Going Home
By Panthanas
The crimson sun began its descent out of the olive tinged sky. Only a few
moments after dipping below the horizon, the heat of the day began to ebb away,
promising another frigid night. Ulinar gathered up his bedroll into his pack, flung the two
waterskins over his shoulder and belted on his sword. Preparing to depart, Ulinar went
still when a sound caught his attention. Lifting his head towards the disturbance, Ulinar
caught a faint movement from the corner of his eye. Scanning the area, but detecting
nothing out of the ordinary, Ulinar presumed the cooling breeze was playing tricks on him
and readjusted his pack and waterskins in a more comfortable position for the nights
journey. However, just to be safe, he opened his palm to the ground to draw the needed
life force to cast a spell. Pulling a pinch of dried carrot from his belt pouch, Ulinar
completed the incantation and began scanning the area with magically enhanced vision.
Ulinar did not detect any activity beyond the breeze and small scavengers emerging from
their dens so he begin to walk towards the cliffs.
It seemed, tonight, that the cliff face Ulinar was heading towards was closer than it
had appeared this morning when he bedded down, which made him feel better. After his
travels in this region of the world, he would be more than happy to return home to Urik,
and his mentor and friend, Aliana. They had went their separate ways when Ulinar
decided he had learned enough and wanted to see more than Uriks city walls, so he had
left, leaving behind only a promise to someday return. After two years of wandering the
tablelands and beyond he was ready to go home, at least for a short time.
The evening was tapering off to a pleasing coolness, not the frigid night Ulinar
thought it was going to be and that made traveling bearable, bordering on pleasurable.
With these conditions Ulinar was making good time and in what seemed almost no time at
all he noticed Ral had risen to its zenith with Gunthay not far behind. With all the light the
moons gave this night, Ulinar wonder of the prudence of using one of his more powerful
spells so early in the evening. Shrugging off his doubts, Ulinar began a steady jog,
recalling the fact that he had not seen one of the kreen in almost five nights and
invigorated by the thought of being closer to home with each step.
Although the brisk pace brought the distant city closer it was thirsty work.
Slowing so he may take a drink from one of his waterskins, Ulinar lifted the skin towards
his parched mouth and glimpsed movement off to his left. Quickly turning to look,
without so much as a drop of water reaching his lips, Ulinar gasped in surprise, seeing a
group of strange animals in the distance, watching him. To far away to be able to discern
what they were, Ulinar decided it would be prudent to be on his way. With that, he again
raised the waterskin, quickly drank and started jogging in the direction of the cliffs.
Looking back to see if the creatures were going to follow, Ulinar stopped short,
for there was nothing there now. Scanning the area where the animals were, a pang of
fear raced through his heart. Where did they go? They couldn’t have moved that fast,
could they? Being a cautious individual, Ulinar began to draw on the life forces around
him once again. Plucking an eyelash and pulling a piece of gum from his pouch, Ulinar
spoke the syllables and released the energy that would cloak him from sight. Confident
that he was a little safer now, he started for the cliffs.
Jogging into the better part of the night while watching his trail for the strange
animals he had seen, Ulinar watched as Ral began to wane with Gunthay not far behind.
Looking ahead to see if an adequate place to rest for the day ahead would present itself,
Ulinar was barely able to discern the sound of movement from behind him. Turning to see
what it was, Ulinar was shocked to see the creatures he thought were far behind him.
They were now at a closer distance than before, and was able to make out their
appearance, barely. Only the remaining light from Ral and Gunthay allowed him to see
them at all, even with his enhanced vision.
Ulinar quickly dropped to a crouch, placing a hand on his sword, and opening the
palm of the other. Looking at these strange beasts, Ulinar felt a twinge of terror when he
realized he had heard of these beasts. When the strange halflings he had met described
hairless cats without eyes, which devoured kreen and halflings alike, he thought it an
embellished tale to try to scare him, but now Ulinar had reason to believe those strange
folk.
Taking advantage of the distance left between them and the magic that protected
him, Ulinar studied the beasts. The six creatures before him had jet black skin, and eyes
that were as dark as their skin, giving the impression of having none. Deciding to wait to
see if the creatures would leave, Ulinars heart began a fierce beating when he noticed they
were looking right at him. Was this some strange effect caused by the blackness of their eyes, giving the appearance of looking directly at him? Or could they truly see him?
Ulinar was given the answer within moments of the thought when the beasts
charged directly at him. Assuming the creatures could see him, Ulinar thought it wise to
use the time it would take the animals to reach him for defensive purposes. Summoning
the energy for a spell, Ulinar formed the raw energy to his will and released it to bring up
four images of himself. Drawing his sword, a parting gift from Aliana, the steel gleamed
in the waning light of the moons as Ulinar stood his ground, ready to engage these beasts
for his life.
When the first creature was upon him, Ulinar made a quick jab the the beasts body,
but was taken back when the creature deftly twisted his assault, barely nicking the catlike
thing. Composing himself, Ulinar made ready for another lunge to one of the circling
beasts. Raising his sword for the attack, Ulinar gasped as he was assailed by a fury of
claws and teeth. It felt as if each of these monstrosities had struck him with deft precision.
Feeling the blood flow from him, Ulinar began to panic, however brought it under control
when he realized to let his fear take control was surely the path to his death.
With sword poised to strike, Ulinar released an onslaught upon his attackers.
Once again surprise and fear raced through Ulinars chest, for the creatures had deftly
evaded his strikes, and those that did hit their mark failed to slice into the thick hides of
the offending monsters.
At this point terror truly struck Ulinar, and it was a force greater than the
combined wrath of his opponents. Unable to keep fear at bay this time, Ulinar fumbled
with his pouch grasping for the bits of fur bound to a small glass rod needed to cast his
remaining powerful spell. Unable to control the fear gripping him, Ulinar drew the life
force of the plants around him to quickly, and in shock witnessed the land around him turn
as black as his foes hides.
Ulinar, appalled by what he had done, did not notice that his attackers were
stunned from his spellcasting, which had granted him the needed time to finish the spell. A
brilliant blue white crackling energy shot from Ulinars hands striking the fell beasts in front
of him, three in a row. The bolt hit the first creature and dissipated into nothingness.
Staring at the beast, trying to rationalize what he just witnessed, Ulinars jaw fell
open in bewilderment. That spell should have tore the thing to pieces! It should not be
standing there, nor should the two behind it!
Rage began to swell in Ulinars heart. Anger at these beasts that had attacked him.
Anger at himself for not being more cautious. Using this rage to fuel a final assault on
these creatures, Ulinar swung the sword with a power he had never felt before.
Determined to prove himself better than these...things, Ulinar was a terror to behold.
Ulinars sword strokes fell upon the beasts. He knew not if it was only one or all.
Ulinar felt the hot spray of blood across his face and neck, and lifted his sword again, and
felt blood drip down his legs. Bringing the weapon to bear once more, it seemed heavier.
Determined to win, Ulinar brought the heavy steel down, unable to see for there was
blood and fury in his eyes. Ulinar heard a yelp and twisted his head around to look, with
maddening slowness. Through the blood a bright spot appeared in the distance.
Reaching up to wipe the blood away, Ulinar could see the crimson sun ascending
into the sky...and then it was gone.
See Monstrous Compendium Entry:K'lgythk, for more information on the deadly creatures from Going Home
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