Scamp the raccoon kit arrives, following Tallius.

Scamp the raccoon kit have been dismissed.

Betsy arrives, following Sparte.

It is just barely dawn when the party is starting to gather at the start of the Gray Forest. Thena has been put in charge of this mission, but Reese invited the others along. Reese is not here at the moment. The party was told to scout into the forest, trying the Northeast direction.

Merek has put on his robe which has the Crafter Sigil of his on it, lined in umbra. He has sword upon his hip and two daggers at the back of the waist, as well as his crossbow across the back. His hood is up so all that is seen is his gaze and his full beard he has, while he has come to meet up with Thena.

Shard got here early, as seems to have become routine for these missions with her. She's in her usual spot for them--leaning against one of the trees, arms crossed, with the hood of her cloak already pulled up over her head. She's not brought any packs of supplies with her, nor is there any sign of a horse; there's just her weapons and the pouches on her belt, as well as the cloth pouch she always wears hanging around her neck. Her eyes are faintly narrowed, expression guarded.

In blue leathers rather than her more common black, and thoroughly horseless, Thena joins the party in the forest, offering a small nod to each other member as she sees them. "We all got Princess Reese's orders, yeah? Northeast. Anyone here especially good at reading the forest out here? I'm good at sneaking but I'm still more comfortable on the streets than in the woods."

Sparte rides along on the ever uninspired Betsy, grinning over the morose horse's mug at Thena. He fires her a salute and a wink. "Commander." He has his usual kit of woolen clothes with some light leather to protect the extremities, with the sigil of the Iron Guard bright and bullseye-like on his back. He lightly pats Betsy's neck. "I left Tom in the city. I didn't want you trying to give her orders on accident and ruining a good relationship."

Tallius is on time, punctual that fellow. He approaches a little uncertainly, looking around, the man looking perhaps a little unusual for how most might have seen him before. Gone is the somewhat lax and entirely cheerful shopkeep, who spends more of his time in Petal's shop than his own. In it's place is a serious young man dressed in leather armor. He's got a quiver and bow upon his back, and as he approaches he has a folded sheet of parchment in hand. "Excuse me, Dame Thena isn't it?" he asks, offering the parchment. "The Princess said I should give this to you," he explains politely. "It's a letter of introduction, since she is sort of sending me along..I told her that we'd met, for like, all of four minutes before..but she seemed to think a letter would be helpful," he says with an amused grin.

Shard leans up off of her tree and lets her arms drop to her sides. She studies each arrival rather narrowly, before answering Thena with a faint grunt. "I can."

Merek offers a little salute to Thena, and then moves forward to look around a bit, while he allows others to answer her request for people familiar with the forest. He seems to be waiting for the call to move out.

"I'm not /your/ commander," Thena says to Sparte with a hint of mild tetchiness, and then Tallius approaches and hands her the letter. "Tallius. Good to have you along." The note is tucked away, and she nods to Shard. "I don't think we've met before, officially. I'm Thena. Great, if you wouldn't mind taking point with me...Tallius, Merek, wherever you're comfortable. Sparte, keep Betsy back a bit? Are we ready?"

"Ready," Merek tells Thena, while he shifts around and turns to move with them, taking up position on the flank protectively, as he relaxes a bit.

"Shard," the woman returns in a flat, clipped tone. She turns on her heel and moves off at a light, quiet pace to take up toward the front of the party without any further word on the matter.

"Ready," Merek tells Thena, while he shifts around and turns to move with them, taking up position on the flank protectively, as he relaxes a bit.

Sparte nods agreeably to the suggestion he hang back with his horse. "Alright." Betsy also seems okay with this plan, bending her neck to snort at the grass. He glances over the others, offering small waves to those who give him the time of day. Mileage there varies.

The party is able to continue into the forest and they walk and walk for quite sometime. Things are pretty uneventful for a while. The forest seems to be in pretty good shape considering that Brand was through here maybe a year ago and well it is just as it should be. The more alert might notice things though as they start to continue though.

