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The Thorns of Winter -(updated 8/1/2023)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8303499" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p><h2 style="text-align: center">Vegepygmies at the Gates - (6/13/2021)</h2><p></p><p></p><p>“No!” I said, my heart quickening in panic. “We can’t be…we can’t let them—”</p><p></p><p>“Myrai, how was the army arranged?” Sage asked me. I turned to look at Gossamer who quickly spoke to me in my head.</p><p></p><p>--<em>Well there are like five groups north of the walls. They seem to have something made of wood there. There is a group by the gate leading in. But the rest of the army is on the road. They aren’t close to the five group or the town gates. They’re hanging back.</em></p><p></p><p>I relayed what Gossamer said word for word, as Bookshelf and Sage looked at each other confused.</p><p></p><p>“They have enough numbers to overwhelm the town, but they are hanging back?” Bookshelf said confused. “Its like they are planning to starve them out.”</p><p></p><p>“But that doesn’t make sense,” Sage said pondering. “They could escape out the south gate easily. Did the familiar see anything around Denning?” Sage asked me.</p><p></p><p>“His name is Gossamer, and he can understand you fine.”</p><p></p><p>--<em>Well, I saw some smoke from some open fires on the roofs. I saw them launching pots that landed in town, but most of the pots weren’t on fire or anything.”</em></p><p></p><p>Repeating what Gossamer said didn’t seem to clear up the warforged puzzlement. But then Doxx interjected. “So why don’t we see what they are hurling into the town. They aren’t trying very hard to burn it.”</p><p></p><p>“Lead the way,” Mobad said standing, gripping his great axe in both hands.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>Adrissa led us through the thick woods, following concealed deer trails in the foliage. I was frustrated that we couldn’t move faster, but while Taryn wasn’t stumbling around with Debrika’s help, we couldn’t rush through the woods. I could only hope that we would have some answers. The branches and leaves slapped my face as we moved until finally we started to climb a hillock. After some effort, we crested it, and found ourselves in view of the town.</p><p></p><p>Denning wasn’t on fire, or really at risk of burning. I had seen worse in the Hive, where fires set had ravaged the slums. This was just spotty fires here and there. As I looked closer to us, I realized that right at the base of the hill was a catapult and crew. There were two large and four vegepygmies. The large ones were occupied with moving clay pots onto the makeshift siege weapon and winding up the tension to fling another pot into the town. The four small ones seemed to be in charge directing the big ones to ‘aim’ them and reload catapults.</p><p></p><p><em>Hey Goss, go fly out and see what the army is doing. Come back if it starts moving.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Great. You will pull me back right before you leave?”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I will! Get going.</em></p><p></p><p>The tressym flew off towards the east. Sage then tapped Mobad on the shoulder and then pointed himself and then one of the large ones, and then the other one, and toward Mobad. The orc nodded and grinned, while The Blade notched an arrow, and Doxx gripped her staff. Adrissa seemed torn for a moment, and she decided to pull out her short bow. Debrika sat Taryn down, and looked at myself, Bookshelf and Rosa. Rosa and I waved her on, and she looked at the others and nodded.</p><p></p><p>Sage isn’t silent. Not by any stretch of the imagination. And the sight of him charging into the vegepygmies must have been alarming to normal people. But if that was terrifying, him being flanked by Debrika with her hammer, and then the bare-chested orc bellowing as he charged into the fray should have been terrifying.</p><p></p><p>But these things weren’t people. They turned and stared and seemed to let the trio just crash into the group. Sage’s fiery sword quickly cut into the large one, and fire spread to the other. Mobad just hacked at his, carving large grey chunks off of his foe. Debrika swung and smashed into a smaller one at the same time that Doxx whirled her staff around, striking all four of the pygmies. The Blade and Adrissa then shot into the throng, their arrows finding marks and taking down two more vegepygmies. Then, Bookshelf pointed a finger, and I watched frost spread and covering the figure freezing it in place. I then grimaced and I with a momentary thought, I cast a dark strand out and around a pair of small ones, and the ghostly hands gripped them, causing two of them to fall. The large warriors kept up their attacks, and in moments it was over.</p><p></p><p>But it was strange. There were the sound of weapons on wet moldy flesh,of torches sputtering around the catapult, bodies hitting the ground, and the sizzling noises of seared flesh of fallen. But there was no screams of pain, pleading for mercy. Nothing; they just took the blows, and weakly attempted to fight back, but seemed almost half-hearted. The whole scene was unnerving to me.</p><p></p><p>I had taken Taryn by the hand and was leading him down to the catapult as the remaining sunlight started to fade. The Mror, orc and warforged, were keeping watch as the rest of us scrambled down.</p><p></p><p>“The other catapults aren’t reacting to us,” Sage noted as he peered into the distance. “They are either focused, or just aren’t observant.”</p><p></p><p>“They follow orders,” I said as I approached. “Independent thought isn’t a strong point.”</p><p></p><p>“Wonderful, so who told them to make catapults?” Doxx complained.</p><p></p><p>“Morrigon must have others helping him…helping guide them,” Rosa said bitterly. “Maybe he brought a circle of druids from the Eldeen.”</p><p></p><p>“Don’t druids frown on …chopping trees down for siege weapons?” Bookshelf asked.</p><p></p><p>“Yes…even the Children of Winter don’t just cull trees. But…if they are trying to end everything, they might see it as a noble sacrifice. I…I…just don’t know.”</p><p></p><p>The Blade stood on part of the catapult looking around, his bow drawn. Adrissa was about to step up for a better view, when I saw her pause. She looked down at a line of clay pots, and she jumped down and looked at them closely. Sitting Taryn down near Debrika, I moved over to see what had attracted her attention.</p><p></p><p>There was a half-dozen pots, divided into three different sets. Each set had a different shape at the top. The first set of pots were small and I had a firm idea contained a type of pitch. The smell and the rag leading out of the top of the round hole seemed obvious to me. The next set had a five-sided opening on the top, and some lids nearby that could be used to seal them. But I glanced down, and I could see a blue liquid inside. I knew that liquid well, as it was poured into my eyes as part of the experimentation. But the third set had square openings and it was these that had Adrissa’s focus.