Krytan Explorer
Join Date: May 2005
Profession: R/Mo
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Lone Charr
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
Clanging sounds repeated over and over, in a rhythmic pattern, disturbing the silence that otherwise dominated the area. Like footsteps -- an armoured beast of some kind approached them from behind. Drecilia Nightclaw slowly turned his bulky head around to look, and was somewhat relieved to see that it was a fellow Charr, wearing chunky metal plates. He did not recognise this large beast, but so long as it wasn't another one of those bizarre metal creatures they had found deep in unexplored Charr territory, he wasn't concerned. Those things were immune to seemingly everything, and were distinctly 'unimpressed' with the Charr. Though they were even less impressed when the Charr realised they couldn't swim...
He simply snarled in greeting at the newcomer and turned back to his post. In the distance, the sprawling Great Northern Wall stretched across the horizon, its bright stone structure mocking them, teasing them... beckoning them to try and destroy the humans. But they waited. If only those skinny, bald creatures knew what awaited them. Nightclaw wished he could see their expressions when they found out.
The wind whistled around Nightblade's ears as it gusted quite strongly. They stood in an open grassland, guarding a strange crystalline structure vigilantly. None of the Baldies ever dared to come this far North, instead preferring to hide behind their rocky shield and quake in their boots. Nightblade enjoyed being feared, but he hated being bored. Even the Devourers seemed to steer well clear of them. The humans would not likely find this place, but they had to guard it anyway.
This newcomer seemed somewhat bored also. Nightblade looked back over his shoulder at the Charr, looking him up and down. He simply stood there, motionless, staring at Nightblade as though he'd never seen another Charr before in his life.
"What are you doing here?" Nightblade asked, in their distinctly guttural language. Humans were unable to replicate the words or the sounds, and the Charr liked that.
The newcomer remained still, motionless.
"Who are you?"
Finally, the newcomer moved. It was to draw a huge long sword, though. Longer than a small human, the perfectly-constructed silver blade glistened in the evening sun, shining a dot onto Nightblade's head.
"You are relieved from your post," the newcomer growled, much to Nightblade's confusion.
Nightblade barely had time to lift up one of his armoured arms to deflect the sudden attack the newcomer made upon him. The metal around his lower arm buckled slightly, and blood oozed out from a deep wound. Nightblade jumped back and roared at the newcomer angrily, unhooking an axe from his armour and swinging it around elegantly. He knew what he was doing, that much was certain.
The other Charr guard had moved behind the newcomer and went to slam a hammer down on his back. But the newcomer seemed to sense him coming. One of his furry, chunky legs raised from the ground and jerked backwards, slamming into the metal chest plate of the Charr guard so hard that it dented inwards. The Charr lifted off the ground slightly as he flew backwards and thudded down onto his back.
So, Nightblade was alone with this burly traitor for the time being. The two circled an invisible dot on the grass, swinging their weapons around casually. It was a test of patience, and a test of willpower. Whoever struck first would probably fall first, as the other would be ready for him. Nightblade was visibly agitated; desperate to draw blood from this unannounced attacker in retaliation to the wound he had suffered. The newcomer, on the other hand, was comparatively calm. His eyes were focused, his breathing was calm, and his sword was ready. He was a professional. Either that or a stupid fool with no value for his own life.
Nightblade couldn't contain himself any longer. With all the ferocity of Balthazar himself, he roared and launched himself forwards on his powerful legs. He swung his axe overhead, ready to slam it down in a crippling blow to his opponent... but it flew from his hand and span into the air halfway through the manoeuvre. The warmth of his body was compromised by the tingling cold sensation of metal, deep inside his chest. Nightblade looked down, to see himself impaled on the long sword.
The newcomer leaned close to Nightblade's face and snarled.
"You will fail," the newcomer growled. He pulled violently away, tearing the sword away from Nightblade's chest and allowing him to thud to the ground. He was nothing more than a Necromancer's plaything now.
After finishing off the other Charr guard, who lay unconscious on the ground, the newcomer stepped close to the large crystalline structure and sheathed his sword, and started to look the glistening blue-purple structure over. This was a giant focus crystal, far from the reach of the humans, designed to increase the potency of the Charr plans. With the number they had in place at the moment, it may not just be Ascalon the Charr destroyed. This newcomer was worried that they had used too many; that the whole of Tyria could be affected... even his own home. Removing at least one of these crystals should lessen that damage if only a small amount.
The lone Charr pulled out a strange glass vial, which glowed a pale shade of blue, and unscrewed the top. He carefully reached up and poured the entire contents onto the crystal before tossing the empty glass container away. As he walked away from the scene of battle, the large crystal slowly disintegrated, melting and collapsing in on itself until it disappeared in a cloud of noxious smoke.
The Charr disappeared into a nearby forest, moving surprisingly quickly for such a bulky creature.
(( I am neither good at nor dedicated to these things, so whether I ever finish this I don't know. But I find the Charr to be interesting creatures, and I wanted to suggest that they aren't all evil maniacs bent on the total destruction of everything that isn't... well, them. Well this one isn't anyway. ))
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