Well, since D'Shai's a big slacker (he's currently out of town, but even when he's here he's still a big slacker) I figured I'd let slip a quick half-post. The other half should be up shortly, after Bozo the clown gets back.
On the flip side, even though the story hour is increasingly behind the current campaign, that will soon be over. Mainly because the campaign is getting near the end game. You know how it goes - fighting the BEBG (That's Big Evil Bad Guy; I never understood how anyone could ever say BBEG and be coherent - that would be like saying "drow" doesn't rhyme with "cow" (the kind that goes "moo)), shaking the pillars of heaven, all kinds of stuff.
Who knows, if you're good and eat all of your vegetables Fett might even post the stat block of the current campaign over in that other thread.
Anyway, here's your appetizer!
*****
Turn and twist, turn and... “Oof!” That’s a cracked rib.
The red-limned beast had taken Worm off his feet, and snapped at the warrior’s shoulder with a beak-like snout. What in the hells is this thing? The beast clamped down on the half-orc’s shoulder and ripped a cry of pain from his lips. Think later. Fight now!
Twist left, pull it down, and… Worm’s right hand shot out like a hook, searching for the beast’s windpipe in the hopes of ending the grapple early. Instead the warrior’s fingers found a leather collar, which he yanked backward violently, breaking the beast’s hold on his shoulder and causing it to rear back. With his other hand, he grabbed for a handful of fur, but came away with a thick handful of feathers, feathers? What the, instead. The distraction nearly cost him, as the beast threw itself back down over the half-orc.
This time Worm was ready. He pulled the beast’s collar - now the obvious source of the red-tinged light - as he rolled to the side and the beast crashed to the ground with a thud and a yelp that was as much screech as roar. That’s it, use the big bastard’s strength against it. It’s slow and it’s stu… The beast recovered quickly. Too quickly.
In a heartbeat the beast had shifted its weight, leaving two claws free to bat at the warrior, striking him soundly and drawing him close. “Noooooo!” Worm yelled angrily as he was drug into the bear hug.
He felt another rib crack in the beast’s embrace, and grunted in pain. Without looking up he yanked back on the collar again and was rewarded by not having his head ripped open by a toothy beak. Too strong. Stronger than me. Yank. Shift. Punch. Worm snaked a hand free and with it he gave the beast a clout on the ear, eliciting another screech. It did not loosen its hold. “Run, Pack!” he gasped.
“No, Worm! Ashrem and Ander are here to help!”
The half-orc let fly another fist, this time connecting to the beast’s throat, right below its beak. I’ll be damned if I let that lying sack save me. With a grunt, he pushed against the creature’s bulk and tucked his legs beneath it. Just like last fall: ready, ready, go! Using the makeshift leash, he pulled the beast’s beak down and into the ground while heaving upward with his legs.
For an instant, Worm saw superimposed over the beast the form of the barbarian he had beaten at Festival with the same move. But the man did not have claws with which to leave gaping slashes across the half-orc’s sides, or a razor sharp hook of a beak with which to latch on to the warrior’s shoulder. When the beast crashed to the ground, Worm went with it. At least I’m on top.
Out of the corner of his eye, over the head of the owl-headed bear whose beak was buried in the meat of the half-orc’s shoulder, Worm saw Ashrem and the woodsman bolting toward the fight. Out of the other corner, he saw Pack holding a dagger, looking for a place to strike. “Told you… to go, Pack” he panted as he pushed a thumb into the beast’s eye. The creature let loose the shoulder and screeched, but hugged Worm more tightly than ever.
Not going to beat it. He twisted the beast’s head around, expecting the body to turn with the head. The head turned all the way around, biting at Worm’s upper arm. Not without a weapon. A jab of his elbow spun the head back the other way. No time for a knife. Or a rock. Just like back with Abel.
Abel!
“Ashrem!” he bellowed, “get ready to kill this thing!” Ready, ready, NOW! Worm rolled onto his back, pulling the beast with him.
The slaughter was over seconds later. It wasn’t until the beast shuddered and let out a last feeble squawk that Worm let go of the collar and let its head fall to the side.
The half-orc looked around: Pack squatted near his head with a worried look on his face, while Ashrem wiped his blades on the creature’s feathers. Theo huffed and puffed his way to the warrior’s side, and immediately began saying a prayer, placing a pair of healing hands on Worm’s shoulder. Ander stood to one side, with a look that Worm didn’t care to try and place.
“Well,” said Worm to the woodsman, “You going to do something useful and get this thing off of me?”
“Sorry,” answered the Ionian, slipping his staff into place and levering the dead creature off of the half-orc. “I thought I saw a set of tracks heading down that…”
“Ander,” interrupted Ashrem, “I think I have just scented Aurora.”
