>>23773419
Evening, good Brit.

>>23773419
Reporting for duty, sir.

>>23773419
Calling in captain

Also, the IRC has a lowercase L

>>23773419
Let us begin

>>23773419
I'm here.

>>23773419
Five people, eh? That's a good start, I think.

>When last we left our heroes!
>Derrik and Trym prepared for the battle that evening, against Ilfa's minions

The world is starting to grow dimmer as Derrik's ritual is finally concluded. Trym feels the strength of the wolf-pack flow through him. He can sense the mind and will of Yotaha's fox-folk, his pack; his skin prickles with the 'feel' of the Deep Forest, speaking to something primal within the spirit of the wolf. As he stands, the strange fires light themselves again in the clay pots hanging from the trees. Trym walks towards the gates of the village, even as they swing open and behind him, in the forest, the forms of Ilfa's fox-folk start to gather.

All is silent for a few moments, until, at some un-spoken signal, the two forces rush forward with a roar, Trym and Derrik standing in the middle of the tempest, as un-moved as a rock in a river. Granted an up-close view of the battle, they can now see how it is fought: As they thought, there is no coherency, the fox-folk pairing off into a series of individual duels, one-against-one. Besides that, it seems anything goes. Some use weapons of bronze, mostly swords and spears, though a few dual-wield axes, or shorter blades of stone or bronze; some hold balls of blue fire, which they hurl at one another, or else enshroud their fists and hands in, swinging at one another in a brawl; some even seem to be using their bare hands, but at a second glance, are revealed to have short, razor-sharp claws where their finger-nails once were, or should have been.

>>23774791

What will Trym do in this battle?
A) Gang up with the fox-folk against single opponents
B) Take engaged enemies by surprise and stab them in the back while they fight
C) Turn traitor and attack Yotaha's followers
D) Step forth and challenge Ilfa's minions waiting at the sidelines
E) Attempt to issue commands to Yotaha's followers
F) Other

What will Derrik do?
A) Assist Trym magically
B) Try to fire his bow at un-engaged enemies
C) Try to assist in the melee
D) Fall back to the village
E) Other

>>23774796
D) If we're doing anything stupid, hopefully the foxfolk on one side or another will point it out to us.

And
E) Should any fighting begin, Derrik is to attack the ranged foxfolk and magic users. Otherwise, keep an eye (so to speak) out for Ilfa and cap that bitch the moment she arrives.

>>23774796
A) seems to be the way to go. B) would be dishonorable, C) would be the same, as well as illogical, D) could work, though I don't see how it's any better than A), and as for E) well, this one would be best if we could be sure Trym would know what to do. He seemed to lead his squad the best during the Sunset War, so maybe.
And as for Derrik, B) all the way. Trym's got enough magic from the ritual, let's try and use Derrik efficiently to even the odds for everyone. No point in having Trym succeed if Ilfa's troops fail.

>>23774901
*not Ilfa's troops, Yotaha's, my bad

>>23774899
>>23774901
Not sure about Trym, but I feel that Derrik would perhaps best be suited to help magically. He's still a shaman after all, and back in the day Rina helped quite a bit by chanting apparently.

For Trym I would either go for ganging up on people/dueling champion-looking foxes or Trying to issue orders so we get the upper hand.

>>23774940
Imagine this for a second though.

We've just encountered two Fox spirits, in almost every culture they are beings known to be sly and tricky.

Bear with me for a second, but what if this whole conflict is just a ruse to fuck with us/test us? It would be better to announce ourselves and our intent before engaging.

I don't mind either which way with Derrik

>>23774988
... That's already too around-the-corner thinking for me... But alright, let's do it your way.

>>23774988
I've been worried this whole time that the situation wasn't as simple as it seemed, but considering how our group always seems to make the worst decisions whenever the opportunity presents itself, I didn't want to be the one to bring it up in case it caused us to fuck up horribly later. But yea, I'm not sure Yotaha is trustworthy either, I feel like anything we can do to test how legitimate this situation is, is worth trying.

>Discussion over! Voting time, if you please!

So far we have one vote for Trym stepping forward and challenging Ilfa's idle minions; one vote for him ganging up on single opponents.

