Minds Edge Madness in its sweetest form's blog: "Stuffz"

 

Author's  Note
This likely will be the final part of THIS story, as really this was just a cheesey writing I did based on my 4.0 Dungeons and Dragons SnareMage, and never one of the original story lines that I wrote actually using the character Zasch DeCarden.

That said, since people actually seem to like my cheesey story, this WON'T be my final story I put up on FUBAR.  Without further adieu, the conclusion to this short story...

 

Zasch slowly stepped out of the brush, and spoke calmly in the demon's Abyssal language, "I have come to see you pay, wretch."

The goristo whirled to face him at the sound of his voice, and growled angrily, and snarled through its pointed-teeth, "I'll make your death slow and painful mortal!"

Zasch laughed mockingly at the demon, and drew out his khopesh, and tipped his hat in mock greeting, "My name is Zasch DeCarden, take it back to the Abyss with you, and remember it well while you suffer your one hundred year banishment. Worry not, you'll not be the first demon to taste the bite of my blade, or the sting of my magic. I'm certain you'll not be the last."

The demon roared angrily, and charged forward at Zasch, attempting to gore him on it's massive horn for his mockery. Zasch stepped to the side as the demon raced past, skidding to a stop. Before the beast was able to turn and face him, Zasch, struck hard with his blade, the weapon taking on the red glow as it fed from his energy. As the blade sank into the demon's tough hide, Zasch released his magic in the the demon, binding the monstrosity to his aegis.

As the creature whirled around to face Zasch, he retreated back, having taken full advantage of the oppurtunity. As the monstrous demon started in at Zasch, Lupa came lunging out behind the creature in her hybrid form, sinking her fangs deep into the demon's tough hide, followed by the rest of the wolves. The creature roared in agony, and attempted to hurl them off, but as it stood to its full height, it caught Zasch's khopesh twirling through the air, the blade enshrouded in the red glow.

The monster cried out as a hard blow caught it in the throat, and the blade shimmered, returning to Zasch's hand. Shaking violently, the demon threw the wolves and Lupa from it, and growled in hateful dissent. Zasch winced, he knew they were a long way from bringing the beast down. The demon turned its angry focus towards Lupa, and struck at her, catching her across the chest, leaving a long jagged cut with its horn.

Zasch lashed out with his bond, teleporting the monster next to him, leaving it staggered in surprise at such a sudden and violent change, and Zasch hatefully swung his blade, once again again glowing red as the weapon pierced the monster's vile hide. Zasch spared a glance towards Lupa, her wound was already beginning to heal, but he could tell it had hurt her a great deal. And so the battle went, Zasch striking every chance he was able, the wolves and Lupa consistently being hurled aside.

It wasn't long before the first wolf was crushed under the goristo's feet, grinding the poor creature as it yelped out in agaony. The sound of a fallen comrade spurred the pack on further, and their violence grew as they bit and shook at the demon's throat. It wasn't enough though, the wolves were weak, and of no match for the demon.

Soon another, and then a third, were felled by the enraged demon. Zasch backed up a ways, Lupa and the two remaining wolves flanking him. Zasch spared a glance at Lupa. She was beaten and battered, but she was healing, and the two wolves were, luckily, relatively unharmed, but neither would be of much help.

Examining the demon, Zasch could tell they were hurting it, but he doubted it would be enough. They would need something major to finish the beast off once and for all, and Zasch doubted any of them would be alive long enough to do it. The demon roared hatefully, and came in charging at the group.

Everyone scattered, Zasch lashing at the creature hatefully with his blade as it rushed past, the blade leaving a deep wound in the creature's arm. The beast roared in agony, and slipped, the sudden gash in its arm throwing it off balance and wounding it far more seriously than Zasch had hoped.

The demon roared hatefully at Zasch, "Die mortal!" was it's murderous scream as it swung one of its massive fists at Zasch. Zasch activated the magic of his cape, and just narrowly managed to teleport behind the creature. However, the beast swung around with the momentum of its blow, and still struck Zasch, sending him sprawling to the ground, knocking him prone a short ways away.

Triumphantly, the demon stalked in towards him, preparing to stomp him into the ground with one of its massive feet. One of the two wolves struck, barying its fangs into the goristo's throat wound. Barely seeming to notice, the goristo grabbed the wolf and yanked it away, taking it in both of its massive arms and snapping the helpless wolf like a small twig, and flinging the fallen animal carelessly aside.

As the goristo raised a foot to stomp Zasch into the ground, Lupa slammed her full body into the creatures other leg, throwing the demon off balance. The demon roared in protest, struggling to keep its balance, but fell to the ground. Lupa rushed to Zasch, worried that he was severely wounded, but he was forcing himself to his feet. His weariness was obvious, and the blow had hurt him severely.

