Radulf waited and watched the trees near Odvir. Now he could see that Lili was right - Odvir's left leg was missing below the knee - a crudely tied rag around the stump. The boy looked ... well crazed, was the only word Radulf could think of. If half the things he'd heard about the Varou were true, then it would be surprising if the lad hadn't been effected by what he must have seen ...
Then Lili appeared behind Odvir's tree, sneaked up to it and began cutting the ropes. Odvir did not react at all, just stared straight ahead ... Then the ropes were cut, but Odvir still did nothing, just sat staring. After a few moments, Lili came around the tree and started pulling Odvir up - and he began screaming. Even muffled by a gag, it was still enough to stir the Varou and Hyenas that slept beside them ...
"Speak, Runbjorn," said Radulf as he leapt up and with a mighty cry of "CHARUN!" he charged the nearest Varou swinging his Hammer-of-Charun at its head.
Enter the Fray: mutiple dangerous foes is a formidable pack; striking without warning; +Shadow; 5 +1 vs. 6 & 1 => weak hit => take initiative
Strike: +Iron +1 masked; 4 +3 +1 vs. 9 & 3 => weak hit => 2 harm, lose initiative, progress now 2/10
Clash: +Iron +1 masked; 6 +3 +1 vs. 6 & 6 => strong hit & opportunity => 2 harm +1 strong hit, gain initiative, progress now 5/10
The opportunity is that the Varou mystic is here - I had envisioned that it was off with the ambush party
Radulf's blow connected with the Varou's head as it was rising to its feet, squarely under its jaw, lifted the creature clean off its feet and it landed in a lifeless heap atop its leanto. With his backswing, Radulf smashed the head of the Hyena that had been sleeping next to the slain Varou into the ground. Turning toward them, Radulf saw that one of two remaining Varou was bedecked with charms and talismans - their mystic was here! He charged the creature before it could use any of its dark magic ...
Strike: +Iron +1 masked; 1 +3 +1 vs. 9 & 1 => burn momentum, now +2 => strong hit => 2 harm +1 strong hit, keep initiative, progress now 8/10, -1 Health from Masked as rolled a 1, Health now 4
End the Fight: progress 8 vs. 3 & 1 => strong hit
In his peripheral vision as he closed on the mystic, Radulf saw Runbjorn chewing the throat of one of the Hyenas, but then the mystic was before him raising its staff as if it could parry the Hammer-of-Charun! It learnt its error as the Greathammer smashed first the staff and then its skull. Panting with the exertion, Radulf turned to face the last Varou. It looked at him, the mystic lyind dead at Radulf's feet and turned and ran, the last two Hyenas following it.
Securing the Hammer-of-Charun on his back, Radulf moved to where Lili was still struggling with Odvir. At a loss for what else to do, Radulf lifted Odvir up and put him over his shoulder. "Let's go," he said to Lili and turning to Runbjorn, "Show us the way home boy!"
Following Runbjorn's lead they began their return to Woodwatch. As they ran, well stumbled really, through the snow they began to hear the sounds of the Varou ambushers returning to their camp. At least Odvir had stopped screaming now, but he had made no other noise.
They had reached about half-way back to the village, when the hue and cry of pursuit really began.
There needs to be some kind of roll here, so I think
Face Danger: endurance; +Iron +1 Masked; 2 +3 +1 vs. 3 & 1 => strong hit => success, +1 momentum, now +3
One of the Varou's Hyenas was closing on them, until Lili peeled off and removed its foreleg with her holy sword, its blood fountaining across the snow and its howls of pain splitting the night. That seemed to discourage the pursuit ...
By now, Radulf could begin to see the stone walls of Woodwatch appearing through the trees ahead. "Go ahead and wake them up boy," he managed to tell Runbjorn and the Kadaverhund obediently ran toward the gates and let loose his loud baying.
Lili returned to Radulf's side, "I think the chase has stopped Radulf," she said.
"Hope so!" Radulf got out between puffs - Odvir was entirely dead weight and that was telling on Radulf as he ploughed through the snow, but he didn't slow down any, much as he wanted too!
They broke from the trees to see that the Wall-Wardens had opened the gates in response to Runbjorn's calls and managed to keep going until they were inside the stone walls and safe.
Getting back to Woodwatch and dissuading the Varou pursuit is both
Reach a Milestone: troublesome vow "I will investigate the Varou that attack Woodwatch", progress now 9/10
Develop Your Relationship: with Lili; 'formidable', progress now 2/10
