Luthien frowns at the armor damage...that'll probably take magic to fix. He'll have to stop off at the next temple they come across. There's spells for this sort of thing.

"It seems my armor was a casualty of the battle. No matter. The fiend was slain."

 6 Druids... one very old, human, the  rest younger by Decades... approached  from the forest, they let there  Mounts of   Elk  return to the trees..

  The Old One pointed to the  burning Stump-altar, keep feeding it  dead wood, and all things that burn....  there cannot be anything left of it....

 The Younger  Druids  made their  way  through the 'killing area" casting  spells   and sowing  seeds......

..............

    Three  Sandfolk, their faces Bloodied by blows  were shoved in front of Kree...This one is the leader, his  shoulders show  signs of the straps  of the Silver breastplate they wear..

  .. I do not need to be here  for your  Butchering....

  ..That is  fair, since you were not here to stop thier Butchering of The Timber or  Its people...

 Krell stalk off to  take stick of the Logs, weapons  and Bodies..

  Ivy kicked  each of the men behind their  knees so they would drop to the  Ground

  Mize  was grinning. ...the Innkeeper..waiting for healing  watched...

 ...here is  what you are going to Tell me... you will tell me who paid  for this opertaion.... and whom all the  leaders are...and  where the   wood  was going..

 The   Sandfolk Leader spit on Kree's  boots... Ivy  Grabbed the man by the neck slammed his  face into   Kree boots  to  wipe away the  stain.. Blood  from  the man's beaten face was on his bots, But the lesson  was   made.

 I am calling  for  help...to ..entice you .... you have  until the first of  them arrive... then... the  fun will start...  then he calls Out.....I need the help of a Lady or two!

Luthien departs...he just heard the screaming, and realized there were still people in danger! The flames mattered little to the Knight, who'd just go right through them on his quest to save lives.

20:57, Today: Luthien rolled 2 using 1d6-1.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Mon 24 July 2017.

Brie isn't hurt too bad and when she's gotten the most of them out of the tents and said a final prayer or blessing for the last two, she headed towards Kree and Ivy to listen in.  When he called out for a lady or two, she picked up the pace a bit and dusted off the soot from the smoke.

You called, she said tired, but with a smile.

In reply to Brestine Darksbane (msg # 309):

Orlin hands Brie a jar of the same green goo he had used earlier to scare the innkeep. "Put this on sparingly before you get to work.  It'll kill the pain for now and leave you with a clear mind.  Hand the rest back to me so I can help others."

Lafisual looks around to find any of the folks in the burning tents that need healing and tends to them (cure wounds).

He then notices Shadow helping and once everyone was safe he moves toward her. Let me see what I can do about that shoulder.  He smiles at her and if she allows it, he casts cure wounds on her as well and then looks around for others who might need healing.

  Kree  waves his  wounded arm towards Brie as he smiles  at the Captives...Ahhh..Lady Brie.... just in time, I do hope some of the other Ladies come over, so they can continue thier  education on The Sandfolk..

  The  Sandfolk look at each other, the Leader is ready to spit at Brie, but a whip -like whack from Ivy's  bone stops him.

  Thought the elf is , indeed  using his   'storyteller' skills, it is plain he is both  Teaching  his comrades, and setting the Table for questioning.

  ..The Sandfolk have odd ways....They worship odd gods, most of them are dark...They see nothong wrong  with having slaves... yet, get offended, should  you put them in prison...They Like to fight from Horses... but do not do well in the  tunnels, or the trees....Silver, is very important to them.. whether it  nay be armor...saddles.. weapons, or coin...

 The   leader  sneers,..talk more, Leaf Ear...My Borthers   will hunt you down...

 Kree smiles  as he looks at the leader,..that would  be very thoughtful...and save me a great deal of time..hunting them down

 ..Now..here is  My favorite  Part... These people. much like some overly   wealthy merchants and such, Feel females  are 'lesser born'.... here to  have babies.. cook and clean... thought there are some sandfolk women who are warriors, they are  outcasts, who become Bandits, Mercs  and Pirates...

 ... To be slain, as a captive, by a female... costs them, there  chance to go to  whatever happy place they have  after  death.... Kree rolls his eyes  at this,...what if worse..... is  to die...not a man....

 the Sandfolk shifted... no sneers  now.....now?   My Arrows   Keep thier  weapons in god shape... Lady Brie, and   any others  who wish to take part.. will have Vary sharp blades....  They will stike you,  with...hopefully a well aimed  strike, and remove, what makes you a Man?.... you will then be  permitted to bleed out..knowing..your god will not have you... which?... if i am not mistaken..means you will go into,, Nagra's Realm?..... The  DArk Bitch?... who  takes in all men, unworthy, to suffer  until all time ends...

 we will start with the one on the left... we will finish with the  leader, Unless  they speak up...then we might permit them, a cleaner death

  Ivy Shoved the one On the  Left, backwards so he is bent back over his   knees.....Please..Please.. Tell him... i  do not want to go to the Dark Bitches realms!

