The Savage Caves - Chapter 21
The Savage Caves: Original Story by T.H. Lain
A Fan-Fiction Reimagining: Walthus Proudstump
Chapter 21
“Oh gods, Regdar.” She whispered. “We have to help him!”
She and Jozan rushed over to the side of the pit, the halfling woman desperate to find any sort of hand holds. She couldn’t climb, she realized, but maybe Jozan could give her a boost? He wasn’t tall but she just needed to jump - three feet straight up in the air with a broken arm and manage to keep her feet, while also not getting backhanded across the room or crushed like a bug.
She let the stream of curses in her mind stay silent.
They heard Regdar groan and Lidda shouted.
“Leave him alone you big bastard!” She motioned for Jozan to lift her and he shook his head.
“It’s too far, Lidda. We need to find something to use as a ladder or some stones to step on first.”
“We don’t have time for that, damn it!” She yelled. She lifted her head up and shouted in goblin. “Do something! Rezrek not kill our friend! Please?”
Only the sound of Regdar’s groans and Rezrek’s deep, horrible laugh echoed in the chamber in response.
Regdar gasped as he was lifted from the ground. His entire body ached. Head swimming he felt the bugbear carry him by the thick leather belt he wore. His breathing was shallow and the warrior was certain the beast had cracked several ribs; shifting in any manner was agony but this wasn’t something Regdar was unfamiliar with. Service in mercenary groups had given him plenty of experience with painful injuries he needed to fight through. But he was weaponless and felt so tired. His eyes unfocused as the bugbear stopped. He could hear its booming voice and see the wavy shapes of Lidda and Jozan beneath him - they must be back in the pit, he realized. Where was his sword? And Jozan was there but he couldn’t see his shield. He sighed - that had been a gift from the Duke and wasn’t easily replaceable. “Regdar!” Lidda shouted up at him. He made a soft chuckling noise but before he could respond the bugbear lifted him up. The angle was so uncomfortable that the old warrior barely had the strength to suppress the whimper that knocked at the back of his teeth, trying to wriggle free. It would help no one to cry out like a child, he thought. But the desire was so great. “Rezrek strongest!” The bugbear screamed and Regdar wanted to roll his eyes. He shifted his arm and realized he still had a bracer on. If he could get his hand to it, he might be able to remove one and use it as a dagger. He’d need to shift himself while being held though and Regdar didn’t think that would be possible - not without alerting Rezrek to his movement and getting another ground slam in return. Through his blurry eyes he saw the group of goblins just standing and watching the spectacle. He didn’t blame them. Where is Naull? He thought through a hazy fog that had begun to settle into his mind after he’d been kicked. Did she not survive the fall? She must’ve, he thought. How else would Jozan have been here? Thoughts of the young woman swam in his head and he closed his eyes for a moment, letting the images of the past draw up from deep within his mind. He stood overlooking an isolated hillock; covered in greenery, small wild flowers and two stones set as grave markers. In the distance New Koratia stood like a strange beacon of civilization surrounded by wild, untamed wilderness. In the morning sun he could see the glinting of The Crystal Tower; a massive glass creation that wizards used for some tournament he couldn’t recall the name of. The grave markers were overgrown, as was the entire hill. It had been years since he’d visited but they didn’t mind, he knew. He always came back. Whenever he could. Regdar thought could almost feel the wind blowing past his face. There was a yell to his left and Regdar managed to lift his head, still held aloft by the brute’s strength and snapped out of his own delusion. Rezrek turned his head and the bugbear growled. The image of Naull was wavy in Regdar’s eyes but he could see her, standing defiantly against the massive creature. She couldn’t best him in melee - she must’ve known that. But she held a long knife at her side or at least something that might be a long knife. He struggled to tell. And she was completely nude. “Come for you man, woman?” He shouted at her and painfully brought Regdar’s body up. The bugbear spit in his face; a noxious, disgustingly slick wad of drool splattering against Regdar’s unshaven face. He retched. It smelled like Rezrek had eaten something that had already been dead for several days. “Let him go or I’ll kill you.” Her voice landed heavily on Regdar’s ears and for the first time it didn’t sound like a young woman talking. It sounded like a powerful mage making a declaration. “Good job, girl.” He said softly to himself. The bugbear dropped him. He landed hard on the ground, a foot from the edge of the pit. He didn’t have the strength to lift his head to look at Naull and prayed to Heironeous that her skills in magic were swifter than the bugbear’s warhammer. Naull said something but the pumping of blood in Regdar’s ears was so loud he could barely hear it. Lidda whispered. “Regdar. Can