"Uhhh. Bollox."

Deise sees the stool too late and lies fixed to the side of the roof as the furniture careers into the side of his head. He feels blood trickle down the left side of his face. Pain darts behind his eye. Gritting his teeth and refocusing, thinking to himself that I've been hit before.

Grining down on his teeth down, he fires off another dagger at the nearest huscarl, before jumping out of the way of the gap in the roof.

11:49, Today: Deise rolled 4 using 1d3+1.  ABR. 11:48, Today: Deise rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack - thrown dagger.
3 HP of damage plus 1d4 poison damage on failed strength roll)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:58, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

Aphail remained where he was outside the side entrance.

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

Within the hall Colm and Osric battled against the huscarl within the semicircle of fire, Both Colm and Osric landed telling blows on the large man but he did not cry out, indeed his face was slack even though his eyes burned red.  He swung his blade but Osrics shield fended it off, another dagger flew from the roof but hit a link of maille and skittered to the floor.

The glowing figure at the centre of the hall swung his head back and forth and snorted, ignoring Deise any further he strode forward and through the Sheet of Flame, chuckling dryly.  He cocked his head to the side as he regarded Colm, " A champion of the pretender goddess? You will die."

His huge grey blade whipped across at blinding speed cut Colm to the quick....

Then, impossibly fast, he whipped the heavy blade towards Osric, Osric saw the blade headed for his head and desperately threw his shield up, already badly damaged from the huscarls blow the supernaturally enhanced blow of the dark figure destroyed the shield utterly...but Osric kept his head for now....

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

Caith came forward with Giles, while he untethered the horses to lead them back she sent her minds-eye ahead to see within the hall.


As Giles untied the horses the partially armoured form of Sir Uthen charged past them to come level with Aphail, outside the side door of the hall.

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

Leaf and Brannon assisted Sir Usopi and Sir Turren to don their harness as the others moved forward.

Prince Doron remained astride his mule, " It sounds like they may need help..."

He sucked on the inside of his cheek, " I'll be fine here."

[15 blank lines suppressed]

OOC:

14:42, Today: Colm Cernach rolled 10,5,3 using d20,d8+3,d6.  Sword+3, ABR, Shield. That's a hit v 6 Def for -7HP.

15:02, Today: Colm Cernach rolled 8 using 2d6.  SER Sheet of Flame #3.  Still in effect.

08:08, Today: Osric Grim rolled 1,8,1 using d20,d8+1,d6.  Blacksmith’s hammer, ABR, Shield. That should do it for 7HP damage and I’ll take your Claymore in my shield thanks Huzzah!!!

11:49, Today: Deise rolled 4 using 1d3+1.  ABR. 11:48, Today: Deise rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack - thrown dagger. Hit, but armour blocks it.

21:10, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 4 using 1d10+2. - 6 hp Colm.

21:08, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 4 using 1d20.  ATT 31 - DEF 11.

21:15, Today: GM, on behalf of Osric Grim, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Shield. Today is Shield Day.

21:14, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 8 using 1d10+2.  ABR vs Osric.

21:14, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 5 using 1d20.  ATT 31 - DEF 14. vs Osric.

Seeing he carnage in the room hall below, Deise ignores Colms previous orders and stands up motioning and screaming at  the rest of his colleagues with Doron and the horses.

The colleagues will see Deise stand and scream, blood is streaming down his face and there is a deep purple, yellow and brown mark along the left side ofnhis head.

"Rouse yourselves, attack attack. Doron get moving you lazy son of a bitch. Chiefs in trouble, rouse yourself. Attack, attack."

With that he drops low aims a bow through a gap aiming at the least armoured assailant.


14:26, Today: Deise rolled 12 using 1d20.  Attack roll - bow

Usopi nodded grimly as Doron suggested they go forward to deal with the situation within the village. Glancing to those assisting with his armor he said, ”My thanks for the assistance, but it appears this will have to do.”

He gripped his mace and shield, strapping Moralltach to his back just in case it became necessary, then took off running toward the center of the village, where all the shouting seemed to be coming from.

In reply to Usopi Venia (msg # 992):

Giles notes Deise’s call for aid- turning to Caith, “so what do you see happening with the hall?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:01, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Leofwyn hears Deise's call to arms as a call for everyone and follows Usopi as he runs towards the hall.

OOC: I'm not sure what the terrain is like, but if Leaf sees any larger rocks (palm-sized), she'll grab them as she runs and put them in a pouch around her waist.

When they arrive at the hall, she grabs Usopi's arm and whispers, "Do you mind giving me a lift?" as she points to the roof, which is just out of her reach. "I shall try to assist Deise from up top."

Caith stares, motionless for a moment, then snarls to Giles "The houscarls from the tower afore are in there, and some bastard in sorcery I nay ken from afore, but in charge by the look of it. They have the villagers penned up in the hall like sheep for the slaughter!" then quieter, but in an angry hiss of words "Gods, Colm and Osric are fighting a bloody red eyed witchwelp, all three surrounded by flames?! Deise been hit hard, down but still moving...NOOOO! Damn your eyes and curse your heart, ye sordid skunner!"

