Felix dashes towards the wolves that is still alive but could not quite make it to get in a stab.
Battle axe in hand, Prastugaus charges the hound and swings at it.
Prasutagus slices deep into the beast's side. It lashes out at him in return, but fails to make contact.
The biggest creature clamps its jaws around Magan's side and drags him back down onto the ground.
Kara moves in to try and flank the final creature, stabbing at it with her spear.
Gawen protec.
But he also attac.
Magan looks around, unsure how he ended up on his back again. He uses his shield and feet to defend himself as he rolls backwards to get back up. Ealing continues to attack the wolf with both hooves.
Gawen and Pen fail to hurt the creatures, though Magan manages to get back on his feet without suffering any further bites.
Reaching through with her longspear from behind Branok, Kara thrusts its tip deep into the beasts side, leaving it too reduced to dust on the wind.
Experiencing a momentary loss of brain cells, Felix steps through the bush and is immediately greeted by writhing vines and roots. Embarrassed, Felix leaps out of the bush and dashes towards the Alpha with his dagger draw and digs in whence he reaches it.
Prasutagus will step in to the gap created by the dead hound and swing at the last foe remaining.
Felix's daggers and Prasutagus's axe slam into the beast from behind and it too vanishes in a puff of black powder. The travellers are left panting alone on the ridge-top.
Kara starts to laugh and shake her head as the battle seems to be over. " That was thrilling! Magan, I did not know you had such surprises for us in this trip." She then glances about, to assess her companions states.
Gawen and Magan are wounded, the others seem unhurt.
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"Aeth hynny'n dda, dywedodd pawb." Prasutagus says. "Gall Branok eich helpu gyda'r ddau" Prasutagus gestures at Gawen and Magan as he says this last bit.
Felix goes to pick up the dagger that he tossed earlier from the bush, being very wary of potentially lashing vines.
Magan shakes his head.
"This is too much. Get the wagon moving Branok, we need to get out of this place."
Kara pokes Magan with the butt of her spear, saying " You are old and feeble it seems, letting a dog get to you. Climb up and have Branok patch you up while we ride." She was tenderly poking him in the ribs, trying to provoke him into some action
Branok nods to Prasutagus and moves to check on Gawen and Magan, especially the deep wound to the druid's arm.
"I need some time to see to this properly..." he murmurs, "but if anybody else can drive the carriage I can clean their wounds on the road."
Stares off into the middle distance for a moment, and smells the air, hunting for any further sign of otherwordly threat. Sensing nothing however, he relaxes slightly. The plants to the side of the road uncurl and lose their unnatural vitality, their roots no longer drinking from the essence of Annwn.
"Byddaf yn cwympo - gweler i Magan yn gyntaf, bydd ei iechyd yn fwyaf defnyddiol os byddwn yn dod ar draws mwy ohonynt," he tells Branok.
He removes one of the small vials from his pack and pours a thick green liquid into the wound, wrapping it up with a strip of cloth he cuts from the end of his blanket.
Magan laughs at Kara and brushes away the playful prod with a counter jab of his own, slapping the back of her helmet. If his pride is still hurt it isn't visible.
"Not so feeble that I can't best you. The fight is over before you even get there hidden away under all that steel."
He smiles at the rest, perhaps the most jolly he has been since they all met.
"I can drive if you wish, but honestly it is but a scratch." He climbs up next to Branok though, knowing the argument will only slow them down and his desire to keep moving is bigger than his desire to save face at this moment.
With Magan at the reins, Branok ushers Gawen into the carriage.
"I'll hear nothing of it young man! Your potions may be marvellous but a clean wound will heal faster either way."
Once Kara, Prasutagus and Felix are back on horseback the convoy rolls on, until an hour later Branok calls to Magan to change places with Gawen.
Gawen takes the reins and Magan slips down to take his place besides Branok. As he climbs in through the door, Isolde reaches out to touch at him. Her hand brushes his side and he feels a cool, soothing sensation that catches him off-guard.
Once he has settled down next to Branok, the old man peels back the armour to expose Magan's injuries, only to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
"Good! Not as bad as I'd thought."