you get to the edge of the pit?” He grunted softly and slowly moved his arm forward, the pain so intense that he had to hold back another shout. The warrior dangled his fingers over the edge, then his entire forearm. “Jozan, can you - I don’t know - jump and heal him?” She asked the priest. There was no response but suddenly Regdar could feel a strange warmth spreading through his fingertips and racing up his arm. His vision unblurred in time to see Lidda dragging herself with one arm up his own arm and pulling herself out of the pit. “When I mentioned a ladder, Lidda,” Jozan began, still holding the warrior’s fingertips and channeling Pelor’s grace into his broken body. “I hadn’t assumed you’d use our companion as one.” “Hey,” Lidda said with a smirk. “It worked.” Regdar felt some life return to him and turned, watching Naull face off against the bugbear Rezrek. “Hold on, Naull.”
Rezrek snorted as Naull backed away, still holding Lidda’s shortsword in her hand. She had no skill whatsoever with a blade and assumed that if the bugbear did it would see how poorly she held it. But it had worked - she needed to get him away from the others and he was. She eyed her clothing, discarded after she’d shifted forms in the bugbear’s grasp. She needed her component pouches but didn’t have time to rummage through them. Her spells without components would suffice. She cursed, staring up at the looming threat of death in the shape of a ten-foot tall furred beast. Rezrek hefted the warhammer and smiled, looking her nude body up and down for several long seconds. “Oh, absolutely not.” She said aloud, brandishing the blade. If she could get it over to Lidda maybe the halfling could wound the bugbear enough for them to flee. But Lidda was hurt too. Damn it, she thought as her mind frantically searched for options that just weren’t there. Rezrek took a step forward and snarled. “Enough talk, woman. Time for dying.” He sneered and rushed forward, swinging the warhammer around in a half circle. Naull shrieked, diving clumsily to the side and scampering away as quickly as she could. She dropped the blade, cursing herself as she did so. She managed to get back to her feet and see the bugbear stalking forward. The young mage backed away, trying to make sure there was no chance to catch her allies in any spell she might throw. As Rezrek stepped closer, she smiled. Naull held her left hand out, releasing the spell that needed no material components. “Furrus ferain!” As the flames built up around her fingertips, Rezrek grabbed the woman’s arm and shoved her hand upwards. A gout of fanning flame exploded forth, showering the two in licking flames that focused their fury on the ceiling above. The heat was intense and Naull winced, turning her face away as it sent cinders smoking into Rezrek’s fur. The bugbear didn’t even seem to notice. The uncaring stone seemed barely touched by the scorching heat, blackening a bit at its presence before the spell ended. Naull was astonished and fear coiled in her stomach like a viper ready to strike. Larktiss, she thought as she watched her death draw closer. I’m so sorry. She’d played at being an adventurer and now she was going to be torn apart, if she were lucky, by some foul-smelling creature in a cave. She tried to pull away from his grasp but he was too strong. She couldn’t assume her feline form again; that trick wouldn’t work a second time she didn’t think. She gasped as Rezrek pulled her up by the arm and felt him slowly crush her wrist. She cried out and hissed, spitting directly into the bugbear’s eyes. He roared in response. And then roared again in pain as Naull watched Lidda plunge her short sword into his calf. The blade punched straight through the tough hide and fur, erupting from the front of his leg. The howl that tore itself from his throat was one of fear and pain, the young mage could tell. She screamed her siphoning spell, drawing the necrotic energy into her hand and slapping the creature full in the face. “Keer ureek, bwegeth!” As her hand, shrouded in blue-black energy, touched his skin there was a hissing noise - fur and flesh beneath her light fingertips boiled, melting away as the life was sucked right out of Rezrek. Acrid black smoke trailed off of the creature as he screamed; a low and keening noise that seemed to shake the entire room and he whipped Naull around. The spell had begun to eat away at the side of his face, leaving pox marked skin where it didn’t dissolve away into bone - which rapidly yellowed with rot and putrescence. He hurled her away, sending her tumbling head over feet to land hard on the floor. She gasped as her head struck the stone. She lost the power of her spell, suddenly realizing that her wrist was broken. She flexed it and agony poured over her. Oh gods, she’d never broken a bone before and Naull felt like she could hear the grinding of bone against crushed bone. She gasped. Rezrek swung his weapon at Lidda, who took a devastating strike to the shoulder that spun her around and dropped the halfling to the floor ten paces from where she had been standing. She didn’t move. Naked, aching, and scared, Naull brought words of power to her lips.
