Search Posts
Randi coughs out the foul water, sputtering for breath. "Ugh! Blech! Hope this is worth it," she says, handing over the spear. Once Robert confirms its magic, the Shield Maiden grunts. "Yes. Good spear." She looks around, shaking excess water from her half-clad, muscular body. "Any more foes to vanquish? If not, let us return to Stachys."
"I will fetch it!" the Shield Maiden declares. She places her sword and shield on the ground, spends a few minutes wriggling out of her armor, then boldly dives into the water to get whatever is glowing!
Randi strikes back!
Koriana decapitates a ghoul!
"For glory!" Randi shouts, slicing at another ghoul as Leona the tiny dragon darts about, providing a distraction!
The Shield Maiden swings on a new target, but misses!
Before entering the pump house, the Shield Maiden casts blood armor on herself. Once she spots the ghouls, she gives a battle cry and rushes the closest one!
”Well struck, Sercha,” the Shield Maiden says as she dumps the treasure into the bottom of the barge. ”Onwards!”
As the pump house comes into view, Victor clasps the triquetra amulet around his neck. "Komdu með skjaldmeyjuna!" he intones, his body glowing with golden light. Stirring music rises from the ether, and he floats above the barge as he transforms into the Shield Maiden! "Do not fear! The Shield Maiden is here!" she proclaims, as Leona the tiny dragon flits about happily. When the tentacled monster rears its ugly head, the Shield Maiden readies her shield. "Bring it on, veslingr! Snøballkrig!" A large ball of packed snow shoots forth from her outstretched hand!
The gang members thought their hideout was secure. They though they could continue to prey on the people of the Narrows without consequence. They thought wrong. The silence of the night was broken by the sound of a baleful howl. Moments later, the windows shattered as a nightmarish wolf composed of roiling black smoke burst through them. Its glowing red eyes seemed to stare into the depths of the criminals' souls, inspiring terror in any who dared to meet them. And perched on its back was a beautiful Ulfen woman in gleaming armor, clanging her sword against her shield. A tiny dragon fluttered in the air beside her. "Tremble in fear. The Shield Maiden is here!"
*** Word of the Maiden's attacks on the gangs of Oppara began to circulate over the next few days. A hooded man whispered in the ears of those inspired by her actions, promising a chance to meet with the heroine. And indeed, when the handful of hopefuls arrived, the Maiden was there to greet them. She spoke of change coming to Oppara, and to all of Taldor, under the leadership of Grand Princess Eutropia. But there was a war to win first. The hopefuls agreed to joined the Maiden's cause. And thus, the Maiden recruited the first of her Valkyries.
Feeling much better now, Randi stands up, rising to her full towering height, and slices at the halfling!
The Shield Maiden’s eyes flutter open as she remembers she is tougher than she appears! Growling, she slices her oversized sword at one of the halfling’s legs!
Hilde frantically places her little draconic claws against Randi’s wounds, stabilizing her!
"Argh!" Randi cries out as Wyssilka's blade finds something vital in her body. Unfortunately, the mirror image failed to protect her. She groans and staggers but refuses to fall. "Shula! Flank with me!" she growls as she steps to a more advantageous position. Once the slayer is in place, she slashes at Wyssilka!
Randi swings her sword at Wyssilka—way too high!
"I would urge you to consider my companion's offer," the Shield Maiden rumbles. She clangs her sword against her shield. "Lay down your weapons and give us the noblelady, or we will bring you to justice!"
"We should be ready for a fight," Randi says. "Robert Merosett, please heal my wounds." Afterwards, the Shield Maiden speaks words of power: "Stækka! Láta mey mína vaxa!" She swells to giant size once more, and, after ensuring her companions are prepared, she kicks in the door!
”You will pay for that, knave!” growls the Shield Maiden as she swings for the man’s neck!
The Shield Maiden leads the way down the stone corridor, ready for more battle!
Randi gets back to her feet, glaring daggers at Mister Smiles. She speaks arcane words and conjures a magical ball of ice and snow which she hurls at the clown!
Fortunately, Randi returns to her senses after only a few seconds of undignified laughter.
Randi falls to the floor, overcome by a fit of girlish giggles! Hilde shakes her head and flirts about, defending her mistress.
Randi swings in another wide arc, missing again!
”Have at thee, cretins!” the Shield Maiden shouts. She moves to protect Shula’s flank, slicing at one of the thugs.
