Findurel's shot nearly takes the winged creature out of the air. Though it falters severly, it manages to stay in aloft.
Surprise round: Bulvi and Tezuzu
Tezuzu’s eyes narrow at the new creature. Before he calls out to the rest of the group. ”Afraid I do not have much to deal with our new friends here if they stick to the sky”
Both Tezuzu and Yang will step towards Findurel and ready themselves if the creatures make the foolish mistake of coming within reach. He calls out in Slyvan..
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Tezuzu isn't sure what these strange things are. As they flyby you notice that their shadows are not quite right. One attempts to gore Findurel, the other Tezuzu as they flyby. Both miss; Tezuzu and Yang manage to clip the injured creature as it closes distance - cutting it's flight short. It's strange body crashes to the ground near Quasit. The other creature flies on, now fifteen feet to the south and another fifteen feet above ground.
Round One: Party acting. Bulvi has remaining actions from surprise round.
Maka added a blast of fire to Fin's arrows.
Though the fire doesn't manage to touch the creature, arrows and ice do. It freezes midair, crashing to the ground as Sakitu's ray of frost finishes the creature.
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As the last beast falls, Fin looks to his friends. "Good job..."
He walks over to the first creature's body looking over it...he nods and gives a wink to Quasit. "Don't think you'll want to take a bite outta this 'apple', Q...never seen the likes of these...wonder what they were?"
When his friends are ready to move out, Fin will continue to scout north...
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"Good shot Saki!" Maka congratulated the kitsune with a head rub. "You too Fin! You keep shooting like that and we'll get to the chicken house easy." With another attack all but ensured in the fire monk's mind, she kept her head on a swivel for the next sign of danger.
He walks over to the first creature's body looking over it...he nods and gives a wink to Quasit. "Don't think you'll want to take a bite outta this 'apple', Q...never seen the likes of these...wonder what they were?"
"It looks like a bird, deer, and dog. What do you think it tastes like?"
"Seems so strange to not know anything about them after having slayed them. Such a shame." Tezuzu mentions softly blood still dripping from his claw.
Turning his head towards Saktitu he adds with a slight bow "Thank you for putting an end to that. We would not want to prolong it any longer than needed. The one that flew at me nearly got my eye with its horn."
"It looks like a bird, deer, and dog. What do you think it tastes like?"
Tezuzu shudders a moment at Maka's suggestion "Two of those three do not sound appetizing, but I suppose you could always tear some off if you must try it."
Tezuzu will move some paces behind Findurel giving him the usual scouting reigns and a fair distance. He will still try to keep himself quiet and his eyes open as they move. Although, Yang is less successful still filled with anxious energy from the recent fight that ended far too quickly for the excitable animal.
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Quasit had been looking the other way when the attack had begun, and was turning to see what the commotion was just as the giant bird/deer crashed near her feet. She gives a yelp of alarm and fumbles to get her sword out, backpedaling furiously, and ends up falling on her butt. The monster gives a chilling death rattle at her from a few feet away.
She drops her sword and flops onto her back as the second beastie falls.
"Looks like you guys were right about something being up there." she observes.
Selena hadn't bothered getting out a weapon, and it was over before she really had anything to do.
With a smile she says, "This is kinda fun, watching Fin do all the work. Anyway, did anyone else notice their shadows were odd? Shadow Illusions perhaps? " Ending on a more serious note as she considers these things, wondering how they might be connected to the shadows earlier.
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"It looks like a bird, deer, and dog. What do you think it tastes like?"
Fin smiles. ”Probably like chicken...most assuredly not like an apple...either way, I won’t be finding out...”
She gives a yelp of alarm and fumbles to get her sword out, backpedaling furiously, and ends up falling on her butt.
She drops her sword and flops onto her back as the second beastie falls.
"Looks like you guys were right about something being up there." she observes.
He offers a hand and pulls Quasit to her feet as he gives a quick wink to Tez. ”Don’t worry, Q, we won’t let it go to our heads...”
With a smile she says, "This is kinda fun, watching Fin do all the work. Anyway, did anyone else notice their shadows were odd? Shadow Illusions perhaps? "
The ranger shakes his head. ”Tez and Saki dropped the beasts, I just helped out...but as for the shadows, do you or Tez have any idea what they might’ve been about?”
