Something Wicked out of the Dark This way Comes!

[Thall]

Murphy's Law #16: If things are going well, you obviously have no idea what is going on.

"...und denn kommt der Bandersnatch!" -- Addendum, Aereymus Haar
(And then the Bandersnatch comes!)

It was going to be a pleasant evening, at least Haar thought as he was walking to the All Hallow's Eve party with his dear fiancee, Shyla, the raven-haired beauty so often seen in accompanyment of the fellow that Carnath often described as having an appauling accent. They had stopped for a moment for a quick kiss under the gentle moonlight of this late autumn's eve on the path halfway between their farm and the tavern; when their revelry was interrupted by a low growl. Though lupine, it was otherworldly, hideous, and set the hairs of the back of Haar's neck on edge. He knew the warbling hiss of the creature that lied in the darkness.

Shyla slunk behind him, as he turned his light grey eyes to the shadows, scanning the murk for any sign of the burbling beast. The tolgy wood now made him slightly uneasy as he reached down for his sword -- an actual and effective part of his costume. Ironically, his entire costume had been the breastplate of his old field armor and the heavy helmet thereupon lied on his head! He grit his teeth as he heard the savage howl of the beast, shrieking like a banshee through the night.

His hand gripping his sword sent a defiant clatter through the still air, his nostrils flared in defiance and he let out his own war howl, loud and feral, which was only countered by the beast howling again and emerging from the wood with furmious intent! The daemonic presence revealed itself in its horrid glory in the now sickly moonlight and Haar quietly cursed himself... A BANDERSNATCH! Oh, what a wretched creature -- a lesser demon by all accounts, but here in the relative sanctuary of Myrken Wood? No! It could not be. The wolf-like monster snarled its rows of razor and dagger like teeth, its long snake like tongue hanging from its lips in salivating defiance. Haar narrowed his eyes and drew his sword in a defensive stance, trying to make himself look as large as possible. The six-legged beast began to circle around the two before barreling into Haar, nearly knocking the man to the ground before he struck back and sliced deeply into the foreshoulder of the monster. It howled in anger and tried to bite into Haar's side, his armor dented by the powerful jaws -- but leaving his flesh fortunately unpenetrated, as the Bandersnatch was known to carry all legion of mimsy diseases.

He closed his eyes and sliced again, cutting this time into the creature's bull-like neck, sending blood flowing onto the ground. It released Haar and let out a defiant growl and slunk off into the night, knowing it was more than outmatched in this battle.

Catching his breath for a moment, Haar looked at Shyla and simply said, "Wir sollen nach Hause gehen..." (We should go home.) His fraufriend could only nod and quickly shuffled home with him. All the while, Haar thought that this was a wicked turn of events that a creature so hideous as the bandersnatch with its demonic eyes in yellow flame, and horrid beastial form had come to the Wood. And when there was one, there were always more...