Curse

Ristaron · Sep 30, 2006, 06:06 PM // 18:06

A Flesh Golem isn't a Tyrian skill, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't get that ability for a while.
Ascalon is a long way from Cantha ;-)

In either case, let Minus continue the story as he sees it best done - he's done a fantastic job so far and I'd hate to see him get too caught up trying to please the different desires of the readers to make it how it's supposed to be: his way.

Not to refer to you in the third person, Minus Sign

Keep it up, I love how you so expertly keep the plot moving without having the characters suddenly realize what they need to do. It's human, and therefore believable.

Necro Lord Nottsy · Sep 30, 2006, 09:53 PM // 21:53

yeah i know but in minus's minion mistress faith could do it so y cant she do it now?

Minus Sign · Oct 01, 2006, 01:37 AM // 01:37

22

Lunchtime saw Faith and Melody sitting on a pair of covered rain barrels, the necromancer flexing and loosening her hands subconsciously. Melody stared sullenly at the groups that passed, waving at people she had met over the last two weeks. Once, she shifted on her perch as Frazier Embergleen passed. Faith clamped a hand on the monk’s shoulder, shaking her head slightly.

Enough people had “gone away’ without telling Melody that the monk had finally accepted it as a world truth. But it was neither peaceful nor harmonious for her, and Faith feared the monk would forget why she couldn’t tell others. Today, Faith was watching the monk warily instead of the other way round.

Kali appeared in the mass, trying nonchalance as she shifted a heavy laden duffle bag on her shoulder. Melody waved again, easing herself off the rain barrel. Faith grabbed her arm firmly, holding her where she was. “She’s coming to us,” the necro said sternly. Melody pouted but remained silent.

“Is Stephan back yet?” Faith asked in a careful tone when kali approached. “We didn’t see him come in.”

The warrior had not been able to take on an evening sweep after all, but had instead been snatched into a midday offensive. The timing would hurt. If Stephan was too tired to fight his way out…Faith took hold of herself, trying not to shake her head in annoyance. Stephan might be tired.

She pushed worry aside in the same breath. Once her horde was up, he could rest safely behind it with the rest of them.

She hoped. Faith wobbled as she finally followed Melody in standing from their seat. She was still tired, weakened from her condition.

“Yeah; he’s back,” Kali said, pinching her lips between her teeth. “He’s, ahh, got to report to the QMs “

“Why?” Faith asked, eyeing the elementalist. Something about her tone. Kali shrugged, feigning ignorance. The twitch of her shoulders revealed a longsword, well worn and freshly sharpened. “Is that Stephan’s sword?”

“Yeah,” Kali said, hefting the weapon unconsciously.

“Uh huh,” Faith nodded, hiding a smile. That was why. “Looks heavy.”

Kali smiled, whispering “A little.”

“Ok,” a gruff voice said from Melody’s other side and Kali jumped. Stephan dropped his duffle behind the rain barrels with Faith and Melody’s, testing a half-moon war axe experimentally. “Horn blows in three minutes. Do we want to be first out or last to leave?”

Faith was still watching Kali, no longer trying to hide the smile. Kali puckered her mouth, shaking her head at the necro with reddening cheeks. “Last to leave I think is best,” Faith said at last. “We’ll grab more corpses on our way; easier going once we’re outside.

“Are you ready?”

Stephan hunched his shoulders, picking at a loose buckle on the wooden buckler he carried. “I’m rested,” he said, all the answer she’d get on the subject. Stephan was still uncomfortable with all of this. “If we run through the center the fight will be lightest with all the people around. Might make things easier while we make our break.”

Faith shook her head. “We’ll have to run through more Char if we go that way. Best if we stick to the west and run southwest. We run for the old bridge and try to swing around the Char.”

“The lowlands are all grown wild Faith,” Kali reminded. “There’s a firestorm of Storm Riders and Hydras that way. Might make things harder without that nice effect Stormcaller has every hour.”

“I think we all know better than that by now,” Faith injected sarcastically. “Hydras and Storm Riders will attack us if they’re hungry, sure. But they aren’t likely to chase down a group of people that can fight them off

“I don’t believe I’m hearing this,” kali said jokingly. “Faith not looking for a fight?”

“I want all of us out alive and safe. That’s our goal now. Any Char we meet, we kill—and you can bet there will be plenty—but we aren’t going to court trouble to get out of here.”

“Faith,” Stephan cautioned, “She was just kidding.”

“You be serious,” Faith scolded. “We’ve got one more mission to finish—our last one if there’s any grace in the Gods—and I’m your GL,” to prove the point, Faith sent a wisp if her spirit out to the three of them. The three accepted and the group formed. “This isn’t a democracy. Not yet anyway. You follow my orders; you’ve trusted me this far.” Her first step was just a little stiff, but she hid the effort. They didn’t need to know she was in too bad a state to fight a Char counter-offensive. Not yet.

“I love you too Faith,” Kali smiled.

“Shuddup,” the necro scowled. While they had been talking, a trickle of men and women had begun walking through the south gate. That trickle had grown to a flood, groups jockeying for position to be the first out.

Faith flinched at the thought. The last groups out secured the retreat. Stragglers wouldn’t be noticed leaving Grendich. No one wanted to look the dead in the eyes.

One body broke from the stream of men and women, turning straight toward her. “Sweet Gods not now,” she mumbled and both Stephan and Kali turned to the man who was coming toward them with confusion.

The necromancer that stopped in front of Faith was tall and skinny, dark black with grey hair. The sneer on his face reached his eyes, both humorless as he took in the four people standing together. It wasn’t that the man was bad or good; he seemed to have the oil slick smoothed edge sheen of aristocracy about him like a thin film.

Faith found his presence greasy.

“Mistress Melody,” the necro bowed deeply to the monk. Melody smiled uncertainly. “it is good to see you’re letting Miss Faith out again. I’ve just come from her tent.

“I was hoping to ask you some question,” he trailed off, looking each of them in turn. “Why are you grouped?”

“We’re,” Kali began.

“Going out for some fresh air, master Hexbiter,” Faith finished. “I believe and Melody agrees, Grendich is a little stifling for those who are still in recovery.”

It was a lie as thin as vellum, but it was the best she could come up with. Beyond belief, Terrance Hexbiter nodded sagely.

“Of course, of course,” the Group Leader said, still nodding, “but could that not wait for a few minutes? I had some time to think last night and I believe I can better explain your return if you might—“

“I’m on evening patrol, master Hexbiter,” Kali offered. “And we’re here for her escort. I won’t have time to help her later if I intend to do my sweep tonight.”

