He chuckled softly as he stepped out of the trees. "I must be slipping in my old age," he joked. "I even brought a friend," he waved Toorc forward.

 

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Toorc stepped out from concealment, showing a far more wrinkled and care-worn face than any recalled. His posture was bent slightly and his movements more wooden than they had been a few months back. He walked over to Crispian and embraced him, and then Azaeli, and gave a firm salute to all he rest of the assembled company.

"Well I couldn't stay away for ever!" he said "Not when such good friends are calling me back home. Though Ayslyn has been a most thoughtful host..." he was interrupted by the need to cough violently, stooping slightly, but putting up a hand to show he was alright.

"Alas that these are not better days, but, thanks to this viper," he gestured at Arcalan, "our reunion is hasty. But all of this evil one's power is concentrated here now, no longer will he threaten us from far off, for we will end his existance once and for all." he turned to catch the eye of Ayslyn.


"We've come back to you now... to turn the tide" he smiled.

((LOL Blast those simultaneous posts!))

Crispian nodded his head to his mentor and friend. "Master Toorc, it is good to see you again," he said with a note of solemnity. He had feared the old Theurgist dead, and had oft times wanted for his advice. "Ayslyn! You show up at the oddest times. I wish there were more time for social graces, but I fear we must make haste and be to horse. We should ride directly for Barfog I think."


He looked at friends and family gathered here. Would all survive the day? He did not know. "And make peace with our God before we do."

 

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Ho Ho Ho /bump!


Merry Christmas!

/poke Arc..


<bites her fingernails nervously>

Their prayers said over them by Father Tobyas and Friar Yardo, the grim band mounted their horses and made for Llyn Barfog. As they rode Azaeli's heart was lifted by an old hymn that was struck up from the rear of the riders. Glancing back she was amazed to find it was neither Yardo nor Tobyas singing that beatiful old praise, but the pale and shakey Ceowyr, silent until now. His deep tones were joined by a few others as they took up that fine hymn, praising God and his sacrifice for mankind.


As they thunderd through the long valley that led to the mouth of brafog they reflected on the last year, it's troubles and it's highlights. They wondered if this battle would be their last, and if it was, would it be the last resistance for the world? For who but this band would know how best to confront this terrible being? If they perished, who then would send out word to gather forces against Astaroth's coming?


Riding to within sight of the guard tower they suddenly felt some strange presence around them, as though the very stone of the tower were watching their movements.


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Astaroth knew they were near, and began his spell. How foolish, she would ride the very power he desired right into his gaping maw. They could not hope to stand against his wrath, and would strengthen him beyond measure by returning to him his servant.

The massive arcanium clad arms gestured towards the sky. Red mist flowed from his hands and into the air, then a hundred red lances of enegry pierce towards the ground, sowing it with his arcane might.


The earth rumbled and heaved as his spell flew out to the four compass points, gathering everything to him.

Plants died as the energy swept past them, and dogs and infants cried out as their life was stolen from them. The people in the village wept and wailed at this terror, and found their own limbs enfeebled and their breath hard to draw.


Astaroth felt the beginnings of the spell, drawing the life enegry of the whole of this region to him gradually. Soon he would have enough energy to suck out the very souls of Albion, and then the world, should he so desire it. Power coursed through every inch of the Vessel. But this was no mere act of mass destruction. He was waiting for the spell to reach one life in particular.. she was riding into it.


In the tower his constructs saw their approach and he knew of it instantly. He would wait for her to come into his range, then devour her whole. In the meantime they would thin out her company.


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A shadow fell across the riders as Ayslyn caught the movement on the hillside with his eye. Toorc's staff was held aloft, and the sky was covered by a shimmering brown haze, the power of the earth forming around them. The first boulder that had been sailing through the air bounced off of the bladeturn, but it was clear that had extracted no small effort from Toorc.

Again from a spot unseen a boulder launched skywards, this time from the other side of the valley. Crispian turned his horse wildly, looking decidedly uneasy in the saddle. A moment later the rock smashed the ground where he had been, sending dust and debris flying and panicing his mount.


*********


In the tower the construct watched the riders, his two much larger counterparts, Arcanum Simulacrums, or Juggernaughts as they were called, hurled boulders from behind cover. The smaller Construct spotted for them, pinpointing the course of the flesh beings and their steeds. It spotted the highland man on horseback veering off and the smll knight who had nearly been crushed, and ordered another salvo of boulders down upon these two....

"Crispian!" Azi screamed, ducking from the spray of earth and stone as the boulder smashed into the ground. She watched as he mastered his horse with skill, calming it from its panic, and nudged her own horse to his side. With a hasty glare at Arcalan she leaned in close to Crispian.


"Its a distraction, milord." She looked to the sky to see another stone hurtling toward them. "Tash!" She cried in warning as the highlander dodged boulder. Azaeli looked back at the rest of the party. Each of them was desperately trying to maintain control of his own spooked mount.


"I'm goin' ta put an end ta this RIGHT now!" Tashtego growled. His jaw clenched as he raised his shield and reared his horse in the direction of the boulders.


"No, Tash!" Azi's blue eyes flashed with warning as she held out her arm to stop him. She turned back to Crispian, who nodded in agreement.


"We ride through," he said with authority, turning his horse again toward Barfog as another boulder smashed into the earth beside them.

Knees holding his mount steady, Crispian rose up slightly in his saddle, sword aloft in one hand and reigns firmly held in the other. "To Barfog! FOR ALBION!" he cried, sword circling his head. With a faint nudge, he moved his horse forward, the troop following steadily. He traded sword for shield and began to take some hits from smaller projectiles screaming toward him.


With deft confidence, he moved forward, faster as allowed. Twice, he skirted his horse sidewise to miss an object, and one leapt a crashing boulder as it coursed toward him and his mount. The steed respond to each gentle command of the knight as he guided it through a course of destruction with skill that would have left at least one Scout of the Realm awestruck.

 

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Ayslyn leaned forward and whispered something into his mount's ear. The horse calmed instantly. Quickly he put arrow to string and pulled back. Loosing the arrow, the bow shot forth a blazing bolt that struck one of the boulders and shattered it to dust. Already a second and third arrow streaked through the night, and pulverizing the deadly projectiles. He shouted, "Ride on lad! I will occupy these distractions for a while." Expertly he manuevered his mount with his knees, and with softly whispered commands. The horse leapt forward, racing up the hill as Ayslyn fired again and again, ensuring that no more of the boulders reached the others.

 

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