[Aethier] To Become a Maa'Radiim (DM & Chilly)

[Dungeon Master]

Callious gestured to the team on his right, his hand curled into a fist then, then opened and closed. The process was repeated two more times, all of them knowing it meant that fifteen enemy soldiers were present on the other side of the hill. With only four men remaining in each team Callious knew they were outmatched and over powered. Yet, to turn back down would be foolish. If he didn’t complete the task he knew the man that had hired them would likely kill them all. Callious visibly shuddered.

He looked over his shoulder at the three other men in his group, all of them young none more than twenty winters old. The other team wasn’t any more experienced, the veteran sighed audibly. He tapped Adrian on the shoulder and gestured towards himself. The two were to watch each other s backs and be never more than a few feet apart from each other no matter what happened. Receiving a nod from the team leader across from him Callious nodded back and tightened his grip on the claymore the rested on his back.

He took in one more breath and then let out a loud bellow, screaming to the gods, to the men below and to himself. He rounded the hill, his tall nearly seven foot form covering the ground with long strides, sword held off to the side as he rushed the first group of scrambling soldiers. He knew they had to hit hard and fast if they had any chance of survival.

[Chilly]

Adrian saw the worry in Callious eyes, but it did not matter to him there was a job to do and they were going to do it until the last man. Adrian had faith in Callious he’d been with the man for over a year now and knew he was a capable fighter. Adrian glance back at the others they were all so very young so much promise in those faces….So many dreams that will go unfulfilled after today. Adrian shook his head to clear it he had to stay focus if he wanted to survive.

Adrian closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, exhaling slow and steady. Adrian opened his eyes at the sound of Callious’s battle cry and rushed after him. Adrian’s legs worked fast and hard to keep up with the large being. Adrian twirled his weapon in his hand the slender weapon feeling more like and extension of his body than a weapon. Taking a position to the right of Callious with his three foot baton held in front of him ready to strike.

[Dungeon Master]

The initial confusion of the battle played out after several long seconds and the exchange of blows came to an end ten of the fifteen soldiers had been killed. However, Callious’s team had lost the two younger members rather quick and the other team had all been wiped out. The brutal assault hadn’t gone as well as Callious had wanted it to, the men that he had with proved to be young, inexperienced and zealous.

Only by staying back to back at Callious and Adrian managed to survive and now the two found themselves back to back again surrounded by the five remained soldiers. Two of which held long spears, one a large axe and two others short swords. They were hesitant to attack, knowing the two men positioned between them were more skilled than themselves.

Yet, numbers and tactics had it’s place and the two spearmen stabbed in and tried to find a weakness while the swordsmen waited patiently to close the gap for a quick kill. The axe wielding man stood slightly farther back than the others, hesitant to move in and appeared to be deciding between either running or standing his ground.

[Chilly]

Blood dripped from Adrian’s thin blades onto the earth breathe his feet, Callious and Adrian had survived up until this point but only barely. Adrian had taken a score of minor hits from the defending soldiers. The blood of those who had fallen to his blades had mixed in with his own so you could not tell was bleeding from. Adrian knew he was hurt but shrugged off the pain, “Better to feel the pain than not feel anything at all.” he thought to himself, as he glanced by the spearman to see one of his team mates take his last breath.


The spearman poked in with his spear Adrian deflected it low and out to his right,” What do you say Callious, should we give these guys a chance to drop their weapons and surrender? Or should I gut this one like a deer? ” Adrian nods in the direction of the spearman in front of him. Adrian stared hard at the man his emerald green eyes talking in his measure, looking at the man every move how his feet were posed, how tight his grip was on his spear, which of his muscles tighten before he strikes. Adrian took it all in he had to be quick if he was going to take this guy out before his sword friend could help him.

[Dungeon Master]

Callious nodded once, though Adrian was behind him and would be unable to see the gesture. “Aye lad, but let’s be smart about this. Can’t let em separate us.” He held the claymore in one hand in front of him and wiped the spittle off his lower chin and the sweat out of his eyes.

He let out a roar and swung his large weapon from side to side while taking a step forward, he anticipated the spear wielder withdrawing his weapon and alter the course of his blade so that instead of aiming at the wielder it arched low to sever the tip of the spear, cleaving two feet off the end of the spear.

As Callious acted the swordsmen across from Adrian rushed in, feinting high with his sword but dropping low to a knee and attacking low while the spear wielder came in behind and struck at where his ally had been, passing the spear over him and straight at Adrian’s throat.

The axe wielder stayed back, as did the other swordsmen across from Callious, it was obvious they wanted no part of that giant sword. So instead they backed ups a step and watched as their allies assaulted Adrian.

[Chilly]

Adrian was waiting for an attack but not from both of them and his eyes went wide as the spear came at his throat. Adrian’s body moved of its own accord he barely was aware of his movements as he fell backward towards the ground as if he was going to land flat on his back. The tip of the spear just grazed his chin as Adrian came across with his right blade to deflect the spear that was aimed at his throat hard to push it as far away as he could, at the same time using his left blade to block the sword men blade doing the same smacking it hard. As Adrian fell back he pivoted on his right foot and kick out hard with his left leg aimed for the swordsmen head.


