Solo Off With Their Heads!

[Kel Tempest]

50th of Summer in the Year 514 AV


“Well, at least it seems you know how to maintain your equipment properly. That’s more than I can say for some of the other people working for me.”


The sudden voice jerked the Svefra from his concentration. A torn sail lay neatly across the rocky seashore across the Glass Beach. Kel’s trident, bladed boots, chakram and other assortments of metal instruments sat in a row, sharpened, polished and gleaming menacingly in the early morning light.


Kel looked up from the kukri he held in one hand, the other clutching a damp cloth he had been running gently over the metal, cleaning away dirt, fingerprints and grim. His cerulean eyes looked at the friendly man that stood in front of him sharply. He stared at the intruder for a few ticks.


Finally, Kel responded.


“’N yeh’ are?”


The stylishly dressed stranger smiled warmly at the Svefra, a fire burning just underneath the cheerful demeanor. He held out a gauntlet clad hand in greeting.


“My name is Alfred Lancaster. I’ve been told you applied to become a Freeborn and are looking for work. Well, I have work for you.”


Kel set his weapon down gently and stood, grasping the man’s hand and shaking it firmly.


“Ahh, yesh. Yeh’ must be the fabled Grey Fist, me-” Kel paused a moment, face twisting in irritation, loath to pronounce the word.


“-Employer.” The word were laced with distaste, the Svefra making a face as though he had eaten something sour.


The Gray Fist seemed to recognize that look and chuckled, releasing his grip on the seafarer’s hand.


“It’s not as bad as all that my friend. Look at it like this. The more capable you are seen to be, the more jobs you’ll get. The more jobs you get, the more mizas you’ll make. Build yourself up a big enough reputation and all Kenash will fear and respect you. I think that would be something you’d be interested in, am I right?”


Kel eyed the friendly warrior, mulling over his words. They struck a chord in the battle hardened Svefra. He had no desire to fit in with the stuck up brats that owned this city but at the same time he wanted them to fear him. He wanted them to know he was dangerous and not to be trifled with. Kenash seemed like the kind of place that valued getting the job done, regardless of how it was accomplished.


That was something he liked.


Leaving the question hanging in the air, the Svefra set his reservations aside and bit.


“Aight then, what’s the job?”


The Lancaster nodded in approval, resting his hands on his hips.


“You ever fought Zith before?”


Kel snorted and rolled his eyes. He twisted his naked back around so that the crisscrossed scars that stretched across his muscular torso were revealed to his employer.


“I sure as petch didn’t get these cuttin’ daisies, now did I?”


Alfred Lancaster chuckled good naturedly.


“Good to hear. Maybe you’ll be worth something yet. So here’s what’s happening.”


The humor slowly faded from the man’s eyes and his tone grew serious.


“Zith are naturally nocturnal creatures. Filthy animals that hunt and kill the arrogant posh boys livestock, the whole nine yards. But here’s why they are despised in Kenash for. They steal slaves. The Dynasties don't like it.”


The warrior eyed the Svefra calculatingly.


“Here’s where you come in. A relatively small colony of the Zith have moved in just on the outskirts of two Dynasty plantation borders; the Zulaca and the Koranth. Both of which are bordering the Kenash city proper."


"I don't know how those damn Zith got this far into the plantation borders, but it's our job to go there and wipe them out. These Dynasty pricks need us to wipe out the threat. The least we can do is show them that we can do it better than they can."


Kel nodded slowly, processing the stream of information that came in a torrent towards him. The Grey Fist waited for the Svefra to respond. But after a few moments of silence, spoke up again.


“All I want you to do is find the bloody Zith and exterminate them before they cause trouble for the petching Dynasties. We keep the pretty boys happy, we get paid. Simple as that."


Kel began to realize that the man in front of him despised the Dynasties almost as much as he did. Maybe he wasn't so bad as he originally thought.


"Last I heard they were settling in the L shape section between plantations. The best way to get there in my opinion would be to follow the coast until the swamp turns to flat fields full of cotton, tobacco and other colored plants, hard to miss. That’ll be the Zulaca’s plantation."


"Turn from the coast and go south, it’ll be a straight shot down until the fields meet a bamboo forest, the Koranth land. That’s where you’ll begin your search. Most Zith live in caves or some kind of hovel. After that, you’re on your own.”


Kel finally stirred, showing life for the first time. He grinned.


“Doesn’t sound too bad, eh?”


Alfred Lancaster cocking an eyebrow skeptically.


“We’ll see. Come back alive and then we'll talk.”


The Freeborn warrior turned and strode across the broken glass that crunched under his feet. He turned his head, looking back at the Svefra as he made his way back towards town. His words floated over to the sea dweller.


