at his men, "Very good boys, this man was obviously a traitor, waiting for us to sleep, then kill us, they wouldn't have left this gate open like his, he was most likely trying to escape!" The sqad raised their weapons and let out a roar "FOR SADON!" They all started walking back in, Typhus retrieving the head and putting it in his pack.

Zaofen addressed the rest of the soldiers, "OK men, we will split into small groups, one of my men leading each group. Get into three ranks behind each of my men. Vincent, you will guard the south end, Typhus the North, Daemon you patrol the north banks on the east, Dante the west. Redgar you have both sides of the south bank. I will take the 2 left over soldiers and train with them. Is that clear!" There was a loud roar of "YEAH!" and they all formed into the groups each going off to do their own thing.

Zaofen finally was ready. He could now start his own journey of saving his brother. He sat down and tended to his arm, it was removed halfway along the forearm, he bandaged the end of the wound and tied 3 daggers to it, in a triangular formation. Getting up was a bitt harder but he still managed it, his armour sitting with his stuff, "I knew I should have put it on in case of trouble..." he muttered then said aloud "Ok boys, lets go train!" He then walked out side, his two troops following him, he passed the southern end and entered a small patch of forest and started practicing with his new arm against tree's and other flora.

This post has been edited by Zaofen "Mad Axe" Magax on Aug 7 2006, 09:21 PM

Before I make it back to everyone in the cave I pass a weapon smith. Since no one is there I sneak in to get us more weapons.
In there I find 10 axes and 3 swords. I take these and leave the rest of the gold I took from Jun. I take every thing and bundle them up.

Totally soaked and looking forward to seeing my family; it has grown since I first set out for Thaan. I now have 33 more that I now call my family, those that escaped. I realized that along the way back. Also with my sibling we totaled 35. With Riox and I coming back our final number will be 37. I crest a hill overlooking where the cave should be.

They have set out scouts so they know of my return. I am welcomed as a sister coming home after a very long trip.

“What news?”
“How is…”
“Arix, has he…”
"The Rathi, Ahgjan.."
“Every one please. She just stepped in the cave. Let her at least sit by the fire and warm up.”

I look at Seigfrehd in total gratitude. Daera brought me a leg of lamb. I tear in to it. Mmmm, hot cooked meat.
“Is Riox back?” I sneeze.
“We thought he would be with you.”

I said the worst curse that I could think of in Vhor, “Hgugblessynez.”
The younger Dramen laughed. The older ones looked scandalized.
“No we got separated. I was hoping that he would be back. Wait is Krysta back?”
“No.”

The loss of one Dragon was a near crushing blow. I did not know how large the guard at the bridge is. On the way I realized that we needed to get across that bridge if any of us are going to survive.

“Well we have to do it with on our own.”
“What are you talking about?”
I hesitated. There is just no easy way to say it.
“We need to get across that bridge.”

There was a collective gasp at what I said.
“We can’t…”
“Suicide…”
“No chance…”
I shout to make my self heard, “Look I know that the bridge is probably…”

“Probably? No it is heavily guarded.” Came a shout from the back of the cave.
Roar came forward from the back of the cave. It must have been a Dragon’s cave before and this is one of then many branches. He is soaking wet. He is caring a fresh kill in his mouth and on his back.

“Every one please. Please hear me! I just came from Thaan. They know that I was there. They have to have sent men after me. Now it took me 2 ½ days to get back. I went through the thicket, thave to use the road. Yes it will take longer but who ever the sent out will be at the bridge in 3 days, at the most 4. It won’t just be a guard. They will have enough solders to hunt us all down. To find us in this cave.”

“We HAVE to put that river between us and Thaan. It has to be done NOW. That is the bridge we have to cross. There are not any for miles. Don’t you all understand?”

Every one quieted down. Then they talked amongst them selves. The decision was reached with in minutes.
“Well if we have to then lets get across.”

I sneezed again; this time it is a rapid succession of three. There is a tickle in the back of my throat.
I say, “Okay let go.”
“No, not yet.”
I look over. It’s Lock.
“We have to,” but that is all I get out.
“You have to dry off first.”
“But the rain.”
“No.”

