DAMN. These things are absolutely fucking hideous. I had perched myself up a in a tree as I got closer, and I was glad I had. There were some similarities to the trolls I knew - long, thick limbs ending with cruel claws that were stained dark red with dried, crusted blood. I could feel death rolling off of the fuckers - who knew how many people they had slain and eaten? But beyond that - they were nothing alike. Thick, matted fur that clung to their frames like dank, musty ropes instead of pallid, hard, scaly skin - and two eyes instead of the singular, cyclopean eye I knew of old.

But a monster was a monster, and these things clearly fit that category to a Flame-damned T. And brainless to boot - they had stumbled across the rotted carcass of what looked like it had once been a deer, and were even now fighting each other over it. Shoves, hard kicks, and swiping claws - instead of dividing it up and sharing it, each one was trying to hurt the other in order to claim it all for themselves. And in the process, being hurt by the fight.

Damn idiots. This is why the mortal races were so successful, why the best non-sentient races worked together well. Cooperation, jolly or otherwise, was almost always more successful than hunting alone. Once again I wished for a soapstone sign to summon aid - my bow and lightning would be of use against these things but my sword would be.. Paltry. I could fight with it here, but it would take a while. I would have to see about getting something heavier when I could. Maybe a lance?


I shook my thoughts and plans from my head. I had found my prey, and now that I had, these blighted things would not live to see another day on this world. I drew one of the javelin-length iron arrows from the quiver strapped to my back, and notched my arrow. There were two of the damnable beats - I would have time for only the one shot before they noticed me and came for me. I would have to make this count. I switched my focus between the two beasts, trying to decide which to go for. There - one landed a claw on the other, tearing a gouge that bled freely down its side. I aimed for the one who had landed that blow - it would be easier to fight them if both were injured before I had to fight up close and personal.

A deep breath, as I stood upright. My motion broke me from the cover of the tree branches, but the trolls were too engrossed in their fight to notice. Heavy arrow set to string, tension taken in as my muscles heaved back, drawing the bowstring tight. Foot upon foot of woven line hummed under the pressure, the wood creaked -

TWANG The heavy bowstring snapped forward, propelling the massive iron arrow through the air. The trolls looked toward me, and I could see their eyes lighting up as they realized that dinner had delivered itself to them. That is, until the javelin-sized arrow pierced the leg of the one I had been aiming for. Shame, I had been aiming for his damn spine but he heard me. I dropped my bow down, knowing the yew wood could take the fall, and draw my sword.

“Come on then, man-slayers!” I leapt forward. Trudging back here would be annoying if I died - but. But things in this world didn't regenerate wounds like I did. If I injured, or even killed one, here and now?That would make subsequent fights that much easier.