NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2813521" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 12: Bloodshed (Continued)The three Blackhand orcs swarmed upon Tobias and Cochly, aiding Brother Wulffa, the Culite dwarf.  Outnumbered, the warriors were forced to go on the defensive.     *     *     *     Magnus hurtled away from Yapper’s fireball, the flames hungrily devouring the edges of his cloak.  Aside from singed eyebrows, the mage was in one piece.Yapper was not so fortunate.The kobold sorcerer had taken the full brunt of Magnus’ fireball.  While the flames had cauterized the dangerous wound on his leg, they had also roasted the poor lizard-man.Without a living soul to guide the body, the corpse levitated in the air, waiting for the fly spell to wear off.Magnus smiled his cocky grin.  Then he turned to survey the battle below.  Immediately, he focused his eyes on the four combatants that were wearing down Tobias and Cochly.  If he adjusted his target just right, the mage’s thoughts trailed off.A fireball slammed down amidst the brawl, setting the Blackhand members aflame.  Because of his careful adjustment, the centaur was forced to backpedal but could not avoid having his face roasted.Magnus whooped as he circled around to the east.     *     *     *     Nearly broiled alive by the flames, a Blackhand orc darted around Tobias and charged Fitz.  Tobias’ arm and blade—working as one—snapped out reflexively; it drew a red line across the orc’s charred flesh but did not stop him.The paladin quickly reversed the blade’s motion, pivoting the hilt against his palms and darted toward another of the orcs.  The barbarian fell back, not expecting the feint, as Tobias spun on his heel and chased after the other orc.Brother Wulffa cursed under his breath as one of Cochly’s axe swings slid between the plates of his armor.  “Finish this one!” he bellowed as he scurried after Tobias.Fitz watched the raging orc pound toward him.  He held his scythe in a defensive position, readied to attack at the last possible moment.  As the orc closed, the Cerian priest stepped to the right and brought his blade in low.  He was rewarded with a crack as the scythe bit deeply through flesh and bone.The Blackhand orc pulled to a stop, blood oozing down his dirty boots.  He stopped only a few feet from the wall of flames.Until Tobias plowed into his back, the paladin’s greatsword stretched out to impale the foe.  The orc coughed a fat glob of blood as the gigantic blade shred his spine and pierced through his chest.  The paladin’s momentum carried him forward in a kick that thrust the Blackhand into the fire, to crumple.“Tobias!” Fitz screamed.The paladin whirled around, just in time to see Brother Wulffa close the distance.  The dwarf impacted the paladin with the force of a dozen horses.  With his solid arms wrapped around Tobias’ knees, they both plunged into the flames.     *     *     *     Three darts of energy smacked into Bvarki.  He was flung to the ground, rage filling his eyes.  Enough is enough, he thought.  Painfully scrambling to his feet, the half-orc drew his bow and nocked an arrow.The mage had to die.He stepped out of the brush he had fallen into only to see another red bead of light detonate right in front of his face.     *     *     *     Al’baku stomped his horse hooves into the ground.  His face, normally serene even if devoid of emotion, was blistered and scorched.  The Rorn centaur had grown bored, and now desired the end of this battle.He reached for his bow and drew an arrow.The centaur turned toward the humans, the small, weak creatures that had been trying to strike him all night with their small, weak arrows.  He nocked and pulled back, relishing the tremor in the mighty bow, the strength of his arms.He exhaled.The arrow whistled.A human, Al’baku did not particularly care which, crumpled as the shaft drove into his chest.  He watched with glee as that human fell backward, off his perch and into the courtyard.Al’baku drew another arrow, nocking it and pulling back on the string again.A roar drew his attention from the snipers toward the battlefield ahead.  The dwarf dropped one of the two remaining orcs.  Bellowing, the dwarf raised his axe to chop into the next.Al’baku sighed.  He readjusted his aim and realized that the remaining orc was in his line of sight.“No matter,” he hissed as he released his hold on the tense string.  The bow twanged, launching its projectile.  The arrow grazed the orc, drawing a painful line of blood but continued onward to pound into Cochly’s stomach.The dwarf shuddered, falling back a pace.     *     *     *     Motega howled.  His focus on the kobold mage had been total, complete.  Now the creature dangled in the air, out of his reach.  The primal part of his mind—now the dominant aspect—roared.  His nose caught the scent of death though, and knew it was no longer a threat.The beast turned toward the battle.  Tobias was gone but the dwarf was still holding the line.  One orc remained but more importantly the horse-man beyond that.  Motega’s lips pulled up in a ferocious growl as he snapped into motion.Within a half-second, he pushed against the ground, hurtling into the air.The orc attacking Cochly stopped in fear as the werewolf came up behind the dwarf.  Cochly thanked the gods as his axe bit into the orc’s side.  Still in awe, that orc showed no reaction to the devastating blow.  He was focused on the claw that sped toward his face.By the time Motega landed, the orcs head was tumbling lifelessly—and still with a frozen look of shock upon its visage—across the burning ground.The werewolf leaned back, howling at the dying night, the dawning light.  Al’baku dropped his bow and drew his axe.  He reared up, pawing at the air and crashed down with a heavy, determined thud.</blockquote>

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