p88


88 The avian scouts. johnb (Admin)
Much humping and heaving later Peter and Elsbeth have built a basic barricade, which will certainly slow down an attacker, but probably not stop him altogether. Rolf has a quick look outside but withdraws back into the building just before Mandrake closes, and re-locks, the door - shutting Kerim outside. Kerim, meanwhile, has managed to secrete himself amongst the rubble and detritus at the side of the building. Not the ideal hiding place - but just enough to make him difficult to spot. Maybe. Zhiri teeters on the edge of the roof, which doesn't seem quite so secure as it ought to be, while Madelyn looks on, distrubed. Callum and Ravn peer through the slits in the shutter of the window seeing what they can. Suddenly Ravn decided to use Udhugg to flush the foe, and after a number of attempts manages to get the old crow to leave his shoulder to try and find the attackers location. Seeing Udhugg take to the air Edgar follows. The pair skim through the air, looking more and more like Omens of doom as they fly. Who ever saw a Raven flying in formation following a Crow before? And even then, Only Zhiri, Callum, Ravn and Kerim see part of the flight, and even then not one of them has enough of a vantage point to report the whole thing. But still, the two birds will be back soon. Won't they? The birds circle a particular location a couple of times and then seem to zigzag back to towards the building - finally rising at the edge of the scrub land to circle 20 feet above the roof of your building. ------- New maps
Suspense Kerim Alakani
Kerim waits eagerly to hear what news the birds bring back. I his lands a crow and a raven flying together mean only one thing, carnage, and enough dead that neither bird need fight the other for food, for their is enough for all. He pauses to consider the folly of not bringing one of his mules with him, how will he carry the goods that he finds. No-one hears his silent curse. GM: Can I see Zhiri on the roof from where I am?
Rejoining Elsbeth
Elsbeth nods at Rolf's request and calls Laddie to her. The two climb the stairs to join the others. "I'm not knowing how well he could tell us what he's findin' but we'll give it a go." So saying, she kneels next to the wolf. "Alright Laddie, what can ye find?"
No ... johnb (Admin)
Kerim cannot see Zhiri she is on the opposite side of the building. See ground floor map for Kerim's position, 1st floor map for Zhiri's. And I finally got around to including the maps in the post - should have done that ages ago :)
I can see my house from here Edgar
With a flurry of wings, Edgar alights on the edge of the hole in the broken roof, talking care to touch down as softly as he can lest he disturb the uneasy truce between the aging beams and the pull of gravity. "Naught," he says to Zhiri, his voice coarser than usual as he speaks up for the benefit of those on the upper floor just below them. "Uddhugg showed me a clearing on the landward side of this building, but there was neither sight nor sign of anything there. Which means that whatever was there has since moved on ... but whether that bodes good or ill, I cannot say."
Ah! I see. Kerim Alakani
Or rather I don't. Kerim remains in his chosen position, unable to quite tell what the others are up to and not having had any response to his urgings. He puts a cupped hand to an ear, listening intently for noises, mostly to the air. It is known that a birds wingbeat can be heard by those patient enough. GM: Not having heard combat within and having seen the two black birds return unscathed he has little reason, if any, to do other than what he is currently doing. Being a scout. With the wall behind him to reflect sounds it should provide an excellent listening post.
Anyone see anything? Rolf
Rolf watches in surprise as Elsbeth takes the wolf up the stairs. He'd meant to suggest a bit of scouting. Shrugging, he follows her up. Looking in on Callum and Ravn, he says, "Looks clear, you two see anything?"
Enemy not seen Callum mac Aonghas
"Nay, Rolf. There's not a thing moving that I can see."
We should act! Ravn Ashengrey
Ravn seconds Callum's report. "No, Lord Constable, nothing as far as the crow flies. Nor the raven, for that matter..." Uddhugg returns to his shoulder through the opening in the roof, so Ravn turns his attention there to learn of the speaking bird's dicoveries. "Constable, there is definitely something out there. Now, it seems to me we must choose between EITHER remaining here in wait for that something to make itself known OR send scouts into the underbrush to discover the nature of whatever creature or creatures lurk outside." "Lord Constable, allow me to give you my counsel: Were these ruins our home and this island our native soil besieged by foreign foes, then we would have to remain within and guard it. But we are here to explore and reclaim this forsaken rock, so we must be swift in seeking knowledge of whatever dwells here and act - with bitter or with sweet - lest they seize the initiative and repulse us for our undecisiveness. Surely the natives will be loath to submit to us, having ruled themselves for so long, and they may perceive our hesitation as a sign of weakness and thus feel urged to attack." He pours a little mead into his cupped hand, offering it to the crow as he continues. "Our feathery friends have located a spot where the natives have recently passed. The dog should be able to pick up the scent with ease if we move at once!" Uddhugg, satisfied with this first part of his promised reward, flies off to a tall piece of furniture. Ravn holds up the meadhorn toward the opening. "There's a drink of sweet mead for you, too, raven - if you want one!?!"
Let's take a look Rolf
Rolf considers the words of Callum and Ravn and considers the situation. If nothing is out there, then there is little to be lost by spending a few hours moving about the place and if there is something out there, then they're smart enough to stage an attack. He'd thought to use this building as some cover, but if the foe is going to delay their attack, then striking forth might very well prove a more successful strategy. He nods, "Aye, we'll seek out this foe, but I'll not weaken our strength by splitting our numbers. We'll seek out the danger and once we've seen it, we'll better know how to defeat it. Let us to the courtyard. Callum, please ask the ladies to join us." He nods in the direction of Madelyn and Zhiri. Moving back down to the base of the stairs, he looks to Peter and Mandrake. "I think it's time to see for ourselves if there is a threat or not."
FINALLY, a post! Yuri
Yuri, nodding his head to demonstrate his eagerness to get out, comments, "the sooner we get out of this firetrap the better."
relief ... Peter Gasgano
Peter moves away from the newly barricaded door with relief. Although he had drawn his dagger and slung his shield he hadn't been too happy about being the only one left to guard the lightly barricaded doorway. Keeping his dagger ready and his shield up, he nods grimly as he goes to stand by Rolf.
Go get it! Callum mac Aonghas
Callum wanders through to where Madelyn is and Zhiri should be. "Where's the new lass?" he asks Madelyn. "Rolf's wantin' us downstairs. We're about goin' outside for a look around." He turns and heads downstairs.
Lost... kinda Elsbeth
OOC: Sorry, I misunderstood where everyone is, which is why Elsbeth headed up and not down... Elsbeth moves back down the stairs, the wolf following behind. Wiping her hands on her dress, she regards the Warden. "Will ye be wanting us to unbarricade the door now so we can be going?"
Please, no ... Peter Gasgano
"Can't we use the other doorway?" asks Peter.