Olaff watches as Ahreni, Relisha and Thanara ready themselves for this battle without even flinching and feels proud of them as much have them changed from the frail and inexperienced girls he first met.
Looking around as he readied his shield and drew his sword, he called to the others. "Prrotect the horrses! Ve have alrready lost one..." He then moves towards the drake, trying to figure out where it will attack.
Ahreni the owl meets the drake in the air, charging straight for it. She draws first blood, ripping a wound open on its neck. The drake roars and retaliates, biting and then slapping towards her with its tail. Only its teeth find purchase however, tearing open a wound on the owls torso
Since the battle is taking place in the air, neither Olaff nor Relisha can reach it with their blades and stand at the ready should it move on past Ahreni.
Ulf prepares to aim and shoot at the drake, but Sandru cautions him "You [i]better[i] not hit Cub!". Ulf hesitates but fires a shot anyway which sinks into the hide of the rear of the large flying creature.
Thanara suddenly reappears, now having moved further beneath the thing. She sends two bolts of lightning at the drake’s underbelly, a determined, troubling look in her eyes...
__________
The owl beats its wings hard to climb further before raking the drake's head with both talons.
Seeing the creature not coming down to within melee range, the tiefling speaks a prayer summoning a weapon to strike at the beast.
Ahreni 50/59
Olaff 67/67
Relisha 68/73
Thanara 37/37
She walks a short distance to a nearby tree and pulls off a small branch, breaking it into two. She then bends down and scoops a fist full of snow in her hand, cupping it together and squeezing to make a tiny snowball.
She shapes the ball of ice with the stick, carving the sides off and trimming the object. When she has a cylinder-shaped object just larger than a finger, she uses the stick to carve out the center of the object.
Ameiko clears her throat and turns to face Relisha "When I was taken prisoner and we all nearly died, I learned then that each day is precious and I know not whether we will live to see the sun rise on the morrow. The business we undertake, this quest we are on, it is extremely dangerous and I do not know if I will live to see my ancestral home or die in an ice-filled crevasse."
Ameiko adds "Also, you are right that there may be laws or traditions that would prevent me from marrying a love of my choice, so perhaps if we were betrothed prior to our arrival this would supersede any rule about who I may choose as my life partner."
Dropping to a knee in front of Relisha, she holds the object out to Relisha and asks [b]"Will you take this ring of ice as a symbol of my love and wed me?"[b]
I can't do this to her. She deserves someone so much better than I.
It takes her a long time to muster up the strength to respond. The will to push away something that she's desired for so long. But if she's learned nothing else in her short life, it's how to forge ahead when everything is pushing you back. She knows that what she wants is meaningless in the big picture. She needs to do what is best and what is best is ...
"Yes!" she squeaks out. Almost immediately her hand jumps to her mouth, covering her lips. Shock at her own answer leaves her unable to say anything else.
Ameiko smiles and slides the ice ring onto Relisha's finger before standing up and putting both hands on her cheeks and kissing her. She pulls back and says "I hate being told what I can and cannot do. If I'm to rule, I'll do so with you by my side."
Relisha's scimitar slashes at the cold dragon, but is unable to find purchase. Olaff stands ready, waiting for the creature to come within range while Thanara lands both of her bolts that are fired toward the drake. Up in the sky, Ahreni continues to keep the creature engaged in melee, slashing it with one talon.
Thanara's lightning attack seems to have injured it the most and garnered the attention of the frost drake. Turning towards the people on the ground, the drake spits out a burst of liquid tat forms into a cloud of freezing mist that hits all of the caravan on the ground.
"F~%!!" Olaff exclaims as he is showered with ice, his muscles becoming painfully hard to move. While he could try to shoot it with his longbow, Olaff remains armed with his shield and sword, ready to defend the animals if the drake decides to try its luck with them.
Ahreni keeps rising, trying to get on top of the drake as she continues to slash with her talons.
Thanara gasps at the sudden chill that comes across her, but does not lose her focus. Her eyes are crackling with electricity as she works another spell and the largest bolt of lightning she has ever called forth blasts out at the dragon!
Concentrating on her magical blade's attempt to hit the drake, Relisha takes the full brunt of the blast.
While the blade attacks, she hits herself with her healing wand.
Ahreni 55/59
Olaff 53/67
Relisha 37/73
Thanara 23/37
Relisha's scimitar misses, but Thanara's electricity dances over hte body of the drake which is beginning to show signs of weakening.