I could tell that I was not getting out of the cave so I pulled of my wet cloak. A group of five women stood around me as I striped out of every thing else. Fresh warm clothe were handed me.

AAAAHHHHH!

It does feel good to get out of those permanently cold, soaked clothes.
“Dramen were you going to use this set of armor?”
“No. I only took it so Synacra would not kill a friend. If you can use it the please do. Any edge we can get I will gladly take.”
The human expertly went about rigging it so that he could wear it. From the way he handled it, he must be a career solder.

“Now Tay. Just sit and eat while you stuff dries.”

Well an hour won’t hurt that much. As soon as I sat down next to the warm fire I lapsed into unconsciousness. I had no way of telling how long I out but I snapped awake. As soon as I realized that I had fallen asleep it got me angry. I bore down on Lock.

“How could you let me sleep?”
“Because you need it. Besides every one thought it better to try in the middle of the night.”
“Oh.” I was still angry.

We took stock of all our weapons: 10 axes, 7 swords, 4 cat claws, 1 jawbone axe, 1 quarterstaff, and 1 dagger. There were 42 sharpened sticks for use as a spear, one per each to have a back up weapon; there were 8 left over. Some chose not to take a spear. It was decided that Elves and Dramen would take the remaining spears because both Elves and Dramen are the most accurate at throwing.

I kept the tip of my winter solstice gift: my own short sword and dagger.

I looked around at them mass; stares of grim determination met me.


“Okay lets go.”

This post has been edited by T@rget on Aug 14 2006, 11:20 AM

OoC: Oh, gee, THANKS......This is what I needed. *rolls eyes* Guess I'll have to haul butt back, huh?

Everyone thought it best to put the best fighters in front. The thought was that they could break a hole through while every one else could make it a cross. Lock was the first choose: then the ex-solder Human, David, would be next to Lock. Others were chosen each has some experience in fighting, though none fully trained as either Lock or David. I was also chosen, mostly because I am the healthiest and most well fed out if the group.

This ‘advance escort’ would try to hold back the bridge guard.

In the night, under cover of the rain, we advanced toward the bridge. As soon as we got there the alarm was raised.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Apr 26 2007, 02:54 AM

We pushed a hole to the bridge. It was hard going but we made it. Then something no one counted on, the bridge guard had split itself. Half was on this side of the bridge and half was on the other side. And to make things worse it was not just militia, it seemed that we hit a wall of veterans.

As dawn came up the rain finally stopped.

The ones on the other side of the bridge pressed us back. The others held us. With in the first 5 minutes 7 of us fell. Each one tried to make a break for the other side; those that did got cut down quickly and efficiently. I grimaced because it is then that I realized that we would have to fight them to the last man.

Every one got separated. I no longer saw Lock.

A human with an axe attacked. He brought it down in an overhead arc. I blocked it with my dagger. Since I could not stop it I let the axe head glance off. With Mr. Axe thrown off balance I made a stab with my short sword. Mr. Axe spun bringing the axe head around to block my sword. He thrust the blunt end in to my ribs. I had to fall backwards to keep him from shattering my them.

Another was on me, one with a long sword. Axe turned his attention to a Dramen with wooden spears. Long Sword made a sweeping motion. He caught me with the tip of the sword, on my left arm. My mind sung; a geyser of mud squirted in to Long Sword’s face. That gave me enough time. I rolled back then kicked out in to a standing position.

Long Sword recovered. He made another sweeping motion, meaning to cut my legs from under me. I leapt up and straight at him. My knees hit his chest. With his armor I did nothing but knock him down. To keep from getting tangled up with him I rolled forward, through the mud.

Before I was completely standing I was attacked again, by a different man, with an axe. I slashed with my dagger. I hoped that by getting close I could limit Axe2’s effectiveness. He brought the handle straight up into my chin. I staggered away, dazed. Fortunately for me the solder, David, that took the armor that I had stepped in, he kept me from getting cut down.

It is at this point I gave up trying to give names to every one of our attackers.

Roar I could see is holding off three from killing one of ours that has fallen. He fires to the right. Then he spins knocking two down. The one he is guarding gets up. Roar charges. He knocks every one down. Our troops and theirs scatter under his charge. Then I see that he is guarding another of ours that has fallen.

