Den of Thieves

Stronger tool in hand Glar finally manages to turn the lock’s inner mechanism, sliding the bolts aside. As the door opens slightly Glar exclaims, “finally!”

In the passage Carr sees the light increase around the chamber’s main door and scurries, figuring time has just run out.

Excited the door’s unlocked Jim, Crete and one other guard rushes past Glar pushing the stone door wide open.

Still kneeling Glar remembers the deadfall trap inside Marten had built in, years ago and yells out, “stop! It’s…”

It’s too late as Jim steps on a floor plate releasing the trap. Seven spring-loaded, sharpened iron bars shoot down from the ceiling.

One bar skewers Jim in his left shoulder through the lung and out the belly, pinning him in place.

Another bar drives into the young guard’s skull, killing him instantly. The bar tears out of the underside of the jaw and straight into a pre-positioned hole in the floor.

Crete slams into one as the bar finds its’ hole in the floor. The remaining four bars slam loudly into their holes blocking further entrance into the bedchamber.

Exiting the passage Carr stops observing the grizzly trap at work. Other guards try to enter the room all watch as the young guard’s lifeless body slides down the iron bar to the floor.

Seeing the young rogue in Marten’s bedchambers some guards shake fists and weapons at him.

Jim feebly struggles to pull the iron bar from his body.

Glar pulls a few of the guards aside forcing his way past to get a look inside the bedchamber. Seeing Carr standing there calls out to him, “there’s no where for you go.” Turning to the males he orders, “quick! Get crossbows and bows. Hurry!”

Several males in the corridor take off to retrieve the requested weapons. Hearing the request Carr runs towards the tall cabinet.

Males behind the iron bars begin whipping daggers and knives at him.

Spotting the release lever to the trap a few paces away Glar grabs a man and points it out to him, “get a rope and hook. Or a pole arm.” Shoving the man into the outer corridor, “hurry!”

Turning back Glar thinks the rogue is going to hide in or behind the cabinet, “where in hell do you think you’re going?”

Carr grabs the back edge of the cabinet, as the last thrown dagger dives into one of the cabinet’s doors, splitting it with a loud crack. Buried to the handle it knocks the door panel in.

Glancing back Carr sees no one seems to have a short blade left to throw. Trying to appeal to Glar’s true nature Carr mentions, “the guild’s yours. I’ve only taken what I was paid for. Do I still have to fear for my life?”

The mob of males become enraged.

Buying time Glar wants to clarify what was just heard, “Marten’s dead?” Glarr thinks about it. Marten’s dead. The guild is mine, and his treasure. All from one stinky lil’ human boy.

Knowing what Glar is thinking Crete says to him, “we can’t let him leave alive. If not for just Marten, these two men.” Pointing to Jim and the guard.

Struggling to live Jim gurgles out, “kill em. For-me … my stuff-is-yours.”

Carr waits only to hear Glar’s final say, hoping no vengeance will be sought.

“They’re right rat boy,” Glar answers, “I’ve got a pact with Marten anyway. Avenge each others unnatural death.” Surmising Marten has an emergency exit and Carr found it, Glar whispers to Crete, “Marten must have a secret escape tunnel. It probably comes out in the passage off the treasury. Hurry, take a bunch of men.”

Crete nods speaking to Jim, “we’ll hunt him down like the rat he is.” Taking men with him, Crete quickly heads for the guild’s treasury.

Hearing Crete, Carr ducks into the passage pulling it closed just as a few men show up with crossbows.

Eye twitching Glar yells to Crete, “bring me both hides off that rat when you catch him!”

Back in the dark passages Carr uses the magical glasses to see. Closing the second concealed door he can hear the males in the distance.

Taking the crossbow rack Carr lays it in the tunnel to slow them up.

Quickly gathering up the rest of his things heads for the escape shaft.

Hearing the males now in the narrow tunnel Carr closes the large round stone door and takes a minute to lock it, hoping to further slow them.

As the stiff locking bars slide back into their grooves, he can hear the sound of the wooden crossbow rack being tossed aside.

Over to the shaft Carr sighs, realizing the new steed will have to be abandoned. Scaling the shaft, he hesitates wanting to go back for her but knows it’ll be too risky.

As the guild members reach the locked stone door, they pound on it, uttering morbid death threats.

At the top of the shaft Carr carefully lifts the lid to peek out into the dark forest. The night woods seem too bright through the glasses.

Taking them off he reaches back inserting them into the backpack. Only seeing the trees, he figures its’ safe and climbs out.

Reseating the shafts’ lid Carr turns seeing three males stepping from behind trees. Rasp the grey Goblin, his big Orc buddy and some sort of Orc half-breed guard.

Smiling Carr notices, “I see your leg is all healed up.”

“Yes,” Rasp steps towards Carr, “and you have my coin, and we still have a fight to finish. I believe the rumor is you can single handedly take on three. Or is that just bull?”

Surrounding Carr, the males draw their weapons and step closer.

Needing to make a hasty retreat Carr also feels lucky enough to consider further proving himself. Drawing the long-sword he steps back east towards the hill’s end and the bog’s beginning.

Rasp taunts him, “you’re not going to run away crying on us, are you?”

Finding Rasp’s comment humorous, but not showing it Carr replies, “well I can’t stand around chatting.”

