Everyone stared out the front door in shock to behold Ane, weeping in the arms of a startled but very pleased Roric. She looked back towards the company and smiled like a little girl as the locals advanced, calling for blood. It was clear Mans was making the most of his new host, Nethrida's younger sister Annedyl.
Caine looked at Xandilif, scratching his chin..."Do all your vacations turn out like this?'
Xandilif did not bother to answer him, as if was clear from the sound they were making in the courtyard that the crowd was confused by the sudden appearance of Ane....and Roric to his credit looked the most confused..."Anenedyl....the killer is...inside your home? How can this be?'
Annedyl nodded, her hair falling over her eyes. "I find it as hard to believe as you..but my sister Nethrida is the Ripper, in concert with that foul Corsair. Last night when I tried to save poor Yula, the Corsair dropped this knife as they fled. I could Barely believe my eyes, but it is Nethrida's, I would know it anywhere.”
She held out one of Nethrida's belt knives...smeared with dried blood. Staring dumbfounded one of the locals exclaimed. “I recognize that hilt. I have seen Captain Nethrida carry it many times. I can’t believe she would do such a thing out of the blue, those elves must be playing with her mind, using her, just as Councilman Roric said they could!”
Ane nodded again, sobbing so hard she could barely speak. “When I confronted her, Nethrida and that elf went wild....they threatened me....and told me they would have their corsair kill me and say I was just another victim.”
Inside the farmhouse, Finchley remained in front of Lif, daggers drawn as the shouting in the courtyard was easily overheard. She looked to Ynna. "Is there a way we could get out a back way? Or a window? We need to get out of here. I don't think they can be reasoned with this time."
Ynna turned to look at Finchley and opened her mouth about to speak..but stopped.
Nethrida just shook her head a little bit "They're... Blaming me...?" She frowned and stared at the door. "I'm... Not about to have that wraith drive -us- from our home..." She hissed and took a few steps towards the door. 'All... We have to do is... Get Mans to react... Should be easy enough... Given his woeful misunderstanding of things...'
Carneryn held her sword steady and looked at the door, beside Nethrida. "Surely they will question how it could be you if we got here weeks after the first murders?!" she paused with an odd look in her eyes before wincing and moving a hand off her sword to her head "They're stupid if they fall for that..."
Now that the black speech and visions had stopped, Addie was able to straighten up and release her hand from over her heart, though the pain and tightness in her chest still seemed to be there somewhat, evidenced by her breathing. She looked from the closed door to the suddenly silent Ynna, her crystal blues locking on the woman's eyes, searching. A fear was growing in her.
Xandilif sighed and glanced out the open kitchen door. "Looks like some of the yokles are trying to surround us, moving into the side garden....if we intend to leave without cutting our way through half the fecking town, this might be a good time.”
Eduwiges nodded grimly, 'Whatever we are going to do we need a plan! If we are going to stay we need to get Ynna to a safe place, swords at the doors, and we need to figure out a way to get Mans to reveal himself.' She cracked her knuckles and drew her sword Badu Druit from her back. The Jewels on the pommel were glowing bright blue.
As the initial shock was wearing off, the mob was growing more upset and restive...spears and other weapons were being brandished as Roric tried to make sense of this. "Your sister is behind all this, at the elf’s urging…..yet she but recently arrived....did she not?"
Ane nodded, clinging all the more helplessly to the Councilman. “The Corsair is her creature and did her bidding before she arrived to hide her guilt, but I think both of them are under the spell of the elf. My poor sister, you must save her from herself, clearly the death of her love and her failure drove her mad, making her easy prey for that first born bitch.'
Caine glanced out the kitchen doorway as well and did not like what he saw. "Ummm….Excuse me, First Born Bitch? There are more coming up the road, attracted by the torches no doubt, they must think it is a cookout. This is becoming problematic and we are now out of time....what do you want to do?'
As the company fell to silence, faced by the start reality of Caine’s question, Ynna turned to face Nethrida, her eyes filled with tears, her voice raised to be heard outside. "Neth...how could you....this town has always believed in you'
At Ynna's words Finchley turned her head to look at the woman, eyes wide. "... What are you sayin'?" She backed up into Lif and sort of held one arm across her protectively. It was beginning to look like they'd all been caught in a trap and there was no way out but to fight through.
