Post by Benzo on Sept 22, 2016 19:02:47 GMT -4
The emerald forests of Gleamvale are a land ripe in lost treasure and shrouded in secrecy. As wolves and other beasts of the woods can be heard howling, a reptilian figure slowly emerges from the depths of a ruin, looking around quickly for a moment.
"It's clear." Jevas, a Drakkin warrior, announced quietly.
Joining the Drakkin on the surface, a Sun Elf mage appears with her staff in hand.
"You're bleeding, you should have Osgarm heal that for you." she says, looking at the Drakkin's bloodied side.
"He's still drained from his earlier casting in the caves. I'm fine Aroza; If we make it out of here and no one else needs it, I'll just use the last healing potion."
As Aroza shrugs the thought away, the two are soon joined by two more figures; An Orcish Shaman and a Vulpin Battlemage, both carrying a large chest between them. Setting it down, they both take a moment to stretch.
"Why am I carrying the load? I thought the main advantage of dungeon delving with a strong Scale-Back was that he carries all the loot." The Vulpin sighed.
"Well, you see Fasgra, I need both of my hands free to fight." Jevas replied quickly. "And tell me if I'm wrong, but not one of you has any magicka reserved to make it through a fight without me."
"That is..." Fasgra begins, trailing off in thought.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do what you think I am."
"What's that?" Aroza asked curiously.
"Kill you all and take the loot for myself. Admit it, you thought I had it in mind."
"What? No! What a perfectly horrid thought." Osgarm, the Shaman, replied in disgust.
"Why not?" Aroza asks.
"He needs porters." Fasgra says. "Like he said, he can't fight and carry the loot."
"By the Gods..." The Shaman groans. "Of all the horrible, conniving Drakkin-"
"And why do you need me alive?" Aroza asks suddenly.
"I don't, necessarily. Except for that you aren't too bad to look at... For a smoothskin, that is." After a short pause, he then adds, "Besides, we aren't safe yet. Two targets means I have a chance of not getting attacked."
As they elect to continue walking, a noise can be heard from a nearby brush, causing them to stop.
"Go check that out Aroza." Jevas commands.
"It's probably a wolf... You go check it out."
"You have a choice here, Sun Elf." Jevas says. "Go and you might live, or stay here where you definitely won't."
After a moment, she decides to go into the blanket forestry and investigate. As she left, Jevas turns to the others and whispers.
"The king of Silvenar will pay good for these jewels, and I think dividing between three sounds better than four."
"You're so right, Jevas." Aroza says, levitating above the trio. As they look up, a ghost appears from the brush and charges at the Drakkin.
As he screams and thrashes at the entity with his blade, it looses a blast of gas at the Drakkin, a foul taint of burning and rotted flesh filling the air as the warrior was left as little more than ash.
The Orc was next, struck down by the apparition as he attempted to flee. As it turns towards the Vulpin, Fasgra, he unleashes a fireball, causing the ghost to dissipate quickly.
Aroza returned to the ground as the Battlemage intently studied the two corpses.
"You had some magicka reserved after all." Fasgra comments as he looks up from the ground.
"As did you." Aroza says with a nod.
Taking the potion of healing from the Shaman's pack, the Vulpin examines the bottle carefully. "Good, still intact. "
"Guess it goes down to splitting the reward 50/50" Aroza states. "Like it or not, we can't get out of here without each other."
Fasgra nods and the two pick up the chest once more, beginning to walk their way out of the accursed forest. Time and time, they would pause to look around cautiously before continuing onward. After a long moment, the Vulpin speaks up.
"So let me make sure I understand... You have some mana left, and choose to use it to make Jevas the ghost's target, forcing me to use most of my reserve to destroy the creature, thus ensuring I am not more powerful than you... That is some first-rate thinking."
"Thank you." Aroza says with a chuckle. "It's only logical; After all, do you have enough mana for any other spells?"
