Name: Charisse Race: Human

Ht: 5’6, Wt: 130, Sex: Female,

Archetype: Rogue

HP: 7 / 7 Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 2, Moxie : 3, Spiritual: 2, Luck : 3,

Agility : 3, Magic : 2, Mental : 2, Energy : 2.

Relevant Skills: Agility - Dodge, Agility - Jump, Agility - Shortsword, Archetype - Awareness, Archetype - Opportunistic, Balance, Physical Melee - Knife, Physical - Run, Ranged - Bow, Stealth - Hide, Stealth - Move Silent

__________________

'Fucking Todd,' Charisse said to herself as she watched Todd stand against the soldiers. Cursing silently to herself, as she scanned the forest.

Success! Physical Roll 5d10; 8, 6, 9, 1, 1; Two Successes; Skill Archetype - Awareness gained 2 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 8,550.

Nine. Nine soldiers were standing behind trees. Some of the trees were not thick enough to provide full cover, and the path around them didn't give a lot of hiding places either.

Todd screamed and charged at one of the soldiers. Everyone was looking at the pincushion as he hurled toward a soldier in mismatched gear. With a deep sigh and a mental note to talk to Todd about setting up ambushes, she carefully lowered herself to the ground.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 1, 8, 8, 6, 1, 3; Two Successes; Skill Stealth - Move Silent gained 2 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,190.

Success! Mental Roll 5d10; 6, 6, 8, 8, 7; Three Successes; Skill Stealth - Hide gained

Experience. Skill points to the next level, 1.

A scream and thump from where Todd ran gave Charisse pause. Unable to see what happened, she started taking a circular route around the battle. When she couldn't hear any yelling or noise from the fight, she turned and, while crouching, jogged to come up from the rear.

Success! Physical Roll 4d10; 4, 10, 3, 1; One Success; Skill Physical - Run has gained 1 Experience.

Skill points to the next level 73.

Fifty feet was as far as she got before her thigh muscles threatened to stop working. Pausing near a bush, she knelt and tried to spot her friend or the soldiers. She could see half the rest obscured by plant life. Two soldiers, though, a clear line of sight to them.

She pulled out her bow and set three arrows on the ground nearby; she made sure there was space between the bush in front of her for her bow to go without disturbing the shrub. Notching the first arrow, she pulled back, prayed, and fired at what she hoped was the rear soldier.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 3, 10, 4, 6, 9, 10. Three Successes; Skill Ranged - Bow gained 3 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,842.

Attack! Ranged - Bow, Damage 6, Hit!

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 2, 8, 9, 3, 10; Three Successes; Archetype - Opportunistic Strike gained 3 Experience.

Skill Points to the next level, 1.

The arrow flew through the trees as if guided by some divine being. Hitting the solider in the exposed jaw, it exited through the man's neck. With a silent gasp, he clutched at his throat as he fell. The other soldier Charisse could see looked in his friend's direction, making himself a bigger target.

In a smooth motion, she grabbed the next arrow and notched it. Pausing a moment to take a breath, she aimed and fired.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 10, 9, 7, 8, 5, 3; Four Successes; Skill Ranged - Bow gained 4 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,838.

Attack! Ranged - Bow, Damage 4, Hit!

Failure! Agility Roll 5d10; 4, 6, 3, 3, 3; Zero Successes; Archetype - Opportunistic Strike failed.

Again the arrow flew right on target. Midflight, the soldier turned and looked in Charisse's direction. His mouth started opening as the projectile hit him in the chest. He fell, some bushes between them blocking her view.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Archer to the south!" A voice yelled from the soldiers.

Charisse ducked down, placing her bow on the ground and carefully listening for the sounds of someone moving toward her.

Success! Physical Roll 5d10; 5, 7, 4, 2, 4; One Success; Skill Archetype - Awareness gained 1 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 8,549.