 ..Silence!..You Fool..they will not  do that!

 Kree  Kneels so he  his  more on their level,..before you try that nonsense..... we wil do  that... and more.... we will elave your bodies  for the Birds... no flames  will cleanse your flesh..and you will  havehorse offal placed in your mouths..so you may not talk to any you meet in your after life..... You see... The slaver thing...its mor e then enough to get you staked to a  tree..... Killing wardens... the same.... but you stole our trees,,,, you have attacked our  Home.. for that... i would make you suffer  weeks, if i had the time.....

 ..so..last chance   for the  one who is crying.....

In reply to Lafisual (msg # 311):

 She smiles slightly when Lafisual showed up to help her rescue the slaves, women and children with few clothes and many burns. When they finally get the last of them rescued with the help of others, she walks wearily over to where she'd dropped her pack and sits on a stump to allow him to look at her shoulder.

 "An escapee was trying to run but I tripped him. We grappled but he managed to stab me with his gaff before I finally took him out. He won't be abusing anymore slaves or cutting any more trees now! I thank you for your help Lafisual. I hope we didn't lose any of our own!"

 She opened her pack and pulled out the strong wine she used for antiseptic and her water skin. She poured water across her hands to wash them off then took a long drink. She offered it to Lafisual in case he wanted a drink.

In reply to Captives (msg # 312):

Lucy was tired.

The adrenaline that had been flowing like a river during the fight now abated.

She heard Kree had three sand people prisoners, and had an open invite to "interrogate" them.

She removed a large piece of clothing from a dead slaver, and began to clean her blade.  She walked over to where Kree and the others were.

"Well, well, captain, what have we here?" she said, with a big, wide feline grin.

"I heard what you said, and I volunteer." She said.

She produced her razor sharp, curved claws.  They were still blood stained, as she hadn't gotten around to washing them off yet.

She stepped up to the leader, and ran a claw under his chin, all the way down to his crotch, where it lingered.

"Oh, this one will do, just fine." She said.

A faint purring sound could be heard, although, only by the leader.

"So, captain, can I castrate this one?" She asked, the claw still at the man's crotch.

On a swift movement, she pulled the man's pants off, leaving him naked from the waist down.

"I believe the way to do it, is to slit, here." She said, running a claw under his scrotum.

"This will cause hijmj to bleed.  Then, you just bring the slip up all the way, to the tip of the penis." She said.

She ran a claw from the scrotum to the tip of the leader's penis.

"That should leave him bleeding, and impotent at the same time." She said, with a broad grin.

"I would imagine, though, cutting it off completely and feeding it to the dogs would a a good thing as well." She said.

She ran her claw around the base of the penis.  She let the claw dig in a bit, although did not draw blood.

  The Leader and His    followers where shocked  and Terrified  by Lucy.... an abomination of Cat..and?  Elf?

 The    Sandfolk Leader was overly shocked, this was not anywhere near what he  had Thought..

  The First fell    tried to   wriggle  But Ivy's  Boot  was on his  chest, bending him back painfully, over his knees.. the Middle one said in Terror......do you creatures  breed  with everything!

  Kree  shrugged,... it  would, well  depend, on The couples in Question?.... That being  said, I cannot  understand  why the Sandfolk have not died off.......

 Ivy  speaks up,..Kree?   our people are tired.. we  should rush this  along?

 ..I suppose...   Just Kill them now, in the way that bars them from   their  holy place..and...

 ..But..what of the Information!..... The leader  squirmed as his  eyes  shifted from Lucy to Kree.

 ..what about it?... Ivy is right... MY PEOPLE..at least..fought wel.. they need rest... as much  as i would enjoy watching you squirm, it would be better  just to finish you now... what we do not know, will not be any more, then we do not know now...aye?

 ..Look.... Mercy..for me and My men...... The wood  was to go to Mok... there are   Logging boats that buy any Black Oak  or mIronwood.. they  take it to the Coast..sell to the  highest bidder ... Pirates, and redIsland Halflings   pay  much money... they are trying to Build ships  that  can stand against the  great warships of Ironmound.... Even the Red Elves  will travel  the whole way around Laynak to buy... or..if the Coin is right.. the  Logging boats  will travel  westward , to the West Coast to sell to them  directly...

 ahhh..interesting.... and?  why  do you take slaves...work with Catfolk and  orcs?

