Many are the Guards who Wait

by Tycho Ralesh

[Greater Caverns of Tsojcanth: the battle closes]

Kastran clinched his fist high above his head, then twisted his arm as he wrenched it downward. In unison, a pillar of flame descended upon dragon’s black skull. The column hammered down, causing a shockwave to undulate through the wyrm’s sinuous body. It staggered sideways, careening violently into a stone pillar. The halfling was spent with the effort and staggered to cover.

Though only I now confronted the beast, it took to wing and fled to its lair high up in the crags of the great cavern. Victim to bloodlust, I pursued without thought or hesitation. As I leapt up to the cave ledged, I momentarily crossed into the ethereal plane. The dragon lay in wait, smoky and insubstantial. It seemed expectant, but it couldn’t know I was there, lurking beyond the real. I could feel myself slipping back to the material world, when to my horror, the dragon’s head whipped in my direction, maw agape. A gout of noxious acid erupted forth.

Scrambling to my left, driplets of agony pelted me from all angles. I stayed ahead of the main geyser and dove behind a fortuitous bolder. Though my right ankle and shoulder had been doused and issued a torment I could scarcely stand, that mindless rock had saved me. This smaller cave hampered the beast. I leapt to its flank and drove Longtooth under a scale just below its ribs. With all my force and leverage, I wrenched it off. The dragon scuttled sideways, away from the pain, crashing through pillars and slamming into the wall. I leapt at it, turning a single gyre as I arced near 30 feet. Focusing the full brunt of that momentum, I sank Longtooth deep, fully to the hilt. Using the embedded blade to gain purchase, I hacked at the exposed flesh, stabbing and slashing frenetically inward with my second sword. One blow must have pierced it’s lung, as I could feel the rush of disgusting, stinging air hiss out over my arm. The gurgling howl the beast made was indescribable.

The wyrm staggered and slammed about so wildly, I was forced to let go or be crushed. It crashed its way out, fleeing from me a second time. Bloodlust yet unslaked, I stormed after my prey, only to see a pillar of flame slam into the dragon’s neck. It fell lifeless to the cavern floor as Kastran slumped in exhaustion. I jumped down to the halfling. He was conscious...alive, but spent. I could feel the presence of his deity drifting away like a mist off cold water.

"This one didn't escape us. My thanks to Brandobaris," I was forcing a smile through the pain. The thought didn't seem to comfort him. I turned to stagger about the cavern in search of our scattered companions.

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Background
1st of Readying

The Fouled Stream
20th of Readying

Words with Lord Summerford
21st of Readying

I Believe You Mean Warlock
23rd of Readying

Miner Difficulties
27th of Readying

A Victory Celebration
28th of Readying

In response to Ilias
1st of Coldeven

The Winged God.
14th of Coldeven

A Patron's Favor
15th of Coldeven

A Traitor to the Folk
16th of Coldeven

The Scions of Elemental Evil
11th of Planting

A Gift to Palor
24th of Planting

First Conversations with Morley
25th of Planting

Roots of the Humble Ogre
26th of Planting

At the Temple's Steps
24th of Flocktime

Trapped in the Labyrinth
25th of Flocktime

Warmth of the Light
27th of Flocktime

The Horizons of Mind
1st of Wealsun

A Whoelsome Diversion
3rd of Wealsun

Pursuing Derider
4th of Wealsun

Rising Filth
4th of Wealsun

A Winged Shadow Flees
5th of Wealsun

The Slumbering Ogre
7th of Wealsun

Paradise Defiled
22nd of Wealsun

One Man's Salt
23rd of Wealsun

A Song of Whispers
28th of Wealsun

Lost No Longer
3rd of Richfest

Revelry and Memory
4th of Richfest

Many are the Guards who Wait
28th of Reaping

Lament
2nd of Goodmonth

The Maelstrom Blade
16th of Goodmonth

Many are the Guards who Wait

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