Meatgrinder
Note: in the text below, the numbered barbarians are the ones who sprang up from the shaft. They are referred to as Ambushers. The initial fighters are referred to as guards or barbarians.
Orlando moves from the fallen guard to the doorway, then stares in annoyance at the slow-moving people in his way. "Move and fight, or stay behind," he barks. He seems to have little patience for anyone who doesn't move like a Paladin.
Down in the Basement, Leckchock strikes low at Throne, but the merchant is too hard to hit. It is obvious from his movements that he is a combat veteran.
Nuyok perceives a weakness in the Morphia of Ambusher 5 and strikes at his left arm. The man takes the brunt of it on his bracers, but drops to one knee, stunned with pain.
Riccoco does his best to keep up with Orlando, moving to the cellar door He too is caught up by the press of people at the portal. "By the Toad's Hairy Goat," he whispers, "What be goin'on down there?"
Below, Beka is seemingly beyond thought for safety. Every blow she strikes is punctuated by the shout, "For Rath!" She stabs Ambusher 1 in the stomach. He winces but does not go down.
Vagrant strikes like a snake, his forearm catching the crook of his opponent's ax, sending it spinning to the ground. Both men dart their eyes toward the fallen weapon.
Urged on from behind, Faliol enters the basement. He is met immediately by Jonnit, laying in wait. The two strike instinctively. Jonnit's sword slices Faliol's thigh, a minor wound at best. Faliol returns with a strike to the shoulder that causes Jonnit's arm to go limp, dropping his sword from nerveless fingers. He drops to the ground in agony.
Celeste strikes the female barbarian in the upper arm. Though the cut is deep, the woman does not cry out in pain."C-coward..." she sputters. She strikes an odd pose, combative, yet foreign to the former Sea Raider.
Throne looks desperate. He could see the impression Nuyok's remarks have made. His men look hesitantly at the door, waiting for the adepts 'demon' to appear. "Simpletons!" he shouts. "This man is mortal! nothing more! I'll prove it!" His sword stabs deep into Nuyok's upper arm, causing the stoic adept to grit his teeth. Though the blade has sliced to the bone, the Master refuses to give the Merchant the benefit of a scream.
Those below see an unknown fighter (Orlando) swing around the door frame and lightly drop the fifteen feet down into the cellar. He is powerfully built, though supple as a gymnast, bearing expensive armor and a beautiful sword. He hits the ground running and announces in a loud voice, "Cease hostilities in the name of High Justice Rakeen" To his chagrin and annoyance, he is ignored.
Handle moves into basement and quietly kicks Jonnit off the stairs. The guard lands below with a groan. He lays still.
The female Hill Triber (Cassie) strike Celeste a blow to the neck with the tips of her fingers. Though the blow is light, it stings like blazes. The pain lingers as well, like a pinched nerve. "That is how women fight, manfighter"
Across the basement, Cas looks at Throne right into his eyes as she says, "You've got bigger things to worry about right now than demons." Her stiletto moves quickly, but her claws move quicker. Throne is caught completely off-guard by the maneuver. Her sharp talons rake across his upper arm, leaving four deep gashes. He actually roars in pain, but does not drop his weapon or his guard.
The vengeful cellar guard strikes again at Leckchock. "Mutant trash!" he hisses. His sword comes nowhere near the forest dweller.
The other barbarian on the stairs ascends and strikes at Faliol. The cunning vulpine neatly evades the attack, saying, "Is this the best that Throne has to offer? Surrender now, and we may let you live."
Over by Vagrant, Ambusher 3 dives for the fallen ax first. He rolls over the ax, coming up kneeling, the weapon firmly grasped.
Ambusher 4 comes around the adept Nuyok, while the adept's attention is taken witht he pain in his arm and the enemy before him. He strikes a blow from behind, and the axe bites deep into Nuyok's side, ripping through flesh. A disturbing amount of blood sprays over Cas as Nuyok drops to the floor, still as death.
Ambusher 6 covers Throne, his ax ready to receive any incoming attacks.
