Border Patrol; Ambushed in the Blight!

[Bree]

Ubriel saw the creature topple away with no apparent physical cause and looked back to where the rest of the patrol was slowly gathering themselves to move. The young channeler, Dedicated Valadin I think is his name, must have done... Her thought was cut short by a ferocious lunge from Peach.

Peach whipped around and kicked out at the face of the Blight Bear nearest her. She felt Ubriel jostle forward and was slightly irritated that her girl had stopped paying attention to the problem at hoof. Her back hooves caught the Blight Bear on the side of the head and shoulder and as she kicked against it, she let the force of its resistance give her a push. With the boost, she took off at a gallop toward the patrol group. Ubriel was facing a man in the group and yelling and Peach was glad that her girl had seen reason. I will protect you. Nothing is going to happen to my girl or her babe.

Ubriel growled at the unexpected and unrequested change of direction from Peach. But she trusted her horse and if she had not wanted to head back toward the patrol, Peach would not have read that in her body language. That must be it. I have to do something about that channeler anyway.

As she approached and passed Lysira Gaidar and Ani both headed to the beasts, she pulled Peach to slow and shouted, "Val! No channeling unless all else fails! You will call the whole Blight down on us!" She urged Peach to turn and was irritated again as she had to ask more forcefully a second time before the horse changed direction. Heeling her to run, Peach was uncompliant, not seeming to want to pass Lysira. "Blast it Peach! HYAHH!" She had not kicked Peach that hard in years and the horse snorted and tossed her head before lunging into full speed. Still, she didn't pass the others until they had each engaged with one of the Blight Bears themselves. That left the female. Slightly smaller but still deadly.

Peach was not pleased that her girl was being so reckless. The kick hadn't hurt, it was the equivalent of a brusque command in the language they used with each other. Still Peach aimed for the last and smallest beast. Feeling Ubriel leaning into it, Peach swung her rump around to slam into the creature and felt Ubriel lean out to swing with her axe. Kicking then and wheeling to complete the turn Peach met the lunge of the beast with her teeth as it rebounded from being rolled by the kick.

Ubriel and Peach together had scored a half dozen bloody gashes in the beast they fought. Its claws had managed to scrape and scratch them both once or twice but they were a good team, effective in dealing death to what needed it. As Peach closed her teeth on the thing's neck, Ubriel leaned forward, standing in the stirrups and brought her axe down hard on the beast's head. Her blow landed and between them, the crushed skull and the open vein of the beast's neck meant death. Not before it managed to rake a claw across Ubriel's thigh from hip to knee. Not deep enough to lose use of the leg, it was enough to cause her to bleed profusely.

The blood puddling in her boot was barely noticeable above the pain that shattered the void. Her scream as she slumped back in the saddle was echoed by Peach snorting loudly as she reared and stomped the head of the beast on the ground before her, just for good measure. Peach prepared to whirl and run her girl back to safety when a scream from the sky made them both look up. Ubriel gasped and said, "What was that before the Blight maimed it?" The huge bird thing had patchy feathers and was covered in scabby, oozing sores. The wings spanned the length of a horse and its beak looked sharp. Worse, there were two.

[Roan]

The Blight was one place where things could go from bad to worse in a heart beat, and it seemed that's exactly what happened. Riahana was more than a little glad for Lysira's company on this outing, along with the Mistress of Training. Lex was alert and moving with the simplest of commands from Ria's legs and seat. The Gaidar had her bow at the ready. She'd taken aim at the Blight Bears, though others had them under control before she could get a clear shot.

Aware of where the Mistress of Training was, the scream from the sky made her look up, though she said nothing. "Back to us, Ubriel!" she exclaimed as she nocked an arrow and took aim as she stood up in her stirrups. Without thinking about it, she folded the Void around her easily and focused on the nearest of the two blighted birds. They were huge. . .and ugly.

