The Beast Within

[Frylok]

Ess’Nudeth sat propped against a tree his sword and shield across from him. The rain beat down on him relentlessly, but he merely shrugged it away. “How I envy you Baelrae,” he mussed. Thou he could no longer see him in his burrow in the tree roots; he knew he was still there. “If only I could find my own hole to crawl in, to get out of this chilling rain,” he said with a shiver, pulling his cloak around himself tighter and slipping into back into reverie.

It seemed so long ago back in the HighForest as memories flooded back to him. Ess’Nudeth’s mother had been a high ranking druid in her tribe of elf there. Had it not been for a traveling human ranger hunting in the area, likely he would have had a normal life growing up as an elf. The story came back to him as it always did, or how his mother and father had told him many times.

His mother had been following a human ranger hunting the southern reaches of the HighForest for many days. Something about him struck her and she was compelled to continue watching him. Finally she approached him in his camp one night, and as they always said, “it was love at first sight.” How the thought made him cringe.

How I wish they would have never met and fallen in love. I love them both with all of my heart, but how much better would my life had been growing up if mother would have fallen in love with another elf and conceived me. Rather than my human father, giving me it would seem the disadvantages of both races. My mother trained me well in her ways with nature, and my powers increase with everyday, but always they were staring, NO!, scowling at me while they watched. The other elves how they ridiculed me, or rather ridiculed my father’s blood that ran through me.

I practiced day and night to master the graceful movements of the druidic spells, but I lacked the true grace that the full elves possessed, and they were more than willing to point out my clumsiness. How I resent them for looking down at me as something lesser.

Mother and father always comforted me and assured me I would improve, I knew that I would, but it was little comfort for feelings I had. Of course the elves looked down on me as not quite complete, but the women and men in Loudwater they were no different. They watched me as if I were a clown in elf’s clothing. Watching and snickering at my physical characteristics from afar, and how awkward I seemed.

Perhaps someday I will master the art of transforming myself into other creatures. Wouldn’t that be a sight two badgers running around playing together in the forest. What mischief might Baelrae and I get into if I could. Of course,I only saw mother transform once when I secretly followed her into the woods. How her bones creaked and her face looked as if in sheer pain, but the freedom she must have felt when it was over with. I don’t know why she would ever change back. If ever I am able I doubt I will ever return to this awkward form again to be stared at.

Ess’Nudeth’s eyes flashed open, it was nearly morning already, and the sky was aflame in orange and pink hues. “Perhaps today will be the day Baelrae,” he whispered. Yes today may be the day.

[Frylok]

A New Day

Not far from from the peaceful glade in care of a group of fellow druids, Ess’Nudeths sat on the ground. It was a peaceful place except for the few dire animals that seemed quite territorial, but it was quiet and no people had set foot their in quite some time. It offered the serenity that he needed to concentrate on the tranformation if he were to master it. Baelrae sat on the ground close by watching for the approach of any predators, but all seemed clear.

Ess’Nudeth sat crossed legged his eyes closed in full concentration. He tried to focus his thoughts on a badger. The shape of its head, the measure of its muscles, the ferocity of its temper, but passing images of his mother’s own tranformation passed before his eyes. Her faced seem a mixture of pain and pleasure interwined. How much will this hurt, he thought. It didn’t matter, this is what his life goal had been. To transcend his akward body and take on the form of a creature that had truly perfected balance with nature. He shoved the thoughts of his mother away knowing that any pain he might feel would be worth it.

The hours slipped by with not a word only the patter of rain on the forest floor broke the silence. His body was tense, he had not moved in hours, and stiffness was beginning to set in. Only will power was keeping him from ignoring his aching muscles, but even his mind was subcoming to the strain. Finally, he gave into his bodies pleas and came out of his trance. “Perhaps today was not the day Baelrae,” he mused, “but I will get there it is only a matter of time.” Looking over he saw that his thoughts had fallen on deaf ears for Baelrae was fast asleep looking quite comfortable. Perhaps rest will do us both a bit of good old friend, tomorrow is another day.

