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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5685115" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The caravan came to the thoroughly-cleared plain before the two towered guardhouse on their side of the river. The very top of the much higher white tower on the Daenfrii side of the river was just visible behind them. The group was still nearly a half-hour’s trudge away when the gates opened and a troupe of riders came out heading at a gallop for the caravan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">There were five mounted soldiers wore deep blue tabards. They all seemed armed with spears, two bore bows and quivers on their backs while the rest had scabbards hanging at their sides. The two behind the helmed lead rider flew the banner of Daenfrii at the end of their spears, a serpentine gold dragon (like a reverse “S”) with a large wing outstretched and a bright blue diamond held in its fore claws. The banners stretched out behind them as they rode. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kudjik brought the caravan to a halt as the riders neared.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria, who had finally risen as they’d crested the low ridge sat next to the Thelitian. Coerraine stood next to her, plainly displaying the eight-pointed red star on his triangular shield.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Hail travelers.” Said the sergeant as he brought his steed up to a halt. “Hold and state your business here.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kudjik rose an arm in peaceful welcome. “Hail to ye, guardsmen of Daenfrii. We are a company, bereft of hope and home by ill-doings to the south. I am Kudjik Al’Djaliil, humble merchant and trader in fine fabrics from my homeland. These rest are refugees of the Laklans who all seek the security of your master’s realm from most dangerous creatures moving through the lands.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The sergeant looked to Alaria and then Coerraine. “Hail Kudjik Al’Djaliil. Traveling with one of Celradorn’s chosen, I see. I suppose I have no reason to doubt your words. Do I Redstar?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine stepped forward. “Indeed, you do not.” The paladin responded. He drew himself up to his most erect. “It is as Kudjik claims. We have seen many unfortunate troubles and crossed paths with several perils in the past week.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The sergeant nodded. “Nothing you couldn’t handle from the look of it. I invite you to recoup yourselves within the gates of Bridgetower. Whether or not you will be granted access to Daenfrii, we shall see. But, for now, the road is indeed perilous. We have reports of a large force of goblins in the area. We shall see you to Bridgetower with all speed.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Reports of a large force of goblins here?” Alaria replied. She added more alarm to her voice to get the soldier’s attention. In reality, the news did alarm her somewhat. She was under the impression that they would be several days ahead of the goblin army.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Nothing to concern you, my lady.” The soldier replied. The dismissive, if not condescending, tone was not lost to Alaria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“You may address me as ‘Magess’, sir. Magess Alaria Staver of Ablidon.” She answered with all intended indignation. Her name would mean nothing to this man, she knew that. But that was no reason for her not to make him feel two feet tall. These were servants of the Dragonmage, after all. Being a fully trained wizard from R’Hath should hold some weight…she hoped.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Apologies, Magess.” The mounted man nodded slightly. “Those trained in the Mysteries are held in high regard in Daenfrii, of course. No disrespect was intended.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Of course not.” Alaria replied coolly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“I am Sergeant Goren, Magess. It will be the honor of my men and myself to see you safely to Bridgetower.” The man replied and smiled at Alaria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“We thank you Sergeant Goren. Now what news of this force of goblins?” Alaria pressed even as Kudjik urged the wagon forward. The other Daenfrii soldiers rode along the length of the caravan looking at the obviously road-weary commonfolk and their meager wares. The cool glares of Kudjik’s guards roused no response from the well-trained mounted men. One of the riders returned to Goren’s side and made a quiet report that the caravan seemed to be nothing more than what they had said but did make mention of a “wounded dwarf, a daelvar, and one of the Anicent Order.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Theilitians, R’Hathi, a Redstar with a druid and nearly all the races of realms?” said Goren with a smile. “Quite a diverse group of refugees to be sure.” He instructed the reporting soldier to have the men take up posts along the length of the caravan and then urged everyone to make for the tower before replying to Alaria’s question.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“It is an advance force, no doubt, Magess. We have received word from the Laklans of the army slowing making its way across the plains. They are still far south and would be fools to threaten the lands of the Dragonmage. But then, goblins are not known for their brains.” He smiled again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria grinned politely at the sergeant’s attempt at wit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> “Our scouts brought word of a large foraging group, maybe 20 goblins, some mounted on zarks, just south of those woods.” He pointed to a line of trees to the south of the cleared plain. “Had a couple of ogres with them too…if the report’s to be believed.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“You doubt your own scouts?” Alaria questioned, honestly surprised at the sergeant’s statement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Well no. But as I heard it, the runner was thoroughly spooked by what he’d seen. It’s possible he exaggerated the threat in his fear-addled mind. We don’t get much excitement here. Even creatures as stupid as goblins and ogres know not to challenge the Dragonmage.” Goren explained. “Still, ogres or no, the report placed them a bit too near for my liking, I will admit. So we will not take chances with your safety.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Did he actually just <em>wink</em> at me? Alaria thought. He’s old enough to be my father!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The sergeant continued unaware of the wizard’s thoughts, “But the defenders of Bridgetower would be more than a match for those numbers. No force has broken into Daenfrii through the gates of Bridgetower in more than hundred years.” He concluded with unmasked pride.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Have they broken into Daenfrii by other means?” Coerraine asked, innocently.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The question received a frown. “No, Redstar. They have not. But with you here to protect us, I am sure we could face the hordes of Thole, itself.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Men, thought Alaria. Always having to beat their chests at one another. Despite herself, Rhea’s telepathic message <em>‘They are good for some things’</em> bubbled up from her memory. Inexplicably, her mind turned to Braddok.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Ho! Goblins!” came the cry from one of Goren’s men farther back in the caravan. This immediately turned every head within earshot to look where the soldier was pointing at the ridge beside the wood-line Goren had indicated earlier. A small green figure atop a two-legged very long-necked creature of mottled brown and black raised a horn to its lips and let out a long bleating noise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Go! Go!” shouted Goren, indicating Kudjik to pick up the pace, as he brought his horse around to look at the ridge. “Defenders of Bridgetower, to me! Alath, the alarm!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kudjik didn’t need to be told twice. The wagon lurched forward immediately, nearly sending Alaria flying from her seat. Frightened screams and prayers to the gods went up as everyone in the caravan, carts, horses and on foot took off, in utter chaos, for the gates of the guardhouse several minutes away.