It is early dawn in the Gray Forest and the patrol party is gathering up at the edge of the woods. Shard has been put in charge of this party. They all come together with the woods before them and an objective to go patrolling in front of them. So far everything seems perfectly normal.

Any reason to have her animal companions out and about for some exercise was a good reason for Signe Nightgold to be included in the patrol. Tempest, her wolf pup, was a little bit bigger than Atila, her husky. Tempest decided on taking lead and Atila, whether he cared or not, trotted along on the younger's heels. Both of their noses were close to the ground. Signe and her animal pair reaches the staging area for the patrol party. "I feel pretty prepared for this." She gave a pat to the fur line satchel that was hanging from a leather strap across her chest. "How far into the forests will be patroling?" She asked, a question for Shard apparently as she would be taking lead for this group.

Titania comes moving up to the group on a horse she has barrowed! her sword is strapped to her hip and her bow slung across her back, her helm is on at the moment so her face is h idden from view as the figure in red steel trots up and comes to a holt.

Shard arrived early, and is currently standing at the base of a tree, doing what appears to be a last minute count of the arrows in her quiver. Both of her blades are sheathed, and her bow, while it's slung loosely over one shoulder, has been newly, tightly strung. It's fairly clear she's either expecting trouble, or preparing for it. There's no animals in sight that seem to belong to her--it seems she's taking this one on foot as well. As Signe addresses her, she glances up, and for a moment she regards the shaman's two beasts with a certain amount of wariness. "A fair ways," is her response. "Are they combat trained? You may not want them along; when we've run into the Horned One's forces before, they've usually been corrupted. Sometimes they pass on sickness."

Sparte has his armor straight and his kit stocked for trouble, but isn't acting like he expects any. The staff he sometimes uses as a weapon is instead serving as a walking stick. No sign of a horse, or his own tiny animal companion. Sparte considers Shard for a few moments before giving her a respectful salute. "By your lead."

Signe nods at first, "Yes, they've been in combat before." She answered while settling a hand onto the fur satchel. The young shaman then looked to the others, faces she couldn't put a name to. "Signe Nightgold." The young woman offered in ways of introduction.

Titania moves to pull her helm up looking to them all, "Countess Titania Fireviper." she introduces herself to the group then looks to Sparte, "Sparte, it is good to see you." she smiles.

Shard regards Signe for a moment longer before she pulls back, and flicks a glance toward the other two. "Keep them close and quiet." She pushes away from the tree and tugs up on the hood of her cloak, pulling it over her head. "Which is basically my instruction for the rest of us. Close and quiet, and don't do anything stupid. If we run into more trouble than we can handle, we're not playing heroes over it. We can fall back and come back with more swords." She grunts. "Unless we have to, for some damn reason." And with that, she starts off, clearly expecting the others will follow.

Sparte smiles and nods to Titania. "Ah, right." Sparte glances over to Signe. "Sparte Fatchforth." Looking back to Titania, Sparte gives her a wink. "Good to see you too." Then he falls quiet and closes ranks as instructed.

Titania nods her head moving to hook her help to her horse turning it to move along after Shard her eyes already darting about as they start to move.

The party starts to travel through the forest and for the first few hours nothing much happens at all. There are woods all around them and rather normal looking trees and normal forest sounds. All seems good. It is about noon before anything seems different at all.

Signe checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

Shard checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Sparte checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Titania checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Sparte, Signe and Shard - You hear voices of people in the distance and sounds of foot falls like running. It seems to be a bit ahead though. It sounds loud enough to be a group.

Shard's teeth briefly flash. She gestures sharply to the side. "Get off the path," she hisses. "Quickly. Into the trees." She slips the bow from her shoulder, and fits an arrow lightly to the string as she moves to follow her own instructions. "No one do anything until we see who they are."

Shard wields a largely unremarkable rubicund longbow.

Sparte wields Knothole Stave.

Shard checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

"Stay close Tempest, Atila." Signe murmured to her companions before the patrol was ready to head out. For hours the two animals had kept their word, sniffing around the ground as the group continued. Both Tempest and Atila lifted a leg to mark different trees along the way, making sure others know they've been here. The further along the group travels there's some noise that gains her attention. Signe's canting her head, trying to hear the direction the foot falls a heading. Her eyes squint as though it may help. As Shard hissed a command, the shaman clicked her tongue to gain the attention of her companions and beckoned them to follow. Tempest was hesitant to follow the command but eventually he did with a wary eye in the direction of the runers.

Sparte checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 5 higher.

Signe checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 11 lower.

Signe's breaking every single branch on her way off the path.

Titania checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

It takes takes a few hours but eventually along the path comes running at first a child who looks to be about ten. He appears to be a Shav, given his dress and he seems to be running. The following after him is a woman holding a baby and she also seems to be running. She holds teh hands of a girl who looks about six. Behind them is a Shav man with a rusty looking sword who appears to be guarding their rear. One can easily hear that more are behnd them, but they are not seen yet. The mother is huffing and puffing for breath.

