Bandits – The Rescue.
Just up the slope, the bandits' encampment could just about be made out through the gap in the trees. Firelight reflected off the higher ruins and the occasional muffled laugh or curse could be heard. The night was still otherwise, save for the lapping of water and the occasional hoot of an owl heard overhead on silent wings.
Taala handed Lucifen a clutch of arrows tethered with pitch-soaked rags and directed him to his position where he would await her signal, or someone else's should she fall. The group advanced taking up a position behind a clump of trees about 20 paces from the gap in the wall by which they would enter the camp. Two men could be seen leaning on either side of the gap. One of them was in the middle of some ribald jest, the other was picking his teeth with his dagger and laughing. Occasionally their eyes flicked over towards the edge of the clearing that surrounded the encampment. A sentry, walking the perimeter strolls up, exchanged a word or two, then headed back towards the opposite side of the wall.
Hyrien was tasked with despatching the men guarding the gap in the wall. Taala raised her bow taking aim at one of them as backup. It was not a clear shot as trees and shrubbery marred the path, but Taala was quietly confident she would find her mark, if Hyrien was spotted.
Hyrien raised her mask and drifted silently through the shadows to a position next to one of the guards, blending in perfectly with the trees thereabouts. The nearest guard wandered towards her, in a trice she leapt upon the startled man's back and dragged her dagger across his throat, dropping to the ground in a crouch lowering his body. The other guard was alerted and looked up not seeing the dagger hurtling his way and burying itself in his forehead. His face warm from the gush of his own blood. His eyes roll back into his head as he slumps forward onto his knees then falling onto his belly. Hyrien slipped silently back to the cover of the trees as the others advanced with great stealth to join her. A brief moment of silent praise and recognition passed between the young Sergeant and her able Captain.
Eroforth joined Taala as she peered through the gap in the wall. Ahead of them, the tumble of ruins and scrubby bushes were dotted with the occasional smoldering campfire. Most of the bandits were scattered about the darkened frontal area of the camp, unconscious from the drugged ale and only a few others were dotted sporadically about the place. None appeared attentive. Beyond, those lain about, at the edge of the well-lit central square, at least two guards could be seen at attention.
Eroforth hunkered back down and gestured to the others. "The guard patrolling will realize they are absent from their post and raise the alarm. If we take him down, the other guards by the gate may notice his absence presently, we need to be quick, whatever is decided." His eyes fall first upon Taala, then to the others, for their reactions.
Taala quickly considered the options, sending a subtle nod Eroforth's way, "We have little choice, our best chance of success is to advance as far as we can undetected”
It was not long before the body of the mobile sentry was dragged and piled up next to the other two, a gaping wound in his chest courtesy of Hyrien's dagger.
In time one of the guards from the main door wandered over to investigate. Ingrandor emerged from the shadows of the trees and swung his mace at his chest, folding him in two from the force of the blow. The next swing from his mace was to the back of his head, smashing his skull to pieces leaving the unfortunate bandit twitching in a pool of his own blood and brains.
Taala peered down the perimeter of the wall noting that the last of the guards was now deep in conversation dealing with a visitor to the camp, unaware of the fate of his companions, their corpses cooling in the night air.
Crouched low, scrutinizing the main area of the camp, Taala instructed in a hushed whisper, that they would make their way around the inner side of the perimeter wall, dispelling with any sleeping Blackwolds in their path. She pointed out the two guards standing attentive on this side of the central wall between the frontal dark area of the camp and the brightly lit central area beyond the wall where Brammy was held.
Eroforth and Hyrien moved forward to take up the closest position they could next to their intended targets where they wouldn't be seen, whilst the others advanced as far as the cover of a large tree. Taala nocked an arrow, waving Catilyn onward as back up to Eroforth and Hyrien. She looked up to where Lucifen awaited, a signal was passed between the two. Lucifen had an important roll to play, one she would have preferred to do herself, yet Lucifen had proved his prowess with a bow in the mountains, she conceded. She was needed here, to lead, and besides that, none amongst them could pick a lock as ably as she could she reasoned.