With them being airborn, they had an advantage over the group, but. . .but between Lysira and herself? Two expert archers? They might have an advantage. It would be easy to give into fear, and let panic set in, but years of training to earn her fancloak taught Ria to manage such emotions. Aiming as she drew back on her bow, she let the first arrow loose, watched its path as she nocked the second, and took aim once again. One arrow landed in the bird's neck, but all it seemed to do is call attention to the Gaidar Captain. She was already drawing and let lose her second arrow. In one fluid motion she had her third arrow nocked, and noticed as the second landed in the beast's chest. It faltered, but wasn't down yet, thus she let lose her third arrow, and grabbed another handfull to hold in her left hand. The third shot sunk into the bird's eye, and finally, it seemed to slow, but not stop.

"How is that even possible?" Ria questioned as she prepared to fire once more.

((OOC: Sorry for the slow reply. . .things got busy over here!))

[Quibby]

Despite his misgivings about the horse- and ignoring the obviously flawed admonitions of his companions on this assignment- it failed to throw him from the saddle at its first opportunity, and it had continued to tolerate his presence on its back. Just as well. He was still too shaken up by the journey to the Blight. He had known that they had discovered some long-lost method of going long distances in an instant, but seeing that... that hole open up in front of him had been... Don't think about it. Just don't. There was enough to think about.

The first thing that Mehrin had noticed about the Blight had been the sticky humidity and unnatural heat. The second thing had been the smell. The Blight just smelled wrong, like decay and mold and... and evil, if evil could be said to have a smell. Mehrin had smelled many battlefields and skirmishes in his life, and the one thing that had always been true was that the smell eventually faded from the senses. It was not happening here. It was making him edgy, nervous. Like something was waiting just out of sight. It's not much better for me, you know. At least you can do something about it. I'm stuck here, helpless... unless you let me go.

No. Not again.

Mehrin shifted in the saddle, causing the horse to move unnervingly. The armor was sitting right again, though it did not like being on the back of a horse. As for the flamberge... Mehrin had found a saddle mount for a two-handed sword that, with a few adjustments, had accommodated the sword well enough. He would have to get off the damn creature in a hurry if things went sour, though. When things go sour. Let's be realistic. Mehrin nodded in silent agreement, then began another survey of his likewise quiet companions.

Mistress Bryne was in command, and she looked the part. Armed with an ax and shield for this exercise, she seemed like she knew what she was about. Mehrin hoped that she was. He had never seen her in a crisis, and he had seen several people who had looked the part break when the metal met the meat. As she rode ahead to scout the way, he hoped for the sake of everybody that that would not happen here. Pretty sure it won't. She hasn't disappointed my expectations yet.

High praise coming from you.

It is, isn't it?

The Dedicated, Valadin Manelle, was known to Mehrin, but only briefly. The fact that he was a male channeler still worried Mehrin, but he seemed a decent enough person. It would be interesting to see how he would act in a crisis situation. Even if Mehrin was uneasy about a male channeler- You're not the only one.- having the One Power to support them in a fight would provide advantages.

The archer, Lysira, was a mystery. She had an interpreter with her, but there was little to interpret. She was just as watchful as everybody else, maybe mo-

Lysira's head suddenly snapped in the direction where Mistress Bryne had gone. Immediately, Mehrin's eyes sought what she had seen. Nothing. Do you see anything?

No. I think I hear something, though. Don't you?

No.

There was nothing more to do, though. Everybody reacted to Lysira's interpreter's signal, and as a group they advanced.

Well, mostly.

Fighting the horse that had, inexplicably, chosen that particular moment to be difficult, Mehrin finally dismounted with as much grace as a toddler on marbles. With a growl, Mehrin pulled the flamberge from the harness on the horse and charged towards the rapidly-increasing noise. He arrived just in time to see the last... thing fall to Mistress Bryne's axe. Slowing to a trot, Mehrin lowered his guard as he surveyed the scene. Three dead creatures were lying on the ground. Mistress Bryne was bleeding from a wound on her leg. Valadin was standing somewhere between channeling and drawing his sword. Lysira and the other archer, Ria, were looking up...