Sparte has dived into a bush where even the beavers wouldn't go, and is busy keeping his head down like Shard asked. He stays there, waiting to be called back out of hiding.

Signe's peering out not so steathly from around a tree as Tempest is crouched low near some underbrush as if waiting for the call to charge out and attack. She tries to whisper low enough for Shard to hear and hopefully not the running rusty shavs. "That can't be good..."

Shard shifts her grip, so that one hand is holding both bow and arrow for just long enough that she can hold the other one up to the others, palm up and out. The gesture's meaning should be clear, if they can see it: wait. She then renocks the arrow and leans out of her cover just enough to peer back the way the Abandoned group came. She'll wait until they've passed, at the very least, before she moves further.

Titania moves her and her horse into dense brush and lays low on the back of the land boat! Yes cause they are land boats and watches trying to remain quiet and still waiting for the motion for them to continue.

The woman looks toward Signe and Titania, apparently having had had spotted them. "People in the brush!" She says in Crownlands Shav to the man who has his sword drawn and looks in that direction. He seems more protective than intent on attack them though, almost waiting for them to pounce at him. "Keep Running." He says to his family, still in Shav.

Shard grits her teeth. "Keep running!" She calls to the man in Northlands Shav...perhaps by sheer coincidence, perhaps not. "Go!" And then, in Arvani, she starts pointing and giving instructions. "Sparte, can you take the other side of the path and find a hiding spot there? Signe, do you have any weapons? Titania, what do you have?"

Shard also points at the man, and in the direction his family (?) is going. She jabs that finger a few times, as if to make her intentions clear. /Go/.

Sparte checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Sparte rises up from his hiding place, with little prickly leaves stuck in his tunic. He pulls a few out, wincing as he does so. Out comes another, then another. He is more selective for his bush this time, picking one to hide in that isn't mostly made out of regret.

There was no use hiding from the runners now. Signe still remained where she was watching as the family went running. Answering Shard, she shook her head "No but..." Perhaps it was handy that she stepped on a few twigs on her way into hiding. Searching around her the shaman picked up a fallen tree branch then wielded it with one hand.

Signe wields Feelthorn, a 3ft long 'sword' made from tree branches.

Shard checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Titania shows Shard her sword and bow, she pulls her bow from her back and gets it ready, she is a long range attacker but can fight close range as well if needed.

The family continues to flee on foot, seemingly understanding Shard's words and Sparte's gestures well enough to continue and to realize they are going to be attacked by this party. Either that or they fear what is behind them more. The sounds of foot falls gets louder and louder until eventually one can see in the distance a party of about twelve adult Shavs. About ten of them are men and two are women. They all have steel weapons of some low quality.

Shard stares at Signe for a few moments, but there's simply no time. She ducks back into her previous hiding spot and half draws her bow. "Wait," she instructs the others. "If this is what it looks like, we slow them down at the very least. If we have to run, we lead them away from that bunch. It /could/ just be inter-tribal fighting."

Signe wielded her impromptu sword with pride against Shard's staring. She whispers to Tempest and Atila both to stay. Ducking back now after witnessing the larger party coming closer there was little else to do but wait. "Understood." She remarks in a hushed tone before looking to check where the other members of the patrol were: Sparte and Titania.

Titania wields Intricately forged ancient steel recurve bow.

Titania is hidden laying low on the back of the horse with her bow in hand nocked with a arrow ready to shoot when told.

Signe checked composure + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 24 higher.

Sparte checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Titania checked composure + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

The party of twelve continues past, running after the family. They don't seem to see those hidden in the brush. They are gaining ground. The father turns around, getting ready to face them while the mother and the kids keep fleeing.

The young shaman had enough sense to remain hidden unless it was absolutely necessary for her to jump out and fight. Should the other's attack Signe had two companions of the four legged variety all ready to assist, but for now she maintained her position.

Titania looks to Shard, "They have children, they are out numbered." she whispers a frown coming to her face.

Sparte quietly, shifts his grip on his staff so he can snap it out towards the ankle of one of the group running by. He doesn't do it yet, but is ready. Provided they decide to act before the group pass.

Shard's eyes narrow. She stands still for a few moments, studying the group as they approach, as they threaten to pass. And then she looks across to Sparte, swears under her breath, and steps right out of hiding, before the group can get between the patrol and the family. Her bow is fully drawn, but she doesn't fire it yet. "No," she says sharply in Northern Shav.

Titania:pulls her bow ready and waits letting it level on one of the woman in the group, she does not fire yet just watches.

One in the party looks over to Shard, a large redheaded man with a beard. "What?" He says, clearly surprised by their presence. "Show yourself. Who are you?"" He says and stops. Still six more continue after the family and one is close to reaching the husband. They will go blow for blow in mere moments.