“I see,” the necro said, still nodding. “And you as well?” he asked, glancing to Stephan.

“I just finished my first offensive,” the warrior said,” I’m expecting another sortie this evening as well. This is the best time for us to chaperone her.”

“Ahh,” the GL said, agreeing. Faith turned toward the gate again. “You were with her when she came to Grendich, were you not?”

No one moved. “I was,” Kali confessed—it did sound a confession to Faith’s ears—and Terrance nodded again.

“We’re all of us from Piken,” Stephan offered, stepping around melody so he was between the women and the necro. “We’re all of us close.”

“That’s nice,” Terrance said, his voice hissing amusement. Faith watched the gate worriedly. The rush of men and women had dwindled to a trickle. Soon the horn would sound and—bad tactic for Grendich or no—it was their only chance to punch through the mass of Char that would lie waiting for them outside. “It’s good to have friends,” then, again, “I see you’re still wearing your GL pin Miss Faith. I’ve no doubts they’ll recognize you once you’re up to full strength—maybe we’ll promote you to a GL 6 like me, eh?” Faith met the man’s oily smile with one of her own, tip lipped and annoyed. “But I don’t think…” the necro trailed off, staring at something behind them.

All eyes turned to where Terrance was looking. Kali had not dropped her duffle behind the rain barrel with the rest of their things, the large laden bag sitting conspicuously out in the open behind them. “What’s this?” Terrance asked, the smile still annoyingly nonplussed. “Is that yours?”

A group of warriors—the last group—was running through the gate, and Faith took a breath. “Now Stephan,” she ordered, her tone cool as a fall breeze.

“Sorry old hat,” the warrior mumbled, one mammoth arm swinging back.

“Wha—” whatever question Terrance was about to ask was cut off by the crack of a war axe grazing—the flat of the blade thankfully—across the necro’s chin. Terrance dropped in a heap on the ground, breathing.

“What the?” a shocked voice called from the canteen.

“Run!” Faith roared command.

“Alarm!” came the voice again, and others as people saw Terrance wriggling feebly on the ground. “Alarm! Alarm!”

Stephan steeled himself at the exit, ready to protect the groups escape. Faith grabbed him by the collar, pulling the big man back with every ounce of her weakened strength. “Don’t fight them when there’s plenty more things we have to kill!” she snapped. “I said run now you run damn you!”

The warrior mouthed a retort to her, but anything he said was lost to the wind, the screaming from Grendich and the thump of boots and sandals at a hard run.

Minus Sign · Oct 01, 2006, 01:50 AM // 01:50

One could argue, Necro Lord Nottsy, that Faith was only able to create a Flesh Golem while under the influence of Grenth. That's how I've viewed her ability for a Pre-Searing necro to use a Canthan Elite skill so early in her Tyrian life.

That Kasha Blackblood saw the Golem with wonder and terror speaks--at least I hoped it did--to the rarity of such a skill for a necromancer in Tyria.

Someday, she will use Elites again. For now though, much of her expierence in the catacombs I label as part of being "Godspoken"; a rare trait amoung humans in the GW world with fleeting enhancments to their natural abilities; many of the skills she used needing now to be relearned in their proper time before she can use them again. While I do take some creative liscence in how and when she acquires normal skills (mainly because I can't remember when every skill is open for unlock in Tyria anymore) I'm restraining myself from giving her Elites unless they fit directly into the story.

EX: Melody uses peace and harmony; an elite skill. But it fits with her personality and is part of the reason why she is, well, the way she is. Faith's use of a Flesh Golem was due to her own mental anguish at seeing karim's minion fall. Both times I've used Elites I have tried to make it so the characters needed them more than anything else.

While using any skill they--I or you--want to would be wicked kewl, it would also have a tendency to solve too many problems for the characters, remove too many obstacles they still need to face.

Or, to put it another way: would it be as much fun to read if I gave them Godliness?

Thank you for your feedback and I hope you enjoy Faith as she is, even if I've gimped her a little from the first one.

Minus Sign · Oct 01, 2006, 04:09 AM // 04:09

23

Far up on the northern end of the courthouse, nothing was happening. Grad Haleheart sighed luxuriously as warm water trickled from the nozzle above his head.

The walls of the washtent shook with a mournful peal and the ranger paused from his scrubbing. “Right on time,” He said, grabbing soap and washcloth to rub the bar to a nice froth. Someone in the tent grunted agreement.

“Nothing like the little luxuries,” the ranger smiled mischievously. The thought made him sigh mournfully. Soap being a luxury was something he hadn’t considered two weeks ago when he’d been conscripted from the Rin defense force for help at Grendich. And needing a ranger’s scrounging abilities to get hold of a bar had seemed a silly thing to worry over.

Now he meticulously rubbed his chest, cleaning the grim of this day’s first patrol off. He’d never met a generous quartermaster in his life, but to think anyone would begrudge a man a bar of soap…Grad shook his head in silence, dipping his face under the water. They wouldn’t miss it too much.

“Grad!” he heard from the door, just a moment before his GL’s head burst through. Colin Trueshot only glanced inside, ready to slam the door closed. Seeing his team member, the ranger GL grabbed the jam, throwing the door back so all could see inside. Grab blushed. “There you are,” Colin said with a scowl, “Get dressed; there’s trouble.”

“Uh buh uh wha,” Grad spluttered, covering himself with the washcloth.

“Get it out man!” Colin snapped and Grad jerked again. Colin never snapped at anyone.

“What’s wrong sir?” Grad managed finally, toweling himself off.

“Someone’s just assaulted GL6 Hexbiter,” Colin answered. He scratched his chin, staring at Grad. The man blushed harder and Colin nodded knowingly. Belatedly—very belatedly in Grad’s opinion, the GL shut the door. Someone outside giggled. “The QMs are reporting weapons missing from the lockers and maybe more.

“We’ve been ordered out to get them back. Get dressed.”

* * *

Char and men roared in unison as Faith panted into the fray. She didn’t even bother casting a Deadly swarm; there were plenty of corpses for her to choose from.

“Grugle!” came from a nearby mesmer, the sound muffled by a blasting peal from the south.

“Don’t look back,” was all she said, three heads nodding acceptance as they rushed headlong into a warzone.

Corpses blackened as other necromancers began making their own hordes. Green glows formed around wells as well, signal that the battle was only beginning.

Faith took what she needed, nothing more. Minions burst forth and fell almost in the same breath, some necromancers destroying their horde as soon as it was up. Each minion that died, exploded in a shower of bone and putrid flesh, spreading decay to anything near.

