Elfgame Episode 7

[18:01] <Tim> But all of this was yesterday's story.  It's now the 7th of Flowers, the wee-est hours of the morning, just after the conclusion of the midnight battle.  Now, the tale concerns an army of lifeless warriors, cast down on the fields outside Bluebell Township, and their officers in their horned helms, who fled the field to retreat into the forest, striking up the road towards Redmoor.  A dark...
[18:01] <Tim> ...night, wisps of cloud blocking the light from the heavens above intermittently, creating a land of hard-edged shadows and flat darkness in the night.
03[18:05] * Blaxploitation is now known as Lestari
06[18:10] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods to her fellow councilors. "The road there's not going to be in a very good shape, I don't think. We could try hitching a cart to bring the satyrs along, but I feel that might just bog us donw."
01[18:10] <Idir_Haida> "You're likely right. I've sent Ereth and his men to fetch horses and volunteers, that will have to suffice."
06[18:14] * Lestari crosses her arms and nods. "We need speed more than force. No matter how many Satyrs we bring, we would be able to do anything if they get back to Redmoor before us."
[18:14] <Sariel> "Ah...well...am being able to scout ahead.  Wings being useful, yes!"
06[18:15] * Idir_Haida nods. "That would be very helpful Sariel."
[18:15] <Tim> "Our people are FAAAAHst runners." Snorts Yaenger Gruf, crossing his arms as he strolls up, "But not so faaaaahst as horses.  I have never heard of a Dinay who waaahs a skilled rider before, though."
[18:19] <Sariel> The sylph beams.  "Am thanking! Want to try hardest! Hope can fly high enough to not be hit with arrows, yes?  Not fun! Painful too!"
01[18:19] <Idir_Haida> "If they start shooting at you, worry about your own safety first, then come and find us, okay?"
[18:20] <Sariel> "Okay!"
[18:23] <Lestari> "If that's the case, then some Satyrs should come along. Even if they don't keep up, if we intercept the enemy, they should be able to catch up before the fight is over."
01[18:24] <Idir_Haida> "That would work. It'd be tricky to make sure we're all on the same path, but having a reserve force will put us at a much greater advantage."
[18:24] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "We can leave markers as we ride to make our path easier for the satyrs to follow."
[18:27] <Sariel> "Um...are sure wise splitting force? Is may be bad idea, yes?"
[18:28] <Tim> "My warbaaahnd?  If you do this, don't take too maaaahny with you.  A small group moves faaaahster than a big one.  For instance, you might not want to take aaaahll of the cocky one's guards."
01[18:28] <Idir_Haida> "Actually, we're taking a larger force than we initially planned. And I was only taking half of mine, the other half is departing south in the morning."
[18:30] <Tim> "I'll get a dozen satyrs."
[18:33] <Tim> You hear a muted grunt.  Twitch is checking his bow, a determined expression on his face, and glancing over at you all.  Yaenger sighs, "Aaaaaaahnd the innkeeper's husband wants to go."
[18:41] <Lestari> "...Well, I suppose we can't turn anyone down."
[18:42] <Tim> "Our horses, fresh.  Theirs aren't." Twitch comments succinctly, his voice raspy and cracked.  He has to make an effort to talk this loudly.
06[18:44] * Sariel has never ridden a horse actually!
06[18:44] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "True enough. Is everyone gathered? Shall we get moving?"
[18:45] <Sariel> "Yes!" brightly
06[18:45] * Idir_Haida nods. "Let us be done with this."
[18:46] <Lestari> "Let's go." Lestari agrees.
[18:55] <Tim> Twitch nods, glancing uneasily at the town behind.  Fresh horses are, indeed, brought.  Nienna has the same red palfrey from earlier, but now it's behaving, since the horse Lestari gets is its mother.  The road from Bluebell to Redmoor is dirt, and twists with the landscape as it heads into the Bluebell Woods, a dense forest with many hidden gullies and sharp turns.  The woods are bright and...
