to stick with light orbs. Fireball grenades would be dangerous for others to handle. He
wasn’t sure about how the inner fire energy will dissipate. It may quietly dissolve or go
back with a bang. The light orb was much safer. As he had no practice yet with the
lightning ability given by Odin, he also decided to forget bottling it in a grenade-like
form. Same safety considerations as with the fireball spell. Satisfied, he made nine light
orb-shaped grenades.
Turning his attention to the campsite, he shaped thin rectangular forms and asked the
two to distribute them along the edges of the clearing and in the staked ground itself.
Some he emplaced in the area of the trail entrance and around the cabin. He asked
Habrok to mind and remember the placements, intending to replace those that dissolve
when the time comes. The light grenades he gave three each to the two, with three for
himself, asking Jorund to devise a carrying pouch for them. After instructing them with
its use, he turned in. As expected, it had been a tiring day.
His sleep was rudely interrupted by Habrok’s shout of alarm.
“FORAD!”
Tyler hurriedly got out of the cabin. Habrok was retreating towards him from his
outlook position on the rocks facing down on the trail. Jorund was also awake and now
beside him, armored and armed.
“Everybody stay in the light,” said Tyler as he conjured up another lamp, brightly lit this time, “What happened, Habrok?”
“Saw mist figures moving through the trees. Good thing it’s a moonlit night. Otherwise,
I would have missed them.”
“Jorund, where do think will they be coming from?”
“Through the trail, my lord. Even if they are mist, I doubt if they can get through rocks
and soil. Mist can be prevented from coming into a room by glass.”
“Spread out but stay within the light. Remember, they can extend their reach.”
Tyler lit one of the thin rectangular forms placed near the trail. With only dim lighting and at the same time he dimmed the illumination of his lamp.
“Get your orbs out and wait. But keep them hidden.” Looking around, Tyler resolved to
have buffer barricades before the trail opening. It could provide much-needed cover in
future confrontations.
The trio waited, fear and anticipation marking their poses. Tyler felt the same
apprehensions but as he had fought them before and won, he knew their vulnerability.
He gripped his staff tight.
After a while, a misty figure came up the trail. It stopped momentarily when confronted
by the dimly light lamp before it. It moved to the side and shortly, four more joined it.
For a moment, the five monsters kept their silence and stayed where they are.
Either they’ve learned to wait and plan or the light gave them pause. Tyler was
observing them as they also took stock of the trio before them. This also means
there’s dokkalfr following. With a night-mage.
Finally, the five figures slithered towards them, keeping some distance from the dim
light. As they came an area fully covered by the shapes Tyler planted before, he
shouted to the two to cover their eyes. He also closed his eyes.
LIGHT!
He cast the light spell with all the will he could muster, limiting the ignition to the area where the creatures converged. Even with his eyes shut, the initial light of the
combined lamps was blinding enough to flash through his closed eyelids. When he
opened his eyes, the five monsters were gone. Their demise was soundless. He shut
the lights down and upon checking, saw the rectangular forms were still there.
Got you, bitches! That night-mage must now be pissed. Tyler told the two to
expect dokkalfr and a night-mage.
“Come on, let’s meet them on top of the cliff! We only have a few minutes before they
get here!”
After the three reached the top of the cliff, they huddled behind one of the log
barricades.
“When the time comes, I will light lamps above those trees. Habrok, shoot and move.
Stay to the left of Jorund. If you see the mage, make him your priority. Jorund, stay
here and deal with whoever climbs up. Give me notice when you see them among the
trees. I will be too busy to watch for them. Move!”
Tyler moved to the next barricade. Peering out, he could see the top of the trees outlined against the moon. Gathering his will, he formed shapes up on the treetops,
trying to get the shapes to conform to the branches to avoid falling off. Placing the light shapes took more time than he expected as after only finishing a few, he heard
Jorund’s warning whisper.
They’re here! Now let’s see how many have they sent.
As Tyler peered cautiously, he could discern shapes moving from tree to tree. An
involuntary sigh of relief escaped him, the numbers of the foe appeared to be less than
what he expected. After a few seconds, he saw three shapes fall down in rapid
succession. Habrok had drawn first blood.
After that, arrows started hitting the barricades and bouncing off the rocks. The night
sight of the dark elves was already serving them well. Some of the arrows were getting
too close for comfort. Then a fireball was cast. He could see the flight of the fiery spell coming from the trees and hitting Jorund’s barricade. But the casting of the spell also
silhouetted the mage who immediately sprouted an arrow in his neck.
DONE! Good work Habrok, exulted Tyler. He then ignited the tree lamps to the
brightest illumination he could manage. He quickly peeked from the side of the
barricade. There were about twenty left, several figures lay crumpled among the trees,
fallen prey of Habrok’s runic bow. A few were already in the cleared area before the
cliff, picking their way among the sharpened stakes. But the sudden illumination played
havoc with their sight and many were trying to cover their eyes.
With a BLADE! spell, five targeted projectiles cut down the three moving among the
stakes while Habrok’s archery skills cut down two more. While the lamps were
brightening the field, it was like shooting stationary targets. Amid another BLADE! spell
which downed four, the ranger’s bow took out another.
Then Jorund joined the fray. The man was thankfully unharmed though Tyler guessed
he must have been stunned a bit when