"Well of course." Fasgra was quick to reply. "An experienced Battlemage always has a few low-cost spells on hand for such a trial. I presume you have a few tricks saved, as well?"
"Oh of course. Like you said. Just as an intellectual exercise, what spell would you cast if we made it out of here without further combat?"
"I hope you're not implying that I would dream of killing you for the treasure." Fasgra comments.
"Oh of course not, nor would I do such a thing to you. It is merely an intellectual exercise."
"In that case, purely as an intellectual exercise, I would probably cast a leech spell on you, letting your life forces heal me. After all, there are a number of bandits on the roads, and a wounded Battlemage would make a fine target."
"A reasonable response." Aroza responds. "As for myself, not that I actually would, but I think a simple, sudden electric bolt would serve my purposes. I agree about the danger of bandits, but don't forget, we also have a health potion. I could easily slay you and drink that for full capacity."
"Very true. It would end up a question as to who's spell was more effective at that instant. If you crippled me only for my leech to sap your own energy, we both would probably die. Or so near death that a single health potion wouldn't help. How ironic it would be for two scheming mages to end up near death and crippled, with only one potion of health. I wonder who would get it."
"Logically, whoever drank it first, which would be you since you're holding it. Now, what if one of us were injured, but not killed?"
"Logic would dictate that a scheming Battlemage would take the potion, leaving the injured at mercy of the elements, I suppose."
"That does seem most sensible. But, suppose that the Battlemage, definitely the scheming types, held a certain respect for one another. Perhaps in that case, the victorious one might, for instance, put the potion up a tree near his or her gravely wounded victim. Then, when the wounded party had enough magicka replenished, he or she would be able to levitate to the tree branches and recover the potion. By that time, the victorious Battlemage would have already collected the reward."
After a long moment, Fasgra shrugs nonchalantly. "I understand what you are saying, but it seems out of character for our hypothetic scheming Battlemage to allow his or her victim to live."
"Perhaps." Aroza says simply. "But it's been my observation that most scheming Battlemage enjoy the feeling of having bested someone in combat, and having that person alive to live with the humiliation."
"These hypothetical scheming Battlemages sound..." Fasgra begins, then crying out excitedly. "Daylight! Do you see it?"
As the two rush past the edge of the brush, loud explosions of blue and crimson energy reverberate through the air. A moment later, Fasgra appears amidst the treetops with a grin on his face as he sets the potion of healing high up in the branches. He chuckles as he disappears and climbs back down to retrieve the chest.
*********
Walking along the lonesome road to Silvenar, a Vulpin Battlemage, clearly spent from exhaustion, struggles to use his staff as a cane. It wasn't long before the weakened Battlemage was set upon by a trio of highwaymen. They pull the chest away from him with ease.
"What 'ave we got 'ere?" One of the bandits asks with a laugh. "Don't know it ain't safe on the road for a sick warm-pelt like youself? Why don't we help you with your load?"
Fasgra hopelessly tried to push them away, though had no energy to do so. "Please... Let me be..." he said hoarsely.
"Go on, spellcaster. Try and kill us for it!"
"I... Too weak..."
As the Vulpin collapsed onto one knee, a blue jolt of energy tears through the middle bandit's chest, leaving a sizzling hole. Slow to react, the other two highwaymen were met quickly with similar fates as Aroza casually approaches.
Looking up at the new arrival, a weak smirk forms on Fasgra's face. "Hypothetically, what if a battlemage cast a spell on another which didn't harm him at once, but... Drained his life force bit by bit, so he wouldn't notice at the time and feel confident enough to leave the health potion behind?"
"A most treacherous Battlemage she'd be." Aroza said gravely.
"And hypothetically... Would she be likely to help her fallen foe, so that she may enjoy the humiliation of him continuing to live?"
After a short pause, the Sun Elf looks down at him and shakes her head, a blue sphere of crackling energy forming in her hand. "From my experience, hypothetically, no. She doesn't sound like a fool."
