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--- Chapter 5: The Situation Gets Worse, The Characters Get Angry ----
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(Silver:)
The battle swarms around the She-Bear, and the experienced woodsmen
amongst you would recognize the anguished roars of a Mother Bear who
is attempting to protect her cubs.

The sheer raw power behind the long claw swipes stagger the natives,
but only for a moment.

A raking blow across her back from one of the natives makes her rise
up in pain, before swinging round and batting the small creature back
into the crater, where he falls without a sound, obviously unconscious
before he hit the ground.

The bear (Ursa Argentus) then stands to her full height and bellows a
challenge to the natives around her. Wide eyed they scatter away from
her companions, but not in rout - they do not drop their weapons, and
they head into the village.  In frustration (and not a little pain)
the bear will roar once more and start back into the village after the
natives. She takes but three steps and then looks back at the others
standing around their fallen comrade under the tree.

(DM:)
The natives give you guys up as being bad medicine, and flee into the
village to loot and plunder.....

(Kaeyar:)
As the natives pull away from the group and rush around them into the
outpost, Kaeyar turns and with blinding speed [gee with the Haste
spell I can do better than Tatiana :-) ] begins throwing daggers at a
straggler, dropping him.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana breathed a deep sigh as the battle washed beyond their group.

(DM:)
Dithion finishes the last natives still fighting him, and runs back to
the rest of the group, having incurred another 4hpd from the fighting.
He looks very haggard and is scraped/wounded all over.

(Keilan:)
Keilan drops his sword as the battle pauses with the natives moving
away and gingerly puts one hand on the knife imbedded in his thigh.
Gritting his teeth he jerks the blade free, hissing an indrawn breath.
Jamming the blade into his empty and over-sized knife sheath he looks
at the fallen dwarf, "Does he yet live?", limping over to check on the
dwarf's current state.  Keilan heavily favors his wounded leg and is
forced to sit down before he can reach the dwarf, wincing in pain.
"First the fall and now this damned wound."  He begins to look about
for a strip of cloth he might bind the wound with, "Someone see to
Tarok.  Tatiana, use the healing potion if need be."  He tears a piece
from someone's discarded cloak and begins inexpertly tying a bandage
to his leg.

(Tatiana:)
She winced with sympathetic pain as Keilan pulled the dagger out of
his leg.  At Keilan's instruction she went over to Tarok and coaxed
the healing potion down his throat.

*Keep an eye out for the return of the native please* she asked Tuft
mentally.

*Like I'm gonna go look for a rabbit now* he responded sarcastically

She knew he was just worried about her and let his attitude slide
without comment.

She looked around at the devastation wrought by the natives. "I can't
tell if the village is lost or not?"

"If it's lost what will we do?" she commented with worry.

(Silver:)
With deliberate steps, the bear will return to the fallen tree. She
will bend to the tree and strain to lift it. This is no easy task, as
all around can see.  The muscles in her back bunch and flex, causing
the wound to reopen, streaking her fur with blood.

Finally, and with agonizing slowness, the tree lifts slightly,
allowing those around Shade to drag him out. Once he is clear of the
tree the bear will let it drop and stumble against it arching her
back. While some attend to Shade, checking him for damage, the bear
will transform back into Silver.

(Kaeyar:)
He then moves to the cluster of people around Tarok and Shade.  With a
grunt, he provides some small assistance to the silver bear as she
lifts the post from Shade's legs.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana stood motionless and quiet with the group she called friends.
As the Silver-Bear lifted the tree pinning Shade down she helped pull
him out.

(Silver:)
Other comrades block her view of Shade, but she shows immediate
concern for Keilan, the closest person she knows who has been
seriously damaged. "Oh Keilan! You are hurt !" The tone of her voice
suggests surprise - not that someone would get hurt in this battle,
but that Keilan has been badly affected.

Silver will rush to Keilan and holding his thigh will raise her eyes
to the darkened skies and call out "Mielikki ! Your aid is required,
let your blessing pass through me to one of your children in this dark
domain who has given his all in your cause !". Keilan can feel a
warmth spreading from Silvers hands, and the wound begins to close.
"Take care of that, Keilan ... My Goddess does not like her gifts to
be treated lightly" Silver says with a slight wink at him. "I will
treat that better at a more convenient time" With a squeeze of his
shoulder, Silver stands and then notices Dithion is also badly hurt.

Again, she will hurry over to Dithion as he returns, putting his arm
around her shoulders, and ask Mielikki to use her humble frame as a
conduit for the relief of another who has shown himself valiant.

Meta: Keilan gets 6hp back, Dithion 4hp.

(Kaeyar:)
He watches silently as Silver begins healing the most wounded of the
group, glancing around into the settlement for any other immediate
threats.

"Hmm, we need to get Tarok and Shade to someplace a bit safer.  But I
think we should also do what we can to stop these savages from
destroying our new home...The Commons!  Does anyone have anything
important there?"  Kaeyar looks at the others for reactions.