Tallius smiles slightly, "of course," he says, pulling his bow off of his back. He hooks one limb behind an ankle and bends it quickly in a practiced motion across his other leg, hooking the string in place. Of course, looking at it, 'string' might be the wrong word as it appears to be braided alaricite. "I'm not bad in the woods, but my father always said I couldn't sneak up on anything to save my life.." he warns with a smile, "but if you need someone to find tracks or the like, give me a shout." He pulls an arrow and nocks it, moving out with the others.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Tallius checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

Shard checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

Thena checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

Sparte checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Merek, Tallius, Shard and Thena are able to hear distance sounds. They hear the voices of humans who are talking softly among themselves and trying not to draw too much notice. It is hard to tell how many people there are, but they speak with a Shav accent and seem to be a group that likely includes an assortment of ages. They also make sounds as they walk. They are to the right and ahead of the party, maybe off of the main path? Sparte doesn't hear them though.

"But not /too/ far back," Thena notes hastily to Sparte with a little grin as Betty seems inclined to graze. "Tallius, if you could hang back a little too, and cover us?" And they're off! The knight is quietly alert as they go, alternating between checking the others and the surroundings. She calls a halt when she catches the faint hint of voices. She tilts her head and squints, then asks softly, "Does anyone here understand that language?"

"Northern," Shard says, low. "They'll be Crownlands unless they're well out of place, but I can sometimes understand enough that we can communicate." She makes a circular gesture with one hand. "I could try to get closer and see if we could get eyes on them. How confident are you at it?"

Tallius gives a response just loud enough to make it to Thena, "same. Grew up in the northern mountains, so I can sort of pick up a few things, as long as they aren't talking too fast.." He strains to try and hear, but shakes his head, "but not at this distance, sorry ma'am.."

Merek does not seem to speak much, instead he looks around a bit, and seems to be keeping an eye on the situation. "Hmm." He lets out a thoughtful sigh.

Sparte chuckles, giving Betsy a little nudge to move up some and tag along with the group. On the second nudge the horse complies. He glances over to Tallius, speaking lowly towards them. "Sparte Fatchforth, by the by. I sneak like a rooster hides, so I'm usually in the back."

"Pretty good at sneaking. No good at all at understanding anything but Arvani," Thena murmurs to Shard. When Tallius confirms that he can't make it out either she nods and squints in the direction of the voices. "You and I creep in then, Shard, while the rest cover us? Try to figure out what they're doing here?"

Shard nods slowly. "It sounds like they're off the path," she murmurs. "Move around...that way? Circle around behind them, perhaps, if we're lucky."

Shard checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 25, rolling 4 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 25, rolling 9 higher.

Thena and Shard are able to circle around and sneak closer the group of Shavs. They are quite sneaky and likely haven't drawn notice. They see a group of about ten people who appear to be Northern Shav wearing an assortment of worn clothing and furs. They carry some low quality steel weapons with them. The group appears to possibly be an extended family. It includes an elderly man, two adult women, an adult men and about six kids ranging in ages from twelve to a babe in arms. They look to be on the skinny side or rather on the haven't had enough to eat side. One of the women looks toward the kids urging them to be silent. "Shh...we don't want Oricha.." She starts to say until the elderly man interupts her. "Him to hear us." He says grim-faced. "No saying his name, Rebecca."

Shard leans in and whispers a translation of this to Thena, though doesn't translate the almost said name. She says 'Horned One' instead. When she finishes, she arches her eyebrows at the other woman, and gestures at herself, then the people they're observing.

Tallius doesn't try to move forward, but instead looks over towards Sparte. "Tallius Oakheart," he offers politely. He doesn't extend a hand, since he's got a bow and arrow in hands at the moment. "Yer one of the Lord Commanders Iron Guard, aren't ya?" he asks curiously, "I've heard your name before...pleasure to meet you in person, sir."

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

Thena checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Shard checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Tallius checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Thena's eyes widen at Shard's words and she looks back over at the family grouping before nodding hesitantly at her companion. Basically an agreement to whatever she's got in mind.

