FINAL REWARD: PART V
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
Ainelyanie ran through the gates of Neriak. "WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" she shouted. Immediately, Teir'Dal began to mobilize their defenses. The young Teir'Dal Shadowknight raced through the streets of the underground city, spreading word that a large force of Light Races was storming their Northern border, making a direct line for the city. She ducked into her guild, and helped mobilize her Shadow Knight brothers and sisters into action.
.......
Soaren raced through the trees. Trees, not unlike his home forests on Faydwer. Dodging around a fallen log, the Fier'Dal Ranger nocked another arrow and fired it into the flank of a retreating Teir'Dal Warrior. Over to his left, Telree fired a matching arrow into a retreating Teir'Dal Wizard. The initial attack had caught the enemy unaware, and they were routing back to their dark home. Tatina wove magic out of the soil and thorny vines sprouted up and ensnared yet another retreating enemy. A hail of arrows from either side pierced the panicking Dark Elf, ending his life. As the advance scouts of the diversionary raid, the Rangers and Druids of Giliath Lang were softening up the enemy, but also making sure that some of them escaped. They would sound an alarm, and the diversion would draw the attention of Neriak away from the rescue team. Of course, they didn't ALL have to escape, Soaren thought, as he nocked another arrow...
.......
Bbilly paced. He had been assigned to the reserve force, and as such was waiting at the Druid Ring in Eastern Karana. Mummie sat next to him, deep in meditation and prayer. Four other healers from Giliath Lang were there as well, each one prepared to cast healing or ressusitating spells upon any incoming wounded. "I hate waiting!", mumbled the young Elven Druid. "Have patience, child," came the response from the elderly Gnome beside him, "we must be ready to deliver aid when our family needs it." "I know Mummie, and I realize the importance of our being held in reserve for that, but I just hate not being part of the action! I could use a little excitement!" Mummie sagely shook her head, still in meditation, and said, "Be careful what you wish for, child." As if her statement were prophetic, Bbilly's sharp ears picked up a cry for help. Turning towards the nearby river, Bbilly saw a lone figure running up the hill towards the Druid Ring. The young man was obviously a Barbarian, and judging by the enormous weapon he carried, a Warrior. He was bleeding massively from a compound fracture in his shoulder, as though a large blunt object had smashed into him, crushing the joint. The young Barbarian staggered, then collapsed. Before Bbilly could wonder what had done the damage to him, the ground trembled. Again. "M..Mummie?", Bbilly scanned the horizon to see what was coming up the hill. "It looks like you got your wish, child." answered the Gnomish Cleric, as she and the others rose to their feet. Bbilly marveled at the size of the one-eyed monstrosity clumping slowly up the hill from the river.....
.......
The response to the initial sortie was quick, and impressive. The Teir'Dal reacted as expected, with a quick and heavy counterattack. From their positions among the trees, the Giliath Lang Rangers and Druids launched waves of arrows and spells at the enemy, felling a fair number of them before the charge reached their position. As the charge drew near, the Rangers and Druids fell back, moving at the speed of the wolf. Perhaps encouraged by what they saw as a retreat, the Teir'Dal (and a few of their Dark allies, including Ogres, Trolls, and Iksar) surged forward, hate filling their hearts and minds. Hate turned to shock when the Giliath Lang Rangers and Druids led the charging Dark Forces directly into the trap. From every tree, log, and sometimes even out of thin air itself, the main force of the diversionary team sprang upon the Dark Forces from all sides. Swords, axes, daggers, spears, fists and feet, arrows, and spells caused all manner of havoc upon the Dark Forces, as the trap closed behind them. Trapped inside the box, the Dark Forces had little room to maneuver, and nowhere to retreat. Within moments, the carnage was complete.
