Grungle Saves Christmas

[Grungle]

Grungle moved into the Laberranth, known to him as the adventure hole more readily. Grungle would probably move behind his friends when the action began, but for now, Grungle was serving as scout, tracking down signs of Santa. He found little bits of paper and ribbon as well as a bell (which he put in his mouth for safekeeping). "Safe head, Grungle knows path for rescue." Grungle was right apparently, he found a trap door that lead to the second floor within 30 minutes. Grungle was glad he had freinds who liked Christmas and would help him on such a quest. He was glad he had friends at all.. Christmas was the best, "When is Christmas? Are we late for Santa so presents happens?"

It was dank and moist here, Grungle approved. Grungle broke the silence as he surveyed the open room they came too. "Would be nice to mind mega Santa freind! Kill and Grungle knows Santa where." Grungle than laughed at his joke, making the sound of a cicada purring. Grungle than asked, bringing the conversation to a more serious topic "What do moles want on Santa? Is moles Christmas hate-men?"

[ivaak]

Ah yes! The shiny green labyrinth! Ivaak was always pleased that this was the setting of his new adventures. In fact, this shiny landscape was very helpful to calm Ivaak’s nerves with all of the secret police and ditches he was being forced to deal with. Those dastardly secret police…after all these years, why have they suddenly become so active? And in such a faraway place, too! Ivaak would get to the bottom of this; the secret police could not be allowed to ruin this shiny place! But first, to foil their current plan!

Grungle seemed to know his way around the labyrinth, so Ivaak let him take the lead. Ivaak would not need to step up front until something needed to be punched into pulp, which is something that happened from time to time in places like this, Ivaak understood. Ivaak did not, however, understand Grungle’s joke, or that the noise he made afterwards was laughter, so Ivaak decided to just nod in response. However, Ivaak knew the answer to Grungle’s following question.

“Moles must be agent of secret police,” Ivaak explained. “They not like Santa give present and want silence him. In secret police mind, fun is bad. Secret police bad people, which is why I like put fist in secret police.” Ivaak raised his fist to punctuate the explanation, knowing that it would rally his comrades for the battles to come. He knew that Grungle was wise, and would understand what he meant, but this other kid…well, Elias would soon understand the evils of the secret police. Ivaak was certain.

[Elias]

Whether it was wise or not, the innkeeper had given Elias a quick shot of… something, Elias wasn’t quite sure, other than that it was the only thing making this whole ‘adventure hole’ deal slightly tolerable. Considering that one of his traveling companions had put a bell he found on the ground into his mouth, it was welcomed.

Elias wasn’t quite sure what Grungle was saying either, but he nodded along with Ivaak. Just keep quiet. Do your job and maybe the crazy bird man won’t steal your armor, and the crazy bug man won’t touch your hair. That was Elias’ Christmas wish.

He responded to Ivaak, as the bird man had a better grasp on the common tongue, and Elias didn’t really know what Grungle was going on about. “Makes sense, huh? Moles being part of the secret police?” He raised his eyebrows, not certain if his companions understood the pun, “Moles. Moles in the secret police.” He coughed, “Right.” Tough crowd.

“But—ah—mole are afraid of light, right? That’s why they live underground all the time.” He waved his hands around vaguely, “And something about how if you don’t scare them with their shadows they’ll bring more winter, yeah? So maybe that’s why they want Santa so bad, because winter isn’t fun.” Wait, he was getting off track here. “So since moles are scared of light they’re probably hiding Santa in one of the caverns where it’s dark and they can sneak up in pairs.” He gestured in the direction with his shield. “Because if it’s dark then there’s no light, and the secret police works at night when folks can’t see them and punch them.” Elias nodded. Let no man say that he did not understand the evils of the secret police, “So then if we want to smoke them out we should try turning on the lights—er set some fires to use for lights.”

And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, you should never give alcohol to teenagers.

[Grungle]

Grungle nodded and, now fully aware of what a mole was, continued on. (pictured here, what Grungle thinks a mole looks like 1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXHp5t4kD5k/UBHdq2MSshI/AAAAAAAAAhs/LU7wv4QWwq4/s1600/Bearataur.jpeg). Grungle hoped they could destroy the secret bad-men mole-men to save Santa in time for Santa to be Grungle's best freind. And yeah, being able to deliver his presents would be nice.

Grungle continued on, but when Elias suggested they make light Grungle nodded and smiled, almost dislodging the shiny bell in his mouth. Elias was smart, even though he was really squinty and surly now. "Grungle not from wizard. We need torch Grungle can arm, no worries, Grungle has one arm need for throw." Grungle was actually in no huge rush to get a torch, he preferred it to be a bit darker, but Huemans being soft, needed light.

