March of the Dead (open)

[Xin Rose]

"Hey Xin come look at this", shouted a young feminine voice. By the sound of it one would expect to see a noblewoman or at least a young milk maid. Instead there eyes would be meet with a young female mercenary with bright orange hair that puffed up like clouds and brilliant eyes that shinned with the light of purity. Her skin was a milky white and on her back rested a shield with the crest of a Wolf marking her as part of the Wolf Clan. This was Fin.

"What is all the fuss about Fin", spoke a young man as he walked up to the maiden. The lad has sky blue hair and wore navy blue armor. His skin was yellow tinted like the men of the plains and his eyes matched the color of the sky. At his side was a iron sword and on his back was a iron shield. Unlike Fin his iron was emblemless and told of no great clan or heritage that he fell under. Still Xin carried himself with pride. He was a proud son of the plains even though he grew up in Lycia. He did not know who his clan was, but he knew they were out there.

"Take a look at the sign on the board", spoke Fin as she placed her hand on the paper. Xin looked up on it and saw the words. Warning Zombies ahead, it read. The very though of the undead made his stomach turn, but they were always good for earning old and gaining a bit of fan fair from the local ladies. Still Xin would rather go around and avoid the fight. However Fin, well she was bloodthirsty. Xin could never remember a day when she turned down a fight. He knew she was going to make them go, even though she said she was going to keep him from dying she put him in the most danger. It was in her blood. It seemed many members of the Wolf Clan liked to fight. Like dogs bread for war they were drawn to battle. "So what you can't read now", spoke Xin trying to turn the maiden's attention from the challenge and placing it on anger.

"Don't act stupid Xin", spoke Fin ignoring the insult. "This is a excellent opportunity to get the blood flowing and earn some of that fame you needed. Clearing the road of undead will gain the gratitude of the citizens."

"Or it can get us a early grave", interjected Xin, but Fin's mind was made up. She was not going to let him squirm out it.

"What was the old saying my mother use to say", spoke Fin evoking her mothers famous words.

"No... no... don't you do it", spoke Xin. He knew were this was going to go.

"The only time you are truly alive is when someone or something is trying to take life from you. It is in that moment that you truly know what it means to exist. Taking that logic there is no reason to avoid fighting the undead."

"That logic is insane", shouted Xin!

"Are you calling my mother insane", spoke Fin. Her voice clearly shifted and fury could be seen in her eyes. Xin knew he had lost this one. Even if he said yes and started a major argument she was still going to drag him into the fight. Either he was going to go willingly or she was going to knock him unconscious and drag him into it. His chances of survival were much higher if he walked."

"Fine fine", spoke Xin. "You win. We will go kill the zombies."

"And my mother", spoke Fin as she stared at Xin.

"She is not insane nor is her logic foolish. She is a paragon of both wisdom and beauty."

"You can drop the beauty part and you will be fine", spoke Fin. "Now lets go earn some glory", shouted the maiden as she marched down the road!

"I need to get new friends", spoke Xin as he followed.

[Yorick]

Yorick smiled as she continued her walk down the Lycian road. Her weapons were shining brightly, as she had just cleaned them, and her armor gleamed with its characteristic shine. Her new shield hung on her back, which she had just bought from a Bernese arms dealer. It was a fine shield, ornamented to match her armor and beautifully inlaid with some interesting images.

The outline of a Bael.
of a Bonewalker.
of a Wight.

The 'breeds' of monster Yorick had slain were her trophies she documented... And in the center of her shield was a rendition of a human skull, representing her complete disregard for morality when on a job.

But back to business.

A peculiar stench hung in the air, but she paid it no mind. Sometimes Lycia stunk. It was just a fact of life, she supposed. Everything was a fact of life, wasn't it? The fact that she'd realized everything was a fact was in fact a fact.

Philosophy made her Isles-born brain hurt.

The Halberdier stopped suddenly at the sound of arguing voices, but a little eavesdropping assured her it was friendly banter and not a bandit ambush. So she crested a small rise and found two young people looking at a billboard. As she approached, reading the brief but fully descriptive sign, they began to move away, and so she followed, clanging one hand on her armor as a greeting.