</p><p></p><p>“What did you find Adr—” I started.</p><p></p><p>“—Something moved in there.” She said her voice quavering.</p><p></p><p>That got everyone’s attention. The Blade, who had the highest vantage, aimed his bow down at the pot. “I saw motion. But I don’t have a clear view of what it is.”</p><p></p><p>We looked at each other, unsure how to proceed, when a great axe came smashing down on the pot. The orc had no patience for the tension or the mystery, his face scrunched in frustration at our inaction. The clay fell away, and inside, cleaved into twain was a sickly yellow plant, with a bright yellow flower. As I stared at it, I saw it quiver and thrash a moment. Green sap leaked out on the pottery fragments and covered Mobad’s axe and it was then I smelled the strong odor of musk.</p><p></p><p>“That is bad,” The Blade said.</p><p></p><p>“Your talent for understatement is—” Doxx began.</p><p></p><p>“—You needed worry; my statements are as accurate as my archery,”</p><p></p><p>Doxx glared at him, while I knelt down and looked closer at the strange flower. “I don’t understand what the concern is.”</p><p></p><p>“You didn’t see these at the ranch dear?” Rosa asked.</p><p></p><p>“No…we saw some figures entering the barn and headed straight into a trap. I don’t recall seeing them in the barn, or below.”</p><p></p><p>“That,” spat Doxx, “turned a number of the Ranch hands into slaves.”</p><p></p><p>Adrissa growled, and she started to smash the other pots. She broke apart each one and cut and slashed each of the plants within. Her face was knot of fury and anger as she hacked with her sword and hand axe. I stepped forward a moment to stop her, when Bookshelf stood next to her, and with a finger froze each flower with a cold beam of light. Adrissa didn’t notice at first, but when she broke open the last pot and saw the light, she turned and looked at Bookshelf in confusion. Her mouth opened and closed like she was going to say something but was uncertain what. But Bookshelf responded with, “I saw what they did to them. They were why I burned the house down. Sorry.”</p><p></p><p>Adrissa stood there and nodded quietly, and then turned to the town, and asked the question on our minds. “How many did they send into town?”</p><p></p><p>“How would they know they are there, if they are blind,” Rosa asked.</p><p></p><p>“What do you mean? I can’t see what the problem is.” Taryn asked sounding fustrated.</p><p></p><p>“Pots of pitch, the stuff that spreads eyerot, and pots with a cutting of a creeper,” Rosa replied.</p><p></p><p>“But why launch pitch at all?” Doxx asked. “I mean wouldn’t it just hamper taking the town?”</p><p></p><p>“There aren’t enough catapults or pitch here to burn down a part of the town,” Sage remarked. “Even with the other catapults. This pitch is a slow burning annoyance; it isn’t the explosive material that Cannith made during the war.</p><p></p><p>“It’s bait,” I said as the others turned to look at me. “You sent a pot with the fire, attracting the townsfolk to put it out. And then—”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, you follow up with a pot to blind the fire fighters.” Doxx said slapping her forehead.</p><p></p><p>“And then the creepers to land and find places in the town to hide; now that they can’t be seen.” Bookshelf finished.</p><p></p><p>“They aren’t that smart, are they?” Debrika asked, her voice sarcastic and incredulous.</p><p></p><p>“No,” I agreed. “But they do follow directions. This is someone else’s idea.”</p><p></p><p>“So, what do we do?” Sage asked. “We can take down the other catapults. Stop the spreading of eyerot from getting worse.”</p><p></p><p>“There is also the matter of them breaking open the gates,” Bookshelf pointed out.</p><p></p><p>The Blade jumped down and looked at the ground. “This appears to be the last of their stores. I think they already sent over the walls…a dozen sets.”</p><p></p><p>“The door is more important.” Doxx said. “They have plenty of trees and can build more catapults and crew them. But if the gate is breached, it will be hard to hold.”</p><p></p><p>“Strategically that makes sense,” Bookshelf agreed.</p><p></p><p>“Take the catapults and smash them.” Mobad voiced.</p><p></p><p>--<em>uh boss?</em></p><p></p><p>“Mobad is right! We can’t let them just launch more into the town!” Rosa exclaimed.</p><p></p><p><em>Need a moment Goss.</em></p><p></p><p>“The gate is more important to keeping the citizens alive.” The Blade said confidently.</p><p></p><p>--<em>Boss!</em></p><p></p><p>“Do I get to voice an opinion?” Adrissa asked.</p><p></p><p>“No.” “No.” “Yes dear.” “You should!” “No shush child—"</p><p></p><p><em>This is a bad—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--The army is coming!”</em></p><p></p><p>“Sodding…STOP!” I yelled louder than I intended. Everyone stared at me. I raised my hands up and said, “We have a problem. The army is moving.”</p><p></p><p>Everyone turned their heads and looked at each other in turn. And like they all shared a single purpose and thought, they all said the same thing:</p><p></p><p>“Gate!”</p><p></p><p>---------</p><p></p><p></p><p>We ran as fast as we could which was surprising considering that Taryn couldn’t see a thing. Despite he being blind, Taryn had superb balance, and was easily guided by Debrika and I as we all headed for the gates. Gossamer didn’t have a firm grip on how fast they were moving, but the last thing we wanted was to be caught outside the gate, and on the wrong side of the river. But as we closed the distance, we knew this was going to be more challenging, because someone got creative.</p><p></p><p>Two of the large vegepygmies were at the gate. The pair were using a log, and together kept ramming it into the door. But they weren’t alone. On both of the large ones, they wore what could be best called a platform. It looked like they had stuck their head through a side of a crate and now wore it like an outlandish ruff around the neck. But on each of these slabs of wood, stood four of the vegepygmies, and these were armed with shortbows. Complicating this was the fact that there were small palisades of wood allowing the pygmies to hide behind them.</p><p></p><p>The Blade started to shoot has he ran, not even stopping to get precise aim. But his shots sank into the wooden palisade. The pygmies weren’t great shots either though, as arrows rained around us with only Mobad and Bookshelf taking grazing hits.</p><p>“Anyone have a plan?” Doxx yelled as we were closing the distance. The Blade had range, but even his longbow couldn’t penetrate the cover they hid behind. Adrissa’s bow was no better than the Pygmies, and Mobad likely would have little luck with his Javelins. But as we continued Bookshelf spoke up.</p><p></p><p>“I have one. Wait for my signal and then charge in. Don’t get closer than ten paces.”