Sparte checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Shard points at Thena, then at the ground where she's standing, before slipping away from her. She circles a bit further, putting some distance between herself and the other woman, and then slips toward the apparent family at a slightly different angle. Just before stepping into view, she pushes the hood of her cloak back, so that her unconventional (for the Compact) hairstyle, twin ravenfeathers included, as well as the scarificiation on her face, are entirely visible. And then she walks right into their camp, hands raised and empty, with one finger over her lips.

Merek and Tallius hear the sounds of animals off in the distance toward the left, which is the opposite direction of the human party. Shard and Thena are too far away to hear them. Shard those sees a raven fluttering close and landing in the branches. The bird has sickly yellow eyes and seems to be watching the family. They haven't noticed the avian, but continue walking. One of the women goes to pick up a child who is about five and struggling with the journey. "We will get to compact soon and then there will be food, bread." She murmurs to the child in Northern Shav. Shard is able to basically understand it.

"... Sounds like animals coming, opposite of the Shavs," Merek tells Tallius and Sparte, while he looks that direction and shifts out his blade a small bit as if waiting, but does not quite act at the moment. Can't be sure with all the Abyssal animals about.

Shard checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 40, rolling 8 lower.

Tallius looks to Merek and gives a nod, looking unsurprised. "Hopefully they just keep their distances," he remarks dryly, "few animals will come after a group of humans, unless we are encroaching on a den.. Or unless they are being driven by something." He makes a wry sort of smile, "so in other words, I have no clue or suggestion as to what might happen."

Shard's intentions change in a moment. She goes from hands up and open, to suddenly pulling her bow from her back and fitting an arrow to the string in mere moments. That...can't look good to anyone, let alone an already worried family on the run. Unfortunately, her shot isn't helped by her hurry--it goes just wide of the raven in the branches. She swears, low but foul, under her breath in Northern shav, and reaches immediately for another arrow, just in case she might be able to get off another try.

Shard wields a largely unremarkable rubicund longbow.

Sparte nods in response to Tallius. "I do what I can. I don't know what you heard, but odds are if it was bad I deserve it." He grins a bit at the other man, not seeming in the least bit worried by the foray into dangerous woods. Still, he hangs back patiently as asked. His head tints to the side, looking at nothing in particular before he nods to Merek's words. "So it does." He gently pats Betsy on the neck again.

Thena stays where she is for the time being in a crouch, though her hand's on her dagger and she's clearly tensed to react if things go south. She stands up a little when Shard suddenly shoots at...something, and her gaze snaps to the Northern family to take in their reaction.

The raven caws as the arrow flies toward it and is almost hit, but not quiet. It flaps it wings and caws again. The family looks over toward the bird. One of the women sets down her son and draws her rusty old sword. They seem on the alert. The children are pushed toward the center of the party. "We have been spotted." The elderly man says, looking very grim-faced now. "Keep walking." He says, but sounds worried. He likely things they are goners. "That bird is a spy." The bird in question is flying away.

Meanwhile the sounds of animals start to draw closer to Tallius, Mere and Sparte. The Raven flaps by them.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 40, rolling 23 higher.

One of the women points out Shard and the other turn to look at her. "Who are you?" The elderly man asks in Crownlands Shav. Shard can mostly understand it.

Merek checked intellect + war at difficulty 20, rolling 14 lower.

Tallius is trying to listen to the sounds of animals in the distance, when a much closer sound comes. The twanging of a bow, the angry caw of the raven, then the rapid flapping of wings. He looks around quickly and spotting the raven taking flight he brings his bow up and snaps a shot off in an incredibly fluid motion. The arrowhead looks to be made of the same shimmering metal as the bow string or the reinforcing of the arms of that heavy bow, and launches with an incredible speed, seeming to fly straight and true towards the raven.

Merek takes a moment to draw out his blade and then looks as Tallius shoots the bird. As he does he realizes something and then moves to cut down what he can into the path of the animals, "Get your weapons ready boys, I think we're about to have a little Abyssal run-in, that was a spy crow," he tells them, while he twirls his sword about a bit, the diamondplate gleaming.

