The Dark Age of Arhade - IC

[TwoBitWriter]

The trees whisper softly in the cool Spring morning breeze, and the morning birds begin chirping in their nests. Stray beams of sunlight stream past the thick canopy of the Grove wood, and the forest is changing the guard between the night and day creatures, remaining hidden from the eyes of all but those trained to spot them. Light and shadow still dance about with the foliage bending against the wind. Bees hum about their tasks among the carpet of flowers at the base of mighty Indulias trees, whose spring blossoms pepper the air with a strong scent reminiscent of honeysuckle. The air is still clinging to the night’s chill and the sun is not yet able to exert its dominance upon the forest floor.

Diana
You stand over the fallen demon at your feet, its wounds festering and exuding acrid black smoke caused by the contact of cold iron and demon flesh. Demons can never truly be killed, but this one will likely face severe punishment when it returns to Torment. That provides some degree of satisfaction, at the least. Only the lesser Demon Orders bear arms and armor, usually scavenged from their victims. This creature, however, is bear-like and naked save for a thick shaggy coat of black fur. You have been badly wounded by the creature, but it appears that this monster had no poison and your wounds are not mortal. Moments later, you see two lightly-armed individuals break into the clearing, a man and a woman.

Carlize and Dirk
Calize and Dirk are in the forest of Grove. You have been called together by visions from your mistress, the Protector Goddess Baliela, who needed paladins capable of speed and stealth the week before. As always, the task that you have been called for is vague, shrouded in riddles. Your dreams featured a woman dressed in a robe of violet leaves with a delicate face clouded by gray smoke, a man with dark eyes engulfed in blood and flame, wielding a rough sword deeply notched and damaged, and a dark wanderer, cloaked in smoke and surrounded by mirrors. There were demons also, always they inhabit your dreams, but never quite as fierce as this. The only clue of your purpose was great stands of Indulias trees, and you knew that only the forest of Grove was home to these.

The village you had visited the night before had spoke of a lurking horror that had taken up residence in the forest, and was attacking rangers, travelers, and woodmen all the same. The attacks are vicious, and leave broken bodies in its wake.
There is no doubt to the two paladins that only a Demon of Torment could wrack this level of carnage and not feast upon the remains.

The stillness of the forest morning is broken by the sounds of battle nearby. You rush toward the source to see a woman standing over the rapidly-decaying corpse of a My’Xor demon, of a modestly-powerful Order. The woman is badly-wounded, but still standing on her feet and wielding a dagger of folded steel.

Gerric
The chilled forest morning does not bother you, being from the harsh Northern Principalities, and you can’t help but admire the extensive greenery of weaker trees that could not survive up there. You are more accustomed to the hardy evergreens. The smells are completely foreign to you as well, and tug at your nostrils as if teasing you for how limited your life experiences have been despite your many years of war and hard survival.

But you are in Grove by no mere chance. There was talk of a rich reward for anyone who could stop a wild forest creature, a man-eater, who had been harrying a small woodmen village in the Duchy of Grove. A reward posted by Duke Dermail himself. While you are experienced and capable of surviving on your own and perfectly willing to sleep out under the stars, having some proper silver in your purse would be a welcome change. It has been a long while since you have enjoyed the hot fires, cold beer, and soft beds of an inn.

Still, this forest is strange to you and none of the village rangers were willing to guide you. You have wandered the woods for two days now, searching for a sign of this creature, but to no avail.

But your luck seems to have changed. You hear the sounds of battle nearby, and a woman’s cry for Baliela’s protection. You rush toward the source, but everything goes abruptly silent before you break into the clearing. You stop, seeing three people now in the clearing. A woman standing over the corpse of what could only be described as a demon, and two others standing farther off, apparently having just entered the clearing themselves.

Jenn
Indulias root is a powerful component, not just for its narcotic properties, but also as a mixture for a myriad of alchemical processes. Powerful, rare, and expensive. That is why you have come to Grove, to engage in a little bit of harmless smuggling. This is hardly immoral, as you require the root for study and have little intent to profit off of the material as others would. Still, the local authorities get rather touchy about the subject, which drew you to this part of the forest. Superstitious rambling about a monster will mean that most common folk will be absent and it will be much easier to harvest in secret.

Besides, who’s to miss a few small roots? It’s not as if the forest itself has a shortage of the tree that they are most famous for.

These thoughts are interrupted by the mighty roar of a large creature, directly ahead of you, followed by a woman’s cry. Common sense and self-preservation take a backseat for the time being and you cautiously follow the noise. Before you you spot a clearing against a rocky outcropping, and can roughly see shapes battling against one another. The battle ends abruptly, and you see no further movement and hear no other noise, for the time being.

[Dienekes]

"Hunh," Gerric said looking down on the beast. And one hell of a beast it was, just looking at it made his hand reach down for the axe at his belt. "You folk alright?" He said, still looking down on the demon. Maybe he should go hack at it's neck a bit, just to make sure it's dead?

Well looks like there would be no reward for me, he thought sadly.

[Dorizzit]

Jenn

Jenn places the Indulias roots he had been holding into his pouch, then places the knife "away" into his coat, simply allowing it to fall out of his hand. It would be there again when he needed it. Deciding to play things cautiously (the rumors could well be true, after all, and there was no sense blundering into a dangerous situation) Jenn conjures a thick tendril of shadow. Forests were useful; with so many shadows, the magic came easily. Jenn nimbly jumps onto the tendril and uses it as a stepping stone to climb into the branches of a nearby, ancient tree. He climbs a bit higher, then slowly climbs out on one of the thicker branches until he is directly over the clearing, still mostly hidden from sight by the leaves. He looks down to see what's going on.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk


Dirk hurries towards the body with Carlize. He eyes each of the others and then says "An impressive feat, to kill such a thing by yourself, are you ok, did the beast injure you?"

While listening to her answer Dirk suddenly seems to have a small metal rod in his hand, roughly the thickness of a thin walking cane and about 1 foot long. He hunkers down and begins prodding the corpse with it, examining the body.

[Artemis97]

Diana was, quite clearly, injured. Blood was dripping through her fingers as she clutched at the wound, trying to keep it closed. The woman leans back against the rocks, clearly exhausted from the fight. She seems dazed, too, staring off into space a bit, but when she does respond a smirk was on her lips.

"It's only a scratch." Diana says with a harsh laugh that turns into a pained grunt. She sinks to the ground. "A big scratch." She admits in a weaker tone.

[Dienekes]

"Here," Gerric mutters as he reaches through his pack for a needle and thread. "I've sewn up a few injured before, if you don't think you can make it back out of the woods." He headed toward the hurt woman. Tough that one, he thought respectfully.

[Artemis97]

"Thank you, friend." Diana replies with a slight smile. She rolls to the side a bit so Gerric might have better access to the wound.

[TwoBitWriter]

Dirk
The rapidly-decaying creature is most certainly a My'Xor demon, of a relatively high Order. They usually assume the form of a twisted, wild beast. This one was obviously imitating a black bear.

Gerric quickly, and painfully, sews Diana's wound, and wraps a strip of cloth as a bandage. The bleeding subsides. Diana still has use of the arm, but it will likely be sore for a day or so.

Jenn
You see all that's occuring below, and from your high vantage point you observe several dark shapes flitting through the thick woods, converging on the clearing.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk

Dirk looks up from the beast and holsters the metal rod at his hip.

He turns to the others and watches the stitching occur, "Disgusting beast, a very impressive kill though. My name is Dirk, I would say we came just in time . . . but it seems you didn't need much help."

[Dorizzit]

Jenn

Jenn wonders at the shapes. Deciding to remain concealed for a time more, he uses his magic to soldify the shadows at the figures' feet, making thrashing sounds so that they could easily be heard by those in the clearing.

[Dienekes]

Gerric finishes up the stitching. "There yer are, right as rain." He smiled at the girl and holds his hand out to help her up. "Ya think there are any more of these things?"

Hearing Dirk's introduction Gerric nodded at the man. "Name's Gerric."

[Artemis97]

"Honestly, I'm glad you're all here. I don't know if I would have made it back on my own."

Diana accepts the hand up, grunting as she stands. Still, she seems capable of keeping her feet, once she's on them.

"Goddess, I hope not." She says in response to Gerric's question, laughing nervously. "I'm Diana, by the way. It's good to meet you all."

[daelrog]

"Carlize." It was all she was willing to say at this point, to busy observing the dead body of the demon. Unlike 'Dirk'- how silly she thought using a name other than the one given by the goddess.

Carlize knelt low to get a better look at how the woman had killed the demon, seeing if anything matched, or even came close to, the dream that had brought her here. She would question her and the man calling himself Gerric later. It did not seem pressing at the moment.

[TwoBitWriter]

Jenn's spell comes into effect, and everybody in the clearing can now hear the sound of furious rushing through the underbrush. It isn't distinct, or identifiable, but you can definitely hear the sound of multiple creatures moving toward you.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk

He frowns at the sounds and sees the others hear it as well. "Looks like we did arrive just in time." Dirk steps quickly to his horse and ties the reins to a tree and then back to the group.

As he steps back towards the group he starts to spin trying to determine the direction of the noise and a long thing dagger seems to have appeared in his hand.

[Dienekes]

Gerric turned toward the noise in a flash, his shield and axe at the ready. "I just had to open my mouth, didn't I?" He took a position closest to the noise. The rustling sounded like many creatures moving toward him, and here he was with three folks he didn't know, one already wounded.

Fortune hated him.

[Artemis97]

"Keep close to the rocks." Diana advises. "Don't let them get behind us."

She readies her dagger again and backs up towards the rocks, putting distance between herself and the surrounding woods. If one of those things jumped out of the brush again, she wanted to see it coming. She probably wouldn't survive another scratch.

[daelrog]

Carlize closed her eyes to better listen at the sound. A smile extended from her heart to her tongue, just short of showing on her lips. She felt a sense of bloodlust in her fingertips as she reached for her blade.

Then again, it was too soon to taste blood, not even knowing who or what was coming.

[TwoBitWriter]

The sound of heavy footfalls through thick underbrush only grows. The rest of the wood falls silent in response to the coming onslaught. You hear the snarling now. Vicious, raucous hisses and guttural curses in the common tongue mingled with animalistic howls and grunts.

It is only moments after you first see the shapes coming toward you that the first of the creatures burst past the trees into the clearing. Each is a bent, twisted aberration, a naked parody of the shape of man. Their sallow skin is hued in sickly yellows and greens. Their eyes bulge fish-like out of their sockets and their crooked ears stick out in jagged edges. There are about a half dozen of them, but you hear more approaching. They are unarmed, but their hands end in long, blood-crusted fingernails. The shuffle toward you in swift, hunched motions.

"Kill the manthings!" One of the creatures howls in common.

Carlize and Dirk
These are Xyvli demons. They are of the lowest order, but also the most numerous.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk

As the creatures close in Dirk's left hand seems to suddenly be holding a small throwing dagger. He expertly flings it at the nearest creature, catching it in the shoulder and sending it howling into the ground.

Before he has time to draw another, the creatures close in and he begins to parry and dodge the blows. He ducks to avoid a claw only to catch a slashing blow to his chest. He feels the pain, but does not think it is deep. The force lands Dirk on his back and one of the creatures attempts to pounce on him. At the last moment he rolls to the side and springs up to his feet.

[Dienekes]

By Abdalos twisted ****, six? Six of them and more besides. Gerric took a moment to suck in some air before the beasts charged. Alright Ger, clear your head, you've fought six before. Look at them, no weapons, no armor, no shields. Just like doing butcher's work.

He bashed his axe on his shield twice, hoping to draw the monsters attention to him alone. Letting the knifeman and bow woman pick them off of him. With a howl the beasts charged, but spread out to attack the others. Why do none of my plans ever work?

One of the beasts hissed at him and reached out with it's yellow claws. This was no warrior, more a rabid beast. There was no precision to it's lunge, but then if wild and strong enough you can take down the greatest warrior. The killer claws seemed to reach out to grab at his eyes, he saw the wicked looking nails, and without thinking swept with his axe forward to parry the attack.

The beast howled in pain as the axe cleaved four fingers from it's hand gnarled hand. Shock and surprise encompassed the beasts bulging eyes as it pulled back, exposing itself. Gerric slashed down and took the beast in the shoulder and driving down into it's neck. The bloodlust was starting to draw on him now. The wild excitement. A dark smile spread across his lips as he turned, and saw Dirk fall to his back, a monster lunging atop him.

With a roar Gerric swung his arm forward and bashed the demon with his shield, sending it forward into the ground. Yet it looked like he needn't have bothered as the boy, Dirk, was already on his feet. Either way this demon would die. Gerric raised his axe to cleave the demon in two when a shot of pain went through him and forced him to stumble forward. He snarled as he looked to see what had attacked him, and saw the half-dead demon biting into his leg, a gaping wound from from shoulder to torso that should have killed it.

[daelrog]

Carlize had had her short sword out, barely more than a long, straight dagger. Unlike Gerric, she did not charge the demons. Unlike Dirk, she did not try to kill them from afar. Her eyes were busy scanning the others' actions, trying to understand the field of the battle, trying to see if these strangers were worth fighting beside, or if they would crumble in the coming minutes.

Her eyes focused back above her as one of the monsters leapt into the air, its gnashing claws coming down twoards her throat. She sidestepped where the demon landed, and bent backwards, avoiding the lashing arms that tried to catch her. Carlize took her blade at quickly inserted it into the base of the demon's neck where the spine met the skull, killing it instantly, with only a trickle of blood left dripping off the tip of her weapon.

As a second came for her, she reached into her cloak with her free pocket, and through a powdery substance at the horror, the chemicals instantly burning and boiling the demon's skin. She did not bother finishing it off yet as it recoiled on the ground in pain, focusing on the next one. She would have to clean her glove off later, very carefully.

[Artemis97]

Diana leapt into the fray, jumping onto the back of the creature biting Gerric and slitting its throat with her wicked cold iron dagger.

"These aren't mortal men." She warns him. "You have to hit them even harder. But they can be killed." The huntress assures him, a wry grin on her face.

As Diana speaks, another of the monsters tries to attack her from behind. She spun, kicking the creature's legs out from under it. With it on its back, she pounces, driving the dagger into its face. When Diana stands and pulls back the blade, it leaves a smoking hole in the thing's skull. She then stands ready to defend herself against another attacker.

[TwoBitWriter]

The demons balk, but only a moment, at the ferocity of your defense. The addition of five more creatures in the clearing renews their courage and they surge forward again.

Three of them surge at Gerric and Diana, standing so close to one another. One grabs at Gerric's face, aiming to gouge his eyes. His clutching fingers only inches away. Another takes this moment of distraction to bite down on Gerric's axe hand, but his teeth can't quite penetrate the thick leather of Gerric's gauntlet.
Diana has one creature grip her free hand and twists violently, trying to bring her to the ground.

Carlize and Dirk find four of the creatures moving toward them, but they don't charge in, balking at the unsheathed paladin weapons. They hiss maniacally at the two, shouting curses and oaths at the servants of Baliela, but not advancing yet.

Jenn notices that three of the demons are climbing the tree that he is hiding in. They don't appear to have noticed him for the time being. Jenn sees that other trees are being climbed in a similar fashion. Jenn reckons that there are about three dozen of the creatures near the clearing now.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk

With a hint of humor in his voice Dirk calls out to Carlize, "Do you want the ugly ones or the big ones. When I yell, make sure you aren't looking at me."

Dirk raises his weapon and steps forward, then yells out, "Fear me creatures, for even the sun does my bidding."

He flicks his hand, like he's throwing a pebble and suddenly one of the creatures faces explodes into a burst of bright light, stunning and temporarily blinding it. Dirk charges forward and slashes through the creatures throat, but it manages to back hand him to the ground as it dies.

[Dienekes]

Gerric barely had time to thank the girl before the demons were on him again.

They were grabbing him, and trying to hold him down. Their twisted strong fingers reaching forward with broken stained nails toward his eyes. They thought they could beat him, him! Without weapons, without armor, it was an insult. He would never forgive himself if he died that way.

The demon reaching for his eyes cutting into cheek and snarled at him, and Gerric snarled right back. Swinging his shield with all his strength he felt the metal rim crunch into the things skull sending it flying into the monster biting at his hand. The monsters grip weakened just slight enough for Gerric to yank out of the beasts mouth, though part of the leather ripped away. The creature looked up at him, leather hanging from it's frothing mouth, it's wild eyes glaring at him in rage.

With a fast motion the axe came down between those eyes, cleaving into the creatures skull. It stood another moment, before dropping dead to the ground. With a few well placed kicks and a sickening slurp the axe came clean of the corpse.

He looked about to find the next prey, only seeing a bright flash in the corner of his eye. The fear was now almost gone, replaced with that hunger. That hunger that drove him all his life, there was more to do, more to kill. Always more to kill.

[Dorizzit]

Jenn

Jenn looks around at the demons climbing the trees, then sighs quietly. This was supposed to just be a simple supply-gathering mission. How did he wind up in a position where he was fighting demons? That's just odd. Why were there even demons here in the first place? Clearly, something was not right. Maybe he should take a look into it. It might be interesting. Jenn's meditations are halted when he realizes that the demons are still moving up.

Concentrating for a few seconds, Jenn weaves some shadow magic and sends it outwards. The demons climbing his tree find themselves struck and pulled by small tendrils of shadow winding up to grab at them, hampering them and maybe even knocking them from the tree. Once he has determined that his own demons are properly contained, he extends the magic out farther, aiming at the demons climbing other nearby trees.

[daelrog]

Carlize was starting to get a slightly red glint in her eye, and a smile was creeping up more and more. She took a step forward, then the second foot jumped out and blurring speed putting her inrange of two of the demons, her short blade slashing their throats in one motion. Her cloak dance around her, as she crept low and tore her eapon through the leg of another.

Leave at least one alive. She had questions. Oh yes, she had questions.

Carlize finished the shrieking demon with a quick thrust and pull to and from its forehead. Not that one though.

[Artemis97]

The huntress cries out as the demon twists her arm back. To keep the limb from breaking she drops back into a roll, snapping a kick at the demon's face. Diana then pulls the demon towards her while bringing up the dagger into the creature's chest.

[TwoBitWriter]

Several more demons are now dead, but there just doesn't seem to be an end to their numbers, more close in along the ring of the clearing. They are more wary now, and stand, gesturing at you and cackling maniacally. The brutality of your fighting skill was not enough before to stop them.

Those in the clearing hear the startled shrieks of several of the creatures and can barely discern shadows falling from tree canopies (Jenn obviously knows the reason why)

One of the creatures holds up a clawed fist and gestures toward you. "Parlay! Parlay! You give heir and you go alive. Give not, then you no leave!"

He glances back at his fellows who respond by enthusiastically nodding their grotesque heads.

[Dienekes]

Kill them, Gerric's mind screamed. The dark throbbing in the back of his skull demanded it. He raised his axe and his lip curled into a snarl, it took all his effort to lower the blade.

There's too many, they're offering a way to get them out alive. They have them outnumbered, and outflanked, and more were coming besides. He didn't have the right to get the rest of them killed. His shield still held up, he backed away from the demon creatures.

"Anyone know what they're talkin' about?" He muttered to the others. "What the hell is the heir?"

[daelrog]

"It matters little. If any of you would care to catch your breath, humor the demon. If not, loose an arrow into its presumptuous mouth." There was no humor Carlize's words, that last part was directed to Diana.

Carlize paid no heed to the blood on her hands and arms. The paladin saw her own death at the hands of these overwhelming numbers, and was in no mood to delay it by listening to the things talk. The thought crossed her mind to leave, to abandon the two strangers, but the thought did not settle right within her, depsite its practical reasoning. No, she would stand by the two, as well as her fellow paladin.

[DJDeMiko]

Dirk

Dirk takes advantage of the momentary quiet to spring up and move back towards the group.

"Heir?"

[TwoBitWriter]

"Heir!" The creature hisses the word. "We ssssmmeeelll it on you. One of you has been with the heir!"

"Master Traxysytos is coming... HE will take the heir from you... and kill all of you. Best give us what we want now."

Carlize and Dirk
You don't recognize the name, but know that it is demonic in nature, bearing the letter "X".

[Artemis97]

The huntress slides her dagger into her belt and readies her bow. If she could keep these things at a distance, the others might have a chance to run.

"They're talking about the heir of Emperor Arhade." Diana explains. "But whatever we do, these beasts will kill us. We cannot take a demon at its word."

She scans the area, assessing the situation. "We're outnumbered and they're going to just keep coming. We can't stand and fight. If you try to punch through the lines, I should be able to cover you." Though her arrows would run out eventually, she should have enough to buy them that much time.

Her gaze shifts to Dirk and Carlize. "Find the heir." She urges them both. "Protect him."

[Dienekes]

Gerric glares over at the girl, he had to admit she had bones.

"Girl, if ya think I'm leaving ya back here after I put so much work in patching ya up, you got another thing coming to ya." He gave Diana one of his wilder grins, and looked at his other two companions as well. "We punch out of this mess together, and you can go protect whoever you all are talkin' about yerself."

Wasn't too long ago, Gerric would have leaped at the chance to ditch one of these southerners to save his own skin. He'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit a part of him still wanted to.

"Stay behind my shield, I'll barrel through the ****ers," Gerric's voice lowered to a whisper in the hopes the beasts couldn't hear him. "Dirk and Carlize can stay at my sides and finish off whoever I push out of the way. You, girl,stay between them and fire at anything that looks nasty enough to slow me down."

[daelrog]

A small, pleasant smile came to Carlize's lips, cruel given the timing. She was beginning to like this Gerric's bloodthirsty and reckless nature. It was less eloquent, but just as potent as her own.

"So be it. If one of us falls though, we do not stop. Is this acceptable to everyone?"

[Dorizzit]

Jenn keeps an eye out to make sure his tree isn't being further invaded by demons, but otherwise keeps a close eye on the events below him. Things were starting to get very interesting.

[Artemis97]

Diana nods. "Let's make our move." She says, nocking an arrow and readiying to follow the others.

[TwoBitWriter]

The plan is enacted. Your party charges at a single point in the circle of demons surrounding the clearing. They were clearly not anticipating this action and fall before you abruptly, and you easily break through to the forest without any further injury.

Jenn notes that the group below is passing directly by the tree that he is sitting in.

The demons eventually regain their composure and you can hear them howling and whooping behind you. If you brave a look back, you will see that the entire forest seems to be coming alive with the creatures. You don't take the time to count, but there must be at least 2-3 dozen of them trailing you. You rush through the woods, carefully treading over roots and brush. Occasionally one creature gets near but is quickly beaten back by axe, dagger, or sword. The creatures tear at your clothing and your skin, raking claws feebly against you.
You can't help but be perceptively aware that they are slowly gaining on you.

After what seems like an endless chase, you break through into another clearing. This is a larger clearing that encircles a hill covered in tall grass and heather and capped by what appears to be a monastery. You see clerics in white and blue robes walking the grounds, seemingly unaware of the danger crashing down upon them.

It doesn't take long, however, for you to notice that the animal noises of the creatures chasing you has ceased. You turn to look back. There is not a demon to be seen, not even standing at the treeline. You can still faintly hear them in the woods, but there is no apparent reason why they didn't follow you to the clearing.

[Dienekes]

This was the most beautiful clearing he had ever seen in his life. Of that Gerric was sure. Didn't matter what it looked like really, it was beautiful just for warding away the demons.

Gerric's feet kept running a few more steps to be sure he couldn't hear the creatures anymore. His arms shook with exhaustion and his shield made a loud thunk as it hit the ground. His axe fell a second later. Heaving he bent forward his hands resting on his knees.

"Ok," he gasped for breath. "Anybody dead?" he managed to choke out.

