| Honor, Valor, Courage, Strength, Justice, Loyalty & Respect |
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| Rathe 2: Tarskuk |
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Making their way through the well worn track there was evidence of the dangers lurking about. The old dried bones and rusting armor and rotting leather abounded. Every now and then a shiny bauble would catch Kelorf's eye. He would stop along the trail to turn the cadavers over to inspect them for loot or long forgotten coin. Salanea was not in the least amused by this. Kegwen was at best indifferent and Nommad seemed to realize that there was an order to things. Kelorf looked back on his companions and merely smiled or laughed as it seemed appropriate. Trudging along the sun grew higher in the sky. Finding a bit of shade under some trees Kelorf called a halt to their march. "We rest here for a bit to catch our breath. Salanea looked at him and calmly acknowledged his approach. Kegwen being the young upstart he was wanted to push on and get through the mountain range. Nommad volunteered to scout further ahead for danger as the group found various places to stretch out and rest from the morning journey. Kelorf as was his habit immediately brought out a small flask of oil and a sharpening stone. He was mildly amused as the Lady Salanea wearily removed her helm. He was surprised at the length and texture of her hair. It rivaled most wenches in his beloved Halas. Kegwen leaned back on a rock and planted his scabbarded sword in the ground before him. "Have a care Kegwen treat your weapons with respect they will save you someday." Just as he leaned back to close his eyes and let the aches of the trail flow out of him he was wrestled from his reverie. A hand as huge as he was round grasped him and flung him across the trail as if a twig. Landing in a heap he shook his head from side to side to try and clear the cobwebs. The air about him was filled with a mystical skein as the chants of Kegwen and Salanea intertwined. The powerful majicks they called forth filled the air with a discernable aura that one could cut through with a sharp dagger. Rising as best he could he grasped the hilt of his sword in one hand and grabbed the unlit torch from his pack. He looked upon what had so callously thrown him about and his heart skipped a beat. Standing before them was a mythical creature that was much feared in these lands. Its one eye dominating the center of its huge forehead as it charged heedless of the majicks straight towards me. Muttering a curse under his breath he ducked and rolled to the side to avoid the mad dash of the creature. Nommad hearing the shouts and crash of combat hurried back to behold the spectacle of the rest stop. Kelorf was on his knees apparently having dodged the cyclops embrace. Kegwen was trying to find a weakness in the creatures tough exterior that his sword may pierce and Salanea was calling on her god to lay a healing touch upon the barbarian. Without thinking he acted instinctively as he commanded the foliage to come forth and do his bidding. The roots and strands of vegetation congealed and entangled around the legs of the creature. With effort the cyclops plunged forward howling in rage at the attack from an unseen quarter. Kelorf immediately went to work bashing a kneecap with the torch then pirouetting to slice at the exposed groin. Leaving howls of rage and pain at his passing. He did not feel the majicks of Salanea infuse him and bind the grievous bruises and abrasions of his short unnatural flight. The cyclops howled out its rage and grasping a sapling tore it out by the roots. Swinging it with preternatural strength at Kelorf. Seeing that he could not evade the blow he resigned himself to his fate as the sapling snapped in two sending him against the wall. He felt the snap of bone and torn muscle as he tried to clear his mind and free it of the pain overloading his senses. All he could do was scream in anger and rage at the torment of his broken body. Kegwen seeing Kelorf tossed to the side redoubled his efforts. Deftly his dance was beautiful and deadly. Darting in to inflict a minor wound to the arm or another exposed surface. All the while staying away or avoiding the inevitable counterblow. Salanea called upon Tunare to bless her as her anger and fear were manifested in a release of holy fury upon the beast. Nommad grasping the levity of the situation summoned forth a horde of insects. Commanding them to entomb the cyclops. He took some satisfaction in that as he watched the monster fight ineffectually against the thousands of stinging insects. Soon the through the might of Salanea's faith, Kegwen's dogged determination, and Nommad's command of nature they started to beat back the beast. One grudging step at a time the creature retreated before the onslaught. Kegwen had worked his way to a higher vantange to more firmly engage the towering creature. With a howl of combat lust he jumped from the outcrop holding his sword before him. The point pierced the sinew at the base of the beasts head. Propelled by the jump and his own body weight the sword buried itself to the hilt hitting a vital organ on its path of destruction through the innards of the beast. Rolling clear of the tumbling beast Kegwen looked upon his handiwork with a wry grin. When the cyclops fell he stood there at Salanea's side breathing heavily. Nommad dismissed his summoned horde of insects. They departed the body in a wave their momentary lust for battle long since forgotten as they continued on whatever errand was theirs to begin with. Kelorf sat up and pulled out his bandages. Grimacing as he started to bind his wounds and set the broken bone in his lower arm. Looking upon the carnage from where he fell he called out to Salanea, "That will be 10 gold coin for that little episode with a 5 silver coin bounty for the bandages I am using." He did not catch the dark glance shot his way by the group as he diligently went to work on his wounds. |