Shard fits the second arrow to the bowstring, but the damn raven is already out of her range. She swears again in Northern shav, but there's nothing for it. "Can you get them into the trees?" She asks the elderly man in turn, still in Northlands, gesturing toward the trees they're walking past. "There will be more coming, quickly. I have friends nearby." "Thena!" She calls, now in Arvani. "Incoming, get the others ready for anything!"

There's a puff of black feathers and a little squawking noise, as the raven is sent on to never more. "Correct. It -was- a spy crow," he says cheerfully as he pulls another arrow out and nocks it.

Thena waves an arm in acknowledgement and heads back for the rest of the party on the road without much worry for stealth at this point. When she's in earshot of them, "There's a family. No threat. Shard's getting them back this way so we can deal with the rest of this shit."

The Shavs look toward Shard, giving her a nod. They start by trying to help the children who are old enough to climb into the trees. The woman with the baby seems intent on staying on the ground, but is hard to climb with a child in toe. The four year old doesn't seem capable of climbing either. "Friends that is good. I hope they are tough friends." The elderly man says, sounding worried. Him and one of the women seem intent on fighting and have weapons drawn. "Thank you." He adds.

Merek looks over to Thena, "We have animals coming to us from the opposite of their direction, so uh. Are we to defend them in a perimeter?" he asks, while he lifts a brow.

A wolf howls. A baby cries. The sounds of the animals are getting closer. These animals will near near the party on the path in mere moments.

Shard looks sharply toward the sound of the howl. She reaches back and loosens her own sword in its sheathe, then renocks her arrow. "Compact," she says to the elderly man, in Northern Shav. The word doesn't sound particularly complimentary in that tongue, but it does hold a certain meaning. "Stick together. Keep your backs to the tree and them," she indicates the woman with the baby, and the young child, "your sides to each other. Stay behind me." She waits a few moments. "We've been looking for these things."

Tallius falls back quickly towards where the family is, and spots the predicament with getting evveryone up into the trees. "Can I help?" he asks in northern shav. He'll move over to the child who can't climb and smile, "tell you what, why don't you hang on to me?" he suggests, putting bow and arrow away and kneeling so that the kid can climb aboard. He'll then try and climb up with the kid on his back.

Tallius checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 19 higher.

"We fall back to them." Thena draws her diamondplate dagger and wraps her prayer beads around her other hand like a good luck charm and puts actions to words.

The elderly man nods toward Shard, seemingly eager to accept her help. After all, he probably doesn't have a whole lot of other options. He takes her instructions, moving to stand in front of the woman with the baby. She calls him father, revealing he is probably her dad and the baby's granddad. The boy looks over to Tallius with wide eyes, climbs onto his back and accepts the ride. Tallius is able to easily climb up with him. His mother looks grateful. She stays down to fight, her own sword drawn.

Merek continues to twirl about his blade, and then draws his crossbow from the back. He then hefts it forward while his other weapon is shifted behind him. "I'll help keep the frontline of the foe busy then," he tells them as he falls back along with Thena, however remaining to the front and where the enemy is most like to come. He seems intent on assisting in protecting the Shav'Arvani.

The wolves are getting closer. The party can see them at a distance. A pack of about twelve giant dire wolves that have gleaming yellow eyes and black fur slicked with a green slim can bee seen. They are larger than they should be. Following behind them is a lumbering and twisted giant of a man with too long arms and a bent back. He shuffles around with shadows gathering about his person. "He wants them....as slaves." The man says in Crownlands Shav seeming toward the wolf pack. The wolves growl and howl, getting ready to charge.

Tallius looks down from where he is now in the tree, after handing off his passenger to another of the civilians. He pulls his rope out and makes a loop in the end of it before tossing it over a higher branch. He lowers it down to the woman with the baby, "loop this under your arms and we'll pull you up," he instructs, "just make sure that you hold on to the little one!"

Shard checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Tallius checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 20 higher.

"Shit," Thena murmurs as the wolves come into sight with their...whatever that is with them. She tightens her grip on the diamondplate dagger and pulls another one, plainer, just steel, from her belt.

Merek clicks his finger on the crossbow and a bolt goes wide it would seem, but hopefully it will deter them at least a bit. He then twirls his blade as he moves forward putting the crossbow on his back. His form seems to be one of Eurusi, a rare style but one he's researched a bit.

