Night
Time Manoeuvres
9/4/10,122 - Ust-Alayakit, Thail Mountains
Returning to the main Plateau the four find the clan elders in deep discussion how they are to escape Synalon's minions, watchers have been dispatched to ensure that they are not caught unawares in the meantime. Molin adds to the discussion informing the clan of the archers positioned above the blocked pass.
As the moot continues, a runner returns to tell that the lower trail too has been partially blocked & that a heavy contingent of militia remains below the blockade. Realising that their position is tenuous despite the number of militia & sky city casualties, moral is poor, all agree that the clan can ill afford to remain trapped on the plateau for much longer.
Aside the four friends privately discuss cutting their losses, ditching the wagon & slipping away during the hours of darkness, fortunately for Molin he is saved from deciding whether to abandon his clan as a plan is lain to try & breach the upper blockade during the hours of darkness.
As the skies darken a group of clan warriors slip quietly up the scree choked pass & silently disappear onto the main plain above, at the same time Tharla leads her friends as well as two further clan warriors back to the blocked pass, to aid their passage she has cast spells of silence about the party. Reaching the point where the trail cuts into the mountain Kilite takes the opportunity to scry's a spell to highlight any person of ill intent. Tharla casts a spell of darkness before them before they edge their way up the collapsed cutting, pausing only once whilst Illyra quietly raises a spell of sharpness upon her blade. Kilite, touching Tharla's arm to hold her progress whispers in her ear indicating the guards on the rise above them, once they freeze as change of watch takes place.
Occasionally one of the party slip in the near pitch blackness of the narrow pass, little light being shed from the cloud shrouded new moon above, once a guard above calls out a challenge into the night however Tharla with a few sniffs & grunts allays the guards fear of approach as he assumes a fox or some such creature searches for a kill.
Rising above the bluff the party prepare to engage those above, the two-clan warriors slip away heading for one of the watch posts identified by Kilite, leaving the four friends to deal with the remainder. As Tharla raises the wall of darkness before them the spells of silence fail, a bellowed challenge startles them into action, bursting through the darkwall Tharla, Molin & Illyra meet the troopers head on amidst a flurry of blades.
Kilite, remaining behind the wall & seeking to aid his comrades thrusts his staff through the wall & cries for light to banish the darkness, to late Illyra screams for him to stay his hand as all beyond the wall are suddenly bathed in a sphere of blinding daylight, realising his error he banishes the light & plunges all those dazzled into darkness.
As both oppressed & oppressor flail blindly about Molin draws first blood killing one of the six with a magnificent, if not fortunate blow, however he is soon overwhelmed & lies bleeding & unconscious, the fingers from his right hand mangled beyond repair.
Kilite, about to go to the aid of the others glances to his left as his powers detect the approach of at least one other guard, taking no chances he raises his staff & centring his aim upon the hooded lantern carried by one of the approaching guards blasts a gout of flame into the night, as he watches flames envelop to figures who fall screaming in agony.
Tharla & Illyra, hard pressed, valiantly defend themselves & the fallen Molin, outnumbered however they are ever so slowly pushed back before the five remaining swords. One of the guards suddenly charges & plunges his blade through the wall of darkness narrowly missing the staring figure of Kilite. Startled Kilite reacts using his staff to beat upon the brow of the trooper before him. As his blows rain about the guard he releases the last of the power within the staff only to see the man's helm crumple & his skull burst beneath.
The fight is soon over however as the two-clan warriors return & arrows from behind the guards draw blood. As the clan warriors from the scree filled ravine come into view the injured guards remaining drop their weapons & slowly raise their hands in surrender.
Dropping to the floor Tharla feels for a pulse at Molin's neck, nodding in affirmation to Illyra, Illyra hastily casts a spell of healing & binds the bloody stumps on Molin's right hand, whilst the others are occupied Tharla silently checks Molin's other hand & relaxes as she finds the Zr'gsv ring still worn.
With death still on his shoulder Molin is lifted & carried towards the camp of the Bear clan.