Mehrin sighed and looked up. Sure enough, there were two flying creatures, some with arrows already sticking out of them. So... what are we going to do? Shout insults at them?

Do you think it would help?

Might be funny.

Shut up.

"I think this one's up to you two," he said to the two archers as he brought his flamberge back up to guard as he stalked close enough to glance at Mistress Bryne's leg. Nothing too serious. He could stitch, but that would be the extent of what he could do. Satisfied, he moved slowly back towards the two archers, circling slowly and watching for anything approaching on the ground. If one of the two things in the air came down, he could do something about that. For now, though...

If something else came on the ground, he would be ready.

OOC: Sorry for the delay on getting back in on this. Mehrin can't do anything against flyers except fling rocks and bad words, so he'll be focused on potential ground threats.

[Bella]

Lysira Walker Gaidar Well, that's new...

Between three Gaidar, one Gaidin, one Ji'dar and a Dedicated, the blight-bears were swiftly taken care of. That didn't mean they had even a moment to rest on matters, because already a new threat was moving in close. Lysira's eyes snapped skyward and saw... She had no idea what it was she saw. They had wings and beaks, she could tell that much, but that was all that she could tell. Even in the Void, her lip curled slightly.

"I think this one's up to you two..." She heard the Gaidin's words, but was already pulling the string on her bow. Her arrows joined those of Riahana and Ani as they flew high. Ria's punctured the first bird and she saw one go into the eye, but it didn't bring the thing crashing to the ground. That was not promising, the diminutive Gaidar thought, but the choice was to keep firing.

Those big wings flapped big and slow, keeping them aloft but not like the fast beats of a smaller bird. This meant their wings were a better target. Lys looked at Ria, making a short whistle to get her attention before nodding to follow her lead. She then returned her attention to the birds that were still making their descent. She turned her attention from the head to the wings.

Among the best archers in the Tower, her arrows went through the deformed wings. Hers were joined by the others. Ria was of her skill, but Ani not as much. Still, she got a couple shots in. These things were Blight-born, but not able to escape certain laws of the world: when the wing was damaged enough, the first bird plummeted to the ground and put it in range for the others with swords to finish it off.

Lysira turned her attention to the second one...

[OOC: Hope you don't mind, Ro dear, I borrowed Ria for a moment. <3]

[Bree]

Theme music!

Ubriel was grateful when she heard the call, "Back to us, Ubriel!" from Riahana. She turned from looking at the monstrous birds and leaned in Peach's saddle. Peach, ever faithful and solid, ran to the back of the line and she met Mehrin coming in on foot. Ubriel yelled at Valadin as she passed him, "Fall back! Give the archers room." Not waiting to see if the Dedicated followed the command, Ubriel tried to wave Mehrin off. Hanging her axe from the bracket inside her shield once more and taking her tunic belt from around her waist, she tied it around her leg just above the gash. She said to him, "This will keep until we are clear. Keep an eye on those birds and be ready to drop one if they get it on the ground."

She was glad to see that the group she was with was able to come together. Turning to Valadin she tried to think of how to soften her command voice for one unused to a fighting situation. Ordinarily, his instinct to use his strongest weapon would not have been wrong. He just didn't know. That was her fault. She should have made sure any channelers in her command knew not to draw the creatures of the Blight by using the One Power unnecessarily. "Valadin, can you use that great toothpick you carry?" At his nod she said, "Brilliant. Would you do me the great favor of guarding me while I try to patch this hole in my leg?"

She hoped they were not set upon by anything else as the first guard tower in their route was only five or six more miles. They would be able to reach it well before dinner time if those blasted birds could be felled. Checking her leg, the damage seemed mostly to be shallow gashes, very bloody but not alot of damage. Now that she had a moment and others had the attack under control, she pulled a spare under shirt from her pack, wrapped it around the gashed part of her leg and re-tied the belt to hold it in place. Checking that it was secure, she looked up. In the few moments it had taken her to do that, Lysira had managed to fell one of the birds by turning its wing into a pin cushion. Seeing the other one being treated to the same, anticipating it falling to the ground as well, Ubriel pulled the axe from her shield and told Valadin, "If they need us, be ready."

