Beow silently walked through the hallways in the Earth Temple. The hafling
seemed to bounce with every step he took, as if humming merrily to himself.
Another successful victory against Balkoth's forces was achieved not too
long ago. With the help of an elderly warlock, and some 27 something
dwarves, Beow had slain a dark calvary, south of the city of Klay, and
managed to prevent them from setting the Earth's Theive's Guild aflame.
With this in his mind, a plan to set forth-another wave of resistance into the marshes to the southwest was beginning to form in the little halfling's mind. A clump of glowing moss passed overhead. Beow took a right and continued down the dank and dark tunnel.
Beow was a hafling, and a born leader. He was short for his race, and wore a dark green cloak, a yellow hat on his head, and carried a reed bow and dagger. His dagger was given to him as a gift from an Elven princess long ago. Its magical properties have always helped him in the past, and hopefully will protect him in the future.
All was silent except for his own breathing and the hollow sound of his steps on the stone floor. He was just thinking of Balkoth's Brewery Trade Route when he suddenly stopped. He heard footsteps behind him. Not the usual pitter-patter of gnome scholars or dwarven warriors, no. These footsteps where heavier, much heavier even though he could detect how soft they actually were. The hafling slid into a slide corridor and waited quietly.
Katula, hidden in the shadows, turned a corner and found the hallway empty. This may become somewhat of a challenge, she thought. She had been following him for almost an hour now, and she marveled at how he was able to hear her. The Amazon woman could have snagged the hafling earlier, but due to his sharp turns, and backtracks through this underground maze, her hunger to kill would have to wait a little longer.
She slowly crept down the passageway, checking every possible route. One such corridor intrigued her. She approached with caution, watching the darkness for any signs of movement. "GOTCHA!" Beow jumped out from behind her, grabbed her, and held his dagger up to her neck. "Who are you, and who do you work for?!" The hafling said calmly, almost seeming bored. "I... have... no. Desire... to... answer... you!" the assassin spat through strained breathing.
As the last word came out, she grabbed the knife, and flung Beow over her head and onto the ground. She then leapt back and grabbed her spear, "I will tell you one thing." Katula smiled. "And what might that be?" Beow said, brushing off the dirt on his cloak. Katula almost chuckled, "I've been sent to kill you, and I will not fail." Beow sighed, sending a cloud of dust and dirt, obviously stating he missed a spot. "Fine with me, Balkoth's assassins are sent by the dozen, yet they are all inexperienced."
Katula laughed, "As true as that my be, I will not be defeated so easily." The hafling stood upright and brought out his knife and began to examine it. "Ok then, don't say I haven't warned you, but...are you sure you are on the right side?" Katula gave it a moment's thought, then decided to let it go. Seeing that Katula didn't flinch, Beow crouched low into a fighter's stance his father taught him. Katula twirled her spear in return. "Prepare to meet your doom, you blubbering rodent!" and with that, she screeched and jumped into the fight, spear drawn...
Beow saw the assassin leap towards him. He quickly blocked the spear before it could slice him in two. Katula retreated her attack and jumped backward. He's got skills...She twirled her spear above her head, and made a motion with her hand. Beow noted the sign of death the assassin had made, only a certain clan of Amazon's ever used that sign upon their prey. However honored Beow was by this rare occasion, he preferred to live and never to have seen it, then be a witness to it, let alone be the true victim.
Then, without warning, Katula's body shifted to the opposite direction then the hafling had anticipated, and whirled next to him. He had only leapt out of the way, when she made her killing blow, but instead of slicing off his head, the hafling's quick reaction caused him to receive a deep, clean gash on his side.
Beow winced as the cut burned. "This is going to leave a mark," he moaned. The hafling stood up and saw Katula preparing for another dash attack. He braced himself and gripped his dagger tightly. The assassin exploded forward and became nothing but a blur.
As the halfling gripped his dagger, time itself seemed to slow down. The dagger began to pump warmth and strength into the little hafling's body, clearing all his senses and giving him full concentration on what he was about to do.
Acting as quick as lightning, Beow ran forward to meet his opponent. This threw Katula off guard, but not as much as what the hafling did. Beow jumped downward, feet first, and slammed into Katula's knees, causing her to buckle, loose balance and fall forward. The hafling saw an opening in Katula's armor, and plunged the knife into her chest.
Katula's mouth opened for a soundless shriek, as she felt pain beyond belief pierce through her body and sear through her heart. Her body hit the ground, full on, bruising the entire length of her body. He body began to twitch and wither as the pain increased, her eyes turning grayish-white, and the dagger-wound burning like a forest-fire.
Beow stood up, hip burning, and looked at the creature on the floor with pity. He hated to watch creatures in pain and agony, but it's a killed or be killed world, and there's only so much a hafling can do. He turned away, and began to clean his wound, when he finally heard stillness behind him. He turned and found the assassin dead.