[18:55] <Tim> ...cheerful by day, but by night the branches hang overhead like skeletal claws poised to pluck elves from their saddles, the wind making them seem to rub together like a miser's greedy hands, leaves rustling like hollow, eerie chuckling.  Twitch rides in front, looking rather out-of-place without a tavernkeeper's apron on, having traded it for a crisp green uniform with a domed helm and the...
[18:55] <Tim> ...Greenwood sigil of the green tree against the white disc of the sun on the front of his ironwood brigandine.  As you pass beneath the shadow of the trees, it's as if a switch has been thrown and all light cut off, leaving you in eerie darkness illuminated only by sound.  Twitch asks, raspily, "Torches?"
06[19:01] * Nienna_Carnes`ir glances to Idir, Lestari, and if she's there, Sariel/
06[19:01] * Sariel is there! She hasn't started flying for real, though she's been flying!
01[19:02] <Idir_Haida> "Let's go ahead and light them. Sariel will need to be able to pick us out if she is to scout."
[19:03] <Sariel> "yes! Will begin flying now!"
[19:03] <Sariel> She smiels and flutters and starts to rise!
06[19:04] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "I'll be fine in any case, but not everyone has my eyes, so the torches it is."
[19:07] <Tim> "Careful." Twitch warns the sylph, waving off a torch from one of the militia members.  He doesn't want to spoil his night vision by having the light immediately nearby, "Dangerous in the dark."  The militia elf agrees, nodding, "It's insane to ride through a forest at night, but at least we have a road.  Hopefully they'll stay on it."
[19:07] <Tim> *but we have a road
06[19:09] * Idir_Haida rides up closer to Lestari. "Lestari, I just wanted to let you know: If we catch up to them, I do not intend to send any back to the Horned King. Do you have objections with this?"
[19:11] <Lestari> "If we were going to let them go, we wouldn't be chasing them."
01[19:11] <Idir_Haida> "I just wanted to be sure."
[19:12] <Tim> "Alright, Sylph?" Twitch's voice isn't very loud, so he nudges the militia elf next to him, and gestures emphatically upwards until the guard repeats the question more audibly.
06[19:16] * Nienna_Carnes`ir raises a hand. "Hold, hold." She motions to a nearby silverleaf bush. "Black splatters on the silverleaf."
[19:17] <Tim> Twitch grunts in surprise, then nods respectfully towards Nienna.
06[19:18] * Idir_Haida holds up, as she asked
06[19:20] * Nienna_Carnes`ir rides up to get a closer look, pick at the ready.
[19:21] <Tim> The innkeeper's husband hops down off his horse, crouching down and examining the bush.  He sniffs one of the leaves without plucking it, "Blood." He then rubs his thumb into the spot, and tests it by rubbing thumb and forefingers together, "...Still wet."
[19:23] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "They won't be far, then."
01[19:27] <Idir_Haida> "What's that over there, behind the boulder?"
06[19:30] * Sariel comes fluttering down, quick.  "Ah-Ah! Ah!"
[19:30] <Sariel> "T-torches! Moving away!!"
[19:30] <Sariel> "NOt us! Something else too! Big! Rustling trees! Not sure what!"
01[19:31] <Idir_Haida> "We'd better move quickly then. Did they spot you?"
[19:31] <Sariel> "A-Ah! Am thinking no."
[19:31] <Sariel> "Going down road, yes!"
[19:31] <Sariel> "but big thing...will look again!" the sylph flutters up, looking for the large one!
[19:33] <Tim> The snap of breaking branches alerts her to it.  Whatever it is, it's slowed down, but hasn't turned towards their group yet, still moving towards the other group of torches, visible where the forest thins  along several high, rocky hillsides, overlooking a deep crevasse with a stream at the bottom.
[19:34] <Tim> This time, Sariel hears a low, trumpeting cry from the epicenter of the rustle.
[19:34] <Tim> Whatever made that sound has huge lungs.
06[19:35] * Sariel races down.  "S-Sound like loud trumpet, yes! Big animal!"
