Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Into the Icy Darkness: The Great Demon War
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1384489" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>Of Trickery, and Death Strikes Close to our Heroes</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Why is Quin still sitting with a gorgeous young lass like that. Everyone knows I got the good looks in the family... why would she be interested in him? Tess thought as she glanced around the tavern.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Something’s up.</em></p><p></p><p>Ass eh strode into the tavern, she instinctively turned right, towards the corner of the bar where she could still clearly see Quin sitting, and the top part of the young woman’s head poking above the chair. More alarmingly, Tess can clearly see Quin’s eyes.</p><p></p><p>They are unfocused, staring blindly towards the woman’s chest. They had the unblinking, unblocked stare that only something beyond normal physical attraction could cause.</p><p></p><p><em>Thats DEFINITELY not Quin</em> Tess worried. <em>He might not be the most diplomatic person, but he has at least SOME of the Keldare family suaveness!</em> Tess decided that her curiosity needed sating, and she casually, but directly, wandered over towards the table.</p><p></p><p><em>She’s done something to him,</em> Tess’ mind raced, <em>but what? And why?</em> Tess saw her brother look up as she drew just behind the woman, and breathed a sigh of relief that his brain hadn’t been melded or anything.</p><p></p><p>“Quin?” she asked purposefully loud enough for the woman to hear, “I need to talk to you for a second.. Pardon me, miss, I am Quin’s sister, I just need to take him away from you for a minute,” she quickly explained to the young woman who now looked up at her. The woman’s face seemed to have been cut from the most beautiful marble, her lips were full and pouty, and the slighlty pointed ears of a half elf peeked out from behind her long dark locks of hair. Most startling were her eyes.... an unnatural shade of lavender danced around the pupils, and Tess found herself easily being drawn into them before she broke off her gaze to look again at Quin.</p><p></p><p>“Tess! C’mon! Now? Me and Saeunn were just getting to know each other!” he complained loudly. The woman looked up at Tess, and her eyes widened a bit. Tess didn’t have to look behind her to confirm her sense that Siabrey was suddenly right there as well.</p><p></p><p>“Ah Tess! Your brother has told me so many things about you and your skills with a harp! Are you sure he must leave now?” She leaned close to Tess, and gave a conspiratorial grin, her face blushing deeply. “He is a very handsome man... there aren’t too many of them at my school that are interested in me,” she said in a seductive whisper, pure sounding as autumn leaves blowing in the wind. “He’s quite charming,” she giggled, glancing towards him from the corner of her eye. Tess didn’t need to guess hard at Quin’s reaction.</p><p></p><p><em>A man would have to be either mad, or into other men to keep his hands off of you!</em> Tess thought about exclaiming. <em>There’s something wrong with you if the men at your school want nothing to do with you!</em> Just barely above the noises of the bar, she heard Siabrey’s whisper that the woman dripped of magic.</p><p></p><p>“You said you went to school?” Tess fished for more information, “what type of schooling are you into?” <em>You know magic... explain that away.</em></p><p></p><p>“I attend the local mage’s academy. There aren’t many men of Quin’s... looks or virility around, and my mother always taught me to take advantage of opportunities!”</p><p></p><p><em>A mage’s guild, eh? If your beauteous form ever set foot in such a guild full of horny, sexual frustrated males, they would take every opportunity they could get to satisfy your every want, my dear! Your story has more and more holes in it!</em></p><p></p><p>“True, my friend. What kinds of magic are you interested in?” Tess asked innocently. Siabrey still stood aloof, but well in striking distance, as Quin became noticeably more miffed. “I myself do musical magic.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh! How wonderful! I myself am interested in evocations and enchantments,” the woman said happily. She once again leaned close to Tess, her face turning beet red, “I find that sometimes they can get men to pay attention to me a little, at least.”