All was quiet

[Wiseman]

Seriand heard the exchange begin and his mind raced.  Which target does he attack, and could this one be done as quietly as the others?  Not likely, these were true warriors not rabble that would go down and out with a few solid punches, no this situation required much more drastic action.  But what...

What indeed?  Seriand's eyes darted to Hurd and on his way he caught glimpse of the child, a father's duty was his duty first and foremost.  Seriand took quick steps and reached down to grab the child.  Picking the baby up Seriand made sure to sooth the child and hopefully prevent any noise from screaming out.  "Let us leave and you will have your son back."  Seriand said, his tone deadly serious but his eyes trying to get the truth out.

[tomcat]

OOC: Nice post Shawn! 

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Int - (6+5)+1=12

Durgil almost thought he recognized the sound of his horse and he called out in a loud whisper and carefully moving towards the sound he'd heard, "Rochy, is that you?"

[Palandil]

OOC: Oh crap!  This dude is fast!

Swiftness Test:
Swiftness+3; Winded -1;
Roll(2d6)+2: 4,5,+2 Total:11

Opposed Strength test: TN 12
Str +1
Roll(2d6)+1: 1,2,+1 Total:4

Fengel watched the Dunman closely, hoping that he would not wake, but still wanting to exact some justice for the ill treatment he gave.  Something out of the corner of Fengel's eye caught his attention.  He turned his gaze for a brief moment and recognized Dirnhael's sword, the mithril glimmering in the pale light of the hut.  But that was all it took.  Before he knew it the Dunman had his hands on the end of the spear, and though he tried he could not hold on to it.  Cursing himself for having lost his weapon, Fengel went quickly for Cerduil, hoping that he could parry fast enough any attack that would surely come.

[tomcat]

Hurd awkwardly tried to stand. He was wrapped in his blankets and fumbling with the spear to make it an offensible tool when Seriand scooped up the small child and drew it in close. The Elf's spoken warning caused the Dunman warrior to halt. Even though Hurd did not understand a word spoken, the look in Seriand's eyes said it all.

The other shape that had been laying there began to stir and upon opening her eyes, she saw the shadowy shapes around and her child missing. A scream erupted from the woman and the trio from the Company each gritted their teeth knowing the town would definitely be awakened! What was worse, the child woke up from its mother's cry and it too began to add to the cacaphony.

Hurd stood ready with the spear now pointed at Seriand; behind the Elf, Fengel held Cerduil while Galudir's arms were full of the remaining items. A standoff between the warriors was now taking place all the while the small child screamed in the Sindar's arms.

Durgil heard the familiar sound of Rochithuin and followed it until he came to the large tree under which the horses and Dirnhael stood. Edrahil immediately went to his saddles to confirm his items were still within the bags. The Elf was relieved to see that his healing herbs and poultices remained and that he would be able to now administer properly to his comrades.

The two Dunedain stood together looking off towards the eastern mist that seemed to glow a little brighter. As they stood there looking, a faint scream echoed in the valley below.

Nain heard the scream as well from where he stood in the stockade and he knew it was time to become more involved.

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[Wiseman]

As much as it panged him to be doing this with a small child this was his only choice, their only choice to get out of this situation without wound.

He placed his hand on his chest and then waved to the others of the company in the tent.  He then pointed to the outside.  "We are leaving and you cannot stop us."  A quick glance back to the other two and he spoke again.

"Arm yourselves and let us leave.  This child will be an unfortunate prisoner until we are able to reach our horses.  Be sure to not threaten, a battle with the child in my arms is not something any of us wish to see." 

Knowing that the barbarians could not understand him Seriand began to back out of the tent after his companions secured their get-a-way.

[Palandil]

Seeing this man's woman and child, Fengel's hatred of the Dunman faded.  He only wanted to get he and his friends out of here.  Fengel held his hand up, and as calmly as he could he said, "Easy.  Easy.  It is time for us to go."  Remembering their first meeting, Fengel gestured with the same hand for the man to put down the spear, "Drop the weapon." he stated slowly.  While keeping his eyes on the Dunman, Fengel says to Seriand, "If we can get him to drop that spear, we can use him to get out of here instead of the child."

[Nikitas]

Once Galudir saw the company's weapons he lost sense of his surroundings. Though he couldn't accurately value them, the fine weapons were surely worth a fortune. At that moment, Galudir knew that one gold coin per head was far too low a price to charge such wealthy hostages. A woman's scream brought Galudir back to the hut in the small Dunnish settlement. After a quick look he saw that a large Dunlander was holding a spear and the elf had taken a young boy captive. No doubt the entire village would soon be awake and there was little time to consider a course of action. Without a word, Galudir grabbed as much of the company's gear as he could carry and he ran out of the hut toward the dwarf at the stockade.

[tomcat]

Hurd was a stout warrior and he did not fear engaging the Elf and Man before him, especially so as the the third ran from his domicile - but he did fear threats to his wife and son. It had not been a year since his eldest child had come down with the sickness... and then to have had her disappear in the night! Here he was again and here was one of the folks that would again take his child while darkness enveloped the world. The Dunman hesitantly lowered his guard and then dropped the spear all together. He would not see his family harmed again.