"What say you, shall a small group of us go slink through the city and
harry any natives that we find?  Or if anyone desperately needs
something in the Commons, we could make our way there.  Myself, I'm
most concerned that they will loot and destroy that fair tavern we
drank at earlier tonight," the last sentence said with a sour grin.

(Dithion:)
Dithion says, "I will heal all of you as well as I can."  He begins
chanting after pulling a wooden circlet from his pouch.  He begins
with Shade who seems the most injured.

Then he moves to the next most and so on down the line...

(Falrun:)
After the tide of natives breaks, Falrun glances around to the other
members of the party.  Seeing that most are taken care of, and
realizing he has no healing abilities to offer, he waits and watches
for signs of the natives return.  After everyone is back on their
feet, more or less, Falrun says, "I agree that we should do what we
can to harry the natives and protect the village from loss.  I for one
am with any who will go into the village to chase down these base
heathens.

"I also agree that we should make our way to the Commons, the fair
tavern can be rebuilt without many people loosing all of their earthly
possessions, sorry Kaeyar.  Tatiana, possibly Tuft could tell us if
our assistance is needed somewhere else in the battle before we go
running off?"

(Shade:)
Smiling through the pain ....
OOC: I assume Shade has been freed and is not in good shape (hope not
     a broken leg but anyway a painfully wound)

The drow winces in pain standing on his uninjured leg and looks at his
wound "Wow - he mutters grinning - another artistic scar for my
collection!"  Then, to the companions "I do not think leaving an open
breach in the walls without guard is a good idea, guys. We, sorry, you
- he almost falls down trying a slight bow - pushed em back, but they
might return."  "My advice is not to leave our position until we are
sure that the walls have been overrun in too many places to be still
useful or the natives retreated and its just a matter of hunting a few
inside the village."

(Falrun:)
Falrun waits for Tatiana's reply to his question before making any
further decisions or assumptions.

(Dithion:)
At the mention of the natives, he says, "If no more are going to enter
through this hole in the palisade, then we should pursue the others.
Otherwise we should probably stay here and make sure that this hole
doesn't become a spearhead for a huge attack into the city.  Silver,
could you have your friend check to see what the army outside looks
like?  Are there more masses?  Or is most of the fighting within now?"

(Keilan:)
Keilan looks a little better after Silver administers her healing
touch (and possibly Dithion, Whisper hasn't replied on that yet) and
stands up testing the strength of his wounded leg.  Finding it
passable, he goes and retrieves his sword and resheathes it.
"Certainly someone should help round up the natives loose in the town.
I still can't move at full speed.  Falrun, you should go on ahead with
one or two others.  It looks as though the battle outside the wall has
ended."  Keilan then proceeds to see to the dwarf, "How is he,
Tatiana?  That potion should prove very effective.  If he still has
breath in his body, it ought to revive him, I should think."

(Shade:)
OOC: I got 9hpd from the log and I think nothing more.

After healing I can move (almost) normally. The drow tries a tentative
step on his now healed leg "Wow Dithion, you did great, many thanks".
Then the strategic sit known "Yep Falrun I agree, the place where we
can be mostly useful is inside the village now. - he grins wickedly -
I have still a couple of things to explain to our native friends,
let's go."

(Kaeyar:)
OOC: When in good health, Kaeyar has 31 hit points; he is currently at
     three-quarters strength. For your information, oh generous
     healers!  [although he won't refuse a cure right now, he does not
     ask you for one.  He is burned and bruised, with a couple of
     scrapes.]

(Silver:)
Silver stands after ministering to Keilan and Dithion. She leans on
the owl-headed staff she carries, and takes note of her surroundings
more fully.

(Arlon:)
Damage info: Arlon just has minor burns and cuts, so tend to the
others first; but if you have any healing spells left after we get
done with these %$*&!  natives Arlon would gladly receive one - a
healing spell that is.

(Tatiana:)
As Dithion and Silver cared for the others she took stock of her own
wounds.  There was a rent in her chain mail, when she had gotten that
she couldn't remember but a small gash across her torso was nothing to
worry about (I'm at 30 out of 35).

Comfortable that her friends were being taken care of and there was
nothing left for her to do.  The healing potion was administered to
Tarok in it's entirety and the effects were still yet to be seen.  It
was in the Hands of the Gods.  For some reason or another Mielikki's
name came to her mind and she whispered a prayer to her for her group
of brave souls.

Her eyes took on a far looking aspect as if she were watching
something off at a great distance.

* The natives are fleeing for the most part *

* Good, Can you see where we are needed the most? *

* You're needed alive and shouldn't be running around with a sword
anymore *

* Thank you for the concern Tuft, but you know I only wear it in
desperate times, and those times aren't over yet! *

Tatiana could tell Tuft was considering to mislead her but their
symbiotic link betrayed his thoughts and he continued on truthfully.
Even though he was only three years old he behaved more like an old
may trying to take care of her sometimes.

