Whydah stumbled along the shore of the Shand, scrambling through brush and over deadfalls. One eye searched the undergrowth for a long thin stick to use as a retrieval tool, the other scanned the river’s surface for any sign of the druid woman dumped into its quick-moving waters. Where is she? Although they were near the headwater, it was easily deep enough to drown a gnome, particularly if injured. A sparkle of green energy flashed along the bank and suddenly there stood the druid dipping wet and staring back at her in surprise.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Whydah…my friend and I saw you being attacked by those creatures and came to help. He’s still fighting them.” She nodded backward over her shoulder in the direction of the road. “Are you okay? How did you…?” Her question was cut short by the rumble and flash of Glynfir’s fireworks.
“Lunish. And I’m fine.” she waved her hand dismissively. “I just shifted into a trout and swam back”
Whydah felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Of course she did. She’s a druid. Whydah offered her a hand crossing a fallen log at the river’s edge and gnome and halfling scrambled back up the bank towards the others.
“Could you shift into a dragon or something?” Whydah asked, clawing for a handhold in the embankment’s leaf litter
“Nope. It’s cool, but not that cool. Best I can do is probably a bear or a wolf.”
The pair emerged from the roadside brush fifty yards downstream and found the situation significantly degraded. Bird hung helplessly in mid-air as both creatures moved in for the kill. Glynfir frantically rummaged through his satchel. Grym lay motionless on the road, a spear haft pointing skywards from his chest. They broke into a dead run towards their friends.
Segwyn scrambled to his feet. The lightning bolt surged into the forest just up ahead. Sideways trajectory. Not natural. It came from the road. The smoldering nearby greenery wafted grey smoke beneath the canopy wrapping the area in a visual haze. Intermittent cracks and thumps of surrendering foliage tapered off as the stoic calm of the forest reasserted itself. The wren’s call trilled from his left – Darmor, judging by the distance. The ranger picked his way to the source, peeking through the heavy cover towards the river. Too thick. Preceded by his closer companions, Segwyn found them huddled in observation. Mimicking their low crouch at the edge of the tree line he followed their gaze south down the road.
A mustached wizard, at least part elven, and a cat-like humanoid wielding two oddly shaped swords battled two black, skeletal figures. Sunlight glinted off the slick ooze covering their lean, hunched forms. Long spiny tails whipped back and forth as they slowly circled the cat. A single horn protruding from the back of their skulls curling up and forward was unmistakable, though the ranger had never seen one first-hand.
These were Babau, in elvish the name translated as ‘ebony death’ - the assassins and recruiters of Orcus’ demon horde. Formidable if faced alone, but manageable when outnumbered. Waiting on the rest of the team, the elves watched silently as a bead of red energy sprung from the wizard’s hand before expanding into a massive ball of fire. A collective wince rippled through the group as the incendiary landed, swallowing ally and foe alike. This cat has fantastic reflexes. He almost avoided that entirely! The ranger felt more than heard the movement behind him, signaling the arrival of the others. Segwyn turned to address the team.
“These are Babau. We can manage two of them. They have magic, so stick to the bows and stay out of range.” He pointed south along the tree line. “Let’s set up in a tight line at the edge of the cover. First shot on my mark, and – Halisk - string black second and hold.” Seeing her nod in confirmation he scanned the eyes of the other team members – concerned but not scared.
“We’ve got this! Now let’s move while we still have help.”
The Blades broke the huddle and shuttled themselves, unnoticed, closer to their targets. The acrid stench of sulfur grew stronger as they shortened the distance. Once settled, Segwyn issued a series of hand signals, silently dividing their attention. The first six pointed toward the enemy on the right, while the two armed with blue arrows turned to the demon on the left. The ranger nocked a blue arrow and trained left, his open hand overhead, prepared to signal the first volley.
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The tabby’s swordplay is ruthless! Segwyn was momentarily mesmerized by the unorthodox technique, almost entirely contradictory to his extensive training in dual wielding. Instead of tiring his opponent by forcing constant defensive maneuvers, the cat used one sword to create kill-shot openings for the other constantly. If it weren’t for the stiff hides and protective ooze of the demons’ physique, they would likely both be already dead. What he had no counter for was their magic. As the cat was levitated into the air, Segwyn saw one of the swords begin to glow ember orange and opened the palm of his raised hand ever so slightly. The stretching sinew of eight bowstrings whispered their readiness.
