The woman gives a short laugh and removes her hood to reveal a pretty dark haired woman in her late thirties, not what you expected at all. A moment later her visage changes for a fraction of a second and you see a flash of a hag faced crone with blue skin though it is so fast you almost think you imagined it. It makes sense though, she can hardly go around showing her natural form and expect to remain unseen. You really expect me to risk losing my meals over a contest? Firstly, you'll lose, I've been at such things far longer than you, second I suspect this is a trick or distraction and I assure you, it won't work. That said I do like a fellow countryman. If you leave now I will let you live. I imagine I'll be finished by the time you return with anymore hunters she grins wickedly. As she speaks, across the room Amelia catches your eye and gives the slightest nod of her head, indicating that she's ready, though she still isn't able to follow your conversation.

Colin nodded as if he was considering the old terror's words when he sucked on his teeth suddenly. He drew the knife and smiled at the crone. "It already has," was all he said as he rushed forward. He didn't make a blatant charge, rather rushing in to grab her attention while Amelia could do her work. Colin maintained his guard, not wanting those foul claws to seize him.


Combat:
Move- Close with Annis
Combat Expertise for +4 AC/ -4 attack
All ACs 24, Initiative 13


OOC: Busy Halloween and November! Hope you didn't miss me too much!

Your ruse works and she considers you the greater threat, slashing at you with a screech which you thankfully dodge. Meanwhile Amelia hurls a fireball at the woman who gasps in surprise, catching her robes aflame. Though she hisses in pain you both know this is not the way to kill her but perhaps if she is distracted and wounded enough you will be able to move in with the stake Amelia gave you...

Still smoldering, Annis suddenly flicks her fingers and the massive iron cauldron goes hurtling towards Amelia who yelps and moves out of the way. The hot liquid splashes against her though and you can see she is badly burned from it, gasping in pain. Don't think to outwitch a witch my dear Annis chuckles.

"AMELIA!",Colin screamed as he dropped his own knife and pulled the stake as he charged back into combat. His face was flush, not with combat but with anger. This old crone, this monster, had hurt Amelia. Colin was past furious. He came in with no effort to defend himself, using his own fury to strike true and retaliate against any mistake that Annis might make.

Combat:
Attack vs Annis, no Combat Expertise
13:00, Today: Colin Browne rolled 16 using 1d20+8.  Stake to the heart!

You miss for the witch leaps back, avoiding the attack though you can see a register of shock on her blue tinged face. She knows what you hold in her hand and now she is finally worried. She claws at you with iron nails sharp as knives and slashes you across the chest though fortunately the wounds are not deep. You feel an icy jolt as the claws connect but luckily you are not mortally injured. From the corner of your vision you see Amelia stumble towards you both, though she is moving in a hunched limp and trembling. Putting her pain aside she mutters something and gestures at you. A moment later you feel an almost protective aura around you and it is clear your companion is trying to bolster your defenses.

ooc: Take 8 damage from the claws. Also, your character sheet says your AC is 19 I believe. So for the next 3 rounds Amelia's spell increases that by 4 so you have a temporary AC of 23. Sound about right?

Bolstered not only by the fact that Amelia had placed a ward around him, but the fact that she was moving at all, Colin have a predatory grin at the Old World terror. He twisted the stake around and flexed his arm in mock stabbing and slashing motions. He spoke for only a moment before lunging forward, more cautious than last time. "You should have stayed in the bounds of the British Empire. Now you will perish here, far from home."

Combat:
Combat Expertise -4/+4 AC
Should total out to 27AC on all counts.
18:55, Today: Colin Browne rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Stake vs Annis.

OOC:
AC assumption was correct. Combat Expertise is a dodge bonus and Mage Armor is usually a force bonus, so they should stack.
Don't forget to roll for my Agile Reposte if Annis misses.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

ooc: Thanks! Merry Christmas to you too! Even if it is now a week and a half later...sorry...

You miss with the stake and she snarls, lunging at you but you dodge easily, grateful to have evaded her iron talons. You see an opening as she stumbles past you but unfortunately she is fast too and you miss. Seeing her tactics with you aren't working, her eyes flick to the wounded Amelia. You're fast boy, I'll give you that, but what of your friend? Perhaps it is she who shall perish she chuckles. With that she withdraws from you, moving quickly towards Amelia so fast that she will be there in moments...

ooc: Withdraw means you don't get an attack of opportunity but you can roll your next round since hers takes a full round to do.

Colin felt his eyes widen involuntarily with alarm. There was no way he could let Annis get to Amelia. He darted forward, confident in his own speed. He had practiced running from more skilled opponents and lawmen alike. His real talent was fitting through places he normally could not unless standing still. He made a jerking motion forward and rolled for the space between the monster and Amelia. "You shall not touch her," he said in a very dangerous tone. The stake was in his hand, ready to strike if she made a move.

OOC:
Tumble past Annis and come up with stake ready to go.
10:25, Today: Colin Browne rolled 25 using 1d20+12.  Tumble.

