Milhar's eyes start at the falling boy, "Spi-." But that man in the doorway takes all his attention.
"Do come in,Bia-ma defend us. Emallion!"
The Ship
The man in the shadows moves as Milhar speaks, stalking into the room like a vengeful wraith, blood on his clothes and hands. He is dressed in a heavy robe of furs, the item covered in blood that is dried, though fresh stains can be seen on his right hand. As he moves to engage Bia Mah, he speaks in a voice obviously tinged with zealous hatred. "You should have died for your cowardice Milhar. Back when I called you out for it in Azagher. Now innocent people have had to die so you and your evil friends could be brought to justice."
He swings the sword in a savage arc, aiming for the Tien mans head and striking cleanly . The savage low leaes a gash of blood across Bia Mah's face and he screams in pain from the attack, realing backwards in pain before he can get his defenses up fully. The ferocity of teh blow has forced real fear in the Tienese man and he is now completely focusing on defending himself, his weapons again blurring the air in front of him.
From further back in the hold Emallion calls out a challenge [b]"You murderous dog! Who are you to determine the justice of the great empire! It is you who will die this day, for what you did to that girl". She runs forwards, trying to close with the man but she was caught too far out of position when the attack began to get in a blow.
The Beach
Paera lunges and drags her weapon free, punching the nearest attacker in the face. The blow certainly loosens a few teeth in his mouth but spits blood aside and readies to stab her with his dagger.
In the camp, one of the men who was readying the boat for launching stands and begins calling orders, a longsword appearing in his hand as if by magic. Siath, Bihar take the damn dwarf. The four of us can take big ugly here" So saying he growls and moves towards Vik up the gravelly sand.
Even as the orders are given a dart of greenish acid strikes one of the attackers near vik in the back. The hiss of sizzling acid and the acrid smell of melting cloth and skin overwhelm even the ocean smells of sea and dead fish. The man screams and staggers slightly.
Vik's axe leaps from his back and swings a deadly arc even as the other thugs move to attck him. The closest man falls back, holding up the suddenly bloody stump of his right hand as the dagger and fist holding ti fall to teh ground at his feet. He staggers back, clutching teh stump to himself and falling to his knees in the sand, crying piteously in agony.
"You traitorous Dogs!" Captain Venn screams as he drags his cutlass from its sheath. "No one tries to mutiny with me. NO ONE!. He turns and rams the heavy blade of teh cutless into the stomach of the man Algret struck from behind. There is a grunt of pain and a very surprised look on the thugs face as the blade sinks through his body and punches through his back. He sighs and slides gently off the blade, dead before he hits the ground.
The remaining thugs move as one. Everyone can see the almost zealous anger in their eyes as they attack. The men nearest Paera try to maneuvre around her so they can attck from both sides but the rocks are too difficult to do this and attack. They instead opt for simple attacks, hoping to drop the rogue before her lover can close the gap. Both of the men swing wide of the weaving half elf though, and a look of desperation crosses both their faces. Things were not going as they hoped for obviously
The last remaining thug near Vik takes a wild swing at teh big Ulfen with a bailing pin. The big barbaran notes with some dismay the gret nail driven through the thing as it moves towards his head. The blow is orribly time though and the man finds himslef with his flank suddenly exposed to a very angry man with a very large axe.
The remaining two thugs, a man and a woman, rush Algret and engage her, though neither have enough time to attack having had to cross the makeshift barrier to get to the dwarf.
With a shout to her beloved, Bo-Dan moves aross the distance, swinging her loaded sling in a tight arc and stiking the already bleeding man firmyl with her stone. He grunts as it strikes his head and falls almost immediately to the ground, as if poleaxed. His head strikes hard and blood begins to trickle from teh wounds he's recieved into the tidal pool below.
"Bia-Mah I can help a little."
Milhar will call on the Source of All Magic to heal his new friend.
"But we must work together to bring him down."
Milhar circles a step or two to give the Garund another target, but keeping at least ten foot distance. He draws a short sword and waves it about before his face.
"So the question is why kill Schorl and that girl? Justice? No, this is the act of something more!"
Acutely aware of the danger the children are in should she fall Algret face becomes cold, analytical, aware. With practiced technique she steps forward, her hammer swinging low to strike at the woman's knee.
1d20+2=20, 1d8+2=5 "Traitorous b@%#~," she mutters, barely audible over the sound of cracking bone.
She reaches out with her awareness, calling to the Earth asking its feeling to tell her of the children without having to look back. To tell her of her flanking attackers.
Paera's eyes widened at how close her assailants' attacks came to hitting her as she tried to duck and weave on such uneven ground.
"Bo! What the hell is going on?!" she dared to take the time to ask after the monk took one of the men down with an expertly thrown stone.
