The sharks not only smelled the blood and gore but most had tasted it as well. The frenzy they had worked up themselves into was only shadowed by the great fear and sullen expectation the companions had worked themselves into.

Gaigin grit his teeth beneath his mask, fighting down a mixed feeling of giddiness and nausea as the blood rushed from his head. His arm bled freely, sending waves of pain up through his shoulder, but the seasoned warrior maintained a tight grip on his spear regardless. Keeping an eye on the shark, Gaigin stepped back until he stood near Koreth and Ptellac.

"These'll be scars to show the grandchildren, if we manage to live through this." Gaigin laughs, his voice hoarse with pain. Gesturing with his gore-dripping spear, Gaigin points to the nearest shark, and raises his voice. "I'll try to pin that one down, Ptellac, you try to finish it off. Koreth, join Rayne, Tak's in trouble, and Elric's not much better, if not worse. Aryus, do what you can, but stay out of the Shark's way, you can't take much more."

Gaigin moves forward slowly, eyeing the shark and gripping his spear tightly. Suddenly the beast veered towards him, moving with incredible speed, teeth gnashing violently as it sensed the blood that oozed freely down Gaigin's arm, soaking the sand a deep red. Hoping his instincts weren't dulled by his wounds, Gaigin waited until the beast was almost on him. Suddenly, just as the scent of the shark's noxious breath reached his nostrils, Gaigin leapt to the side. Bringing his spear up over his head in a two-handed grip, the big warrior thrust at the beasts tough hide, hoping his strength would be enough to pin the creature down.

The thrust goes awry as the spear-tip scrapes uselessly across the sandshark's leathery hide. Off balance, Gaigin leaps away desperately, trying to avoid the creature until he could find another chance to strike. Too late…the sharp teeth found their mark again on the warrior's side. Blood spurted from his hip as the creature trashed its head from side to side. Ptellac came over and thrust his spear at the shark's face with all his strength. The weapon did little more than made the shark release its deadly grip on the ex-caravan guard. Both companions breathed a bit easier as the shark dove into the hot sand again. Gaigin limped now but his resolution seemed stronger than ever; the warrior was prepared to die on his next attack.

Aryus looks himself over - at the great mess of blood and gore covering his body. He hardly felt the pain, but he knew it was there. The sharp sting of his wounds almost numbed him from head to toe, slowing down his actions and making him sick to the stomach at so much loss of blood, his blood. Looking around quickly, Aryus notices the moving mounds of sand sharks now thrown into a frenzy and ferociously attacking his companions, half of whom were as injured as he was.

Aryus throws his bloodied spear down and rubs his hands together. "Time to seek arcane methods." He grabs his holy symbol and mutters a prayer incantation to seek help from the winds, "Spirits of great air, restore your presence in my body and cleanse me of my bodily wounds. Give me your breath of life and touch me with your gentle breeze." A soft breeze comes over carrying comfort and well-being into the air cleric's face that is accompanied by a closing of the ripping wounds.

The situation was getting confusing. From the corner of his eye, Mendi saw the noble warrior running towards the other members of the party, who were still facing three sand sharks. Only a wounded Gaigin and the pterran trader had faced the remaining sand shark, so the elf changed his intended tactic. While he tried to stay out of the shark's path, the elf began to shape arrows and quivers in the mindscape. Scores of arrows soon gathered momentum and flew toward the fleeing sand shark.

Most of the arrows reached their target, biting deeply into the armored flesh, at the same time, out of the mindscape, real blood appeared on the beast's sides and back. The beast slowed down and remained still a few yards away from the elf, the sands around it were beginning to stain red under the crimson sun.

<Another of those bloody beasts down,> Koreth grinned, his white teeth glinting <we might live through this yet.> Gaigin fell in beside him, blood staining the caravan guard's arm. Koreth took up a defensive stance, and hearing Gaigin's words he looks to the other group. They faced worse odds. They needed his help.

Koreth ran towards them, his eyes warily watching the sands for signs of the beasts. He managed to get to Rayne's side before the sharks began another frenzied attack. "Need some help," Koreth said, winking at Rayne and grinning widely as he fell into a defensive stance. There was little time for Rayne to respond, the telltale trails in the sand coming his way. <What I wouldn't give for some solid ground and a bow> he thought, gripping his sword tighter. Nervous sweat dripped down his brow.