</p><p></p><p><em>Too happily,</em> Tess’ mind warned. <em>You only need a low cut shirt and a short skirt to get their attention, dear.</em></p><p></p><p>“Well, Saeunn, is it? I am afraid I must take my brother away from you for a few minutes... I need to discuss some family business with him. I promise you,” she said at the woman’s pouting face, “I’ll bring him right back, and ask no more questions.” </p><p></p><p>Even as Tess gave her a disarming wink, her mind worked overtime... <em>Does this woman want something with Quin? Does she want him for information? She has the beauty to clearly not need magic to attract males... something is amiss... Maybe he’s eyes are glazed from examining your assets, maybe you did cast a mild enchantment to get his attention... I need to know for sure.</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“Dammit Tess!” Quin snarled when they reached the room the party had reserved for the night upstairs. “Why did you have to interrupt me like that!? That woman was gorgeous, <em>delicious</em>, and you had to interrupt! Now she likely won’t...” </p><p></p><p>“Quin,” Tess raised her hand calmingly, “I’m worried about you. Are you alright?” A look at his eyes showed they were still glazed, and he had a hard time focusing on anyone.</p><p></p><p>“I’m fine... I was doing excellent till you broke up my first chance in three months to possibly get a little mojo going... with the most gorgeous girl in this half of the province at that! Dammit Tess!”</p><p></p><p><em>His eyes... they’re still glazed. He wasn’t being merely a male... she cast a spell of some kind on him. Its not blind mind control,</em> she thought, as Quin’s rant about his meddlesome sister continued, <em>he’s coming up with these arguments on his own... ‘charm,’ perhaps?</em></p><p></p><p>“...and her figure is purrfect, Tess! You hear me!? And you had to trapeze up and try to ruin things because you aren’t getting any yourself!”</p><p></p><p>“What?!” Tess snapped, “Is that why you think I did what I did!? Quin, I love you, and I want to make sure you’re safe!”</p><p></p><p>“I’m plenty safe, as long as you aren’t around to keep my best friend from being let out of his lair!” Quin snarled before turning towards the door. </p><p></p><p>“Fine,” Tess said, feigning nonchalance. “Have a good time, my dear... remember the alchemists shop!” Quin waved his hand dismissively, and she heard him thundering down the stairs, two stairs at a time in his eagerness to get back.</p><p></p><p>“Tess!” Siabrey hissed from her hiding place behind the door that she’d taken before Quin arrived, “You’re just going to <em>let</em> him go back down there?!”</p><p></p><p>“Sounds like a <em>charm</em> spell to me,” Tess said quietly, nodding to Lucius who was hiding under the bed, “and no, I’m going back down to get some ‘dinner.’ Stay up here. If you hear any unusual noises, come down with weapons drawn.”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey nodded, adding, “when they come up here, I’ll have my ear to their door. If I hear any shouts of any kind, I’m breaking in.”</p><p></p><p>Lucius looked like he might have wanted to correct her for a brief moment, but stayed quiet as Tess left the room. </p><p></p><p>Tess ambled down the stairs and reemerged in the tavern portion of the inn. To her chagrin, several patrons whistled at her. In return they recieved a harsh stare that frightened them into quietness as she went up to the bar and asked for a small dish.</p><p></p><p><em>Now, my dear Quin,</em> her mind ambled as she looked sideways at him and his friend, <em>lets see whats going on between you cuties.</em></p><p></p><p>She immediately noticed that Quin and Saeunn, <em>If thats her real name anyways,</em> her mind corrected, were now on the same side of the table. Oblivious to anyone else, they were wrapped in a tight embrace, her sitting on his lap, her arms lazily wrapped around his neck as she kissed him....</p><p></p><p>... and boils formed on his skin. More and more each time their lips touched, and it was apparent his mind was too wrapped up in what was to come to notice the festering sores growing all over his body.</p><p></p><p><em>What the..</em> her mind cried, as in a flash she had left the bar and had stormed over towards where the couple was sitting.</p><p></p><p>“QUIN!” she shouted, and he lazily turned around to catch her gaze. Patrons stared, and some made idle jokes about an impending lover’s quarrel.</p><p></p><p>“Go away Tess!” he burbled, his sickening body pushing out spittle as he talked. Saeunn’s eyes flickered up towards Tess, and a smile crossed those gorgeous lips of hers.