Part II Ch. 4
The large beast skulked along quietly, it’s huge arms nearly dragging across the ground as it made it’s way through the Hills of the Quistery. Slow and seemingly erratic the creature would pause to sniff at the air or pick a flea from fur-covered chest. By all appearances this creature would be an easy mark for any ranger or paladin trying to make a name for themselves within the Waterdeep District.
Such is what Jaelin assumed. As a paladin of Torm it was his sworn duty to destroy evil as he saw it, and the troll before him had a definite red aura. The human mounted his magnificent white steed while whispering silent prayers to his deity. Strength and knowledge filled his mind, and the paladin charged!
He was upon the troll with frightening speed. Jaelin drew his holy avenger, the sword of the paladin and yelled at the beast! Jaelin assumed the beast to be either deaf or dumb even by troll standards, for it made no movements or even acknowledged the near six hundred pounds of horse and rider heading straight for it. At last the human was upon the creature and in one smooth motion he brought his sword down for a decapitating blow. The 7 foot creature swiftly sidestepped the charge and slammed it’s right shoulder into the horse’s flank. This maneuver tripped up the horse and dismounted, rather violently, it’s rider.
Instead of the familiar feel of his mighty sword slicing through bone with only slight resistance the paladin found himself face down in the dirt. Experience saved the human from death as he instinctively rolled away from the troll’s downward thrust of it’s black bladed long sword. Jaelin wiped the dirt from his face with his tunic sleeve then faced the beast.
“Foul troll,” he sneered. “How can you hope to defeat a true paladin of Torm?” He raised his large, two handed sword yet again expecting the magic of his sword to rend the beast asunder.
Before the troll could answer, provided it understood enough common to comrehend what the human had said, they were both knocked off their feet by a huge magical explosion only a few feet away.
It was several seconds before the shockwave dissipated enough for the combatants to get to their feet. Jaelin examined the area and saw the troll on his feet, and also noted a shimmering portal of blue flame nearby. More surprising was the figure before them.
The new being was built much like a human, six feet tall Jaelin approximated. It appeared male, with pale blue skin and glowing red eyes. The figure wore only a pair of chain mail boots, cloth leggings and shiny golden bracelets and gauntlets. His torso was adorned with tattoos of the different types of dragons that Jaelin had studied about in his early years in the church. The male wielded a large, two handed double bladed halberd easily as tall as the figure, yet none of this was as intriguing to the paladin as what the figure was mounted upon.
A baby red dragon.
The deeply red aura emanating from both dragon and rider overpowered even that emitted by the troll, and that was all Jaelin needed to know of the intentions of this new being.
“I know not whom you are, nor where ye are from, but you clearly are not aligned with any of the goodly gods of Faerun.” The paladin brandished his mighty sword again. “Prepare to feel the wrath of Torm!”
The troll, on the other side of the being, readied his sword and shield. Jaelin had no idea whether he would be facing two combined opponents yet he believed faithfully that Torm would see him through. He had his answer soon enough as the troll charged full speed into the small dragon.
Jaelin had seen firsthand what a troll body slam could do to a creature the size of the baby red, however the creature’s size clearly did nothing to reveal the truth of it’s mass, for the gigantic troll simply bounced off the armored hide of the five foot tall dragon.
His sword sang to him the sweet melodies of the church of Torm. Jaelin’s skin turned to stone and he felt the strength of deity flow through his arms. He climbed atop his mount again and charged.
The avenger sent out rays of golden light intent on dispelling the evilness of the creature before it. The blue skinned being winced slightly, but still was unfazed by the attack. As the human approached the rider urged his mount’s maw toward the paladin.
A roar of agony escaped the mouth of the dragon as the troll stabbed it in it’s neck. The would was far from fatal, but as Jaelin watched the dragon’s eyes glassed over. The magic of the troll’s sword had blinded the baby red and kept it from torching him and his loyal steed.
Jaelin seized the window of opportunity created by troll and hurled himself from his mount at the pale blue rider, knocking him from the dragon. The rider landed with a roll and was up on his feet in a heartbeat.
The paladin closed with the rider and struck. His overhand slash was parried high by the rider, who then used the blunt end of his halberd to sweep Jaelin off his feet. The human rolled backwards avoiding the halberd thrust, getting his feet underneath him once again. He’s fast, Jaelin thought. He went at the rider again, feinting left then slashing from his right.
The rider parried again, turning his halberd vertically and sweeping it across his body. Jaelin was worried. This warrior was obviously beyond his means.
The dragons’ cries died out and soon the troll was at the human’s side. Jaelin raised an eyebrow at the troll, which merely nodded at the pale blue warrior.
Jaelin also noted the pale blue warriors expression. He was smiling broadly.
The troll struck first, punching out with it’s shield. The rider attempted to roll with the blow, but the strength and speed of the troll surprised him. The shield connected with full force and spun the warrior around fully. Jaelin saw his opening. He turned both hands upon the hilt of his mighty sword and brought it up from the ground in a great vertical slash. Too dazed from the troll’s blow to do defend himself the pale blue warrior could do nothing but watch as his belly was cut open and his entrails spilled upon the ground at his feet. He looked upon the the troll and human, nodded swiftly, and fell dead.
Panting and sweating Jaelin turned his attention back to the troll. He braced himself for a similar shield punch or some other shield maneuver that would knock him off his feet, yet none came. The troll sheathed his sword and put up his shield and pulled something from his sack. He tossed it at the human, grunted and walked back south. Confused, Jaelin likewise sheathed his sword along his back and picked up the sealed letter. He looked back in time to see the troll kick at the dragon it had felled, spit on the beast’s neck and skulk off.
Jaelin turned the letter over in his hands. There was a single word written upon the outside, which the paladin recognized as the drow tongue. He thought it very strange, and his translation could be off, but he was fairly certain he had deciphered the letters correctly.
It was a letter to Piergieron.
[This message has been edited by Dinggle (edited 02-06-2002).]
Untitled Pt. II Ch. 4
the creation process has been slower than ever before for me, but i think i've finally ironed out the little things that had been nagging at me for months with this storyline.
it will be unique to sojourn. i still have some research to do on our gods, but i refuse to follow the forgotten realms way of thinking to the letter, since our world does not.
more comin soon!
it will be unique to sojourn. i still have some research to do on our gods, but i refuse to follow the forgotten realms way of thinking to the letter, since our world does not.
more comin soon!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 33 guests