The party is gathered outside cave and it is by now getting to be afternoon. They are deep in the wilderness of Whitehold. From inside they hear the sounds of some sort creature walking about and the softer whimper of human female.

Jordan is somewhere in the front of the party and Morrighan is somewhere near the back. Violet is off to the side flanking and has managed to be rather sneaky. Felicia did a pretty good at being sneaky as well, but when she calls out her cover is likely blown. A creature peeks out from the cave, having fur that is shades of gray, brown and black. It is matted and looks to have this greasy sheen to it. The fur on the beast also appears to be longish fur. It has a canine like face and his eyes are an eerie yellow or maybe her eyes, it is hard to tell for sure. It appears to be on four legs. The being is large, maybe the size of a small elephant which is huge for a canine like creature. The cave is big enough for him. He or She looks over to Felicia and growls, but has yet to leave the cave fully.

*ooooooooooah* is the noise Arik makes as the muzzle, head, yellow tinted eyes, and then the shoulders of the small elephant sized wolf comes into view. It's not a signal or a sign but an appreciative noise of its size as the angle of Frostfang shifts in his gauntleted hands looks like it's high and leading forward very little in the way of defense and meant for heavy slashing not yet rushing it as he is in the faaaaar back.

Violet makes her way quietly in the shadows along the edge of the rocks that form the cave. Her bow is out and an arrow drawn at the ready. Though she only sees it in profile the fact that it is taller than her is not missed. She narrows her eyes when she frowns and takes careful aim at its eyes.

Felicia is providing a nice, shiny, coppery plate target for the peeking beast. Pay attention to the redheaded knight in the rubicund that eyes this creature with some concern. Persuasion held high in both her hands,"That's right." she croons at it, sparing little more than a glance for where the others might be so that they can find their own positions,"How smart are you, you giant furry bastard? Keep your eyes here. See me? Just one person, tasty snackfood, right?" there's a couple of steps taken forward, though she's not about to lose the advantage by stepping too close to that cave entrance, but definitely goes for 'predator encroaching on territory' in the hopes of luring it outside where the rest of them have the advantage.

It's with a swiftness that Morrighan sprints up towards the front, her barbed alaricite trident in hand, and the split coat tails of her vest trail along behind her, fluttering about. She tightly grips the shaft of her weapon, aiming the razor sharp barbs the beasts way, and for a moment her eyes flit about, looking for Violet's position - and locking on once spied. The dame sidles up along side Jordan, skidding to a halt, easing into a stance she can easily maneuver, defend, or attack from, and gives him a faint nod, one that extends off to Arik in the distance.

Cora works her way around so that she is ready to attack as soon as the thing is further out, for now she is patient, watching, waiting for the ability to attack. She tries not to make herself into a likely target, Felicia seeming to have that covered.

"All right," Jordan already has his alaricite blade drawn, facing the prospect of bloodshed with a grim smile. He nods back to Morrighan, then reaches back for his shield, gripping it with his off hand, facing forward. "Get ready. Let it come to us," he instructs, lowering the tip of his blade deceptively low -- likely to catch what he fears is a beastly foe, or at least someone who purports to be one, at the leg.

Felicia checked wits + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Coraline checked wits + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 11 lower.

Arik checked wits + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 10 lower.

Jordan checked wits + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 6 lower.

Morrighan checked wits + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 12 lower.

The creature is quite large and the cave is quite large too, still it takes up most of the entry way. One could try to sneak past the being by doing something like crawling underneath its legs, but that would be both dangerous and unlikely to work. There is a little bit of space to the right side where maybe one could turn to the side and slip past, but it would be extremely difficult to evade notice as one would have to draw near to the mouth of the cave in full daylight in order to do so. Still one can try! The being looks over the party and growls, but doesn't budge from his position. He looks to be angry and he shows signs of some understanding and intelligence. He seems to see everyone save for violet. He grunts ands growls and the general feel from his tone is /go away/.

Arik checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

What's that? Frostfang is in one hand and point tipped to the ground and his right hand pulls a throwing axe out of the back of the swordbelt. *whoosh* it goes end over end right into the centermass of the canine beast, not aiming for heads or eyes but centermass.

Coraline checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Violet checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 60, rolling 14 lower.

Picking up a nearby stone, Cora chucks it as hard as she can at the creature. Yeah it will probably notice her now but a throwing axe might be the more irritating object thrown at it, still it can't be pleasant to have a rock thrown at it either. Yay team!

