Day 8 4th Galena, 200
Before the sun had risen, only showing an orangeness in the east, Deebus had finished his search and left the camp. In all, he had recovered a total of six arrows. Not much, but at least he had something to shoot. He also found the horn of one of the spirits, as well as other severed body parts, but the corpses were gone. He had scarcely been able to see their hideous forms the night before. Now he would probably never know what they looked like. That was probably for the best.
The sun had scarcely risen when Deebus had found another hole. It was a very unusual one. For one, it had a door. Deebus had head of doors, but never seen them. Kobolds hadn't often found use for the idea of putting some wood across your entrance, but perhaps it had protective value. In any case, it was known that only the most bizarre and hideous creatures put them over their dens. He hoped six arrows would be enough.
Opening the ramshackle door, careful not to make it creak, Deebus crept inside. What he first saw filled him with disgust. There were two wooden tables, strewn with the remains of various insects, some of which were mashed up into a paste within bowls. On one of the tables, though, were two kobold skeletons, covered with blood, with large piles of meat next to them. Whatever lived here had to die today.
As it turned out, Deebus saw after creeping past piles of bone, blood, kobold clothes, and odd tools, that monster was Dalvel Skavroscaran. He was a well-known abomination, whom some called a Bleak Freak. Dalvel appeared to be shaped like a kobold, standing on two legs and having two arms, but he was at least thrice the height of one and with a decidedly non-kobold face. He was tall, spindly, and menacing, the two wide horns of his head nearly scraping the ceiling. His lidless eyes burned with some purpose known only to him, and he moved in long silent strides.
Deebus loosed an arrow, striking Dalvel in the back, but it barely sank through the skin. He shot twice more, one missing and the next impaling the abomination's left knee, for Dalvel had turned around. Deebus walked over to finish off his foe who had fallen over, but Dalvel whipped around and spotted him. Thinking fast, Deebus leapt back before the monster could draw his carving knife. He quickly fired another arrow that bit Dalvel's right hip, but Dalvel crawled after him, and crawled fast. Deebus retreated down the passage, but he could not seem to escape Dalvel's attention, for he was quickly spotted again. He fired another arrow that struck the same place. Dalvel lunged at Deebus, barely missing him with the carving knife, and caused Deebus to roll into a small alcove. At last he regained his stealth, managing to get behind the Bleak Freak. Having no more arrows, he instead withdrew the iron sword from his pack and hurled it at Dalvel, who dodged it and lurched after Deebus once more.
Deebus scooped up a large iron dagger from the floor and hurled it. The mighty toss burried the dagger deep into the bone of Dalvel's left leg, but still the Freak kept crawling, spotting Deebus at every turn. Deebus knew the layout of the lair now, though, and more easily evaded his foe and got back out of sight. He seized up more sharp tools from the gruesome piles of Dalvel's things, throwing them and missing, before he once more got behind Dalvel and skewered his left hand with his spear. Dalvel came up swinging. Deebus jumped back.
The abomination stared at Deebus, it's face showing no emotion, but the glowing white eyes that pierced the darkness like no other foe Deebus had seen held the utmost rage. "FOOL!" he cried. "I am Dalvel Ashbone! Your kind is only dinner to me! Do you know who I am!?"
Deebus did not answer, simply asking if Dalvel knew who HE was. Then he hurled the copper slicing knife he had taken from the floor.
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Topic: The journey of Deebus, a kobold story. (Read 193854 times)