#dreaming

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Everything was going so well...they had found the mines...

the forces had split in two... the larger militant band towards one cave... and the smaller faster lighter scouts ready to slip into the next.

Here, the trolls were giants, 'stealth' was a relative term, veiling magics did more work than shadows that would not fit.

Clemintine speaks to her fellow Chieftain "So far, looks like we guessed the numbers right"

"So far," Brekke echoes, wary of overconfidence.

"I barely notice us" Jaymes admits, "Good work, Mountain" to Frank

"Mmphm." Frank volunteers.

There are guards all about, slavers but their focus is on the mines, making sure no one gets out, not expecting anyone to charge in. Hammering picks goes on from within th cave, and with each blow, it is as if something is being defiled.

Brekke looks at the terrain, knowing what the mine really is, seeking the shape of the remains of the ancient giant.

the bulk is buried, but it is as if one leg and one arm were lifted out of the dirt to make the cave and mounds, the rest of the body deeper and under

Frank exhales. "Mother and Father help us." Looking at it all.

"Time for a big noise to distract the bulk and lead them to us," Clem says "give chance for teams scout to slip in."

"And lay the thread" A mist Edge warrior reminds

Brekke nods, and turns to look at the group. "Ready? Let them know we are here!" And she takes a deep breath and BELLOWS A WORDLESS CHALLENGE

Frank ROARS Beside her, WITH her!!

Together the cry RINGS OUT..........!!!!!

Brekke is already charging down upon the Eshu, a harrying strike before luring the others off. She swings Speaker in a ferocious arc and hits, but only manages to wound her. The Eshu makes an escape, and Brekke doesn't pursue, but stands her ground as others begin to approach.

Something small on the ground near her. Something the Eshu dropped. A trivial little thing, maybe...but something makes her pick it up and shove it away in her belt pouch before bellowing further challenge. "Cowards! Come and face us!"

Frank actually deploys his great sword... and on a troll, that is a GREAT SWORD....blasted-oak-hilted, he stands at Brekke's left.

With the warning given, and the raiders starting out revealed and some wounded by poisoned cuts, it would seem the advantage is lessened, but it is still there, and the figures charge forward . The Eshu maybe reckless, but she's no warrior and that blow is not something she wants to feel again so yes she retreats.

Unaware she has dropped a prize?

Frank looks mighty with his sword, but the hide and leathers he has do not protect against the knives and he is cut and sliced. There must be something stubborn in the blood of the Mountain, but the venom does not take root in the veins.

"Father!" Siv says "Are you okay?"

"Fine." He grits. "Go."

Brekke turns at Siv's cry, hesitating.

The slavers and guards of the mines fire crossbows. CLem hisses and gestures, oaken shields spreading thin but ofering a bit more protections. Others, including some true balor sidhe go melee! along side Thallian ogres who prefer hand to hand smashing.

Siv leaps nods at her father's insistence and leaps into the fray aided by a hopstcotch getting her near the crosssbowman

Brekke meets the charge, the edge of Speaker's blades whistling and shrieking as she swings the weapon down on them...but also backs up slightly, drawing them to follow.

Frank gestures... GO!

"NOTHING HALF WAY" Clem cries out and changes into a great blue bear. And many DeBukes follow the bear with a roar of "About the Iowa way to greet you!" /One warrioress mutters "Just once, I wish we could kill someone to a hit done by Drake or Beyonce"

Frank levers himself up, does a quick systems-check, and dives in.

"From Stone trolls did become, let stone reclaim" A voice says as magic works. A thallian sorcerer with a black orb in his grip focuses and Brekke begins to turn to stone. She can feel her limbs stiffening. Frank watches as it works its way across his wife

Frank charges towards the Sorcerer and the orb.

Brekke tries to will her limbs to move, to summon some power to free herself from the power that slows her.

Brekke is hardly alone, as another half dozen trolls turn to stone even faster.

Frank does not turn to stone, the banalilty of Liam perhaps? His skill at the arts? Frank stubbornness and Brekke in danger? the Thallian sorcerer gasps ....

The Sorceror gasps "Traitor stone!"

"Do what you can for your own freedom... and we will talk outside of combat." the taciturn Mountain offers.

"Agreed" But Frank notices some of of the blood from his earlier wounds does speckle the stone. A shining burst of magic, and the dozen trolls turned or turning into stone suddenly are flesh again, and Thallian and Kithian in service to the Balor find their own turning instead, an equal number. "A sign of good faith"

The Thallian sorceror is frozen gray with a look of outrage. And Brekke totally free again

Though Speaker had been thrown at least twice while her legs were frozen, shattering skulls.

She catches the weapon again as she charges to meet the foe once more. There is little finesse here...but she is definitely efficient.

Frank tucks the stone away on himself, and turns to the Thallain that held it.

He looks like a statue.

A breakable statue

Frank knocks the statue over and charges on.

(We move to PBEM))