Shield of the Farmstead Part 1

Aegeus now lay face down in the long tall grass. The Mud that was once at his feet now splattered across his face. He felt worms, Spiders and many other bugs crawl over his hands, though he didn’t care if he made any movement the Ghouls would see him and rip him apart. He looked up slightly the door was just a few yards away and ghouls were at least twice the distance. He thought about it, he could launch himself to the door and get inside before the ghouls even knew he was there, but no they could catch him, they were fast… really fast. The ghouls came closer, Aegeus was surprised they could not smell his flesh, the fear was making him sweat but it faded away with the wet ground he lay on. He was a fool to come here alone, he though to himself still focusing on the door. He should of listened and waited for the Paladins to rally, but he couldn’t wait he had to know he had to know if she was okay. He now feared for his life, his heart pounded against his breast Plate, he feared they could here it, but no he was safe for now. He focused at the door again, he should of ran when for it when the Ghouls were further away, now they were to close for him to even stand up without being caught. They reached the grass which he hid in, yards away from where he had dropped his sword, there was no chance of a fight anyway he was out numbered. He thought of his family and friends and of her. His emotions were over coming him now; he knew if he did not act he would never see his family again. He had to get himself together, he was a Paladin for light sake he should not fear death or its minions. He looked towards the door again, and was about to stand and run when he heard a scream from behind him. Had he been spotted! Where the ghouls coming!

No they turned around and looked else where, this was his chance his only chance, he stood up and ran toward the door. The ghouls turned round and screeched as only one ran after him. The other six ran away somewhere. Aegeus reached the door and turned the handle it was locked, he remembered he had a key; he felt around but could not find it. The grass he thought, he must have dropped it. There was no time to go back for it; he was trapped outside no way in. He put his face to the door, if he was to die he would want his spine destroyed by the ghoul, there would be no chance of him coming back as one of them that way. He heard a splutter and his back felt wet, had he been cut? He felt no pain, and his cloths seemed the same. He felt fine, better than fine, maybe it was water on his back, he though. No it was too thick for water, he slowly turned around, and the ghoul lay dead with an arrow in its head, that’s the blood that hit him. Aegeus looked around but saw no one; he then remembered of the other ghouls not far of and quickly ran for his key. After about a minute of searching he found it, but also noticed the three charging ghouls coming his direction. He didn’t know what to do, the ghouls had seen him surely if he got in the house they would rip the door down. Suddenly Aegeus just ran, without even thinking his legs just ran taking him to the door, he inserted the key the ghouls were inches behind him a few seconds more and he would be lying dead on the ground. The door swung open and he jumped inside closing it on a ghouls arm, he reached around and found a small dagger on the floor he drove it into the ghouls arm and it retracted it. He closed the door and pulled a table and a few chairs in front of it. He looked around the room was filled with dead bodies and blood. Then he spoke: “What happened here!?”

Shield of the Farmstead: Part 2

Aegeus stood in the house to pool of blood swarmed his feet, and the vile smell combed the air. Dead bodies lay in the corner, and one lay on the stairs… all men. He began to laugh, trying to hide his pain and sadness while also blocking out the sound of the ghouls slamming the arms against the door. He sat and laughed for maybe another five minutes until he finally gathered the courage to check the bodies. He peered in the corner, nothing but males, and the one on the stairs was male too. He pushed the body out of the way and slowly walked up the creaking stairs. He looked in the first room, nothing. He wondered along the corridor and froze… he heard bone snapping and blood spilling. He quietly looked round the corner into the second room. A Ghoul sat there feasting on the flesh of a woman. The ghoul looked round at him and bolted at him, he tried to turn and run but fell dropping the knife which slid along the floor to the edge of the stairs. He began to crawl forward, but fell as the ghoul jumped on top of him; he spun round to face the ghoul as it bit into his arm which he used to protect his face. Aegeus screamed in pain, but prayed to the light to give him strength… it answered and he placed his hand on the ghouls head, burning its skull and killing it. Aegeus looked at his arm, it was tainted with the Scourge, and he performed another spell which cleared the taint, but left the wound open. He didn’t have the strength to heal it.

Aegeus lay with the ghoul on top of him for a while, until eventually he pushed it up and made his way to the second room once more. He looked in it making sure no more ghouls were in there; of course anymore ghouls in the house would come running when they heard the scream of pain from the one he just killed. He pulled over the body, a blonde elf girl around Aegeus’s age lay dead, he face was all chewed of and one eye hung out of the Socket and the other was gone completely, it looked like her, but there was one way to make sure, he lifted her long hair to expose her neck, she wore a necklace with a golden shield at the end. He moved back and leaned against the wall; he put his hands over his eyes and began to cry softly. “She didn’t deserve this” he mumbled, and then suddenly shouted into the air “SHE DIDN’T DESERVE THIS!” Aegeus stood up, what had the Light brought him accept pain and suffering. He walked out the door and ran down the stairs. The Ghouls still slammed at the door, he looked around the room, and a lantern still lit lay in the corner of the room. Aegeus picked it up and went to the storage cupboard he took out two bottles of whisky and poured them round the downstairs room of the house. He then pulled a leg of one of the tables piled up at the door, smashed the lit lantern onto the alcoholic covered bodies. The Fire spread round the house quickly and he lit up the table leg he held. He pulled the tables and chairs away and ran out hitting the first ghoul on the side of the head with the lit piece of wood. It fell to the ground as a second ghoul lunged at him, with ease and rage he hit that one to the ground also, the third one came eventually Aegeus took what remaining alcohol was left and smashed the bottle over the ghouls head, and lunged the flaming wood into its face burning the ghoul instantly, the other ghouls had vanished. Aegeus ran away from the house and headed as far away from the house as possible.

The house burnt down to nothing, but if he had looked at the elf’s body for maybe just a few seconds longer he would have realised it was not who he was looking for.