Ambusher 7 charges upon Celeste. His axe thumps into her ribcage and nearby Beka can hear bones cracking. Celeste falls to the ground, reflexively twitching. her teeth are clenched, and blood is coming from her mouth.
Ambusher 8 misses Vagrant. "Riven freak!" he hurls.
Nuyok lies in a spreading pool of blood. Cas stares at him, as if unable to comprehend what has happened.
Across the cellar, the Paladin Orlando witnesses the fall of Nuyok. "BARBARIAN SCUM!" he shouts in a voice amplified beyond normal. "YOU HAVE STRUCK DOWN A MASTER! DEATH IS YOUR JUDGEMENT!" by the time he says, "STRUCK", he has bounded the intervening space in three mighty leaps and nearly severs the man's ax arm.
Leckchock's axe hits Throne, but to his annoyance, the blade is turned by the marvelous armor-like cloth the man wears. The merchant takes only a scratch. However, Throne looks about in consternation. Between crazy vixen, vengeful forest man and battle-raged Paladin, he seems to be deeply considering his position.
At the top of the stairs, Riccoco finally gets into the basement and assesses the situation. "This not bein' no good Ricco ol' 'coon" he thinks. He grips his trident and looks for where he is needed most.
Beka is enraged. here eyes almost gleam red as she shouts, "For Rath! For Celeste! For Nuyok!" The barbarian is pressed back under her fusillade of blows but manages to avoid injury.
Vagrant swallows his pain and pushes into a tight ball at the pit of his stomach. There will be time enough later. Outwardly, he says, "idiot now I'll have to take it from you," and dives for the weapon his opponent has just recovered. The two roll on the ground for a moment, Vagrant's cloak billowing and disguising their motion. There is an audible grunt and Vagrant rises with the ax in his possession. The barbarian looks enraged.
Faliol looks at the barbarian blocking his way. "Just remember when you get to your afterlife, I gave you a chance." His sword stabs deep into the guard's forearm. The barbarian shows shrieks and falls, clutching the wound.
Throne comes to a decision. Turning tail, he runs for the shaft. "Cover me!" He shouts. He looks truly upset and possibly afraid.
Orlando refuses to follow Throne until he has dealt some long-bladed justice. "May your spirit wither into the void!" he snarls. His sword removes the man's other arm at the shoulder. There is blood everywhere now.
Upon the stairs, Handle jumps off into the cellar, cushioning his fall by landing on Jonnit. Riccoco follows in his wake. There is a double thump as they hit the floor. Jonnit won't be getting up soon, if ever.
Cassie runs to Vagrant and strikes him with a knife-edged hand. Though the open hand strikes like a knife blade, the blow is turned by the spirit cloak that Beka gave him only two days ago.
Cas suddenly snaps, whirling and snarling, almost a maddened animal. She is about to hurl herself after Throne's retreating forces when the Paladin snaps, "Vixen, your Master may not yet be dead. See to his wounds if you would have him live." Cas struggles, fighting Prometheus only knows what inner demons. With a wrenching sob, she turns herself to Nuyok and begins to examine his wounds. They do not look good.
The bound guard named Jornu seems to have gathered enough wits to shout into the general melee, "Throne is selling spirit axes to the hill tribes. Don't let him escape!"
The barbarian who has been steadily attacking Leckchock is getting madder and madder. "Don't sit there grinning, you ape!" Though Leckchock is obviously far faster and more agile than his attacker, the axe catches a lucky blow, striking the unfortunate mutant in the hands. It is the final straw. Leckchock drops, his hands clenched in agony, fingers severed.
Ambushers 5 & 6 retreat after Throne, keeping their attention on all possible enemies. They are ready to defend his retreat.
Ambusher 3 snarls and leaps at Vagrant. "Twisted thing! The ax is mine! Mine by right!" Vagrant twists aside as the maddened warrior leaps at him. Though he evades the attack, he nearly passes out from the pain. Looking down, he is surprised by the size and wetness of the spreading red stain on the front of his cloak and rags. Something feels... loose.
Ambusher 8 retreats to the lip of the shaft, waiting for Throne to catch up. He is crouched and ready.