Faith’s horde would need be more resilient than that.

A group of Elementalists floated above the ground before her, mana crackling the air like heat lightning. Lightning struck once, twice, three times in the same place. Char that had howled on the ground as air magick pounded them down. Drops of pure fire followed after, cooking the Char as they writhed under the onslaught of powerful spells.

Kali all but leapt up with the other four nukes, earth mana seeping into and out of the ground. Above, the Char were burned; below, Kali boiled them.

She gritted teeth, casting herself out among the carnage.

“Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!” the horde swelled as Faith stumbled, slowing to a walk. Too much effort. Too soon, too tired.

“Gurgle!” No! she admonished, pushing herself onward. Too late to worry about it now. They were in the fight and relying on her to do her part.

Mana shimmered just ahead and Faith stepped into the ward Kali had dropped. Just outside, Kali was sending a column of mana deep underground. The Char had begun re-forming. Soon they would retaliate. Stephan sprinted toward the mana fueled volcano, axe swinging in a wide arc all around him. Surrounded by the mana frothing earth, the warrior pushed deep toward Kali’s epicenter of chaos to pound the Char away or down. An axe fiend tried to stumble out of the blast zone but Stephan was right behind, slashing a miraculous strike that nearly took the Char’s arm clean off before sending another vicious blow across its ankles. The Char roared in pain, still stumbling away and the warrior followed.

“Stephan!” Kali barked. All the warning he needed, the warrior covered his eyes just as the mana exploited ground puffed into a dusty cloud. Coughing, he retreated a step.

“Gurgle!” Faith almost fell sending a part of herself to sustain her horde. The minions had converged in the after throws of Kali and the elementalist assault, bone skewers flashing wetly as they hammered the blinded Char.

“Faith!” Melody called from beside her. The monk had to scream over the unanimous wail around them. “You’re too weak for that!”

“Help me,” the necro said, forcing herself beyond endurance to keep the horde alive and focused. She felt pure energy turned healing and a rush of life exploded inside. She gasped—Gods, it felt good to breathe—and focused on the next corpse.

“Here they come!” someone shouted from behind and Faith could hear the next charge already pounding down on them.

“Kali!” she called, feeling her horde massing up behind her, “wait for the next ward; I’ve got an idea!”

The elementalist nodded, sending out a stream of stone daggers one after another. Fast as an arrow and just as deadly, the rock projectiles slammed into Char armor and through, dropping everything they hit. Faith was right behind, half formed minions stabbing at Char even as they grew from the fallen.

The screams behind them had changed in tone, and Faith chanced a look back. The human’s had begun their retreat—too late again—and Char slammed into the center line like a wall of furry death. Their elementalist escort had fallen back as well, leaving them exposed and alone.

“Dammit!” Stephan bellowed, seeing the carnage wrought by the Char. “I will avenge you!” he screamed, turning on the Char with murderous intent. His axe flew with a incensed speed and the warrior shrugged off any returned blows as he pounded his way outside the minion wall.

And he was not alone. Three groups of Char had turned on the exposed humans and were doing everything they could to get inside. Black sparks glittered as Kali bent her magick over the minions; earth groaned and roared again as another mana inspired event twisted the very ground into the Char’s enemy. Char near the wall fell and did not rise as bone skewers stabbed down in unison to the necromancer’s will.

“Now Kali!” the necro ordered and a ward flashed immediately. The nuke hadn’t waited, wards against melee and elements flaring as her own earthquake was turned against her. Fire mana grabbed the ground before Faith’s horde and the minion master felt her creations pain as lava began too seep from the broken ground.

Faith bent double under the strain to keep her horde alive and fighting, the minions too dull-witted to think of retreating from the powerful fire magicks which were rapidly killing them. She reeled backward, melody quick to the rescue to keep her from a nasty fall as what little energy she had was turned against her by a lucky mesmer spell. Another explosion issued from the monk, healing mana power spreading in a font of life energy all around them.

“Stephan,” Faith managed, gasping air. The warrior had retreated from the blazing heat beyond, his boots smoldering slightly even now. “That way,” she gestured and the warrior nodded. Inspired by the fallen behind and pumped to a frenzy by Faith’s state, the warrior roared as he shoved minion and Char aside, axe swinging in another wide sweep oblivious to what it struck. Over and over, faster and faster, Stephan pounded through the Char ranks and deeper into the lowlands. Kali followed, sword slashing behind at anything he missed or hadn’t completely killed.

Melody was a crutch, healing power atop protection spells as the tiny woman helped her friend through the maelstrom. A second sinister spell struck, draining Faith again but melody had prepared for it; Light shimmered as lost energy became renewed strength instead of another soul breaking strike.

Faith saw light beyond, clear air just out of the horde forming and dying around her. “Almost,” she whispered.

“What,” Melody asked, a warm hand turning Faith toward her. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Now we run,” the necro said. “Leave the minions; we need to run.”

“Ok,” Melody said, pulling Faith onward and out of the fight. A few minions followed as she called them to unlife but most of her horde was lost to the fight behind as they madly attacked any Char they could find.

“Is she alright?” someone asked from Faith’s other side and Faith felt strong arms lifting her up.

“No,” Melody squeaked fearfully. “I told her it was too soon to make minions but she wouldn’t listen!”

“Sorry Mel,” the necro mumbled, feeling herself slip into darkness. Behind her the squishy steps of minions followed as Stephan carried her away.

Necro Lord Nottsy · Oct 01, 2006, 12:57 PM // 12:57

i hope u dont ind minus but i used ur character faith in my first attempt at a fanfic.

Minus Sign · Oct 02, 2006, 09:53 PM // 21:53

24

The minion teetered before him, looking like an upright pincushion. Scowling, he sent another arrow into its “head” jaws snapping down as the wood exploded. With no head, the undead spawn lowered and fell to the ground, crumbling to dust.

Colin glanced around, finding only the six people of his team and bodies crumbling to decay.

“Last of em,” he managed, surveying the ground. He wasn’t looking for tracks: you didn’t need a ranger to see where his quarry had gone.

“Sir?” Grad called quizzically and Colin turned from the sight before him. The group was forming up again behind, leaving the two rangers a brief space of solitude. “Do we really need three GLs for this?”

It took an effort but Colin managed to keep his eyes from bugging out of his head. “You ask me that after seeing this?” He swept a hand across the trail before them. Dozens of bodies lay scattered in a long ragged line leading away from Grendich toward the old bridge and south. Most of them crumbled in the soft breeze, minion husks crumbling into ash.

