World War II - The Vanguard Issue #4a - All aboard the Odin!

Dru'ok shook his head. "Fool human! Or whatever you are!" he hissed before scampering into a tree!



Sentinel turned as three huge (7-10' high) creatures lumbered into the clearing!

"Just as they said there would be..." mumbled one.

"Where's the Elves?"

"Stuff that. Ooo brought the can opener? Brock me teef on th' last one."

"Shaddap moanin'. Food is food innit."

One of the trolls, the largest in the centre, stomped up to within 10m of Sentinel and looked down. "We know ow you knights work. You think yer well ard. Well, ere is ow its gonna work. We are gonna beat th' crap outta ya then eat ya."

The other two nodded in agreement.

Sentinel glanced up into the trees - Dru'ok and the others had bows nocked and ready to fire, but the arrows seemed pitifully small when compared to these creatures!

OOC Will it come down to a fight or does Sentinel have another plan?

"Ah but do other knights have this" said the young brit quickly raised both his hands then opened fire square into the nearest towering trolls face

"ARGHHHHH Stupeid hummie" it screamed clutching its grotesque face as the blinding white light from sentinels plasma blast burnt its retinas

OOC: quick blast first to see what damage it does. sentinel was itching for a fight its been too long

OOC Roll of [10,2,3,6] = (21), 4 points accuracy, 4 htc, 4htk damage (dividers reduced so it's all damage) Energy is 13/15 round 1 of 5. Initiative SS 2, Bad Guys 3. They move 1 frame towards the hero, who then has four frames to act...

Sentinel glanced at his fist then the ugly creature dashing towards him. It hadn't been his best aimed shot, but even so he was disconcerted about how little an effect he'd made! The Troll in question had slowed its step some, wiped its forehead where the blast had singed it, then carried on with the others rushing towards Silver Sentinel!

OOC They need 1 frame more to be in striking distance but you have four frames before that and 13 points of energy to call on unless you want to move a frame and get stuck in with fists. Your regular x5 damage blast (instead of a x2 Quick Blast) may have more effect, but these are BIG guys! The Elves are poised ready to open fire. You have four frames...

Sentinel took a few steps back pulling the three huge trolls deeper into the trap before unloading all of his mighty plasma attack at the first troll.

"Okay let them fly" he signaled with a gauntlet raised in the air.

Suddenly there was a black swarm of arrows humming through the air on there way to there targets eager to find there mark

OOC I'll assume two 5 point blasts, leaving you on 3/15 on round 2/5. Rolls... [10,7,3,6,-17] = (9) excellent shot, 45 damage (split 23htk, 22htc) [2,3,3,6,-17] = (-3) lousy shot, blasts a tree branch into smithereens somewhere in the forest!

Sentinel blasted a Troll into the air, causing it to crash down several metres behind on its backside and with a neatly smoking patch on its chest. It was wounded, though still up and looking very angry. Unfortunately his second shot was wild, and blasted straight up into the trees!

Acting on his order the air became alive with arrows which more or less turned the Trolls still running at Sentinel into pincushions! Unfortunately their attack was nowhere near as effective as the superheroes - the arrows, aside from making the Trolls look like hedgehogs, only seemed to annoy them!

Dru'ok leaned from the tree and waited, then fired an arrow into the eye of one of the trolls. Finally that got the things attention as it plucked the arrow free, eyeball and all, and staggered around in pain! That left one to swing at Frostbite!

OOC 2 attacks for these 3 frame creatures... [2,9,1,6,-17] = (1) hit, barely. +4htc, +1 htk, +10 from strength (to htk). Means 3htk, 1htc after dividers. [6,8,1,6,-17] = (4) slightly better, +7htc, +4 htk, +10 from strength (to htk) means 4htk, 2htc. Hardly anything to worry about...

CLANG!

KKKKLANG!

"HA HA HA! STOOPID HUMMMIE FERGOT TO... DUCK?" spluttered the Troll as it saw the 'Knight' stand there, barely a scratch on his armour!

The troll frowned and looked at the club. "SUM'THIN' WRONG WID DIS FING?"

