Stifling a yawn, Jaen stretched out, struggling to force his eyes open as he once again looked out to the swamp below. As it had been for the past four hours, not so much as a toad stirred- it seemed as if every sign of life had found sleep…well, everything except him. This was the third night in a row that he’d taken the night watch.
It felt easier that way, he thought. It meant that he didn’t have to lay there in restless silence just to keep Elly from noticing that he wasn’t asleep. Letting out an exhausted sigh, he rubbed his eyes.
Crack.
The noise sounded like a shotgun, sending him up onto his feet in a matter of seconds. Turning rapidly, he lifted his hammer from the ground and prepared to charge at the source. For a short eternity, he saw nothing hiding in the shadows…nothing, until a short figure darted out from behind the inn.
Taking off after it, his leather boots slammed into the solid dirt as he took chase out of Stonard and into the swamps. The figure began to become clearer as he ducked under a low branch, causing him to slow for a moment. At first, it had appeared to be a dwarf…perhaps a gnome, but now it was clear what the offender was…
A boy.
Gritting his teeth, he came to a halt. “’Ey, git over here!” He shouted out, his orcish coming out as a mumbled slur. If the child understood him, he showed no sign of it. Instead, the boy laughed and took off again. Letting out an irritated grumble, Jaen began to run again. The pursuit lasted until he finally lost sight of the boy.
Looking around him, Jaen frowned as he discovered a distinct lack of markers. “Shit.” He swore, finally hefting his hammer from his shoulder and resting it on the moist grass as he scanned the area.
“Robinson, did you hear that?” A man shouted out in common.
Jaen’s ear twitched at the language, his muscles tensing as his search for his location became frantic.
“No.” Another.
“Check it out anyway.” The first voice commanded.
After a minute, the light of a torch could be seen less than forty yards away from him. Swearing yet again, Jaen lifted his hammer and quickly pulled his shield from its strap. He walked forward, all the while thanking the Light that Elly had given him some insight into moving quietly and navigating in pitch black conditions.
Nearing the light, he hid behind a tree, only his eyes visible as he observed a footman searching the area around a small encampment. As the human returned to his comrade, Jaen took a headcount. Two warriors, equipped with only short swords and shields…three tents. There would be at least a handful of them…possibly more.
Closing his eyes, he turned to slip away…
Crack.
“Fuck.”
“TO THE SOUTH! WAKE YOUR ASSES UP! LOOK ALERT!”
It didn’t take long before the watchmen had reached him, the first charging toward the elf as the second detoured to snatch up a shotgun. Reacting quickly, Jaen brought up his shield and slammed forward to meet the human, knocking him back before quickly bringing his hammer down upon the man’s head. As he fell limp, Jaen threw his hammer at the second before the footman had even had the chance to load the barrel.
The hammer struck him right in the gut, sending the man to the ground with a pained yell. Jaen swooped down, picking up the weapon before bringing it down on his opponent’s chest. The warrior’s eyes widened momentarily as he lifted the weapon again, letting loose a flow of blood that would have made him sick in the past.
Staring at his work, his vision began to cloud. Clamping his eyes shut for a moment, Jaen shook his head rapidly as he tried to keep his head leveled…
They’ll kill you if you don’t kill them first.
Inhaling sharply, Jaen looked up, his grip tightening around the handle as a silver-clad man came to the center of the camp, another rushing to his side. The second wore the tell-tale robes of an alliance war-mage. The humans glared at him, the armored male letting out a battle cry as he rushed forward. Jaen shifted his footing, placing his shield in front of him again as the man crashed into him.
Skidding back, Jaen met the man pound for pound, his teeth gritting as their shields scraped and screeched. Sweeping his hammer down, he clipped the human on the arm with the spearhead causing his opponent to momentarily back off. Grinning, Jaen moved forward to make the killing blow only to find that his weapon bounced off the man as if he were made of rubber.
Paladin.
It felt easier that way, he thought. It meant that he didn’t have to lay there in restless silence just to keep Elly from noticing that he wasn’t asleep. Letting out an exhausted sigh, he rubbed his eyes.
Crack.
