Chapter 1 - Change

Kara tries her best to get Magan to stay. He was injured, a liability, and she was convinced this was all his fault for wandering off, even if she didn't know any of the backstory to the wandering off. She was not sure what she could do now for Theli now that Branok was here, and so she rode with the others. Her sword was demanding justice for this crime. "Magan, you have brought this with our haste. We now must finish off this bandit who plagues us."  She says as they ride towards the last spot Isolde was at.

Magan chews on the bitter berries, nodding his thanks to Gawen through the wincing of pain, the emotional turmoil, and the bitterness of the juice squirting from the fruit. Be ignores Kara, knowing full well what must be done. 

Ewen breathes heavily as he remains with Theli and Branok. He keeps his eyes out for any signs of the remaining bandits that fled. “Once Theli is stabilized, we must follow behind the others, Branok. They may need your healer’s hands my friend. We can put her in the back, I can remain with her and keep my weapon ready. Let me know when you are prepared.” 

Branok nods gravely to Ewen. "I almost don't dare move her, but we can't leave the others to face this man alone." "Theli!" He calls. The girl stirs, but she's slipping in and out of consciousness. "Theli! Can you hear me?" She murmurs an incoherent response and the monk grimaces. "Can you keep her steady, while I keep pressure on the wound?" He asks Ewen, nodding at his own blood-soaked hands. "You'll need to bear her weight on your own. I need resistance to press against."

Ewen looks down at Theli and his thin arms. "Sadly, my frame lacks the strength of our companions. If we could find some sort of fulcrum, perhaps that could give us what we need. Let me look around for at least some planks we could use to move her more easily." Almost immediately, Ewen spots a gate attached to a nearby fence that looks to be exactly the sort of thing he would need. He rushes over, using Toirneoir's magic to dispel his bow with a puff of smoke as he grabs the gate. With a grunt of effort he lifts it up and rushes back with the gate. "Keep pressure while I slide this underneath her. It will give us a platform to keep her stable while we move her!"

Together, Branok and Ewen manage to get Theli onto the boards of the gate and heave her into the carriage. "I will stay with her," the monk assures. "Go! See to the horses."

"About time," Guthric huffs. Fang and Claw had caught up with Branok and sniffed at the bleeding people. With a sharp whistle, the pair rushed back to Guthric's side, "I'm going to Wookey. Seems like you all want the same, so let's go. Might be Fang amd Claw can follow their scent if they go in a different way?"

When Magan and Gawen arrive at the entrance to the caves at Wookey, all is eerily quiet. Kara and Guthric appear behind them a few seconds later, followed by the carriage and hounds, who sniff the air tentatively. It's damp and there's a chill to the air that cuts to the bone.

"Hold" Magan whispers. "Arthek has a trap waiting for us, but Isolde was brought here only a minute or so ago. If we are quiet we should hear the rider giving report,  or perhaps a torch will give them away. 

" We still must go in. I led, the rest follow behind? It's not to dark in there... " Kara was not sure what the others saw, but even in the darker spots it was clear to her, due to her strange heritage. She was ready to walk forward first, carefully however, as she was unsure what traps may be waiting

If not stopped, upon hearing the cry of a small girl, Kara would walk in slowly and carefully, watching for traps and enemies without using any lights, hoping to catch the enemy slightly unaware

Kara creeps onwards through the cave for some time before she hears other voices echoing down towards her. Firelight flickers up ahead on the left, casting shadows across the opposite wall. Several figures stand about, while another paces. "Quiet, girl!" A male voice hisses, and the sobs stop for a moment.

Kara growls softly in the darkness, and brings her sword forward, before shouting out  "Helgi, I call on you! Tremble before me mortals, for your time is short if you stand before me! Flee while you can, or I shall have your life!"  She tries to intimidate the men into fleeing, the sight of a sword throwing light in a previously safe spot was surely a fierce sight to behold. She would slowly approach them, as surely some of them would flee, and Magan and the rest would have no reason to not hear her shouting

A number of the men around the corner help in fear and Kara can hear rapid footsteps on the stone and see their shadows as they flee deeper into the caves. "Hold, you fools!" another man cries, but it's no use. Kara has put the fear of the gods into their hearts. He curses and steps forward, his own blade in hand. "Come out, you witch! I'll kill you where you stand!"

