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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 2144954" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Drinking Deeply from the Chalice of Midnight - Part 4c: The Library</strong></p><p></p><p>“Vlad,” said Quintus, his eyes scanning the darkness, “listen to me.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad was curled up in a ball behind him, whimpering.</p><p></p><p>Somewhere in the pitch black beyond Quintus’ line of sight, the mastiff paced back and forth, growling softly. The lights had dimmed, swirling into a misty gray nearest him and blackest night in the far corners of the library. </p><p></p><p>“Vlad,” said Quintus, his tone steady, spear before him, “you’ve got to snap out of it. I don’t know how long I can keep this thing at bay…”</p><p></p><p>White jaws appeared out of the darkness and snapped at the tip of the longspear. Quintus positioned himself between two shelves so that the mastiff would have to pass him to get to Vlad.</p><p></p><p>“Vlad,” said Quintus more sternly, “GET. UP.”</p><p></p><p>There was a long, low growl. Then suddenly, a shape blur into motion through the air.</p><p></p><p>Quintus leaned backwards and lifted his spear. The mastiff’s low growl became a high-pitched yelp as the longspear pierced its abdomen. The weight of its attack nearly wrenched the spear from Quintus’s hands.</p><p></p><p>It kept coming.</p><p></p><p>Quintus dropped his shield as the mastiff barked and snarled, slowly forcing its way up the spear. He scrabbled backwards, struggling to reach for his gladius as the white jaws snapped ever closer. He could smell rotting meat on the mastiff’s breath.</p><p></p><p>And then it was dead. Its head landed on Quintus’ thigh, almost as if it was a lap dog nuzzling its master for affection.</p><p></p><p>The legionnaire scrabbled to his feet and yanked the speared out of the corpse. “Vlad,” he said, “it’s dead. Now get up.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad peeked out from between his fingers. “It is? Are you sure?”</p><p></p><p>“Illiir’s light man, yes it’s dead!” said Quintus. He cleared a path free of books and bookshelves opposite the only way out. “What’s wrong with you?”</p><p></p><p>“I…I don’t know what happened,” said Vlad.</p><p></p><p>Quintus raised his spear and then charged into the door, gouging a great furrow of wood out of one side. “I’ve never seen you like this.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad rose to his feet. He put one hand out to steady himself against a bookshelf. He was drenched in sweat. “I’ve never been afraid of dogs before.” </p><p></p><p>“We are in a strange place,” said Quintus, slamming his spear into the door again. “Who knows what effect it has on any of us.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad unsheathed his sword. “It didn’t affect you.”</p><p></p><p>Quintus speared the door again. “No, it did not. But I tell you what: if you help me break this door down, I will never speak of it again.”</p><p></p><p>“You swear?”</p><p></p><p>“You have my word as a legionnaire,” said Quintus solemnly.</p><p></p><p>Vlad nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped over to the door. “Let me try it.”</p><p></p><p>The warrior wrapped two hands around his longsword. He took two practice swings with the blade. Then, focusing all his fear and rage, he hit the top hinge of the door with all his might.</p><p></p><p>It fell down with a horrendous thud, spreading dust, books, and splinters everywhere. </p><p></p><p>Vlad put one foot on the defeated door. He turned to smile at Quintus.</p><p></p><p>Quintus was looking over Quintus’ shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Vlad turned to look past the doorway. Five pairs of feline pupils glared back at him.</p><p></p><p>“Oh crap,” said Vlad.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 2144954, member: 3285"] [b]Drinking Deeply from the Chalice of Midnight - Part 4c: The Library[/b] “Vlad,” said Quintus, his eyes scanning the darkness, “listen to me.” Vlad was curled up in a ball behind him, whimpering. Somewhere in the pitch black beyond Quintus’ line of sight, the mastiff paced back and forth, growling softly. The lights had dimmed, swirling into a misty gray nearest him and blackest night in the far corners of the library. “Vlad,” said Quintus, his tone steady, spear before him, “you’ve got to snap out of it. I don’t know how long I can keep this thing at bay…” White jaws appeared out of the darkness and snapped at the tip of the longspear. Quintus positioned himself between two shelves so that the mastiff would have to pass him to get to Vlad. “Vlad,” said Quintus more sternly, “GET. UP.” There was a long, low growl. Then suddenly, a shape blur into motion through the air. Quintus leaned backwards and lifted his spear. The mastiff’s low growl became a high-pitched yelp as the longspear pierced its abdomen. The weight of its attack nearly wrenched the spear from Quintus’s hands. It kept coming. Quintus dropped his shield as the mastiff barked and snarled, slowly forcing its way up the spear. He scrabbled backwards, struggling to reach for his gladius as the white jaws snapped ever closer. He could smell rotting meat on the mastiff’s breath. And then it was dead. Its head landed on Quintus’ thigh, almost as if it was a lap dog nuzzling its master for affection. The legionnaire scrabbled to his feet and yanked the speared out of the corpse. “Vlad,” he said, “it’s dead. Now get up.” Vlad peeked out from between his fingers. “It is? Are you sure?” “Illiir’s light man, yes it’s dead!” said Quintus. He cleared a path free of books and bookshelves opposite the only way out. “What’s wrong with you?” “I…I don’t know what happened,” said Vlad. Quintus raised his spear and then charged into the door, gouging a great furrow of wood out of one side. “I’ve never seen you like this.” Vlad rose to his feet. He put one hand out to steady himself against a bookshelf. He was drenched in sweat. “I’ve never been afraid of dogs before.” “We are in a strange place,” said Quintus, slamming his spear into the door again. “Who knows what effect it has on any of us.” Vlad unsheathed his sword. “It didn’t affect you.” Quintus speared the door again. “No, it did not. But I tell you what: if you help me break this door down, I will never speak of it again.” “You swear?” “You have my word as a legionnaire,” said Quintus solemnly. Vlad nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped over to the door. “Let me try it.” The warrior wrapped two hands around his longsword. He took two practice swings with the blade. Then, focusing all his fear and rage, he hit the top hinge of the door with all his might. It fell down with a horrendous thud, spreading dust, books, and splinters everywhere. Vlad put one foot on the defeated door. He turned to smile at Quintus. Quintus was looking over Quintus’ shoulder. Vlad turned to look past the doorway. Five pairs of feline pupils glared back at him. “Oh crap,” said Vlad. [/QUOTE]
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