[Closed] The second time was the worst...

[Jake Narmolanya]

"The world has been kind enough," Jake retorted, although he knew for once the demon had spoken true. Since they last met, the half elf had traded his left eye for information that had yet to lead him anywhere in the search for Lye Ulroke. In another incident, the word coward had been scarred in his right arm by a powerful Ar'tuel sorceress named Amari, a former friend. Ulroke and Amari were at the top of Jake's list. They were two of the worst monsters he'd ever met.

Nosdyn was at the bottom of the list. Somewhere in the middle was a demon named Arkboss. Jake had skinned him alive and allowed him to escape, but had turned the fine hide he'd taken into a jacket and pair of boots. His long cloak had kept the illicit and controversial clothing from being detected in Stonevale, but that was no longer an issue.

"Just look at the fine jacket I'm sporting," Jake said. In one dramatic gesture he threw off his cloak and sent a fireball spinning into the prepared pit. The flames settled and grew, illuminating the mottled green-brown of the hunter's jacket and boots. "What do you think of my new duds?" Jake asked Nosdyn.

The demon drew nearer, and Jake felt the power of his fear-mongering magic at work. Fortunately Jake had a uniquely strong will. He had escaped abusive foster parents at a young age, grown up a vagrant and thief, and worst of all, he'd tried to be friends with Amari. There were still things on Althanas that could make his blood run cold, but the demon Nosdyn was not one of them.

Jake smiled and drew his sword as Nosdyn drew nearer. He knew the Haidian would attack in rage as surely as he knew the bastard was alone. He dropped his center of gravity by a hand's width and rose up on the balls of his hip-wide feet, feeling ready for anything. He took up a two handed grip on his crystal longsword and raised it overhead in a high guard.

Come on, you fool, he thought. Cross blades with me again.