The attack to the swordsmen head was just a feint, as Adrian fell back he sheathed his two swords turning them into a three foot baton. Using his right hand to help continued the spin coming down to his right knee Adrian grabbed the baton at its edge with both hands Adrian swung out hard. This was his real attack and hoped the added length of his weapon was enough to surprise the swordsman.

[Dungeon Master]

When Adrian leaned backwards Callious let out a gasp of surprise and was thrown off balance and he stutter stepped forward to gain his balance. The opening was too great though and the spear wielder let go of his weapon and drew a shortsword from his belt and swung.

Callious managed to bring his own weapon between them to deflect the attack but the other sword wielder came in hard and struck Callious on his back as he fell, drawing a long line of red across it. The man Callious fell on let out a surprised yell as the large mad completely collapsed on him, burring the edge of the weapon into his body.
The sword wielder then turned on Adrian, a smile etched across his features. Likewise, the man with the axe smiled wickedly and decided to commit to the action and he waded into the fray with his weapon held high.

The sword-man that attacked Adrian was not so lucky and as he closed in for a kill he was struck in the jaw by a three foot section of metal that sent him sprawling dazed into the dirt, though the move now left Adrian on the ground with enemies closing in from all around. The man with the spear that attacked Adrian withdrew his weapon and held it poised ready to strike at an opening as his allies went in for the kill.

--

Nearly thirty yards from the scene of the battle stood an rather handsome looking man, with flowing brown hair, emerald colored eyes and a magnificently crafted saber on his hilt. He watched with a cold indifference as the battle unfolded around him. He had already decided his course of action, but decided not to act unless the young man with sword/baton like weapon fell in combat.

[Chilly]

Adrian heard Callious gasp as he bumped into him and heard the thud as the man fell to the ground.” Now I’m in for it, if Callious was not dead he was going to kill him.” Adrian thought to himself. I’m facing two no now three men that wanted him dead and he was more worried about the scolding he would get from Callious if they both lived this day. Adrian almost laughed out loud at that thought, but now was not the time to reflect on their relationship.

Adrian grabbed a fist full of dirt with his left hand rising up quickly Adrian went into action knowing that he come not let this men surround him if that happened then he was dead. Took a step toward the spearman then quickly reversed his direction to the two men coming at him meeting there charge head on. Adrian went after the swordsman that had cut Callious in the back. If he only got to kill one of these men he would be the first to go. Callious had been like an older brother to Adrian he was the only family he had in a way.

His heart pounded in his chest and things seemed to slow down as he moved. Adrian throws the dirt at the swordsman eyes, using his baton to deflect the swordsman first attack. He separated the baton into twin swords again and went after the swordsman hard. Adrian tried to control the flow of the battle keeping the swordsman spinning and in between the axman. Adrian knew it was only a matter of time before the spearman got him. There came a piercing pain to his right leg as the spearman stuck,”Ahhh!” Adrian yelled at the pain. Jaw clenched the young man continued his assault on the swordsman as blood ran down is leg. As Adrian was spinning the swordsman around he saw someone standing off in the distance watching. Who was this person and what was he about Adrian wondered.

[Dungeon Master]

The spectacle was truly something to be seen, with Adrian spinning one of the swordsmen around and keeping him between himself and the axe man was a display of skill not often seen in a random mercenary. Frustration was painted clearly on the axe wielders face as he went left and then right to try and get to Adrian, but to no avail.

The spear-wielding man was a different story and he didn’t need to close the gap and in a moment he struck, painting the tip of his spear red with Adrians blood. Take away his mobility and he is a sitting duck the man thought to himself as he poised himself for another strike.

It was a matter of seconds but the man Adrian was spinning dropped his sword, his arms sporting dozens of shallow cuts, one of which had cut just deep enough to sever the tendons in his wrist. It was at this time that the axe man charged in, shoulder tackling his ally to the side and bringing that large axe straight down in a powerful two handed strike.

[Chilly]

Adrian’s breath was coming in gasps his arms burned, Adrian was spent. The wound in his leg was killing him and was going numb Adrian knew he would not last much longer. His eyes went wide as the axmen came charging though his “friend”. All Adrian could do was dive out of the way there was no way he would block the man’s blow.

Adrian hit the ground hard rolling to try to get a little distance from the two remaining men. He thought back to a promise he made to himself a promise that looked like it would go unfulfilled just like the many who had fallen today. When he finished his roll Adrian staged to his feet,” So this is how it’s going to end then…” he whispered to himself. Adrian stole another glace at the man watching of in the distance,” What was this man’s purpose? Why was he just watching? “Adrian wondered. All that did not matter now he would never find out the end was nearing.

Adrian would have charged at them but he couldn’t his leg was bleeding badly and he could hardly feel it. With a smile,” Well …this is….your….last…….chance to….sur….render. Drop…your wea…pons” Adrian pointed his shaking swords at the two men.