"Give him this message, from me," Shard calls to the giant of a man, as she pulls her bowstring to full draw, then releases. Her arrow strikes one of the frontmost wolves in the chest, though it's just off center, and doesn't bring the large beast down on its own.

Anyone who is looking up might well think that Tallius is about to fall out of the tree, the way he leans from the limb. But as soon as the woman has the rope hooked under her arms, he starts hauling away with the strength of a carpenter and woodsman. The leverage of the limb and the lean makes fast work of it, as he reels the woman up, one of the others pulling her to the safety of a limb to stand upon. He ties the rope off and smiles, "safety net," he says cheerfully, as he pulls his bow back out and runs along the limb, already drawing an arrow as he tries to jump over to the limb of an adjacent tree and get line of sight to the enemy.

The woman with the baby is helped into the tree thanks to Tallius. She seems glad to be up there and away from the wolves. She cradles her baby and stays close to the four year old, trying to make that child doesn't fall. The rest of the kids are able to keep their perch pretty safely. They are haunted-eyed and too skinny kids who are used to the woods and fleeing for their lives. They keep quiet and still in a way that no prince or princess would likely to be able to.

The wolves charge forward and one of them is injured. They are now in melee range of the party and looking ready to attack them. Their teeth gleam with a green slim and their howls sound terrible.

Tallius has joined the line.

It is now Tallius's turn to speak.

Thena has joined the line.

Tallius checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Merek has joined the line.

Tallius moves away from the family, hopping over to a nearby tree and getting into a better position.

It is now Thena's turn to speak.

Shard has joined the line.

Thena has rolled a critical success!
Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 99 higher.

It is now Merek's turn to speak.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Shard wields a rubicund short sword with a black leather wrapped grip.

It is now Shard's turn to speak.

Shard checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Thena has rolled a critical success!
Thena checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 115 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 29 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 58 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Shard loops her bow over one shoulder and slips her red blade free of its sheathe as the wolves charge. She crouches low, side-stepping just so at the last moment to dig the point up and into one of the beasts, using its own momentum against it to tear a considerably nasty gouge into its hide and flesh before she tears the weapon free.

Thena crouches as the wave of creatures is upon them and closes her eyes briefly, lips moving in silent prayer. After just a moment they open again, wide and dark, and in one fluid movement she hauls back and flings the dagger at the shadow giant. It flies as true as though guided by the gods themselves and thunks hard into the shadowy creature's chest. It staggers disjointedly, then totters. Thena's full attention seems glued to the creature, yet when a direwolf attacks her she sidesteps it like she's on a summer walk in the park, then whirls on it and slashes it across the flank with her diamondplate blade.

Merek notices Thena as she seems to take out the orc, and then twirls his weapon about, "Impressive," he offers aside, then he takes his diamondplate blade and lets out a loud growl as he comes around with it and finishes the one Shard had with a clean slash of his blade as blood covers him and the Abyssal wolf is taken clean in half. He then pulls his weapon back from the sizzling it causes and turns to move out of range as a wolf leaps at him.

The Dire wolves all charge! They dart toward the part, swarming those on the ground, but this party is quite nimble and they are able to evade all the attacks or even counter attack. Shard is able to keep the wolves from attacking the Shavs as well. The party is doing quite well. There are eight uninjured wolves and two injured ones still standing.

Tallius has joined the line.

Shard has joined the line.

Merek has joined the line.

It is now Tallius's turn to speak.

Thena has joined the line.

Tallius has rolled a critical success!
Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 28 higher.

It is now Shard's turn to speak.

Shard checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 36 higher.

It is now Merek's turn to speak.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 15 higher.

It is now Thena's turn to speak.