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">A horn sounded five quick notes from one of the Bridgetower soldiers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine watched the ridge as five, then ten, then double that number of creatures, half rode atop the bird-creature mounts crested the ridge. The mounted creatures approached very fast, already halfway to the road. At least half of the mounted goblins had bows, as far as Coerraine could tell in the swerving mass of enemies baring down on them. Arrows quickly began whizzing from multiple locations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">And then, there <em>were </em>ogres. Three of the towering things with moldy yellow and orangish skin, clad in leathers and furs, came lumbering up behind the goblins. Two swung huge clubs, one of which sported some nasty-looking curved spikes, as they bellowed across the plain. The third ogre brandished a huge battle axe and seemed to be giving orders to the other creatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The paladin looked up to Alaria as he began falling behind the wagon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Kudjik, a moment. Let me down.” Alaria shouted in the trader’s ear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The Thelitian was about to object when he looked at the wizard to see the determination on her face. He pressed his lips shut and brought the wagon up to a momentary halt. “Your gods go with you magess, Alaria Staver. May they grant we meet again before the day’s end.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Thank you, Kudjik.” She responded as Coerraine helped her down. “Now go. Get yourself safe.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok already stood, sword drawn, between the magess and the approaching goblins. Fen raced up to where Coerraine and Alaria stood. Gnobert astride Buttercream followed with Haelan trotting along after.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“What do we do?” the Hilltender asked.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“We stop them.” Said Braddok with a determined scowl. Then he looked to Alaria, as if to ask if that was the right answer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria looked back at the swordsman, her look questioning his questioning look. Then she noticed the rest of her companions were also looking at her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Sergeant Goren unsheathed his sword and commanded his men to charge. The two with bows were already returning fire as they charged into the fray. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Yes!” Alaria said aloud. “We stop them…at least until the caravan is safe.” She finished facing Coerraine. “And we protect each other.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Everyone nodded and smiled before everything became a flurry of activity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The companions dispersed just before three arrow shafts landed around and among where they had been standing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan lifted his arms as high as his diminutive stature allowed and called down Faerantha’s blessing on them. Immediately, spear and sword, mace and staff were coated in a honey-colored glow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok charged forward determined to take on one of the ogres, if he made it through the array of goblins before them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen raced in behind the warrior.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Oonerd to gloory, Buttercreamshadowfeet! Cheeeerge! Heeeeeheeheeheehee!” Gnobert cried out in maniacal giggle. The ferret took off, hopping along as quickly as she could on her stumpy legs, more or less following Fen and Braddok.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria reached into her pouch to withdraw the crystal orb. She was acutely aware that she had practically no experience using the item’s various powers. There simply had not been time. She chastised herself at the foolhardiness and general irresponsibility of attempting to use a magical device one did not fully understand. But, it seemed to her, their best option at the moment. She made a mental promise to herself, and Manat, that if she survived the afternoon, she would never use another magic item she had not fully researched again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">A cry from behind Alaria caught her attention as one of the refugee farmers fell to the ground with a black-shafted goblin arrow in his back. She also noted the farmer-fighter Maracus holding his ground on the road, ushering panicked refugees toward the gates. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The loud clang of another arrow against Coerraine’s shield snapped Alaria back to the front. The paladin, it seemed, had no intention of leaving Alaria’s position. We have to do something about the arrows, she thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria held the orb before her and began concentrating. Almost immediately, the orb came alive with its inner light swirling blue and white. The air around the magess, began to churn. Robes and hair fluttered and the grasses and dirt across the road also began to blow around. In a flash, Alaria was perfectly aware of the pulsing light within orb and the use of its power. The energies moved freely around and within her, passing from the orb, up and down her arms, like wind blowing through her very body.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">She thrust her arm to the side and a veritable wall of air became nearly visible. The wind persisted such that no goblin arrow could pierce. Black bolts began being flung, fletching over tip, harmlessly to the ground. It did not stop the goblins from shooting, right away, but at least it would keep the refugees safe until they were out of range. Alaria knew she had to maintain concentration to keep the winds doing as she willed and she had every intention of doing so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok slashed through one of the goblins on foot in time to divert a spear from a mounted goblin and avoid the snapping beak of the odd (and ugly) reptilian-bird thing that was its mount. His next blow came down hard on the zark’s leathery tan neck, nearly severing it from its body.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen dodged another of the mounted goblins’ spears only to receive a nasty slash from its zark’s curved beak. The druid grimaced at the painful wound but recovered enough to sink his spear into the rider’s side. The goblin gurgled and fell off its mount. The druid continued passed the flightless creature to try to keep up with Braddok. As he did so, he heard the gnome behind him, chuckling into the fray with an almost sing-songy voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Goblins, goblins, gets all the goblins. All you goblins can't catch me.” The gnome leapt from the ferret’s back. Well, more slid off her rump than “leapt”, as Buttercreamshadowfeet pinned another goblin soldier, raking with claws and sinking its teeth into its shoulder and neck. “Atta girly, BC. All you goblins can’t catch me, <em>Shahiir imber yexi! </em>Heeheeeeee!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">As the night before, bright streaks of blues and reds, violets and yellows shot out of the Gnobert’s flicking fingertips and snapped and crackled before a goblin on a zark barreling down on him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The “firework's” light and noise startled the creature that reared its head back and stumbled backwards, clumsily, over its two talon-tipped three-toed feet. The goblin rider struggled to get the zark under control, shouting in goblin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Many of the words, Gnobert was sure, were curses about gnomes. Without stopping to direct the lights, Gnobert continued after Buttercream who had already moved onto her next appetizer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">One of the zark-riding archers set his site on the armored man who was standing in front of the female, who was obviously a wizard. Despite not wanting to take on a wizard, the armored man with the spear was fair game. His arrows were doing nothing, so the goblin drew a curved serrated blade and urged the zark forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine used his shield to fend off the zark’s snapping beak while trying to reach the rider with his spear tip. Unfortunately, the zark’s long neck prohibited him getting in a clear shot and so he was forced to attack the interfering leather-necked creature.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan, watched on nervously from the “inside” of Alaria’s wind wall. Part of his heart wanted to charge out into the melee, especially given Braddok’s praise of the morning. The other part of him looked out over the field horrified at the wave of evil that was moving closer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The dust thrown up from the zarx and the Bridgetower soldier’s horses was making visibility more and more limited. The ogres, towering above the chaotic fray, brought a lump into Haelan’s throat. For a moment, watching a horse and Bridgetower guard go flying from a club swing, Haelan felt as though he might feint.