"Hail! I am Yorick, of the Western Isles. Are you two going to fight the undead hordes?"

[Xin Rose]

The two mercenaries had been arguing so much that they did not even hear the armored woman come up from behind them. When she finally spoke the duo became aware of her presence and immediately reacted violent to it. Quickly the two turned around in complete unison. They both drew there blades from there sheath and pulled there shield from there backs. Xin had a kite shield while Fin's was a complete circle. There were a bit too small to take any real heavy blows, but there presence alone served its purpose in battle.

"Who, when, where", spoke Xin leaving out the rest of the sentence. The young man's stumbling words and bewildered expression told it all. Fin was the quicker of the two to recover and realize what was going on. The maiden resheathed her sword and placed her shield on her back. It was clear that Yorick meant them no harm and the two of them were just being rude.

"Put your sword away you idiot she is not our enemy", spoke Fin giving Xin a annoyed look. It was almost as if she did not draw her weapon as well, which annoyed Xin more than his face could express. "If she was going to kill us then we would have already be dead. Shoot if that had been a bonewalker then we would have been dead. This is what happens when you start useless arguments."

"Me", shouted Xin with offense and surprise. The young mercenary returned his sword to his sheath and placed his shield on his back. However the true battle had just began as the two of them fell back into a miniature argument. "If I remember correctly you started that", spoke Xin.

"Me, your the little sap sucker who was too afraid to fight. All I did was shove you in the right direction and your returned my kindness with hateful words and false accusation."

"When and where did I use a hateful word", spoke Xin, but the mercenary soon realized that they had company. Arguing like little children was suppose to be saved for more personal time or inside closed doors. Xin coughed to clear his throat alerting Fin to the fact that they were embarrassing themselves in public.

"We will finish this later", she whispered in a loud tone as Xin began to speak to the traveler. "Yes we do intend to face off against the horde of undead that block this road", spoke Xin answering the woman's original question.

[Yorick]

As the two mercenaries drew their weapons, Yorick instantly stepped back, raising her shield and drawing her broadsword. In the brief second the confrontation lasted, the Halberdier realized just how ironic it was that all three were fighting with sword and shield, and exactly how much of a bloodbath it would have been.

But then, as quickly as they had leapt to arms, the young ones wisely sheathed their weapons. Yorick followed suit. Soon, the two began bickering like an old married couple, and the Halberdier buffed her shield with a small handkerchief as she waited, her face drawn into an expression of amusement and her eyebrow raised. When they finally answered her in the affirmative, Yorick hooked the shield back on her back and set off in front of them. ”Well then, you’ve got a companion and an ally in the battle. Let’s go kill us some Revenant scum! I’ve never had the pleasure of dismembering one of those brutes… Another mark or two for my shield! Boy, I hope there’s an Entombed. I hear those guys are strong as Berserkers from the Isles… And just as smart. Hah!”

Yorick paid no heed to either of the younger ones. If they followed her and wished to fight with her… Good. But if they were content to argue and waste their time… She would fight alone. No use in having allies she had to babysit. There were monsters afoot, and she loved monsters. Her life goal was to slay every monster.

"Gotta slay 'em all."

[Xin Rose]

"Strong as a berserk", spoke Xin with trepidation. Sure Xin was all about fighting the badies and gaining the glory, but he was not ready to take on a berserker or even less this Entombed. The more these women spoke the more Xin wished he was somewhere else. Why was he being forced into this fool of a fight. Why could they not simply kill some remnants hunting a small graveyard. There would be maybe five to ten of them, and they would be slow, but nope. Fin could never take the easy route. She wanted to clear a road and fight Entombed. Here this lady was encouraging her.

"Now that sounds like a challenge", shouted Fin, just as Xin predicted. The maiden was pumped with the idea of killing a creature as strong as a berserker. However she did not even take the time and consider that the she was not as strong as a beserker. That creature was more than likely going to kill her and feast on her organs. What was she thinking. According to her and what Xin has seen personally her entire family was like this. It made Xin wounder how they survived this long.

