Year 2949: Kinstrife and Dark Tidings

[Vladim]

Men fell like flies about her, but Idunn took little heed of the soldiers' cries. At that moment, she was consumed by a burning desire for vengeance, that left room for nothing else in her heart. This was no time for compassion - in time, the faces of the slain would come to haunt her dreams, but presently she took little notice of them.

As the company made short work of these foemen, the huntress yet again caught glimpse from afar of her quarry: Valter, who had not heard her cry, or had heard it but ignored it. With few enemies left to hinder her, she charged onwards, recklessly and without caution, leaving herself open to their blades and arrows. But her heart was set on this task now: to defeat Valter before he could escape, and to rescue Oderic, if she could. She knew that if some archer dared shoot her from behind, he would be instantly cut down by her companions.

Swift as the wind she crossed the field. Deeds need speak louder than her cry if Valter woud not heed her.

[OOC: Forward stance, TN to hit her is at 15.]

[Vladim]

Dahr-Ol felt the arrow drive hard into his armor. It hurt, but he didn't think it would be fatal.

He was close now, Valtar had two guards. Dahr-Ol decided to leap behind the guards and kill the archer. It would leave his foes surrounded with no safe direction to turn.

He leapt into the air howling as he flew.

"Yaaaaaaaaa!!!."

Both hands on his great axe, he used the momentum from his flight to shatter the archer's bow and drive his axe head deep into the archer's chest.

[Vladim]

As Gramtyng lets out the bloodlust-filled call to end the engagement quickly, Nori removes his axe from his foe. Shaking his head as he stares the fallen man down, the dwarf tell him, "You'll appreciate this. Trust me, lad." And with that, the dwarf raises his axe high into the air and then quickly sinks it down into the man's forehead - splitting his brow and killing him instantly as opposed to letting him bleed out on the field in a slow and agonizing manner.

OOC: Adding 5 back to endurance per Gram's note.

[Vladim]

At the sign of battle Ingi readied his bow from his vantage point along the sides of the cavern. This was strange in a way to be on the offensive like this, and yet Ingi kept in mind the beorning lives that were in the balance. His bow seemed to be true this day and his arrows swift, providing protection to those of his companions that were more in danger from the onslaught of outlaws. Luck seemed to be with the companions on this occasion and despite their unsupported forces the battle proceeded swiftly and at last Ingi had the chance to loose a shot at Valtar himself.

[Vladim]

Annungil paused for a moment to catch his breath and studied the field of battle. The others in the party were pressing for Valter, with some of the others hurling themselves at the enemy line to get at the enemy commander. Dahr-Ol, in the distance, made a great leap over Valter's two guards, going for the archer standing with the enemy captain, but leaving Dahr-Ol cut off and surrounded, even as his comrades tried to cut their way through.

He nodded and waved his sword above his head, calling to any of the nearby Beornings not engaged in battle. "To me! To me! We must press hard into the center! Forth and fear neither blade nor arrow!" One last long breath and Annungil pressed himself forward, heading for Valter and the chieftain's companions.

Shield held close to his body and sword-point lowered, he set himself on what felt like shortest approach and ran. Hyelled no challenge and no threat. Last thing he wanted was for one of these brigands to get in his way. His target was simply to reach Valter and Dahr-Ol before the youth found himself in more trouble than he could manage. Even the greatest swordsman could be cut down by too many orc blades without comrades to protect his flanks and rear. Or in this case, the blades of ambitious men.

But first, he had to get past the archer that stood there with an unsheathed dagger. Annungil raised his chin and gave a wild grin before lunging forward to attack.

Defensive stance- no special action

[Vladim]

Nori's axe ended the life of the man who he nearly finished moments before, while Ingi's arrow shot true, striking Valter in the shoulder. The older man growled and broke the arrow shaft, throwing it away in a mocking gesture - he began to raised his hand to command something, but that was when Dahr-Ol crashed down, bringing down the archer nearest to him. Valter's horse stepped a bit to the side, slightly startled, while its rider's attention had been drawn by the Beorning - an opportunity taken by, of all people, Oderic, who proceeded to unsheathe his blade and strike with the flat of it against the horse's belly. This was more than the beast could take, rearing up and throwing Valter to the ground - just in time for Idunn to rush her way past the chaotic battlefield and join with Dahr-Ol and Oderic, who slowly retreated backward to the shout of 'traitor!' from the outlaws.
 