 ..The Orcs are warriros.. they would not  stoop to such  tasks..... The Catfolk are like brothers to us in the Sands.... though..there are tribes who are opposed to slaving... they are  greatly outnumbered...   My Men.. are Corsairs of the Sands... we do not   work like dogs!...

 Kree nodded slowly as he stood,..but you will take   helpless women  , children and men into your tents of  sport... is that what Corsairs  do?... They are not 'man ' enough to  seek partners who want them, they must force themselves on the helpless?...

 The Leader sneers  for a moment,..what would you know about being a Man?

 ..I know... if i would have to force myself on helpless beaten person..i would  kill myself, for  my lack of 'manhood'....Now?... Who is the person you contact to sell the wood....

 The leader is  sweating even more then  before..his  skin glistening in the firelight,..Ablle  Vasann..he is a sandfolk sailor from the East Coast..his  company is the  Burning Wave... they  trade in all manner of goods... But  wood is a great coin maker....

 Kree nodded...He looked to  Ivy,..You Grab  the one on the Left.. I will take the Leaser.. Brie and Lucy, take the one in the Middle... we will take them Out to the grassland for this.. there is   enough foul Blood soaking this   land...

 grabbing   the  Sandfolk .. they drag them towards the treeline.. the  Men are screaming, Mize is smiling as he says,..is it not Ironic.. that the  very Men who enrich thier lives from the  screaming of  others... now scream for themselves?

 when they reach the  grasslands, Kree points to the area where  a fire  Burns.....Ladies... Finish them there.. do not allow them to be burned....

 The Leader's  eyes  were wide with fear.....But we told you the Information!

 Indeed... that is why your mouths will not be filled with Horse dung... but for what you have done to The Timber...and the Slaves... you must suffer....

 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

 Kree stands  By with his sword  drawn,quickly Ladies... Ivy   Hamstring them so they cannot  reach the flames...Let us be done  with this....

 Mize  says,...this night  will be recalled by  those who managed to escape.... perhaps..they are even watching right now...

 Kree grins in the firelight as He places a hand On Mize's  shoulder,..I certainly hope so, Mize.... perhaps. it will cause  fools  to  thick twice, about  attacking  The Timber...

Brie nods and helps Lucy to drag the sandperson into the woods.

My Kree, my Captain, is more a man than any of you lot will understand or even hope to achieve.

She looks to Lucy.  I do believe that scrotums have 2 parts, eh? She said and hears Kree's orders to make it quick.

I say we take souvenirs.  What say you?

She gives Lucy a mighty big grins.  She pulls out a small glass container with rubber cork and pops the top.

This won't hurt, Wait.  I don't care if it does.

She goes behind the man and hold his hair with a foot lodges at his knee to prevent him from getting up.

Leave a scrotum part for me.  She hands the container to Lucy.

That sounds really good Lafisual says as he sits down beside her.  I will let them handle the interrogations.  I am not so good at that sort of thing.

  While the others attend to the sandfolk..The people inside the trees are settling other matters.

  some 30 or so foes are being taken to the 'bonfire' outside the treeline.... The sand folk are being left in the  grasslands for  birds and scavengers . the Cats  and Humans are Burned, along with   horses  and dogs.

   weapons  , armor  and   Coin  purses  are stacked in piles as the  slaves  are brought over. Clothing from the  Loggers   packs  and  such are  handed out,  some  tunics and  such are cut  down to make shifts for  the younger ones.... The  Pony riders seem very at adept  breaking or  picking the  chains that hold the   slaves.

  Krell    says to the Slaves,... former slaves....  take what weapons   you can rightly use  from the spoils.....a warden will come around and give you some coin... You must now , make a choice...  stay in the Timber, or Move  on with an escort for the  Plains folk.

 .....

  The  Inn Keeper  takes  a bit  and hands the   container back to Orlin...thankee..for that...

  Shadowmist is Tended to by Laf.

 Diana and others help themselves to some drink from the loggers'  stores

In reply to aftermath (msg # 315):

AT t he comment about mating with everyone, Lucy "slips" with a claw drawing blood.

"For your information, you sorry piece of shit, my mother was a sex slave.  Ever hear of a lion named Chas Tawny? That's my father." She said with a hiss.

she applied a bit of extra pressure on the top of the penis, drawing a small stream of blood.

"Now, when I find that son of a bitch, I am going to kill him.  But for the moment, I guess I can take my fury out on the likes of you." She snarled.

