Legendary Exploits of Three Not Viking Brothers

"Lich monsters, cannibals, and nocturnal predators are your main concerns. Keep away from any holes that you might stumble upon. Though it's the ones you can't see that are the most dangerous."

"Well Robillard, you've braved these lands before. Do you think we'll have what it takes to make the journey?"

"I have always traveled these lands in the company of an army, so I cannot say for sure. However, your depraved nature hides a core of metal, Gwain. I only hope that when truly tested, you find steel within yourself, and not copper. As for us, I am sure we will prevail. Themis protected me before, and she has still continued to watch over me. Much as I have shed the support of the cloying and grotesquely large Church, we shall shed the protection of this army, and strike out on our own."

"I can't say your faith inspires much confidence in me, but I know my men and I are up to the task. Gisgo, it seems like this will be more dangerous than I originally anticipated. Do you think the main force will be able to fair without it's guide for a few days?"

"There are any number of things that could happen. Such a decision would have to be left to your eldest brother."

Gwain leads the assemblage to Leewan's tent and seeks his council.

You arrive

Leewan listens carefully as Gwain details the outgoing party's concerns. Despite normally being an immediately decisive leader he struggles with discerning the best course of action.

"Our forces can hold safely here for several days with certainty. However if your party is waylaid by raiders or another incident leads to an extension of your mission then we will be in dire straights. I do not trust the guides of Acren to give accurate advice on the dangers of these lands. Gisgo is to accompany you if you believe your initial reconnaissance can be completed in a timely fashion, Gwain."

"I will ensure we make our reconnaissance swift. After all, there aren't any whores out there in the Blasted Lands for Gwain to get waylaid by!! Ha!" Robillard laughs, perhaps not realizing that his joke is incredibly insensitive.

Ignoring his bumbling middle brother, Gwain nods to Leewan's commands and begins to lead the party out. "We strike out at sundown. Steel yourselves men, this won't be easy."

Gwain gathers the men he decides to bring along and, despite Gisgo's repeated warnings, decides upon travelling through the night and resting during the day to avoid raiders. As the sun begins to set Gwain, Robillard, Gisgo, and Gwains Guard meet at the outskirts of the camp with the Gisgo and Gwain riding upon standard horses and Robillard upon his majestic steed Guinevere. The members of Gwains Guard as not so fortunate as to have horses to carry them to which Gwain proposes the horses be left behind but Gisgo responds by simply saying "To stay alive I only have to be faster than the slowest man."

Electing not to be the slowest man Robillard and Gwain stay upon their steeds and the group begins their scouting mission with Gisgo leading from the front. Gisgo tells everyone to not say a word and to stay as quiet as possible throughout the night all the while during the initial stages of the journey strange and horrifying noises are heard off in the distance. One set of noises sounds like the blood-curdling screams of crazed madmen while others sound like the howls of strange wolves out upon the plains.

Unfortunately, due to not all the travelling members having horses, the group does not make as much distance as they could have throughout the night and are further impeded several times as Gisgo stops periodically to check the area for tracks or at other seemingly random moments. On one moment Gisgo stops suddenly as the group continues the trek in virtually total darkness (save the moonlight) and after a brief moment orders everyone to lay on the ground in a nearby shallow ditch. As Robillard and Gwain make to guide their steeds towards the ditch Gisgo says in a hushed tone with to leave them where they are if they value their lives.

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Leewan watches from a distance as his brothers leave wondering if they will ever return and if he'll be left alone to lead his house. Unable to decide if such an event would be good or bad, he returns to his duties and ensures that the army stays busy. The miserable conditions of the surrounding area do nothing to help Leewans mood; between the frequent rains and mud that sometimes goes up to Leewans knees the soggy conditions make it almost impossible to even keep a piece of parchment inside his tent dry yet alone his clothes. After a day and a half of waiting for Leewan receives word that the prisoner Gisgo had captured has been cared to enough that they are awake and coherent enough to speak to. Leewan recalls that it will still be another day before the rest of the Acren army begin making their way through the pass.

Gwain does as directed and drops his horse's reigns while following Gisgo. As he goes, he listens carefully for any signs of danger. [17 notice]

Leewan inquires as to whether or not the prisoner shares a common tongue.

[For sake of sanity everyone in this world speaks the same language. Though naturally they'll have different accents]

Robillard is heartbroken at the thought of losing Guinevere so soon after finally taming her. However, he understands how dangerous these lands are, and also follows Gisgo's advice.

