The tale of Nokigon

Nokigon could barely see through the wave of pain and agony.

Each movement, each TWITCH brought another wave of pure pain. It was hell. Nokigon damned Nige to the deepest corner of hell, and remembered that that was where Nokigon had sent him. He tried to laugh. It hurt too much.

Briefly, Nokigon wondered what sort of hellish poison it was that could do this to him. It must have been one hell of a deadly creature that produced THAT. Nige must really hate him. Well, Nokigon reflected, the feeling was mutual.

Nokigon wondered whether he would survive. He doubted it, since Nokigon was a fair judge on poisons and this felt worse than any he had seen. Yet strangely, he felt only a calm acceptance at this. And pain. More and more pain....

Yet strangely, he could feel the pain beginning to lessen, as the shadows and darkness around him started to scatter. A burning white light penetrated the blackness around him as SOMETHING, ripped into his unconscious state. Fighting back flashes of more and more pain, Nokigon looked up to see what it was.

A man, probably about 20, walked through to Nokigon. He wore a crossbow belted at his side, and numerous knives. From the easy and familiar way that he stood with them Nokigon guessed that he could use them.

He had jet black hair, with light blue eyes. There was a healed burn mark on his cheek, which didn't deform his features- in fact, the burn was mild enough to add to his features rather than the opposite.

"Hello, Nokigon." The man said. "My name is Harry, caption of the group known as the Enemies of Malice. EOM for short."

Nokigon  gathered his strength and replied. "How do you know who I am?"

Harry smiled wanly. "The tales of your deeds have spread far and wide, Nokigon Cediris. There are few who don't know who you are. But you must not die here, from the poison."

Nokigon looked Harry in the eyes. "You got into my dreams because I was weak under the influence of the poison and my defences were down. Why?"

Harry looked down at his feet. "I have my reasons. But you must gather your strength, and tell Belthazor something. It will save your life."

Nokigon was not afraid of death. But he was by no means someone who wanted it, and would take any chance to escape it. "What do I need to tell him.

Harry smiled, and began. "You have been poisoned with Melder poison. Belthazor must come to the Hub of the Windseekers, where he will meet my group. We have an antidote to Melder poison. Do you understand?"

Nokigon nodded, and managed to gather enough strength to ask one more thing. "Why are you doing this?"

Harry looked down at the floor again. Then he replied: "I was rather hoping you might do something for me." Then, Harry was gone and Nokigon prepared himself for the ordeal ahead.

Nokigon, Belthazor and Aberdon were walking along through the graveyard, allowing themselves to relax in each other's easy company, when Aberdon froze.

"What?" Nokigon hissed, some primordial instinct warning him to stay quiet. Aberdon didn't answer, just pointed. In the corner of the graveyard, almost beyond the range of human sight, stood a man who at first glance appeared to be just an ordinary human, paying his respects to Shrapnel. But if you looked closer you could see the bronze gleam of a sword at his side, and when he turned you could just see his trade mark scar over his right eye.

It was Nige.

Nokigon had split seconds to think, and he gave into to instinct. He call softly to Abe and Belth; "Attack Plan Macedonia."

They all nodded, knowing what he meant. They all did Praetorian training. 

Nokigon crept along, attempting to escape detection for the moment. HE succeeded for a while, but eventually he was spotted.

Nige leapt forward, his sword flashing out. Nokigon was quicker though, and dived forward with a long dagger drawn.

The plan worked. Nige leapt aside to avoid the deadly weapon, which had green marks on the tip (it was one of Nokigon's military tactics. People would think the knife was dipped in poison, and would not wish fight it, therefore surrendering. They didn't know it was simple green paint, disguised with sorcery). In doing so, Nokigon was inside his guard, and slashed his knife with flickering, fast motions at Nige. Within the blink of an eye, Nige had three slash wound on his right wrist, and as Nige cried out in pain Nokigon stabbed at the man's face, aiming for his eye.Nige managed to turn, but the blade still managed to cut his cheek open partially.

Nige screamed, and Nokigon pressed his example fully. He opened the palm of his hand, pointing at Nige with his hand splayed. He roared a powerful incantation, a spell invented by Tenaril. A teleportation spell. He was going to send Nige to the depths of the Wastes.

But Nige was a powerful magician too, and he thrust his hand at Nokigon. In using such a powerful spell, he had left himself vulnerable, and Nige's spell was one of the most basic in the world. But effective. He pushed with his hand and Nokigon went flying. Then he quickly used a basic healing spell to heal the cut on his cheek.

But when he looked up, he saw Nokigon leaping to his feet, throwing the knife in a viscous overarm throw.

Nige barely leapt out of the way, then allowed himself half aa second to relax.

Quarter of a second too long.

Three shurikens (a surprisingly common knightly weapon, also known as a throwing star) flashed at Nige. The first whistled past the man's ear, the second hit his shoulder and the third cut into his calf.

Nige screamed out in pain, then shouted out a potent sorcerous word. Impressive, seeing as words of sorcery were, although very powerful, hard to remember and even harder to use. 

"Karamicha!" Nige screamed. The throwing stars dissolved, and the wounds healed over. He then dived at Nokigon, his sword flashing in an attack fuelled by rage.

Nokigon gave more and more ground before Nige's smashing assaults. Several nearly knocked the weapon out of his hand.

It continued, until Nokigon was at the point where Aberdon had first seen Nige.

The planned location.

Nokigon suddenly pulled away from Nige, and they pointed their weapons at each other.

"Stalemate." Nige said.

"Not quite." Belthazor said, stepping out of the shadows pointing a crossbow at Nige. Aberdon did the same.

THIS was Attack Plan Macedonia- A fake ambush, a retreat then a true ambush.

Nige smiled grimly. "No, it's not Stalemate." And suddenly figures rose up around them. And Nokigon recognised several leading figures, enough to know who they were.

It was the Mal Motshans.

Belthazor and Aberdon threw down their crossbows and drew their swords.

Nige stepped forward, and ugly smile on his face.

"Drop your weapons." Nige said contemptuously.

Yeah. Like THAT was going to happen.

"We'll go down fighting." Nokigon said to his friends. They nodded grimly, and together they prepared for virtual suicide.