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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BLACKDIRGE" data-source="post: 705173" data-attributes="member: 1953">Ok, sorry for the delay. Here is the second part of the fight with Thagmot. It took me a while to figure out whether I wanted to portray Grummok as a complete bastard or as an evil creture with a shred of decency. Hek seems to be the catalyst for both bad Grummok and not so bad Grummok, the following installment puts the gargoyle firmly in one of those camps. I hope that you like the direction I took.Dirge**************************************************The Blackguard's Vengeance Part IIAs Thagmot advanced upon the two assassins the patrons of the Lady Eight took the opportunity to stream out behind the blackguard and out the shattered front door. The proprietor of the tavern, a grizzled drow mercenary by the name of Kadashar, was not about to see his livelihood chased out of his establishment blackguard or no. The old mercenary who had been conversing with his bartender when Thagmot demolished his front door, drew a pair of shortsword from concealed scabbards across his back and vaulted lithely over the bar to block Thagmot’s advance. Kadashar wasted no time on parlay and launched a flurry of cuts at the bugbear's legs and midsection. The veteran warrior was skilled with his blades but he was seriously outclassed and his lightening fast slashes bounced harmlessly off of Thagmot's plate and halberd. The bugbear wasted no time in dispatching Kadashar, lashing out with blinding speed to catch the drow fighter’s leading foot with the hook of his halberd; then with a mighty jerk the bugbear yanked the drow warrior off of his feet dumping him on his back in a disheveled heap. To finish his adversary Thagmot shifted his weight and brought his halberd over and across his shoulders in a massive overhand blow that struck the downed drow warrior in the chest and nearly split him in two.As Thagmot was wrenching his halberd from the corpse of Kadashar, Grummok and Hek sprang to the attack with Grummok rushing forward and Hek moving around to get behind the blackguard. Thagmot ignored Hek focusing solely on Grummok holding his now gore-spattered halberd out in front of him to keep the gargoyle at a distance. Grummok became a blur of lightening feints and parries, striking at the bugbear's defenses and the quickly tumbling away to avoid Thagmot’s deadly halberd. Thagmot for his part flailed away furiously at the gargoyle but his powerful strokes were avoided with ease as Grummok stayed just beyond his reach. With his attention fixed on Grummok Thagmot had allowed Hek to move into position behind him but the wily blackguard was not about to be caught between two assassins if he could help it. Hek had drawn the dagger he had taken from the corpse of the fire genasi invoker slain by he and Grummok over five years ago. The dagger was heavily enchanted and imbued with the essence of fire so that the blade glowed red with withering heat upon command. Hek was moving silently up to the preoccupied bugbear preparing to plunge his dagger into the blackguard’s unprotected back. Thagmot was busy holding Grummok at bay and seemingly took no notice of Hek moving stealthily up behind him. When Hek was just a few paces away from the bugbear he raised his dagger and rushed forward to deliver a crippling strike but the cunning blackguard was ready for him. With a speed that belied his great ponderous body, Thagmot whirled around his halberd leading and caught the stunned Hek squarely in the chest with weapon’s axe blade. The blow contained every bit of Thagmot’s momentum and staggering strength, lifting Hek off of his feet and flinging him away to lie in a broken heap amid the wreckage of the taverns chairs and tables. Grummok did not waste the opportunity presented by Thagmot’s momentary distraction and rushed the bugbear emitting a shrieking battle cry. The gargoyle leapt onto Thagmot’s back, snaking a scaly arm around the blackguard’s neck while raising his fiendish dagger with the other. Grummok clung to Thagmot with every ounce of strength he could muster and struck at the only unprotected part of the bugbears massive body, his face.Grummok pistoned his arm up and over Thagmot’s open faced helm plunging his dagger into the bugbears face twice before Thagmot, writhing in agony, managed to shake the tenacious gargoyle off of his back. Grummok hit the ground and rolled to his feet his dagger poised to strike, but there was no need, the blackguard had lost all interest in the deadly assassin. Thagmot had stumbled back away from Grummok clutching the ruins of his face and howling in absolute torment. Grummok’s two strikes had inflicted grievous damage removing the bugbear’s right eye with the first while the second had plunged deep into the blackguard’s mouth, taking most of his upper lip and good portion of his tongue along with it. His face a mask of agony and rage, Thagmot spared one last hate filled glare at Grummok and then turned and fled disappearing out the front door of the tavern and into the concealing darkness of Erelhei-Cinlu. Grummok had no doubt that he would see the maimed blackguard again, but now another stranger fear gripped him. Grummok’s gaze fell upon the unmoving form of Hek and an odd panic crashed into him; he realized the fear he was feeling was not for himself but for his fallen companion. The gargoyle had never known real friendship, for emotional attachments often got assassins killed but here it was, plain as the naked steel in his hand, he did not want Hek to die.Grummok rushed to his felled companions side and sheathed his dagger. Hek sprawled on his back his face ashen, he was still breathing but his respiration came in short gasps through a bloody froth. Grummok gently opened up the front of the human’s tunic with a talon to reveal the fine links of his Mithral shirt. The armor had stopped the bite of the halberd but not the crushing force that drove it, Hek’s ribs were fractured and it was very likely that one of the ribs had punctured a lung. Hek would certainly die if he did not receive immediate attention; fortunately Grummok carried a healing potion for just such an occasion. The gargoyle plucked a small flask from underneath his armor and removed the stopper. He then tipped Hek’s head back, opened his mouth and poured the amber liquid from the potion bottle down Hek’s throat. The results were immediate, Hek’s breathing became deeper and more regular and some color returned to his face, bit he was still unconscious and required further healing.Feeling it was safe to move his friend, Grummok scooped up the unconscious human and threw him over his broad scaled back. One of the roving patrols of drow soldiers would likely be here soon to investigate the commotion and Grummok had no desire to explain the carnage and destruction that had occurred. The gargoyle fled from the tavern and vaulted into the air careful not to jostle Hek too much in the process he then headed back towards the assassin’s guild where a skilled healer could look at Hek’s remaining wounds.Grummok’s mind was awhirl as he flew; he was confused and angry at himself for allowing the friendship with Hek to develop. The gargoyle had known nothing but murder and treachery his whole life, to trust another was completely alien to him, and those that offered that kind of trust usually offered it just before they drove their dagger into your gut. But perhaps, if such loyalty were to exist it would be mutually beneficial to both parties, Grummok reasoned, for in the dangerous city of Erelhei-Cinlu another pair of eyes watching your back was a rare commodity. Grummok looked down at the unconscious human in his arms and wondered, Hek had saved his life with no thought of blackmail or compensation but had done it simply out of the loyalty he felt for his master, perhaps there was some merit to that. Grummok found himself pondering the implications of his merciful actions in the tavern the entire flight home finally coming to the conclusion that only time would bring to light the strength of his loyalty and the price of friendship.</blockquote>

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