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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Feb 28, 2023 21:30:43 GMT -5
Leandros would be lying if he said he was excited to be back in the Ash Lands. This adventuring was all about broadening his horizons, but the heat and the ash were hard to deal with. It grew worse as you approached the Mount itself, but there was no helping it this time. A pack of hell hounds was not something he could just ignore.
He at least had better conditioned himself for the trip this time, having built up stamina and just worn his armor more effectively. Still the sweat beads on his forehead as he approaches his destination with a fellow knight at his side, it was good to see someone else so well-armored. It meant he had less to worry about when it came down to a fight.
It seemed this Gwendolyn was also a noble, so conversation seemed a bit easier in some respects. He had grown more comfortable using more relaxed speech around others, but knowing the rules of the upper class gave structure to it.
"Lady Gwendolyn, do you have any experience with these lands? Or hell hounds in general? I cannot imagine that these creatures will be easy to track in these parts."
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Post by Gwendolyn on Feb 28, 2023 22:35:52 GMT -5
Sir Aurthurian was quite the treat to work with, especially compared to most of her other acquaintances in the adventuring field. Married, and a Landing House to boot, if anything he was slightly her better in the current political climate of the kingdom. She had her best foot forward for this journey, Armour shined and hair done well, along with a small cadre of attendants that followed her here. She was almost surprised at the knights lack of accompaniment, but shrugged it off to the typical male "do it yourself" mindset.
"I've only met one, Sir. It was black, with tusks, and could spit fire as though a demon itself resided within. The girl who owned it had named it "Spicy". Rather ferocious fiend." Gwendolyn said, with the best court tone she could muster. Gods, she prayed this would go well. Her maids hiked behind her, backpacks full of water and other gear for their journey, as well as the weapons of their trade.
She had been nearby volcanoes in the past, near Dragons cradle, but never this close. The thick sulphuric scent that filled her nostrils made her glad she had the perfumed veil that sat across the bridge of her nose. Without it, she would surely be throwing up right now.
"I would also avoid inhaling too much ash. It can be bad for your lungs, but that was probably obvious."
Shit, she was embarrassing herself already she knew it.Bringing Maids (3/3) Millicent (Sky Domain) Priscilla (Archer) Bernadette (Hatchet)
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 4, 2023 0:21:18 GMT -5
"Someone owned it?" He raises a curious eyebrow at that, not something he was expecting to hear. These creatures didn't seem tameable in any anecdotes he had heard, but nothing is impossible. As strange as it sounded, he lived in a world where people could summon lightning and heal greivous wounds, who was he to question the domestication of hell hounds?
"Oh? I had been told it had some medicinal properties." He smiled and laughed at his own very bad joke after Gwendolyn mentions the ash.
As they make their way along the path, keeps an eye on the surroundings trying to catch any signs. You would think big fire dogs would not be hard to find. Occasionally he also checks behind to make sure Gwendolyn's attendants are keeping up. This was not an easy hike to make and he was going to make sure everyone makes it back.
When that thought crosses his mind, a pair stumble down from a ledge coming into the path of the two. An older looking human and a younger looking human who turns out to be a halfling at closer inspection stand before them with clothes and faces smudged with ash. Both seem to be armed, but neither have weapons drawn thankfully.
"Found them."
"Well, I would hope so, would be strange to show if you hadn't." Lee's face broadens in a smile as he clasps the man's shoulder.
"Six of them, roaming around, think they are looking for something to eat."
"Then let's go give them a healthy meal, hm?"
