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CHAPTER 3
ACT II
The Hobbit Town Of Gullykin
Merick headed north to make his way back to the city of Beregost. Merick thought it would be wiser to go through the forests and stay clear of the main roads in order to get to Beregost unnoticed. When Merick last journeyed down from Beregost to Nashkel, he explored the lighthouse and the eastern forests. This time Merick decided to explore the forests west of the main road.
Merick pressed through yet another forest with little habitance. Merick did nothing but walk, besides kill and eat a fox, for a day and half. He began to ponder of how it was someone stupid and foolish to have killed the figurehead of a major town in The Sword Coast as now he would be wanted by the authorities as well as his unknown enemies, but he justified it in his own mind as he had to make a fearful stand somewhere. Hopefully Merick would have no reason to head back that way.
It was late afternoon when Merick saw a miniature town filled with tents and farms, and walking around inside, hobbits. Merick ventured in to see if there was anything of use that he could pillage from these small people. Merick arrogantly strutted straight through the town as if he owned it, but he was not impressed as these hobbits were primitive and only seemed to be running farms, raising animals and crops for themselves. Merick was just about to walk out of the town when what appeared to be the leader of the town came up to him. This hobbit wore lightly plated armor and carried a short sword and small shield on his back. He spoke at Merick, “Hello there stranger. You look like a warrior of some skill. We have a problem that you might be able to help us with.” Merick needed to get to Beregost to catch the messenger and was not interested in helping anybody regardless. Merick eyed the hobbit up and down for a moment.
Merick had already tasted what it was like to strike fear into the hearts of innocents. He could not help himself. “Draw your weapons.” Merick demanded with his eyes eagerly open. The Halfling looked stunned for a moment before drawing his short sword and shield. These people were farmers, not combatants and the battle reflected this. The hobbit people looked in horror at what was happening. Merick drew his blade and went straight into an offensive flurry of spins and slices. The hobbit leader was immediately put on the back foot and could only use his sword and shield to block the shots. Merick swung heavily to the right to knock the hobbit’s shield to the side before a lightning quick slice diagonally down the hobbit’s chest. The hobbit fell to the ground dying. Merick grinned in victory and aimed his ring at a straw stable. Merick sent a jet of fire at the stable that set it ablaze. Merick walked out of the town as if he had never been in it as the hobbits frantically gathered bails of water to put the fire out. Merick knew he didn’t have the time to hunt down and kill them all, but it was spreading the fear that he was interested in. At least for now…
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