The Death Of Edward Caen

[jamesb 218]

The air was a bitter cold as Sam approached Adunia, sniffing softly. He breathed outward, twisting his head to look around at the wet, endless expanse of trees surrounding him. He turned then, the soft sound of chatter echoing from inside the walls. His hand curled around the oak wood door’s handle, twisting it slowly. The door slid against its hinges, widening open for Sam to look around at the large, damp stone building before him. After climbing up onto the walls, his robes billowing after him in the growing winds, his face widened with a look of shock. Standing before him was Edward Caen, a rough-faced man, standing at the huge height of 7’1. His short hair was blonde, unmoving in the strong winds, much unlike Sam’s, which flew around aimlessly.

 

  “Sam!”   Eddy bellowed, his voice deep and powerful. His childish grin widened into a large semicircle, his arms widening for a hug. Sam embraced the giant, releasing a soft chuckle.

 

“Aye… aye, Eddy, long time no see. But we’ve got a schedule to keep,” he said, getting right down to business. “the hunt, remember?”

 

Eddy’s blunt nod was long and drawn out, and without another word the large man began to march down towards Adunia’s thick and safe gates, out into the dangerous woods of Embermoore. Sam stepped back, allowing his hand to glide down the side of his robes to grasp at his brand new, aurum sword’s hilt. Sam followed out into the woods of Embermoore, his aurum sword being drawn out from it’s sheath, sliding out with a soft, “Shhhhh!”. Gripping the weapon loosely with his left hand, he set off straight into the thick wood’s, his eyes flickering about.

 

The sound of birds taking sudden flight broke out within the woods. What used to seem like such an uneasy, lifeless and silent swamp, now seemed to come to life. A splash sounded to their right, Sam’s head turning sharply to stare in the direction of the sound.

 

“Craaaack!”

 

The sound of a branch snapping violently broke out from behind Sam, and as he flung his eyes away from where they were previously to see what had happened, he saw Eddy standing above a shattered branch.

 

“Heh…” he said, smirking dumbly. “Sorry…”

 

Sam grunted in annoyance, setting back out on his trail. Stepping over roots, stumps and ducking under branches he advanced, Eddy clambering on noisily behind him.

 

Thump, thump, thump…

 

Footsteps echoed out, the sound coming from a clearing just to their right. Sam moved to step into the large opening, turning his head to glance downwards, towards where the sound had originated. After quick flash of movement, a limb was seen disappearing into the treeline. Something was there. Raising his right hand to grip tightly onto the golden sword, he crept towards where he had seen the movement.

 

Crack! Thump, thump thump thump thump…

 

The sound of something large charging out into the clearing rang to Sam’s ears, and he turned, his heartbeat quickening. In the center of the clearing, between he and Eddy, stood a large, mucky creature. It was covered in slime, it’s arms sloshing along by its side.

 

Thump! Thump! …

 

Sam didn’t even see the second creature running out behind him, at an amazing speed. He was slammed into, releasing a pained grunt. He was sent through the air, his left hand curling under him to try and break the fall.

 

“Oof!” Sam yelped as his shoulder made contact with the mud, sliding a few feet more. Cursing, he rolled over onto his back to face the creature, which stared down at him with empty eyes. It stood a bit taller than its companion, the only real difference being the claws, which stood strong and large on this one’s hands. Moving to stand, his expression fell as he saw two more figures breaking from the treeline.

 

A shorter man, about 5’11, stepped out into the clearline. He was adorned in simple brown and tan clothes, his hair flopping back and forth. Sam recognized the man, an old friend just like Eddy, by the name of Jorah.

 

The other, a black haired teen with more exuberant clothes, immediately moved to draw out a ferrum blade, moving to circle the creature. This man was more foreign to Sam, although he knew the younger fellow’s name. Eamon.

 

“Sam?” Jorah asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

 

Sam didn’t respond, frowning in distaste as Eamon charged at the creature, slashing his blade upwards with a determined look set on his face. With one, quick swipe the creature sent Eamon’s head reeling, as the large, monstrous claws cut across his face. “AHH!” the man cried out, the fresh and deep wounds dripping with blood.

 

~

 

Meanwhile, Eddy was engaged in a heated battle with the other creature. An iron-studded flail hung in his hand, a menacing smirk spread across his face. Eddy lurched forward suddenly, sending the balls of iron slashing downwards with a violent crack. The weapon made contact with the Swamp Reaver, a sickening squishing sound  rumbling out as the flail sunk deep into its shoulder.