01[19:35] <Idir_Haida> "A...trumpet?"
[19:36] <Sariel> "yes! Like..." she tries to mimic the sound.
[19:36] <Sariel> It involves a lot of spitting.
06[19:36] * Idir_Haida flinches. "There's no need for that. I wonder what that could be..."
[19:36] <Tim> Twitch, who was glancing around nervously and had an arrow nocked, glances curiously at Sariel and her silly imitation.
[19:37] <Tim> "Big?"
[19:40] <Sariel> "Sound big, yes!"
[19:41] <Tim> "...Boar?"
[19:41] <Tim> He's clearly trying to guess what sort of animal might be large and make such a sound.
06[19:42] * Nienna_Carnes`ir shrugs. "Something we'll want to be careful of, in any case."
[19:42] <Tim> "Coming this way?"
[19:43] <Sariel> "Is not..."
[19:44] <Sariel> "Still, be careful, yes?  Will be flying, keeping watch! making sure not to us!"
01[19:45] <Idir_Haida> "Right. We'll be careful, but we can't give up the chase now."
[19:47] <Tim> One of the militia clears his throat politely, "Excuse me, Councilor Haida.  Um, what were you looking back behind that bush for?"
06[19:48] * Idir_Haida thinks for a moment. "Oh, right." He takes his horse to the boulder, and checks. "It...looks like a corpse."
[19:49] <Tim> It is a corpse, but you can't tell much about it when it's behind a boulder, you can see the legs sticking out, though.
06[19:56] * Lestari has drawn her blade, and seems impatient, waiting for things to get finished with looking at things so they can continue on the chase.
06[19:56] * Idir_Haida goes a little closer to take a better look
[19:57] <Tim> The corpse does not jump out at you.  There's a deadfall behind it, a bunch of torn-up trees, their roots reaching up towards the sky as if imploring the stars for water.
[20:00] <Tim> The corpse, what you can see of it, has high-topped boots and is swathed in black leather.  The helm has apparently fallen off, a carved wooden halfhelm with the small horns of a four-point buck on its brow.
01[20:00] <Idir_Haida> "It's one of the officers, looks like. Looks like whatever Sariel saw got him."
06[20:02] * Nienna_Carnes`ir peers at the corpse as well. She uses the length of her pick to nudge it lightly.
[20:03] <Tim> Idir is quite right.  The reason he can't see the rest of the corpse is because it appears to be completely gone above the breastbone.  Blood is everywhere, and one must be careful to avoid getting it on one's garments.
[20:04] <Tim> The legs-and-lower-stomach roll over without any sign of animation.  Nienna's prod, however, reveals a slightly older wound, a swordcut on the thigh, likely taken during the battle.  It looks like it's bled heavily, no wonder this one was eaten.
01[20:05] <Idir_Haida> "Twitch, anything that could take an elf's upper body above the breastbone in a single bite?"
[20:05] <Tim> "Yes.  Some."
01[20:06] <Idir_Haida> "Let's talk about them while we keep moving then."
[20:06] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Agreed."
06[20:06] * Idir_Haida starts to drive his horse forward."
[20:07] <Tim> Twitch's normally nut-brown skin is rather pallid, but he rallies fast.  One of the militia...one Lestari recognizes, he used to be a bandit until she beat the stuffing out of him, with dishwater-blonde hair and slightly overlarge eyes, which spoil the hard cast of his mouth and chin, opines, "Catshark can do that t'an elf.  Saw it meself once...but mostly they jes swallow 'em."
06[20:11] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "Certainly something to be cautious around."
01[20:12] <Idir_Haida> "He was also wounded, which was likely how he was caught. From what Sariel said, whatever it is is still hunting them."
[20:14] <Tim> "Piss on you, Carmlay, what'd a catshark be doin' on land?" "Shaddup, Gremane." Another former bandit turned militia joins in, "You shut your fucking self, mate, we're in Bluebell Woods.  Must've been a bear." "You ever see a fucking bear do that then?" "No, but that's why I'm live, idjit, I stay away from great huge bloody bears what bite an elf in half." "Whoresget, yer in the woods after...