OOC Initiative 1d10=6 Hero, 1d10=7 Bad Guy. The troll swings at Sentinel again... [4,9,1,6,-17] = (3) another hit, +6htc, +3htk, =10 htk from strength means 4htk, 2htc. In total Sentinel has taken 11htk (dropping him to 77/88htk) and 5htc (on 105/110htc). At that rate he could fight an army of these things, but he can't hang about - they may have a few more friends ... Silver Sentinel has 4 frames and only 3 energy left (on round 3/5). Of course he has his fists or the dark power to call on... over to you.

OOC: At long last that god forsaken tree branch is no more, never again will it mock me....that of course was my plan all along *cough*

IC: "Better break out the big guns" he grinned behind his ever sturdy suit of Armour trying to taught the trolls even more as if the frustration of there feeble attacks weren't enough then kissing his fists before charging in to clobber the next nearest troll.

The troll however only had a look of fear spread across his confused warty face

Silver Sentinel looked up at the towering creature. It was evil, stupid, a coward. It respected strength! Silver Sentinel would give it strength - and then some!

OOC [5,10,2,6,-17] = (6) hit, +6htc +15 (str)= 27htc [10,1,2,6,-17] = (2) hit +2htc +15=19htc [7,9,2,6,-17] = (7) hit +7 htc +15=29htc [7,4,2,6,-17] = (2) hit +2 htc +15=19htc. Total of 94htc, dividers of 2 reduce that to 47htc.

The huge creature, to its credit, stood firm against the pounding hits that shook leaves from trees nearby. The blows told though as blood smeared the creatures' face and its head snapped around before it dropped to a knee. Even then it didn't seem beaten, rising on unsteady legs before a kick to the head sent it down!

Sentinel was satisfied by the work - the Elves stopped firing, the Trolls looked on at their leader in the dust...

Then the leader started to recover! Before Sentinels' eyes he saw wounds close, the bruising around the eye start to reduce!

This thing was healing almost as fast as he could hit it!

"Burn it!" shouted Dru'ok. "That is the only way to kill it!"

The Troll looked up, wiping the smear of green blood from its face and grinned with broken, yellow teeth. "ELFIE IS RIGHT Y'KNOW. I AIN'T GONNA STOP, AN' IF YOU GOT NO FIRE, I'M GONNA MASH YOU INTA TH' FLOOR!" it rasped, rising on wobbly legs and grubbing about in the mud for its club. It was in no fit state to attack Sentinel now, but in a few moments?

'The creature respects strength. Show it your TRUE strength, and the others will fall into line, perhaps even follow you!' said the Dark power inside.

The Troll looked ready to continue the fight in a few moments!

OOC: Dam i wasn't sure if it would regen or not....blast

IC:"What do you mean true strength, what do you suggest?" he replied out loud as he watched in horror at the trolls wounds dissolving before his very eyes.

"UH HUE YOU TALKIN TOO TIN MANN" answered one of the trolls scratching its flaky scalp

OOC: What did Drizzt do again when he was faced with trolls i cant remember, set fire to the ground on top of a bank or something.......i dont really want to set fire to the whole forest and there is no metal to restrain them. Would trolls really follow me i know they are stupid but they could never learn to be good, can they?

They are cowards, bully's. You need to dominate them, show them our...your full potential

"All right" sentinel said with a clenched fist "but only to get them to back down so they never harm another good soul again"

With a rush of brilliant white light which congregated and funneled into silver sentinel eyes as he embraced the dark shadows power.
Sentinel bound into the air with such speed it look as if a hundred blurred copies of himself had torn away from his soul, spiraling towards the nearest troll sentinel found a barbed flaming sword in his right hand....he didn't even have time to question were it came from, if it was an extension of his Armour or what. The amber weapon pierced through the trolls abdomen followed by sentinel as he emerged through the other side there was a shower of embers as sentinels thrusters spluttered allowing him to land as he carved chucks out of the ground as he slowed his jog into a walk all the while still clutching the wondrous long sword whos blade was as wide as head. Just before a very shocked looking troll gasped at his meter flaming hole in his chest as he toppled to the ground knocking the surrounding leaves into the air.

