Raw Hide's second of two apperances on the roleplay board is a winner!

It's an early example in AiL of what makes this type of writing impressive. Until now, everyone in this mission basically followed their own path, with Catrina and Dash simply more or less being on their own path.

Which's great. But this one continues along it's own path, but takes something from the Catrina and Dash story. Raw takes on Dyspepsi soldiers in the middle of an undefined battle, and gives Raw his own NPC to play with!

Meet Fred. I'm not sure how long he'll survive. *evil grin*

In a related note, it's the thirteenth roleplay. Appropriate to the black cloud known to all as Raw Hide! One more roleplay to come, then it's on to a massive, long in the making finale!

I could sense his strength but I know there is nothing that can beat me. I searched my bag and found my sword. I needed speed to beat this fool so I would need something light. I pulled out my icy-hot katana. I drew my blade and an explosion occurred. We were both knocked off of our feet. The very air itself lit aflame from my blade. I quickly got up and charged him. I summoned up some energy for some added power and swung my blade at his head. It collided with his face as I swung my left fist around to connect and finish him. Instead, my blade shattered and I punched what felt like pure steel.

He simply shrugged it off and stood there defiantly staring at me. His eyes bored deep into my soul. I knew then that this would be a battle that I’d have to finish using my new skill. I watched the master snowman on the mountain teaching his apprentice “forbidden” techniques. He could do them over and over and the apprentice caught on quickly. I however can only master this skill once every week. After I do it I feel so worn out and it takes me a few hours to recover from the pain of draining my body’s energy.

I stood still staring him down. He had no idea what was coming. I calmed my mind and body and then focused all I imagined my entire essence surrounding my right arm. I then imagined it all bottled up where my right hand should be. I could feel the intensity mounting as I willed it into my palm and let it all release into my opponent. As the blaring light streamed across my opponent’s face I heard him squeal. I caught him completely off guard and I knew that would finish him.

His fist collided with my stomach and I lost my breath. I doubled over both in pain form the drain as well as the blow to my stomach.

“I am Grendar of the old people who lived long ago. My skin is as hard as the armor of twenty knights. I have the strength of a giant and the swiftness of a fox. You can’t win.” I knew he spoke the truth. I could barely move after that blast. I was finished. I could here him walking my way but could hardly see through the pain. He placed his hand on my chest and began to push. I felt an icy cold wash over my body. Then in an instant the pain had gone. “Now get up, you moron! Go home and don’t come in my swamp again or next time I’ll kill you.”

I couldn’t lose. I had to get around him and prove myself on the island. I knew I couldn’t beat him. I’m not the smartest guy in the world but I knew I had to make it. “Wait! Let me answer your riddles.”

“You don’t stand a chance,” He retorted. “My riddles are twice as hard as my skin. Only a wise old man could even hope to get them right. So here is the first. If you feel it is too hard then you will die and I will feast upon your flesh. A man is traveling to the Village of Truth. A fork in the road appears and he knows that one road leads to a village of lying cannibals while the other leads to the village of truth. However, he forgot which is which. He spots two well dressed men coming down one on each road. If he knows one will lie and the other will tell the truth, how can he ask one question and make it to his destination? Now you may speak.

There was no leaving. I would rather die than face the humiliation of turning back. I had a purpose. I mulled the answer over. My life was on the line as much as the traveler’s. “How many guesses do I get?” The man replied with one word, “Two.” Hmmm. The liar would like to see me die but he must lie. I came to my first response. “Ask them which road leads to the Village of Truth.”

The dark man looked at me and asked, “Are you sure?” I thought and then it hit me the liar would point to his village and the truth speaker to his. I can’t ask them which is the liar because they would still both answer differently. OOOOOO! I got it. “Ask them to take me to their own village. The liar would take me to the truth village and so would the truth-speaker.”

“Correct. Well I’m impressed. That one is normally quite tricky. Oh well. Question two. Two knob goblin sentries were on duty outside a barracks. One faced up the road to watch for anyone approaching from the North. The other looked down the road to see if anyone approached from the South. Suddenly one of them said to the other, "Why are you smiling?" How did he know that his companion was smiling?”

That one I knew because it happened to me. I was on sentry duty with my dad back in the northland. He took his position and gave me my instructions and told me to take up my position when I got back from taking a leak. When I got back I looked at him and he started laughing. I asked him what was so funny. “You aren’t supposed to face me, Calador.” I was embarrassed but a lesson learned is always rewarding. My response came quickly to the dark warrior. “They are facing each other like a bunch of ninnies.

“Way to go, you fool. Now I’m pissed. I’ve never gotten this far with anyone. So here it goes the riddles passed down to me by the greatest riddler ever. What walks on 4 legs in the morning, two in the day, and three in the evening?”

I know I heard this somewhere. I froze up when he said “Oh, and I will give you only one guess for this one.” I started stammering and then thinking out loud. “The legs…I know this…three legs, uh…a stool…that messed up dog…freakish mutants…Oh man!.....this is rou…”

“Damn it! How did you get it? That was a riddle the sphinx herself gave me.” I didn’t know I had answered it but I guess the answer was man. I just meant oh man as in shucks. Oh well. Fair is fair. “I guess, since you beat me, I am indebted to you. I will join you in your cause.”

