Where have all the Yeti gone.
Kincaid and companions go out and help the Kitezh's mop up some of the strangles.
Enjoy!
The cold winds of Kitezh blow as the companions ride off. The snowy ground surrendering tufts of white spray on the frozen trail away from the military encampment. Kincaid at the lead, Ethan guarding the rear. Nineve with vantage over the scouts and collins center. The hores breath are tinged in mist.
Collins doesn't sing to himself, this excursion. He keeps an eye open for trouble.
Kincaid leads the group against the terrain, using the white on white to keep them as comaflauged as possible. After crossing the edge of a frozen lake along the tree line, he stops his horse. "Quiet now." He points to the distance, atop a snowy platue aside a few peaks, whisps of campfires can be seen. "From here on out, we move like shadows." His voice low, but enough for all those to be heard.
Kincaid says, "Nineve, take point."
Nineve nods and signals to a group of the men to fall in behind her. She urges the horse off to the side, keeping to the shadows and slowing the horses steps so they're near silent.
Ethan's eyes are alert. He watches the surroundings for trouble, but keeps glancing to Collins broken arm.
Collins doesn't notice the first few glances, but after a while, he gives Ethan a very frank look that leaves little doubt he doesn't consider the arm to be a problem.
The sounds of winter are all about. The burning chill of the clear sky's breezes biting the riders' faces, as they trot the path around the forests' edge. Off to the right, the black trees tops can be seen as they pass upwards on a path away from the lake, snaking into the frozen hills at mountains edge.
Nineve pulls on the reigns when the clops become too prominent. She leans up in the saddle, trying to catch a better vantage of where the smoke is coming.
Thick snows are layed upon the hillsides more than a foot deep. A few hidden patches of ice stir some concern for the horses but the beasts are fit and capable, keeping steady and thier rider's safe.
Kincaid makes a few unscheduled stops, marking the land and what might be enemy encampments and worming the team discretly through the hills. When without warning a flash of white erupts from the snows, starting the horses. Ethan's horse is more than startled as a white claw rips open its throat, leaving a red spray of a wave, as the horse crumbles, threatening to roll Ethan over.
Ethan tumbles to the deep snow covered side path. His feet sunk up to his knee as he rises, standing face to face with the Yeti. The horses seem completely surprised again as another of the huge beasts erupts from the path side. Ethan scrambles to Draw his blade and the Yeti comes on him. Not enough time! Ethan gets caught holding the Yeti's claws away from him as it presses him further down into the snow.
Collins leaps down from his horse, drawing a machete as Ethan's horse hits the ground, and rushes forward to aid Ethan - and somehow remembering not to shout.
The Yeti roars. and it bounces off the hillside echoing... echoing...
Snow is thrown into the air as one, two, thre, four, five more of the hulking beasts erupt around the scouting party. The horses jump and kick, while the scouts jump back with weopons drawn.
Nineve tugs hard on the reigns, wheeling the mount about. One scout tossed from his roost at the roars. She slides a hand down to pull free a blade as the roar unearths a yeti.
As the Yeti's fangs seem just about to encircle Ethans head, he drops it...and flings it backupwards with his long red hair whipping. The yeti's jaw is thrown back and Ethan gains momentum, pushing the beast back on it's haunches. Still locked in mortal struggle, the Yeti howls again.
Kincaid reigns his horse trying to curb the beast from falling over. The horse slips and down goes the commander, the horse blocking any view of the knight only briefly. He rises, blade unsheathed and charges the closest Sasquatch.
"Well, crap," Collins's face seems to say at all the new yetis. Ethan's going to have to deal with his own mess. Collins instead leaps at another yeti a few feet away. There's nothing fancy about Collins, he seems to be intent on ramming the thing and hacking at it wherever he can. But 'lo, he does both of those with gusto.
Nineve slides down from the saddle, two scouts engage one of the yeti. She continues to hurry off towards Kincaid and the others, a reprieve to pull free the second blade.
They Yeti of Collins Ire tries to Bat his blade away and backsteps at the man's straightforward onlsaught. It howls a yelp as it loses it's defending fingers. It's frenzied look indicates that it's about to go berzerk!
WHAM! Ethan smahes his forehead into the beasts nose. Pressing on top of it and pinning one arm with his knees.
Kincaid whirls his bastard sword with precise strikes and quick steps, slicing a Yeti and forcing it off balance to avoids reprisals.