Regdar pulled Jozan out of the pit - without his armor he easily scrambled up and over the lip. He got to his feet in time to watch Lidda be struck full force by the warhammer. The woman’s little body was hurled away from Rezrek, who turned towards Naull and took a blast of multi-colored sand directly to his face. Though the spell didn’t seem to take hold, the bugbear was blinded again and that was all Jozan needed. He rushed over to Lidda, sliding to his knees and desperately bringing the healing words of the Sun God to his lips. “No, no, no,” he chanted over and over through his prayer. Laying there, bloodied and broken, Lidda looked exactly as Sister Reglathia had - not in the dream but in reality. She’d been struck down and no matter his connection to Pelor, Jozan could not save her from death. “I will not lose you.” His voice was stern as golden light slipped from his fingers and coiled around the halfling’s ruined shoulder. As he touched the leathers there, he could feel the sickly shifting of the limb. It had been pulled right out of its socket by the blow. He whispered to Lidda, whose head lolled to the side. “Come on, Lidda. Please, stay with me.” He could feel fresh, hot tears threatening to spill from his eyes and he could almost feel the contemptuous gaze of Calmet on him. Weakness is the greatest sin, Jozan. Useless as you ever were. He banished the words, looking up to see the renewed Regdar rushing to collect his blade as Naull stepped back from Rezrek. He didn’t pull the blade from his leg and though it seemed to slow it, the weapon lodged in his thigh did nothing to dim his fury. The bugbear was foaming at the mouth, screaming and roaring so loudly Jozan worried it might drown out his own prayers. As the warrior picked up his sword, he set himself into an aggressive stance; sword raised above his head, tip pointed backwards. He warily approached the bugbear, who took the warhammer in both hands and shuffled to meet him. Jozan had healed Regdar - his skill and Pelor’s grace had knit his wounds as well as they could be and that was proof, at least to Jozan. He was no failure. He never was or would be, no matter the outcome of this. He closed his eyes, focusing on saving Lidda’s life. Her chest rose and fell softly, weakly. He had to save her. “Edge of morning, sacred horizon walker, I am your vessel, through which your works are done. Let this woman live, please, I beg of you. Guide my hand, as you ever have. In faith. In light.” Jozan felt the grace of Pelor slip from him and suffuse the broken form of Lidda; it felt as if something strange was being drawn out of him and he realized his breath was coming in shorter gasps. It was as if someone reached into his throat and grabbed the air therein, pulling it forth and guiding it like a river of life into Lidda. She coughed, stirring. “Oh gods, I’m alive?” She asked wearily. “Shit.” “Lidda, please.” Jozan said, tears streaming down his eyes even as his shoulders began to sag with the weight of their exchange. He felt cold, having broken out into a cold sweat as the last residual feeling of the spell faded from his fingers. She must’ve seen the look on his face and she winced, from pain or what she saw he couldn’t be sure. “Oh, Jozan. You look terrible!” She shot her head up, catching the awesome display of Regdar and Rezrek facing off against one another. The sound of metal striking metal filled the cavern and Jozan, still able to stand, nodded to his much smaller companion. “We have to do something.” “Help me get Tazerg,” Lidda said, turning to move towards the edge of the pit. Jozan nodded, shifting forward and locking arms with the halfling. She winced. “Better sore than shattered.” Jozan added as she was lowered into the pit. She reached the goblin, struggled to lift him and cursed. “He’s too heavy!” She yelled. Just as she did, Jozan saw Tazerg’s eyes shoot open. It startled Lidda, who screamed. The little goblin broke from her grasp, seemed to listen to what was happening outside of the pit and hobble over to his broken knife. He picked it up, looked at Lidda and said something. “Oh, that’s a stupid idea!” She shouted but the goblin was already on the move. He rushed towards the halfling woman and Jozan thought for a moment he might stab her with the broken knife. But he ran, leaping and trying to use her as a springboard. She managed to get her hands in the right position and heaved Tazerg right at Jozan. He caught the goblin, who flailed and wriggled free from the priest’s grasp. Jozan, stunned, watched the goblin rush headlong towards the fighting men. Like a child chasing giants.