------------------------------ROUND 4------------------------------

Gramtyng, son of Fastred

Gramtyng's sword found its place in the stomach of the final spearman, leaving just the archer, who unsheathed his dagger and prepared to make a last stand against the company. Unfortunately, as Ingi positioned himself, finding a better angle for the shot at Valter, he also placed himself in the perfect position for the remaining archer to manage an opportune shot at him - the shot was far too hurried, however, and it merely grazed him.

[Vladim]

Arriving just in time to aid Dahr-Ol and Oderic, Idunn took her companions' side and readied her spear, eager to defend them. She saw the arrow pierce Valter and witnessed the captain being thrown off his horse.

If this was any other time, and any other man, Idunn might have spared him, or demanded his surrender - it must have been clear to him that his situation was hopeless by now. But her hatred was too strong, and she remembered how Beorn had spared Cenric before, even though he was an unrepentant killer. Exile was too good a fate for this Valter; Idunn knew that the only fate he deserved was death. And so she thrust her spear downwards towards her fallen enemy: she would give no quarter, even if quarter was asked.

[OOC: Forward stance, TN to hit her is at 15.]

[Vladim]

Luck had been with them and given a clear shot a Valter Ingi saw the chance for a quick and clean end to to fight. He loosed his bow and had just enough time to see the shot fly true before the consequences of his actions caused his concentration to falter and return to thought of his own safety.

[Vladim]

Panting over top the corpse of the spearman he just dispatched, Nori looks about his immediate surroundings and notices the lone archer left, ready to defend himself against Annungil with his dagger. Perhaps not ready to kill another soul (especially one so outnumbered) or just feeling rather full of himself, Nori marches over towards the archer with a bold stride, his axe dragging behind him at his right side, gripped tightly in his hand. Getting within striking distance, the dwarf musters all his energy and bellows at the archer is a visceral war cry, trying to make the bandit think twice about any action and take the opportunity to run.

[Vladim]

Before Nori intervened, the archer dove under Annungil's strike and was just about to stab him in a gap in his armor but the dwarf's shout made him flinch, dropping the dagger. In the next second, realizing he'd lost his weapon and was outnumbered, the man fled, seeking to distance himself from the group - the battle's direction was still unclear, as even with the ambush, there were far fewer Beornings than Valter's men. On the far end of the battlefield, Idunn and Dahr-Ol faced Valter, who found his footing quickly, even after Oderic's trick. The boy, meanwhile, had been facing down three spearmen, and wasnt in a good spot - he'd done be best he could to ward them off with Merovech's sword and a shield of a fallen outlaw, his back against the cliff wall. With some luck, he'd even managed to fell one of them, though an arrow found its mark in his left shoulder. Valter himself seemed tireless for one as old as he - he'd taken three wounds, one worse than another, and Ingi's arrow still stuck out from his chest, but he ignored it. Thin green smoke trailed from his wound - it might have been invisible to anyone else, but Idunn and Dahr-Ol stood face to face with him, and it was plain to see. If it was not, when the beorning's axe slipped past Valter's guard and struck his shoulder, causing a wide wound that should have bled profusely... it did not. Only green smoke trailed from it, and countless small emerald lights appeared within, as if eyes, before the wound began to stretch and distort, pulled closed as if by unseen fingers. It wasnt that it healed - but it bothered their foe little. If anything, he seemed to be fighting harder now, a similar green tint to his eyes...
 

------------------------------ROUND 5------------------------------

Gramtyng, son of Fastred

Gramtyng, of course, saw no such thing. All he saw was an enemy, fighting his allies - and now that there were no more foes for him to fight before him, he had to advance, and find more. The bard ran forward, charging towards Valter with reckless abandon.

 

Rolls needed

Athletics checks from Nori, Annungil and Ingi(Valter is on foot, so shooting him this far is no longer feasible), TN16, to make it to Valter. Great success means you make it to him this turn. Dahr-Ol and Idunn need to make a Corruption check, TN14. Everyone: Awareness check, TN16.

