>>6109674Certain doom, it seems, belongs to your opponent–mid-fall and mid-shriek, you find your descent halted by your <span class="mu-s">CURVED BLADE</span> sinking into something tough, but still fleshy! Opening your eyes, you realize your sword is hilt-deep in the Skog’s braincase! Guess he wasn’t wearing a helmet! Or he just misplaced it in the chaos. Man,<span class="mu-b">SALLY SAFETY: THE SAFETY SQUIRREL</span> would be ashamed!
“<span class="mu-s">ROOKIE!</span>” Sputters Volka as she rushes over to you with the speed of a frightened mother, “Oh HELLS, please tell me you aren’t dead!”
You’re fine, you pant as the flames fade from your hands, but you can’t really say the same for the other guy…
As the two of you watch the Skog slow-cook, you’re suddenly <span class="mu-s">TACKLED</span> by some kind of fuzzy medicine ball!
“THAT. WAS. INCREDIBLE!”
Oh, it’s Tzah-Tzie. Yea, you shrug, it was okay, you <span class="mu-i">guess</span>, you reply as you put every effort you can into not trembling from the ordeal.
“Okay?! <span class="mu-s">OKAY!?</span>” The Durher snarls with eyes as wide as frying pans, “You just danced with two Skogs, my friend… one of whom was <span class="mu-s">BERSERK!</span> And you <span class="mu-i">LIVED!</span>”
“Yep! Not trying to toot my own trumpet, but we Skogs are… well, known to do that...” Volka adds with an embarrassed grin. “But ya’ did good, Rook. Real good.”
Thanks, you smile as you feel a scaly claw pat you on the head, but we’ve got some loose ends to iron out…
Your two stalwart companions follow your gaze over to the eight red eyes frozen mid-creep. Why didn’t he just leave during the <span class="mu-i">fight</span>?
“Ach! I, er… the thing about that being-” Sputters the trafficker as Volka approaches with punching intent, “Y-you wouldn’t hit an eight-eyed man, would ye?!”
“Good point. Maybe I oughta poke a few out first...” Snarls the Skog on <span class="mu-i">YOUR</span> side!
“WaitwaitWAITwaiT!” Blubbers Salty Suutz as he drops to what you assume are his knees, “I… I just…”
Just <span class="mu-i">what</span>, you frown. Because he’s gonna be ‘just’ing a whole lot less in a few moments if he doesn’t explain what the hell just happened!
“W-well, y-y’see…” He begins, eyes shifting and body chittering, “<span class="mu-s">OTI! NOW!</span>”
His command is met with an annoyed groan that would do any teen proud. “What. Part. Of. ‘<span class="mu-i">I’m concentrating on this SLEEP SPELL</span>’ do you <span class="mu-s">NOT UNDERSTAND!?</span>”
“I thought ye be tryin’ ta’ bamboozle ‘em inter a false sense o’ security!”
“Yea, nope, sorry. No bamboozling.”
Sinking to the ground like an eight-eyed balloon at the end of a party, Salty Suutz looks up at you with a mixture of fear, defeat, and embarrassment in his eyes. Man, you’re getting good at reading these guys!
“Okay… the truth bein: them Skogs were seekin’ ta’ kidnap us survivors ta’-”
Volka, you sigh, hurt him.
“My pleasure~” She hisses with a grim smile!
>CONTD. 