</p><p></p><p>“Listen to your brother, Tess,” she said quietly, her voice the same, quiet seductive tone, “leave us in peace.”</p><p></p><p>“NO!” Tess shouted, grabbing Quin by the shoulder to drag him out from under her. As he lurched sideways under her pull, Saeunn produced a black rose, and scraped his arm with one of its thorns. Out of Quin’s throat came a sickening gurgle, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his limp frame collapsed halfway on the floor, landing with a dull thud.</p><p></p><p>“You bitch!” Tess snarled, and her voice rose in an alarming, devastating songstrike, filled with rage and anger at the woman. Saeunn wobbled under the assault, but was quickly on the table, backing nimbly away from Tess’ fury, and within seconds a heavy crossbow, already loaded, appeared from her hip into her hands. With nary a word save laughter, she aimed and fired the bolt into Tess at pointblank range. The bard reeled under the blow, as she felt acid eating around the wound, burning her shoulder severely.</p><p></p><p>Lucius and Siabrey, meanwhile, had heard the commotion upstairs, and by now had stormed down the stairwell, only to be greeted by a sight that horrified them; the woman, now on top of the table, was still holding the crossbow as Tess staggered before their eyes, a bolt in her shoulders. Both of Tess’ friends immediately stormed forward as other patrons screeched out of the bar in panic.</p><p></p><p>Grumki, from his position at the bar, dropped the mug of ale he had previously been holding, and thundered towards the woman, his warhammer above his head. Siabrey immediately rushed forward, jumping over tables and chairs towards the woman, who was now fleeing towards a back window. She halted, and drew her longbow, firing two arrows at the woman just before she began her leap.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Lucius chased for a few steps, before stopping, and holding out his hands, and five missiles of light slammed into the woman as she broke through the window and disappeared into the dark streets of Obash...</p><p></p><p>Almost immediately, the party was clambering through the window as well, as patrons ran screaming out of the bar. Tess was the first through, and her rage filled eyes couldn’t see anyone, save scared commoners, in the streets. IN front of her were several shops, with barrels and boxes stacked outside, leftover from previous shipments of goods. The street ran from right to left, as above the stars looked down upon her plight from on high.</p><p></p><p><em>Where the hell did she go? That little bitch! Hurting my brother! Coward!</em></p><p></p><p>“Come out and fight me, you bitch!” Tess snarled. <em>Quinnie is ok. She just knocked him out. He’s fine! He’ll be fine, Tess!</em> her mind tried to control itself. <em>Focus... that little cur is out her somewhere!</em> “Come out and fight me, you little cur! Wench that strikes from darkness! You are nothing but a barwench with a crossbow, bitch!” Tess’ rage grew to frightening heights.</p><p></p><p>“You’ll have to live to catch me first!” a seemingly distant voice echoed among the buildings. Tess’s head bobbed around like the rest of the party, searching for the source of the noise, before the source found her. Another heavy crossbow bolt slammed into Tess’ stomach. While her body reeled and quailed in pain, her mind commanded clarity and control. Tess had changed... rage had transformed her into an acute, calculating machine.</p><p></p><p><em>The bolt... its coming out of my belly at an angle. I was facing the shop directly in front when I was hit... therefore, she must be...</em></p><p></p><p>Tess painfully swung her body around, and caught a momentary glimpse of a figure dashing from behind some barrels... enough that she cued her voice, rife with anger, grief and worry. It rose sharply in the air, reaching its highest, most dangerous pitch... and Tess was rewarded as a heavy, wet sound echoed up and down the streets as the woman’s head splattered the wall opposite the party, her songstrike devastatingly effective. Her body worn and worried, she almost collapse from the pain, Lucius and Siabrey catching her. A crowd of gawkers was already gathering, and Lucius, displaying his noble crest, was attempting to disperse them with one hand while supporting Tess with the other.</p><p></p><p>“Are you ok, Tess?” Grumki asked, looking at his friend with concern, striding up to her. “I should pull those arrows out and repair the...”