OOC: Of course you can pick any dark power you can see fit

OOC will assume you go for 8 points to stay on the safe side but keep hero points handy... [7,8,12] = (27) Silver Sentinel [4,8,8] = (20) Dark power [5,1,4,9,6,9,8,8] = (50) Dark Power Points. No problems. He manifests his dark power as a bright white fire 'soul blade' that sucks the life from his foes... Will assume you spend all 50 points on a blast that does x6 damage, -5 dividers and WC6 doing Htk damage. Solid hit with [7,6,6,6,-17] = ( 8 ) 48htk damage, and you get 24 Dark power points back. With another action you can boost energy blast to grade 2 with high power (x8) as the bonus. Then blast another troll 2d10+3+6-17=7 solid hit, 28htk, 28htc dividers -2.

Sentinel thrust a sword blade through a Troll, leaving it staggering back, then blasted another squarely in the chest! The Elves looked on, incredulous. They knew the Outlander was powerful, but this defied belief! The trolls were fearsome foes - the Elves had seen a dozen or so wade through hundreds of troops without breaking sweat, their strength and power coupled with their ability to heal from wounds almost instantly made them nigh on unstoppable! Dru'ok remembered a human force that had taken the trolls on with oil and fire, and the screams as human warriors ran from the fight, hair and clothing alight as the Trolls flattened all who came close with their deadly clubs!

Now he looked down in the clearing at the dazed trolls. They weren't dead, but they'd been completely, utterly, humbled and the Warrior facing them blazed with a kind of dark fire, his eyes burning red!

Wary, the Elf dropped from the tree and his men joined him. They glanced at the trolls who seemed fearful of the man and reluctant to make any sudden moves, then moved to stand near the warrior. "Who are you?" asked Dru'ok. He looked at the beaten trolls. "WHAT are you?"

"HIM MASTER." groaned an injured Troll. "WE NO FIGHT NO MORE. ME FOLLOW. OTHER TROLL FOLLOW. HIM BAD POWER, TOO 'ARD TO SCRAP WITH. HIM BE BIG BAD BOSS. JUST DON'T KILL US. WE YOUR LADS NOW."

Dru'ok turned, then looked back at Silver Sentinel. "A.. Astonishing... I don't know... what... ?" he was flabbergasted. "I... I will follow you too..." he said, then dropped to one knee! The others followed suit. The Trolls looked confused by this, and sat in stupefaction as they tried to figure out how to only bend one knee, and not both at the same time...

'That's more like it mortal!' rasped the dark power. 'Build your legend from power and fear! Your enemies use fear, but you MASTER fear! These creatures understand that, but you can never let up the charade! You must be their master ! Decisive, powerful, merciless! And they will follow you!'

OOC You have the seeds of an army. The Trolls have promised more of them will follow you, should you want them...?

"Good we will need your might. Go spread the word to your kin so they mite follow suit, I have a feeling we'll need you soon so be ready to prove your selfs to me. Now GO" sentinel pointed

As the trolls stomped off into the thicket like stroppy teenagers he them turned to Dru'ok
"Okay I know its crazy but unfortunately we need them, send them in to soak up some damage and divert it away from ourselves.....and besides they seem to dumb to betray us."

"If you think it is wise sir knight, now we must hurry we have lost much time"

"Quite right, lead on" answered sentinel who was starting to question his decision about the new allies and he still wasnt sure on the plan......if they was one. Maybe fight fire with fire or in this case evil with evil and maybe rid the world of both.

Dru'ok chuckled and shook his head. "Onwards!" he declared. He turned to his Rangers who stared, astonished, at Silver Sentinel. "Well? We have a trail to find!"

=========

With the rain coming down the trail was harder to follow...

For much of the day the group had been frustrated. They followed foes with as much skill and more cunning than they, and had to be sure they followed the correct trail and not some false trail left for them. Several times the trail vanished only for a Ranger to call that the group had taken to the trees. Their speed was astonishing!

"We have to stop for a rest." sighed Dru'ok. "As do they. We have followed them with a punishing pace and yet no sign that we get closer. Now this." he said, frowning at the weather. "You might even believe that the gods themselves test our resolve!"