Glynfir was out of options and out of time. Fire didn’t work. Lightning didn’t work. What else have I got? He mentally ran through his inventory of spells while fishing through the satchel, hoping the material components within might prompt some epiphany. The chatter of steel on stone returned his attention to the road. Seeing his only standing ally - one hand empty - suspended helplessly in midair by the demons’ magical matrix, he just reacted.
Thrusting his outstretched fingers toward the closest attacker, five red darts of energy instantly sprung to life and sped across the intervening distance. Their trajectories diverged, crisscrossing with each other on the journey before all five reconverged in a series of percussive thuds along the creature’s corrugated spine. The Babau staggered forward, just catching itself, and shook its head to reorient. Its spell broken, Bird’s glowing blade immediately regained its silver hue, but remained stubbornly out of the reach of its hovering owner. The son of an Otyugh felt that!
Segwyn watched from the other side of the battlefield as the red energy pulses staggered the farther creature. Now! He dropped his arm and six strings sang, sending a speeding blur of white toward the back of the second Babau. One glanced off the creature’s shoulder and veered wildly toward the river, the other five hit home, the impact snapping the demon’s head backward. Black ichor spattered the road’s surface as the creature spun, roaring in frustration towards yet another new foe, not realizing its spell had broken.
As Bird dropped back to his feet, he quickly recognized the changing tide. Seeing one opponent staggered and the other with its back turned, he seized the opportunity. In two quick steps, the cat closed the distance to his distracted enemy and leaped into the air. Grabbing the base of the demon’s horn, he pulled down with all his weight. The creature’s long charcoal body bent backward awkwardly before losing balance. With one smooth stroke mid-fall, the Tabby swung the blade under the demon’s chin and drew the full length of forged steel across its throat. The two combatants hit the ground with a thud. Arrow shafts snapped against the compacted gravel, the creature’s weight and the Tabby’s momentum driving them deeper into its torso. A large black pool quickly spread across the road’s surface. Bird watched the creature’s glowing red eyes flicker, and go dark.
It barely registered to Whydah that Lunish had peeled off at some point during their race to the wizard’s position. Who’s shooting arrows? Her heart sang as she watched Bird’s acrobatic takedown, and with renewed hope, she shifted her attention to the remaining demon. Pulling up next to Glynfir, she was already humming the discordant melody. Let’s see how you like some more psychic pain! Releasing the spell Whydah felt her mind tether deep inside the creature’s twisted brain. Unspeakable horror and evil swirled, trying desperately to deflect her advance with torturous and repulsive imagery. She gagged instinctively at the mental counter-attack. Sweat beaded on her forehead, bile rising in the back of her throat, she mentally pushed against the resistance. Breaking through, the bard quickly anchored the dissonant whisper and severed her connection. The demon reared back, hissing, violently shaking its head from side to side. Its glowing eyes settled on Whydah before letting out an enraged howl, mentally forced to flee. Relief washed over her. That should buy him a little time.
It turned out to be time Bird wouldn’t need. As the lumbering Babau stumbled away from Whydah towards the Verdant Blades, Segwyn drew his bowstring and shouted,
“Now!”
All three arrows buried themselves in the creature’s chest. A distorted bubble of magical energy formed with each strike, swelling, and bursting in a loud pop. The Babau, launched off its feet by the enhanced impact, landed heavily on the now bloodied and blackened road beside Bird. Ready to pounce, the cat watched the eyes pulse briefly with one last flash and go out.
All was suddenly still. The uneasy silence that arrives moments after a fierce battle descended on the group. No one moved or spoke until a wail of mourning echoed off the surrounding hills.
“NOOOOOO!”
All eyes cut to Lunish, on her knees, hunched over Grym’s unmoving form. The green energy faded from her hands as she slumped forward, her head on his chest. The gnome’s shoulders shook erratically as she sobbed silently over the body of her fallen friend.