The Maiden strikes again, this time with more force behind her swing!
Randi glares daggers at Shulamit while she keeps her shield raised. ”Do not impugn my honor! I am a Maiden pure!”
”To battle!” cries the Shield Maiden. She moves to engage the nearest bad guy, while Hilde breathes fire on them!
Randi follows behind Shula, quiet as she can.
After sipping the tea, Victor stands and pulls the amulet from out of his shirt. ”Let’s do this. Komdu með skjaldmeyjuna!" The familiar rousing tune fills the air as Victor and Leona glow and float in the air. Their bodies change as they spin around, and again, the Maiden’s shield flies in from somewhere else. With a crash, the music ends. The transformed noble and familiar land lightly on their feet, and the Ulfen woman flashes a fierce grin. "Do not fear. The Shield Maiden is here!" Hilde no longer resembles a cat, though, but instead a diminutive dragon with insect wings. ”She has unlocked a new form, one better suited for glorious battle!” Randi explains.
Randi roars a battle cry as she rushes the traitor, driving her blade into his chest!
”A bit of Valkyrie magic,” Randi says to Shula with a satisfied grin. She cleans her blade, shrinking back to normal size after a couple of minutes. The Maiden keeps her shield raised, alert for danger after Martella’s interrupted message.
"I will handle this," the Shield Maiden declares. She closes her eyes and speaks words of power in Skald: "Stækka! Láta mey mína vaxa!" A golden glow suffuses the Ulfen woman as she swells in size until she has gained the proportions of a frost giant! With the sleeping rat in reach, she draws back her embiggened sword, then drives the point through the rat's body!
Invigorated by the burst of healing, the Shield Maiden puts her shield to good use!
Hilde yowls in pain and scampers away to safety. The Shield Maiden grits her teeth, stubbornly refusing to fall as she tries to squish more rats!
Tries, and fails.
Randi flails at the rats while Hilde scratches one.
Randi's resolve wavers as the rats continue to swarm her. She lets out a disgusted shriek as she bats at them and staggers away to try to get a moment to collect herself!
”Ah! Get off of me, vile rodents!” Randi shrieks as the rats swarm over her. She tries to smash them with her shield. Hilde happily pounces on her favored prey!
Randi grits her teeth and endures the negative energy blast with minor pain. She casts about for the source of the booming voice, but cannot find it. Hilde yowls uneasily, arching her back.
The Maiden waits impatiently for the trading to be done. When it is complete, she leads the way into the next room!
”Aye, the healing potions and cloak would be useful if we can afford it. If not, we should keep moving.”
"Oh you have the best idea ....Victor. Let's get the hell outta here! On that regard, is there anything else you would prefer to be called whilst in such a different form?" Lucretia asks politely, realising they may be about to leave the compound. "You might have mentioned it earlier, but....a lots happened." The Shield Maiden's cheeks flush pink when Lucretia calls her 'Victor.' "Not that! I cannot afford for others to know about my...change. I've not chosen a name for this persona save for my code name. I suppose if you have to call me something else, call me...Randi. It means 'shield,' and is as good a name as any. "We cannot afford to split our attention worrying about what is to come. Let us focus on what is in front of us." When the group comes upon the draconic creature, the Maiden raises her shield warily, hoping somebody else can translate.
”Or maybe he was just galen,” says the Maiden, using the Skald word for “crazy.” ”Either way, we have a key. Perhaps we should exchange the axe for the second key now and make our escape.”
”Foul witchcraft!” the Maiden cries as she is coated with glitter! Undeterred, she looks around for the spellcaster. She has no luck, but Hilde hisses angrily as she sees something...
The Shield Maiden salutes the statues of her sisters-in-arms, but she frowns at the apparition when it appears. "I think you mean 'AIR-o-den.' Somehow, I doubt you serve the Last Azlanti if you cannot even pronounce his name correctly."
The Shield Maiden isn't sure what to make of the strange inevitable, but she grins fiercely when offered the magical axe. "A fine weapon. Onward!" She leads the way down the other end of the hall.
"Something is messing with your head," the Shield Maiden says. Hilde leaps up on the Maiden's shoulder and leans in to sniff Lollia.
The Maiden strikes again!
Grimacing in pain as her blood drips on the floor, the Maiden slashes again!
The Shield Maiden tightens her grip on her blade as she moves up and slices at the scroll again.
|