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Post by Gwendolyn on Mar 5, 2023 1:09:37 GMT -5
Eyebrows raised in slight surprise, he had prepared this far ahead. Shit, should she have sent out a scouting party as well? A small bead of sweat dropped down as embarrassment was quickly concealed by confidence. Right, she didn't want to split up her numbers, especially with known predators on the prowl. Besides, none of her cohort were stealthy enough to avoid recognition... Yeah, that's what we'll go with. Regardless, she supposed she shouldn't have judged so quickly his lack of accompaniment, he was simply using them to their fullest potential. "Right. we'll go left, you go right, meet in the middle? Give us a signal when you're ready to go. Best of luck to you, sir." Her tactical knowledge was limited, field commanding was not necessarily part of the curriculum at Mystwud Manor. But she'd be damned if she didn't know which spoons to use first... Regardless, a simple flanking maneuver was more than enough to handle some dogs right? Millicent the air domain apprentice takes a long pull off her cigarette, flicking it with a finger before winking at Theobo. They were off, circling around the ashen field low and steadily as they looked for an opening. They were approaching the forward facing side of the pack, sniffing and snarling through some encrusted Ash roses whilst searching for prey. They reached a grey boulder in the path of them, and crouched low.
Priscilla took a deep breath, before shakily loading her bow and preparing for combat.
Bernadette waited patiently, hefting an ebony war axe with grim determination.
Millicent practiced her sigils, readying a lightning bolt to open with.
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 6, 2023 17:00:40 GMT -5
Leandros holds his tongue as Gwen starts giving orders, he doesn't know their capablities, so just barging in and assuming he knows better would be chauvinistic at best. Gilder will join Priscilla off to the side with his bow in hand, arrow points glowing with a bit of light. Theobo follows after Millicent, shield at the ready to cover her in case a fiery attack comes their way.
The knight, himself, heads straight down the path towards the fiends ahead. He would slam the butt of his halberd into the ground to sheathe himself in a protective aura[1] and face down the hell hounds, his cloak fluttering behind him.
"This is the end fiends, you've done enough damage!" The sudden presence of Leandros seems to have slowed the enthusiasm of the hounds.[2] They cower back for a moment under the weighty influence of the knight.
..."Now!" He calls for the others to launch their surprise attacks. Gilder standing straight up as he pulls back and fires in one swift motion, the holy enchanted weapons searing the evil creatures as they howl out.
There were enough hell hounds that each of the people here could engage one, the real key would be no one person getting overwhelmed by fire.
1. Caller of Spirits 2. Looming Fear
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Post by Gwendolyn on Mar 8, 2023 5:03:30 GMT -5
The call is sent, Gwendolyn lobs her misty concoction into the midst of the pack. A thin bluish plume spreads out amongst the Hellhounds, coating each of the ones nearby in a pale residue. Of those affected, the cracks of fire rippling through their bodies could be seen to dim significantly, hopefully the effects would be fatal in the long run. “You heard the man, get em girls” Millicent stood, shooting out her prepared bolt of lightning, only to receive a quick blast of fire back in return. Her shot struck true, blasting a chunk off of one of the beasts, but the fiery glob was stopped by quick action of the warrior beside her. Priscilla watches Glider with great interest, the cool and collected man making a shot with such confidence. She stands, closes her eyes, and fires off an arrow as well. The windy magic surrounding it manages to thinly graze one of the beasts, who lock on to them in return. Lunging forth, it’s flaming jaws wide, it catches an ebony axe to the face. The blasts of wind shards surrounding the axe send obsidian fragments flying as it cuts through the beast. It’s jaw is bisected, and nearly decapitated as it falls to the ground as Bernadette looks back to make sure her ward is alright. A frightened nod in response sends her to join the fray of the main pack. Miasmic Catalyst Frostfire Extract
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 8, 2023 15:51:01 GMT -5
Leandros steps forward to confront two of the hell hounds, the aura from his banner keeping them cowed and unable to move past him. He sends an upward slash at one, the holy light from the blade cutting deep into it. When the halberd reaches its apex, he shifts it in his hand to bring it down across the other one. The blade seems to move faster and more quickly than a weapon of its size as he shifts once more and delivers a horizontal slash. It would seem for the most part, he has these too handled.