"Come on you ugly brutes!" Koreth cursed, his sword held ready before him. The sand trails came nearer and nearer, but he was ready. The massive bulk of a sand shark rose before him, it's fetid breath filling the air and its jaws of razor sharp teeth snapping. Koreth meant to thrust his blade forward, hoping to skewer the beast with its own momentum.

The beast, however, jumped towards the mul and bowled her over by sheer mass even in its wounded state. It took a snap at the mul and its teeth clamped shut on the mul's armor drawing some blood nevertheless. The mul cringes as her exertions make the bleeding wounds on her arm ache. Aware of the halfling who has asked for her protection, Rayne feels determined to kill the beast. She connects once more in the wounded creature sinking her bone long sword into a writhing mass of muscle.

Grimacing, a grunt escapes her lips as she uses all her force to work her blade deeper into the beast. The added injury begins to slow the shark's thrashing and Rayne changes her movements from pushing the blade in to slicing with the blade. Using the side of the beast as some leverage, she slowly pulls the blade toward her through the creature -tearing apart its insides. The shark stops moving and Rayne works her blade free. Making sure the shark is dead, she pulls her tortoise blade free of the shark's now still jaws. The favored weapon was damaged somewhat, but still useable. Strapping it back on where it belongs, Rayne turns her attention away from the dead shark and back to the live ones, the mul is glad to see that Koreth was next to her. Feeling weak from the blood loss and exertion, Rayne focuses on the danger to keep herself alert.

Elric tosses his bow towards his cloak and the young tagster. As he draws his blades, the soft whisper of bone is followed by a metallic hum as Tempest clears its sheath. The long desert trek had given Elric time to contemplate the mysteries of Tempest. At last he had come to understand the symbolism of the Runes and tracked down the missing Rune. Elric stands ready as the sand shark burrows towards him. The power of the blade in his hand, Elric visualizes the heart of the storm. The shark erupts from the sand before Elric. Holding Tempest before him, the warlock, willing forth the power of the Storm, speaks the connecting Rune. "Aquanomious". Nothing. "By the Eyes of the Dragon!" Elric dives to the right, spinning to bring Tempest in a horizontal slash toward the beast.

The beast emerged almost underneath him in a splash of sand and gravel. Elric brought his bone blade in front trying to deflect the shark without much success. The shark threw the warlock to the ground, bit down on his shoulder and drew a torrent of blood and pain. With the beast on top of him, jaws clamped shut on his limb, the warlock felt the sand behind him begin to yield and felt himself going under. In one last desperate attempt, he blindly swung Tempest at the beast's head. The metal blade sinks easily into the beast's neck. The sandshark twitches a couple of times and moves no more. Elric barely gets up from the shallow grave he almost fell into, the hot sun threatening to overwhelm him.

Seeing Tak in trouble, Chit-Zik immediately leaps to his side. At the approach of the sand shark, he gets between the beast and the little hunter, unwilling to give any ground. The kreen's own beast followed him as the druid stood firmly in front of Tak. Whoosh! the two sandsharks, leaped forth crimson staining their maws. Chit brought his gythka down to no avail as the bone blade bounced off the tough hide of the first shark. The kreen went under the onslaught and the second shark also joined the violent feeding. Tak almost covered his ears as the chitin cracking under the jaws sounded like thunder loud and clear. The sharks were gone almost as quickly as they were upon the kreen druid leaving him badly wounded, black ichor oozing freely from numerous cracks in the insectoid's chitin. He was barely able to get up.

Unsteady on his feet, Tak’ glanced down - the protective leather vest which covered his torso was tattered, a gaping hole torn in the halfling’s side. The pale glint of white amongst the red blood coursing down his side let Tak’ know that the wound was deep - and from the cracks he heard earlier, had probably broken several of his ribs. Not feeling pain - at least not yet - the halflings breathed deeply, feeling the steady flow of adrenaline and the light-headedness of blood-loss. He would have to triumph quickly, or else end up in the bellies of these desert predators.

Bracing his spear in the ground - set with the point facing in the direction the shark headed off. It wasn’t much - but it might cause some damage if the beast appeared while Tak’ was in the mindscape.

MINSCAPE

While his physical body was torn and weak - Tak’ was still strong in the Will. And he had a target. The Shark he faced glowed only faintly, it’s construct battered - indicating that it was defenseless to Tak’s attacks. Breathing deeply - Tak’ poured all of his efforts into creating a harbringer which would both destroy his foe, and save his own life.

