The Dark Wood and the Tree of Inifuss
Chapter 8
I picked up some health potions from Akara, and dropped off the few magic items with Charsi. By the time I was finished, the others were already at the Portal. We stepped through into the Dark Wood. I scanned the area first, trying to figure out where the tree was. I spotted a tree standing higher than the others.
"That must be it," I pointed.
Ravina glanced over. "That looks like it's on the other side of the forest," she said. "It'll take forever to get to."
I pulled out my mace. "We'll just have to go for it, there's no other choice."
The four of us moved at the same time, taking up the positions we had ingrained in our memories. The entire way to the Tree, we only slowed to pick up weapons, potions, scrolls, and armor. Arriving at the Tree of Inifuss, we stopped in our tracks. Surrounding the Tree were some large, shaggy creatures, one a slightly different color than the others. Putting up the mace, I opted to use my sword.
"Ladies!! Focus on the odd one. He's the pack leader!!" I shouted, as I charged the nearest beast. My sword flashed in the sunlight as it cleaved through the brute. I spun, driving the blade into the chest of the next one. I was rewarded with a splash of blood as I pierced it's heart. I yanked my sword out of it and raised my shield quickly to catch the blow of a third beast. Staggering under the hit, my arm fell uselessly to the side. I jumped back, and felt the urge to duck. Three arrows passed over my head, one right after the other. All three buried themselves deep in the creature's head.
I glanced back, and saw Kiara waving me to her. I scrambled up, ignoring the pain in my broken arm. She looked at my arm worriedly, and I waved her off. I turned, and approached the green beast, the leader. It was pulling itself up. It was covered with arrows and burned patches of fur. I took pity on it, and decapitated it, ending it's pain. I walked to the Tree. The scroll was up in the higher branches. I turned back, and before I opened my mouth, Kiara and Paige were racing up the tree.
Paige reached the scroll first, and waved it in the air like a trophy.
"Very good, young Rogue, but do you think you could bring it down here so we can take it to Akara?" I asked pointedly.
She blushed, then made her way down. Kiara gave her a friendly, but forceful, slap to the back of the head.
"Ravina, could you open a Portal for us? I would, but I can't put my sword away, not while we are here."
The sorceress did, and soon I was in Akara's tent, getting my arm set. "Now, Xavier, this will hurt a bit," the old seer said. She took both halves of my arm, pulled them slightly apart, and pushed them back together, aligning them perfectly. It took all of my strength to not leap up and strangle her. It hurt worse than when it was broken! She gave me a potion, which I drank greedily. I could feel the pain ebbing away.
"Next time, Akara, can you do something to dull the pain before you cause it?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.
"What? You mean that you can't take a little pain, even when a health potion can remove it so quickly?" she replied harshly, but I could see laughter in her eyes. "Now, while you are resting, I will decipher the Scroll of Inifuss. It will tell us how to use the stones to open the Gateway to Tristram. I suggest you find some food as well."
I left the tent, slowly turning my arm. It was as good as new. Kiara was waiting for me. I gave her a quick hug, and took her hand. We walked over to the fire, and sat down with Ravina and Paige. The both looked at us, or rather, at our hands, but said nothing. Ravina handed me a plate piled high with meat, which I gratefully accepted. I rested it on my knee, and Kiara began pulling meat off of it as well.
After eating, we discussed the next day's activity: the journey to Tristram.
Chapter 8
I picked up some health potions from Akara, and dropped off the few magic items with Charsi. By the time I was finished, the others were already at the Portal. We stepped through into the Dark Wood. I scanned the area first, trying to figure out where the tree was. I spotted a tree standing higher than the others.
"That must be it," I pointed.
Ravina glanced over. "That looks like it's on the other side of the forest," she said. "It'll take forever to get to."
I pulled out my mace. "We'll just have to go for it, there's no other choice."
The four of us moved at the same time, taking up the positions we had ingrained in our memories. The entire way to the Tree, we only slowed to pick up weapons, potions, scrolls, and armor. Arriving at the Tree of Inifuss, we stopped in our tracks. Surrounding the Tree were some large, shaggy creatures, one a slightly different color than the others. Putting up the mace, I opted to use my sword.
"Ladies!! Focus on the odd one. He's the pack leader!!" I shouted, as I charged the nearest beast. My sword flashed in the sunlight as it cleaved through the brute. I spun, driving the blade into the chest of the next one. I was rewarded with a splash of blood as I pierced it's heart. I yanked my sword out of it and raised my shield quickly to catch the blow of a third beast. Staggering under the hit, my arm fell uselessly to the side. I jumped back, and felt the urge to duck. Three arrows passed over my head, one right after the other. All three buried themselves deep in the creature's head.
I glanced back, and saw Kiara waving me to her. I scrambled up, ignoring the pain in my broken arm. She looked at my arm worriedly, and I waved her off. I turned, and approached the green beast, the leader. It was pulling itself up. It was covered with arrows and burned patches of fur. I took pity on it, and decapitated it, ending it's pain. I walked to the Tree. The scroll was up in the higher branches. I turned back, and before I opened my mouth, Kiara and Paige were racing up the tree.
Paige reached the scroll first, and waved it in the air like a trophy.
"Very good, young Rogue, but do you think you could bring it down here so we can take it to Akara?" I asked pointedly.
She blushed, then made her way down. Kiara gave her a friendly, but forceful, slap to the back of the head.
"Ravina, could you open a Portal for us? I would, but I can't put my sword away, not while we are here."
The sorceress did, and soon I was in Akara's tent, getting my arm set. "Now, Xavier, this will hurt a bit," the old seer said. She took both halves of my arm, pulled them slightly apart, and pushed them back together, aligning them perfectly. It took all of my strength to not leap up and strangle her. It hurt worse than when it was broken! She gave me a potion, which I drank greedily. I could feel the pain ebbing away.
"Next time, Akara, can you do something to dull the pain before you cause it?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.
"What? You mean that you can't take a little pain, even when a health potion can remove it so quickly?" she replied harshly, but I could see laughter in her eyes. "Now, while you are resting, I will decipher the Scroll of Inifuss. It will tell us how to use the stones to open the Gateway to Tristram. I suggest you find some food as well."
I left the tent, slowly turning my arm. It was as good as new. Kiara was waiting for me. I gave her a quick hug, and took her hand. We walked over to the fire, and sat down with Ravina and Paige. The both looked at us, or rather, at our hands, but said nothing. Ravina handed me a plate piled high with meat, which I gratefully accepted. I rested it on my knee, and Kiara began pulling meat off of it as well.
After eating, we discussed the next day's activity: the journey to Tristram.