She was absolutely confused, but she knew she couldn't take any time to sort it out while someone was trying to kill her. She ducked and unleashed an awkward uppercut against the man still attacking her, in an attempt to knock him out with the hilt-guard on her rapier.
The Ship
Rafiki snarls at Milhar's words, and those of the Emallion. "What are the lives of two Barbarians compared to those of the Horde!". His eyes widen somewhat as the words escape his mouth and for a brief moment Milhar sees two faces looking out at him, one is that of teh angry Garundhi, the other is more bestial, almost shaggy in its nature. Then the thing swings its sword at Bia Mah, though this time the weapon misses as some sort of internal struggle happens with Rafiki. . Even as he hits, he steps slightly towards Milhar, trying desperately to close the gap.
Emallion, oblivious to seemingly dual nature of the creature before her moves to attack it from behind. he thing seems to sense her approach though, and spins rapidly, preventing her from attaining any advantage from the fanking maeuvre. She swings the cavalry sabre and hits Rafiki hard in the lower back. A hiss of pain escapes his mouth and an overtone growl of frustration also comes forth, independant of the mouths movements. "The Horde! she screams, "You traitorous murdering curr!"
Bia Mah engages it as well, staying silent now that combat has begun, only the sharp breaths of controlled focus punctuate his movements. The healing fire of Milhar seems to have worked on the Tien, renewing his strength and determination. He swings both wepons but they seem innefective. The heavy hide being worn by the traitorous man seems to deflect one of the blows.
The Beach
Paera's confusion doesn't stop her acting. Even when faced with obvious danger though, she desperately tries to subdue her opponent rather than kill him. The hitl of her wepon again strikes true, smashing into the jaw of the man and sending him reeling for a moment.
At the campsight, Vik finds himself fighting two opponents now that the leader has arrived. "Rafiki says you are too dangerous to the people of this ship, animal man. Your claws spread the disease of the beast and you must be put down. I will do his bidding." He swings at Vik, the weapon in his hand glinting with a silver sheen in the red glow of the setting sun. It is a solid blow, and Vik feels the bite of silvered metal through his armour.
Algret steps in and smashes into the knee of the woman attacking her. The girl grunts in pain but manages to stand her ground despite the blow. The dwarfs earthen senses can feel the two humans moving to surround her, and behind she suddenyl gets the alarming sensation of one of the children rushing towards the battle. The boy Kahir is screaming somthing in Khellish, the words tumbling out of him as tears of rage and fear fill his eyes. The sun bleached stick he was using earlier is raised in his hands as he rushes the man moving to Algrets rear.
Vik responds to the pain of the blow by sweeping a backhand slash into his other opponent. The axe hits and slices through the leather jerkin the man wears. Blood wells from the wound but he remains standing and attacks back.
Captain Venn nods in understanding to Vik and backs from the fight, eventually turning and rushing to Algret's aid, but not quite getting to the surrounded priestess. Again the barricade proves its usefulness at slowing potential attackers.
At the rocks, the man with the swolen jaw stabs again at Paera, swearing in his native tonge at the half elf. The words sound garbled through the swolen lips and oozing blood of the blow. The knife blade again slips in closely to the woman, though her agile frame turns just enough to allow her armour to turn the blow.
Vik's wounded opponent strikes at him with the nailed club and again the big man takes a solid blow, the nail raking across the meaty shoulder and drawing a spray of blood.
Algrets opponents seem torn in their attack. The man at the back swings a meaty hand towards Kahir as he yells "Get away with you boy, we must put these oultand dogs down before they destroy us all". The fist hits the boy across the mouth and sends him sprawling, though the blow was not very well timed and the damage looks to be minimal
The woman in the meantime stabs at the dwarf, returning the insult in kind "You stunted whore! Time to die with the rest of your outland friends". The blow is innefective though and it is obvious this girl doesn't really know how to use a blade.
In the camp, panick is now in full swing. Many people are running blindy with children in their arms or in tow behind them. Some are heading to the waters edge, trying to get away from the fight. some are running towards the jungle, their fear of the fight momentarily blinding them to the potential dangers of such an act.
The mystic warrior steps into the affray, calling, "By the Source guide my blow!"
Milhar aims for the Garund's forehead.
*When it gets to my turn*
You think me an animal, then it is time to face one you drittsekk (a**h***) with that Vik gets that animalistic look in his eyes, his muscles bulge and he starts to wave the axe menacingly.
Snarling with rage, Vik takes a swing at the leader and delivers a mighty blow
Wrath
[ooc]Well not a crit but nice none the less, Wrath your luck has given my dice the courage to roll great. Oh and yeah my characters usually turn out to be the meat shields but have a habit of staying alive at critical junctures. Looks like your streak keeps going on to :)
With a running leap and a loud "kii-yai!" the half-elf monk delivers a flying kick (1d20+5=18, 1d6+4=10) to the head of Paera's remaining assailant, again using her monk skill to only try and knock the man unconscious.