Her eyes snap back to her location and focus on Giles like a predatory beast's as she suggests in a rapidly spoken but sensible tone "Big trouble. Get those reins tied to a tree, then find that bloody idiot Kores, and tell him what's afoot! Nay fuss yerself about the prince. Seen Doron fight afore. He'll give trouble a hard time if it finds him..."

Caith pulls a bundle of dark fur from her hood, and says tersely "I nay ate a rabbit raw for this bloody hide's tastes to leave it go to waste now. Why are ye still here, Giles? Find Kores, RUN!"

OOC: Caith cancels PEER. Wolf moves faster than Caith does...
This message was last edited by the player at 04:44, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 996):

Giles nods to Caith and returns to ponies. He held Kores dismount and walks him swiftly to the hall entrance- “Lord Colm is duelling some strong adversaries within. I will look for an opening- do you have anything other than a fireball at your fingertips? Best not to risk setting the place alight!”
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:45, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Colm has used the Power of Air many times.  Once he moved a pile of toxic black power, using only vortexes and eddies of air, with great delicacy and care to avoid any skin contact.  Once Colm levelled a building with the awesome power of the wind.  This time he would combine control and power over the elements.

"Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha." Colm recites the ancient charm of making, used only for the most powerful of druidic rituals.

Kores got down awkwardly off the horse and began walking towards the village suddenly he burst into blue flames as he continued forward.

OOC: Image.

Hearing Colm start some powerful magick chant Osric attempts to manoeuvre so that the Huscarl is between him and the wizard knight who turned his shield into kindling.

He will then duck and sweep his hammer in a mighty two handed swing to try break the knee of the Huscarl.

OOC: 21:52, Today: Osric Grim rolled 6,6 using d20,d8+1.  Blacksmith’s hammer, ABR, that’s a hit vs 14 DEF for 7HP dam. {Wondering if there’s any bonus for using a two handed weapon he can wield in one hand with two hands if you get what I mean. GM tastes the desperation...}
This message was last edited by the player at 12:18, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Sir Turren signs himself, face twisting, monstrous in the eerie blue flames of Kores.  The knight gradually erupts from a stride to a charge, leaving anyone walking behind. He smashes his way into the scene, bellowing a challenge at the closest foe to appear - sword and falcon-bossed kite raging forward.

In reply to Kores Varias (msg # 1000):

Giles looks at Kores face trying hard to read the expression- trying to gauge if he is focussed enough to assist in the battle or whether he just cast a completely random spell that could endanger himself and others

Caith looks pleadingly to the treetops for any sign of Artia's light for a precious second as she murmurs "Lady Artia, the little hare nay died in vain, 'twas for the wolf to eat and live. I both honour the dead and pay a debt in this."

She shudders violently as she pulls the wolfskin's mummified lupine mask from the barrow back in Ereworn over her head, flicking out the rest of the dark furry hide over her back and shoulders, the old flesh long gone but for skin and fur seeking new life and form as a strange, but not entirely novel transformation takes place...

A great black shaggy furred wolf erupts from the forest, running full tilt after Turren as if it chased a particularly prized example of it's favored prey, a terrifying sight to behold.

However, this most ominous wolf's fur is oddly parti-coloured, changing from blackest brown to a rich reddish brown hue on the undersides, as if lit from below by a bed of glowing coals.

It's eyes are also a distinctly unusual in a lupine shade of emerald green, and gleaming with an uncanny intelligence as it continues past the peregrine knight's  dance of challenge and towards the door like a hunter's arrow in flight.

OOC: I figure it's going to take at least two combat moves even as a wolf running flat out for Caith to get to the door. She needs the run up for a good reason too.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

Aphail remained where he was outside the side entrance. He was soon joined there by Uthen and Turren who prepared to breach the side door. There was a sudden loud noise like a sudden destructive storm from within the building.

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

Osric swung at the slack-jawed huscarl, Deises arrow arced through the air and Colm chanted.

And then the tornado landed....when the dust cleared Colm and Osric were on their backs, their backs were on the doors to the hall and the front of the hall was missing.

Inside the huscarl sat up against the table shaking his head in confusion, an arrow projected from his shoulder and he was bleeding from a number of injuries.

The dark armoured warrior, traced in red flickering light stood in the centre of the hall and pulled a piece of wood out of a joint in his armour.

" Impressive", he said as he regarded them from within the hall. His blade came out low as he walked towards the cowering and now somewhat battered villagers.

He turned towards the huscarl near the side door, " Kill anyone who comes through that."

He picked up his crossbow from the table the Elder was lashed to and fired it at Deise, not even looking to see if it hit he threw the crossbow to the ground and began stalking towards Osric and Colm.



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

Giles and Kores moved forward as they saw the front of the moothall blown out by a powerful explosion of wind, Kores wreathed in a halo of blue heatless flame.
.................