Gwain and Robillard leave their steeds and the entire group hunker down as best they can into the small ditch barely large enough to fit everyone. As Gwain makes his way over he peers out into the darkness and sees dark shapes moving out in the distance. As he watches Gwain finds himself unable to look away from the shapes and is startled when Gisgo shakes him with a hand on the shoulder and gestures for him to get into the ditch.

As the brothers and company huddle close to the ground and stay as silent as possible the only sounds for many long moments are the horses and the clicks of Guinevere's beak. Suddenly, however, the horses outside the ditch begin making loud whining noises and Guinivere can be heard making squaks and scrapes on the ground with her claws. These sounds from the animals only continue to get louder and louder as time goes on. Gwain and Robillard look to Gisgo and see the man with his face planted firmly into his arms and as deep into the ground as he can get.

Never one to shy away from danger, Robillard risks one glimpse. If Guinevere is to die, she shall have a witness.

Leewan comes to inspect the prisoner.

Leewan leaves his tent and walks across the muddy fields and through the armies camp. As he walks by the mumbles of the men around him and the occasional salute are his only companions leaving Leewan to wish for one of his advisor's company like Ritter or Gerfried. Soon enough, Leewan arrives at a small medical tent and one of the medics standing outside speaks to Leewan as he arrives,

"Would you like to speak with the prisoner alone sir? Or shall I accompany you to ensure the prisoner remains cooperative?"

"Remain nearby. I may have reason to call for your skills depending on this prisoner's answers."

After the medic leaves the tent Leewan looms over the bound prisoner and studies the poor soul's appearance. (Clothing, outward appearance of hunger, undernourishment, torture or wounds not caused by Gwain and Gisgo.)

Robillard peeks up and over the ditch and beholds a horrifying sight. Beasts most akin to wolves, as best as can be seen in the low light, dash around the horses and Guinivere in a circle. One comes closer for a better look and Robillard sees that the black fur of the beasts is much longer than would be expected. The fur wisps and flows unnaturally about the creature and trails almost as far as its tail which itself splits into two midway. The creature's eyes glow as red as hot coals and it moves unnervingly silently despite the fast speeds at which it moves. Most concerning of all, however, is perhaps the yellow-white serrations that stick out of the creature's underside and the slight pulses of light of different colours that come from its underside and cause brief illumination of the ground beneath it.

As Robillard looks upon the creature he suddenly feels a sharp pain in his head and Robillard finds himself reaching for his blade against his will. It takes all of Robillards concentration and will to resist the action and though the sharp pain continues he can't help but feel a burning desire to kill the others in the ditch in the most horrific and gruesome manner imaginable.

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Leewan enters the tent and inspects the soundly asleep prisoner. The man's appearance is rather telling of the general condition of most Blasted Land Citizens. His haggard appearance is given away by shallow cheeks and general malnutrition. Leewan doesn't have to see the rest of the man's body to guess he likely is extremely thin but, perhaps surprisingly, the man does not bear any scars on his face though his rather ghoulish appearance is unsettling enough. As Leewan inspects the man he notices the clothes he was found in by Gwain and Gisgo are on a nearby seat. Leewan walks over to inspect the items.

The man's clothes are a patchwork of various cloths and leathers formed into a crude set of pants and shirt. Completely contrary to this, the man's brown cloak is of fantastic craftsmanship with the material beeing very soft to the touch but still tough and warm to wear. Leewan can't help but muse at the unfortunateness of the mud that has caked onto the lower parts and ruined some of the fine black trim. When Leewan picks up the cloak to inspect further he hears a thud near his feet. Looking down, Leewan sees that from an interior pocket of the cloak has dropped a wooden symbol of a snake. Most notably, the snake has a pair of red eyes made of some kind of bead.

Leewan smacks the prisoner awake and asks.

"This cloak, how did you come to have it."

The prisoner comes to with a start and as Leewan demands answers he stares at the cloak in Leewans hands. The man stumbles for words for several moments and tries to get up (impossible due to restraints on him) but eventually speaks coherently,

"Get.. Get off it! That's mine mine! Snake gave it to us us in freeze. Die without!"