(Eh? bannanachair.proboards.com/thread/1885/yarns-travina-ragnar )
"It's clear." Jevas, a Drakkin warrior, announced quietly.
Joining the Drakkin on the surface, a Sun Elf mage appears with her staff in hand.
"You're bleeding, you should have Osgarm heal that for you." she says, looking at the Drakkin's bloodied side.
"He's still drained from his earlier casting in the caves. I'm fine Aroza; If we make it out of here and no one else needs it, I'll just use the last healing potion."
As Aroza shrugs the thought away, the two are soon joined by two more figures; An Orcish Shaman and a Vulpin Battlemage, both carrying a large chest between them. Setting it down, they both take a moment to stretch.
"Why am I carrying the load? I thought the main advantage of dungeon delving with a strong Scale-Back was that he carries all the loot." The Vulpin sighed.
"Well, you see Fasgra, I need both of my hands free to fight." Jevas replied quickly. "And tell me if I'm wrong, but not one of you has any magicka reserved to make it through a fight without me."
"That is..." Fasgra begins, trailing off in thought.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do what you think I am."
"What's that?" Aroza asked curiously.
"Kill you all and take the loot for myself. Admit it, you thought I had it in mind."
"What? No! What a perfectly horrid thought." Osgarm, the Shaman, replied in disgust.
"Why not?" Aroza asks.
"He needs porters." Fasgra says. "Like he said, he can't fight and carry the loot."
"By the Gods..." The Shaman groans. "Of all the horrible, conniving Drakkin-"
"And why do you need me alive?" Aroza asks suddenly.
"I don't, necessarily. Except for that you aren't too bad to look at... For a smoothskin, that is." After a short pause, he then adds, "Besides, we aren't safe yet. Two targets means I have a chance of not getting attacked."
As they elect to continue walking, a noise can be heard from a nearby brush, causing them to stop.
"Go check that out Aroza." Jevas commands.
"It's probably a wolf... You go check it out."
"You have a choice here, Sun Elf." Jevas says. "Go and you might live, or stay here where you definitely won't."
After a moment, she decides to go into the blanket forestry and investigate. As she left, Jevas turns to the others and whispers.
"The king of Silvenar will pay good for these jewels, and I think dividing between three sounds better than four."
"You're so right, Jevas." Aroza says, levitating above the trio. As they look up, a ghost appears from the brush and charges at the Drakkin.
As he screams and thrashes at the entity with his blade, it looses a blast of gas at the Drakkin, a foul taint of burning and rotted flesh filling the air as the warrior was left as little more than ash.
The Orc was next, struck down by the apparition as he attempted to flee. As it turns towards the Vulpin, Fasgra, he unleashes a fireball, causing the ghost to dissipate quickly.
Aroza returned to the ground as the Battlemage intently studied the two corpses.
"You had some magicka reserved after all." Fasgra comments as he looks up from the ground.
"As did you." Aroza says with a nod.
Taking the potion of healing from the Shaman's pack, the Vulpin examines the bottle carefully. "Good, still intact. "
"Guess it goes down to splitting the reward 50/50" Aroza states. "Like it or not, we can't get out of here without each other."
Fasgra nods and the two pick up the chest once more, beginning to walk their way out of the accursed forest. Time and time, they would pause to look around cautiously before continuing onward. After a long moment, the Vulpin speaks up.
"So let me make sure I understand... You have some mana left, and choose to use it to make Jevas the ghost's target, forcing me to use most of my reserve to destroy the creature, thus ensuring I am not more powerful than you... That is some first-rate thinking."
"Thank you." Aroza says with a chuckle. "It's only logical; After all, do you have enough mana for any other spells?"
"Well of course." Fasgra was quick to reply. "An experienced Battlemage always has a few low-cost spells on hand for such a trial. I presume you have a few tricks saved, as well?"
