A Clever Girl

Listening to the lore discussions this week on YouTube I was inspired to write another story. I wanted to focus on one of the other characters I really like, Ko'lel. I'm loving the lore that keeps coming out about the game and can't wait to see all they have planned.

Image from Super Fantasy Brawl by Mythic Games. 

To’paque raised his head and growled. Ko’lel paused and began gathering her weapons. She knew not to doubt To’paque’s senses. Even if she hadn’t detected anything the raptor’s senses were much more finely honed than her own.

She slid the saddle on To’paque’s back making sure to tighten the straps just enough. She grabbed her blowgun and slid it into the holster across her back; giving it a slight tug to make sure it would come free when needed. She tied the quiver of poison needles to her belt within easy reach of a quick grab and load.

 There was a noise from somewhere else in the ruins. She paused and listened to try and detect which side of the old temple her quarry was now. It took a long moment by she heard another noise. Someone had stepped on one of the piles of dried leaves she’d left scattered about the area. It sounded like they were in the western part of the temple.

Ko’lel scratched To’paque’s chin as she moved to climb on his back. “How many do you think there are old friend?” Firmly mounted in saddle she clicked her tongue. To’paque shifted his stance becoming more aggressive. After a half a breath he lunged forward, jumped up onto some vines, hopped past a patch of large jungle blooms, and vanished through a hole in the ceiling.

To’paque moved across the ruins using crumbling walls and branches to follow a nearly impossible route. The few times they were forced to the ground to move from one area to another would only leave tracks the invaders could hardly follow. It didn’t take long before the pair had found their quarry.

A group of Moontouched had entered the ruins. The group was large, thirty warriors. They had fanned out into one of the larger rooms; an old prayer center.

To’paque and Ko’lel dropped gently on top of an old statue that had once stood thirty feet high with outstretched arms that reached across the room. Now it was a crumbling reminder of a better time. The pair hunched down and used the statues head to hide their presence. Ko’lel wanted to learn who she was up against.

The Moontouched moved with precision and purpose. These weren’t ordinary soldiers; this group was highly trained and required few instructions. They had worked together for a long time and knew their jobs well.

Sentries covered the doors in groups of three. A few were scanning the upper walls of the room looking for entry points. Another group watched the canopy of trees that had replaced the toppled ceiling. A few moved to the center of the room and set out maps and journals. It was hard to tell but Ko’lel thought some of them might be maps of the area.

One of the Moontouched walked the room making quiet comments to different groups. A word here, a gesture there. Anywhere he pointed someone quickly went and made a change or rechecked a location. Ko’lel smiled, she had found their commander.

He was tall and proud with broad shoulder. A long red cloak hung from his back. His armor was dark with bone ornamentation. A heavy blade hung at his side.

She would have to keep track of him. If she could remove this one from the fight it would demoralize the others. If she timed it right they might route. With a group like this, trained experienced fighters, you never removed the commander first. His second would just step in to fill the role. If you brought them down in the heat of battle it could sow confusion while the rest figured out what had happened.

She watched the group looking for more targets. Over time she picked out a few more likely subjects. Another warrior in red that the commander paid deference too. Possibly a favored officer of family member. A few other officers or squad leaders; the ones who took command of individual groups when the commander wasn’t close enough to give orders. A few older veterans who seemed to have been there a while and might be easy to remove. Finally a young recruit who hadn’t yet found his place as he was constantly being sent from one group to another; he might be easy to pick off while moving alone through the ruins.

Ko’lel decided to try something. She waited until the young recruit was moving between groups and fired a small stone from her blowgun at him. The pebble bounced off his armor with no effect other than to get his attention. When he glanced up she took that moment to have To’paque bound up into the canopy of leaves and branches; exiting the room.

She heard the recruit raise the alarm behind her. There was commotion and excitement for a few moments as she moved To’paque to the cover of the tall flowering branches of a nearby tree. They nestled into a nook in the tree and waited to hear what came next.

The Moontouched leapt into action. She recognized quick tactical movements from the men below as they quickly executed prepared actions. Small squads fanned out and covered different areas. Soldiers drew battle lines and started scanning the tree line looking for her. But they were looking too far away. They quickly passed her hiding spot and tried to find signs of her from deeper in the ruins and forest. After several minutes they slowly moved back to the main area.

Then she heard the commander yelling. The young recruit was being dressed down for raising a false alarm. The other soldiers laughed and the young man was sent away. Ko’lel considered picking him off but he was sent in the wrong direction for her to reach him quickly without giving away her presence.

With the recruit banished to the jungle the rest of the Moontouched returned to their duties. However, now the tension had been broken. Where they had worked in silence before small talk and laughter were heard through the camp.

Ko’lel smiled. Now that they were distracted she moved to signal reinforcements. She signaled To’paque to stay in place and climbed to the highest branches of the tree. She removed colored fronds from her pack and formed them into a bundle; three red and a violet. The reds indicated ten soldiers each and the violet marked a commander.

