Shadow of Hope 39
Rôhn hefted the warhammer in his meaty hand, eyes shifting back and forth taking in the unfolding scene as if he were deciding which beast to extinguish first. With a curt nod and a grim visage, Rôhn pounded across the ground on his stout legs, bellowing a war cry as he charged the Ankheg menacing Kurn from the south.
“My hammer will find your skull!”
Though the Ankheg’s head reared well out of the reach of the blockish Dwarf, Rôhn began to make good on his scream by smashing the solid warhammer into one of the beast’s jointed forelegs, severing the limb cleanly from the creature’s body and causing the insectoid to drop a couple of feet closer to the ground.
Marcus’ hand started to smoke as he mumbled the words of his spell and stepped between the shrubbery to let loose a torrent of flame towards the creature Rôhn had just hit. The blast of fire roared through the air, casting a muted glow on Rôhn’s rugged features and bathing the Dwarf with waves of heat. Hammering into the tail end of the Ankheg, Marcus’ gout of flame punched a gigantic hole in the body of the insect, all but obliterating the creature’s posterior and splashing bug juice and flames on the tree beyond. With a shrill screech, the front half of the Ankheg dropped to the earth, jointed appendages flailing wildly as it shuddered for a few moments before becoming deathly still.
The giant insect which was skewered by Kurn turned on its attacker and lunged at the seasoned warrior before he could bring his defenses to bear on the new assault. The wicked pincers clamped down on Kurn’s right leg, just above his knee, and began to saw through cloth and flesh while maintaining their viselike grip.
Unable to take the opportunity to strike at the dying Ankheg, Borlak wrestled with his own assailant as the mighty creature began to drag the Sunari backward by the arm toward the tunnel from which it erupted. Hooking only the tips of his right fingers around one savage mandible, Borlak managed to pry the joint open slightly, allowing him to wrench his shield arm free from the beast. Both figures stumbled backward a few steps at the release, and the Ankheg quickly lashed out again with its pincers snapping, but the hasty attack clamped down on nothing but the empty air where Borlak stood only moments ago.
The Sunari stumbled back, barely retaining his balance as his dark eyes quickly took in the scene around him. The only viable course was to press his attack against the Ankheg that first attacked him, and thus he closed back in, launching a mighty downward slash with his iron sword with all of the strength he can still bring to bear. The warrior’s blade bit deeply into the carapace of the giant insect, leaving a sinister slash across its flank which began to seep a viscous goo. The burning pain of his own injured shield arm only served to heighten Borlak’s skills as he prepared to finish the creature that sought to devour him.
Remaining calm under the adverse conditions, Katarina guided her mount closer to the battle and unfurled her sleek whip with one hand. Flipping the serpentine weapon back and forth in anticipation of releasing its leathery kiss, she eyed her target, biding her time until the ideal moment.