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Um, Alaria…” the Hilltender began. “I think the arrows stopped, Alaria. Think it might be time for that lightning?” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria’s brow furrowed at the interruption, but she did notice the arrow fire had tapered off. Still, Haelan was right, the goblins were getting closer…too close, she thought. With the slightest adjustment of her thoughts, the wind shifted from sideways to forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Immediately the dust and grasses clouding their visibility dispersed, blown far into the goblin ranks, stinging eyes as they went. For an instant, the shifting wind seemed to bring the attacks to a halt, as the goblins' general fearful superstition of magic momentarily outweighed their orders. They were not unaware how close to the lair of the Dragonmage they were.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">This hesitation allowed for a round of attackers by the defenders. Several of the mounted goblins went down. Fen and Buttercream felled another two while Gnobert used the pause to generate a blast of light in the eyes of another zark.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The creature twisted and turned its head, vainly trying to “shake” the orb of white surrounding its head. It pounded its head into the ground three times before throwing its rider and knocking itself unconscious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The momentary break also allowed Braddok, with a few slashes through two more foot-soldiers, to make his way to the ogre who had, moments earlier, taken out one of the Bridgetower guards…and his horse. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">With a fierce thundering bellow from the top of the ridge, the ogre with the battle axe began moving into the melee. This snapped his depleting troops from their heartbeat of hesitation and the battle was again joined.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan noticed Coerraine was still having trouble getting in a solid shot on the rider. He whipped his shield in the direction of the goblin. At the moment before striking the goblin, the zark reared its head back to avoid a strike from Coerraine’s spear and got a solid blow to the head from a shield instead.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The zark went down, its goblin toppling off over it to find himself at the tip of Coerraine’s spear…before Coerraine sank the spearhead into his chest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine snapped a look back at the daelvar as the shield slipped back onto the priest’s raised arm. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“What?” Haelan asked defensively. “I wasn’t aiming for <em>you</em>!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">**FWOOSH!**</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan jumped forward nearly as tall as he stood at the sound of flames and burst of heat rushing behind him.</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> He turned to see two goblins shrieking and floundering in a cascade of violet and red flames. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The halfling and paladin turned with surprise on the faces to see the last flickers of fire disperse from Alaria’s free hand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Keep your wits about you, daelvar!” she shouted in the most commanding tone Haelan could ever remember hearing from her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The magess then held the orb in both hands. A moment of concentration and Alaria saw the shape of the glyph for <em>levitation</em> form within the swirls of light. She placed one palm over the glyph and in an instant, air swirled around her and she was rising from the ground.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan’s eyes widened, even as his ears heard the nearby clanging of Coerraine engaging another attackers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">It was just a foot, at first. She bobbed there a moment and then looked up toward the battlefield with a grin that Haelan could only describe as 'wicked.' With a thought and a moment, Alaria floated almost fifteen feet high and shifted her position further from the roadside to get a better look at the crowded battle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The Bridgetower guards seemed to be holding their own, though there were only three still visible. The Sergeant and one of the other riders had engaged the second ogre.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">She saw the gnome, whose clothing was currently bright reds and greens racing to catch up to his ferret, which appeared wounded though was still attacking any goblin that got close to it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Maracus was battling one creature, another lay at his feet and was that Devrim behind him? The blue-robed mage strode forward beside the chainmail vested “farmer” and she watched as his sleep spell felled two goblins on foot and one of the zarks that were attempting to encroach on the farmer and mage’s position. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria smiled. Good for you, Devrim, she thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok, and was that dusty green and tan blur behind him Fen (?), moved to engage the ogre with the club.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre with the battleaxe had moved into the field and with a single blow decapitated one of the Bridgetower soldier’s horse. The next swing of the axe severed the guard in two.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan was right, Alaria thought. It was time for lightning. Keeping the orb in one hand, she withdrew the slender white wand. Just one strike, she hoped would be enough to fell the creature. She very much did not want to “use up” the wand’s magic. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The creature stepped over the horse carcass and took a step toward the other ogre beset by Goren and his guardsman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre with the spiked club swung violently but seemed unable to get a solid strike on the Bridgetower defenders. The creature looked to be faltering. Streams of black blood flowed from multiple wounds. Given a few moments, it might be felled, Alaria thought. But with the axe-wielding ogre closing, Goren and his man might not have a few more moments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“<em>Allhankowsh!” </em>The force of the</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> bolt shifted Alaria back in the air a foot or two, but the lightning streaked over the heads of all of the combatants to slam into the chest of the ogre with the axe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Thunder crashed over the field and melded with bellows of pain from the ogre captain as he was pushed back a few steps.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The creature doubled over for a moment and then looked up. The plainly crafted metal plate that was strapped to its chest was blackened and wisps of smoke drifted off the monster from several locations. The ogre opened its mouth and roared across the field, an earth-shaking ear-splitting roar. Then he began to charge, straight for Alaria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok had made a solid strike against the club-wielding ogre and was confident as he wove and dodged the creature’s somewhat clumsy (thought Braddok) swings. The next swing of his blade struck squarely into thick flabby yellow-orange hide of the creature’s waist. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre howled and while Braddok managed to avoid the swinging club, he did not avoid the fist (nearly half the size he was) that followed it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The blow knocked Braddok squarely from his feet, to roll a few feet in the field. He reached for the morningstar on his belt, as his sword had fallen from his grasp. There was a pull in his side, where he’d been bruised the night before, and pain shot through him. Scrambling to fight through the pain and get on his feet, the swordsman looked up to see the ogre smiling a yellowed but toothy smile full of jagged sharp teeth and canines more akin to fangs or tusks than teeth. Then Braddok thought he saw a flaring of green light at ground level.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre lifted its club over its head and before it could make its killing blow, vines and roots and even gigantic blades of grass whipped up out of the ground. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The assaulting greenery wrapped themselves around the ogre’s arms and twined around its legs. Vines strapped themselves around the creature’s torso, like a harness, from behind. In fact, all of the entangling shoots seemed to be from behind the monster and strained to pull it back, away from Braddok.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre bellowed and twisted.