Two swords are slashing at me. One I fend of with my dagger turned so that the blade is away from my thumb. The other I parry with my short sword turned so that the blade is toward my thumb. Right away I turn my short sword thumb away. With these two on me I have to keep defending myself.

Stab on the left; the hilt of my short sword to block. Slash from right; my dagger caught it. Right side slash; I push the sword arm away causing the other to over balance. Left side slash; this one I catch with my short sword pressed flat against my forearm but instead of letting it slide off I spin in to it. The sword is pressed up finally giving me the opening I need. Simultaneously I hit him with my tail and then switch my grip on my dagger to thumb toward. I lash at his sword wrist.

The strike glances off of his gauntlet.

A wood spear takes him in the leg. I leap out of the way as another comes whistling in. A guard with an axe standing near the one that got hit in the leg knocks it out of the air. The axe wielder turns his attention to me. With a mighty downward strike he attacks. I have no chance but to avoid it completely. I feel it as it slices a thin line down my left side. It is not deep but right away I feel blood welling.

I throw my shoulder in to him. This time I can’t help get tangled up with him. We roll around thrashing. Both he and I have to drop our weapons. I have the edge on strength but this Human seems to be well trained in wrestling. Still we roll. We knock over others as we thrash against each other. Finally I use my strength to my advantage.

Some how I lock my arms around him; pinning his arm to the side. I thrust upward arching my back as I did it. I slam him, face first, into the mud. After that I rolled away.

I had no time to wait and see if he would get up. I picked up a discarded wooden spear. I pressed my way to the place where I dropped my short sword and dagger.

Several of our troops lay on the ground. While I see only two of the enemies on the grown. Just then I see two Dragons land. The are fighting on the enemies side. I can tell each are skilled fighters.

Roar attacks one. The other Dragon pays little mind to him, seeing that his a whelp. Mistake. Roar lunges. His speed takes the other totally of guard and has no chance to defend. Roar snaps at the others wing. I see the other throw its head back in pain. The second joins in the fight with Roar. It spins catching him in his middle.

My spear I have is not as effective as a my sword and dagger. First off the tip has already been loped off. But with one more press I push the Human out of the way. I throw my spear at one of the enemy some distance away; at the same time I reach out for my sword and dagger. Each fly to my paws; the short sword to my right and the dagger to my left.

The spear that I threw, lacking a sharp tip did little more then bounce off the back of a solder but this gave David the chance he need. He cut down the other. He moved on to a different one.

Again I am attacked by two Humans. But this time one has a sword and the other has an axe.

Sword slash: blocked. Axe hack: dodge. Slash. Stab. Arc left. Arc down. Thrust with the blunt end of the axe. Slash. Stab. Stab.

It is all I could do not to get hacked by the axe or slashed by the sword. All the while wooden spears rain down.. These I carefully dodge. Finally they break off. Other of our troops are pressing them.

I see Zynna spinning franticly. Trying to hold off her attackers. I press my way to her.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Apr 26 2007, 03:01 AM

No matter how hard I try I can’t make my way to her. Even still I press. Then I see David, he steps in to help her. Between the both of them they are able to scatter the three that was attacking.

Next to me is one of our troops. The Elf has four attacking her, so I reach out and push a clump of mud straight at the back of the enemies head. At the same time I work my way to her side. She is badly cut; not life threatening though.

With the two of us, we are enough to hold them off.

I stab: blocked by an axe. She sweeps the leg: leap and countered with a downward slash. Since she has no time to bring her sword up to block I fling my dagger, it sticks in the attacker’s wrist. Instantly I sing my note and it pops out of his wrist, it flies to my open paw. This gives the Elf time to strike out again. She stabs at his throat; he staggers clutching and gurgling, trying to stop the flow of red.

With her extended, and open, an axe wielder hacks at her. If she had been wearing a helmet then it might have deflected the blow. She fell with the axe stuck splitting her skull. The axe man could not pull the axe free so he released his grip, the other two covering him until he could claim a different weapon.