"Right well if any show up I will let you fight it Fin", spoke Xin as he began to walk in the direction the zombie horde was suppose to be. "By the way it was good to have you with us Yorick. The name is Xin."

"And I am Fin", the maiden interjected. "He is from Lycia and I am from Bern."

"Sacae", spoke Xin interrupting her interruption. "I am form sacae, but grew up in Lycia."

"Pshaw, as if you count as Sacaen", spoke Fin poking fun at Xin. "Just because your mother found you there in the mud does not mean your are from sacea. Where you from is where your parents are from and your mother is from Lycia."

"I agree", he spoke catching Fin by surprise. "You are from where you parents are from, but my parents are from Sacae. My mother may have raised me and I love her like the real deal, but my blood flows from the sea of grass. Not the monster infested pool of noble cow chasers."

"So your Lycian", spoke Fin once again getting under Xin's skin.

As the duo argued over semantics and Xin's orgins the first of the undead reared its ugly head. Unlike most of the time when one encounters a group of unholy creatures the first one was not the weakest one. In fact it was the exact opposite. The green skinned undead rushed forward like a Olympic sprinter and while Xin was now arguing over the fact that they argue a lot and it was Fin's fault they agrued, the beast took a shot at the unexpected lad.

Lucky for him however Fin was paying attention to the road while he was fussing. Drawing her shield from her back she used both hands to block the incoming assault. The force from the blow still however knocked her off her feet and sent her back skitting across the ground.

"Fin", shouted Xin as he drew his sword and shield.

[Yorick]

"Glad to fight with you both. Let's get them."

But again, almost as quickly as they stopped, they started arguing again. Good grief. Did it ever end? No wonder parents hated their children... Or maybe that was just the Isles. Whatever.

But all of a sudden, there was a green flash, and a creature burst forward like a raging bull. The young swordswoman was lucky enough to protect Xin, but was left defenseless... And Xin versus that thing looked like a one-way ticket to six feet under.

"Out of my way!"

Yorick used the beast's own trick, charging forward with a javelin drawn and her shield held close to her body. She'd try to run it through, the dumb thing. Even if it was an Entombed. It still looked like a meathead, even if it was greener and meaner than its Revenant friends.

Speaking of which, two Revenants became visible, moving forward towards the three monster slayers.

"Cover the Revenants, I'll keep this 'un busy!"

Her initial charge was fruitless, as the Entombed moved to the side. Well, it wasn't brain dead, just... dead. Yorick took the opportunity to wheel around and was unexpectedly met with a large green mass flying towards her. An Entombed's arm. Instantaneously, she raised her shield, and was forced to stumble backwards a few steps as the blow landed solidly on the shield.

"Well, I'll be damned. This thing is strong."

The Entombed was launching another charge, but Yorick was faster, and her arm cocked and released as the Entombed... Ran through her javelin. It passed directly through, and the monster kept coming, its maw gaping and its eyes staring blankly.

"Take this!"

Yorick sidestepped and grabbed her second javelin, sending it soaring into the beast's back. As it turned around, she drew her final, reserve javelin, and sent it sailing at the undead fiend.

The Entombed stood and took the javelin before grunting and falling down, sending the javelin squirting out the other side. The monster regained its footing but then toppled backwards, and as the last javelin clattered to the road, the menace stood up once more and charged.

Yorick was unprepared for this sort of tenacity out of a monster. She knew Wights were tough, but those suckers dodged and attempted to outsmart you. This thing just kept charging and flailing its limbs.

"Die again, you fiend!"

As a green arm hit her, Yorick was knocked backwards, and the Halberdier quickly scrambled to her feet in time to duck another swing. This was absolutely nuts, and there was only one... Time for a finishing move.

Drawing her broadsword, Yorick waited, and as the Entombed charged once more, she stood, waiting until it neared. At the last second, she sprang to the side, spinning and swinging her sword in a circle around her and uttering a mighty yell.