He gets to work cleaning and dressing the wound and soon Magan finds the pain in his side much to be much diminished.
Gawen sits uneasily at the reigns, keeping his senses open for any more otherworldly intrusions. He doesn't say anything to the others, but the encounter has left him thoroughly shaken. It was one thing to know that the rhythms of the natural world were slightly off-kilter, but quite another to see that disturbance leap at you with a mouth full of slavering teeth. His mood isn't helped by the pain in his arm, now a dull, deep, ache that was impossible to ignore, despite Branok's administrations.
Travels along side on a horse, her armor clanking and clinking as she rambles along. She stares off, pondering the changes she was seeing in the world. Otherworldly beast ventured into their world on occasion, but nothing like this. This is a new thing, a new boldness. She would wonder out loud " I think Freya is trying to show us a sign. We should try to figure out what this means. Hel doesnt just send her hounds after just anyone. We were targeted."
Prasutagus silently guides Aurelius along in front of the carriage.
Magan lingers in the carriage a while longer, stroking Isolde's hair and contemplating what just happened. He decides it is best to keep quiet but makes a mental note that he needed to step up the girls training. She will need to be able to defend herself soon.
As noon draws near the weather clears and the carriage passes the small moorside hamlet of Whiddon Down. With the sun out the mood is lightened and it looks like the travellers are in for a golden late summer afternoon. Branok has returned to the driver's site and seems keen to press on past the moors after the events of the morning, which have left him quieter and more serious than usual. Isolde on the other hand seems unbothered by the supernatural encounter and sits atop the carriage's roof with the luggage, gleefully swinging her legs off the side and shrieking a little at the occasional bounce of a pot hole.
Still shaken from getting attacked by enormous ash hound from hell, Felix slowly catches up with the carriage and says in the general direction of the group.
"....Errmm, not trying to be THAT guy, but...like ermmm....
WHAT IN THE LIVING THE F@%* WERE THOSE?!?...
Are we just gonna...like NOT talk about it?"
For the first time in a long while, Felix looses his cool and is now clearly in distraught.
"Nid oedd gen i drafferth yn eu brifo, felly ni welais unrhyw reswm i'w aflonyddu. Does dim amheuaeth eu bod yn rhywfaint o anifail anhygoel, ond cyn belled â bod fy arfau'n perffeithio eu cuddfan nid ydynt mor wahanol ag yr ydych yn meddwl eu bod nhw." Prasutagus calmly replies to Felix's out burst.
Kara blinks and with a puzzled look glances over at Branok, before turning to fully talk to Felix. She grew up with the Church of Freya, and so stories and proof of otherworldly excursions into this world where not new to her. She was even amused by Felix's outburst, and she simply states " It is Freya's will. Hel tested us with her hounds, and we were found worthy by Freya to win. Soon we must give thanks and a sacrifice to Freya to continue our good luck. Surely you know better, have you never felt a god's touch in your life? That will make a great story one day. Defeating soldiers of Hel, living to tell of the battle. How many do you know can make that claim? We are destined to be champions of Freya." She then starts to nod sagely, thinking of the glory she will receive in the afterlife.
Magan climbs on top of the carriage with Isolde, playing games and getting her to practise her balance. He too has a huge weight on his mind after the attack but is more concerned by the girl. He stops playing at Felix's outburst and scowls a little, nodding towards the girl. He grins at Kara's response, though he tries to hide it a little.
"Let's keep things calm, no doubt these events were strange. Whether a test from the gods, or something else, as Prasutagus said, we can hurt them and they leave clean wounds, that means we can best them. So keep the hysterics for a more desperate time eh? "
"Right, glad to hear everyone is having a good time..."
Frustrated by the fact that no one seems to be bothered by this apart from him, Felix grabs his horse by the reign and storms ahead to get some fresh air away from the group.
"I am gonna go scout ahead...As you were."
Kara tries to hide her grin from Felix as he rides along, her mirth somewhat obvious. Once he was a few yards ahead of the group she would start to laugh, holding her sides. She would mention to the rest gathered "Did you not grow up hearing stories of this? Or did you get told stories of flowers and puppies? How can one question the god's will? They are dead and we are not."
