04-20-2015, 06:08 PM
Neal’s advice was sound, but unneeded. Basic survival skills and knowledge of common predators was covered in some of the beginner classes at the Guild. And like most subjects concerning being a Hero, Lokarri had studied and mastered everything he was taught. From his sitting position, he smoothly transitioned and turned so that he was standing with his back to the fire and his new ally. His hand never leaving the hilt of his sword as he scanned the treeline.
The snapping of twigs and the rustle of leaves grew louder now as the wolves moved in closer. They stopped just before the light of the fire would reveal their hunched forms to Neal or any other untrained human, though Lokarri could make out their appearance. Nine wolves glared back at him from his side of the edge of the clearing, their fur black and bristled from living in the wilderness. A bit of the light reflecting from their eyes made them seem as if they were glowing, casting an almost supernatural quality over these otherwise mundane creatures.
As the dark shapes crept closer, their growls starting to become audible to even untrained ears, Lokarri could make out a larger shadow among the rest. Another wolf, fully twice as large as the rest and hanging just behind the frontline. Its eyes glowing red like two pits of hellfire suspended in the darkness. There was his target. The alpha of the pack. If he could take out the alpha, the rest of the wolves will break coordination. Even if they don’t run, they will be much easier to take down than if the leader remained.
Target marked and enemies noted, Lokarri drew forth his Iron Longsword and held it loosely by his side. He turned his head slightly to speak to his fellow camper without breaking eye contact with the wolves.
“They’re moving in closer. I count 10 on my side, no doubt there’s a comparable number on yours. They’ll try to take your back if you give it to them, so keep it to the fire. They won’t go near it if they can help it. Fight at a distance if you can. Allowing even one wolf at you will invite the rest. And most importantly, don’t try to kill with each strike. Aim for the back legs, that’s what they use for lunges. A lame wolf is just as much out of the fight as a dead one. Take the movement and you rob them of their advantage.”
The advice he gave Neal was sound advice for one he did not know the combat ability of. But it was advice he would not be following himself. A Hero moves forward.
His musing was cut short as the first of the wolves rushed forward, a probing attack to test defenses. It darted in at him, aiming to take a bite out of his leg. With a sweeping motion of Lokarri’s sword arm, all it met was blade. The sword sliced along the right side of the wolf’s open jaw and bit deeply into its neck, severing the carotid artery and spilling hot wolf blood all over the ground in front of the fire. This was all the signal the other wolves needed to charge forward, the death of their pack mate and the hunger driving them into a frenzy.
Lokarri was not idle though. He sprinted toward the approaching wolves, his gaze tracking their movements and planning his attacks. One of the animals leapt upwards at his face and his dropped low, sliding under it with his sword held up to cut along the wolf’s belly. With the muscles and organs in the path severed, the wolf was finished even if it was still alive. Another came up on him just after the first and it was a simple matter to twist his sword forward and thrust, lodging it deep into the wolf’s open maw and into its heart.
Before he could withdraw his sword, two wolves flanked him on either side. One went for his legs, but the other leapt up for his neck to take him out of the fight permanently. Lokarri lifted the foot that the wolf on the ground was going for and smashed it back down on its neck to both injure and hold it their while he turned his focus to the lunging one in the air. This one he blocked with his only available arm, letting the wolf clamp down on his left forearm hard enough to draw blood. The pain made the Hero grit his teeth, but his focus never wavered. With the wolves occupied for a moment, he withdrew his sword from the wolf it was embedded in and then plunged it into the chest of the one hanging from his arm. The sudden fatal wound made the creature release its grip and drop pitifully to the ground with a dull thud.
Now Lokarri turned his attention to the struggling wolf under his boot. He swiftly reversed his hold on his sword and thrust it into the beast’s chest just behind its front legs, twisting it to make sure he’d properly injured the most important organs.
With five of their pack mates dead in only a few seconds, the other four wolves were hesitant to try against this clearly deadly prey they’d found. But the alpha was not slowed nor scared. It growled low to order the others forward, its hunger and thirst for blood driving it. Up until it was struck by a bright blue bolt of electricity that drove pain into its mind more effectively than any blade. Lokarri held the stream of Lightning for only a few seconds, but the damage was clearly done. The other wolves were shaken and already turning to run. When he released the spell, the wolves on his side of the clearing were gone, only the alpha remaining as it tried to collect itself.
The massive wolf climbed to its feet and stood rooted to the spot as it once more considered attacking the creature that had already slain so many of its own. Lokarri glared right back into its eyes and allowed the blue glow of the Lightning spell to brighten his left hand once more. The alpha wolf turned and ran, deciding to cut its losses rather than take another bout of that monstrous pain
Once the wolves were gone, Lokarri heaved a sigh and sheathed his sword before wiping his brow of the accumulated sweat there. The Lightning spell was the first spell taught at the Guild because it allowed the apprentices to get used to channeling the insane Will necessary for other spells. The strain on the mind quickly adds up after the first five seconds. Only the greatest of Heroes could hold the spell for longer than fifteen.
The sharp pain on his left forearm harshly reminded the Hero of the bite wound he’d sustained. It would have to be cleaned with hot water before it healed. There’s no telling what those wolves had been chewing on before trying to take a bite of him. No need to risk disease this far away from a settlement.