Annis looks surprised at your speed and then chuckles. You're fast when your woman is in trouble eh? No matter. With that she flicks her hand in Amelia's direction, causing the blonde to slam into the cave wall with a great deal of force. She grunts in pain but stumbles up, extending her hand towards the witch from across the room. I'm alright! she assures you, panting, though you can tell she's quite wounded. With that she mutters something and Annis suddenly moves slower, eyes bulging in rage as she realizes the spell that is affecting her...

ooc: She will have a lower defense, movement speed, attack, etc. So go ahead and give it a shot :)

Colin snarled in beastly frustration and charged the monster with reckless abandon. He jabbed at her, lashing out with not only the stake, but fists and feet as well. He was growing tired, that much he knew. His reflexes were stowed and the monster seemed to have no sign of stopping. He tried with everything he had to end it but knew that it might not be enough.


20:26, Today: Colin Browne rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Attack vs Annis (stake).

ooc: Well, at least Annis has horrible luck too ;P

Fortunately Amelia's spell seems to have hindered the crone for as she tries to slash you with knife like claws, she moves slow enough that you dodge with the greatest of ease, and thank god for it too, tired as you are! Meanwhile Amelia twitches her hand towards the woman and you see her cry out in pain as blood suddenly blooms on her robes. You notice her hands erupt in small scratches and cuts and she shrieks savagely, intent now on stopping Amelia as soon as possible.

ooc; Since she missed I believe you get your agile reposte, so feel free to roll that should you wish along with your next round.

Colin dodged nimbly to the side and came back at Annis with a will. The stake poised in a reverse grip, he came at her from nearly underneath. The stake sought after the monster's black heart and he drove at it with all his effort, knowing that if he struck, he would have little opportunity to follow up.

12:28, Today: Colin Browne rolled 25,22 using 1d20+8,1d20+8.  Agile Reposte and Attack.

The stake misses her heart but does hit her chest both times and you hear a sound of panic in her screams as she realizes she may just die after all. Desperately she raises an arm and you feel your bones start to twist and squeeze as though unseen hands are crushing you. The pain is immense. Seeing your plight, Amelia shouts in fear and rushes towards you in spite of her wounds, hurling a fireball at the woman's face. ooc: Roll a fort save. If you get a dc 15 you take 11 damage otherwise 22 please. next round too

Colin screamed in pain. His bones felt like they were being pryed out of his body with white hot crowbars. He fell to one knee, small whimpers of pain uttering from his lips. He spat a gobbet of blood on the floor and rose with a will. He no longer had any semblance of his previously genial mood. Even he had succumbed to battle fatigue and rage. He let forth a primal roar and darted forward like a big cat seeking its prey.

12:22, Today: Colin Browne rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Attack
12:22, Today: Colin Browne rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Fort save

ooc: 22 damage it is then. Sorry :(

Colin!!! Amelia shouts with worry. Fortunately your attack hits Annis once more and though it is not in the heart it is only a few inches from it and she gurgles in pain as blood drips from her lips. Amelia holds up a hand towards the witch, muttering something and she struggles against an invisible force, held in place. Now! Do it now! the blonde woman gasps with the strain of keeping the witch still. Annis's eyes bulge in fury and fear, she won't hold long...

ooc: Coup de grace should you wish it! I just thought you would like to properly describe Colin's actions ;)

Colin wiped a streak of blood from his lips, smearing the back of his hand and staining his teeth crimson. He wasted no time moving over to the hapless monster and leaned in close as he slowly drove the stake to her heart. His words were slightly raspy from the pain and damage his body had endured, but dripped with menace and danger. "You should have taken my advice and gone back to the Old World, hag. Say hello to the devil for me," he finished by driving the spike through and into the heart. He kept his hand on the stake's heel and looked over to Amelia as he rammed it to the hilt into Black Annis.

Annis gives a great scream, the noise piercing and echoing off the walls of the cave before finally sinking into silence, her limp form at last still. Amelia rushes to you and to your surprise embraces you tightly before pulling back and looking you over, her usually immaculate hair in disarray and her own body covered in bruises, cuts and burns. You both look a wreck but at least the witch has been stopped. Are you alright? she asks and you can see her hands are shaking. She's struggling to regain her composure but then she's new to the world of hunting versus being cloistered away with the men of letters, and likely she is still getting her battle sense. It is unusual to see her so shaken and off poise.

Meanwhile you hear a groan across the room. Should you investigate you find the children seem to be stirring, miraculously unharmed but then the demon had said they were to be unspoiled. Thankfully Annis was kept in check or things could have been a great deal more gruesome. Still, you can't help but wonder why they were left alive at all.

Colin grimaced in pain as Amelia hugged him. He knew that he likely had a broken bone somewhere in his ribs but that could be dealt with later. Colin gave a smile and was about to respond when he heard a noise. His head perked up like a hound on the trail of an animal. When he discovered the children, he gave a silent sign of the Cross and a deep, genuine smile. He turned to Amelia, his voice rough from the battle. "We need to get tha children gone. Foul place like this is not good for their health."