The ship
As Milhar closes Rafiki shouts in glee, his prey finally closing within distance of his blade. The shout turns to a scream of fear and pain though as the now magical blade strikes him. Rafiki doubles in pain slightly as the blade strikes him a stunning blow. The truly terrifying thing is the fact that the bestial face remains in the upright position, so now the renegade appears to have an overlaid image of a shaggy creature projecting from his body. Emallion gasps as she finally sees the dual nature of their opponent. "Great Emperor preserve us, a Bugbear. Oh Rafiki, what have you done?!"
The bestial image screams at Milhar, and everyone can see the bloody line across its torso where the blade has struck. The scream may have come from the beast, but the sound emitted from Rafikis mouth as he again pulled himself upright, slightly woozy from the solid blow.
The Beach
Bo-Dan charges and laucnhes herself at the man attacking her lover. AS her feet strike him, he is flung bodily from the rocks and lands face down in the water. He struggles very briefly before unconciousness claims him an he stops moving. Not a good way to go swimmming it must be said.
Vik
The earth speaks to her. She feels the movement behind her, hears Kahir's cry, feels the movement of another racing towards the woman she faces. She must make a decision. The children are in danger.
Whirling franticly, Algret drives her hammer into the man behind her as he looks down at Kahir sprawled in the sand.
"Worthless bastard!!!You attack a child??I'M GOING TO ENJOY KILLING YOU!"
DM Wrath
Milhar momentarily freezes at the horde presence.
Is this an aspect of my dreams? Has the evil come to me already? I wanted time t discover more of the Source first before such power attacked.
"Steel yourselves!"
Milhar
Yep, when Emallion and Bia Mah do enough damage to drop his hitpoints to 9, he'll drop unconcious. The Bugbear is wearing him like a puppet at the moment, but if you knock the host unconcious, he'll lose control. The blood on the bugbear is becasue you attacked using a magic weapon, which is the only thing that can hurt it in this form. This is information your character doesn't know yet but will do soon enough when Emallion tells you all about it. I probably should've had the blood on the head, just forgot about it. No fear, your plan is working well. If they had been able to pull the ambush when they wanted, I'm pretty sure Vik would be dead by now.
Having downed the other assailant attacking Peara, Bo-dan's sudden and loving smile briefly lights up the scene of battle. Knowing full well though that the fight is not yet done, she gives only the briefest soft touch to her T'hona's face and turns to quickly survey the various engagements.
Seeing the barbarian besieged by two assailants, Bo-dan, trusting the civilians to remove the unconscious man from the pool, takes off running, trying to see if the same trick will work twice as she loads and slings a bullet (1d20+3=4, 1d4+4=7) at the head of the already wounded man while she races towards them.
Paera grinned back at her ves'tacha, that wild, almost manic-grin she got when she was a little too excited. "Thank the gods for you, Bo!" she said as she ran alongside the monk. Together they were unstoppable, as far as she was concerned.
As she ran back onto the beach, she yelled out for someone, anyone to fetch her attackers from the water. She had quite a bit to discuss with those men. She tried to keep pace with the faster Bo-Dan until she saw Algret's situation. Damn! Two of 'em on her, and they don't look like they're any more used to a scrap than those other two. Are they trying to get themselves killed? Then she say the boy. With a vile curse, she broke away from Bo-Dan to help Algret. "Be back in a bit! Be careful around that big guy!"
She ran as quickly as she could. Algret's attention seemed to be on the man that had knocked the boy aside, but the woman...
The Ship
With a gutteral growl, the bugbear/rafiki slashes his blade at Milhar. The weapon slices in cleanly, slipping under the defenses of the mystic warrior and sliding deep into the flesh and muscle of his thigh. The blood erupts from the deep wound, fountaining across the room and showering the double image of Milhars attacker. Even as the sorceror drops, he can see the bugbear seeming to take delight in the agony it casues. "YES! Die you worthless piece of filth! it screams. Milhar lies panting on the ground, his life blood gushing from his body and the shock quickly takes over. Even as darkness overcomes him, he can see Bia Mah and Emallion strike the rejoicing creature with solid blows. Darkness engulfs him.
The beach
Paera runs as fast as she can towards the beleagured Algret, hoping to both save the dwarf and possibly the two humans so stupidly attacking her. The beach and the distance are far too great though, and she watches in horror as the priestess smashes the man from his feet. The hammer blow of her weapon leaving his head lolling at a gruesome angle, letting all who can see him know he is dead. The woman attacking Algret screams out in kellish, a note of anguish in her voice at the loss of her husband, yet even as she tries to stab the dwarf, a large blade bursts from her stomach. She looks down at it in confusion before slipping onto the sand and Paera can see Captain Venn standing behind where the woman was only moments before. His hand holds the bloody cutlass that killed her and a look of anger and sadness is on his face.