Grungle kept scouting, it had been 10 more minutes by now, but luckily Gurngle was able to find a few more good rocks on the way. He was glad his friends were patient, Santa tracking was hard. This was when Grungle was able to lead them to an area where there was a small alcove to the left, very dark, where faint breathing and scrapping sounds were coming from. He took a quick peek and saw one creature disappear behind a corner. Grungle held up his hand and said, quietly "I maybe find mole man cop. We fight, but Grungle kill for buddy time mind so find more." He looked at his friends, one coated in metal and one quite burly, "Friends go before Grungle thank." he said as he backed behind them , staying low, and readying a good rock.

[ivaak]

Ivaak was astounded by the wisdom of the armored one. He was so young, yet he already knew so much about the secret police and their vile evilness, or evil vileness, if you prefer. Perhaps with the right push, Elias could be groomed into an excellent official of Cointown; he already wore the nation’s colors: metal. Perhaps deep down, this human had the same wisdom possessed by Ivaak and Grungle. With that thought, Ivaak resolved to ask both Grungle and Elias to become officials of Cointown. (After all, Grungle had already joined Ivaak on an anti-secret police outing.)

Ivaak continued to follow Grungle until Grungle detected the movement ahead. Ivaak nodded at Grungle when he moved to let Ivaak up front; the front lines were where Ivaak worked best. Ivaak knew they had the element of surprise on their side, and he enjoyed the poetic irony of sneaking up on the secret police, even if he didn’t fully understand what “poetic irony” meant. Ivaak then decided that the best tactic would be shock and awe: SHOCK the enemy with a sudden appearance, and while they were stunned, AWE them with the sheer volume of fist punching Ivaak would be spreading until they stopped moving. Pleased with his plan, Ivaak jumped forth, ready for battle, and unleashed his battle caw!

"CAW![/i]"

[Elias]

Elias patted a sack. "No need for wizards, I have matches." He always had a pack of matches on him. A gift from one of his older brothers who felt that there wasn't a situation that a little good old fashion fire couldn't remedy (his other elder brother had similar views about axes).

He nodded, and moved up to the front lines on Grungles command(?), completely oblivious to Ivaak's plans, both shock and awe related and Cointown-centric. He readied his shield prepared to defend Ivaak and Grungle when they unleased their fists/rocks on the secret police-er the moles.

Like the moles he was completely unaware, completely ignorant of the horrible horrors that were coming next.

"CAW!"

Startled, Elias unleased his own battle cry almost loud enough to rival Ivaak's.

"HOLY SHIT, MAN!"

[Grungle]

When Ivaak and Elias entered the small alcove (what Grungle would consider a room) they both made loud ear-shattering battle-cries, carrying the force of their lethal authority with them. That was odd, battle-cries were typically only used against other persons. Clearly these people, Grungle's friends understood more about moles than he did. So, when in Rome.

"kreEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH! KRETKRETKRETKRETKRET, kreEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!" Grungle let loose a loud, throaty, high-pitched, keening sound. He followed his friends into the room and saw not one, but two pale skinned, clawed creatures in the shadows. Okay, so moles look a little different from what Grungle thought. Grungle fired a rock, oval shaped but a bit curved, like a overweight crescent moon, flicking it end over end. It impacted in the lead mole's shoulder and bounced into the ceiling, stunning it for a brief moment, no doubt laying the ground-work for a deep bruise. He readied another stone, more jagged, took aim and said "Charge attack go! Mae sure Grungle get kill for find."

[ivaak]

Though Ivaak was supposed to be the one doing the shocking, he was a bit startled himself. The secret police’s new recruits kept getting weirder by the day. Nevertheless, secret police were secret police, even if they were pale and clawed critters (Ivaak personally thought this new look reflected their personality more), so Ivaak did not let their appearance slow him down. He saw Grungle’s opening attack, and heard the request to let Grungle have a kill. This was understandable to Ivaak; Grungle had marked his opponent with the stone throw, and Ivaak knew it was dishonorable to interrupt a duel unless he was to arbitrarily decide it to be necessary. However, Ivaak knew that the secret police had no honor, and that the second one might try to break the sacred rules of one on one combat by attacking Grungle, so Ivaak decided to make that second mole his opponent.

Having faith that Elias would keep the lead mole from getting too close to Grungle (after all, Grungle had declared a ranged duel with the mole, so it would be cheating if it tried to get close), Ivaak charged its vile accomplice. Using the momentum of his charge, Ivaak delivered a blow to the second mole’s torso. There would soon be plenty more where that attack came from.

