I’ve been addicted recently to a game called Armello that is on the PC! Its a short but still very richly detailed game which mimics that of a board game, so taking turns, moving around a board, playing cards, etc.

Its fantastic and I encourage anyone to go check it out, links to its website and other info is down below like usual, and enjoy the story!

“Your message said there were bandits raiding the settlement, instead what I see is a squad of King’s Guards littering the street,” Zosha hissed in frustration. The orange furred wolf stood tall and muscular cowered before her icy stare and small stature. Her presence made him nervous but she could tell her anger made him terrified.

“Yes well…you…you see…there were bandits, but.” The wolf stammered, his back pushing up against the thick wooden wall of the room. “The toad he showed up with the guards and pushed them out, said martial law was in affect…” he paused his eyes looking up at Zosha for a brief moment before he had to look away again, his tail tucked between his legs, “he said it was the king’s orders and the toad said he was in charge now.”

Letting out a seething breath she stood up straight, arcing her back slightly with a crack before leaning back in her usual posture, hands close to the pommels of her two blades on either hip. “You were right to call for my help, I shall deal with them.”

“But its the King’s Guards! You can’t possibly take them all on!” He exclaimed, “Darkmire needs you alive.”

A laugh escaped her, “you shouldn’t worry about me. I must remove their presence including that toad, it would create a bad name for Night Mother if I didn’t.” She sniffed the air, her ears twitching slightly at a creak in the floorboards above. “Guests?”

“Ye..yes…my family, they moved in recently for safety.”

“A wise move,” She snickered, her tail swishing back and forth. “Before I go, tell me do these guards have anything to do with Barnaby? I had a run in with that damn rabbit several times to the north.”

“Not that I know of… but, you know how those rabbits are with the king, trading their artifacts and jewels for political favors.”

“You are right about that… keep your nose to the air for any more news and you’ll stay in good faith of the Night Mother.” Zosha said before leaving not waiting for a response. The door and halls quickly opened before her rapid movement. The darkness a stranger to some was her element. With the rising moon she scouted the settlement of Darkmire, counting every guard of the king and the location of the toad himself.

In the late hours of the night with clouds covering the crescent moon she struck. Her blade slicing between a gap in the thick armor of a guard. A low whine escaped him muffled by the light breeze in the air, his descent made soft by her guiding arms to the ground.

By the time the clouds moved off of the moon and its brilliant white light filled the sky once more one of the ten guards who patrolled the settlement was gone.

She didn’t waste any time, once the guard was hidden away in a hole she quickly traveled along the tunnel network created by those loyal to the Night Mother. Her blades shined briefly in the moonlight that became hidden by clouds moments later. The sound of a metal blade cutting through the chain-mail of another guard sounded. A nearby guard his ears perked, sniffed the air in the direction of the sound. A moment past before a small dagger lanced through the air piercing into his neck.

With the second guard hidden away she waited with anticipation, the sound of the third guard crashing to the dirt floor, his armor rattling echoed in the still air.

Clouds moved away from the moon once more to reveal the dead guard, a pool of blood forming around his neck where the dagger stay lodged. Two other guards appeared, their metal helmets turning, their halberds raised.

In that moonlight her blades connected and twirled through the air leading her straight to the two guards. They barely raised their weapons before the blades spun through gaps in their armor finding the weak points with ease. Quick precision left the two guards on the floor, missing limbs and surrounded by their own blood.

Just as fast as she appeared she vanished. She did not waste time at all moving through the city’s tunnel network straight towards its center. Her ears twitched at clattering metal above and she quickly burst from her cover upon the unsuspecting guard. His head separated from his body as he crashed to the floor.

“The Whirlwind! Back up to the lord we must protect him!” A guard barked before letting out a howl to the stars above.

Following the retreating guards she didn’t care to hide anymore instead taking a forward approach with her blades at the ready. She easily caught up to one guard, ducking beneath a swipe of his halberd she lashed out spilling his guts out and kept moving. Her blades red with blood sliced through the thin door that stood before her into the mayor’s home. There she found herself facing the final three guards, two of which who retreated upstairs to their lord.

The guard facing her pounded his chest before taking a readied stance, his halberd prepared to lash out.

Accepting the challenge with a grin and bowing swiftly she pulled her cowl tightly around her head and pounded forward, jumping above the swing of his halberd. Connecting her blades together, she gripped the ceiling with her free hand, claws digging into wood before she kicked off with feet. Her blades fueled by the momentum of her descent sunk deep into the guard’s shoulder straight into his heart. A loud growl of pain erupted as the guard slumped, blood pumping from his heart to the floor.

Ripping the blades out she moved to the stairs, pulling free a small sphere she tossed it up. A moment passed before an explosion emitted above, a high pitched yelp along with grunts of pain echoed down to her. Charging up she found the tight corridors filled with smoke, a small crater in the floor where the bomb set off, sending splinters everywhere.