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Robillard and Gwain stay hidden within the ditch and Robillard watches the horror unfold in front of him before his eyes. The beasts run circles around the horses and Guinivere with one occasionally dashing in but dashing out as quickly when Guinivere makes to retaliate. Quickly, the pack of beasts make to separate the horses from Guinivere. With Guinivere alone, suddenly the beasts around her begin emitting a strobe of red light from their underside and all as one dash in towards Guinivere who screeches loudly into the air.

To Robillards horror, when the beasts charge the nature of the white protrusions in the beasts undersides are revealed. Once the beasts come into leaping range they jump high into the air and spread their limbs into the air. This act spreads the beasts out much farther than one would ever have expected and a horrifying glowing mouth like cavity is revealed with large fangs protruding out of them. This "mouth" traces all the way from where a belly button would ordinarily be to the beasts head forming one giant horrifying orifice. Guinivere does her best to sidestep the leaping creatures but many lands atop her and latch on with fangs and begin violently gnawing and yanking at the demigryph.

Leewan throws the cloak onto the prisoner and takes a seat across the space.

"Describe your superior, this 'Snake' ".

Seeing Guinevere in pain, Robillard gives in to his anger. The discipline he has learned through prayer channels his fury away from his allies and towards the fell beasts savaging Guinevere.

With a roar, he bursts up out of the ditch, drawing The Rising Dawn in a shining arc.

[10 on initative]

Seeing Robillard emerge from their home, Gwain just about face palms. Even if he and his brother don't agree on everything, he's not about to let him throw away his life for an oversized bird alone. Gwain knocks two arrows and whispers in the ditch. "We fight."

[9 initiative]

Robillard charges forward yelling at the top of his lungs and Gwain rises up from the ditch notching an arrow. The beasts are quick to react and respond well before Robillard can close the distance for his charge. Two of the creatures continue their assault on Guinivere with their "mouths" latched on and dragging her to the ground despite her attempts to resist. Five others of the beasts turn to look at Rob with their red eyes and the creatures stomachs begin to flash between a blue and yellow colour. No call goes up from the creatures in answer to Robs warcry but instead, all the beasts cease their colorations entirely.

One of the creatures dashes off away from Rob to his right while two dashes off in unison to Robs left. The remaining two not attacking Guinivere kite back away from Rob away from his leaving Rob too far to charge any of the creatures. Gwain takes a moment to look over at Gisgo and sees the man is looking up from his arms wide-eyed at Robillards decision.

[the creatures are capable of 8-yard movement. Gwain can barely make out any of the creatures now and has largely lost track of the two three that aren't near Guinivere. Rob then Gwain and Co act next.]

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The prisoner tries his hardest to grab the cloak with his hands but the restraints prevent him from doing so and eventually, gives up and relaxes back into the small cot. The man doesn't say anything for several moments and Leewan comes close to losing his patience but eventually, he speaks,

"Not seen Snake. Dark Cloaks of scary warlords come home. Ask demand service or steal... kill. Snake demand last. Serve for now until other comes."

Robillard will go stand next to Guinevere, his sword drawn and ready to defend her as soon as any beast comes near.

Gwain searches the darkness for a clear shot, but none presents itself. "Fraud, light a torch a throw it near Robillard." He ghosts under his breath. "And Gisgo, how do I kill these?" Gwain brings an arrow to full draw and waits for the opportunity to strike. [He takes the Counterattack Greater Action].

Fraud hurriedly pulls out a stick wrapped in cloth from his pack and lights it on fire. The sudden bright light so close to him stings Gwsins eyes and after a few blinks he sees the torch flying through the air and it lands over by Robillards feet.

Gisgo responds to Gwains question in what is damn close to a about but he manages to restrain himself from being too loud "Hell if I know! Try fucking stabbing them!"

In response to the fire Rob and Gwain see the creatures blip between white and green colors briefly. Unfortunately, any illumination provided onto the creatures is lost as they move away from the light and they continue their encirclemt of their new prey. The two between Robillard and Guinevere back away from the light closet to the demigryph. Extremely unfortunately, the light from the torch has created an extreme contrast between the area alight and the darkness ruining what work the parties eyes had done to adjust to the extreme darkness. It has now become even harder for Gwain and company to see the beasts making to descend upon the ditch.

Robillard is able to hear Guinevere fighting against her attackers. The demigryph continues to squak in pain as she is dragged to the ground and the eerie silence of the beasts around him make Robillards skin crawl.

[Rob then Gwain and his men]

Bending quickly Robillard scoops up the flaming torch, the light rippling down The Rising Dawn, almost as if Themis herself was present. He continues striding forward, his blade raised and ready to cleanse Guinevere.