He awoke in the early morning, his body feelings as if it were on fire. As if his very blood were boiling in his veins. He rolled over on his side trying to sift through the pain, but it was trumendous. What is happening to me, unable to even speak the words. The pain only increased as he heard and felt his bones popping and breaking all over his body. I have to go get help! He rolled over on all fours trying to force himself onto his feet, but the pain was to much and he collapsed in to the dirt. His heart racing, drenched in sweat, and trembling he tried to call for help, but all he could manage was a muffled growl.

Close by Baelrae stirred at the noise immediately going on full alert, weary of any predators. When he turned however the sight was quite different from anything he expected. Ess’Nudeth lay face down on the ground trembling. Baelrae started to rush over to him, but skidded to a stop short of him taking full view of his body in the early morning light. It indeed was his friend Ess’Nudeth, but his features where somehow contorting. His entire body and limbs looked smaller, but his face was now twisted and utterly horrifying in appearance. His mouth and nose were pulling out from his face, and teeth lay about his head on the ground as new fangs grew out from his gums. Patches of silver hair had begun to grow on his face and on his exposed limbs, which where rapidly receeding back into his clothing.

The pain had abated, his body seemed back to normal. Opening his clenched eyes Ess’Nudeth looked around his body feeling to stiff to stand up straight. He spotted Baelrae only a yard away, but seeming to have a look of confusion on his face as he stared back. It is all right my friend, I believe the fever has passed, but for some reason all he could hear was the chittering of a forest animal. Still feeling unable to stand Ess’Nudeth began crawling to the nearby stream to get a fresh gulp of water to furher calm his nerves, but when he got there all he saw looking back at him was another face.

Am I dreaming, has it finally happened, this is fantastic, joy flooding into Ess’Nudeths every thought. Baelrae I have finally done it, the image starring back at him was moving it mouth and again the sounds of the chittering forests creatures caught his ears. My goodness Baelrae that noise is me. Turning to regard Baelrae, Can you understand me? Indeed Baelrae could as strange as it seem to both of them at that moment. Come Baelrae show me everything, I want to see the world fresh from my new body.

The day passed by quickly for Ess’Nudeth, scurrying about smelling all of the wildflowers and taking in everything from his new perspective on life. How fantastic he felt, how free, and without a care as the day passed by. The two badgers went every where, in every hole and every pool of water. They wrestled and played with each other on the banks. All the forest was a blaze with their chittering as they talked with each other and as the bond between them grew as it never could have before. At night fall Baelrae took them both to a burrow that was big enough for them to spend the night. Ess’Nudeth quickly fell asleep complete happiness washing over him and his dreams in the darkness of his new home.

The sun beat down on him from high in the sky; morning had long ago passed. Ess’Nudeth paused, “why am I back outside of the burrow,” his voice ringing loud in his ears. “No! Why have I changed back?” he growled. Surveying the area he quickly spotted Baelrae beneath a nearby tree, and his own body covered in freshy disturbed soil. “It was a good thing that burrow was not very deep or I might not have been alive to see the day anew,” he mused. He felt sick that the transformation had not stayed, but he know that he would be able to change back again. It was a minor defeat, but the thought that next time would be easier and perhaps last longer was comforting for the time being. He continued to lay on his back in the sun. Relishing the experience from the previous day.

[Frylok]

Enemy of My Enemy

A lone badger sat peering over the small drop of a cliff outside of the druid glade watching the congregation of people amassing. What are they all doing here? Five of them trampling the ground beneath their feet with no regard as to where they step. If there were fewer perhaps I would leap right down on their backs clawing and biting them so that they would run from this place and never trample its ground again. But no they wear metal armor, no doubt made by a smith back in the city. My small claws would have little effect against them. They would never even see it coming. They show me now their lack of perception about nature. It is likely in this form I could sneak right in at their feet and they would not see me there. The thought of clearing these people from the forest pleased him, but the knowledge that he stood little chance against them was disheartening.