"Dru'ok!" hissed another ranger.

It was particularly dark and gloomy in this part of the forest, overcome with vines and lichen, moss growing over everything and the rail tumbling from leaves above. The sky was barely visible through the thick canopy which did prove some shelter against the fierce rain and wind.

The Ranger turned, then stiffened. He groaned, and Sentinel looked on in alarm as the Rangers, to a man, fell to their knees, nerveless fingers dropping weapons, chattering teeth clacking away. Dru'ok turned to Sentinel and stammered "R... RUN!"

Then Sentinel felt it. A cold, creeping up his spine! He felt terrified! fear shot through him, and his knees quivered!

Then the forest around fell deathly silent, save for the whimpering of the men around him. Sentinel ground his teeth and through a sheer effort of will, stood, only to gasp as a dark figure came through the trees, mist and stink of evil coiling around it...





The Creature pulled up its sword and looked about, finding a target. Sentinel felt so helpless! He was genuinely quaking in fear!

OOC But he can try and break free of the fear effect anyway. [8,2,12] = (22) Silver Sentinel [1,9,18] = (28) Morrigans Death Wraith. Use a hero point to try to break free? Or see what happens next?

OOC: Very nice pic, friendly looking chap....dont suppose hes just lonely and wants a chat or a hug?
I'll go for the hero point to try to reset the fear check. How close is sentinel to the cloaked figure? I'll see what the mystery man does next but be on my guard and ready sentinels plasma blast (full force) if he trys anything funny.

IC: Sentinel felt utter despair, the forest was now so dark and cold to him. Trying to shrug of the feeling of helplessness and steady his knocking nees (literally)

"DDDont suppose we could talk about this?" sentinel tried to calmly say in his normal joking manner in an attempt to raise the spirits of the rangers and show them he wasnt scared, which seem to have failed

Struggling against the fear effect Silver Sentinel watched the dark figure flow over the ground, moving quickly, efficiently, silently. Without a word he slammed the great sword through the chest of a ranger, causing the man to drop without a sound - or a wound! next he scythed the blade in an arc, and the blade seemed to lengthen! With one stroke he beheaded three more Rangers, again without sign of blood! The wounds were simply blackened stumps!

Silver Sentinel cried out in rage!

OOC [4,9] = (13) for the hero point. You break free of the fear effect

He rose to his feet and fired energy at the evil foe!

OOC [4,2,3,6,-17] = (-2) Miss 10/15 energy remaining. Sentinel has 2 frames then its initiative time. This guy is 5m away and about to start chopping more heads - including Dru'oks, off! There are 4 rangers dead.

Though his beam flashed past the dark figure, Sentinel felt sure the next would strike! He readied himself for the fight of his life!

OOC: Im guessing the other rangers are paralyzed by fear, if not before bet they are now, and can not move? If that is the case sentinel needs to get them out of there. How many rangers are left? If there are too many to fly out of the range of this wraith he'll do what he can to stop or delay him by standing between the elfs and the wraith, then attempt to blast it again (full force with any hero points i may have left) because i get the feeling this thing is relentless and will never stop until we are all dead. Sentinel will even lay down his life to protect the good people of the wood..........unless the trolls feel like coming back. Hold on the dark power until I know more

IC: "GET DOWN" Sentinel screamed to the remaining rangers as he leaped in front of the rangers trying to push them out of harms way.

OOC It was a sizeable group of around 20 rangers, now 16. Initiative time... this could be critical... 1d10=3 Heroes, 1d10=9 Bad guy. And it is! The creature moves one frame and scythes with the dreadful dark blade twice...

Sentinel reaches out an arm shouting "NO!" as he sees Dru'oks head topple from his shoulders! The blade pulls back, then jams through another Elven Ranger, picking him up and pulling back, then casting him as one would a fishing rod! The lifeless body tumbles through the trees, crashing through the canopy to crumple as a heap at the base of a tree somewhere in the forest!

Silver Sentinel looked at the lifeless face of the lead Ranger, staring at him as if questioning his choices...

=========

"You eer that?"