Tallius was going to take a shot at the giant monster, but by the time he's in position, he's watching it crumble to the ground. "Well then, nevermind," he says cheerfully as he shifts his aim. He draws a bead on a wolf that is going in for one of the civilians, having skirted around. The arrow punches down through the back of the things neck, cleanly severing the spine and chucking into the ground, holding the thing up partially despite it being quite dead. The archer is already drawing another arrow and seeking his next target.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Merek comes around once he has dodged, and then slashes his weapon at an injured wolf. Once he does it is also killed as the blood flows across his weapon and some splashes onto him. He then prepares to dodge before his next assault. The manner he does this all though, unlike most, seems to be almost methodic.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 29 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 24 higher.

As the beasts come around again, Shard is ducking and weaving, even fending one off the elderly Abandoned man by slapping at the attacking dire wolf's teeth with the flat of her sword, but when she's matched up with the wolf she opened up, she abruptly turns far more aggressive, and this time she takes half of its chest and throat with her when they tangle, leaving the thing thrashing and bleeding out within seconds on the forest floor.

The kids were really silent at first as if hoping that the wolves didn't notice them after the adults were all killed or something! These are smart and survival geared kids or at least they were. Now they watch as the pack of Abyss foes is cut in half in a matter of moments and watch as none of the warriors from compact are injured. They start to cheer from the trees, acting like kids and seemingly having faith enough in a victory to stop being so careful.

The wolves attack again again and once again they are fended off by the party. This group is kicking ass and being quite amazing.

Tallius has joined the line.

Shard has joined the line.

Thena has joined the line.

Merek has joined the line.

It is now Tallius's turn to speak.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 27 higher.

It is now Shard's turn to speak.

Tallius's next shot isn't quite as spectacular, but it's still pretty darned good, considering he's firing into a melee of rapid moving people and wolves. He sees Shard being swarmed and lets an arrow loose, slamming into the back of one of the wolves harassing her, giving it a nice limp that will hopefully make it easier to deal with.

Shard checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 15 higher.

It is now Thena's turn to speak.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 33 higher.

It is now Merek's turn to speak.

Shard practically pounces on the wolf Tallius injures--she certainly views it as an opportunity. The kill isn't remotely graceful, nor is it particularly quick in comparison to her last, consisting of several rough, vicious hacks to the neck, but she gets it done.

Thena neatly slides her dagger into the neck of a bloody wolf slinking past, downing it. Her eyes dart briefly to the kids in the trees and the corner of her mouth tics up ever so slightly before it's back to business.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 46 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 59 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

Merek comes around once he has leaped back from two wolves, then he slashes towards one and blood splashes as it is wounded but not killed, sizzling from touching his blade. He then dodges from another one of the wolves that come towards him.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

The kids keep cheering and the wolves are pretty badly hurt with only five still standing. They are sort of crazy wolves and keep attacking despite being so quickly wiped out.

Tallius has joined the line.

Shard has joined the line.

Merek has joined the line.

Thena has joined the line.

It is now Tallius's turn to speak.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

It is now Shard's turn to speak.

Shard checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

It is now Merek's turn to speak.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 6 higher.

It is now Thena's turn to speak.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Tallius's arrow comes around and flies true once again, slamming into another of the ones harassing Shard, catching it in the flank and hopefully slowing it. He looks over to the kids and smiles, "might wanna keep it a tiny bit quieter, no telling if there's more out there, and I'd hate for them to slow down us finding you kids some good supper back in the city?" he suggests with a wink.

Merek moves towards one of the wolves, then he comes around to finish it with a slash that comes across it. He then shifts his hip a little bit and continues to weave around a bit. He speaks quietly from beneath his hood, "Back to Arvum's land, be in peace and freed of this taint," he tells the wolf he just killed, as he turns to re-engage.

Shard seems to have been waiting for the next arrow. It worked well the last time, after all. As soon as Tallius shoots the next wolf, she's on top of it, driving her red blade deep into the creature's side, widening the already nasty injury until the wolf simply expires. She almost casually flicks the arrow out of the much larger wound once she's done, and moves on to the next.

Thena checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 31 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 52 higher.

Merek has rolled a critical success!
Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 103 higher.

Thena's lips curl in a silent snarl as her next quarry evades her, but is able to duck out of the way when it wheels back to attack.

The wolves attack! All three of them. They are very brave or maybe just very tainted and possibly writ bound. One of them is killed by Merek and only two are standing. They grow and howl, sounding to sound tough.

