Stories of encounters with the Mhyrrwood Bandits.

[TheOneBc]

It was late in the high mountain pass, the three had journyed up from the dale seeking the safety of the hold. The ambush came quickly, arrows assailed the three for a moment, before the beasts appeared from the dark brush. The hearty bugber of the northern tribe charged down the pass. Bravely the seasoned warrior in the rusted mail charged head long to meet them and hold them off from the two archers to his back. With skilled swordsmanship of the seasoned warrior, he felled the three brutes and charged up the pass twards the last remaining archer, who by that time had been struck many a times by the true shots of his two companions. His heavy swing landing deeply on the last of the fierce goblinkin. It was not but a few paces onward that the unsuspecting trio were assulted once again.Unknowingly they had been followed for some time. Cought completely off gaurd, the foul woman chose her timing well and struck from the shadows, her skilled shot landing deeply into the rangers shoulder. For but a moment he spotted her, but by then it was too late. The arrow which hung in his shoulder was tipped with a stong poision, siesing his body up. He could only look on helplessly as she disappeared once again. Behind him he could hear the sound of another arrow sizzeling through the crisp mountian air and striking its target between two metal plates. it was only a moment later that a third whistled through the dark night and landed in its intended target. The older ranger's muscles binding up tight with the strong poision. The three locked helplessly as the poision coursed through their bodies. The seasoned ranger looked on helplessly as the foul woman appeared infront of him, quickly she began to dig through his pack, searching frantically for something. He could feel a sudden lift of weight from the pack as she pulled it out and into view. The foul weapon, tainted with the evil of the bandit priest, was now within her grasp and yet he could do nothing to stop her. As she gloated for a moment looking over the heavy morning star clutched in her hand, the effect of the poision began to lesson in the rangers veins. With all his will he sumoned the strength to grab his blades at his side and lunged at the woman catching her by suprise. The blades swung hard through the air slicing her only lightly as she skillyfully side stepped the attack. Gritting his teeth he lunged again at her, determined not to let her escape with her prize. The two exchanged blows as they danced around the tight mountain pass, his two companions helplessly paralized by the foul poision could only watch.
The womans skill with bow was equally matched with blade and she landed a number of hard strikes on the seasoned ranger, causing him to stagger back and reach of a vial of cureatives which only extended his agony as another strike was landed. Frantically he lashed out with his curved blade, swiping her across the midsection and casuing her to step back and drop her blade. Seeing the oppertunity he turned and reached for another pouch in his pack, grabbing a sronger vial this time, but it was too late. In his hesitation she had managed to draw her bow. The sizzeling sound of the vile arrow singing through the night air once again rang out, landing square in his back this time. Like the sting of a giant wasp, it knocked the wind from his chest, dropping him to his knees. His body hung there for a moment, his eyes blankly staring out into the darkness watching a few leaves fall from the atumnunal trees, until the peacefull mountain scenery slowly was washed away by white light and with a heavy thud he falls forward motionless...........................Quinn Jarna breathed no more..........

[DonniFuhay]

I (Dyer) was with Quinn and Caine heading toward the HOLD. We were climbing the trail to the pass when Bugbears blocked the road. Caine in the front attacked them skillfully with his sword while Quinn and I sent arrows at them. Most of my shots went wide or were deflected by shield. Quinn skillfully hit vulnerable points and damaged them severely. Caine cut off limbs and heads, the battle was short and the Bugbears were dispatched quickly.

In hindsight I can see that this delay allowed her to catch up to us. She attacked only a short while later. I only had a brief view of her and then she vanished from sight. The disappearance frightened me and I moved between Cain and Quinn for protection from whatever was to come, my mind raced trying to think how I could fight something I could not see! Then Quinn was frozen and could not move, then Caine became frozen and then I felt a sharp pain in my side and felt my body go rigid. With terror I could see but could not move. Quinn resisted the poison and was the first to be able to move and he quickly attacked the she bandit. I watched in horror as he traded sword blows with her. I was hopeful that he would vanquish her as wounds appeared on both. But then she changed to some other weapon and he quickly fell to the ground. It was as if she had been toying with him and then ended it.

I then began to move slowly. I pulled the arrow from my side, and used a curative potion to close the wound. I was frightened, I could not fight something that had just felled Quinn! I panicked and ran north hoping to reach what I thought would be the protection of the HOLD. I had only gone a few steps when Caine called to me to come back. She had gone back down the road the way she had come. It seems she had gotten both what she wanted and the revenge she had sought.

I know nothing of healing, I have things that I don't know what they are or how to use them. I tried many on Quinn's wounds to no affect. His skin was an ashen color, no pulse followed through his veins. I picked up Quinn's pack and Caine his body. I could manage a walk, Caine could only manage a shuffle under the weight of the big ranger. At this slow pace the only place I thought we could go was the HOLD. I took the lead and started scouting the way up the pass.

Caine then drank from a bottle and began to run! Imagine my surprise. He gave me a potion to drink and I felt like a young man again able to run with the weight of Quinn's pack. We could now go back to the Dale! I ran with the strength and endurance far greater than I have ever had as a youth. We ran down and down and down the Earthspur Trail, thru the Vineyard only stopping to drink more of that delicious potion. We traveled many leagues without resting. Orc bandits and highwaymen tried to bar our way. We ran headlong into them giving them our swords. My sword strokes mostly glanced off shield and armor, but Caine again cut off limbs and severed heads. As soon as they fell we were off running again.

As we approached the north gate Caine called out to the guards who flung them wide for us. We ran to Lady Kessa. I watched as Caine carefully laid Quinn at her feet. I stood back as Caine spoke softly with her. After a time saw the color return to Quinn's face and an eyebrow raise.

[Algernon's Ghost]

She had been watching the gates of Dragon Dale for several days now, waiting for the ranger to leave the little village. He was the one who took the weapon off the priest's body after the party had surrounded and cut him down. She was no fool and knew a lost cause when she saw one, so she fled the ancient barrow that her band had occupied as a base of operations over the years.

Now she was hidden along the cliffs above Dragon Dale by both sheer skill and magic. A devious smile played across her lips when she saw only the three of them leave the north gate; surely they would have been in greater company. What luck! Perhaps this was her chance to take Death's Bell for herself.

After checking her supply of potions, she followed after, silently stalking the trio northward. Her way was to always remain hidden behind, but keep them just in sight. Her mind ran over risks and plans of attack as she shadowed the group. She had tested the ranger and the warrior - the others called them Caine and Quinn - more than once before. The game of cat and mouse was something she enjoyed, but its true purpose was to allow her to learn about her opponents' tactics with the least risk to herself. The third, whom she heard the other two call Dyer, was an older man; she knew little about him.

When the trio continued north from Elder's Vineyard, she smiled again. Another stroke of luck to have them isolated on a narrow path in the mountains! She watched them take down a small band of bugbears, and decided the time to attack would be just up the trail.

Striking the ranger from the cover of invisibility, her strike found just the right mark to temporarily paralyze him. A quick draught and she was invisible again. The other two stood guard over their immobilized friend. Another fortunate strike on the warrior left him paralyzed as well, then the older ranger too.

As she searched through the ranger's magical packs, the man suddenly regained control of his body and attacked her. Twice she downed potions to become invisible again, but she was too close; a fight it was then! Her eyes glanced to the man's companions between strikes to be certain they were not yet able to join the skirmish. A deft jab here, a swift strike there, and she was wearing down her opponent. When he withdrew to take his healing brews, she withdrew as well and switched to her short bow. There was almost always less risk in an attack from a distance.

Two well-placed arrows and the ranger was down, bleeding out in the dirt. A quick search found the priest's morning star in her hand, it was hers! After another quick draught, she disappeared from sight as she moved down the slope.

The warrior appeared on the hill above her, banging his sword against his shield, apparently challenging her. A smirk played upon her mouth. She had what she wanted... for now.

[Hyde213]

Four Words….

… He strained… but could not move... a swirling melee two paces from him… and he strained… they parried and riposted… … He strained… they fought like dancers… his friend feigning and lunging… the woman dodging and darting…. And he strained… and four words played in his mind…

his friend was losing… and he strained… two shots from her bow…. his vision clouded as he strained… the world shaded red… his friend on the ground… and he strained… she smiled as she lifted Mask’s weapon… then was gone… and he strained… rage slowly turning to anger… and he strained…

… Free…. Anger …. Challenge offered… refused… if she wanted us dead we would be laying next to Quinn…. QUINN!!!… the four words flooded his mind

...running down the mountainside… arm accustomed to a shield. holding tightly the friend slung over his shoulder… running… and four words running through his head

.. slowing only to protect his one living companion… running… must find help…. Running… the four words torturing loud….

.. The gate… mouth opened in an unaccustomed shout… “GATES!”... running… must find help…. Kessa… Kessa can help…

..staggering out of the temple falls forward catching himself on a tree.. other hand grasping and rubbing his temples.. four words pounding from inside his skull…. “Lets See This Finished” … he had said yesterday before the three had set out…

*sighing deeply* …. Four word and an advantage is lost… four words and an enemy regains a powerful symbol… Four words and a friend dies… four words…

*mumbling softly a voice dripping with self loathing* Helm Forgive me…. I am a fool….