“Great! First off, I need to know why the hell you’re so grumpy.”

“I went home a while back to find my wife and my son, Grendel, slayed by some northerner. Bay of Wolves or something like that. So I’ve been a bit bitter.”
I could understand where he was coming from. “Ok I need to get to the mysterious island of mystery. So, first off, you are one damn strong fighter and thanks for healing me. Second, show me the fastest way to the island because that blast I put in your face kind of wore me out and I’m sick of walking as is.”

“I’m not going to lie. The blast was all flashy and it really didn’t do anything so never try it again. There are just some things different creatures can’t do. So drop it.” That hurt. I had trained for almost a whole week to do jus that but I knew I could go no further. However, I refuse to ever accept that kind of talk. I took his insults and he led me out. We walked deep into the swamp along a narrow path. Then I could smell it. The air was still a disgusting smell but it was getting better. I could smell the ocean. He brought me to one point and said, “Ok this is as close as I can get you. You’ll need to swim the rest of the distance.” I just stared at him. We were standing at the edge of a huge drop off down onto rough waters passing through a small channel. Not just a quick stream type of rough but full on churning whipping waters. The island was a good ways from where we stood and as strong as I am, those waters would probably have ripped me to shreds.

He saw the look on my face and laughed. “Follow me you buffoon. I have a raft down here where the waters are less violent.” I followed him. I found him to be a real jerk too. He loses berating and belittling everyone. It was no wonder he wasn’t near his family when they died. They were probably running from his insults.

His “raft” turned out to be an old crappy looking row boat. Much to my surprise it was sea worthy. I put it into the water with my new friends help and grabbed the oars. “Hop in now.” I demanded of him. “Nah I think I’ll sit this one out. After listening to your story, the last thing I want to do is get tangled up with that devilish thing. I may be strong but I can’t get myself killed for you. You seem like a nice guy and all but I can’t e saving you from something that can easily kill me and you just y blinking us and turning us to the ash we came from.” I think he really just would miss his swamp. So I let it go. I didn’t need his help anyway. I almost liked him. He was strong and some of his insults probably would have rocked against some of those idiots in the kingdom.

I landed on the island finally after that huge day long ordeal and set up camp. The events that followed should have been expected. However, a twist always occurs when we least expect it. I fell asleep with the warm glow of the fire and the soothing sounds of the ocean. I awoke with a start when I heard something explode. I got out of my tent to see what was happening. My camp had been turned into a battlefield. “Hmph! Looks like the dragon brought the fight to me. I didn’t even bother dressing. In my search for a map I had found articles about these soldiers and the claims said cola warriors were being seen here.

I joined the battle, picking up a fallen soldiers knife, and I started hack and slashing my way to the top. My first victim, I could tell, had always wanted to be short. I helped him by hacking off his legs at the knees. My second victim had a hankerin’ for some tongue. So I chopped off another guys and fed it down his throat until he choked on it. Then I put the guy whose tongue I removed out of his misery. I turned from him just in time to see a Dyspepsi soldier pull the tab on a grenade. I had no time to react. Fortunately he had no time either. I watched as he and all of the others seemed to disappear into the annals of history from which they came.

As I searched my things I found a Dyspepsi soldier cowering in my tent. When he saw me enter he hit his knees, “Please, sire, I have need of your aid. My brothers vanished and I am lost here. Please help me. The last thing I remember is a huge snake flying towards me and my brothers and then I was here. I think if I find the snake then I can go home. Will you help me?”

“So let me get this straight,” I thought I had gone mad. I needed answers and this brat was my only hope. He stood about 5 feet tall. He was scrawny with barely anything too him. He looked like he had probably soiled himself three times at least from fear of all that was happening. “You saw the chrono dragon, your snake, and were instantly brought here along with all of those guys who crashed my camp. Well I’ll be.” I could see the sun rising and I had an adrenaline rush so I knew it was time to start the day since I couldn’t get any sleep after that short fight. “Help me break camp and we are off to find the chrono dragon.” His reaction was one of pure joy. He kissed my feet and thanked me a hundred freaking times for helping.

We set out early enough that everyone was asleep. I had wasted too much time in getting here. I would have loved to have treated those damn orcs and hippies to some tough reality. Unfortunately, I would have to do that after disposing of the dragon. I even had a sacrifice if I needed one. I let him guide me. He said a lot of the terrain looked similar to how he remembered it. The trees and paths were different but the hills and major landmarks were the same. Man, his face when I told him he was in the future was priceless.

Turns out this dweeb’s name is Fred. He’s one of those nerds who can’t shut up. He talked nonstop until we reached a large field. The grass was knee-high. I heard him utter something under his breath and then he freaked out. “IT was here! HERE HERE HERE!” Then I heard a squeal. The moron wet himself he was so freaked out. I was starting to get a little miffed myself. Then I heard a loud pop followed by a loud crash from behind me across the field. I turned and saw Fred frozen in place with a ridiculous look on his face. My eyes fell past him just in time to see the chrono dragon flying over the field.