Cries in the night had been an occasional occurence these last two months and thus the nursemaid, who had been tending the ill, rolled off of her furs. She leaned over her small fire pit and collected a still glowing ember into a small wooden bowl and then strode off into the night. She headed to the house where her charges lay struggling with fever and, unfortunately, death. Before entering she washed her hands in a basin that she kept outside the door and pushed through the fur draped doorway.

The nurse went first to the table where she kept a small wax candle and lit it from her carried ember. The light of the candle filled the room and her eyes looked about to see who cried out inthe night. She saw naught but sleeping folk and then an empty bed that had had a patient in it no more than four hours ago.

"Another one!" she thought.

It was not the old man that stirred from the cry, but his dog and it was its protestations that caused him to awake. The town elders both rose, hearing the cries and immediately went out from their hut in search of the cause. Hurd's home was only next door so it did not take them long to arrive and even though the fog was thick the rogue was easy to see as he ran from the door... right towards them!

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[Wiseman]

"Where is he going with our weapons!"  Seriand protested as the rogue jolted out of the hut.

Calming his voice he looked back to Hurd and spoke.  "We need to leave, you have no right to hold us.  No harm will come to your child."  A gentle pat on the head of the child was enough to show them that he didn't want to hurt the child, at least that is what Seriand hoped was being signed to them.

ACTION: Leave hut and stay next to Fengel (who is armed)

[Palandil]

Fengel put a hand quickly on Seriands shoulder, "No Seriand.  Let us take the warrior, not his child.  By doing so maybe he will understand we mean no harm to them."  Fengel looked about the tent for some rope.  Finding what he saught he stepped closer to the warrior gesturing for him to turn around, "Turn." he snapped.

[sdrotar]

Hearing the scream, Dirnhael looked at the Edrahil and Durgil with concern.
"It appears that our escape has not gone unnoticed," he said with a frown.

They had no weapons, but at least they had mounts once more. Perhaps if they rode into town, they could get the rest of the Company out quickly...

Then, the apparitions that he had seen came to the fore of his thoughts.
He turned to Edrahil and spoke quickly.

"My friend, I saw spectres - of your kin - up the hill," he said, pointing in that direction. "Durgil is unwell, and rushing into the fray is not wise. Perhaps you could make your way up the hill - carefully - and see if our answers lie among those trees."

"I will meet you there with the others," he said as he gathered up the reins of the others' horses and prepared to ride into the village.

[BrianM]

"My friend, I saw spectres - of your kin - up the hill," he said, pointing in that direction. "Durgil is unwell, and rushing into the fray is not wise. Perhaps you could make your way up the hill - carefully - and see if our answers lie among those trees."

"I will meet you there with the others," he said as he gathered up the reins of the others' horses and prepared to ride into the village.

Edrahil was shocked by what Dirnhael reported seeing on the hill. "Spectres ... of my kin! But ... that cannot be ...". Then the thought struck him. This must be why the Dunmen were so suspicious of Seriand and himself. Some malevolent presence was tormenting these folk ... and posing as elves! "Durgil ... are you well enough to ride? We cannot assist in the village, but we must try to solve this mystery before it is too late." He mounted and rode off in the direction indicated by Dirnhael, opening his senses to any signs of power. Edrahil pressed on as quickly as he could, keenly aware that any bloodshed in the village could prove disastrous for himself anf his friends.

[Nikitas]

Galudir continues running outside the hut. Once in the open he heads towards the stockade where the dwarf is standing watch over the guards. He stops near the stockade and in a voice just loud enough for the dwarf to hear Galudir informs him of the recent events in the hut. "Someone's awake... woman scream... Elf has boy... run!." Without waiting for a responce, Galudir runs off in the direction he remembered the other members of the company moving to.

[tomcat]

Edrahil and Durgil rode north and east towards the glow that emanated there, leaving behind the fog and the sound of Dirnhael riding back towards the village, their companions' horses in tow.

The duo weaved between branches and tree trunks and unwittingly found themselves on the old cobbled path that led up to the ancient Elven ruin. The hollow sound of wood knocking against bones added to the eeriness that Durgil felt, though the Elf did not seem to be bothered.

The clatter of their horses' hooves on the cobbled stones let them know that they were on a path that had been constructed. The ground rose sharply and began to turn to the left. The dampness of the cobbles created concern for the two companions, fearing that their horses could slip and thus they led them back down the grade and dismounted.

Now on foot, the two climbed the path and came into the gazebo that Nain and Galudir had visited some hours before. Durgil caught his breath as both Elf and Man saw a figure standing over the fount filling a jug - it appeared to be an Elven maiden. The wind blew a bit and the fog swirled and with it the spectre disappeared. Only the sound of the gurgling water could be heard in the ruin that seemed to be aglow from starlight far greater than the night skies accomodated.

Fengel secured Hurd's hands while Seriand handed over the small child to the mother that still lay amongst the furs - her sobs coming in short breaths. Her husband's hands tied behind his back, the two Company members started out of the house with their captive led at spear and sword point.

They started to move towards the distant ridgeline and freedom when a voice called out from the foggy darkness, "YOU ARE LEAVING US?!?"

Seriand and Fengel turned to see the two elders standing there - the look on their face was a mixture of anger and regret. The rumbling sound of horse hooves could be heard approaching from the direction that the two had been walking.

Nain looked at Galudir as he dashed off...

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?