Amelia looks quite surprised and pleased at the children stirring but also seems embarrassed at her display of relief and blushes as she nods, limping her way to the small figures to examine them. There are thirteen or so of varying ages, all somewhat drowsy and confused. Amelia talks to them but as though they are small adults, in formal terms, albeit with kindness. She seems awkward around children, no doubt she has little experience with them. They seem to remember nothing except the scary woman at the window and wonder how they got here. Amelia avoids the subject instead saying they should get them back home, though it will take some doing without a wagon.
Fortunately by now the mob has lost Amelia's decoy and have headed back toward your direction and soon the parents are reunited with the children, looking incredibly relieved.

Look at the two of you! one of them exclaims. What happened here? One of the men takes out a flask of whiskey and offers it to you.

Colin took the proffered flask and drank long and deep. He handed it back and thanked the provider. He looked to Amelia and started the tale he had been coming up with for just these questions. "Looks like some hermit convinced an ill man to steal children for her. She seemed not too right in the mind and started raving about crazy things. We tried to calm her down but there was no reasoning with her. She had crafted some sort of contraption that attached knives to her fingers. She attack the lady and went for the children. Threw burning oil at me and the others. I had to put her down. Ain't going to deny it, but it had to be done. She made it clear that she was going to kill the children if she could rather than let the children go," finished. He trusted Amelia could fill in the logic gaps if required.

The crowd look shocked at such a revelation and Amelia quickly corroborates your story, even managing to feign fright and appear shaken, though part of you wonders how much is acting.

Well I'd say you're a hero then good sir! one of the men slaps you on the back heartily then looks apologetic when he realizes it was not the best move considering your wounds. Saved our children and this fine looking woman here! he eyes Amelia with a wink and she gives him an irritated glare but keeps her silence. He seems not to notice, continuing happily. I say we take him back to town and treat him to as much whiskey as he can stand, what say you boys? he turns to the others with a grin. They all hurrah in agreement and you head back toward town.

ooc: Plans for the rest of the night? Amelia seems to be falling back into the pretense of not knowing you and she will maintain a polite and icy silence on the way back. She looks...grumpy.

Colin grinned and bowed to Amelia. "I'll not drink a drop unless I get to share a glass with the lady, and maybe a dance. We did just go through an ordeal of significance!" ,he said. The smile flashed again, more wryly this time, before turning his attention back to the man offering him whiskey. Colin chuckled in spite of himself. "Free whiskey for an Irishman is a bold tab to open. I'm sure I can be lenient, however!" ,he finished with a heartier laugh. It was obvious that his bombastic and charismatic nature was trying to distract the townsfolk from asking too many questions. Colin suddenly stopped and looked to the others. "How's the young lass, Mary? Did she survive her wounds?"

OOC: Colin is going to drink with the men until they retire, then go talk with Amelia in her room.

Amelia looks surprised by your kind attention and gives you a rare smile. Fortunately your joviality works well with the men's current victorious moods and they seem more intent on celebrating than asking for too many details. At the question of Mary they nod vigorously, informing you that she indeed has lived and the doctor expects her to make a full recovery within a month or so. She seems quite disoriented though and with her strange talk they think her mind must be a bit addled still.

At the pub there is much carrying on and your tab is indeed kept open to drink as much as you could possibly wish. Amelia declines a similar offer instead having a cup of tea and watching the merriment from a distance, as is her way. She will retire early but you suspect she is waiting for you and when you go to find her she is in a violet dressing gown, her golden hair in a loose braid and a book in her hand. Well, did you leave them with any money or did your Irish thirst do them all in? she arches an eyebrow with the hint of a smile. You wager she is trying to gauge how drunk you are.

Colin smiled and raised his right hand while putting his left on his chest. His accent had come back with a vengeance and his speech was mixed with words of proper Irish. "I'll be swearin' to ya da man will have some left to sell to others," he said as he swayed a bit. He looked and saw a chair that would set his head from spinning. Sitting heavily into it, Colin gave Amelia a look that could have been construed as a leer, but thought better of it. Instead he placed his face in his hands while leaning on his knees with his elbows. His voice was much more solemn that before, but still heavy with the drink. "Tha was almost a cock up. Many a more people could've died. God forgive me if tha little ones had been hurt. Ida never forgiven meself for it."

She arches an eyebrow at your drunkenness, looking a mixture of disapproving and amused though when you become serious she nods in agreement, putting the book down and watching you with sympathy. Nor I Mr. Browne. We were lucky. Very lucky. It would seem that whatever plans our enemies have they entail leaving the children alive. You had a similar rescue not a couple weeks ago did you not? she refers to your misadventure with Ian. It would seem that children play a part in some overall scheme and thus far it requires them to be alive. Let us hope this never changes she shakes her head. I was thinking, if you're up for it tomorrow perhaps you can pay a visit to Mary, see if she remembers anything, if she's even conscious. You seem to have a way with women, I'm sure that will serve you well she makes a slight face of distaste, but then she was a very proper sort of woman. I'm sorry I can't heal you more. If folk saw us suddenly healed overnight it would cause too many questions. she sounds sympathetic but then her own body is quite banged up too between bruises cuts and burns. It's been quite a night.