The Journal of Father Solomon

Part 36

In which we assault the bandit lair…

Fireday, Fertilityweek, Darkseason, 614 TA – midnight

We thrash out details of the plan – Victoria, accompanied by a were-rat, will take out the guard up on the hill using Harmonise. Then the were-rat will pretend to be that guard. That done, we will scale the palisade on the east side and commence the assault proper. Din will lead another two were-rats with us. George asks if the were-rats have a holy place in their tunnels? Din confirms this and agrees, if we render Pierre unconscious, that the were-rats will take him into their temple to prevent him using Divine Intervention to escape.

Din departs into the night, “See you at Dawn!” And we return to our blankets.

Moonday, Fertilityweek, Darkseason, 614 TA – dawn

We break camp and approach the hill and lair as quietly as possible from the north-east. As we crest the shoulder of the hill, we all see smoke rising from a fire in the middle of the compound. Someone says they can hear people laughing from within the compound but I can’t hear anything.

Victoria peels off, taking a were-rat. We follow their progress. They must make some noise because we see the target guard look their way and wander across, searching the woods with his gaze. Suddenly we can’t see the were-rat. The guard shouts something I don’t quite catch and then, all of a sudden, stops dead in his tracks – looks like the Harmonise worked. A minute later, Victoria appears next to him, joined by the were-rat again. We see the glint of a knife and the guard goes down. Another minute and the were-rat takes his place, dressed in his clothing. So far, so good!

Victoria rejoins us and we approach the easternmost point of the palisade. I summon Eleanor and she casts Strength and Bladesharp while I cast Parry and Protection. While we’re all casting spells, Haley (Ariella’s stormcrow) reports that there’s a group of men round a camp fire in in the middle of the compound. There’s two guards on the parapet at the south gate and one more guard on the north side.

Just as we’re ready to start climbing, Haley reports that the northern guard has left his post, shouting something at our were-rat imposter to the north. Then suddenly he shouts, “You’re not Bert!” We’ve been rumbled and the were-rat imposter vanishes into the trees.

We scale the palisade – I find it hard work in armour but George leaps up like a gazelle. By the time I reach the top, he’s already at the near (northeast) corner of the small building, eyeing the adjacent door. Further on, we see six men round the camp fire, looking our way. One moves off toward the furthest building. Two depart right, behind the large barn set into the hillside. Another goes toward the front of the small building and the last two stay put.

On our side, we’re all up save for Ariella and Bitey. Victoria joins George, who hears footsteps approaching the door from inside, so they place themselves to give whoever it is a nasty surprise. Warwick and I charge the two men at the camp fire.

The two Mithrates, Paul and Mike, go round the south side of the small building. The three were-rats with us shoot their slings at the bandits by the camp fire, hitting one in the leg.

Then the door opens to reveal a bandit in a mail shirt. George promptly brains him with his quarterstaff and he falls down, dead! Only to bounce back up after presumably appealing to Selene!

Ariella makes it to the parapet but Bitey is still struggling. I send Lydia into the barn to look for possible ambushers that might take Warwick and I in the flank as we engage the bandits by the camp fire. Paul and Mike head for the guards on the south gate, who obligingly hop down to meet them.

George forces Mr Divint back into the small building, finding himself in what looks like a study. Victoria enters behind him and checks the door in the west wall – in the next room, two men are talking, one of them wears an iron hauberk – this must be Pierre! But she can’t take on both by herself so she throws a rock at the other man and closes the door.

George parries Mr Divint and then batters his shield badly.

The Mithrates both exchange parries with their guards, damaging their shields.

Ariella draws her bow and advances to the near corner of the small building. The rats use their slings on the men by the camp fire but desist once Warwick and I get too close. I parry my bandit who neglects his own parry and I hack off his leg! Warwick exchanges parries with his bandit.

Lydia advises that she can’t perceive any spirits, embodied or otherwise, in the barn. It seems we’re safe for the moment so I recall her to me.

Ariella switches weapons and advances to the front of the building where a bandit exits from a door and finds himself facing her spear. Bitey finally makes it over the parapet and reaches the near corner of the building.