Katula's whole body was cold from the inside out, all chilled to the bone with the sickness of death. Suddenly, warmth thawed her heart, and filled her veins. Katula's lungs became full of air as she made a loud gasping noise. Beow leapt out of his skin. She was still alive!
Katula's vision cleared, and her brain began to perceive what she was seeing. The enemy. She pushed herself off the ground and slowly towered over the halfling, and smirked. The woman enjoyed the look of fear and wonder on her target's face. However, she couldn't help but wonder herself. What was that? She knew faintly of her mother's magical blood, even studying some of her spells, but she knew nothing of what just happened.
Katula's eyes had an icy rage storming about as she pulled out the dagger without showing any pain on her face, and picked up her spear. "Seems you're not the only one with magic, the other assassins probably didn't have it either, which is why they were pushovers," she said in an enchanting tone of voice. Her spear began to glow a bright shade of blue. "Impressive," the hafling replied. Katula smirked again and tossed Beow his weapon. He caught it and gave her that said, "I've only just warmed up".
Beow charged forward, glowing dagger in hand. Katula followed, and the two met, clanging weapons their weapons together. The halls exploded with a brilliant light, followed by a mighty gust of wind, shaking the whole temple, and sending dust down from the ceiling.
I can see why Balkoth couldn't kill this guy himself...She pushed harder on her spear, and managed to force Beow to take a step back. Katula then thrusted the spear forward with all her might, knocking Beow over, and jumped into the air, spear pointed down.
Beow began to sweat as he saw Katula move in slow motion. "This can't be good," he mumbled. The assassin dropped, Beow rolled, and the spear struck the earth where he lay but two seconds before. The halfling recovered, and found Katula trying to get her weapon out of the ground. He took a chance and lunged forward.
Katula saw him coming and acted quickly. Using her spear as leverage, she swung herself around and behind Beow and kicked him in the back. Beow lost his grip on the knife and lost it in his flight through the air, and he skid along the floor a few feet.
Katula laughed and pulled out her spear. "You're not so tough after all now, are you?" She walked up to the halfling and brought her spear above her head and brought it down, aiming for Beow's back. Suddenly, the hafling flipped onto his back and threw a handful of dirt into her eyes. Katula recoiled and shrieked as the bits of rock and sand scratched her eyes. Beow made a break for the Temple exit.
Making it twenty-yards, the halfling seemed hopeful, then a whooshing sound was heard, followed by the appearance of a spearhead, sticking out of his chest. The halfling fell to his knees, finally worn out. Numbness crept to his hands and through his intestines, as magic began to freeze his skin and intestines from the wound.
Katula walked over to his body, and jerked the spear out of the frozen carcass. "I promised Balkoth it would be your head. Now look what you made me go and do." She chuckled and started to tend to her wound.
With this in his mind, a plan to set forth-another wave of resistance into the marshes to the southwest was beginning to form in the little halfling's mind. A clump of glowing moss passed overhead. Beow took a right and continued down the dank and dark tunnel.
Beow was a hafling, and a born leader. He was short for his race, and wore a dark green cloak, a yellow hat on his head, and carried a reed bow and dagger. His dagger was given to him as a gift from an Elven princess long ago. Its magical properties have always helped him in the past, and hopefully will protect him in the future.
All was silent except for his own breathing and the hollow sound of his steps on the stone floor. He was just thinking of Balkoth's Brewery Trade Route when he suddenly stopped. He heard footsteps behind him. Not the usual pitter-patter of gnome scholars or dwarven warriors, no. These footsteps where heavier, much heavier even though he could detect how soft they actually were. The hafling slid into a slide corridor and waited quietly.
Katula, hidden in the shadows, turned a corner and found the hallway empty. This may become somewhat of a challenge, she thought. She had been following him for almost an hour now, and she marveled at how he was able to hear her. The Amazon woman could have snagged the hafling earlier, but due to his sharp turns, and backtracks through this underground maze, her hunger to kill would have to wait a little longer.
She slowly crept down the passageway, checking every possible route. One such corridor intrigued her. She approached with caution, watching the darkness for any signs of movement. "GOTCHA!" Beow jumped out from behind her, grabbed her, and held his dagger up to her neck. "Who are you, and who do you work for?!" The hafling said calmly, almost seeming bored. "I... have... no. Desire... to... answer... you!" the assassin spat through strained breathing.
As the last word came out, she grabbed the knife, and flung Beow over her head and onto the ground. She then leapt back and grabbed her spear, "I will tell you one thing." Katula smiled. "And what might that be?" Beow said, brushing off the dirt on his cloak. Katula almost chuckled, "I've been sent to kill you, and I will not fail." Beow sighed, sending a cloud of dust and dirt, obviously stating he missed a spot. "Fine with me, Balkoth's assassins are sent by the dozen, yet they are all inexperienced."