</p><p></p><p>“See to my brother!” Tess said quietly. It was no stentorian call, nor was it a shout of bravado... it carried with it only the weight of a pained, frightened sister, and with that mass moved Grumki to dash into the tavern, now devoid of patrons. Tess painfully pulled herself up, and slowly, carefully made her way forward without the help of Lucius and Siabrey. As the two watched with worry and sadness, they heard Grumki call the horrific news from within the tavern...</p><p></p><p>”Quin is dead.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1384489, member: 15043"] [b]Of Trickery, and Death Strikes Close to our Heroes[/b] [i]Why is Quin still sitting with a gorgeous young lass like that. Everyone knows I got the good looks in the family... why would she be interested in him? Tess thought as she glanced around the tavern. Something’s up.[/i] Ass eh strode into the tavern, she instinctively turned right, towards the corner of the bar where she could still clearly see Quin sitting, and the top part of the young woman’s head poking above the chair. More alarmingly, Tess can clearly see Quin’s eyes. They are unfocused, staring blindly towards the woman’s chest. They had the unblinking, unblocked stare that only something beyond normal physical attraction could cause. [i]Thats DEFINITELY not Quin[/i] Tess worried. [i]He might not be the most diplomatic person, but he has at least SOME of the Keldare family suaveness![/i] Tess decided that her curiosity needed sating, and she casually, but directly, wandered over towards the table. [i]She’s done something to him,[/i] Tess’ mind raced, [i]but what? And why?[/i] Tess saw her brother look up as she drew just behind the woman, and breathed a sigh of relief that his brain hadn’t been melded or anything. “Quin?” she asked purposefully loud enough for the woman to hear, “I need to talk to you for a second.. Pardon me, miss, I am Quin’s sister, I just need to take him away from you for a minute,” she quickly explained to the young woman who now looked up at her. The woman’s face seemed to have been cut from the most beautiful marble, her lips were full and pouty, and the slighlty pointed ears of a half elf peeked out from behind her long dark locks of hair. Most startling were her eyes.... an unnatural shade of lavender danced around the pupils, and Tess found herself easily being drawn into them before she broke off her gaze to look again at Quin. “Tess! C’mon! Now? Me and Saeunn were just getting to know each other!” he complained loudly. The woman looked up at Tess, and her eyes widened a bit. Tess didn’t have to look behind her to confirm her sense that Siabrey was suddenly right there as well. “Ah Tess! Your brother has told me so many things about you and your skills with a harp! Are you sure he must leave now?” She leaned close to Tess, and gave a conspiratorial grin, her face blushing deeply. “He is a very handsome man... there aren’t too many of them at my school that are interested in me,” she said in a seductive whisper, pure sounding as autumn leaves blowing in the wind. “He’s quite charming,” she giggled, glancing towards him from the corner of her eye. Tess didn’t need to guess hard at Quin’s reaction. [i]A man would have to be either mad, or into other men to keep his hands off of you![/i] Tess thought about exclaiming. [i]There’s something wrong with you if the men at your school want nothing to do with you![/i] Just barely above the noises of the bar, she heard Siabrey’s whisper that the woman dripped of magic. “You said you went to school?” Tess fished for more information, “what type of schooling are you into?” [i]You know magic... explain that away.[/i] “I attend the local mage’s academy. There aren’t many men of Quin’s... looks or virility around, and my mother always taught me to take advantage of opportunities!” [i]A mage’s guild, eh? If your beauteous form ever set foot in such a guild full of horny, sexual frustrated males, they would take every opportunity they could get to satisfy your every want, my dear! Your story has more and more holes in it![/i] “True, my friend. What kinds of magic are you interested in?” Tess asked innocently. Siabrey still stood aloof, but well in striking distance, as Quin became noticeably more miffed. “I myself do musical magic.” “Oh! How wonderful! I myself am interested in evocations and enchantments,” the woman said happily. She once again leaned close to Tess, her face turning beet red, “I find that sometimes they can get men to pay attention to me a little, at least.” [i]Too happily,[/i] Tess’ mind warned. [i]You only need a low cut shirt and a short skirt to get their attention, dear.