And we two votes for Derrik to fire at un-engaged enemies, with an eye to shooting Ilfa the moment she shows up.

Kindly note that none of the fox-folk are using ranged attacks very much. Even hurling fireballs is done at extreme close range.

>>23774988
Just thought: Even if they want to test us... They themselves are the tricky kind. What would they be more impressed by? Trym honorably challenging the idlers, or perhaps by him using his wits and being backstabby to win the battle?

>>23775187
Not sure if you miscounted, but I voted for Derrik going magical and chanting to support Trym.

>>23775187
Regardless of what we do, Derrik should ask the fox-folk how to do that when the battle is over. Even if Derrik himself can't do it because reasons, it'd still be nice to have knowledge of how the mystical world works.


Formally voting for Trym stepping to challenge.

>>23775187
A and B for me. Ranged attacks give us the upper hand.

Voting on D and A. The fox folk are fighting one on one, doing so any other way would be dishonorable and Derrik would be best used helping Trym with his magic to defeat these other worldly creatures.

Voting for
D)
and
A)

Just to clarify.

>Lost my dice. Sorry for the delay.

Taking his cue from the fox-folk, Trym strides forward, Derrik following him. The hero of the Long Fangs reaches a clear area, then pauses, sweeping his gaze over Ilfa's watching fox-folk. Around him, the fighting slows somewhat as everyone notices the change to the normal proceedings. Trym raises his spear to the sky, before slowly bringing it down and sweeping it across the watchers, before pausing, pointing directly at a watching, three-tailed male with a bare chest and bronze spear of his own. Seeing the challenge clearly, the fox-folk grins and steps forward, swinging the spear lightly. The two combatants size each other up for a moment, before striking, the formerly lightly amused face of the fox-folk being transformed to a snarl of savagery as he lashes out!

The fox-folk is fast and strong, it's true; too fast for Trym to dodge in fact! The warrior is saved however... By the scale coat he wears. The spear clashes against the metal, skittering off and leaving a livid bruise, but not drawing blood! As the fox-folk stumbles, looking shocked and confused at his attack being turned aside, Trym strikes!

Before the scales torn from his jacket even touch the ground, Trym swings his spear up, a savage, wolfen growl tearing from his throat, as Derrik chants softly, stood off a little from the fight, amplifying the wolf-spirit within Trym's bones and muscle. Trym's spear swings up, catching the fox-folk in the ribs and hurling him away, the tip scoring a bloody line across the enemy's torso. As he lands heavily, the fox-man drops his spear and holds up his hands, showing his surrender, much to the laughing scorn of his companions. He scrambles to his feet and walks back to the trees, flushed with indignant embarrassment as Trym plants his spear and glares at the laughing fox-folk, clearly asking, "Who's next?"

>>23776424
Suck a dick fox-folk. Courtesy of the Long Fangs.

>>23776582
That's how the long fangs get shit done, bitches.

>To clarify, Trym rolled spectacularly and utterly smashed the target number for beating his opponent. This will now carry over, as I can't be fucked to roll umpteen dozen dice. By contrast, his opponent just barely failed, thanks to Trym's copper scale vest.
>>23776424
The fight surrounding Trym slowly winds down, as the fox-folk give up the pretext of fighting one another, to watch the human take on a steady stream of Ilfa's servants, taking each down with almost contemptuous ease. With each passing defeat, the derisive laughs from those remaining first build, then rapidly die away as their attacks get progressively more desperate and ferocious. Trym actually has to focus as the fox-folk start to take him seriously as an opponent. Even with their determination though, the seventh falls before Trym's spear, having to be carried away by his comrades. Lentay actually grins, making his way through the assembled crowd, as Yotaha's followers cheer and Ilfa's scowl. "You're every bit as good as you lead us to believe, human! Perhaps now she'll finally show herself here, rather than sending her lackeys to do the job."