</p><p></p><p>“Follow me, and when I stop, get behind me!” Sage yelled. The lumbering juggernaut ran and put himself in between the group and the vege-brutes. Suddenly, he dropped to a knee and wedged his shield into the earth and he then ducked his body down behind it. The rest of us followed and hid behind his bulky form. As I watched arrows struck his shield weakly, I saw something more interesting. Some of the arrows seemed to stop in the air and tumbled to the ground. As I watched I realized they were striking some kind of barrier, but I didn’t see or feel any part of the weave being manipulated. All I did see was a yellow crystal on Sage’s left forearm pulse with light as the arrows struck nothing in the air.</p><p></p><p>I didn’t really have time for questions, as Bookshelf hid low behind Sage’s bulk. From him I could feel a large spell being pulled from the fabric of the weave. And then he stood up and pointed, and a bead of light flew from his hand and streaked towards the group. Instantly the air erupted in flames, and I felt the hot breeze blow back in our direction. I stood up and saw that the large vege-brutes were set ablaze. They beat themselves gamely, trying to put out the burning patches on their hides. But my heart sank as I watched the little ones stand up and started to ready a volley.</p><p></p><p>Mobad didn’t wait as he charged in, followed by Debrika and Doxx. He quickly hacked at the hulking brute, once again chopping chunks of grey plant-like matter away, while Debrika took a more impactful approach. She slammed her hammer into one of them, and I could feel something tug at me. It wasn’t magic, or at least not the Weave. It pulled at my heart and I could see a flash as her two-handed hammer shimmered with white light. I was awestruck at the sensation, and I watched the vege-brute shuddering at the impact. Doxx clapped her hands together and then suddenly her hands and legs were ablaze. It seemed that the flames leapt from her and seared her foes as she kicked and punched around them, without being close enough to be pounded by their fists.</p><p></p><p>Sage then stood and clanged his armblade to his shield and thundered his way into the fray with a gout of green flame igniting his blade. As he approached the arrows from the vegepygmies bounced off his shield and skin. He drew all of their attention as he swung and cut deeply into his foe, and his flames spread to the other one. Both of the large monstrosities swung and tried to pound the warforged, but the juggernaut would not be stopped. If he noticed the blows, he said nothing and kept igniting his blade.</p><p></p><p>As the group fought it was clear that these vege-brutes were much hardier, and more dangerous than others of their kin. One of them twisted and extruded a wet grey pseudopod and swung it in a great arc. Mobad, Debrika and Sage all were struck, and fell to the ground, while Doxx was able to avoid any the impact at all. As they lay there, the archers on the platforms tried to pin the three down; Sage simply stood seemed unconcerned, while both Mobad and Debrika were pierced with arrows. But both regained their footing, with Mobad bellowing a ferocious yell while Debrika shouted “Vann kalt ko-krun!” in the Mror language. But the second one was fixated at the agile old woman, and it too extruded a wet pseudopod. It whipped it overhead and slammed it down, striking Doxx squarely on the head and shoulders. Doxx staggered and fell unconscious onto the earth.</p><p></p><p>Rosa was busy as I watched her cast a spell and created what appeared to be a glowing white yellow tree. But the ghostly tree walked and stood over Mobad and I could see his wounds close. While she did this, she waved her hand, and I could see a shower of golden motes float down on the unmoving Doxx. Her teeth were clenched as she focused moving the tree from person to person and the worry on her face was evident. Next to her the Blade changed his focus to hit the large ones, since the small vegepygmies hid behind their wooden cover. Meanwhile Adrissa was following The Blades lead. From our vantage points we could see the vege-brutes do the same thing again, with one sweeping the field and knocking people down and the second slamming whoever fell. Even Sage Redoubt was unable to stay upright during the assault.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly I heard next to me, Adrissa cursing something I couldn’t quite hear. Glancing at her I saw that she had thrown down her bow and it was obvious why; her quiver was emptied. She was about to run into the melee when Bookshelf gripped her on the shoulder.</p><p>“Wait, don’t.” the slender warforged said forcefully.</p><p></p><p>“Let me go!” Adrissa retorted, trying to break free of the warforged metal grip.</p><p>“I can’t protect you from the fire. Please…Adrissa.” Bookshelf said softly. Adrissa stopped and looked at Bookshelf confused for a moment. Then Bookshelf turned and flung a second bead into the throng.</p><p></p><p>“No Bookshelf, wai—” I started when the flames enveloped everything in view. The vegepygmies, the vege-brutes, and Sage, Debrika, Doxx, and Mobad. But as I stood there and watched the flames fade away for the second time, I saw something. It was like the fire was not…well fire. It looked like there were pockets or bubbles of fiery water that the four stood in, seemly untouched by the flames. I then turned to look at Bookshelf and Adrissa.</p><p>“Now go,” Bookshelf said, and Adrissa needed no other encouragement. She flew into the pack and flung herself at the vege-brutes and started to slice them with her sword, and hack with her hatchet. As I watched her, I saw her face and it sent a chill down my spine. Her raw emotions on display on her face, and it was one of pure rapture. She was reveling in the violence, as she hewed fibers and flesh away from her hated foes.</p><p></p><p>My knees shook, as I saw her. The expression, the unbridled joy as she whirled and cut. Her brown hair whipping around her wildly, as part of the cyclone of destruction. A face and look shared by someone else I knew and feared. And hated. Because there before me I saw embodiment of destruction. A spitting image of the Factol of the Sinkers. The woman who killed my dear Elisna in front of me in the streets of Sigil.</p><p></p><p>“No No nonono, I won’t let you become like <strong><em>her,”</em> I</strong> said aloud. And as I watched, I saw the pair of vege-brutes turn, sensing opportunity. Somehow, they knew that an easy kill approached.</p><p></p><p>Growling to myself, I ran forward and yelled at the group. “Get back! Protect Adrissa!” I started to pull on a light and a dark strand and started to weave them together. Sage turned to look at me in confusion. The pair of brutes and their platforms were still intact, the vege-pygmies still shooting at the seemingly invulnerable juggernaut. But as he saw me, it was clear he knew I was up to something. He backed up his bulk to push Adrissa backwards, while Debrika assisted a dazed and staggered Doxx.