Eroforth and Hyrien emerged from the shadows and in a synchronized movement clamped their hands over the mouths of two Blackwold's who lay sleeping. Eroforth mouthed, “1, 2, 3” and the pair drew their blades across the throats of their startled victims.
Catilyn joined them as they advanced towards the two men guarding the wall leading to the central area, driving her knife deep into his neck. The other guard was alerted to Hyrien's presence beside him and knocked her raised arm away from him, but to little avail as Eroforth had already caught up with Hyrien and thrust his blade into the bandit's chest, opening him downwards as far as his hip. The guards eyes met Eroforth's spluttering a gurgling cry of surprise and disbelief, eyes bulging as his entrails slid from the gaping wound from his split abdomen. Eroforth lunged forward again and jammed his sword into the man's throat, then looked around to see if this flurry of activity had gone unnoticed.
Luck was on their side, Nimeway's potion had done it's job well, none within the frontal area had stirred from their slumber, though several more had, had their throats opened by Ingrandor, who yawned as he sliced, finding it a dull chore. The prospect of cracking more skulls with his mace a far more rewarding task.
Taala signaled to Lucifen to begin picking off anyone awake in the central area, once they had made their way around from the cover of the shadows. Peering beyond the wall into the central courtyard of the ruins which still stood in a good state of repair. Taala noted there were half a dozen guards or so, alert and patrolling, unaware of the wave of death inundating their encampment. To one side were the prisoner cages, and Brammy's ragged face could be seen peering toward them, pale and hopeful. Supplies, including the stolen casks of ale were stacked against the far wall, along with goods raided from nearby villages and farmsteads.
Brammy looked on in surprise as a number of figures sprung from the shadows. Within moments, the Dawn were upon them, Lucifen's bow sang as his arrows reined down upon the Blackwold, amidst a flurry of weapons, steel clashing, blades cutting, thrusting, slicing and skulls shattering, in a brutal but brief fight that would see an end to all of those guarding the central area. During this time, Taala picked the lock to the cage holding Brammy and helped her beaten and broken comrade to his feet.
Seeing that Brammy had been liberated, Lucifen acted quickly, lighting one of his arrows arcing it toward a pile of firewood and canvas stacked against the far wall. Flames engulfed the area pulling the bandits towards that direction, sleepy, confused and believing that the fire was the source of the panic within their camp.
Hyrien appeared at Taala's side hoisting Brammy's arm around her neck. “If we are going, it needs to be now” she urged. By now some of the sleeping Blackwolds were drifting towards them.
“I think I can manage him on my own.”
Hyrien nodded to Taala, drawing her daggers again. z Hyrien lead the company towards the south east corner. The company worked as an efficient unit cutting down all who stood in their wake between the central area and the gap in the wall from whence they came.
“Give me a sword” rasped Brammy weakly as his legs buckled from under him. Before he crashed to the ground, he was swept up by Ingrandor, a huge, powerful, strong man, who easily threw Brammy over his shoulder and joined in the retreat from the camp. Taala followed at the rear to ensure all of her comrades were accounted for.
Blackwolds Roost was in chaos, thick black smoke bellowed from the far corner as the fire spread rapidly. The sheep pressed up against the poor quality fencing, until they broke out of their pen and stampeded out through the front gate, bleating in panic amidst the shouts and screams of those burning and dying.
Vysarina was the last of the company whom Taala waved through the gap in the wall, her daggers dripping in blood, before joining them herself as they moved with haste to where their horses awaited them.
Soon enough the company were mounted and galloping towards the DawnHall, their mission accomplished, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the carnage left behind. Taala afforded herself a small amount of satisfaction, she had successfully led her first mission and it had been a success. Oh how she wished her father could have witnessed the change in her, she almost convinced herself that he would have been proud.