Gilder jumps back from the hell hound to instinctually fire another arrow, but it hits against a shard as the beast was already destroyed. He nods a thanks to Bernadette as he knocks another arrow and turns to provide covering fire for Theobo and Millicent across the way.
The halfling gives a little growl of pain as some of the flames lick around his shield and splash against his face. He flicks his shield arm to the right to send the glob off before following up with a strike from his sword. Theobo slashes at its shoulder as an arrow hits its flank. "Slow it down, attack what it attacks with." He mutters the words to himself, the pace of a battle still new to him.
Theobo is off balance as the hell hound goes to bite at his midsection.
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Post by Gwendolyn on Mar 8, 2023 17:39:30 GMT -5
Gwendolyn charges into the fray, the crest on her hip emmanating it’s own fearful power. Her maul raised high, she brings it down heavily upon the first hound she reaches. While it moves to jump out of the way of the hunk of shining steel, it’s leg gets caught in the path. The crunch echoes throughout the fight as the hellish hound howls horrendously. Millicent falls back onto a knee as the hound charges her and Theobo. It goes to crunch at his waist, and she quickly throws out a hand to cast enough wind to throw it off balance, slamming it’s head into the rock they had been hiding behind. It takes a second to shake off the impact. Bernadette joins the fray with Gwendolyn, blocking a lunge from a beast with the handle of her axe. She twists the gnashing dog sideways, and onto its back, but is poorly positioned to follow up on it. Priscilla once more knocks an arrow, taking a deep breath while pulling it back. Holding it, she lets loose and whiffs another shot, this one landing in the boulder that Millicent and Theobo cover behind. 1 hound decapitated by Bernadette 2 hounds engaged by Leandros 1 hound leg crushed by Gwendolyn 1 hound engaging Millicent and Theobo 1 hound engaged by Bernadette, prone Banner lord
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 8, 2023 18:07:58 GMT -5
"Keep your feet Theobo, stay steady everyone!" He calls out to the group, bolstering the resolve of the group.[1]
For his part, Leandros keeps the pressure on the hell hounds, both looking wounded. One gurgles its throat with a globule of lava, launching it at the knight at point blank range. At the same time the other lunges at his leg. Leandros spins his halberd to disperse the spit[2], but the hell hound is able to bite down on his leg. Unfortunately for it, the teeth meet a glowing barrier and is unable to do any actual harm.[3] Leandros pulls his halberd back to thrust it into the throat of the hell hound that spat at him, piercing it with enough force to shatter its craggy exterior.
Gilder pivots and fires off three quick shots at the hell hound that is aiming for Bernadette. The holy arrows pepper its side and bury themselves deep into the beast. It's enough pain to halt its attack and give her a chance to respond.
Theobo nods a quick thanks to Millicent before charging. He heads over and slams his shield into the hound's head to pin it against the rock. It struggles and snaps at the halfing, but he manages to plunge his sword into its chest. His blade also radiates with holy light, helping it to push deeper and hit its heart.
1. Inspiring Presence 2. Shifting Block 3. Titanic Reach
1 hound decapitated by Bernadette
1 hound engaged by Leandros, 1 dead
1 hound leg crushed by Gwendolyn
Millicent and Theobo free, hound killed
1 hound engaged by Bernadette, hound wounded
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Post by Gwendolyn on Mar 8, 2023 20:13:22 GMT -5
“Steady as we can!” Gwendolyn shouts, before catching a glob of flaming rock spat out by the hell hound with the crushed leg. Her armour sizzles as the heat breaks her out in a sweat. Swinging her maul backwards and up, she brings the shining steel head down on the wounded beast, putting both it and her out of misery. Obsidian shards scatter across the stony ground as it collapses with a thud. She drops the head of Enlightened Redolence to grasp at the release straps of her breastplate, only the slightest of panics as the residual heat builds within. It clanks to the ground as she takes a deep breath to recover. Bernadette takes advantage of the stunned beast before her, to cleave her axe deep into its belly. Molten rock pours from within to spread across the ground as she takes a few steps back from the gnashing, dying hound. It collapses shortly after. Millicent takes a breather, nodding back at Theobo as he charges into the fray. She pulled alot of magic out, needing to recharge before taking any action. Coughing, she places a handkerchief across her nose to protect from the ambient fine ash. Priscilla now fully steadied, loads one final arrow across her string. Pulling back, she takes aim at the hound grasping Leandros’ leg, and fires. 2 hound killed by Bernadette 1 hound engaged by Leandros and Priscilla, 1 dead 1 hound crushed by Gwendolyn Millicent and Theobo free, hound killed
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 8, 2023 21:57:39 GMT -5
The hell hound yelps out in pain as the arrow strikes its shoulder. The release gives Leandros enough space to step back and bring the tip of his halberd down. The holy steel pierces through the head and jaw to pin it too the floor. With a whimper and last twitch it finally stops moving and Leandros stands straight once more with a satisfied sigh.