</p><p></p><p>I gripped my rod tightly and then threw the loop of the braided strands around all of the vege-things and pulled them taut until it snapped. The air exploded with the sound of wood shattering into splinters. The vege-brutes were now pierced with huge splinters. The little ones found themselves falling to the earth, most of them landing with a solid wet thud, and remained there unmoving. Several stood up awkwardly in a daze, only to find themselves pierced by The Blades arrows.</p><p></p><p>But the two brutes still stood, and they turned their attention to me. They both sweeped again, trying to knock me down but I was fast enough to avoid one, which led to me being smashed by the second bowling me over. I tasted blood on my lips as I stood glaring at the pair.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t have to play fair either,” I said. I pulled together two dark strands and wove them around me. After tying them off I let loose the strands and let them engulf me. To me, it was the brightest day. But to them, they looked around confused as darkness clouded their vision.</p><p></p><p>“What the? Where is she?” I heard Rosa yell behind me.</p><p></p><p>“Somewhere in that…darkness,” I heard Doxx say.</p><p></p><p>“Well I can’t see the pair now, so this doesn’t he—”</p><p></p><p>I then shifted moving towards the gate and letting the globe of darkness fall away from them.</p><p></p><p>“Much better,” and I heard a pair of twangs as he sunk more arrows into them. I saw a single ray of cold white light striking one. Sage stood again as the bulkwark he was and slashed with his blade, coated in fire. Doxx now rejoined the fight again with fists of fire, while Debrika smashed, and Mobad and Adrissa chopped into them. After they did so, I moved and covered the vege-brutes in darkness again and threw out dark strands, trying to choke the life from them. The sudden loss of vision caused them to turn and twist, looking for me. They tried to stagger out but Sage, Debrika and Mobad blocked their attempts to leave. After striking, I moved again revealing them, and all of my allies struck again.</p><p></p><p>As they clumsily tried to defend themselves, I covered them again. Using more dark strands I rended their lifeforce again. The stupid brutes staggered in the darkness, swinging around them wildly to no avail. And after they swung, I shifted myself and darkness revealing them again. Once again, the others charged in and finally both crashed down to the earth, unmoving.</p><p></p><p>I then cut loose the strands and let the darkness fall away. Adrissa looked at me in awe as I wiped the blood from my face, using a simple white strand. She ran up to me with a look of confusion.</p><p></p><p>“How…how…it was dark. I couldn’t see anything. Not them, not you.”</p><p></p><p>“The darkness doesn’t exist for me. But it does for others, and I take advantage of that.” I said as my breathing slowed from the exertions. I knelt down and looked at her. The battle lust was gone, and the almost innocent look had returned. “We should talk later about you charging into danger.”</p><p></p><p>“Why? I’m not old enou—”</p><p></p><p>“No,” I said shaking my head. “I can’t say this isn’t your fight; it is. But you can’t let it be all you are. We’ll talk later.”</p><p></p><p>Sage had moved to the gate and pounded on the wood shouting, “Open up!”</p><p></p><p>From the other side we heard a voice stammer, “No no no…not with those things pounding the gate. I can’t do that.”</p><p></p><p>“They dead,” Mobad stated. “Open. Now!”</p><p></p><p>“How do I know it isn’t a trick?” the voice questioned.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, come on!” Doxx exclaimed. “Wouldn’t they have started with tricking you before trying to smash the gate down?”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know your voices! I’m not opening it!”</p><p></p><p>Adrissa then rolled her eyes and stomped to the gate and yelled. “Open the gate damn you Balen!”</p><p></p><p>“Wait…no…” we heard. Then a small panel slid open. There on the other side I saw the face of a child, looking us over. The boy settled their gaze on the girl and said, “Hi Adrissa.”</p><p></p><p>Adrissa blinked and replied, “Hey Jace. Can we come in?”</p><p></p><p>“It is her?” the voice behind the door said.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah pa,” the boy replied. The panel then closed, and I could hear some clamoring behind the gate. Finally, we heard the bar slide back, and one of the gate doors opened letting us through.</p><p></p><p>The gate was just that, a gate set into the wall, anchored to a low pair of towers. On one side was a small stone building, presumably where the gate guards stayed during their shift. There were four guards here, but the blood around the eyes told me everything I needed to know; they were all blind. But with them there were three children; the boy Jace, and a younger boy and a girl. They looked at Adrissa and were excited asking her questions about how she got there.</p><p></p><p>Adrissa was a little shocked at the and could barely answer the younger kids’ questions. As she stood there unclear on what to say, Rosa knelt down and looked at Jace’s eyes.</p><p></p><p>“He’s not infected,” she said confused. She then looked at the younger kids and gripped their heads a moment as she peered into their eyes. “Neither are these two.”</p><p></p><p>“You…you can see?” the guard, who I assumed was Balen asked.</p><p></p><p>“We have perfect vision, guardsman,” The Blade said confidently. “How are the rest of you.”</p><p></p><p>“We…don’t know,” Balen continued. It was strange, but as we helped with the fires, our eyes started to burn, and we went blind. We didn’t want to abandon the gate. But my kids came, and they have been our eyes. But I can scarcely believe what they are saying.”</p><p></p><p>“Why didn’t you send your kids to get help or—”</p><p></p><p>“Big mean dogs are running around streets,” Jace said. “They have weird people on their backs with spears,”</p><p></p><p>“How did they get in if the gate was closed?” Bookshelf asked.</p><p></p><p>“Saw some of them running on the wall and then down into the streets.” Jace replied, his eyes tearing. “We’re scared; we saw the dog…well…”</p><p></p><p>Rosa stroked the hair of Jace, “Shh…it’s alright. We’re here to help. Have you seen anyone else?”</p><p></p><p>Jace shook his head, “Not in a while. We saw other kids leading their parents to Drover’s Rest and—”</p><p></p><p>“Wait, leading? They can see?” Bookshelf said curiously. “Why can children see?”</p><p></p><p>Rosa thought a moment, “Gwen…she never mentioned children. Just adults. Perhaps she never tested any.”</p><p></p><p>I flexed a moment and with a strand pulled Gossamer to me.</p><p></p><p>--<em>GAH! I thought you forgot about me.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>How were things out there?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Well…the army is more of a horde and its moving to town, but it isn’t rushing with urgency.</em></p><p></p><p>“The rest of them are coming, but not a rush,” I told the others.</p><p></p><p>“They are waiting, they don’t need to take the town with force.” Sage said.