[Quonos]

The monk was surprised at hearing Krelosh in his mind, but it didn't show on his face. Instead, he ate the final bite of his trail bread.

"I must thank you for joining me this evening," he said, giving a slow nod of his head. "Solitude is a friend, but companionship is much more fulfilling."

He brushed his hands lightly on his trousers then rested his hands on his knees. Taking advantage of the meditative position in which he sat, Quonos took a moment to check the state of his Chokata reserve. It was sufficient. He would be ready when trouble arrived.

[Krelosh]

"It is you that is to be thanked. After all - it was you who welcomed me to join you when you could easily have turned me away." He continued to listen to the approach of men - but pretended not to hear them. Surely they had to know that surprising an Elf was a rare occurance - but then again they could be ignorant of such knowledge. He nodded in return to Quonos. "Yes - I must agree that companionship is the better of the two."

[The Iron Gauntlet]

"The monk is just ahead. But he isn't alone."

Braun could tell that Dent was holding something back. His stern expression told the scout to get on with it.

"He's got an elf with him."

Braun raised an eyebrow.

"And not just any elf. It's a Drow."

Braun's frown melted into a malicious grin. He drew his broadsword with his right hand and twisted his other in a practiced motion. A sleek stiletto slid from a hidden sheath into his left hand. It's slim blade was black as a drow's skin. It glistened slightly as the moonlight touched the oily substance that seemed to ooze just beneath its surface.

"The Drow is mine. No one else is to engage him on pain of death. The rest of you are to take down the monk. Dent, you'll hang back with your bow, just in case the rest of you botch things up. Spread out. We'll take them on the signal."

As his group moved out, Braun lifted the stiletto in silent salute. "Tonight, you feast on Drow."

[Krelosh]

The sound of the men grew louder to the Drow as they reached the tree line surrounding the camp. He could hear them fanning out in different directions as he had anticipated. A pity they were relying on a predictable strategy that would pose little challenge the Drow thought to himself. Gripping his twin long swords more tightly - he awaited the inevitable attack - an attack that the Iron Gauntlet would regret if they survived.

[Gregor Braun]

Crouching low in the underbrush - Braun observed his prey who had his back to him. He had plenty of experience with Elves in the past to know of their natural abilities - one of which was exceptional hearing. "He knows we are here" he muttered to himself. "No matter - his ears will look nice in my collection." Pursing his lips - he emitted a shrill bird call - signaling his men to attack. He leapt from his cover and charged the Drow with his broadsword held high and the deadly enchanted stiletto held at his side.

[Krelosh]

As the signal to attack was issued - Krelosh was on his feet with twin long swords poised for action. As Braun charged him - he noted the stiletto with its oily sheen of poison. It was of little concern to him as poison could not harm the undead. Taking a defensive stance - the Drow was ready to parry the attack from the Iron Gauntlet leader.

Braun's broadsword cut through the air in a downward swing meant to cleave Krelosh's arm off at the shoulder. One of the Drow's long swords met the Human's blade halfway in a sharp clang of steel on steel. The resulting impact caused a shower of sparks that briefly illuminated the visages of the combatants. Having his broadsword blocked - Braun thrust the stiletto forward only to be deflected by Krelosh's other blade. The Drow danced backwards a few paces before launching a counter-attack. In a blur of motion - he struck out with both swords - one swung upward for the man's throat while the other cut downward towards his abdomen. Braun just barely batted the upward stroke aside before spinning in a half circle and slashing down to force the other long sword to miss. "You'll have to do better than that Elven scum!" he hissed.

[The Iron Gauntlet]

While he battled the Drow - Braun's men save Dent rushed the seemingly meditating Monk - confident that he could do nothing against superior numbers. None had taken Fitch's story of his encounter with Quonos very seriously - thinking he and his men cowards despite the evidence they had in fact fought someone with great skill. They would soon learn of the truth the hard way. They were now upon the Monk and ready to strike.

[Quonos]

Six men charged the monk at once. Two of the men wielded six foot spears. The others carried a variety of hand held weapons, from twin short swords to morning star and shield to mace to axe. The spearmen held back knowing that with the longer reach of their weapons they would be able to attack past their comrades. The charge was quick, but not over-extended. These men were of higher caliber than those Quonos had fought earlier in the day. That fact would not help them.

The axe-bearer reached Quonos first and swung an arc intending to sweep the still-seated monk's head from his shoulders. Quonos bowed low to the ground and struck out with a leg, catching the man in the lower abdomen. Using his attacker's momentum against him, Quonos levered the man up and over his almost prone form to land sprawling in the fire. Quonos ignored the screams of pain as the man's clothes and flesh began to burn and focused his attention on his remaining attackers.