 

“Not as strong as you thought ye were, huh?” mocked Eddy, a mischievous grin curling up on his lips.

 

The Swamp Reaver, barely reacting to the attack, or the mocking, threw itself forward, slamming into Eddy with unnatural force. Eddy, despite his size, was sent backwards. He slammed into a tree, releasing a loud cry of pain.

 

“AHHHHH!”

 

A sickening crunch rung out, his entire body tensing. His arm’s began to tremble, his face distorting in pain.

 

~

 

While Eddy suffered from a broken back, Sam and Eamon battled with the other Marsh Reaver. The creature reached out its long, gooey hands, grappling onto Eamon’s ankles. Eamon yelped, kicking wildly at the monster. His attempts to escape were useless however, as the Marsh Reaver stood tall, beginning to spin Eamon.

 

A look of horror crossed over Sam’s face, a whooshing sound cutting through the air as Eamon picked up speed. And then Eamon was flying towards Sam, who was gripping a sword tightly in both hands. The man slammed into Sam, sending him flying onto his back once again. Releasing a sharp cry, Sam slid backwards on the mud, his ferrum armor growing encased in the muck and water that he had now been thrown into twice. Eamon rolled off of Sam, the breath knocked from his lungs. A small amount of blood appeared in Sam’s hair, his movements growing slower, and more pained.

 

The Marsh Reaver looked between the two, as Jorah ran forward to Sam, calling out. “Sam! Your knife!”

 

Sam reached down to his sheath, slowly rising upwards. His breathing was ragged and shaky, trying to remain calm as he regained his breath. Drawing out a large tooth, which has had the end whittled blunt, making a nice grip. He tossed the Verminae tooth to Jorah’s feet, not even sparing him a glance.

 

~

 

Eddy lay against the tree stump, pain rushing through his body. His breath was wild, and uneasy. The Swamp Reaver stood up to its full posture, smiling viciously down towards his victim. Preparing to strike, it raised its arm upwards, it’s claws flashing in the sunlight.

 

“Slllllshhh….”

 

The Verminae tooth gripped in Jorah’s hand sunk deep into the monster’s side, a mere distraction. The Swamp Reaver turned to look at Jorah, tilting it’s head slightly.

 

“O-oh.” said Jorah meekly, staring up at the dangerously close Reaver.

 

The Swamp Reaver sent its arm upwards, it’s claws cutting deep against Jorah’s flesh. Jorah yelped as his shirt was torn, the claws cutting across his chest. Stumbling backwards, he held the Verminae tooth in his right hand, his left moving to grasp tightly onto his wounds.

 

~

 

Sam charged forward, the aurum blade gripped tightly in both hands. He raised the sword upwards quickly, cutting diagonally upwards to a higher position, before arcing swiftly downwards, aiming to cut deep into the creature’s neck. The Marsh Reaver’s collarbone and left shoulder were destroyed by the attack, sending a shower of dark, gooey blood at Sam. It’s head dipped backwards to release a blood-curtling scream.

 

“EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!” the cry filled the forest, sending any birds that had stayed nearby into quick flight.

 

Sam ripped the sword free from the creature’s flesh, just as it barreled between Eamon and Sam. The creature’s claws swiped at Sam’s face, creating a new line of blood. This stream of blood trickled down his neck, a corner of his head also matted in blood. Still dazed from being thrown to the ground twice, he stumbled backwards, watching as the Marsh Reaver began to flee towards the treeline.  “Go help Eddy.” Sam choked out, towards Eamon.

 

Without waiting for a response, Sam pursued, making his way quickly towards the monster. The Marsh Reaver, at it’s weakened and hobbling pace, was easily overtaken by Sam. It twisted around suddenly, jutting out it’s good arm, aiming to intercept Sam in his chase. Sam halted short, the arm protruding from the Marsh Reavers body violently. Temporarily vulnerable, Sam looked warily at the creature.

 

The Marsh Reaver sent a quick punch at Sam’s nose with it’s good arm, it’s wounded one dangling uselessly at it’s side.

 

~

 

Jorah adjusted his feet, preparing to defend himself. The Swamp Reaver slowly advanced, releasing a soft gurgling sound.