</p><p></p><p>“Well…they’re just going to fling more crap over the walls. What are we supposed to—” Doxx started when he stopped. In the distance to the south was the sound of a large horn sounding four notes, one long and three short.</p><p></p><p>“We’ll I’ll be,” Doxx finished. The two warforged looked at each other and Bookshelf commented. “Military horn.”</p><p></p><p>“Karnnathi,” Sage said. “That’s an order signal. “But I only know the Aundarian signal codes.”</p><p></p><p>“But I do,” Doxx said. “That’s a command to open the gate; Someone wants in.”</p><p></p><p><strong>Session Notes:</strong></p><p>We can see that Adrissa and Bookshelf started to define their new relationship here. There is a lot to the story, but I need to pry it out of my daughter, as most was done in a physical journal I don't have access to. Myrai and Adrissa's relationship of course is complicated...a lot with Adrissa really hating shooting things with her bow.</p><p></p><p>With any large party it is hard to keep things focused on any pair of dyads. Its also hard to get int a word in the dialog. Makes it a mess to write at times too, and make sure everyone gets a moment in the sun.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8303499, member: 6971069"] [HEADING=1][CENTER]Vegepygmies at the Gates - (6/13/2021)[/CENTER][/HEADING] “No!” I said, my heart quickening in panic. “We can’t be…we can’t let them—” “Myrai, how was the army arranged?” Sage asked me. I turned to look at Gossamer who quickly spoke to me in my head. --[I]Well there are like five groups north of the walls. They seem to have something made of wood there. There is a group by the gate leading in. But the rest of the army is on the road. They aren’t close to the five group or the town gates. They’re hanging back.[/I] I relayed what Gossamer said word for word, as Bookshelf and Sage looked at each other confused. “They have enough numbers to overwhelm the town, but they are hanging back?” Bookshelf said confused. “Its like they are planning to starve them out.” “But that doesn’t make sense,” Sage said pondering. “They could escape out the south gate easily. Did the familiar see anything around Denning?” Sage asked me. “His name is Gossamer, and he can understand you fine.” --[I]Well, I saw some smoke from some open fires on the roofs. I saw them launching pots that landed in town, but most of the pots weren’t on fire or anything.”[/I] Repeating what Gossamer said didn’t seem to clear up the warforged puzzlement. But then Doxx interjected. “So why don’t we see what they are hurling into the town. They aren’t trying very hard to burn it.” “Lead the way,” Mobad said standing, gripping his great axe in both hands. --- Adrissa led us through the thick woods, following concealed deer trails in the foliage. I was frustrated that we couldn’t move faster, but while Taryn wasn’t stumbling around with Debrika’s help, we couldn’t rush through the woods. I could only hope that we would have some answers. The branches and leaves slapped my face as we moved until finally we started to climb a hillock. After some effort, we crested it, and found ourselves in view of the town. Denning wasn’t on fire, or really at risk of burning. I had seen worse in the Hive, where fires set had ravaged the slums. This was just spotty fires here and there. As I looked closer to us, I realized that right at the base of the hill was a catapult and crew. There were two large and four vegepygmies. The large ones were occupied with moving clay pots onto the makeshift siege weapon and winding up the tension to fling another pot into the town. The four small ones seemed to be in charge directing the big ones to ‘aim’ them and reload catapults. [I]Hey Goss, go fly out and see what the army is doing. Come back if it starts moving. --Great. You will pull me back right before you leave?” I will! Get going.[/I] The tressym flew off towards the east. Sage then tapped Mobad on the shoulder and then pointed himself and then one of the large ones, and then the other one, and toward Mobad. The orc nodded and grinned, while The Blade notched an arrow, and Doxx gripped her staff. Adrissa seemed torn for a moment, and she decided to pull out her short bow. Debrika sat Taryn down, and looked at myself, Bookshelf and Rosa. Rosa and I waved her on, and she looked at the others and nodded. Sage isn’t silent. Not by any stretch of the imagination. And the sight of him charging into the vegepygmies must have been alarming to normal people. But if that was terrifying, him being flanked by Debrika with her hammer, and then the bare-chested orc bellowing as he charged into the fray should have been terrifying. But these things weren’t people. They turned and stared and seemed to let the trio just crash into the group. Sage’s fiery sword quickly cut into the large one, and fire spread to the other. Mobad just hacked at his, carving large grey chunks off of his foe. Debrika swung and smashed into a smaller one at the same time that Doxx whirled her staff around, striking all four of the pygmies. The Blade and Adrissa then shot into the throng, their arrows finding marks and taking down two more vegepygmies. Then, Bookshelf pointed a finger, and I watched frost spread and covering the figure freezing it in place. I then grimaced and I with a momentary thought, I cast a dark strand out and around a pair of small ones, and the ghostly hands gripped them, causing two of them to fall. The large warriors kept up their attacks, and in moments it was over. But it was strange. There were the sound of weapons on wet moldy flesh,of torches sputtering around the catapult, bodies hitting the ground, and the sizzling noises of seared flesh of fallen. But there was no screams of pain, pleading for mercy. Nothing; they just took the blows, and weakly attempted to fight back, but seemed almost half-hearted. The whole scene was unnerving to me. I had taken Taryn by the hand and was leading him down to the catapult as the remaining sunlight started to fade. The Mror, orc and warforged, were keeping watch as the rest of us scrambled down. “The other catapults aren’t reacting to us,” Sage noted as he peered into the distance. “They are either focused, or just aren’t observant.” “They follow orders,” I said as I approached. “Independent thought isn’t a strong point.” “Wonderful, so who told them to make catapults?” Doxx complained. “Morrigon must have others helping him…helping guide them,” Rosa said bitterly. “Maybe he brought a circle of druids from the Eldeen.” “Don’t druids frown on …chopping trees down for siege weapons?” Bookshelf asked. “Yes…even the Children of Winter don’t just cull trees. But…if they are trying to end everything, they might see it as a noble sacrifice. I…I…just don’t know.” The Blade stood on part of the catapult looking around, his bow drawn. Adrissa was about to step up for a better view, when I saw her pause. She looked down at a line of clay pots, and she jumped down and looked at them closely. Sitting Taryn down near Debrika, I moved over to see what had attracted her attention. There was a half-dozen pots, divided