Rezrek swung the warhammer hard, ignoring the pain in his body. His neck seeped blood, his eyes still burned and the sword in his leg made it difficult to move. The sizzling of his boiling, rotting flesh filled his mind and pained him, but he would not die. He was the strongest! He’d tear the head from the man, then beat the naked woman until she was pulp. They’d killed his warriors. They’d killed Ripper - his pet. His property. They attacked him in his land! He roared, barely noticing the downward slice that cut deep into his left forearm. He felt his fingers go numb but he refused to relent. He shouldered forward, knocking the warrior off balance and following it up with an upwards swing from his weapon. It sailed short, missing the stumbling man by less than a fang length. Rezrek cursed in his native tongue, bringing the weapon back for another mighty swing even as he felt the strength in his arms beginning to fade. He’d never felt that before. He was always the strongest, the biggest, the cruelest. He’d never felt weak. The man deflected the blow easily, knocking Rezrek aside and dealing a long painful slice to his back. The leather and metal of his cobbled-together armor could not withstand the craftsmanship of the bastard sword and hot blood spurted from the wound, drawing a grunt and burbling cry from Rezrek. He punched out, catching Regdar in the chest and forcing the man to step away. Rezrek needed to flee. He needed to get away - get away and heal so he could come back. His eyes locked on the amulet and for a moment he thought to scoop it up. Tazerg screamed, launching himself onto the massive bugbear’s wounded back. Rezrek felt the goblin’s feet, little clawed toes and all, scrape against his fresh wound and he howled. He reached a thick arm behind him to try and get the tiny creature but it was no use; he couldn’t reach past his own bulk to grab Tazerg. “Tazerg!” He screamed. “Rezrek DIE!” The little goblin shrieked, driving something sharp into his shoulder blade. Rezrek screamed, flailing as he caught the squirming goblin’s foot and tore him from Rezrek’s bleeding back. He held the goblin up, a wicked smile spreading over his face and felt a sharp pain in the arm holding Tazerg. The bugbear’s eyes widened as he watched his arm and the goblin fall to the floor. The man stood before him, sword dripping blood onto the floor from his bastard sword. The look he gave Rezrek made the bugbear’s heart fill with fear. This little man had taken his arm! Blood gushed from the severed limb as Rezrek looked dumbfounded, his bloodshot eyes confused and his rage bleeding out of him as his vision started blurring. He dropped to his knees, the thud almost inaudible against the rush of sound in his ears. The man shifted, flicking blood from the blade that splattered against Rezrek’s body. He stared hate at the armored warrior, blood flaked and dried at the corners of the human’s mouth, and growled. The man sank the blade into Rezrek’s gut, pulling a pained howl from the bugbear. He pressed the long blade right through the armor, sinking the blade up to the hilt. Rezrek coughed blood, trying to reach his remaining hand to grab at the man but his vision blurred so badly he missed. Rezrek toppled over. Pain ebbed through his body and the massive bugbear wheezed, trying to reach for the warhammer that had fallen from his grasp. Tazerg stepped into the bugbear’s vision; red tinged and looking much taller than Rezrek knew he was. The goblin held the broken knife in his hand, staring down at Rezrek. Blood pooled in Rezrek’s throat and he gurgled something that even he couldn’t understand. Darkness ate at his vision and the world suddenly felt like it might be spinning beneath him. Tazerg stepped on his chest; the weight felt like a stone had been dropped onto Rezrek’s body and it made breathing impossible. As he tried to take a ragged, sputtering breath he saw Tazerg lift the knife. “Rezrek weakest.” The little goblin said as he drove the broken knife into Rezrek’s eye. Pain flooded the bugbear leader’s thoughts and then darkness was all he knew - forever.