[20:14] <Tim> ...one." "Ha!  So y'admit it's a bear, then?" "Fuck you." "Fuck you." The two of them nervously argue back and forth.
[20:15] <Tim> Twitch rides along, stone-faced and silent, staring straight ahead and seeming deep in thought, riding alongside Idir's horse.  He doesn't say anything for a good while.
[20:15] <Tim> Unless prompted.
[20:17] <Sariel> Sariel flutters down, looking at the corpse.  "Maybe it was being zombie elves!
01[20:17] <Idir_Haida> "Unlikely, I do not think any of them made it out of the initial battle."
[20:24] <Tim> True, as far as you saw the undead kept attacking in mindless waves when their officers fled.
[20:25] <Tim> Twitch shakes his head quickly, while one of the caravan guards, a younger one, canters his mount up to Idir, "Master Haida, surely it could not be a sandworm?  Not out here?"
01[20:26] <Idir_Haida> "No, it seems extremely unlikely. Sandworms won't even stay in the steppe long enough to cross it, much less make it all the way to the Freemarches."
[20:26] <Tim> Twitch sighs, then says, as distinctly as he can, "Could be dragon.  Not troll, sharp teeth."
06[20:26] * Idir_Haida frowns. "A dragon would be incredibly bad news."
[20:27] <Lestari> "Maybe it's that terrible undead beast Kokoltum spoke about." Lestari offers.
[20:27] <Tim> "Don't think it's one." Twitch responds, frowning.
01[20:27] <Idir_Haida> "I think that particular beast preferred his blade over his teeth."
[20:28] <Tim> "We're alive.  Not dragon."
[20:28] <Sariel> "Agree am thinking"
[20:29] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "I could think of a few beasts it could be, but... none of them particularly like leaving the caverns."
[20:30] <Tim> The road widens up ahead, surrounded by a clearing.  Near the middle is another corpse, this one whole.  There's an arrow in his side, the fletchings Bluebell blue in the torchlight, but what killed him was a spearthrust to the throat.
06[20:30] * Idir_Haida slows down to inspect closer. "Disagreement among allies?"
06[20:30] * Nienna_Carnes`ir pauses for a moment as Idir approaches. "Or the setup for a trap..."
01[20:31] <Idir_Haida> "Sariel, can you fly up and check for us please?"
[20:33] <Sariel> The girl nods and DASHES UP! As quick as she can! Looking about!
[20:35] <Tim> The torches are half a mile ahead, the rustling in the trees is moving along the edge of a ravine, as if stymied.
06[20:41] * Sariel relays that info!
01[20:41] <Idir_Haida> "Looks like it's not an ambush, but we should remain cautious anyway."
06[20:41] * Idir_Haida keeps moving forward.
[20:44] <Tim> Twitch looks at the arrow, and grunts, "Slowed them down?"
[20:44] <Sariel> "Big footprint ahead!"
[20:45] <Sariel> "Is trail too!"
[20:45] <Tim> Some of the militia have been, subtly, moving to position themselves near to and BEHIND Lestari.
01[20:46] <Idir_Haida> "A trail? For the beast or for them?"
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Sariel> "Beast am thinking!"
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Idir_Haida> "Let's run by the track, maybe that will help us find out what it is from."
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Idir_Haida> "What direction is it?"
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> * Sariel points in the appropriate direction!
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Tim> The forest is opening up, at the lip of a shallow cliff.  The road slants downward along the cliffside, jacknifing back and forth in a series of switchbacks before reaching the valley floor.  The road runs off towards the right, and to the left are the remains of a smaller, completely overgrown path.  Now everyone can see the faint gleam of torches down the properly-maintained road, which is...
