Sapphire nods in acknowledgement at Elleross, and moves to stand near Nasrin to appear as if she is also a bounty hunter, positioning herself so she can cast her spell and only encompass those standing by the door so as not to endanger her companions.
Before he moves into position Corum asks Nadya. "Are there any other doors or ways in?"
Grayston listen to everything said but has nothing to return. I'm sure every man there was evil, they all must have been born evil born to be brutalised. He goes about putting on his armor and collecting his items as he heads out with the others.
--
Standing back he draws out a bomb, ready to throw it when he sees a clear shot. Theres nowhere else to go now.
There is a back way but I think I hear someone coming! Nadya hisses.
Bennett, go and see what they are talking about. If they've got Petska, bring her in here. comes a voice from within the inn.
The door opens and a young guard appears in the doorway. He looks dumbly at you all for a moment before seeing Sapphire and Elleros flanking the door. He calls back over his shoulder;
Sir, I don't think-!
Inside you can see the inn is empty save for the soldiers themselves, a man who, by his uniform you assume is the sergeant, and the owners who were so troublesome yesterday.
Father Rolf is also seated at one of the tables. He looks unharmed but his clothes are ruffled as if he was just awoken and his face is like thunder.
Hurry, if your trap is going to work it needs to drop now!
Nasrin calls out, "We want a bounty! And we know you can pay it!"
Greyston watches on, hoping it does all end in another blood bath. They can preach all they want about us vs them. I know i wouldn't want any of them to hurt my friends but... We can't just kill everyone that might be evil. Lost in his own thoughts he waits with anticipation.
As the door opens Sapphire swears under her breath at both the lack of trust of the gaurdsmen and their positioning. Shrugging her shoulders she holds her blade up as a ward whilst she whispers arcane magic in to being, raising her hand and letting tiny ice crystals fly forth, pummeling the two men closest to the door.
Her blade is already moving to stab the man in front of her, whether he falls from her spell or not.
Both men caught in Sapphire's cornucopia of color instantly sink to the floor, unconscious. As the first falls, Sapphire runs him nearly through with her blade.
Corum reacts immediately. He rushes headlong into the inn shouting a challenge to all inside.
attack
Dam
Nasrin charges in headlong after the Sword-mage's spell disables the lead guards. Her spear leading she thrusts it into the soldier, burying it's head to the crossbar.
for
Jagar follows Nasrin in, as the two legs falls to the girls spear he runs after the nearest other prey in the room. His teeth sink deep into the man's leg and he drags him to the floor.
for and
Seeing the soldier emerge Elleross holds his breath as they wait to spring the trap.
True to the plan Sapphire unleashes her spell and he can see the mans eyes roll back in his head as he starts to collapse.
A heartbeat later sapphires blade opens him up and as he falls to the ground dead the old judge looks on in surprise.
her spell did it's work, that man was unconscious and no threat. She gutted him like a fish anyway he thinks with surprise and moving forward he makes his way past the dead soldier, stepping over the dark pool of blood that stains the entrance to the inn.
Your spell had knocked him senseless sapphire, there was no need he admonishes her as he moves past. try not to kill them all we need information! he calls out as he enters the tavern.
Greyston again see's how the other three move in and slaughter the guards. He puts his bomb away as he moves in to the inn and is quick to shout out at everyone. "Please put your weapons down! I dont want to see anymore death today!"
Nasrin and Corum sweep into the inn like a force of nature. The feral woman, seeing her armored foe before her, draws her blade across his throat, opening the artery there to send a fountain of blood spraying across the ceiling of the building. Corum simply charges the man before him with a howl, bringing his axe down on the man's shoulder and cleaving him almost in twain.
Jagar follows suit, dashing up to the commander and leaping on him, sinking his teeth into his shield arm and dragging him to the floor.
The commander struggles to keep the wolf at bay but instead of retaliating, he pulls a small hand mirror from his belt and holds it up to his face;
The Southerners are here! Radek, they are in Waldsby! he bellows.
The other soldiers move up to engage Nasrin and Corum as Rolf looks around, evidently searching for a weapon. Emil and Katrina make their escape, dashing out the rear of the building.
Miss
Hit
Did not confirm
Nasrin grins, her eyes dancing with delight at the two soldiers that made the mistake of stepping up.
Jagar continues his attacks against the two legs that is too stupid to defend himself properly.
for
Dam
Corum feel the other man's blade pierce his side and attempts to fi d room to swing his axe but his strike is clumsy.
Elleross holds back his scroll, saving it for another time.
He instead calls out a brief spell and his hand fills with a bubbling globule of acid.
With a flick of his wrist he sends it hurtling toward one of the soldiers.
they are calling for help! Take them down quickly he shouts.
