World Witout Wizards: Guard

Intelligence Check

Base 0

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 4

Failure

What should I do with this spider?

"Attack," I ordered, looking at the enemy, who was trying to approach me from the left. Nothing happened.

"Kill!" The spider didn't move. Damn it! What is happening?

"Attack! Fight! Eat them! Now!" Without moving, the spider continued to sit on my wrist, merging with the color of my leather gloves. The opponents noticed my confusion and sped up, circling around the flanks.

Screw it, they'll surround me! I needed to get rid of at least one of them while I still could.

I raised my sword and spun it over my head, attacking the spearman before he could turn away.

Attack Check

Base 4

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 4+2 (experienced)

Failure

The flaming blade cut through the foe's t.h.i.g.h; his dry clothes caught fire. But the enemy wasn't alone, his two companions immediately rushed back. My own hair was scorched, as I moved the sword arm behind my back.

"Back," a slouchy man with a small sword and shield commanded, I didn't consider him to be the strongest opponent. The bulky guy with the club looked much more impressive.

"You should have thought of that before!" I tried to cheer myself up by swinging my sword. "You attacked my village, and now you'll die!"

"Lasgl," the slouchy soldier shouted, running back to the side and not paying attention to me, "hold this idiot back for a few minutes."

"What are you talking about, brother? We've almost won!"

"No, the awakened Guard has won, but we'll take this little bastard with us for the sleeping God!"

At first, I was delighted, and even proudly straightened my back. They hadn't only recognized me as a Guard, even though I had no guard armor, they admitted their defeat. A terrible roar was heard around the Oulsast's pond. Looking back, I saw the stone Titan fighting the Kraken, grabbing one tentacle at a time, twisting and snapping them as if they were homemade sausages. He can defeat them soon…

"Ha…" The man with the club shouted. Distracted, I could hardly manage to repel the attack.

"What are you looking at, you son of a bitch? Do you think you're stronger than me? Let's see." With this terrible cry, he threw his club at me and fortunately missed. Then he stuck a strange black dagger with a wavy blade into his c.h.e.s.t.

He fell and shook his whole body, arching as if he had no bones. Then he wheezed and fell silent. Is he dead? I'd never understood cultists. Why did they have to go to distant lands—to stab themselves with a knife? He didn't even help his friend, although he asked him to do it.

Shrugging, I stepped over the corpse, heading for the last enemy. As soon as I took a couple of steps, I heard strange gurgling and chewing behind my back. To be honest, I wasn't a coward, but that sound scared me. I instantly turned around, raising my sword. A drooling creature, standing on four crooked legs, was devouring one of the dead soldiers. I could bet that just a few seconds ago this slobbering beast had been a big man, because the scraps of his clothes were hanging from the beast. But its appearance and size had nothing to do with the man.

It had a b.a.r.e skull with the remains of flesh instead of a face. Its lips and cheeks hung down. Instead of eyes and nose it had a was strange black liquid that was flowing down, it hardened, turning into the narrow, razor-sharp teeth, with which the monster bit off the flesh from the bodies of the fighters and swallowed them. The shape of the drooling creature continued to change with each new bite.

I didn't know what kind of monster it was. I hadn't heard of it even in the terrible fairy tales. I'm sure if I let it eat enough it'll turn into a gorwalk or even a forest troll. I'm not gonna let that happen.

Attack Check

Base 4

Bonus -5 (dangerous enemy)

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 4

Failure

I was good with the sword, but it didn't help me much. This modified cultist was very different from my usual opponents. The drooling creature ducked the blade as if my sword was an annoying fly. My weapon, by the way, weighed eight pounds and burned with a flame! The fire was useless against this monster, except that it turned its attention to me. I didn't know how I guessed it, but I was sure it was watching me, even though it had no eyes and continued its meal. Now it stood sideways and devoured a torn leg, constantly turning to me while I was trying to move around it.

Well, it was high time to use the magic.

"The Strike of the Sun!"

The ray from my hand hit the drooling creature's muzzle, and it obviously didn't like that. It turned away, trying to protect itself with the twenty-inch clawed paws. Great! So, it should work now because it's blinded, I could even see the liquid spreading in different directions, exposing its yellowish bones.

Attack Check

Base 4

Bonus -5 (epic enemy)

Dice Roll 1

Requirement 3

Failure

It has no eyes to go blind! The drooling monster knocked my sword out of my hands, repelling my attack with the half-eaten leg. I tried to retreat, but it was too late. The next attack knocked me down to the ground. The half-eaten leg struck my feet; well, it sounds rather odd. And in the next instant, the black salivating mouth was gaping over me.

Dexterity Check

Base -5

Bonus 3

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 2

Failure

I couldn't dodge and the drooling monster struck me with my own flaming sword. Now I felt the heat of the weapon, which saved me in today's battle many times.

Strength Check

Base 1

Bonus -5

Dice Roll 4

Requirement 2

Failure

I tried to throw off the terrible drooling creature, but it was much larger and heavier than me. The monster wasn't just huge, it was enormous. I doubted I could defeat it. My skin was burning, the fire heated my b.r.e.a.s.tplate, which was now bright red. There seemed to be no way out.

Luck Check

Base 1

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 2

Requirement 3

Success

Turning away from the ugly muzzle, I looked back at the spider, sitting quietly on my hand. The little useless creature that took so much attention.

"Attack!" It wasn't even moving! Only a purple outline appeared while I was looking at it. But it was better than looking at the muzzle dripping with saliva.

Small spider selected and activated. Orders?

"Kill that enemy!!!" I yelled.

My little helper moved, quickly running from my hand to the monster's paw. YES! FINALLY!