The frost drake returns it attention to Ahreni in horrific fashion, biting and ripping open her neck. Afterwards, it spins and slaps its tail against her body, threatening to take her out from the sky.
Another pair of bolts sear through the sky at the thing as Thanara grows tired of this inconvenience.
Another use of her wand follows.
Ahreni 15/59
Olaff 58/67
Relisha 29/73
Thanara 28/37
Thanara's second set of bolts do the trick, frying the frost drake and dropping it from the sky! It shakes the ground when it lands, sending a cloud of snow up into the air.
Thanara leers at the still form of the drake in the distance. She stares at it, unmoving, as the others tend to their wounds and check the wagons.
A woman who had thus far remained mostly silent approaches Thanara from behind. She wears a dark fur cloak and has an ominous air about her. As she steps up beside Thanara, she mutters ”It is time.”
Thanara nods.
Rognar and the other Ulfen approach a few moments later, and Thanara turns her head over her shoulder to Rognar and says ”Make certain I am not disturbed,” before she and Varla begin walking towards the drake.
Watching from a distance, you see the pair reach the drake’s side, at which point Thanara kneels down beside it in the snow. She reaches into her pack and then turns back to the drake. A few moments later, dark arcs of black lightning dances along its body for several seconds before subsiding. Then, the creature’s body begins snapping back into place, and the beast rises to its feet and looks around!
Thanara reaches over and places a hand on its neck as she and Varla share some words. The pair then turn and head back towards the wagons, the drake following behind. The Ulfen part to give the beast and the women a wide berth as they return to the caravan.
Relisha's mystical weapon returns back to where it was summoned from and she takes a moment to catch her breath. Once peace returns she sets about tending to the wounds taken by the others. The majority of her time is spent with Ahreni.
"So an owl now?" she asks with a grin. "Don't the feathers go strange places?" It's clear that she's attempting to make a joke, even a lame one.
Ahreni remains in owl form and gently cuffs Relisha with one large white wing. She then starts preening, showing off her feathers and generally acting as though she expects compliments. Apparently the legendary arrogance of birds is carrying over...
As the owl preens before her, Relisha works to hide a broad grin. "And such a beautiful owl you make as well," she says, with a slight cough to cover her laughter.
While Thanara wanders off to do whatever it is she doing, Savah watches from the safety of their wagon. When the sorceress begins to return with an undead beast marching behind her, she calls out an alarm "Quick! There is something behind Thanara that's going to hurt her! She must be unaware! Kill it!"
Thanara holds up a hand to calm her. ”It’s alright. It is under my control, now. This drake was a top predator in the area. Having it as a guardian of the caravan that does not require rest or food will be a huge benefit to us.”
Olaff's eyes are fixed and vague on where the drake had fallen for a couple minutes, his thoughts completely lost, as if his mind was having difficulties to process what had happened. His posture was frozen in place, appearing that the frost breath had affected him the most.
When the ulfen retreat to the caravan and Savah yells to them, Olaff snaps out of his denying mind. He looks at the "witch" with hatred, almost expecting her to change into the too familiar ogre-like creature that had killed Thanara and maimed Relisha. He steps forward as he drops his shield on the ground before charging with blind fury. "ARRRRGH! I'LL KILL'YE VITCH! YE'LL PAY FORR IT!"
Thanara steps between Olaff and Varla, her eyes filling with electricity. ”You will NOT!” Thanara shouts sternly. Lightning dances along her arms and through her fingers as she scowls at Olaff for his aggression.
Rognar steps in as well, quickly grabbing Olaff’s wrist and bending it back hard. ”Alright, that’s enough,” he says calmly as he wrenches Olaff’s weapon from his hand. He then nonchalantly tosses it behind him where one of the other Ulfen bodyguards picks it up.
Rognar stands beside Thanara in front of Varla as well, an unconcerned look on his face as he, frustratingly, has to stand in defense of Varla.
Even without his weapon, Olaff is undeterred as he believes he can still crush the witch with his hands. He then shoves his way past Thanara and Rognar. "AHHHH, I'LL KILL'YE! VITCH! YE'LL NOT TAKE HERR!"
Seeing Olaff being bull-headed about it, Rognar takes advantage of the man’s blind fury and kicks his leg out from under him at the last second, trying to send Olaff to the ground!
”Damnit man! Stand down! What the f%*% has gotten into you?”
Thanara turns to Varla and says ”Get on the drake and take off until we settle his dumb ass down.”
