By: Kenneth J. Merchant Aliya scuffled behind a monstrous ironwood tree to hide from her pursuants. The goblin encampment that she had tracked wasn't too far behind. They all rushed past her with their spears held high and their squeaky voices roaring with anguish. Aliya's keen senses told her that she wasn't alone. Apparently someone decided to be smarter than the rest of the pack, and they weren't too far away either. A bugbear stepped into Aliya's view. He was larger than most bugbears that she had seen. His hair dark as pitch black and one eye was white with a scar. His arms nearly big enough to match a tree trunk. She knew it would be smarter to hide until he left, but she also knew a well thought out plan could take this bugaboo down. She looked around her environment - just like her Elven tutors had taught her - and found exactly what she needed to beat this bear. |
She reached for her knife and cut some rope vine and threw it above her upon a branch. The vine rope wrapped around and she pulled tight to create a knot. She checked to make sure the bugbear didn't notice and he didn't. Next she slowly climbed up the backside of the ironwood tree she hid behind so as to not give herself away. Reaching the top of the branch she swung herself up and into a perching position. Now all she had to do is wait patiently.
The bugbear wasn't making it easy and it took several minutes before he moved even remotely close to where Aliya waited. Now was her chance to strike. She pounced from above and skydived towards the bugbear. She positioned herself midflight so as to land on the bugbear's shoulders. Once she landed the bugbear already began to struggle, but Aliya wrapped her legs around his throat. She removed her elvish dagger and stabbed down between the back of the bugbear's neck and his spine, slid down the rest of the length of his back, cutting a deep wound that sent the bugbear sprawling to its knees. Aliya's next move was as quick as lightning. The bugbear spun around and soon as his ugly bearded face met her's she let loose an arrow. It plunged deep through the bear's good eye and he yowled in agony. Sprawled out on the ground Aliya finished the beast with her dagger and slit his throat.