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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carnifex" data-source="post: 1233866" data-attributes="member: 227">At Burl's command, the fire serpent crumpled to a pile of ash, the elemental returning back to its home.* * *Angelo looked around casually at the bandit-strewn path, reaching to take a waterskin off his belt and take a swig in the heat of the sun. The barded warhorse, a sizeable specimen that Sebastion recognised as a western Huronese breed of exceptional quality, meandered back up to its rider and nudged gently at him. The knight nodded at the dead red-armoured warrior that had assailed them with the bladestaff."Red Talon," he said by way of explanation. "I've seen them before; we sometimes have problems with them around Zhatan but all they need to do is hide away their weapons and armour and they are but men. Gilame<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />es can go to and fro as they please through the eastern realms; that's why I prefer fighting goblins, they can't pretend they're not the enemy. There's a monastery, about a day's travel east from here, a Grumandic establishment that I was staying at when a traveller said he'd avoided some bandits led by red-armoured men in this direction yesterday." He took another swig. "I figured it might be Red Talons. The enforcers of the Children of Gilamesh."He heard Sebastion speak confusedly and raised an eyebrow quizzically. "So you have seen Red Talons before. They're tough; it's a shame the other escaped. I'd like to know what two Red Talons are doing out here." Then the knight seemed to remember something and pulled the discharged pistol from his belt before setting about reloading it."If there is a monastery near here then we will be able to get ministrations for Wolf that might help with the poison, though if as you say your magic will not last for more than a few hours I fear we might not get there in time," Cord said gently to Wyshira, the blind monk squatting down next to Wolf. "It is not your fault you do not bear an antitoxin. I believe our ambush was no accident - the archer pinpointed Wolf and used arrows coated with venoms. This speaks to me that he was their target." A pause as the dwarf's face creased with sadness. "If the Red Talons are Gilame<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />es, then perhaps this was done as revenge. After all, Wolf said that he had encountered slavers before. What if Tarravus was not the first operation of the worshippers of the Dragon Lord he had foiled?""Right. The Dragon Worshippers were appraised of Wolf's entry into the city, it's no surprise they were watchful for his departure. Wolf's had dealings in the past, though I'd say we're all involved now." Kale looked to the knight in explaination. The following would be an entertaining brag along the tavern rail with friends, but sour reality robbed accomplishment of its joy. "We eliminated a small cell of Gilame<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />es operating underground Tarravus. They were slavers, but something more was going on. Stockpiles of equipment and magic all around, we... interrupted their plans a bit. This isn't the last we've seen of the Dragon followers, or their enforcers," Kale finished, accepting the path they'd have to follow.Seeing the knight reloading his pistols sparked a reminder in Kale's thinking. Walking over to Melisande's mount, he replaced the spear he'd used, and tightly prepped another item. Tightly hilt-tied, he slipped a brigand's scabbarded sword opposite the spear. He regarded Melisande with a glance only long enough to warn precocious children from playing without supervision. Quickly, he made his escape back to his mount.Red Talons. Old words sprung to mind. Kaverail Kavas: Bronze claws. They sounded like the names of rivaling neighborhood gangs. Azure blades. Blood Ravens. Take a cool color, add a menacing object, and you've got a team to kill and die for. Groups and factions and postures. Kale had departed from Iril and the armies and the merchanture and the houses, but the stink of them all could be felt over everything. The mercenary sighed. There was no escape, yet these very demons were the ones who put mutton in the pot. He watched as the surviving brigands recovered. All he really wanted was to be able to hold onto his simple conceptions: us against them. You fight me, I win, I take your stuff. Later, you're still alive? Let me buy you a drink."Why does it always have to get personal?" he murmored in wonder as he looked down at Wolf. "No, Wolf isn't too fond of slavers, and the other way 'round. It's not the worst cause to die for, I suppose..." We led a dozen chained children out of those passages.