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133 aftermath [edit] [delete] Admin
Kerim and Peter lead the mules with Callum and Serena to the far side of the pit-trap, while the others all gather around the fire, beating it with booted feet, broken brushwood and anything else that comes to hand. The combined efforts finally put the blaze out. However they also manage to start a number of other small blazes and sparks get scattered, but before long they are under control as well. Leaving them all grimy and sweat-stained, but with a sense of satisfaction. Edgar flits around between the two groups trying to make sure that nothing is amiss with either group. OOC: lots of people away or with posting difficulties ATM. Selina, Callum, Meeleek, Mandrake, Elsbeth ….
F-f-f-f-fire ! [edit] [delete] Edgar
Satisfied that the dogsheads are out of range, or that at the least, Corellon would give warning to Peter and Kerim of their return, Edgar circles around the fire, calling out directions to those below, in an effort to guide and assist their endeavours to extinguish the flames.
His Charge [edit] [delete] Kerim Alakani
Kerim does his best to calm both mules, given that the beasts will likely not like being so close to such a large fire. Apart from this he himself is uneasy, the fire making their location by far too easy for any other Doghead tribes, or anyone else, in the region to see. He looks eager to be underway but bites his tongue as is his usual means of dealing with his conflicts of interest.
Play Fetch [edit] [delete] Rolf
The flames finally quenched, Rolf has time to take stock. He wipes the soot from his face roughly with the back of one hand before he realizes that Corellon is not about. "Blast." he says quietly, following it with an impatient sigh. "Okay, Yuri, Elsbeth, Edgar and I will see what's up with our wayward friend. Kerim, take the others back up the road a ways and we'll catch up when we can. If the dogheads come at us again, we should run into them before and Edgar will fly back and give you warning. If they come in force, remember that you have to survive to get word back to earl Richard." "You ready?" he asks Yuri, Elsbeth and Edgar.
Never split the party... [edit] [delete] Ravn Ashengrey
Ravn, soot-covered like the rest of them, frowns with worry and disagreement at Rolf's suggestion and cannot withold his protest. "Constable, this is a mistake - there might be another ambush waiting ahead, prepared for the very possibility that we would survive this first onslaught and initiate pursuit. We should stay together to better withstand another attack! Were we wise, we would let the stray seek his lonesome demise and not let his thoughtless action split our strength - already depleted - and make us easy prey for the dogheads!" The Runecaster shrugs, knowing full and well that he will not be able to persuade the Constable to choose wisdom over compassion. "But I know that not always is a leader free to take the wiser path and I suspect, Rolf, that your lordly heart bids you come to the aid of that bewildered hireling in his folly. Well, so be it - but do not stoop to offend the King of Gods and God of Kings by making his emissary a subject to a merchant! Do not scorn an Oath-sworn's threefold quest to prove his worth in battle by making a mule driver out of him!" Ravn's rage is building, the offense too much for his proudness. "By all the water in Mimer's Well! I demand to follow you on this foolish errand! Let the thralls mind the livestock - I am a warrior priest and will be treated as such!"
Okay, yeah, why not? [edit] [delete] Rolf
Rolf gives Ravn as much patience as he can muster, although it's clear that he doesn't have much. Ravn had proven himself a fair hand in combat, but the man would never be a true warrior until he learned to master his outbursts. Still, now wasn't the time to discuss it. "Fine, as you seem to have given no thought to the safety of our wounded, you can come with us. Kerim, Callum, I entrust the others to you. Find a defendable position and wait our return."
As you wish ... [edit] [delete] Peter Gasgano
Slowly Peter leads his mule back around the pit trap, and starts back the way they came. As he goes he checks that Selina isn't going to fall off of the mule and that she is as well as can be expected.
Treading softly [edit] [delete] Edgar
Edgar chooses his words carefully as he speaks to Rolf, aware of their leader's growing anger, and *not* wishing to be seen to be another questioning his authority ... "Should I circle overhead to try to give warning, or remain on the ground with you, another pair of eyes and ears, Constable ?" he asks. "I would council the latter," he adds hurriedly, deferentially, "for our foes no doubt know that you have a ..." his beak curls distastefully " ... trained pet, and when they see me, they will be forewarned of your approach."