Beka's assailant overcomes her onslaught long enough to mount a counter-attack. His ax swings low, but fails to penetrate her whirlwind sword. "Stupid woman!" He hisses, "if you fight you will--" He is unable to continue as Beka increases the ferocity of her attack.
Ambusher 7 attacks the Orlando. The paladin is nearly impossible to hit.
At this point, two of the ambushers are hors de combat.
With almost casual ease, the paladin hurls the intervening warrior (7) to one side. He does not even break stride as he runs through the cellar. Leaping over the intervening foes, he overtakes Throne, intending to place himself between the merchant and the shaft.
Leckchock lies upon the floor, bloody and cradling his mangled hand.
Beka's sword is now going up and down like a hammer, pounding relentlessly upon the barbarian's guard. His axe handle catches her sword time and again, but finally the Tallon-forged weapon splinters the shaft, heart-struck rage lending her the power to do what should not be possible: her mundane weapon cuts through the haft of a spirit ax. The blade continues downward and lays open the man's front. He falls shrieking to the flagstones.
Vagrant holds his action for a moment, battling his pain and also his amazement at the paladin's movement.
Faliol sees Nuyok and Leckchock, lying in a tangle of bodies and blood, with only Cas frantically trying to hold them together. She is looking at her inadequate paw-like hands and cursing. A barbarian (7) looms over her, ready to bring his ax down upon her oblivious head. The fox runs to her aid.
Throne looks at the paladin and the shaft beyond. He suddenly yells, "Rush him!" The Merchant prepares to do an end run around the Paladin, but Vagrant sees an opening. The guards are no longer prepared for any attacker but the enhanced Orlando. With no warning cry, Vagrant simply runs up and swings his axe into Throne's lower chest. The Merchant looks down at the weapon that has cut through his armor. His face registers a dull surprise. Then he falls to the ground. Vagrant slumps beside him, totally spent.
The Barbarian guard looks at Throne for a moment. Vagrant knows what comes next and silently prays that the end of his strange adventure in a world he never made will come swiftly. Then one of the Ambushers says, "Run for it." As a man, they turn for the shaft, their only hope of escape from the city.
At the edge of the shaft, Ambusher 8 prepares to turn and run, but the Paladin is quicker. He slices the man's arm neatly, causing him to crumple in pain. He turns and waits for the onrush of the four remaining barbarians.
Riccoco, Handle and Faliol reach Cas' attacker almost simultaneously. The man dies instantly in a storm of sword dagger and trident.
Beka, with no one left to attack, sags to her knees, suddenly aware of her own precarious health. She has several ragged wounds, but even worse is Celeste. Painfully she crawls over to her barbarian friend and begins to stop the blood flow. Her hands (which just hammered through a spirit axe) shake, and she wonders if she has the strength to apply pressure.
Ignoring the fire in his gut, Vagrant pulls himself up onto his elbows and places the razor-sharp edge of the axe to the merchant's throat. Should he end it now?
Faliol, Handle and Riccoco notice a servant girl fleeing the cellar. She is wounded, but bears no weapons. Obviously a noncombatant caught in the wrong place. [They were never in a position to see her clearly when she was attacking]
Cas is now holding wads of cloth to the adept's wounds, saying over and over, ?Don?t die! Don?t die! If you die, all of it dies."
The four remaining ambushers rush the Paladin at the edge of the pit. At the last second, the paladin ducks low, bringing his sword up and around in a roundhouse arc. Three barbarians are caught in the deadly compass of his blade.
Two are wounded and one has his arm removed at the chest, dead instantly.
The untouched one swings his axe and connects with the paladin, striking him a glancing blow in the arm. To Vagrant's astonishment (he is the only one who has a clear view), the blade skitters off his flesh without penetrating it. The others retreat down the shaft, holding their wounds and their precious weapons.
The paladin takes a hard look at Vagrant and says, "Slay him not if he yet lives. Justice must be served." Vagrant summons a response, "T-theres a Master down there." Orlando nods understanding, then he descends the shaft after the fleeing barbarians.
The cellar is less noisy than before, but it is now filled with moans of pain and the cries of the dying.