Regdar gasped as he was lifted from the ground. His entire body ached. Head swimming he felt the bugbear carry him by the thick leather belt he wore. His breathing was shallow and the warrior was certain the beast had cracked several ribs; shifting in any manner was agony but this wasn’t something Regdar was unfamiliar with. Service in mercenary groups had given him plenty of experience with painful injuries he needed to fight through. But he was weaponless and felt so tired. His eyes unfocused as the bugbear stopped. He could hear its booming voice and see the wavy shapes of Lidda and Jozan beneath him - they must be back in the pit, he realized. Where was his sword? And Jozan was there but he couldn’t see his shield. He sighed - that had been a gift from the Duke and wasn’t easily replaceable. “Regdar!” Lidda shouted up at him. He made a soft chuckling noise but before he could respond the bugbear lifted him up. The angle was so uncomfortable that the old warrior barely had the strength to suppress the whimper that knocked at the back of his teeth, trying to wriggle free. It would help no one to cry out like a child, he thought. But the desire was so great. “Rezrek strongest!” The bugbear screamed and Regdar wanted to roll his eyes. He shifted his arm and realized he still had a bracer on. If he could get his hand to it, he might be able to remove one and use it as a dagger. He’d need to shift himself while being held though and Regdar didn’t think that would be possible - not without alerting Rezrek to his movement and getting another ground slam in return. Through his blurry eyes he saw the group of goblins just standing and watching the spectacle. He didn’t blame them. Where is Naull? He thought through a hazy fog that had begun to settle into his mind after he’d been kicked. Did she not survive the fall? She must’ve, he thought. How else would Jozan have been here? Thoughts of the young woman swam in his head and he closed his eyes for a moment, letting the images of the past draw up from deep within his mind. He stood overlooking an isolated hillock; covered in greenery, small wild flowers and two stones set as grave markers. In the distance New Koratia stood like a strange beacon of civilization surrounded by wild, untamed wilderness. In the morning sun he could see the glinting of The Crystal Tower; a massive glass creation that wizards used for some tournament he couldn’t recall the name of. The grave markers were overgrown, as was the entire hill. It had been years since he’d visited but they didn’t mind, he knew. He always came back. Whenever he could. Regdar thought could almost feel the wind blowing past his face. There was a yell to his left and Regdar managed to lift his head, still held aloft by the brute’s strength and snapped out of his own delusion. Rezrek turned his head and the bugbear growled. The image of Naull was wavy in Regdar’s eyes but he could see her, standing defiantly against the massive creature. She couldn’t best him in melee - she must’ve known that. But she held a long knife at her side or at least something that might be a long knife. He struggled to tell. And she was completely nude. “Come for you man, woman?” He shouted at her and painfully brought Regdar’s body up. The bugbear spit in his face; a noxious, disgustingly slick wad of drool splattering against Regdar’s unshaven face. He retched. It smelled like Rezrek had eaten something that had already been dead for several days. “Let him go or I’ll kill you.” Her voice landed heavily on Regdar’s ears and for the first time it didn’t sound like a young woman talking. It sounded like a powerful mage making a declaration. “Good job, girl.” He said softly to himself. The bugbear dropped him. He landed hard on the ground, a foot from the edge of the pit. He didn’t have the strength to lift his head to look at Naull and prayed to Heironeous that her skills in magic were swifter than the bugbear’s warhammer. Naull said something but the pumping of blood in Regdar’s ears was so loud he could barely hear it. Lidda whispered. “Regdar. Can you get to the edge of the pit?” He grunted softly and slowly moved his arm forward, the pain so intense that he had to hold back another shout. The warrior dangled his fingers over the edge, then his entire forearm. “Jozan, can you - I don’t know - jump and heal him?” She asked the priest. There was no response but suddenly Regdar could feel a strange warmth spreading through his fingertips and racing up his arm. His vision unblurred in time to see Lidda dragging herself with one arm up his own arm and pulling herself out of the pit. “When I mentioned a ladder, Lidda,” Jozan began, still holding the warrior’s fingertips and channeling Pelor’s grace into his broken body. “I hadn’t assumed you’d use our companion as one.” “Hey,” Lidda said with a smirk. “It worked.” Regdar felt some life return to him and turned, watching Naull face off against the bugbear Rezrek. “Hold on, Naull.”
