11 The Aftermath

By JohnB

..A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.P.Q.R.S.T.U.V
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g|.................sd........................|
h|....................M......................|
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j|....w.......x.x.x.x.d.P.A.h................|
k|.d....w..............K.....................|
l|........w..........R.....w.................|
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b Bush; - Entangle area, D Doghead; F Doghead with metal bars; w Wolf; d dead Doghead

h Horse; x Mule; d Donkey

C Callum; R Rolf; E Elsbeth; A Aenis; K Kerim; P Peter; m Mandrake; s Smilo; M Madelyn

Wolves AC7 normal size; Dogheads AC6 large size.

As the remaining doghead and his wolves flee, things seem to slow down and come into perspective again. The two battle hardened veterans still persue the combat:

Rolf’s last sword blow makes a vicious cut across the rear of the retreating wolf and it lies there on the ground whimpering, and trying to crawl after its master. It is clear that it will die a long, painful death. Suddenly seeing Callum’s intent, Rolf starts towards him calling for him to leave the prone creature alive, but with a scream, Callum runs up to the prone doghead and, with a casual backhand flick of his sword, decapitates it cleanly. He then stands and, raising his sword, screams a victory cry towards the sky. As the battle cry finishes Callum seems to shrink and return to a more normal size and shape, the lights in his eyes and his strange nimbus seem to fade at the same time. Suddenly Callum slumps to his knees, and falls forwards onto his hands, almost as if his strength had drained out of him at the same time as the rage. Slowly his rises to his feet and starts toward the Doghead at Dp.
OOC Sorry Malcolm – you were trying to do too many things in too short a time.

Rolf, recognising his failure to stop Callum, Rolf sheaths his weapons and collects his bow, moving towards the closest living doghead (Dp) he calls on it to surrender while levelling an arrow at it.

 
By Sharon who plays Madelyn

Cleaning up!

Madelyn dismounts Keldon, leaving the others to scavage amongst the remains. She takes a look around and soon realises that Peter is in need of help, sheathing her sword she walks over to him and tells him to stand still. If he co-operates, she places both her hands either side of his head for brief moment.

When she has assured that Peter will be OK, she retrieves her lance and assists the party in getting back to order.

OOC: Peter gets up to 4HP back

By Jim who plays Smilo

Hobbit Humor

Smilo bursts out in a fit of gaffawing. When he finnally can stop,

he yells at the gnoll, "Hey, Mandrake ain't no spittoon, you." Which

sends him into another bout of laughter.

But eventually, the hobbit sighs and opens the creatures pouches.

Looking for precious metals or coins. The earing is yanked free.

Then on to the next body.

By Brad who plays Rolf

We ain't finished yet guys

Rolf calls out to the doghead with the bars, "Surrender or I'll feed you to my friend here." He motions to Callum. He levels his bow slightly low, intent on capturing the beast, not killing it. "Madelyn, be ready to ride if this one tries to run."

By Lance who plays Elsbeth

Granting mercy

Elsbeth, stands slowly, her eyes on the blood on her hands. Using the back of her hands, she wipes the tears from her eyes. Her brothers had grown up fighting these beasts. She could as well.

Looking around, she sees the dying wolf. Her eyes again fill with tears as she sees the suffering beast. Though it had tried to kill her and her friends, she could not fault it for following its masters. Nor could she fail to assist.

Drawing her scimitar, she moves to the creature's side. "Blessed Mother, accept into your arms your child," she whispers. Setting the blade against the wolf's throat, she neatly puts it out of its misery (19 to hit). Sniffing loudly, she looks about to see how the others fare.

By Malcolm who plays Callum

Mopping up

Callum wanders over to others around the trapped Doghead, his sword balanced on his shoulder.

"Surrender or I'll feed you to my friend here." When he hears the comment, Callum grins at the Doghead, baring his teeth and snapping at it.

Job for a translator

By Daren
who plays Mandrake

Mandrake looks in disgust at the glob of phlegm on his clothes and then moves around the creature to a position behind him and, given his size compared to the creature, out of it’s field of view restrained as it is.

He says to the others “Perhaps they simply do not have an understanding of any language but there own, I have a spell that can help, I was regretting memorising it rather than something a little more useful not so long ago.

“If you tell me what you want asked, then I can translate.”

Surrender!!!

By Brad
who plays Rolf

"First, Mandrake, tell him to drop his weapons and surrender." Rolf responds to Mandrakes offer.

Chortle, Chortle

By Jim
who plays Smilo Hairfoot

"Yah, Mandrake," hoots the hobbit, "ask im were he learnt his manners."

This sends the small figure into another bout of laughter. But eventually, Smilo returns to looting.

Yum, Yum!

By malc
who plays Callum

"Ask it what it tastes like - perhaps I'll be making it's skin into a rug, Eh!"

Groggy ...

By Ian
who plays Peter

Peter stands mute, watching the retreating wolves and then turns to watch his companions efforts with the remaining dogheads. Bundling his cloak into a heap, Peter presses it against the wound to stop the bleeding and reaches into his pouch for a herbal mixture, which he places under the cloak. He then goes back to maintaining pressure on the wound to help the edges knit together.

When Madelyn rides up and starts to dismount, Peter backs away slightly (armoured people on horses ARE quite intimidating), but stands quietly, if apprehensively, while she places her hands on his head. A smile comes over his face as he feels the wound closing and he says, "Thank you, and thanks to your gods", before letting the cloak drop and examining the wound.


Sorry

By JohnB
next main post will be Tuesday (rather than Monday. Sorry! I managed to get myself involved in something that will take longer that expected this evening, and didn't have time to make a considered post from work this afternoon. I will make a properly considered post tomorrow.
Calming The Animals

By David
who plays Kerim

While the others search the dead, heal wounds and deal with two remaining Dogheads, Kerim will settle the mules & donkey and inspect their injuries.

OOC: Sorry folks - good reasons for my absence, too boring to enumerate.