 

“Grgghgh…”

 

Eamon’s footsteps suddenly broke out to the right of the Swamp Reaver, and it turned just in time for the ferrum blade to rip through the creature’s jawline, and up through it’s mouth. To any onlookers, this kind of stab would appear to be most certainly fatal. However… the creature merely grunted, sending a violent jab at Eamon’s stomach. Eamon was thrown backwards, his head slamming onto the swamp ground, hard. He shouted in pain, his neck tensing. “AHHHH! Do these blades do anything?!” he said in irritance, his expression wavering slightly as he pushed himself up to one knee.

 

~

 

“Hrmph!” Sam said, his head jerking backwards as the punch connected to his nose, sending his foot backwards to steady himself. Blood trickled from his nose now, his face a complete look of beaten: Blood now matted his hair, a slash mark drawn all the way across his face. His nose was bent slightly, blood trickling from it. His ferrum armor was smeared with mud, and dark, gooey blood. He took a short step forward then, thrusting the aurum blade upwards. It slid through the creature’s stomach, becoming covered in goo and muck. The creature’s head lulled backwards, releasing a short, sharp wail, before slumping over onto it’s knees. Sam ripped the blade free, watching as the creature fell onto it’s side, unmoving.

 

~

 

The dark goo began to seep from the Swamp Reavers jaw, the attack seeming to take effect. Although it was not enough to kill it, the creature saw little way of surviving this encounter with his companion now dead. It charged towards the woods, making an attempt to flee.

 

“Die *****.” whispered Eddy as the creature fled, a smug grin curling over his pained lips.

 

Sam knelt, beginning to cut off the claws of the dead Reaver, watching as the living Swamp Reaver fled, leaving a trail of ooze. “We will pursue.” he says to his friends, apparently not giving anyone else a chance to speak their opinion. After hoarding the sharp claws of the dead Reaver and stashing them, he rose to his full posture. “Eamon, help Eddy. I’m going after the thing.” he set off into the thick line of trees, his sword bobbing loosely in his left hand. His walking was odd, more like a stumbling sort of movement. Pain encased his head like a nasty headache, as Jorah spoke out.

 

“I’ll come.”

 

Sam did not respond, his eyes glued to the ooze. Eventually the two reached a small river, the marsh before them quiet. Their was no movement.

 

“In the morning we will hunt it.” declares Sam, surrendering to his wounds. He turns, beginning to head over stumps and roots again. With each step he grimaced, pain shooting throughout his head.

 

“GRHEEEEKKKK!” the high pitched gurgling cry of the Swamp Reaver exploded from behind them, as it threw itself down from atop a tree.

 

Jorah threw himself forward, “Run!” he screamed, ducking below branches and hopping over roots as he fled.

 

Sam turned, a look of shock widening over his face. He wildly swung the aurum sword at the fast approaching Swamp Reaver, the attack highly inaccurate and weak, due to Sam’s wounded state. Although luck was on his side that day, because the sword made contact, sending the Swamp Reaver stumbling onto a nearby tree.

 

One moment. A mere second was there, where the Swamp Reaver was vulnerable, unmoving. Sam could do two things. He could flee and survive, or attack, and risk new injuries. There was no question for Sam, as he lurched forward, sending his sword deep into the Swamp Reaver’s side. The creature let out a low moan, before crashing to the ground, dead. Sam stepped back, reaching out his right hand towards Jorah, speaking softly. “My fang.”

 

Jorah handed it to him wordlessly, quietly observing as he sheathed both goo-covered weapons, and headed back to the clearing.

 

Upon arriving in the clearing, they were met with a horrific sight. Eamon lay leaned over Eddy, shaking him. “Eddy?! EDDY?!” the man’s back was twisted in an unnatural way, his head slumped over, his face pale.

 

Jorah and Sam rushed over, practically knocking Eamon aside.

 

No pulse.

 

No breathing.

 

No movement.

Edward Caen, the 7’1 foot giant, the childhood friend of Sam, Jorah, Maevis and Alexei, was gone.

[Man of Respect 5471]

Eath'Lur sheds a tear in honour to Edward Caen, long may he rest.

[monkeypoacher 8055]

Marvin collapses, burying his face in his hands.

[Heff 2460]

A wandering old knight frowns :(

[Anawkin 247]

Alexei dips his head, crying in both anger and sadness. "Why wasn't I there for him?"

[Dohvi 622]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.