The leader of the thugs desperately tries to take Vik down but to no avail
Vik meanwhile snarls and transforms before the eyes of both of his attackers. As his muscles swell with rage and his features become more feral, he swings his axe with viscious efficiency and slaces a huge gash into the leaders side. The man winces in pain but stands ready to attack again, though his free hand seems to clutch his wounded side.
The shift is too much for the last attacker though adn he drops his weapon and flees towards the boats with the other passengers.
Bo Dan runs through the sand, readying her sling again but the distance and awkwardness of the move make the shot extremely bad. It flies wide, and to the monks horror strikes one of the fleeing passengers, dropping the woman solidly to the ground.
Vik in his rage takes another swing, and in his fury misses. 1d20+6=8
DM
Milhar accepts the darkness.
Paera stopped in her tracks, struck by the sight and how powerless she was to stop it. "Damn you..." she mutter, not knowing exactly who she was cursing, the mutineers, the captain, Algret, or herself.
The fight was still going though, against all reason. This madness had to end one way or the other. She gave the captain a hateful scowl and turned towards the man still fighting Vik, charging and screaming in anger, as she tried to hit him in the back of the skull with a wild punch with her rapier's hilt. "Idiot!! Are you trying to throw your lives away!?" she spat.
As the man drops Algret spins to face her otrhr attacker to be greeted with a bloody blade and the captain holding it. She locks eyse with him for a moment, grateful yet understanding, she sees the regret there, and somewhere deep down, she shares it.
As he eyes shift pst him though he attenion is drawn to the battle still raging, Vik's fury causing him to over commit.
Quickly flinging a hand forth she relaeses a dart of searing acid at Vik's asailant streaking past both Bo-Dan and Peara
Wrath
"The Beach"
Paera moves into the whirling combat, ducking under the wild swinging axe of the enraged barbarian and desperately trying to knock the other man unconcious. He ducked at the last possible moment though and her blow sailed passed his head innefectivey.
She noticed his face had a confused look about it suddenly, as if a veil had been lifted and he was seeing things for the first time. The sword he held in his hand shifted from an aggressive angle to a classically trained defensive stance, the tip weaving before him in a controlled cirlce designed to confuse opponents and rapidly deflect incoming blows.
Vik, in his raging form never even noticed the change, and swung wildly at the man, completely missing the mark and leaving himslef terribly open for counter attack. The opnening was there and everyone saw it but the fighter held back his attack, looking around as if expecting someone to tell him what to do.
When the acid bolt struck him in the face, he dropped the sword and clutched at the wound. Falling to his knees he screamed in pain and begged "STOP! PLease I beg you! Don't let the beast take me" it seems unclear as to what he is referring to, be it Vik or something else altogether. Whatever the question, he had certainly stopped fighting.
Seeing the immediate danger as passed, Bo-Dan ran to the woman he had felled. She was a big girl, middle aged and quite matronly. Two young women stood near her, trying to help her to her feet when Bo Dan arrived. As the monk got under her arm to support her, the woman turned an incredulous look to the half elf "You HIT me!. With a ....a ROCK!. What in the Empreor's name where you thinking girl?". She certainly seemed to be well enough despite the blow, and she had the practiced tones of an angry mother. Bo-Dan found herself looking down at the sand and desperately trying to come up with a good excuse. She felt like she was a child again for a moment there.
With the sounds of panicked people all around, none notice as the sun sinks completely behind the horizon and darkness decends on the small island.
In a fit of rage Vik lines up another shot, just as the dart zips past him. Stunned, he looks back at the attacker on ground and unarmed Vik comes to. He looks at the man, and whispers in Ulfen There's no honor in killing you He turns around heading back to Algret and the captain, he takes a few steps and drops to his knees, laboring to breathe. He looks up at the dwarf and passes out from exhaustion
Bo-dan stands, head bowed, and takes the dressing down from her elder. Not only does the monk not protest that it was an accident, she does not even think of doing so. This was her fault. She should have been faster, she should have been more accurate, should have been better...next time she would be. The thought keeps going through her mind that 'What if I had deprived this woman's children of their mother and made them orphans like me!....
When the woman finally runs down her tirade, Bo-dan keeps her head bowed and presses her palms together in front of her chest as she bows and says humbly "Please forgive mother-san. That my inadequacy has caused you harm has brought me great shame. I shall do all that is possible within me to make reparations. Is there anything I can do for you now?"
Bo-dan feels she now has Ji'e'toh to the woman and she will attend her until she feels her obligation to her honor has worn off.
Before she parts, still in the same position she again asks humbly "May your humble servant know by what name to call you Mother-san?"