Inside the small building, Victoria helps George with Mr Divint who double parries and casts Shimmer. Victoria batters his shield further and George knocks a large splinter out of his sword.

Paul exchanges parries with his guard; Mike slashes his opponent’s shield and parries the return. Meanwhile, I damage Warwick’s bandit’s shield but alas he misses his own strike.

Warwick spies three more bandits approaching from between the barn and the further building. He warns me and I ask Lydia to move to a point between us and them, so she can attempt a possession to even the odds.

In the small building, Bitey enters and engages Mr Divint, leaving Victoria and George to take on Pierre, who enters through the door Victoria closed. Pierre parries George and Victoria, tries to cast a spell but somehow forgets the words.

Over by the south gate, Paul parries his guard but misses his own attack. Mike exchanges parries with his guard but the guard’s shield is nearly wrecked.

I knock another splinter from our last bandit’s shield but Warwick’s swing misses him, clipping me in the head – that hurt! But Warwick redeems himself by kicking the man in the guts and the bandit’s legs buckle.

Ariella exchanges parries with her bandit. Our were-rats shoot the threesome approaching from the right, hitting one in the arm. As they come toward us, I ask Lydia to possess the rightmost. Warwick suggests we back away, forcing them to come to us and putting us out of reach of the one he just kicked into submission – it makes sense.

In the building, Mr Divint hits Bitey in the arm and parries Bitey’s axe. George’s medallion thwarts a spell cast by Pierre, who parries Victoria and George.

By the gate, Paul is missed by his guard and damages the guard’s shield. But Mike hacks off his guard’s leg, who falls to the ground in shock. Ariella trades parries with her bandit.

Facing our three new opponents, I hit the leftmost bandit’s shield but fail to so much as scratch it. The other two go for Warwick, who misses his cut. The middle bandit hits Warwick but he’s saved by his armour.

Back in the building, Bitey parries Mr Divint but misses his attack. Pierre parries George and Victoria but again seems to forget the words of a spell.

Mike and Paul battle the remaining guard. Mike misses but Paul hits the guard in the leg.

I hack my bandit’s leg off – déjà vu, as they say in Sunbury – the middle bandit (a woman) misses Warwick whose return hits her in the arm. The other bandit misses, possibly distracted by Lydia’s attempt to possess him, which unfortunately fails.

Ariella hits her bandit but can’t beat his armour. I see the door to the further building open as I turn to help Warwick.

In the building, Pierre Befuddles Victoria as he parries George. Mr Divint hits Bitey but he’s saved by his armour. Mr Divint parries Bitey’s axe but his sword takes a bashing.

The last gate guard double parries desperately. Mike misses his footing and rolls on the ground but Paul hits the guard.

I knock a splinter out of the bandit’s shield. Warwick parries and misses. Lydia tries to possess the rightmost bandit but he fights back – at least he can’t attack Warwick while he’s fighting her off. Ariella trades misses with her bandit.

Four more bandits emerge from the further building – fully armed and armoured. The were-rats hit them with slingshot, hitting one in the guts and another in the leg. Ronnie and Haley both cast spells but it’s not obvious if they worked.

Realising we’re about to be hit by this second wave, I take a step to the left, leaving Warwick to handle the woman by himself. One of the four charges across to engage Mike. Two come for me but the fourth stays put. One of my two seems rather daunted, fearful even, keeping one step behind his friend – I think he’s been Demoralised so I concentrate on the other, relying on my armour and footwork to protect me.

In the building, George parries Pierre while attempting to Dispell Victoria’s Befuddle. Unfortunately, he fails, so Victoria now thinks George is her enemy! Bitey parries Mr Divint before his axe smashes his sword and a blow to the head renders Mr Divint unconscious.

By the gate, Paul hits the gate guard in the head while Mike scrambles to his feet, turning to meet the onrushing new bandit.

The rightmost of my two bandits parries my sword but I’m delighted when both miss me. The woman parries Warwick but he batters her shield. Lydia again tries to possess the other bandit but again he fights back.

Ariella trades parries with her bandit.

I feel we’re at a crunch point – the next minute will be crucial! It may be time to use my Dullblade matrix!