Rezrek snorted as Naull backed away, still holding Lidda’s shortsword in her hand. She had no skill whatsoever with a blade and assumed that if the bugbear did it would see how poorly she held it. But it had worked - she needed to get him away from the others and he was. She eyed her clothing, discarded after she’d shifted forms in the bugbear’s grasp. She needed her component pouches but didn’t have time to rummage through them. Her spells without components would suffice. She cursed, staring up at the looming threat of death in the shape of a ten-foot tall furred beast. Rezrek hefted the warhammer and smiled, looking her nude body up and down for several long seconds. “Oh, absolutely not.” She said aloud, brandishing the blade. If she could get it over to Lidda maybe the halfling could wound the bugbear enough for them to flee. But Lidda was hurt too. Damn it, she thought as her mind frantically searched for options that just weren’t there. Rezrek took a step forward and snarled. “Enough talk, woman. Time for dying.” He sneered and rushed forward, swinging the warhammer around in a half circle. Naull shrieked, diving clumsily to the side and scampering away as quickly as she could. She dropped the blade, cursing herself as she did so. She managed to get back to her feet and see the bugbear stalking forward. The young mage backed away, trying to make sure there was no chance to catch her allies in any spell she might throw. As Rezrek stepped closer, she smiled. Naull held her left hand out, releasing the spell that needed no material components. “Furrus ferain!” As the flames built up around her fingertips, Rezrek grabbed the woman’s arm and shoved her hand upwards. A gout of fanning flame exploded forth, showering the two in licking flames that focused their fury on the ceiling above. The heat was intense and Naull winced, turning her face away as it sent cinders smoking into Rezrek’s fur. The bugbear didn’t even seem to notice. The uncaring stone seemed barely touched by the scorching heat, blackening a bit at its presence before the spell ended. Naull was astonished and fear coiled in her stomach like a viper ready to strike. Larktiss, she thought as she watched her death draw closer. I’m so sorry. She’d played at being an adventurer and now she was going to be torn apart, if she were lucky, by some foul-smelling creature in a cave. She tried to pull away from his grasp but he was too strong. She couldn’t assume her feline form again; that trick wouldn’t work a second time she didn’t think. She gasped as Rezrek pulled her up by the arm and felt him slowly crush her wrist. She cried out and hissed, spitting directly into the bugbear’s eyes. He roared in response. And then roared again in pain as Naull watched Lidda plunge her short sword into his calf. The blade punched straight through the tough hide and fur, erupting from the front of his leg. The howl that tore itself from his throat was one of fear and pain, the young mage could tell. She screamed her siphoning spell, drawing the necrotic energy into her hand and slapping the creature full in the face. “Keer ureek, bwegeth!” As her hand, shrouded in blue-black energy, touched his skin there was a hissing noise - fur and flesh beneath her light fingertips boiled, melting away as the life was sucked right out of Rezrek. Acrid black smoke trailed off of the creature as he screamed; a low and keening noise that seemed to shake the entire room and he whipped Naull around. The spell had begun to eat away at the side of his face, leaving pox marked skin where it didn’t dissolve away into bone - which rapidly yellowed with rot and putrescence. He hurled her away, sending her tumbling head over feet to land hard on the floor. She gasped as her head struck the stone. She lost the power of her spell, suddenly realizing that her wrist was broken. She flexed it and agony poured over her. Oh gods, she’d never broken a bone before and Naull felt like she could hear the grinding of bone against crushed bone. She gasped. Rezrek swung his weapon at Lidda, who took a devastating strike to the shoulder that spun her around and dropped the halfling to the floor ten paces from where she had been standing. She didn’t move. Naked, aching, and scared, Naull brought words of power to her lips.