But a goodly amount didn’t. Char lay were they had fallen, the few who’d remained not enough to carry off their dead. The ground was twisted like frothing surf, bodies half-trapped inside. Colin turned hastily away from half of a Char Shaman when he realized that the creatures legs hadn’t been buried. Turning from one, though, exposed another.

This hadn’t been a battle. It had been a turn in the meat grinder. “Be thankful we have GL Murphy and Tania along, newbie,” he said, keeping the worry out of his voice. “Anyone who can cause this much damage on their own…I’ll take as many experienced people as I can get.” Though, Tania was newly promoted from the elementalist ranks, and Murphy was a bigger pain in the rear than any necro Colin had ever met.

“Well, I know that sir,” Grad agreed, keeping his voice low. “It’s just,” and the younger ranger faltered, surveying the damage before them, “this all looks a little familiar doncha think?”

“I do,” Colin conceded in a whisper. “And I don’t know why they’d decide to bolt now.” He glanced at Grad, forcing his voice to hardness. “I also don’t care,” he lied. “We’ve our orders. They assaulted a GL and stole from Grendich. We bring them in—alive if we can, forget what Murphy says—and worry about our own.”

Colin sighed. He did worry. He’d escorted Faith and Piken team into Grendich, taken a personal interest in Stephan and Melody—been seen to associate with them and requested the monk for his groups. His group had found her out in the lowlands and brought her back.

Any questions about how they got out and who might be their “accomplices” would start and end with him and his team if he didn’t do all he could to bring them in.

“I have to take care of my group now,” he whispered, almost a plea.

“The elementalist are rested,” came a grating voice from behind. Not close enough to hear anything—Colin Trueshot would eat his leathers before he let a man sneak up on him without hearing—but too close for comfort. “What’s the hold ranger?”

Colin managed a smile as he turned to the other four members of the team. Two necromancers—a buxom young woman and a hard worn man—stood aloof from the two young elementalist. The two nukes had their heads together, whispering fiercely with one another. They stood erect under the ranger’s inspection, waiting quietly.

“Just waiting for the call Murph,” Colin replied, keeping his tone light. “Move up newbie, and don’t think till I tell you to, okay?” Grad smirked, following the trail of destruction out into the lowlands. Colin turned to the necromancer pointing in Grad’s direction. “They went this way.”

“I gathered that,” Murphy scowled angrily. Well, he had cause to be angry. Terrance Hexbiter was his cousin and a close friend. They’d moved up the ranks together after the Searing, reaching GL 6 on the same day. They were a pair of opposites, the two of them. While Terrance looked, smelled and almost oozed his aristocratic upbringing, Murphy Solinare had the manners of a farmer’s son right down to the calloused palms. Away from the fight, the man was tolerable—even nice for a necro. But in combat he was a group mate’s worst fear: a minion master with no concern for his team. “There’s no corpses here for me to exploit anyway,” the man complained. “Best we get moving again before they take too great a lead.”

“They’d only slow us down anyway,” Colin retorted, taking a place between the two necromancers and the two elementalists as they followed Grad. “Come on Idiot,” Colin said, staring Murphy in the eye. The necromancer flinched before remembering the stalker. Yes, Colin thought, and not for the first time, a very useful name for a pet to have in the new Ascalon army. “Don’t you worry, sir, we’ll catch them up.”

“Mmm,” Murphy grunted as though that were self-assured.

“We’ll catch them up.”

Bark · Oct 03, 2006, 05:29 PM // 17:29

This is the single best thing i've ever been reading!

Since I found this i have been reading it all my spare time and just got finished.

Please dont ever stop writing this

Thank you for some really great reading

Ristaron · Oct 04, 2006, 04:33 AM // 04:33

Indeed. With a little revisal of a few spelling/grammar errors and perhaps ironing out some of the game lingo (despite how it sets apart your writing from that of others), I wouldn't be surprised if you could sell it to ANet piece by piece for a hefty sum.

Of course, I expect you're not one of those kind of people. The people in your writing are so alive, you can't be in it for such ends as that. And that's probably what I like most about your stuff - you don't write for the sake of others knowing you can, you write to tell a story.
And a fantastic story it is. Please continue the installments.

Shadowfrost · Oct 04, 2006, 07:38 AM // 07:38

This has got to be one of the best fan-fic's i've seen so far. Good job and keep it coming, because I just can't wait to read each part

Paul Mahdi · Oct 04, 2006, 10:59 PM // 22:59

This is the first time I've read something that was of great caliber and that hasn't been published

Raxus · Oct 05, 2006, 02:08 AM // 02:08

Well Minus, what can I say? You have improved immensely in your writing ability. I have to say that you bring out the best in your characters and the worst. Keep up the good work. You have a true fan here. I look forward to your next installment with eager anticipation.

Minus Sign · Oct 05, 2006, 05:55 AM // 05:55

25

“I should be watching her,” the monk pouted. Faith groaned more from annoyance than anything else. The last thing anyone wanted to hear upon waking was Melody in a sulk.

“Keep those four alive, Mel, please,” Kali asked insistently. “Stephan can see to her for a little while—you said yourself she only needs to rest a minute so Faith is okay with him.” Melody moaned frustration. “We may need those minions when she’s awake again, Mel. Please.”

“She’s coming around,” Stephan said from above. Faith opened her eyes to see only darkness. Something cool and wet on her face. Hands more gentle than the man’s form suggested lifted a cold compress from her eyes and Faith stirred on the hard ground.

“How long was I out,” she asked, trying to stand.

“Not long enough!” Melody scolded. She was standing just apart from the rest of them, encircled by four of Faith’s horde. A quick inspection showed the minions were falling to decay despite the powerful healing area the monk could create. Soon they would need to be replaced. “You need to rest more.”

“We’ll have plenty of time to rest when this is over Melody,” Faith said as firmly as she could. It sounded strained and tired.

They were in a rubble building, a broken signpost swaying eerily back and forth. Faith could see no cliffs. They were on a rise somewhere inside old Grendich.

“We’re just a little ways from the old bridge,” Stephan answered. “You were right. All the fuss of the offensive, we ran right through. Only one patrol and most of your minions saw to it.”

“The Gargoyles?” she asked, focusing on making her voice sound casual and rested.

“We haven’t hit any yet,” Kali said and Stephan nodded.

The warrior smirked, hitching a thumb to point behind him and west. “I saw a group of lightning bugs with a rezzer when I scouted ahead. We may have to fight them.”

Something in his tone. The way he’d tried to cut Kali off…“What are you hiding?”

