Open The Pheonix of Kalea

[Niall Hammerfist]

25th Fall 513 AV The fire burned out of control. Its flames reflecting in the light of Nialls’s eyes as he stared into it. The thick wool of the liners of his Gillies and his clothes and coat protected him from the intense heat as he looked desperately for an exit. The forge was burning though the fire pit was unlit. Niall could hear terrifying screaming from outside, the likes of which Niall had heard only once before. Like some strange feeling of Dejavu he knew where he was, and what he needed to do. Without thinking about it he reached out through the smoke and he found the pommel of his father’s long sword in the rubble under the bed. As he withdrew the blade it made an unnatural hiss as the blade slipped the cuff of the scabbard. Just as he was clear a large part of the roof caved in on the bed where he had found Sulos’ sword. As he turned to protect his face from the falling debris He saw it. A smashed out window. Somehow he knew it would be there, but that didn’t matter now. He had to get out. The flames and smoke were getting thicker. Niall scrambled, his black arm clawing bits of stone out of the floor as he found his feet and bolted for the hole. Niall heard the roof beams groan in complaint as they began to give. His lungs were burning in complaint as they filled with smoke. Just as he felt he would likely die in this place he dove through the window smashing the glass out. Bits of wood and glass scattered to the ground, his large heavy body following with a heavy thud. He rose with difficulty, his side stung with a fresh wound from the glass. He tried his best to clap his hand over it, vainly, to staunch the blood flow. He grit his teeth, his face an agonized mask of pain. He tried to find some grasp of his surroundings. He was dressed for the cold, a fresh wound on his side and his forearm. The glass had gone through his coat letting in the cold, making the sweat underneath feel like an ice sheet running down his side. Though, his own health would have to wait. All around him was chaos. He had thought the people running back and forth were there to bring water to quench the fire of the forge. Though, if that were true, they would have carried buckets and not weapons. Niall was stuck in a state of Limbo as he watched humans and Isur clashing in what seemed a one sided Battle. He was confused. The Denvali had traded with them peacefully in the past, why were they here?! Niall’s racing brain was cut short by the approach of two Denvali soldiers armed with long swords. He dropped easily into the defensive stance his father had taught him so many years ago, and was prepared for their mutli-angled attack. As the first attacker swept for his legs he lifted his leg in a false step He brought his foot back down after the blade had past, his own blade quickly followed his opponents. He gave the Denvali soldiers own weapon more momentum that he had intended throwing him out of balance, and he made for him. The young Isur grappled with him in a headlock. As his captive struggled his companion struck for Niall’s exposed back. The Pitrius anticipated the other soldiers attack and brought his own blade up to block the strike, and turned to engage the other soldier, his captive between them. He knew neither would be able to strike, so he lightened his load. He let go of his captive, and kicked him hard in the rump, and watched as he went sailing at his companion. His companion dodged expertly and advanced on Niall. As the Denvali soldier attacked, Niall caught the soldiers blade at the crook of his blade and hilt and advanced within striking range with his fist. When the young Isur’s foot came down hard on the soldiers own booted foot it gave him no way to retreat, and Niall laid him out flat with a hard landed punch to the face. The blow knocked the soldier’s helmet off and he lay there on the ground, blood pooring from his mouth. Niall couldn’t wait to engage the other soldier, he had to find his father. “Sulos! Father! Where are you?” He shouted as he ran off into the chaos.