[Sean]

Mistress Ubriel’s harsh rebuke earlier had shaken him, left him unsure of what to do next. His horse pranced nervously beneath him as the bear-like creatures were dispatched and Mehrin ran to attend the injured woman’s leg. It wasn’t meant to be it seemed for a screeching shout from above drew everyone’s attention overhead.

Without warning, Val reflexively seized Saidin, the earlier fatigue washing away from his bone as the Power and the Void invigorated him, bringing the Blight into sharp focus as he made out the monstrous fowls in detail despite their distance. Saidin’s storm thrashed within him, but Ria and the silent woman had launched an efficient assault on both monstrosities. Keep yer head. Ya already made a fool o’ yerself once. Look after the mistress, otherwise stay outta the bloody way! Angry and drunk on the Song’s insistent melody that like the Power made him long for release in bloody violence, Val found himself close to the Mistress of Training, awaiting command.

When asked of his skill with the sword he offered a quiet affirmative before efficiently drawing the blade free from its scabbard his horse’s flank. The hand-and-half sword caught the dimmed sun in the clear surface of its blade and the Song flared welcomingly at the feel of it in his hand. For a time he forgot his earlier blunder and the Blight’s evil influence around him—he felt right.

“Brilliant. Would you do me the great favor of guarding me while I try to patch this hole in my leg?” the Mistress bade him.

Saying nothing he urged his steed forward, setting himself between Lady Ubriel and the assailed flying menaces. Mehrin roamed about freely, knowing where to go without needing to be told, the giant flamberge radiating a dangerous aura as the large Gaidin stepped with the lethal assurance of his kind. Having not known of the man’s skill with the sword, Val made a mental note to examine it for himself—it was a warrior’s pride that voiced the desire in him and he didn’t disagree.

One of the Blight birds tumbled to the ground in a mess of sickly features and talons, its wing laden with arrows from the archers. Valadin tensed to move, the powerful flanks of his steed readying as well. Thus far the horse had been impressive despite Val’s incompetence. Its ears were perked and seemed to be searching the surrounding area for noise while its rider had no idea where to look or how to act in chaos around him. Must o’ been a warhorse in a past life, Val beamed without showing it. Just as he was about to give command to rush the thrashing creature, the Mistress interrupted with a cautioning word,

“If they need us, be ready.”

Her meaning was clear and though the Song hummed of the constant danger of the Blight around him, Val sought the peace of the Void as he nodded, eyes ablaze despite the calm control he conducted himself with. Maintaining order in the confusion was the only way they survived this. “Yes, Mistress,” he answered in a voice lacking emotion.

[Roan]

Hearing Lysira's whistle, and quickly catching on to her plan, Riahana couldn't help the smirk as the first winged beast fell. Just as her friend turned her attention to the second blight bird beast, Ria did the same and fired the three arrows she'd been holding in her left hand. As she reached for another three from the quiver on her calf, the Gaidar Captain spared a glance towards Ubriel and was glad to see Valadin and Mehrin Gaidin guarding her as she tended to her wound.

Nocking another arrow, Riahana pulled the Void closer, pushing away distracting thoughts as she stood in her stirrups, took aim as she drew and fired. She was already aiming and pulling back on her draw with the next arrow as the first sunk into the second beast's wing. There was a fluidity and gracefulness that came with the speed she demonstrated as she rapidly fired one arrow after another, adjusting her aim as the creature tried to evade the projectiles.

