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Phrixus -> RE: A Simple Man's War Machine (7/22/2012 2:09:07)
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Chapter Two: The Mines or Other Means?
As Koruk and Drond lead him to the mine, Pesmerga couldn't help but recall to how he had found this people. He had always had such a strong distaste for orcs and looked down on them devoid of any scruples. He supposed there were some good ones. That was always true with any group of people. How had they crossed paths? The answer was simple enough. He was passing through the forest and the moment they had seen him it was a frontal assault. The mindless ones of the group charged him head on and when he had bested the majority of them, he had gained their respect. Or had he? He should remember well the favor of Drond.
Drond had been drawn to the noise and came upon their battle. Being one that held much authority of the group he put a stop to it before any more of his men were harmed or otherwise embarrassed. Drond had known him only by reputation and indirect acquaintance. He was the uncle of Brontus and had not only seen Pesmerga at the ceremony of Brontus' death but knew of his act to avenge his nephew and he thanked him for it at that very moment. Yes, it was he who stopped the fight and not the initial respect Pesmerga thought he had so quickly won.
"Here it is, but only Ulgathi are to enter. We cannot violate one of our most sacred places." Koruk said matter-of-factly. I completely understand, I just need this to study and to harness. I know why they kill for it. It doesn't take much to move a being to take life from another. The real question is what it can be used for. " And on the tail of his sentence came-
"What it can be used for is none of your concern." Behind them stood a man with the insignia that meant Slayer. He belonged to a following that preyed upon the living. Anything that walked or breathe at any time or another was fair game to them and could be poached accordingly. He stood poised for action yet still tall in that stance. He was facing Pesmerga yet preoccupied, and it wasn't by the mine he had just been led to.
"Poacher trash blown all the way from Skraeling I see." Pesmerga retorted. I knew I smelt something a little too gritty for these woods, but I admit I was foolish to let my company and I be tracked. " He was trying to distract the slayer, or keep him stalled long enough to figure what he was up to. "I know you want to utilize this mineral for yourself but it just can't happen. Everything about you screams "coward" and that annoys me. The biggest mistake of your life was coming alone. First you will tell me what I want and then you will expire. That is how this will go. Are you ready for your d-"
With that the worms were upon him. Not slow and cumbersome pudgy worms, but the hard plated voracious burrowers. The idiot! This whole time he had been distracting himself, not his adversary. He had been very careless these past few days. Perhaps it was the jewel hanging from the slayer's neck. Was it emitting some type of psionic energy? Noruk and Drond were no pushovers, and they knew the forest better than any others. How did he manage to get the slip on any of us? No more distractions. He must concentrate. The burrowers were rolling into his armor like eels on a drowning lamb. Thankfully his armor would hold, but they were slowly entrapping him in a constricting motion.
He would make a note to brush up on his Geomancy from Blight when he returned home. Had he known the spell he could have made the ground like steel, impassible to these overgrown maggots. Still, that wasn't a bad idea per say. No time. Noruk and Drond had been knocked down, worms approaching their vulnerable state, and The Slayer was coming quickly. To make things worse Pesmerga was bolted to the ground. "Not a problem" he thought. "I'll just let him come a bit closer." He unsheathed his guthook blade and began ripping through the burrowers.
To use darkness was not necessarily the best option. If this hunter was any good, he was almost as at home in it as Pesmerga was. The assailant was steps away when Pesmerga began to summon a secondary forest before his feet. Well this took care of the current worm problem but would it deter his foe? Ah, a few minor scrapes maybe, except now the enemy had another place to hide.
"If you intend to lengthen your stay in my lovely miniature forest, I can accommodate you." At that instant Pesmerga began to will all manner of branches and vines to writhe together in a cyclonic motion. Of course, he didn't execute the spell very smoothly but was able to crush the poacher's left foot before he completely escaped the death trap. Pesmerga leaped at the hunter to end it, sword aimed at his throat. In mid air he was blind-sided by what must have been a cart of waterlogged pearapploes. While hidden in the small clump of trees Pesmerga had wrought up, Sefo had managed to summon a worm of legend. "Rootbreaker...it's name hardly does it justice." he thought. He had to get up. He could feel and hear the ground letting out one continuous breath as the worm sped toward him- this time with jaws fully open.
It is natural for worms to daze or immobilize their prey before delivering the death blow and devouring them, as most do not possess venom. Working quickly Pesmerga enveloped a considerable amount of mana over his blade and aimed at the leviathan's jaws. With all his might he only managed to create a sizable gash. It drove Rootbreaker into a frenzy. Pesmerga knew he could not defeat this creature as easily as he had hoped. He had heard of the carnage it brought to a battlefield not far from here. For Augerthorne was its home. Coincidentally the army that had managed to summon is years ago had emerged victorious from that battle with few casualties of their own, but that is another story. A worm master often had to work with the terrain and native creatures given to that area. Needless to say none of them travel much without being accomplished geographers.
This beast was not to be trifled with and to defeat him he would have to reveal far too many secrets infront of the orc cheiftans. Sefo would be a much easier target. He would destroy him now. Pesmerga's hands turned black and leathery, his nails formed into talons. He beckoned chains of the Red Bluffs and soon the creature was completely wrapped up in their awful weight. Being made completely of mana, these would be nearly impossible to escape from. As soon as the spell had solidified Pesmerga was weaving his sad miniature forest in and out of the chains to increase the weight and hold. Sefo, seeing that the tides may be turning, decided to join back into the fight with his father's sword drawn towards Pesmerga's back.
The Praetor would have none of this, and not wanting to damage Sifu's sword, did not draw his own. Instead he came at the young worm master with talon-like hands flashing through the spots of escaped canopy light. Pesmerga swept Sefo's armed hand away and dealt the death blow with his right hand only to feel a sharp pain in his stomach. The master's last line of defense, his parasite, had thrust itself into Pesmergas side, and was wrecking havoc until he cut the worm in half and pulled it out.
"I wasn't going to eat the heart of a coward but I'm afraid you've left me no choice. I'll need the strength to heal and be rid of this great worm. I know it won't grant me too much power. You didn't use your own ability to summon the Rootbreaker, it took many of your own soldiers' lives. Your heart will be a bitter pill to swallow Sefo. Your father was a good man, and perhaps the greatest master there'll ever be. You and I both know you've failed miserably and have brought shame to Sifu. You would think a Master's son would amount to more than a common thug. I'll send his sword back to Kaley's lair the next time I see her. He deserves to have it back at his grave. "
With that the knight consumed what strength Sefo had and healed himself to the point of being functional. He had to add more weight to the mana chains and seal the worm underground for now. Rootbreaker would escape no doubt, but perhaps this would offer the creature time to cool down.
After the worm had plummeted underground by means of concussive force and the rest of Pesmerga's mana, he went over to see to the two old orc chieftains who were nowhere to be found. He would sort this out tomorrow. But for now, he needed sleep. He had hardly found a safe place to bed down for the night when he conked out in the ferns.
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