After she gets her answer, her face somber and serious, the half-elf makes her way over to Paera. She wants nothing more than to hold and be held by her other heart yet she stoically waits until they share their sleeping mats later on. She instead tries to content herself by merely standing near her beautiful Pae for the moment while the group assess the situation.
Wrath
Does Bo-dan recognize any of these people from her earlier 'spying'?
ugh
*snore*, Milhar remembers the web and the comforting Source, where is the light?.....
Algret watches the bolt strike and turns to Kahir reaching down to help the child up from the ground.
"Are you alright my little warrior?" she asks, a smile masking her worry. She looks over to Sabah, ensuring that the little girl is unharmed and calls her forth with open arms as she hars the thud behind her.
Quickly turning she see's Vik's massive frame sprawled and bleeding on the sand, and for a moment her heart stops. She calls to Torag, urgently, frantically requesting his mighty healing power.
The power of her god flows through her, eyes and birthmark glowing with the called power that releases through the ground in a wave that ripples through the sand, washing over the big Ulfen, and closing the split in Kahir's lip.
Picking up Sabah she approaches the barbarian, falling to one knee as she places a hand on his chest, his breathing steady, but heavy, a sign of the exhaustion she knew he experienced after the rage.
In Dwarven/Ulfen: "Rest mighty one, Valhalla will not call you for a long time yet."
She smiles at Kahir, warm and encouraging, it seems you two share a common spirit, and both my warriors have shed blood defending this beach today.
Milhar
Milhar floated free of the pain. His body lay bleeding uppon the deck of the medical bay, but the young man just couldn't bring himself to care. He felt a freeness of spirit he hadn't sensed in a long time. Something indefineable called to him, urging him to leave this place and journey outwards, upwards.
As he turned to leave the ship, he saw a familiar smiling face waiting for him. The woman Sanaress, who had saved him when his life line was severed hovered in the air before him, her body now dressed in gleaming armour, edged in gold and inlaid with a repeating pattern of numbers and sigils. Each symbol represneted the number 30 in some form or another. Milhar had the sense fo something amazing just behind the woman, but he could not see what it was. A hint of lavender and wild fields caught at his nose, and the heat of a warm summers afternoon seemed to roll from whatever it was she stood blocking from Milhar.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave this world Milhar. This place has a need for such as you and I. The darkness waxes strong at the moment, threatening to qunch the light for all eternity, and only a very few will stand against it and allow the brightness of light and love to shine again."
She moved forwards, her hand reaching out and stroking his face almost tenderly. "If you survive this journey Milhar, I will have need of you, and your companions. Look for me where the mountains reach the dancing lights. A place where the beast totems still rule their people. It is there I can truly show what you can do with your power."
She reached down and he felt her touch on his bare stomach, a warmth glowed there and again he felt the tug of his mortal body pulling at his spirit. Pain washed through him, he could smell salt and the tang of blood and fear...
Milhar's eyes fluttered open. He was lying ona soft cot of matressing, looking up at the lantern swinging gently as the waves moved Vixen's hull up and down. He turned his head to look around the room ad found himself staring at three blankets draped across obviously humanoid forms. Two of them appeared neat and orderly, the third had blood seeping through where the torso of the body would be. A voice spoke near him, one he recognised as Emallion. Things came rushing back for him then, and he groaned as the afternoons events rolled like a relentless tide, crashing though the peace he had felt only moments before.
"Praise be to mighty Sarenrae herslef that you live Milhar. We thought you would die, there was so much blood. You've been out for nearly ten minutes" Her concerned face looked over the sorceror as he lay on the cot, and he could see the tracks of dried tears where they had run down her face. He was alive.
After feeling the healing energies from Algret, Vik starts to stir. When he comes to, he remembers what happened and turns to look at the two ambushers, the leader with the wicked sword, and the poor sap that had his hand removed. He looks to Algret and asks in ulfen Can you stem the flow from that one as he points to the one handed man. I’ll grab the other one and take him to see the cap’n He then stands up and walks over to the leader, picks up the sword, examines it and places it through his belt. He looks to the man and says I bested you in battle now your life is mine to do with, now get up, we going to see the cap’n about this intimidate 12
Whether the leader wants to or not Vik forces the man to walk to the captain. When they get to Venn, Vik says Now, I know you wanted to speak to me about something cap’n, but I think dealing with these pieces of filth is a little more important at the moment. As Vik says this he forces Durgol to his knees, and gives a vicious sneer
Nodding Algret approaches the one handed man and draws out her healer's kit. bandaging the man while applying unguents to stem the blood flow. Heal 1d20+7=26
Paera sheathed her rapier with a frown. She was relieved it was over, but disgusted that how far the fight had gone. "Are the children unharmed?" she asked Algret as she came to heal the fallen, a bit more snap in her question than she might have intended.