[/i] “Well, Saeunn, is it? I am afraid I must take my brother away from you for a few minutes... I need to discuss some family business with him. I promise you,” she said at the woman’s pouting face, “I’ll bring him right back, and ask no more questions.” Even as Tess gave her a disarming wink, her mind worked overtime... [i]Does this woman want something with Quin? Does she want him for information? She has the beauty to clearly not need magic to attract males... something is amiss... Maybe he’s eyes are glazed from examining your assets, maybe you did cast a mild enchantment to get his attention... I need to know for sure.[/i] “Dammit Tess!” Quin snarled when they reached the room the party had reserved for the night upstairs. “Why did you have to interrupt me like that!? That woman was gorgeous, [i]delicious[/i], and you had to interrupt! Now she likely won’t...” “Quin,” Tess raised her hand calmingly, “I’m worried about you. Are you alright?” A look at his eyes showed they were still glazed, and he had a hard time focusing on anyone. “I’m fine... I was doing excellent till you broke up my first chance in three months to possibly get a little mojo going... with the most gorgeous girl in this half of the province at that! Dammit Tess!” [i]His eyes... they’re still glazed. He wasn’t being merely a male... she cast a spell of some kind on him. Its not blind mind control,[/i] she thought, as Quin’s rant about his meddlesome sister continued, [i]he’s coming up with these arguments on his own... ‘charm,’ perhaps?[/i] “...and her figure is purrfect, Tess! You hear me!? And you had to trapeze up and try to ruin things because you aren’t getting any yourself!” “What?!” Tess snapped, “Is that why you think I did what I did!? Quin, I love you, and I want to make sure you’re safe!” “I’m plenty safe, as long as you aren’t around to keep my best friend from being let out of his lair!” Quin snarled before turning towards the door. “Fine,” Tess said, feigning nonchalance. “Have a good time, my dear... remember the alchemists shop!” Quin waved his hand dismissively, and she heard him thundering down the stairs, two stairs at a time in his eagerness to get back. “Tess!” Siabrey hissed from her hiding place behind the door that she’d taken before Quin arrived, “You’re just going to [i]let[/i] him go back down there?!” “Sounds like a [i]charm[/i] spell to me,” Tess said quietly, nodding to Lucius who was hiding under the bed, “and no, I’m going back down to get some ‘dinner.’ Stay up here. If you hear any unusual noises, come down with weapons drawn.” Siabrey nodded, adding, “when they come up here, I’ll have my ear to their door. If I hear any shouts of any kind, I’m breaking in.” Lucius looked like he might have wanted to correct her for a brief moment, but stayed quiet as Tess left the room. Tess ambled down the stairs and reemerged in the tavern portion of the inn. To her chagrin, several patrons whistled at her. In return they recieved a harsh stare that frightened them into quietness as she went up to the bar and asked for a small dish. [i]Now, my dear Quin,[/i] her mind ambled as she looked sideways at him and his friend, [i]lets see whats going on between you cuties.[/i] She immediately noticed that Quin and Saeunn, [i]If thats her real name anyways,[/i] her mind corrected, were now on the same side of the table. Oblivious to anyone else, they were wrapped in a tight embrace, her sitting on his lap, her arms lazily wrapped around his neck as she kissed him.... ... and boils formed on his skin. More and more each time their lips touched, and it was apparent his mind was too wrapped up in what was to come to notice the festering sores growing all over his body. [i]What the..[/i] her mind cried, as in a flash she had left the bar and had stormed over towards where the couple was sitting. “QUIN!” she shouted, and he lazily turned around to catch her gaze. Patrons stared, and some made idle jokes about an impending lover’s quarrel. “Go away Tess!” he burbled, his sickening body pushing out spittle as he talked. Saeunn’s eyes flickered up towards Tess, and a smile crossed those gorgeous lips of hers. “Listen to your brother, Tess,” she said quietly, her voice the same, quiet seductive tone, “leave us in peace.” “NO!” Tess shouted, grabbing Quin by the shoulder to drag him out from under her. As he lurched sideways under her pull, Saeunn produced a black rose, and scraped his arm with one of its thorns. Out of