Shard draws and fires rather than answer--her shot is not at any of the pursuing party, but rather at the spot of ground still between the husband and the six approaching him. Maybe she feels that is a clearer message than any words that they may or may not understand from her. "/No/," she says again, this time more of a snap, and in Arvani. "Titania, you have the horse." She repeats her next words in both Arvani and Northlands Shav. "The first person to touch that family dies. This is your /only/ warning."

Sparte straightens up from his hiding place. He doesn't say anything since he doesn't understand half of what is being said, just gestures to Shard with his free hand and gives an expression of encouragement towards listening to her.

Tempest, the shaggy wolf, slowly padded out from behind the underbrush with his head ducked a little and snarling under his breath. His eyes remain on the six, particularly the large redheaded man and moves to stand near Shard. Ready for the word as Atila remained behind with Signe.

Titania sits up on the horse walking it out onto the path and moves over to where the family that was running it. She moves the horse between the two men who are about to fight, she lowers her bow at the man who was attacing the family and motions for him to back off.

The man near the husband jumps back as the arrow lands and even the husband seems concerned by hit and steps back as well. He looks over to Shard, giving her a glare. "Get her!" He says in Norther Shav. About three of the other Shavs start to approach Shard with their weapons drawn. The large redheaded man starts to swing at the husband even as Signe's wolf approaches. He seems nervous, but still takes his swing or tries to anyways.

Reese GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Reese GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

The large redheaded Shav is able to hit the husband. Some of the shavs are going toward Shard and all are staying away from the wolf for right now.

Shard lets her actions speak for her. In a flash, she has another arrow nocked. She barely adjusts her aim before she draws back and fires again. This time, at the man attacking the husband, true to her word.

Shard checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher.

Signe GM Roll checked dex(3) + brawl(1) at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Sparte needs no further invitation, he rushes in - not to kill anyone, but to shield Shard from the shavs closing in to attack her while she is otherwise occupied.

The man cries out as the arrow hits. He is a big guy, but arrows still hurt! This does seem to give him pause. The husband is injured and bleeding but still alive! The three Shaves heading to Shard all try to attack her with their steel swords. The family is ahead and trying to stay out of combat rage. Tempest charges at one of the Shavs going for Shard, biting into his leg and keeping the man distracted.

Reese GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Reese GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Titania looks to the husband and points to his family, "I am going to help." she really needs to learn how to speak northland shav. She keeps herself and her horse between the family and the ones attacking she points her bow and lets a arrow fly to its target.

Sparte checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Sparte checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 37 higher.

Sparte is able to defend Shard and Tempest is too. The family doesn't seem to understand Titania's words, but they likely realize that they are being protected here. They seem happy to accept her protection.

Atila howled from the underbrush which had sprung Tempest into the fight. Signe uses the moment to follow the trees and stay hidden in order to approach the injured husband. Atila follows close on her heels. Once somewhat close to the husband she raises both hands then a finger, universal sign for wait a moment. A quick search through her satchel leads to a frown upon her features. Signe sets down her sword branch then tears off some fabric from the apron of her clothing into a some cloth strips that may help with the bleeding for now.

Titania checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 15 higher.

Shard uses Sparte's cover in order to duck past those attacking her, and sling her bow back over one shoulder, in favor of slipping both cutlass and red blade from their sheathes. She makes a break for the family as well, with a hissed, "Follow me," to Sparte. There's a hope that Tempest will follow...but he's not her pup, after all.

Shard wields Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass.

Sparte needs no further invitation. "You're the boss." He falls in line with Shard, giving a little whistle towards the dog in an attempt to grab their attention. Not his pup either though.

When the defense of Shard runs successful Tempest doesn't take his eyes off the men until noticing both two leggers are heading in a different direction. Slowly the wolf starts to walk backwards, not daring to turn around, on hearing Sparte's whistle. He's somewhat going in the same direction as they are.

Titania moves to nock another arrow and aims it at the attacking shav she already hit, she remains calm as she remains a barrier between the family and the attack group.

The family gathers up. The husband is injured, but it seems like he will live especially if he gets medical treatment. The attacking shavs seem to be stopped by the party, trying to treat if they can. The man with the arrow is clutching at stuff. The family it turns out where refugees trying to get into the compact who were being chased by hostile shaves they said wanted to sacrifice them in some rite. The details of such they don't seem to know. The party can either chase down the fleeing shaves or let them go.

1 Grayson Guardsmen have been dismissed.

Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle have been dismissed.

Deliverance, an albino falcon have been dismissed.

Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound have been dismissed.

Rascal, a hyper terrier have been dismissed.

Rosalie, a lady in waiting have been dismissed.

Tempest, Atila leave, following Signe.

2 Iron Guardsmen leaves, following Titania.