She moved over to meet with Bo-Dan briefly, thankful that she was alright at least and that the woman she had struck accidentally was mostly fine. "Thanks for the save, Bo." she whispered as she held her for a moment, almost as if it were a consolation. She wanted to stay with her at that moment, but there was so much going on at once. "C'mon! We gotta get everyone else calmed down before they get themselves lost in the jungle..." She held her beloved's hand tightly as she pulled away, hoping to keep the monk moving and trying to distract her from what just happened. She would have to ask her later about what she promised the woman...
As she passed by, she saw Vik taking one of the men to face the captain. She shouted angrily at both of them, "Try not to murder anyone else for a moment, alright? Somethin's goin' on here!" She had a faint notion of what, but she couldn't be certain. The way the man's demeanor shifted so suddenly...she hoped she was right about what it was, but she hoped she was wrong about who.
"Hey!" she shouted to the crowd. "It's alright, it's over! There's not gonna be anymore fighting!" She could promise little and couldn't think of an explanation for what just happened. All she could do was implore them to remain calm.
Diplomacy to try and calm the people down and get them back on the beach: 22
Milhar's Downtime
While the healer is healing in the infirmary he has a chance to reflect on the last week and talk with the people who pass by.
Vik/DM
DM
Inside the escape from Azgahur and his subsequent saving of the girl may have made Milhar a touch arrogant, especially when he tried to kill people. Not a lot, but his mistakes in the hold over the corpse of Schorl and not trusting the Captain knocked that arrogance out of him.
Algret/DM
The Dream - Before he could so much as yell in protest Milhar found himself hurtling through the sky. Desperately he reached out with his mind, trying to guide his way back to his ship. When he first slowed down he found himself floating above an island locked int eh turbulent throws of a tropical storm. In a sheltered bay a large ship was being tossed on its moorings, as great shapes of Pleisosaurs circled the wooden island, waiting for bodies to drop from the ship. On the beach, a small palisade had been built from fresh cut timbers. People huddled in tents and makeshift huts while the storm lashed the camp. All around this village, a web was being spun. The strands created from the souls and choices of those living in the place, but all of them linked to a strand leading deeper into the jungles of the islands interior. All the island was a web....a web.
Milhar rests with his doll for a day or so, revelling in the time off any duties. He even has time to practise his magicks and learn a new trick for mending blankets and tools.
The vengence plot
Captain Venn has the survivors of the ambush tied up and questions them thoroughly. It tuens out that the time taken to travel to the island had been put to use by Rafiki in the cramped quarters of Vixen's hull. The man's anger at the apparent betrayal of those on the docks grew as the week progressed and he slowly recruited a number of people to him. His words seemed to carry truth and elightenment to the few who would listen, and their anger also grew with time. It was Rafiki who told them they needed to go back to Azaghur and join the resistance that would surely have sprung up. At first they wavered in their conviction, but Durgol, the fighterfrom the beach, was finally swayed completely when Schorl became bestial as a consequence of Viks fight with him. They were meant to kill Vik that night while he was on watch, but something must have gone wrong on the boat becasue the twin red lanterns was teh signal to attack immediately. None of the attackers who survive seem overly convinced that they have been told the truth now. Durgol seems positively shocked that he'd go so far as to try and kill Vik without recourse to a trial of some sort. He used to run bounties in the southern mountains of the Empire before the goblin wars and understood the need to bring people in for trial, rather than killing them off hand. His remorse at his actions seems genuine.
When news from the ship finally arrives on shore, the details become even mor clear. Rafiki himself killed the girl it seems, though there is talk that he was under the control of some other force. The word Bugbear is mentioned which upsets many of the Empire refugees. Rafiki also managed to find a number of potions whihc he fed into an unconcious Schorl. They had the effect of sending him into a rage and making him almost bestial, all so he could convince others of the danger Vik and his friends posed. And all of that was merely a tool to remove the support offered to Milhar when he was confronted with accusations of murder. Rafiki had been captured on the ship and had been questioned by Christoff, the gnome aboard the ship, using magic. Christoff is quite certain that the man had indeed been used by a malevolent force, but it only enhanced the feelings Rafiki already had.
The ship had been searched but no sign of the bugbear could be found. In the time it had taken to save Milhar from his deadly wounds and round up enough help to search, the thing had slipped away in the darkness. One of the ships smaller skiffs had been taken. They did find where it had been hiding though. Tucked into a far corner of the hold, it had built a nest and had been gathering pieces of gear from all those it had been trying to manipulate. There were traces of the voodoo magic it used for its rights, and a small list of names and details of the passengers it had been gathering with time.
Emallion suggests it had been hiding int eh ship before teh attacks on teh city. The things had been turning up in Azaghur for nearly a year before the final fall. They were masters at infiltration and terror, feeding of the emotions of those they stalked. She suspects it was sent in early as a last resort if the ships escaped. Emallion is extremely worried that it escaped.