The noise sounded like a shotgun, sending him up onto his feet in a matter of seconds. Turning rapidly, he lifted his hammer from the ground and prepared to charge at the source. For a short eternity, he saw nothing hiding in the shadows…nothing, until a short figure darted out from behind the inn.
Taking off after it, his leather boots slammed into the solid dirt as he took chase out of Stonard and into the swamps. The figure began to become clearer as he ducked under a low branch, causing him to slow for a moment. At first, it had appeared to be a dwarf…perhaps a gnome, but now it was clear what the offender was…
A boy.
Gritting his teeth, he came to a halt. “’Ey, git over here!” He shouted out, his orcish coming out as a mumbled slur. If the child understood him, he showed no sign of it. Instead, the boy laughed and took off again. Letting out an irritated grumble, Jaen began to run again. The pursuit lasted until he finally lost sight of the boy.
Looking around him, Jaen frowned as he discovered a distinct lack of markers. “Shit.” He swore, finally hefting his hammer from his shoulder and resting it on the moist grass as he scanned the area.
“Robinson, did you hear that?” A man shouted out in common.
Jaen’s ear twitched at the language, his muscles tensing as his search for his location became frantic.
“No.” Another.
“Check it out anyway.” The first voice commanded.
After a minute, the light of a torch could be seen less than forty yards away from him. Swearing yet again, Jaen lifted his hammer and quickly pulled his shield from its strap. He walked forward, all the while thanking the Light that Elly had given him some insight into moving quietly and navigating in pitch black conditions.
Nearing the light, he hid behind a tree, only his eyes visible as he observed a footman searching the area around a small encampment. As the human returned to his comrade, Jaen took a headcount. Two warriors, equipped with only short swords and shields…three tents. There would be at least a handful of them…possibly more.
Closing his eyes, he turned to slip away…
Crack.
“Fuck.”
“TO THE SOUTH! WAKE YOUR ASSES UP! LOOK ALERT!”
It didn’t take long before the watchmen had reached him, the first charging toward the elf as the second detoured to snatch up a shotgun. Reacting quickly, Jaen brought up his shield and slammed forward to meet the human, knocking him back before quickly bringing his hammer down upon the man’s head. As he fell limp, Jaen threw his hammer at the second before the footman had even had the chance to load the barrel.
The hammer struck him right in the gut, sending the man to the ground with a pained yell. Jaen swooped down, picking up the weapon before bringing it down on his opponent’s chest. The warrior’s eyes widened momentarily as he lifted the weapon again, letting loose a flow of blood that would have made him sick in the past.
Staring at his work, his vision began to cloud. Clamping his eyes shut for a moment, Jaen shook his head rapidly as he tried to keep his head leveled…
They’ll kill you if you don’t kill them first.
Inhaling sharply, Jaen looked up, his grip tightening around the handle as a silver-clad man came to the center of the camp, another rushing to his side. The second wore the tell-tale robes of an alliance war-mage. The humans glared at him, the armored male letting out a battle cry as he rushed forward. Jaen shifted his footing, placing his shield in front of him again as the man crashed into him.
Skidding back, Jaen met the man pound for pound, his teeth gritting as their shields scraped and screeched. Sweeping his hammer down, he clipped the human on the arm with the spearhead causing his opponent to momentarily back off. Grinning, Jaen moved forward to make the killing blow only to find that his weapon bounced off the man as if he were made of rubber.
Paladin.
Before he could recover, a surge of holy light sent him flying back into a nearby tree. Crashing into it, the trunk let out a sickening sound as it splintered from the sudden force. Jaen found no time to get to his feet, the paladin was already there- his sword lifted to make a killing blow. Abandoning his weapon, Jaen rolled to the left and quickly brought his shield up as he came to a stop on his back. Lifting his leg, he slammed his foot into the side of paladin’s leg.
The man cried out in pain as Jaen’s boot slammed against the exposed leather, a sickening crack confirming that the warrior had snapped his opponent’s fibula. As he collapsed to the ground, Jaen laughed before slamming his shield down against the man’s face.
Pulling himself up to his feet, he made a move for his hammer- only to draw his hand back quickly as an icicle embedded itself into the tree. Looking back at the camp, a thick fog swirled around the mage, his hands glowing bright blue as he began to send a barrage of ice toward the elf.