Varla simply nods and turns, climbing up onto the drake’s back. Thanara signals for the drake to fly, which it does.
Olaff falls but tries to get to Varla as she flies away. He draws a throwing axe but can't reach her in time, causing the axe or arch into the snow. He breathes heavily as he sees the drake flying away, trying to calm himself. He goes after his hammer, then sword and shield.
He turns first to Rognar. "Jeg kæmper ikke med dig, broder ... men jeg skammer mig over, at du har beskyttet en heks. Vi ved begge, hvad de er i stand til ... vi har kæmpet mod Irrisen ... har du glemt, hvor mange gode venner vi har mistet? Så mange ... Jeg kan ikke håbe på at huske alle deres navne ..."
He then turns to Thanara as he moves towards the others. "This is the rroad to yourr grreat destiny? Darrk magic? Filthy vitchcrraft?" He then points to the undead dread, in the sky. "Vhen I die, rraise me as ye did to that thin', forr it is the only vay forr me to be at yerr side... It pains me to say, but I have failed and the voman I LOVED, have died in that forrt. Ve brrought back somethin' else, so go ahead and change yerr name once morre, Thanara Deathbrringerr..."
As he reaches the others, Olaff looks for Relisha, Ahreni, then Ameiko, Koya, Sandru and even Savah. "Arre ye fine vith this? This disgustin' darrk magic? Have I lost my mind?"
Thanara glares at Olaff throughout his outburst. When he calls her a witch, she doesn’t flinch. ”I’ve been called worse than that, Olaff. And my death in the fort opened my eyes to my stupidity before. I was holding myself back then. But no more. If I have something at my disposal to keep me or those I care about safe, then I will. I had a scroll that could turn this apex predator into a protector of the caravan. It would be foolish not to use it. Be mad if you want, but know this...” she pauses as she stands back to her feet with Rognar’s help. ”You EVER attack any of those in my service or that I care about unprovoked again, I will make certain it is the last time you do so.”
"Unprrovoked? Ye two rraised a dead beast!" Olaff opens his arms at Thanara's threat and laughs in despair. "Vhy vait? Do it now. DO IT! Ye say yerr eyes verre opened, but ye arre blind if ye think that ve arre safe vith that abomination!"
He steps closer, his shield in his back, his sword still in his scabbard and his arms wide open. "Come on! Do yerr magic, zap me vith lightnin'! Do it now and see, vith yerr open eyes, vhat ye have become, for vhen that thing rreturrns, I'll fight and destrroy it, orr I'll die trrying. Vill ye let me destrroy it, orr vill ye make it attack me? If so, therre is no rreason forr ye to vait... go ahead, Thanarra, kill me!"
Olaff then lowers his arms and head, defeat and more broken than ever in his life. "Kill me and sparre me to see vhat you'll become. The monsterr yerr fatherr said ye verre..."
”You know NOTHING, Olaff!” Thanara snarls back at him. She turns on her heel and walks off. The majority of her Ulfen guard in tow.
Rognar walks over to Olaff and mutters ”Well. That was interesting. What has crawled up your arse, Little One?”
Ahreni is decidedly not ok with this development, if the bristling feathers and angry snapping motions her beak is making are anything to go by. The peace and friendliness of the moment she shared with Relisha is gone and Ahreni snaps back into her own form in a sudden flurry of feathers which vanish as they touch the ground.
She sets about her usual work without looking at the ulfen contingent and leaves them to deal with their own animals and wagons without any help from her.
Relisha's good mood also seems to vanish at the idea that Thanara is associating with necromantic magic. "Well get through this," she says quietly to Ahreni before returning to check with Ameiko.
Olaff ignores Rognar's question and simply spits on the ground as he passes by, walking towards where Ahreni and Relisha are while keeping a looking on the sky for when the undead drake will return.
On close to the sane girls, Olaff speaks somberly. "That vitch Thanarra brrought vith us... she vorrships darrk gods. Helgarrval can see the taint in herr." Olaff removes the helm so he can speak to the others without making his ears ringing.
"It is the truth!" The angel voices his concern. "There is a dark aura around that woman... not a particular strong one, which means she is either an initiated of an Evil God or a powerful evil woman."
Ahreni shows her teeth in a brief snarl, making her opinion quite clear, and then turns back to the horse she is grooming. The process appears to be calming for both horse and shifter.
She hesitates and places her hand on Relisha's arm. "Maybe you should speak to her for me." she asks without asking.