It's unclear that Collins has any respect for claws that could quite possibly eviscerate him. He continues headling at the thing, then dives to tackle it, wholly unconcerned that his broken arm is going to be in a great deal of pain in a moment.
The two knights continue to rage against the yeti. Both giving as good as they got. Nineve closes the distance. Collins heroics bring her up short as she pauses to consider for a pause between her companions of who may need her.
The Yeti entangled with Ethan growls and height along with hulking strength come into play as the rd headed knight is flung from it. Ethan of course flys behind Collins who is other wise about to tackle the beast.
Jonah, one of Oisen's scouts is disarmed and held like a baby within the claws a Yeti about to sink its teeth in the man.
Ethan gets up and shakes the snow out of his hair.
Kincaid strikes again, his blade leaving a Yeti standing only briefly as it falls to the ground. "Ethan! Stop playing around!"
Nineve dashes towards Jonah. One sword curves down to try and catch the yeti at the back of the legs. "Let go," she snarls and circles about to bring the other blade upwards to catch at the beasts shoulder.
Ethan looks at kincaid indignant. And then rushes from behind Collins back toward his Original Yeti. Snow Flies as Ethan leaps upward drawing the giant sized scythe of his blade. The Yeti's head rolls as it tries to rise.
Collins collides with his yeti with resounding force - and an audible crunch of bone on both sides. The two teeter for a moment, then fall to the ground, claws and teeth ripping into Collins's flesh, Collins using pommel and blade equally against the yeti. The victor emerges, though... Collins, after cracking the thing's skull. He rises, looking for another of the things, bleeding from ugly wounds, and with an extra joint in his arm.
One of the Yeti's hand releases Jonah with Nineve's strike, the beasts attention quickly turned on her. A mouth full of teeth crawl and Jonah is tossed away, as claws reach for Nineve.
Nineve doesn't sidetrack the incoming claws. Instead she curls one of the blades down against her arm while the other strikes out at the outstretched arms. "That's it," she notes, trying to keep the beast's focus.
Jonah, kicks up to his feet, searching for the spear that was dropped in the snow. As the Yeti ambles forward, snarling and clawing at Nineve. Her strikes provoking the beast into rushing her, like a defensive line man, trying to bring its prey down.
The growls, curses, and sound of battle does not cover a distinct sound. That of a horn is blown in the distnce echoing off the hillsides. Kincaid literally stops to listen to the sound, before turning his attention back to the supporting the soldiers who have one of the four remaining beasts on the ropes.
Ethan sloshes through the snow toward a group of scouts that seem to be having trouble pinning down one of the Yeti. A scout is flung with a Yeti backhand just to Ethan's left. On the way, since the snow is deep, Ethan pulls his crossbow and unleashes a quarrel into it's thick white hide.
Nineve 's eyes widen slightly. she tries to duck the first time and trying to draw her blade across his stomach. The two meeting head on at the tackle.
Collins staggers, getting his bearings, drops his machete and starts making use of his whip, trying to startle or trip up any yeti he can.
The Yeti barrels into Nineve. Her blade slicing a deep cut across the creatures furred hide, leaving it grasping its intestines as it keels over. The graceful knight left slowing in a spin that leaves her standing over her foe.
"You alright?" Ethan asks the man as he passes. "Ugh." The scout replies. But Ethan notes he's just had the wind knocked out of him. His crossbow bolt having struck the beast in it's left flank the remaining soldiers keep circling to it's left and have the beast under control. One sword slash wounds it's arm, A spear in it's chest, and An axe in it's back bring the snarling monster down. Ethan's eyes narrow at the beast on Nineve, as he loads his crossbow again, but then lowers it and throws the beautiful luitenant a salute with a smile.
Collins grabs his machete and whip, then hurries over toward the others. Arm still askew. "The horns," he rumbles.
Nineve swallows over her own revulsions. She steps away from the beast, breathing hard and casting about to check on the other scouts. Her gaze falls on Ethan.
Kincaid is already ordering the men, as that is what he should do. Placing them were they need be, "Are presence has been located." He says quietly to the small group, "We have an hour before they are upon us."
Standing there entranced for a moment as if he's just seen the most beautiful belle just arrive to the ball, It takes Ethan a second to turn his face back to seriousness. "An hour? we'd best cover our tracks and get out of here."
Collins sniffs, looking about. Taking stock of the horses versus the number of men. Toward Kincaid, "Can we make it out of here by then?"
Collins fixes his arm - ouch - and starts to bind a machete to it as a splint.
