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Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7152000" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>They should've listened to the dwarf!</p><p></p><p>* * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 50</p><p></p><p>As his captors were distracted by the beetle, the goblin reached up covertly, using its body to conceal the movement, and slid a tiny knife under the leather strap around its neck. As Kosk yanked it around the strap parted and it was free. It darted immediately toward the exit arch, ducking low to avoid any attacks that might come its way.</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately for it, the dwarf had been expecting such a maneuver, and he too had a knife handy. The goblin was just a half-step from the cover of the doorway when the monk spun around and buried one of his throwing knives in the back of the fleeing humanoid’s neck. The goblin’s momentum carried it forward through the doorway, but the thud of impact on the floor reported that it did not get far.</p><p></p><p>Kosk turned back immediately to help his friends, but it looked like they had the threat well in hand. Quellan had stepped in to block the beetle’s rush toward Bredan, giving the warrior a chance to regain his footing. One of the beetle’s eyes was a blackened wreck, suggesting that Xeeta had already joined the fight. Glori’s first shot had bounced off its armored body, but she was already lining up a second, wary of hitting her friends if she missed again.</p><p></p><p>The beetle apparently didn’t like the odds, for it abruptly turned back in the direction of the rubble pile it had emerged from. Quellan took a step toward it, but as it lifted its abdomen the cleric’s eyes widened. “Take cover!” he warned, putting his own advice into action as he flung himself aside and raised his shield to protect his face.</p><p></p><p>Kosk reacted just as swiftly, hopping back into the relative cover of the doorway, but unfortunately his companions were unable to react in time. With a loud popping sound the beetle unleashed a spray of noxious liquid that hissed as it sprayed over Bredan, Glori, and Xeeta. All three cried out in pain as the stuff burned their eyes and skin.</p><p></p><p>The beetle spun around again, no doubt ready to take advantage of the confusion it had created to grab a victim. It started toward Glori, but before it could cover more than a few feet Quellan came at it again from behind. The half-orc slammed his mace down hard onto its abdomen, filling the room with a loud crack as its carapace shattered. The beetle let out a high-pitched sound of distress and started to turn around again, either to attack the cleric or to attempt escape. But it didn’t get a chance to do either before Kosk drove his staff into the gap between its neck and body. With another loud crack the creature sagged to the floor. It kept twitching for a few moments, but that was just the delay in its body figuring out that it was dead.</p><p></p><p>“Ack, that was awful,” Xeeta said. She took out her waterskin and sprayed water into her eyes to clear them.</p><p></p><p>“What in the hells was that?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“Bombardier beetle,” Quellan said. “They… they don’t normally get that big.”</p><p></p><p>“You don’t say,” Bredan said. He gratefully accepted a clean cloth from Xeeta and used it to wipe off his face.</p><p></p><p>“Wait… where’s the goblin?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>“It tried to make a break for it,” Kosk said, jerking his thumb toward the outer room. “It didn’t get far.”</p><p></p><p>Glori took a quick look to confirm the dwarf’s words, then came back. “What happened?”</p><p></p><p>“Little bastard had a hidden knife. It waited for the bug to attack then cut and ran.” The dwarf shot a challenging look at both Quellan and Bredan. “You lot going to start trusting my instincts now?”</p><p></p><p>“We had to check, even if it was lying about the boy,” Glori said. “We still do.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan turned back toward the rubble pile. “You think it was lying about the trapdoor too?”</p><p></p><p>“Do you think that even gobbos would be dumb enough to set up shop under something like that?” Kosk asked. “No, it was full of crap, all of it.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know,” Quellan said. At Kosk’s angry look he quickly added, “Okay you were right not to trust the creature. But some of what it said was oddly specific.”</p><p></p><p>“Gakrak,” Xeeta said. “A not-uncommon name for a bugbear. And you did suggest that it was unlikely that the goblin was here alone.