The others approached more warily, and then began a well-coordinated attack. Quonos limbs seemed to move of their own accord, striking out with precision to deflect the onslaught. For a moment, it seemed as if he would be overwhelmed, but he managed to stay just one step ahead of his attackers. His opponents, amazed at blinding speed with which the monk countered them, redoubled their efforts. He used the fire to his advantage, allowing it to defend his back.

Then the spearmen joined the fray, attacking over the flames.

Quonos threw his head back just in time to avoid the first spear thrust. Recovering quickly, he sidestepped the flash of a flail, and threw a spinning heel kick that caught the mace wielder on the side of the head. The man was thrown into the path of the swordsman who had to alter his attack to keep from skewering his comrade. Another spear lanced out across the fire. Quonos dodged right, then twisted sharply and deflected an incoming sword thrust before ducking another spear.

At that moment, an arrow tore through the monk's sleeve, narrowly missing flesh. Quonos knew, then, that his efforts were just postponing the inevitable. These opponents were too well trained. He was forced to spend all his effort on defense. Unarmed, with only his martial skill to defend him he would soon perish.

[Krelosh]

Krelosh was quickly discovering that Braun was not an amateur as far as swordsmanship was concerned. For every attack the Drow launched - he had a counter for it. Back and forth the two combatants fought neither gaining on the other. As Krelosh fought Braun - he was acutely aware of the battle Quonos was fighting. He wanted to aid his new companion - but the Elf-hating human was keeping him too occupied. If the tide did not soon turn in his favor - the Drow would need to bring his other abilities to bear - but he would very much prefer not to.

Out of the corner of his eye - Krelosh saw that Quonos was handling himself rather well against six foes - but he would eventually be overwhelmed if he did have help soon. In that brief instant - Braun's broadsword bit deeply into his side. The Drow cried out in pain from the bloody rent in his dusky flesh and staggered back several paces. It was rather foolhardy of him to avert his attention elsewhere - especially when your advesary is a skilled fighter.

Braun grinned wickedly as his blade tasted Elven flesh. Without hesitation - he followed up his attack with the poisoned stiletto. The enchanted blade gleamed wickedly as it struck out for the right side of his chest. Knowing poison has no effect on the Undead - he allowed the stiletto to sink hilt deep into his flesh. Again a cry of pain issued forth as his was pierced. Krelosh was not as badly wounded as his opponent thought - the wound inflicted by the broadsword had already begun to heal. He would toy with this human for a bit longer before ending the contest of arms. A faint burning filled him - but it did not last long as his body neutralized the poison. He dropped to his knees clutching at the stiletto in his chest.

"Your kind was never much of a challenge" he boasted as he kicked the Drow to the ground. "Now I will have your ears for my collection." He drew a curved dagger from his boot and crouched down to rekmove his trophies from the defeated Drow's head.

[Quonos]

Fortunately, Quonos had other skills to fall back on. The Order of the Continuum was dedicated to the understanding and mastering of the forth dimension, and in many respects, they had succeeded. The monk reached for his Chokata - and Stalled.

Quonos' perception of time changed and the physical world seemed to slow around him. He moved no faster than before, but his increased perception allowed him to instantly recognize where his opponents' attacks would be and how he could avoid them. The tide had changed.

Quonos shifted his weight slightly to one side and a sword passed his chest, its flat edge pressing gently against him. He stepped inside the attack, driving an elbow into the man's abdomen. He spun away as the man doubled over and ducked. The mace intended for his head caught the swordsman square between the shoulder blades and dropped him to the earth. A slight lifting of his left arm allowed a thrusting spear to pass harmlessly between the arm and his body. He dropped his arm over the shaft, locking it into place and pulled forward. The man reacted by pulling back on the spear. Quonos shoved backward sharply, driving the spear butt into the man's solar plexis, then turned quickly, relieving him of his weapon.

The morning star lashed out from the right, but Quonos spun the spear like a staff and caught the chain on the tip. A sharp tug brought the weapon low and Quonos launched a quick front kick into the man's shield. The unexpected kick jammed the upper steel lip of the shield into the man's face, shattering his nose.

[Krelosh]

As Braun brought the blade close to Krelosh's left ear - the Drow moved in a blur of speed - yanking the stiletto free of his chest and pressing it against the human's throat. His fangs were bared and his eyes blazed a fiery red. "You have never faced one of my kind before!" he hissed. "Lucky for you that your blood is not to my liking of I would drain you dry and leave your corpse here to rot as carrion feasted upon it.