In the dissipating smoke she saw the two guards still alive but briefly stunned, beyond was the slanderous fat toad richly dressed and helpless, crying hysterically. She approached blades ready before pausing at the heavy footsteps behind her. Spinning around just in time she crossed her blades to meet the large hammer that bared down on her.

“Well if it isn’t Zosha herself! I figured you were up to no good when we met out in the plains!”

“I could say the same to you!” She growled in return and jumped back letting his hammer crash into the floor. Dashing forward she swung her blades towards him.

With quick reflexes of his own Barnaby brought his hammer up to shield himself and shoved her off before swinging his hammer around not allowing her any chance for reprieve.

The hammer hit her hard, slamming heavily against her blades and sending her crashing towards the toad and tumbling over him right out the window.

Landing in the dirt she let out a harsh cough, blood coating her lips. Spitting out the blood she quickly retreated from the open space and back into the safety of the tunnels. Once hidden she began focusing on evening out her breathing, the effect of the hammer’s blow wasn’t evident in visible wounds but instead in the blood she had coughed up.

“Come out Zosha! Do you think a rat can hide in a hole from a rabbit?”

Spitting up some more blood she quickly began moving through the tunnel. Scampering along she felt a rush of adrenaline at the sound of the tunnel collapsing behind her. Moving faster she rolled into a side entrance of another tunnel as the one she was in completely collapsed.

“I can hear you down there, come face me and prove to me you are truly ‘The Whirlwind’!”

Grabbing another bomb she rolled it down one tunnel entrance and moved in the opposite direction. Gritting teeth she waited for the explosion and leapt out with its bang. She grit her teeth in pain from the sting of pain within her from the sudden ascent. Blades spinning she descended back down on the distracted rabbit. Her blade sinking into the left shoulder of the rabbit.

A cry of pain escaping him he elbowed her back then spun around, his hammer hitting her side, sending her rolling through the dirt. Ripping the blade out of his shoulder he dropped to his knees in pain, “finish her!” He growled in command.

Rolling to a stop, Zosha pushed herself onto her hands and knees quickly, her tail swishing back and forth in frustration, the second half of her dual blade lay close by. Swiping it up she stood to her feet, her usual stance lazy in comparison to the start of the night.

Two guards descended upon her, their halberds raised with every intention to end her life.

Back-pedaling away from the halberds their shock-wave nearly stumbled her, her tail keeping her balance.

With a snarl one guard lunged forward, the tip of the halberd coming towards her.

Nearly skewered through she spun around feeling her side nicked by the blade and sliced her own blade into the guards side causing him to stumble to his knee. Ripping the blade from the flesh, blood spilled rapidly as she added to the growing pool by chopping into the guards neck a couple of times ending his life. Spitting blood onto the dead guard she waved her hand to the last guard with a bloody grin, her free hand holding her side to try to seal the wound.

“Damn rat, you’ll never dethrone our king!” The guard roared and brought his halberd down with air-cracking speed.

Faster then the furious guard, Zosha’s blade struck with lightning reflexes ending him with an accurate cut to his stomach spilling his innards.

Taking a deep breath Zosha turned her attention to Barnaby who held his hammer in one hand.

“You think with this victory that you get closer to the throne? Dirty rat you should return to your slums!”

“I expect nothing less from the loud arrogant rabbits, you were better hiding in your holes for all those generations!” Zosha spat back and charged forward, her final blade still held tightly in hand.

Standing up straight and prideful he ignored his useless left arm and gripped his hammer single-handedly. Swinging with all his might Barnaby brought his hammer around with air-splitting force, the strike caused Zosha to stop dead in her tracks by knocking her blade from her hands, her own arm close to being ripped from its socket.

Pausing in that brief moment she saw the glint of her second blade in the moonlight lying on the ground. Without a second thought she ducked low dodging Barnaby’s second attack. The hilt fit into her hands so perfectly its sharp blade heading straight for the rabbit’s heart, ending him in similar fashion to the ten guards littering the street. The final gasp of the rabbit fluttered into her ears, its sound reminiscent to all the others slain by her.

Ripping the blade out of the rabbit she took a deep breath enjoying the moonlight and the cool air. A light breeze blew into the settlement the blood caking her fur caused a shiver to run down her spine. She shook herself, her tail lashing back and forth in anticipation. She turned her attention towards the building with the cowering toad still inside, her dual blades still hungry for one more this night.

Extra Info and Links:

“Starting position, my corner on the map.”

“Nicely detailed character sheet”

Hope you enjoyed it! In terms of this particular story it took place over two very short over the claim on a settlement. The round itself I did win, receiving a prestige victory, though I’ve definitely done better in other rounds.

Website: Armello

Youtube: Launch Trailer

Extra Info: Armello Community Wiki

More Info: Armello Community Wikia