She took her claw dug in bit deeper, making a small cut.

"Yes, captain." Lucy said with a smile.

"Are you sure it has to be quick?  I mean, we can't make these bastards scream just a little?" She said with a wide, toothy grin.

She turned on her heel, giving the leader a swift kick to the scrotum.

She grabbed the middle one, and easily used the claw to hamstrung the man.

In the grasslands, some distance from the fires of camp, she paused.

"This should be far enough." She said.

She swiftly tore the man's pants off.

"Well, souvenirs shall be ours." She said.

"If you would be so kind as to hold him down." She said to Brie.

She slowly began to cut with the claw.  Blood soon began to flow, and the man began to scream.

She cut off the scrotum, and handed the bloody part to Brie.

"Would you like to cut the penis off?" She said, with a grin.

The man had passed out from the pain.

  Kree and Mize watch with a  critical eye as the  Sandfolks  scream  ... Ivy makes  short work of their  hamstrings, leaving them  100 yards or so from the  growing  bonfire.. the cleansing  fire that 'might' wipe their  sins and send them to the Golden Palace of  their High God....

 Instead.. The  Dark Bitch awaits them....

 ..Thank you again, for your  Aid , Mize...  if they would  have  rallied  and counterattacked with the people outside the treeline.... we  would have been lost, or at least, had to retreat...

 ..it is a good turn, as you rooted oput the cause   of many Pony Rider  deaths... we never knew  where they were comign from..here?  Take these.. you may like them...

 Kree Looked at a quiver of   Arrows, the Lizard skinned  quiver marked it as Sandfolk...Thank you.. but  why would   i wish arrows from them...

 .. the  arrow heads are made  from  ClamsPort Steel...

 The Sand folk city  they say rivals Ironmound?

 ..Aye..built on the   southernmost  Tip of Laynak..  just off the  desert  with in  trees and  upon a  rising  crest of rock... Seafood, slaves , steel, Horses and Sandfolk  ...'privateers'..make them rich.... as do dealing with  the red Isle  and  Red  Elves...

 ..but these are your spoils.....

 ..we have more.... the  horses   that escaped  all had  quivers.  there are 30m in there... the steel cuts nicely..

 Thank you.... he shakes in the warrior  fashion,....Let us go back and see  what is left to be  done...

   returning to the   Camp.. the  screaming  men begging for their god's mercy left behind.

   Shadow  and Mize  returned    laughing a bit  between  them,  The  New Elf stooped and  Spoke to them,  and left for the grasslands.

   Mize    could be heard saying,...you lose that way?


 Kree  chuckled,..some folks...cannot face the demons within, when the deal with the demons without?.... Successful Arrows, how manage to live  past thier first month of  so... make friends  with thier demons... and use them as allies..

   The stopped as Krell over saw the  slaves  being armed and clothed,..have  you finished your  dark deeds?

  Aye.. they  may scream and Pray for a bit  yet, but they paid the price....would have  done more,  if  the battle had not taken its  toll...

 ..you step to often..over the line... how can you do that, and not  have it effect you?


 ..how can you see your  Warden's hanging from  trees.... and the wound of The Timber... and not.... take that step

 ..fear not  Uncle... it is the Arrows who shoulder the spilled blood.... Your Wardens  will be remebered  as those who fell....

 Krell smiled,well...thank you..Ivy   I did not expect....

 ...but the Arrows  will be remebered  of the ones  who collected the price , slavers and Loggers  , needs  pay...

    "Aye," Orlin says, "Each life taken or person injured has a toll on the soul."  He wipes some blood off his staff, "Yet enslavement, tha cold slayin of hope and freedom for ones own capitol gain takes even a greater toll.  I doubt those creatures had much of a soul left by the time we got to them."  Endeed, a price must be paid from everyone in this case.  Who pays the bigger price?  Those who continue it?  Those who allow it to continue? Those who end it?  Us mortals cannot answer for others but must decide for ourselves.  This needed to end.  I rather think it would have taken a bigger piece of me to let it continue."

  Kree  nods,..I have  no pretense of my place in this  world..The Sisters  watch over  me  so I might   avenge the  attack on My Village...I will not hide, that I enjoy the death of slavers and bandits....not any  enemies of Ironmound.

 ...do not attenmpt to fool us  with your words.. You and your cousin, Hunt them, to make up for you not being in the Village when the attacks  came... because of you, we lost your Mother, your sister... Ivy's  wench and thier bastard  child and that scum of a Gnome!