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Tim> ...considerably more clear here.  The road itself is narrow barely wide enough for a wagon, and from farther along the cliffside you hear a trumpeting bellow.  It has a strange, hissing tone to it.  Something huge and dark, a massive black patch against the pale stone and spring grass, slides down a shallower part of the cliff as if making a clumsy descent, its roars frequent and distressed...then
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Tim>  it lands, and the next roar is hungry.
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> <Tim> The distance may be playing tricks, but it looked bigger than a house.
[21:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Stone's bones, what is..."
[21:15] <Tim> "Look, Councilor..." One of the militia points at the gigantic footprint, "The size of its bloody claws..." He isn't just being profane out of fear, there IS blood in the footprint, and another militia elf holds up part of a horse's leg, severed by some massive, gripping pressure.  The footprint itself is huge, which makes sense since it appears to be bipedal, and would thus need massive...
[21:15] <Tim> ...feet to support its weight.  Four clawed toes, spread wide like a bird's, with the suggestion of a fifth in faint scratches behind.  Still another militia elf has found a second footprint, partially obscured by an upturned stump, and is measuring the distance between strides, calling over a few friends to help.
[21:16] <Tim> Twitch is crouched nearby, staring at it almost blankly, more pale than you've ever seen the normally stolid huntsman.
[21:21] <Tim> "...Just like any animal.  First time they came through, too many for it to stalk, but when they returned..." Twitch looks up, "Tigers do that, too."
06[21:21] * Nienna_Carnes`ir lets out a breath.
06[21:24] * Idir_Haida frowns. "Well, perhaps it will finish eating the hunters and save us the trouble."
[21:28] <Tim> "Not at all like riding lizard."
[21:29] <Tim> "Can we count on it catching th-HEK!" Twitch breaks off, coughing hard and rubbing apologetically at his throat, wincing.
01[21:29] <Idir_Haida> "Unfortunately, no, we can't."
[21:29] <Lestari> "Hm. I'm confused of what we should do, at this point..."
[21:31] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Ride on and be careful?"
01[21:32] <Idir_Haida> "That's the best I can think of at the moment. It's not good choices either way."
[21:33] <Lestari> "I suppose that's the best idea for now."
[21:41] <Tim> "Ride on?"
06[21:41] * Idir_Haida nods. "Forward, cautiously."
[21:46] <Tim> Ereth nods to the other caravan guards, and they move up on either side of Idir, screening him.  Sandworm-tooth swords are loosened in their sheaths.  The militia watch them for a moment, then draw their own mismatched collection of bronze, brass, and ironwood blades.  One is using a warclub painted like a wasp's sting.
[21:47] <Sariel> "Yes! Will go and fly again!" Sariel flutters a bit, going up again, sharp eyes looking out for something EVIL!
[22:05] <Tim> It's so clear up here where there aren't so many trees blocking your way!  There's a large, bramble-filled meadow along the unworked path, leading towards the tail end of the valley, where you see what look almost like walls of thorns rising in a great circle...an absolutely massive circle, you can see as you rise higher, this valley is much bigger than you thought.  The wall of thorns fills...
[22:05] <Tim> ...its WIDER end, where it becomes shallow, enclosing an area a mile in diameter.  It's easily more than fifty or sixty feet tall.  You can see the sky turning pale on the eastern horizon, above the trees.  Just the faintest shade of blue-green, a beautiful morning on its way.  At the other end of the valley, it widens at first, then narrows, the cliffs rising higher and steeper on either...
[22:05] <Tim> ...side.  Something huge and low-slung, a black knot of shadow against the ground, is moving in the darkness.  You can hear the rumbling thunder of its footsteps, a staccato thudding that almost sounds ridiculously fast for its massive size and a great, trumpeting roar.  Ahead, a knot of smaller movements in the night, horned riders on black stags.  Even as you watch, one of the animals...
[22:05] <Tim> ...falters and falls, its rider rolling off and tumbling onto the dusty but halfway well maintained road.  Silhouetted in black against the pale strip of roadway, the horned figure crawls to its feet and runs...but not for long, the massive light-blotting shadow sweeps over it, and it disappears with a torn-off shriek.