There was a loud, wet sound and the Halberdier looked down to see the Entombed's head laying at her feet. The expression was disturbingly unchanged...

Yorick poked the thing's head with her sword, and when it failed to react, sliced it in two. It was motionless.

"Hey! I killed an Ento-"

Her sword went skittering a few meters away as the force of a full-on tackle sent Yorick sprawling, twisting onto her back as she fell with barely enough time to see the green body of an Entombed falling onto her.

Another one? Wait. This one had no head...

"Aw, bloody hell..."

[Xin Rose]

"Move", the command came from behind Xin as there new found friend Yorick rushed forward and began battling the undead horror. Fin probably would have taken offense to her pushing her way into a fight that was directed toward them. However Fin was on the ground trying to recover from the beast first attack. Xin was the one in battle and Xin did not mind letting the more skilled fighter fight the greater threat monster. The sight of the two lesser Zombies was well welcome. It was a good excuse to put himself out of the fight with the big green man.

"Right I will cover the flank", spoke Xin as he rushed off to fight the other two. He made sure not to move to far ahead. The undead were crossing a hill to come and fight them. That meant that there was probably more of them on the other side and he had no intention of rousing the entire horde of badies. For all he knew there was a swarm of Big greens on the other side.

For the moment Fin was not in the battle. The maiden was moving to meet up with Xin, but Xin would have to fight the undead by himself for a bit. His first moved followed any mercenaries standard tactics. Xin rushed forward and smashed his shield into the face of the monster. His attack granted him little response, but it opened up the blow he desired. "Hiya", shouted Xin as he stabbed his blade forward. The sword pierced though the torso of the monster and found a lovely place in the center of its heart. "Death blow", spoke Xin as a smile of satisfaction crossed his face. It had been a long time since he made a successful blow to the heart. Most people's armor protected them from such attacks.

Xin's celebration however was cut short as the beast that he tough should have been dead let out a gruesome howl. With its right arm it clawed him. The blow slammed into his armor and ripped open the light metal plate like toilet paper. Xin let out a gruesome scream as he was knocked onto his bottom. His sword was still implanted in the monsters chest.

"Xin", shouted Fin as she rushed forward and tossed her Shield at the second undead face. The blow had enough force to cause it to step back and cancel its assult toward the now grounded Xin. Even with the second one temporary stunned it still left the first along with Xin's blade stuck in its chest. "Rot in hell", shouted Fin as she drew her own sword and tossed her body into the chest of the monster. The maiden stabbed her sword into the neck of the beast. The weight of her body sent the monster falling flat onto its back. Before it could counter her like it did Xin, Fin ripped the blade out of its body and to the side severing the head from the body.

"The head is the weak point idiot", spoke Fin as she turned back to look at Xin.

[Yorick]

"Grr!"

Yorick wrestled the thrashing corpse off of her, shoving it to the side and crawling over to her sword, which she grabbed and slammed down into the wriggling corpse, stopping its next attempt to rise.

"Damn you, that's just about enough!"

The broadsword sliced once, twice, three times, then four, and finally the Halberdier raised it in a two-handed strike that slashed downward, cleaving into the now-dismembered torso and finally quelling all motion from it.

"Damned Entombed."

The two younger swordsmen seemed to be having a decent time with the Revenants, so Yorick took the opportunity to grab her javelins from the earth and shove them back in their quiver on her back. She took up her shield and hooked the burnished rectangle over the quiver, then drew her axe and hand axe before taking a deep breath and looking over the hill.

What she saw wasn't pretty.

Another Entombed stood, its face cocked as if puzzled at some unseen joke. Then, when realization slowly seemed to dawn over its face, it raised its arms, and its mouth seemed to stretch into a smile as it charged forward.

"Incoming!"

Yorick had a quick idea, and stood facing the oncoming freight train of green, decaying flesh as if it was a long-lost relative come to give her a warm embrace. As the Entombed neared her, however, she stepped to the right, lunging but leaving her left leg extended like a protruding tree root.