“Don’t bother trying to find me if you come back. I'll know when you arrive. Just make sure you bring proof of success with you. I’ll be waiting.”


Kel cracked his neck, feeling excitement stirring in his stomach. Finally, something to put his skills to use for.


He steeled his resolve.


Kel Tempest wasn’t going to disappoint.

Legend

Kel's Common

Kel's Fratava

NPC Common

[Kel Tempest]

A full arsenal decorated the sweat drenched Svefra as he trudged along the dense, no man’s land that lay covered in tangled jungle. It stretched out before him on his left filled with annoying pests and pitfalls while flat fields full of cultivated crops owned by the Zulaca stretched across the land on his right. He walked between the two drastically different landscapes, able to touch the branches of the trees with one hand while simultaneously touching the crops with his other the two sides, the path was so narrow.


The Svefra had departed from the Glass Beach not long after the Grey Fist gave him his assignment and disappeared back into town. Idling about in Kenash was starting to wear on the sea dweller, as any sort of down time did to him. But suddenly having the opportunity to fill his pockets with mizas and skewer something on his trident got him on the move faster than a hungry shark on a bleeding squid.


The sea dweller had been skirting the shore line for a little over a bell, trident slung over the back of his neck and shoulders, kukri pressed up against his lower back under his sash, his looted chakram hooked on the black material and his bladed boots kicking up sand as he trekked to his destination. The had forest finally came to an abrupt end, nothing but fields spreading across the landscape as far as the eye could see. His employer’s words had seemed to be correct thus far, so Kel had followed the edge of plantation's borders down to where he hoped the bamboo started.


Killing Zith while they were raiding fishing vessels was one thing, but hunting them down in their own lair on land was a completely different story. He didn’t know the first thing about tracking. He didn’t know how to make traps or sneak up on his prey to obtain the element of surprise. He was so far out of his depths he didn’t even know where to begin.


But that had never stopped him before.


Kel grumbled irritably to himself as small clouds of insects floated around him, buzzing wildly in his ears. Sweat covered his bare chest, the humidity threatening to fill his lungs with moisture and drown him where he stood. He trekked through the small path that divided the Zacala’s property from the swamp lands, doing his best to ignore the looming unknown and focusing his attention on getting to the location without dying of heatstroke or insect bites.


After another bell or so of pressing forward, tall, thin strips of wood began to jut up from the land. The untamed swampland and sweeping crop fields came to an abrupt halt, causing the Svefra to blink a few times to gather his bearings. He had been so focused on staring at the ground in front of him that when he looked up, the forest of bamboo caught him by surprise, cutting off the path he had been walking along. Three different, distinct property lines met in the shape of a T.


Kel had finally arrived.


Now for the tricky part.


Kel paused for a moment, trident still slung over his shoulder and thought about his next move. He had no idea where to begin his search. He knew he was in the general area but as for the exact location the Zith lived, he might as well just try to find a needle in a hay stack.


But then an idea struck him.


“For all my horrible ideas, this really is the worst…”


Kel shook his head in exasperation, already regretting his partially formed plan. The Svefra inhaled deeply before bellowing out as loud as he could.


“OH WOW, THIS SWAMP LAND BE SOOOO CONFUSIN'. I’M ALL SCURRED AND ALONE, STUCK WANDERIN' AROUND COMPLETELY LOST AND ALL HELPLESS LIKE. DID I BE MENTIONIN' I’M ALL ALONE AND HELPLESS WITH NO ONE AROUND 'HURR TA' SAVE ME. WOE IS ME TEH' INNOCENT LAND DWELLER…”


Kel stomped on the ground, snapping twigs and breaking branches off of bushes and trees as he roamed around the bamboo yelling at the top of his lungs, making as much noise as possible. After a few chimes of ceaselessly loud noises, Kel stopped, panting heavily and red in the face.


He froze in place, remaining motionless, trying to still his labored breath, straining to hear any kind of noise from his surroundings. After a few ticks of silence, Kel shifted and relaxed, grumbling irritably to himself.


“Those little petchers WOULD be sleeping too soundly to hear all my hard work at drawing them out…CAN’T A GUY’S HARD WORK BE REWARDED EVERY NOW AND THEN?!”


Kel kicked at a small pile of leaves, growing frustrated at his lack of success. He was beginning to second guess his decision to come out here, when in his silence, he heard it.


The flapping of wings and the rustling of leaves.


The Zith had found him.

[Kel Tempest]

Black and grey fur covered the monstrosity’s bodies, yellow eyes glaring balefully at the man who dare intrude upon their home. Kel slung his trident off his shoulder and held it firmly between both hands, watching in growing apprehension as more and more Zith flooded in from the swamp.


Too many.


