The creature bounded down the hill, quickly closing the distance between itself and the camping women. There was no doubt as to it’s quarry, and Kassadi and Madrona shared a glance before they lept to their feet seeking escape. There was, of course, no where to escape to. They were smack dab in the middle of a field with nothing but some gently sloping hills in the distance, no way they could reach one before the Hellhound was upon them and even if they could make it what would they do? They were pretty sure the canine could run around a hill!
“Madrona why is there a hellhound after us?!” Kassadi shouted,
eyes wide as she slowly backed away, to where she hadn’t the faintest.
“How should I know?!” She shouted. “Just because I’m an
Inferni doesn’t mean I know about denizens of the Three Hells!”
“Okay yeah that makes sense I’m sorry for assuming!” Kassadi
shouted. The creature was on them. They perhaps could have used their lead time
a little bit better than they did…
Madrona
cursed, she threw her hand out and the bolt of sickly green energy launched
forward, it collided with the Hellhound, directly onto it’s snout. It yelped
and stumbled but was able to correct in an instant. Leaping through the air
fang and claws were bared and Madrona needed to leap forward, under the beast,
to avoid being mauled. She could feel the sharp claws drag against the leather
of her corset, a moment later and that would have been flesh. The fur of the beast’s
tail tickled her cheek as it passed over her back, scrambling back to her feet
she took off away, the Hellhound pivoted as it landed and took off after his
prey.
Kassadi
cried out to Madrona as she saw the fiend spin around and go after her again.
Extending her hand, thumb and ring finger tucked in magic swirled from the
remaining three. Three missiles of gleaming white energy whistled harshly as
they soared though the air, each striking the target before them. Two of the
missiles crashed into the beasts flank and one managed to smash into it’s ribs.
A snarl was all Kassadi was able to get for her troubles, it still bared down
on Madrona, who could only maintain about half a foot’s distance from the creatures
savage maw.
The
Wizard regrouped, needed to focus and assess the situation. Reaching into her
component pouch a length of rope about a foot in length was drawn from it.
Wiping the rope around in a winding arc there was suddenly a spectral lasso
whirling above Kassadi’s head, a corn yellow outline defining the boundaries of
the arcane rope. She lashed out with it, not exactly skilled in the art of the
lasso, the magic did the work for her, finding itself looped around the
Hellhounds neck and growing taught. The beast yelped as it felt all of it’s
forward moment halt and an incredible pressure at it’s neck. Kassadi held onto
the other end of the rope, once again the magic doing most of the work in
giving her strength enough to hold this beast.
“Madrona!” She called out. “Go!”
Madrona
stumbled and fell to the ground as she heard Kassadi’s call, but quickly pushed
herself back up and turned to take in what had happened. The hellhound was
snapping at the spectral rope, finding no purchase, no ability to shred it with
it’s teeth. Madrona actually grinned, perhaps they weren’t screwed. Then the
Hellhound turned and moved for Kassadi, Madrona watched in horror as the
Hellhound began panting, and each time it exhaled the black smoke of it’s
breath grew thicker and plumed from it’s snout. A fear gripped Madrona’s heart
and she sprinted forward just as the beast too one last inhale and blew out a stream
of Hellfire.
“Kassadi down!” Madrona shouted. Her legs took her faster
than she once thought them capable of. She could see the flames curling towards
her traveling companion and she knew what was about to happen. Madrona managed
to body tackle Kassadi, taking the Wizard down to the ground as the flamed
washed over Infernal flesh instead. Madrona hissed in pain as the heat sank
into her. She cried out and collapsed to the ground, skidding.
“Madrona!” Kassadi called out, she glanced at the Hellhound
who was inhaling again, she gritted her teeth and grasped from her satchel a
hunk of wet clay. She threw the material down to her feet and imesiately raised
her hands up sharply, as she did the very earth before her rumbled to life and
a wall made of stone and dirt erupted between the Wizard and the Hellhound… It
was only about eight feet tall and fifteen from end to end, curved to form a
half circle around the Hellhound, but it deflected the second exhale of fire.
Kassadi turned to tend to Madrona… but found that Madrona was no longer there!
Madrona
had managed to push herself off the ground, angry now. She clutched at her
shoulder and hissed at the sensation, like a bad sun burn. She grumbled about
it and made her way to flank the beast, watching Kassadi’s wall come up just as
a second gout of flame would have toasted her. Good girl, Madrona thought. It
also gave the Warlock an idea. Clapping her hands together, dagger between each
palm, Madrona drove her dagger into the earth. Whispers of ancient words
escaped her lips and the ground beneath the Hellhound split. The earth seemed
to drag itself, tearing in the middle. The hellhound, blocked on all sides but
one, leapt in the only direction it could to escape. It was fruitless… The soil
opened up into a twenty foot long ten foot deep pit, had it been able to jump
in the other direction maybe it could have made it. As it was, the creature
just barely got it’s front paws on the loose soil at Madrona’s feet. A swift
kick to the snout sent the beast tumbling.
It
snarled and barked at the woman, leaping up to try and free itself. With some
time Madrona had no doubt the creature could get out, she wasn’t going to give
it the chance. She snatched the dagger up and the ground rumbled and closed in
on itself. There was a pathetic yelp as the ground swallowed up the Hellhound,
Madrona smiled gently… and then collapsed to a seated position, letting out an
exhale. Kassadi’s earth wall slowly crumbled a moment later, the Wizard
frantically searching and finding Madrona a moment later.
“Oh my goddess Madrona!” She said as she sprinted over to
the woman. “Why did you do that?!”
“I told you.” Modrona said, a little out of breath. “I don’t
burn.” Madrona pushed up of the ground. “Come on now, lets get our stuff, the
grounds not gonna hold that thing forever.” She walked off, Kassadi furrowed
her brow, but looked at the ground, where she could swear she heard the sounds
of heavy panting… and digging.
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