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The fiend looked down at its captured prey, a smile played across its lips. Vile drool dripped slowly from its maw, licking its lips at the tasty treat it had caught. It wasn’t interested in the woman as a sexual play thing as so many of the foul beasts of the land did; no it wanted her for more vile purposes. Her eyes lit with the fiery soul burned beneath them. A screamed curse rushed past her lips towards the fiend that had her pinned to the ground. The hellion raised its axe and brought it down quickly, severing her left hand that still held a broken bow. Screams of pain and threats again expelled from her. Another moment and her right arm was severed from her body, along with another cry and scream that she let loose. Finally a third swing of the beast’s axe and she was no more than a bloodied corpse lying upon the ground…
This nightmare flashed through for what seemed like the 100th time. She didn’t know if it was truly her that had died, or someone else who was leaving their imprint upon her mind from some distant land. It didn’t feel like could have been her. Her arms were still attached and her head, while it ached with a slight feeling of a headache towards the new day’s dawn, was not split open by an axe. Plus the fact that she was a Sylvari and the woman from the dream had been human. It was a most perplexing dream to have. Maybe if she rested more she might get a better clue to what was going on.
Drifting off once again the Pale Tree fed her sapling brain with more images. From maps of the land to how to perform mundane tasks like eating with utensils, her favorite was the information that showed her how to use a bow properly and fully. A smile danced across her lips at the thought of stringing a re-curved bow, knocking the arrow, feeling the arm strain as she pulled it back, and the satisfying thunk as she released her deadly projectile. Ever so slowly her brain drifted off further and further into the Dream of Dreams, allowing more and more information to flood into her mind. Bit by bit day made way to dusk. As the sky grew darker so did the flood of information.
Edges of the Dream grew dark, forming into the shapes of creatures that encroached upon the land. First came the spiders, roaches, centipedes, and other small crawling creatures. They flooded her vision, swirling and interweaving amongst each other till the area of her mind was as dark as night. Next multiple slits of yellow, red, and orange appear intermittently amongst the darkness. The number of “eyes” doubled and then doubled again. Her hand clenched involuntarily, now clutching at a long oak bow with a giant crab shell made into the guard and grip. Comfort filled her as she felt the grip against her skin. She reached behind her fluidly for the arrow she knew once again would be there. She pulled three arrows from the quiver and knocked all three into the bow at once. Words flowed from her lips like a brush of butterfly wings, “Ignem”, as quickly as the words were formed the arrowheads blazed to life in response.
From the slight illumination she could see the beasts’ shadowy outlines. Among them were grotesque midgets, lumbering giants, and the vile beast that made her heart race in fear. Each fiend stared at her pale flesh in the dim light waiting for some signal to start the slaughter to come. She slowed her breathing to calm her heart; mentally preparing herself for what was awaiting her should she fail. As she inhaled she pulled the string of the bow taught, and exhaled slowly as she targeted the nearest foe and released her burning arrows upon her targeted prey. Just as quickly as she loosened her arrows she had reached back to reload. The fiends had let loose screams of frenzy as they practically trampled each other to assault this brazen woman. They dropped by ones and threes, as she let loose volley after volley of deadly missiles.
As the weaker waves of demons fell, they slowed their brethren down allowing her to notch more arrows and drop more of the dark and shadowy figures. Slowly the number of opponents whittled down to just one, a demon of vile blackness, and its eyes the color of ice. Noxious acid drool slipped from its tightly drawn maw. Slowly its lips curled into a grotesque smile that sent shivers down her spine. The look revolted her to the very core, but true dread entered every fiber of her being when she reached for another arrow to prepare for this foe and found her quiver empty. Almost sensing that there was no danger from this “pretty meal” the beast leapt at her, covering the full 20 feet of distance between them in the blink of an eye. It unhooked a large axe from its back and in one swift motion it swung the axe in an underhanded arch.
Instinct made her react more than the sight of the axe that tried to remove her arm from her torso. Tumbling to the side she avoided the whirl of the axe, rolling to the side looking for an opening with which to counter attack. Barely fazed by the sudden movement, the beast twisted its swing to aim at the spot its now moving target had acquired. She followed the arch of the axe with her eyes and rolled strategically backwards to avoid heavy falling of the weapon. Only too late in her roll did she realize the mistake she had made. The demon used the momentum of the axe swing to do its own summersault over her head and landed with its leathery taloned feet upon her arms.
The monster slammed its axe into the ground above her head. Flinching involuntarily she closed her eyes and pulled her head close to her body to avoid the weapon. The fiend let out what could only be considered a laugh, and then squatting down to lean closely to his captured prey. “You”, it hissed, “will never escape this fight or this day.” As it stood again it brought its axe up from the rubble it had made above her head. “No,” she thought to herself, “I’m not going to die here, not at that THING’S hands.” Quickly she raised her legs, and catching the monster in what for a human would be the groin area, she raised her back and pushed the fiend away with all her strength. It moved all of a step and a half, but that was enough for her to free herself and move from her previously precarious position. The beast turned to face her once again, its smiling maw now contorting into one of displeasure from having to actually fight for its meal. She knew she couldn’t run, she had to fight, but her options were looking very limited. “Limited or not, I have my bow. I will win,” she murmured to herself.
