~ Dire Struggle for Dillend: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

"Ugh," Hannibal mutters to himself at the display of the horse hanging in the kitchen. "What kind of retch would eat horse?" Shifting to give access to Emma and Dire, Hannibal awaits the casting of the spell. He draws his sword just in case, and looks for potential distractions he can use in case the group is spotted.

"Okay, priestess," Cy whispers, "now's your chance. We ain't waiting for that beef to be ready, so work your magic on thems potatoes!"

Emma nods, as much to reassure herself than anything else. She had never called upon this sort of spell before...but had only read of it in the scrolls of Anhur. Her heart races a bit as she closes her eyes and offers up a prayer.

"God of Justice and Righteous Battles," she murmurs softly, "Hear my prayer in the camp of my enemies. The forces arrayed against us have taken land and holdings that are rightfully our's. Help us to take it back this night. Entreat earthly Geb to sow the seeds of discord upon their food. And curse them, mighty Anhur, so they will quarrel among themselves as we strike a counterblow in your name."

She bows her head and stretches forth her hand to center the spell upon the bowls of potatoes and carrots. As she finishes, she thinks quietly to herself, "I hope these soldiers eat their vegetables and not just the meat..."

"It is done," she whispers to the others, "What shall we do now? Crayne, Edryd, Storm, and Canter should be arriving soon to free the prisoners. Are we to focus our efforts upon doing the most harm from within? If so, it might be well for us to locate the generals and officers of this army so we can strike down its leaders and add to the chaos that will soon reign over Fort Dillend."

Dire pokes at Emma: "Hurry priestess, we don't have a lot of time." But Emma is finished, and whispers to Dire and the others that her task here is done.

"Good," Hannibal says. "That carcass gives me the creeps."

"To say nothing of the great danger we are still in..." Cy says.

Just then, a new figure emerges on the scene. He carries himself taller, more proudly than the average soldier. An officer. "Men!" he announces, quickly gathering the attention of those in the eating area. "Who among you are in the next patrol?" A few hands go up and moans are heard, perhaps eight or ten voices. "I want you to keep a keen eye out for a supply wagon. It is late. We don't want and Rinder scum causing any problems here, do we?"

Another voice from the soldiers responds, "we already got 'nuff Rinder scum in those barracks!"

"That we do, soldier. That we do..." the officer says, nodding.

The officer then slowly turns to walk away, giving the soldiers a good look-over. It is just then that one of the young boys carrying a tray of (cursed) carrots walks right into Cy! The boy collides with the tall, strong --and invisible-- body of Cy, stumbling backwards and dropping his tray and two bowls of carrots with a loud clang. Orange carrots litter the floor of the area. The officer stops and looks toward the kitchen to see what the commotion is.

"Oh, no," Hannibal mutters.

"Stupid little..." Cy says, frustrated. But he stops as he sees the fat, angry chef appears from behind the horse carcass. "What have you done! I'll beat you so red and bloody we'll cook you like the beef in the stew!" His voice growls and he spits as he talks, a large cooking implement in his hand like a club.

------------

MEANWHILE...

Storm stands still, waiting to see what the smarter members of the group decide to do. He re-sheathed his long sword when their charade was set up, and he thinks to himself that he should have kept it out. "Aye, Crayne, ye not havin' the fightin' man's instincts..." he thinks to himself.

He readies himself, sensing the tension in the air. He tries to draw two daggers from the backside of his belt, cuffing them and keeping them behind his back in as much a covert, nonchalant manner as he can. He lowers his head slightly in concentration, preparing to move at a single moment's notice. He will keep his cool, looking at the enemy, until the decision is made one way or another by Crayne or Edryd (or anyone, really).

Crayne still lies there, moaning and murmuring. As he hears the demand for weapons he starts coughing in a really bad way. He clutches his throat to suggest that he is choking. But the soldiers do nothing, assuming that Edryd or Canter will aid him.

Crayne looks up at Edryd, peering into the paladin's eyes in an attempt to read his mind. Canter, kneeling nearby, notices the bead of sweat running down Kel's cheek, as well as Storm's slow, subtle movements. Then, ever so slightly, Crayne shakes his head to the left, then the right.

