Distant shores: Chapter 1 - The voyage North

[Morgeruat]

Rastheme Chombra

The dwarf smiled grimly as the axe found it's mark momentarily halting the rider, as the man drew his sword and began to move again another axe was let fly, towards the right knee of the rider (assuming that the right hand is the sword arm, if not then he's going for the other leg), a wound that wouldn't kill, but would definitely impair his ability to brace his weight for any kind of strike.

He then fluidly drew two more axes while waiting for the man to close. The smile on his face made frightening by the cold glint reflecting in his eyes.

[ 06-13-2006, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[dplax]

The battle rages on

Alexia dropped on her knees next to Brea, her companion mortally wounded by yet another of the poisoned crossbow bolts. A single tear ran its solitary course down the young apprentice's cheeks as the sorrow over so much needless death overwhelmed her.

Sorrow was quick to turn to anger, as the last bit of druidic peacefullness and self control Alexia had was lost in the face of her grief. Scavenging a short dagger from the dead body of Gweanna, Alexia surveyed the battle.

Nytia was locked in physical combat with the leader of the bandits, who despite possessing a greater physical strength than the young female on top of him, had been winded by his fall from the top of his horse. He was quickly regaining his breath though, despite Nytia's hands pressing hard on his jugular.

With a mighty heave, using his back and pushing with both knees hard against Nytia's stomach, he managed to have his opponent loosen her grip. At that precise moment he pushed the druid apprentice off himself with a strong shove of the right hand.

The bandit leader massaged his neck while standing up, and reached for a dagger at his belt, just as Alexia, seeing the danger he companion had suddenly gotten into crashed into him, thrusting her dagger deep into his shoulder. This time it was Alexia who fell on top of the bandit as they both crashed to the ground.

Unfortunately for Nytia's fellow apprentice, the bandit's dagger had been loosened enough, and as she fell on top of him, his dagger was planted straight into her chest, tragically ending her life.

The bandit leader once again started standing up, blood soaking his shirt where he had been hit, but Nytia clearly had the next move against him.


Rastheme let fly another axe, which once again found its target, hitting the rider in the right thigh, dislodging his right foot from the stirrup. By the time the bandit regained his balance, his still galloping steed had drawn level with Rastheme, who now had the perfect opportunity to strike.

Meanwhile, Armus was having trouble with his opponent, who had gotten in a lucky blow with his shield against the ex-mercenary's left arm. Blood oozed from the long gash and Armus was being hard pressed, and could only defend himself.

Luckily for him Aneuhl had spotted his companion in danger, and not having any clear target for his bow, urged his horse towards Armus.

Machaon has now arrived on the battlefield, and is free to engage whichever opponent he chooses to.

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia

She could do nothing as the bandit threw her off and then came Alexia, the sweet and passive friend that had warmed her coldest days years ago when they first met. She too had lost her life in this stuggle and it seemed there was no end in sight. Even these people that had come to help was not capable of stopping her friends from dying. And as she recovered her oak staff, the banit stood up and tried getting his bearings on the situation around him...Nytia delivered the butt-end of her staff into his nose with a furious power that she had not had in a long time.

[Kazilan]

Machaon

Machaon stepped into the combat zone and took a moment to survey the battle. His eyes jumped from one person to another, nervous energy building as adrenaline started to flood his system. He had been in fights before - usually on the losing end - but never a life and death struggle like this. The sight of dead bodies strewn around shocked him to action, and anger built up over the death of these people who so resembled fellow scholars by their lack of weaponry or armor.

A warcry bellowed from his throat (a voice in the back of Machaon's mind wondered where this warcry came from, but only briefly) and he charged, staff raised, at the bandit fighting with a nearby young woman who was part of the other group.

[Morgeruat]

Rastheme

The dwarf deftly stepped aside from the charging horse and brought his paired axes up at the rider who had just regained his balance.

[dplax]

Victory, but at what price?

Nytia delivered a furious blow, striking the bridge of the bandit leader's nose. Blood spurted from the shattered nose as the man stumbled backwards, and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, clearly unconscious. Blood still flowed from his nose, threatening to suffocate him if he was not moved. Machaon had thus been deprived of his target, and suddenly had no one to attack.

The sound of an approaching horse broke the concentration of the bandit fighting Armus. Atop his steed, Aneuhl, an arrow notched in his bow approached the combatants, but firing the arrow was not needed, for Armus, using his opponents momentary lapse of concentration, delivered a fierce blow, which cleaved the bandit's helmet in two, and almost seperated the upper right upper half of his head from the rest.

Meanwhile, Rastheme had his own battle to fight. The rider rushing at him had murder in his eyes, and looked ready to charge down the dwarf with his horse, until the axes of the deftly sidestepping dwarf caught him in the chest. Given the speed of the horse, the axes were wrenched from Rastheme's hands. Unguided, the horse stopped about a hundred yards later, its rider slumped unmoving in the saddle.

It seemed as though the battle had been won, but as evidenced by the numerous dead druids on the ground, victory had had a high cost.

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia

All around she looked, and saw only carnage...but these had been dear friends, counselors and leaders, and they held the only posession she most dearly cherished...their love.

What ill fate had befallen them all, and what right had she to have survived unscathed? She fell to her knees, took two hand-fulls of earth, and let the dirt fall over her as she prayed for the souls of her dearest ones, that they might be called to serve the Great Mother once again someday.

She did not fear the newcomers, for they seemed to only have desire to end the lives of those that were agressing against her and those that she had been with. When it was time, she would thank them, but first she had a responsibility to the dead to perform.

OOC>>>Trying to get back into character and remember what I can as I do not have the time available to re-read too much detail. I cannot even recall if anyone is yet alive from my team. I'll give this a shot, and hope to get my mindset back into this interesting character.