into three different sets. Each set had a different shape at the top. The first set of pots were small and I had a firm idea contained a type of pitch. The smell and the rag leading out of the top of the round hole seemed obvious to me. The next set had a five-sided opening on the top, and some lids nearby that could be used to seal them. But I glanced down, and I could see a blue liquid inside. I knew that liquid well, as it was poured into my eyes as part of the experimentation. But the third set had square openings and it was these that had Adrissa’s focus. “What did you find Adr—” I started. “—Something moved in there.” She said her voice quavering. That got everyone’s attention. The Blade, who had the highest vantage, aimed his bow down at the pot. “I saw motion. But I don’t have a clear view of what it is.” We looked at each other, unsure how to proceed, when a great axe came smashing down on the pot. The orc had no patience for the tension or the mystery, his face scrunched in frustration at our inaction. The clay fell away, and inside, cleaved into twain was a sickly yellow plant, with a bright yellow flower. As I stared at it, I saw it quiver and thrash a moment. Green sap leaked out on the pottery fragments and covered Mobad’s axe and it was then I smelled the strong odor of musk. “That is bad,” The Blade said. “Your talent for understatement is—” Doxx began. “—You needed worry; my statements are as accurate as my archery,” Doxx glared at him, while I knelt down and looked closer at the strange flower. “I don’t understand what the concern is.” “You didn’t see these at the ranch dear?” Rosa asked. “No…we saw some figures entering the barn and headed straight into a trap. I don’t recall seeing them in the barn, or below.” “That,” spat Doxx, “turned a number of the Ranch hands into slaves.” Adrissa growled, and she started to smash the other pots. She broke apart each one and cut and slashed each of the plants within. Her face was knot of fury and anger as she hacked with her sword and hand axe. I stepped forward a moment to stop her, when Bookshelf stood next to her, and with a finger froze each flower with a cold beam of light. Adrissa didn’t notice at first, but when she broke open the last pot and saw the light, she turned and looked at Bookshelf in confusion. Her mouth opened and closed like she was going to say something but was uncertain what. But Bookshelf responded with, “I saw what they did to them. They were why I burned the house down. Sorry.” Adrissa stood there and nodded quietly, and then turned to the town, and asked the question on our minds. “How many did they send into town?” “How would they know they are there, if they are blind,” Rosa asked. “What do you mean? I can’t see what the problem is.” Taryn asked sounding fustrated. “Pots of pitch, the stuff that spreads eyerot, and pots with a cutting of a creeper,” Rosa replied. “But why launch pitch at all?” Doxx asked. “I mean wouldn’t it just hamper taking the town?” “There aren’t enough catapults or pitch here to burn down a part of the town,” Sage remarked. “Even with the other catapults. This pitch is a slow burning annoyance; it isn’t the explosive material that Cannith made during the war. “It’s bait,” I said as the others turned to look at me. “You sent a pot with the fire, attracting the townsfolk to put it out. And then—” “Of course, you follow up with a pot to blind the fire fighters.” Doxx said slapping her forehead. “And then the creepers to land and find places in the town to hide; now that they can’t be seen.” Bookshelf finished. “They aren’t that smart, are they?” Debrika asked, her voice sarcastic and incredulous. “No,” I agreed. “But they do follow directions. This is someone else’s idea.” “So, what do we do?” Sage asked. “We can take down the other catapults. Stop the spreading of eyerot from getting worse.” “There is also the matter of them breaking open the gates,” Bookshelf pointed out. The Blade jumped down and looked at the ground. “This appears to be the last of their stores. I think they already sent over the walls…a dozen sets.” “The door is more important.” Doxx said. “They have plenty of trees and can build more catapults and crew them. But if the gate is breached, it will be hard to hold.” “Strategically that makes sense,” Bookshelf agreed. “Take the catapults and smash them.” Mobad voiced. --[I]uh boss?[/I] “Mobad is right! We can’t let them just launch more into the town!” Rosa exclaimed. [I]Need a moment Goss.[/I] “The gate is more important to keeping the citizens alive.” The Blade said confidently. --[I]Boss![/I] “Do I get to voice an opinion?” Adrissa asked. “No.” “No.” “Yes dear.” “You should!” “No shush child—" [I]This is a bad— --The army is coming!”[/I] “Sodding…STOP!” I yelled louder than I intended. Everyone stared at me. I raised my hands up and said, “We have a problem. The army is moving.” Everyone turned their heads and looked at each other in turn. And like they all shared a single purpose and thought, they all said the same thing: “Gate!” --------- We ran as fast as we could which was surprising considering that Taryn couldn’t see a thing. Despite he being blind, Taryn had superb balance, and was easily guided by Debrika and I as we all headed for the gates. Gossamer didn’t have a firm grip on how fast they were moving, but the last thing we wanted was to be caught outside the gate, and on the wrong side of the river. But as we closed the distance, we knew this was going to be more challenging, because someone got creative. Two of the large vegepygmies were at the gate. The pair were using a log, and together kept ramming it into the door. But they weren’t alone. On both of the large ones, they wore what could be best called a platform. It looked like they had stuck their head through a side of a crate and now wore it like an outlandish ruff around the neck. But on each of these slabs of wood, stood four of the vegepygmies, and these were armed with shortbows. Complicating this was the fact that there were small palisades of wood allowing the pygmies to hide behind them. The Blade started to shoot has he ran, not even stopping to get precise aim. But his shots sank into the wooden palisade. The pygmies weren’t great shots either though, as arrows rained around us with only Mobad and Bookshelf taking grazing hits. “Anyone have a plan?” Doxx yelled as we were closing the distance. The Blade had range, but even his longbow couldn’t penetrate the cover they hid behind. Adrissa’s bow was no better than the Pygmies, and Mobad likely would have little luck with his Javelins. But as we continued Bookshelf spoke up. “I have one. Wait for my signal and then charge in. Don’t get closer than ten paces.” “Follow me, and when I stop, get behind me!” Sage yelled. The lumbering juggernaut ran and put himself in between the group and the vege-brutes. Suddenly, he dropped to a knee and wedged his shield into the earth and he then ducked his body down behind it. The rest of us followed and hid behind his bulky form. As I watched arrows struck his shield