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For them…    �

The sun bore down without remorse… add that to the humidity from a recent rainstorm, and things became nearly unbearable. Such things fill the days here in the Yhoator Jungles… still adventurers flock here by the hundreds in hopes of attaining higher levels of skill. Apparently we weren’t as immune to the allure of this as I’d hoped…�

�Silently I followed my mithran love Hanyorai through the crowds, half-heartedly listening to calls of the others seeking to build parties. Glancing left and right I took in the various beings gathered around us… picking out a few I noticed that seemed well equipped, these I mentioned to Hanyo leaving her to choose our group. Once we’d agreed on the party set up, we gathered our gear and headed out.

�The ride to our chosen camp was short and uneventful... unless you consider fighting to ignore clinging, sweat soaked armor interesting. Having reached our base of operations, the mages began chanting softly in preparation of adding their own magic to our physical defenses. Taking a cue from them, I began my own chanting as I focused my inner chi to call forth the art of Utsusemi: Ichi, and grinned as my shadow split and rose forth to mimic my movements. We were ready…or so we thought.

�The first few pulls went smoothly… our Paladin and Warrior made sure to keep the Mandragora’s hate centered on them, which allowed me to focus on dealing damage from the rear arc. Hanyorai summoned Carbuncle and happily added its efforts to our work. The little blue avatar makes quite an entrance, and soon our group welcomed the additional help in defeating our chosen foes.

 �As morning gave way to noon, we decided to break for a short time and enjoy a quick meal. Using the free moments to question our fellows and learn abit more about the company we found ourselves in. Conversations began to deepen as food began to disappear, the mood relaxed and I found myself entertained by a fellow elvaans flirtations with our mithran red mage. In retrospect we should have known better… we may have been better prepared for the goblin butcher that ambushed us…

�Our galka paladin had just let loose a bellowing laughter at the elvaans latest attempt, when something large rushed forth from the underbrush.. Massively muscled and heavily armored, the goblin laid into Hanyorai with a vengence. Surging to his feet, the paladin provoked the beastman off of her with a shouted challenge followed by a heavy blow from his greatsword.

�We watched in horror as the blade rang off the goblins helm, having done little more than piss the monster off. Turning the goblin launched into a fresh flurry of hammering attacks�which our galka was hard pressed to defend himself against. Desparation replaced shock as we dove in to his rescue. Wielding twin katanas, I snuck upon the beastman and lashed him across his right flank… too little too late I feared.

�The elvaan warrior called forth his own challenge and began assaulting the monster with duel axes. Blow after blow rang out as our attacks scored the beast, which having had enough, pulled forth a dreaded goblin bomb. Hurling it into the center of our group, we found ourselves knocked in all different directions by the explosion. Taking advantage of the situation, our goblin waded into us again.

�Blood streamed down my check and matted my hair… a quick glance revealed none of the others were in any better shape. Though the beastman sported several wounds of his own, he clearly held the field as he took turns battering our warrior and paladin.

 �Hanyorai’s soft�chant ended abruptly causing me to look up in time to watch as our red mage threw herself in front of the warrior in time to save him from a vicious backhanded blow. The impact took her from her feet and into the warrior, as both went tumbling in a mass of twisted limbs and fabrics. Down two members, the goblin focused his attention upon our paladin… it would be his final mistake.

�I knew the battle was lost if something wasn't done soon… even Hanyorai’s hurried chant of a healing spell wouldn’t be enough to end this. As metal rang out on metal, I tossed aside my katana and cleared my mind. Focusing inward, I began to draw energy from not only myself but the very a life around me. Locking eyes with Hanyo I managed faint smile…and let myself go…

�The energy roared through me as I directed it into the goblin…catching him completely unaware, and flooring him with a�massive burst of kinetic power. My conscious held on long enough for me mutely feel my collapse to the ground…then darkness took me. I’m not sure how long I waited in the black nothingness between life and death… time matters little then. I’m not even sure when I became aware of dozens of sharp pains. I remember thinking then that death shouldn’t hurt right? So why do I hurt all over? Guess I must have mumbled that last part…’cause I clearly remember hearing Hanyo’s choked laughter. Slowly I willed my eyes to open and found myself staring once more into Hanyos green orbs.
 Softly she told me how the battle ended… it appears that my final attack allowed our paladin to land a mortal blow. Weakened and extremely fatigued… I was content to rest my head in Hanyos lap… her whispered,” Welcome back m’love” was music to my ears.