"This is kinda fun, watching Fin do all the work."
Tezuzu's eyebrow arches "Excuse me? I do not believe it was Findurel who punched, that one lying over there, so hard it fell out of the sky dead." pointing to the body of the dead creature near Quasit an air of light-hearted offense seeped heavily in his tone.
He will shrug at Findurel "I am not sure what these creatures are. The did not respond to my joke in Slyvan. They seem more like ambush predators; and as was noted there is something off about their shadows..."
Raising his hands in mild frustration he mutters "Ah but I suppose it does not matter much now that they are dead. I would hazard a guess that it is....'fair'....odds they are not poisonous to eat." glancing back at Maka he will take care to add "And if they are I can sanctify you with magic curing it and the rest of the corpse later if you save some. However, I am not fond of dog meat and I steer clear of poultry....for obvious reasons.... so I do not think I shall be having any."
Selena figures they are peryton after a closer look at them.
"You'd probably need to boil them for a week before chewing on them without fear of risking breaking a tooth or catching something." Bulvi comments as they more on.
As the path opens to a westward turn you can see in the northern most corner a path leading to a solitary building. It sits partially surrounded by trees. A few patches of cobblestones still cover the ground outside, while a wooden street sign lies facedown in the snow.
"You'd probably need to boil them for a week before chewing on them without fear of risking breaking a tooth or catching something." Bulvi comments as they more on.
"Ugh boiled meat is the worst!" Maka wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue at the thought. "Nevermind Q is right no one eat them."
"Might be more townsfolk trapped inside. Fin, let's you and I go take a look. Just a peek in the windows. The rest of you stay here for now."
As Fin and Q sneaked away, Maka busied herself re-adjusting Bulvi's braids.
As Quasit and Findurel make their way to the house they can see the silhouette of humanoid through the window.
Tezuzu hangs back and gives Maka and Bulvi a look blinking a few times before he asks ”This might be a rude question to ask, so apologies in advance if it is too prying, but are you two in a romantic relationship?”
Tezuzu hangs back and gives Maka and Bulvi a look blinking a few times before he asks ”This might be a rude question to ask, so apologies in advance if it is too prying, but are you two in a romantic relationship?”
"Maybe?" Maka answered after a delay. "Relationships work differently here than home, they are more complicated and...and anyway we are together though!" Maka leaned down to kiss Bulvi on the cheek while she continued to fiddle with his braids.
Quasit and Findurel easily make it back to the group, unnoticed by the individual inside the home.
"So do we get to save another family!?" Maka asked excitedly as Fin and Q made their way back.
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Fin looks to Quasit and then shakes his head to answer Maka. "No family at this house...but there was a winter wolf. She didn't spot us...so we deemed it best to leave her be and move on...we need to conserve our strength if another fey might await us ahead..."
He'll then continue to scout ahead to the northwest...
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"Nope, it's a winter wolf. Probably trapped here, but our charity doesn't extend to the people trying to take over the world. If we deal with these fey and get ahold of the Hut, I imagine this forest will go away on its own anyway, then she can get out and return to her snarling at innocent citizens."
"So let's keep moving... oh hey, your braids are cute, Bull."
As the group begins to make its way past the path a female voice can be heard from the direction of the house. "You there. In the armor. Halt." Clearly Bulvi was spotted as he made his way past the path to the home.
Maka took a defensive stance as her hands engulfed in flame. "We don't want to fight you but we will!"
Tezuzu cocks his head to the side at Maka’s response ”Maybe is a very strange answer for someone preening their mates hair and kissing them on the cheek. As confident and grounded as you are in fighting you seem less so in...” he abruptly turns around ending his conversation half-finished at Quasit and Findurel’s return greeting them and listening to what they have to say.
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He nods ”I would not offer a pitcher of water to a winter wolf dying of thirst even if I were drowning.” he continues to walk away with the rest of the party until he hears the insufferable howling of the wolf calling for Bulvi to stop. His back tenses in annoyance and he turns around.
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Fin silently curses...he decides to step out of the shadows, to show their full strength, and hopefully avoid a fight...
He keeps his bow in hand as he bows. "Greetings, m'Lady. I stopped by your house but you seemed preoccupied so I didn't bother to knock. What can we do for you?"
He tries to read her when she answers...