The throwing axe hits the canine beast in its left shoulder the greasy fur beginning slickened if only a little with whatever shade of blood this damned thing bleeds.

Violet doesn't make a noise of any upset when her arrow misses. As soon as the arrow left she was drawing another and aiming again at the beast. There is a single-mindedness in what she is doing at the moment. If it comes to chase her, well she can just run straight for Felicia.

Felicia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 10 lower.

Weapons go wooshing, and Felicia thinks she see's an opportunity. A fool's opportunity, more than likely, but still. She's less concerned about the wolf the size of a bloody elephant, than she is about the poor girl stuck in the cave behind it. Which is why in the wake of axes and rocks the King's Own elects to charge towards the beast and the cave, thinking she see's a gap between it's body and the cave beyond.

Reese GM Roll checked dex(3) + brawl(4) at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

15 inflicted and Felicia is unharmed.

15 inflicted and Felicia is harmed for moderate damage.

Felicia charges at the beast! The beast seems to realize what she is doing, shifting his form in the cave to take up more space to the right and blocking her movement. This does leave more space to the left however. The creature rawrs, striking at her with sharp looking claws and getting past her armor with one ugly talon. She is wounded and is bleeding from the puncture, but looks to be still standing and still able to fight.

"Enough. It won't move, we will move it. Bring it down in the cave mouth." Arik calls out while bringing Frostfang back up in an aggressive high held position.

Jordan checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 42 higher.

Arik checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 25 higher.

Sighing and shaking her head Cora readies her sword and moves to stand next to Felicia so that Cora can help out if Felicia needs it. She then aims to attack any point she can see to hit.

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

"Alright, move, move, move!" Jordan calls out as he holds the blade upwards, slinking forward and to the side in order to cartwheel just under the creature and sink his sword into its belly. It carves out a nice slash on the flank, but now he's dangerously close to the beast. "Get ready!"

Coraline has rolled a critical success!
Coraline checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 82 higher.

Arik has more distance to cover but the plate armored man crosses it in time and leans his weight into the slash. While Jordan goes low, the Halfshav Sword goes high cutting overhead into the beasts shoulder while its head is distracted with someone else!

As the beast moves with the other's attacks Cora can see that jugular vein pumping, an excellent and large target, with a solid yet she goes low and puts her entire weight upwards into that vein and streight up into the skull, twisting the blade when she stops, twisting her body such that it can't reach her in it's reactions.

"It's guarding the entrance!" Felicia tries to point out at a bellow, not bothering to check her wound, it hurts but it's less of a concern for her as the others strike she lets Persuasions tip drop, slow to follow the others in striking at the beast despite the damage she's sustained.

Violet checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 60, rolling 10 lower.

No sooner do the words begin to escape from Jordan's mouth does Morrighan make her move, approaching in unison with the Ashford Knight now that the beast's left side is open for an attack. Her boots dig into the dirt as she presses forward, closing in, and veers off, her trident aimed for the canine's throat. She lunges her weapon forward to dig the razor sharp barbs in past its flesh, working to rend it open.

Violet misses again and as the rest move in on the beast she darts forward. The commandant is small and spry and uses it to good advantage. Past the great mass she moves towards the whimpering in the dark.

The giant beast is taken down by the combined efforts of Morrighan, Arik, Jordan and Coraline. Coraline's hit was so very impressive, a hit worthy of being part of a ballad, but most watching would realize that it took them all working together to bring downt eh creature. Felicia is still bleeding, but she is walking wounded and on her feet. It wouldn't hurt to try and stop the bleeding though. Violet is able to dart past the dying creature. She does have to climb over his legs and she finds herself inside the cave.

There is a woman who appears to be in her early twenties who is kept inside a wooden cage. She is dressed in furs and wools. She looks uninjured, but does look to be pale and frightened. This does beg the question did the beast put her inside the cage or did a human do such? She looks to Violet with wide eyes, hopeful and yet still wary.

"Gods, that will take so long to wash off the surcoat," Jordan comments as he receives a bodyful of blood, all over his face and torso, from the overwhelmingly powerful strike by Coraline. "Looks like Bayweather's training you really well, Princess Coraline," he congratulates the Thrax before standing up. "Feel free to skin it if you want some nice leather." And having said that, he sheathes Wayfarer and heads on after Violet, nodding to Arik and Morrighan both.

