Standing by the bolted door, looking out through the gap created by its slightly open pair, Brunvoldt struggled to see what was going on in the small courtyard.
Behind him, he could hear the masons and servants bringing in furniture from other rooms and start stacking them as a makeshift barricade. The longer the Varou delayed the better for Brunvoldt and his companions. Then he saw a flash of movement as a shape dashed across the gap. "They're coming!" hissed Brunvoldt. Movement behind him stopped as everyone froze.
Enter the Fray: obj 'Defeat the Varou' individ. dangerous, group formidable; +Shadow; 4 +1 vs. 7 & 2 => weak hit => take control
Then the door flew open as a Varou appeared, its foot raised having obviously just kicked the door open. Unhesitatingly, Brunvoldt stepped into the space the door had just swept through and chopped at the Varou's leg. It was too quick, though, and managed to fall backwards, pulling its leg out of reach. Brunvoldt ignited his torch and raised it in his left hand. By its light, he saw that there were four Varou, momentarily off-balance as the one Brunvoldt had attacked fell back into the others.
Strike: +Iron +1 Blademaster +1 Combat Bot (Hound) +2 Firebrand; 3 +2 +1 +1 +2 vs. 8 & 4 => strong hit => take control, mark progress twice now 2/10, -1 Fire now 4
Strike: +Iron +1 Blademaster +1 Combat Bot (Hound); 3 +2 +1 +1 vs. 8 & 1 => weak hit => bad spot, mark progress twice now 4/10
Clash: set action die to 5 (Armoured 2nd ability) +Iron +1 Blademaster; 5 +2 +1 vs. 10 & 1 => weak hit => bad spot, mark progress now 5/10, +1 momentum (Combat Bot) now +8, Pay the Price
Endure Harm: serious -2 Health now 3; roll +Health; 3 +3 vs. 3 & 2 => strong hit => shake it off +1 Health now 4
Seizing the opportunity, Brunvoldt leapt forward and sank his sword into the nearest Varou, Magnus leaping forward to bite another simultaneously. But his sword stuck in the Varou's body and he took a chop from an axe onto his extended arm. His reinforced armour saved Brunvoldt from serious arm though. Finally managing to disengage his sword, Brunvoldt spoke the commination he had used in the Chitter nest, and the fire of his torch flared out and burnt the Varou, allowing him to retake his place inside the doorway. Catching his breath, Brunvoldt saw that two of the Varou were down and unmoving. One that he had hit and another with a spear in its chest - he had not even seen the spear strike.
Clash: set action die to 5 (Armoured 2nd ability) +Iron +1 Blademaster; 5 +2 +1 vs. 4 & 1 => strong hit => take control, mark progress twice now 7/10, +1 momentum (Combat Bot) now +9
Strike: +Iron +1 Blademaster +1 Combat Bot (Hound); 3 +2 +1 +1 vs. 5 & 4 => strong hit => in control, mark progress twice now 9/10
Take Decisive Action: progress 9 vs. 7 & 1 => strong hit => prevail, +1 momentum now +10
The remaining two Varou charged Brunvoldt ignoring their fallen fellows. A spear flew past Brunvoldt's head and struck one of the Varou right through the chest. Magnus, ignored by the enemy darted out and chomped down on the last Varou's leg, distracting it which allowed Brunvoldt to remove its head, releasing a fountain of blood from the neck stump.
No enemies left, Brunvoldt stood panting, trying to catch his breath. "See if there's any more boy," he said to Magnus, and the Vagthund took off searhing the courtyard before climbing the stairs upto the wall's top. He put his paws up on the battlements and barked loudly at something he saw. Brunvoldt wearily began to climb the stairs to learn what Magnus had seen. Below, he could hear the others dragging the Varou bodies away.
Standing beside Magnus, he looked over the wall and could see a small Hyena pack restlessly pacing back and forth. What was it that Dag had said to him all those years ago in Highfall? That was it - "they always have their filthy-cur hyenas with them".
Brunvoldt watched them for a while - they did not seem to have any intention of leaving, just continuing to pace back and forth like a cat watching a mousehole. So Brunvoldt walked round to the walltop above the gate, Magnus at his heels. He was joined there by the Wardens who looked out, saw the Hyenas and muttered curses. Raising his torch, Brunvoldt spoke the commination again and the flames leapt out to burn the Hyenas. Two of them burnt in spectacular balls of fire, while the others, scorched by the flames fled into the night.
"Praise Vanth!" said Chandra, while Adalbjorg could only nod.
"Yes indeed, praise Holy Vanth!" echoed Brunvoldt. Leaning his sword against the battlement, he made to snap his fingers to extinguish the torch. It was then that he realised that he had ignited the torch with a thought - he had needed it to be lit and it was, he hadn't snapped his fingers!
Brunvoldt looked at the torch in his hand and willed it to extinguish and it did. "Praise Holy Vanth and Her Divine Power!" he muttered and ignoring the Wardens descended to the courtyard.
Reach a Milestone: troublesome vow "I will escort the stonemasons to Halfway-House and ensure their safety", progress now 9/10