That urges the half-breed to rush Carr with a rusty long-sword cocked back over his shoulder. Estimating the half-breed’s strides Carr lowers his sword for an upward slash waiting for the half-breed to strike first.

Thinking Carr is wide open the half-breed strikes down for Carr’s chest. Ready for it, Carr hops back far enough to avoid the rusty blade while slashing his sword upwards with great force.

Still moving forward, the half-breed steps into Carr’s long-sword. The blade cuts off the half-breed’s belt and slices deep up into the male’s belly before exiting.

Using an expensive cutlass, Rasp sees Carr as distracted and runs in for an attack.

Following through Carr twists and swings for the half-breed’s head, slicing deep across the male’s forehead and over his pointed ear, exposing skull.

Aiming for Carr’s waist Rasp swings while running by. Seeing Rasp coming Carr turns about, avoiding the sharp cutlass. Completing the turn Carr drives his long-sword into the half-breed’s stomach.

The big Orc stomps over attempting to cleave Carr in two with a huge double-headed battle-axe. Also making his second swing Rasp aims again for Carr’s waist. Merely avoiding the axe Carr rolls around the half-breed forcing him to turn from the embedded long-sword.

As the heavy battle-axe comes down the big Orc chops off the half-breed’s shield arm from the shoulder blade. Rasp’s razor-sharp sword slices deep into the half-breed’s waist stopping at Carr’s scale armor.

The half-breed’s arm hits the ground with fingers twitching, blood sprays from all his deep wounds.

Pulling their weapons out and taking a step back Rasp and Carr watch the half-breed collapse to the ground.

The big Orc feeling bad for his miss strike bows his head briefly muttering an orc prayer.

Sizing up Carr, Rasp shrugs. Carr feeling smug holds up his index finger noting one down.

With good speed Rasp advances on Carr carefully slashing, forcing Carr on the defensive to avoid and block the attacks.

Back in the fight the Orc backs up Rasp’s attacks with strong swings from the battle-axe. Carr easily avoids the slower Orc but comes close to losing his head from Rasp’s cutlass.

Wanting some distance Carr rolls at the Orc, trying to tumble past. The Orc chops down, the axe misses but the Orc’s forearms knock against Carr’s back as he rolls away.

Springing up Rasp jumps momentarily onto the Orc’s bent over back. Leaping off the back Rasp hacks down on Carr while tumbling. The cutlass connects with the back of Carr’s leg covering gouging a few scales.

Feeling the hit and on the ground, Carr uses his hands to spring up making a few back-flips as Rasp hacks away.

Not getting far Carr flips to the right, Rasp hacks down scrapping across the side of Carr’s body armor. Carr swiftly slashes at Rasp, forcing his foe to back up.

Catching a glimpse of the battle-axe Carr hops left and watches the large axe head pass within a hair of his chest.

Rasp thrusts his sword at Carr’s stomach. Carr jerks back and knocks the cutlass aside with the long-sword. Swinging the long-sword up Carr manages to cut Rasp across the cheek.

Using the momentum of the axe the Orc spins brining the axe up high. Turning back towards Carr the Orc chops down. Carr jumps between the two, avoiding the battle-axe.

The axe head dives deep into the ground sending dirt and stone flying. Following Carr’s movement Rasp slashes for the chest. Carr manages to get his blade in the way. A loud metal clang rings out as the blades connect.

Frustrated Rasp kicks Carr in the inner thigh causing Carr to step back.

Plucking his weapon from the ground the Orc sights up the young Human.

The sounds of fighting draw guards and guild members. They can be heard calling out to each other and soon seen, the flickers of torchlight.

Not wanting to find out if he can take on the whole guild Carr runs east.

Giving chase Rasp calls out, “what’s the matter boy too much for yah?”

The big Orc starts running but isn’t as fast as Rasp neither is Carr.

Gaining on Carr, Rasp warns, “there’s no where for you to go.”

Hearing Rasp catch up Carr circles to face him. Rasp leaps at Carr chopping down with the cutlass blade. Blocking the cutlass with his own blade, Carr is knocked backwards from Rasp’s weight.

Staying on the attack Rasp slashes at Carr trying to remove the young rogue’s head. Carr jerks back and stumbles trying to stay upright.

Rasp slices down across Carr’s torso, scarring the scale.

Spinning to the opposite side of the cutlass Carr swings up at Rasp tearing the Goblin’s leather sleeve. Striking back Rasp’s sword gets under Carr’s shoulder covering cutting the top of his left arm. Taking the hit Carr chops down, his blade slices deep into Rasp’s right shoulder.

Batting Carr’s sword away with his own Rasp spins to thrust the cutlass into Carr’s abdomen. Seeing it coming Carr drops to his knee. As Rasp completes his turn Carr drives his long-sword deep into the Goblin’s belly. Still thrusting his cutlass Rasp cuts the side of Carr’s head.

Twisting and pulling the blade out Carr is covered in Rasp’s blood.

Still fighting Rasp hacks at Carr’s head. Carr rolls aside as cutlass skips across the side of his armor. Getting behind Rasp, Carr kicks the back of the Goblin’s knees out, knocking Rasp down

Getting up to finish off the old assassin Carr sees the big Orc barreling in. Behind the Orc but still a ways away a horde of vengeful males.