Post by Monday
((Parts
3,
2,
1 and
prologue.))
The weary dwarves gathered their things together and started west. “We’d best stay away from th’ road,” said Khaz. Fünden nodded. “Aye, there’s nae tellin’ if th’ Crusaders have set up camp in th’ ruins.”
Fjarn grunted and continued to walk, steadily putting one foot in front of the other. He outpaced the others and moved to about twenty feet in front of the rest of the group. Fünden quietly marveled at this, seeing as how Fjarn was hauling not only his carbine, but a truly gigantic hammer as well.
“So,” said Khaz, “What do ye think is in front of us? If we’re to make it to the camp, we’re gonna hafta swim, or go back through Andorhol. I know ye said earlier we’re gonna hafta swim… but I’m not too sure whether that’s any safer than goin’ through the damned city again. I’d rather die fightin’ something that I can fight, rather than coughing me bloody guts out.”
Thorgrim shrugged, wincing slightly as he moved his shoulder, where a large cut marred it, courtesy of Araj’s Frostbolt. Fünden grimaced. “With Thorgrim’s shoulder th’ way it is, I’m not too sure he wants another go in th’ water either. That’s gonna be a nasty infection already, I think,” he said.
Thorgrim glared at Fünden until the other dwarf turned away. “Either way, we’re goin’ tae hafta –“ Fünden began, when he stopped and held up a hand. Immediately, the group moved quietly into cover and halted. Fünden flashed a couple hands signs, holding a hand up to his ear, then pointing west, indicating that he had heard something approaching from the west.
They fanned out. Khaz lifted his rifle, which he kept loaded in case of ambush, and covered the road. Fünden took his axe out, and Fjarn lifted his hammer. Thorgrim drew his weapon, but closed his eyes in pain and nearly dropped his weapon.
Fünden crept to the road and peered out through the trees. Four Scarlet Crusaders marched along the road. In between them was a small figure wearing a tabard, which bore the emblem of the Argent Dawn.
Fünden held up four fingers, then one, indicating four hostiles and one ally. He motioned for Khaz to attack from behind, and Fjarn to attack from the side. Fünden then lifted his axe and held up five fingers, ticking them off until he reached one, then jumped out.
Fünden jumped from cover, right into the middle of the surprised Scarlets. He shoulder bashed one away, and sliced another with his axe, scoring a deep gash along her arm. Fjarn roared a battle cry and leapt from the side, whacking one Crusader with his hammer, making a sickening crunching noise.
Khaz dropped his rifle, unwilling to hit the Argent Dawn member, and jumped with only his sword.
The Crusader that Fünden shoulder bashed was up again, with his shield up and sword out. He slashed at Fünden’s unprotected back, as the dwarf engaged a second Crusader. Khaz interposed himself and parried the blow, forcing the Crusader back.
Annoyed, Fünden turned the Crusader around, until her back was to the fighting. She was bleeding profusely from a large slash on her arm, forcing her to discard her shield, but her sword flashed, not slowed in the slightest. Fünden parried one blow sweeping into his left side, and threw a punch at her face.
She threw up an arm to block it, and howled in pain as Fünden’s gloved fist connected with her cut arm. He took advantage of this with a quick sweep to her ribs, slicing deep. She clutched her chest and collapsed.
Fjarn had knocked his Crusader off balance with his sudden and terrible blow, and kept him that way, keeping flowing sweeps aimed at forcing the Crusader backwards and keeping him off balance. It was tiring however, but Fjarn only needed a moment to drop his Crusader. His opportunity came when the Crusader stumbled backwards, and almost tripped over a rock.
His face contorted in horror as he stumbled, and Fjarn’s hammer swept in and finished him.
Khaz parried another blow on his sword, and threw a punch at his Crusader, which was blocked by his shield. Khaz grimaced in pain, but kept his defenses up. Anything less would mean certain death.
Fünden came running in from the side, throwing a cut at the Crusader. He blocked it with his shield, but the Crusader’s attention was diverted. He learned his mistake when Khaz’s sword sank deep into his neck.
Khaz realized his mistake when he felt the fourth Crusader’s sword stab into his shoulder. He toppled over, and rolled onto his back. The Crusader loomed over him, sword raised for a final blow.
A crack rent the air, and the Crusader jerked, and slid to the ground. Thorgrim stumbled onto the road, and dropped Khaz’s smoking rifle.
Fünden returned to the group, supporting the Argent Dawn member, and tasked Fjarn with bandaging Khaz. “I don’ think well be able tae go through the water now,” Fünden informed the group. “We’re best findin’ some other way through.”
The Argent Dawn member, a human woman, barely older than a teenager, groaned. “No! Let me go!” she yelled, punching Fünden weakly. He grabbed her wrist. “Don’ worry yerself, we’re allies of the Dawn,” he told her. She nodded, perhaps too tired to care whether his words were true or to injured for it to make any difference, and lapsed into unconsciousness.
Fünden sighed. “Gentlemen, we’ve got trouble.”
((I apologize for the long waits in between these. I'm writing part 5 as we speak, and I plan on releasing it Wednesday. I'd like to keep this below 10 parts, and on top of part 5 I'm writing 6/7 before releasing any of them.))