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Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7112282" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 33</p><p></p><p>Quellan swung his mace at the wererat, but the creature ducked nimbly under the attack and dove forward across the campfire at Glori. She flinched back but managed to draw her bow and release her arrow. The shot struck Orin in the torso but did nothing to slow his violent rush; he landed next to her and let out a high-pitched shriek as he lifted his dagger to strike.</p><p></p><p>Before Orin could stab her, however, Bredan swept his sword into his torso. The heavy blade caught him solidly and launched him back across the campfire. He was flung into the rocks and rolled to a heap a good five steps away.</p><p></p><p>Bredan started to lower his sword—nobody could have survived a hit like that—but Kosk yelled, “We’re not done yet!”</p><p></p><p>Bredan looked at his victim and was startled to see the wererat spring back up to his feet, none the worse for wear. The creature darted back nimbly as Kosk lunged at him with his staff, mocking him with another series of cackles as the blows missed. Not that they would have done anything even if they’d hit, Bredan thought, not after the way he’d shrugged off that hit from his sword.</p><p></p><p>Kosk shifted tactics and tried to grapple the creature, but Orin sprang clear of his grasp and leapt back toward Bredan and Glori. The smith stepped in front of the bard, trying to think of something he could do that would have a chance of affecting this foe. He finally fell back on the sword, trying to knock the wererat into the fire. But again the creature just shrugged off the blow, bouncing up and snapping his jaws around Bredan’s forearm.</p><p></p><p>“Ahh!” Bredan yelled. He tried to shake the wererat loose, but he held on tenaciously. In the meantime Orin kept stabbing with his knife, but the heavy chainmail proved its value as it absorbed the hits without harm. The creature hissed through his clutch on Bredan’s arm and tried to clamber up onto the smith's struggling body to get within reach of his face.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly the wererat stiffened and let out a hiss of pain. He released his jaws and fell clear. Bredan could see Glori there; she’d used her lyre as a weapon, pressing the silver against the creature’s hide. Orin snarled and lunged at her.</p><p></p><p>A beam of soft light struck the wererat. It came from Quellan’s holy symbol, which the cleric had held out like a divine talisman. The pale radiance sparkled and did no harm as it brushed over Bredan and Glori, but the creature screamed and fell back as if scorched by fire. The glow continued to shine around Orin as he stumbled back to the edge of the camp. Kosk and Bredan started to follow, but the wererat sprang away from them into the rocks. He flung his cloak over his body. The dwarf and smith reached the spot fairly quickly, but all they found was an empty garment, and angry squeaks that were already fading into the night.</p><p></p><p>“What… what was that <em>thing</em>?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“Wererat,” Kosk said. “A lycanthrope… a magical combination of man and beast. Dangerous… and cursed.” He looked meaningfully at Bredan’s arm.</p><p></p><p>Glori and Quellan came running up to join them. “Did it bite you?” the bard asked.</p><p></p><p>Bredan held up his arm. Quellan examined it, and they were all relieved to find that while his bracer bore fresh marks from the creature’s teeth, they had apparently failed to break his skin.</p><p></p><p>“You were lucky,” Kosk said. “Such things can sometimes pass on their curse by biting or scratching their victims.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan shuddered. “Do you think it’ll come back?”</p><p></p><p>Kosk shrugged. “They’re cowardly like rats. They can only be hurt with silver and magic, and we’ve proven we have both, so maybe it will keep running.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan stared out into the darkness, hardly reassured.</p><p></p><p>As they made their way back to the reassuring light and warmth of the fire Glori turned to Quellan and asked, “What was that you cast at it?”</p><p></p><p>“The spell is called <em>guiding bolt</em>. It’s not that complicated, just channels a bit of divine energy into a radiant effect.”</p><p></p><p>“Good thing for us Hosrenu responded to your call,” she said.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7112282, member: 143"] Chapter 33 Quellan swung his mace at the wererat, but the creature ducked nimbly under the attack and dove forward across the campfire at Glori. She flinched back but managed to draw her bow and release her arrow. The shot struck Orin in the torso but did nothing to slow his violent rush; he landed next to her and let out a high-pitched shriek as he lifted his dagger to strike. Before Orin could stab her, however, Bredan swept his sword into his torso. The heavy blade caught him solidly and launched him back across the campfire. He was flung into the rocks and rolled to a heap a good five steps away. Bredan started to lower his sword—nobody could have survived a hit like that—but Kosk yelled, “We’re not done yet!” Bredan looked at his victim and was startled to see the wererat spring back up to his feet, none the worse for wear. The creature darted back nimbly as Kosk lunged at him with his staff, mocking him with another series of cackles as the blows missed. Not that they would have done anything even if they’d hit, Bredan thought, not after the way he’d shrugged off that hit from his sword. Kosk shifted tactics and tried to grapple the creature, but Orin sprang clear of his grasp and leapt back toward Bredan and Glori. The smith stepped in front of the bard, trying to think of something he could do that would have a chance of affecting this foe. He finally fell back on the sword, trying to knock the wererat into the fire. But again the creature just shrugged off the blow, bouncing up and snapping his jaws around Bredan’s forearm. “Ahh!” Bredan yelled. He tried to shake the wererat loose, but he held on tenaciously. In the meantime Orin kept stabbing with his knife, but the heavy chainmail proved its value as it absorbed the hits without harm. The creature hissed through his clutch on Bredan’s arm and tried to clamber up onto the smith's struggling body to get within reach of his face. Suddenly the wererat stiffened and let out a hiss of pain. He released his jaws and fell clear. Bredan could see Glori there; she’d used her lyre as a weapon, pressing the silver against the creature’s hide. Orin snarled and lunged at her. A beam of soft light struck the wererat. It came from Quellan’s holy symbol, which the cleric had held out like a divine talisman. The pale radiance sparkled and did no harm as it brushed over Bredan and Glori, but the creature screamed and fell back as if scorched by fire. The glow continued to shine around Orin as he stumbled back to the edge of the camp. Kosk and Bredan started to follow, but the wererat sprang away from them into the rocks. He flung his cloak over his body. The dwarf and smith reached the spot fairly quickly, but all they found was an empty garment, and angry squeaks that were already fading into the night. “What… what was that [i]thing[/i]?” Bredan asked. “Wererat,” Kosk said. “A lycanthrope… a magical combination of man and beast. Dangerous… and cursed.” He looked meaningfully at Bredan’s arm. Glori and Quellan came running up to join them. “Did it bite you?” the bard asked. Bredan held up his arm. Quellan examined it, and they were all relieved to find that while his bracer bore fresh marks from the creature’s teeth, they had apparently failed to break his skin. “You were lucky,” Kosk said. “Such things can sometimes pass on their curse by biting or scratching their victims.” Bredan shuddered. “Do you think it’ll come back?” Kosk shrugged. “They’re cowardly like rats. They can only be hurt with silver and magic, and we’ve proven we have both, so maybe it will keep running.” Bredan stared out into the darkness, hardly reassured. As they made their way back to the reassuring light and warmth of the fire Glori turned to Quellan and asked, “What was that you cast at it?” “The spell is called [i]guiding bolt[/i]. It’s not that complicated, just channels a bit of divine energy into a radiant effect.” “Good thing for us Hosrenu responded to your call,” she said. [/QUOTE]
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