Library: History Matters

Elby was a young halfling, his bow taller than himself, when he sighted the squirrel in the tree. The black squirrel focused on the nut between its tiny paws, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. Elby moved forward for a better shot, a closer shot when he stepped on a twig. The snap was not loud though it was loud enough that the squirrel heard. It darted away before Elby could get off his shot. Elby felt a hand on his shoulder, followed by the laugh of his favorite Uncle. “Sometimes take a breath and take the show you have Elby rather than the shot you want. Deep breath. Steady shot.”

Elby’s Uncle was not wrong. Though Elby’s Uncle was never in this type of battle.

Elby let the words escape his mouth as he sighted the target across the room, “I'll deal with these bowmen. Radegast, see if you can help Stones. Noienna, you've been here before. How do we deal with these guys?"

Deep breath. Steady shot. The arrow hummed across the room (26 to hit) before slamming into the Thunderbow (20 hit points). It was not a shot most people could make. It was not a shot most people even attempt. It was right on the edge of Elby’s range and he made it look effortless.

"See if you can hide behind the bookcases so they're shooting blind." The Halfling reached for another arrow.

“Yes, you’re hurting them,” bellowed Noienna deep from within Stones chest.

The Mindsurge raised its scimitar toward Radegast. Its life-less eyes betrayed nothing. Whatever the creature was made of it no information could be gleamed from its movements. Though the smooth swing of its scimitar toward Radegast spoke of its intentions easily. Intentions Radegast easily answered by bringing his battle-axe into position to deflect the blow.

Stones thinks back to an early session during his battle training. Surrounded by two older, stronger opponents he had been driven to the ground by an onslaught of wooden swords. On his knees in the sandy fight pit, bruises already forming on his body the master at arms had called a halt to the proceeding. The master-at-arms leaned close, whispering into Stones’ ear, “Surprise them with a new weapon.” As the master-at-arms moved away Stones picked up a handful of sand...

Flanked by two opponents the situation was nearly a mirror that day. A mirror of far more dangerous weapons though. He notices the statue but is otherwise too busy to examine it in detail...Stones mutters, more to himself than anyone else. “Got them right where I want them now.”

All of the pores in Stones’ body scream at once as though the universe itself is attempting to escape from his body. His mind barely holds against the onslaught of energy that comes from the object that he has swallowed (27 to hit). Stones yells out as he does the psychic attack, "a taste of your own medicine!"

The Western Voidblade finally lets out of a noise of anguish (10 hit points) and the Eastern Voidblade allows a scream of its own (11 hit points).

And as he whips around with his blade he asks aloud, "Noienna, are we doing any real harm?  What will kill these fucking things!?"

“More hitting!” answers Noienna. Her voice is much softer now, as though she is tired.

The Thunderbow East lets fly with a psychic arrow. Once again Radegast sees it coming. Once again he avoids the blow.

The Voidblade East, post making its noise shakes its head from side-to-side. The universal sign of something is wrong. It brings its scimitar down toward Stones. An experienced fight Stones turns his body, allowing his armor to absorb the blow.

In a perfect rhythm Stones brings his blade around to parry the Voidblade West blow that is aimed toward his exposed flank. Most men cannot handle two men and Stones makes it look easy.

The Thunderbow West continues atop its perch. A skilled warrior in its own right its psychic arrow slips past Elby’s defenses (12 hit points.)

Radegast slowly backs away from his ghostly adversary, he lets out a bellow, as the ground beneath his feet erupts with a shroud of rock and scree rises up to create a barrier shielding Radegast and Stones from the ghostly onslaught. (28 to hit, 21 damage).

Almost beckoning as he moves around the south end of the bookcase. As he turns the corner. Despite the suddenness of the shift and the wall, the Axe-Hammer swings into action, taking the spirit who most recently struck Stones unawares and tearing into his ethereal chest (20 to hit.) The Voidblade West manages to get its scimitar into position to deflect the blow away.

Stones used one last action. In the sandpit years ago he blinded one opponent with the sand, turning suddenly he threw his sword at the second opponent. It wasn’t a hard throw and his opponent deflected it away easily. What was not deflected was the firm kick to his opponents balls. But that was years ago…

…Stones stepped forward toward the Voidblade West – now thoroughly distracted by Radegast (21 to hit, 13 damage) and plants his sword firmly between its shoulder blades. Stones then turns and cleaves the Voidblade East (25 hit, 14 damage).

Remarkably enough the creatures still live.

“Almost dead,” whispers Noienna, “almost dead. I think.”

• ·         Both Elby and Stones are bloodied
• ·         Stones and Radegeast have used up all action points