Charles finds Unferth irritating. Not irritating enough to do something stupid like going full chimera and pouncing on him, but irritating enough to make imagining doing so pleasant.
He shifts focus over to King Hrothgar, wondering at the purpose behind his questioning.
Theo can't tell if the old viking is telling the truth.
"The Gods of Mount Olympus. The Gods of the Greeks. Zeus, their king, is my father", replied TheoHrothgar looks at Theo for a bit and then turns to Haward who shrugs. King Hrothgar examines Theo's face, "Yes, I met one of your cousins once. I can see the family resemblance," if he's joking, he's very good at keeping a straight face.
He moves away from the men and over to Valerie, Verve, and Nisha. He takes in the three of them in his tired but thoughtful gaze, "I have known many shieldmaidens and some have joined me in my halls as we prepared for war, in years long past. I asked each of them what brought them to this decision and their answers were often like those of men--glory, Valhalla, treasure. What brings you three to these grim and dangerous lands? Is it glory? Loyalty? Or love? Are your chests filled by the same passions as men?"
Valerie answers from the heart, or the transdimensional power core, as the case may be.
"As a keeper of lore on all peoples, I bore witness to the joys and suffering that fills mortal lives. And witnessing the worst of all wars, I suddenly found I could no longer simply be an observer. That I must be willing to help alleviate suffering, and fight those who would do nothing but visit endless grief upon the realms."
"As a keeper of lore on all peoples, I bore witness to the joys and suffering that fills mortal lives. And witnessing the worst of all wars, I suddenly found I could no longer simply be an observer. That I must be willing to help alleviate suffering, and fight those who would do nothing but visit endless grief upon the realms."
King Hogarth gets close enough to Valerie that she can smell him, despite the breeze outside Heorot, and says quietly, "I too have seen wars. I have started and ended them. I've known the worst but loved the glory. You know of the corpse-eater that haunts this hall. I wonder sometimes if he is a punishment for loving war too much. What think you, lore-keeper, could this skull-crunching fiend be what I deserve? You've heard stories of such punishments, I am sure."
Valerie considers the king's question carefully. He leans close to her enough he likely can see the glow of her eyes under her hood--but if he makes no reaction she certainly does not draw attention to it.
What does she know of Hrothgar and the cultural norms here?
And what does she know of divine retribution or curses that might be relevant as she crafts her answer to him?
Nissa shrugs, "I am certainly passionate. More than anything, for the beauty the world has to offer, and the preciousness of life.
"As for glory... I've been working as a spokesmodel, selling the population on the righteous might of Flex Luthor's muscular arm, the courage of Minor Tom when he halves his size to slip into small places, the awesomeness of Sister Yo Adrienne's flying scissor kick!"
It's not lost on Nissa that she's name-dropping the B-Team, and even A-Listers like Escalation or the Vermilion Vixen are nobodies here.
"I guess hanging with all these heroes made me want to be like them, and..." She looks up at Val. "...maybe the Dawnflower heard my prayer and answered it. I only know the power of the sun flows through me. I can take the shape of a valkyrie, though um... not the stature, in any sense of the word, and if I'm in a really dangerous situation, I can..."
How does one explain the Super Nova?
"...explode."
Concisely.
She adds, "Would you object if I were to ask you a question, King Hogarth?"
Valerie considers the king's question carefully. He leans close to her enough he likely can see the glow of her eyes under her hood--but if he makes no reaction she certainly does not draw attention to it.
What does she know of Hrothgar and the cultural norms here?
And what does she know of divine retribution or curses that might be relevant as she crafts her answer to him?
[dice=Culture]1d20+9
[dice=Mysticism]1d20+10
[dice=Profession: Scholar]1d20+9
For that Culture and Mysticism check, you could look at this page on Viking superstition. Valerie might now that the vikings value courage and action, but also know that an undercurrent of sacrifice and trial runs through many of their stories. Odin gave up his eye for Wisdom. Wisdom comes at a cost.
"I would not make the claim that I am a warrior by any means, but I do know how to handle myself in a fight."
"I would not make the claim that I am a warrior by any means, but I do know how to handle myself in a fight."
"Those who don't know how to handle themselves in the fight, are often the quickest to claim they are great warriors," says Haward, glancing at Unferth who bristles. Hrothgar ignores them and simply nods at Verve.
She adds, "Would you object if I were to ask you a question, King Hogarth?"
"I seldom object to being asked questions," replies King Hrothgar smiling at Nissa.