Merek notices the wolf leaping to him and then he moves with a small shift of his foot to the side, reaches out with a hand, pulls his arm around the foe and then spins it around with the momentum as he drives his blade downwards right into it as a counter. "Be in peace," he tells it. He seems calm, though his gaze is aflame. It's quite a sight to say the least.

Tallius has joined the line.

Merek has joined the line.

It is now Tallius's turn to speak.

Thena has joined the line.

Shard has joined the line.

Tallius has rolled a critical success!
Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 55 higher.

It is now Merek's turn to speak.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

It is now Thena's turn to speak.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Tallius spots the wolf harrying Thena, and sees the knight evaded, and having to evade the things counter attacks. He lets another arrow fly, and catches the wolf in the side of it's flank, just behind the shoulder. The alaricite arrowhead buries deep into the things body, right into its corrupted heart, ending the creatures befouled life instantly.

Merek comes up and stands, while he shifts his hip and comes around to strike another one, and leaves it then wounded for Thena to finish as she will, as he lets out a small sigh.

Thena has been in a slash-and-dodge zone for some time; it's with some startlement that she realizes that the last wolf she took down, with a stab to the spine, is the last wolf in the vicinity. She seems to snap out of a mild trance and looks around, taking in the position of the others. After a couple of deep breaths, "Everyone all right? Injuries?"

The last wolf is killed by Thena and well now there are the bodies of thirteen tainted creatures around them. The Shaves look relieved and start to work their way down the trees. The woman with the two little kids will likely need help. "Don't touch the bodies!" The elderly man says, calling up to the kids who start scampering down. He is still speaking in Shav. The adults are thanking them in Shav and the kids are looking happy. One of the woman, says. "We are trying to make it safely to Compact."

Shard slowly lowers the tip of her sword as the last wolf falls. She makes her way between bodies toward the giant man, pausing only to wipe her blade off on his clothes before she uses the edge of her boot to nudge his face into view.

Shard checked perception + occult at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Merek checked perception + occult at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

Tallius looks around and then smiles over towards the people, "that's convenient, we're trying to find people like you and bring them safely back to the Compact..I love it when things work out tidily." He will move back towards the ones in the trees, "let's get you all back on the ground, it'd be a bit awkward to walk back to Arx in the treetops," he jokes as he moves to lower the woman with the baby back down.

Merek sheathes his weapon and looks around to find a place near the path that looks like it won't bother the whole forest with flame, and starts to create a barrier. He then pulls all the wolves with his gloves, carried along with his blood, even the orc it would seem once Shard has wiped off her stuff on him, and places them all within it. He stands up and then takes a moment to pull out a torch made of Everwinter wood, and lights it with a phoenix striker kit. He then looks up, "Queen of Endings, Petrichor, gods... These... Beings. Were not always corrupted, I would like to believe, and their spirits and souls are as precious as... All life. What once were men, and the beautiful creatures of your forests..." He lets out a small sigh, and then places a flame down to the circle to light it aflame along with the bodies. Then he looks up in the skies, and lets the torch lower, speaking, in another tongue.

Tallius spots Merek, "Woah wait!" and rushes over quickly..he yanks his arrows out of the wolves, grinning, "sorry, carry on!" he says cheerfully.

Shard studies the man's face for a long few moments before she eventually looks away, and sheathes her sword. She gives Merek a narrow look. "He didn't follow your gods," she says, flatly, although she makes no move to interfere with his preparations. Instead, she says to Tallius, "Don't leave any arrows behind."

Thena follows Shard in order to retrieve her one thrown dagger; it's buried deep enough that this takes some rather icky effort; she's nothing if not pragmatic. Once Merek has collected the bodies and set them aflame she adds a quietly murmured prayer as well, in her capacity as a Godsworn priest, then, to Shard, "Do you want to add something?"

The Shavs are helped from the Tree by Tallius. They seem eager to be escorted back to Arx. One of the girls looks all hero worshipping of Thena and seems to be hovering around her. She looks to about ten.

