Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - The Chronicles of Merick -- part I

Rockstar · 04-14-2007, 09:47 PM

CHAPTER 3
ACT III
The Sword Coast’s Greatest Swordsman

Merick was three quarters the way to Beregost and was now enjoying the peaceful serenity of a quiet forest enhabited by nothing but birds and squirrels. Merick had been so fixated on getting to Beregost that he had not rested since he left Nashkel. He found a well concealed tree to rest against and fell asleep.

Merick awoke to the dawning of the sun after hearing soft footsteps. Merick scrambled to his feet when he saw a tall warrior carrying a long sword approaching him, only meters away. Merick drew his blade and regained his composure.

The man was tall with blond hair and a large jutting jaw. His torso was covered in thick leather armor and he had noticeably heavy, perfectly crafted, black gauntlets on his hands that covered his hands up to his mid forearms. The man spoke. “I am friend of the hobbits of Gullykin and I came to visit them last night to find their village ablaze and one of my friends dead. I am here to serve justice to you.” Merick laughed at the notion. “So you’ve come here to serve ‘justice’ have you?” The man kept a serious look, “I am the greatest swordsman in the Sword Coast. I reside at the Firewine Ruins and I have never seen defeat in a sword dual.” The man made Merick’s face lit up in anger as the swordsman continued. “And I will do this farum a favour by removing this phycopathic dwarf.” Merick both men drew steel. The man had an impressed look on his face when he saw Merick’s sword as he commented “That’s a nice sword you have there… finally it will get a deserving master.”

Both men charged into close quarters. Both men wielded their blades with one hand and Merick was having to aim much higher against the tall man. Sparks flew rapidly as the swords danced in a spectacular dance display of speed and technical skill. Merick’s sword abilities had advanced thoroughly since he had left Candlekeep and was holding his ground, but his opponent seemed to have such speed and accuracy in his shots that Merick did not know how long he could hold a steady position for. Neither man was backing away as they held their ground when out of the blue, the swordsman tricked Merick, who misjudged a block and saw the swordsman’s blade enter just below his left collarbone. The swordsman slid his blade all the way through, angled slightly down. Merick arched his body forward in pain but at the same time swung his blade hard at the swordsman’s extended arm. The swordsman, thinking Merick was done for, in a panic, withdrew his blade as fast as he could, but Merick’s blade was already there. Merick’s sword swept right through the swordsman’s forearm, just below the elbow, in a separation of streaming blood.

The swordsman stumbled a few steps in hysteria before collapsing to his knees holding his arm at the elbow, watching blood drip from the wound, which was half crusted with frost. Merick grunted as he forced himself to stand before the swordsman, with the blade still run through him and gloated, "Never underestimate a dwarf!" The swordsman looked up at Merick and said in a low tone. “Finish me warrior…” Merick scrunched up his face with hate and replied, “With pleasure.” before beheading the swordsman.

Merick cried out in agony as he slid the blade out of him, length by length. He spilt some healing potion on both the front and the back of the wound to stop it from getting worse and then examined the gauntlet on the severed hand that lay on the ground. Merick took both the gauntlets and put them on. He realised he had found one of the ‘greatest swordsman’s’ secrets. When he put them on his hands moved faster and his when he swung his sword, the blade went almost exactly where he had wanted it to go. “Seems there is a good return in killing hobbits.” Merick laughed to himself as he made his way through the forest. After walking another day, Merick pressed through the last few clusters of trees and could see Beregost.

[ 04-14-2007, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]

04-14-2007, 09:47 PM	#20
Rockstar Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 4, 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 300	CHAPTER 3 ACT III The Sword Coast’s Greatest Swordsman Merick was three quarters the way to Beregost and was now enjoying the peaceful serenity of a quiet forest enhabited by nothing but birds and squirrels. Merick had been so fixated on getting to Beregost that he had not rested since he left Nashkel. He found a well concealed tree to rest against and fell asleep. Merick awoke to the dawning of the sun after hearing soft footsteps. Merick scrambled to his feet when he saw a tall warrior carrying a long sword approaching him, only meters away. Merick drew his blade and regained his composure. The man was tall with blond hair and a large jutting jaw. His torso was covered in thick leather armor and he had noticeably heavy, perfectly crafted, black gauntlets on his hands that covered his hands up to his mid forearms. The man spoke. “I am friend of the hobbits of Gullykin and I came to visit them last night to find their village ablaze and one of my friends dead. I am here to serve justice to you.” Merick laughed at the notion. “So you’ve come here to serve ‘justice’ have you?” The man kept a serious look, “I am the greatest swordsman in the Sword Coast. I reside at the Firewine Ruins and I have never seen defeat in a sword dual.” The man made Merick’s face lit up in anger as the swordsman continued. “And I will do this farum a favour by removing this phycopathic dwarf.” Merick both men drew steel. The man had an impressed look on his face when he saw Merick’s sword as he commented “That’s a nice sword you have there… finally it will get a deserving master.” Both men charged into close quarters. Both men wielded their blades with one hand and Merick was having to aim much higher against the tall man. Sparks flew rapidly as the swords danced in a spectacular dance display of speed and technical skill. Merick’s sword abilities had advanced thoroughly since he had left Candlekeep and was holding his ground, but his opponent seemed to have such speed and accuracy in his shots that Merick did not know how long he could hold a steady position for. Neither man was backing away as they held their ground when out of the blue, the swordsman tricked Merick, who misjudged a block and saw the swordsman’s blade enter just below his left collarbone. The swordsman slid his blade all the way through, angled slightly down. Merick arched his body forward in pain but at the same time swung his blade hard at the swordsman’s extended arm. The swordsman, thinking Merick was done for, in a panic, withdrew his blade as fast as he could, but Merick’s blade was already there. Merick’s sword swept right through the swordsman’s forearm, just below the elbow, in a separation of streaming blood. The swordsman stumbled a few steps in hysteria before collapsing to his knees holding his arm at the elbow, watching blood drip from the wound, which was half crusted with frost. Merick grunted as he forced himself to stand before the swordsman, with the blade still run through him and gloated, "Never underestimate a dwarf!" The swordsman looked up at Merick and said in a low tone. “Finish me warrior…” Merick scrunched up his face with hate and replied, “With pleasure.” before beheading the swordsman. Merick cried out in agony as he slid the blade out of him, length by length. He spilt some healing potion on both the front and the back of the wound to stop it from getting worse and then examined the gauntlet on the severed hand that lay on the ground. Merick took both the gauntlets and put them on. He realised he had found one of the ‘greatest swordsman’s’ secrets. When he put them on his hands moved faster and his when he swung his sword, the blade went almost exactly where he had wanted it to go. “Seems there is a good return in killing hobbits.” Merick laughed to himself as he made his way through the forest. After walking another day, Merick pressed through the last few clusters of trees and could see Beregost. [ 04-14-2007, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]