Back with the trolls Grundar is beginning to get a bit twitchy waiting for the signal to go. Inaction doesn't suit him, nor does silence. What's going on out there he wonders? It may have only been a moment since the others left, but it feels like ages.

So gents, he asks the trolls, what brings a fine pair of specimens like you to a place like this? As soon as the nervous energy fueled words leave his lips he regrets them and shuts up.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:26, Wed 21 Mar 2018.

At the vanguard

"Or one of us go down the nearest alley, and the other two go down the further alley.  I can get Haaro to head back to Henal and the others, and so maintain contact with them.  Whatever happens, we should decide quickly.  I don't want my spells to run out."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:42, Wed 21 Mar 2018.

Ohanzee suddenly tenses and rating his lead pipe speaks quietly "Snuff has been killed!"

There is anger and frustration in his voice.

At Ohanzee's voice both he and Grundar spy movement on the rooftops above. The Ravens and Trolls can see that they hold bows....

At the rear, where Henal, Temush And Melock wait they see the group of men spilling out of the alleyway head off, linking arms and start singing at the top of their voices.

In the Vanguard Kobal, Amara and Hoskar watch the family group pass.

All hear Ohanzee's words.

Melock shakes his head as the singers walk away, We're too jumpy tonight. He's just turning back towards the alley when he hears Ohanzee, Damn, looks like we've got trouble. Deciding that Snuff was probably on the roof near Ohanzee, unless the trolls got hungry, Melock looks for an easy route up to the roof to see what's up there.

The Trolls ignore Grundar, instead moving towards the side of a building, to protect themselves from at least some of the bowmen.

Meanwhile Melock sees that he can get up on to the nearest roof if someone gives him a leg up.

Melock sees a hand hold, but it's out of his reach. He beckons Temush over and with his help manages to get up on to the roof.

Friend in fealty, Snuff is snuffed. Seek solutions sooner. Forge forward or face the foe.

Hoskar stiffens and yawns copiously in case anyone behind is watching. Trouble back there he hisses. Someone go back and get them running on. I can't or they'll think we're boxed in.

Henal uses Rikki to send a message up to Haaro "something is happening round the middle, could be trouble". Then looks ahead to see what is happening with the group with the trolls.

Kobal passes Henal's message to Hoskar and Amara.  With a nod to Hoskar's words, he draws his sword and jogs back to the centre of the party.  Not seeing or hearing any sounds of battle, hisses to the trolls, "Keep moving!"

Haaro, stay out of danger!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Thu 22 Mar 2018.

Kobal arrives in the courtyard, just as Melock gets up on the roof. Both spot shadowy forms holding bows, the nearest swinging around to cover the Raven brave. The ambusher is too far away to get to before he'd fire...

Below Hoskar and Temush can't see anything, nor Amara or Hoskar.

The Trolls have cast protective magic too, their forms shimmering in the darkness.

Striding into the centre of the courtyard Ohanzee raises a hand and shouts up a strange word at the ambushers...

"Urrumajarum!"

For a moment time stands still and then the men are gone. There one minute gone the next.

Melock is left staring at empty air. Lying close by is Ohanzee's beetle, pierced by an arrow.

Kobal raises his shield the moment he spots the archers.  Then as he peers around the edge of the shield, the archers are gone.

"Hurry!" he beckons to the trolls.  Haaro, can you sense them at all?!

The Trolls scurry off into the alley to join Hoskar and Amara, whilst Kobal's familiar replies

"No...The houses are full of people...I think they have gone..."

Kobal runs after the trolls.  With their size, and lugging his shield and armour, it's hard to keep up with them.  Come on, Haaro.  He tries to keep to the left of the Uz, so that shield on his left arm can provide some protection.

"Archers on the roof," he explains to Hoskar and Amara, as he continues down the alley.  "They disappeared in a flash.  Let's go."

Temush continues to watch Holy Street while Melock is on the roof.

Melock freezes when the archer turns to face him, but only slightly relaxes when they disappear. He crouches down and removes the arrow from Snuff and checks to see if he can save Snuff. He calls down to Temush and Henal, "I'll follow from up here."

Ohanzee seems to realise where he is because he suddenly darts for the relative shelter of the walls of the buildings getting out of the open ground. Then hearing the call to move he obliges at a pace slowed only by the Trolls in front of him!

Henal stays down with Temush and Rikki watching behind them. "Think I'll have to learn a spell to detect enemies" he mutters while they watch.

Amara kept hidden in the darkness near her troll posse, wondering what what going on. Assassins? Not assassins? Were they even the intended targets? All was unclear, but the only thing for sure was they needed to keep moving. "If we stay here, it only increases our chances of needing to fight. Let's go by the alternative route and prepare for fighting if needed." she suggested

Hoskar leads the way across the Parade way and into the alley between the temples, once there he finds the two cloaked figures who'd separated from the family group moments before.

Throwing back their hoods they reveal themselves to be the mayor of the city Byrgga Scissortongue and a man that Hoskar does not recognise.

"Quickly get your wards inside and disperse as quickly as possible. There is much danger walking the city tonight. Were you accosted?" asks the Mayor.

Henal and Temush remain for the moment at the mouth of the alley watching back the way they came, across Parade Way and for the arrival of Melock who was still on the roofs behind.

"Archers.  They disappeared without a trace.  One of our party had his familiar killed.  What is tonight?"  Is it to do with Waha's holy day...?

Hoskar inclines his head in greeting.

Our thanks - a friendly face is most welcome especially when it's yours. A strange night indeed. A little trouble as my friend says, but we've made it so far. With your permission, I imagine we should press on.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Fri 23 Mar 2018.