Quin’s throat came a sickening gurgle, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his limp frame collapsed halfway on the floor, landing with a dull thud. “You bitch!” Tess snarled, and her voice rose in an alarming, devastating songstrike, filled with rage and anger at the woman. Saeunn wobbled under the assault, but was quickly on the table, backing nimbly away from Tess’ fury, and within seconds a heavy crossbow, already loaded, appeared from her hip into her hands. With nary a word save laughter, she aimed and fired the bolt into Tess at pointblank range. The bard reeled under the blow, as she felt acid eating around the wound, burning her shoulder severely. Lucius and Siabrey, meanwhile, had heard the commotion upstairs, and by now had stormed down the stairwell, only to be greeted by a sight that horrified them; the woman, now on top of the table, was still holding the crossbow as Tess staggered before their eyes, a bolt in her shoulders. Both of Tess’ friends immediately stormed forward as other patrons screeched out of the bar in panic. Grumki, from his position at the bar, dropped the mug of ale he had previously been holding, and thundered towards the woman, his warhammer above his head. Siabrey immediately rushed forward, jumping over tables and chairs towards the woman, who was now fleeing towards a back window. She halted, and drew her longbow, firing two arrows at the woman just before she began her leap. Lucius chased for a few steps, before stopping, and holding out his hands, and five missiles of light slammed into the woman as she broke through the window and disappeared into the dark streets of Obash... Almost immediately, the party was clambering through the window as well, as patrons ran screaming out of the bar. Tess was the first through, and her rage filled eyes couldn’t see anyone, save scared commoners, in the streets. IN front of her were several shops, with barrels and boxes stacked outside, leftover from previous shipments of goods. The street ran from right to left, as above the stars looked down upon her plight from on high. [i]Where the hell did she go? That little bitch! Hurting my brother! Coward![/i] “Come out and fight me, you bitch!” Tess snarled. [i]Quinnie is ok. She just knocked him out. He’s fine! He’ll be fine, Tess![/i] her mind tried to control itself. [i]Focus... that little cur is out her somewhere![/i] “Come out and fight me, you little cur! Wench that strikes from darkness! You are nothing but a barwench with a crossbow, bitch!” Tess’ rage grew to frightening heights. “You’ll have to live to catch me first!” a seemingly distant voice echoed among the buildings. Tess’s head bobbed around like the rest of the party, searching for the source of the noise, before the source found her. Another heavy crossbow bolt slammed into Tess’ stomach. While her body reeled and quailed in pain, her mind commanded clarity and control. Tess had changed... rage had transformed her into an acute, calculating machine. [i]The bolt... its coming out of my belly at an angle. I was facing the shop directly in front when I was hit... therefore, she must be...[/i] Tess painfully swung her body around, and caught a momentary glimpse of a figure dashing from behind some barrels... enough that she cued her voice, rife with anger, grief and worry. It rose sharply in the air, reaching its highest, most dangerous pitch... and Tess was rewarded as a heavy, wet sound echoed up and down the streets as the woman’s head splattered the wall opposite the party, her songstrike devastatingly effective. Her body worn and worried, she almost collapse from the pain, Lucius and Siabrey catching her. A crowd of gawkers was already gathering, and Lucius, displaying his noble crest, was attempting to disperse them with one hand while supporting Tess with the other. “Are you ok, Tess?” Grumki asked, looking at his friend with concern, striding up to her. “I should pull those arrows out and repair the...” “See to my brother!” Tess said quietly. It was no stentorian call, nor was it a shout of bravado... it carried with it only the weight of a pained, frightened sister, and with that mass moved Grumki to dash into the tavern, now devoid of patrons. Tess painfully pulled herself up, and slowly, carefully made her way forward without the help of Lucius and Siabrey. As the two watched with worry and sadness, they heard Grumki call the horrific news from within the tavern... ”Quin is dead.” [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Into the Icy Darkness: The Great Demon War
Top