Tunnel Rat

As Tallsqueak walked away from the trio of wounded first-year wizards, the gaggle of students watching at the base of the tower applauded. He ignored them, which got a few nods from the older students. A true duelist cared nothing for the applause of those below him and focused only on what he could have done better in the fight. There was much discussion about the spells he had used. Several noted that his three major spells were obviously necromancy, as they dealt with bone. But there was much conjecture about how he had countered the storm mage spells.

Several of the novices were talking excitedly and making wild gestures. An unexpected break from classes was always fun, so was a duel, new magic, and a 1 vs 3 victory.

"...unannounced duel day?"

"I bet this is more drama about Cordelia, I swear that girl causes more trouble...."

"I want to know how that weird staff absorbed that much energy. I don't see how he could absorb that much."

From a window on the second floor, a group of second-year students had observed the short duel. They noted that the newcomer had used guile to ambush the three first-year students by dressing in common clothes and goading them into attacking him. The duel had been short as he dominated them totally, ignoring their spells and striking back with unique necromantic attacks. To add insult to their injuries he had even struck them with his wand, showing that he wasn't even going to waste mana on them. All in all, he had the admirable qualities that they were looking for. The decision was made to send two of their number to meet the newcomer and give him an invitation to their illustrious clan.

As the two older students in black robes exited the tower, the group of students made room for them to pass. Each of the pair was wearing a fancy black robe with a green dragon embroidered on the chest. Their backs straight, their noses in the air, and their eyes were glowing with emerald light. The pair walked up to Tallsqueak and gave small bows.

"Greetings, Tallsqueak, I am Brer Moray of Clan Emerald Wyrm. I congratulate on your victory over that rabble.

"I too, congratulate you. You showed them the contempt they deserve. I am Brer Cutthroat of Clan Emerald Wyrm."

Tallsqueak gestured at the trio of injured novices receiving first aid. "It wasn't so much a duel as it was teaching them to do things properly. Their noisy banging annoyed me."

The two students from Clan Emerald Wyrm looked at each other and nodded before Moray spoke. "Exactly. There is a proper way that things should happen here at the tower. The rabble often forget that and need to be reminded. My brother and I can see that you have the right attitude and we offer you an invitation to join us in Clan Emerald Wyrm as a Brother Eel. You will become great in our clan. We will share our powerful necromantic spells with you and learn yours, increasing all of our power."

The watching throng of students grew quiet. Competition among the four clans of the tower was fierce, and the Eels were already powerful.

Tallsqueak seemed, if anything, more annoyed. He looked at the green dragons embroidered on their robes, and actually sneered. "Not interested. I have things to do, and machines to fix. And I don't like eels!" He turned and walked away, leaving the two stunned junior wizards staring at his retreating tail. Laughter came from the rabble and several people were mumbling and pointing at the two members of Clan Emerald Wyrm.

"Looks like the Eels struck out."

"...and he's brave. I bet he ends up in House Manticore..."

"Do you think he'd like to join Puffyfur? He'd fit right in! Someone invite him to our next pillow fight."

"Wow, do you see how pissed Moray is? This next duel is going to be awesome!"

Indeed, Moray was angry. So angry! No one dared to ever turned down his invitations! And he hated being laughed at.

"HALT! You cannot insult the Clan of the Emerald Wyrm with impunity Tallsqueak! If you will not join us, then you can learn to fear us as others have! We challenge you to a friendly duel to exchange knowledge, and show off the potency of our spells. Refuse us at your peril." Both began gathering necromantic energies to them, and reaching for the bones in their pockets.

Tallsqueak stopped walking and glared at them, then looked at the machinery he had been walking towards. He sighed and slipped his spanner back into his belt. "Remember that I gave you two Eel lovers a chance to walk away."

Moray and Cutthroat took that statement as permission to begin casting. As usual, they both started casting MightyServant of Bone to raise huge ogre skeletons to send at their opponent. They were far tougher than the normal Servant of Bone spell that gave a mage command of an undead goblin or human.

Tallsqueak didn't give them a chance to complete the spells. A skull appeared in his hand and was thrown hard at Moray, hitting him in the chest and exploding in shards of stinging bone splinters. Moray lost control of his spell and was knocked down. Cutthroat managed to summon one skeletal ogre and sent it to attack Tallsqueak.

Tallsqueak himself was transforming. Along with the bony gauntlets he had worn in the last duel, bone plates appeared on his feet and shins. His tail became a long bony whip that looked more like the skeleton of a snake. He stepped forward to meet the ogre skeleton, casting a small curse at it. Cutthroat could feel that his creation had been cursed, but didn't care. How did you curse the dead? They ignored most magic.

Tallsqueak leaped in the air, spinning and whipping his tail around in a circle. The head of the skeleton shattered and the undead construct lumbered past Tallsqueak as he stepped out of the way. Cutthroat had no way to control the headless construct and let it crumble to dust so he could summon another. Moray had regained his feet just in time to see the demise of Cutthroat's minion, and began casting a spell to summon one of his own, but again, an exploding skull knocked him off his feet, ruining his spell. He hissed in annoyance. "Cutthroat, you idiot, do something! That’s two of my spells he’s disrupted and I'm down a third of my health!"

Tallsqueak stood patiently and waited for Cutthroat to summon another minion. Cutthroat changed tactics and shouted out "Wall of Bones!" A twenty-foot wide by eight-foot-tall wall of woven bones appeared between Tallsqueak and his opponents. Both Death Mages began casting again immediately, burning more mana in an effort to raise their army.

"Mighty Servant of Bones!."

"Shooty Bone Minion!"

"Avenging Skeleton of Doom"

"Undead House-Cleaner"

The last spell was a bit lame, but Cutthroat was nearly out of mana. They sent their small army of undead around the wall to attack Tallsqueak two around each side, and peaked through openings in the wall to direct them. Except that they didn't see him.

From the top of tower, Cremona started to giggle.

Arlothe was having trouble following the duel. "What's going on? I see the usual army of undead that those two prefer to use, but I don't see Tallsqueak anywhere."

His wife patted him on the head and pointed. "I've told you so many times to work harder on those perception drills, dear. Tallsqueak skulked up to their wall, climbed it, and leaped into the shadows behind them while they concentrated on their spells. Even I barely noticed him. He's a trained Shadow Skulker, I'm sure of it. Oh, I hope he says it..."

Arlothe stared where she pointed, and could just make out a shadowy figure skulking ten-feet behind Moray and Cutthroat. "Say what dear?"

"Surprise!"

Cremona clapped her hands with glee.

A long tail wrapped around Cutthroat's windpipe, and hoisted him into the air. At the same time, Tallsqueak brought down his engineer’s spanner in a double handed blow to Moray's head, knocking him out cold. Cutthroat tried to cast a spell but had trouble concentrating as Tallsqueak slammed him into the ground.

The next instant, Tallsqueak cast Harpoon of the Winds and sent it rocketing through the Wall of Bone that was weakened by Brittle Bones. The wall crumbled to white dust, and the spell powered through the Avenging Skeleton of Doom who was unlucky enough to be in the way. The Mighty Bone Minion collapsed a second later, Moray not being able to continue to concentrate on the spell that gave it unlife. The only minion left standing was Cutthroat's Shooty Bone Minion.

The bow armed skeleton turned, finally finding its target and shot an arrow at Tallsqueak. Sadly, for Cutthroat, Tallsqueak had put him between himself and the undead archer. Cutthroat took an arrow in the shoulder and then wisely ended his own spell and yelled out, "I concede, you have bested me oh mighty one!"

Tallsqueak dropped him and turned to see if anyone else was going to attack him.