After a few more brushes, he asks "I know you two were close once, so I figure it would be best to ask you. Because. I won't allow anyone to hurt Ameiko again, I don't care who it is."
He pauses and turns to look at Ahreni for the first time "Do you understand what I'm saying, Cub?"
Seeing turmoil inside of the Ulfen, the elderly woman places an unsteady hand on Olaff's "Olaff. I need you to find a way to help balance her. It's true your rage wants to consume you, but we cannot afford to lose you now. Seek out Thanara and find a way to make amends. Having her unbalanced would be bad for us all."
When Thanara approaches she asks "You command that dead dragon now? How did you come to wield such powerful magics? Are you a necromancer now? Should I... Should I be worried?"
Thanara steps closer as she continues. ”Worried like a young noble man’s daughter on an errand who suddenly finds herself being seduced by the town blacksmith? Like a weak little girl in the clutches of a stronger, more powerful woman?”
She then circles behind Savah as she talks. ”I have no control over the magic at my disposal. But if you were wondering, that magic wasn’t mine. It was a scroll I found and put to use. But yes, I control it. But necromancer...what was it you told me...’You don’t have to put a name on it...”
She comes back around in front of Savah and puts her hands on her own hips. ”But yes, my time in the Boneyard has made me more powerful, and opened my eyes to many things. Is that a problem?”
Eventually, when Thanara gathers Rognar and his Ulfen and he sets them up in a defensive posture before Thanara calls the drake back. It lands behind the nervous Ulfen before allowing Varla to dismount the thing. Thanara steps over and gives the creature an appraising pat on the neck as it looks toward the caravan mindlessly, remaining perfectly still.
"She sees me as an unlearrned ignorrant, vhile she considerrs herrself to own the trruth. ve arre blind in herr eyes..." He then shakes his head. "I'll make no amends. She carres only forr herrself, she ignorres how ve feel about herr actions... I von't abandon herr, though. Vhen and if she sees how vrrong she is, I'll be therre to help herr, if it is not too late... if she does not, I'll be therre to stop herr."
Once the undead drake and the witch returns, Olaff moves towards it, his shield in his back and his sword in his sheath. "I'll destrroy that thing. If any of you vant to stop me, do so now. I von't rresist, but ye'll have to keep me in chains forr the rremaining of the jourrney, forr if frreed, I'll take my shield and svorrd and destrroy it."
Thanara sighs and turns back to the drake. ”Come along, Varla,”
She and the priestess climb on as Olaff begins storming over making his declaration. Before they lift off, she replies ”Oh, come off it, Olaff. I’ll never give you the chance,” before the drake lifts off and flies into the air. It circles about forty feet up, and Thanara calls out ”You realize this thing will never get tired. It could literally fly non-stop until I command it to land?”
"Have ye rrealized ye need to eat and sleep O' Smarrt One?" Olaff yells from the ground. "Let us know vhen ye two need to shit, so ve can coverr ourrselves frrom the flying turrds!"
”You are being so petty, childish, and closed minded, Olaff. You realize I used that scroll we found to do this? Better us use it for our own protection rather than it pass hands to someone who would use it for evil, right?” Thanara calls out as they circle. ”It wasn’t even used on a person. It was used on a drake that attacked us first. I simply took advantage of an opportunity.”
"Ye could have destrroyed the scrroll, which vould be betterr than this. Look arround ye, Thanarra, since yerr eyes arre so open now... can ye see how everryone is affraid?" He points to everyone of the older companions. "I'm not speaking only forr myself, which opinion is so meaningless to ye, but frrom all o' yerr friends!"
"If all o' us say ve don't vant this monsterr, vill ye let me destrroy it, orr vill ye ignorre vhat ve think and do only vhat ye vant? Ye arre not petty, childish, and closed minded, arre ye?" Olaff asks once more, hoping the others will side with him.
He eventually eases up and says "I know things are hard. This trip has already been the most brutal of any we've ever taken. It's changing us all."
She purses her lips and thinks of a response, taking a few seconds to gather her thoughts. "Not a problem, I suppose. I was just worried. I mean curious, is all. It's fine."
Ameiko listens to the shouting going on back and forth between Olaff and Thanara and she sighs. She leans in to Relisha and whispers "I liked them better when they were sharing a bed together."
Ameiko rises and begins to leave, but pauses [b]"There is nothing to fear here, it's still Thanara. That's all." she says to the oracle, but it seems almost is if she's trying to convince herself with the statement.
[/b]