Gilder and Theobo reconvene with Leandros as from behind a woman in comfortable, but very fashionable traveling gear with big blue curls approaches with a grin. She hands a healing potion to Theobo then Gwendolyn as the two seem to be the only injured ones.
"Good work Theobo, what you want to do with your shield is angle it down a bit, that will help channel any sprays away from your face." The young squire nods as he chugs his potion.
"You shot well...." Gilder looks to Priscilla, he's not quite the charismatic type like his lord and lady, but an effort is made.
Leandros brims with a smile as he looks to Gwendolyn, "All things considered this went well, you've trained these three well. It's a good show of your leadership."
"You're not hurt are you?" The woman looks up to Lee as he smiles down. "Course not, takes a fair bit of effort to do me harm."
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Post by Gwendolyn on Mar 8, 2023 23:40:22 GMT -5
Her thoughts ran a mile a minute. SHE was one of the injuries, shit shit shit. Was this a failure?! No… Their mission as a whole was successful, so that just meant SHE was a failure. Fuck, and in front of someone whose opinion she actually cared about as well. He was just putting on a nice facade, she was sure of it, judging her combat prowess and tactics. Fuck. Gwendolyn calmed herself with a deep breath. A reminder to take a look at the objective facts. He had complimented their training, Bernadette had done well as always on the field. Altogether not too bad at face value. She chugged the potion for her superficial burns, felt the cooling sensation wash down her chest as she bent over to pick up her slightly melted armour. Still warm. Within was the note she had truly come all this way for, a secret missive for a society untold. It would be easy to speak the truth of the matter, but to offend Sir Aurthurian would be remiss of her. “Thank you, all of you. We would have had some trouble were your outfit not here. I will commit to training my women even harder for the day we shall meet again.” She offers, bowing slightly Priscilla offered a meek wave to Glider, before walking back to rejoin the group. Her mingling skills could use work, but at least she left a good impression. Gwendolyn whistled sharply, signalling the Reindeer drawn wagon to land from it’s distant pattern in the sky
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Post by Leandros Aurthurian on Mar 11, 2023 12:05:00 GMT -5
"It would've been equally as bad for us had you all not been here Lady Mystwud. A single hell hound is enough of a challenge, but a whole pack?" He gives a small laugh, not really needing to finish that answer.
"If you care to return to Darkveil City with us, I'll be happy to treat you and yours to a dinner. A thanks for the help here today. At the very least I will have to return and let the guards know this path is clear again."
In the discussion, Theobo had jogged off to grab Byrr and lead the horse back to the knight. Apogee is helped up first before Lee mounts the horse next. "If not, it has been a pleasure to fight beside you all. We look forward to the next meeting."
He gives a warm and genuine smile before they turn to head back to town and put a wrap to this little adventure. The Aurthurian group certainly had a bit to learn as well, it wasn't often they had a chance to work with others, but it did certainly make things a lot easier than working alone. Leandros or Gilder likely would have been fine, but Theobo would be dead had it not been for the help.
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