weakly, I saw something more interesting. Some of the arrows seemed to stop in the air and tumbled to the ground. As I watched I realized they were striking some kind of barrier, but I didn’t see or feel any part of the weave being manipulated. All I did see was a yellow crystal on Sage’s left forearm pulse with light as the arrows struck nothing in the air. I didn’t really have time for questions, as Bookshelf hid low behind Sage’s bulk. From him I could feel a large spell being pulled from the fabric of the weave. And then he stood up and pointed, and a bead of light flew from his hand and streaked towards the group. Instantly the air erupted in flames, and I felt the hot breeze blow back in our direction. I stood up and saw that the large vege-brutes were set ablaze. They beat themselves gamely, trying to put out the burning patches on their hides. But my heart sank as I watched the little ones stand up and started to ready a volley. Mobad didn’t wait as he charged in, followed by Debrika and Doxx. He quickly hacked at the hulking brute, once again chopping chunks of grey plant-like matter away, while Debrika took a more impactful approach. She slammed her hammer into one of them, and I could feel something tug at me. It wasn’t magic, or at least not the Weave. It pulled at my heart and I could see a flash as her two-handed hammer shimmered with white light. I was awestruck at the sensation, and I watched the vege-brute shuddering at the impact. Doxx clapped her hands together and then suddenly her hands and legs were ablaze. It seemed that the flames leapt from her and seared her foes as she kicked and punched around them, without being close enough to be pounded by their fists. Sage then stood and clanged his armblade to his shield and thundered his way into the fray with a gout of green flame igniting his blade. As he approached the arrows from the vegepygmies bounced off his shield and skin. He drew all of their attention as he swung and cut deeply into his foe, and his flames spread to the other one. Both of the large monstrosities swung and tried to pound the warforged, but the juggernaut would not be stopped. If he noticed the blows, he said nothing and kept igniting his blade. As the group fought it was clear that these vege-brutes were much hardier, and more dangerous than others of their kin. One of them twisted and extruded a wet grey pseudopod and swung it in a great arc. Mobad, Debrika and Sage all were struck, and fell to the ground, while Doxx was able to avoid any the impact at all. As they lay there, the archers on the platforms tried to pin the three down; Sage simply stood seemed unconcerned, while both Mobad and Debrika were pierced with arrows. But both regained their footing, with Mobad bellowing a ferocious yell while Debrika shouted “Vann kalt ko-krun!” in the Mror language. But the second one was fixated at the agile old woman, and it too extruded a wet pseudopod. It whipped it overhead and slammed it down, striking Doxx squarely on the head and shoulders. Doxx staggered and fell unconscious onto the earth. Rosa was busy as I watched her cast a spell and created what appeared to be a glowing white yellow tree. But the ghostly tree walked and stood over Mobad and I could see his wounds close. While she did this, she waved her hand, and I could see a shower of golden motes float down on the unmoving Doxx. Her teeth were clenched as she focused moving the tree from person to person and the worry on her face was evident. Next to her the Blade changed his focus to hit the large ones, since the small vegepygmies hid behind their wooden cover. Meanwhile Adrissa was following The Blades lead. From our vantage points we could see the vege-brutes do the same thing again, with one sweeping the field and knocking people down and the second slamming whoever fell. Even Sage Redoubt was unable to stay upright during the assault. Suddenly I heard next to me, Adrissa cursing something I couldn’t quite hear. Glancing at her I saw that she had thrown down her bow and it was obvious why; her quiver was emptied. She was about to run into the melee when Bookshelf gripped her on the shoulder. “Wait, don’t.” the slender warforged said forcefully. “Let me go!” Adrissa retorted, trying to break free of the warforged metal grip. “I can’t protect you from the fire. Please…Adrissa.” Bookshelf said softly. Adrissa stopped and looked at Bookshelf confused for a moment. Then Bookshelf turned and flung a second bead into the throng. “No Bookshelf, wai—” I started when the flames enveloped everything in view. The vegepygmies, the vege-brutes, and Sage, Debrika, Doxx, and Mobad. But as I stood there and watched the flames fade away for the second time, I saw something. It was like the fire was not…well fire. It looked like there were pockets or bubbles of fiery water that the four stood in, seemly untouched by the flames. I then turned to look at Bookshelf and Adrissa. “Now go,” Bookshelf said, and Adrissa needed no other encouragement. She flew into the pack and flung herself at the vege-brutes and started to slice them with her sword, and hack with her hatchet. As I watched her, I saw her face and it sent a chill down my spine. Her raw emotions on display on her face, and it was one of pure rapture. She was reveling in the violence, as she hewed fibers and flesh away from her hated foes. My knees shook, as I saw her. The expression, the unbridled joy as she whirled and cut. Her brown hair whipping around her wildly, as part of the cyclone of destruction. A face and look shared by someone else I knew and feared. And hated. Because there before me I saw embodiment of destruction. A spitting image of the Factol of the Sinkers. The woman who killed my dear Elisna in front of me in the streets of Sigil. “No No nonono, I won’t let you become like [B][I]her,”[/I] I[/B] said aloud. And as I watched, I saw the pair of vege-brutes turn, sensing opportunity. Somehow, they knew that an easy kill approached. Growling to myself, I ran forward and yelled at the group. “Get back! Protect Adrissa!” I started to pull on a light and a dark strand and started to weave them together. Sage turned to look at me in confusion. The pair of brutes and their platforms were still intact, the vege-pygmies still shooting at the seemingly invulnerable juggernaut. But as he saw me, it was clear he knew I was up to something. He backed up his bulk to push Adrissa backwards, while Debrika assisted a dazed and staggered Doxx. I gripped my rod tightly and then threw the loop of the braided strands around all of the vege-things and pulled them taut until it snapped. The air exploded with the sound of wood shattering into splinters. The vege-brutes were now pierced with huge splinters. The little ones found themselves falling to the earth, most of them landing with a solid wet thud, and remained there unmoving. Several stood up awkwardly in a daze, only to find themselves pierced by The Blades arrows. But the two brutes still stood, and they turned their attention to me. They both sweeped again, trying