AC2:Announcements - 2003/02 - Ambuscade

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A hundred yards off, the skeleton rider considered Telkhe. Then holding its mace high, it spurred its mount, shouting, "We shall see whether you are truly worthy of my Master's regard, mortal!"

Telkhe stood impassively, seeming to ignore the danger that charged at him. He regarded the monstrous beast and its rider. The beast was obviously undead; exposed bone peeked out from decaying flesh, and deep gouges marred its back, signs that it had been driven hard over harsh territories. As it drew closer, the thundering sound of the beast's hooves grew deafening, and the stench of death and decay became almost overpowering.

Although the skeleton was now only a scant ten yards away, Telkhe still did not move. Suddenly, a ball of fire struck the decaying creature's flank. It stumbled, narrowly missing Telkhe. As the creature slowed, still trying to recover from her initial blast, Jasi stepped from concealment behind a boulder and unleashed another spell. At the same time, Thukkos charged from some sheltering ruins to the creature's left, his sword arm poised to inflict a tremendous blow on the skeleton rider.

The trap now sprung, Telkhe spun around and beat a rhythm on his drum, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck the mount between its ribs. A moment later, Thukkos' blow knocked the skeleton rider from its saddle onto the parched earth below.

As its rider fell to the ground, the mount loosed an unearthly wail and collapsed, its animating spark now lost. Thukkos took no notice and continued his assault on the beast's rider. As Thukkos raised his sword to finish the skeleton, it raised its arm to ward off the blow. His sword cleaved both arm and breastplate, severing the creature in half.

"So I fall," the creature breathed, the unnatural light fading from its eyes. "And yet the task remains…"

Thukkos straightened, catching his breath, then said, "These undead. Always prattling on."

Jasi eyed Thukkos and muttered sarcastically, "Yes, I surely wouldn't know what it is like to be around something that talks on and on for no reason." She then cast her gaze from side to side. "Where's Telkhe?"

Not having the breath to respond to her sarcastic remark, Thukkos simply pointed and gasped, "Over there. Next to that beast."

Jasi approached the fallen animal as Telkhe kneeled by its side, muttering something she couldn't quite make out.

"Telkhe, what's wrong?" she said, concern evident in her voice.

Telkhe continued for a moment more, then looked up at Jasi. "This creature's keh was tortured. I was asking Blue Mother Heaven to give it peace." Standing up, he continued, "These are creatures of dreams, Jasi. We must help them." Without another word, he turned and walked away from the corpse.

"Fine, fine," Jasi grumbled. "No use in trying to talk you out of anything."

A short distance away from the party, a lone figure stood in the shadows cast by the nearby ruins. It stood there considering them, then was gone.