</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">One or two of the vines snapped at its protests. They were quickly replaced by new growth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok got to his feet and reset his shield. He glanced behind him to see Fen, spear butt firmly planted on the ground, leaning and pulling back towards himself, as if the spear were a rusty lever he was trying to throw. There was an obvious strain on the half-elf's face.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Don’t look at me! Hit it!” the carrot-topped druid yelled at the dark-haired swordsman. “Hurry!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok surged forward, morningstar in hand, and landed it it squarely on the ogre’s abdomen. And again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">With another bellow, the monster tore free of its binding flora. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen was sent thrown back, as if struck physically himself. He landed heavily on his back and though winded, managed to regain his feet in time to engage another goblin with a hand axe that had been trying to sneak up on him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok continued to strike and weave, paying closer attention to the creature’s fist. Another strike or two and, it seemed the ogre might fall. Unfortunately, the pain in his side was hindering his maneuverability. Braddok had the feeling that if the ogre landed another blow on him, it might be his last.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Then all of the action on the battlefield seemed to stop for a moment again, as all attention went to the streak of lightning, followed by the mind-shaking ferocious response and thundering footsteps as the ogre with the battle axe raced across the field toward...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Alaria!” Braddok called out as his eyes fell on her. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">**SLAM**</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok saw stars as his shield flew from his arm, nearly ripped in two further than the swordsman himself flew. The snaps and pops told his heavily dazed mind, even before the pain arrived, that his arm was certainly broken in multiple places.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Braddok looked up, vision blurred, head ringing, he swung weakly at the ogre’s nearest leg. Sadly, it was not as near as it seemed to him. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria heard her name but could not tear her eyes from the monstrous form charging her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">For a moment, there was a small blur of bright red and green in front of the charging ogre.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">A ball of green light hit the creatures face and seemed to produce a small cloud of greenish gas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre halted momentarily, sniffed, sneezed and waved the gas away from his face. It bellowed again and with a single STOMP, there was only a red splatter where the small blur of red and green had been.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Gnobby!!! Noooooo!!!!” cried Haelan out beneath her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine moved between her and the ogre. A single stab with his spear later the paladin was swatted aside like a fly by a backhanded fist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Almost instinctively, she thrust the hand holding the orb forward and in an instant wind howled all around her and rushed to meet the axe-wielding ogre. The winds rose and rose, soon an ongoing howl roared over the field of battle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The monster struggled against the wind. Blades and axes and arrows, goblins and zarx (some still living) all shot at the creature with hurricane force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine grabbed Haelan who was about to be swept up off of his own feet and laid on top of him in the flattened grasses which were also beginning to rip up from their roots. He drew his broadsword and struck it deep into the ground, holding onto the teary-eyed daelvar with his other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre captain howled and swatted in defiance, but he was, effectively, stopped from advancing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria looked to her right and though she could not hear its dying roar, saw the ogre go down between the two remaining Bridgewater guards. Her mind began to burn, the strain of maintaining this much wind this powerfully was definitely not something she could do for long.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Below her, she heard a strained battlecry and vaguely saw…Duor?!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The dwarf hobbled up from behind (and beneath) the hovering magess, his dagger drawn and glowing with its eerie green fiery light. Duor jumped into the howling gale and was immediately caught in its winds and flung.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">In what looked like a streak of green flame, the dwarf met the ogre’s belly, beneath the scorched breastplate, and sunk his dagger into the mottled yellow flesh nearly up to his elbow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The monster ceased fighting the winds. The axe fell from his hand, being blown a few feet behind him and was, himself, easily blown over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria stared agape for a moment before realizing that Duor was grasping for dear life to his dagger’s handle in the hurricane force winds. She settled her mind and the winds stayed their terrible force, though continued to roar around the scene and maintain Alaria’s levitating.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">She scanned the battlefiend in time to see just under a dozen goblins, a few still on zarx were being run down by the remaining guardsmen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">She also saw the ogre Braddok had been fighting…It was raising its club over its head and roaring at the ground.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen was faltering, attempting to stave off three goblins surrounding him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">But where was Braddok?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The ogre’s club came down with bone-crushing force that Alaria felt more than heard. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Alaria’s eyebrows rose slightly. Then slightly more. A shock that was filling her brain slowly, painfully slowly, began to give way to understanding. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Alaria heard her heartbeat in her ears. One….two…no… </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“ALLHANKOWSH!”</em> </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Alaria called out. The mighty mystic phrase thundered over the noise of the battlefield and howling winds that held Alaria aloft.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Around the tip of the ever so slender and delicate looking white wand, the air crackled and sparked before a devastating bolt of lightning streaked through the melee. The wand itself crackled and snapped. Alaria watched as veins of light appeared along the wand’s length. With a final snap and static discharge, the wand splintered into a thousand shards and fell from her hand. </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> The final use of her mentor’s gift was far from in vain. Goblins and zarx that did not simply fall in blackened charred lumps flew in various directions. Some were lifted and thrown farther from the gale that had engulfed the fighting. Her primary target, a wounded but still savage ogre, also fell from the blast. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> In the wake of the thunder from the bolt, the battle fell silent. No foes remained moving. No survivors to retreat. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> The gale that surrounded Alaria, and indeed the whole battlefield, subsided quickly. The R’Hathi mage gently returned to earth as the winds calmed. When her feet touched ground her knees buckled and she simply crumpled into a heap. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> The crystal orb rolled from her other hand, her fingers gone as limp as the rest of her. Its swirling cloudy inner light faded from view. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Exhaustion claimed her clouded mind as tears flowed down her cheeks freely. Somewhere some piece of her thought how pathetic her lack of self-control and unseemly her emotional outburst must seem to the remaining onlookers. </span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> She didn’t care. </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Alaria lifted her eyes to the body-strewn field. They came to rest on the sundered shield. Her vision blurred and there was a dull awareness of her head hitting the ground before darkness claimed her. </span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5685115, member: 92511"] [FONT=Verdana]The caravan came to the thoroughly-cleared plain before the two towered guardhouse on their side of the river. The very top of the much higher white tower on the Daenfrii side of the river was just visible behind them. The group was still nearly a half-hour’s trudge away when the gates opened and a troupe of riders came out heading at a gallop for the caravan. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]There were five mounted soldiers wore deep blue tabards. They all seemed armed with spears, two bore bows and quivers on their backs while the rest had scabbards hanging at their sides. The two behind the helmed lead rider flew the banner of Daenfrii at the end of their spears, a serpentine gold dragon (like a reverse “S”) with a large wing outstretched and a bright blue diamond held in its fore claws. The banners stretched out behind them as they rode. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Kudjik brought the caravan to a halt as the riders neared. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria, who had finally risen as they’d crested the low ridge sat next to the Thelitian. Coerraine stood next to her, plainly displaying the eight-pointed red star on his triangular shield. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Hail travelers.” Said the sergeant as he brought his steed up to a halt. “Hold and state your business here.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Kudjik rose an arm in peaceful welcome. “Hail to ye, guardsmen of Daenfrii. We are a company, bereft of hope and home by ill-doings to the south. I am Kudjik Al’Djaliil, humble merchant and trader in fine fabrics from my homeland. These rest are refugees of the Laklans who all seek the security of your master’s realm from most dangerous creatures moving through the lands.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The sergeant looked to Alaria and then Coerraine. “Hail Kudjik Al’Djaliil. Traveling with one of Celradorn’s chosen, I see. I suppose I have no reason to doubt your words. Do I Redstar?” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine stepped forward. “Indeed, you do not.” The paladin responded. He drew himself up to his most erect. “It is as Kudjik claims. We have seen many unfortunate troubles and crossed paths with several perils in the past week.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The sergeant nodded. “Nothing you couldn’t handle from the look of it. I invite you to recoup yourselves within the gates of Bridgetower. Whether or not you will be granted access to Daenfrii, we shall see. But, for now, the road is indeed perilous. We have reports of a large force of goblins in the area. We shall see you to Bridgetower with all speed.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Reports of a large force of goblins here?” Alaria replied. She added more alarm to her voice to get the soldier’s attention. In reality, the news did alarm her somewhat. She was under the impression that they would be several days ahead of the goblin army. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Nothing to concern you, my lady.” The soldier replied. The dismissive, if not condescending, tone was not lost to Alaria. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“You may address me as ‘Magess’, sir. Magess Alaria Staver of Ablidon.” She answered with all intended indignation. Her name would mean nothing to this man, she knew that. But that was no reason for her not to make him feel two feet tall. These were servants of the Dragonmage, after all. Being a fully trained wizard from R’Hath should hold some weight…she hoped. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Apologies, Magess.” The mounted man nodded slightly. “Those trained in the Mysteries are held in high regard in Daenfrii, of course. No disrespect was intended.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Of course not.” Alaria replied coolly. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“I am Sergeant Goren, Magess. It will be the honor of my men and myself to see you safely to Bridgetower.” The man replied and smiled at Alaria. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“We thank you Sergeant Goren. Now what news of this force of goblins?” Alaria pressed even as Kudjik urged the wagon forward. The other Daenfrii soldiers rode along the length of the caravan looking at the obviously road-weary commonfolk and their meager wares. The cool glares of Kudjik’s guards roused no response from the well-trained mounted men. One of the riders returned to Goren’s side and made a quiet report that the caravan seemed to be nothing more than what they had said but did make mention of a “wounded dwarf, a daelvar, and one of the Anicent Order.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Theilitians, R’Hathi, a Redstar with a druid and nearly all the races of realms?” said Goren with a smile. “Quite a diverse group of refugees to be sure.” He instructed the reporting soldier to have the men take up posts along the length of the caravan and then urged everyone to make for the tower before replying to Alaria’s question. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“It is an advance force, no doubt, Magess. We have received word from the Laklans of the army slowing making its way across the plains. They are still far south and would be fools to threaten the lands of the Dragonmage. But then, goblins are not known for their brains.” He smiled again. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria grinned politely at the sergeant’s attempt at wit. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] “Our scouts brought word of a large foraging group, maybe 20 goblins, some mounted on zarks, just south of those woods.” He pointed to a line of trees to the south of the cleared plain. “Had a couple of ogres with them too…if the report’s to be believed.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“You doubt your own scouts?” Alaria questioned, honestly surprised at the sergeant’s statement. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Well no. But as I heard it, the runner was thoroughly spooked by what he’d seen. It’s possible he exaggerated the threat in his fear-addled mind. We don’t get much excitement here. Even creatures as stupid as goblins and ogres know not to challenge the Dragonmage.” Goren explained. “Still, ogres or no, the report placed them a bit too near for my liking, I will admit. So we will not take chances with your safety.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Did he actually just [I]wink[/I] at me? Alaria thought. He’s old enough to be my father! [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The sergeant continued unaware of the wizard’s thoughts, “But the defenders of Bridgetower would be more than a match for those numbers. No force has broken into Daenfrii through the gates of Bridgetower in more than hundred years.” He concluded with unmasked pride. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Have they broken into Daenfrii by other means?” Coerraine asked, innocently. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The question received a frown. “No, Redstar. They have not. But with you here to protect us, I am sure we could face the hordes of Thole, itself.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Men, thought Alaria. Always having to beat their chests at one another. Despite herself, Rhea’s telepathic message [I]‘They are good for some things’[/I] bubbled up from her memory. Inexplicably, her mind turned to Braddok. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Ho! Goblins!” came the cry from one of Goren’s men farther back in the caravan. This immediately turned every head within earshot to look where the soldier was pointing at the ridge beside the wood-line Goren had indicated earlier. A small green figure atop a two-legged very long-necked creature of mottled brown and black raised a horn to its lips and let out a long bleating noise. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Go! Go!” shouted Goren, indicating Kudjik to pick up the pace, as he brought his horse around to look at the ridge. “Defenders of Bridgetower, to me! Alath, the alarm!” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Kudjik didn’t need to be told twice. The wagon lurched forward immediately, nearly sending Alaria flying from her seat. Frightened screams and prayers to the gods went up as everyone in the caravan, carts, horses and on foot took off, in utter chaos, for the gates of the guardhouse several minutes away. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]A horn sounded five quick notes from one of the Bridgetower soldiers. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine watched the ridge as five, then ten, then double that number of creatures, half rode atop the bird-creature mounts crested the ridge. The mounted creatures approached very fast, already halfway to the road. At least half of the mounted goblins had bows, as far as Coerraine could tell in the swerving mass of enemies baring down on them. Arrows quickly began whizzing from multiple locations. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]And then, there [I]were [/I]ogres. Three of the towering things with moldy yellow and orangish skin, clad in leathers and furs, came lumbering up behind the goblins. Two swung huge clubs, one of which sported some nasty-looking curved spikes, as they bellowed across the plain. The third ogre brandished a huge battle axe and seemed to be giving orders to the other creatures. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The paladin looked up to Alaria as he began falling behind the wagon. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Kudjik, a moment. Let me down.” Alaria shouted in the trader’s ear. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The Thelitian was about to object when he looked at the wizard to see the determination on her face. He pressed his lips shut and brought the wagon up to a momentary halt. “Your gods go with you magess, Alaria Staver. May they grant we meet again before the day’s end.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Thank you, Kudjik.” She responded as Coerraine helped her down. “Now go. Get yourself safe.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok already stood, sword drawn, between the magess and the approaching goblins. Fen raced up to where Coerraine and Alaria stood. Gnobert astride Buttercream followed with Haelan trotting along after. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“What do we do?” the Hilltender asked. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“We stop them.” Said Braddok with a determined scowl. Then he looked to Alaria, as if to ask if that was the right answer. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria looked back at the swordsman, her look questioning his questioning look. Then she noticed the rest of her companions were also looking at her. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Sergeant Goren unsheathed his sword and commanded his men to charge. The two with bows were already returning fire as they charged into the fray. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Yes!” Alaria said aloud. “We stop them…at least until the caravan is safe.” She finished facing Coerraine. “And we protect each other.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Everyone nodded and smiled before everything became a flurry of activity. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The companions dispersed just before three arrow shafts landed around and among where they had been standing. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan lifted his arms as high as his diminutive stature allowed and called down Faerantha’s blessing on them. Immediately, spear and sword, mace and staff were coated in a honey-colored glow. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok charged forward determined to take on one of the ogres, if he made it through the array of goblins before them. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen raced in behind the warrior. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Oonerd to gloory, Buttercreamshadowfeet! Cheeeerge! Heeeeeheeheeheehee!” Gnobert cried out in maniacal giggle. The ferret took off, hopping along as quickly as she could on her stumpy legs, more or less following Fen and Braddok. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria reached into her pouch to withdraw the crystal orb. She was acutely aware that she had practically no experience using the item’s various powers. There simply had not been time. She chastised herself at the foolhardiness and general irresponsibility of attempting to use a magical device one did not fully understand. But, it seemed to her, their best option at the moment. She made a mental promise to herself, and Manat, that if she survived the afternoon, she would never use another magic item she had not fully researched again. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]A cry from behind Alaria caught her attention as one of the refugee farmers fell to the ground with a black-shafted goblin arrow in his back. She also noted the farmer-fighter Maracus holding his ground on the road, ushering panicked refugees toward the gates. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The loud clang of another arrow against Coerraine’s shield snapped Alaria back to the front. The paladin, it seemed, had no intention of leaving Alaria’s position. We have to do something about the arrows, she thought. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria held the orb before her and began concentrating. Almost immediately, the orb came alive with its inner light swirling blue and white. The air around the magess, began to churn. Robes and hair fluttered and the grasses and dirt across the road also began to blow around. In a flash, Alaria was perfectly aware of the pulsing light within orb and the use of its power. The energies moved freely around and within her, passing from the orb, up and down her arms, like wind blowing through her very body. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]She thrust her arm to the side and a veritable wall of air became nearly visible. The wind persisted such that no goblin arrow could pierce. Black bolts began being flung, fletching over tip, harmlessly to the ground. It did not stop the goblins from shooting, right away, but at least it would keep the refugees safe until they were out of range. Alaria knew she had to maintain concentration to keep the winds doing as she willed and she had every intention of doing so. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok slashed through one of the goblins on foot in time to divert a spear from a mounted goblin and avoid the snapping beak of the odd (and ugly) reptilian-bird thing that was its mount. His next blow came down hard on the zark’s leathery tan neck, nearly severing it from its body. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen dodged another of the mounted goblins’ spears only to receive a nasty slash from its zark’s curved beak. The druid grimaced at the painful wound but recovered enough to sink his spear into the rider’s side. The goblin gurgled and fell off its mount. The druid continued passed the flightless creature to try to keep up with Braddok. As he did so, he heard the gnome behind him, chuckling into the fray with an almost sing-songy voice. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Goblins, goblins, gets all the goblins. All you goblins can't catch me.” The gnome leapt from the ferret’s back. Well, more slid off her rump than “leapt”, as Buttercreamshadowfeet pinned another goblin soldier, raking with claws and sinking its teeth into its shoulder and neck. “Atta girly, BC. All you goblins can’t catch me, [I]Shahiir imber yexi! [/I]Heeheeeeee!” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]As the night before, bright streaks of blues and reds, violets and yellows shot out of the Gnobert’s flicking fingertips and snapped and crackled before a goblin on a zark barreling down on him. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The “firework's” light and noise startled the creature that reared its head back and stumbled backwards, clumsily, over its two talon-tipped three-toed feet. The goblin rider struggled to get the zark under control, shouting in goblin. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Many of the words, Gnobert was sure, were curses about gnomes. Without stopping to direct the lights, Gnobert continued after Buttercream who had already moved onto her next appetizer. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]One of the zark-riding archers set his site on the armored man who was standing in front of the female, who was obviously a wizard. Despite not wanting to take on a wizard, the armored man with the spear was fair game. His arrows were doing nothing, so the goblin drew a curved serrated blade and urged the zark forward. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine used his shield to fend off the zark’s snapping beak while trying to reach the rider with his spear tip. Unfortunately, the zark’s long neck prohibited him getting in a clear shot and so he was forced to attack the interfering leather-necked creature. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan, watched on nervously from the “inside” of Alaria’s wind wall. Part of his heart wanted to charge out into the melee, especially given Braddok’s praise of the morning. The other part of him looked out over the field horrified at the wave of evil that was moving closer. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The dust thrown up from the zarx and the Bridgetower soldier’s horses was making visibility more and more limited. The ogres, towering above the chaotic fray, brought a lump into Haelan’s throat. For a moment, watching a horse and Bridgetower guard go flying from a club swing, Haelan felt as though he might feint. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Um, Alaria…” the Hilltender began. “I think the arrows stopped, Alaria. Think it might be time for that lightning?” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria’s brow furrowed at the interruption, but she did notice the arrow fire had tapered off. Still, Haelan was right, the goblins were getting closer…too close, she thought. With the slightest adjustment of her thoughts, the wind shifted from sideways to forward. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Immediately the dust and grasses clouding their visibility dispersed, blown far into the goblin ranks, stinging eyes as they went. For an instant, the shifting wind seemed to bring the attacks to a halt, as the goblins' general fearful superstition of magic momentarily outweighed their orders. They were not unaware how close to the lair of the Dragonmage they were. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]This hesitation allowed for a round of attackers by the defenders. Several of the mounted goblins went down. Fen and Buttercream felled another two while Gnobert used the pause to generate a blast of light in the eyes of another zark. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The creature twisted and turned its head, vainly trying to “shake” the orb of white surrounding its head. It pounded its head into the ground three times before throwing its rider and knocking itself unconscious. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The momentary break also allowed Braddok, with a few slashes through two more foot-soldiers, to make his way to the ogre who had, moments earlier, taken out one of the Bridgetower guards…and his horse. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]With a fierce thundering bellow from the top of the ridge, the ogre with the battle axe began moving into the melee. This snapped his depleting troops from their heartbeat of hesitation and the battle was again joined. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan noticed Coerraine was still having trouble getting in a solid shot on the rider. He whipped his shield in the direction of the goblin. At the moment before striking the goblin, the zark reared its head back to avoid a strike from Coerraine’s spear and got a solid blow to the head from a shield instead. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The zark went down, its goblin toppling off over it to find himself at the tip of Coerraine’s spear…before Coerraine sank the spearhead into his chest. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine snapped a look back at the daelvar as the shield slipped back onto the priest’s raised arm. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“What?” Haelan asked defensively. “I wasn’t aiming for [I]you[/I]!” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]**FWOOSH!** [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan jumped forward nearly as tall as he stood at the sound of flames and burst of heat rushing behind him.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] He turned to see two goblins shrieking and floundering in a cascade of violet and red flames. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The halfling and paladin turned with surprise on the faces to see the last flickers of fire disperse from Alaria’s free hand. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Keep your wits about you, daelvar!” she shouted in the most commanding tone Haelan could ever remember hearing from her. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The magess then held the orb in both hands. A moment of concentration and Alaria saw the shape of the glyph for [I]levitation[/I] form within the swirls of light. She placed one palm over the glyph and in an instant, air swirled around her and she was rising from the ground. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan’s eyes widened, even as his ears heard the nearby clanging of Coerraine engaging another attackers. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]It was just a foot, at first. She bobbed there a moment and then looked up toward the battlefield with a grin that Haelan could only describe as 'wicked.' With a thought and a moment, Alaria floated almost fifteen feet high and shifted her position further from the roadside to get a better look at the crowded battle. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The Bridgetower guards seemed to be holding their own, though there were only three still visible. The Sergeant and one of the other riders had engaged the second ogre. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]She saw the gnome, whose clothing was currently bright reds and greens racing to catch up to his ferret, which appeared wounded though was still attacking any goblin that got close to it. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Maracus was battling one creature, another lay at his feet and was that Devrim behind him? The blue-robed mage strode forward beside the chainmail vested “farmer” and she watched as his sleep spell felled two goblins on foot and one of the zarks that were attempting to encroach on the farmer and mage’s position. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Alaria smiled. Good for you, Devrim, she thought. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok, and was that dusty green and tan blur behind him Fen (?), moved to engage the ogre with the club. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre with the battleaxe had moved into the field and with a single blow decapitated one of the Bridgetower soldier’s horse. The next swing of the axe severed the guard in two. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan was right, Alaria thought. It was time for lightning. Keeping the orb in one hand, she withdrew the slender white wand. Just one strike, she hoped would be enough to fell the creature. She very much did not want to “use up” the wand’s magic. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The creature stepped over the horse carcass and took a step toward the other ogre beset by Goren and his guardsman. The ogre with the spiked club swung violently but seemed unable to get a solid strike on the Bridgetower defenders. The creature looked to be faltering. Streams of black blood flowed from multiple wounds. Given a few moments, it might be felled, Alaria thought. But with the axe-wielding ogre closing, Goren and his man might not have a few more moments. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“[I]Allhankowsh!” [/I]The force of the[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] bolt shifted Alaria back in the air a foot or two, but the lightning streaked over the heads of all of the combatants to slam into the chest of the ogre with the axe. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Thunder crashed over the field and melded with bellows of pain from the ogre captain as he was pushed back a few steps. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The creature doubled over for a moment and then looked up. The plainly crafted metal plate that was strapped to its chest was blackened and wisps of smoke drifted off the monster from several locations. The ogre opened its mouth and roared across the field, an earth-shaking ear-splitting roar. Then he began to charge, straight for Alaria. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Braddok had made a solid strike against the club-wielding ogre and was confident as he wove and dodged the creature’s somewhat clumsy (thought Braddok) swings. The next swing of his blade struck squarely into thick flabby yellow-orange hide of the creature’s waist. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre howled and while Braddok managed to avoid the swinging club, he did not avoid the fist (nearly half the size he was) that followed it. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The blow knocked Braddok squarely from his feet, to roll a few feet in the field. He reached for the morningstar on his belt, as his sword had fallen from his grasp. There was a pull in his side, where he’d been bruised the night before, and pain shot through him. Scrambling to fight through the pain and get on his feet, the swordsman looked up to see the ogre smiling a yellowed but toothy smile full of jagged sharp teeth and canines more akin to fangs or tusks than teeth. Then Braddok thought he saw a flaring of green light at ground level. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre lifted its club over its head and before it could make its killing blow, vines and roots and even gigantic blades of grass whipped up out of the ground. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The assaulting greenery wrapped themselves around the ogre’s arms and twined around its legs. Vines strapped themselves around the creature’s torso, like a harness, from behind. In fact, all of the entangling shoots seemed to be from behind the monster and strained to pull it back, away from Braddok. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre bellowed and twisted.