WOT Adv 2

-- The Wheel Turns --

"Maeslyn!" you shout as you charge towards her, completely catching her unawares, you slam into her side and knock her to the floor. She gives out a soft cry and you turn to face the man in front of you. The singing stops and you hear a hissing sound and see yourself staring into a tall gaunt looking face, like a white parchament spread over a narrow skull. Large saucer sized white eyes size you up and then a wicked looking claw lashes out at you raking across your buckler. The creature then leaps onto the nearby sill, You can see he's making for a quick exit out the window. You plunge your spear deeply into his side just as he leaps off the sill. The creature gives a piercing shriek of a cry that rends the early evening air. And his fall nearly takes your spear out of your hands. You rush to the window and see that his 'cloak' is actually bat-like wings that appear to be carrying him to safety above the trees beyond the clearing.

You quickly drop your spear and grab your bow. You'll only get one shot at this. You lean out the window, taking aim. The arrow leaps from your bow skimming through tree branches and missing the creature as it flaps its large bat wings above the tall trees and out of sight.

"What was that thing?" you ask, still peering into the shadowy tree tops but seeing nothing.

"I'm not entirely sure," Maeslyn sighs, picking herself off the floor and adjusting her riding skirts. "But I think it was a shadowspawn of some sort!" She purses her lips.

"I have read about such things in the library at Tar Valon. That particular creature, I believe, was created by the Dark One during the age of legends to serve as spies or assassins. Some say they steal the souls of those who hear their cooing sounds." She shudders violently.

"I am grateful to you. You have saved my life, if not my very soul. I believe your 'Toh', as you call it, may be fulfilled, even if you do have a rough way of fulfilling it." She smiles weakly. "And I think we found out what killed our unfortunate friends in the campsite below." She frouns and eyes the decomposing corpse against the wall. "I also suggest we leave this dark place before the fiend and it's myriads of companions return."

Already you can see hear the scratching of the rats in the shadows beyond the light of the pale evening light through the window and the sputtering torch on the ground.

"Very well. But quickly, I'll see what's to be found." you say and examine the corpses.

"Quickly then." Maeslyn comments, as you bend to inspect eyeing the shadows. "I think they're comming."

You very quickly search the corpse of what appears to be a man dressed in some fine clothees. You find a small leather pouch, and then the scurry of many clawed feet on stone and wood turn you from your examination.

"Let's go!" Maeslyn cries, holding her dagger in front of her defensively, her left hand clasping a brooch about her cloak. "Down the stairs or out the window?"