Charisse started counting as time passed. None of the soldiers appeared to be coming over to investigate, and for all, she knew Todd was out there dying. Not wanting to blow her cover, she inched over to the side of the bush to look around—no sign of anyone, not even Todd. Scanning the trees and coming up with no one, worry crept into Charisse's mind.

"Fuck," Charisse softly cursed as she started running over toward where she'd shot the soldier. Ten feet out, she remembered her bow still lying on the ground.

Failure! Physical Roll 4d10; 3, 2, 3, 4; Zero Successes; Skill Physical - Run failed.

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 3, 8, 5, 4, 3. One Success; Skill Balance gained 1 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 79.

Turning around to glance toward her bow caused her to misstep. Her right foot stepped on a rock that started to wobble; before she could get her left foot on something stale, the rock slid out from under her, clacking across a larger stone. Flailing an arm, she stumbled and managed to stay standing.

"South flank!" a voice yelled from ahead.

Charisse followed the voice, hidden behind a tree; an arm, shoulder, and a bow poked out. She dove toward the ground.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 4, 8, 5, 9, 8, 9; Four Successes; Skill Agility - Dodge gained 4 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 6,675

An arrow whizzed over her as she rolled into a crouch. Springing forward, she ran toward her attacker.

Success! Physical Roll 4d10; 5, 1, 10, 1; One Success; Skill Physical - Run has gained 1 Experience.

Skill points to the next level 72.

Thirty feet forward and the soldier had another arrow ready to fire. Charisse dove to her left, putting the soldier's cover between them. He darted behind the tree and had already transferred his bow to his other hand.

Rolling to her feet, she covered all but the last ten feet between them.

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 5, 1, 8, 9, 1; Two Successes; Skill Agility - Jump gained 2 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 5.

Kicking off a log, then a nearby tree, Charisse jumped. She flew with her dagger outstretched. The soldier's eyes followed her as he raised his bow. The helm left his smiling mouth uncovered. He fired an arrow; Charisse tried to twist, but changing her direction midair was impossible.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 7, 5, 10, 1, 1, 2; Two Successes; Skill Agility - Dodge gained 2 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 6,673

Attack! 3 Damage from Ranged - Bow.

Penalty -1 Success for Restricted Mobility.

Twisting to the side, the arrow missed her right shoulder but buried itself into her midsection, stopping at her hip. Before she could scream in pain, she landed on the soldier.

Success! Physical roll 5d10; 8, 4, 8, 3, 2; Two Successes; Skill Physical Melee - Knife gained 2 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,840

Attack! 4 Damage from Melee - Knife.

Crashing into the soldier, Charisse's dagger impaled the man's chest. Her arm went numb from the impact, and she dropped to the ground. The blade still embedded into her target. Standing up quickly, she spat out some of the dirt on her mouth at the soldier. The man had swapped his bow for a shortsword.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 9, 7, 4, 7, 8, 8; Five Successes; Skill Agility - Dodge gained 5 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 6,668.

Attack! - Damage from Melee - Shortsword.

Charisse easily dodged the sword by stepping backward, bending a knee. Pulling out a pair of daggers, she sprang toward the soldier.

Success! Physical roll 5d10; 3, 8, 4, 8, 8; Three Successes; Skill Physical Melee - Knife gained 3 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,837

Attack! 4 Damage from Melee - Knife.

Coming in and swinging high with the first dagger, the blade cut a line along his jawline.

Success! Physical roll 5d10; 8, 3, 8, 3, 8; Three Successes; Skill Physical Melee - Knife gained 3 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,834

Attack! 4 Damage from Melee - Knife.

Swinging upward with the second dagger, it skidded off the metal chest plate until it met flesh and opened up the man's throat. Briefly, the man spat blood at Charisse before reaching a hand up to cover his throat. He slowly sank to his knees before falling on his stomach.