With three archers working on the blight bird, it did not take long for gravity to do its thing, and the bird came crashing down. She figured she'd let the Gaidin use his beast of a weapon to finish the blight bird off, and looked back once again to the Mistress of Training. While Ubriel seemed to know what she was doing, the wound she was tending looked nasty. Blight creatures were not to be underestimated, nor were the wounds they inflicted.

Blood and Ashes! I said we'd be fine. . .told Gareth there would likely be Yellows either with us or joining us when we arrived. Next time he offers to try and rearrange his schedule to join us, I'm going to take him up on that offer! Ria thought to herself as she relaxed her fold in the Void, but did not let it drop away completely. Senses heightened, she looked around to see what other challenged the Blight might throw their way.

[Quibby]

The Deathwatch heard it before Mehrin did, but they both reacted to the sound of something heavy hitting the ground with a pained squawk in the same way. Pivoting on his heel, Mehrin turned to face the sound, finding one of the massive birds struggling to its clawed feet, its wing peppered with arrows. It swiveled its head, taking in every one of the people on the ground, but its gaze settled on Mehrin. That's probably because we're stalking towards the damn thing. Mehrin's grip shifted on the hilt of his flamberge. There was no need to parry a weapon, no need to defend against a foe on horseback. His pace quickened, the blade of the sword behind him with the tip nearly on the ground.

The bird found its feet and screamed at Mehrin harshly, spreading its wings in an attempt to look threatening. Its left wing is the injured one. Go to its right.

I know. It will have less power there; not as much room to gain speed.

Nice to know we still think alike.

Never say that again.

The wide wingspan of the bird was just a touch longer than the blade of the flamberge, and when Mehrin came close enough, it started trying to beat him down with its wings. Even with the closeness of its right wing, the first blow nearly drove the breath from Mehrin's lungs. A simple twist of his wrists brought the flamberge around to his other side, between him and the wing. The bird's attempt to strike him with the left drew another scream from the creature.

The scream was cut off briefly by the upward arc of the waved blade of Mehrin's sword, breaking the upper bone in its right wing. As he continued the cut and brought it around above his head, the bird's cry began again, this time shriller than before. Yes... Make it suffer. The cry cut off yet again as Mehrin shifted the flamberge in his hands, bringing it in again for a cut at the bird's left side.

Too low.

The blow severed the bird's left wing and sent it sprawling on the ground. It should have taken the damn thing's head off! What's wrong with you?

Been a while, remember?

It didn't really matter. Mehrin knew the blow had failed before it landed, and he was already moving towards the downed creature before it hit the ground. It didn't have any time to try to stand before Mehrin drove the blade of the flamberge through its chest, pinning it to the ground. He had to step around behind the creature as it thrashed its life away, leaving Mehrin a large sore spot on his ankle where the bird's thrashing feet had caught him. So soon?

We have more important things to worry about.

The bird's thrashing slowed, and Mehrin pulled the flamberge out of its chest. It weighed too much to kick out of the way, but that didn't matter. It was dead, and it would not cause any more problems. Still... Again, Mehrin positioned himself between the bird and the archers- three archers, in fact; he had not realized that Lysira's translator could also use a bow- and began casting his eyes around. Something needs to come. Something that's actually a challenge, not a wounded bird on the ground calling for its mother.

Mehrin agreed.

[Bree]

Ubriel had watched her team and was pleased to see them all coming together, taking care of each other and doing their part to meet the challenge. It had been a small confrontation as things in the Blight went, but that was fine with Ubriel. If all they saw on this patrol was a couple of rutting animals, she would call it and be pleased.

They made their way to Heeth Tower just inside the border of Kandor. Malenarin Rai saw them into the bunk house for the night and had Ubriel's leg Healed by the Asha'man posted there. In the process of delving her, the Asha'man had made a discovery. He told her but she wasn't ready to think about it. She was still half convinced that it was all a mistake. And she was here on this mission; in the Blight. No, she absolutely couldn't think about that right now. That explains some of Peach's behavior, though. She and I are going to have to talk.