It was a good method of communication. The fronds were bright and easily seen from a distance. Finding them in a tree would only stand out to someone familiar with the jungle. These fronds grew in the ground around the base of trees. The rest of her people would easily be able to spot the fronds and know their significance. Outsiders were unlikely to follow the same thoughts.

Ko’lel crept back to To’paque and waited. It didn’t take long before a shrill whistle cut through the air. It passed for a bird screech, but the type it mimicked nested much farther north this time of year. She scanned the tree line looking for a sign of where her people might be. She spotted two yellow fronds hanging from the canopy of trees. Twenty gnomes. They’d be outnumbered but they had the element of surprise. It would have to do.

She climbed onto To’paques back and brushed his neck, as much a way to prepare him for what was to come as a sign of affection. She slid her blowgun from its holster and prepared her attack. The gnomes would wait for her signal. They knew she was here and would expect her to lead the charge. She looked for the commander trying to keep stock of where he was in the mass below. He’d moved out of view and she couldn’t see him anymore.

Oh well. He’d be along in a moment.

Ko’lel fired a dart from her blowgun at one of the soldiers she had marked as a squad leader. The dart struck him in the neck. It was a moment before the poison took hold. Another moment after that and he was gone. As Moontouched moved to see what was wrong she let out a battle cry and urged To’paque out of their hiding spot.

He leapt from the trees into the mass of troops. The pair landed in the middle of the group of Moontouched forcing them back in a burst of fangs and claws. Before the enemy could respond To’paque had flexed his legs and they were gone. Leaping effortlessly into the trees once more.

Gnomes dropped from the canopy of trees over the Moontouched and the battel was on in earnest. The initial assault went to her people, felling a few of the Moontouched. The enemy recovered quickly and many of them joined the battle shifting into their bestial wolf form. Ko’lel’s people used their quick movements and small size to get out from under the thrust of the Moontouched counter attack. Some gnomes still fell under the fury of the assault.

Ko’lel and To’paque bound into and out of the combat. Poison darts and claws cutting into the enemy. Ko’lel spotted the enemy commander. He stood on the outskirts of the battle.  The commander’s sword was raised above his head, its blade glowing with a destructive red light. He was about to strike down on an injured gnome.

Ko’lel whistled a command to To’paque and the pair leapt in the direction of the commander. They hurtled over the intervening forces and landed behind the commander. To’paque’s tongue shot out and wrapped around the commanders neck. With a vicious tug the commander was pulled backwards.

The commander swung his sword wildly trying to slash at To’paque. Ko’lel moved in the way. She used her blowgun to block the attack. The glowing red blade dug deep into the reed blowgun ripping a chunk from it. It would be useless now but it didn’t matter. Ko’lel had to protect her friend.

The commander dropped to one knee. His swings coming slower and with less force behind them. He tried to move forward. Force his way free.

To’paque hunkered down and dug in his claws. He pulled back. Forcing the commander backwards off his feet. He drug the semi-conscious commander. Forcing the Moontouched to fight to get his footing. Fight for his breath.

Across the camp a scream of rage tore through the air. Ko’lel looked up to see the young recruit from earlier. Unlike the other moontouched he had not yet adopted his wolf form.

He began moving forward when he convulsed. Inches added to his height. His shoulder broadened. His armor strained, cracked, and tore. He dropped to all fours as the spasms subsided.

He stood. His body torn and cut from where his armor tore from him. With sword and claw he charged at Ko’lel across the clearing.

The commander still fought. Ko’lel didn’t want to leave him until the job was done. Until he was gone. She jumped onto the commanders back, pulled a dart from her pouch, and stabbed it into the commander’s neck.

The recruit reached a small skirmish. Three gnomes had engaged a Moontouched soldier. The recruit slashed into the gnomes. His long claws drew blood. A small body flew from the melee and landed in a crumpled heap. The Moontouched soldier reached for the recruit. The recruit tore into the soldier with his fangs.

The soldier fell to the earth.

Ko’lel began to feel a sense of panic. What was wrong with this recruit? She drew another dart and stabbed the commander. Then another. And Another.

The recruit reached another melee in the middle of the room. Three Moontouched were about to finish off a gnome. The recruit stabbed the gnome through his spine. Then with no recognition of friend or foe he slaughtered the Moontouched in his way as well.

The commander fell still. Finally succumbing to the assault of tongue and poison. To’paque released the body and Ko’lel mounted the lizard. She quickly signaled a retreat. The other gnomes broke for the forest. They took those they could reach with them.

Ko’lel urged To’paque and the pair launched into the trees. She hazarded a glance back to see if there was any pursuit. The Moontouched gathered around body of their commander. The young recruit having released his wolf form knelt next to the body. He cradled his commander’s head against his chest and screamed to the heavens.

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