The Barracks
Chapter 15
My sword flashed out, catching the first Corrupted Rogue in the stomach. It ripped through the diseased flesh, showering the others with guts. I felt a blow on my shield and brought my sword around, removing another head. Three arrows whipped past my head, burrowing into another monster. I glanced back, seeing my companions at the Portal.
In a few minutes, the battle was over. Charred bodies lay in a circle, silent evidence of one of Ravina's spells. Most of the other bodies were pierced by six or seven arrows each. Riega's katars were dripping with blood.
"That was a bit better than the last battle we fought," I said. "Anyone hurt?"
"Only you, Xavier," Kiara said, beginning to pour a health potion on my arm. "Looks like one of them got too close."
I looked down at a small scratch, which disappeared as I spoke. "I didn't even feel that."
Alanna and the Rogues collected all the usable arrows, and I slipped a few magic items into my pack. We then ventured through the gates of the Monastery. Remembering Charsi's directions, I guided us left, into the Barracks. We encountered room after room of Fallen and their shamans. In one room, there were several champion and fanatic shaman, none of which were any match for us.
Turning a corner, I came face to chest with a horrifying sight. A creature, standing eight feet tall, with long, bulbous arms, and a huge, rotund stomach. He had horns on his head, and wielded a hammer.
"The Smith. . . He's holding the Horadric Malus. . ." I whispered to the others, then activated my Prayer aura, watching for the familiar blue glow to surround everyone. Raising my sword, I stepped out, sensing Riega beside me, and five bowstrings being pulled taut behind me. I could also feel the crackle of energy as Ravina activated her currently strongest spell. . . a lightning bolt.
"Fire! Now!" I shouted, then rushed to the creature after the first arrows passed me. Just before I got into attack range, a lightning bolt flashed out of the ceiling, burning through the Smith's skull. The enraged scream chilled my bones, but I swung anyway, my sword biting into his arm. Riega stabbed into him, both blades ripping large chunks of flesh out. Two more arrows leapt past, burrowing into his eyes. He screamed again, swinging out at us. I ducked, and drove my sword into his chest.
Dark black blood spilled down the blade of my sword, smoking in the musty air. I jerked it out of the Smith's chest, sending more blood flinging through the air. The large creature toppled, his great weight settling heavily on the floor. Wiping the blade on the remains of his jerkin, I knelt and said a prayer over his body. I then picked up the Horadric Malus, and turned away.
"Bringen Sie mich zum Ort der Sicherheit zurück," I spoke, a swirling blue Portal popping up in front of me. "Let's go back."
We all stepped through the Portal, and I headed for Charsi's forge. Everyone else collapsed near the fire.
"Charsi, I have the Horadric Malus, and the Smith is now resting peacefully, I hope," I told her, handing her the hammer.
"Thank you, Xavier," she said. "In exchange, I will imbue one non-magical, non-socketed item for each of you."
"Interesting, let me consider what I want you to do, and I'll tell the others."
With that, I turned away, and stopped at Warriv's tent to get some food, which I took to my companions. "One hour to rest, then we'll go back. While we're here, I suggest you all stock up on equipment, and if you have anything you want imbued, go see Charsi. She'll do one item for each of us." I sat down next to Kiara, and she leaned against me. The eight of us picked through the platter, then everyone got up to collect needed items.
Chapter 15
My sword flashed out, catching the first Corrupted Rogue in the stomach. It ripped through the diseased flesh, showering the others with guts. I felt a blow on my shield and brought my sword around, removing another head. Three arrows whipped past my head, burrowing into another monster. I glanced back, seeing my companions at the Portal.
In a few minutes, the battle was over. Charred bodies lay in a circle, silent evidence of one of Ravina's spells. Most of the other bodies were pierced by six or seven arrows each. Riega's katars were dripping with blood.
"That was a bit better than the last battle we fought," I said. "Anyone hurt?"
"Only you, Xavier," Kiara said, beginning to pour a health potion on my arm. "Looks like one of them got too close."
I looked down at a small scratch, which disappeared as I spoke. "I didn't even feel that."
Alanna and the Rogues collected all the usable arrows, and I slipped a few magic items into my pack. We then ventured through the gates of the Monastery. Remembering Charsi's directions, I guided us left, into the Barracks. We encountered room after room of Fallen and their shamans. In one room, there were several champion and fanatic shaman, none of which were any match for us.
Turning a corner, I came face to chest with a horrifying sight. A creature, standing eight feet tall, with long, bulbous arms, and a huge, rotund stomach. He had horns on his head, and wielded a hammer.
"The Smith. . . He's holding the Horadric Malus. . ." I whispered to the others, then activated my Prayer aura, watching for the familiar blue glow to surround everyone. Raising my sword, I stepped out, sensing Riega beside me, and five bowstrings being pulled taut behind me. I could also feel the crackle of energy as Ravina activated her currently strongest spell. . . a lightning bolt.
"Fire! Now!" I shouted, then rushed to the creature after the first arrows passed me. Just before I got into attack range, a lightning bolt flashed out of the ceiling, burning through the Smith's skull. The enraged scream chilled my bones, but I swung anyway, my sword biting into his arm. Riega stabbed into him, both blades ripping large chunks of flesh out. Two more arrows leapt past, burrowing into his eyes. He screamed again, swinging out at us. I ducked, and drove my sword into his chest.
Dark black blood spilled down the blade of my sword, smoking in the musty air. I jerked it out of the Smith's chest, sending more blood flinging through the air. The large creature toppled, his great weight settling heavily on the floor. Wiping the blade on the remains of his jerkin, I knelt and said a prayer over his body. I then picked up the Horadric Malus, and turned away.
"Bringen Sie mich zum Ort der Sicherheit zurück," I spoke, a swirling blue Portal popping up in front of me. "Let's go back."
We all stepped through the Portal, and I headed for Charsi's forge. Everyone else collapsed near the fire.
"Charsi, I have the Horadric Malus, and the Smith is now resting peacefully, I hope," I told her, handing her the hammer.
"Thank you, Xavier," she said. "In exchange, I will imbue one non-magical, non-socketed item for each of you."
"Interesting, let me consider what I want you to do, and I'll tell the others."
With that, I turned away, and stopped at Warriv's tent to get some food, which I took to my companions. "One hour to rest, then we'll go back. While we're here, I suggest you all stock up on equipment, and if you have anything you want imbued, go see Charsi. She'll do one item for each of us." I sat down next to Kiara, and she leaned against me. The eight of us picked through the platter, then everyone got up to collect needed items.