She joined the rest of her party in the dining hall of the watch tower and found a seat across from Valadin. "Dedicated. I want to make sure you understand, I feel responsible for not telling you; making sure you knew in advance. Use of the One Power in the Blight is like ringing a dinner bell. We have to try to avoid it if we can. I hope you can forgive my lack of forethought in that."

Ubriel poured herself a mug of the mulled wine, hot and heady with spices. She sipped it once and felt her stomach lurch. It is probably not the best for... No! I don't have time to think about that ... She pushed the mug aside and replaced it with tea. "I think those spices are a bit too much for me. What's for dinner?" Waving at one of the soldiers on serving duty, he brought her a pate of stew with large chunks of potato and meat and a heel of some light colored, flaky bread. Soldiering fare at its finest. The only way it could be better is if there were a pile of beans to go with it. Her stomach rolled again.

[Quibby]

Mehrin sat on the edge of his bunk, his boot on the floor and the leg of his breeches rolled up. It really was quite an impressive bruise, he had to say. Even without the pressure of his boot on it, it throbbed, and when the boot was on, well... Feel it. Feel every. Single. Inch. Of it. The Deathwatch liked pain. It ate away at Mehrin's resistance to it, making it stronger. Idly, Mehrin traced its outline with a finger. The area just above his right ankle was almost black, and the bruising radiated out from there across the top of his foot and up until just short of his calf.

When they had arrived at Heeth Tower, Mistress Bryne had been immediately spirited away for Healing. Knowing exactly what even a minor bruise could do to somebody on campaign, Mehrin had nearly asked for the same... until he heard the word "Asha'man". Any idea of Healing immediately left him. He knew that he was being foolish, that it might lead to trouble later on, but he couldn't do it. Sixty years of being terrified of the prospect of a male channeler could not be overcome in such a short time. He had seen the militaristic value of a channeler; Aes Sedai had defended their Warders during the Aiel War, and Valadin had demonstrated what could be done with the One Power against even a large foe. Mehrin would take any support like that in combat, even if it was given by a male channeler. To be channeled at, however... There were other ways to treat bruises, even bruises as nasty as this one. Taking a vial of the willow bark tea from his pack, he secreted it away, vowing to make a stop at the infirmary to 'borrow' some more supplies.

There were a couple people in the dining hall when he arrived, walking without even the slightest limp. It was a matter of pain tolerance: a little concentration when standing or walking, and relaxation when sitting. He had seen soldiers go through battles with gaping wounds using the same trick. It also helped fight back the Deathwatch.

Settling down at the table, Mehrin gestured for somebody to bring him a plate of whatever it was that they were serving. A veteran of many a cook fire, he barely acknowledged what was on his plate when it arrived. It was hot, it smelled edible, and there was plenty of it. It was everything a soldier could ever want. A pitcher was set in the middle of the table, steam coming out of its open mouth. Perfect. Mehrin did not bother to check what was in the pitcher as he poured. His mug filled, he glanced at the other people at the table, waiting until nobody was gazing in his direction, then poured half the vial of willow bark tea into the mug. Slipping it back into a pocket in an action disguised as taking out his pepper pot, Mehrin added a touch from the container to his plate for show, then drank the contents of the mug in one long pull.

Mmmm... mulled wine. Would have been delicious, too, if it wasn't for that damned willow bark.

You don't sound too heartbroken about it.

Considering just how much alcohol you just consumed on an empty stomach...

It'll be fine.

...

Seriously.

I know. It's just fun to make you worry. Mehrin chuckled quietly. The willow bark tea would do its part, and the faint touch of alcohol would also help dull the pain, if only for a little while. There would be no drinking on the trail, even if Mehrin would have wanted to do so. Noticing Mistress Bryne coming into the dining hall, Mehrin gave her a smile and a nod, then turned his attention back to his plate. He doubted his next dinner would be as satisfying. But think of the killing... There is going to be so much more of that before we are through, I just know it.

I hope not.

Liar.

...

Told you.