  Kree  laughed a HArsh Laugh,..Snapjack Ribbons? Scum? He taught us  the ways of the streets... and he was there, next to Mother... he died  finghting at her side, when he could have ran.... Tell me  Father?  How did you feel, that it was your  squad of Wardens, that lead the  slavers into our Village?

  Krell's  face grew  angry, but he   said in clipped  tones,we could not tell, they looked like any other merchants....

  .... I would have known....

  Then you should have been there.... Krell walks off  shouting orders to the Wardens    so they could make a pyre for the  dead wardens.

  Kree  calls  out to his arrows,..Mize  gave me a Gift of  arrows... sandfolk in make with Clamsport steel heads.... anyone who wants any, please come forth.. I will give each of you 2....

   Orlin's staff murmers something and he breaks out laughing,  "The old one asks why the two pointy ears are arguing over something that was obviously the will of their gods."

Diana steps forward to get her two arrows.

She inspects them, seeing they are made from fine steel.

She collects enough arrows to fill her quiver, repairing those she needs to repair.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg # 323):

Lucy steps forward to get her 2 arrows.

To Olin she says:

"They argue over an even that, while it might have been the will of the gods, blame is always assigned.  Blame comes from feelings of guilt.  Guilt that family and friends were killed." She says.

"It is an emotion of humanoids.  Something they do." She says.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Tue 25 July 2017.

  Kree hands out the Arrows as Mize  and Krell  come back around.

  ..My people  and I will stay, inside the treeline this night, and depart in the Morning.  If You are traveling  South, to  Mok, Do not be afraid  to approach any  grassland   Villages..Arrows  will be  welcome.

 Krell snorts,Myself and the  Wardens will be here  for a 10 day, as we sort out  new  squads  to fill in partols...and  watch over teh druids  as they make  what repairs  the Goddess  allows.
 Offering his part as well, Kree adds,we will stay this night. Then start out  Journey to Mok.

 ..it is a place where Sandfolk frequent... it is a hub for  river trade as well.. they call it the  poor person's  Ironmound.... you will  Have to watch yourself...Merc  units come there, to seek contracts and Bounty slips...

 ..Then we will fit  right  in...

 ..I suggest, you stay away from the   backer of the Loggers...you could cause  much damage, and  it could end your  unit...

  ..mayhaps.... but then again? I have  no concerns  of Leaving Mok in ashes....

   kree calls out,Arrows!... raid the logger's  stores  for  food and drink.. rest this  night.. we start  off  as the sun rises....

 Kree   heads  over towards the Logger  wagons, so he  can sit  and look to the tree line. The Pony riders   are   settling there  mounts and laying out   bedrolls one or two are standing watch.

  A Younger Male  Warden stands  near Kree,..Your  Pardon, Captain?

 ..Aye?

 ..I tell you this.... though some of the older Wardens do not like  , that you did not  take our fallen down, before the attack.... those of us younger, Understand...should ever  the  time come... You will see a large following, from the  Wardens...

  ..Thank you.  Jer Spinneroot. That is good to know...

  ..you know who I am?

 ..i do not know  all, Young Jer. But  i saw you leave the  Fest with a certain elf-cat.. i tend to watch over  my people... he moves his hand  about,..she is , most likely.. getting ready to rest....

  Jer  nodded a bit embarrassed   and  he made his  way  off, looking for Lucy.

     Kree  took off his   pack,and Cloak and winced  at the wound in his shoulder. A  somewhat concerned  Voice said,... even captains  have to heal themselves....

  Looking up , he answers,..perhaps.. My people come first.... i see  how they settle in and, perhaps  ask for something On the Morrow

 ... we are taking the Black Armored one back to the Village.. we will allow the Elders  to  set his punishment.

 ..They best not let him live... or i wil kill him  next time  i return..

 Indded?.... I do not  doubt that... get rest... we will see you and Mize off in the morning.

Lafisual moves over the Kree and tends to the would casting healing as needed. I would appreciate a couple of arrows.  Perhaps I can study them and learn to make them myself at some point.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Tue 25 July 2017.

  Kree nods his thanks to Laf... he gives him 2  arrows  as well.

  ..Hang onto thatWarden's  Horn.. it may come in handy some time...

Brie helps to salvage or plunder, whichever fits her moode and when she sees Kree being tended to, she satchels everything and moves towards him.

Master Quickshadow, she nods to Kree's father.  She looks to Kree and Laf, then the wound.  It will heal nicely with some rest, and help.  Never hurts to ask, or need help, especially if the time comes that you cannot tend to it yourself.

She wanted to add something but figured that her words would pass thru Krell's ears much like that of a mild scolding towards a child at play.