Wrecked by Rock

[Roald]

Roald lay quite simply on a bed in a large open ward, the bed not being particularly luxurious nor clean if the smell were to judge, not that he could actually smell it considering he was currently unconscious while he healed himself. If one were to look at his neck they'd see a circle of bite marks going around it as friendly reminders of why he was here anyway, giving him the look of wearing a necklace or some other sort of neck-worn jewellery to the unobservant.

While his physical body was lying there though his mind was elsewhere. 

A rock behemoth strode from the cool outside air and into a large house, the ground shaking with each step as he moved further into the room, quick eyes scanning across and looking for his prey. Quickly catching sight of the single mage he'd been tracking now for several weeks he instantly stamped down on the ground causing shocks to ripple out from him and knock his opponent down. It had been an easy hunt, his opponent was untrained, he had raw power but that alone was useless in the face of someone who'd been trained for years to use his magic. 

The behemoth loomed over it's kill, raising one arm out and lifting the rogue mage into the air by his throat, watching him splutter and cough as his windpipe was slowly constricted in the vice like grip of it's oppressor. 

He faltered, the grip loosening slightly as he wondered why he was doing this again, he'd been sent out to kill this rogue he knew that, and orders were to be obeyed, but what had this man done to deserve it other than being born with magic and wanting to use it without constrictions imposed by the law. 

---

Stamina 44/45

[Roald]

In his moment of contemplation however suddenly something slammed into his back with incredible force, causing the unshakeable mountain to stumble forward just enough to drop his catch completely. Turning with speed that wouldn't be expected from someone of it's size it's eyes narrowed on the man in the doorway behind him, a shorter wiry opponent casually holding a ball of air in his palm as if it were no big deal, looking around as if to find what the giant was looking for. With a flick of his wrist another ball of air was flung at the rock monster, slamming into a ready guard this time and causing no issues.

The whole house shook as the beast stamped it's foot again, this time the tremor causing dust to fall from the ceiling and even the walls to shake slightly, the viciousness of it bringing panicked expressions into the faces of it's two opponents even as the air mage launched a barrage of air balls at it. The first however was still gasping on the floor trying to recover from it's treatment.

The fight that then ensued shook the very foundations of the house as both sought the upper hand, things seeming quite even until the companion got his breath back, he then began launching shards of ice at the beast also adding to the onslaught until it was beaten aback. Even then, once all was beginning to slowly move back into the two's favour, a third appeared. A pale skinned red head woman who looked upon the scene with glee as the rock coated monster was slowly beaten back. 

Seemingly resigned to it's fate their past assailant bore all the attacks without returning even one of their own, it having lost the will to attack in yet another show of uncertainty, not being sure why this situation was even necessary in the first place. 

---

Stamina: 43/45

[Roald]

It's self preservation instincts did kick in eventually though, causing a ball of rock to go flying at the mages, scattering them and causing them to cease their onslaught, it kept them off balance with balls of magicked rock firing from all over it, zooming past at speeds that could decapitate a man if hit properly. 

Numbers however were on the mages side, and the two were able to keep the beast occupied while the red haired woman finally made her move. A small flicker came to life between her two joined hands, expanding slowly at first then increasingly quick until she very soon held a man sized ball of flame between her hands. Seeing this the behemoth renewed it's onslaught in an attempt to defeat it's attackers and escape. 

Both the attackers and the defender were quite clearly beginning to run out of energy at this point, the beast finally pulling it's trump card, turning and smashing a rock cased fist into one of the supporting beams just as the red hot fireball was launched at it, causing the ceiling to crumble. Unfortunately it had more of an effect than thought, causing the whole house to sway gently, before crashing down on top of all three mages and the behemoth

---

Stamina: 42/45

[Roald]

Roald awoke with a start, flying up into a seated position as he scanned frantically around at his surroundings. His memories were foggy but becoming clearer by the second, unfortunately no use until they were fully in his head. From the looks of the other beds around and the smell of various medicines, poultices and dressing he deduced he was in some sort of hospit, although why was another question entirely.

Memories slowly seeped back into his head, he'd been beaten by a rock. No, not a rock, a demonic rock, with sharp teeth that'd latched onto his head. His hands instinctively came up to feel his neck at the thought, although luckily not finding the gaping wounds that he'd been expecting, instead only bandages around half healed punctures. That though was bad enough, his neck hurt to move meaning that looking anywhere other than straight ahead of him was out of the question, at least not without some sort of discomfort or pain coming from it.

He was still dressed in the clothes he'd left his home in, although thankfully dry now, and all the various pieces he'd had on him at the time were sat on a low table next to him, he seemed to be in good hands at least, although who's hands he had no clue. A large ward like this though would have to be in a city, and if he was in a city he was in danger, he had no idea where he was. For all he knew he was sitting in Fordeth right now, meaning his chances of detection were off the charts in comparison to what they'd been before.

Before he could fully ponder the implications of his situation a door opened down the ward and a young looking woman, dressed in a blue long dress from head to foot with a sturdy looking apron covered in various pouches over the top, stepped in. Seeing he was awake she headed down towards his bed at a hurried pace and began checking his bandages, showing almost no concern for the man beneath them.

"Lucky you were found when you were, half an hour more and you'd be dead, that and you have the best healers Cruinthe can offer here to sort you out" She began, prodding his neck and moving it in all sorts of angles that caused him to wince and almost cry out a few times . "Looks like once this heals you should be fine, no permanent damage, although i'd expect it'll probably ache for quite a while."She said, as Roald just let her continue, trying to act the good patient in hopes of not drawing any more attention to himself than he already had by simply ending up here in the first place.

When he finally plucked up the courage to speak he'd already planned what to say, "_{And where is here, my brains a bit scattered and i'd-"}

"-Helkorth, you were brought in near dead and now you're almost good to again" She interrupted, speaking quickly and with lines that seemed almost pre-rehearsed to him, but he was content to just deal with it for now. 

As soon as she was finished examining his neck she left, allowing Roald to finally let out a sigh of relief. Helkorth was good, if he remembered correctly it was nowhere near Fordeth so he should be safe from mage hunters, even better it was currently in the hands of Julgrava's opposition making it incredibly unlikely that he should be recognised. Armed with this knowledge he was able to settle, although incapable of fully relaxing this knowledge calmed him somewhat and allowed him to withstand the rest of his treatment without to much panic.

Upon his release however he found that Helkorth wasn't exactly prospering, he had no way to actually make a life here, business was already set up and no one trusted a hulking stranger, nor did he have much coin or access to material. Smithing was the only trade that he knew that he could make a living off now, and there was nothing here for it. What did catch his eye however was a flyer for trades wanted in Sorath, especially newer trades. 

It would be a risk going to Sorath, it being closer to Fordeth and more accessible for the sorceror king, but even his brief time amongst actual civilization had shown him how bleak his life had been. What was the point in living if one wasn't actually going to live. So even if it put him at more risk he would try to do something more with himself, not as if he was going to paint a target on his back and come out in the open, but live a little more. 

From Helkorth to Sorath though was a long walk, after buying what supplies he could afford he began his journey, planning to stop at Morith on the way if he could to restock.

---

Stamina: 41/45