"I am afraid I don't know the first thing about how to skin." Cora says with a grin, she pulls out some bandages from her pack, being careful not to touch the bandages themselves, also being covered in blood, and hands them to Felicia, "Might be good to stop that bleeding. Do you need help?" Either if they are taken or not, Cora retrieves her sword and cleans it on the hide of the beast before turning her attention fully to Felicia.

Arik wipes Frostfang against the greasy fur of the now very dead canine beast. The whole blade is wiped clean of blood maybe a little greasy before sheathing it. The Halfshav Sword looks aside at the Princess and remarks, "Impressive strike, mayhap the sailors will come up with a tune on the trip back?" he offers in a wry note and then briefly looks around checking on the group but leaving Violet to the cave.

"Brielle?" Violet asks as she looks around the cave with a frown. The wolf would not have been able to put her in a cage. "We're here to rescue you...who put you in there?" She speaks in shav as she approaches the cage, bending to try and find a way to open it.

"Is the girl okay?" Felicia calls from outside the cave, accepting the bandages with a small nod towards Cora and a wry kind of smile,"What's there to know? Tie about the bit that's wounded until it stops seeping, right?" she opens, sheathing Persuasion for the moment so that she can prise open what's left of the stays on that side and peel off her armor in the interest of getting a look at the wound in preparation for winding those bandages about herself with a novice's cluelessness about anything other than 'cover the bleeding bit'

Coraline checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

With the beast felled, Morrighan flicks the ichor from her trident, though still keeps it tightly held in hand, and maneuvers around the corpse, trailing after Jordan and Violet, though stops short of the caged woman. The dame keeps guard, glancing about the interior, her eyes shifting from side to side, remaining vigilant.

Things are well in hand and Arik seems about to enter the cave but Morrighan is on it and he remains where he is. "Felicia when you're done with your seeping bits please behind this monster. We'll bring the head back with us to the camp."

The girl looks toward Violet, seeming to be comforted by her using her name. She speaks in Crownlands Shav. "I...these guys did. They said they needed to feed him." She says of the beast and apparently she was going to be dinner! "Better he eat us than them, they said." She adds. She is still in the cage, but it is made of wood and won't be hard to break open. Brielle seems relieved and yet still is quite shaken.

"Can someone translate whatever it is that she's saying?" Jordan frowns deeply as he looks to those Northerners that speak the language of Shavs, Northern Edition. He rubs his face for a moment, only to remember he's unwittingly smearing blood all over his cheeks. "Ugh."

"What did they look like?" Violet asks with a frown, still speaking shav. So when she replies to Felicia it's also in Shav. "SHE'S ALIVE! There may be people about, put her in a cage!" Then the commandant gestures for her to move to the side. A strong leg is brought up and a sharp kick aimed at a weak point in the 'door' of the cage.

"There are people who kidnapped her." Arik translates rather quickly his frosted eyes sweeping to the surroundings. "Sir Jordan, tracks... Coraline help him... Felicia, the head if you would?"

"No problem," Jordan half-turns, and beckons for Morrighan to follow him as well. Three versus... however many is better than two. Quietly, the Ashford-sworn knight starts to make his way back to the other side and ensure there's no hostile tribe checking out the outcome of their menu offers to the beast.

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

Jordan has rolled a critical success!
Jordan checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 84 higher.

The cage is busted open by Violet and the girl is quick to scamper out of such. She looks stiff from being kept a cage and she probably needs a bath and a change of clothing, but considering she is pretty okay shape. She rises to her feet and looks a bit disorientated. She seems grateful for the for the rescue if not fully comfort able around the party.

Once Felicia's got that scratch bound up good and proper under Coraline's guidance, she casts a look over at Arik, grunting acknowledgment for Violet's callout,"At this rate they're going to start calling me the Headsman instead of the Wrecking Ball." she mutters drily as she collects her still sticky breastplate and puts it on again, testing her range of motion and the pull of the wound before moving to the beast itself,"It refused to move from the doorway. I am no animal expert, but that tells me that either it was smarter than average to go along with being the size of a damned carriage, or someone trained it. That's... sort of what I was trying to point out. Beforehand. And just... trying to make sure it didn't eat the girl." she shrugs, then winces as it pulls in painful ways, moving to hack the head off the beast.