06[22:07] * Idir_Haida grimaces at the rider's grisly fate.
01[22:11] <Idir_Haida> "Twitch...correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe that is normal behavior for a hunting beast."
[22:14] <Tim> "...How?  Um, sir?" One of the younger militia members pipes up, a whey-faced Short-Ear with hair the color of maple leaves in autumn sticking out in a wild fringe from under his helmet, nearly obscuring his eyes.  Twitch looks consideringly at Idir, and halfway nods, but gestures for the Councilor to explain, his throat still a bit tender.
01[22:15] <Idir_Haida> "It doesn't care about them once it kills them. It continues to chase the others. A raptor, or other predator, will isolate a weak one, then stop to eat them. This one is only interested in killing them."
[22:16] <Tim> Twitch considers, then shakes his head, "No...pieces, what found...remember?"
[22:16] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "What *IS*" it?" Nienna mutters to herself, half staring at the beast and half paying attention to the conversation.
[22:16] <Tim> Ereth leans over, "Milord, I believe that he means that we've found pieces of horses and elves, maybe it just eats what it can in a single bite, and leaves pieces behind?"
01[22:17] <Idir_Haida> "Hmm, I understand. I wonder what it could /be/ then."
06[22:19] * Lestari grips her sword firmly. "Hmph. Maybe we should just make sure it does our work for us and then head back?"
01[22:19] <Idir_Haida> "At this point, that is my intention. I shudder to think that whatever this is still stalks these lands, but I do not believe we can face it either."
[22:20] <Tim> "...Jabberwock."
01[22:21] <Idir_Haida> "Hmm?"
[22:21] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Jabberwock?"
[22:22] <Tim> It's Ereth who says it. "The roar, I was just reminded at a song I heard at an...er...a bar, in Cantrev Magwei."
[22:23] <Tim> "There was some monster called a jabberwock, it crashed around through the woods and burbled and had eyes like fire."
01[22:25] <Idir_Haida> "Well, that's the only lead we have, so it's good enough for now."
[22:54] <Sariel> "Ah...may be Jabberwock.  is spawn of evil dragon!"
01[22:56] <Idir_Haida> "Hmm, so it might be then. Well, naming it gives us something, then."
06[22:56] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "Indeed it is. I had an ancestor who was fond of studying such things... I read one of his books once, some time ago."
01[22:57] <Idir_Haida> "Well, continue observing to make sure they get wiped out, then return? Or does your knowledge suggest something else?"
[22:59] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "WEll, it's a large and dangerous creature... I can't say for sure if we can garuntee they'll be wiped out, however. I say we continue to follow--at a distance."
01[23:05] <Idir_Haida> "Very well then."
[23:08] <Tim> The sky lightens further, and the shadows pull back, giving you a clearer look.  The Horned Ones have rallied, and split up, darting like hares in different directions, but you can see that the creature is powerfully built, somehow reptilian and yet alien to any reptile you have ever seen.  It has massive haunches and powerful hind legs, with four huge rending claws on each foot and a wicked...
[23:08] <Tim> ...spike on the heel, like a rooster.  It holds itself nearly horizontal when it runs, which it does at massive speed.  A long, tapering tail extends behind it, keeping it balanced.  Compared to its massive hindlimbs, its forearms look gangly in comparison, but long, and tipped with surprisingly long fingers, capped with even longer claws.  It has a thick, stout neck, and a huge pair of jaws...
[23:08] <Tim> ...lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth.  Its face, though, is what's frightening.  A mask of bony keratin covers most of its face, giving it an almost skeletal appearance, ridged down the center where the bridge of the nose would be and forming a high, spiked crest behind its head.  It would stand very tall standing erect, but it almost seems to glide low to the ground as it runs, which it...
[23:08] <Tim> ...does at great speed.  Its shoulders are armored as well, and its tail swishes with a rattle of bony plates, spines extending out in all directions near the tip.  What made it so hard to see, perhaps, is the strange iridescence of its scales, blurring its outline and somehow making it difficult to tell what color it is.  It seems to be sort of tawny-gold, like the grass it's running through.
