RRPG Chapter 6 Outcome - Part 1

Outcome: 3 C). RNG results: 20; 8; 7; 2; 15; 13 Anthenea’s deftness check, very easy: 20 (passed, excellent. This result will shape the overall outcome of the battle, skewing certain other important results) Georg’s perception check, easy+: 8 (passed, adequate) Georg’s marksmanship check, normal+: 7 (PASSED?) Rudy’s melee fighting check, very hard+: 2 (failed, disastrous) Rudy’s magic resistance check, normal+: 15 (passed, adequate) Rudy’s resilience check, normal+: 13 (passed, adequate) Rudy smiles at Renate, Georg and Anthenea. -Very well. If so, then we will go together and see what we can do. And, young miss, if we can see you dance for us, then… We’re honored! -Thank you- The red-headed girl gently bows and prompts everyone with a hand gesture to follow her into the forest. Just there, another glade lies, not ravaged by fighting and even more beautiful. “Protectors of the Cute” sit on the ground, their cloaks used as blankets. Renate looks at Sosenka and gently holds her hand, smiling at her and showing her a place by her side on the cloak. The little Dryad blushes and, though uneasily, sits by Renate’s side. Just then, two other Dryads start to sing. None, maybe bar Sosenka, understands the words, but the voices of the forest maidens are beautiful and enchanting. And, to the music of the song, Anthenea begins to dance. Her moves are deft and charming. Rudy is no stranger to the sight of maidens dancing in taverns or festivals, but Anthenea is someone else entirely. Her moves look as if pure happiness flowed through her, yet also full of beauty and feminine elegance. He understands he wants to stand up and shout his praise loudly, but knows it would just disturb that wonderful view. And with the very sight of Anthenea’s dance, strength flows back into his limbs and concentration into his head. This is no ordinary dance, no matter how beautiful. The girl’s Conduit is working, a faint, but visible glow around her. The girl starts to dance more vigorously; faster and faster, prancing and spinning. Her face almost looks as if she herself can not believe what she’s doing; all her moves are full of surprised, serendipitous happiness. The knight feels his heart beating louder and louder. -The Dance of the Forest!- Sosenka whispers. -It’s beautiful! And she can do it so well! Renate agrees enthusiastically. Georg does the same. Suddenly, green light flashes around them. Anthenea is still dancing before them. The same Anthenea, yet not the same. In an instant, a flowing, loose green dress is covering her body, the fabric and embroidery as beautiful as the girl’s dance. From nowhere, a colorful head wreath rests on her reddish hair. Petals fall from the trees, clinging to her willowy frame. Bracelets of wood and amber adorn her hands. Wherever her feet touch the earth, flowers bloom. And Anthenea dances. Radiant smile blooms on her face as she swirls and stretches out her arms, bathed in warm, gentle light falling from the sky and a cascade of flower petals. When she finishes with a graceful bow, no one knows whether minutes, hours or days have passed. Only the girl’s chest rising and falling heavily in exhaustion shows that it was no easy feat for her. Slowly, the world returns to normal. Anthenea is once more wearing her folk dress and slippers. Only the flower petals lying on the ground remind everyone about what happened. Rudy stands up and begins clapping his hands. Georg does the same and so does Renate. -You were great!- Sosenka runs to Anthenea and hugs her. -You never told me you could dance like that! -I… never knew it- the girl breathes heavily. -I… don’t know… what happened. -Miss Anthenea, it was breathtaking!- Rudy can’t help but look at her amazed. -It… certainly took… my breath away too, sir- Anthenea winks and giggles. The knight feels his heart skip a beat. This girl is just… impossible! -Hey, knight, do you know what our sister did?- asks the tallest Dryad, of whom Rudy now knows is named Olcha. He looks at her and shakes his head. -I didn’t know she could do it, but she did!- the Dryad smiles. -She called the Brightwood itself to bless her, and everyone who has seen her. You too, knight. Rudy places a hand on his sword’s hilt. It is warm. He pulls the sword out just a little bit, enough to see it glowing softly in a light green colour. -Miss Anthenea… Thank you. I have never seen such a marvellous sight- he bows with all gracefulness he can muster up. The girl blushes and smiles nervously. -Please, you’re making me embarrassed, sir! -Hey, old man, I can hear something!