Nissa precedes her question with an echo of Verve’s sentiment. “I’m certainly no great warrior myself, but from what Haward told me, Grendel is a child-murdering coward. If anyone deserves the gods’ harshest retribution, it’s like, the powerful who prey on the innocent.
“So anyway, how quickly would he show up if we threw a party, or made some joyful noise?”
"The monster has no honor. It sits in its lair and listens, nursing its hate, until the laughter ends, but, always, it comes and goes before the dawn."
"Ful oft gebéotedon béore druncne ofer ealowaége óretmecgas þæt híe in béorsele bídan woldon Grendles gúþe mid gryrum ecga," says Hrothgar sadly.
As always, you hear Old English but, as if by telepathy, understand the meaning, "Often before, men-at arms would sit in this mead-hall drinking and vowing to wait for Grendle's assault with sharpened swords."
"Ðonne wæs þéos medoheal on morgentíd drihtsele dréorfáh þonne dæg lixte, eal bencþelu blóde bestýmed, heall heoru-dréore,", Hrothgar's voice cracks as he says this, but he coughs to cover the emotion betrayed.
You understand the words: "Then, come morning, the dawn would break and the day would show this noble hall gory with the signs of battle, stained with gore, the benches smeared with blood."
He ends his speech by quietly, almost to himself "áhte ic holdra þý laés,déorre duguðe þé þá déað fornam,"
You understand, "And, I have fewer cherished friends and soldiers, for death has taken them."
He pauses and then returns his glance to Uncanny Valerie, "What say you, scop? God could stop these raids but he does not. Is Grendel a judgement upon me? On the Danes?"
Of course they tried to lure Grendel into a trap. These men aren't cowards. They're not hiding. Just losing. And... demoralized.
Nissa keeps her thoughts to herself because it's not like she has a better plan the king needs to hear what Valerie has to say on the matter of judgment. She imagines it will be helpful. Such a beautiful mind, Nissa thinks as she mentally replays her journey inside Valerie's brain.
He pauses and then returns his glance to Uncanny Valerie, "What say you, scop? God could stop these raids but he does not. Is Grendel a judgement upon me? On the Danes?"
After consideration, Valerie speaks, trying to choose her words careful. "As it is writ in Scripture, God helps those who helps themselves. And He passes judgement only after the trial that is life is over. To assume you are being judged now is to assume yourself already dead--and unworthy of a warrior's heaven." She tilts her head. "In truth, it's always risky to speak for the Divine, but these events clearly have forced you to reflect upon your past--and battles chosen wisely and those chosen foolishly. You lament what you have lost--but do not let those losses blind you to what may be possible tomorrow. Now is the time for learning from your experience, and thus knowing when to fight--and who your allies are. If you would, warrior king, let us find a way to help you. Maybe the suffering we help end will be penance for the suffering you have caused in battles past."
King Hrothgar lowers his head and shuts his eyes tightly. "It sorrows me to speak of the humiliations my heart has suffered from that hate Grendle has heaped on Heorot. Through his hostile designs, fate has taken my hall-troop; my warband lessened, swept away in Grendle's violence."
He lifts his head again and wipes tears away, "But, I will not, as you say, Valerie the Uncanny, let my losses blind me to what is possible. I will not let my pride stop me from accepting your offer. But, what could you do, as marvelous and unearthly as you may be...". He looks at Valerie and Nissa both as he says unearthly.
"I will trust my allies."
Playing around here ..
"Sorh is mé tó secganne on sefan mínum ..."
"Sore is me to say in mine heart ..."
"gumena aéngum hwæt mé Grendel hafað hýnðo on Heorote"
"these humiliatons that hateful Grendle has heaped on Heorot"
"mid his heteþancum faérníða gefremed is mín fletwerod"
"with his hostile designs fate has taken my hall-troop."
"wíghéap gewanod híe wyrd forswéop
"Warband lessened, swept away in Grendle's violence."
Instead of waiting for an answer, King Hrothgar reaches out and takes Charles' hand. "So that they see we are friends, Char-ruls," the King explains quietly. He orders ale to be brought and instruments to be strung and leads the five Fardwellers into Heorot, the mead-house.
Nissa replies to the king, "Speaking for myself, I can't fight up close as well as your men do. But maybe there's something I can do that you'll find helpful.
"Would you like a demonstration of some of my 'unearthly' abilities? Just the non-lethal ones. Perhaps it can be my contribution to the entertainment."