Spears come raining down. This pushed my attackers away; and subsequently they had to separate because of intense fighting around them.

That seemed the way if the battle, you would be attacked by one or more and then minutes later they or you were presses apart. I could not tell but it seemed that for every one of the bridge guard we lost two, might even be three but it is hard to tell.

Hour after hour we fought. The sun came up with a heat that was not known all winter, until now that is. Soon enough clothes dried, from the rain the night before but not from the mud and the water left in puddles.

Seigfrehd some how appeared at my shoulder. In his left hand he held a broken sword; in his right he held another sword. Neither of which were the sword he left the cave with. The broken one he uses to block strikes; his face a set of grim determination.

All my life, such that I lived with my family, he as always has been the one that looks after his younger weaker siblings. I can’t count how many times he as taken punishment that was not meant for him; mostly punishment that should have been doled out to either me, Zynna or Roar, the Three Scoundrels.

Roar is in trouble. So we push over to him so that we can help. Ten men are attacking, only the fact that he can fire is keeping him alive. I can’t see the two Dragons that landed earlier. Both Seigy and I try to scatter Roar’s attackers. When we get close we see the reason that he will not give up ground, someone is one the ground. My breath catches and my heart jumps to my throat.

It is a Dramen.

Then I see it is not Lock. I can tell that Roar is going to spin, hoping to knock down or cut down, with his tail blade, the bridge guards. I with my mind I shove Seigy forward so that he will be under the swing. At the same time I grab the Dramen; he would get trampled upon so close to Roar, so with him in my arms I leap over the tail but I am not fast enough. It catches the bottom of my foot. We both tumble; I slam hard on the ground with him on top.

It worked the guards, every one of them; either scattered or was battered away. I mange to get the Dramen to his feet, form my cloak I strip of some bandages. Sure the out side is caked with mud but since it is the only thing around to tie up wounds, it will have to do for now.

He nods and picks up two swords, then jumps back into the fighting. Dramen, unlike Humans and Elves, don’t favor one hand over the other. Each hand is as adept at handling tools, or weapons, as the other. But I have found some that can use only one had or the other; I have only run into two such in my life time.

With myself, Roar, Seigfrehd and newly armed Dramen, we form a knot of resistance. Others take that as a sign to form up. They pull in. We start to move to the bridge. When I see the Dragons swooping on our defensive circle I realize that it is a considerably bad idea. With the bridge guard hemming us in, it is easy pickings for the Dragons.

Fire rips a swath through our knotted defense; screams of the dying threaten to split my head.

Roar charges, heedless for the cuts that he takes. This gives us a chance. Some push through the whole before the enemy can close ranks. It is not enough; the Dragons are turning for another pass. Roar spring in to the air. David and I give him cover when he is the most vulnerable. After that we and all those that escaped the ring try to open it back up again.

We need space in between everyone.

Roar slams in to the Dragon in midair. He has turned so that he claws are pointing at the other. The other one sees what Roar intends to do, I can see the shock in her face. She sets herself for the impact. They fall in a thrashing, snarling, ball from a height of 20 feet. They crash into the ground, crushing three of theirs and only one of ours. Both are stunned and stagger away.

I try to force my over to my bother.

Right away I am assaulted by two with swords. I stab with my dagger to the left he spins blocking it and brings the sword up for a killing stroke. I drop my weapons so that I can grab the other’s arm, he tried to stab me. Just in time I fall back wards, holding the other’s arm. The spinning one caught the other under the arm; it sliced through the unprotected armpit. As I rolled, I kicked him so that he went flying. I roll to a standing position, coating myself with fresh mud in the process.

My sword and dagger have been trampled in to the mud, I can not see them: I face the Human before me with just my claws and teeth.

The one before me has no weapons, just his fist. He jabs with a metal encased fist. It catches me in my jaw. I can tell that he has not need of any others. We circle. Upper cut: left jab to my gut: he dodges my attempt to strike out and counters with a round house. Once when he was in as far as he let himself I managed to rake his face. He lost an ear to that one.