Kincaid looks across the snow covered fields, "Yes." Then distracted by the ground, he glides through the snow, occasional glances thrown upon the fallen yeti's as he searches about. "Strange though. Coming out of no where like that." He looks back to Collins.
Collins grunts. "They must move like ghosts, or have known we'd come this way. Or, we're very unlucky. Maybe all three."
Nineve joins Kincaid, cleaning the blades. "So you think they knew we were coming?" This is aimed to the small gathering. "Should we see about reenforcements, commander?"
Climbing from down in the gulley The familiar voice of the scout Jonah calls "Sirs! there's a cave mouth down here!" The chilly wind wails a bit through the pass and mutters the young man's voice, as he comes into view over a mogul.
Kincaid shakes his head, "No, this is a century detail. Half a squad." Bending to wipe his blade clean as well, he stands, "Good work Jonah." Taking to inspect this cave.
From where the officers stand with Jonah on the mogul, the vantage reveals a steep hillslope, and in a cranny nook of the slope, a cave hung with Icicles opens like a grey stone maw.
Collins barely supresses his glee at that discovery. Caves are neat!
Kincaid orders the scouts prepare the to marhc, considering the cave carefully. Then to Collins, "We'll be fine without the horses." with that, "Ethan will lead the walk back to camp. That will require a tight formation, understood Lieitenent? Collins?"
As the soldiers round up and begin the long trek home, the winds of the hills pick up. Howling and echoes from it's bitter chill remind one of whistles and windchimes. Those that must ride double are doing so. Ethan, having lost his mount is not a very effective point man for a mounted group of scouts but trucks ahead on foot never the less. Occassionally being caught up to by the front of the patrol. Never the less he plods onward.
Collins is, what with all the pain, somewhat less graceful than during their ride out.
Nineve urges her horse after Ethan. she offers to take Collins reigns and lead him along while they ride.
From afar, Sara thinks you should come back to Kitezh, it's getting boring and tiring
Collins gives Nineve a simple shake of a head and a smile. Collins may be a mess, but he can still ride on his own.
Out of the hills, and past the frozen lake, the patrol winds it's way back to the forests edge. It's dark pines shading out the light of the setting sun. Orange hues turn to pink, and slowly fade to purples the Kitezh moon sneaking into view, pale in the dusk, between the trees. The company seems mostly silent, scouts watch snow banks with trepidation. But the Patrol eventually comes safely back to the edges of Military control.
Enjoy!
Collins doesn't sing to himself, this excursion. He keeps an eye open for trouble.
Kincaid leads the group against the terrain, using the white on white to keep them as comaflauged as possible. After crossing the edge of a frozen lake along the tree line, he stops his horse. "Quiet now." He points to the distance, atop a snowy platue aside a few peaks, whisps of campfires can be seen. "From here on out, we move like shadows." His voice low, but enough for all those to be heard.
Kincaid says, "Nineve, take point."
Nineve nods and signals to a group of the men to fall in behind her. She urges the horse off to the side, keeping to the shadows and slowing the horses steps so they're near silent.
Ethan's eyes are alert. He watches the surroundings for trouble, but keeps glancing to Collins broken arm.
Collins doesn't notice the first few glances, but after a while, he gives Ethan a very frank look that leaves little doubt he doesn't consider the arm to be a problem.
The sounds of winter are all about. The burning chill of the clear sky's breezes biting the riders' faces, as they trot the path around the forests' edge. Off to the right, the black trees tops can be seen as they pass upwards on a path away from the lake, snaking into the frozen hills at mountains edge.
Nineve pulls on the reigns when the clops become too prominent. She leans up in the saddle, trying to catch a better vantage of where the smoke is coming.
Thick snows are layed upon the hillsides more than a foot deep. A few hidden patches of ice stir some concern for the horses but the beasts are fit and capable, keeping steady and thier rider's safe.
Kincaid makes a few unscheduled stops, marking the land and what might be enemy encampments and worming the team discretly through the hills. When without warning a flash of white erupts from the snows, starting the horses. Ethan's horse is more than startled as a white claw rips open its throat, leaving a red spray of a wave, as the horse crumbles, threatening to roll Ethan over.
Ethan tumbles to the deep snow covered side path. His feet sunk up to his knee as he rises, standing face to face with the Yeti. The horses seem completely surprised again as another of the huge beasts erupts from the path side. Ethan scrambles to Draw his blade and the Yeti comes on him. Not enough time! Ethan gets caught holding the Yeti's claws away from him as it presses him further down into the snow.
