Toby Underfoot
Orginal Bio:
http://www.layonaraonline.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=17099&posts=5____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The crypt was dark. The air hung heavy, making it almost hard to breath as the smell of death crept from the depths of the blackness. Eerie sounds scuttled across the floor and faint water splashed as if children ran in the darkness through pools that had collected over the years. A tortured moan worked it’s way up through the main corridor to the two that were standing in the darkness.
Today me and Nightfall went into the crypt in hlint!! Ya! The crypt.. It was so dark, but Ethos stayed close to me and we had this ring with light. It was great! I heard em ghosts talkin to each other, silly things. A faint glow emitted from the hand of the elf as she held her enchanted ring outward, finding a safe route to step in the aging tomb. Beside her, a large dire wolf stood protectively, ears alert and a slight snarl as he felt the coming danger. His eyes catching the light of the ring, giving the appearance of a challenging golden fire. Between the wolf’s front paws stood a brownie, short bow in one hand and the other posed a little shakily over his sword sheath for closer combat. The brownie’s eyes reflected focus and a desire to move onward. He was on a mission. His eyes shifted around where the light was now bending around a corner in the wall.
They shoulda been quiet so we didn’t know they were comin… I showed Nightfall where they were. Their eyes were like those glow bugs at home. I kind of miss those guys. “Nightfall, look!” He motioned out toward the darkness to his elven friend.
Nightfall sucked in a bit of breath, pulling out her own bow and running her hand gently down the wolf’s back in the process to keep him steady.
“Toby, be ready.. they come.” She spoke withdrawn, trying to stay calm as pairs of flashing eyes began to materialize toward them. The sick snapping of old bones against the stones of the tomb echoed.
“Hooo boy! Am I ever!” Toby cried out and let an arrow loose before anyone knew what had happened.
It all happened in an instant. The skeletons entered the glow of the light, the wolf charged forward as Toby fired arrow after arrow, and Nightfall joined the volley as best she could. Arrows ricocheted off of bone ribs and hardened skulls. The wolf tore apart limbs, finding it easy to clamp down upon bone.
Toby laughed as his arrows made their mark. He rarely missed and was hitting the spots where the bones joined, watching their arms or legs fall from place as he dislocated them with his shots. “Hey, I made his arm fall off!“ said Toby. He stayed focused as another one of Nightfall’s arrows reflected off a skull.
Nightfall clenched her jaw and threw her bow over her shoulder as she drew her shield and sword quickly. “I’ll just have to do this another way!” she exclaimed as she found a spot beside her wolf companion.
Anyway, I bet there was abouts FIFTY of em!! Took us …four hours to beat em all!! I think Nightfall thought I was a good help. I hope so.. She did lots at keep me safe. Ethos was busy eatin dem bones he found after. He was a good boy too. When we were done there were SO many bones from us taking them down that Nightfall could barely take a step! Yep the floor was thick with all the skeletons we sent back to where they belonged. Uh huh! Oh hey… Mr Journal I’ll be right back… I think someone left a stink bomb outside! Soon there were the bones of the dozen or so skeletons scattered everywhere, and a pause in the noises sent a thrilling chill down Toby’s back. Nightfall glanced over to a pile of bones and Toby stood posed proud at the top of a lopsided skull, hands on hips, nodding at a job well done.
“Well now, they shoulda known betta dontcha think!” Nightfall shook her head and smiled.
Their voices trailed off as they continued down the corridor.
Ok Mr. Journal, where was I. The town is safe by the ways! I helped take care of the stink bomb! Oh ya.. We were looking for that essences stuff from that big bad guy! Well.. Maybe he was goods before but now he is definitely dead and bads. Ethos kept biting dem bad ones and I had fun shooting up some more skeletons. We found the bad guy at the verrrry end of the tomb. The door loomed ahead of Nightfall and Toby. Ethos sniffed the air and let out a low growl.
“He hungry still?” Toby asked as Nightfall shook her head distractedly no. Toby tried to hum quietly to himself to keep the fearful knot in his stomach turning into a scream. He could tell Nightfall was nervous as well. He had heard stories about the dark one in the tomb.
I wish that bard hadn’t sung those songs he did about the black one.. I was worried he would freeze me on the spot and then swallow my hands and feet before the rest of me… I wonder if he’d be able to swallow a pixie’s feet… Stone slid against stone as it strained to open into the final chamber. Nightfall murmured a few words to Folian’spae and then stepped forward. Toby followed quickly behind. Ethos trotted forward to protect them both. Suddenly the ghosts began to materialize out from the darkened air, and in their midst formed a dark shadow. As the first ghoul came toward Toby and Nightfall, Ethos jumped in front and engaged the ghouls. This gave time for Toby and Nightfall to fire with their arrows once more.
Somehow Toby found himself separated. He looked frantically for Nightfall but could only see a mass of undead surrounding what must be their position. Taking a step forward toward them he felt a chill run up his spine. Frozen into place, Toby slowly turned his head to look behind him. The dark one stood only a few paces behind. A certain cold laughter echoing from its hollow mouth.
“I.. I’m not scared of you!” Toby stammered as he struggled to get an arrow nocked and ready. Its icy hand swept across Toby’s face and he let out a yelp as it stung. Taking out his sword he swung at the dark one, only finding certain spots his weapon could actually pierce. Fear started to clutch at his heart and he felt worn down. His body stung all over from where the freezing death had touched him. Toby swung once more and missed.. Oh how he hated close combat.. He longed to be out of reach and in safety once more.
The dark one struck Toby then, and he went sprawling backward, out of breath. It approached him slowly now, almost demanding as it spread its arms wide. Toby felt fear strangle him now, and he closed his eyes, longing to just be away and out of reach.
It was then that he felt it.. A sudden reaching out, something pulling him in. He knew it wasn’t the ghoul.. It was almost as if time faded for Toby for a moment. He felt as if he were being embraced, he felt safety opening up towards him. Toby concentrated on this feeling and opened his eyes. He could see the shadows off the wall weaving around him, things started to fade and Toby found himself watching a very confused Dark one. He had disappeared from sight.
Toby moved, and as he did he felt as if he were reaching out toward the next corner, as if things around him were bending to help each step. Toby waited until he was behind the ghoul, and then jumped forward. Without realizing how he had done it, the shadows let go and things started to come back into perspective for Toby.
“Down you go!!” Toby yelled, and thrust his sword into the visage’s chest where the darkness swirled the deepest. It shrieked in surprise and slowly faded down into the cracks of the stone as it wails died with it.
Toby stood stunned. This was the second time he had vanished from someone’s sight, and the thrill of it stayed with him. He wanted to know more. Toby closed his eyes and tried to make the shadows bend for him again. Toby opened his eyes a bit after a moment and watched Nightfall stride toward him.
“Are you alright Toby? Well done.. You defeated the dark one”
“you can see me?” Toby sounded disappointed
“ah.. Yes.. Honestly.. You’re ok?”
“mhm!” Toby smiled and hugged her wrist “Glad you guys are ok too. Let’s get going though.. I don’t like it here”
“Nor do I Toby.. Come, lets take this essence and go quickly”
I dunno how to tell you what happened Mr. Journal… Remember when the mayor scared me and I disappeared from his sight? That was fun! It happened again when I went to fight that dead man. I dunno what it is I did, but I wanna find out. It keeps me safe. Maybe I have to shut my eyes harder I dunno. It helped me defeat that thing! Saved my life. Maybe I can talk to my shadow… Nope… didn’t work. Well, anyways.. We won and I got my stuff… but tomorrow I am gonna go see if I can hide like that again.