Moisture filled the air in the mindscape, forming at first indistinct clouds, and then they started to darken, turning black - lightning sporadically coursing down from the dark mass in the sky. Rain started to fall. Not a pleasant rain, but rain that was hard and unforgiving, unbelievably dense. Wind started to blow. Not the protective and life-affirming wind that Aryus often spoke of - but wind that would gust and destroy. The sound of the rushing winds, the low roar of thunder, the constant falling of rain was a cacophony of sounds in the mindscape - a true display of sheer power and force by a halfling who was quickly coming to terms with his craft.

The storm reached its crescendo, lightning falling down indiscriminately, the driving rain and wind whipping across the landscape over the Shark! Pushing himself to the limit, Tak’Nak’Raq committed his mind and body, pushing the storm up a notch. Lightning striking all around the beast, the wind whipping stones and debris into a deadly maelstrom.

Lightning stuck the Shark directly - the smell of charred flesh carried away by the wild winds. Stones and sand, carried along at enormous speeds by the gusting winds repeatedly crashed into the stricken beast - each hit drawing a little blood. The shark wailed and jumped out of the sand in pain. The first jump and the beast dived straight in the sand only to jump again. The second time, however, it did not dive into the soft sand again but rather fell onto the hard surface never to move again. The halfling smiled weakly and went over to the mortally wounded kreen yelling for help as one more shark still swam in the desert.

The blood mad beast made a tight circle and went straight for the group again who had pulled themselves together. The healthiest warriors were in front while keeping the mortally wounded companions inside the circle. The beast picked up speed and headed right for them leaving a deep sand wake in its path.

Aryus steps behind some his warrior companions and hopefully out of the way of the approaching sand shark. When reasonably satisfied that he was safe, he quickly turns his palms to the ground. A rush of warm life energy washes over the windmage's body giving him a new surge of strength. Aryus opens his eyes and turns the palms of his hands to the approaching sand shark. Taking advantage of his distance and seeing a clear target, Aryus speaks the last word of his spell and sends a swarm of magic missiles at the creature. The bright flames strike with a dull thud followed by a scream of rage and pain but the stubborn beast still headed their way.

All semblance of tactical fighting fled as Gaigin's wounds combined to sap his wits. Breathing heavily beneath his mask, Gaigin's mind is clouded with bloodlust enough to match the sharks and pass them. Hefting his spear, Gaigin lets out a haggard battle-cry as he rushes the oncoming shark, hurling all his strength into a single thrust, hoping to bring down the beast through sheer force.

The shark emerges and Gaigin thrusts his spear deep in its underbelly. The warrior falls back bracing the spear butt on the sandy ground and the mortally wounded shark hits the sand hard with its terrible maw far from any companion.

Drawing in ragged breaths, Koreth drew his blade once more. Gripping his bone sword, the leather slick with sweat and blood, he focused on the beast writhing in pain in front of him. <Will this never end?> he questioned, as he rushed forward to try and finish this madness. His sword sliced along the shark's side spilling forth the beast's entrails. The beast twitched no more; its jaws snapping loudly in place to never open again.

Silence…ominous silence broken only by the grunts and groans of the wounded as the adrenaline from the battle seeps out of the strained limbs. Everyone looked around especially to the ground to see if any more attack were coming. The six slain beasts were plainly visible and accounted but one never knew. The desert looked strange with all the criss-crosses of the sandshark's wakes drawing some strange pattern.

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Gaigin (W)

Mendi (H) (SeW) PSP

Koreth (H)

Ayrus (W)

Ptellac (H)

Rayne (SeW)

Chit (MW)

Tak (SeW) (SeW) PSP

Elric (MW)

GENERAL

Excellent battle everyone, I really enjoyed it. Time for a break now. When you post please think of the following actions or time frames:

- After battle

- later on water find (I will let 1 of "Water Finders" (Mendi, Gaigin, Koreth and Tak) to find water. bare in mind that you are in the desert to play accordingly. Please describe how, where you find the water (only 2 gallons worth); please one of you take the lead here. the other will get other opportunities later in the game.

- night camp

WATER SITUATION at the end of the 11th day (i.e. I haven't discounted water for this day yet)

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian