The Dear Hunter

[Oro]

LOL! Can't say much except soooo typical hibs... But for once I'll also say GO HIBS!

Hehe aye, its not coincidence

Storms here again last night. I think today I'm left to my own devices (can't go far around here unfortunately without risking getting eaten by the local wildlife or flattened by cars as Yanks don't know what pavements are) then there's an extremely mixed bag of goons (yours truly included) heading to the coast tomorrow. Don't know if they've even heard of computers out where we're going.

Short version: will probably get a bit more done today but then unlikely to get a chance to do more for next while

 

[Aremeriel]

Hehe aye, its not coincidence

Hehe.. Didn't think it was.

You just make sure you have a good time, Roo.. And don't worry about us. We'll live, even though our nails won't:

 

[Jeriraa]

Man Roo, where do you get the ideas for your quotes? The starwars one was damn funny already but "Can't stop the rock!" - ridiculous!

 

[Oro]

Now, in amongst all these rather busy people vigourously waving bits of metal around, there was a small fluffy seal cub who was well aware of his lack of combatative abilities: flippers weren't really the most efficient gripping appendages, not only lacking an opposable thumb but even if said thumb did exist, lacking anything for it to oppose. Unnoticed, Seal had slipped off Tight's shoulder at the first sign of sharp metal being swung with enthusiasm and waddled off to find somewhere relatively safe. There was a rather unnerving moment where a furrier spotted him and was getting ready with his club. However, he exploded into a million pieces a second later as he was hit by an Albion firebolt and ceased to be an immediate threat. Interestingly, the explosion sent little gobbets of meat showering a great distance. All the way, in fact, to the treeline on a neighbouring hill, where quite by coincedence there were a large number of Ice Striders gathering who were most appreciative of the tasty snack.

Seal waddled his way towards the tower but found that the fighting was so intense there was a very real danger he would get trodden on. So the inventive former wizard retraced his steps and made his way up onto the ramparts. Dead bodies and other battlefield debris made it easy to hide his little body as he waddled his way forward. He had many times regretted turning that conceited old fool into a cat and today was definately one of those days. The stairs themselves were a slight problem but he managed them without getting stood upon. He noticed that most people leaving the battlements tended to do it vertically without the aid of steps, and usually after bursting into flames. "My," he thought to himself, "isn't this exciting."

It was only when arriving onto the ramparts themselves that Seal saw there was another door into the tower. Unnoticed by those fighting on the ground, he saw the old healer near it, trying to bring bodies of the fallen inside the tower. He waddled his way towards the door as fast as he could. When he was near the door, the old healer spotted him.
"Caw. Caw." said the Seal, hopefully.
The Healer just looked at him.
"Sealy want a cracker!" said Seal.
Seal figured this was around about the time someone usually tried to get a large blunt instrument out, rather like the mace that the healer was fingering in his belt.
"Yo ho me hearties set sail...And really bad eggs?" said Seal, conversationally adrift but doggedly trying to maintain the parrot persona.
The healer went back to ignoring him, and resumed pulling bodies inside. He was blocking the way so Seal couldn't waddle on through.
An Albion came running up the steps onto the battlements. Eyeing the healer and the open door, he shouted to his comrades and charged forward.
Seal instantly cast his one and only spell. There was a puff of smoke and the Albion turned into a very large potted plant.
"You sir, are a shrubbery." said the Seal. Too many castings had taken its toll however, and he keeled over, unconcious.
"You're the strangest parrot I've ever seen," said the healer, "But lets get you inside and worry about that later. Now that the Albions knew the door was there, more were heading upwards onto the ramparts. The healer ducked back inside one last time with the Seal tucked under his arm and slammed it behind him. Inside, he bolted the door and others started barricading the door and reinforcing it.
"We can't go to the apothecary, fighting down there just now." said the healer, to nobody in particular.
There were civilians huddling on the stairs, with nowhere to really go. The place was packed and stank of fear. There were a few puddles, also brought on by fear, but the less said about those the better.

The Hibernian horns sounded in the courtyard.



Tesla and Ham charged up the stone flagstones that formed the stairwell. Fighting could be heard below.
"I need a good spot to shoot from." said Tesla.
"Top of tower then?" answered Ham.
"Thats where I'm headed."
Skidding around a corner, Tesla managed to narrowly avoid slipping in a puddle of fear. The pair kept pounding upwards to the top of the keep.
Near the top they encountered Jarl Bledmeer, leaning heavily against a wall. A dead Infiltrator lay beside him but it was clear the lord of Bledmeer was in a lot of pain.
"Jarl..." said Tesla.
"Hoi Tesla," wheezed the Jarl, "Nearly got me, but he went down first."
The Jarl spat some blood onto the flagstones and said slowly, "They'll be coming up soon. We're not going to hold the keep."
"You need a Healer." said Tesla, kneeling beside him.
"Most are dead I think. Only ol' Tooska is around somewhere, and he's swamped. I'll be fine."
Tesla looked closely at the Jarl. He was nearly unconcious. She didn't know if it was poison or shock and had really little way to know.
"I tend wounds." said Ham, "Halfbrick the shaman been showing me few things."
Tesla nodded and sprang to her feet, heading out onto the roof.
Ham bent towards the Jarl and tried to work out what was wrong. Poison definately.

He didn't know if he could remove it, but he bent his will to the task. He prayed to Ymir and hoped he could cure the Jarl. He vowed if he ever got out of this he would spend more time learning the arts instead of just spending his time tailoring.

Tesla bounded out onto the roof and looked down into the courtyard below. With a grim smile she unslung her bow and started notching arrows. She spotted Albion clerics and mages hanging back from the main fight, and started picking targets.
"I do so hate uninvited guests."
The first cleric fell with an arrow through his neck but before he hit the ground Tesla was already notching her second arrow.

Sweat broke out on Ham's forehead, he could sense the Jarl stiffen in pain. This was going to be close, the poison had nearly done its work. Without warning, he felt something change within the Jarl. Pressure lifted. At first Ham panicked and thought the Jarl to be dead then he realised he'd purged the poison from his body.
The Jarl slowly opened his eyes and smiled at Ham.
"Didn't realise you were a shaman, whoever you are."
Ham chuckled his rumbling laugh, "Didn't know myself til moment ago."
The Jarl reached slowly under his chain armour.
"Take this key, get the civilians into a passage on the floor below here before the enemies come up. Three flagstones along, four stones up, is a secret panel.

"Press it, and get them in there and to safety. The passage leads to a hill out of sight of the keep."
Ham nodded, "What about you?"
"I fight with my men."
The Jarl grimaced as Ham helped him to his feet and retrieved his sword from the body of the dead infiltrator.

Ham went back down the stairwell as fast as he could. There were civilians huddled up in fear all along the walls. Ham carefully counted the flagstones in the passage. He had to move a merchant out of the way to get at the panel the Jarl had spoken of. Finding the stone, he pressed as hard as he could. The stone beside it slid back and a small alcove appeared. Ham started to motion the merchants and others inside, pressing a finger to his lips and urging them to be quiet.
Soon the corridor was empty, but the sounds of fighting below seemed closer now.

Ham was about to continue on down the stairwell but he looked behind him and saw the merchants struggling to close the passageway.
"ITS STUCK!" one of them hissed in panic.
Ham started to run down the stairs to go help Tight and the others.
"Help us!" yelled another merchant, we don't stand a chance if they find us!"
Ham hesitated. He was torn.
Finally reaching a decision he ran back to the alcove and tried to force it closed. It wouldn't budge. He groaned and moved inside the alcove, shoving the merchants out of the way. He could hear the fighting moving up the stairs and he saw could see the backs of some warriors now as they were pushed ever backwards.

Gathering all his strength he forced the stone door closed. There was grinding noise, all but lost in the sounds of fighting and the door slammed shut, with Ham inside the passage.

Ham heard a strange horn sound in the courtyard. Even though muffled by the stone walls of the passage, he knew that horn however. Hibernians were here.

 

[haarewin]

give next installment!!
its really exciting

 

[Teslacoil]

Give More !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Need Good Stuff To Read On Work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!please Help Me God Don't Let This Man Die Before He's Finished !!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oro]

Beside the Bledmeer gate, four Hibernians were gathered closely around an uprighted coffin.
"No m'lord," said Nara, a Celt, "the sun is still shining".
This was technically true. The sun was indeed shining. It just wasn't visible through the thick layers of cloud that obscured the sky as far as the eye could see. However, the one thing an experienced field commander hates is an inexperienced goon handing out battle orders and getting his men pointlessly killed. In his own mind, Nara was in no way lying to Snotwheeze, he was merely ensuring the safety of both his lord and master, as well as his men.
There was a muffled voice from within the coffin. This time, the firbolg answered, "Yes lord. The first and second squads took the Albions neatly from behind. They are currently engaging them. Third and fourth units are moving to flank on the battlements."
More muffled noises from the coffin.
"No M'lord, we are all out of kobolds to snack on." said a Nara.
Muffled annoyance and a mild banging and then then Nara answered, "Yes lord, I'm sure we'll have more very soon."
There was an inquisitive sounding muffled noice.
"Our front line has not reported if they have sighted him."
More muffled sounds.
"Yes, lord. He is quite magnificent. We will do everything to make sure he lives."


Tight could feel his arm tiring. Slowly but surely he was backing up the stairwell of Bledmeer tower. There were just too many Albions but now the Albions seemed particularly frenzied. Tight knew why. With Hibernians in the grounds, the Albs would be looking to make their position more defensible. That meant that the tower was the obvious place to hole up. They could use minimal people to fend off both directions until they had secured one side or the other.
It was rare that Tight felt no hope, bit the feeling settled on him. Smishing wasn't going to win the day. But then the way any troll wanted to go down was fighting. If only Mother and Father trolls could see him now, they'd be proud. His mattock pounded out its deadly rythmn. The other Midgardians had already realised that the big troll had become the focal point for their rearguard action. Jarl Bledmeer stood beside Tight and lashed with his sword, tired as he had become.

There was a blast of light from behind the Albion fighters and all the Midgardians winced at the glare. There was panic in the Albion ranks and many of their fighters turned away from the rapidly tiring Midgardians. Without knowing quite what was happening, the Midgardians sensed a chance to turn the battle, and fought with renewed vigour.
"Forward!" yelled Jarl Bledmeer, "push them back!"

Tight swung his mattock as ever, every once in a while he would try summoning a lightning bolt but nothing would happen.

Thor was sitting on the edge of his bed nursing a black eye. He was not a very happy thunder god at all. It had been going so well. Bruinhilde had let herself be led to the bedroom and in fact Thor had been surprised at how fast that he had managed to get her in there. Things were looking good. Bruinhilde had said to get on the bed and wait for her, while she slipped into something more comfortable. There had been a thunk (and a dent in the wooden floor) as the armour dropped off her and then she returned to the bedroom. By this time the ol' thunder god was naked and ready for playtime. When Loki appeared in front of him Thor was at first confused then furious. Loki was laughing uproariously at having fooled Thor into thinking he was Bruinhilde's. After rating Thor at maybe four out of ten on his ability to charm the ladies the pair had tussled resulting in Thor's black eye and Loki walking with a limp and a temporarily high singing voice.
The net result of this for mere mortals was that Ye Olde Mystical Shoppe of Lightning Bolts was closed for business.

Even with the Albions distracted by an attack from their rear, it was hard to press forward. The corridor and stairwell was narrow and difficult to get clear attacks in on enemies. It was too easy for a single large shield to protect multiple fighters at the same time, and Jarl Bledmeer noted that the Albions seemed particularly expert at this type of fighting, relying on attrition to wear out their enemies. The fight wore on.


Ham looked around the passageway. There were at least two torches burning now. They might only have been civilians, but they were hardy frontiersmen and women, all of them. He spotted the old healer, Tooska, sitting on the ground, back against the wall. His head was bandaged. Seal lay on the ground beside him, unconcious. Ham fingered the key that Jarl Bledmeer had given him.
"We movin,'" said Ham, "all on feet."
One of the merchats looked at him sceptically, "Go where?"
"Every passage has two ends. All up and move."
Ham took a torch from an unprotesting merchant and helped Tooksa to his feet. "Come, healer, we goin'."
Tooska held onto Ham and leaned on him, "That parrot..."
"...Is Seal." said Ham.
"I guessed." said Tooska, cradling Seal in one arm, "But there's something else."
Ham pushed through the people in the passage til he was in the lead. He had no idea exactly where the passage led, but he had an idea of the type of somewhere it led.
"It pushed itself too far with that morph spell," said Tooska, "but something has changed. I mended it and cast a spell that on a normal person would just let them move their mind somewhere calm, and let them regain their powers faster."
Ham wasn't quite following what the healer was talking about, and was concentrating more on leading everyone through the passages.
"So?" said Ham.
"The Seal is changing. I think my spells have done something unexpected. Somehow. I don't know how. Don't even know if it will be physical or something inside. Just... changing. Pushing itself has started something happening. I could feel it when I tried to heal."
Ham knitted his brow. He didn't know what to make of this. He nodded and Tooska subsided. The passage spiralled downward and Ham held the torch out in front of him, trying to avoid falling.


Tesla sat up high on the tower roof. She was running out of arrows. She regretting having killed so many Albions now that the Hibernians had shown up. It would have been better if the fight was more even so that the Hibernians took greater losses. The milk was spilled, no point in worrying. She was now crouched behind the point of the roof so she could see everything, but had stopped shooting. There were far too many Hibernians for the Albion forces to handle, they would be overrun very quickly.

She couldn't take out enough Hibernians to make a difference so she decided to hunker down and bide her time. She pulled her cloak tightly around her and all but faded from view.


The Midgardians on the stairwell were hard pressed. They were no longer fighting Albions alone. Hibernians were now everywhere in the corridor, in amongst the Albions and there was complete chaos. A Midgardian would turn to face an Albion only to find the Albion was crumpling to his knees as a Hibernian champion sliced him down. Conversely, a Midgardian would be facing down a Celt, only to find that he he had a knife sticking between his ribs and as he fell to the ground a tiny lurikeen would be grinning evilly up at him. It was mayehm and Jarl Bledmeer could feel control of the situation was slipping badly. They were giving ground now faster than when the Albions had been pressing forward.
The last Albion in the corridor fell. Tight braced himself for a rush, as it was the obvious thing to do.
The Hibernians all withdrew to just beyond sword distance. The sounds of fighting stopped. The Midgardians held position in the corridor, fearing it was a feint to pull some into a trap. The Hibernians held their ground as if waiting for something.



Ham didn't need to worry about getting lost. The passageway didn't have any offshoots. It wound down quite a way, but after it levelled out, seemed to go in fairly straight. After a while Ham felt the passage sloping upwards. It wasn't long before he saw the end to the passage. A large iron door lay ahead of him. Ham motioned that everyone was to be silent and approached the door. Sure enough, the key fitted the lock. There was some other art here though. Ham felt a tingling sensation as he unlocked the door. He wondered if it was some kind of protective magic. It would make sense.
He pulled at the door and it swung inward. There was a wall of ice and snow filling the doorway beyond. Ham handed the torch to the nearest merchant, and began carefully digging away at the snow with his bucket sized hands. It wasn't long before daylight began to show through the snow. Ham crawled up through the space he'd made and out into the snow. Carefully raising himself up he looked around.
Downhill he could see Bledmeer Faste. He guessed he was north of the keep and maybe a bit west.
Ham froze where he stood. Directly around the hill from him were a large group of Ice Striders. He didn't think he'd been spotted or they would have been all over him immediately. Ham quietly and carefully slid back down the snow hole to the iron door. Once back in the passage he whispered, "All keep noise down. Striders to west."
There were groans from all around him.
"I know what to do" said Ham.
Several of the merchants rolled their eyes. Trolls and ideas was something of an oxymoron.
"Striders to west. Go east, and follow hill around out of sight of keep. Head for Svasud. Bring help."
"Or," said one of the merchants sourly, "a force to retake the keep and bury all our people here."
Tooska narrowed his eyes, "What you doing?"
Ham answered, "Brother troll still in Bledmeer. I have to try to help. But you have to bring people and none of you are fighters."
Ham took the torch back from the merchant, "Get goin'. I want to close door fast as can."
The merchants started clambering out of the snow hole. Tooska went last, and handed the unconcious Seal to Ham.
"Good luck troll."
"Ta," said Ham, taking Seal.
Tooska clambered out of the hole, needing help from one of the merchants. Ham waited a few moments before closing the door. Ham reckoned that the merchants hadn't been spotted by the Ice Striders as there were no sounds of pursuit, which would take the striders right past this secret exit. He pushed the door closed and locked it. He felt the tingling again and now was convinced there was something magical about this door.
Cradling Seal in one arm, and holding a torch in the other, he retraced his steps down the passageway back towards Bledmeer.


Nara threaded his way through to the front of the Hibernians, holding a white flag. His Midgardian was weak, but it would suffice.
"Midgardians!" he yelled, "We offer you surrender. You are massively outnumbered, you will die in moments if we charge.

Surrender now and we will not kill you."
Jarl Bledmeer spat and growled, "Over my dead body."
Tight put a hand on the Jarl's arm, "Can't win this." and then Tight lowered his voice, "But they don't have brother troll yet. Not all lost yet."
Jarl Bledmeer looked sceptically at Tight and after a moment sighed. They would indeed die fast now. He sighed.
"Hibernians," he yelled, "we accept."
Jarl Bledmeer made a show of laying down his sword in the passageway and stepped forward towards the Hibernians. The remaining Midgardians did the same and walked forward, weaponless. The Hibernians quickly started searching them and making sure there were no hidden weapons on them, and stripping them of armour.
"You sure your brother can do something?" asked the Jarl to Tight when they were outside.
"Well, Brother Troll got geas. Can't hurt dem hibbies. But he think of something."
Jarl Bledmeer felt his stomach drop.
"You mean your brother has some curse so that he can't attack Hibernians?"
"Dat's right" answered Tight.
"And you wanted me to trust you to trust him to do something?" hissed Jarl Bledmeer.
"Dat also right." answered Tight.
Jarl Bledmeer groaned.


Tesla felt movement behind her. Out of nowhere, three black-clad lurikeens appeared beside her. They didn't attack but held out wickedly sharp knives, daring her to make a move. She shrugged and dropped her bow, and held her hands up in the air. She was quickly searched and prodded down into the tower.


Ham was nearly at the end of the passageway, with no idea what lay beyond or how the battle proceeded. Seal remained unconcious in his arm and showed no sign of stirring. He paused in front of the door and pulled a lever beside it that he hoped would open the alcove to let him into the corridor beyond...

 

[Oro]

Apolgies for being a bit of a git but...

After today I'm unlikely to have internet access for the next 2 weeks, or even access to a PC. Shame really, when so close to finishing off

Muhahahahahaha(TM)

 

[haarewin]

Apolgies for being a bit of a git but...

After today I'm unlikely to have internet access for the next 2 weeks, or even access to a PC. Shame really, when so close to finishing off

Muhahahahahaha(TM)

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
its been great so far though, i guess i can wait

 

[Dracus]

Man Roo, where do you get the ideas for your quotes? The starwars one was damn funny already but "Can't stop the rock!" - ridiculous!

I luv'd that part too

m00re m000re!

/Dracus

 

[Bloodclot]

somebody call peter jackson!

 

[Darksword]

"No M'lord, we are all out of kobolds to snack on." said a Nara.
Muffled annoyance and a mild banging and then then Nara answered, "Yes lord, I'm sure we'll have more very soon."

LOL i can just imagine a luri throwing a complete fit then going calm

 

[Blood]

Tesla felt movement behind her. Out of nowhere, three black-clad lurikeens appeared beside her. They didn't attack but held out wickedly sharp knives, daring her to make a move. She shrugged and dropped her bow, and held her hands up in the air. She was quickly searched and prodded down into the tower.

too unrealistic! Tesla wouldnt drop her mp bows on the ground where they could decay!

but gif more!

