You feel staggered for a moment... It feels as though you are in control of yourself for the first time - not realizing until now you were just a passenger in your consciousness. Then the feeling is gone... just a vague sense of loss remains. But there is no time for that.
As the Matronguard heads toward Palanquin Path, the others.. Dorlynae, Madam Shkoata, and the villagers look to you.
The feral bulk fades from the werewolf leader. He is badly injured, but looks unconcerned with his wounds. The fight has left him. He glances to the sky.
"There are tunnels to the center under the platform. The Third Fold of Leng has come. We will wake the defenses, and fight at the Matron's side. Take the innocents and go."
Anumil looked wildly back and forth at the spectacularly ominous show in the sky, then at the werewolf-now-human and back again.
"What? What is THAT? What are you talking about? Take them WHERE?" He said, feeling staggered for many reasons.
The matronguard leader - still in hybrid form, stops and looks over his shoulder to Anumil. "Away from here. We would have slaughtered the villagers if it'd meant saving the Retreat, but now... " He glances toward Dorlynae and Madame Shkoata, and snarls... "Northerner meddling brought this? Take them north."
Madame Shkoata shuffles over as the Matronguard scamper off - turning south toward the statue-lined bridge.
"I'd meant to lead you to the Horncrafter. If any kindly soul can see you safely home it is he." She looks to the villagers, and nods. "Our good lady would tend to their needs. We have strong walls and men at Volksfelt Keep."
Gramps peels a frightened child from his leg, and passes him off to Parmol as he joins the discussion.
"The Matronguard mentioned tunnels underneath the stage... I'll not pretend to know which way'd be safer." He shrugs, but looks reluctant to go north. "If you think it best to strike out on your own, I'll be sure to keep the lot of'em safe.. best I can."
Sunny continues to do her best to help the folks gathered and trembling around her. She looks to Madame Shkoata,
"D'ye know whut t'is whut's happenin'? Is tha' place ye be talkin' of safe?" She asks.
Anumil thought furiously, trying to think of what he ought to be doing. Protect the kids? Crawl under the stage tunnels? Attack the retreating ex-wolves?
"Let the Matronguard go... I have no knowledge of what we see now in the sky. Let them face what comes. I have no knowledge of these tunnels... though I know constructs and shadow people are known to exist underground.
In Volksfelt, my Lady the Burdened Dreamer, though she does have her secrets... she does not warp the minds of her subjects. My Lady keeps her lands stable through her power alone. She has a good heart... not only will it be safer, it would be a good place for everyone to unravel their flawed understandings."
"..though I'd suggest preparing yourselves for the cold. Volksfelt has not seen a thaw in generations."
Sunny looks completely nonplussed by Madam Zabeth Skoata's comment about 'cold'.
Madam Shkoata's "Lady" allegedly knows things, is powerful, and has a good heart.
The tunnels appear to be "behind the scenes" - part of the hidden world which "runs" this one.
Either option will likely yield answers and should be progress toward escape. North sounds friendlier - other than the cold.
"I... think we have to help these people North."
He stood on the stage and shouted.
"Alright everyone! Grab a coat or blanket against the cold! We have to move out and do it fast! Who knows when those things might come back!" He declaimed, lying just a bit.
And if that didn't work, he'll scare 'em into it.
"I SAID MOVE IT SOLDIER! MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
Sunny moves to comply with Anumil's shouts, though she still looks completely befuddled by all this talk of 'Cold'.
Arcthyl nods and grabs anything that looks like it might be good protection from the cold and readies to head north with the folks.
Gramps clucks his tongue.. looks as though he might argue against at first, then nods. "Aye boy. Better to brave the northerners' lands, I suppose." He goes to his fellow villagers aiding them in their preparations. Some look disgruntled or fearful, but none make a peep against Anumil's command.
A few kind-faced old women overcome timidity and approach to offer furs (primarily fox and hare)... concerned that you have so little to keep you warm.
