Chapter 14 - Lost in the Dark (Part 4)
Dulvarna lashed out a little too wildly and then stepped back towards Lavren and Litiraan. Unsurprisingly her blade cut nothing but air and with a cackle, the gnolls came forward. Troubled by her wild attack, Dulvarna parried in front of her as the first gnoll came at her but as the second came, her parry was a fraction too slow. The spear drove past her blade and seared into her right leg like a heated poker, just above the knee. Dulvarna cried out before she could stop herself and the gnolls howled as though they had won the day. They heard not the chants in elven that came from behind Dulvarna and too late, they saw the bolts, silver and black that lanced out towards them. Both struck the gnoll that had wounded Dulvarna, searing the creature’s arm and side. With a yelp, the gnoll shrank back and with a nod to her companions, Dulvarna recovered and raised her blade once more.
Telkya uttered the now-familiar prayer that she had called to mind and extended her hand. A bolt of golden light reached out from her hand towards the huntsman but he ducked back as the light reached him and it struck the door of the chamber from which he had first come. Enlishia tore the shaft from her shoulder and loosed an arrow that drove into the hindquarters of the remaining hyena before Erlmoor. The creature helped and leapt just as the ranger’s second arrow, the shaft that would surely have killed the beast, flew towards it. The arrow clattered into the passage wall and then the floor of the chamber and for a few more moments, the hyena lived. Another of its companions rushed at Erlmoor then but the dragonborn was ready and he leapt back, bringing his blade down to fend off the creature. The other hyena, wounded by arrow and blade darted at the dragonborn then and he twisted his blade to the left. The sword drove into the beast’s side and it fell with a whimper beside its pack-mate. The huntmaster seized his chance again, raising his bow and loosing an arrow with a speed that compared with Enlishia’s. The shaft drove into Erlmoor’s arm and a roar of pain echoed through the halls of the gnolls.
Dulvarna stepped back for a moment and then danced forward, ignoring the wound to her leg now. She weaved her blade before her for a moment and then plunged forward, driving Aecris into the hip of the gnoll before her. The gnoll yelped and whined as it fell back against the wall of the hallway and Dulvarna stepped forward again thinking it beaten. Only then did its spear come up, driving forward and finding her shoulder with its point. She grunted, staggering back and as she did so, the second gnoll drove its spear forward, its point piercing her side just above her hip. Dulvarna fell sideways against the wall of the corridor as the gnoll had done and felt sure that the killing blow would come next. A silver bolt hurled by Litiraan flashed past the gnoll’s as it took a step towards Dulvarna and the gnoll cackled but then black, crackling energy struck its chest and ended its moment of victory.
Telkya prayed fervently to Corellon and raised her hand, bringing down a column of burning light upon the hyena but for a moment the beast faught on. Two arrows from Enlishia’s bow drove into its chest moments apart and the hyena collapsed beside its companions, leaving the huntmaster alone with his last charge. With a chorus of yapping laughter, the last beast rushed at Erlmoor, leaping at him and seizing his left arm as he raised his blade to defend himself. He shook the beast free but not before its teeth had torn into the flesh and muscle of his arm. With a grimace, he brought his sword up and then, with a prayer on his lips he brought it down. The sword glowed white and then struck the hyena just as the beast dodged aside, drawing blood along its shoulder but barely slowing it. The huntmaster cackled and loosed an arrow that nicked Erlmoor’s shoulder and the dragonborn roared. Both sensed that their final reckoning was at hand.
Dulvarna lashed out a little too wildly and then stepped back towards Lavren and Litiraan. Unsurprisingly her blade cut nothing but air and with a cackle, the gnolls came forward. Troubled by her wild attack, Dulvarna parried in front of her as the first gnoll came at her but as the second came, her parry was a fraction too slow. The spear drove past her blade and seared into her right leg like a heated poker, just above the knee. Dulvarna cried out before she could stop herself and the gnolls howled as though they had won the day. They heard not the chants in elven that came from behind Dulvarna and too late, they saw the bolts, silver and black that lanced out towards them. Both struck the gnoll that had wounded Dulvarna, searing the creature’s arm and side. With a yelp, the gnoll shrank back and with a nod to her companions, Dulvarna recovered and raised her blade once more.
Telkya uttered the now-familiar prayer that she had called to mind and extended her hand. A bolt of golden light reached out from her hand towards the huntsman but he ducked back as the light reached him and it struck the door of the chamber from which he had first come. Enlishia tore the shaft from her shoulder and loosed an arrow that drove into the hindquarters of the remaining hyena before Erlmoor. The creature helped and leapt just as the ranger’s second arrow, the shaft that would surely have killed the beast, flew towards it. The arrow clattered into the passage wall and then the floor of the chamber and for a few more moments, the hyena lived. Another of its companions rushed at Erlmoor then but the dragonborn was ready and he leapt back, bringing his blade down to fend off the creature. The other hyena, wounded by arrow and blade darted at the dragonborn then and he twisted his blade to the left. The sword drove into the beast’s side and it fell with a whimper beside its pack-mate. The huntmaster seized his chance again, raising his bow and loosing an arrow with a speed that compared with Enlishia’s. The shaft drove into Erlmoor’s arm and a roar of pain echoed through the halls of the gnolls.
Dulvarna stepped back for a moment and then danced forward, ignoring the wound to her leg now. She weaved her blade before her for a moment and then plunged forward, driving Aecris into the hip of the gnoll before her. The gnoll yelped and whined as it fell back against the wall of the hallway and Dulvarna stepped forward again thinking it beaten. Only then did its spear come up, driving forward and finding her shoulder with its point. She grunted, staggering back and as she did so, the second gnoll drove its spear forward, its point piercing her side just above her hip. Dulvarna fell sideways against the wall of the corridor as the gnoll had done and felt sure that the killing blow would come next. A silver bolt hurled by Litiraan flashed past the gnoll’s as it took a step towards Dulvarna and the gnoll cackled but then black, crackling energy struck its chest and ended its moment of victory.
Telkya prayed fervently to Corellon and raised her hand, bringing down a column of burning light upon the hyena but for a moment the beast faught on. Two arrows from Enlishia’s bow drove into its chest moments apart and the hyena collapsed beside its companions, leaving the huntmaster alone with his last charge. With a chorus of yapping laughter, the last beast rushed at Erlmoor, leaping at him and seizing his left arm as he raised his blade to defend himself. He shook the beast free but not before its teeth had torn into the flesh and muscle of his arm. With a grimace, he brought his sword up and then, with a prayer on his lips he brought it down. The sword glowed white and then struck the hyena just as the beast dodged aside, drawing blood along its shoulder but barely slowing it. The huntmaster cackled and loosed an arrow that nicked Erlmoor’s shoulder and the dragonborn roared. Both sensed that their final reckoning was at hand.