Regdar pulled Jozan out of the pit - without his armor he easily scrambled up and over the lip. He got to his feet in time to watch Lidda be struck full force by the warhammer. The woman’s little body was hurled away from Rezrek, who turned towards Naull and took a blast of multi-colored sand directly to his face. Though the spell didn’t seem to take hold, the bugbear was blinded again and that was all Jozan needed. He rushed over to Lidda, sliding to his knees and desperately bringing the healing words of the Sun God to his lips. “No, no, no,” he chanted over and over through his prayer. Laying there, bloodied and broken, Lidda looked exactly as Sister Reglathia had - not in the dream but in reality. She’d been struck down and no matter his connection to Pelor, Jozan could not save her from death. “I will not lose you.” His voice was stern as golden light slipped from his fingers and coiled around the halfling’s ruined shoulder. As he touched the leathers there, he could feel the sickly shifting of the limb. It had been pulled right out of its socket by the blow. He whispered to Lidda, whose head lolled to the side. “Come on, Lidda. Please, stay with me.” He could feel fresh, hot tears threatening to spill from his eyes and he could almost feel the contemptuous gaze of Calmet on him. Weakness is the greatest sin, Jozan. Useless as you ever were. He banished the words, looking up to see the renewed Regdar rushing to collect his blade as Naull stepped back from Rezrek. He didn’t pull the blade from his leg and though it seemed to slow it, the weapon lodged in his thigh did nothing to dim his fury. The bugbear was foaming at the mouth, screaming and roaring so loudly Jozan worried it might drown out his own prayers. As the warrior picked up his sword, he set himself into an aggressive stance; sword raised above his head, tip pointed backwards. He warily approached the bugbear, who took the warhammer in both hands and shuffled to meet him. Jozan had healed Regdar - his skill and Pelor’s grace had knit his wounds as well as they could be and that was proof, at least to Jozan. He was no failure. He never was or would be, no matter the outcome of this. He closed his eyes, focusing on saving Lidda’s life. Her chest rose and fell softly, weakly. He had to save her. “Edge of morning, sacred horizon walker, I am your vessel, through which your works are done. Let this woman live, please, I beg of you. Guide my hand, as you ever have. In faith. In light.” Jozan felt the grace of Pelor slip from him and suffuse the broken form of Lidda; it felt as if something strange was being drawn out of him and he realized his breath was coming in shorter gasps. It was as if someone reached into his throat and grabbed the air therein, pulling it forth and guiding it like a river of life into Lidda. She coughed, stirring. “Oh gods, I’m alive?” She asked wearily. “Shit.” “Lidda, please.” Jozan said, tears streaming down his eyes even as his shoulders began to sag with the weight of their exchange. He felt cold, having broken out into a cold sweat as the last residual feeling of the spell faded from his fingers. She must’ve seen the look on his face and she winced, from pain or what she saw he couldn’t be sure. “Oh, Jozan. You look terrible!” She shot her head up, catching the awesome display of Regdar and Rezrek facing off against one another. The sound of metal striking metal filled the cavern and Jozan, still able to stand, nodded to his much smaller companion. “We have to do something.” “Help me get Tazerg,” Lidda said, turning to move towards the edge of the pit. Jozan nodded, shifting forward and locking arms with the halfling. She winced. “Better sore than shattered.” Jozan added as she was lowered into the pit. She reached the goblin, struggled to lift him and cursed. “He’s too heavy!” She yelled. Just as she did, Jozan saw Tazerg’s eyes shoot open. It startled Lidda, who screamed. The little goblin broke from her grasp, seemed to listen to what was happening outside of the pit and hobble over to his broken knife. He picked it up, looked at Lidda and said something. “Oh, that’s a stupid idea!” She shouted but the goblin was already on the move. He rushed towards the halfling woman and Jozan thought for a moment he might stab her with the broken knife. But he ran, leaping and trying to use her as a springboard. She managed to get her hands in the right position and heaved Tazerg right at Jozan. He caught the goblin, who flailed and wriggled free from the priest’s grasp. Jozan, stunned, watched the goblin rush headlong towards the fighting men. Like a child chasing giants.