Dorlynae strips the fallen foes of their belongings. She nonchalantly strolls over... and smirks.
"Be happy to hold on to their gear if looting's beneath you outlanders."
Madame Shkoata eyes the western sky while Gramps gives the villagers their marching orders.. including a warning to give Ancient One and outlanders room to "be certain the way is clear of danger".
Dorlynae leans in as those interested look through what she's recovered... and comments on the villagers' state in low voice "They do realize this journey is only a few miles, right?"
Sunny continues to help as best she can. Even being glad to take directions from folks who seem to know what they're doing.
While organizing the convoy, Anumil gravely accepted the old lady's offer of furs. Just in case.
Remaining east of Palanquin Path, you soon pass a gothic stone villa and outbuildings within a walled-off estate... Madame Shkoata tells you it is Jorunea Villa... where the youngest witch-child resides, Tilda. She is cruel and cunning, and has a penchant for classic "storybook horrors".
Another purple flash crosses the sky... the black ship in the sky is closer, and is surrounded by small egg shapes of the same dark metal. Some of these are lower in the sky... several have passed the time barrier and come crashing to the horizon to the south.
After minutes of travel you see the snowy landscape.. a precise line along the border... an unnatural sudden change from temperate woodlands to evergreens and snow-covered rugged terrain.
As you enter, the sky above returns to normal... you no longer see the ship in the sky, the stars, and exploding planet frozen in time. The villagers behind you murmur and sigh in relief looking up... and you hear some remarks on the fact that it is "not that cold..."
Madame Shkoata however discreetly grumbles... "It is too warm... something is wrong.
You see a pillar of black smoke in the distance, but not the source. It is west of your heading, but less than a mile off-course. Madame Shkoata keeps going. "Leave it.. we move on."
Anumil hesitated, wanting to go check the rising plume of smoke, but he continued on herding the villagers.
Arcthyl grumbles at the unnatural changing climates.. "This is not right at all..." and like Anumil, he seems antsy about not checking out the smoke and keeps looking in that direction... but he continues leading the villagers as promised.
Sunny, having 'rugged up' under people's instructions, also skips along. Trying her best to both be protector and helper as the people move along. She tries to help carry as much as she can to ease others loads.
She follows Madame Shkoata's orders and keeps people moving.
You come to a rise in the road... a sixty-foot wide pass through higher and rocky, snow-covered terrain. Madame Shkoata waves her torch in that direction.
"Volksfelt will be in sight beyond the pass."
With each few steps, the temperature drops, and the snow covering the ground on either side of the road gets deeper. She seems less concerned as her pace quickens.
Dorlynae veers closer to you, and jerks a thumb back toward the smoke on the horizon. "Outpost of the Shepards there. Shouldn't need to worry about them. They're immaterial."
As you draw nearer to the canyon-like section of road, you hear the sound of combat ahead - echoing through the pass.
Arcthyl mutters..." sounds like about a dozen or so involved.. perhaps less but probably no more... and within 300 feet."
"Hrmm. We'll stay with the flock... call out if you need aid."
Arcthyl points out the ledge to the others... "Someone with good ranged skills could position themselves there and get a good bead on any foes and still have some cover themselves."
Sunny does her best to settle what ever it is she's carrying down with the refugees before scampering ahead and trying to get a better look at what's going on with all the commotion.
"All right. You lot stay here out of sight while we scout ahead for what's going on." Anumil said out loud.
He motioned for his comrades to follow as he stepped forward.
As you reach the top of the slight rise, and the slight bend in the pass, you see cloaked humanoids in combat with a man and woman in fur-lined armor.
Two have the armored woman pinned against the west cliff face... one of which is wailing on her midsection with a cat o'nine tails. Six of the cloaked figures surround the armored man and his horse. The cloaked figures are all wearing garb similar to a monk's outfit.. wrapped fists and feet. They all are wearing masks covering nose to chin.
On the far side of the melee, three more cloaked figures are removing armor from other fallen combatants, and lashing them onto docile horses.