I can see that I need to finish this as fast as I can. I leap straight at him, trying to use the claws of my feet and my paws at the same time. He smiles evil grin. Seeing his opening he charges, head low. This is what I want. Just before his thick bruser knuckles finds my heart, I sing.

I push backwards and up at the same time. This cause me to hang in the air, then shoot straight up. I stop singing and drop. I land full on his shoulders. With my full weight I club the ground using his face.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Apr 26 2007, 03:09 AM

After that I push my way back in to the fight. This keeps up for only 5 minutes, then something happens which almost pulls me out of reality. I am not fighting. Oh sure there is fighting still happening, its just that I am not fighting. There is a bubble around me, in which is just me. I don’t understand it.

This gives me time to shred my cloak for bandages. I wrap my arms, my side, even my legs and I retie the bandage that is holding the wound that I got in Thaan.

I sneeze. Again. The tickle in the back of my throat has spread. My entire throat is dry and scratchy.

That done I pick up my blades and get back to fighting.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Sep 28 2006, 03:45 PM

Even though I step forward the bubble seems to follow me. That feeling of unreality persists. That is the only way that I can describe it.

Unreality.

I see Zynna, she is holding her own. With her is Luthein and a Dramen, not Lock though but one of the acolytes. Zynna still has the staff part of my winter solstice gift.

It is a blur of motion. Silver-blue streaks crashing into the side or the head of the enemy. I cannot see it but I know that the staff flexes and bends so that the tip hits three times or even five times harder then anyone can swing it. I don’t really know what it is made out of but I know that it will not break even on metal armor.

She is giving her attacker no chance, her strikes come from the left then she immediately swings around to bring it down. Either left or right or coming down, Zynna never lets up. Because of the long length of her staff the others short sword is almost useless. The only thing keeping her attacker up is the metal armor he wears.

Luthein now has one axe in each hand; some how during the battle she donned a chest plate. She catches a sword strike with hook that the axe forms, then she swings with the other axe. It is at the wrong angle so it glances of the helmet. The one that was attacking Zynna shifted his attack to Luthein. She thrust the blunt top of the axe into his chest. Being an Elf, her strength staggers him but the armor he wears takes the brunt of the blow.

All the while the Dramen that is with them is easily dodging both sword strikes, axe blows or even staff swings. Some how she has a sword and a dagger bound together; and that one in each hand. Two blades in each hand smoothly strike then used for blocking. Dramen weapon designs are very different then those that are used by either Human or Elf. Most are of a two handed design. If a Human has a two handed weapon it mostly a larger version of a sword or an axe.

I see the way she uses each weapon she cobbled together and think understand how it is done. One thing I do not get is how she has had time to bind them together.

She fluidly dodges and spins around the pair my sister’s make. She puts her blades between either Zynna’s or Luthein’s back and any one that wants to plant steel in it. It seems she is dancing. Having weapons in both hands, not to mention a blade on each side does not encumber her.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Sep 28 2006, 03:57 PM

Over there I see Seigfrehd and David back to back. David has a broken sword in one hand and a small hand axe in the other. Seigfrehd has just an axe. They both are surrounded and being pressed hard. It seems that any second they will be overwhelmed.

Then I see hope for the pair. A set of Elves wielding wooden spears comes charging. This breaks the deadly ring. All five spread out. None want to draw the attention of a Dragon in the air.

I keep my attention on Seigfrehd. He swings, meaning to lop of a bridge guards arm but misses. This leaves him open to an attack from his left side. The sword catches him right above the elbow. I can tell it is not a drastic wound because he brings his axe up to block another strike. This is how it goes from then on. He has to fight defensively.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Sep 28 2006, 04:01 PM

Off on the other side I see Roar. He is holding of a group of five bridge guards with a combination of tail swipes and fire. I can’t tell but I think that he is keeping them from some one.

He lashes out with his tail blades. The five scatter. Still the persist. Each tries to get close enough to strike but because all have either axes or swords it is hard going. They all press in, trying for a good strike.

I can tell the Roar is very angry. He bellows. Then he takes off at the guard charging, heedless of the cuts and slashed he takes. This is effective. I see an Elf stand up. Also each of the five bridge guards get embroiled with others of the former slaves.