Morrighan can pick out the foot steps upon the dust in the cave and gathers that probably someone other than the girl and the beast were here. She walks around the cave discovering tracks that lead from the left and circle around in the cave, going deeper into the forest beyond. Jordan is able to tell that the tracks were made at least twelve hours ago last and belong to three people who are likely fully grown adults.

Violet moves to help the girl to her feet. "Careful and easy. Stick with me, okay? My friends are looking for those who did this to you. We'll get you back to your family," Violet says quickly to the girl. Though she empathizes with her fear, she doesn't share it. Only worry as she leads her out of the cramped and smelly cave.

Violet has rolled a critical success!
Violet checked perception + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Arik checked intellect + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Felicia checked intellect + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Morrighan ticks her chin up at Jordan, following along, nodding to Arik on her way past, though her attention swiftly returns to her environment and surroundings. She's constantly observing everything, scanning the ground and eventually comes upon a set of tracks left in the floor of the cave. Crouching down, trident settled over her knees, her free hand lowers to lightly trace the outline, gaze lifting to the direction they lead off in. The knight soon rises to her feet, walking alongside the tracks, following them, however pauses when they begin to lead off deep into the forest, and looks back to Jordan. "What do you think? Make anythin' o' them?"

Holding out three fingers, Jordan indicates the number of people they're tracking. "All adults." The knight pursues those tracks slowly, keeping his surprisingly (even for him) keen senses about. His hand goes back to the hilt of his blade, though. "We might want to have someone who actually knows what kind of traps they like to set up in the forest to start undoing them, though. I doubt these people don't do much hunting in the woods, such as it is. Seems like they might have grabbed her while she was out and about, too, or so I think. Ambushes. We can expect them."

Upon thinking back, Violet and Felicia come to the belief that the animal probably was not trained. Violet in particular is able to gage that while it likely didn't have human level higher functioning, it probably was operating with some intelligence. The being didn't charge from the cave after all and was able to make some sort of deal with the people who help him get a his meal. He might not be as smart as this party, but he could be been operating with some communicating with people skills that go beyond what one would expect. He was too wild to be a trained and domesticated pet though.

Now the that action and bleeding are taken care of, Cora settles somewhere where she can see in the multiple directions for incoming danger and can hear and see what is going on, well the bits she understands anyway.

Arik checked willpower + war at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

"There are two shavs nearby that led us here. The girl takes the head if she's willing and goes back to camp with them. The rest of us follow the tracks. A shav tribe of under two hundred is not worth removing raiders that managed to befriend a beast this big. The tribe is peaceful these bandits are not." Arik decides with a glance to Violet and the girl since he was speaking Arvani the whole time.

Violet frowns at the beast as she passes it. Overhearing the discussion she shakes her head, "It wasn't human intelligent. A smart beast for sure, but still wild. I don't know if it is normal or not, but it isn't unheard of for wild animals to not harm a human that brings it food." She speaks in Arvani as she escorts Brielle to her fellow warriors. "We can catch up if you three wish to start heading back. We have the bandits who took your people to deal with. Take it slow," She tells them. "Or wait here for us." And then turns to return to the others.

The girl allows herself to be escorted back and is still grateful for the rescue. Ben says they will head back to the main camp and he can protect them. Raven seems less certain, but she eventually agrees they will join the other campsite.

The party is able to return to the cave and they can follow the tracks to. Jordan seems especially good at such. Violet looks for traps.

Arik checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 13 higher.

Violet checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Jordan checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 27 higher.

Felicia has rolled a critical success!
Felicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 43 higher.

Coraline checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 6 higher.

Morrighan checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 7 higher.

"We're talking about normal, in regards to a wolf the size of a carriage." Felicia points out wryly, once the beast's head is clear of its body, she wipes off the blade and sheathes it again, less concerned about the blood on her armor for now,"If Vi's right, all it took was feeding it food. But I suppose you're right. Let's go." She's wary now, though not complaining about her injury, just keeping her eyes on the ground and the tree's. She might not be that familiar with snowy climes, but people... well, to judge from the suspicious squinting, those she might know.

They find traps! Arik finds a simple hidden pit covered in leaves. Violet notices a trip string meant to send a wasp nest falling. Coraline finds caltrops concealed beneath autumn brush. Jordan notices a branch covered in bells as if warn of their arrival if pushed past. Morrighan points out a second pit she sees later on. Felicia is able to pick out all these traps, but sh notics a gleam on the bar of the nearby trees that seems applied rather natural. Could it be poison mean to hurt those who lean against the trees?