Shouting out in Norse, Kara charges the lone man between her and Isolde, the righteous fury of Freya giving her all she needs to meet him in lone combat. She takes her sword and slashes it towards the man's leg, looking for any opening and hoping her companions had heard enough to follow her into this fight. However it was clear she was prepared to take the fight alone

Kara rams into the man and he barely raises his shield in time to absorb the blow. He yells in surprise as the blade phases through the wood, searing at his arm, and pulls back instinctively. He's dressed in full mail and has ragged blonde locks hang out beneath his helmet. He snarls at Kara as she swings at him again, but her momentum is off and he dodges the blow easily. Twirling the large axe in his other hand, he lunges at her in turn with his axe. Beating her back before knocking her to the ground with a mighty shove from his shield! Kara takes 8 vigour damage.

After being knocked down, Kara springs back up more driven than before, the blood of her foremothers flowing through her and those light colored wings appear again on her back, as she quickly tries to make her opponent regret knocking her down. However distracting her wings were though, the bandit was still able to black her upward swing with his shield

Ewen drives the horses hard as Branok works to keep Theli stabilized and comfortable. He calls for the others to move as he pulls up nearly to the mouth of the Wookey caverns. He dismounts quickly and hears the echoing clash of blades from within! His eyes are drawn the the flashing glow of Kara's blade and Ewen takes aim with the beautiful war bow in his hands, drawing back the string. 'Listen well, child. Aim low, she will side step and create an opening. NOW!' Ewen listens to the voice of Toirneoir, aiming low towards the man's leg and releases immediately at the command. He watches as the arrow streaks through the cavern and punctures through a weak point in the man's heavy mail into the soft flesh beneath. 'Well done, Ewen.' "Quickly now! Into the cave!" He calls out to the rest of his companions.

Guthric charges in with a cry, hounds baying around him. His shield stays raised while his companions stay behind him and wait for a command to lunge.

Magan quietly advances into the cave, guided by the holy light of Kara's sword. His anger had still not subsided, but despite Gawen's expert care he could still feel the sharp crushing pain in his chest, the tingling down his arms halting his movements. Every instinct in his body told him he was in no condition to fight, even the ride had left him out of breath. Instead he drew his blow, hoping to take Arthek by surprise. As he draws though he sees Kara's wings unfold. Momentarily filled with awe and fear his shot is slack and fails to penetrate the man's armour, it instead sticks over his heart, buried deep in the woolen layers. 

Moving up towards the mouth of the cave behind the others, Gawen peers into the gloom of the cave and reaches for his sling, before hesitating. Instead, he mutters a few words under his breath, and makes a casting motion into the cave - a spell of ill-fortune on the defenders of the cave, not one he had much occasion to use, but perhaps it would help his companions' arrows fly truer. Slowly, the lone man fighting Kara is limned by a faint green light, as if lit from behind by a multitude of fireflies.

The armoured warrior grunts as Ewen's arrow takes him in the leg, and snaps it off with the haft of his axe. Blood flows freely from the wound, but he simply snarls and once more throws his weight at Kara from behind his shield. However, the sudden appearance of the woman's golden wings catches him off guard, and she kicks him back before he can push her to the ground again. He roars one final time, and brings his axe around in an arcing swing. At first it looks like Kara can catch it on her armour, but at the last moment his focus sharpens and he drives the blow home. The axe sweeps across across her face and a flash of golden light illuminates the craggy chamber. Darkness falls again, but for the twinkling light of Gawen's fireflies. Kara sees nothing but shadow.

Kara screams out in pain as her vision swims before her, and suddenly only the glowing of the man is all she can see. She swings out wildly at the man, trying her best to hit him as her wings beat slowly behind her. While she was unable to see herself, it was a terrible sight to behold as the blood ran down her face, her flaming sword and wings accompanying her cry. However, she knew her attack missed as when she swung it completely missed, and she tries to bring her shield into play, trying to increase her defense against the attacks she really could not see well.

Gawen launches a pebble at the man from his sling, but it clangs off the man's mail. Meanwhile, Kara feels a slight surge of energy and hope as she thinks she catches a strain of far-off music, right at the edge of hearing. Her bleeding stops on its own.