Charles gives King Hrothgar a firm handshake. They shook hands back then? Er... back now? Guess some things never change.
Aloud he says, "At the very least we should be a surprise to Grendel. I doubt he's fought anything like us before."
The King holds Charles' hand tightly as they walk into the mead-house, not letting Charles pull his hand away. Children scatter, but they are interested in seeing the big man's partially hidden face and that curiosity overcomes their fear. If their King isn't afraid of Charles, perhaps he is not so scary.
Inside the mead-house, you find dozens of cautious people; of them are of fighting age. The few 'warriors' look too young or too old to be given that responsibility. The toughest looking people in the hall are King Hrothgar and his Coast-Guard Haward; they are also the oldest people in the hall.
Unferth is the one who suggests that the guests tell tales of their homelands or display their talents. From anyone else, this would have sounded kind.
Even Val can discern Unferth's fear and contempt for the new group. She smiles at him, hoping to answer his desire for attention without deepening his fear. "Why don't you begin, Unferth, and show us how it is done?"
Nissa, suspecting Unferth has some issues to sort out, offers him a way to save face yet still be involved.
She speaks to him in a pleasant tone, having remained unfazed by his rudeness. "Actually, Unferth, I'm ready to showcase some skills. If you would like, you may assist me. The condition is that you are not permitted to touch me.
"I don't mean that, like, in an accusatory way. I've worked with enough super-strong men that... it's better to set the boundary. Especially since I need to remove my armor."
Nissa's armor drops to the ground in a metallic clatter about half a second after she says that. From the scattering sparks, she emerges as the tiny shape of a woman. A jet stream sputters from her shoulder blades, and as Nissa lifts off, the fiery light from her back opens like the wings of a valkyrie. Her halo, the size of a petite woman's fist, encompasses her entire body. Her wings extend just beyond the halo.
Nissa flutters about, allowing the king to get a good look, as well as Haward and any other friendly faces in the crowd.
"I won't be able to harm Grendel in this state. But if you need me to fly out and look around, I may be helpful like this."
She flits over to an ale (or non-alcoholic beverage) that was poured for her. She asks Unferth (or a volunteer if Unferth is a party-pooper), "Would you be so kind as to hold your hand firmly over the opening so I can't possibly fly out?"
She then dips into her drink, assuring her assistant, "I won't drown, so, no worries."
People begin taunt Unferth when Uncanny Valerie suggests that he "show us how it is done." Some call for a song and someone else says he only knows crude ones. Unferth agrees and laughs.
He cooperates with Nissa at first, and although makes a suggestive gesture when she says "you are not permitted to touch me," he doesn't actually do it.
When Nissa actually transforms, Hrothgar is the only one who doesn't gasp. People crowd close and several whisper "wælcyrge" (valkryie).
When Nissa proposes Unferth trap her in a drinking horn, he obeys wordlessly and stunned.
While submerged in booze, Nissa shrinks to subatomic size within the horn. She passes through a world where protons and neutrons are planets orbited by electron stars. They're not earth-sized to her, or even moon- or mountain-. Atoms are like floating hills to Nissa now. Last time she went subatomic, they were boulders.
Without the stable environment of the Bombshell, Nissa can't maintain this size for long. So many questions for Doctor Preston. Will I ever see her again? Pushing that thought aside, Nissa decides not to keep the crowd waiting.
She reappears a few feet up and away from the horn—as a spark, at first, which quickly blossoms to a fairy-sized valkyrie. (And bonus: she is dry and does not smell of mead.
"See? Told you I'm not drowning my sorrows in booze."
Nissa slowly floats toward the floor and reverts to normal size. Plates of armor converge from nowhere and latch onto her body, clothing her as her flesh dims from quasar-white to fleshy-pink.
So, yeah, basically she's dressing herself in front of horny vikings by having chunks of metallic sunlight fly onto her. But given her profession...
...she somehow makes this display beautifully elegant.
"Thanks for your help, Unferth."
The crowd gathered in the mead hall is astonished by what they've seen. Despite Grendel being living proof of the supernatural shaping their daily lives, they still don't know how to process seeing a valkryie.
A beautiful woman in elaborate dress dripping in gold descends from one of the upper balconies of the alehouse where there seem to be furs and beds. She joins Hrothgar and whispers to him.
Unferth gets a big laugh by greedily drinking the contents of the horn and then swooning like he's in love.
Haward is insisting he found you all at the water's edge and clarifying where and when he first saw you. People are demanding he recount the details of his first meeting with you, because they are pretty sure you didn't come from across the water.