A troll looked to another. "That th' knew boss? What's im sayin' no for? An' so loud? Wake the bloody dead like that ee will!"

Another troll shrugged. "Best get the lads together then. You lot ain't gettin' all the glory this time though. We got a new boss man, an I reckon we needs ta impress 'im."

"All of the lads?"

A shrug then "Why not?"

The sound of a bone horn rang out through the woods...

=========

Sentinel glanced about... the sound of a horn being blown echoed through the otherwise silent forest!

He raised an arm, took aim, and fired!

OOC I assume you want to kick some ass and take names, so use a hero point with each energy blast. Your current Hero Point total is now 9. [7,8,3,6,-17] = (7) HIT plus Hero point for [10,1] = (11). 18 accuracy, x5 equals 80 damage, split 40/40 and dividers reduced. The bad guys dividers are dropped to 2/2 and he takes 20 damage to htk/htc. He's thrown backwards to crash in a heap in the leaves!

Sentinel was angry now and blasted again at the prone foe!

OOC [10,6,3,6,-17] = (8) HIT plus [10,6] = (16) from the hero point. 24 Accuracy, meaning 120 damage from the blast! 60 damage reduced to 30htk, 30htc. The creature has taken 50 damage to htk and htc. It's round 2/5 and Sentinel is on 0/15 energy. The creature uses its last frame to get to its feet, robes smouldering. It doesn't look happy! Initiative [4] = (4) Hero [10] = (10) bad guy. 3 frames. The creature uses 2 frames to stride over and slams its sword in Sentinels gut! Attack in one frame is WC3, up to +18htk and x3 multiplier (HTK damage only) and reduces dividers by 2. (in 2 frames its WC4, x5 multiplier and -3DD) Nasty stuff. No wonder it finished the Elves off with but a swipe! [10,3,3,6,-17] = (5) HIT +5htk multiplied by 3 for 30htk. After dividers Sentinel takes 15htk dropping him from 88 to 73/88 Htk. Your 4 frames.

Sentinel staggered as the sword smacked against him, but though he felt his limbs stiffen with the impact, his armour held, unlike that of the hapless Elves! They gaped, even as they lie terrified and unable to move! This dark creature of legend could not be fought, reasoned with or stopped! It was relentless, indestructible and without mercy - yet here it was, being slowed by the gallant outlander in outlandish armour!

OOC your four frames. You have no energy blast left. It's in swinging distance. There are 14 rangers left, and Dru'ok is dead.

OOC: God dam it, I tryed to save them. Now Im in spanking distance its klobbering time, better finish him before he gets to the rest or heads will roll *cough*

IC: " Get out of hear you fools" (OOC: do they have saving rolls against fear?) sentinel said leaping towards the wraith assisted by his trusters, attempting to grab the spectral fiends weapon and throwing it into the thicket then repeatedly punching it in the dark space under its hood as it was pinned due to the shock if silver sentinels spring attack

OOC: Prob not possible but sounds cool, using all remaining hero points because this guy needs to go down. I guess it would be in d&d terms a bull rush followed by a disarm/grapple then a ass kicking

The rangers try to rise, but without superhuman strength of will (As Silver Sentinel had) they were powerless! With limbs like lead and muscles like water they remained where they lie, waiting for death!

OOC I'll assume you bang a hero point on each fist attack then. [6,9,2,6,-17] = (6) HIT +6htc + 15htc (str) PLUS [4,1] = (5) from hero point (lousy roll!) means +10 extra damage. 37htc/4 = 9htc. Creature has taken 50htk, 59htc. [3,2,2,6,-17] = (-4) MISS but a hero point [2,3] = (5) adds to make it a hit. 17htc /4 = 4htc. Creature has taken 63htc. [2,4,2,6,-17] = (-3) MISS plus hero point [1,5] = (6) means hit for 3 accuracy, 21htc/4=5htc, creature has taken 68htc. [1,10,2,6,-17] = (2) HIT plus [1,1] = (2) from the hero point. The double 1in this case is a fumble. I'll roll 2d10 and subtract 2d10=7 making it a miss. Dreadful rolls unfortunately, sorry. That leaves you on 5 Hero points and in big, big trouble... all down to the dice

The creature rocked as blow after blow struck home save for the last, where Sentinel stumbled and swung at air! The creature seemed to laugh, then it's voice faded. It pulled back the horrendous sword it wielded!