Magan draws his axe and shield as he uses the darkness to manouver around Kara and behind Arthek, he feels his position is perfect for a killing blow and hefts his axe downwards at his back, he is shocked to find it bite nothing but metal however, and the shock runs up his arm as the heavy armour absorbs his blow. Not letting the setback stall him though, Magan follies up with his heavy shield, driving it into the axe and forcing the chain links to buckle into Arthek's spine. He glances over his shoulder to see where Isolde is standing, reaching back to wave her around towards the exit. 

Ewen holds back from the heavily armored man, using his gifted skills from his patron to target the man's soul instead. His green eye flares in the dim-light just inside the tunnel as a swarm of ravens pours into the cavern from behind him, filling the man's head with their raucous noise while they swarm around and over him, but the man's will is stronger than Ewen's and he is able to ignore the spectral ravens as they dissipate into the darkness like nothing more than smoke...

Guthric's warcry takes a feral turn in the cave as the baying of hounds rings in concert with it. The sound quickly swells further to that of a dozen wolves. Arthek barely catches himself as a blade sweeps from the dark and glances off his coif. A mass of fur and muscle dart past him, but a pair of jaws clamp his arm from the opposite side. Arthek shakes off the mastiff's maw quickly, but stands face-to-face with the seething rage of Guthric.

The warrior curses and smashes repeatedly at Claw's head, until the hound releases his arm, toppling backwards into the ground. Then, hefting his axe overhead, he brings it down brutally onto the poor dog's flank, leaving a deep, bloody wound. Kara's action.

Swinging her sword with the righteous fury blessed to her from Freya and her own ancestor, Kara goes for a strong sweep of her shield, pushing the man backwards off of herself, which seemed to unbalance him after he viciously attacked one of the poor puppies. This gave her the opening needed to shove her sword straight into his eye, her blade flashing radiant energy as it flares in response to her, the bright wings spreading out as her holy rage is brought down on this man. She however gives no quarter, for a death in battle is the most honorable, and so she goes to keep fighting.

Gawen launches another stone from his sling, but the shot is wide and it doesn't connect. 

As Kara pulls her sword free, the man assumed to be Arthek flails around wildly. Still full of murderous intent he slashes about him violently but with one eye missing and the other full of blood and sweat it is easy for Magan to get hold of him from his position behind. He reaches over with his shield arm to grab the visor, sticking close behind him with his chest between the man's shoulder blades to avoid the wild swings of the axe. His shield hand grabs hold and lifts, forcing the chin up and exposing the neck. He brings his axe underneath, using his elbows to control the ever weakening movements he forces his axe to the mans neck and slides it across, dragging it towards him with all his weight until the struggling stops and the blood bubbles from the man's mouth and throat wound and the groans eventually grow silent. as the blood flows freely over the blade of the axe which Magan throws to the ground, also casting aside the helmet that he had wrestled free. Spitting on the body. he turns to see if his companions are alright. Fixing on Isolde he asks her. "Are you alright girl? Did they hurt you? They won't touch you again!"  

Isolde runs up to Magan and leaps into his arms, holding him as tight as she can. He feels a wave of peace wash over him. It leaves his body feeling cold, but the tightness in his chest has eased. Magan loses his level of exhaustion.

Magan holds her back tightly and carries her from the cave, keeping her eyes buried in his shoulder. He mouths at Guthric to bring the body. He arrives back at the carriage and is surprised to find the unconscious final member of Arthek's band in the carriage. Placing Isolde gently down with Branok he kisses her forehead. His rage has subsided having both Isolde and Theli back and he feels less need to take out his rage on the prisoner. He drags him from the carriage and drops him on the ground, going to see Theli. He cups her hands between his, kissing them. "I'm sorry. I should never have taken my eyes off of you." He rests his forehead on her hands a moment. 

Theli herself is still slipping in and out of consciousness. She's been grievously wounded and will need a long time and proper care to heal. Isolde holds Branok's leg tightly for a few moments, before letting go and wandering back, deeper into the cave, towards the camp fire that Arthek and his men had built. She looks about the campsite thoughtfully, before turning back to the party and insistently pointing deeper into the caves.

Seeing Isolde wandering off Magan leaps back to his feet. "Isolde, don't. Please don't get separated again. Do you want us to get the other men?" 