*Paera is successful at bringing the people back from the forests edge. None of them can explain why they stopped suddenly, and they all seem to have a dazed look about them. She is not surprised at all to see another totem stuck in the sand, but it is comforting to note they didn't just kill the passengers outright.
As she rounds people up, the two boys who were asking her questions earlier run up to her. They delightedly hold forth the skull and the torc she recovered from the waters edge. The boy who qestioned her ealrier says "If you'd like, my mother says you and your friend can eat with us tonight. She says no Iffreati would have spared those men"
**The large woman seems a little confused at Bo Dans response, expecting some form of excuse and taken off guard by the honesty in the woman. "Well, we could use a hand getting a proper tent set up.". She seems to weigh the half elf up before coming to some internal decision "I am Khsimia, and these are my daughters Khraisi and Eliisal.". With that she becons everyone over to where they had staked out thehir claim.
Bo Dan
You have noticed the girls at least. The oldest girl, Khraisi, is probably about 15 and quite attractive. She has been getting alot of attention from some of the sailors and the few men who managed to make it on board. The mother seems very protective of teh girls though, and twice you watched in amusement as she ran interference with a potential liason with some of the men of the ship. All of this was seen before events on the beach
***Vik and Algret are treated with mixed feelings after the fight. Captain Venn seems to have renewed faith in both of them and sticks close to them throughout the evenings events. He started to confide little bits of information to both of them about his thoughts as he directs sailors and passengers alike in getting the night camp set up. When he eventually leaves for the ship again he turns to tehm both "I am glad to have you and your companions on this trip. Vik, I offer you an appology, for I was not sure if you had been the casue of all that happened here today. For what it's worht, I trust you now". He then returned, letting all know to follow the directions of the four defenders remaining on the beach.
However, despite the captains good feelings, some of the passengers are quite upset about the deaths. The children however, have found a true hero figure in the big Ulfen, and all night he finds himself being followed by three or four children intent on either helping him or mimiking his every move.
****Algret gets to spend a quiet moment with the two orphans later that evening. Kahir hugs her tightly when they frst sit down to eat. Please don't ever die Ma-atti. Our mother died, I don't want you to." It is an honest statement, showing a hint of the raw pain the boy must be feeling despite the brave facade he puts on.
Sahba is more simple in her show of affection. She mererly curls up on the dwarfs lap and falls asleep after the meal. Her face is a picture of serenity and a slight smile plays across her lips as her hands clutch the little doll she carries.
*****Milhar rests comfortably in the medical bay after the days events. Bia Mah informs him early in the evening that tomorrow they would hold a burial for the dead. He asked if Milhar would say a few words about Sieu Dien, seeing as how they had worked closely together in the last week. No one else seemed to know the girl all that well.
Emallion brings him his meal later that night and it is she who tells him of the Bugbears escape. She also tells him of Spiders death. "He was dead by the time the fighting had finished. The poor boy.". She seemed quite nervous and kept looking ver her shoulder into the darker corneres of the room.
At some stage during the night, Milhar is woken from a deep slumber by a small hand gently shking him awake. A small voice whispers into his ear "When you are feeling better my boy, I'd love to talk to you about these abilities you have. The nature of sorcery has always fascinated me. I'm usually on the Forecastle near the middle watch when you're ready to talk". With those words the little gnome who had spoken them bids him a goodnight and heads back upstairs.
Milhar asks to see Bia-Mah before the burial ceremony and discusses the Tien and their outlook on life and death.
As she rounds people up, the two boys who were asking her questions earlier run up to her. They delightedly hold forth the skull and the torc she recovered from the waters edge. The boy who qestioned her ealrier says "If you'd like, my mother says you and your friend can eat with us tonight. She says no Iffreati would have spared those men"
Paera tussled the boy's hair despite herself. "Thanks!" she said with a forced grin. She gently took the skull and the torc from them, adding, "We'll come by, promise! We just have to make sure this fellow is taken care of, okay?" She nodded at Bo, hoping the acceptance by at least some of the refugees would raise her spirits after her close call earlier. "You should go back to her for now though. It's dangerous near this jungle."
Paera kept looking over her shoulder at the totem and the jungle beyond as the refugees moved back. She nodded in that direction. She hoped they were not being watched, but if they were, she hoped whoever was out there understood her meaning.
"Gods, Bo...what the hell is going on here?" she felt lost for a moment, though she tried to hide her fear as she drew close to the monk. So much senseless death...the sight of that man's head twisted around by Algret's blow and the screams of his wife...it had her stomach twisting. She rested her head on Bo's shoulder, wishing they were far from this place.
After she composed herself, she approached Algret, trying to keep the edge out of her voice as much as possible. "When it comes time to bury them, we've got another body out in the water." She presented the skull and the torc, but did not hand them over. "A skeleton, it's been there for a long time. Broken neck, looks like. I figure if we're burying our dead, he'd appreciate the ride."