Katula laughed, "As true as that my be, I will not be defeated so easily." The hafling stood upright and brought out his knife and began to examine it. "Ok then, don't say I haven't warned you, but...are you sure you are on the right side?" Katula gave it a moment's thought, then decided to let it go. Seeing that Katula didn't flinch, Beow crouched low into a fighter's stance his father taught him. Katula twirled her spear in return. "Prepare to meet your doom, you blubbering rodent!" and with that, she screeched and jumped into the fight, spear drawn...
Beow saw the assassin leap towards him. He quickly blocked the spear before it could slice him in two. Katula retreated her attack and jumped backward. He's got skills...She twirled her spear above her head, and made a motion with her hand. Beow noted the sign of death the assassin had made, only a certain clan of Amazon's ever used that sign upon their prey. However honored Beow was by this rare occasion, he preferred to live and never to have seen it, then be a witness to it, let alone be the true victim.
Then, without warning, Katula's body shifted to the opposite direction then the hafling had anticipated, and whirled next to him. He had only leapt out of the way, when she made her killing blow, but instead of slicing off his head, the hafling's quick reaction caused him to receive a deep, clean gash on his side.
Beow winced as the cut burned. "This is going to leave a mark," he moaned. The hafling stood up and saw Katula preparing for another dash attack. He braced himself and gripped his dagger tightly. The assassin exploded forward and became nothing but a blur.
As the halfling gripped his dagger, time itself seemed to slow down. The dagger began to pump warmth and strength into the little hafling's body, clearing all his senses and giving him full concentration on what he was about to do.
Acting as quick as lightning, Beow ran forward to meet his opponent. This threw Katula off guard, but not as much as what the hafling did. Beow jumped downward, feet first, and slammed into Katula's knees, causing her to buckle, loose balance and fall forward. The hafling saw an opening in Katula's armor, and plunged the knife into her chest.
Katula's mouth opened for a soundless shriek, as she felt pain beyond belief pierce through her body and sear through her heart. Her body hit the ground, full on, bruising the entire length of her body. He body began to twitch and wither as the pain increased, her eyes turning grayish-white, and the dagger-wound burning like a forest-fire.
Beow stood up, hip burning, and looked at the creature on the floor with pity. He hated to watch creatures in pain and agony, but it's a killed or be killed world, and there's only so much a hafling can do. He turned away, and began to clean his wound, when he finally heard stillness behind him. He turned and found the assassin dead.
Katula's whole body was cold from the inside out, all chilled to the bone with the sickness of death. Suddenly, warmth thawed her heart, and filled her veins. Katula's lungs became full of air as she made a loud gasping noise. Beow leapt out of his skin. She was still alive!
Katula's vision cleared, and her brain began to perceive what she was seeing. The enemy. She pushed herself off the ground and slowly towered over the halfling, and smirked. The woman enjoyed the look of fear and wonder on her target's face. However, she couldn't help but wonder herself. What was that? She knew faintly of her mother's magical blood, even studying some of her spells, but she knew nothing of what just happened.
Katula's eyes had an icy rage storming about as she pulled out the dagger without showing any pain on her face, and picked up her spear. "Seems you're not the only one with magic, the other assassins probably didn't have it either, which is why they were pushovers," she said in an enchanting tone of voice. Her spear began to glow a bright shade of blue. "Impressive," the hafling replied. Katula smirked again and tossed Beow his weapon. He caught it and gave her that said, "I've only just warmed up".
Beow charged forward, glowing dagger in hand. Katula followed, and the two met, clanging weapons their weapons together. The halls exploded with a brilliant light, followed by a mighty gust of wind, shaking the whole temple, and sending dust down from the ceiling.
I can see why Balkoth couldn't kill this guy himself...She pushed harder on her spear, and managed to force Beow to take a step back. Katula then thrusted the spear forward with all her might, knocking Beow over, and jumped into the air, spear pointed down.
Beow began to sweat as he saw Katula move in slow motion. "This can't be good," he mumbled. The assassin dropped, Beow rolled, and the spear struck the earth where he lay but two seconds before. The halfling recovered, and found Katula trying to get her weapon out of the ground. He took a chance and lunged forward.
Katula saw him coming and acted quickly. Using her spear as leverage, she swung herself around and behind Beow and kicked him in the back. Beow lost his grip on the knife and lost it in his flight through the air, and he skid along the floor a few feet.
Katula laughed and pulled out her spear. "You're not so tough after all now, are you?" She walked up to the halfling and brought her spear above her head and brought it down, aiming for Beow's back. Suddenly, the hafling flipped onto his back and threw a handful of dirt into her eyes. Katula recoiled and shrieked as the bits of rock and sand scratched her eyes. Beow made a break for the Temple exit.
Making it twenty-yards, the halfling seemed hopeful, then a whooshing sound was heard, followed by the appearance of a spearhead, sticking out of his chest. The halfling fell to his knees, finally worn out. Numbness crept to his hands and through his intestines, as magic began to freeze his skin and intestines from the wound.
Katula walked over to his body, and jerked the spear out of the frozen carcass. "I promised Balkoth it would be your head. Now look what you made me go and do." She chuckled and started to tend to her wound.