* There are some stragglers looting the village.  Some have gone into
the place you sang at last night, and others are in the place you
slept.  They do not seem to have a purpose other than spoils of war" *

* Thanks Tuft *

(Silver:)
Silver then turns to Tatiana, holding her shoulder to gain her
attention while she tends to the fallen dwarf. "Ana - we need the help
of Tuft now. Can he tell you where the most danger is? Get him to let
us know, and direct us there. And tell him to be *careful*"

While waiting for Tatiana to respond, Silver will stand straight,
grimace slightly as she straightens her back, and look at her
companions. Do any of them seem likely to have any problem in moving
after natives through the village ?

I know that Keilan has a damaged leg which is slowing him down, Tarok
is unconscious still, Shade is out from the log, but is he still
damaged ? How are the others ?

Silver readies herself for Tatiana's reply from Tuft, and may take the
time to offer assistance to any of her companions who are still hurt.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana came to her senses with the realization that Silver had her
hand on her shoulder and was saying something to her.  She didn't know
what she had asked her but she could tell she wanted news of the fight
and indications of what to do next.

"I was just talking with Tuft.  He says that most of the natives have
fled and there are looters in the village harrowing our neighbors.
They appear to be unorganized, but who can say what the plans of a
barbarian is?

* They are unorganized whether they think they have a plan or not! *

Tatiana smiled at Tufts little joke.  "I think we should protect the
village, and round up those pillagers."



The party realize that Tarok has not risen from where he lies. The
debris which hit him on the head still lies by his side, covered with
his blood ....

(DM:)
Tarok appears to be dead..... (hey, he should have let hear from
himself by now, tough noogies, after this post, I will scrap him from
my aliases and suggest you all do the same..)

(Keilan:)
Keilan looks at the dwarf's lifeless body and says, "If that potion
could not save him, then he was well and truly dead.  The gods require
him elsewhere."

Keilan bows his head for a few moments over the fallen comrade and
then straightens himself, "But other matters must concern us now,"
looking in the direction Falrun and Kaeyar took.

(Dithion:)
He will say a slight prayer over the fallen dwarf, wishing him a safe
journey in the planes beyond.

(Shade:)
The drow silently looks at his fallen companion for a moment "Sorry
Tarok,- he then sighs - I cannot tend to your funeral eulogy now, life
must have a better care than death. But - a glimpse of fire raging in
his icy cold green eyes - you won't be forgotten."

(Silver:)
Silver grasps her owl-headed staff with both hands, stares down at the
fallen dwarf and mutters "Perhaps Tarok has found true peace at last.
Ah well, his soul flies free now."



But Tuft brings Tatiana some desperate news of the attack ....

(DM:)
Hmm... when you guys are deliberating whether to stay at the palisade
or chase the natives, one of you guys realizes that there are still
women and children, unprotected inside...........

Tuft notices that the battle outside has pretty much ended. Some
natives got inside in other places also by blowing up walls, but the
outside forces could not continue facing the arcane slaughter raised
by the Cabal (Mendahl and gang..) The Silver Dragon is flying
overhead, heavily wounded, but still a deterrent to any natives with
more courage than brains...

The main break according to Tuft seemed to be the fleeing of the
Shamen, after they had been targeted so specifically by Mendahl & Co.
After having had over half of the Shamen killed by Magic Destruction
Inc, the remainder fled the field, some apparently Teleporting away
with their Black-Knight bodyguards........

(Kaeyar:)
Kaeyar says to his companions "Come, we have no time to waste," as he
waits for them to decide whether to stay with the wounded and protect
the wall or venture into the city.

"Better to stop them before they steal and destroy.  Come, Falrun, let
us go check on the Commons!"

(Falrun:)
Upon hearing the reconnaissance data, Falrun replies, "I'm going after
the natives.  Anyone wishing to follow is welcome to do so, but I
can't wait while women and children's lives are in danger."  With this
said, Falrun runs off in the direction of the raiding natives.

OOC: Falrun doesn't appear to be wounded enough to need healing ... yet.

(Silver:)
Her eyes glimpse Falrun, running into the village after the natives,
and others about to do the same. "Falrun", she calls. Uncertain as to
whether he has heard her call in his urgency to help the people in the
village, she calls out again "Please wait, Falrun, we *all* need to
help".

OOC: Falrun will have to decide if he is in too much of a rush to have
     heard this, or Whisper can rule if he is too far away by now.

(Kaeyar:)
So presumably Falrun and Kaeyar (and any others who are coming) move
into the outpost, and any who are remaining tend to Shade and Tarok
and move them out of harms way...

On the way, Kaeyar stopped to pull the daggers from the body of the
straggling pillager he had slain; he also quickly checked the corpse
for a purse or any jewelry.  Grinning and laughing, he grabs his
bloodied prize[s] and rushes to catch up with the others...

OOC: Will move quickly but cautiously, taking cover when possible,
     keeping an eye for ambushes -- or opportunities to ambush
     natives!