She listened intently as the news from the ship came, her face darkening. She was relieved she was wrong about her first assumption, and doubly glad she had not shared it, but the fact that they had a bugbear on the loose... "Hopefully, if he wasn't insane and tried to put out to sea, he'll stumble through the jungle and piss off whoever is putting those totems out. They can have the bastard, I say..."
She was glad to see the captain leave the beach though. One less sight to enflame the refugees' temper. And her own. Gods, get a grip, girl! He's probably barely holding it together himself... It was difficult to know she couldn't place all the blame on him, as easy as that would have made matters...
"Hey, Bo." she asked gently. "Did you want to take that family up on their invitation, or...do you have to do that...whatever it was you promised?" She still didn't fully understand all the rules and codes Bo-Dan seemed to set for herself, though she knew they were deeply important to her. "It wasn't your fault, you know..." she held Bo's hand tightly, hoping her ves'tacha believed her.
Vik seeing the children throughout the evening from the corner of his eyes, subtlety shakes his head. He outwardly makes no notice of them. But later when he is alone, he does a slight chuckle and remembers the days as a child when he did the same around his father.
When Vik grabs his food he walks over, and sits next to Algret. When he sees the little ones resting around the dwarf he speaks They cling to you like pups, perhaps we should call you den mother.
As he looks around the camp and notices all the families, Algret and the two children, and the two half-elves, in particular, he feels a little tug on his heart. He thinks to himself, all these people have ones to care for, protect, to share the events of their lives together. He starts to wonder about his brothers and if they are alive somewhere out there. He then thinks what else waits for him, in a sense of family, these short, yet long years he longs for a family that has so far been out of reach.
He quickly shakes the thoughts out of his head, and gets rid of the blank stare, as he reminds himself to pay attention and be alert.
Milhar asks to see Bia-Mah before the burial ceremony and discusses the Tien and their outlook on life and death.
Algret sat by the fire, Sabah curled up in her lap and looked Kahir in the eyes. The young boy had already seen so much violence at his age, suffered so much loss. ‘His eyes are older than they should be’ she thought sadly.
“I can't promise that little one, “she said as she ran a hand through his thick mop of hair, “everyone must die one day.”
“But what I can promise you is that I have no intention of leaving you. I’m going to live for a very long time, and I’m going to see you two grow up strong, and wise. I promise to be careful not to let anything jump out and eat me up or anything.”, as she says the words she tweaks his nose, smiling warmly and lightening the mood.
‘No child this age should have to be so serious.’
“But you need to promise me something kær, what you did today was very brave. But it was very dangerous. If he’d used his weapon instead of his fist you might have left little Sabah without her brother,” she reaches down and stroked the little girl’s hair.
“If you need to protect your sister, you do whatever you have to, but DO NOT face anyone with a weapon for any other reason. You don’t have to protect me, that’s what Vik and the others are for. I don’t want to see you putting yourself in danger again. Promise?”
She spends the next half hour teaching him a Dwarven rune game in the sand, vehemently denying his claims that she is letting him win, until tiredness overcomes the boy. Picking up the little bundle in her lap she puts them both to bed in her own bedroll, prepared to make do with a makeshift sleeping mat.
As the children sleep she thinks about the day, their situation, and the sheer insanity that has befallen them all. The monk, Bo-Dan seemed to understand the necessity of violent action in battle but her lover, Paera……the girl seemed to lose it every time someone got killed.
Death was never welcome or pleasant, and Algret didn’t relish killing.
Despite what she’d said she killing that man today hadn’t made her happy, it was simply a necessity. Weary of spirit she closed her eyes, sinking her fingers into the earth. She let her thoughts and prayers meet with the earth beneath her, sending her words to Torag. Time lost meaning and for what could have been anywhere from an hour to a year she communed with her God. In a rush she felt his touch, easing her worry, strengthening her resolve and… giving her something more. She felt…greater. As if a part of her had grown.
Light of heart she removed her armor and weapons, looking for Vik before she settled in.
He stalked over towards them, smiling as he saw the children, calling her "den mother."
She lokked up at him. As well as he hid it she saw the sadness that flickered across his face and touched his heart.
'If only your soul were as tough as your hide',she thought.
She sat with him quietly for a while, neither speaking, glad for the rare moment of peacefulness. She remembered what she wanted to tell him before the attack.
"Earlier today, before the battle, we were being watched. Humans I think, grey skin, dressed primitavely. I saw them, but what is even strange is that little Sabah saw them before I did. She saw what none of us did."
Huh? What kind of watch do we have going on? Lets try to keep as far from the trees as possible right now. In the morning I suggest that at least one of us head back to the ship and ask the captain about the locals, I would like to know if they are hostile or not. Lets see if we can keep the fire going through the night, just to make sure we are not suprised.