Watching the people scatter and leave in different directions Ess’Nudeth thought about why so many seemed to travel this forest. Perhaps the wild animals offer much sport for them as hunters, but few carried bows for such a hunt. Wait their weapons, of course, the gnolls that I spotted yesterday in the forest. It is likely they come to hunt these beasts. If such is the case, eliminating all of the gnolls and goblins in the forest would greatly reduce the city adventurer’s numbers, at least enough that the forest floor could rejuvenate from their feet. Again his own weakness as a fighter came to him. If I am to route the gnolls from this forest I will need help since I do not fully understand my capabilities in this form yet. There are plenty of eager faces around however. It should not be hard in enlisting their help in the gnolls destruction. Yes, indeed the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They can serve their purpose in making the forest safer and at the same time eliminating their own need to come here. I must return to my natural form immediately so that I might prepare and find some of these city dwellers that can help.

The time passed by slowly, much of the day Ess’Nudeth spent in meditation preparing the spells that he would need in the forth coming battles. Soon after night fall Ess’Nudeth headed out along the trail in hopes of finding some adventurers. Across the bridge he came upon two such travelers that were more than willing to venture out into a fight. One was a warrior clad in metal armor, the other a wizard. After short introduction, for none of them need any excuse to fight the vermin, they headed out into the woods. Ess’Nudeth began preparing himself and Baelrae with the spells he had prepared that day. The wizard likewise began is own casting in preparation for the fight. After their wards were cast Ess’Nudeth focused his will onto the badger once again. His bones breaking and shifting into his new form. Though he had gone through the transformation several times now the pain was no less excruciating.

Fully prepared the trio, with Baelrae in toe, rushed into the forest to meet their enemy head on. Not far into the wood they found the fight they were looking for. A small patrol of goblins, lead by a gnoll, was out on the trail. The two badgers charged in at the gnoll fiercely, dancing about its feet and legs biting and clawing at its exposed flesh. The large warrior came in strong as well spear and shield in hand parrying and stabbing through the gnolls defenses. Caught off guard and distracted by the sudden on rush the goblins in the band were ill prepared. Bolts of energy shot forward from the wizard’s finger tips striking one goblin in the chest felling him. With three more goblins charging in the wizard drew forth his crossbow taking aim. Between the four of them and the ferocity of the attack the small scouting party was quickly destroyed.

With the first battle a clear victory the two humans picked through the bodies to see if they might find any useful supplies. Ess’Nudeth however taken over by his instinct from the kill began nibbling at one of the goblin corpses. He tried biting on one of its fingers to strip it of its meat, but quickly moved up to the head and began tugging on the goblins ear until a large chunk pulled free. The wizard having come closer to the scene of the dead bodies showed a face of utter disgust at the spectacle of the badger.

Sniffing the air and following a very detectable trail the badgers quickly rushed around the walls of a poorly constructed fort. Before Ess’Nudeth knew what he was doing he rushed into the fort driven by an instinct to protect his forest and rip the throats from these creatures. It was a fools mistake however, the gnolls inside were quickly alerted to his presence and though the human warrior was charging in behind, their advantage of surprise had already been taken. Suddenly coming to his senses Ess’Nudeth squealed and turned to run from the overwhelming number of gnolls. They came on quickly, washing over the badgers and the warrior. Though the warrior was skilled the sheer numbers of the force against him quickly over came him and be began to sub come to his many wounds. Thinking he might better square off against the forces, Ess’Nudeth began his transformation back into his natural form. The pain coursed through his body, but he was back up on his two feet, with the gnolls looking a bit shocked at the change. Taking this moment of shock and pause Baelrae quickly scurried off into the under brush to protection. Though indeed he stood a better chance against his opponents they still inflicted many serious wounds. Quickly the battle was turning sour and there seemed no escape, and then there was only darkness.