Braun was trembling in utter terror and lost control of his bladder as the Drow Vampire spoke to him with the stiletto poised at his throat. Never in his life had he been so frightened. He began to mutter a prayer thinking his life was over. Krelosh laughed cruelly at him. "Prayers cannot save you! However - I have decided to let you live.for now! You will never harm an Elf again as long on you live or anybody for that matter!"

Braun nodded emphatically at the Drow then the stiletto was drawn back from his throat. "Good - I see we understand one another then!" He shoved Braun roughly to the ground then tucked his stiletto into his boot. "I will keep this to remember you by - human! Now be off before I change my mind on sparing your life!" Braun quickly climbed to his feet and ran off into the woods like the wind - staggering a few times. Once her disappeared from sight - Krelosh moved to assist Quonos.

[Quonos]

The axe bearer, clothing charred and skin still smoking, charged in from the right. Quonos flicked the tip of the spear towards the man. The attached morning star flew free, striking the man on the wrist. He dropped the axe with a yelp of pain and barely avoided Quonos' follow up strike with the spear butt.

There was a slight pause as each man oriented himself to the situation. One of the attackers was down, his spine crushed from the powerful mace blow. One was severely burned. The monk was now armed. Quonos eyed each man in turn.

Thhhhhhwwwwipp! CRACK!

The monk knocked the incoming arrow from the air with a casual turn of the spear.

"You may leave now, or you may be destroyed. Be forewarned that I will no longer hold back. If you continue in this foolishness I will be forced to defend myself to the best of my ability."

Quonos' ultimatum was met with the sounds of blades leaving sheaths as the three mercenaries he had disarmed drew back-up weapons.

"Then we will end this."

The clearing erupted with motion as five men charged the monk.

Quonos seized upon his Chokata - and Shifted.

The Flow of Time constantly pulls creation forward along the fourth dimension. Using the Chokata techniques of the Continuum, Quonos shifted that pull from the fourth dimension to the first. His movement in the fourth dimension ceased - time, for him, effectively stood still. His body was pulled to the left by the shifted Flow just as gravity pulled him to the earth. Everything around him stood still. When he had moved five feet, Quonos released the Shift and Time's Flow again moved him along the fourth dimension. The still forms around him exploded back into action, but the monk was not where he was supposed to be.

Quonos attacked from the rear. He became a blur, spinning and leaping with uncanny speed. He twirled the spear as a quarterstaff, knocking aside attacks with frightening ease. He danced through his attackers, their blows finding his defense an impenetrable wall. Yet he still found time to counterattack. A leaping side kick took the other spearman from the fight, crushing his windpipe. Quonos plucked his spear from the air as he landed. A sweep took the maceman from his feet and the sharp end of the second spear plunged downward into his chest.

Thhhhhhwwwwipp! CRACK!

Quonos knocked another arrow from the air, blocked a coordinated attack from the second spearman and morning star bearer - each now wielding a longsword - and delivered a series of lightning leg kicks to the head of the axeman. He crumpled, beaten into unconsciousness.

Thhhhhhwwwwipp!
Thhhhhhwwwwipp!

The arrows were coming faster now, without regard for the safety of the archer's comrades. Quonos twisted away from these two while simultaneously blocking the strikes of his two remaining attackers. If he timed this right.....

Thhhhhhwwwwipp!

The monk flipped forward and Shifted. He shunted the time Flow to allow it to pull him forward in the air. He rotated mid flip and dropped the Shift, landing on his feet behind the morning star man. The arrow struck the spearman in the chest as Quonos' quick spear thrust took the astonished morning star bearer through the throat from behind.

Quonos released the spear and turned to face the hitherto unseen archer. He spotted the man near the edge of the clearing and stalked toward him, eyes aflame.

[Dent]

Dent did the only thing he could think of - he fired another arrow.

The monk plucked the arrow out of the air without breaking stride and snapped it in two, then tossed the two halves to the ground.

Dent watched the broken pieces of the arrow hit the ground, just like the broken pieces of his comrades. The figure that approached couldn't be human. No human the mercenary had ever seen could move the way this one did. The light from the campfire limned the figure in a corona of flames - an apparition from the underworld, come to claim Dent's filthy soul.

The smell of urine filled the air around him as the mercenary lost control of his bladder, but Dent was past noticing such trivial things. Death was approaching and Dent could not hope to defeat him.

The mercenary tossed his bow to the ground and ran for his life.

[Quonos]

Quonos let the man go. There had been enough killing this day and he was certain the man would not return.

He then noticed that Krelosh was watching him, his own opponent nowhere to be seen.

"I believe we have triumphed."

(to be continued...)