"Perhaps you were right," Lupa offered, watching as the demon began to rise back onto its gorilla like arms and feet.

Zasch stood, watching the last wolf leap at the demon, only to be caught in one of the goristo's massive fists, "Perhaps I was."

It wasn't much longer before Lupa and Zasch stood alone against the demon, the last of the wolves crushed, and being used as a missle against them. They both evaded the projectile, and glared angrily and hatefully at the demon before them. They walked forward side by side, Zasch releasing his magic, a gauntleted hand grasping the demon and holding it immobile, crushing it in a tight vengeful grasp.

With the demon locked in place, Lupa charged at the beast, jumping on its back, and digging her fangs into the monsters neck, and raking away with her claws. As the magic dwindled, Zasch swung his blade angrily, releasing his magic in a heavy burst of sound that caused the demon to cry out angrily. As the creature reached for Bella, Zasch lashed out with another burst of magical energy, and the demon dropped to its knees. It looked as if it were finally growing weary of the beating it was taking.

But is it enough?

Zasch wondered to himself as his weapon once again glowed red. Swinging his khopesh like an axe, Zasch drove the blade into one of the demon's arms. As the blade sank through the creature's hide, digging deeper than Zasch had hoped, Zasch released his magic, blue tendrils of magic tending to the few wounds Zasch had taken, and restoring some of his energy.

Several more long minutes passed, and the demon again hurled Lupa aside, and delivered a mighty blow into her chest. Calling on the bond of his Aegis, Zasch again teleported the demon beside him. Again, disoriented, the beast struggled to regain it's balance as it took a sharp blow in the back of it's leg.

Angry, and apparently growing desperate, the demon stumbled away from Zasch, putting some distance between the two, and then turned to face him. The demon put its back to Lupa, and she howled with rage as she jumped onto its back. Roaring in pain, the demon struggled to grab at the werewolf latched onto its back, trying to rip her free.

Lupa snarled and began raking the creature with her claws, and snatched one of the demon's fingers in her jaw and gnawed and twisted until she had at last ripped it free. Zasch stalked silently forward, blinking from one spot and atop the creature's back.

With an uncermonious ending, Zasch snarled, and brought his weapon crashing down, driving the weapon into the monster's face and ending its miserable existence in the prime plane.

As the demon fell limp, defeated at last, Zasch slumped down next to the defeated creature. Thankfully he had taken training in numerous spells, otherwise he doubted he'd have the energy to get the proof back to the village. Lupa walked over, and slumped beside him, reverting to her human form as tears stained her cheeks.

"My pack," she whispered in despair, seeing all five wolves crushed and butchered around the clearing.

Offering her a comforting hand on her shoulder for a moment, he left her to her thoughts and went about casting a ritual. A large green disk floated up from the ground. With a slight struggle, Zasch used his khopesh to rend the fallen goristo's head from its shoulders, and then his magic to place it on the green disk. Once his task was completed, Zasch laid a comforting hand on Lupa's shoulder as Alais came down from the trees.

Alais hovered over Zasch's shoulder as they made their way back to the village. It had been three days after the fight with the goristo, and that first night Lupa had vanished. As he strode in past the gates, the demon's head floating on the disc behind him, his familiar over his shoulder, the guards stared in shock and awe.

The Baron came out to greet him, and stared in disgust at the demon's head, and tossed a bag of gold at Zasch's feet dismissively. Zasch scooped up the bag of gold, and out of spite, Zasch released the disc, causing the demon's head to fall on the Baron's feet. The Baron's surprised cry turned to fear as Zasch made the demon speak in Abyssal, drawing screams of terror from the aged heavy set man.

As the guard ran to aid their Baron, Zasch began his trek back to the Academy. A few hours out from the teleport circle, he found Lupa blocking his path. She stood calmly, her arms crossed under her breasts. Zasch spared her a glance, and started to walk around her, saying nothing. She watched his back for a long moment.

"That's all, nothing to say to me?" she demanded bitterly.

"What do you want me to say?" Zasch asked, turning to look at her.

That drew a silence from her, but she started towards him calmly. After several minutes of walking alongside him, she finally spoke up, "I've nothing here now." When he said nothing, she looked at him, "Where will you go?"

"Back to the White Lotus Academy to continue my training."

"Training?" Lupa responded, genuinely surprised. "Training? You're still being trained?"

With a confirming nod, Lupa fell back into a surprised silence, following alongside Zasch. When Zasch halted at the teleportation circle, she watched him for several minutes, curious as to what he was doing. Once she realized it was a magic ritual, she spoke up again, taking her all-to-common authorative tone.

"I'm coming with you."