 

[Blood]

Roo: if you use Firefox, you probably want to try out this extension: http://prismicspiral.com/scribe/
lets you ctrl+s save forum posts to your harddisk before you post them. (really its for all that likes to write long posts)

 

[Stormsong]

<pokes this thread> ...it's not moving... Why is it not moving???

Need... Story... Story soothes us...

 

[Andiana]

Apolgies for being a bit of a git but...

After today I'm unlikely to have internet access for the next 2 weeks, or even access to a PC. Shame really, when so close to finishing off

Muhahahahahaha(TM)

You know it has been like 3 weeks now right?? :touch:

 

[haarewin]

cmon roo ((((((((((

 

[Danhyr]

hes back i know hes back ive seen him on cmon roo

i know your there

:wub:

 

[Tilda]

Commooon Roo!
Where are you?

 

[Oro]

Sorry chaps, had a fair bit on since getting back. As it turns out, not home very long and away again. All being well should get back at it soon

 

[Gasoline]

Sorry chaps, had a fair bit on since getting back. As it turns out, not home very long and away again. All being well should get back at it soon

D'oh!
We miss you, Roo...

 

[[SS]Gamblor]

/cry

i miss roo's story time .. i.e. mu lunch break ;P

Hope things are going ok for u Roo =)

 

[Nifelheim]

Give us your tales!!!

 

[fortunefish]

omg no way

i wated ages so i cud read it in one go.



roo u rule m8 im so annoyed that only a few of us bother with this section.

cant wait till u get back and hav fun while ur away

regards


brelad

 

[Oro]

Ok here's the state of play.

Am in London, finally, at a colleague's place which I'm working out of for the next month. My laptop, where I write most of my stuff (and keep my notes), has packed in. Being on gold tech support I'll have it sorted soon though.

However, though the last few weeks have been busy and are ringing in a *lot* of changes for me, I'm hoping to get back into the swing of it over the next week or so. Feel guilty for having cliffhangered everyone then left it so long. Enough babble, once again, sorry for having left it so long at a point like that - I have been living in interesting times.

(Sigh - tired and posted on wrong thread then had to delete/recreate lol)

 

[Tilda]

We miss you Roo, take care and have fun

 

[[SS]Gamblor]

Feel guilty for having cliffhangered everyone then left it so long. Enough babble, once again, sorry for having left it so long at a point like that - I have been living in interesting times.

D00d it's kwel , think of it this way , you are just building up the suspence =)


Imo this story would kick Lord of the rings azz ;P

 

[Gasoline]

D00d it's kwel , think of it this way , you are just building up the suspence =)


Imo this story would kick Lord of the rings azz ;P

Damn right...this story would open a Can o' Wupass on Tolkein ANYDAY!

Now hurry up and get on with this!

 

[Healer McHeal]

omg, just read that all the way through to where it is now... and well, your story skills rock, and i mean it, not much can keep my attention for that long

 

[Oro]

The Midgardians stood in a sullen group in the centre of the courtyard. Perhaps ten or so had survived the assaults of first the Albions in disguise then the Hibernian attack. The sun was heading west, Jarl Bledmeer estimated perhpaps an hour or so until sunset. He looked around his fellows. Tight stood mute and sour in the middle of them. Though not sure of what was going on, everyone could tell the Hibernians had a particular interest in Tight. Probably wanted the big troll dead first as he was responsible for a lot of Hibernians being more at one with the earth than they had set out to be that day.
Tesla stood with them now, disarmed and thoroughly grumpy. Her precious bow had been taken from her. She felt naked without it.