Charles stays silent and watches. He doubts turning into a monster is the kind of show these people would want just now.
Charles stays silent and watches. He doubts turning into a monster is the kind of show these people would want just now.
King Hrothgar, who is now sitting with the beautiful woman who wears chains of gold, says something to Haward and Haward says, "Queen Wealtheow wonders who is the stronger, of these two mighty men who travel with the Fardwellers. Would you test your strength against each others and show her which is stronger, or do you save you strength for Grendel, a decision she would understand?"
The Olympian bows before the beautiful queen and motions Charlie to a nearby long table. Godling and Monster-Man lock hands and begin the contest, as the table shakes under both men.
"So much for not showing off our powers to the locals." whispers Verve over the earbuds.
If Nissa's to be honest with herself, Unferth isn't the only one swooning. The queen in her gown of dripping gold is so stunningly gorgeous, Nissa's not even upset that she just got totally upstaged. Wealtheow'd do well in my profession... not that a queen needs a career change.
She stands near Val and Verve as the queen encourages the men to arm wrestle.
In reply to Verve, "Sorry. I kinda forgot. But anyway, showing off's, like, what I do." Glancing at Unferth enjoying that drinking horn a little too much, she adds, "Didn't think turning booze into bathwater would do the trick, but creepy vibe aside, yeah. The partying got heartier, so we're sure to draw Grendel's attention now.
"Besides, I can't hide my form forever. And plus, the way these people reacted... I think I was a fool to hide myself from the public eye in our own world." In a tone that is equal parts trepidation and hope: "I don't know if we can ever get back home, but I do know one thing:
"I am so done hiding my new look."
"you were hiding? Acting as a model?" asks Verve, a bit incredulous.
Charles does his best to hide his surprise. Having known Theo for slightly less time than the rest of the group, he has no idea how their strengths compare. Certainly if he's like Hercules Charles won't stand a chance.
But hey, what's the harm in trying?
"Unless we are so evenly matched that our wrestling goes on for hours, we'll have strength to spare still afterward. So let us find out!"
Both man and man-beast square off. Charles's clawed hand and arms are considerable larger than Theo, yet the young godling did not seem disturbed. Both contestants counted off from 3 to 1, then it began. Theo took an early lead, with considerable resistance from Charles, then the momentum changed, as the young warrior's arm steadily moved the man-beast's arm from noon, to ten o'clock, and finally to 9 o'clock. The table shook again with Charles's arm resting on the table.
The godling smiled, and firmly, but tenderly, shook Charles's hand. "Good game", Joe nodded.
[dice=Strength]1d20+5
[dice=Strength]1d20+5
[dice=Strength]1d20+5
The crowd seems generally happy that Theo won and cheer for him, but King Hrothgar says, "Char-Rules, I see you are trying not to scare us by showing us your full strength. Do not hold back tonight should that corpse-cruncher come into our hall!" Although he says it in good cheer, it has the effect of dampening the mood.
Queen Wealtheow lifts the mood again, by descending the last few steps from where she sat with the King. With practiced seductiveness, she carries a golden cup, shaped like a horn, over to Theo, and offers him a drink. The men greet her as she passes, calling her 'lady' and 'our Queen.'
Unferth's watches jealously as she gives Theo the cup.
You learn from the stories people tell later that she was given as a gift to Hrothgar by an English King many years ago. Had the second half of Hrothgar's life been as successful as the first, he might have taken another, younger Queen. It wasn't. Everyone who speaks of her, speaks with respect. Unferth never speaks of her, but he doesn't act stupidly again while she is in the room.
Queen Wealtheow lifts the mood again, by descending the last few steps from where she sat with the King. With practiced seductiveness, she carries a golden cup, shaped like a horn, over to Theo, and offers him a drink. The men greet her as she passes, calling her 'lady' and 'our Queen.'
Unferth's watches jealously as she gives Theo the cup.
Theo graciously take the offered cup and takes a good sip, then bows to the matriarch, "Thank you, m'lady."
Unferth's attention is not lost on Theo. When given the opportunity, the godling sits back down. Never like my dad, Theo repeats his mantra. Never the married.
The Queen whispers something to Unferth. Although some of the others laugh at Unferth's jokes, she treats him respectfully.
Unferth, awkward with his words, says, "Queen Wealtheow, Daughter of Wulfings and Mother of Scyldings, asks if you will act as hall-warden tonight, and protect this hall, Heorot, with its ... umm ... horned fittings and gold ... uh ... trimmed benches, when it comes time for her to sleep ... uh, retire ... with her King." His tone is as formal as he can make it, but he is obviously not being comfortable in this role.