Nethrida stopped as well and looked over to her mother with a look of disbelief. "You just saw Annedyl burst into Black Speech... and speak in an unknown voice... and you still believe the lies...?" She sounding both annoyed and shocked at the same time.
Carneryn looked over Neth’s shoulder at Ynna and surprisingly just laughed at the absurdity of it all "No way! She /is/ that stupid... Seriously? Are you /actually/ going to believe this?"
Addiela shook her head violently as pieces fell into place for her, "Her mind is not her own. I have the same feeling as I did in Kheledul, she is being controlled and soon the mob will be too if they are not already. Mans must be using that ring, deluding people’s minds. I…I do not know how we can combat that without hurting innocent people."
Xandilif grumbles..."Yeah, that makes sense. The ring Sindya went missing once Hawke cut it off Mans and the fecking dwarf died, or appeared to die. However the little bastard just hid inside that morgul blade and we saw the shade that was freed at the Thirsty Seer had it..so yeah, this stinks of ring magic..for once I wish Blackbird was here...”
Caine stared at the Banshee. "Ring magic? Seriously? That was behind all that noise last month?'
Eduwiges sighed and sheathed her sword. 'Here is whats going to happen. I am going to run out the door in my armor and tackle Ane,. I need some one to back me up. We must get the ring or whatever it is off of her. I am tired of this. Be ready and follow me.' She moved to the door and prepares to sprint into Ane...
Xandilif slapped Edu in the back of the head and held her by the hair...."No you aren't...stand by until something useful happens.”
'We must stop them before we are overwhelmed!!!.' Eduwiges slammed her hand into the wall in frustration, needing to act as the mob worked up their courage.
From the safety of the mob, Roric called out in an authoritative voice. "Surrender She-elf...release your hold on these poor women and come out, disarmed!'
Running a hand through her hair, unsure what to do, Neth suddenly noticed through the kitchen door one of the half dozen or so that were creeping through the herb garden curse and fall over....then a second one cursed and fell as well.
From through the kitchen door, a shrill, rough, but familiar voice was heard shrieking...."I is the RIPPER, you soggy nosed goblin gobblers!! I kill all of you...starting with your wimens, YOUR WIMENS!!!!'
Finchley looked towards the kitchen. "Nik!" Despite her fear she grinned from ear to ear! She's had never been so happy to hear the nasty little kobold in all her life!
As the company all moved to look, running away from the farmhouse was what appeared to be a small woman or little girl, wearing what had to be a dirty tablecloth...it jumped atop of a wall, and yes, lifted the tablecloth and made a very rude gesture at the mob, most of whom then started after it in a rage..."A MONSTER..A MONSTER" they screamed.'
Xandilif smirked to herself “I had wondered where the little bastard had gotten to…”
Caine shook his head...."Can this get any stranger?....but whatever that thing was, it is certainly a distraction and the Post road is clear...we had best move if we are going to.'
Nethrida looked at Caine, then to Ryn. "Get mother out of here. Use the kitchen door... I... Want to have a chat with Anendyl..." She murmured and moved towards the front door.
Addiela looked to Lif, "That sword of yours, it made Mans flee at the Thirsty Seer, did it not? Are you able to call upon its power again or does it drain you?"
Xandilif didn’t answer, but nodded as she started herding everyone towards the kitchen door..."Drains…in a manner of speaking…but what do you have in mind...
Eduwiges moved to guard everyone by the kitchen door while Addiela nodded and calmly walked toward Ynna. "To break the spell over the crowd enough to deal with Mans on our terms." She looked to Ynna and gave her an apologetic look before moving to knock her over the head with her staff. "Apologies, Miss Ynna, but you need to come with us."
Looking back at the scene, Edu caught a glimpse of silver as outside, Roric shouted "Annedyl..she swoons!!!"'
As Addie raised her staff brain poor Ynna, the woman looked up at her and smiled, stepping close to the Rohan woman."Your father....is spending eternity in torment thanks to your meddling.." she hissed and Addie's eyes went wide as Ynna stabbed a palmed steak knife into her side.
However, there was the rasp of metal against hardwood and the blade was repelled, just cutting Addie’s belt pouch as Ynna stumbles back towards the door. Outside Ane suddenly woke and screamed "They are attacking my mother!!!"' and the half dozen or so of the mob that did not go off after the “Monster” prepared to charge the front door.