Fine orders [edit] [delete] Kerim Alakani
Kerim is just reigning the mules around when Ravn's questioning of splitting the party catches his attention. He calmly adds to Rolf's reply "Effendi Ravn, wise it is to stay together, though I fear this only suffices whilst we are not needing to travel fast. What say you if we follow the Elf and are in need of flight? Think I that these two would not make it. their lives forfeit without deed. No, care we must for the sick and also get word to Lord Richard of the Dogheads activities" Kerim continues to lead off the sick. Despite not having been attacked from behind again he keeps a wary eye just in case any Dogheads that weren't seen still lurk about the place. First plan is to simply make good time by using the road, it will also be easier on the sick. P.S. Lots and lotsa thunder and lightning outside, with lotsa power fluctuations. Typical of me to pick now to do my gaming.
Fine orders [edit] [delete] Kerim Alakani
Kerim is just reigning the mules around when Ravn's questioning of splitting the party catches his attention. He calmly adds to Rolf's reply "Effendi Ravn, wise it is to stay together, though I fear this only suffices whilst we are not needing to travel fast. What say you if we follow the Elf and are in need of flight? Think I that these two would not make it. their lives forfeit without deed. No, care we must for the sick and also get word to Lord Richard of the Dogheads activities" Kerim continues to lead off the sick. Despite not having been attacked from behind again he keeps a wary eye just in case any Dogheads that weren't seen still lurk about the place. First plan is to simply make good time by using the road, it will also be easier on the sick. P.S. Lots and lotsa thunder and lightning outside, with lotsa power fluctuations. Typical of me to pick now to do my gaming.
Tremors [edit] [delete] Selina
Selina moans slightly from her posistion on the mule, and shivers, but doesn't wake up. Tears spill from her eyes as her eyelids flicker before closing.
Wise council [edit] [delete] Ravn Ashengrey
At first, after hearing the Southerner's piece, Ravn's instinctive reaction is to keep his quiet reservations to him self - but the powers and - more importantly - obligations vested in him by divine affiliation hold him to his task of offering council. Even when it may be unwelcome. Therefore, as they watch the mule train withdraw and prepare to move out to follow Corellon to wherever he went, he addresses Rolf again, this time in a much more restrained tone of voice, hoping to penetrate the shell of irritation and frustration that, in the Runecaster's perception, dumbs the Constable's ear and dulls his wisdom. "Rolf, I have claimed a place in this venture and I will fill it well, this I promise you. But still I must repeat what Hugin and Munin whisper in my ear, for it is my duty to give you council even when you do not ask." "Warning the Earl is not presently a needy issue - Richard knows full and well from your own tidings that dogheads roam these parts, and surely he expects us not to bring word of anything but their dismissal. There may be no harm done in sending news of the dangers in these areas - only the risk of it being perceived as a call for help that is both unnecessary and will draw the Earl's ressources from more needy tasks. If this happens, not only will you bring shame and disregard on your own name and ours, you will also open a gap in the Realm's defenses for other evils to exploit - we all know Richard is a fair man, loyal to his men as they are to him and he will be bound by honor, word and blood to send forces to your aid, forces that may be more needed elsewhere." "We do not need the Earl's huscarls to end the doghead menace, just think how well we just fared in the ambush; several of our foes lie vanquished and we have suffered but a few dents and scratches that will soon heal with the boons of the Aesir and whatever sinister forces our Celt companions worship! Now think about what kind of bloody lesson we could teach the dogheads if WE were to have the advantage...?" "As for our imminent endeavour - every child knows that following the lure of the Alf leads to nothing but sorrow and grief - to the Underworld and lifelong imprisonment, a plaything for the Erl-King inside the Elfin-Hillock. Were Corellon a man like us there would be no doubt in my mind. But an Alf, an unpredictable faerie creature - that is another matter entirely! It may not be Corellon's purpose but definitely his nature to lead the naïve astray and to an ill fate - I prefer he do it to the dogheads rather than to us! Lastly, I know as little as any mortal man of what the Alf hide beneath their deceiving appearances but this I do know: That they move with the silence of a whisper and the subtlety of a gentle breeze. Also, they are more cunning than a throng of foxes and I have yet to hear a tale of any mortal being capable of catching one - and as has been proven today, these dogheads are, indeed, mortal creatures. We, however, are clad in iron and about as subtle as a boatload of berserkers - we would only fall prey to yet another ambush and have accomplished nothing but a speedy passage to Valhalla." "I am sure the Alf will return with record that we can put to deadly use against them. Meanwhile, we are quite capable of defending ourselves if we stick together in a suitable position. Let us camp nearby, send the raven with word as Odin himself would have, and await the return of the Alf while our wounded recover - both fair Elsbeth and I have been granted powers that will bring about our full restoration in a matter of days. Then, when our strengths are replenished, we can follow either the tracks of these dogheads or the Alf's report and finished what they started."
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