"Well done!" shouted Telree, intentionally loud enough that his voice would carry over the trees, "Let the vile cowards come meet us if they dare!" The rest of the diversionary team sent out cheers and war cries, challenging all who would oppose them. The element of surprise had won the first round, but now the enemy knew they were here in force, and would respond in force as well. As the healers with them cast healing magick upon the few injuries sustained in the inital clash, the rest of the diversionary team set up to defend their position from the inevitable next wave.
.......
"Lead him on a chase, Bbilly!" cried Mummie, as she focused more protective magic about the young Druid. Bbilly didn't have to be told twice. Having drawn the Cyclops attention away from the hapless Barbarian by casting a Snare spell upon it, Bbilly had the giant creature's undivided attention. It struggled after him, despite the very ground's attempt to slow him, and Bbilly wasn't about to let it get within arm's reach. The rest of the reserve team began to drag the unconscious Barbarian to the protective cover of the Druid Circle, while Mummie used her magick to keep Bbilly protected. "Bring it on, one-eye!" shouted Bbilly (from a safe distance) as he summoned forth insects to annoy the monster. The Cyclops seemed unimpressed by the stinging swarm, but did take notice when his very skin ignited into flame. Constantly running to keep just out of reach of the Cyclops, Bbilly knew that he would eventually wear down the massive beast.
.......
"WHO'S NEXT???" cried Rekus, as he felled yet another Teir'Dal. The Dark Ones seemed to be literally coming out of the woodwork about him, but the Barbarian Warrior was almost overjoyed at the chance to add more dark blood to the battlefield. With Zosmann and Wulli on his right, and Greyharte and Pacy to his left, they held the center of the line against everything the Dark Ones threw their way. The flanks were being covered by Telree, Bakadin, Bumdaen and Chiron on the left, and Jergen, Kiladce, Shoshen and Stormwolf on the right. Hamba, Sudden and Laxan protected the rear against any flanking attempts. With the casters safely protected in the middle with the healers, and the Bards keeping everyone's spirits high with driving war songs, Rekus felt that they could hold this position forever. "At the very least," thought the Barbarian Warrior, "we'll hold long enough for the rescue team to reach our missing family members and get out safely...", and then another Dark Warrior charged the center of the line, once again putting a smile on Rekus' blood-stained face.
.......
Bbilly took a little too long to cast a spell, and now felt the impact of the Cyclops' fist against his chest. The Cyclops pulled his hand back and looked shocked, as he felt the thorns which surrounded Bbilly penetrate his flesh. Enraged even further, the Cyclops drew back his fist to smash the annoying Elf's stunned body, but drew up short when a blast of force from behind him stunned him momentarily. The Cyclops turned to see a Gnome standing behind him. "Back away from the boy, you misbegotten cretin, or feel my wrath again!" said Mummie, unflinching. The Cyclops charged at the Gnome, bellowing in rage, but was suddenly lifted off the ground by numerous lightning bolts, swarms of insects, tongues of flame, and bolts of force converging on him. The combined offensive magick of the reserve team reduced the once mighty Cyclops to a quivering mound of lifeless flesh in a single heartbeat. "You were warned, bully!" chided Mummie at the dead Cyclops.
.......
An Ogre had slammed himself into Rekus, staggering the mighty Barbarian. Not wanting to risk a breach in their front line, Inelia focussed her magick upon the Ogre, pitting her mind against his. It was no contest. The Ogre stopped and blinked, his eyes glazed over. Before the Ogre could blink again, Dalthorn and Warsbane unleashed their magick upon him, reducing him to little more than a charred skeleton. Tincture quickly healed Rekus' wounds, allowing the Barbarian to once more close up the temporary breach in the line, while Lacka enchanced his strength yet again. "Hold the line, we must hold the line!" shouted Telree, and then thought to himself, "And their attention. The rescue team must be nearly to the rendezvous point by now! Just a little longer....". An Iksar Monk attempted to vault over the line, only to be picked off by a spell, three arrows, a staff and an axe. Telree knew they could hold, but for how much longer?