Sapphire's only reply to the concerns of Elleross is an over the shoulder comment as she rushes in to the room
...and have him wake up and attack from behind?! We'll leave that other one for you to talk to
she gestures at the other unconscious soldier.
Moving swiftly to the captain's side she strikes
Seeing the solider begin to bite back and hearing the call from the captain Greyston takes out a bomb and lobs at the two soldiers.
Greyston's bomb explodes on the man's chest, instantly turning his face into a charred mess of semi-liquid skin that peels off in swathes as he instinctively puts his hands to his ruined face. He collapses to the ground, dying in screaming agony.
The guard sergeant stands and though Jagar tries once more to sink his teeth into the man, he chops down at the wolf with a vicious two handed attack.
The lone remaining guard, knowing he is likely done for, bravely continues to attack.
hit
Nadya, meanwhile, continues to skirt around the bar toward Rolf.
This time Corum retaliates and this time his strike is true in its aim and terrible in effect. He steps aside to make room and hammer his axe into his foe's torso.
Rage power attack
Dam
He can see Corum is bleeding heavily but it is hard to tell if the wounds are troubling the frenzied warrior.
Calling out the words of the spell again Elleross once more flings a bubbling green orb towards the soldier attacking Corum.
As Grey's bomb destroys the soldier facing her, Nasrin moves towards the prone sergeant, her spear ready for more bloody work.
for
Two legs tries to stand and Jagar lunges in. His teeth clack shut on nothing but the sleeve of the man's sword arm, the wool tearing away as he pulls himself away from the wolf's jaws.
for
The Sergeant is on his feet and fighting for his life. Not that it will last long! Nasrin shifts her position, working her way around the brave, but doomed warrior. She thrusts the heavy spear that slew her brother under the armor and into the ribs of the Jadwiga slave.
for
for
Blood froths around the dark wolf's muzzle as he sits on his haunches and lets out a loud ARRRROOOOOOOOO!
Hit
The soldier makes a desperate lunge with his spear as Nasrin passes by, hunched like a stalking animal. His aim is true and the spear bites deeply into her back before Corum ends his life with a heavy blow that drives the man to the ground in a bleeding heap.
Nasrin continues forward and thrusts her own spear through the soft belly of the sergeant, burying it all the way to the cross-hilt. His final words are lost in a bubbling choke of blood that rushes up his throat and is expelled in a cough as he slumps to the ground.
My god... Rolf says. Well you did for them, sure enough.
Watching his spell fly wide of it's intended mark Elleross knows it matters not as he watches the brutal scene unfold.
Between them His companions brutally slay the soldiers but not without cost.
Nasrin and Corum are both hurt and he is thankful they are all alive.
Making his way around the table he looks across at Sapphire and addresses her misconception.
sapphire, the powers you wield. I am not sure you fully understand them, how potent they are.
The wide spectrum of light emitted by the rays of the colour spray are potentially completely disabling.
If the target of your spell is struck unconscious by it they will also lose their sight for a time and their ability to think. That soldier would still be unconscious now and even if he were awake he would be unable to do anything until the other effects wore off. ,he says to her, not with anger but genuine concern that she unleashes these innate powers without knowing their effects.
I have noticed this before, when first we found you the dark healing powers you were using were undoubtedly effective but calling forth those powers has a high cost. I am willing to help you explore your abilities they are growing as are my own.
he says as he looks around at everyone.
we need to be prepared, he called for help and we can expect more company soon.
one of these men still lives we need to ask them about this Radek, who he is and how many soldiers he has with him he says
help me bind him, then we will wake him up and ask him
Greyston hardly hears anything Ellorss says as he again looks at all the dead guards. It's all or nothing now.. we started this and it seems like we'll end it too Snapping out of it he speaks up and questions Elleross."I heard him shout into that mirror.. is it magical?"
He then turns to Rolf. "What happened? what did you tell them?"
The fight ends as quickly as it started and Corum becomes aware of his wounds. He roots in his pack and removes his last potion.
clw
Corum looks aeound the room satisfied at their work then begins rooting through the pockets of the soldiers looking for anything of use.
perception
"We need to be ready for more of them."
He says as he looks.
the priest has already said they use mirrors to spy and communicate with each other.
They may be watching us now he says to Greyston gesturing to the large mirror behind the bar.
It may be wise for us to smash that he says pointing to the mirror
Corum would you be so kind
He asks as he moves over to Greyston and looks at the hand mirror.
Concentrating, he casts detect magic upon it to see if it is indeed magical or just the focus for a spell that was cast.
Deprehendatur, Magia, Potestas
Nasrin gestures to the mirror Elleross is studying, "He warned someone named Radek that we were here."
The warrior duly obliges. He leans over the nar and smashes the mirror with his axe.
He turns to the priest and asks "You said earlier you may have stuff that could help us. Any potions or things that can heal wounds? We will need them if we are to take the tower. And we will pay?"
Corum ties up the remaining soldier. As he awakens, his words are slurred but he begins to cry as he realises he has been struck blind, though temporarily unbeknown to him.
Please... he says. Please, I have a family. My wife's name is Nija, our boy is Geldon. Please don't kill me. Don't let him grow up without his father.
He then turns to Rolf. "What happened? what did you tell them?"
Nothing. the fat dwarf replies, helping himself to a drink from behind the bar. You notice his hand is shaking slightly but much steadier after a shot of stiff whiskey. They were looking for 'the Southerners. You, of course. They asked if I knew why you were here and if I had seen the Black Rider.
Once the man is secured, Corum makes his way around the bodies looking for anything they might use.
Potion of CLW x2
Potion of Endure Elements x11
Potion of Interrogation
Screaming bolts x2
Spiked light steel shield
Dagger
Mwk cold iron longsword
Mwk light crossbow
Hand mirror
Cold weather outfit
180gp
Cold iron longspear x10
Chain shirt x11
Light crossbow x10
Light steel shield x10
Greyston steps forward kicking away the soldiers weapon. "You will be ok, you just need to help us. Your son won't lose his father today if you help us." He turns to look at the others placing himself in the way of the others. "This is the lead we need."
--
"Did you over hear anything from them? Anything that could help us?" He looks at the Dwarf.
You burst in before they said anything. That one, he indicates the dead sergeant. was in contact with Radek though.
His full name is Radosek Pavril. Nadya interjects. Nazhena's lover and second in command. He is a powerful winter witch in his own right.
The smashing of the glass mirror is brutally loud and Elleross waits for the noise to die down before he speaks.
indeed he was in touch with Radek.
These hand mirrors are Magic Greyston as you suspected.
They are called attentive mirrors, once attuned to a person they can be given out to be used as a very effective communication system. They have a range of around a hundred miles. So it now depends on how far away this Winter witch is and how long it will be before he arrives Elleross says as he tucks away the mirror.
Moving across to the captive he stands beside him.
you have a chance to survive this, but you must tell us what we want to know.
Firstly, how far away is Radek? How quickly can he get here? the old judge asks the frightened man.
Glaring at the guard over her shoulder Nasrin spits, "Why should your boy get special treatment? Because you chose to serve the Witches and we can't possibly be as bad as they are?" She turns on the man as his vision clears, leaning in she sneers, "Maybe we will be as good to you as your mistress will be when we return you to her? You let us slaughter your pack, steal the mirror and worst of all, defy her will and live?" By the time she is done she is nearly screaming at the man, Jagar at her heels growling the anger he feels from his two-legs. "How many soldiers came to Waldsby with you?"
After she vents, her temper cools and she adds, "Could be you're lucky and we won't kill you. The Grey Wolf will decide your fate." She gives him a sharp kick in the ribs and walks off to help Corum with the bodies.
"Maybe we could use these," she indicates the uniforms, "to get close to the tower?"
The man swallows hard at Nasrin's threats.
I'm just... Doing ny job. I'm just trying to provide for my family. I don't serve the Jadwiga.
He sees your confusion
I mean I do what I'm told but... he is obviously struggling to put his thoughts into words. I just serve with my mates, I just do... A Job. I don't even know who you are or what you want.
Ten of us and the sarge came here. All I know is the sarge was ordered to speak to Nadya Petska and Father Rolf about foreigners in the area. I don't know what about, I swear. I'm just a guard, why would they tell me anything?
Greyston just shakes his head at Nasrin. A snake in every bush. Then stepping closer to the guard, he gets down on one knee. "My names Greyston we need to get to the pale tower, are you stationed there? Do you know any of its defences?"
With the fight over, Sapphire busies herself cataloging the damage and equipment with a view to seeing what the group could use in their planned assault.
She seems startled by Elleross' words and almost immediately replies, you suspect in a defence of her actions, yet she hesitates for a few moments and instead says calmly
I'd like that Elleross, the arcane arts are as yet largely unpracticed as I'm sure you've surmised. I have only the one spellbook and have never had a mentor, I'm sure there is plenty I'm doing wrong. I appreciate your offer
as the others interrogate the remaining soldier, she simply listens.
The tower is 80 miles away. It takes hours to get here even by sled. Look you'll never get into the Pale Tower, it's hundreds of feet of pure ice. The outer wall itself is 25 feet high and the main gate is s portcullis that is always lowered. To even get to the portcullis you have to get through a magical wall of ice that can only be lowered from within. It's impregnable! he says as if the notion itself were madness