New Fantasy writing/modelling comp

At first light my companions and I set off toward the cave lead by Teagan.

“Mistress Katia, in truth, I do not believe a wagon will be able to go where we need to travel.” Marcus said. “It may be wise to take only our packs as we shall need to travel by foot.

“God’s teeth, impetuous one! I had no intention to take this wagon, I am not dim-witted,” Katia retorted. “I have lived on this land for many-a-moon, do you not think I know this?”

“Good Lady, ‘twas not my plan to offend. Pray pardon me. By thy leave.” With that, Marcus bowed his head and backed up fading into the shadows as he does so well.

We all set off on the hidden path Mistress Katia had found. Thickets of trees bearing unnatural vines twisted their way around darkwood trees, making sinister shapes that would unnerve the bravest of souls.

Darius had called on a bear to help with tracking the blood trail that lead us to the well-used track that was hidden behind heavy undergrowth of scrub and vegetation at the back of the village.

“Master Darius, pray tell, why a bear? Methinks the fox would do as well. Will the bear not be seen, being of such bulk and is she steadfast to our cause?” I asked.

“They have the keenest of noses, Mistress Safiya. Black bears have been observed to journey 5.2 leagues (18 miles) in a straight line to track a food source, an’ grizzlies can find an elk carcass when it be underwater and polar bears can smell a seal through three feet of ice. A female, although smaller in size, it highly protective.”

“Truly? That is most noteworthy, master druid,” I replied.

“Verily, ‘tis so. She shall be our best guide. She be trustworthy, do not vex, Mistress Safiya.”

“Dost thou knowest how far we must travel to reach this cave Master Darius?”

“’Tis still a ways to go, Mistress. We have much woodland to pass through before reaching our destination. I do not think these cultists would perform this evil so close to Wolfwater.”

Ellawyn joined us as we continued to trek through the dense woodland. “I hope our companions are of a good stomach, Mistress Safiya, as I fear these eyeblades will be testing of all our powers whence we arrive at this cavern.”

“Indeed, my insides tell me this also,” I added. “There be more to these abominations than we know, I feel.” As I finish speaking, Markus came bounding into our path.

“Come, join me I have much to share.” Markus summoned us all to a gathering in a small clearing. We halted our trekking and sat around on some fallen trees, others sat on the ground.

“Can we eat while we speak?” Teagan said.

“Yes, master barbarian, there be some time for sustenance,” Markus laughed. "Those figures, those eyeblades I spied amongst the woodlands, they have disbanded. I saw them move off toward the same cave we be seeking ourselves…” Marcus raised his eyes to the sky “…in truth they seemed to ‘float off’.”

“That explains it then,” Lady Ellawyn interjected. “These eyeblades I speak of, they be more than humanoid. We shall have to be ready for such abominations.”

“They are not the only danger we face,” Katia interrupted. “I have found evidence that some animals, canine in appearance, but not of those I know, hath been trailing us from the moment we passed into this forest. I fear we are in their terrain, so we need to be watchful from here on in.” Mistress Katia looked up and a knowing look passed between her and Marcus. “Twas good spotting, master rogue.”

Markus half-smiled and briefly nodded his head. “Many thanks, good lady.”

“What of these orcs?” Teagan said between mouthfuls of jerky and bread. They be big enough to fall heavily, we can take them with ease.”

“Our brave, barbarian, ‘tis true they shalt fall, and I have no doubts you will be a formidable opponent for them, but they wear the symbol of the Lord of the Providence Eye and I am still to discover how these may affect those that wear them.”

“Yes, we need to tread carefully, master barbarian,” I said. “Master mage, did ye not say a spell can fortify our weapons?”

“I did, ye need to place them to the front of me.” The companions did as he asked and he conjured up a spell that spread throughout their weapons. A blue glow lit them all temporarily and then it faded.

“They do not look any different.” Teagan grabbed his great sword and turned it around in his hand, and then began swinging it around. “Feels lighter I do say,” he said. As he was swinging it in figure eights, he severed a small tree and it toppled down onto some bushes. Suddenly six large wolves dashed out from behind trees and bushes. Snarling and growling, lips rolled back and teeth gnashing, they charged at Teagan.

“We are under attack!” Teagan yelled.

Everyone jumped up and took up arms. I conjured a large crystal that exploded into chains of lighting, that knocked at least three wolves off balance giving the others a chance to ready themselves for battle.

Master Teagan swung his sword in large circles and each time a wolf would either be thrown against a tree or thrust several feet away. How he did this without cutting one I will never know? Each time the wolves would spring at him and each time he hurled them off in all directions.

I was tiring when I noticed Lady Ellawyn closing her eyes and chanting, and then suddenly a white wave washed over us all. It was like a strong gust of wind and after it subsided my strength had returned.

Master Darius was also conjuring something when I noticed a wolf moving in for the kill behind him. “Master Darius!” I screamed. Losing concentration for just a moment, I directed one of the streams of lightning toward the wolf until a thump at the back of my head veered it off target. A wolf had leapt at me. I staggered forward but kept my footing. I began chanting again.

In that split second, I saw Markus appear, from out of thin air it seemed, and thrust his short swords into the neck of the wolf attacking Master Darius. It dropped immediately, but Darius had hit his head on a fallen tree and lay still.

To prevent any more damage to master Darius, I spun in a circle whilst chanting an incantation. Three illusory duplicates of myself appeared in my space that moved out and confused the wolves. The duplicates moved with me and mimicked my actions, constantly shifting positions so it was impossible to track which image was real until I separated them. Knowing they may fade at any time, I rushed over to Darius and the wolves attacked my doppelgangers until Seth let fly with some magic missiles, disposing of the the few that were left. Soon after, he too had another wolf turn on him, baring its teeth and snarling.

When is this going to end? But shortly after, dead and bloody wolf bodies lay all around us. The attack took us by surprise and we were not ready, yet everyone seemed to gel together at the right time. Master Darius and master Seth were injured. I be most grateful that we had healers amongst us.