Rezrek swung the warhammer hard, ignoring the pain in his body. His neck seeped blood, his eyes still burned and the sword in his leg made it difficult to move. The sizzling of his boiling, rotting flesh filled his mind and pained him, but he would not die. He was the strongest! He’d tear the head from the man, then beat the naked woman until she was pulp. They’d killed his warriors. They’d killed Ripper - his pet. His property. They attacked him in his land! He roared, barely noticing the downward slice that cut deep into his left forearm. He felt his fingers go numb but he refused to relent. He shouldered forward, knocking the warrior off balance and following it up with an upwards swing from his weapon. It sailed short, missing the stumbling man by less than a fang length. Rezrek cursed in his native tongue, bringing the weapon back for another mighty swing even as he felt the strength in his arms beginning to fade. He’d never felt that before. He was always the strongest, the biggest, the cruelest. He’d never felt weak. The man deflected the blow easily, knocking Rezrek aside and dealing a long painful slice to his back. The leather and metal of his cobbled-together armor could not withstand the craftsmanship of the bastard sword and hot blood spurted from the wound, drawing a grunt and burbling cry from Rezrek. He punched out, catching Regdar in the chest and forcing the man to step away. Rezrek needed to flee. He needed to get away - get away and heal so he could come back. His eyes locked on the amulet and for a moment he thought to scoop it up. Tazerg screamed, launching himself onto the massive bugbear’s wounded back. Rezrek felt the goblin’s feet, little clawed toes and all, scrape against his fresh wound and he howled. He reached a thick arm behind him to try and get the tiny creature but it was no use; he couldn’t reach past his own bulk to grab Tazerg. “Tazerg!” He screamed. “Rezrek DIE!” The little goblin shrieked, driving something sharp into his shoulder blade. Rezrek screamed, flailing as he caught the squirming goblin’s foot and tore him from Rezrek’s bleeding back. He held the goblin up, a wicked smile spreading over his face and felt a sharp pain in the arm holding Tazerg. The bugbear’s eyes widened as he watched his arm and the goblin fall to the floor. The man stood before him, sword dripping blood onto the floor from his bastard sword. The look he gave Rezrek made the bugbear’s heart fill with fear. This little man had taken his arm! Blood gushed from the severed limb as Rezrek looked dumbfounded, his bloodshot eyes confused and his rage bleeding out of him as his vision started blurring. He dropped to his knees, the thud almost inaudible against the rush of sound in his ears. The man shifted, flicking blood from the blade that splattered against Rezrek’s body. He stared hate at the armored warrior, blood flaked and dried at the corners of the human’s mouth, and growled. The man sank the blade into Rezrek’s gut, pulling a pained howl from the bugbear. He pressed the long blade right through the armor, sinking the blade up to the hilt. Rezrek coughed blood, trying to reach his remaining hand to grab at the man but his vision blurred so badly he missed. Rezrek toppled over. Pain ebbed through his body and the massive bugbear wheezed, trying to reach for the warhammer that had fallen from his grasp. Tazerg stepped into the bugbear’s vision; red tinged and looking much taller than Rezrek knew he was. The goblin held the broken knife in his hand, staring down at Rezrek. Blood pooled in Rezrek’s throat and he gurgled something that even he couldn’t understand. Darkness ate at his vision and the world suddenly felt like it might be spinning beneath him. Tazerg stepped on his chest; the weight felt like a stone had been dropped onto Rezrek’s body and it made breathing impossible. As he tried to take a ragged, sputtering breath he saw Tazerg lift the knife. “Rezrek weakest.” The little goblin said as he drove the broken knife into Rezrek’s eye. Pain flooded the bugbear leader’s thoughts and then darkness was all he knew - forever.
Comments
Post a Comment