Theo stands again, and looks to the king and queen. "I shall endeavor that no harm shall come to King Hrothgar and Queen Wealtheow as they sleep", proclaims The Olympian, drawing his tactical sword and holding it over his chest, then resheathing it. "So, just water or goat's milk for the remainder of the evening for me, then." Theo smiles.
The formal boast by Beowulf the Geat Theo the Olympian pleased the lady well and she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold.
The children, who have stayed mostly out of the way in the mead-house at a table that seems theirs alone, debate whether Verve is a shieldmaiden and Valerie a norn or whether all three of you are valkyries. One child thinks none of you are valkyries because valkyries come to carry off the dead and no one had died. Another explains that valkyries come in all shapes and sizes and no two look alike.
If Nissa's to be honest with herself, Unferth isn't the only one swooning. The queen in her gown of dripping gold is so stunningly gorgeous, Nissa's not even upset that she just got totally upstaged. Wealtheow'd do well in my profession... not that a queen needs a career change.
She stands near Val and Verve as the queen encourages the men to arm wrestle.
In reply to Verve, "Sorry. I kinda forgot. But anyway, showing off's, like, what I do." Glancing at Unferth enjoying that drinking horn a little too much, she adds, "Didn't think turning booze into bathwater would do the trick, but creepy vibe aside, yeah. The partying got heartier, so we're sure to draw Grendel's attention now.
"Besides, I can't hide my form forever. And plus, the way these people reacted... I think I was a fool to hide myself from the public eye in our own world." In a tone that is equal parts trepidation and hope: "I don't know if we can ever get back home, but I do know one thing:
"I am so done hiding my new look."
"I admire your newfound pride very much, Nissa," Valerie says, "Though I ask you please take care not to accidentally volunteer others into demonstrations they may care not to engage in." There is a flicker of doubt in the automaton's eyes as the glowing orbs tilt themselves toward the floor. "Not all of us are performers."
As the great arm wrestling fight commences, Valerie watches in fascination. She comments quietly to her companions, "No doubt Theo is practiced in competition, and Charles is still learning his new forms--and unwilling to do harm. He is by nature a caretaker, after all."
She also seems a little more relaxed, as the distraction means no one has yet asked her to tell a story. She knows so many stories. Being able to tell them in a compelling way is an entirely different issue, however. She is aware enough that her ability to be expressive is lacking compared to most humans.
Charles nodded and smiled like the King had caught him. It was true that he was holding something back, after all. Though not having arms wouldn't have helped him with arm wrestling.
"Oh, did I imply we'd all showcase...? Or outright say?" She gives Val and Verve an apologetic look. "I'm such a ditz, I prob'ly did without even realizing.
"Sorry, I just..." She tries to pluck a feather from her back. Of course, it dissolves into orange sparks before she can hold it up. "...haven't performed since the change. The glowing eyes freaked out agent Bob, and fashionista Addy might've given me work, but I can't model her clothes. The only way to remove my solar armor is to become a fairy.
"—And y'know? I used that form just to hide in Addy's handbag whenever she drove me to Boston Theoretical. I didn't even want traffic cams to see me." She chides herself, "You'd think after all those girl-power PSAs I did as a teen model, I wouldn't body-shame myself."
She looks up at Valerie.
"I'll tell you what, Val—a couple things. For one: If you need a performer, I'm your girl. And two: If you think I need to hear your words of wisdom, you're probably definitely right, so like, don't be shy about offering me unsolicited advice."
"You said nothing of the sort, but he did ask us all to make a demonstration... so by beginning, you inadvertently volunteered the rest of us... though it appears the arm wrestling has provided a distraction from Unferth's request."
The night continues and the noise in the hall is enough to wake the dead ... or, perhaps, Grendel. Most in the hall enjoy the merriment, not having had much of it for a long time. They drink like they are dying of thirst and eat whatever is put before them and sing and shout and argue about the meaning of songs.
They also argue over whether there are different types of valkryie, or whether Sváva 'the bright-eyed one' was one of a kind. If she was one of a kind, then is Nissa actually Sváva, the bright-eyed valkyrie who married a king?