Collins leaps down from his horse, drawing a machete as Ethan's horse hits the ground, and rushes forward to aid Ethan - and somehow remembering not to shout.
The Yeti roars. and it bounces off the hillside echoing... echoing...
Snow is thrown into the air as one, two, thre, four, five more of the hulking beasts erupt around the scouting party. The horses jump and kick, while the scouts jump back with weopons drawn.
Nineve tugs hard on the reigns, wheeling the mount about. One scout tossed from his roost at the roars. She slides a hand down to pull free a blade as the roar unearths a yeti.
As the Yeti's fangs seem just about to encircle Ethans head, he drops it...and flings it backupwards with his long red hair whipping. The yeti's jaw is thrown back and Ethan gains momentum, pushing the beast back on it's haunches. Still locked in mortal struggle, the Yeti howls again.
Kincaid reigns his horse trying to curb the beast from falling over. The horse slips and down goes the commander, the horse blocking any view of the knight only briefly. He rises, blade unsheathed and charges the closest Sasquatch.
"Well, crap," Collins's face seems to say at all the new yetis. Ethan's going to have to deal with his own mess. Collins instead leaps at another yeti a few feet away. There's nothing fancy about Collins, he seems to be intent on ramming the thing and hacking at it wherever he can. But 'lo, he does both of those with gusto.
Nineve slides down from the saddle, two scouts engage one of the yeti. She continues to hurry off towards Kincaid and the others, a reprieve to pull free the second blade.
They Yeti of Collins Ire tries to Bat his blade away and backsteps at the man's straightforward onlsaught. It howls a yelp as it loses it's defending fingers. It's frenzied look indicates that it's about to go berzerk!
WHAM! Ethan smahes his forehead into the beasts nose. Pressing on top of it and pinning one arm with his knees.
Kincaid whirls his bastard sword with precise strikes and quick steps, slicing a Yeti and forcing it off balance to avoids reprisals.
It's unclear that Collins has any respect for claws that could quite possibly eviscerate him. He continues headling at the thing, then dives to tackle it, wholly unconcerned that his broken arm is going to be in a great deal of pain in a moment.
The two knights continue to rage against the yeti. Both giving as good as they got. Nineve closes the distance. Collins heroics bring her up short as she pauses to consider for a pause between her companions of who may need her.
The Yeti entangled with Ethan growls and height along with hulking strength come into play as the rd headed knight is flung from it. Ethan of course flys behind Collins who is other wise about to tackle the beast.
Jonah, one of Oisen's scouts is disarmed and held like a baby within the claws a Yeti about to sink its teeth in the man.
Ethan gets up and shakes the snow out of his hair.
Kincaid strikes again, his blade leaving a Yeti standing only briefly as it falls to the ground. "Ethan! Stop playing around!"
Nineve dashes towards Jonah. One sword curves down to try and catch the yeti at the back of the legs. "Let go," she snarls and circles about to bring the other blade upwards to catch at the beasts shoulder.
Ethan looks at kincaid indignant. And then rushes from behind Collins back toward his Original Yeti. Snow Flies as Ethan leaps upward drawing the giant sized scythe of his blade. The Yeti's head rolls as it tries to rise.
Collins collides with his yeti with resounding force - and an audible crunch of bone on both sides. The two teeter for a moment, then fall to the ground, claws and teeth ripping into Collins's flesh, Collins using pommel and blade equally against the yeti. The victor emerges, though... Collins, after cracking the thing's skull. He rises, looking for another of the things, bleeding from ugly wounds, and with an extra joint in his arm.
One of the Yeti's hand releases Jonah with Nineve's strike, the beasts attention quickly turned on her. A mouth full of teeth crawl and Jonah is tossed away, as claws reach for Nineve.
Nineve doesn't sidetrack the incoming claws. Instead she curls one of the blades down against her arm while the other strikes out at the outstretched arms. "That's it," she notes, trying to keep the beast's focus.
Jonah, kicks up to his feet, searching for the spear that was dropped in the snow. As the Yeti ambles forward, snarling and clawing at Nineve. Her strikes provoking the beast into rushing her, like a defensive line man, trying to bring its prey down.
The growls, curses, and sound of battle does not cover a distinct sound. That of a horn is blown in the distnce echoing off the hillsides. Kincaid literally stops to listen to the sound, before turning his attention back to the supporting the soldiers who have one of the four remaining beasts on the ropes.