In all this time I still don’t see Lock.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Sep 28 2006, 04:05 PM

Seeing these happen only took minutes; after that the bubble of unreality burst, sending a crushing waves of violent warring hordes.

Immediately I have to block a sword strike to my heart. I lash out with my dagger, a stab from the left. He blocks it with his sword. It gives me a chance for a slash with my short sword. It has no effect because of the armor. I have to dodge his slash from the left.

Then I see some thing that has my gut tied up in knots. A bridge guard knocked Seigfrehd down. There is no one close enough to help. I have only one chance. In one motion I flick my dagger at, one of the only exposed parts of his flesh, his throat. Running in snatch up a broken haft of an axe, it is almost long enough to be a practice sword.

The guard is drawing back for the killing stroke: I throw the long shaft of wood as hard and as accurate as I can.

Time seems to be suspended in some type of jelly.

I see the axe coming moving in a power downswing: the axe haft is whistling at it’s intended place: some one steps in the way, I want to scream: that person moves at the last very last fraction of a second: as the axe head nears the ground, so does the haft: thrown axe haft slams in to the flat edge of the axe head.

I can’t tell if I deflected the blow enough. From my angle, Seigfrehd is screened from my view by the mass of fighting. An axe catches me in my gut. Luckily for me it is the blunt top of the axe, not the sharp edge. I feel something in my chest snap. It knocks me flat on my back. My luck holds because he does not come in for the killing stroke. Instead he turns his attention to an Elf. This unfortunate he decapitates, in one quick motion. The head fall in a different direction from the body. The mud stops it from bouncing.

I lie there, stunned. After almost a minute I force myself to breath. It does hurt but I think I can still fight so I get up, but only when ten minutes pass. In the next few minutes I forget all about my ribs. I have no time because I have to fight for my very life.

I force my way to Seigfrehd. It is a hard press. None give quarter. I gain ground little bits at a time. Because of my rib I can’t dodge as much as I used to. No I have to relay on blocking more that or fighting harder.

Press as hard as I can, I only move one or 1½ feet at a time. All I can think of is that I have to get to my brother. I don’t know if he is alive or dead. I have to make it to my brother! So force my way to him, inch by inch.

The rest of my life is nothing; it is a dream that I once had.

I was happy.

I had a family.

So many things I remember but now it all seems as if it is just a mist. There is no vast and great city, one that hold as may sights as there are days to enjoy them. There is no warm embrace. There is no rough play or for that matter there is no playful nips by a deeply loved.

There is noting beyond this butchers yard.

My life now, is pain.

My life is blood.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Oct 8 2006, 01:31 AM

After Zaofen was satisfied with his new arm, he heard sounds of war, and not just the begining, more like the end. He looked around for the 2 men he had with him, they had ran to the fight. He looks over there, he sees Typhus, Vincent and Daemon holding off the attackers, the dead body of Redgar behind them, his throat cut. He charges from the woods and roars "FOR SADON!!!"

He reaches the bridge and flings himself into the fray, his new weapon making contact with an elf, removing her facial features. He swings again slicing her gut into ribbons. He looks around and another site hits his eyes, the deceased body of Dante his face ripped open. Then Zaofen lost it, drawing his Axe and roaring "SADON!" this time it was accompanied by the 3 survivors of his squad, and the charge, none caring for their own defence, they slay a few attackers then reach the otherside where a Dramen is standing a rogue human dead and a guard lying dead beside him, a spear hanging from his back.

Zaofen stared at the dramen, Daemon, Typhus and Vincent guarding him. Zaofen recognised her from his early service days, when he was just a low guard. "What do you want slave?" Zaofen spat on the ground "You surely didn't belive you could stand against Synacra's might.?"

This post has been edited by Zaofen "Mad Axe" Magax on Oct 23 2006, 01:27 AM

My brother lay dead before me and I am confronted by this joker calling me a slave; threatening me with ‘Synacra’s might’, I almost wanted to flaunt the brand that Synacra that gave me when he took me into his service. I did not. But being called a slave or a traitor did not matter to this one. He had his job to do.

“What I want is to take my brother lying there and burry him,” I indicated Seigfrehd. “Then I want to find my family and leave Nigeri.”

