In the realm of the sword, where life and death dance upon the edge of a bde, hesitation is the birthpce of failure. The path of the sword demands swift action, for in the heat of battle, a single moment's pause can be the difference between victory and demise.
Just as water flows unhindered, so must the warrior's mind be unshackled from the chains of doubt. As the sword moves effortlessly through the air, the spirit must mirror this fluidity. In this way, success can be attained through harmony between body and spirit, for when these two elements become one, the warrior has attained the Living Sword.
- The Living Sword by Fen Vaigorus circa 520 AC.
I awoke well before the darkness of the night gave way to the simple grays of the cool forest morning. What little light that filtered through the branches was a poor facsimile for true daylight. Kidu and Elwin had already started to break camp as I awoke from my bedroll. My body, as I got up, was initially stiff due to sleeping in an uncomfortable position in full battle dress.
“Morning there, sleepyhead,” chirped Elwin. His morning energy grated a little against my nerves. It was far too early in the day for me to fake the usual pleasantries.
Looking at him through sleepy eyes and unkempt hair, I grunted before mumbling a sembnce of good morning to both members of my party. Kidu was already seeing to Patches, checking various straps and feeding her a bag full of grain and oats, supplemented with slightly shriveled heads of Snap-Honey.
“We will make quick progress today, I think. Ah, what a boon you are! This creature is most useful,” Kidu excimed, ruffling Patches’ mane, causing her to bray in affection.
“Yes, I was fortunate to find her when I did. With her to carry our things, we should be able to travel a little faster. And, the quicker we travel, the quicker we collect the River Root and Lurker hide. Then the faster we can return and collect our due coin,” I replied, slowly getting up to my feet. Elwin then resignedly saw to my bedroll.
“Right noisy d you are, mumbling all the time you were asleep, you know,” stated Elwin as he finished packing my bedroll. Once done, he loaded it up onto Patches, alongside the heavy rolled-up hide of the Karil.
I took a swill of some water and began to eat some Laur-jerky, feeling inexplicably manlier as I chewed on the tough, dry meat. It was easy going as we moved from the campsite along the path carved out the previous night by Kidu’s fshing spear. I was fully refreshed, so I found the going easier, with my armor feeling more comfortable about my frame. Also, just as Kidu predicted, we made good time through the trees.
Eventually, the giants gave way to normal-sized trees and, as daylight filtered down even more strongly, the sound of running water could be heard in the distance. Unconsciously, my companions and I picked up our pace, eager to finish off our mission in the great forest. In due course, we sighted the rapidly-flowing river, and we began to be more cautious in our approach as we neared the possible location of the River Root and Lurkers.
The Hunter tested the wind and then crouched low while he made his way through the undergrowth, after signaling for us to stop. A slight breeze was blowing in my face and, squinting my eyes, I could just make out what looked like a collection of wide, almost unmoving, leafy green ptes on the surface of the swift water.
My interest was piqued, and I hissed to my companions in a quiet voice, “That the River Root we seek?”
“Yes,” they both said at almost the same time, giving each other a look before Elwin allowed Kidu to expin, “That is the River Root, but we must harvest the roots at the bottom of the river. The river runs quickly but, luckily, it is shallow here, I am sure. Also, look there,” said the Hunter, pointing at what looked like logs in the water along the shore, before continuing, “A bask of young male River Lurkers have made this their gathering. We are lucky that a grandfather of the water is not with them.”
Just then, one of the “logs” opened its mouth in a great yawn, dispying a shocking array of yellowed, sharp teeth. Elwin visibly paled at the sight and he nervously adjusted the strap of his cheap pot helm.
Intrigued, I decided to cast an Identify at the logs, hoping to gauge a measure of our upcoming challenge.
River Lurker - (Lizard lvl.8)
Health: 146/148
Stamina: 42/44
Mana: 3/3
I surmised that the creatures before me were reasonably tough and strong, from their corresponding Health and Stamina. Predictably, being reptilian, their abysmally-low Mana was a good indication that they were of a lesser intellect. Idly, I wondered if and when my Identify spell would improve.
“How should we go about this business?” I asked them as I searched their faces for their reactions, trying to hide a smile as confidence filled me.
“We need to fight them one at a time, or at least in smaller groups. It would be a quick death if we fought them in the water. We must lure them out and fight them deeper on nd. My bow should lead the way,” offered Kidu.
I looked to Elwin in case he had anything to add. The Rogue just flippantly shrugged his shoulders and commented, “We’ve come this far, loons that we are—sure, why not? Let’s go stir up a gathering of River Lurkers, run around, and have the big man shoot at them.”
