Library: Memories Lost

Her hand slides gently over Elby’s arm, the goose pimples rising up in the wake of her gentle touch. She laughed as he tried not to squirm. The redness in his face reflected in her shining brown eyes. "My brilliant warrior," half-playful, half-truth, somehow her words could be both gentle and scathing. Maybe that is what love is, pleasure and pain with a single turned phrase. What is her name again? Elby can't remember her name - but you can remember her touch. As long as Elby remembers her touch everything else falls into place.

Elby shakes the memory away, remaining nearly motionless, focused only on the bowman to the west. The only noticeable movement is when he reaches for another arrow, knocks it, and let's it fly at his target (27 to hit roll). The arrow strikes true (17 hit points), though as usually it slips from the creature’s body and the wound closes. 

As long as Radegast can remember her touch everything else falls into place. The blisters rise up from his hands, angry oozing welts caked by dirt and the dust of burned embers. Has it been three days? Four maybe? He recalls a story that a man cannot live without water for four days. Untrue. The God's would not be so just as to kill you though. No, that would be too easy. He kicks open the last burned door of the only house he has not inspected in the village. It is almost laughable how easy the door crashes inward. The rest of the wooden structure creaks plaintively - whatever fire licking at it only did its job half as well as it should have. Maybe her body will be in here. Maybe their bodies will be in here. He would be so lucky to find such peace. There are bodies. Two men holding swords, trying to protect four others against an enemy that could not be defended. Fire destroys all. It is not the people you are looking for. The building creaks plaintively again as the wind picks up. Let it fall. Let it fall in around me and crush me. Crush me so I don't remember ever again. He gets half your wish as a second gust of wind, twice as strong as the first sends the walls crashing inward. For a moment you see the open sky. You remember her touch of the hand on your face. "Don't be gone long." It was a smile and laugh. Radegast remembers the smile and laugh.

Radegast brings his axe into position toward the Voidblade’s West face. Its emotionless face seems to melt inward as it lets out a loud scream before Radegast can bring his axe downward (27 to hit). Radegast feels his body become rigid as psychic attack makes its way deep into Radegast’s mind (9 hit points).

He never swings his axe.

Stones remembers the smile and laugh. If he had a weapon you may run her through. At least it would be an option. Instead she is standing there laughing at Stones. His four brothers in arms join in. A painted whore is laughing at him. "Answer honestly and true," were Suresh's words on the first night he bought you and spoke to you. "Answer honestly and true." The words rang in Stones’s ears. Just like the laughter the painted whore and his four brothers in arms rang in his ears. It was his brothers in arms idea to come to the pleasure house. To spend the small allowance that Suresh gave to each of his slaves. Her eyes had gone wide when Stones answered "no" to her question on whether you had ever been intimate with a woman before. The strong laughter had followed. Stones fucked her anyway. After all the coin had already been exchanged. Stones  took her with the raw efficiency of an impatient man. An impatient man taking in every smell - the sweat was mingled together; the noise - was it her practiced whispers or his raw grunts; and the sights - why put a silk canopy over a bed when you could sell the silk itself? Stones felt a surge of strength as he finished his business.

Stones felt a surge of strength (12 temporary hit points) as he started his business. "Thank you brother, I had my hands full with these bastards! We'll finish them off and then deal with your other friend.  Nice wall you've made there," he grins almost maniacally as he slashes brutally at the void blade to his left (west). The blade cuts deeply (25 to hit, 17 damage) and the Voidblade West crumples to the ground. Stones spins on his heel, passing his attack to the Voidblade East (31 to hit, 11 damage). It too falls to the ground, no longer a foe to be worried about.

Stones spares a glance up at the halfling as he attacks. "Elby, you shoot like you were born with that bow!  Keep it up a bit longer and we'll be done with them soon."  He seems truly impressed at the blows being delivered by the small adventurer, an almost grudging respect showing in bis tone, "Hang in there, and try to keep them off us if you can!"

The Thunderbow West continues its one-on-one aerial with Elby. Letting loose with a psychic arrow which strikes (34 to hit), once again rattling Elby’s brain (6 hit points.) The Thunderbow East continues an assault of its own – the psychic arrow passes through bookshelf and the stone wall (27 to hit) and striking Radegast hard in the chest, pain searing through the immobile warrior (14 hit points damage).

“No! No! No!” whimpers Noienna from deep within Stones. Sacred light shines from above (25 to hit), searing the Mindstrike (12 hit points.) and aiding Radegast (12 hit points regained.)

The Mindstrike does not move from its spot. It tilts its head slightly; an unholy noise from deep within its soul lashes out and assaults both Radegast (21 to hit) and Stones (24 to hit). Radegast shakes his head overcoming to the pain. Stones is not so lucky (19 hit points damage) as the mind howl rips into his memories.

Stones feels the pain in his head. He no longer remembers the laughter and the smile. The memory is Stones no more. Stones first time…he no longer remembers.

You too bad a man cannot choose which memories are left and which are taken.

• Second wind requires a major action
• Radegast you can move next round
• Current hit points:  Radegast 38, Stones 29, and Elby 21 
• Initiative: Stones, Elby, Radegast