The Entombed went sprawling behind her, sliding facefirst as it tumbled towards the two mercenaries.

"Hit it while it's down!"

[Xin Rose]

"@#$%", spoke Xin as he pulled himself off the ground. A good size gash marked his chest, but it was nothing a little healing powder could not fix. Though the substances was called vulneary, Xin preferred the more literal term. Fin was taking on the last of the two zombies. She was fighting like a pro, dodging this, slicing there. The maiden was dwindling it down like.

"Xin switch in", she shouted as she deflected the beast arm. The motion left it wide open for an attack to the skull. Still groggy and uncomfortable Xin rushed forward with his sword. Instead of placing the blade though its heart, like the first time, he stabbed it in the skull ending the monster where it stood.

"Alright good work Xin", spoke Fin. Xin knew the insult was coming. It always came and if it did not he would think something wrong with Fin. She could never just give a complement. There was always a but or if. Before the maiden could add her trade mark verbal abuse Yorick called out to the duo. She had grounded one of the green ones and wanted them to finish it off.

"The green one is mine", spoke Fin as she rushed forward. Suddenly however a black shadow dawned over the young girl. Fin was too busy trying to get to the Entombed that she did not notice it. Xin did, and Xin was practically soiling his undergarments. Without a word to Fin Xin rushed forward and tackled the maiden. His move caused Fin to scream out in anger, but once she looked up she knew why.

It was the only time in Xin's life that he saw the color leave from Fin's face. There standing almost eight feet tall was a gigantic undead clad in black armor. its hands were almost as big as Fin's head and its massive body could fit almost for of her in width. The beast claws scared the ground where it had aimed to kill Fin. If it was not for Xin and his quick wit the battle maiden would have been dead. In its attempt to slay the young maiden it ended the life of hits green partner, but this entombed seemed to not care, and why would it.

"By the seven heroes", spoke Xin as he stared at it. Sticking out of its back was almost an entire shop filled with weapons. Some being made to slay dragons and others as common as a iron sword. All Xin knew was that conventional means of killing this thing was probably not going to work.

"I think there are nine of them", spoke Fin in defiance toward Xin. The entire time her eyes stayed focus on the beast that stood before them.

[Yorick]

"Well, damn."

Yorick sheathed her weapons and then ran forward past the two mercenaries and the Entombed.

"Feel free to kill the Entombed, but dodge that giant Revenant. I'll work on him!"

The suicidal charge brought Yorick near to the monster, where she could see something that made her very happy. The embedded weapons provided her a perfect way to climb up - it would be like the rigging of a ship.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Yorick waited until the huge beast swung at her, then grabbed the hilt of a sword on its forearm and rode the swing until it brought her to the thigh of the monster. She then swung and leaped, grabbing onto the end of a Dragonspear and then climbing up the array of weapons with ease. The monster, interestingly enough, seemed not to notice the intruder climbing its back, and instead focused on lumbering towards Xin and Fin.

Soon Yorick reached the neck area of the huge Revenant, and, drawing a javelin, Yorick screamed as loudly as she could.

The monster's head slowly swiveled, and as one of its bulbous, bloodshot eyes fixed on her, Yorick threw the weapon as hard as she could.

There was a sickening squelch as the javelin punctured the monster's eye, and it reeled, almost losing its balance. Yorick, lurched and unsteady from the monster's squirm, lost her footing and slipped off of the shoulder, barely managing to grab onto a protruding Halberd on the fiend's chest as she fell.

"I've got to finish the job..."

[Xin Rose]

The black Remnant screamed in agony as the javelin hit its eye. The weight of the weapons already stuck in its body threw its steps off as the force of the attack nearly made it fall to the ground. Now enraged and angry the black monster shook its body something fierce and threw the maiden off itself. In a act of defiance the simple beast pulled out the javelin in its eye and chomped off the pointy end of the javelin swallowing its own eye. Enraged and angry the beast now began a new assault toward the women who dared strike at it. Its claws slashed out at whip like speed as it attempted to both attack and defend.