Ethan sloshes through the snow toward a group of scouts that seem to be having trouble pinning down one of the Yeti. A scout is flung with a Yeti backhand just to Ethan's left. On the way, since the snow is deep, Ethan pulls his crossbow and unleashes a quarrel into it's thick white hide.
Nineve 's eyes widen slightly. she tries to duck the first time and trying to draw her blade across his stomach. The two meeting head on at the tackle.
Collins staggers, getting his bearings, drops his machete and starts making use of his whip, trying to startle or trip up any yeti he can.
The Yeti barrels into Nineve. Her blade slicing a deep cut across the creatures furred hide, leaving it grasping its intestines as it keels over. The graceful knight left slowing in a spin that leaves her standing over her foe.
"You alright?" Ethan asks the man as he passes. "Ugh." The scout replies. But Ethan notes he's just had the wind knocked out of him. His crossbow bolt having struck the beast in it's left flank the remaining soldiers keep circling to it's left and have the beast under control. One sword slash wounds it's arm, A spear in it's chest, and An axe in it's back bring the snarling monster down. Ethan's eyes narrow at the beast on Nineve, as he loads his crossbow again, but then lowers it and throws the beautiful luitenant a salute with a smile.
Collins grabs his machete and whip, then hurries over toward the others. Arm still askew. "The horns," he rumbles.
Nineve swallows over her own revulsions. She steps away from the beast, breathing hard and casting about to check on the other scouts. Her gaze falls on Ethan.
Kincaid is already ordering the men, as that is what he should do. Placing them were they need be, "Are presence has been located." He says quietly to the small group, "We have an hour before they are upon us."
Standing there entranced for a moment as if he's just seen the most beautiful belle just arrive to the ball, It takes Ethan a second to turn his face back to seriousness. "An hour? we'd best cover our tracks and get out of here."
Collins sniffs, looking about. Taking stock of the horses versus the number of men. Toward Kincaid, "Can we make it out of here by then?"
Collins fixes his arm - ouch - and starts to bind a machete to it as a splint.
Kincaid looks across the snow covered fields, "Yes." Then distracted by the ground, he glides through the snow, occasional glances thrown upon the fallen yeti's as he searches about. "Strange though. Coming out of no where like that." He looks back to Collins.
Collins grunts. "They must move like ghosts, or have known we'd come this way. Or, we're very unlucky. Maybe all three."
Nineve joins Kincaid, cleaning the blades. "So you think they knew we were coming?" This is aimed to the small gathering. "Should we see about reenforcements, commander?"
Climbing from down in the gulley The familiar voice of the scout Jonah calls "Sirs! there's a cave mouth down here!" The chilly wind wails a bit through the pass and mutters the young man's voice, as he comes into view over a mogul.
Kincaid shakes his head, "No, this is a century detail. Half a squad." Bending to wipe his blade clean as well, he stands, "Good work Jonah." Taking to inspect this cave.
From where the officers stand with Jonah on the mogul, the vantage reveals a steep hillslope, and in a cranny nook of the slope, a cave hung with Icicles opens like a grey stone maw.
Collins barely supresses his glee at that discovery. Caves are neat!
Kincaid orders the scouts prepare the to marhc, considering the cave carefully. Then to Collins, "We'll be fine without the horses." with that, "Ethan will lead the walk back to camp. That will require a tight formation, understood Lieitenent? Collins?"
As the soldiers round up and begin the long trek home, the winds of the hills pick up. Howling and echoes from it's bitter chill remind one of whistles and windchimes. Those that must ride double are doing so. Ethan, having lost his mount is not a very effective point man for a mounted group of scouts but trucks ahead on foot never the less. Occassionally being caught up to by the front of the patrol. Never the less he plods onward.
Collins is, what with all the pain, somewhat less graceful than during their ride out.
Nineve urges her horse after Ethan. she offers to take Collins reigns and lead him along while they ride.
From afar, Sara thinks you should come back to Kitezh, it's getting boring and tiring
Collins gives Nineve a simple shake of a head and a smile. Collins may be a mess, but he can still ride on his own.
Out of the hills, and past the frozen lake, the patrol winds it's way back to the forests edge. It's dark pines shading out the light of the setting sun. Orange hues turn to pink, and slowly fade to purples the Kitezh moon sneaking into view, pale in the dusk, between the trees. The company seems mostly silent, scouts watch snow banks with trepidation. But the Patrol eventually comes safely back to the edges of Military control.