Shard has drawn her own dagger, and is setting about cutting her one arrow free of the wolf she shot. "I'm not a shaman," she replies. Those listening closely might notice it's a fraction less flat. "And I don't know who his tribe's spirits or ancestors were." A beat, and then she glances up. "It's...different," she explains.

Merek looks over to Shard, he seems about to speak, but then he looks to the circle. "I've seen spirits and gods alike in this world. All I know is that this man's soul deserved better. And for all the murders of those we court? I bless the hour that holds the damned one's fall," he voices, speaking possibly about the Horned One. "He who chose ages of life and dark powers over the Wheel and the natural Order. For this, for every man, for every woman, for every blessed creature of the forest, for all spirits who have hurt, and for ALL who he has affected. I will hold his downfall as the end of this tormented night that never ceases for us." His gaze haunted he looks away. Holding back the desire to shout and curse Orichalcum's name and draw attention, but he holds out his better thoughts and does not do so.

Shard checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 5 lower.

The Shavs don't understand the language being spoken for the most part right now. They are more set on getting to Compact than anything. "They got lots of milk and money in compact." One of the kids says, having hungry eyes. The girl near Thena, looks up toward her. "And I'm going to train to be a knight too!" She says, they still speak in Crownlands Shav. The adults seem a bit less enchanted by Compact, probably being more realistic, but they also seem eager to get out of the woods.

Thena tilts her head at Shard, then nods, cleaning her steel dagger and sheathing both that and the other one. " She makes her way over to the others, Tallius and the shavs, darting an awkward little glance and a little smile at her new fan before adding to Tallius' words, "We can escort you to the City, see that you're set up properly there." Which...they probably can't understand, but hopefully it sounds encouraging and helpful.

Shard finishes cutting her arrow free, and then suddenly buries her dagger into the wolf corpse up to the hilt. There's a moment where she just stays there, crouched, before she yanks the weapon free and straightens up. "Shut up," she says to Merek. The words are quiet, clipped, and very, very calm. They don't match the tension in her face at all. "Do whatever it is you're going to do, so we can go." She moves off now, away from the bodies, and the family of Abandoned, and the others in general.

Tallius looks towards the adults and makes his way over. "I am Tallius Oakheart," he says in northlands shav. "I run a carpentry shop and the woman I love is a seamstress. We are near the center square..come and see us, and we will help get you settled. We know people in nearly every craft, and can help find you work and lodging, get you settled and on your feet," he assures seriously.

Merek checked composure at difficulty 25, rolling 15 lower.

Merek checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Merek turns his gaze to Shard and looks at her, measured for a moment. He has no words, just that look which is difficult to describe. "And people wonder why I never mourn nor speak," he states, then he moves past the flame and looks at it, lifting his hand a small bit, reaching into the flame a moment to cover something with his hands and pull it to him. The flames licking at him don't seem to bother him /too/ much even if it is obvious that it is doing his skin and self no favour on the outside.

Thena checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

"For fucks sake, do I need to take you directly to the Asylum?" Thena says in wide-eyed exasperation as Merek reaches into the fire. "Get away from there, /now/. Everyone, we need to move."

Merek checked mana + smithing at difficulty 40, rolling 17 lower.

Shard doesn't look back when Merek speaks, as she's already moved several feet away at this point. She does, however, when Thena draws attention to it. She glances back over one shoulder, eyes narrowed.

The Shaves seem confused and eager to leave.

Tallius looks over to Thena, blinking, then looking back at Merek and Shard and all the things. "Yeahh, I'm gonna go ahead and start helping these folks back to the city," he says. He mutters something about the 'strange folks from the church' in a confused fashion, but moves to start corralling the shav. He speaks fluently in Northern Shav, trying to speak slowly so that they can pick it up the same as he picks up the bit of Common he understands, encouraging them to step right along back towards the safety of a city, telling them his own refugee tale, and generally being friendly to them as he escorts them.

Merek lowers his hand for a moment and then looks back to Thena and Shard, but doesn't speak. Instead he just follows them, hood up for the time being. Whatever he has or has not learned, he seems to have a personal mission within his mind. He's following as they leave at least.