Jaen reacted quickly, instinctively dropping down to a crouch and lifting his shield to cover his torso and head. The metal dented as several of the projectiles slammed into it, a few hitting his boots. As the onslaught paused, Jaen quickly retrieved his weapon and charged forward while the mage began to utter another panicked incantation.
This close, the caster stood no chance. He was dead before he could say another word. Ripping his hammer out of the body, Jaen turned around. His jaw tensed as he found no more, a frenzied expression on this face.
“Light, bless us. Keep our bodies and souls safe from the evils of this world and the next…” The prayer was quiet and choked, barely audible to the warrior in his haze.
Jaen’s nostrils flared as he approached the center tent, carelessly tossing his shield aside as he lifted the flap and bent down to look inside. His posture tensed again as he was met with the sight of a woman. She didn’t look up as he entered the tent, instead her words coming quicker.
“What are you doing?” He growled out in common. The woman finally looked up, her hands clutching tightly to a cross as she stared up at Jaen in terror. Surging forward, he grabbed the front of her robes and lifted her up to eye level. “-What are you doing?!-” He growled out again.
“P-please…” She cringed as he shook her, “P-please don’t kill me…I have children. P-please!” Tears ran down the priestess’ face as she begged.
Jaen narrowed his eyes, his brow contorting further as he stared at the woman. “Kill you?” He muttered, this time in Thalassian. “Kill…” He muttered again, as if the concept was alien to him. Shaking his head a bit, he released her and turned away before raising a hand to his forehead. “I wouldn’t…I don’t…” Looking out of tent, his eyes widened in horror as his sight was met with another bloodbath.
The priestess spared no time in rising to her feet, finally releasing her relic as she rushed forward and placed her hands on either side of Jaen’s head. Digging her nails into his skin, she shrieked out a foreign word.
Jaen screamed, both of his hands lifting to cradle his head as he fell forward onto the ground- his hammer dropping uselessly beside him. Writhing in pain, he forced himself onto his back. Looking at the woman, his eyes widened as shadowy tendrils swirled around her. As she took a step forward, Jaen desperately pulled himself back away from her.
“Monster…all of you…monsters!” She yelled, extending her hand as the shadows began to converge to her palm.
“Monster?” He muttered. “I’m not- AHGH!” The bolt slammed into his chest, sending him back to the ground. Grasping at air, his armor rasped as he futilely kicked his legs in an attempt to escape the crippling pain. Slamming his hand back, he found his fingers now resting against cold steel. Fumbling with the item, he pulled it forward until he came to the realization he now held a dagger in his hand.
“Please, lady…I don’t want to hur-” He was stopped as another bolt hit him. Inhaling sharply, tears began to well up in his eyes as his breathing became labored. Laying his head back for a brief moment, he took another deep breath and forced himself upward- the dagger flying from his hand.
The pain in his head suddenly stopped, the priestess’ eyes growing wider as she looked down at her abdomen. Wrapping a hand around the hilt of the weapon, she ripped it out before falling to the ground. Her chest lifted and fell a few more times before finally, she became still.
Breathing again himself, Jaen laid back down on the ground and clamped his eyes shut.
“Murderer.” A child’s voice spoke to him in clear thalassian. “Tha’s what we are.”
Opening his eyes, Jaen’s stared in horror at the young elven boy. “I’m not a…t-these are bad folk.”
“Are they?” The boy tilted his head slightly, a lop of dark, hay-like hair falling in front of his eyes.
Jaen frowned a bit, “I-I…”
“Yeah, I thought so. What ‘appened to not hurtin’ nobody? Think about ma, think about what’d she say if she saw us like this…” He crossed his arms, making a disgusted face. “We’re a monster. A vessel of the darkness…” The boy watched intently as Jaen attempted to stand, before falling back onto his knees. “Disgustin’.”
Jaen stared in horror as the boy shook his head in disappointment and walked off, fading away before he reached the tree line. Doubling over, Jaen tucked himself into a ball and began to cry.
“Ain’t no such thing as the darkness…there ain’t.” He sobbed out…