Sometimes, though, the argument turns to Grendel, or their thoughts do. It happens often, and dampens the mood each time it does. Haward is one of the few who has both fought Grendel and kept his wits about him when he did. He doesn't divulge details though, just advice: "Remember, the creature casts enchantments against blades and they do nothing against him. Fire, stone, fist, staff, and club do more than a sword. He will not come while the fire is bright, but raid the houses down below instead. He can track by smell and see in the dark."
There are no clocks in the hall, so it is difficult to say what time it is when Haward comes to escort the King to bed. King Hrothgar vows to sleep with his sword, in case Grendel comes and begins to climb the stairs. Queen Wealtheow gives a lingering glance to her hall-warden before climbing the stairs after her King. She never spoke a word at a volume any of you could hear, but she made her gestures and glances and movements speak for her.
King Hrothgar turns and gives one last speech from the top of the stairs.
Nissa mingles with the crowd. When she hears of the bright-eyed valkyrie, she responds, "If this Svava has eyes like mine, I'm honored you're comparing me to her. But I assure you, I never had a husband. And I intend to keep it that way.
"Let's just say my stature isn't exactly fit for a king."
While people are mingling, Valerie sits by the children and listens to their talk, and asks them what they think of the situation they are in.
While people are mingling, Valerie sits by the children and listens to their talk, and asks them what they think of the situation they are in.
The children may not understand the situation they are in any better than the rest, but they speak more honestly about it. They know that Hrothgar is old and that those who owed him allegiance are turning away. They name specific thanes and ealdormen who have postponed coming to Heorot to give what they owe. Everyone is afraid of Grendel and the more people are afraid, the more they stay away, and the more they stay away the fewer people there are to fight Grendel. The only people brave enough to fight are too young or too old to do any good.
One boy, Hother, tells you he wants to be a scop and tell the tale of when Grendel is defeated.
While the others talk to the Danes, Verve decides to slip outside and stay on objective. She looks around for a perch that she can climb up on to get a good view of the area. Even before she took up working with Escalation, she loved to get a high perch to get a good lay of the land.
Sweeping her gaze over the landscape, she relied on the nightvision lenses in her mask to show her anything moving that shouldn't be.
As she scanned the landscape, Verve floated one of her crystal diamonds from one of her ammo pouches to hover above the palm of her hand. When she noticed that she had done it, she smiled faintly.
Always be training, eh, master? she thought.
King Hrothgar pauses on the steps and turns to look down on both the newcomers and his loyal followers. The aging King addresses the heroes though "Since the time I could raise a shield, not once have I entrusted,this hall to anyone else until now. Have and hold this hall, for it is the greatest of houses. Great glory will reward great valour!
Watch against this shadow-stalker and, if you survive this brave deed, your every need shall be satisfied." Haward places the king's shield on the king's seat.
Naéfre ic aénegum men aér álýfde·
I never to any man before entrusted,
siþðan ic hond ond rond hebban mihte·
since I hand and shield was able to raise,
ðrýþærn Dena búton þé nú ðá·
this strong-hall of the Danes, save to thee now;
hafa nú ond geheald húsa sélest·
have now and hold this best of houses,
gemyne maérþo· mægenellen cýð·
focus on glory, show great valour,
waca wið wráþum· ne bið þé wilna gád
keep watch against the enemy; there shall be no dearth of your desires
gif þú þæt ellenweorc aldre gedígest.'
if this courage-work you survive with your life.'
After he says this, anyone who isn't fighting is ordered to head for the rafters and balconies and little secure nests far from the doors. Other nights they might have returned to their homes and locked their doors, but they are confident Grendel will come tonight and every one will stay inside the hall.
There are about ten people left armed with torches, clubs, and chains, ready to fight the monster. Haward is one of them. So is Unferth. There are three women in the group. Unferth is the strongest looking of the group; the greybeard Haward is the most experienced. None of them look like they belong in this fight, if the monster lives up to its reputation.
Nissa asks one of the women, or Haward if the women don't know, "How does Grendel normally approach?" She draws her mercy pistols and says, "I can burn him with rays of light from afar."
The Olympian, sword and shield in hand, walks the hall, nodding to the men and occasionally winking at the prettier shield maidens. Theo is doing his best to extrude an aura of confidence to counter the feeling of dread in the hall.
Over the earbuds, Verve says "Incoming. Target will be here shortly, and he's....big."
Nissa replies to Verve, "Do you need me out there? I can get shots in before he's in melee range."
Nissa says to Val, Charlie and Theo, "If we take this fight outside, I'm a light source*. With guns."
A glowing solar manifestation, regardless of its form, sheds dim light in a 20-foot radius.