Prince Doron and Brannon came up and took the two horses in hand.

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

Leaf, stones in hand, and Usopi ,moved forward as the moothalls doors were blown outwards and Leaf indicated the intact corner of the hall for Usopi to assist her up.

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

A wolf ran out from the cover of the trees headed for the village square...


OOC:

21:18, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 9 using 1d10.  ABR. -4 Dam Deise.

21:17, Today: GM, for the NPC Blackheart, rolled 17 using 1d20.  ATT 31 - MOD 11.

'We're with you, friend,' Sir Turren tells Aphail as he and Sir Uthen storm through.

'As one,' Turren says, perhaps to Uthen, perhaps to God. Shield up, sword poised, into the fray.

OOC: Whatever Uthen targets, Turren targets. If (by chance) the target drops quick, Turren will spend a following round ensuring it arrives in hell minus a head. Once he sees what he's fighting and the plight of the folk here, the enemy will by Turren's chivalric code forgo all quarter. Turren will not pull out unless everyone pulls out.I write this in case I can't play tomorrow or the next day. Don't want to hold up my peers in the middle of a fight. I'll try to check in though. ;)

Deise was pulling back to help Leaf when the bolt hit him squarely in the upper chest, just below the right shoulder blade, knocking him back on the roof.
Adrenaline surges through his veins temporarily numbing the pain. Then it comes, a wallop followed by a searing metallic pain.  Right red turns to deep black as blood seeps down his torso.

With the noise of battle and the unnatural wind Deise takes a moment to centre himself and try to understand what is going on.

Colm rises to his feet, staggering out into the courtyard. Despite nearly destroying the Moothall, no villagers seemed badly hurt, Colm and Osric were not dead either!  His body and mind were both screaming in agony and he was barely conscious. He had given the Dark Witch pause for thought though.

"There is a powerful Dark Witch inside, holding the villagers hostage. We must attack together to kill the Servants of the Darkness!

OOC - If Colm is not healed by Kores or Caith this round he Colm quaffs his Healing Potion. This is a certified one, not the batch brewed by Kores! +7HP.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 1008):

Giles directs Kores to a position where they can both see the black knight and huscarles. “Kores the black knight appears most dangerous of the three. Have you any magicks to strike him down or incapicitate him?”. Giles for his part takes out his sling and lobs a stone at the nearest huscarl
This message was last edited by the player at 03:37, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

Caith shifts from wolf to woman as she draws closer to Colm's sudden exit from the hall, and still shuddering from her own quick rearrangement, chants Cernach's Laird  back together from near death with unsettling speed...



"Aye. Get him away from them, and the job's halfway done." growls Caith, trying to remember how speech from a human mouth works again.

OOC: Caith shifts, hopes her reflexes are quick enough to make a difference and casts GREATER HEALING on Colm (+7 Health back, Cost 3MP) if she can get within 5 meters of him in time.

Also, as a player comment, between Real Life and getting site to behave issues, it's been a bit difficult to post, and sorry for not doing so earlier.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

Osric leaps to his feet and surges forward attempting to crush the prone Huscarl

13:07, Today: Osric Grim rolled 19,8 using d20,d8+1.  Blacksmith’s hammer, ABR, 7HP dam.  {Bugger!}
This message was last edited by the player at 03:09, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

"Deise, no!!" gasps Leaf as she slips backwards slightly after he is hit. She catches herself before she falls off the roof, and climbs back up to where Deise is lying, and drags him up to the window and makes sure they can't easily fall off.

She looks at his wound, and checks that he is still awake and coherent. Not being the healing type, she leaves everything as it is, not wanting to make it worse. "Don't worry, Deise, Caith will sort this all out for you shortly, I'm sure."


Making sure to keep one hand on Deise, so that he doesn't fall down off the roof, Leaf leans forward to look through the window and the happenings inside. At first, she notices Colm and Osric. She then notices the scary man in the middle... walking towards the trapped villagers.

Without thinking, she lets go of Deise and puts both hands on either side of the window frame, focusing her energy.

On the other side of the building, behind the huddled villagers, a loud crash echos through the room, and where a once plain wall had been, now a gaping hole big enough for people to get through was there. "GO!" She yells, "RUN OUT!"



Leaf uses Raw Power for 4MP.


OOC: I assume Deise isn't too weak to stay on the roof with his own strength. Leaf holding onto him was more of a token gesture than to actually keep him from falling. If he is too weak, Leaf will get him to hold on to her leg, or she'd stand on his clothes or something. Hah
This message was last edited by the player at 06:21, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

After giving Leaf a boost up on to the roof, Usopi turned to where Osric, Colm, and Caith were facing off against the large red-eyed knight. Osric leapt at the enemy, and Usopi made to follow.

Uthen crashes in with the others. He looks around to try and work out what to attack - assuming there is something to attack.

Kores looked at Giles and chuckled then pointed up to the roof of the house opposite the moothall.

He muttered to himself and a glowing green ball of light appeared above the level of the roof.