"Xin", shouted Fin as she stared into the blue haired mercenaries eyes. The two passed along a message without speaking a word. Immediately they both charged forward and switched sides. Fin rushed to the right and Xin to the left. There goal was to stop the rampaging assault of the monster and give Yorick some breathing room.

Why am I here, asked Xin to himself in his mind. The young mercenary slid on the ground ducking below the strike zone of the flailing beast. All along he continued to question his sanity and the reason he was risking his life. It was true that Xin sought glory and prestige. He wanted to be known as a great hero and follow in the foot steps of the legendary kenshin. However beast like this one and the green ones were beyond him. He needed to train some more, work harder, and become a greater fighter. Why was he fighting monsters like this now. Shoot he could not even beat a remnant by himself. The last one nearly gashed out his chest. The entire idea was stupid. However, thought Xin as Fin came into view. The maiden had passed the beast strike zone as well.

In unison the two mercenaries stuck out at the beast knee caps. There iron blade sliced into its flesh causing the monster to buckle and stop its whipping assault. "Success", spoke Fin as a bright smile crossed her face. It was so innocent and pure that Xin could not help but stare. Some times he really did not know how he felt about Fin. At times she was simply his best friend and at others she was more deer to him than his mother. It was a strange feeling. The swordsmen wondered it it was lo..

Suddenly something hit Xin from behind and the young swordsmen began to fly. As he sailed through the air he saw Fin tumbling as well. The duo slammed into the earth with a great smash. Xin's bones rattled as he hit the ground and a great force ripped its way through his body. Blood began to drip form a slash on his head and his entire body felt like muck. It did not take long for Xin to realize what had happen. While they were celebrating there success the beast had swung its arms and sent the two flying behind it.

"Fin", spoke Xin as he struggled to stand. A sharp pain radiated from his ribs as he pulled himself off the ground. The mercenary turned to see Fin sitting in a pile of blood. Her body motionless. "Fin", shouted Xin in horror. His voice however was soon drowned out by chilling sound of the remnant from behind. The beast had drawn blood and it was ready for a kill. It turned around and began to move toward the duo. Xin was injured and he was unsure about Fin, but she was not moving.

[Yorick]

”Oh, sh…”

Yorick felt herself being flailed as the beast hit the two sword-wielding youngsters, and the Halberd started to slip as the giant Revenant lumbered towards her injured companions.

”HEY! YOU IDIOT! I’M DOWN HERE!”

There was a brief moment where all fell still, and Yorick took the opportunity to climb up a few more rungs on the weapon ladder, ending up near the monster’s huge clavicle. Then she saw a shadow as the fiend raised a hand, bringing it down towards her. Perfect. As it neared, Yorick located her target – the base of the hand, near the wrist. The monster scooped her up, and Yorick enjoyed the ride, waiting for a shot… But none came. Instead, she saw the thing’s mouth looming nearer… It wanted her as a snack.

”Hell no. Oh, hell no.”

Yorick drew another javelin and hurled it, wincing as it embedded itself only a few inches in the thing’s skull. That shot wouldn’t do.

Taking her last javelin, the Halberdier aimed and let it fly, straight and true… Into its other eye.

There was a roar of pain, but Yorick didn’t hear it. The woman was already in flight, leaping and sending her whole weight into the large revenant’s head. The monster reeled, and then, as Yorick’s muscle and the weight of her armor hit near the thing’s forehead, it tipped over the balance point.

Its arms flailed as it slowly teetered and then dropped like a stone, slamming into the earth. Yorick, for her part, was sent flying, her fall mercifully broken when she landed on the thing’s stomach, which gave way, leaving her safe but covered in rotting flesh and maggots.

”Xin! Fin! We have to finish it now!”

[Xin Rose]

"Fin", spoke Xin. For a moment it seemed that the maiden had perished, but a small twitch told of her survival. Unfortunately she had taken a bitter fall and at the moment was unable to fight. Yorick had been battling the beast while the two were trying to recover. This gave Xin enough time to get over to Fin and try to see if he could help.

