Middenhem Saga 3

Gunnar, you've battled the skyggemen before. Not in an all out battle because, yes, they tend to use light armor and ambush during Kveldtid (when both suns are at the horizon and Hjem is at its darkest). You are surprised to see that they attacked the road so near High Blalystid. The cover of trees where the ambush happened must have provided some cover. Some whisper that Skyggemen are not born as Skyggemen but are Mennesker transformed. Gunnar has neither proved or disproved this. Gunnar has fought few and killed one. The acid that spewed from the creature bursting from the Skyggeman's chest burnt clean through your armor and left a scar as a reminder. You didn't get a good look at the thing, except notice it was black violet - as the shadows cast at Kveldtid. When you were done throwing off your armor, the creature was nowhere to be seen except for the hole it burrowed in the ground beneath you.

The Stone Company travels north of the road in pursuit of the Skyggemen, the unfortunate Crow, and (you assume) the Jarl taken prisoner.

After a half-del of travel, you come across what appears to be a place they must have stopped at for a brief time. Two crow lie slaughtered at one end of the camp. You see large bite marks in their flesh, even some flesh torn from their bodies.

Bjornanam's face goes white as he asks, "They eat Mennesker flesh? What are we doing? Who cares about some Jarl? Let's just get the hell out of here and get paid behind the safety of the keep at Klofningar".

"Would you rather hide like a timid girl? If safety is what you wanted, better to be a carrot farmer than a warrior. We are here to protect our people, to kill when we must, and die honorably if we are fortunate." Gerhdunn replies.

Bjornanam's shakes his head, looking to the other mercs for reassurance. A handful of them look around in return, but the silence is broken by a few giving hearty laughs at Gehrdunn's comment. Bjornanam nods at your words, gulps, swings his axe in practice, while shaking his head clear.

Ragugm inspects the campsite and reports that they only just left here less than a deluke ago. "There were more than a dozen. A couple horses. More crow feathers about."

There are no Skyggemen bodies here. Just the two crow. You assume crow as they have been dragged, picked clean, and have remnants of crow feathers sewn into clothing. Ragugm shares, "The tracks look like Mennesker tracks. Can't tell 'em apart except for these are probably being dragged by a rope or something behind a horse."

Aginey runs to you with something in hand, "Shit, look what I found. A lady's bonnet. Bloodied."

The Company keeps up their double time pace onward in pursuit.

Recon Contest

• Recon Skill = 16, -5 (no security), +1 (1.5x faster than opponent), -1 (forced march)
• Stone Company wins initiative, gains DB+2, and chooses an encounter battle.

The Stone Company confronts half a dozen Mennesker looking figures up ahead and decides to take no pause, driving forth in an attack! The figures turn towards the Stone Company, reveal their Skyggemen maws and lift up weapons in attack!

The Battle

Round 1

• Stone Company: Attack
• Skyggemen: Raid

Gerhdunn & Gunnar lead the attack against the Skyggemen, each of them eyeing one of the riders. The riders attempt to maneuver their horses around the encroaching mercenaries but there are too many! With no opening to take, Gerhdunn & Gunnar each swing their swords high at the riders atop the turning horses. They both connect! Gerhdunn cuts through the arm muscle of his target who in turn let's loose his reigns. With little control, the rider careens towards other mercs' blades and axes. Gunnar sidesteps the other oncoming rider and runs his blade along the leg of the rider, drawing blood!

Following their captains, the Stone Company begins flanking the skyggemen.

Battle Report

• Stone Company: +2 PB, no injuries
• Skyggemen: Scout Rider 1 (crippled), Scout Rider 2 (injured), 1 Infantry (suffering from previous injuries, reeling, crippled), 2 Militia (both suffering from previous injuries, reeling)

Round 2

• Stone Company: ?
• Skyggemen: TBA (they do not choose parley, nor would they accept a parley)