- Georg suddenly stands up and takes the rifle into his hands. He aims at the dense forest before him. -Get behind me. If it’s what I think…- he looks at the Dryads. All three seem frightened. Sosenka starts trembling uncontrollably and sobbing. Anthenea steps up to hug her, but Renate is quicker. -Now, now- she murmurs softly into her pointy ear, patting her head. -Mister Georg and sir Rudy will protect us. I’m sure of it. Georg is lucky enough to be too far away and too preoccupied to hear it. Whatever is closing on them is big and angry. -Girls, hide, quickly- Rudy’s command is quick and a hand gesture shows them the way. -Georg, get behind that tree- the knight shows him a gnarled, large oak he could climb if need be. The orders are followed without complaining, though Sosenka’s sobs of fear and despair can still be heard when the thing breaks through the thicket and shows itself. It eyes the glade and roars, its voice like thunder. Lumbering, hulking and huge, taller than an adult man. Wreathed in flame and smoke; a bear, a wolf, a nightmare. A Fire Fiend. It eyes the glade again, flames and hatred shining in the blood red rubies the beast has in place of eyes. Foliage around it burns and bushes turn to ashes. It takes Rudy all the courage he has to just look it in the eyes. He feels his legs start to tremble. It is not a monster he could fight. It is not a monster a human can fight. Maybe a dozen knights. Maybe a great mage. Maybe a saint. Maybe a sage. Not someone like him. -Come here, you ugly bastard- the knight clenches his teeth so they would not chatter. He has fought a Fire Fiend once, when he was a mercenary. There were over twenty of them back then, including paladins and sages. Yes, they slain the beast, though Rudy himself hardly played any part, and yet it was enough for him to know how badly he was matched up. It did not prepare him for what awaited him. The Fiend jumped towards Rudy a second before Georg pulled the trigger. The shot goes wide, a green trail stretching far towards the forest. The young soldier feels his hands shake as he reloads. He is angry at himself, angry at the beast, and, for the most part, frightened what is now going to happen to Rudy, Renate, Anthenea and the Dryads. And the beast throws itself in the direction of Rudy. It is fast, as if it weighs no more than fire itself, yet the ground shakes under its paws. Rudy slithers behind a tree in the very last moment before the Fire Fiend mauls him. The beast hits the tree’s trunk, shaking it as if it was struck by a dozen axes. The bark and leaves lying around catch fire. Rudy runs around the tree, striking the Fire Fiend in the side, aiming at the belly. The hit seems to connect. Yet, the knight’s sword passes through flames as through air, meeting no hard target, then – just when it seems like it is going to pass straight through the Field’s fiery body – it lodges itself firmly in something Rudy cannot see, hilt deep in the beast’s flaming fur. It burns. Rudy realizes it a second too late, blisters already forming on his hand. He lets go of his sword and jumps back. Just in time, as the beast’s maw snaps no more than a foot’s length in front of him. He is unarmed now; armless against the beast that looks as if it crawled from the depths of Hell itself. Fire Fiend jumps at Rudy once more. The knight blocks the strike of its paw with his shield; a simple, round one, made of wood and metal, with no coat of arms, yet now glowing with faint green light. It takes the hit and holds, though the beast’s claws tear deep into it. Rudy braces, trying his best to hold the monstrosity in place. The heat is unbearable; his shield’s metal hem is already red. Fire Fiend roars, its fiery breath hot like branding iron, singing the knight’s eyebrows and making him clench his teeth in pain after a single breath as if he inhaled sparks from a burning pyre. Yet, the man manages to look the beast in the eyes in his last act of defiance. -Go back to hell!- he spits out, choking on the hot smoke enveloping him. Georg pulls the trigger. The young soldiers’ hands tremble, yet he does not miss. Before taking the shot, he went out of his hiding place, walking up closer to the beast. This act of courage is enough. The bullet hits true, striking the Fire Fiend’s hind leg. In its frenzied state, the monster does not feel the pain nor fear. He strikes Rudy with its second paw, denting his pauldron and throwing him to the ground as its body starts to slowly turn to dust. Hind leg first, starting from the ankle that took the hit, then its belly and, finally, head. The bullet was made from silver, its blunt tip encasing a miniscule compartment of holy water, runes of exorcism carved on is sides. It flew at the beast, leaving a trail of green light and falling petals, raw power of Brightwood itself. The beast roars once more, up into the sky, as if screaming in pain. And then, it all goes silent. Only soot and ashes fall to the ground, marking the shape of a fell beast that stood there a moment ago. Rudy’s sword lies on the ground, dulled by flames, bent and cracked by insane heat, no more than scrap metal now. The beast’s eyes – two little blood red rubies – fall too, clinking on Rudy’s blackened armor. -Old man!- Georg lowers his rifle. -Are you okay? -Nope, young one- Rudy slowly stands back up and spits out soot. -But thank you, kid!- he manages a weak smile before coughing again. Georg runs up to him and helps him stand straight. -It’ll be okay- the knight rasps. -Just… Breathed in raw smoke, okay?- he coughs once again. -Look, young one. You did it! -We did it, old man- Georg smiles.