OOC 1 frame for the bad guy then initiative. [3,10,3,6,-17] = (5) HIT +5htk for 30htk, reduced to 15htk from dividers and dropping Sentinel to 58/88htk. Initiative. [2] = (2) Sentinel [7] = (7) Bad guy. 3 frames to bad guy. Same again with attacks... [2,5,3,6,-17] = (-1) MISS [3,3,3,6,-17] = (-2) MISS but it's a double... plus [8,4] = (12) for 10 accuracy, +10htk x3 = 60htk, dropped to 30 from dividers. That puts Sentinel on 28/88htk. [9,5,3,6,-17] = (6) HIT +6htk, 36htk reduced to 18htk after dividers. Silver Sentinel is on 10htk. One more point and he's hospitalised! He can still operate but the way things are going, the last attack from this thing will kill Silver Sentinel in this round unless he does something!

The creature savaged Silver Sentinel with the deadly magic sword! His armour saved his life, though even it struggled to stop the deadly soul blade from freezing him to the core! Sentinel stumbled, unbloodied but feeling like he was at deaths door, a horrible sinking feeling as he stared into the abyss!

For once, even the Dark Power was muted. 'You face a dark foe, one who was in life a mighty warlord now corrupted to serve an evil power. Whilst I respect that, I cannot allow you to perish, mortal! If you cannot save yourself, I WILL!!!!'

Sentinel felt physically sick as he stumbled about. He felt the Dark power surging upwards to take control of his body, and quelled it with the last vestiges of his will! His vision darkened around the edges, and the dark foe towered over him, pulling its sword back for the final, fateful blow!

OOC you have four frames, then the creature takes its last attack. Having burnt through so many hero points in the last round, I was loathe to burn through more to soak up damage, but you may need to. Each hero point you spend reduces damage by 2d10 htk. With only 5 left you may want to consider discretion as the better part of valour. This foe is hurt, for sure, but once it's finished Sentinel off it will carve the Rangers up and go lick its wounds. It's Sentinels toughest fight against his most powerful foe. We're in the final seconds of the final round for this battle, and the bad guy is ahead on points, having clawed back some ground in the 11th round. Your trainer throws water in your face, tells you to suck it up and offer up one last colossal effort, and see which way it falls. The crowd is roaring. The lights are blinding, the referee leans in to ask something, but you can't hear. Then he goes back to the ring centre and nods at the time keeper. The bell rings! DING DING! 4 frames to Sentinel. Over to you.

Knocked for six sentinel felt more than winded

'If you feel like steping in, now would be a good time' sentinel asked the dark prince with a most desperate tone as he looked over to the remaining rangers knowing whatever happened next would be crucial to there very exsistance

OOC: Can u tell me how close is he to popping his cloggs? If sentinel feels like the wraith is close he with try to batter him again (pride comes before the fall) if not i feel he would embrace the dark power....although sentinel knows hes used it quite recently and knows there could be heavy concenquences. Is there anyway i could melt his magic sword before he can attack me again?

OOC Yes there is a way you can melt his magic sword, you just haven't tried it yet

Desperate, and feeling the Dark power swell in his mind, Sentinel instead reached out with his strange metal morphing power!

He felt the strange metal blade of the weapon that passed ghostlike through flesh but left the soul singed and scarred, and knew that unlike normal metals, any change he could affect would be temporary at best...

Nonetheless he thrust a hand out, then saw the metal of the sword twist and morph, ooze like wax and become a useless club! The Dark Creature seemed astonished, lifting the sword to eye level and squinting at it! It bellowed its rage, then snarled its rage at Silver Sentinel!

OOC The Dark creature is close to 'popping his clogs' but you've disabled its weapon - for now. How long that lasts before the magic enchantment restores the shape of the sword is unknown, but you have 2 frames left to act and the body language of the creature suggests that it is confounded. It may attack physically, or leave, you don't know yet. 2 frames left this round....

