Post by Monday
((Parts
3,
2 and
1.
Also, I've been having fun with the WoW Model Viewer. Here's
Khaz with a rifle and him
parrying with his sword.
Day 15. I awoke today feeling very hungry. I ate some of the meat I had cooked, then decided to check the Scarlet Crusade plans. I checked the map I had grabbed first, which detailed Andorhol. It was quite up to date, which I found helpful. I secured my position on the map, and then realized there was a way for me to get out.
I double and triple checked it, and it seems to hold up.
I then read a copy of the Crusaders’ plans. Paraphrased, they basically tell of an attack by a force of Paladins, with mages giving them ranged support, while a smaller force infiltrates the city and attacks Araj.
I could use this to my advantage. Using the map and the plan, I decided that the best way out would be to go during the attack, which is slated to begin in two days.
Day 16. Moved to a new house, stayed there the whole day.
Day 17. The Crusader attack is scheduled to begin today at noon. I will hopefully update this record on how the attack went. If not, assume that I have perished.
Day 18: SUCCESS! SUCCESS! SUCCESS! SUCCESS! <This word is repeated many times.>
The Crusaders attacked at noon, with the Paladins drawing all forces to the north. The mages started burning them in great droves as the Scourge stumbled toward them. I spent no time goggling, and quickly took it upon myself to go south. I met moderate resistance, mainly undead moving north, and passed the bridge.
Once I got past the bridge, I made a full out sprint to Chill Wind camp. Ii am there now, being attended by Brother Walker. He tells me that Fünden and the rest had gone south some two weeks earlier. I was saddened, but I think it is for the best.
I will find them some day. But until then, I think I want to remain alone.
<The page ends abruptly.>Khaz awoke and sat up. His stomach growled in protest at him, so to quiet it he quickly consumed some of the meat. Wiping his hands on his cloak, Khaz pulled the first paper he had obtained. It was a map of Andhorol. His face broke out into a grin as he surveyed the map.
“Wait,” he muttered. “What’s this?” He traced a route with his finger, a road leading from the eastern edge of the city over to the southern bridge. It looked out of the way, but more importantly, he knew that area. It was blocked by rubble. Perhaps if he went through the window if the building next to it…
Setting the map aside, he lifted up the plans. Skimming through it, he realized the Scarlets’ Plan, and how it would work with his.
Later that day, after going through his plan many times, he fell asleep, satisfied.
Khaz awoke and quickly headed for a new house. He had stayed in this one a little too long. Moving to the bottom floor, he exited the building and moved two houses down. It was dangerous, but he wanted to be as close to the road as possible.
Entering the house, he left the door open and ate a quick meal, followed by sleep.
He awoke early the next day.
This is it… he thought, taking inventory. One sword, his rifle with a good score of shots, and himself.
It will have to do… Khaz readied himself and waited. As the sun reached it’s highest point, he heard shouts, and metal clanging on metal. Khaz climbed to the roof, and peered out. Several Crusaders were in a vanguard, slicing down Scourge left and right. A few mages stood behind them, making huge surges of fire appear from the ground and eat away at the Scourge.
Khaz smiled and started off. Within a minute he had reached where he was going. It was a strip of houses, with a mound of rubble and bones in between them. A building next to the pile was open, and Khaz entered. Spying a window in the back, he wrenched it open and looked out.
Five Scourge stood about thirty feet away, but the rest of the street was empty. Looking past them, Khaz saw the southern bridge.
It was empty.
Elation filled him, and he lifted his rifle. Sighting down the scope, he opened fire. Three Scourge fell immediately to his shots, then his clip clicked empty. Sliding his sword from its sheath, he vaulted the window, and landed outside.
A zombie lurched toward him, but a simple slice sent it stumbling away, dead. A ghoul came jumping over the top and slashed out a gash in his shoulder. Grunted, he sliced it’s arm off, then punched its face, pushing it in. The ghoul staggered away, and Khaz sliced half its face off.
Jumping over the corpse, he started sprinting toward the bridge. A skeleton rose up in front of him, and he chopped it in half. Another skeleton arose, and this one he shoulder slammed, knocking it into pieces. He grimaced in pain as he did so, the ghoul’s wound still hurt.
As he reached the bridge, something a little more menacing attacked from a side street. An abomination lurched into view, taking a slice at the dwarf with his cleaver. Dodging the rusty blade, Khaz stumbled backward as a Scythe whooshed past him.
As it brought the cleaver down Khaz dodged to the side and sliced the arm off. Roaring in pain, the abomination roared in what Khaz assumed to be pain, and punched the dwarf. Khaz nearly blacked out as a fresh wave of agony surged through him from the wound, but he managed to stay upright, and stumbled away from the abomination.
It started lurching after him, when Khaz turned and hurled his pack at it’s face. The straps were caught on it’s many arms and stitches, and it cried out in confusion, trying to find the dwarf. Khaz ignored it and kept on running. He was off the bridge and well into the path to Chillwind camp when the abomination tugged his pack off.
Khaz stumbled to a halt, panting.
Free.
He was free.
FREE OF THAT CITY OF THE DAMNED!
Khaz forced himself into motion toward the camp. As he came within sight, an Argent Dawner ran forward and grabbed him, running him back to the camp. Khaz smiled as the world turned black.
He awoke later that day, as a priest stood above him. “Don’t move, you’ve had a trying few weeks,” he said.
Khaz ignored him and struggled into a sitting position. “Where ‘r’ th’ rest o’ them?” he asked, coughing. Walker sighed and rolled his eyes, muttering something about stubborn dwarves, but replied, “They thought you had perished, so they went south about three weeks ago to tend to Fjarn.”
Khaz nodded and sank down into the pillows again, asleep before he even touched them.