"Fin", he spoke again as he rushed up getting a clear look at her wounds. Lucky for her it was nothing too serious. She had a gash of her head, but so id Xin. Her's however seemed a bit deeper, but the fact that she was still breathing told that she was alive. More than likely she was knocked unconscious by the blow and the blood. "Oh the blood", spoke Xin as he pulled out his healing powder. Quickly he applied to substance to the maiden's skull and stopped the bleeding. However he was not sure on how to deal with Fin's injury. He could try to wake her up, but that could do more harm than good. He did not want to simply leave her here though. Who knows what could come over the hill and try to take a bit out of her. His time however had run short. Yorick yelled for them to come and help finish the beast. If they did not kill that monster then Fin would not be safe either way. Xin just preyed everything would be alright when he returned.

"Fin is incapacitated", shouted Xin as he rushed forward with his sword. Anger filled his heart as he joined in on the fight. He knew better than to try and go for this thing's head, or rather he did not want to kill it off just yet. Taking his sword Xin stabbed into the beast right arm. The mercenary made sure to cut its tendons and muscles with the blade. He wanted to be sure that it would not be able to strike again.

Still such flesh wounds would not be enough to defeat the beast. However at the moment it was stunned. The fall to its back pressed the weapons it had sticking out of it deeper into its spine. The steel began to cause it problems with moving as the duo cut into it.

[Yorick]

”She’ll be fine! Let’s get this over with!”

Yorick took a running start and jumped, raising her broadsword and aiming its point straight underneath her as she plummeted into the thing’s neck. There was a squelch, but no blood erupted… There was no hiss of gas escaping… And then it was abundantly clear.

She’d completely missed the blood vessels and had instead simply cut into the fiend’s windpipe. And undead didn’t need to breathe, as far as she was concerned, making her attack completely useless.

Suddenly, she was forcibly ripped from the beast as its hand closed around her and raised her upward, squeezing tightly. As it struggled to raise its hand, Yorick understood its intention…

”It’s going to slam me into the earth with all the force it can muster. And probably repeat that motion. And in this position, there’s really not much I can do to stop it.

”XIN! You need to disable this arm! And preferably fast!"

There was a lurch, and Yorick saw the ground rushing towards her. Then there was a sickening, wet sound as she and the fist hit the ground. Pain flooded through her body, but she had heard no crunches of bone, and her armor was intact.

”Ahh! Damn, that hurts. Xin, do something! FAST!”

The fist slowly began to rise again. Yorick was unsure as to how many more of these bone-shaking slams she could endure. Especially her neck. The rest of her body had protection, but her neck was unused to the terrible shaking.

[Xin Rose]

Things were looking bad and Xin really did not know what to do. Yorick had asked for him to stop the arm, but he really did not know how. The beast was massive and the only way to stop it from slamming Yorick into the ground would be to slice open its rotators cup. However that would requite Xin to somehow climb up the beast and make his way to the spot. Xin did not want to touch the monster, but as Yorick slammed into the ground, along with the beast massive arm, that option was thrown out the window. Mustering up all the courage he could muster Xin rushed behind the beast and grabbed onto the spear impaled into its back. The move grabbed the beast attention as it began to twist violently. Its swinging motion made it hard for Xin to keep hold of the spear, but the young mercenary held on for dear life.

"Curse this thing", spoke Xin as he reached up and grabbed the handle of a blade. However flailing and gunk of its flesh caused the sword to slip out of its body removing the achor Xin was planning on using. "Curses", shouted the mercenary. There was no way he was going to climb up the beast. He was going to have to jump and hope he got his mark. With all the strength in his legs Xin jumped off the beast and stabbed his blade forward into its arm. The blade stabbed into the monster arm and placed a wedge in its shoulder. Naturally the beast gave off a fearsome wail and thrashed its arm around. The motion caused the blade to slice through its flesh and rendering its arm useless.

"I got it", shouted Xin as the monster stopped its pounding.