* * *With Wolf lying nearby, unconcious and breathing weaky, Kale set to questioning the bandits that had survived. It didn't take much from him to work the story out of them.They were brigands and sellswords - though they called themselves mercenaries rather than bandits - and the two red-armoured men had paid them for the ambush. The Red Talons wanted Wolf dead, it seemed, though the bandits hadn't been told why. The grim, armoured men had wanted the rest of the party killed too if possible, but it was Wolf who they most wanted down. Some of the men had seen the Red Talon archer carefully envenoming his weapons beforehand though again they knew not what substance had been used, for it came from an exotic glass phial.At Ebri's suggestion of the band being advanced scouts, the Black Knight shook his head. "I am fairly certain there is no larger force that these men were scouts for near here; but you should still be careful as you travel. There are tales of unrestfulness amongst the viler denizens of this range and the caves beneath it. I have heard rumours of the dwarven settlements in the north Sarokeans engaged in fierce struggle with beasts there, though the tales vary wildly in their details."At Ebri's comments about the fortune of meeting the Black Knight, Angelo gave a wry smile. "I had not known of the exact number out here, though when I saw you already embroiled in battle with them I came as fast as I can. I do have a few advantages against numbers though," he said, tapping the back of one metal gauntlet where the metal bulged out as if the armour contained something within. "Even this armour is heavily augmented with combat systems. Had it been a Brother-Sergeant of the Order here then mere bandits would not have stood a chance. Alas I am merely a Novice," he said with humility.At Kale's invitation, the Knight nodded. "I might as well return to the monastery now that the bandits are dealt with, and leave on my path tomorrow. Most likely the archer has fled for good but Red Talons are determined scum and he might try to finish off your wounded friend."On the ground Wolf stirred faintly, eyelids flickering open and his eyes moving groggily. He seemed unable to do little more than twitch and stir slightly, but he appeard to be concious."Red Talons," he whispered hoarsely and faintly. "Not any longer." Sebastion said, quietly, wandering around the area.* * *Ebri considered again, adding the new information about the Red Talons into the tally, and came around to stand above the fallen mercenary as the others saddled up and prepared to move out.If he dies, their target dies... removing the principle threat to the rest of us... It was more than a little tempting, but facile. From what the interrogations had revealed, it was possible the Red Talons might decide to seek the rest of them out. He clearly knows something of them, beyond our general encounter with the enclave of Gilamesh...It was the added bead that might tip a scale. The others were leaving to search for ashgar. Decide, or you will lose any advantage you might accrue from this--He could live, for now. It left the most potential advantage, and his death would be final, while she could always choose to kill him later if she chose, if matters warranted at a later date. Knowledge is power, beast-man-- Her lips formed a tiny, very ironic smile for the barest second. You're very lucky... if this works...She reached up for her kama, and raised her voice to cut through the conversations and preparations of the others."There is no need to seek the Ashgar bush--" she announced, her eyes fixed on the patient. She prodded him with a toe to judge his level of consciousness; it would determine whether she could administer the mixture orally or must use an alternate method. "-- I have that substance. You will do better to guard the approaches to our position and prevent an ambush. Or perhaps, should do, once we have removed to a less visible location. Do take care not to jar him unduly. I will need a vessel, or a container of some kind-- " she looked up, finally, and around at the rest of them. "A shield or an arm grieve will do if there is nothing else--"Holding out the edge of her long shirt, Ebri slipped the end of the kama through it with a deft maneuver, shouldered the weapon, and ripped the small tear further. In her hand appeared two small paper packets. "Before you grow agitated--" Her words fell pointedly in Kale's direction-- "consider that while the nuts are pleasant and nutritious, the antitoxic decoction of the leaves is quite lethal if used incorrectly, especially in a weakened individual. " Fortunately, that was a true statement, and could be verified by them later." Having considered, however, I think it the best option of those few we have. If he lives, you may thank me for my lack of haste in this.""Wait, Ebri. Let's be sure that he is strong enough to take the cure."  Wyshira produced a scroll from a case in her pack, and unrolled it. She sat cross-legged and rigid on the ground beside Wolf, and solemnly read the words on the parchment. As the scroll disolved into nothing in her hands, she intoned her question:"Will giving Wolf the Asgar leaf cure him of the poison, or harm him further?"</blockquote>

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