I said this through lips that felt numb. Some how I could not wrap my brain around the motionless form lying in the blood colored mud. Still. Silent.

I felt unconnected to reality.

My life is pain.

My life is blood.

My life is death.

The three standing on the bridge get that, by now familiar, old look of puzzlement. It is there then it passes as if a wisp of smoke. His two guards faces hold nothing but sneers, as if the are looking on some thing lower then a slug. The leader to the three looks concerned for the dead one kneeling with the spear through him.

I don’t care if the don’t believe me. His was… No he IS my brother! He’s dead and every one guarding this bridge is responsible.

I launch myself at the one in charge. This takes the other two by surprise, but only for a second. A fist plants itself in my right side. A foot sweeps into my gut. It doubles me over. Well the broken rib is what does it; the foot just exacerbates it.

“No, let this one up. She has a debt, she owes it to me; I intend to collect. Tenfold.”

The let me up but a metal gauntleted fist strikes my chin. His goons leave and join the butcher’s yard behind me. We circle each other.

Then I am horrorstruck. Over there, about ten feet, I see the two Dragons being confronted my at least ten of the escapees. One is Luthien! Both dragons are firing, sweeping in random directions. Both gouts of fire cross right where Luthien is!

“NOOO!”
“That never works slave.”

He tucks down and slams his shoulder into me chest. The broken rib screams, I yell out in agony. Some how I recover enough to stand and face him. Between blocking or attempts at attacking I see one of the Dragons thrashing around in fury. I see some thing blazing clutching the long neck. She, my sister Luthien, has caught fully on fire. She is stabbing again and again. The Dragon is vainly thrashing about trying to throw of my fully engulfed sister.

She stops moving but does not fall off. The Dragon falls, perhaps he is finally dead.

But I can’t spare any more attention to my fallen sister. I have already suffered a stab in my right shoulder because the lack of attention for what is before me.

Some how I have both my dagger and my short sword. I don’t remember claiming the dagger. I have to use both just to defend myself against his attack with his axe. For some reason he gives me a second. This I his use to my best advantage; I lock my dagger into the hole in my short sword.

This gives me a short sword with an 18-inch blade and a 15-inch hilt. I turn the blade so that it is thumb away, that way I can use my forearm to brace my blade so that it makes it easer to block his axe strikes. The hilt is long enough so that I can strike out with it also. I snatch a small hand axe in my right hand.

He lashes out with the dagger tied the stump where his hand was. I block with the hilt. He spins, to get all the force out of his axe. I narrowly duck in time to keep my head on my shoulders. In fact I notice some of my hair fall to the blood soak mud.

I strike with the axe. He catches it with his axe. He does not let me keep attacking. I am forced to defend.

Zaofen spits in the Dramens face, "You may aswell give up, even with my wound, you will die!" He then lunges forward striking with his dagger, narrowly missing the hip of his opponent. The dramen swings the axe and he got hit lightly on his already wounded arm, cutting the cloth and release the raw flesh, which has started bleeding again.

He roars in pain and runs backwards to where Daemon was fighting off some slaves, he went back over a dead body, and what felt like an eternity he saw all the dead, Daemon and Typhus now slain, Vincent, a headless corpse mutilated by something, his squad dead. He thought of what was going to happen if he returned, executed for failure, he had nothing left, except his brother.

It came back to him and he hit the ground with a squelch, the Dramen's axe coming down on his chest, because if he was to die, it would be here and now, not later, not even if he lived he had to die, or he would be in shame for the rest of his life. He had failed his Squad, He had failed Regdar, Vincent, Dante, Typhus and Daemon, He had failed himself, he had failed Synarca, but worst of all he failed his brother, the one thing that he killed ofr, to oneday be reunited with his brother. He looked at the blade of the axe it was almost upon him, he hoped it wouldn't take longer...

As my axe was falling in what was I thought a killing stroke, it occurred to me that this might end it. Cut off a snake’s head and the body dies. This one seemes to be in charge, at least of the two other goons anyway.

