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
The Scars Run Deep (Updated - 3/29/2004)
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="Ruined" data-source="post: 1348393" data-attributes="member: 113"><p><u>14th of Chardot, yr. 150 A.V., continued </u></p><p></p><p>Surielle’s gambit worked too well. She had enraged the Albadian bounty hunter with her words. Apparently he loved his hounds as much as she loved Snowmelt. He turned, red-faced, and glared at her for an instant. Then, with a snarl, he charged. </p><p></p><p>She had seen how easily Thrain had felled Gerad, so what chance did she stand? The hunter did not even look very wounded. With a desperate prayer to Denev, Surielle brought forth her flame scythe. </p><p></p><p>Thrain rushed out of the stables and straight toward her, bearing an axe in each hand. His speed surprised her. She used the scythe to hold him at bay, but he showed little fear. The fact that only one hound remained, lying prone beneath Snowmelt’s jaws, gave credence to her earlier words. Had she spared Tréan’s life, only to throw hers away? </p><p></p><p>She hadn’t expected such a sudden advance by Thrain, and in the process of blocking his swings she tripped over the animals. She concentrated to keep the scythe aflame, as the enraged bounty hunter moved in for the kill. </p><p></p><p>*** </p><p></p><p>Tréan knew she only had moments to act. Gerad lay in a quiet heap, covered in blood. Dying. A prayer to Madriel formed on her lips before she reached her fallen friend. Yes, her friend. They had been thrown together by fate, and Tréan was forced to rely on his methods of violence and brash attitude. But he had an honorable heart, and no matter how much she chided him, she cared for Gerad. </p><p></p><p>The axe had smashed into his neck and cheek with grisly results. He was faintly breathing. Blood gushed out of his throat as Tréan placed her hands upon him. She cupped his cheek in one hand and covered the wound with the other, the devotion to Madriel still pouring from her lips. At once, the healing began, closing the wounds beneath her hand. Gerad’s breathing returned to normal, yet he did not stir from his restorative sleep. The spell completed, Tréan nervously looked to the front of the stables. There was no sign of Thrain or Surielle. </p><p></p><p>“Madriel, please forgive me,” she said, smacking Gerad across the face. He startled awake and nearly lunged at her. He scanned the room, taking a second to wipe the blood from his face. </p><p></p><p>“Where is he?” </p><p></p><p>“Outside. Surielle will need us, but first…” She worked her hands to a familiar spell. Tréan had suspicions about the bounty hunter’s armor. </p><p></p><p>*** </p><p></p><p>One axe bit into the ground next to Surielle’s head. She rolled to her left as the other fell, chopping into her shoulder, searing her with pain. Another hit like that could very well sever her arm. She pulled herself up from the ground and slashed out with the scythe, its reddish-yellow flames cutting through the furs on his legs. The bounty hunter snarled and took a step back, allowing her the briefest of moments to catch her breath. </p><p></p><p>Their dance was an awkward one. Surielle gave ground, narrowly avoiding the lethal strikes of his axes. She connected once, twice with the scythe, blackening his arms, but he did not cease. The haft of the axe struck her jaw once, numbing her mouth and causing blood to run from her lips. She was tiring quickly, and knew it would only be a matter of time before he won. </p><p></p><p>A figure ran up to Thrain, plowing into his side and knocking him away before he could deliver another blow. It was Gerad, covered in his own blood, breathing heavily. Surielle stared at him for a moment before turning back to the bounty hunter. This would be their final fight, she was sure of it. As they advanced upon Thrain, Tréan joined them with her spear in hand. Surielle noticed that both Tréan’s spearhead and Gerad’s sword held a sheen that reflected the sunlight as if they were polished. </p><p></p><p>There was no witty banter between them – only aggression and the instinct to survive. The party fanned out and circled Thrain, with Gerad first to test the waters. His sword first blocked a swing from Thrain’s axe, then quickly turned and bit deep into Thrain’s belly. Surielle and Tréan both found luck as well, turning the tide against the hunter. He struck with fierce blows against them, but could not prevail. He did not turn to run, but stumbled against Gerad as the life faded from him. Gerad let him fall. </p><p></p><p>Gerad wiped the blood from his eyes and looked at Surielle. He looked a mess, but she guessed that Tréan had kept him standing. “Shall I end it?” he asked, turning to Tréan. She looked down at the fallen man and turned away, saying nothing. </p><p></p><p>“Be done with it.” Surielle said. </p><p></p><p>*** </p><p></p><p>The sheriff of Oakdale arrived soon after the battle had ended. He was apprehensive at first, but the stable owner was quick to confirm Tréan’s story. The man had attacked her without reason, and wounded the young stable hand as well. The owner even suggested that he might have slain Blackwater who had mysteriously vanished from town. Tréan knew the truth of the matter, but allowed the lie to pass. </p><p></p><p>Surielle had done her best to reassure her. Thrain would have given them no mercy, save for herself. And he would have handed her to a government that believed her an assassin. The gallows would be sure to follow. Surielle’s words rang in her mind. “There are some men who are beyond mercy.” It all fell to what one believed in. And if she believed that notion, what would she allow herself to believe down the road?