Muffled battering from inside the coffin.
"Right" barked Nara at the Hibernians, "we're looking for a particular troll. He's not with these heathens. He must be somewhere else in the keep. Form search parties and search the grounds again. Double check the dead bodies."
Nara detailed a couple of officers to take charge of the search and returned his attention to the prisoners. More muffled noises from the coffin and and Nara grunted in irritation.
"Yes, lord, he's safe here."
More noise from the coffin. To most others it was amazing that Nara could even understand the voice coming out of the coffin. He was of course highly motivated. Everyone who sleeps at night wants to wake up in the morning. Snotwheeze, while having dubious leadership capabilities was more than capable of taking out mortals like Nara with ease.
"Yes lord. We will make sure he is bathed and scrubbed."
A questioning noise from the coffin.
Nara peered at Tight standing in the crowd of Midgardians then leaned back to the coffin.
"No lord, I don't think we have a codpiece big enough."

The sun was nearly down. The temperature was already dropping as nighttime approached but not all the shivering was entirely due to the cold. Ringed around the Midgardians, Hibernian soldiers kept a close eye on them, weapons at the ready. Casters stood on the battlements, ready at an instant to fry anyone that stepped out of line. They weren't responsible for the unnatural chill. In the deepening shadows of the wall opposite the prisoners, stood the coffin. Jarl Bledmeer could see Nara nodding his head and looking at them. Nara narrowed his eyes and whispered to an aide. The aide scuttled off and a few moments later reappeared with a bottle in his hand. The bottle was handed to Nara who then approached the prisoners. A small entourage of aides, officers and guards followed with him.
"Prisoners" he said in halting Midgardian, "you are going to play a little game. Form a circle."
Nara barked something in Hibernian that Jarl Bledmeer couldn't make out and the soldiers guarding them prodded the Midgardians into forming a circle.
"Sit." ordered Nara, then repeated the command in Hibernian.
Grumbling just short of outright protest, the Midgardians were forced to sit. Tesla complied without any trouble, biding her time and watching around her. All she needed was one chance to get to a bow.
Nara stepped into the circle. He was fully aware every Midgardian around him was weighing up the chances of killing him, even though it meant certain death for them. They'd be dead before they took one step.
"You are going to play roulette. One of you will spin the bottle. Whichever one of you heathens it stops at, will be first to die when the sun goes down."
Nara sneered at the various Midgardians looking at him with expressions ranging from fear to fury. The veins on Jarl Bledmeer's neck stood out and throbbed in time with his anger.
Nara stepped out of the circle and barked, "Play."
Jarl bledmeer growled at him, his tone dripping defiance, "Who do you think you are, god?"
A soldier kicked Jarl Bledmeer in the back and he fell forward in pain. He was instantly on his feet and facing the soldier that had kicked him. He heard bowstrngs being drawn and sense d the air turn greasy as magic was prepared. He spat and returned to his sitting position.
Nara smiled viciously, "Play. Now. Or you all die immediately."
Tight sighed and reached for the bottle. He felt a hand on his arm and looked. Jarl Bledmeer was looking at him, shaking his head.
"I take the responsibility for my men."
Jarl Bledmeer glowered at Nara and leaned into the middle of the circle with the bottle, carefully placing it on the ground. Glancing around at his men, he spun the bottle.

The door creaked open as Ham pushed it forward. He stuck his head out and looked both ways down the corridor. Empty. Inwardly heaving a sigh of relief, he crept out and pushed the secret door closed behind him, wincing every time it creaked. Sweat broke out on his forehead. The Seal still slept in his arms. Ham made a move to the stairwell. Just as he was about to creep down, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up. He changed direction immediately and as quickly and quietly as he could. Its often thought mistakenly that trolls don't know how to sneak. They are in fact quite good at it, so long as there is something big blocking the line of sight from any observers, like the side of a mountain. Ham went up the tower. Within a few seconds he was out on the roof of the tower. The footsteps were still getting closer. Ham carefuly laid down the Seal and turned his attention back to the stairs.
Ham was absolutely sure whoever was coming up was going to be Hibernian. He would be unable to harm them. Unless...
Ham grinned a feral grin, raised his head up high and marched down the stairs.

