The Threat of the Trees: RPG - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 10-25-2003, 01:49 PM

An arrow grazed his cheekbone, and another ripped through his cloak. He loosed his own, which did not miss; he nocked another, and loosed it, and it lodged in the throat of an easterling, who staggered but did not fall.

He nocked a third, and glanced towards Kalir and the Easterling who had confronted him; LinGalad could not get off a clear shot, so he breathed a quick blessing on Kalir, and looked away. He found a third target, and shot; the Easterling fell.

Elation filled him, and he nocked a fourth, and glanced over at Avery. She was holding her own, but he had a clear shot at her adversary, and he took it. The Easterling fell. He gave a shout of joy.

It was followed by a gasp; his thigh had been hit by an arrow. His face twisted, and Kalir turned. Clenching his teeth, he nocked another arrow. Kalir began to back towards LinGalad.

Kalir's adversary saw his concern, and pressed him hard. LinGalad loosed his arrow at him, and it flew wide. The Easterling laughed, and Kalir saw another Easterling closing in rapidly on the wounded elf. He shouted a warning to LinGalad.

LinGalad hesitated: Arrow, or sword? But then drew, and faced the Easterling. Kalir arrived at his side, and now there were two against two. None of LinGalad's training had prepared him for this; he needed to avoid Kalir as he swung his blade. He clenched his teeth harder, turned slightly so that his back was towards Kalir, and fought in earnest. Kalir's opponent fell wounded, and then Kalir killed the other Easterling with a backstroke the next moment.

He had no time to celebrate. "Ajada!" he shouted, and LinGalad turned to see the scribe retreating towards the Entwife, fighting as best she could. The two headed for her. Kalir got there first, and fought hard. LinGalad paused, and returned to his bow and arrows, limping.

The melee was too close. He scanned and scanned, looking for a clear shot, and finally he saw one. Endereth's opponent staggered, with LinGalad's arrow in his shoulder, and Endereth stepped forward to finish him off.

He nocked another arrow, and turned, and saw that he had a clear shot at Mattius' opponent; his arrow sped, passing through the Easterling's arm, who cried out in pain. Mattius' blade flashed and the Easterling fell.

LinGalad's elation was short-lived. After passing through the Easterling's arm, his arrow had pierced Mattius' sword shoulder. LinGalad's heart plummeted as he watched Mattius stagger, grimace, and then master himself, and resume fighting.

Then an Easterling confronted him, and he drew his blade once more. Sick at heart, he braced himself. What courage he had felt was gone; he now was shaking and dry-mouthed. Gritting his teeth ever harder, he fought his rising panic. A minute later, his head clearing, he realised he had killed the Easterling. He shuddered, and then looked around.

10-25-2003, 01:49 PM	#30
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,367	An arrow grazed his cheekbone, and another ripped through his cloak. He loosed his own, which did not miss; he nocked another, and loosed it, and it lodged in the throat of an easterling, who staggered but did not fall. He nocked a third, and glanced towards Kalir and the Easterling who had confronted him; LinGalad could not get off a clear shot, so he breathed a quick blessing on Kalir, and looked away. He found a third target, and shot; the Easterling fell. Elation filled him, and he nocked a fourth, and glanced over at Avery. She was holding her own, but he had a clear shot at her adversary, and he took it. The Easterling fell. He gave a shout of joy. It was followed by a gasp; his thigh had been hit by an arrow. His face twisted, and Kalir turned. Clenching his teeth, he nocked another arrow. Kalir began to back towards LinGalad. Kalir's adversary saw his concern, and pressed him hard. LinGalad loosed his arrow at him, and it flew wide. The Easterling laughed, and Kalir saw another Easterling closing in rapidly on the wounded elf. He shouted a warning to LinGalad. LinGalad hesitated: Arrow, or sword? But then drew, and faced the Easterling. Kalir arrived at his side, and now there were two against two. None of LinGalad's training had prepared him for this; he needed to avoid Kalir as he swung his blade. He clenched his teeth harder, turned slightly so that his back was towards Kalir, and fought in earnest. Kalir's opponent fell wounded, and then Kalir killed the other Easterling with a backstroke the next moment. He had no time to celebrate. "Ajada!" he shouted, and LinGalad turned to see the scribe retreating towards the Entwife, fighting as best she could. The two headed for her. Kalir got there first, and fought hard. LinGalad paused, and returned to his bow and arrows, limping. The melee was too close. He scanned and scanned, looking for a clear shot, and finally he saw one. Endereth's opponent staggered, with LinGalad's arrow in his shoulder, and Endereth stepped forward to finish him off. He nocked another arrow, and turned, and saw that he had a clear shot at Mattius' opponent; his arrow sped, passing through the Easterling's arm, who cried out in pain. Mattius' blade flashed and the Easterling fell. LinGalad's elation was short-lived. After passing through the Easterling's arm, his arrow had pierced Mattius' sword shoulder. LinGalad's heart plummeted as he watched Mattius stagger, grimace, and then master himself, and resume fighting. Then an Easterling confronted him, and he drew his blade once more. Sick at heart, he braced himself. What courage he had felt was gone; he now was shaking and dry-mouthed. Gritting his teeth ever harder, he fought his rising panic. A minute later, his head clearing, he realised he had killed the Easterling. He shuddered, and then looked around. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.