06[23:09] * Nienna_Carnes`ir watches. "It is... in it's own way... a very striking creature, at least. I can see why my ancestor would take interest in such things."
[23:09] <Sariel> "Please not fight it, yes?"
[23:10] <Lestari> "It'll be nice to look at until it looks back at us."
01[23:10] <Idir_Haida> "that is the last thing on my mind, Sariel."
[23:11] <Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Fighting it would not be the best way to start off this morning, yes."
[23:11] <Tim> It seems to prefer to run at its prey with its mouth open, before snapping down on them with its huge, encompassing jaws.  Another horned one dies demonstrating this.
[23:14] <Tim> These three, though, now have its attention.  The creature, its mouth stained with red, triangular teeth looking pink, rears high up on its backlegs, scanning the cliffside...and you see why, in the pale glow of pre-dawn, they say its eyes flame.  They flash like a cat's in the early light, a blazing red, and its eyes are huge, though guarded by a shelf of keratin.
[23:15] <Tim> *Three more Hornend Ones are scaling the cliff on your side, through a stand of pines, farther down and off the road.  These three, though...
01[23:21] <Idir_Haida> "Suddenly I don't like our position anymore."
[23:23] <Tim> "...What should we do, sir?" Ereth asks.  The horses are shying away from the cliffside.  Fortunately, the switchback seems a little bit narrow for it.
[23:24] <Tim> No real way for it to turn around, being that big and running that way.
06[23:37] * Nienna_Carnes`ir glances to the three horned ones scaling near them. "Prisoners, or...?"
01[23:39] <Idir_Haida> "Not a bad idea. Let's go get them."
01[23:39] <Idir_Haida> "Maybe they'll spill just what the Horned King is doing attacking into the Freemarches"
06[23:43] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "Very well then."
01[23:43] <Idir_Haida> "Alright boys, we're gonna take those three alive! No doubt they'll much prefer our hospitality than that of the jabberwock!" He raises his sword to punctuate the point.
[23:45] <Tim> The caravan guards shout recognition, raising their swords and wheeling their mounts to orient on Idir, while the militia give him somewhat skeptical looks, and a few of them mutter darkly about justice being done.
06[23:46] * Nienna_Carnes`ir nods over to the Militia. "They're going to be prisoners. Worry not about justice--but what they know or can tell us may be more valuable than their blood on these stones in specific, hmm?"
Session Time: Thu Nov 14 00:00:03 2013
[00:03] <Tim> They reach the summit before you do.  The two in black remain standing, leaning against trees.  You hear another scream from down below, and then another.  The third Horned One is sitting cross-legged, a slender three-foot stick newly plucked from a pine tree in her hands.  The sap stains her long, pale fingers as she delicately whittles it with a knife, carving an ornate triangular design...
[00:03] <Tim> ...just above where she's whittled out a hilt on it.  Up close, she is surprisingly...unhardened.  She looks like a village girl, almost, a pale-skinned Long-Ear with almond-shaped eyes, wearing a cotton shift that leaves her arms bare.  These are tatooed with marching ranks of crimson rectangles in rows, like scales.  She less resembles a warrior than a village elfmaid trying on her older...
[00:03] <Tim> ...sister's helmet.
[00:04] <Tim> But then she looks up, and smiles, and her teeth are serrated fangs made from silver.
[00:07] <Tim> She does not speak.
01[00:14] <Idir_Haida> "Horned ones. You have thrown your lot in with the abominations of Redmoor and attempted to invade our township. Unfortunately for you, you failed at this task. If the beast below does not kill you, we will. And if we do not kill you, your master will. But there is another choice. Surrender peacefully and we will take you into our own custody."
06[00:16] * Sariel flutters behind Idir, looking as intimidating as a 4'11 sylph can!
[00:19] <Tim> The ten-pointer continues her whittling, pursing her lips and blowing away the dust from her carving, the tiny knife moving as delicately as a paintbrush, "There is no life after failure." The other two say nothing, just leaning fully against a pair of trees.