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe there <em>is</em> a cellar, but the entrance is someplace else in the building,” Bredan suggested.</p><p></p><p>“If so, then they probably heard the fight and know we’re here,” Kosk said.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7152000, member: 143"] They should've listened to the dwarf! * * * Chapter 50 As his captors were distracted by the beetle, the goblin reached up covertly, using its body to conceal the movement, and slid a tiny knife under the leather strap around its neck. As Kosk yanked it around the strap parted and it was free. It darted immediately toward the exit arch, ducking low to avoid any attacks that might come its way. Unfortunately for it, the dwarf had been expecting such a maneuver, and he too had a knife handy. The goblin was just a half-step from the cover of the doorway when the monk spun around and buried one of his throwing knives in the back of the fleeing humanoid’s neck. The goblin’s momentum carried it forward through the doorway, but the thud of impact on the floor reported that it did not get far. Kosk turned back immediately to help his friends, but it looked like they had the threat well in hand. Quellan had stepped in to block the beetle’s rush toward Bredan, giving the warrior a chance to regain his footing. One of the beetle’s eyes was a blackened wreck, suggesting that Xeeta had already joined the fight. Glori’s first shot had bounced off its armored body, but she was already lining up a second, wary of hitting her friends if she missed again. The beetle apparently didn’t like the odds, for it abruptly turned back in the direction of the rubble pile it had emerged from. Quellan took a step toward it, but as it lifted its abdomen the cleric’s eyes widened. “Take cover!” he warned, putting his own advice into action as he flung himself aside and raised his shield to protect his face. Kosk reacted just as swiftly, hopping back into the relative cover of the doorway, but unfortunately his companions were unable to react in time. With a loud popping sound the beetle unleashed a spray of noxious liquid that hissed as it sprayed over Bredan, Glori, and Xeeta. All three cried out in pain as the stuff burned their eyes and skin. The beetle spun around again, no doubt ready to take advantage of the confusion it had created to grab a victim. It started toward Glori, but before it could cover more than a few feet Quellan came at it again from behind. The half-orc slammed his mace down hard onto its abdomen, filling the room with a loud crack as its carapace shattered. The beetle let out a high-pitched sound of distress and started to turn around again, either to attack the cleric or to attempt escape. But it didn’t get a chance to do either before Kosk drove his staff into the gap between its neck and body. With another loud crack the creature sagged to the floor. It kept twitching for a few moments, but that was just the delay in its body figuring out that it was dead. “Ack, that was awful,” Xeeta said. She took out her waterskin and sprayed water into her eyes to clear them. “What in the hells was that?” Bredan asked. “Bombardier beetle,” Quellan said. “They… they don’t normally get that big.” “You don’t say,” Bredan said. He gratefully accepted a clean cloth from Xeeta and used it to wipe off his face. “Wait… where’s the goblin?” Glori asked. “It tried to make a break for it,” Kosk said, jerking his thumb toward the outer room. “It didn’t get far.” Glori took a quick look to confirm the dwarf’s words, then came back. “What happened?” “Little bastard had a hidden knife. It waited for the bug to attack then cut and ran.” The dwarf shot a challenging look at both Quellan and Bredan. “You lot going to start trusting my instincts now?” “We had to check, even if it was lying about the boy,” Glori said. “We still do.” Bredan turned back toward the rubble pile. “You think it was lying about the trapdoor too?” “Do you think that even gobbos would be dumb enough to set up shop under something like that?” Kosk asked. “No, it was full of crap, all of it.” “I don’t know,” Quellan said. At Kosk’s angry look he quickly added, “Okay you were right not to trust the creature. But some of what it said was oddly specific.” “Gakrak,” Xeeta said. “A not-uncommon name for a bugbear. And you did suggest that it was unlikely that the goblin was here alone.” “Maybe there [i]is[/i] a cellar, but the entrance is someplace else in the building,” Bredan suggested. “If so, then they probably heard the fight and know we’re here,” Kosk said. [/QUOTE]
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