The Unsung Hero
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 11:22 am
((Thanks to DM Bloodlust for this mini event. I hope you enjoy the story I write for it.))
Avereon Elestar once again found herself wondering through The Woods of Sharpteeth following the trail of an orc tribe that had recently settled in. The forest here was thick with swamp white oaks, black willows, and green ash trees. Their lush green canopy created a veil of shadows that enveloped the thick overgrown brush making up the forest floor. While she was disturbed by the number of tracks she found, she was also relieved by how easy the beast were to follow. The destruction they left in their wake to the forest floor would have made even an oblivious mage take notice. After tracking the orcs for several leagues, she began to see the signs that their lair was nearby; bits of scattered debris, animal bones stripped clean, and fragments of crude tools scattered about were obvious clues. A faint flicker of orange light piercing the darkness caught her attention. She dropped into a low stance and readied an arrow against her bow then snapped the nock onto its string. Avereon cautiously approached as deep guttural voices sundered the still air. Sitting before the mouth of a cave was a half cooked boar skewered over a brightly lit fire. Three orcs stood around the cooking fire. They were likely suppose to be guarding the entrance, but they seemed far too busy arguing over something, probably who would get the first bite of their prized boar, or who would get the bigger piece, or.. Avereon let the thought go. It mattered little in her mind. They wouldn't get a chance to enjoy their last meal anyway. She pulled against her bowstring, bringing it to a full draw. The wood shaft creaked in protest. The orcs looked in her direction just in time to see the glowing tip of an enchanted arrow cutting through the air, but not in time to react. The arrow pierced through layers of hide armor and cut deep into the tender flesh of the closest orc. The beast stumbled backwards, yelping in pain. The look of dumbfounded awe was apparent on their faces. Even if she couldn't speak orcish, Avereon knew that look well and it drew a smile from the young Sy elf. In rapid succession she fired more arrows, each one finding their mark as the orcs recovered from their initial shock and charged towards her, their battle cries echoing through the forest. The first orc dropped to the ground, writhing in pain before any of them could close the distance. Another two arrows plunged firmly in the second, setting him off his balance as he got within melee range of her. He took a desperate overhead swing, nearly colliding into her as he did. She easily evaded the blow and finished him with an arrow planted in the his throat. The final orc stepped within striking range and swung down at her with all his might, thinking to cleave the elf in half with a single blow. Avereon ducked to the side in a graceful roll, dropping her bow as she did and drawing an elven sword from her side as she returned to her feet. The orc swung again with a wide right crossing arc aimed at her stomach. The nimble elf jumped back, narrowly evading the blow and countered with a quick forward jab at the orc's exposed left rib cage, scoring a hit. Without so much as a flinch the orc swung again, from right to left this time, but with more speed than the elf had anticipated. She quickly ducked to allow the blade to pass harmlessly overhead but she wasn't quick enough and the edge caught her left bicep, smashing against the mithral chain sleeve and threatening to crush her arm under its weight. Avereon clenched her teeth and fought through the pain. She sprung upward, letting the tip of her blade lead the way. It pierced the orc's meager defense, then bit deep into tender flesh. As she twisted the fine blade, the beast cried out in pain, then in anger, then in protest as its eyes grew dim and it slowly sank to the forest floor.
~To be continued (soon x.x)~
Avereon Elestar once again found herself wondering through The Woods of Sharpteeth following the trail of an orc tribe that had recently settled in. The forest here was thick with swamp white oaks, black willows, and green ash trees. Their lush green canopy created a veil of shadows that enveloped the thick overgrown brush making up the forest floor. While she was disturbed by the number of tracks she found, she was also relieved by how easy the beast were to follow. The destruction they left in their wake to the forest floor would have made even an oblivious mage take notice. After tracking the orcs for several leagues, she began to see the signs that their lair was nearby; bits of scattered debris, animal bones stripped clean, and fragments of crude tools scattered about were obvious clues. A faint flicker of orange light piercing the darkness caught her attention. She dropped into a low stance and readied an arrow against her bow then snapped the nock onto its string. Avereon cautiously approached as deep guttural voices sundered the still air. Sitting before the mouth of a cave was a half cooked boar skewered over a brightly lit fire. Three orcs stood around the cooking fire. They were likely suppose to be guarding the entrance, but they seemed far too busy arguing over something, probably who would get the first bite of their prized boar, or who would get the bigger piece, or.. Avereon let the thought go. It mattered little in her mind. They wouldn't get a chance to enjoy their last meal anyway. She pulled against her bowstring, bringing it to a full draw. The wood shaft creaked in protest. The orcs looked in her direction just in time to see the glowing tip of an enchanted arrow cutting through the air, but not in time to react. The arrow pierced through layers of hide armor and cut deep into the tender flesh of the closest orc. The beast stumbled backwards, yelping in pain. The look of dumbfounded awe was apparent on their faces. Even if she couldn't speak orcish, Avereon knew that look well and it drew a smile from the young Sy elf. In rapid succession she fired more arrows, each one finding their mark as the orcs recovered from their initial shock and charged towards her, their battle cries echoing through the forest. The first orc dropped to the ground, writhing in pain before any of them could close the distance. Another two arrows plunged firmly in the second, setting him off his balance as he got within melee range of her. He took a desperate overhead swing, nearly colliding into her as he did. She easily evaded the blow and finished him with an arrow planted in the his throat. The final orc stepped within striking range and swung down at her with all his might, thinking to cleave the elf in half with a single blow. Avereon ducked to the side in a graceful roll, dropping her bow as she did and drawing an elven sword from her side as she returned to her feet. The orc swung again with a wide right crossing arc aimed at her stomach. The nimble elf jumped back, narrowly evading the blow and countered with a quick forward jab at the orc's exposed left rib cage, scoring a hit. Without so much as a flinch the orc swung again, from right to left this time, but with more speed than the elf had anticipated. She quickly ducked to allow the blade to pass harmlessly overhead but she wasn't quick enough and the edge caught her left bicep, smashing against the mithral chain sleeve and threatening to crush her arm under its weight. Avereon clenched her teeth and fought through the pain. She sprung upward, letting the tip of her blade lead the way. It pierced the orc's meager defense, then bit deep into tender flesh. As she twisted the fine blade, the beast cried out in pain, then in anger, then in protest as its eyes grew dim and it slowly sank to the forest floor.
~To be continued (soon x.x)~