Blades sheathed on his right hip Arik only collects the throwing axe from the corpse before moving to follow Jordan and Morrighan deeper into the forest. After all the traps and walking Arik begins to move to lean against a tree with a grumble. Plate is quite heavy.

His blade in hand once again, Jordan cuts the branch that he notices, dropping it down carefully on the ground. He points out the bells for those that might be looking for why he did that, and then continues, looking to Morrighan for further guidance on where to go, right now.

Moving carefully with the rest of the party, Cora keeps an eye out, and her ears sharp, as has been her MO from the beginning of this venture. Even more than the traps she is trying to be wary of scouts, it is what she would do if she were this group, don't trust bells when eyes work so much better. As such she looks in places she would hide to watch possible attack, hell pissing off the shav tribe seems a good way to get attacked as far as she could see.

Cora also points out the caltrops, cause better not to let her buddies hit that.

Felicia reaches to grab Arik's arm, screw standing on ceremony, it's about stopping him from leaning against that tree with a deathlike grip,"The bark's been adulterated with something. I'm pretty sure you don't want to do that." she offers to him with a tight smile,"Watch the tree's, some of them may have had a contact poison applied to the bark." she points out the shiny.

Violet has an arrow knocked as she moves with great care along the paths. And she makes every effort to move as quietly as possible. Alert and intent she seems to be ready for an attack at any moment. But she isn't jumpy.

Rubicund armored hands grip Steel armored arm with a metallic scrap and *tink* in the forest. Arik freezes and then lets himself be tugged away before offering a reckless grin, "Protecting the King and they teach you to look for poison tree bark? Safest man in the Kingdon." he observes and gives her armored shoulder a clap *clang*

The wasp nest trap line has her carefully retying the line securely to a tree. No one will be having a waspish day any time soon.

The party continues onwards avoiding all the traps and the glistening bark. It is now getting to be sunset and they have been walking for a long time. It took them about a half a day to reach the cave and another few hours as they track the from there. It is also getting rather cold! In the distance they seem a small camp wit 3 tents, a firepit and about 6 men.

Arik checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 19 higher.

Morrighan checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 39 higher.

Jordan checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Felicia has rolled a critical success!
Felicia checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 71 higher.

"Leave at least one alive, don't let them get away." Arik states in a matter of fact rumble, Frostfang once again being drawn. The mirror like blade reflecting some of the firelight. "Encircle the camp, if they notice rush them if they don't I'll try talking to them."

Coraline checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 27 higher.

Violet checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 20 higher.

"Contact poisons, hatpins, suspicious drinks.." Felicia absently drawls, returning the clap with one of her own as she moves off,"...and really dumb people with swords." added wryly, falling silent as they move on. Possibly it's the adrenaline or the coating of blood currently fouling her armor and tabard, but she feels no cold right now. Maybe she was just born to wade through snowy tundra's, certainly she doesn't seem to be hindered at all despite the encroaching darkness and extra chill.

Violet nods her head to Arik and slips into the brush. She aims for a bit of higher ground with the clearest shot of those below. Arrow drawn back she aims for legs to start with. It's hard to run when lame after all. There is a cold brutality to the mercenary as she lines up her shot and waits for the others to get into place.

Moving into position such that she does indeed help with the surrounding part of the plan, Cora readies her weapon, eyes looking everywhere for surprises....she hates surprises she isn't part of making. She won't move until the order to do so, unless they are heard and attacked of course.

At the prospect of battle, Morrighan visibly perks up after having been traveling the majority of the day, fighting a beast, searching for traps, and now coming upon the small camp. The setting of the sun and the cooling temperatures don't appear to disturb the dame that much as she begins to step away from the group, moving to help encircle the shavs, her leathers probably helping her blend in with the dark, at least a little but the reflective surface of her trident..probably not so stealthy.

Arik checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

Violet checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 2 lower.

Jordan checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

The party is able to encircle the campy sneaky like. They appear to be six normallish looking Shav men who are all drinking mead, roasting rabbit over the fire and chattering in Northern Shav. Their conversations are most regular things. This girl one guy likes. Where to camp next. But there is mention of them pondering who to feed to the beast next. They are not tainted and show now sign of lacking any free will.

Violet then steps on a twig and one of the men looks up! "Incoming." He says in shav, drawing his sword. The rest follow suit. "Who goes there?" One of the men is looking toward Violet, but they don't seem to see the others.