Caine shouted. "Lets go, NOW...even the matrons are trying to kill us!'
Finchley looked between Addie and Lif and frowned. "... Drain her?" She stared at Lif for a moment, brows furrowed. In that moment she thought back to the tragic and harrowing ordeal in her home village near Bree and looked slightly horrified, as well as conflicted. She watched the interaction between Addie and Ynna and shakes her head at Caine. "But what about Ynna? They might not do anythin' to her now but later... What if they do somethin' to her later?"
Nethrida growled and reached for the front door. "We're just letting her whip the crowd to a frenzy! We've beaten Mans before." She snarled before raising her voice to be heard outside. "Hey, Ane! Is that how an officer of the Navy behaves? Crying and weeping like a hapless damsel?! No wonder you're so bitter about MY accomplishments!"
Carneryn raised a brow and smiled, moving over to Neth to join in. "Thought you were a hardass? Maybe discharge is actually a /good/ thing." she called out.
Holding her side, Addiela saw now that Ynna and Ane had somehow been connected with Man's consciousness; she knew that Caine was right and that they should flee to form an actual plan, but there was no guarantee of actually getting away. Better perhaps to finish this now, one way or another. She took in a deep breath and shouted, to try and provoke Mans again. “Come face me you demon coward. Scared of staying face to face with me because you know what your fate will be? You have to hide behind a crowd?"
Xandilif spat, watching Nethrida, Ryn and Addie all calling out to the possessed Annedyl and what was left of the mob. "Dammit, how many clowns does this circus need." She reached out, catching Finch by the back of the hood and lifted her off her feet, then throwing her to Caine. "GO! Make for the road. We'll be right behind you...”
Eduwiges waved her arm, urging everyone through the door as Finchley hurtled past her to the knight. 'By Bema! Get your arses out of here now!'
Xandilif moved forward just as Ynna reached to pull the front door open, as the door swung wide she backhanded the old woman and slammed the door shut again. With a spray of blood Ynna folded up and she held the blade of SilverWand between Addie, Neth and Ryn and the Door.
Xandilif barked 'Grab the old woman and follow Edu..NOW!!!'
Addiela stopped, and looked down at Nethrida’s unconscious mother, 'Well that was a bit hard don't you think, Lif?'
Eduwiges yelled and gestures firmly, 'Who CAES how hard she hit the old bag! Come on! Out the door and down the path, follow Caine! Go go go!'
Out front Ane was shouting. "Mama!!! Oh god!!! Stop them!!!!'
Finchley was essentially knocked into Caine outside the door but quickly righted herself and... hesitated, but only for second or two. "Lif, you better be right behind me or I swear I'll come right back and kick your butt!" She dashed through the garden towards the road.
Nethrida cursed a bit and took a few steps back from SilverWand, which was glowing an icy blue. "Be sure to ask her about how she knew what was going on inside despite being out there!" she shouted at Roric before backing away from the closed door, cursing heavily. Truth be told, she was in no state to fight back, reeling from the shocks of the last few minutes.
Carneryn started backing away as well but waited for Addie to move "So taunting him hasn't worked... Addie out /now/." she said pointedly.
Addiela watched as the others moved away from the unconcious Ynna. "They leave me to carry a person? Lovely..." She didn’t really know how to do this and was very awkward, bending down to pull the woman's arms over her shoulders so as to carry her over her back, walking in a bent over position. Her anxiety from having another person on her was beginning to show immediately, but she was determined to get the woman to safety. "Banshee come on…Their sights are on capturing you it seems. Go in front of me."
Xandilif looked at SilverWand and sheathed it over her shoulder, muttering to the blade. "Feck off, we are not doing that again...." and followed Addie, helping her carry Ynna
Eduwiges rolled her eyes and pointed at Ryn, “Help Neth, and get out this fecking door! You too Addie, they are beginning to close in again, Lif, cmon!'
Finally, Lif pulled Edu after them, and the entire group sprinted up over the Post road and into the sparse inland forest to take cover....while from somewhere in the distance, Nik’s voice could be heard taunting the mob pursuing him. “FASTER YOU SLUG MUNCHERS..MY GRAND-MAMA RUN FASTER THAN YOU FORE I ATE HER!!!! RUN FASTER OR I PASS WIND AT YA AGAIN!”