"Oh of course. Like you said. Just as an intellectual exercise, what spell would you cast if we made it out of here without further combat?"
"I hope you're not implying that I would dream of killing you for the treasure." Fasgra comments.
"Oh of course not, nor would I do such a thing to you. It is merely an intellectual exercise."
"In that case, purely as an intellectual exercise, I would probably cast a leech spell on you, letting your life forces heal me. After all, there are a number of bandits on the roads, and a wounded Battlemage would make a fine target."
"A reasonable response." Aroza responds. "As for myself, not that I actually would, but I think a simple, sudden electric bolt would serve my purposes. I agree about the danger of bandits, but don't forget, we also have a health potion. I could easily slay you and drink that for full capacity."
"Very true. It would end up a question as to who's spell was more effective at that instant. If you crippled me only for my leech to sap your own energy, we both would probably die. Or so near death that a single health potion wouldn't help. How ironic it would be for two scheming mages to end up near death and crippled, with only one potion of health. I wonder who would get it."
"Logically, whoever drank it first, which would be you since you're holding it. Now, what if one of us were injured, but not killed?"
"Logic would dictate that a scheming Battlemage would take the potion, leaving the injured at mercy of the elements, I suppose."
"That does seem most sensible. But, suppose that the Battlemage, definitely the scheming types, held a certain respect for one another. Perhaps in that case, the victorious one might, for instance, put the potion up a tree near his or her gravely wounded victim. Then, when the wounded party had enough magicka replenished, he or she would be able to levitate to the tree branches and recover the potion. By that time, the victorious Battlemage would have already collected the reward."
After a long moment, Fasgra shrugs nonchalantly. "I understand what you are saying, but it seems out of character for our hypothetic scheming Battlemage to allow his or her victim to live."
"Perhaps." Aroza says simply. "But it's been my observation that most scheming Battlemage enjoy the feeling of having bested someone in combat, and having that person alive to live with the humiliation."
"These hypothetical scheming Battlemages sound..." Fasgra begins, then crying out excitedly. "Daylight! Do you see it?"
As the two rush past the edge of the brush, loud explosions of blue and crimson energy reverberate through the air. A moment later, Fasgra appears amidst the treetops with a grin on his face as he sets the potion of healing high up in the branches. He chuckles as he disappears and climbs back down to retrieve the chest.
*********
Walking along the lonesome road to Silvenar, a Vulpin Battlemage, clearly spent from exhaustion, struggles to use his staff as a cane. It wasn't long before the weakened Battlemage was set upon by a trio of highwaymen. They pull the chest away from him with ease.
"What 'ave we got 'ere?" One of the bandits asks with a laugh. "Don't know it ain't safe on the road for a sick warm-pelt like youself? Why don't we help you with your load?"
Fasgra hopelessly tried to push them away, though had no energy to do so. "Please... Let me be..." he said hoarsely.
"Go on, spellcaster. Try and kill us for it!"
"I... Too weak..."
As the Vulpin collapsed onto one knee, a blue jolt of energy tears through the middle bandit's chest, leaving a sizzling hole. Slow to react, the other two highwaymen were met quickly with similar fates as Aroza casually approaches.
Looking up at the new arrival, a weak smirk forms on Fasgra's face. "Hypothetically, what if a battlemage cast a spell on another which didn't harm him at once, but... Drained his life force bit by bit, so he wouldn't notice at the time and feel confident enough to leave the health potion behind?"
"A most treacherous Battlemage she'd be." Aroza said gravely.
"And hypothetically... Would she be likely to help her fallen foe, so that she may enjoy the humiliation of him continuing to live?"
After a short pause, the Sun Elf looks down at him and shakes her head, a blue sphere of crackling energy forming in her hand. "From my experience, hypothetically, no. She doesn't sound like a fool."
(Eh? bannanachair.proboards.com/thread/1885/yarns-travina-ragnar )