Continuing the charade for one moment more, Crayne coughs loudly, sitting up in front of Edryd and facing the three soldiers arrayed in front of them. Edryd helps the mage to stand, doing his best to look innocent. Canter then sees the image on his friend Crayne's face change from one of pain to one of concentration.

"Now, Storm!" Canter yells quickly. Almost instantaneously, Storm launches two daggers. The first one heads in the direction of the lead fighter (the one doing the talking), but sails wide. The second one heads for the crossbow-wielding fighter further back, and hits him.

Then Crayne's concentration bears fruit: He launches the fan-shaped rainbow of colors at the three soldiers before him. The Color Spray spell immediately kicks in, and the three soldiers drop to the cold, hard, earth, appearing asleep.

Canter then rushes forward toward the wagon, heading for the driver. He leaps onto the side, scrambling up to the driver's seat as best he can. At the same time, Edryd unsheathes his sword and charges toward the crossbow-wielding enemy on the opposite side of the wagon. Kel, too, draws his short sword and runs toward the back of the wagon in an attempt to take down the last remaining enemy soldier.

Seeing his three comrades drop to the ground and the colorful burst emerging from Crayne's hand, the crossbow-wielding figher's eyes widen. He is struck by Storm's dagger, which stings, but does not immobilize him. He then sees Edryd's impressive figure barrelling toward him. He quickly fire off two quarrels with his weapon at Edryd, but both miss the paladin.

The driver takes out a knife and attempts to slash at Canter's fingers as he climbs up toward the driver's seat. But Canter sees the movements, and manages to avoid the blow, grabbing the driver's wrist and keeping the sharp blade away.

Kel rounds the back of the wagon to find the last soldier drawing his sword. He takes a swipe at the scout, but Kel jumps back and out of the way.

Storm pounds his thigh after seeing his two daggers miss their targets. But a small smile crosses his face when he sees Crayne's handiwork. Then he clenches his fists and begins to run toward the wagon. He takes a spectacular leap through the air, landing up on the driver's platform. His bastard sword drawn, he attacks the driver (who is busy wrestling with Canter), hitting him hard. "Arr! Canter! Go be helpin' Crayne with thems sleepin' ones!"

Canter nods and jumps down from the side of the wagon. He quickly meets up with Crayne, removing some leather strips from his backpack, which is on the ground nearby.

"Quickly!" Crayne says, "we must bind and gag these men before this gets out of hand!"

"Don't worry!" Canter answers with a smile, "It looks like we've got this mostly under control!" he lets out a laugh and winks at Crayne. "You sure did pick a good time for a first-strike! No priestess around to yell at you this time, huh?"

"Aye!" Crayne responds, tightening a leather strip around one of the downed fighters' wrists.

"Though you've got to admit, she does have her moments of glory..." Canter says.

Edryd, in the meantime, attacks the crossbowman, sinking his sword into the soldier's side. "Ugh!" the soldier lets out as the paladin's blade pierces through his leather armor.

Kel, too, attacks. His short sword meets with his target, slicing into that fighter's skin.

The driver then spins around to attack Storm, slicing at the dwarf with his knife. He makes contact, opening up a wound on Storm's face. (2 hp damage) Kel's opponent attacks as well, striking the scout. (2 hp damage) Edryd's adversary drops his crossbow and unsheathes a short sword. In one fluid motion he strikes the paladin. Edryd winces with the impact but is not fazed. (4 hp damage)

Storm, enraged by the slash at his face, lets loose a vicious attack on the driver. He swings his weapon high and hard, coming down with a loud "thunk!" on the driver's skin. The driver howls in pain, collapsing on the seat, clutching Storm's arm as he spits blood. "Oh, save me!" he pleads through blood and tears.

Edryd decides he has had enough of this pesky battle. Uttering a silent prayer, he tightens his grip on his sword and brings it down solidly on the crossbowman. The fatal blow spells doom, and soon the crossbowman sinks to the cold ground at Edryd's feet, dead.

Kel, in the meantime, faces off against his target. He attacks, but finds his effort thwarted. Suddenly, however, Canter arrives at his side, and uses the surprise of the moment to slash at the fighter, cutting into his skin. "Thanks!" Kel says to his newfound friend, Canter.

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