Grim Hyborian Tales: Children of Ctaroc

[Old One]

Arturio

[OOC: Edited my intro piece a bit to include our new comrade...]

Arturio raised his visor and called to Arnvahr.

"Do we have a plan or are we going to charge in and send them all packing to your frosty god's belly?"

The Poitainian already knew the answer, but the thought he would ask any way. Subtlety and strategem were all but lost on the Northmen. Warbands usually charged straight in, without forethought or positioning and tore at each other like great bears, until one side was dead.

Arturio snorted in derision.

'That is one way to wage war,' he thought glumly, 'but I imagine the intructors at the Aquilonian War Academy would take issue with the bluntness of the approach!'

He sighed heavily - for the tenth time in as many hours - and wondered what, in the name of all Ongwi's forest demons, he was doing out here.

~ OO

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Mananga planted his assegai in the snow and rubbed his hands together-- whether for warmth or gleeful anticipation, it was hard to say.

The words of the white men rolled over and off him. His people could describe a dozen subtle concepts with a single word, while the white men, it seemed, wasted dozens of precious words when one or two would do. Mananga struggled, but managed to pick up Arturio's meaning through one or two key words.

"We charge. We pack our belly!"

From his shield hand, bristling with short spears, he pulled a throwing spear to ready for the closing assault. In his mind he was already playing through the attack, counting off the rhythm of his paces, the firm plant of his foot, the release of every bit of his strength and spirit behind the throw that would pierce his prey.

He placed his assegai behind his shield, stomped his feet, and struck his shield once to signal his readiness.

 

[ragboy]

Arnvahr's ice rimed beard split into a great bellowing laugh.

"Of course we have a plan, my metal-panted friend!"

He hefted his battle axe in one hand, saying, "We hit them with these sharp things," then hefted his bright metal shield, "and try to stop their sharp things with these."

His face took on a mock seriousness. "You took my gold, so I assume you've done this before?"

With that, the great bear called to his brothers and they set into a steady lope to the northwest, angling slightly away from the direction he'd indicated the Blood Ravens were holed up.

With a jingle of harness, Arnvahr's brother, Arnvid arrived with his men. He was a short man with a dark close-cropped beard and shoulder length hair. He looked much less comfortable with his surroundings than his brother. His pinched face took the three of you in and a faint sneer played across his features.

"Can these two savages keep up?" he called to Arturio. "My fool of a brother seems to think that southern lapdogs will win him a northern crown."

His men guffawed, wheeling their horses to take the lead toward the Raven's vale, while Arnvid's eyes lingered on the half exposed urn behind you.

 

[Fenris]

Ongwi mutters a silent curse. These men had no patience. They run like rabbits towards their hole, without looking first to see if the serpent lies within. At least the howling wind and snow would deaden their approach, even the knight's.

"We'll keep up" he growls at Arnvid.

 

[Old One]

Arturio

Arturio snorts behind his visor and grumbles to himself. Crown, is it? The Northmen should keep the old Aquilonian proverb in mind...

It is much easier to win a crown than wear it.

The knight shook off the thought and narrowed his eyes against the icy sun-glare. He cared little for kings and princes. He had been paid - and paid well - to kill some folk and that, for now, was enough from him.

He dug his spurs into the miserable excuse for a horse he was riding in an attempt to catch his employer.

~ OO

[OOC: Is this pony considered a warpony/horse or is it an untrained mount? Inquiring minds want to know if a certain knight will be fighting from foot !]

 

[ragboy]

[OOC: Is this pony considered a warpony/horse or is it an untrained mount? Inquiring minds want to know if a certain knight will be fighting from foot !]

Warpony. Technically a garron... he's about big enough for you to sit him and stout enough to walk/trot the highlands. And he'll bite the face off his enemies (anything in front of his head when blood starts spilling)

Note: Next post later this afternoon...

 

[ragboy]

OOC: Sorry for the delay...

The frigid wind knifed through Ongwi's thick furs as he easily outdistanced the Vanir ponies on the treacherous glacier. They had angled to the northeast, toward the stone mountain still looming out of fog of icy dust. A few half understood words from the Umiank scout had pinpointed the Aesir vale in the Pict's mind. His eyes roved the surface of the ice, trying to ignore the bite of cold. He made the vale to his west by northwest, and started angling his stride that way. Looking back, he could just make out Mananga about a hundred paces behind him. Behind the Kushite plodded the indistinct shadows of the Vanir. Ahead lay the unbroken white expanse of glacier.

Mananga kept his eyes on the Pict, keeping his pace at a maddening crawl in order to guide the shaggy beasts to their destination. The battle lust had begun to surge at the derisive looks from the men behind him. He had barely contained the urge to push his spear through a few of their throats. Noting that the scout began angling to the west, he made his own adjustment, calling over his shoulder in his native language.

Arturio's breath fogged before his face, issuing from the steel helm like a demon. His garron kept pace with the others, riding at the point of the left 'wing' in their formation, though only a Vanir would dare to call this gaggle of jangling, huffing, oversized dogs a formation. The sellsword flexed his fingers in their thick gloves. At Mananga's call, he looked up sharply, thinking they were coming up on their objective.

OOC: Spot check for everyone. Roll on invisible castle and include your standard bonus.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Spot check total: 9

http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=303404

Man, this dice server is a killer.

 

[Old One]

Spot check: 13

http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=303442

Which way did dey go?

~ OO

 

[Fenris]

Spot check:27
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=303460

I see all

This is why I am the scout