There was a beautiful fog as a blonde haired woman smiled at him, holding their baby boy. Her mouth moved as though she was saying something, but no words came out as clouds gathered over head. The soft hues of the bright meadow they were in slowly faded to darker blues and grey's before she let out an ear curdling scream. She appeared doubled over, clutching the baby, surrounded by a pool of blood and bodies. Grimmskall awoke breathing heavily in a cold sweat. Running a hand through his short blonde hair he got up from the pile of hay he had slept on. He looked over seeing a young woman watching him from the barn door. "Forgive me but you were screaming in your sleep...", She stepped forwards as he hurriedly put his tunic on.
Grimmskall let out a sigh, "No it's fine... I'm ok...", He muttered lowly, beginning to gather his things before he paused taking a long drink from his flask. He looked over to the young woman, a daughter to the farmer he had saved from bandits the day before. "Thank you for checking on me but I must be leaving now...", He went on pulling his leather chest on over his head before tightening it's straps fitting it snuggly to his torso. "Oh.. Well let me get you some food for your travels at least. We owe you that much... If you hadn't showed up when you did...", She went on stepping closer as he strapped his sword to his hips.
He sighed again before taking another swig from his flask and tightened the lid tucking it into his coat pocket. "Do what you want but be quick...", He spoke bluntly. He didn't want to stay the night there and hadn't planned on the daughter coming to check up on him. He knew that if he stayed those bandits the girl mentioned previously would be back looking for him. Or at the very least looking for the members of there group that he dispatched. His mind was made up, as soon as she would go to fetch him supplies he would leave. She nodded and turned and was about to take a step when she stopped. A look of horror swept over her as five armed men were approaching the barn from her house, while two others were kicking down the door. She screamed causing Grimmskall to rush out in front of her placing himself between her and the five men.
He drew his sword rapidly as the five men approached, one of which raised an index finger to Grimm, "Ah ah ah. It'd be a shame if something happened to the young ladies old man...", as he spoke the two who kicked the door to the house in emerged dragging an older looking man out with them. Grimm threw his sword down on the ground. "Fine... The hell do you want?", he questioned abrassively. The man chuckled, "Well, judging by your demeanor, I'd say your the reason my scouts never came back."
"Ya I am.. They were trying to shake these poor people down...", Grimm explained, "Take happiness in knowing that they deserved worse than what I did to them." The young woman covered her mouth in astonishment at how fearless her protector had seemed. Grimmskall engaged in the conversation, however the whole time he seemed to study each of the men in front of him. Two with crossbows, four with short swords, and what he assumed was their captain, dawning a short sword and round shield. The man chuckled, "As was their job, this families home resides on our turf. And so they were here checking the place out... But I'll tell you what. You come with us and we'll leave these people alone."
Grimmskall stared still analyzing the situation, the two cross bowmen were facing him and the girl, along with two swordsmen and a shieldman. The other two swords men kept there eyes on the girls father a good distance away. He smirked at the captain, "You didn't bring enough men...", Grimmskall spoke suddenly whipping a throwing knife at one of the bowmen. It stuck in his throat causing him to double over. Simultaneously, Grimm dashed forwards to the other cross bowmen punching him in the face as hard as he could. As he fell back, Grimm grabbed him by the collar and planted another fist to the side of his head before picking up the crossbow. He aimed it at the men in front of of him causing them to step back slightly before he suddenly fired at the one about to swing his sword at the womans father.
As one of the swordsmen proceeded to dash in on Grimm, he swung the crossbow at the side of the mans head causing it to break and splinter sending him toppling over as Grimm ripped the shortsword from his hand. The second swordsmen rushed in swinging. He missed as Grimmskall side stepped him before plunging his sword into the mans side and taking his short sword as well. Now dual wielding Grimmskall faced down with the captain who tensed raising his shield into a defensive stance before suddenly lunging at Grimm, who avoided the strike as well as the following shield bash before taking off in the direction of the other cross bowman that he had killed. Picking up his throwing knife he threw it at the final swordsman watching over the girls father.
