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Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1010358" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 10</p><p></p><p>Zenna cried out in surprise as a dark form hurtled down from above. Ruphos didn’t even sense it before it slammed hard into him, knocking him sprawling roughly to the floor. The attacker sprang quickly to its feet before Zenna, who drew back in astonishment.</p><p></p><p>The light that filtered into the room through the narrow windows wasn’t sufficient to clearly distinguish the newcomer. It was a man-sized humanoid figure, apparently naked save for a web-belt that supported a light crossbow and a scabbard for the rapier that it carried at the ready. It was strange enough that it appeared to lack gender, without any obvious sex organs. But its flesh—its body was a mottled, gray color that seemed to ripple with dark striations <em>within</em> the skin, causing it to blend unnaturally with its surroundings. Its face was a stunted, ugly caricature of a human’s, his eyes a stark blue and without pupils, its mouth twisted with a snarl as it lunged at Zenna. </p><p></p><p>The startled wizard tried to call upon the words of a spell, but she managed only a single syllable before the creature lashed out with its rapier, smashing the hilt across her face. Blood exploded from her shattered nose and she crumpled, unconscious. </p><p></p><p>“Zenna!” Ruphos cried, clutching at his the mace at his belt as he tried to get up from where he had fallen. His cloak caught on one of the nearby chests, however, and he stumbled, landing awkwardly on his hip. </p><p></p><p>The skulk looked at him with an expression that could only be described as unmitigated hatred, and hefted its rapier as it stepped toward him. It turned, though, as the curtain flew open, revealing two hundred pounds of dwarven fury hurtling at full speed toward it. </p><p></p><p>The skulk tried to dodge out of the way of the charging dwarf. It moved swiftly and nimbly, but not nimbly enough as Arun swept his warhammer around in a wide arc that landed solidly in the center of the creature’s chest. The skulk went flying roughly to the side, impacting the wall beneath the staircase with enough force to crack a few of the boards. The creature hung there, for a second, those uncanny blue eyes staring at them, then it sunk inevitably to the cold floor, not to arise again. </p><p></p><p>Ruphos, however, wasn’t watching the skulk as it died. He half-crawled over to where Zenna had fallen, half-frantic as he called upon the power of his patron god. The blue healing light of Helm’s grace poured from his hands into Zenna’s shattered face, and she started, her eyes popping open in sudden surprise. </p><p></p><p>“What...?” she asked, as he eyes gained focus. “Help me up,” she commanded, grabbing onto Ruphos’s shoulder. </p><p></p><p>Arun was looking around for other foes, scanning the balcony above, but apparently the skulk had been alone—or its companions had elected to flee rather than fight. But before the three could discuss what had happened, a nimbus of flaring colors appeared around the borders of the curtain leading to the front of the shop, and a soft thump followed from that direction. </p><p></p><p>“Mole!” Zenna cried, pulling free from Ruphos’s grasp and darting in that direction. The cleric and dwarf were right behind her. </p><p></p><p>As they passed through the curtain, they could see the gnome locksmith, standing behind Mole’s limp body, holding the unconscious girl up against him as a shield with one arm. His free hand was holding Mole’s dagger against her throat, though they could see the weapon trembling in his hand. </p><p></p><p>“Don’t come any closer!” Ghelve cried. “I don’t want to hurt her, but I will if you come any closer!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 1010358, member: 143"] Chapter 10 Zenna cried out in surprise as a dark form hurtled down from above. Ruphos didn’t even sense it before it slammed hard into him, knocking him sprawling roughly to the floor. The attacker sprang quickly to its feet before Zenna, who drew back in astonishment. The light that filtered into the room through the narrow windows wasn’t sufficient to clearly distinguish the newcomer. It was a man-sized humanoid figure, apparently naked save for a web-belt that supported a light crossbow and a scabbard for the rapier that it carried at the ready. It was strange enough that it appeared to lack gender, without any obvious sex organs. But its flesh—its body was a mottled, gray color that seemed to ripple with dark striations [I]within[/I] the skin, causing it to blend unnaturally with its surroundings. Its face was a stunted, ugly caricature of a human’s, his eyes a stark blue and without pupils, its mouth twisted with a snarl as it lunged at Zenna. The startled wizard tried to call upon the words of a spell, but she managed only a single syllable before the creature lashed out with its rapier, smashing the hilt across her face. Blood exploded from her shattered nose and she crumpled, unconscious. “Zenna!” Ruphos cried, clutching at his the mace at his belt as he tried to get up from where he had fallen. His cloak caught on one of the nearby chests, however, and he stumbled, landing awkwardly on his hip. The skulk looked at him with an expression that could only be described as unmitigated hatred, and hefted its rapier as it stepped toward him. It turned, though, as the curtain flew open, revealing two hundred pounds of dwarven fury hurtling at full speed toward it. The skulk tried to dodge out of the way of the charging dwarf. It moved swiftly and nimbly, but not nimbly enough as Arun swept his warhammer around in a wide arc that landed solidly in the center of the creature’s chest. The skulk went flying roughly to the side, impacting the wall beneath the staircase with enough force to crack a few of the boards. The creature hung there, for a second, those uncanny blue eyes staring at them, then it sunk inevitably to the cold floor, not to arise again. Ruphos, however, wasn’t watching the skulk as it died. He half-crawled over to where Zenna had fallen, half-frantic as he called upon the power of his patron god. The blue healing light of Helm’s grace poured from his hands into Zenna’s shattered face, and she started, her eyes popping open in sudden surprise. “What...?” she asked, as he eyes gained focus. “Help me up,” she commanded, grabbing onto Ruphos’s shoulder. Arun was looking around for other foes, scanning the balcony above, but apparently the skulk had been alone—or its companions had elected to flee rather than fight. But before the three could discuss what had happened, a nimbus of flaring colors appeared around the borders of the curtain leading to the front of the shop, and a soft thump followed from that direction. “Mole!” Zenna cried, pulling free from Ruphos’s grasp and darting in that direction. The cleric and dwarf were right behind her. As they passed through the curtain, they could see the gnome locksmith, standing behind Mole’s limp body, holding the unconscious girl up against him as a shield with one arm. His free hand was holding Mole’s dagger against her throat, though they could see the weapon trembling in his hand. “Don’t come any closer!” Ghelve cried. “I don’t want to hurt her, but I will if you come any closer!” [/QUOTE]
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