"CHARGE!" Jordan calls out, since their cover is spotted, and he immediately starts to rush any of the Shav fighters he can reach, Wayfarer in hand! "Hers is the Glory! Protect the Weak!"

Felicia checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Arik charges into the firelight with Frostfang still drawn and his flame red armor distinct in appearance. His voice is rumbling and he says in Northlands Shav, "Throw down your weapons or die where you stand!" and assuming they don't immediately comply, nearest shav is going to be dueling the Halfshav Sword.

Rolling her eyes at yet more of the headlong rushing, Cora moves to the nearest of the enemy not looking at her and attempts a surprise attack, trying for something fatal.

Jordan checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 30 higher.

Coraline checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 53 higher.

Arik checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 38 higher.

Violet lets out the slightest sigh as the twig snaps. It is the only sign of her irritation. But it is as good as anything for a signal and she steps from behind the tree. Arrow already drawn she is ready to release it. Arik already gave orders and these men were feeding people to a beast. Their lives, in her mind, are forfeit. She gives them a beat to drop their weapons and then fires.

Arik has rolled a critical success!
Arik checked command + intimidation at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Violet checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 26 higher.

Morrighan checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 42 higher.

Felicia has no idea of what they are saying. She steps out from her place but, well, she doesn't go charging in to the kill, she's watching, alright, to try and help insure containment, but apparently is not up to just attacking them.

The men seem frightened of Arik, but it takes them a moment. At first they look as if they were going to fight and if Arik were any less intimidating they might have tried to stand their ground. After all they are six warriors and have reason to think they could stand a chance. While looking upon Arik they decide they don't though. The youngest of the six drops his weapon and looks pale with fear. The leader hesitates. "We will surrender if you stop attacking!" He says. One of them tries to run away.

Mere millimeters from the neck of her intended target, Cora's sword kisses the skin but doesn't break it. Further incentive to drop weapons and comply. Cora waits with the blade where it is and in position to finish the job should the man she is behind decide to get stupid, or if the winds of chance turn south, either way.

Felicia is already drenched in beast's blood and probably looks like a horror show, so she's inclined to stay where she is, watching them. The runner's out of her range and left up to others, and the shouting just confuses her to just from the frown, so she's content to just hold for now.

Violet was ready for a runner. So when the man breaks she turns smoothly and releases her arrow. It flies through the air to land with a meaty smack. There is no glee or joy in the commandant's face. Completely impassive one might say as she quickly fits another arrow to the bow, ready to put the man down permanently if need be.

Well, Jordan was all charging the man and rushing him for an upswing to the clavicle. But then they start surrendering so the knight stops, pointing the blade up to the man's jaw. "Move," he says in Arvani, "and you get a second smile on your throat."

"I am Arik of Halfshav, these are my lands, and you!" Arik lifts frostfang to point at the group with the tip. "Are feeding -my- people to a beast. A very dead beast. Name yourselves and kneel!" Arik says in a harsh Northlands Shav'Arvani voice his frosted gaze settled on the leader alone throughout the commands.

The runner falls as he is shot in the leg. The ones near Felicia and Jordan are looking very frightened. The men give their names and they all kneel. They seem very frightened. "We...had to or he would keep eating us, our sisters and our mothers and our daughters."

"Who are your sisters, who are your mothers? What is the name of your people?" Arik asks as he walks past all of the shavs towards the leader the armor plated man crouching down to meet the man with his hard frosted gaze, frostfang extended out tip on the ground and ready to be brought up in a slash across the shav leaders body.

As the guy Cora is behind kneels, Cora keeps her weapon ready and watches for betrayal, you can never be too careful after all. She has no idea what is being said, and frankly right at the moment she is too busy keeping an eye out for things turning south.

Violet watches the one on the ground for a second longer. Assured he is going no where she turns that arrow on the leader. Apparently she has no problem shooting him in the back if he pulls anything funny.

The shavs all surrender to them. They find out that they have a small nomadic band and were feeding the beast to protect themselves. They don't seem to be with the abyss, but they are definately are not good good guys! The party can kill them, imprison them or let them go. They can head back the camp with Brielle. The larger tribe is very thankful, but they won't agree to bend the knee unless their champion can be defeated in a duel.

Arik lets them go because Imprisonment is basically death with winter coming. He promises them if they do not leave Halfshav lands they will all die and that he will be along in the spring to have their people kneel.