Ellowin shakes her head, "Not without provoking the tatzlwyrm further. I've never seen one with this coloration, though. They're usually a vibrant green. They hunt from stealth, though, and it looked like it was able to... I don't know, swim?... through the snow as if it were plain water. They usually spew a poison that can paralyze their foes, so we're fortunate it didn't get a chance to do such to Arthorian. Nice job with that spell!" she beams at Kara.
"Normally, they're found within maple trees, and are excellent climbers. They tend to bring their prey up into the trees, but I'm concerned what this one will do," she says, looking worriedly at the deep snow.
She looks to Viktor, "Is there something you can do for him? His wounds are pretty severe..."
As she trails off, she bites her lower lip and raises her bow to a ready position, preparing to fire it at the dragon should it appear again.
Daevin grips his blade as he feels his magic pulse in his hands in rhythm with his heart, ready to obey his will.
Daevin moves to stand in front of Kara. Better me than her. He inhales gently, eyes surveying the snow
Viktor gives a semi-optimistic grunt at Ellowin's question, but remains on guard, looking for the tatzlwyrm.
Viktor backs up onto the path, motioning for everybody to group up together.
Arthorion steps out of the deep snow and back to the path. "Out of the snow, everyone, now! We can't beat it in there. अब, Zoren, आऊ*!"
He stands next to Viktor, holding his greatsword firmly as he waits for the creature to resurface.
"Ellowin. Can you shoot one of those tree branches over the deep snow there? Maybe knocking some of the snow up there onto the drift will cause the thing to come out! Then we can do our best to take it down before it goes under again."
Ellowin thinks for a moment, and agrees, "That's a good idea."
Squinting against the blowing snow, she'll then aim at a large branch hanging over the deep snow and loose an arrow, hoping to dislodge the branch onto the snow, or at least cause some of the larger clumps of snow to drop down and attract the beast.
Narsius carefully walks near Ellowin and waits for the creature to resurface.
|
Ellowin fires and a large bough releases its weight of snow. Just as it hits the surface, the terrible wyrm burts out of the trees heading for Daevin!
The creature's jaws snap closed on Daevin's neck with a sickening crunch as bone and tendons give way. The bard's eyes roll back and he loses conciousness.
Seeing Daevin fall so quickly, Ellowin shouts to the others, "We need to get Daevin and fall back! We have no advantage here, and it is picking us off one at a time!"
Kara loads her crossbow in anticipation of needing to fire it soon. "Pull Daevin back, if you can!"
Arthorion runs through the trees on the south and signals for Zoren to take the north route. The duo moves at the same speed and reach the creature almost at the same time. Arthorion positions himself next to Kara while Zoren stands above the fallen bard, Daevin. They strike as one.
Viktor moves forward, dragging the downed magus under his feet and raising his tower shield protectively.
Ellowin runs through the tree line, trying to get a clear shot.
"Make sure that beast is dead!" Viktor kneels down next to Daevin, taking out some strips of bandages and stanching the bleeding.
Arthorion puts down the greatsword without taking a second look at the tatzlwyrm. "It's dead, believe me." He observes Viktor tending to the fallen human's wounds and walks up to them, helping however he can. "Let me," he says, kneeling next to Viktor and helping stanch the bleeding while the paladin applies the bandages.
Zoren paws at the dead wyrm a few times but quickly loses interest. The lynx walks up to Arthorion and rubs its body against the elf's back. After Viktor is finished with the first aid, Arthorion turns around and hugs the lynx. "असल तपाईं पनि हेर्न, मित्र।."
I trust you my elven friend but better safe than sorry
Narsius quickly walks near the beast and cuts its head.
After making sure that Daevin is okay and in good hands, Ellowin steps out onto the snow with her snowshoes on, brushing aside small drifts of snow every few feet with the end of her longbow and checking for disturbances to the ground other than those left by themselves, the dragon, and the lynx.
"So who are you that held little interest for this beast," she silently asks the white snow, hoping to pick the tracks back up.
Kara walks over to Ellowin. "I'm worried about Daevin. I wonder if we shouldn't return to town to give Daevin a chance to rest. But I'm also concerned for Lady Argenta's well-being."
Ellowin smiles sadly and nods, "I understand your worries, for I share the same. Every day we wait, the trail grows colder, and the weather worsens. If we wait a day, I fear we may not be able to gain the trail again. I fear what lays in wait deeper in the forest, and wish to know what danger it poses, but Daevin's life is more important now."
She watches the worsening sky, hoping to be able to predict what new weather the next day will bring, "I think the weather is too chaotic now to predict. There's no telling what the new day will bring"
Looking around for familiar landmarks, she mutters, "I only hope that we can find this spot again and hope to pick up the trail."
Arthorion stands up, his hands stained with Daevin's blood. "For all we know, Lady Argenta could be dead already. Your friend, on the other hand, can still be saved. It's an easy choice."
He turns to Viktor and says "Will you lead the way to your hometown now, Viktor?"
Viktor looks at the badly wounded Daevin, then nods. "Yes my friend. I believe we need time to rest and recover our strengths."
"No, undead and monsters, we are not sure, I am no singer, my boots are fine, I cannot speak for the Taldan army, and we returned because one of our men was seriously injured." Viktor waves off of the others to go get their wounds checked out, indicating he will deal with the crowd.
Between questions Viktor asks one of his own. "Does anybody know where Helena is?"
Upon hearing such news, Arthorion pauses to watch Viktor's reactions. He opens his arms and tries to disperse the crowd. "Go home, now! You will hear from us later!" The elf steps back and puts one hand over the paladin's shoulder. "Let's go find your sister."
Viktor looks at Zaarida for a moment, then licks his lips and looks down. After a moment he shakes his head, all the friendly energy gone from the stout man. When Arthorion puts a hand on his shoulder he turns slowly, then nods and starts walking towards where he remembered his home being.
After giving Viktor some minor consolations, and looking oddly at Arthorian as he stumbles on his words to the crowd, Ellowin heads back to the armorer, picking up some more cold iron arrows if available, plain arrows if not, to restock on her supplies.
Ellowin is very happy that there are 20 cold iron arrows and quickly grabs them up. She'll also buy a quiver of 20 normal arrows, as well. Because you can never have too many arrows.
Ever.