The End of a Chapter
Storytime!
The great beast let loose an an ear-piercing shrill as the barrage of arrows breached it's scaly hide. It feel to the ground, unable to further fight. Shelob disengaged from the Basalisk, bits of flesh dangling from her manibles as she happily returned to Farek's side. The blood poured from the wounds of the great beast, the body still warm, skinning knife in hand, the Orc hunter plunged the blade below the Fel Scales and extracted them from the carcass.
"Is this all we do anymore dearest? Skin or be skinned? Kill or be killed? Once there was a danger to these parts, a thrill of something more." The spider, if you can believe it, nuzzled Farek's leg, chittering madly. "Yes, I know, there are threats to us all around, but we are too aware of them."
Shadows moved through the forest, the sounds of beasts all around them, watching them, hunting them. It did nothing to Farek, he did not stare, jump or become frieghtened, his skill, the will and focus of Shelob, there was nothing he feared from the environment. Other hunters, perhaps an assassin, but nothing from the lands themselves. The sounds of the forest stopped. Another hunter, someone had just come. A smile came to his lips, the Spider at his side stayed put, carefully maneuvering her legs around the delicate trap at her feet.
The ground trembled, and the Dwarfed charged from the depths of the forest at Farek. Swift as can be, his axe dropped into his hands. The spider leapt at the dwarf mid charge, mandibles digging in hard, holding him steadfast. The axe came over, breaking through the heel armor, and impaling the hamstring with the back wing of the axe. The trap released a horde of venomous snakes conjoured up, all biting, nibbling at the the dwarf's leg, some crawling inside the plate.
Shelob's grip could not hold forever, the warrior broke free and charged again at Farek, and though most would have been stunned by such a feat, it did nothing. Shelob began the pursuit of the Dwarf, but she would probably not catch him again. Too much distance had been covered, Farek was alone, but not out of tricks. Axe still in hand, he turned and charged the warrior himself, foolish to most, for he was not as strong in melee as he was quick with the gun he posessed.
With the Blade perched and ready, he struck with the quickness of a Raptor, crushing the armor about the left shoulder, another opening. He shouldered a hit himself, a strong heavy blow. But that was not his only trick. Again, the axe wing cut open the base of the Dwarf's plate coverings, a second shot to the achillies. The dwarf could barely move. Farek continued his momentum, gaining fifteen paces before dropping his axe to the ground. The gun was already loaded, and in his hands as he dropped to one knee turning.
The dwarf began towards him, unable to charge or move faster than a snail's pace. Carefully he found his mark, the exposed shoulder. The shot exploded into the air. The birds flew into the sky. The Dwarf lowered to the ground. His aim was true, though not a death blow, it was enough. Farek hefted his axe to his back, set the gun back down and looked towards Shelob. She was over the body, chittering madly.
"Feast upon him, I shall see you back at the camp." Mandibles began their crushing entrance through the armor, flesh, and bone. The dwarf released a final scream in death.
The night came, only the two of them, Shelob and Farek.
The great beast let loose an an ear-piercing shrill as the barrage of arrows breached it's scaly hide. It feel to the ground, unable to further fight. Shelob disengaged from the Basalisk, bits of flesh dangling from her manibles as she happily returned to Farek's side. The blood poured from the wounds of the great beast, the body still warm, skinning knife in hand, the Orc hunter plunged the blade below the Fel Scales and extracted them from the carcass.
"Is this all we do anymore dearest? Skin or be skinned? Kill or be killed? Once there was a danger to these parts, a thrill of something more." The spider, if you can believe it, nuzzled Farek's leg, chittering madly. "Yes, I know, there are threats to us all around, but we are too aware of them."
Shadows moved through the forest, the sounds of beasts all around them, watching them, hunting them. It did nothing to Farek, he did not stare, jump or become frieghtened, his skill, the will and focus of Shelob, there was nothing he feared from the environment. Other hunters, perhaps an assassin, but nothing from the lands themselves. The sounds of the forest stopped. Another hunter, someone had just come. A smile came to his lips, the Spider at his side stayed put, carefully maneuvering her legs around the delicate trap at her feet.
The ground trembled, and the Dwarfed charged from the depths of the forest at Farek. Swift as can be, his axe dropped into his hands. The spider leapt at the dwarf mid charge, mandibles digging in hard, holding him steadfast. The axe came over, breaking through the heel armor, and impaling the hamstring with the back wing of the axe. The trap released a horde of venomous snakes conjoured up, all biting, nibbling at the the dwarf's leg, some crawling inside the plate.
Shelob's grip could not hold forever, the warrior broke free and charged again at Farek, and though most would have been stunned by such a feat, it did nothing. Shelob began the pursuit of the Dwarf, but she would probably not catch him again. Too much distance had been covered, Farek was alone, but not out of tricks. Axe still in hand, he turned and charged the warrior himself, foolish to most, for he was not as strong in melee as he was quick with the gun he posessed.
With the Blade perched and ready, he struck with the quickness of a Raptor, crushing the armor about the left shoulder, another opening. He shouldered a hit himself, a strong heavy blow. But that was not his only trick. Again, the axe wing cut open the base of the Dwarf's plate coverings, a second shot to the achillies. The dwarf could barely move. Farek continued his momentum, gaining fifteen paces before dropping his axe to the ground. The gun was already loaded, and in his hands as he dropped to one knee turning.
The dwarf began towards him, unable to charge or move faster than a snail's pace. Carefully he found his mark, the exposed shoulder. The shot exploded into the air. The birds flew into the sky. The Dwarf lowered to the ground. His aim was true, though not a death blow, it was enough. Farek hefted his axe to his back, set the gun back down and looked towards Shelob. She was over the body, chittering madly.
"Feast upon him, I shall see you back at the camp." Mandibles began their crushing entrance through the armor, flesh, and bone. The dwarf released a final scream in death.
The night came, only the two of them, Shelob and Farek.