Patchwork Universe

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

It's a giant -- big and nasty, but it only has two legs.

Even as the Ograda lifted its club, Kalyndis surged forward, fiery light flickering around his hands. He darted under its upswing with what he had hoped would be superhuman speed, intending to slice open its hamstrings, but as he ran he wondered if he had made a mistake. He would normally have had considerable speed and strength even in human shape, though not the full power of his natural form; now, however, he found himself constrained by merely human limits. This would have been an unpleasant discovery at the best of times. Regardless, he hurled himself at the creature's massive leg.

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:57 pm Post subject:

The Ograda howled as Kalyndis caught hold of its leg and turned, trying to find the source of its discomfort.

Clinging on with all his strength Kalyndis caught a glimpse of another figure clutching at the Ograda's other leg and recognised young Jack Jones. He had lost his sword, but seemed to be using knives like pitons to hold on to the mnster as he was swung to and fro by its movement.

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 60 Location: San Pietro

On hearing Jones' shout, Michael had immediately taken cover. There are advantages to wearing brown. Once the light was extinguished, Michael was effectively invisible, and the Ograda seemed not to have spotted him. It took him a second to collect his thoughts, and once he was able to take stock of the situation he was not entirely surprised to find that his breviary was in his pocket and his switchblade was in his hand.

Those memories of his youth which he had tried to put aside for so many years were springing back unbidden. His vocation had been a late one - he had run with the gangs since his early teens, fought his way up through the hierarchy in the usual manner. He was one of the leaders at nineteen, and looking back, he suspected his conversion had saved his life. Still, the knife felt good in his hand, and it was after all his duty to make use of all of the talents he posessed. As Kalyndis made his rush Michael saw at once what he was trying to do - long ago he'd done it himself, more than once.

As soon as Kalyndis had diverted the Ograda's attention, Michael moved. The creature looked human enough, and he was banking on a similar anatomy. He'd seen men bleed out in a couple of minutes from a severed femoral artery, and he reckoned that he might have just enough time to strike at the groin area and roll between the creature's legs before it had time to react.

There was a quiet snick and a dull gleam of metal as Michael dived forwards.

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Yggdrasil

There was a strange low rumbling and shifting in the ground under the Ograda's feet. If the combatants had been less busy they may have felt the earth shift slightly beneath their feet.

A few moments and roots and stems were ripping through the topsoil and twining around the feet of the Ograda slowing the movement and pulling to down to anchor it.

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

His legs wrapped around the Ograda's limb, Kalyndis tore at the back of its knee with fire-wreathed hands, burning into muscle. The giant staggered, swaying backwards with the club's upswing, but did not fall. It flailed its club in one hand, regaining balance, while it ripped Kalyndis away with the other hand and tossed him on the ground. A puzzled expression crossed its coarse-featured face as roots clutched at its foot, thwarting its intention to stomp him flat.

Kalyndis scrambled a short distance away, grass charring under his hands for a moment before his spell flickered out.

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 60 Location: San Pietro

Michael's charge was less than successful. He arrived at the Ograda just as the creepers were beginnig to do their work, and it was all he could do to avoid them. Seeing Kalyndis landing in front of him he scrambled up to him.

"Are you alright?" Without waiting for a reply he pointed at the Ograda. "Look! It's been pinned somehow. If we could get its eyes we could finish it off easily."

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

Kalyndis rose to his feet, looking annoyed. "Those roots won't hold it for long." He looked again for the younger Jones -- was the man trying to climb the thing? The Ograda was raising its club again, so Kalyndis spoke a word and threw up his hand. A cloud of golden sparks buzzed at the Ograda's head, not harming it but distracting it for a few moments while they moved out of harm's way. "Do you have anything to throw at it?"

Jones · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:27 pm Post subject:

With admirable stubborness if perhaps not much sense, Jack Jones was ahuling himself up the Ograda's back. Flailing its arms it tried to dislodge him but the roots tying its feet to the ground hampered its movements and it was torn between the annoyance of Jack's knives and the way the ground seemed to be attacking it. It roared in pain once more, as Kalyndis's sparks enraged it further.

From near the monster's shoulder Jack's face stared down at Michael and Kalyndis and shouted something indistinct, drowed out by the noise. As the man tired again Kalyndis' sharper ears picked out the words:
".... try... blind it ... ready... attack?"

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

Oh for a pair of wings!

"Ready!" Kalyndis shouted. He pointed a fist at the Ograda's head and muttered arcane syllables under his breath as he waited for Jack to strike.

Jones · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:45 pm Post subject:

Leaning precariously around the Ograda's shoulder, Jack clung with his left hand to the knive still stuck in the monster's scaly hide and raised the other knive with his right.

With a warcry he plunged it deep into the Ograda's right eye.

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

As Jack struck, Kalyndis gave a wordless cry of his own and flung his fist open. A spike of red light shot from the palm of his hand towards the giant's left eye.

Jones · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject:

Blood spurted and the Ograda bellowed a wordless cry of agony. Bringing massive fists up to its bleeding head it lost its balance and came crashing to its knees.

Leaping free of the creature as it fell Jack Jones jumped down and stood panting beside Michael and Kalyndis.

Jones · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject:

As Michael darted forward to deliver the coup de grace, a shimmering wave of a spell rippled through the air like heat haze. As it disippated it could be seen that Kalyndis had staggered under the affect and was moving strangely, as if in pain.

ooc: Spell effect comes from the 'View from the Farmlands' thread

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 60 Location: San Pietro

Michael finished his grisly task, wiped his blade clean and tucked his switchblade away once more.

"So," he said, turning round, "what next?" Then he noticed Kalyndis' obvious pain. "Kalyndis? What's the matter? Are you hurt?"

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

At last!

As the spell swept past Kalyndis, he realised that the constraint on his shapeshifting had been lifted. His feeling of freedom didn't last; something was going terribly wrong. The change was taking place without his conscious volition, and he couldn't stop it.

He clutched his head with his hands. His body bulged and warped before suddenly expanding with a loud whoosh. Then a dragon stood there, with a body the size of a bull's, covered in spines and scales the colour of fresh blood. Batlike wings unfurled from his shoulders. Acidic green eyes blazed with feral cunning.

The Ograda had collapsed, blood bubbling copiously from its eyes and the wounds inflicted by Father Michael. But the dragon wanted to make sure for himself. He bounded over and gripped the giant's neck in his jaws. There was a vigorous shaking, followed by a grinding crack like a tree snapping in half.

Lifting his head on a long, serpentine neck, he turned to look at Jack and Father Michael. He grinned. He had a lot of teeth.