Seal dreamed. His mind felt locked in a fever driven nightmare. Flames, burning, a beast of huge power, fangs and raspberry jam, the kind with the bits in it that get stuck between your teeth. Polar Bears. NOOOO! And Badgers. Badger badger badger badger badger badger SNAKE! OOOH A SNAKE ITS A SNAKE! Badger badger badger badger.His eyes half opened and it almost registered he was on a tower somewhere. MUSHROOM MUSHROOM! He didn't manage to stay concious and fell back into his dreams. Small wisps of electricity discharged from him as he twitched while his dreams gripped him.

TWo hibernian soldiers reached the top of the stairwell. All the Midgardians were prisoner and they were frankly quite fed up with checking up here yet again. So when they walked around the corner and Ham leaned out and said "BOO!" they got quite a shock. They were however, soldiers first and foremost, and lazy slobs second. Their swords were out in an instant and they both lunged at Ham.
They were puzzled why the huge troll stood his ground neither pulling out any weapons of his own or making any move to defend himself. Only when they were on him did he move. Their first attacks hit the troll but he manouevered so they did little damage. Then the two Hibernians saw the troll give a gutteral booming laugh.
Ham picked up the first soldier easily with one hand and brought his other around in a huge arc, landing squarely on the soldier's helmet. He crumpled like a rag doll to lie in the corner twitching slightly. The other soldier changed his stance to a more defensive one. Ham knew he only had a moment, he could tell the soldier was about to shout for help. The next thing the soldier knew was that he was chewing on a troll fist. The only sounds he could make were choking noises as his teeth broke and flew in various directions. Seconds later, he was on the floor beside his companion. Ham went out onto the roof again to get an idea of what was happening around the keep. He crawled to the edge and looked down. He could see a small circle of Midgard prisoners, and Hibernians everywhere. Far too many to trick like the two hapless soldiers. Ham watched as a Hibernian stood in the circle of prisoners but at this distance he couldn't make out what was being said. He mulled his options.
He looked beside him at the Seal and stroked his fur. The Seal didn't stir. Ham noted that something was definately going on there. Seals weren't normally noted for having flippers that glowed a faint blue or gave off sparks when nudged.
Then Ham had an idea. He left the Seal where he was and crawled back from the edge, lumbered downstairs, retracing his way to the secret door. Quickly he entered and closed it behind him.
This is REALLY stupid he thought to himself.


The bottle came to rest. It slowed and pointed at one of the Midgardian soldiers, who looked at it, mesmerised with fear. Jarl Bledmeer hung his head. The bottle twitched and moved again, slowly. It rotated until it was facing Tight. The soldier looked at Tight, then back at the bottle. Was he saved?
"Greetings." said a voice, oozing oily charm. The language of Midgard didn't lend itself well to oil and charm, being a harsh language used by hardy beings. It was impressive that Snotwheeze could inject into it enough oil to keep a reasonable sized country heated for a year.
All the Midgardians looked up. The sun had set and Snotwheeze stood in front of them.
"You, the big one. Stand. Erect if possible."
Tight looked back at the little lurikeen vampire with disdain. He'd done farts with more substance than this little git. He inwardly sighed as that thought brought him back to thinking of Ma Fisted's cabbage stew on a Saturday night. Once again he wondered where his mother and father had got to though he had to admit, he was glad they weren't here and in this trouble with them.
Snotwheeze's eyes positively glowed as he looked at Tight.
"You really are quite magnificent." he said, "You shall live forever."
"Have scraped bigger than you off boots. Get lost midget." answered Tight. All the Midgardian soldiers laughed at this. Snotwheeze regarded them coldly. He picked one at random. Suddenly, he was behind him, pulling his head back. His fangs extended and he bit deep into the Midgard soldier's neck. He made a gurgling noise as the life drained out of him, unable to do do anything. His arms flailed ineffectively, rapidly becoming weaker and weaker. Snotwheeze coldly regarded the circle of prisoners while he did this, daring anyone to make a move. When he was finished, Snotwheeze tossed him to the ground, and sneered.
"I am your new master. Don't forget it."
Tight bit back a reply. Even his trollish brain registered that someone else would die.
Turning to Tight, Snotwheeze smiled "For you, a different end and a beginning."
His fangs extended and he focused his will on Tight. Tight found himself helpless to move as the tiny vampire quite deliberately advanced slowly towards him.