The sea dwelling Svefra backpedaled before finally turning tail and sprinting into the bamboo forest. He quickly weaved in and out between the thin shoots, attempting to get farther into the slowly thickening trees. After a few ticks, he decided he was far enough in that the Zith would have a difficult time navigating in the air. Kel jerked to a halt and swung around, trident flashing in the dim light that filtered through the tree tops, scanning for enemies.


But the forest was empty.


Kel blinked in confusion, holding his weapon at the ready, eyes scouring the forest around him warily, straining to hear any sound that would betray the Ziths’ presence.


“The petch…”


He didn’t understand, they were just-


Suddenly five forms burst through the tops of the trees, light exploding into the forest, leaves and branches cascading all around the Svefra. Kel stumbled backwards in surprise, eyes jerking up, wincing as the light stabbed at his irises. He threw himself forward, away from circle of light and the dropping Zith. Kel thrust his trident forward, ready to gut anything that came his way.


A Zith landed with a muffled thump, muscular legs absorbing the landing as it touched down. Its wings flared as it stood, staring hostilely at the Svefra. The four remaining Zith clung to the bamboo above them, leering down at the intruder. Kel’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, watching them stare at him as if waiting for something.


A dark, raspy voice erupted from the Zith’s mouth as it stood threateningly on the ground in front of the Svefra. He didn’t know what was happening. But suddenly it dawned on him. It was speaking Common but it was so garbled and hoarse he could barely understand it.


“Yrouh. Slahve.”


Kel looked at the creature incredulously, not sure how to even respond. The creatures just stared at him, waiting for his response. Kel played the words back in his mind over and over, trying to understand what it had said.


You. Slave.


Suddenly it made sense. It was so outrageous Kel couldn’t keep the laughter from bursting forth. He laughed uproariously. Mirth shook his body, openly mocking the imposing Zith, tears of merriment springing into his eyes. The monstrous being looked at one another in confusion, wood splintering as their claws dug into the trees angrily.


But at last, Kel got a hold of himself.


He wiped a tear away from his eye, still chuckling to himself at the ridiculous statement and responded.


“See, I think yeh’ got it all wrong, mate. I ain’t here teh’ be yehr’ slave. I’m here teh’ kill yeh’.”


Without saying another word, Kel lunged forward, trident glinting in the light that breached the tree tops.


And then all hell broke loose.


The menacing Zith shrieked as the prongs stabbed shallowly into its gut, causing it to hastily fall back. Blood dripped from the three blades as they slid free from the monster’s flesh, leaving shallow cuts in its wake, the Svefra not reaching far enough to do extensive damage. At the attack of their leader, four Zith descended from the trees above, screeching vehemently.


Kel backpedalled quickly, trident prongs pointing up into the air, attempting to keep the flying Zith at bay. One dropped down towards the ground landing quietly behind him and snaking between the trees, trying to cut off the Svefra’s escape. Kel noticed the creature out of the corner of his eye and pivoted around, briefly exposing his back to the advancing three.


The Zith, finding its surprise attack foiled, lunged forward, claws slashing through the air.


Kel ducked under the attack and whipped the butt of the trident between the creature’s legs. The Zith's feet got tangled in the pole as it tried to move causing it to crash to the ground. Kel spun the trident in a circle, gripping the weapon between both hands and slammed the prongs into the monster’s chest. Its eyes widened in shock, claws shredding Kel's pants and shin, a gurgling sound coming from its mouth, blood welling up between its lips before its movement stilled.


The Svefra jerked his trident free and sprung to the side, wincing as he put pressure on his injured legs, darting between trees as he attempted to gain some space between the approaching Zith. He whipped around, knees bent and trident held at the ready, spotting two Zith land and begin their approach on the ground while the other two wove through the trees, leaping from bamboo pole to bamboo pole, claws scratching furiously to find purchase.


Kel slowly backed away as the creatures advanced. Suddenly one of the Zith sprung from the trees directly at the Svefra, claws extended and wings folded against its back. Kel tripped on a protruding root and tumbled backwards just as the Zith pounced on him.


The Svefra bunched his knees to his chest as he hit the ground, the Zith landing atop of him. Using the monster’s momentum as well as his own, Kel launched his legs up as hard as he could, sending the creature flying through the air behind him.


It slammed into a tree and crumpled to the ground, groaning.


Kel rolled over, springing to his feet and grasping the hilt of his kukri from behind. The Svefra drew it from his sash and leaped forward before the Zith could orientate itself. Kel drove the curved bladed through the top of creature’s skull, instantly killing it.


Ripping the blade free, Kel whirled around and threw it end over end through the air at the advancing creatures. The blade missed completely, hitting the base of a tree and lodging itself firmly in place.


Two down, three to go.