OOC: Sod it im getting it there quick before he/it reacts

IC: "Not so tough now aye old boy" sentinel quipped as he dived at the wraith as before, never did he think his days of rugger would be so useful or did he ever dream of tackling a spectral cloaked figure with a five foot sword.

Once again the tin mans right fist found its way battering the empty void under the wraiths hood and as the figure was still in brief shock sentinel attempted to finish the job he started on the wraiths sword, melting it around the well aged spiked gauntlet of the dark wraith with his left hand

OOC two punches... [10,10,2,6,-17] = (11) HIT, DOUBLE [4,5,2,6,-17] = (0) second attack missed. Seeing as that's double 10 and you don't see it very often, I'll knock an extra divider off the bad guy. Extra roll is 2d10 → [7,10] = (17). Very good! 28 accuracy, +12htc +15htc = 55htc. Moving the story on to it's logical conclusion at this point...

Fueled by rage, Silver Sentinel connected with one of the best punches he'd ever thrown! The creature flew across the clearing, smashed against a tree and... disappeared! He was sure he'd not killed it. Rather, he'd probably banished it to whatever hell it came from to lick its wounds. All around, Rangers came to their senses and started to get to their feet.

All save a few, Dru'ok included. With a sigh Sentinel started to scoop away at the soft earth to dig a grave, and was joined by the Rangers.

The battle was over, the war far from won.

And as usual, the cost was too much to pay...

=========

Half an hour later having said and made their peace, the group moved on through the forest...

Sentinel was in low spirits. They'd chased the Dark Rangers through the forest for what must have been hours, and followed so many false trails it was starting to become clear that they'd never find... He paused that thought as a Ranger up ahead signalled a halt!

Creeping through the trees, Sentinel saw a small fire built against a rock to reflect heat. Near the fire, bound, gagged and bruised, though otherwise none the worse for her ordeal, was Elesieth! There were only three dark rangers, cruel eyes staring away from the fire into the darkness of the forest, in the clearing!

Not in the mood for chatting, Sentinel strode out, despite the protestations of the Rangers with him! As they emerged from the trees half a dozen Dark Rangers dropped from the trees, surrounding the large group with bows drawn!

Sentinel growled, flexed his fists, and made ready for a fight. The look of hope in Elesieths eyes was tempered by fear!

"It's alright." said Sentinel, across the clearing. "I saw to that... that thing... The shadow warrior with the great sword." He self consciously rubbed his wounds and realised that at any point a single arrow that managed to penetrate his armour would probably kill him! Suddenly Silver Sentinel cursed himself for a fool! He was powerful enough to take these guys - normally - but the battering he'd just taken meant that a child with a stick could probably finish him off! Would it all end like this? Less of going out with a bang, and more a whimper?

He steeled himself to make one last effort... "You lot better surrender! I took care of that other..." His voice trailed off as dark shapes gathered at the edge of the trees... Silver Sentinels' heart sunk!

Just one of those things had nearly killed him! And now? There were... Dozens! With a groan he wondered if he'd have time to call on the dark power for a last time, until he heard a voice like metal scraping over gravel.

"Eeer Bob. Them darkies got th' new boss surrounded. You wanna watch what happens when ee knocks 'em about or get stuck in?"

"Am ungry George. If boss thinks ees avvin all fun imself, got another fink comin! GET EM LADS!"

Dozens of trolls sprinted from the trees!

Sentinels rangers spun about, reaching for weapons, but they were too numerous, too fast! Their best bet was hit the floor and hope the end came soon! Silver Sentinel held his breath, but the trolls thundered past him, some with Dark Elf ranger arrows jutting from them but not slowing them in any way!

The battle was short and messy. The biggest problem appeared to be the spoils - who was eating what part of the Dark Elves because this bit was stringy, or that one didn't have much meat on him... Sentinel was careful to retrieve Elesieth, and she sank gratefully into his arms, sobbing quietly...

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A couple of hours later Silver Sentinel saw the city of Caradul in the distance...

There was a reception committee, but Sentinel wasn't surprised. It comprised of a group of crimson clad knights, warriors on horseback led by a noble plate clad knight, normal town guards wearing leather and carrying halberds, and, rather worryingly, a large dragon.

Besides Sentinel, Elesieth and the surviving rangers, Sentinel led an army of hundreds of trolls! They streamed from the forest behind him, mostly in an orderly fashion though fights broke out here and there. After turning up in the forest, the three trolls whom Sentinel had beaten had explained that they were chieftains of troll tribes, and that they'd decided to throw their lot in with Silver Sentinel seeing as he was a) ard as nails and b) that there would be lots of killin' fightin' and eatin' involved when he went up against Morrigan. Sentinel hadn't been in much of a shape to turn down their offer!

Now he'd arrived at the city, and it looked like there'd be another fight!

"The Queen!" someone shouted.

Despite being covered in muck and mud, someone recognised the Queen, and the confused warriors gathering outside the city sank to their knees, all bar the Dragon and the Crimson Knights.

Just then Frostbite flew over the Castle walls having heard of an army making to invade, and he looked down to see a very battered looking Silver Sentinel, much depleted Elven Ranger troupe and a dishevelled, slightly frayed around the edges but still regal Elesieth. Oh, and an army of what looked to be hundreds of trolls, each unique in appearance and mannerisms!

OOC A final post from both of you and we'll wrap this issue up to start another - the forces of good (albeit not exactly 'white knights', more a muddy shade of grey) take on the mighty forces of evil (most definitely a very dark shade of black!)

Admin wrote:Just then Frostbite flew over the Castle walls having heard of an army making to invade, and he looked down to see a very battered looking Silver Sentinel, much depleted Elven Ranger troupe and a dishevelled, slightly frayed around the edges but still regal Elesieth. Oh, and an army of what looked to be hundreds of trolls, each unique in appearance and mannerisms!

OOC A final post from both of you and we'll wrap this issue up to start another - the forces of good (albeit not exactly 'white knights', more a muddy shade of grey) take on the mighty forces of evil (most definitely a very dark shade of black!)

Overjoyed at the sight of his friend, his heart nearly skipped a beat when he saw Elsieth. As he flew down he aimed for Sentinel, giving him a hearty welcome. But even then he saw how the young hero had clearly not had an easy time. His eyes look haunted and he was generally looking a bit beaten.

Frostbite mumbled some quick words about talking later, before steeling himself to greet Elsieth. He wasn't sure what to say nor what to do with the feelings he'd found he got. What would Abbie say, although to be fair their relationship was more off than on. Before he could get any words out, and being unsure as to what the proper decorum would be in front of his troops and her people, she simply grabbed him in a fierce embrace. Slightly taken aback, Frostbite nonetheless didn't resist and slowly, if somewhat awkwardly returning the embrace as she sought to steel herself in front of her people. She was strong, but she'd been through an ordeal. Frostbite understood this and so breaking off the embrace, took her hand and gentle lead her and the troops into the Dukes castle, wondering if they could get enough food to satisfy the trolls, so they didn't start terrorising the city.

OOC: Didn't want to turn this into Mills and Boon but am aware that Elsieth and Frostbite have had a thing sort of going on, but not as it were. So decided in the circumstances to loose a bit of decorum.

I think there is an element of tragedy about their relationship, since Joe only has possession of Joseph's body in this land. Perhaps therefore he'll only truly be himself again in this place, but that and the fact he belongs to a different place and time, means that there may well always be a bitter sweet element to their relationship - such as it is.


Sj

He steeled himself to make one last effort... "You lot better surrender! I took care of that other..." His voice trailed off as dark shapes gathered at the edge of the trees... Silver Sentinels' heart sunk!

Just one of those things had nearly killed him! And now? There were... Dozens!

OOC: Too bloody right his heart would of sunk. Wonder would the Queen made of the troll Calvary, bet she was more scared off them and there bloody mess.

IC: Sentinel just stood at the back of the mob as the heroes were welcomed back from their triumph victory but to Steve Jenson where was the victory? It the quarterised stumps of the wood elf's that still haunted him? Dark times indeed. Once again he had been put back in his place just as he though the vanguard where the greatest power in the universe he had been given a 'gental' reminder