[Vladim]

Idunn looked on as Valter fought on, unhindered by any of the hideous wounds that he had suffered. Even without the green shimmering, it was clear that something was wrong: some foul sorcery was at play here. Immediatelly she thought of the ghost-lights of the Dwimmerhorn, the ones that Oderic had spoken of. Had the Necromancer returned to Wilderland?

There was no time to ponder such riddles presently. Idunn defended herself and her ears caught the sounds of a distant war-horn, orcish clearly from its foul shrill. For a moment it seemed that doom was upon them, but then suddenly, hope: for she also heard the roar of a mighty bear, which she instantly recognized. Not a moment too soon.

'Beorn! Take heart! Take heart!' she cried to her allies, 'Beorn is coming!'

No sooner had she spoken the words when an arrow struck her, penetrating her armour and biting into her flesh. She felt the sharp sting of the wound, but it only served to steel her resolve. Knowing that only Beorn would be able to destroy Valter, or whatever foul creature he had become, she looked to Oderic, who fought bravely but desperately. She took his side and struck against one of his assailants. If he was about to be slain, then they would die side by side. Idunn had not forgotten her oath.

[OOC: Forward stance again, TN to hit her is at 15.]

[Vladim]

Dahr-Ol recoiled at the unnatural seepage from Valtar's wounds. Steeling himself he pushed forward again and drove hard for the bandit's head

[Vladim]

Seeing his companions engage Valtar in the distance and Oderic in a precarious position between two spearmen, the dwarf turns his attention from the fleeing archer to the group ahead. Bringing his axe up to hold with both hands in front of his chest, Nori charges towards them with nearly unimaginable speed for a being of his size and loaded with the armor that he wears. In a matter of seconds, Nori gives credence to the rarely-whispered note that dwarves are quite dangerous over short distances.

[Vladim]

Annungil's face blanched beneath his helm as he realized his error. The sword cut past the archer, who ducked and was coming in to stab him with the dagger. But Nori arrived and frightened off him off. Annungil let his sword arm drop, catching his breath for a moment. "I am in your debt," Annungil said, but Nori was already off again, moving at a speed Annungil didn't even believe possible.

He squinted and looked through the chaos to the far end of the valley. Some of his companions had gotten cut off from the rest and Oderic was there, looking in poor shape, just as a horn echoed through the gully, followed by a bear's roar. The Gondorian paused in confusion, but shrugged and jogged after Nori, albeit much slower.

[Vladim]

Idunn had missed, but her yell and her attack made one of the spearmen turn his attention to her, and though she'd stumbled in her attack, the spearman's thrust was clumsy, and she easily avoided it. Only one remained to menace Oderic, and he fell to two clean strikes from Merovech's sword. Dahr-Ol and Valter continued their fight, the older man practically grinning as the mist continued to coat his wounds, and did not bother to dodge the beornig's spear. He grimaced as the point bore into his shoulder, and regarded the blood pouring from it with surprise. It seemed that something was happening that was outside his control, and that surprise widened his eyes - not with fear, but another emotion. He opened his mouth, starting: "To me...!", as an arrow sang, burying itself in Gramtyng's chest. Perhaps he may have said a great many other things, but he was interrupted by the Rohirrim's warcry.
 

------------------------------ROUND 6------------------------------

Gramtyng, son of Fastred

"JUST DIE!!" Yelled Gramtyng, swiping his sword at the leader of the outlaws - it was a shallow wound, but it bled nonetheless. The bard knew that Nori, Annungil, and Ingi were right behind him - Oderic and Idunn were dealing with one spearman, but the boy barely stood, and the huntress looked badly wounded. That was enough to make him see red. He was far, far from the only one who was enraged, if the unmistakable, bestial roar that echoed from the walls of the canyon was anything to go by. One by one, the Beornings began to stomp their feet, accompanied by the strike of their spears at the ground - even mid battle - and chant 'BEORN! BEORN! BEORN!'. The outlaws began to peer around, looking for the source of the roar, some reading their weapons, others hiding behind shields.

 

Rolls needed

None. Beorn's roar is clearly heard nearby. Anyone who wishes can join the chanting and make a free Intimidate check, from any stance, using Awe or Battle. (This doesnt count as your action for the turn, and you may still attack).