to knock me down but I was fast enough to avoid one, which led to me being smashed by the second bowling me over. I tasted blood on my lips as I stood glaring at the pair. “I don’t have to play fair either,” I said. I pulled together two dark strands and wove them around me. After tying them off I let loose the strands and let them engulf me. To me, it was the brightest day. But to them, they looked around confused as darkness clouded their vision. “What the? Where is she?” I heard Rosa yell behind me. “Somewhere in that…darkness,” I heard Doxx say. “Well I can’t see the pair now, so this doesn’t he—” I then shifted moving towards the gate and letting the globe of darkness fall away from them. “Much better,” and I heard a pair of twangs as he sunk more arrows into them. I saw a single ray of cold white light striking one. Sage stood again as the bulkwark he was and slashed with his blade, coated in fire. Doxx now rejoined the fight again with fists of fire, while Debrika smashed, and Mobad and Adrissa chopped into them. After they did so, I moved and covered the vege-brutes in darkness again and threw out dark strands, trying to choke the life from them. The sudden loss of vision caused them to turn and twist, looking for me. They tried to stagger out but Sage, Debrika and Mobad blocked their attempts to leave. After striking, I moved again revealing them, and all of my allies struck again. As they clumsily tried to defend themselves, I covered them again. Using more dark strands I rended their lifeforce again. The stupid brutes staggered in the darkness, swinging around them wildly to no avail. And after they swung, I shifted myself and darkness revealing them again. Once again, the others charged in and finally both crashed down to the earth, unmoving. I then cut loose the strands and let the darkness fall away. Adrissa looked at me in awe as I wiped the blood from my face, using a simple white strand. She ran up to me with a look of confusion. “How…how…it was dark. I couldn’t see anything. Not them, not you.” “The darkness doesn’t exist for me. But it does for others, and I take advantage of that.” I said as my breathing slowed from the exertions. I knelt down and looked at her. The battle lust was gone, and the almost innocent look had returned. “We should talk later about you charging into danger.” “Why? I’m not old enou—” “No,” I said shaking my head. “I can’t say this isn’t your fight; it is. But you can’t let it be all you are. We’ll talk later.” Sage had moved to the gate and pounded on the wood shouting, “Open up!” From the other side we heard a voice stammer, “No no no…not with those things pounding the gate. I can’t do that.” “They dead,” Mobad stated. “Open. Now!” “How do I know it isn’t a trick?” the voice questioned. “Oh, come on!” Doxx exclaimed. “Wouldn’t they have started with tricking you before trying to smash the gate down?” “I don’t know your voices! I’m not opening it!” Adrissa then rolled her eyes and stomped to the gate and yelled. “Open the gate damn you Balen!” “Wait…no…” we heard. Then a small panel slid open. There on the other side I saw the face of a child, looking us over. The boy settled their gaze on the girl and said, “Hi Adrissa.” Adrissa blinked and replied, “Hey Jace. Can we come in?” “It is her?” the voice behind the door said. “Yeah pa,” the boy replied. The panel then closed, and I could hear some clamoring behind the gate. Finally, we heard the bar slide back, and one of the gate doors opened letting us through. The gate was just that, a gate set into the wall, anchored to a low pair of towers. On one side was a small stone building, presumably where the gate guards stayed during their shift. There were four guards here, but the blood around the eyes told me everything I needed to know; they were all blind. But with them there were three children; the boy Jace, and a younger boy and a girl. They looked at Adrissa and were excited asking her questions about how she got there. Adrissa was a little shocked at the and could barely answer the younger kids’ questions. As she stood there unclear on what to say, Rosa knelt down and looked at Jace’s eyes. “He’s not infected,” she said confused. She then looked at the younger kids and gripped their heads a moment as she peered into their eyes. “Neither are these two.” “You…you can see?” the guard, who I assumed was Balen asked. “We have perfect vision, guardsman,” The Blade said confidently. “How are the rest of you.” “We…don’t know,” Balen continued. It was strange, but as we helped with the fires, our eyes started to burn, and we went blind. We didn’t want to abandon the gate. But my kids came, and they have been our eyes. But I can scarcely believe what they are saying.” “Why didn’t you send your kids to get help or—” “Big mean dogs are running around streets,” Jace said. “They have weird people on their backs with spears,” “How did they get in if the gate was closed?” Bookshelf asked. “Saw some of them running on the wall and then down into the streets.” Jace replied, his eyes tearing. “We’re scared; we saw the dog…well…” Rosa stroked the hair of Jace, “Shh…it’s alright. We’re here to help. Have you seen anyone else?” Jace shook his head, “Not in a while. We saw other kids leading their parents to Drover’s Rest and—” “Wait, leading? They can see?” Bookshelf said curiously. “Why can children see?” Rosa thought a moment, “Gwen…she never mentioned children. Just adults. Perhaps she never tested any.” I flexed a moment and with a strand pulled Gossamer to me. --[I]GAH! I thought you forgot about me. How were things out there? --Well…the army is more of a horde and its moving to town, but it isn’t rushing with urgency.[/I] “The rest of them are coming, but not a rush,” I told the others. “They are waiting, they don’t need to take the town with force.” Sage said. “Well…they’re just going to fling more crap over the walls. What are we supposed to—” Doxx started when he stopped. In the distance to the south was the sound of a large horn sounding four notes, one long and three short. “We’ll I’ll be,” Doxx finished. The two warforged looked at each other and Bookshelf commented. “Military horn.” “Karnnathi,” Sage said. “That’s an order signal. “But I only know the Aundarian signal codes.” “But I do,” Doxx said. “That’s a command to open the gate; Someone wants in.” [B]Session Notes:[/B] We can see that Adrissa and Bookshelf started to define their new relationship here. There is a lot to the story, but I need to pry it out of my daughter, as most was done in a physical journal I don't have access to. Myrai and Adrissa's relationship of course is complicated...a lot with Adrissa really hating shooting things with her bow. With any large party it is hard to keep things focused on any pair of dyads. Its also hard to get int a word in the dialog. Makes it a mess to write at times too, and make sure everyone gets a moment in the sun. [/QUOTE]
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The Thorns of Winter -(updated 8/1/2023)
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