He didn’t know where he was or how long he had been gone, for in the darkness time did not seem to exist. Ess’Nudeth only knew that he lay on his back two men looking down on him. One was the wizard from the forest and the other based on his dressed appeared to be a priest of some kind. Next to him lay the battered warrior also seeming to come out of a daze. The wizard helped both of them to their feet seeming a bit disappointed at the turn of events. Feeling quite embarrassed himself about his own part in the battle he quickly handed over enough coin to repay the wizard for his help in saving him from a grizzly doom. Exchanging a few words with the warrior Ess’Nudeth quickly retreated from the temple and the city back into the forest he called home.

Sitting back in the Druid’s Grove, Ess’Nudeth contemplated the events of the previous fight. What came over me in the battle, I have fought before and know better than to charge in, in blind rage. I somehow could not stop myself however from the act. It surely was not my own instinct that told me to charge into the fort. Perhaps my body in not the only things that changes when I transform. This is something I must uncover as I spend my days with Baelrae. I have come to fully enjoy taking the form a badger for they are both fierce and intelligent, but it would seem that they are not capable of the level of fight that will be necessary to rid this forest of all of its threats. If I am to truly be a warrior of Silvanus I must learn to master more forms of his forest that would better suit my plan for protecting it. In order to truly be nature’s warrior I must use all of the abilities that nature herself can provide. Coming out of his contemplation, he saw a familiar form rushing in at him. “Well Baelrae it would seem you also found your way back home, and have tended your wounds,” he said. “I will need your watchful eyes I have much more practicing to do with my new abilities.” With that he quickly rose and both headed off to the solitude of forest.

[Frylok]

The Perfect Hunter

The rain beat down on the forest floor relentlessly. Ess’Nudeth sat crouch down examining the mud for any sign of the cat. The trail had gone cold. He stood up looking around, whispering to himself, “Where have you gone?” Though his tracking skills were improving everyday the great cat he had been tracking for nearly three days had eluded him. The soft ground from the almost constant rain had helped track the light steps of the cat, but it always seemed to be further ahead. Ess’Nudeth started back off down the trail hoping he would be able to pick the trail back up soon, he never saw the golden hued eyes peering down on him from the branches above.

Ess’Nudeth had spotted a brief glimpse of the black cat as it crossed between shadows on the forest floor. It was only for a brief second, but in that second he saw all that he need to. The cat was the perfect predator. It was more graceful than anything he had ever seen. Every step was measured as it walked and its prey would never hear it coming for it made no noise as it moved along the broken branches on the ground. Its fur was the opitamy of the blackness, it seeming to vanish as it entered the shadow. Its sensed perfectly honed to every sight, smell, and sound of the forest. Nothing could escape this silent death when it decided to hunt. And that is why Ess’Nudeth followed it now, to see this perfect hunter in action. To glimpse at it once more so that he might learn how it moved and hunted.

It had not been long since Ess’Nudeth had learned the power of taking the form of nature’s temper, the badger, but it had also not taken him long to learn its vulnerabilities and weaknesses as well. A nagging in the pit of his stomach that told him he must master a different form if he were to defend the forest he now called home. This great cat was the form he thought would serve him better, but he knew little about the creature and knew he would be unable to take its form without being able to focus on every aspect of the cat.

The slightest rustle of a leaf as the panther jumped down from his perch in the tree. A few silent strides brought him within a few feet of Ess’Nudeth’s back, the panther let out a growl.

Ess’Nudeth froze at the sound. The perfect hunter, the thought has he turned, face to face with the cat. He crouched down not making eye contact with the creature, but examining the flex of his muscles as the creature walked to the left. “Gentle my friend, I mean you no harm. I only wished to look upon you once more,” he said in as calm a voice as he could muster. The panther emitted another frightening growl and leaped back into the cover of the brush and shadows of the forest.

Ess’Nudeth looked to the shadows where the cat had vanished, but there was not a sight of sound of the creature. “Thank Silvanus,” he mused. He believed he had viewed the cat long enough and saw enough of it to recreate the creature in his mind and body. He hoped he had seen enough.