This of course comes from one who had her share of battles, and knew what happened when one angered the gods. Maybe Felix will find some faith, or at least some good mead.
"Felix," calls Gawen as Felix passes the front of the wagon.
"Rydych chi'n iawn i fod yn sâl yn rhwydd - rwy'n sicr fy mod. Efallai mwy nag yr wyf yn ymddangos. Rwy'n credu efallai bod hyn yn amlygiad corfforol o'r anghydbwysedd yr ydym ni wedi ei deimlo, ac os felly, mae'n sâl i bawb ohonom. Ond does fawr ddim y gallwn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd heblaw am y wasg mor gyflym â phosib a chadw'n effro am berygl pellach. Efallai y bydd yn fwy ac yn anos i'w ladd na'r cŵn allan. Byddwn yn eich cynghori i beidio â sgowtio yn rhy bell."
Fortunately, Felix finds nothing but heather, bracken and dirt. Soon the moor is left behind the carriage, and the travellers pass through the villages of Cheriton, Tedburn and Pathfinder over the course of the afternoon. Finally, as the horses top a hill, the city of Caerwysg comes into view, spread out below them astride the river. In the centre, the great Roman fort of Isca Dumnoniorum rises up above the other, lesser constructions.
"Faint o amser fyddech chi'n hoffi aros yma?" asks Gawen as they approach the city.
"Hoffwn weld a oes cylch druidig lleol. Efallai fy mod yn gallu gwerthu ychydig o adferiadau hefyd, i wella fy sefyllfa ariannol rywfaint."
I'd like to see if there's a local druidic circle. I might be able to sell a few restoratives too, to improve my monetary situation somewhat."
Magan crinkles his brow and grimaces.
"I still fear a little that we are being pursued. But our orders are to accompany you, so if you wish to wait a day then we shall do so, though I too am
almost without coin"
"Fear not," Branok interjects with yet another irrepressibly warm smile. "I shall see to our lodgings."
"I'd fear for the girl in the common room of a city of this size," he adds in a lower tone aside to the men.
The carriage rolls on towards the river and past the outer settlements littering the countryside into the city proper. The outer wards are poor, dirty streets for the most part, lined with stinking tenements. Around the river older Roman buildings stand tall, obviously the seat of the wealthy and powerful.
Branok guides the carriage slowly through the winding streets, making a beeline for the temple quarter. He clearly knows where he is going. Peasants scatter before the small convoy of mounted, armed warriors, and as they pass deeper into the city the dirt tracks give way to cobbled stones. Eventually a grand wooden temple stands before them and Branok hops down from the driver's seat, dusting off his cassock. Above the great oaken double doors a one eyed effigy of Woden states down at the travellers.
"Rydych chi'n gyfarwydd â'r ddinas hon, Branok? Ydych chi'n gwybod lle y gallaf ddod o hyd i druid leol?"
Kara seems a bit uneasy as they go into the bigger cities. They were smelly, loud, and not everyone understood the gods roles in their lives. She would hold a bit tighter to her shield, the symbol of Freya proudly displayed for others to see. However, upon reaching the temple with a temple that seems to be dedicated to Odin. Not exactly Freya, but close. She would speak up, a bit unsure of her companions and how they would take to spending time in a temple, " Branok, is this the best place for our companions? I doubt many young females are here, and after Magan was mauled by that dog, I'm sure his new wounds will earn him a nice bed or two." She sounded doubtful her companion would keep the peace of the temple for long.
Branok nods in reply to Gawen.
"I have visited many temples of the Æsir across Prydain." Branok replies to Gawen, settling the horses and fetching his walking staff from where it had been stowed against the side of the carriage. "I believe last I was here there was a druid of the Dunsford circle selling ointments out of a cellar in Cowick. Most druids in these parts fall under the authority of the Wistman's Wood."
"I must ask that the high priest accept us into the House of the Æsir," Branok explains to Kara. "Once that is done you will all have sanctuary here, whether you choose to make use of it or not. The great hall is open to all honourable men and women."