She inched her way backwards towards the throws of dead bodies hoping to find at least one good reusable arrow. The demon moved more gracefully then its outer façade would incline it to. Practically floating across the ground it advanced and swung its axe in a broad arch. The only way to avoid the deadly assault was to use her bow and parry the swipe, adding a small notch to the wood. The fiend continued to press the attack forcing her backwards; she parried the blows as best she could but it shaved more of the wood from her weapon. Another swing came from above and she jumped back to avoid it. As she did she tripped over a corpse and sprawled out on the floor as the axe tore into the ground. Scuttling away from this hellion that had only her death on its mind her world tensed with renewed vigor as her hand clasped around an arrow shaft. Stealing a quick glance it appeared to be in perfect working condition. Kicking the ground to slide her backwards, she loaded her bow and pulled the string back as she aimed. The string pulled taught as she readies her aim when the bow itself broke from the strain after being damaged from the fighting earlier.
Blood drained from her body as if she had been dealt a fatal blow. With an amused smile the demon lept upon her once again, only this time pinning her using its whole body. It leaned close enough that their heads almost touched, its breath reeked of the smell of the Abyss itself. Its tounge snaked out of its vile looking mouth across its malformed rows of teeth, running up the side of her face leaving a trail of thick rancid saliva. Fear took root in her heart, she could almost see the coming of the end of her life at the hand of this thing from the darkest resesses of the universe. It moved its stance to one that stood above her, holding her down with its legs upon her arms. With a sinister smile playing across its lips the vile fiend looked down upon its tasty prey.
Drool dripped from its maw, as it raised its axe to deliver the encrippling and killing blows. Something deep and primal pulled at the depths of her soul. She didn't want to die, and she was bound and determined to make sure it did not happen. In one hand she gripped at her broken bow, with the other she groped at the ground and wrapped her hand around soil and rocks. The fiery light from her soul lit behind her eyes, and she uttered, "Ignem", lighting the rocks in her hand on fire turning them into glowing hot embers. She vaulted the burning stones towards the head and eyes of the beast.
Luck was on her side this day as the pieces sprayed across the beast’s face. The beast roared in pain as it dropped its axe to use its clawed hands to remove the smoldering debris from its eye sockets. She brought the bottom half of her bow that was still attached to the crab handle across the face of the monster. In response the fiend attempted to roll away, but she pursued with great vigor. Using the momentum she pushed the monster onto its own back and landed upon it. Reaching back her arm in anger she smashed the crab shell caprice against the side of the demon’s face. She reached out with her unoccupied hand and grasped the throat of the fiend to not only choke the life out of it but to hold it down as best she could. Again she slammed her protected fist into the beast, over and over until the shell started to crack along with the bones of the fiend.
Green tinted silver blood started to flow from the wounds on the demon, and red blood started to makes its way from the shell as she pummeled her hand into the side of its head over and over with the shell acting as a thin covering as it slowly broke apart. During the ensuing chaos of the fight their blood started to mingle and mix, she paid little mind to the silver blood as it seemed alive in its own right and worked its way up her hands and arms. Barely did she notice as the monster’s eyes started to stare vacantly at the sky as its blood moved more quickly from the wounds on its face. It was only after the rage had left her feeling numb did she notice the destruction she had wrought, and then she noticed something more worrisome. The blood from the fiend had escaped its skin shaped vase and was working on covering her.
It had reached past her elbows and was moving upwards, ever quicker the further along it went. She pull back from the fiend hoping separation would slow this green shaded silver goo, but it only seemed to pull more of the slime from the body to her. Groping at the viscous fluid she tried to scrape the ooze from her and fling it away. This only caused the gunk to attach itself to her feet and start expanding from there. Quicker and quicker the goo coursed over her body, finding its way past the crevices of her armor to work on the pores of her skin. It worked its way up her body and neck, encased her face, and etched its way into every oriface of her body. Her skin felt like it was on fire as the ooze tore through her pores into her veins. She couldn't scream, couldn't see, couldn't breath as this liquid plunged into her body.
Finally she fell on to the ground gasping for air, her knees and hand pressed onto the ground that was solid below them. She looked up and saw the sky for the first time with her own eyes, and she saw the Pale Tree that had given her life. She started to understand what the Tree had been imprinting her with, the skills, the knowledge, the passion to fight and survive all odds. Upon weak legs she stood and looking towards the main trunk of the Pale Tree she gave it her thanks for the life she had received. Slowly she turned toward the wide openness, her mind making a mental map towards the nearest non-Sylvari town. She wanted two things from that town; one was more information about this world. The other was a new bow, and she really wanted that new bow.
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