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He flinched in pain as the knife pierced his sword arm, though ultimately shrugged it off and was about to attack the girls father before he suddenly collapsed into convulsions while foaming at the mouth. Grimmskall turned to the captain raising his swords, "Now, you can have my full attention boy.", He spoke demeaningly to the bandit captain. Who slowly backed up, "Heh I can see it, even now your thinking of fleeing back to your base... That's no use... I'll just follow you there, and then I'll kill all of you at once... If you die here and now in combat you can save yourself that dishonor.", as Grimmskall spoke the man on the ground began to move, to which Grimmskall stabbed him coldly through the back. The man on the ground fell motionless again as Grimmskall kept eye contact with the remaining soldier yanking his sword from the other mans back.
The shieldman smirked, hunkering down into his stance, "I am captain to the largest bandit force on this side of the river. There's no possible way you could kill all of us at once. And if you kill me, they will come looking, and they will burn this farmstead to the ground.", the shieldman threatened almost boastfully causing Grimmskall to pause for a moment before staring back.
"Well then... They'll be easy for me to find after I kill you.", Grimskall replied with a tone of disgust before he suddenly charged at the captain. As Grimm approached the captain swung with his sword. Grimm blocked the swing locking swords with the man before suddenly burying his body onto the shield. By this point Grimm had thrown his other shortsword to the ground, grabbing the edge of the captains shield. "Shields are for cowards...", he muttered before yanking hard. The captain, who was totally unprepared for this, stumbled back as his shield was pretty much ripped from his arm and sent sailing across the battlefield. Grimmskall scowled as the captain now took a defensive swordstance. "Look your so used to that thing your basic stance is trash....". The captain glared at Grimmskall for a moment before suddenly charging at him. But before he could get close Grimmskall ripped a second throwing knife from his belt, and threw it at the man. It pierced into his throat causing him to double over before Grimmskall finally threw the short sword to the ground and picked up his longsword and both of his throwing knives.
As he began to go through their bodies, the girl rushed over to her father who assured her that besides a few scrapes and bruises that he was fine. Getting to his feet the old man looked over to Grimmskall, "What do you intend to do?", he asked bluntly. Among the bodies Grimmskall found some silver coins and jewelery but nothing important as to the where abouts of the bandit camp. "Pretty simple really... I'm gonna kill'em all...", Grimmskall spoke gruffly rising to his feet, "You two may want to pack your things and find somewhere safe to lay low until I deal with this...". The old man clenched a fist, "Hell no...", he muttered causing Grimmskall to blink a bit.
"Excuse me?", Grimmskall replied a bit confused at first before the old man went on. "I spent the better part of my life building this farm. I was raised here, and I raised my daughter here. And I'll be good god damned if I'm gonna let these trouble makers ransack it!" It looked like Grimmskall was about to say something before the old man looked to his daughter, "Ready the wagon! Were going to the city to request aid from the town guard!". Grimmskall shrugged somewhat, at least they wouldn't be at the farm. As the old man ran inside the house, Grimmskall stopped the girl, "Here... It's dangerous on the roads at night... Be careful with it, one cut is sure to kill anything. It's coated with a potent poison.", he explained handing her one of his throwing knives. She took it somewhat confused, "Your not coming with us?", She asked. Grimm shook his head, "I told ya.. I'm gonna go kill'em all. You guys be careful heading into the city. Don't stop for anything or anyone." As he turned to walk away she stopped him, "Sir Grimmskall.. Thank you."
Grimmskall, "Don't be stupid I am no knight. I dont give a damn about honor and chivalry... You'd best hurry up before your old man comes back.", He spoke rather bluntly to the woman before turning and leaving. She stood slackjawed for a moment before shaking out of it and hurrying to the stables while Grimmskall disappeared into the night heading towards the river.