Charisse also knelt, placing a knee on the back of the soldier. Ignoring the weak squirming, she stabbed in the back of his neck. Once he stopped moving, she wiped off her daggers and resheathed them. Her hands were pulling on his belt pouch when she heard a sharp yelp of pain that sounded like Todd nearby.

Letting go of the belt pouch, she grabbed the man's shortsword and bow and stood up.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 6, 3, 4, 9, 10, 8; Three Successes; Skill Agility - Dodge gained 3 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 6,670

Attack! 0 Damage from Ranged - Bow.

Catching something flying toward her out of the corner of her eye, she dropped back down. An arrow thunked into a nearby tree at neck height. Cursing, she stood, bow taut, and blindly fired in reply.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 10, 9, 7, 8, 5, 3; Four Successes; Skill Ranged - Bow gained 4 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,834.

Attack! Ranged - Bow, Damage 4, Hit!

Penalty -2 Success for Blind Fire

Without seeing where it landed, she fired a second shot then ran toward where she thought she heard Todd. Ducking and weaving between some trees and bushes as she ran. Crashing through the foilage, she came up behind a soldier in armor.

The man had a sword raised as if he was striking down. He completely blocked whatever it was in front of him.

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 3, 2, 8, 5, 9; Two Successes; Skill Agility - Jump gained 2 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 3.

Charisse jumped, a foot pushing down and breaking a twig as she took off. The soldier started turning to look at the noise. Charisse stretched out her feet in front, hitting him in the shoulder. Her dropkick knocked the man down. He tumbled over a large object landing on his back as Charisse landed on her feet.

Todd knelt on the ground covered in blood and arrows. A broken sword missing half its blade lay next to him. His armor cracked, dented, and several holes, some with arrow shafts sticking out. His eyes met Charisse's, and he spat out some blood.

"Reg," he said softly, a wince of pain cutting the word short. "Jax?"

"Nope," Charisse said as she notched an arrow. Pulling the bow tight, she aimed at the midsection of the soldier and fired.

Success! Agility Roll 6d10; 9, 2, 3, 2, 1, 7; Two Successes; Skill Ranged - Bow gained 2 Experience.

Skill points to the next level, 9,832.

Attack! Ranged - Bow, Damage 4, Hit!

The arrow skipped off the armor and flew into a bush. An arm of the soldier flew over his head and slammed the pommel of a sword into Todd's back. Clang! The armor rang and shook; Todd coughed, spitting out blood as he slumped to the ground.

"Todd. No!" Charisse yelled, dropping the bow and pulling out the shortsword.

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 9, 2, 10, 6, 3; Two Successes; Skill Agility - Jump gained 2 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 1.

Leaping over her friend and slicing down, Charisse attacked with a vengeance.

Success! Agility Roll 5d10; 9, 8, 7, 9, 7; Five Successes; Skill Agility - Shortsword gained 5 Experience.

Skill Agility - Shortsword has reached Rank 3!

Skill points to the next level, 9,998.

Attack! Melee - Shortsword, Damage 6.

Landing with the sword's point at the soldier's chest, the armor stopped it briefly before giving away. Slowly the blade sank into the man's chest, stopping its descent only when it hit the rear of the armor.

"Fuck," Todd's voice from behind.

Charisse jumped a little and stopped herself from swinging the sword around at the voice.

"I thought you were dead," Charisse said.

"Not yet," Todd groaned. "Not sure why thou." Todd winced and wrapped a hand around his chest.

"I'll go get help," Charisse said, ignoring Todd's shaking head. Reaching into a hidden pocket in her shirt, she pulled out a ring. Grabbing Todd's hand, she forced it on a finger. "Think tree thoughts and don't leaf me."

Before he could answer, Charisse stood up;

Success! Physical Roll 4d10; 9, 6, 1, 7; One Success; Skill Physical - Run has gained 1 Experience.

Skill points to the next level 71.

Bolting out of the bush, leaving a groaning Todd behind. Hoping it was from the bad joke, she ran.