> 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."
>
> Round One:
>
> 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.
>
> If hit: The creature thrashed mightily as the wicked chitin spear-head
> plunged through it's hide and deep into it's back. Struggling
> desperately to keep the beast pinned, Gaigin shouts coursely, "Ptellac!
> Now!"
>
> If miss: 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.
>
> Round Two:
>
> 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
> nearest shark, hurling all his strength into a single thrust, hoping to
> bring down the beast through sheer force.
>
> If Hit: Through luck and strength, Gaigin's spear pierces deep into the
> sandshark. The big fighter continues to shout his war-cry as he puts
> all his weight into the spear, burrying the tip deeper still. Finally,
> wrenching his spear from the creature's hide, Gaigin prepares for
> whatever comes next.
>
> If Miss: The sandshark sensed the warriors charge and turned violently,
> thrashing its vicious maw around at the last moment. The spear-point
> deflects harmlessly from the creature's hide as Gaigin runs full-tilt
> into the massive bulk of the beast. Staggering back, Gaigin shakes his
> head and throws himself backwards, hoping to avoid imminent death
> between the sharks deadly jaws.
>
>
>
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> <One 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 tell tale 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 it's jawas of razor sharp teeth snappining. Koreth thrust
> his blade forward, hoping to skewer the beast with it's own momentum.
>
> HIT:
>
> The beast slid down the length of Koreth's blade, screetching hideously
> as thrashed about in pain. Koreth yanked his blade out, almost twisting
> his arm as the beast dove back into the sand.
>
> MISS:
>
> The blade caught on a piece of the creature's hide, but the weight of
> the creature forced his blade down as it bore down on him. He tried to
> roll out of the way, it's massive bulk crushing into him.
>
> ROUND 2:
>
> Drawing in ragged breaths, Koreth drew his blade once more into a
> defensive stance. Gripping his blade, the leather slick with sweat and
> blood, he focused on the sand trail rushing towards him. <Will this
> never end?> he questioned, the beast rising up before him before he
> could answer. He jumped, attempting to get out of the way of the
> beast's vicious jaws. His sword sliced along the shark's side....
>
>
> HIT:
>
> His blade drew a long red gash along the beast's side, as he barely
> managed to get out of the beast's path. The ground before the creature
> opened as it once again sought the shelter of the sands, a small trail
> of blood the only evidence of it's encounter with the noble warrior.
>
> MISS:
>
> The beast was on him quicker than he had expected. It crashed into his
> shoulder as he lept to the side, spinning him. He tried to slice at
> it's side, but his blade only rattled across it's tough hide. Koreth
> crashed to the ground, as the beast slid back into the sands.
>
> IF ANY COMPANIONS ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE:
>
> A sand trail closing in on him, Koreth glanced to his companions and
> noticed that x was in serious trouble. Gritting his teeth, he dashed
> towards him/her. The creature was almost on his companion when he
> arrived. It noticed a new disturbance on the sands coming to it, and it
> turned.
>
> HIT:
>
> Koreth ducked and swung his sword with all his strength across the
> underbelly of the creature as it leaped over his head. A rain of blood
> dripped down on top of him as it passed over and slid into the sands. A
> large blood stain marking it's entry point. He quickly stood and took
> up a position in front of his wounded comrade, his blade held with an
> iron grip as he watched the frenzied trails of the sand sharks turing
> for another attack.
>
> MISS:
>
> Koreth ducked, but the creature did not leap into the air. It leaped as
> if it had intended to bite off his legs, plowing him over. It's fetid
> breath filled his nostrils, the stench of rotted meat and death.
> His heart raced as he wedged his blade in it's jaws, hoping to cut it's
> mouth. The beast thrashed it's head, almost flipping his blade out of
> his hands as it opened it's jaws to rend his flesh.
>
> "The most convincing lie is the truth you never question."
>
> Trevor Sanders, DM of Arcana PBeM
> http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/2488
>
>
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> OOC: Golly. From healthy to SeW in one round. There are two rounds to
> go in this turn.. Hmmmm. Oh well - here goes...
>
> IC:
>
> 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 adrenalin 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 defenceless 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, thee driving rain and wind whipping across the
> landscape. It was a mighty effort - one Tak' had trouble maintaining
> for long - but then again, he only needed to maintain it long enough for
> the shark to blunder into it...
>
> [Attack with Psychic Crush, quadruple stacked]
>
> HIT
>
> The storm started to fade -the winds started to die down a little. Then
> the Shark surfaced! 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...
>
> MISS
>
> The shark was not appearing! The storm started to die down - Tak's will
> exhausted for now - the strain too much. Surfacing in a flash, the Sand
> Shark brushed off the now light rain and wind, roaring towards the
> wounded halfling in both the mindscape and the physical world.
>
> ROUND 2: (If Tak' is still conscious)
>
> IF THE SAND SHARK TAK' FACES IS STILL ALIVE
>
> It was a miracle - Tak' was still standing, having seen off another
> charge by these desert-beasts. Next time he might not be so lucky.
> Gathering himself once more, he girded his Mind for yet another mental
> battle.
>
> MINDSCAPE:
>
> Gathering the simple element of water once more, Tak' hoped his Flash
> Flood would once again prove effective against this beast. Waters
> gathered and surged forward - the mental landscape once again become the
> scene of natural destruction.
>
> Froth whipped up by strong currents topped the rampaging stream of water
> as it rushed towards the Sand Shark.
>
> HIT/MISS?
>
> IF THE AFOREMENTIONED SHARK IS DEAD
>
> Tak' let out pent-up breath - aware of how close he had come to death.
> Picking up his spear, Tak' looked around, to see if any of his
> companions were in need of assistance.
>
> [Tak' will only join melee combat if someone is at SeW or MW and facing
> a shark]
>
> Bounding quickly over the sand - continuing to ride a wave of
> battle-adrenalin, leaving a trail of red drops as he ran - Tak' reached
> a shark, locked in mortal combat with [x]. Gripping his spear in two
> hands, Tak' lunged low - hoping to skewer the beast through the side,
> preventing it from escaping beneath the surface.
>
> HIT/MISS?
>
> -Tak'Nak'Raq
> aka Matthew Nippert
>
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