Stephan shrugged innocence, receiving a firm smack on the head form the elementalist. “Look for yourself,” he said reluctantly.

Stand was an effort—receiving another reproachful glare from Melody—but Faith managed to get her feet back under her without too much help from Stephan.

They were on a rise. Below, Faith could almost see a small group of Gargoyles picking through scraps. But beyond…

Beyond was the bridge, old stonework left to depression and cracking, weatherworn. Beyond that, a space of hills with the purple glow of Storm Riders at the mouth of a cul de sac. And beyond there, between them and the Ascalon Foothills...

The light of Char bonfires could be seen in the cul de sac, an ugly orange glow bouncing off the cliff walls to mingle with the purple at its throat. Faith sighed.

“There’s a rez shrine up near that way too,” Kali said and pointed out a bluish white light in the far distance.

“Probably attuned to them now,” Stephan concluded. Faith nodded. “Looks like Rurik caught their attention when he left, the warrior continued. “Either that, or other people have been trying to get into the foothills recently and the Char are stopping them.”

“Looks like a fight Faith,” Kali warned. “A big one.”

Faith stuck her tongue in her cheek, thinking. “I’m glad you waited on those gargoyles Steph,” she said, trying to sound unconcerned. We’ll need my horde to get out of here.”

“No!” Melody snapped. She came to stand in front of the necromancer, arms stretched out to block her way. “No more minions. You’re too weak!”

“I’ll go slow this time Mel,” Faith lied. “There aren’t that many, right Kali?”

“Right,” the elementalist said, nodding agreement.

“No!”

"Melody,” Kali began.

"I said no! You rest now. You’re my patient so you listen or…I’ll…sit on you!”

“Melody,” Faith snapped. “This is enough. We’re outside and we need a horde to fight Char. I know you get at least some of that.” The monk shook her head firmly again. “If I don’t make minions outside we all die.”

Melody crying was like watching a funeral pyre burn. “I knew you were sneaking me!” she accused. “I knew it!”

“We need a horde for right now Melody. Once we’re in the foothills, we can rest up proper.” Uncertainly, she hitched her shoulders as she asked Faith “Anyone following should break off then, right?”

“I hope so, yes.”

Melody turned away from the three, shaking her head and mumbling to herself. Faith thought she heard “to get hurt again” but…Melody didn’t remember bad things. And hurt friends was bad in her book, quickly forgotten. When she turned to face them again, her eyes were angry and sad. Mana seeped from the tiny monk, exploding in a blast of encircling health. The minions around her stiffened, refreshed.

“Alright,” Faith turned toward a pathway off the rise, “no sense waiting on what has to be done. The sooner we knock out those gargoyles, the sooner we can make our break and get out of here.”

* * *

“They stopped here,” Colin said. He bent to scratch at a patch of dirt, tracing the outline of a person’s bust. “Looks like someone…someone rested here. Took a nap maybe,” he shrugged. “one of them may be wounded.”

“I smell no blood,” Murphy replied, staring at the ground Colin was inspecting.

“They don’t hafta be bleeding to be hurt Murph,” Colin reminded. The necromancer sniffed.

Then sniffed again. Testing the air, he came to stand on a point just away from where the person had lay “There were minions here,” necro said. “For a long time; they stood still.

“I believe you are right. No necro would willing let their horde decay—even a small one—unless something were wrong.”

“Then we’re—” Colin cut off as a gratting sound cracked from the west. Steel strikes followed, a clear ringing clang as someone hewed away on an unseen foe. The clouds above flashed, lighting slamming into the earth with mana-wroght precision.

‘They’re here!” Murphy smiled hungrily. The two elementalists tensed, feeling the magicks beyond.

“Light em up,” Colin ordered, taking flint and tender from his pouch and preparing his arrows for harm. Grad nodded reluctantly and pulled his pouch out as well.

“Gurgle!” came soft and distant, muffled shouts—orders being or someone scolding another—echoed beyond the rubble and Colin dodged around the crumbling stonework and down a thin pathway on the other side.

“Watch Yourself!” boomed from a hard voice just ahead and Colin jerked to a halt, bending around a corner to remained concealed. A small band of Gargoyles stumbled blindly into a cluster of minions, flashes of light bringing spots to Colin’s eyes even this far away. The minion horde growled, bone skewers slashing wildly. “I,” Stephan called from the wall, stepping back a pace, “can’t see.”

“Yes you can,” Melody called, life energy flaring from her to him and the warrior stiffened, shaking off the effects of those blinding flashes. Refreshed, Stephan turned back to the horde and the Gargoyles beyond, axe swinging with abandon as he lay into the last of the group.

“Gurgle!” roared from the fight beyond and Colin bent back behind the rubble concealment.

“‘Alright,” Faith panted and Colin chanced another look. The last of the Gargoyles were down and the necromancer stood—bent double—her hands resting on her knees. “Give me a minute to rest and I’ll make some more."

“Now,” Murphy hissed, smiling triumph.

“Gurgle!”

“Grenth’s piss,” Faith growled turning with her horde as one body. Colin twisted out of concealment, arrow notched and ready to loose. Another minion had broken loose, closer to Colin than to the quartet of deserters. This one…was considerably bigger than the ones in Faith’s horde. Only moments behind, Grab slipped around his group leaders side, aiming at another of the four.

“End of the line Faith,” the ranger GL said, keeping his tone casual but commanding. “You’re outnumbered,” the two eles and the other necro came around as well, enchantments of air and water crinkling around the two women. The necro lurched, his body crumpling under its own will, but returning renewed as quickly as he sacrificed himself. “And it looks to me your surrounded,” he gestured with his bow toward a roaming band of Storm Callers beyond the bridge; ranger eyes made out Char on one of the hills, waiting. “It’s us or them, and we’ll go easier.”

Murphy turned to another corpse.

“Gurgle!”

“You impudent little!” the death necro began—not at Colin. The minion that formed was shorter than Murphy’s…and it moved to join Faith’s horde. “Kill them!”

“Move on,” Stephan roared, pushing kali away when the elementalist stood beside him. “Run!”

“Dammit!” Colin snapped. “Don’t!”

Faith, Melody, Kali and the horde turned and ran toward the cul de sac behind, Storm Riders seeing them as they reached the bridge.

“Shoot!” Murphy roared, his minion charging to meet the warrior.

“Don't!" Colin snapped, the arrow flying from his clenched fist.

Minus Sign · Oct 05, 2006, 05:59 AM // 05:59

Well I'll be a stuck pig...nice to see you Raxus

Hope you like this one as much as the first.

Sorry to tell you folks, but we're nearing the home stretch of LFG.

Ristaron · Oct 05, 2006, 06:07 PM // 18:07

After this comes the next 'book'?

Shadowfrost · Oct 06, 2006, 02:27 PM // 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristaron

After this comes the next 'book'?

I sure hope!

Seriously Minus, keep on going with more sequels. You've got me checking frequently just to see if you've posted the next section, cos your writing is so good. Keep up the excellent work.

Minus Sign · Oct 07, 2006, 07:43 AM // 07:43

26

Stephan lurched, grunting as two arrows exploded on the chainmail protecting his chest. The minion before him didn’t hesitate, bone skewer flashing with undead concern. Stephan bent, shield raised and axe ready.

“Gurgle!”

“Balthazar’s beard,” the warrior growled through clenched teeth. Around him air frosted and coalesced and Stephan lurched again as the heart of winter seemed to crash down on him.

Axe a blur the warrior fought back, pounding the minion with everything he had. He felt the cold of the elementalist spell deep in his bones, aching joints moving with grudging slowness as he pushed the undead spawn back.

“Just what I need,” Stephan panted through clenched teeth, “a damn hexer…”

“Piken stands!” Stephan roared the familiar battlecry, giving him hope. Besides, he couldn’t think of anything better to say.

The other minions leapt at him and the warrior’s axe spun; a tight circle of cutting wrath that slashed into the two minions with fatal wounds.

But the undead could not die again; they would live until their master let them go. Shrugging off the double blow, Stephan found himself fending one off with his buckler, the other with his axe. Another double explosion rocked him, pounding the shield and his thigh.

“Piken stan—ow…“ a hard wind slammed into the warrior, sending him back toward the bridge. He grunted again, pushing off the ground.

There are certain pains even a warrior can’t endure for long, and Stephan knew he was looking at one of them when he glanced at the air elementalist. Between her hands a softly glowing white orb hovered, building from the size of an apple to that of a man’s head…and beyond.

“Yield!” Colin screamed, another arrow notched and ready to fire. Stephan took a moment to rub his thigh tenderly. His hand came away hot. “Do you want to die? It’s six on one Stephan—yield and let us pass!”

Let them pass? Pass to Kali? And Faith? Take Melody away and put her in chains? He knew the penalty for desertion as well as anyone. Hard labor an prison; for years. And thaws the penalty for those in the group. For a GL—inciting rebellion against the king?

Stephan had made his choice the moment he’d followed Faith out of the courthouse. He bellowed again at the top of his lungs “Piken stands!” and pushed on the minions with renewed vigor.

White light flashed as arrows slammed into him. Stephan felt none of it—surprising; to feel nothing—and lurched back a step. His ears rang from the twin explosions and he stood shell shocked by the assault he had taken. The last assault he could take from these people.

White light flashed into him again—impotently—to slam into blue white light of a Reversal of Fortune. Minions gurgled, vainly slashing at the aegis between he and their lethal strikes. And life—glorious life—exploded from an unseen source.

“Kali said to stop dilly dallying,” Melody said petulantly. She was on the arc of the bridge, Kali and Faith just beyond with a sizable horde tearing into a few straggling Storm Riders. “You were hurting; why didn’t you call for me before instead of shouting about Piken? And why does Colin look so angry?”

“Run Mel!” the warrior ordered, breaking into a sprint. Ice struck out to trap him again, but Melody waved the hex away and Stephan flew to her.

“Okay okay, no need to shout…” short legs broke into a trot and the monk followed Stephan back to the two women.

“Dumb Whammo,” Faith growled as the two reached the other side. “You realize you brought every Char in the valley down on our heads with that screaming of yours?”

“Maybe I’m not as smart as I look,” Stephan chided. He turned to Kali. “Miss me?”

The elementalist smiled, pointing beyond Faith’s small army to several clusters of Char rushing down the hill toward them. “Get to work Muscles. We’ll chat later.”

“They’re going to surround us,” Faith warned, pointing to another group that was heading toward them from their right.

“Like we weren’t before?” the warrior scoffed. He took measure of Faith, testing her spirit through the group link. Making the horde had taken what energy the short nap had given her. Soon she’d be down again if they didn’t get out fast. “We hit the group between us and the foothills. Hope the stragglers in back give Colin something to do.”

“Faith!” the black minion master roared from the bridge. No one wasted thought acknowledging the call.

Faith only nodded, turning her horde toward the fast approaching Char. Behind a roaring mass began to converge; Char and human hungry for blood.

Minus Sign · Oct 07, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

27

“No sir!” Colin snapped, pushing Murphy back. The necromancer snarled, a retort ready on his lips. The two minions gurgled with their masters anger and Idiot growled back.

Colin scowled. “I’m not getting my man killed over some perceived vendetta. There’s Char on the other side of that bridge between us and them. You want to kill something, you kill them first.”

Tania made a business of studying her feet. She was too newly raised to dare challenge another GL yet. Colin wasn’t.

Just beyond the bridge a full scale war was raging. The earth heaved violently and Char screamed, buried under the tossing earth. Roars mingled with gurgles in an unholy chorus as spells flew wild. Steel rang; cracking bone. Bone crunched, finding flesh. Colin spared only a glance back—most of the Char had regained their feet in the wake of Kali’s earthquake; many roared again as mana bugs tore down from above

“What’s it goanna be Murph?” Colin asked, turning back to his minion master. “Do we fight Char or do we retreat and let them do our job for us?”

The necromancers—both of them—scowled a look at Colin that promised reprisals. “We fight Char, ranger,” Murphy said at last, turning his minions toward the nearest group.

* * *

Faith reeled backwards under the heat of mana-made fire. A roiling wall of flame had built itself on their left flank as elementalist Char recovered from Kali and her spells.

“Mel,” she called. It sounded strained. She was strained. Too much, too soon…too late to worry over it…

“I’m on it,” the tiny monk replied, hopping to the left side of the minion wall. Blackened Char hunched, teetering on the verge of collapse as a powerful healing spell rocked them. The horde near her shivered again, as if waking from a dream, and gurgled at the Char before them.

“Faith,” Kali called, “make minions, I can handle the blasting bits.” To prove her point a flurry of stone daggers launched from the elementalist, skewering Char that poked into the line. The ground heaved again, scorching stone creaking loose in another eruption.

Faith concentrated on the newly dead, drawing death mana to her like water from a well. “Gurgle!” from the left side and the horde began to swell anew. Melody bounced from one side to the other, refreshing the undead army with every heal she had and more, pushing herself to keep Faith from using Blood of the Master.

[i]Not that I could right now anyway,[/i} the necro smirked. If this pace didn’t lessen soon…

twin cracking explosions from the rear and Faith chanced a glance back. The Char had turned to the bridge and Colin was laying down fiery arrows two at a time. Grad followed a moment behind, his own arrows exploding with equal force as the Char bunched up on the bridge.

“Gurgle!” roared from behind and Faith saw a bone horror grab one Char Shaman by the throat, stabbing with its skewer. Other birth cries followed from the bridge in rapid succession. Idiot ghosted through the packed mass, hamstringing Char that tried to flee as two elementilists brought quickly timed water and air spells to bear. The bridge puffed momentarily—a cross between a blizzard and a tornado—as Char dropped in frozen shredded heaps to the ground before the six humans.

“Looks like we got our reinforcements,” Faith said..

“For what they’re worth,” Kali chided.

“Can’t you two,” Stephan growled, retreating from the line. Burned by Char fire and savagely cut, the warrior leaned on his axe as melody sent heal after mend to him, “stop gossiping for a minute? We got work to do, or haven’t you noticed.” Revitalized by Melody’s heals, the warrior slammed through the minion wall again, pushing Faith’s horde aside to get his deadly axe back into the fight.

As soon as they finished the Char those six would be on them. And with the necromancer making minions as fast as Faith could—faster, she had too admit; she was still too weak—they’d have her group for sure.

“Sorry Colin,” she whispered. “Kali, earthquake the bridge.”

“Lyssaa’s linens,” the nuke swore, turning her attention on the humans behind. “A small one if I can,” she insisted and Faith nodded. “Thanks for the help and I hope you live.”

The stone bridge cracked as mana seeped into its worn foundation. Groaning, it bent, listing to one side. Char screamed, falling into the dried riverbed below. Faith thought she saw shapes making a hasty retreat across the other side…at least, she hoped she did…

* * *

“Back across!” Murphy roared, turning his horde back toward the bridge. The first line of his undead army stepped onto the twisted stone bridge, eliciting another gravelly groan.

“I wouldn’t Murphy, were I you,” Colin warned, pulling the necro back. “That bridge doesn’t look too sturdy now. All the weight of your horde on it, it’ll fall down for sure.”

Murphy almost spat in fury. “Shoot them!”

“Sorry sir,” Colin shrugged, pointing to the quartet on the other side. The Char had been pushed slowly back as Colin pulled a protesting Murphy out of the fight, “they’re just out of range. It’d be a waste of arrows.” Grad shifted behind him but said nothing.

“Then chase them dammit!”

Colin shook his head. “Without your army backing me up? That many minions would kill the five of us for sure. All six, even if you left your horde. No sir. We lost this round.”

“This is sedition!”

“No,” Tania said, coming to stand beside Colin. “Its not. I won’t endanger Kiki,” she motioned to the other elementalist, “to fight a force that strong. With your minions we had a good chance Master Murphy. A better than good chance. But against that horde—Master Colin is right. You’re proposing we suicide ourselves. I won’t allow you to endanger this group. I stand with Colin; that’s two GLs to one, even if we are both only ranked four.

“Thank you Tania,” Colin said, meaning it in more ways than one. “Sounds like the tribunal will side with us Murph. I don’t like it any more than you,” the ranger lied, “but we were just outmaneuvered this time.”

Murphy turned back to the bridge, saking with rage. “I’ll see you burn Faith! You hear me! I—Will—See—You—Burn!”

Colin watched the last of the fight on the other side. Without the sic amn team, the stragglers of Char had turned back on Faith’s team. Somehow, the horde continued to swell. As if through will alone, the Char dispersed, scattered, and crumbled. A last blast of raw elemental power and when the dust cleared only minion and humans remained standing. On either side.

“Um,” Grad whispered, “sir?”

Colin glanced around. Murphy was with his horde, pounding on one of the undead heads with his necro counterpart trying to soothe him. Tania and Kiki were apart again, heads bowed together in their own conversations. “What is it newbie?”

“Well, sir,” Grad began, shifting his feet slightly as he took in the quartet on the other side. “Just thinking, mind you but…we both of us have longbows. Way I see it, they’re in range right now.”

“Uh huh,” Colin said, scratching his chin in thought. “Well, maybe I didn’t adjust for wind right, but, I say they’re too far to goin get. Or maybe—and this is just idle speculation between you and me—maybe they earned whatever they took and then some.

“You still disagree?” Colin asked, regarding the young ranger. “Grad?”

Grad smiled lopsidedly. “I guess not sir. Out of range.”

“Smart man,” Colin said with a nod. Then, scolding “Too smart for your own good. What did I tell you about thinking?”

Grad scratched his head, the smile turning to a smirk and walked toward the elementalists. Colin watched him go then turned back to the four people in fast retreat. Faith slumped weakly, supported between kali and Stephan. But she walked and the horde followed close behind, soon obscuring them from view.

“Fair you well Faith,” he whispered to the wind. “You and yours; Godspeed.”

Minus Sign · Oct 07, 2006, 08:31 AM // 08:31

Epilogue

The air had a dry bite to it. If the mountain summit weren’t so cold, Faith might have found the air refreshing.

Free, she tested the word in her mind. It felt odd thinking of herself that way. She had never felt indentured to anyone—anyone alive that was—but the idea of being able to make any choice she wished felt strangely foreign none the less. No Group Leaders barking orders. No generals sending her into the fray. It was her choice to make, one way or another, as to where she went and what she did.

Mercenary, she tested the other word Rurik had used. Where “free” felt bitter from an unperceived slant, merc had a nice sweetness to it. She smiled in thought. Yes, a very nice word to call oneself. And there would be nothing free about the services she rendered anymore either.

The smile deepened slightly and she nodded.

“Faith?” a voice called, breaking her from her revelry. She turned to see a young monk—older than she remembered and hardened beyond measure from experience—break into a run as he spied her face. He grabbed her forearms familiarly, beaming as he looked into her face. “Faith!”

“Mhenlo,” the necromancer said coolly. “Good to see you’re alive still.”

“Hello Brother Mhenlo,” Melody chirped beside her.

Mhenlo smiled uncertainly at the small monk. “Sister Melody. It’s good to see you out and about finally.

“I heard the news,” Mhenlo said, turning his attention back to Faith, “considering the fight we had getting into the foothills, I’m amazed the four of you made it. Where’s Kali?”

“Right behind you,” Faith answered, pointing as Kali and Stephan walked down from the cookfires above to join them. Kali grinned lopsidedly at the monk, taking his forearm

“Mhenlo you rogue,” the elementalist chided, “Glad to see you again. We’ve been stuck with that one,” she pointed to Melody who cocked her head to a side quizzically, “for so long I was starting to forget what a real monk looked like.”

“Brother Mhenlo,” Stephan broke in, gently pushing forward so he was slightly between Kali and the monk. “Heard a lot about you.”

Mhenlo took the warrior’s hand as well and made to say something when “You know these women Mhenlo?” came from a taut voice behind and Faith turned again. A slim young woman in elementalist robes stared daggers at Faith and Melody in turn.

“Well, yes,” Mhenlo replied, introducing each in turn. “Faith was a student of mine back in Ashford Abbey. She and Kali and Kasha Blackblood and I were together when we sealed up the catacombs.

“Melody was,” the monk paused, searching, “a patient. Briefly.”

“Faith, this is Cynn, she’s a—”

“A necromancer was your student in the Abbey?” Cynn cut in, unconvinced. “Really?”

“Well, there’s a story to that.”

“I bet.”

“A rather long story Cynn, and I’m sure—”

“I’ve got time,” Cynn smiled, showing teeth.

“No,” a young female warrior with her hair tied at the nape of her neck cut in, overriding the elementalist as she strode toward the group, “we don’t Cynn.” Devona “If you’ll excuse us, we have a sweep to run. Come on Cynn."

“Odd group,” Stephan commented as the three of them walked a lanky ranger who follwed them all into Traveler’s Vale. Faith chuckled ruefully. Takes one to know one, she thought.

“Well?” Stephan asked when Faith remained silent, “what’s the deal?”

Faith shrugged. “Since we’re not part of his teams Rurik is decided to drop us with the refugees. We come and go as we please, take what duties we want that don’t involve general camp maintenance.”

“What does that mean?” he asked, perplexed.

Faith smiled. “It means you can give up chopping Char and start chopping firewood. There’s call enough for that around here.”

“Rurik didn’t accept your GL status?” Stephan asked, sounding surprised.

“No,” Faith said in placating tones, “he did. But…we’re outsiders here. Everyone around is from Rurik’s ranks or the Rin Defense Force. They’d appreciate ‘the gesture’—his words—but they don’t really want outsiders getting hurt doing their jobs.

“As far as most of these folks are concerned, we’re refugees, same as everyone else.”

“Back to square one,” the elementalist sighed.

“It’s not that bad Kali," Stephan said, considering. "Three squares a day and—”

“No more hurting,” Melody nodded with confidence.

“Well,” Faith shrugged, “about that. It seems the Stone Summit aren’t too happy with Rurik making camp up here. They’ve been laying siege to King Ironhammer for a while and they don’t like any ‘meddlesome humans’ sticking our noses in.

“They’ve denied Rurik safe passage. Any refugee caravan they see, they’ll attack. They think this is some plot between Ironhammer and Adelbern to smuggle supplies into Beacon’s Reach…wherever that is…”

“Rurik hasn’t made any official requests, but there is a call for mercenaries from some of the refugees, and he’s sure to answer it if he has to take on the dwarves.

“It’s all your choice but I’m going to help him get these people off this mountain.”

“I’ll help,” Melody said immediately. “We aren’t dwarves and it’s too cold to for all these children and elderly people up here. We need to get them somewhere warmer.”

“I’m in,” Kali spoke right behind the monk. “I’ve been with you this long; I’m not letting you take all the glory.”

The three women turned to Stephan. None showed expectation or desire. They only wanted an answer; and only the truth he found in himself was right.

The warrior smiled, hefting his axe. “What the heck,” he said, taking his buckler up, “I’d rather swing this than a wood axe anyway. Maybe when I’m old and grey, but for now, I’m still too young to die.”

“I’m glad you’re with us Steph,” Faith said, sending a flow of herself to each in turn. The three accepted and the group formed. Faith turned her backs to them and unfolded a parchment of requests from both dwarf and man; things that needed doing but were out of the jurisdiction of the regular army here. “But don’t think that just because we’re ‘volunteers’ now that I’m going to go any easier on you. We’re none of us invincible, and if I have to beat that into your head myself, you’ll know it before we leave this camp every time”.

Stephan smiled sheepishly, said “I love you too Faith.”

“Dammit!” the necro roared, whirling on her three grinning group mates. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s true silly,” Melody chirped. “You mean,” the little monk stared, open mouthed as she sensed Faith’s confusion and annoyance through the group link, “you really don’t know?”

Kali said “Faith; think about it. Spirits joined in the hope to protect one another. Sharing each others pain, drawing comfort in the midst of our sorrow.”

And the Elementalist smiled. “A good group is love, Faith.”

* * *

Writer's commentary

Well, thats LFG. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for the comments, feel free to continue your critiques and let me know of any glaring--or not so glaring--errors on my part. Constructive criticism of these works is much appreciated. its how good writers grow.

And...Lysaa kiss me for this...

Excerpt from: Faith Rivin: Old Enemy New (a Guild Wars fan-fic novel)

“Stop her!” someone roared, and the alarm rang clear into the reaches of Lion’s Arch. Melody twitched as the throng of onlookers turned angry mob, closing on the tiny monk.

As hands touched her blue light flashed, flaring in a blinding aegis that sent the throng of men and women to the ground in a heap.

Colin gawked. “Holy Gods; what is that?!?”

“Shield of Judgment,” Kali replied, her voice hollow.

“But,” Colin shook his head, disbelieving, “That’s a smite spell. Melody can’t smite!”

The White Mantle was still on his back, scooting away from the short monk; eyes wide as if staring at a hungry Ettin. The crotch of his trousers were stained a wet dark.

“Yes,” Kali said, her voice trembling with pain. She made no move to stop the monk. “She can. Sweet gods can she ever.”

With Stephan’s help, a groggy Faith rose weakly to her feet, shaking away the reverberations of Melody’s signet. She glanced around, searching, and found the monk ready to strike her prey. Melody smiled, a tooth white open mouthed grin that could only have been the animal pleasure of the truly insane.

“Melody! No!”

Someone remembers
Someone betrays
And for someone in Faith’s group
The price is finally paid

But for right now? I'm goanna READ some fan-fics for a change <grin>.

Shadowfrost · Oct 07, 2006, 08:52 AM // 08:52

A sequel! Woohoo!

Great ending Minus (although the 'a good group is love thing' was a bit corny

)