The other Dragon blundered through, knocking everyone a sprawl. I was sent rolling backwards and my intended victim also rolled. The Dragon seemed to be blind. He thrashed about. In the commotion I lost him but another bridge guard picked up the fight.

Mere minutes later the captain of what ever he is came back to finish. I could see murder in his eyes. This I understood, after all I seem to be the one in charge of the ex-slaves. He lost his great axe that he was wielding. In his hand is one of the spears that we sharpened but it is considerately shorter then when it was made. Before, it was ong made for throwing and stabbing, now it is ½ the length.

He slashes with the dagger tied to his stump. I block with my short sword. The spear in his other hand is quick; it misses my shoulder but only just.

It was like that; he would press me as hard as I have ever been pressed. With my broken rib it made the fighting, well defending, hard. He never let up, gave no quarter. Then he gets a lucky shot.

The ground being as it is, it is treacherous, but I compensate for the footing on an unconscious level. But it is still slick. I lost my footing, just for a second, and that was enough. He stabbed out with the dagger. It caught me in my right shoulder. Now because the wrappings that are holding it have been cut, it pulls free. When he drew back the dagger stayed stuck in my shoulder. This brought me to my knees. Sure I have with stood getting stabbed but at that time I was not so beat up.

He drew the shortened spear for his killing stroke.

At least it will be an end to the pain, the blood.

Roar billowed. Now it was his time to charge throwing the combatants aside. Any one that did not get out of his way got trampled. With the spear inches from my heart, Roar snapped his jaws shut on his arm with the ragged stump. My brother flicked the human. He now knew what it felt like to fly. Over the milling crowd he went and disappeared. With his tail blades exposed Roar spun. As he spun he also fired.

This gave me enough time to stand up. Around me the battle ragged. With Roar keeping everyone at bayI also had enough time to pull the dagger out of my shoulder, as well as bind up the wound. I used the only thing at hand, my cloak. By now it is a ragged, muddy, blood spattered mess.

Roar himself had so many cuts, gashes, slashes, stabs, and holes that I wanted to cry. I want to but I could not, not now and I felt not ever. All I have left inside me is a whole.

My life is pain.

My life is blood.

My live is death.

My life is misery.

But I fight on.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Nov 12 2006, 12:20 AM

Roar and I stick together. We both do what it takes to keep the enemy of each other’s back. I keep well away form his lashing tail, it already cut one guard’s legs out from under him.

The capitain came back. The arm that ended in a ragged stump now is twisted at an unnatural angle. He does not seem to notice. In his hand is a long dagger, or a short sword. On his face is nothing but murderous intent.

Roar swings his tail but he just leaps at my brother. As the tail passed under him he stabs it; Roar yells out it pain. Other than that he ignores my brother. He murderous intentions are fixated on me. Before he and I can come together the warring mass pushes us apart.

It is a never-ending day. For that matter it is a day that has no start. Still I fight on because that is the only thing left me.

Weeks pass. Months pass. Entire lifetimes pass, stone crumbles and the only that is there is, is death.

Pain.

I find myself fighting in a knot with Zynna and David. The battle rages all around us. There is no respite. Sure enough here he comes.

David lashes out with his axe. The lead guard blocks then spins, catching David in the unprotected arm pit. With one last thrust to the throat he finishes David off. That done he heads straight at me. Zynna fends him off with her staff. One exact shoot to he hand, shattering it, makes him drop the sword. It seems that there is no other concern to him but me. He leaps straight through the whirring death that is my sister with her staff. Some how she misses him.

He slams in to me. I have no choice but to relinquish my weapons. We thrash around on the ground, his legs crushing me chest. He clamps his teeth down on my right paw. Just as I am about to loose consciousness, again, from the pain of the broken rib I hear a dull crack. Immediately the crushing pressure around my chest releases. I am able to roll away.

When I stand I see that his spine is crushed.

Right in the small of the back; his legs no longer work. Like this I leave him: my life, the battle, is calling.

I must respond.

This post has been edited by T@rget on Nov 12 2006, 12:15 AM

Zaofen's body was mangled, his mind now obscured with delusins from the pain, and he quickly finished himself off, his dagger-arm slashing his throat open. His body lay bleeding and his life past out of the body.