The Setting: A brief scene run first by Albertus and then taken over by Niklas. A small group led by Knight Captain Taleyn who's mission was to deliver a prisoner to Fort Kolvir for interrogation.

Taleyn addresses Pwyll and Zane, "Will you gentlemen please accompany me to Mount Kolvir, where we will take the prisoner to be interrogated?"

Pwyll nods, "I'd be delighted to."

"I'm having the prisoner send to Fort Kolvir, Dame Beatrice." Henry murmurs, apparently feeling Beatrice may wish to know since the prisoner was almost dumped on her.

Zane grins at Taleyn as he stands up, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "Of course."

Beatrice nods, "Excellent. I'm curious to hear if the Defenders learn anything you may share." She's very formal in this whole 'guest forces' thing.

Beatrice then nods to Taleyn and the others and says, "Safe journeys."

"Send word when you reach the Fort." Henry tells Taleyn. "And safe travels." He looks back to Beatrice then. "I'd be satisfied with learning anything at all."

Pwyll nods, "Fair winds and following seas."

Taleyn beams at Henry. "Yes Sir!" She is a Captain With A Mission!

Beatrice watches them go, and returns to conferring quietly with Henry in her tent.

The Mission: Pwyll has brought a prisoner that may be a weir or something weir-related, but is definitely of the Road. He's unconscious, and in the shape of a young man. Taleyn's unit is to transport the prisoner to Fort Kolvir, at the 'base' (not quite) of Kolvir, for questioning. Some Weir have come along...

Niklas stays to the side and out of the way. The overgrown Argus is just muscle on this expedition and he knows it.

The paths in Kolvir are difficult, especially coming down the western side. It takes skill and familiarity to navigate without hitting dead-ends. Fort Kolvir itself can be seen -- imposing and dramatic, built partly out of the cliffs -- but they are above it, and to Fort Kolvir they are mere specs, appearing and vanishing along the trail....

Taleyn is riding next to Pwyll and the prisoner, having asked Niklas to take Point and Zane to take rear guard.

Zane brings up the rear, arrow nocked and ready as he walks along keeping a watchful eye and ear out.

Niklas takes point as instructed with no argument what so ever. He's far enough ahead that he can easily alert those behind him. He walks along, weapons drawn and in hand.

Taleyn, far from being bouncy, is cool and collected while commanding her unit. She keeps an eye on things but trusts those she has placed in watch positions to alert them to danger. Meanwhile, she seems to be one of those eeeevil officers who truly enjoys a forced march through mountainous terrain, and a small smile plays about her lips.

The group is halfway down the trails, in a tricky bit. There are many hidden gullies....

Niklas freezes in place suddenly, lifting a hand to signal those behind him to halt. The Weir lifts his nose to the breeze. After a moments consideration he points down a small incline to the side of the trail.

Pwyll draws a throwing knife in his left hand and his Gurkha in his right.

Taleyn halts at Nik's signal. In a low growl, she asks, "How many?"

Zane stops when those ahead of him slow and he watches the signals given. He glances around behind him and off to the sides.

Niklas shakes his head slightly, indicating he doesn't know. "Hard to tell. One human, at least... but could be more. And..." He turns an ear in that direction. "I hear a soft moaning."

Pwyll raises an eyebrow. "If they have a captive..."

Taleyn says, "Niklas-- you, Rogers, and Pwyll go scout. Report back when you see them. Zane, stay here and scent for us. The rest, full stop, guard the prisoner until the scouts return."

Pwyll nods, "Niklas, your lead."

Niklas angles his head to the side causing his neck to pop. "Sure." For being so large somehow is still able to move silently. He steps into the scrub with his nose lifted, following the scent.

Zane moves a little closer to the main group to scent the air, doing as ordered by Taleyn. Deciding he would be better suited in wolf form, he puts away the arrow and slings his bow again before falling forward and shimmering into a big black wolf shape.

Pwyll follows quietly and slightly to the side, affording him a good field of fire to any that attack Niklas.

Niklas puts a hand out to the side signalling for people to pause once the moaning man can be seen. He lifts his nose to the wind again taking a scent. Clearly Niklas thinks this may be some kind of trap. After a moment he looks to Roger's, signalling for him to take a wide arc around to one side.

Pwyll looks at the ditch, then raises his eyebrow. It obvious Pwyll also feels a trap about to be sprung.

Once Roger's is in position Niklas clips his weapons to his hips and approaches the moaning man slowly, careful of each place he sets a foot.

The ground seems solid, and mostly rock.

Pwyll sheaths his Gurkha and draws another throwing knife, preparing to throw at any enemy that appears and hanging back a little to cover Niklas.

Zane continues to sniff at the air and look around, fur raising a little.

Satisfied with the solidity of the ground Niklas kneels down next to the man. Not much for words Niklas simply asks, "Who are you?"

The young man continues to moan -- delerious or in pain or delerious with pain. His face is turned to one side, his eyes shut. A sort of, "Uuhhhhh" sound as he is addressed.

Niklas grunts obviously not pleased with the lack of proper reply. He reaches forward then, his intent to search the man's body for wounds.

As Niklas touches him, the youth's hand shoots out in a death-grip to reach for Niklas's arm. His eyes open and his eyes are black! But he does not look threatening. He looks desperate. Pleading.

Pwyll tenses and prepares to throw, but hesitates.."Niklas, Ok?", he asks.

Oddly enough Niklas doesn't start at the sudden movement of the man though his arm does freeze into place. Almost calmly he looks to the man's eyes. "Mmm... I'm fine. He's not all that strong. There's somethin' wrong with his eyes though." He takes a breath and asks the man, "Can you talk or should I just put a dent in your skull?"

The boy rasps, "They took me. They... tried to make me obey. They want me to obey. They want me to tell you the trail ahead is safe."

Pwyll nods, "The eyes dark? Sebastapool said his eyes were dark when he was road tainted.".

Niklas glances back to Pwyll and nods. "He says they took him and tried to make him obey so that he could tell us the path was safe." He glances back down at the boy and shakes his head. "Could be a trap though. Play on human sympathy t'make us think he's telling the truth and we walk into a trap. Or, maybe, they think we're smart enough to think of that so they're waiting for us off the path. Tricky business."

Pwyll nods, "Not gonna be fun with just you me and rogers to fight them off."

The Defender along, Rogers, volunteers, "There are other paths down... they are a long way around."

Niklas jerks his arm out of the boy's grasp and stands up to his full height. With his head angled downward he regards the boy thoughtfully. Apparently picking up on what Pwyll is doing he says, "When given orders how long did they tell us we had to do this?"

Zane is following his orders, keeping a sniff on things.

Zane moves forward, shifting back into human form as he gets directed by Taleyn to investigate the progress of the small scouting party of Niklas, Pwyll and Rogers.

The youth moans, "Kill me. Kill me." He begs, now, urgent and clearly in pain. "I don't wnat to turn on my brothers."

Niklas takes a deep breath and looks to Pwyll. "I've seen what tainted people become. If he wants to die I'm not gonna argue with him," he says, clearly not having any problem with killing the youth but having enough sense to check with the others.

Pwyll moved forwards to the black eyed youth, sighing. "You look to be my son's age. You know we found a cure for the road taint now, so no need to kill you. Just calm down and tell us how they took you and what you remember about them. It'll all be ok.", he says giving a look to Niklas and mouthing on word when the boys eyes are not on Pwyll, 'bide'

The youth moans again, "They pinned me, they brought me back here and dropped me... I want to die. I want to die. I can't control it. They said to tell you all the path was safe."

Pwyll chuckles, seeming completely at ease, "You know the war is basically over right? We know where they come from and right this moment our King is leading a huge shadow army against their home. Should have struck by now. The ones here..well I almost feel sorry for them. Cut off, no hope, their home destroyed."

Niklas's face remains neutral as Pwyll speaks. He crosses his arms over his leather clad chest.

Zane looks between Niklas and Pwyll, saying nothing but trying to follow the conversation. He wonders about the part the youth was supposed to play in this trap. He whispers to Niklas, "What if he's here just to detain us, to give those who brought him here time to set up?"

Niklas considers Zane for a moment. He replies, softly, "Then he's done his job."

"KILL ME!" the young man begs again.

Pwyll watches the youth's face and eyes closely. "Come on now, what's your name son? Mine's Annwyn."

Now he is just back to maoning uselessly, though in more evident pain than before.

Pwyll shakes his head, looking grim. "Right. No hope for it, we'll have to get back to the gate the way we came. Can't risk continuiing, and might as well kill him now, dont think we'll get anything."

Niklas drops to one knee next to the young man and reaches to put a hand on either side of the moaning head. "If you've a weak stomach now would be the time to look away."

Pwyll nods, "Son, look at me now and remember the time you graduated and became a soldier. That was a good time wasnt it.", looking to Niklas he nods.

The youth's eyes are all-black, and what exactly he can see is not clear, but he seems glazed.

Zane grimaces and looks away but not because he has a weak stomach but because he sniffs the air to determine if there are any things out there close by.

Niklas takes a deep breath and then makes a single, violent movement that severs the boys neck.

The boy dies. Inspection will prove his name was Digby, and provide his platoon's name as well.

Pwyll nods. "Damn shame that. Can the Feldanes work with just a head?"

Pwyll nudges his head at the boy, "Shame he had to die I mean."

There is no scent from the wind, which continues to whistle up the mountain.

Niklas nods slightly then reaches to tear the boy's name patch and platoon designation free of the uniform. "I don't know anything about how the Feldane's do what they do." He tucks the patches into a safe place under his armor.

Zane looks to Niklas for orders, deferring to the larger Weir rather than the men. "What now?"

Pwyll nods, "I'd say now we continue the mission. Get back to Taleyn, get the captive to the fort, and take one of the longer routes, or go off trail."

"What Pwyll just said," Niklas replies to Zane. He grins, ever so slightly.

Pwyll looks a little sheepish, and smiles at Niklas by way of apology.

And so our intrepid scouting party decided to take the less traveled path. Mr. Frost would be so proud of them. Niklas has instructed Zane to take point and 'keep his nose to the breeze'. Everything goes swimmingly until a strange scent comes to Zane. Before the weir can react though a trap is sprung! Six denziens of the road jump out of a particular thicket of overgrown shrubbery brandishing their weapons. The largest of them grins madly and says to his men. "I told you they're not as smart as they think they are! Get 'em boys!"

Pwyll let's fly with both knives, both at the largest of the road spawn, one aimed for the leg, one for the throat.

RPG: Niklas challenges a difficulty of 10, using his Force plus PHY-ST. Niklas succeeds.
RPG: Zane challenges a difficulty of 10, using his Force plus SKL-AR. Zane fails.
RPG: Pwyll challenges a difficulty of 10, using his Wits plus SKL-WM. Pwyll fails.

<OOC> Niklas laughs, is sorry, but has to laugh.

RPG: Pwyll challenges a difficulty of 9, using his Wits plus SKL-WM. Pwyll succeeds.

Zane pulls back on his bow but the arrow slips through his fingers and shoots into the ground at his feet. He doesn't have time to draw his sword, lifting his bow to defend himself akin to a staff.

Niklas simply unclips his weapons from his hips and takes an en guard position as he's rushed. At just precisely the right moment he spins between his opponents, aiming to trip the one behind him while punching a stab toward the one in front.

The knives that Pwyll threw /almost/ hit where they were supposed to. The one aimed at the leg just misses. The one aimed at the throat hits, but only partially and begins a slow trickle over the man's adam's apple. The largest one growls and turns to charge at Pwyll. The two approaching Zane are less in a hurry, pause as the weir brandishes his bow. Instead of bum rushing him they play it cool, beginning to circle. Though Niklas doesn't manage to actually trip the one behind him he does distact him, causing him to jump into the air haphazardly. The one he stabbed at though, cries out loudly as the three blades of Niklas' Katars pierce his abdomen.

Pwyll pulls his Gurkha and attempts to quickly do a roll and hamstring the one charging him.

RPG: Pwyll challenges a difficulty of 10, using his Wits plus SKL-WM. Pwyll fails.
RPG: Zane challenges a difficulty of 10, using his Force plus SKL-AR. Zane succeeds.

Zane isn't keen to let anyone get behind him but there might not be much he can do about it, so he launches himself towards the opponent on his right. He leaps through the air and drives the base of his bow into the other's chest, skewering him with the shaft. Falling to the ground, Zane rolls and the blade of the one to his left only clips his arm.

Niklas yanks his weapon free from the confines of his enemies gut and uses that momentum to swing widely behind him with a growl.

Pwyll growls and tries less flashy maneuver, a good solid swipe of the leaders belly.

RPG: Pwyll challenges a difficulty of 9, using his Wits plus SKL-WM. Pwyll almost succeeds.

Though Pwyll rolls and attempts to hamstring the largest of the road denziens he's just a fraction of a second too late. His blade strikes nothing but air but the way the man had to jump to avoid it throws him off balance and he stumbles foward after hitting the ground. This gives Pwyll ample time to spring back to his feet and slice at the man's belly. Though blood appears it doesn't seem to have been a killing blow. Blood spews from the mouth of the man that Zane scewered with his bow, his body falling limply to the ground in an undignified heap. The one behind Niklas /almost/ manages to avoid the blades of the katars by leaning back... but it wasn't enough and his throat is sliced open. He, too, falls to the ground indignantly.

Zane rises to his feet quickly and draws his sword, his bow sticking out of the first of his direct enemies. He turns to face the second one, snarling at him as blood runs down his arm, "You're going to pay for that." He lunges forward to engage him.

Niklas takes a moment to regain his composure as he watches the others. He smirks at Zane's witty response then looks to Pwyll. He doesn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to interfere with either of their fights.

Pwyll steps forward in a maneuver known as 'sheathe the sword' to trap the big guys weapon between his left arm and his side, knowing he'll be wounded in the process, and plunges his Gurkha into the things chest, with enough force that his hand actually goes in and the knife comes out the other side.

RPG: Pwyll challenges a difficulty of 11, using his Wits plus SKL-WM. Pwyll succeeds.

Zane's blade clangs against the other's once, twice and then on the third strike, Zane binds the other man's sword and forces him backward. He lifts a foot and rams it home into the other man's stomach, spinning in an arc as the man topples backward and loses his head literally. Zane's blade cleaving it from his shoulders. "I told you," he tells the body as it falls.

Blood sprays from the decaptitated man's head like a small fountain as the body falls backwards. The large man, freshly stabbed by Pwyll, gain an expression of surprise. He looks down at Pwyll's hand then back up. Before he can speak, however, he coughs on blood that's filling his mouth. Droplets of blood spray out over Pwyll's face like it were the canvas for a Jackson Pollock painting. That leaves one road denzien still alive. The one that's charging Pwyll now that his commander is dying.

Pwyll lifts the big one up with his arm and flicks his body away with a quick spin, then without turning back plunges the blade backwards, directly into the forehead of the one charging him. Amazingly the knife is extremely well made, for it goes in to the hilt, the point coming out the back of the skull, and comes out cleanly. Pwyll staggers somewhat, holding his left arm to his side as the last road spawn falls.

Zane glances around to see how his comrades have fared. One hand lifts to his face and smears the blood that has sprayed over it. "Do we continue this way, Niklas? Or do we return to Knight Captain Taleyn and get her to return to the original path?"

All the road spawn can do is gasp as the blade is cleaved through his skull and out the back. Without a brain the body goes limp, as the eyes glass over.
Niklas watches the feats of his comrades, impressed. "Now /that's/ how you kill a mother fucker," he says, glancing between the both of them with a grin. Then he looks to Zane. "We go back and lead them on the quicker path. We may encounter more of these assholes but I'm not worried about it."

Pwyll nods, "We should make haste then. I'll be ok until we get to the fort with some bandages, but when we get there I'll need some attention. That last stunt of mine gave me a nasty cut on my left arm.", as he indicates a long cut, deep but thankfully missing veins.

Zane grips his arm after sheathing his sword and then he places his foot down upon the man with his bow sticking out his chest. He braces and yanks it out, sending little chunks of gore into the air. Turning, he follows Niklas and Pwyll back to Taleyn and the others.