"Why would I bother?" comes an unconcerned, almost seductively confident voice from the shadows of the treeline, "When they were doing such a marvellous job previously?"
Ilfa steps from the trees, blue fires burning at the swaying tips of her nine tails. She casts her glaring, yellow eyes over Lentay, Trym and Derrik, sighing slightly, her dark hair softly whispering in the wind as she shakes her head, slowly walking closer, "Such a pity you chose to side with my hag of a sister," he sighs, "I had such high hopes for you... And such rewards to pay you with for the deed. No matter though. After I rip your heart out and devour it warm, I'll still have plenty of strength to finish this. I've grown tired of seeing these useless cubs fail night, after night. And it's no fun to hunt a prey that constantly cowers in its den."

>>23777072
Ilfa sighs lightly, as though the act of actually killing her way through Trym and her sister were nothing but a trivial chore to be undertaken.
Lentay scowls and raises his sword. "Do not discount us, you animal. You're nothing. In time, you'll be replaced; that's the way of the world. And when you're gone, no-one will remember you. But we're greater than that. We're more than that! Yotaha has shown us that we are more than mindless animals!" he turns to Trym and nods, "Human... Grant me this much: I want her blood on my sword. There can be no forgiving her insults. Let me be the one to fight."
"Whichever of you, it will be no different," smirks the fox-woman, playing with a ball of blue fire, as it winds between her now-clawed fingers.

What do?
A) Allow Lentay to fight without assistance?
B) Let Lentay fight and have Derrik give magical assistance?
C) Offer to fight together?
D) Refuse and have Trym fight Ilfa?
E) Other

>>23777330
C, and if he refuses, then B

>>23777330
I'd want to take
C) and in case he refuses and wants to die like a little bitch, at least have Derrik give him magical support
B)

>>23777330
C. We stand a much better chance of defeating her together and Lentay can have the killing blow if that is how the fight works out. Obviously if Trym catches an opening to finish the job then so be it. No reason to keep her alive longer than need be.

I'd assume Derrik is still helping Trym if we go with this option, yes? I don't see any reason he would stop.

>>23777359
Seconding this.

>>23777359
INDEED!

Lentay considers it for a moment, then nods shortly. "Agreed. This ends tonight."
>The wolf spirit is the spirit of the pack and convinced Lentay to fight as one with Trym
With spear in hand, Trym joins Lentay in a change, both roaring a wordless war-cry! Immediately sensing that the two heroes may be more than she can handle, Ilfa sweeps her hand out and a wall of blue fire roars into life, keeping Trym at bay from the fox-spirit. Undaunted, Lentay runs on and swings at Ilfa with inhuman speed, his bronze blade flashing in the burning firelight. Trym desperately looks for a way past the flames, but none presents itself as the fight between Ilfa and Lentay becomes rapidly one-sided. Though undeniably skilled with a sword, Lentay struggles to land a blow on his elusive adversary, who seems to delight in taunting him with mocking laughs, dodging aside at the very last moment, before lightly marking the fox-folk warrior with dozens of light cuts, barely an irritation alone, but sapping his strength from their sheer number.

Finally however, Trym decides there is no other way. Gathering his strength, the hero leaps through the blue flames, just as Ilfa tires of her game, batting away Lentay's sword and striking for his neck, her claws wreathed in azure fire! Trym's intervention is most timely, it seems, as in lunging for Ilfa, he forces her to divert her strike. Lentay howls in pain, as his enemy's claws not only dig deep into his right arm, but nearly tear it completely off, as Ilfa yanks her hand free, spinning to meet the human. As Lentay clutches at his ruined arm, Trym faces down the sadistic fox-goddes, the dark spray of blood and the dancing, blue light giving her otherwise comely features an un-natural, evil look. There is no hint of mercy in those eyes; this duel is to the death.

>>23778289
Buuut that duel will have to wait until next time, I am afraid! I do hope you all enjoyed tonight's thread however and I do apologise, as ever, for the lack of content. I get the feeling I would though, even if we hit thread limit (That'll ever happen)...

The next thread is on Thusday, at 1600EST. I hope to see you all there and until then, stay safe and have a good life! Later!

>>23778390
Loved this thread, glad to see Trym back in action doing what he does best. Looking forward to thursday.

>>23778390
Great thread as always, Brit. Loving this arc and your writing.
See you next time.

>>23778435
>>23778437
I concur with these gentlemen.

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SEND IN THE BLACK OPS

Wait, what was the question again? Hi guys.

Oh, you guys were done =/

Well, hi anyway.