With that, the aged monk turns and makes his way up the stairs to the enormous temple doors, his staff clacking on the cobbles as he goes. Upon reaching the top he taps its head twice on the thick wood in a resounding knock and the door swings slowly inwards, spilling warm firelight out into the darkening evening. He steps inside and is gone for the moment, the door closing behind him. Outside Isolde still snores on the seat of the carriage.
Magan looks around nervously. Big cities still made him nervous. Eyes everywhere,and travellers too. He lowers himself in the seat next to Isolde.
Ahh finally... now this is the kind of place that makes me feel at home, so full of life and riches, ready for the plucking.
Felix couldn't hide the smile creeping up towards the corner of his lips. He turns and address the group.
"Errmm, so I assume you will be settled here in this temple? In which which case, if there is no objections, I shall go and familiarise myself with the rest of the city and meet you guys back here tomorrow?"
Kara blinks at Felix request. That was a quick request to stay somewhere in this unsafe city. She frowns at him and asks " Are you saying you are not an honourable man? Why would you pay for lodging when you did not have to? I hope they have a priestess here, maybe even a priestess of Freya." After a few more seconds she also states, more to the group than anyone, " I would suggest you all pray to your patron. We have been blessed by Freya, and cursed by the hounds of Hel. I would say some prayer and thanks would not be amiss, before you get lost in this... place." The way she said place made it obvious her dislike of the city. However, she would follow into the temple, hoping to find a priestess of Freya
The door swings lightly on its hinges with a low groan as Kara cracks it open and steps inside. The great wooden hall is something between a traditional longhouse and a cathedral in terms of architecture. A great table runs its length, flanked by roaring hearths on either side, and at the far end an ornate alcove is set with shrines to each of the Æsir. Here, Branok stands, in muted conversation with another robed man - presumably the high priest - who looks up as Kara enters and beckons to her to join them at the hall's end.
Outside, Prasutagus says a brief prayer to Andraste and agrees to join Felix for a drink, taking Aurelius with him.
Magan watches everyone leaving with a grimace, he had a bad feeling that splitting up was not going to end well.
"Will you stay here tonight and go to the druids tomorrow Gawen? I can accompany you if you wish. "
Gawen, watching Branok and the high priest intently, nods a distracted assent to Magan.
When Branok gestures to Kara, Gawen also approaches, keen to speak to the man.
The high priest is a tall man, though not quite large enough to match Gawen's height. Most of his face is covered by a thick grey beard that is tied in ornate braids and he wears the traditional dress of the Æsir's priesthood.
"Come," he beckons again, now walking towards the newcomers and taking a seat in one of the high-backed wooden chairs besides the fire. Branok follows behind him.
"My old friend tells me you have a hard journey behind you, and more ahead." He looks carefully at both Kara and Gawen with piercing blue eyes. "What is it you seek here in Caerwysg?"
Gawen nods his head in deference to the man. They may follow different faiths, but good manners transcend religion.
"Indeed, and I thank you for receiving us, Godi", Gawen replies, hoping he has used the correct honorific for the priest.
"As Branok has no doubt told you already, we are passing through on our way to Kent, to investigate rumours of the arrival of a new Christian priest on our shores. However our journey has already been beset by more trouble than I foresaw - perhaps unrelated to our purpose, perhaps not. But as for what we seek in this city - any shelter, aid, knowledge and news that can be spared."
Kara looks at the man, with a face that reminded her of simpler times, playing in the temple, seeing the old men talk and discuss this sign or that. It felt more like normal fjord life to her. She sighs, missing those times slightly before venturing forward with the old priest. As he addresses her, her voice lacks the normal joking tone she has with her companions, using a clearly more respectful tone.
" Elder, I come to see lodging while we stay, but I also wish to speak to one of my order, or at least a Priestess of Freya. We have had troubling times on the road, and yet have made it through. I am unsure what sacrifice would be needed to give thanks properly either." She then settles back, always unsure when dealing with the other's faiths, as her dedication was obvious.