The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

Child of the 7th Age · 10-30-2002, 03:13 PM

Helen's post

Melting silently with his band of hobbits down the smoky tunnels towards the main cavern, Phura relished the new hope that burned within him. The rescue had been a success! Azraph and Gamba were ahead of him-- unscathed, he dared to hope.

Phura's teams emerged into the main cavern, and engaged the guards they found, aided by smoke and darkness. The guards fumbled about, giving themselves away by sheer noise; and the stealthy hobbits maneuvered behind them. The most difficult part was to coordinate the attack in the dark without speaking . The hobbits in Phura's team accomplished this by a combination of touch, and also hearing the progressive fall of the targeted man.

The effect, however, was that the remaining men could hear the demise of their companions, and their frayed nerves made them as taut as a bowstring, so that the attacks became progressively more difficult as the mens' desperation increased. The men began coordinating, calling each other for help.

Phura had five teams, but he guessed that there were now twelve men nearby. The hobbits hesitated, and Phura signalled, and suddenly they all melted into the shadows and smoke. The twelve men circled, weapons outward. Suddenly, a grim chant began. The hobbits were reciting Piosenniel's instructions for mortally wounding an opponent.

Some of the men, listening, tried to jeer at the hobbits. But most of the guards waited silently, swords brandished, shifting their weight. Suddenly a hail of stones pummeled them, blinding them; the hobbits were aiming at their eyes, and their aim was deadly enough that every one of the men had to shield their eyes.

The hail continued as half the hobbits ran into the circle and quickly hamstrung the men, and the rest of the hobbits rushed in. Several of the guards, however, swung their swords wildly behind them even as they fell. Phura was horrified to see three hobbits fall and not rise again, and several more were badly wounded.

He addressed the wounded. "Go now. Don't argue. Go." They headed for the river. Phura checked the fallen, and made a mental note of who they were; but just then more men came in at the entrance, and he had to thrust his grief aside.

He hoped that Azraph and Gamba were still here somewhere, but he could not see them in the smoke. He fought on.

[ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

10-30-2002, 03:13 PM	#340
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Helen's post Melting silently with his band of hobbits down the smoky tunnels towards the main cavern, Phura relished the new hope that burned within him. The rescue had been a success! Azraph and Gamba were ahead of him-- unscathed, he dared to hope. Phura's teams emerged into the main cavern, and engaged the guards they found, aided by smoke and darkness. The guards fumbled about, giving themselves away by sheer noise; and the stealthy hobbits maneuvered behind them. The most difficult part was to coordinate the attack in the dark without speaking . The hobbits in Phura's team accomplished this by a combination of touch, and also hearing the progressive fall of the targeted man. The effect, however, was that the remaining men could hear the demise of their companions, and their frayed nerves made them as taut as a bowstring, so that the attacks became progressively more difficult as the mens' desperation increased. The men began coordinating, calling each other for help. Phura had five teams, but he guessed that there were now twelve men nearby. The hobbits hesitated, and Phura signalled, and suddenly they all melted into the shadows and smoke. The twelve men circled, weapons outward. Suddenly, a grim chant began. The hobbits were reciting Piosenniel's instructions for mortally wounding an opponent. Some of the men, listening, tried to jeer at the hobbits. But most of the guards waited silently, swords brandished, shifting their weight. Suddenly a hail of stones pummeled them, blinding them; the hobbits were aiming at their eyes, and their aim was deadly enough that every one of the men had to shield their eyes. The hail continued as half the hobbits ran into the circle and quickly hamstrung the men, and the rest of the hobbits rushed in. Several of the guards, however, swung their swords wildly behind them even as they fell. Phura was horrified to see three hobbits fall and not rise again, and several more were badly wounded. He addressed the wounded. "Go now. Don't argue. Go." They headed for the river. Phura checked the fallen, and made a mental note of who they were; but just then more men came in at the entrance, and he had to thrust his grief aside. He hoped that Azraph and Gamba were still here somewhere, but he could not see them in the smoke. He fought on. [ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.