The Family that stands together…

“What are we to do then?” Asks Sancho. "The bandit’s will surely return again and I doubt that they will be fooled a third time.”
Mendez finds himself forced to think for once. “Go tell Father, all our brothers and Uncle Mendoza. If they come back, they’ll find us waiting for them.”
Sancho and Tao run off, leaving Mendez alone with Zia for the first time since his return.
Eyes still down, she speaks. “I am truly sorry. I know I owe you everything, but I was lonely and Sancho showed me nothing but kindness.”
Mendez takes Zia’s hand. “The first thing I did when you were given to me was to free you. I can hardly complain about you making your own choices.”

A Jump back in Time

The misshapen giant glares up at the flying warrior twenty feet above him.
Both heads howling in rage and frustration, it takes a few giant steps back and striding forward, it leaps into the air. Twisting around it lashes out simultaneously with it’s two Dwarven War axes. One slashes wildly, but the other one connects. Beneath it’s twin helmets, smiles spread across both it’s faces. Another foe dead.
It’s roar of triumph quickly turns into an cry of anguish though as it crashes back to earth. Seriously injured and under attack by the human’s allies, it flounders back through the huge avery doors and kicks them shut.

(Assif, retrospectively but rightly, questioned my poor application of the ‘jump’ rules. I reconsidered the action and although just about able to justify it, I did have to push the rules a bit. Imagine this encounter being directed by John Woo.)

Thesis - All cut up

In the split second before the whirling blade sliced through his torso Thesis had the distinct idea that maybe he should be at home with his feet up and a large tankard of ale in his hands. Luck, Kord, Gambling Chance - these were the things that drove Thesis. He would always act with his sword arm first and head last. Usually things worked out OK, but this time his instinct was wrong and he would pay for his chaotic nature with his life.

Now his immortal soul was hovering just a few feet from where he was when the axe blow struck looking way down at his mangled body, silent as the magical armour that gave him a little too much confidence. But for some reason he wasn't called away yet to the astral and the life that was not life. He felt there was more to do yet and maybe his mission on mortal earth wasn't quite over yet.

He could see Eolar and Elogyn just reaching the castle and he wished that he could do something to help them. They would need all the help they could get. Especially if another of those beasts came out of the other tower ...

Close to the Gods

The mist just cleared in front of them and Eolar suddenly could see the structure in the distance. The sun was just setting behind the fortified church giving it a mystic aura of orange light. It was breathtaking. High up the mountain he would be close to St.Cuthbert!

The plan was simple. With this group of battle-hardened fighters it should be no problem to take the church in no time. After preparing for battle they started to jog up the mountain. He could see Thesis, Durin and Bodush vanish and smiled. He knew they are on their way to the building to be able to attack from inside as soon as the others reached the fortifications. They just made it one third of the way when the arrows started to come towards them. As if this could stop them! Dodging a few they continued uphill.

They just made it half way when Eolar saw a fireball explode inside. Something must have gone wrong. The plan had been simple and clear! They should wait for the remaining people to arrive before giving away their presence! Chen and Wer already started to run full speed. Eolar could hear Elogyn breathing hard next to him and also started to speed up.

The next seconds he could see the amount of arrows dwindling and the noise of fighting now could be heard from inside the walls. He could just make out Durin and Thesis flying up and down above the towers, engaged in battle. By the explosions from inside he could guess where Bodush was. What had gone wrong? Were the defenders able to purge invisibility? Did they have powerful clerics or sorcerers? Running on, he went through the list of spells he had prepared last night. Elogyn was close to exhaustion next to him.

Wer and Chen had reached the building and a snow storm broke lose above one of the towers. He tried to run faster! Just a few more feet.....

Oh my God, they Killed Thesis!

While flying, Thesis looks down at the monstrous, two headed giant, twenty feet below him. Hesitating for a moment, Thesis realises his mistake just too late.
Despite it’s full plate armour, the enormous creature leaps up at him. One massive axe cuts through nothing but air, but the second slices the impetuous Thesis from shoulder to groin.
Thesis is dead long before he hits the ground.

If you want a House Cased Properly

Not trusting any of his remaining bandits enough to get the job done, Baba goes and looks for himself. By asking the right questions and bribing the right people, Baba finds the mansion. Once there, he takes his time and memorises every detail. Every vine and every shutter. He will not forget the exterior of Mendez’s family home.

A Song for all Reasons

Miles further on, high up in the mountaintop fortress, a heavily robed priestess hears the wailing song.
“Raise the alarm!” she shrieks. “The Harpy’s are being attacked!”
Several non-human creatures rush in and a small, chalk skinned one with bulging eyes and wild hair whispers, “Do you think they got past them?”