[Artemis97]

"No." Diana replies, breathless. "We made it. Thank the goddess, we made it." Still, she kept her bow trained on the treeline for a few moments, until she was certain the demons would not follow. Awkwardly, the huntress slowly lowered herself to the grass and pulled off her pack, before laying back against the side of the hill. A moment later she was laughing with the simple joy of being alive.

[Dorizzit]

Jenn

Jenn looks on admiringly as the group bursts out of the circle, appreciative of the courage and guts that such a risky move would take. It doesn't take much for him to determine that an attempt to keep up with them would be impractical, so he decides to alter his tactics. Moving out of his current tree, Jenn moves far to the side of the path taken by group, allowing the demons to bypass him in their pursuit. He holds still for a few minutes, allowing the chase to get a solid distance away from him, then makes sure his surroundings are safe and drops to the ground.

Cautiously, Jenn moves in the same direction the group fled, keeping a careful eye out for demons or other threats.

[daelrog]

"Define 'anybody' northerner." Carlize took a clean cloth and wiped her blade clean of demonic blood. She looked up to the clerics, futher up the hill. By all accounts the four of them should have died, but that was a matter to think upon later.

She made her way to approach the clerics. "Goddess be upon you and this sacred place."

[TwoBitWriter]

The clerics are visibly shaken by the appearance of a band of heavily armed, and wounded, characters. A young woman, an initiate by her look, is the first to speak. First she hurriedly tells a fellow to fetch the Abbot.

She faces Carlize. "Goddess by upon you as well. Please tell me of you and your companions. We are not accustomed to visitors here at Galcleft, and there has been talk rumors spreading of the woods of late. Are you terribly injured? We have healers..."

The other initiates crowd around your group now, staring at you. Among them is a fair boy of about 12 Summers, peering up at you with wonderment in his eyes. "Are you a paladin?" He blurts out to Carlize, interuppting your conversation.

[Dienekes]

Gerric gathered up his equipment as the crowd formed around them and started questioning Carlize. "Looks like ya got some admirers."

"Oy, there are demons in the forest. They're weak but plenty of them, you have anyone who knows how to handle themselves?" He glanced at the young child. "And old enough to be useful?"

Gerric did not have much, or any, experience talking to these sorts of folk. As soon as the words escaped his mouth he felt he may have said the wrong thing.

[TwoBitWriter]

The initiates recoil at Gerric's words. Many retreat back into the monastery. Only a few remain outside, including the young girl who spoke to you. She is visibly flustered, however, and doesn't say anything more.

The boy remains as well, staring at Carlize with an eager expression on his face, seemingly oblivious to the danger of the woods.

Behind them, further up the hill, you see a balding, fat man in clerical robes fumbling with the hat of his office. He haphazardly sets it up on his head and adjusts it as he ambles down toward your group. His face is red from some recent exertion and he stops before you, his hands placed on his hips. "I am the leader of this community, by the grace of the goddess, which of you is most wounded? We will offer what help we can..."

[Artemis97]

Diana recalls the big northman being bitten by one of the demons. "Gerric, you should let them take a look at your wounds." She suggests, slowly climbing to her feet. "And I wouldn't mind a little help myself." The huntress says to the Abbot, while gesturing to the wound on her side. Though it'd been sewn up well enough, she feared it would fester. A wound inflicted by a demon likely carried some corruption in it.

She picked up her things and glanced back at the treeline, still nervous. Why weren't those beasts advancing? "But perhaps we should get everyone inside first? I don't trust this quiet."

[daelrog]

Carlize ignored the young boy. She was... disinterested in children, partly fro mnever having much of a childhood themslves, and always seeing them as a burden. She did not respond, and stole an unfriendly glance to the northerner when he spoke to her so casually.

Diana's words sounded far better in the paladin's ears, and she almost smiled at the woman. She gestured to the head cleric for them all to move inside. "Shall we?"

[Dienekes]

Gerric wince slightly when Carlize glare at her. Alright, not that friendly yet.

"Diana has the right of it, I'm nicked up a bit," he said as he raised the hand where his gauntlet was bitten off and then pointed to his leg and then his forehead. "Some wound cleaning would be much 'preciated."