Bren dives for the millstone that he's quite sure will be there.
|
Bren:
Ellessandra, looking -- relieved? -- delicately steps past Eglantine, out of her way.
There is no motion, nor arrows, from the windows of the millhouse.
Eglantine breathes deeply and feels time slow down as she contemplates her next words. When she speaks it doesn't even sound like her own voice.
"I will meet you at the dam on foot my Lord, you as well as I. Poor mortal that I am, there can be no honour to you in this duel if you are riding and I am not.
We must abide by the laws of your realm and bargain, must we not? This much I learned from your brethren. By what terms shall we determine the winner?"
|
|
Bren, Elias:
Flax smiles down at Eglantine. "You have learned well. But as you made the challenge and chose the venue, I chooose the terms. The stakes have been declared. The duel is to the death." He rides the rest of the way across the dam and gracefully dismounts, drawing his greatsword. The ettercaps and black fey tighten their circle, one of the fey taking the reins of Flax's mount.
Cyrus again fills in the circle.
Pat
Pat
Eglantine's smile matches Flax's as she salutes him.
"It is as you say my lord, we will fight to the death."
A fierce joy takes hold of her and her eyes brighten. She knows that this is the moment she was born for, wherever it leads her.
Catriana dives back into the pond, but doesn't manage to reach the millstone again. Swimming back to the surface, she gasps for air.
Stepping lightly across the bridge, Eglantine's dagger flashes as it tumbles through the air, pushing Flax off balance and away from the river's edge.
"Back my Lord. Your destiny does not lie in Riverbend, any more than mine."
The dagger glints again as it returns to her hand.
Impact Shot (AC). On hit target is pushed one square. (1d20+10=27, 2d4+4=9)
|
|
"That is for the victor to say, woman." He grunts as the dagger strikes home and starts to burn. "Ah, first blood to you -- more or less."
Flax approches carefully, almost cautiously, and then suddenly brings his greatsword around in a tremendous arc, making an eerie howling noise that reverberates in Eglantine's mind.
Eglantine laughs. "Truly, my lord is mighty." Bright blood drips into the millpond, spiraling away.
Catriana finally manages to dive deep enough to see the millstone. As she touches it, she keeps thinking about the friends she'd left behind.
Eglantine dances lightly past Flax, switching places with him and ending on the riverbank. Flax's blow makes her head spin, but she grabs every advantage that she can.
"My lord, your word is your bond. We agreed not to interfere should you win. We never agreed not to fight."
|
|
Catriana:
Bren/Elias:
Yomi calls on the Raven Queen to even the odds, healing Eglantine's arroww wounds. Flax glances Yomi's way, but then returns his attention to his opponent. "A strange definition of interfering you have, if battle is not. But you are bold -- I would know your name before I kill you."
Bren/ Pat
Cyrus watches as the duel continues.
Yomi's healing power pours through Eglantine, closing the worst of her wounds.
"We are feeble mortals and must take what we can, as scraps from your table. Interference is many things, my lord. My name is Eglantine Prakseda. It means the lithe wild rose."
Drellin's Ferry
|
|
Flax almost manages to make the switch look intentional, but the blood Eglantine draws prevents the bluff. "Yes, and the stakes are no interference, and thus no battle. Save this one." He charges at the rogue with his greatsword, the grievous wound it leaves festering even as Eglantine feels the blow.
Yomi calls out another word of encouragement, and Eglantine's wounds begin to close, though the festering continues.
Bren:
"Not so my lord. Surely you are not blind to the folly of mortals? When you win, my lord, and my body lies where it longs to be, at your feet, your stakes will turn to dust and ashes. Interference is a small thing. What can be greater than dying for love? Do you think I would challenge you for anything less? When you win, there will be no interference. There will be blood shed for love."
-
-
-
Eglantine feels her luck leaking away as she stabs uselessly at Flax as he looms over her.
"Enjoy your victory, my lord," and steps aside, ghostlike. She shakes her head slightly to rid herself of the festering wound and the glamour of Flax's personality.
|
|
Lord Flax grits his teeth and answers, "Very well. Then my fey will not be interfering with your companions after I kill you."
He moves in and cuts deeply into Eglantine's side. -17hp to Eglantine, -5 ongoing necrotic (se).
The black fey begin shifting around, one of them blocking Cyrus and Yomi from the fight, but none making any attacks.
Yomi stands by, scythe at the ready.
Eglantine smiles exultantly.
"Truly so, my Lord. You are always honourable. Trust that there will be blood. And love."
Her eyes never leave Flax's face, but she nods at Cyrus and Yomi.
"Go friends. This is no longer your place. Tell them that the storm will surely come and that our defense will be honourable."
She leans in to Flax and kisses him, one hand in his hair, pulling him towards her.
"You are mine my Lord. I mark you."
Quicker than thought, the blade glints in her hand, sending blood coursing down Flax's face and into his eyes, blinding him. The dagger drops lower and plunges once more into his shoulder. Still smiling, she traces a finger over his lips and spins away, feeling the poison drain away from her wounds as she goes.
-
-
-
In response to the black fey attempting to block Cyrus from getting a good look at the action, Cyrus circles around to behind Flax.
|
|
Eglantine smiles exultantly.
"Truly so, my Lord. You are always honourable. Trust that there will be blood. And love."
Her eyes never leave Flax's face, but she nods at Cyrus and Yomi.
"Go friends. This is no longer your place. Tell them that the storm will surely come and that our defense will be honourable."
She leans in to Flax and kisses him, one hand in his hair, pulling him towards her.
"You are mine my Lord. I mark you."
Quicker than thought, the blade glints in her hand, sending blood coursing down Flax's face and into his eyes, blinding him. The dagger drops lower and plunges once more into his shoulder. Still smiling, she traces a finger over his lips and spins away, feeling the poison drain away from her wounds as she goes.
Ellessandra cries out in dismay as she sees the battle turning unexpectedly, but does not move.
One of the ettercaps loops around Cyrus, not attacking; the other shifts to maintain the tightening circle.
Flax roars in anger and blindly unleashes a veritable storm of swords with his great blade.
The black fey shift around, one moving to pen Cyrus, others to keep Eglantine in the circle and Yomi out of it.
Yomi, with an anguished expression, calls out, "Lady, greet her with honor," and steps into the pond, then begins to dive for the bottom.
Cyrus looks to Eglantine for guidance as to how to proceed.
Cyrus - EDITED
Everyone else
Cyrus
Eglantine steps quietly away from Flax and throws her dagger at him once more, her face unreadable. As calmly as if she were on a summer walk, she runs a pace along the bank and slides herself into the millpond, swimming towards the centre. She makes no attempt to dive.
-
Eglantine: ** spoiler omitted **
Pat
|
|
Eglantine:
Flax, now bloodied, wipes the blood from his eyes and whirls about, looking for Eglantine. Seeing her in the pond he howls in rage and advances in along the shore, then glides in after her. Again, he whirls his greatsword about, striking at Eglantine and, incidentally, Yomi.
The black fey begin to converge on the end of the dam -- and Cyrus? -- but still do not attack.
Yomi attempts to dive for the pond bottom but finds himself still on the fey side.