Lokarri focused his attention back towards his new ally to see how he had done in the combat, fully expecting the wolves to be either finished or running.
The snapping of twigs and the rustle of leaves grew louder now as the wolves moved in closer. They stopped just before the light of the fire would reveal their hunched forms to Neal or any other untrained human, though Lokarri could make out their appearance. Nine wolves glared back at him from his side of the edge of the clearing, their fur black and bristled from living in the wilderness. A bit of the light reflecting from their eyes made them seem as if they were glowing, casting an almost supernatural quality over these otherwise mundane creatures.
As the dark shapes crept closer, their growls starting to become audible to even untrained ears, Lokarri could make out a larger shadow among the rest. Another wolf, fully twice as large as the rest and hanging just behind the frontline. Its eyes glowing red like two pits of hellfire suspended in the darkness. There was his target. The alpha of the pack. If he could take out the alpha, the rest of the wolves will break coordination. Even if they don’t run, they will be much easier to take down than if the leader remained.
Target marked and enemies noted, Lokarri drew forth his Iron Longsword and held it loosely by his side. He turned his head slightly to speak to his fellow camper without breaking eye contact with the wolves.
“They’re moving in closer. I count 10 on my side, no doubt there’s a comparable number on yours. They’ll try to take your back if you give it to them, so keep it to the fire. They won’t go near it if they can help it. Fight at a distance if you can. Allowing even one wolf at you will invite the rest. And most importantly, don’t try to kill with each strike. Aim for the back legs, that’s what they use for lunges. A lame wolf is just as much out of the fight as a dead one. Take the movement and you rob them of their advantage.”
The advice he gave Neal was sound advice for one he did not know the combat ability of. But it was advice he would not be following himself. A Hero moves forward.
His musing was cut short as the first of the wolves rushed forward, a probing attack to test defenses. It darted in at him, aiming to take a bite out of his leg. With a sweeping motion of Lokarri’s sword arm, all it met was blade. The sword sliced along the right side of the wolf’s open jaw and bit deeply into its neck, severing the carotid artery and spilling hot wolf blood all over the ground in front of the fire. This was all the signal the other wolves needed to charge forward, the death of their pack mate and the hunger driving them into a frenzy.
Lokarri was not idle though. He sprinted toward the approaching wolves, his gaze tracking their movements and planning his attacks. One of the animals leapt upwards at his face and his dropped low, sliding under it with his sword held up to cut along the wolf’s belly. With the muscles and organs in the path severed, the wolf was finished even if it was still alive. Another came up on him just after the first and it was a simple matter to twist his sword forward and thrust, lodging it deep into the wolf’s open maw and into its heart.
Before he could withdraw his sword, two wolves flanked him on either side. One went for his legs, but the other leapt up for his neck to take him out of the fight permanently. Lokarri lifted the foot that the wolf on the ground was going for and smashed it back down on its neck to both injure and hold it their while he turned his focus to the lunging one in the air. This one he blocked with his only available arm, letting the wolf clamp down on his left forearm hard enough to draw blood. The pain made the Hero grit his teeth, but his focus never wavered. With the wolves occupied for a moment, he withdrew his sword from the wolf it was embedded in and then plunged it into the chest of the one hanging from his arm. The sudden fatal wound made the creature release its grip and drop pitifully to the ground with a dull thud.
Now Lokarri turned his attention to the struggling wolf under his boot. He swiftly reversed his hold on his sword and thrust it into the beast’s chest just behind its front legs, twisting it to make sure he’d properly injured the most important organs.
With five of their pack mates dead in only a few seconds, the other four wolves were hesitant to try against this clearly deadly prey they’d found. But the alpha was not slowed nor scared. It growled low to order the others forward, its hunger and thirst for blood driving it. Up until it was struck by a bright blue bolt of electricity that drove pain into its mind more effectively than any blade. Lokarri held the stream of Lightning for only a few seconds, but the damage was clearly done. The other wolves were shaken and already turning to run. When he released the spell, the wolves on his side of the clearing were gone, only the alpha remaining as it tried to collect itself.
The massive wolf climbed to its feet and stood rooted to the spot as it once more considered attacking the creature that had already slain so many of its own. Lokarri glared right back into its eyes and allowed the blue glow of the Lightning spell to brighten his left hand once more. The alpha wolf turned and ran, deciding to cut its losses rather than take another bout of that monstrous pain
Once the wolves were gone, Lokarri heaved a sigh and sheathed his sword before wiping his brow of the accumulated sweat there. The Lightning spell was the first spell taught at the Guild because it allowed the apprentices to get used to channeling the insane Will necessary for other spells. The strain on the mind quickly adds up after the first five seconds. Only the greatest of Heroes could hold the spell for longer than fifteen.
The sharp pain on his left forearm harshly reminded the Hero of the bite wound he’d sustained. It would have to be cleaned with hot water before it healed. There’s no telling what those wolves had been chewing on before trying to take a bite of him. No need to risk disease this far away from a settlement.
Lokarri focused his attention back towards his new ally to see how he had done in the combat, fully expecting the wolves to be either finished or running.