...and looks to make sure there are no others...
A woman emerges from the path, eying Maka with surprise. "Oh, you have friends. She looks back to Bulvi. Good. By the authority of the Winter Guard you and your group are consigned, temporarily of course, to the guard's service." She looks to the southern path, and begins to walk south. Now, for your first order of business. You all will be patrolling this area with me. I haven't been able to get in touch with my commander, so once we've made a cursory examination of this strange forest we'll make our way out and head to the garrison command." She continues onward, motioning for Findurel and the others to follow.
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Fin can't get a read on her, but shakes his head nonetheless. "I'm afraid that won't do as we have business to attend to...besides, we've already 'patrolled' south and west of here, clearing out all foes...you may make your way to the garrison from here unimpeded if you wish, however, as there is none left to oppose you..."
"That is good news. It shouldn't take long at all then for us to make our way out of here. I can't imagine what urgent business you have in this place anyway. She stops, turning to see if the others intend to follow or not.
Maka relaxed at the wolf's answer. "I think she's just scarred, maybe we should help her?" She whispered to her friends.
Tezuzu will whisper back to Maka and the rest with a cold tone ”No, we let one go free in the howlings out of necessity. The iron guard and the heralds of summers return are presently fighting and dying right now to give us this opportunity. She’s a soldier and an enemy. Letting her go free will likely result in more of our allies blood spilt and someone in command being informed of our movements.” he will give Quasit a pleading look awaiting her approach to the situation as his claws clench to form a fist.
The woman looks to Maka. "You're help in this matter is valued."
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Fin nods in response to Maka, whispering back, "Makes sense to me...we could escort her out and be back quickly, saving us time and resources as opposed to fighting and killing her. And Tez, methinks we'll be either dead or traveling in the hut, preferably the latter, before she could bring anyone back, even if she's inclined to...besides, not all winter wolves are the same. One helped us with the ambushers and led us to the monks...and Greta was pretty...nice as well..."
His eyes follow Tez's to Quasit. "Q, what's your read on this?"
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"No, screw her. We don't owe her anything. The last thing we want is to imperil our mission by escorting an evil minion of the witches to safety. Those fey know we're coming -- we aren't going to do ourselves any favors by wasting half an hour walking her out of here, not to mention whatever else may jump out of these blasted trees along the way."
"Just because some of them were polite to me when they thought I was one of them doesn't change anything. They're evil and they aren't going to feel grateful to us."
She steps forward and addresses the wolf-lady.
"We're off to deal with the fey controlling this wood. Our mission can't wait. Lady Nazhena sent us and she is not a patient lady, as you may have heard. Be patient a bit longer and the Winter Guard will be able to enter these woods in force and escort you out."
"Oh. It wouldn't be prudent of me then to delay your mission. I should be helping you instead. She seems resigned to being stuck in the forest a bit longer, but looks to be grateful for the company. You might be benefited by going through the belongings of those guards who were with me. I'm well equipped, but some of you appear as if you might benefit from additional gear." She eyes Maka with concern, pointing back toward the home in which she was seeking shelter.
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Fin addresses the wolf lady. "As I stated earlier, you do not need an escort out of here. We've already slain the two fey south of here and their allies, as well as the strange flying beasts in this area. There is literally no danger between where you stand and the market exit. We'd be grateful for any equipment you could spare...but there's no need to join us..."
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"I'm sure you understand. I simply can't desert all of you to fulfill Lady Nazhena's orders on your own. I'm sure you all are more than capable, but it wouldn't be prudent for the guard to walk away from such important work. She has turned and begun walking back to the north, pointing to the east. So I take it you were all headed in this direction next?"
Though suspicious of why the wolf was offering help, Maka's better nature once again got the better of her. "Well we could use the help, do you promise to be nice? Oh! I'm Maka by the way, what's your name?" Maka introduced herself with a quick bow.
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Fin eyes Quasit, hoping she'll jump in and roll with it.
"Ma'am, like Maka said, we could use your help...but, unfortunately, that won't work...the fey we've been assigned to eliminate can easily detect a winter wolf a long way off...you would give us away...it's why we were selected for this job and not the Winter Guard. The equipment you offered is help enough...while my comrades here retrieve the gear you mentioned, I and my croc will escort you safely out of here..."