The Monkeymen Attack in the Nelon Forest
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 18846
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Alfredo had relished the idea of going back south to his home, rather than
running headlong into the arms of one of the greatest Dukes in the
Kingdom. It would also give him a chance to stash the valuable amulet he
had found days earlier. ~It's no real concern of mine if the Dragon- Slayer wishes to die at the hands of Zular. But I, for one, still have a few years ahead of me yet, which I plan to live in luxury.~ Once he had safely stashed the amulet in his hut outside the village, he went to work. He was probably the most experienced tracker in all of southern Allaria, and it didn't take him long (With the tip from a local miner who had said he had seen a wild, red haired warrior woman and a man running due west towards Nelon Forest and the Plain of Toulaine and Gelda beyond a few days back)to pick up the trail of the two royal wanderers.The trail was now very old, but Alfredo was pretty positive the tracks were headed in the direction of Gelda or Gala, although it was a very out-of- the-way path to those lands. He convinced Velus and the other Valesmen to follow him west, and so they made for Nelon Forest (not many ventured deep into the wood). It did not take long for them to reach the shadow of the forest which lay in the foothills of the mountains. It's dark mass stretched on for miles below them. But just beyond it they could catch a glimpse of the wide plain of Plain of Toulaine, which gave them some hope. The small band of adventurers entered the forest warily."Do not fear this wood." Alfredo told the Valesmen. "I have been here many times in my life. All the old wivetales are false." The tracks became easier to read for awhile, for the ground became muddy. Astra and Cedrik appeared to have entered the forest by a pretty well used trail.They were not far into the forest when they began to hear strange and distant howlings and yelpings. Velus froze in fear upon hearing the howlings. Strangely, at the same time, a mist began to pour into the wood. Alfredo asked Velus what was wrong. "Be honest, Alfredo." Velus responded. "Have you ever heard howlings such as these? It does not sound like any wolf I have ever heard in these parts. I recognize them from the night of my weed-madness. How can this be happening!?"Suddenly they heard a horrible cry. A dark shape had jumped down from the trees above and landed on the rear Valesmen (whose name was Hamel). With hideous sharp claws the creature slashed into the man's stomach and spilt his intestines on to the forest floor. He fell to the ground. Velus lunged at the creature with his glowing magical sword in hand (He had managed to keep it even in his night of madness days earlier, he had also recovered his gem-covered armor, which he wore beneath his black clothing)The monkey-creature gave a hideous scream and bared it's fangs as Velus bore into him and swiped off it's left arm with a clean blow. Grey blood shot out of the socket where it's arm had once been. A dagger flew threw the air and landed in the monkey's throat. It gurgled and spasmed on the ground and then lay motionless.They did not have time to even breath, for thirty more of the creatures descended from the trees and landed on the Valesmen and ranger. They were badly outnumbered, and the horrible slaughter that ensued need not be described in detail. They fought bravely and killed many of the foul beasts. They had never seen or heard mention of any monkeybeasts such as these demonic creatures, and they would never live to tell the word of it to any other soul.Except Velus. He alone out of the group had seen these monkeymen before, he alone would survive this onslaught. But he had thought them a hallucination caused from his tainted water. Now he knew the horrid reality. He was badly wounded. He had killed six of the creatures. The last one had proved to be the hardest. He was larger than the rest and wielded a mace. Alfredo had stood up to the beast but had been overwhelmed by it's strength. The creature crushed the old man's skull with one hard blow of his mace! Velus had finally beheaded the beast before he fled in terror, east towards his home in the Vale. As he ran he remembered the last thing he had seen when he had left the old forest behind; Astra leaning against a tree and laughing at him, before she vanished into the shadow of the wood.
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Ib
2/19/2002 12:00:22 AM
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