As soon as the torch catches one of the beast's in its light, Gwain looses his readied arrow. [20 on Marksmanship] In quick succession, Gwain fires off two more arrows, focusing on a single target until it falls, then moving onto the next illuminated beast. [16 and 16]

Meanwhile, Fraud, Sloth, and Gia knock arrows in preparation for a counterattack while Treachery readies his blades to handle anything that enters the pit.

Gwain loses arrow after arrow into one of the beasts in front of Robillard. The first strike sends the beast reeling in pain but still not a sound is uttered. Seeing the creature is not vanquished Gwain loses another and another arrow into the creature hoping to give his brother a fighting chance and to his satisfaction, the beast rolls over after a brief desperate flight into a heap on the ground. The men of Gwains Guard ready their weapons for a fight and Gwain hears the sliding of metal against leather as Gisgo draws his own blade who, unexpectedly, bolts out of the ditch towards Robillard. Much to Gwains surprise, Gisgo manages to cover the entire distance to Robillard in his flight though perhaps not that surprising due to the heavy nature of Robs armour.

As Robllard stalks forwards towards Guinivere he can hear the sounds of her fighting back. He prays to himself that she is alright and that he manages to reach her soon; that the light of the torch he carries illuminate her and her be alright. Perhaps reacting to Gisgo's actions and the death of its fellow beast, the creature immediately in front of Robillard charges forward headlong and leaps headfirst into Robillard. The underbelly is revealed to Robillard as it does so and the light only serves to further Robillards horror as he gazes upon the rows of jagged teeth that line the "belly."

[15 on the attack, let me know how many DoS against Rob that is before continuing]

Gwain watches in horror as the creature descends onto Robillard but is forced to turn his attention away as the two beasts moving together make a full on charge for the ditch. The men with arrows try their hardest to hit the creatures as they charge forward but the darkness makes the task near impossible for any but the greatest of marksman. Both creatures also leap and expand their "bellies" for the charge and to Gwains horror he realises one is heading straight to land on him.

[14 on the attack that ends up hitting Gia and 10 for the attack on Gwain. Again, let me know the DoS before doing anything though destiny point spends are allowed at this time]

The final creature on the flank diverts from its intended targets in the ditch and instead turns and charges Gisgo in the same manner. Gisgo manages to spot the beasts charge and avoids a direct takedown by the flying creature but is still struck VICIOUSLY on the shoulder and receives an injury. Not done with its assault, the beast immediately whips around to face Gisgo after landing and lashes out with a swipe of a claw inflicting but a minor flesh wound as it catches on the armour he wears under his clothes.

The beasts are quick to continue their attack and the one who charged poor Gia lands dead centre on him with its charge knocking him soundly to the ground with the creature effectively pinning him with its mass and serrated underside. The creature uses its superior positioning to immediately gore the poor man with its belly and in a rapid yanking motion pulling flesh from bone with a terrifying ripping sound.

[5 damage fo the charge and a 20 on the roll for the gore attack. 5 damage per degree on the second attack to Gia.]

Gwain is fortunate enough to avoid being taken down by the beast in a manner similar to Gia but still receives a harsh gash for his trouble. Treachery steps in hurriedly to try and interject himself between the beast and Gwain with a swipe of his sword. Though Treachery manages to hit the beast he, unfortunately, fails to inflict any meaningful damage to the creature which immediately swipes out in retaliation at Treachery with a claw across his chest.

[13 on the attack and 4 damage per degree of success. 5 damage to Gwain]

Robillard also, fortunately, manages to avoid being knocked clean to the ground by the creatures charge but receives a minor wound thanks to his armour. Before Robillard can react, however, the creature swipes out at Robillards legs. Instead of simply harming the Griswald, the creature uses its surprising strength to instead pull Robillards leg out from under him sending his heavy mass careening to the ground.

[Rob receives 5 damage from the charge (not including armour reduction) and 4 from the claw swipe. Rob is currently knocked down on the ground with the creature looming over him]

Usual turn order continues.

Lying on the ground, Rob has no choice but to swing his sword, hoping to cut the creature down.

[A pathetic 21 on the roll]

Gia suffers a grievous wound from the predator tearing at his flesh. Seeing his friend go down, Gwain spurs to his aide in a blur of motion. With almost supernatural speed, [using a destiny point for a lesser action] Gwain lights a torch and passes it off to Sloth. Immediately afterwards, Gwain drops his bow and draws his twin blades and attempts to drive them into the hide of beast attacking Gia. [10 fighting, 3 damage per degree]

The rest of the squad follow suit with Treachery, Sloth, and Fraud all taking a stab at the creature that now finds itself at the center of a storm of steel. [11, 13, 11, all 3 damage per degree]. All Gia can manage is to summon a concealed dagger and fight for his life. [8, 2 damage per degree]

Robillard lashes out with the Rising Dawn at the creature hovering over him and catches the best unawares dealing a savage wound to the beast and sending it reeling in pain. Meanwhile, in the ditch of death, Sloth catches the torch tossed over to him having to drop his bow to make sure he catches the only source of light and not catch his clothes on fire while doing so. Gwain dives in headfirst to the rescue of Gia and swings rapidly with his blades but finds himself only slashing at the wisps of fur that hover around the creature.

Confidence instilled in them by their leader; the others draw blades and slash furiously in an attempt to save Gia with some success being had to inflict damage but for the most part, only fur being cut instead of deep gashes into flesh. Gisgo squares off against his beastly opponent with swings his curved sword and though he doesn't injure the creature he forces the beast to exhaust itself in an attempt to avoid the blows. The creature atop Gia flashes violent red colours as it is descended upon and audible cracks can be heard as its "stomach" opens up to gash at Gia beneath it. The other beast inside the ditch attempts to come to the aid of its fellow creature and lashes out at Treachery with a vicious bite and easily grabs at his leg and pulls him straight to the ground. Fortunately for Treachery, he is not grabbed by the creature in the same manner as Gia.

[25 for the attack on Gia due to attacking a person on the ground. -5 to combat defence due to being grabbed and 5 damage per. Willing to bet he takes a wound. 5 damage to Treachery and he is now knocked down]

The creature that Robillard struck out against flashes blue colours in response to the wound inflicted and instead of attacking Robillard directly strikes out at his blade in an attempt to wrestle it from him. The strength of the beast surprises Robillard tremendously and the Rising Dawn is ripped straight from his hands and thrown two yards away from him towards Guinivere and just out of the torchlight. The beast fighting Gisgo returns the favour by forcing rapid reactions from the man and exhausting him much the same as he did to the creature.

[No damage to Rob but he is disarmed and still on the ground. Gisgo and the beast he is fighting did damage to each other but not enough to cause an injury or wound.]

Rob, then Gwain and company per usual

Realizing that without his sword he is nigh useless, Rob lurches up and rushes over to The Rising Dawn, destiny itself interfering to give him enough time to make it to his blade and pick it up in a single 5 second period.

[We'd better get some experience for this]

Now that each beast is occupied with its own target, Gwain takes the opportunity to slink out of the melee with his bow [lesser action to pick up the bow]. A fortuitous foothold on the side of the ditch makes climbing out easier than expected [a destiny point for a lesser action to move]. With his new and improved positioning, Gwain draws and arrow and fires straight down into the illuminated pit hoping to skewer the beast atop Gia into oblivion. [25 on Marksmanship, 5 damage per degree with 1 point of piercing].

Robillard retrieves his weapon as the beast strangely doesn't pursue him. With weapon in hand and now in sight he looks over to Guinivere to finally see whether his beloved land bird still lives. With great joy, Robillard sees that Guinivere has shaken off her attackers and is very much holding her ground against her foes, despite a grievous wound she likely took initially.

Gwain deftly manoeuvres out of the ditch and fires into the creature assaulting his comrade. The arrow strikes soundly and wounds the creature inspiring his men to strike with revenge at the beast. Unfortunately, the flurry of blades doesn't appear to harm the beast significantly as it flails about trying to defend itself and keep Gia pinned. Gwains attack is swiftly responded on as the second beast charges Gwain with its mouth agape.

[17 on charge, let me know degrees of success as you may be tackled]

The creature among the members of Gwains Guard in its flurry attacks at poor poor Gia underneath of it. A resounding and horrifying tearing sound is heard from the flesh beneath the creature as the Gia's last breath is silenced with a jagged tooth slicing his throat. The splatters of blood that are scattered beneath the creature only hint at the utter ruin and carnage that is the now deceased Gia beneath the creature.

[16 on the attack with same -5 combat defence assuredly killing the poor Gia by dealing a third wound.]

Gisgo, now finding himself without light because Robillard moved (albeit necessarily), strikes out at the creature in near total darkness and luckily (very luckily) finds a solid slash on the creature and wounds it severely across its flanks. Robillard with a moment to spare looks around for the creature that was attacking him and realises the beast has sprinted off the way they had come into the distance flashing yellow colours from its underside. Surprisingly, the creature in melee with Gisgo that was just wounded also flees off in the same direction as the one Robillard was just fighting nearly knocking Gisgo on his feet with its flight. The two creatures fighting Guinivere, with light now upon them, also flee off with their packmates leaving only two still actually in the combat.

[Robs go, though he's too far to go and help a (likely) tackled Gwain. Let me know how many DoS on Gwain before acting]

Gwain is knocked down to the ground and immediately pounded upon by the creature keeping him pinned to the ground. Horror fills his every thought as the creatures claws flay his skin and he fears dying in this hellscape like Gia.

[24 on the attack. 4 damage per degrees of success and -5 to combat defence]

Robillard will take advantage of his momentary respite to quickly go and mount Guinevere. From the height of his battle-trained demigryph he feels prepared to smite however many more beasts which may come. He wheels Guinevere around and heads towards the pit as quickly as possible.

[Gwain takes a wound]

Dread fills Gwain and his men's heart as their party drops one after another. He howls in pain as the beast rips flesh from bone. "Help!" is the cry Gwain manages to muster before drawing a dagger and attempting to thrust it the creature's maw. [10, 2 damage per degree]

With Gwain just outside the pit, his assailant is still covered in the dancing glow of Sloth's torchlight. Fraud picks up Gia's bow and fires at the predator with Sloth's assistance [15, 5 damage + 1 piercing per degree]. Sloth then does his best to help Treachery dodge the deadly attacks of his own beast. [Treachery dodges to put his CD at 13 for the round].

Robillard mounts his mighty (though wounded) stead and looks around the night for foes to smite. Some members of Gwains Guard make to help their leader with carefully aimed arrow shot and though the arrow finds its target it fails to do much appreciable damage perhaps due to Sloth making sure he doesn't hit Gwain. Gisgo, with his previous foe having run off out of his sight, realises Gwain is in extreme peril and charges at the beast with sword held high to bring down atop the enemy. The sword strike wounds the beast as it comes down on its midsection and both of the beasts currently engaging Gwains Guard bolt from the fight. The one that killed Gia fleas off directly away from Robillard and the one grappling Gwain leaps off of him and sprints off towards its fellows.

[The combat is effectively over unless Robillard charges off after them on his own. Act as normal presuming no suicidal actions]

Robillard rides over to Gisgo and the remaining men.

"Our ignorance and arrogance has cost us the life of a man. I apologize for not taking your advice more seriously. Now what can we do to ensure our safety?"

Treachery lends a hand to Gwain who uses it to hoist himself back on two legs. Clutching a nasty gash in his stomach, Gwain turns a fiery glare to his brother. "Our ignorance!? That's why you think this happened? My friend just DIED because you decided to run screaming like a child after your over-sized bird you've known for less than a season, and you think this is our fault!?"

A brief spurt of coughing containing equal parts blood and saliva interrupts Gwain's tirade. "I knew I should't have brought you."

Robillard sweeps a cold eye over Gwain and his wound.

"As I told you, men will die on our quest. I am sorry it had to be so soon. We will have to leave the body behind."

For a moment, he realizes what Leewan must feel every day.

"Hmph, not a shred of remorse. And how fitting that when my life was moments away from ending, it was Fraud and Gisgo who saved me. And what were you doing while your own brother was dying? Grooming your mount?"

Gwain addresses his guard and Gisgo. "This mission is a failure. We can't retrieve the crown in this condition."

Gisgo with his blade still in hand and the fury on his face barely concealed by the shadows cast by the two still lit torches responds to Robillard in a hushed, but very obviously frustrated tone "Put those goddess damned torches out. If it wasn't for your eldest brother I'd be putting my blades guard to your face right now Robillard."

He grumps and sheathes his sword while the lights are hastily put out. Only once the lights go out and numerous moments of awkward silence and tension go by does he speak again "We can still make it to the fort with those who aren't wounded. Gwain, you'll have to lead the wounded back to camp if that's your decision. Either way, we leave the body so the beasts don't follow after us and attack us when we're drained."