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]One or two of the vines snapped at its protests. They were quickly replaced by new growth. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok got to his feet and reset his shield. He glanced behind him to see Fen, spear butt firmly planted on the ground, leaning and pulling back towards himself, as if the spear were a rusty lever he was trying to throw. There was an obvious strain on the half-elf's face. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Don’t look at me! Hit it!” the carrot-topped druid yelled at the dark-haired swordsman. “Hurry!” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok surged forward, morningstar in hand, and landed it it squarely on the ogre’s abdomen. And again. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]With another bellow, the monster tore free of its binding flora. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen was sent thrown back, as if struck physically himself. He landed heavily on his back and though winded, managed to regain his feet in time to engage another goblin with a hand axe that had been trying to sneak up on him. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok continued to strike and weave, paying closer attention to the creature’s fist. Another strike or two and, it seemed the ogre might fall. Unfortunately, the pain in his side was hindering his maneuverability. Braddok had the feeling that if the ogre landed another blow on him, it might be his last. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Then all of the action on the battlefield seemed to stop for a moment again, as all attention went to the streak of lightning, followed by the mind-shaking ferocious response and thundering footsteps as the ogre with the battle axe raced across the field toward... [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Alaria!” Braddok called out as his eyes fell on her. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]**SLAM** [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok saw stars as his shield flew from his arm, nearly ripped in two further than the swordsman himself flew. The snaps and pops told his heavily dazed mind, even before the pain arrived, that his arm was certainly broken in multiple places. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Braddok looked up, vision blurred, head ringing, he swung weakly at the ogre’s nearest leg. Sadly, it was not as near as it seemed to him. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Alaria heard her name but could not tear her eyes from the monstrous form charging her. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]For a moment, there was a small blur of bright red and green in front of the charging ogre. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]A ball of green light hit the creatures face and seemed to produce a small cloud of greenish gas. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre halted momentarily, sniffed, sneezed and waved the gas away from his face. It bellowed again and with a single STOMP, there was only a red splatter where the small blur of red and green had been. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Gnobby!!! Noooooo!!!!” cried Haelan out beneath her. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine moved between her and the ogre. A single stab with his spear later the paladin was swatted aside like a fly by a backhanded fist. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Almost instinctively, she thrust the hand holding the orb forward and in an instant wind howled all around her and rushed to meet the axe-wielding ogre. The winds rose and rose, soon an ongoing howl roared over the field of battle. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The monster struggled against the wind. Blades and axes and arrows, goblins and zarx (some still living) all shot at the creature with hurricane force. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine grabbed Haelan who was about to be swept up off of his own feet and laid on top of him in the flattened grasses which were also beginning to rip up from their roots. He drew his broadsword and struck it deep into the ground, holding onto the teary-eyed daelvar with his other. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre captain howled and swatted in defiance, but he was, effectively, stopped from advancing. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria looked to her right and though she could not hear its dying roar, saw the ogre go down between the two remaining Bridgewater guards. Her mind began to burn, the strain of maintaining this much wind this powerfully was definitely not something she could do for long. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Below her, she heard a strained battlecry and vaguely saw…Duor?! [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The dwarf hobbled up from behind (and beneath) the hovering magess, his dagger drawn and glowing with its eerie green fiery light. Duor jumped into the howling gale and was immediately caught in its winds and flung. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]In what looked like a streak of green flame, the dwarf met the ogre’s belly, beneath the scorched breastplate, and sunk his dagger into the mottled yellow flesh nearly up to his elbow. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The monster ceased fighting the winds. The axe fell from his hand, being blown a few feet behind him and was, himself, easily blown over. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria stared agape for a moment before realizing that Duor was grasping for dear life to his dagger’s handle in the hurricane force winds. She settled her mind and the winds stayed their terrible force, though continued to roar around the scene and maintain Alaria’s levitating. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]She scanned the battlefiend in time to see just under a dozen goblins, a few still on zarx were being run down by the remaining guardsmen. She also saw the ogre Braddok had been fighting…It was raising its club over its head and roaring at the ground. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen was faltering, attempting to stave off three goblins surrounding him. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]But where was Braddok? [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The ogre’s club came down with bone-crushing force that Alaria felt more than heard. Alaria’s eyebrows rose slightly. Then slightly more. A shock that was filling her brain slowly, painfully slowly, began to give way to understanding. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Alaria heard her heartbeat in her ears. One….two…no… [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [I]“ALLHANKOWSH!”[/I] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Alaria called out. The mighty mystic phrase thundered over the noise of the battlefield and howling winds that held Alaria aloft. Around the tip of the ever so slender and delicate looking white wand, the air crackled and sparked before a devastating bolt of lightning streaked through the melee. The wand itself crackled and snapped. Alaria watched as veins of light appeared along the wand’s length. With a final snap and static discharge, the wand splintered into a thousand shards and fell from her hand. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] The final use of her mentor’s gift was far from in vain. Goblins and zarx that did not simply fall in blackened charred lumps flew in various directions. Some were lifted and thrown farther from the gale that had engulfed the fighting. Her primary target, a wounded but still savage ogre, also fell from the blast. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] In the wake of the thunder from the bolt, the battle fell silent. No foes remained moving. No survivors to retreat. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] The gale that surrounded Alaria, and indeed the whole battlefield, subsided quickly. The R’Hathi mage gently returned to earth as the winds calmed. When her feet touched ground her knees buckled and she simply crumpled into a heap. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] The crystal orb rolled from her other hand, her fingers gone as limp as the rest of her. Its swirling cloudy inner light faded from view. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Exhaustion claimed her clouded mind as tears flowed down her cheeks freely. Somewhere some piece of her thought how pathetic her lack of self-control and unseemly her emotional outburst must seem to the remaining onlookers. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] She didn’t care. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] Alaria lifted her eyes to the body-strewn field. They came to rest on the sundered shield. Her vision blurred and there was a dull awareness of her head hitting the ground before darkness claimed her. [/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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