The armored man and his mount are keeping their six foes at bay with ax swings and bites, but they both look injured and man looks fatigued - needing to recover his balance with each defensive swing.
The two beating on the armored woman let her drop as they notice your arrival, and turn toward you.
Arcthyl isn't sure who is who, but makes the assumption the man and woman are in need of aid, not the 'monks'.. He uses totem transformation on himself (std action for 'scales', +2 to ac) in the preparation round. Then he moves up to t12 and casts summon natures ally 3, summoning a croc to o16. It attacks the nearest monk (n17).
(if successful, he's in a death roll, knocked prone and grappled)
Previously, Anumil took the time to cock and load his crossbow.
Coming up over the rise Anumil raised his crossbow for all the bandit to see.
"All you bandits best be leaving quick as you may. Else we may be calling upon the rest of Arcthyl's Crocodile Emporium to do that for you." He said grimly.
He pointed to the guy being molested by the croc.
"And you may not be a lucky as that guy."
Sunny skips forwards and was probably about to wave and be all her usual, smiling self before real serious combat broke out between the new folks and peoples.
She sighs, "Is all so much easier at home. Ye know whut is tha' good people an' ye know whut t'is bein' tha' monsters. On account a them monsters all havin' tha' rilly big teeth..." She shakes her head even as she approaches the wrapped up combatants holding the woman.
"Here? Ye want ta' be puttin' tha' lass down gently an' we's can all be havin'a conversation... diplomacy like?" She asks nicley.
With a bite and twist, Arcthyl's crocodile brings his target down hard. The monk seems strangely calm throughout the sudden mauling.
Two monks move to aide him - attacking the conjured croc. One delivers a crushing ax kick.
The masked club-wielding monk nearest to you looks from croc to Anumil and then to his ally. "Success no longer imminent."
The other (armed with the cat o'nine tails) coolly advances, and comments... "I posit his demeanor is skewing your estimations." with a nod toward Anumil.
The club-wielder responds "Perhaps."
The two stop short and blink as Sunny approaches. While the club-wielder focuses on keeping Arcthyl in between Anumil's crossbow and himself, the second, bolder monk thrusts a finger toward Sunny "Surrender for collection!", and swings his cat o'nine tails wildly somewhat near her head.
As you move closer to the combat, you see a walled city in the distance. The banners match the blue and white tabards of the soldiers.. as well as the "garb" worn by all of the horses.
Sunny leans away from the flailing flail,
"Whoah there matey!" She exclaims, "T"is good ye be wantin' ta' talk. Whut be it ye wan'a be collectin'? Maybe we can be helpin'?" She asks brightly.
The armored northerner yells out.. "Careful! And don't waste your breath... they are constructs... alien worshipers ... and they will listen to reason!"
He swings his hefty ax with more oomph... a second wind brought about by spectators if not allies in this fight.
His lightly armored horse brushes one odd monk back with a hard crack to the shoulder.
Anumil nodded.
"Suit yourself." He commented, then shot the rightmost Monk at (17,P).
for a possible piercing damage.
He sighed at the sad result, then quickly moved up into contact with the monk, dropping his crossbow and drawing his sword as he did. (Move to (16,Q)).
The croc continues its attacks:
Arcthyl draws out his wand and moves in closer to his croc, (going to P14) and heals the croc.
Sunny takes a 'five foot step' back/away from the pair which have come to menace her.
Though she holds her action and stays fully defensive as she continues to try and work out what/who it is that is doing all the attacking.
The monk held fast and down by Arcthyl's croc attempts to free himself....
His "line art" tattoos glow blue and he makes a sound "Naah-oooo-git!"... as if focusing his power.
His nearest comrade assists him, but still to no avail.
The three monks who'd been stripping the fallen soldier advance toward the combat. One barks out leaderly commands.
"Bring down the Volksfelter quickly! Whoever has power remaining... take control of the beasts!"
The Volksfelt soldier takes another hard hit, and stumbles a bit before delivering a vicious counterattack.
The monks facing off against Sunny and Anumil both swing wide.
Two monks slip away from the melee, and each gesture toward an animal.
Sunny tries to tumble through the gap between the two Monks now that they've moved apart.
Round 2_________
Anumil lashed out at his opponent.
for a possible piercing, magic and precision damage.
Sunny just barely avoid the reflexive strikes from the two monks as she tumbles to the nearby fallen soldier. She sees the rise and fall of her breathing... alive but unconscious.
The tip of Anumil's rapier grazes the monk's bare arm... it should have at least drawn blood.
The croc goes through it's attack routine starting with
Arcthyl stays out of range of any attacks if he can, being defensive if anyone approaches... (ac25)... since his wand is out, he heals himself
Corum fires a ball of acid in the middle of the monks (O16) and the blast engulfs four of the monks (L13, L17, N17, N20). Unfortunately he hits the horse too. But hopefully horses are tough. He narrowly misses the lady, Sunny, and the warrior. He had cast this spell so many times, it was extra powerful in his hands.
He heard monks could dodge some amazing fireworks. He waited to see if they could dodge his best magic.
Arcthyl's croc wrenches down on the already mangled leg. The monk's eyes roll back "s-sorry this body's had it. good luck.", and goes limp.
You then hear the boom, splatter.. sizzle and screams of Corum's acidic spell.
Three monks immediately drop dead.. including the apparent leader. One other suffers serious but non-fatal chemical burns. He snorts - face and chest still steaming - kicks the side of the fallen leader. "Try and come back undamaged he says.. now look at him."
Another monk looks to him, and gestures toward the fallen soldiers now draped over horses... "Get that meat back to base! We are seriously low on biomass!"
The acid-burnt monk turns toward the three horses to do as ordered... in no big hurry.
"Yeah.. alright. don't need to be a @$%# about it."
After giving the acid-burnt monk the order, the monk nearest the Volksfelt mount sprints over to the fallen leader, and swipes his mace before straightening to receive the soldier's imminent charge.
which does come... "Meat!?" the Volksfelter swings his great axe too slowly.. the monk easily avoids it.
The monks begin a slow retreat... One hammer-hands the crocodile.
The three remaining monks swat at and miss Sunny, Arcthyl, and Anumil. Arcthyl's foe remains focused on him.. the other two take a few steps east... toward their apparent route away from the encounter.
Sunny stands protectively over the fallen lass, weaving deftly as one of the strange fellows takes a swing at her.
"Here! That in't nice!" She exclaims, even as she swings, kicks and other wise retaliates/replies.
Arcthyl steps back from the monk and lets the remaining crocodile take a 5' step and take on his foe.
plus grab
If the bite hit and the grab is successful, the croc drops into a death roll with the creature, inflicting::
plus trip attempt:
Corum moves closer (O10) and unloads a burning hand of acid at the two monks nearest him.
Round 4_________
"I'm afraid you'll be going nowhere..." Commented Anumil as he stepped up as his opponent backed up.
Anumil lashed out at his opponent.
for a possible piercing, magic and precision damage.
The monk focused on Sunny is briefly distracted by the sound of Corum dropping from the ten foot ledge. Sunny's kick against the side of his jaw cranks his head to a painful and nearly fatal angle.
He drops, spouting out "no no no no no..." before passing as Corum soaks him and his nearest ally with acid.
The monk between the crocodile and the Volksfelt soldier charges the soldier as his ally on the opposite side swings the weapon he'd swiped. The clang is disturbingly loud, and the soldier falls. His mount - which had ceased its attacks moments before, just stands there listlessly.
Near-dead and nearer-panicked, the monk surrounded by Sunny, Corum, Arcthyl and his croc.. just bolts.
Anumil is once again denied a grazing strike by his foe's apparent enhanced toughness. His foe can't resist countering one last time with a whiff and some snark before bolting as well. "I think I should be off.. your friends appear dangerous..."