[00:20] <Lestari> "Oh? And what 'life' did you have before failure, then? Quit your theatrics and give yourselves up."
[00:21] <Tim> Her shoulders shake as she laughs, reaching down beside her, and tossing two objects into the dirt at Lestari's feet.  They look like strips of pink, raw leather...after a moment, you realize they're a pair of elvish tongues, severed at the root.  She smiles and waggles her tiny knife at the island elf remonstratingly, "There is no life after failure."
06[00:22] * Sariel looks somewhat disgusted.  And very flighty.
[00:23] <Tim> The other two continue to do or say nothing.
[00:24] <Tim> Their lips look as red as berries.
06[00:24] * Idir_Haida turns to the others. "It seems they expected us. Let's put an end to it and return to the village, then."
06[00:25] * Nienna_Carnes`ir sighs. "As needs must."
[00:25] <Lestari> "Fine. But let's take the helmets. Maybe if we gather enough of them, other Horned ones will start to realize that there is nothing but failure for them if they continue along like this."
06[00:25] * Idir_Haida unsheathes his blade. "I actually already had a plan for the ten-pointed one."
[00:25] <Tim> "An end, yes.  I have something I want to do." The ten-pointer stands, gracefully, "You have questions, I have a condition."
01[00:26] <Idir_Haida> "Speak then."
[00:29] <Tim> "You poor, blind fools, thinking I would be scared of your petty swords.  Like one of those husks, my life ended when I failed.  The others...perhaps some lacked sufficient faith." Another scream from the valley, and she smiles peacefully, "A merciful creature, a kinder escape than reporting what has transpired.  I, however, am a huntress worthy of the ten points.  A clean death or a foul...
[00:29] <Tim> ...one, it is nothing to me, but I have a final ambition...I want you." She extends an arm, and points directly at Lestari.
01[00:30] <Idir_Haida> "Scaring you was not my intent. A Haida does not bare his stinger for simple show."
06[00:31] * Lestari scoffs behind her mask. "And what's that supposed to mean? If you wanted me, perhaps you should have won the battle, rather than breaking like twig."
[00:33] <Tim> "Fool.  Single combat.  I will face the enemy champion in battle, and in exchange, I will answer some of your questions."
06[00:33] * Idir_Haida shrugs. "Up to you, Lestari."
[00:35] <Lestari> "I might be a bit more intimidated if you had asked for single combat /before/ you were utterly beaten by a simple flanking manuever, but if it means we can get some information...Though, that leaves the question of what you hope to gain if you can win."
[00:37] <Tim> "Perhaps if I had been informed you had an army and actual warriors instead of being soft-headed farmers with pitchforks, and perhaps if I had competent soldiers...but no matter, cast your boasts, they always weigh so lightly in victory, don't they?" She snorts, and bursts out into almost giggling laughter, "If I win, I will dine on a last meal of your flesh, and I will execute myself for my...
[00:37] <Tim> ...failure."
[00:38] <Tim> "You look sweet and tender, islander."
06[00:40] * Lestari hops off her horse. "Do you know what else wanted to kill and eat me, /Horned One/?" Lestari asks, drawing her blade and holding it over her head, before pointing it at the 10-pointer. "The Shark who's teeth adorns my blade. And believe me, it was much more intimidating than you. And I killed it with my bare hands. Do you really think you'll fare much better?"
02[00:48] * Quits: Nienna_Carnes`ir (thermophil@B03896CF.3EFACDD4.60FFE3FF.IP) (Quit: )
[00:51] <Tim> She pauses, adjusts her helmet, and with a final stroke of the knife, completes the reinforcement rune along the simple, pinewood wooden sword in her hand, lined with glyphs of sharpness, settling back into a relaxed stance and tapping her swordflat against the outside of her knee, "Then a glorious death awaits me.  Should I mourn?"
02[00:52] * Disconnected
Session Close: Thu Nov 14 00:52:12 2013