The first gnoll to enter the forest stood over the corpse of the dead hyena. It had followed the hyena, which ran off, and had now encountered its dead body on the floor.
The gnoll did not even notice that I was standing in the shadow of the tree it just walked past. Before it realized what was going on, I smashed my wooden club into the back of its head. A resounding crunch rang out, and the beast fell to the floor lifeless.
[Slain: Gnoll Lv 3 - 18xp]
My club, now slick with blood, stood ready for the next unfortunate soul to enter the forest.
Not far away, I see Seris removing her knife from between the shoulder blades of a gnoll, which had also not seen her in the shadow of the tree.
In the space of 2 minutes we manage to take out 4 hyenas and 4 normal gnolls just by waiting in the shadows for them to enter into the small cluster of trees we were hiding in.
Seris quickly removes the ears of every enemy present, and we put them in my satchel.
Having taken out about a quarter of the total group with stealth, we return to observing the group still in the field.
'Somewhere between 20 and 30 left, we need to try and draw some more this way, separating them from the pack.'
'Got it, any suggestions?'
'I can try and get the attention of a small group of them again, maybe that will work.'
I nod, and once again, I watch as she ventures out beyond the treeline of the small cluster of trees we are hiding in. None of the hyenas or gnolls seems to be paying much attention to her, so she lets out a whistle. Big mistake!
The heads of almost 30 hyenas and gnolls turn our way, and immediately start giving chase. The situation has suddenly become desperate. Seris is already sprinting back to the treeline. 'Take out the lesser ones first, then the normal ones. I only saw one with an iron weapon, so leave that one to me.'
5 seconds later, 10 hyenas charge between the trees looking for us. I immediately kick the first one I see in the head, my foot colliding with its face as it charges forward. The beast slams into a tree at full force and ceases moving.
[Slain: Lesser Gnoll Lv 3 - 12xp]
I swing my club at another. My [Minor strength increase] giving me the ability to one-shot these creatures.
[Slain: Lesser Gnoll Lv 3 - 12xp]
Seris, next to me is a devil with her knife. She swings and slashes it, also using kicks to fell her opponents. In the space of a few seconds, the bodies of 3 hyenas lay at her feet.
I am having similar luck, as I use my speed and strength to manically swing my club into the oncoming beasts. I don't have time to differentiate between head and body, so I swing my club and kick out at the creatures.
[Slain: Lesser Gnoll Lv 3 - 12xp]
[Slain: Lesser Gnoll Lv 3 - 12xp]
[Slain: Lesser Gn....
Just as I finish off the final one attacking me, a regular gnoll bursts through the gap in the trees, baring its fangs and cackling. It spots me too late as my club collides with its snout, bashing its life into non-existence.
[Slain: Gnoll Lv 2 - 16xp]
Excellent, with my fighter class and the skill active, I can one-shot level 2 gnolls.
It is quickly followed by another attempting to stab me with a spear. The desire on its face to kill and eat me is obvious. Saliva hangs from its half-open mouth, and it pants like a tired dog. I smash it in the head twice with my club, the beast can't hope to hurt me with its wooden spear.
[Slain: Gnoll Lv 3 - 18xp]
I continue swinging my club, my sense of satisfaction increasing with each individual kill. By the time I have killed my 6th gnoll, I am grinning like an idiot once again. The joy of cracking the skulls of these horrid monsters welling up within me.
I look over at Seris and see that she is having just as good a time. She is not playing with them like she was before.
A gnoll carrying a sword steps into the cluster of trees and sees me and Seris are surrounded by the corpses of its brethren. It yips and cackles and comes straight for me.
There is no skill in the way it wields the blade, but it is still dangerous. The wooden spears couldn't do much to me, but I know that a sword could.
It swings the blade at me as hard as it can.
*clang* The blade connects with my club as I desperately try to parry the blow. The beast snarls and swings again.
'Fucckkk!' The beast manages to slash my left arm, it isn't deep, but it still hurts like hell. 'Let's go, you stinking dog!'
My joy at the battle has been tainted with this sense of pain. The beast must pay!
While it tries to reset for another swing, I kick out, catching it in its shins.
The beast yowls in pain and staggers. This is an opportunity I cannot miss. I bring the club crashing down on its head while it tried to regain its footing. *Thunk*
The beast wobbles slightly and shakes its head, I have hurt and shaken it, but it isn't ready to give up yet, so I swing my club horizontally, smashing into its jaw. It drops to one knee, clearly in pain, but not dead yet.
With its head lowered because of its kneeling position, I once more smash my club into its head. The side of its skull gives way, and it falls to the floor twitching.
It isn't dead yet? Fine, one more time! 'Raaggghh' With a bellow, gripping the club with two hands, I use all of my strength to finally kill it, swinging my club into the meat of its skull. Its head has been totally destroyed, and brain matter and blood leak out of its wrecked cranium.
[Slain: Gnoll Lv 4 - 30xp]
I look over at Serris, and see her smiling at me wide eyed. I turn my head to examine my surroundings, and see that between the two of us we have managed to kill an additional 20 or so hyenas and gnolls.
'I am glad I'm not your enemy! You are turning into an absolute menace with that club.'
'Where are the rest?'
'The rest ran to the cave, something over there called them!'
Trying to catch my breath, I respond to her statement. 'What called them?'
'My guess would be a brute, but there can't be that many left now. If we can kill the regular gnolls, we can gang up on it easily. Let's quickly tend to that arm and finish this!'