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ruined, post: 1348393, member: 113"] [u]14th of Chardot, yr. 150 A.V., continued [/u] Surielle’s gambit worked too well. She had enraged the Albadian bounty hunter with her words. Apparently he loved his hounds as much as she loved Snowmelt. He turned, red-faced, and glared at her for an instant. Then, with a snarl, he charged. She had seen how easily Thrain had felled Gerad, so what chance did she stand? The hunter did not even look very wounded. With a desperate prayer to Denev, Surielle brought forth her flame scythe. Thrain rushed out of the stables and straight toward her, bearing an axe in each hand. His speed surprised her. She used the scythe to hold him at bay, but he showed little fear. The fact that only one hound remained, lying prone beneath Snowmelt’s jaws, gave credence to her earlier words. Had she spared Tréan’s life, only to throw hers away? She hadn’t expected such a sudden advance by Thrain, and in the process of blocking his swings she tripped over the animals. She concentrated to keep the scythe aflame, as the enraged bounty hunter moved in for the kill. *** Tréan knew she only had moments to act. Gerad lay in a quiet heap, covered in blood. Dying. A prayer to Madriel formed on her lips before she reached her fallen friend. Yes, her friend. They had been thrown together by fate, and Tréan was forced to rely on his methods of violence and brash attitude. But he had an honorable heart, and no matter how much she chided him, she cared for Gerad. The axe had smashed into his neck and cheek with grisly results. He was faintly breathing. Blood gushed out of his throat as Tréan placed her hands upon him. She cupped his cheek in one hand and covered the wound with the other, the devotion to Madriel still pouring from her lips. At once, the healing began, closing the wounds beneath her hand. Gerad’s breathing returned to normal, yet he did not stir from his restorative sleep. The spell completed, Tréan nervously looked to the front of the stables. There was no sign of Thrain or Surielle. “Madriel, please forgive me,” she said, smacking Gerad across the face. He startled awake and nearly lunged at her. He scanned the room, taking a second to wipe the blood from his face. “Where is he?” “Outside. Surielle will need us, but first…” She worked her hands to a familiar spell. Tréan had suspicions about the bounty hunter’s armor. *** One axe bit into the ground next to Surielle’s head. She rolled to her left as the other fell, chopping into her shoulder, searing her with pain. Another hit like that could very well sever her arm. She pulled herself up from the ground and slashed out with the scythe, its reddish-yellow flames cutting through the furs on his legs. The bounty hunter snarled and took a step back, allowing her the briefest of moments to catch her breath. Their dance was an awkward one. Surielle gave ground, narrowly avoiding the lethal strikes of his axes. She connected once, twice with the scythe, blackening his arms, but he did not cease. The haft of the axe struck her jaw once, numbing her mouth and causing blood to run from her lips. She was tiring quickly, and knew it would only be a matter of time before he won. A figure ran up to Thrain, plowing into his side and knocking him away before he could deliver another blow. It was Gerad, covered in his own blood, breathing heavily. Surielle stared at him for a moment before turning back to the bounty hunter. This would be their final fight, she was sure of it. As they advanced upon Thrain, Tréan joined them with her spear in hand. Surielle noticed that both Tréan’s spearhead and Gerad’s sword held a sheen that reflected the sunlight as if they were polished. There was no witty banter between them – only aggression and the instinct to survive. The party fanned out and circled Thrain, with Gerad first to test the waters. His sword first blocked a swing from Thrain’s axe, then quickly turned and bit deep into Thrain’s belly. Surielle and Tréan both found luck as well, turning the tide against the hunter. He struck with fierce blows against them, but could not prevail. He did not turn to run, but stumbled against Gerad as the life faded from him. Gerad let him fall. Gerad wiped the blood from his eyes and looked at Surielle. He looked a mess, but she guessed that Tréan had kept him standing. “Shall I end it?” he asked, turning to Tréan. She looked down at the fallen man and turned away, saying nothing. “Be done with it.” Surielle said. *** The sheriff of Oakdale arrived soon after the battle had ended. He was apprehensive at first, but the stable owner was quick to confirm Tréan’s story. The man had attacked her without reason, and wounded the young stable hand as well. The owner even suggested that he might have slain Blackwater who had mysteriously vanished from town. Tréan knew the truth of the matter, but allowed the lie to pass. Surielle had done her best to reassure her. Thrain would have given them no mercy, save for herself. And he would have handed her to a government that believed her an assassin. The gallows would be sure to follow. Surielle’s words rang in her mind. “There are some men who are beyond mercy.” It all fell to what one believed in. And if she believed that notion, what would she allow herself to believe down the road? [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Scars Run Deep (Updated - 3/29/2004)
Top