“CAW!”[/i]

[Elias]

Well it seemed that the matches would have to wait. No worries, he couldn’t see any signs of Santa, so there still might be time to make his big brother proud.

His two companions broke off, Grungle throwing a rock at one mole, and Ivaak throwing a punch at the other. The first mole—the one that Grungle struck—let loose a savage shriek and charged forward towards Grungle. This mole obviously had no respect for the rules of sacred ranged combat, and was clearly breaking the terms of that agreement. Elias, being a respectful young man, clearly had to do something to keep the contest fair.

That something happened to be, charging forward and catching the mole mid-leap. The mole shrieked again, but Elias thrust it aside, making an opening for Grungle and his rocks.

Grinning and panting, Elias glanced up and over at Ivaak and the second mole’s battle.

“You ok by yourself?” He yelled to the tengu.

For a moment it looked like Ivaak wouldn’t answer; too consumed by his fight, but then he opened up his beak and—

“CAW!”

Elias shrugged, guessing that meant yes. He turned again and braced himself for the moles next attack.

[Grungle]

Ivaak moved off into his own engagement, and Elias braced himself for charge. Grungle smiled, if there were more moles like this, he would have a great fight before rescuing Santa. The mole charged Elias, and Grungle closed his left eye, cocked back his arm and aimed at the mole. He felt the rough, bumpy edges of the rock, traced his fingertips over the geometric sides and edges. Now this was a weapon. Grungle hurled it at alarming speed and it sailed straight, making a gunk! sound as it hit the edge of the neck of the mole. It lost it's balance, it's entire system likely in shock. It not so much rammed into or tackled Elias's shield, it crashed into it, likely very dazed. Grungle smiled in triumph and coked another bulkier rock.

[ivaak]

Ivaak, of course, remained oblivious to the condition of his comrades; he could observe their battle once he was finished with his own. The mole swiped a claw at Ivaak, but the attack barely ruffled his feathers (so much pun intended). Ivaak laughed at the agent of the secret police. “Grandmother punch better, and she in ditch for forty years!” Ivaak then showed the mole what a real attack looked like, and pounded his fists on its head.

[Elias]

The mole reared back and charged. Thanks to a well timed rock from Grungle it crashed head first into Elias's shield. It crumpled at his feet, still breathing.

Instinctively, Elias smashed the edge of his shield onthe back of the mole's neck. He almost swung at it with his sword, but remembered that Grungle wanted to make the kill. At least, he thought that was what the bug-man wanted. Who could tell what he wanted anyway.

"Finish her up!" He called to Grungle and back away from the dazed mole. Elias spun around to where Ivaak was dealing with the second mole.

The force of the tengu's blow forced the mole back. Elias braced himself and rammed the large mole from behind. If Ivaak was quick he could pin the mole, and from there continue to punch the everloving shit out of the mole.

Hopefully Ivaak loved punching things, more than he respected the rules of single combat.

[Grungle]

Grungle saw the mole knocked to the ground and further beaten about by the soft man. He was preparing to throw his rock when he realized that the mole wasn't getting up very soon. So be it, Grungle would engage him in melee, something all throwers must excel at, for boarding actions, cave fights and the like. Grungle than, honorably, leaped onto he mole and began to, valiantly, pummel the mole's face over and over again with a rock. Picture a tomato can being hit by a sledgehammer. Yeah, but with nobility you see.

Suddenly, Grungle was beset by a lightheaded feeling and a flash of images play across his vision, his best freind sense kicking in. He saw another mole, someone who shared food and pretty coins and the like with the one he just killed. Grungle now knew where he was, and probably where Santa was. He got to his feet and turned to watch the hopefully quick conclusion to the fight.

[ivaak]

It seemed as though Elias had a very keen eye. Ivaak didn’t even know that his opponent was trying to retreat when Elias cut off its escape route. The secret police would never be able to use their cowardly tactics with someone like Elias there to enforce the rules of combat. Now that the mole couldn’t escape, Ivaak unloaded a flurry of punches onto the mole, and kept going until he was fairly certain that it stopped moving. Ivaak then nodded to Elias and turned to Grungle, who Ivaak was pleased to see had dealt with his opponent in a suitable manner.

“Moles stop moving,” Ivaak observed. “Now what do?”

[Elias]

Elias took a shaky step back when Ivaak had finish pummeling the mole into a pulp. Though he was a fairly strong man, he still felt the force of the tengu’s blows. Maybe trying to enforce the rules of sacred combat wasn’t so smart after all.

He turned to Grungle who had finished off the first mole and then glanced back at Ivaak.

“I dunno,” he replied in response to Ivaak’s question, “Go find more moles to punch?” he said with a shrug.