Guthric spends a bit of time nursing Claw's injuries. It's head had a nasty cut and bruising, but should be alright. The hound flank, however, was another matter. Exposed skin and bone was a nasty place to be hit with an axe. It wasn't exactly clear if the hound would survive and Guthric sought Gawen for assistance, "Please, I know you have a connection to things in this world. Is there anything you can do? Or is there anything you can show me?"

While her righteous fury subsided, and her wings softly faded from view, Kara would sigh softly. Taking stock of her companies who were injured, for even the pups were part of the team, made her pause slightly. However, she knew or could atleast guess at some of Isolde's power, and this was not to be passed. " Magan, we must press on. This threat from these bandits may plague us yet longer. No reason we can not finish this bunch off, then secure Branok to his destination. Afterwards... I feel we may need to finally settle what brough Arthek and his men around her"  With the last bit pointing at Isolde, it was clear Kara was ready to go further into the caves

Ewen quickly rushes up as the man is felled. "Is everyone okay?" Now fully within the tight confines of the caves, Ewen focuses upon his ancient weapon and, together with his patron, forces it back into the beautiful blade. "I agree that we should push further in and finish this. Blood for blood. They made the choice of bringing a child into this fray. That is unforgivable."

Magan looks a little weary but he is not of a mind to deny Isolde what she asks for, especially in the face of the keen desire of his companions. He draws Thea again and nods his consent. 

Gawen kneels down to examine the injured animal. The injuries are severe, but no worse than Theli's. As Guthric watches, he follows the same procedure - binding yarrow leaves into the wound with bandages. "Staunchweed can help stem the bleeding, which will do for now. Later, if we have time, we can perform a proper healing ritual," he explains. Looking at his injured companions, he pulls out some more of the poppyheads he had given Magan earlier and offers them around.. "They're not much, but they may give you the strength to keep fighting."

Claw staggers shakily to his feet and gives Guthric's face an affectionate lick that leaves the man covered in drool. He's hurt, but alive, thanks to Gawen's ministrations, and rubs his face up against the tall druid's leg. Pen peers out from behind his master, eyeing the other dog with jealousy. Isolde shakes her head and returns to Magan when asked if she wants them to go after the other men, but nevertheless tugs at his cloak and continues to point deeper into the cave. In the distance a twinkling spot of light can now be seen amidst the darkness.

"OK, let's find out what it is." Magan looks back at Isolde with some uncertainty but takes her wand and walks further into the cave. 

Further back, the cavern grows every darker, and Isolde lifts a burning faggot from the edge of the fire, passing it to Magan as a makeshift torch. Towards the rear of this chamber they find a worn, stone door with a thick, protruding frame set into the wall of the cave. Atop it, in the middle of the frame a single small gemstone glows with golden light.

Ewen approaches the stone carefully and examines it closely, looking to see if any of the strange patterns or gem brings any recollection to him; however, beyond being able to tell that the door is ancient, he knows nothing about it. Even so, being in the presence of something such as this... "This place is very old. Likely a tomb of some nature." he speaks in reverent hushes as he turns back to his companions. "What was one such as Arthek doing in this place?"

Magan looks over the door with Ewen. "It may be coincidence. He merely needed a cave to hide in and this one is well known. He worked for one who was very interested in old artifacts though. Perhaps he was sent here and his chance for vengeance on us was the coincidence. Or perhaps it was neither, he needed something we have to complete his task here." He runs his hands over the door, looking for a lock, or space for a key, particularly a raven shaped hole.

Magan doesn't find any opening mechanism, but he can feel a draft of air flowing around the sides, where the door sits in a narrow groove. It might be possible to break open with a little force applied in the right place.

Gawen gives Pen a pat to reassure the dog he's still his favourite, then examines the door. Seeing nothing he can help with immediately, he sits down opposite the door and chews some herbs as he concentrates and mutters under his breath.

"Looks like we will have to force it." Magan looks around for some stones he could force into gaps and some long sturdy branches to use as a lever. " Guthric, perhaps you could try it?" Gawen thrusts some more of the berries into his hand and he chews them as he searches. 

Kara smacks Magen on the head. " How dare you disrupt the dead! Your ancestors would come and hate you if they find you doing this! Surely we can figure out the better way to open the closed door."  She seems upset by Magan's lack of respect for the dead, for it seemed someone was honoring them. She then offers ' Why do we not all try pushing as a group? Before we break it down like a giant."