Li-eira was standing quietly next to Yahim and began chanting softly while the others made their last moment battle preparations. "occulto are y defensor oris." Her low murmur caressed his keen ears as he fell from sight.

Aislinn lifted the silver necklace and touched the crescent shaped medallion on it to her forehead. "Holy Mother, please grant us your blessing as we endeavor to aid the people captured by the dolfanc. They need us in this dark hour and I ask that you let Your Light shine upon us. Thank you for this opportunity and giving us the means, the companions and the courage to undertake this task." The priestess seemed to glow for a moment, but that could have been a trick of the light. When the prayer ended, even Elynn felt the peace and goodwill settle around her. Aislinn opened her eyes and smiled at them all, a peculiar light in her eyes.

When Aislinn's prayer and Li-eira's spellcasting ceased, the now invisible Yahim turned without a word to wend his way around the edges of the goblin camp, hand on the hilt of his short sword, avoiding the western half until he was sure Janus had cast his spell. It was ridiculously easy to avoid the foul wretches -- their smell was enough to make him want to gag -- but his goal was to get to the captives and release them, the women and children first.

Janus smiled as Ellyn moved away to safety. The young man then extended his left arm, turning his palm to the valley floor, and curled pinkie and ring finger down. He intoned the sacred words as quietly as he could. "Kor nok serenth mas din Beldremethellae." He felt the warmth of the Embrace of the Father wrap him, and the power reach out to the plant life in the valley below.

The shouts of the goblins filled the early evening sky as the plants and trees came to life. They were taken completely by surprise. Root and branch reached out and surrounded most all of the nasty dolfanc as well as the slave pen. The shouts and cries of the humans were heard, but lost in the more raucous screams. Three of the goblins, including the leader, were able to push their way past the area of writhing plants.

Tob’s first shot sailed over the head of the goblin leader, who turned to flee. The ranger’s second arrow grazed the creature across the shoulder, drawing blood, but it did not stop him. The goblin leader reached into his waist and pulled something out. Within seconds a braying sound was sent forth into the air. He then barked some commands to those not held fast.

Coren, his bow also readied, let his first arrow fly into one of the other goblins that had escaped Janus’ Entangle. He then swore loudly as his bowstring snapped while he drew back for his section shot.

Li-eira spied the third goblin fleeing to a space between the trees. She remember Tob’s words and turned to face the fleeing goblin as she summoned the power within her. Those who witnessed this saw a silver glow encompass her right hand as she said the words “permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”. Two glowing missles then flew from her outstretched hand and struck the creature full in the back. With a hoarse scream the goblin howled before it’s smouldering body fell forward dead.

The rest of the goblins moved into position near the slave pen holding the women and children as the leader took cover behind it. The frightened cries of the children were heard by all.

Oh, that's not good, Yasminna thought, backing up against the trunk of the tree to keep herself as narrow a target as possible. Was the horn to get his group's attention, or to summon help from the surrounds? Luckbringer, please let it be the former.... She paused there to look around and regroup, knowing her task was impossible if the goblins weren't drawn off somehow. Her eyes felt like they were everywhere on the goblins, the enclosure, and the hills beyond.

Embarrassed, clothes rent, one eye swollen nearly shut. The young Derugarian knew that it was his pride that had been injured, rather than his body. He scrambled to his feet as the sounds of battle came. He struggled to look – but he could see nothing coming.

He watched as the very plants sprung to life and began to surround and bind the goblins as well as the slaves. He flattened himself against the back wall and was able to avoid the tendril of grass, root, and branch.

“Look, friends.” He said to his fellow prisoners. “Here is freedom if we take it; follow my lead and we may yet be home for supper.” His smile was bright and his voice was strong; giving hope to those around him.

He then turned his attention to one of his guards. He spoke no goblinish – but he motioned the young goblin forward. “Please,” he said kindly, as he cast his Charm spell. “Let me out.” He pointed to the lock, then struggled with the door – hoping that the goblin would understand.

The goblin's eyes glazed over, but only for a moment before hatred returned and took residence in their depths. The creature's unintelligible snarl was all the Derugarian needed to know hos charm had failed.

Coren threw his bow down onto the ground in anger. "By Vwrg's teeth!" he cursed. Was it Mathern's 'blessing' ruining things after those blasphemous comments a few days ago? Or had he not offered enough to the Luckbringer during his last days in Freehold? Whatever, his bow was useless for the moment.

Grabbing his axe and his shield, he hefted both high and called out a suitable battlecry. "For Verengaard!!", he yelled and began his charge down the hill side. As he ran, he kept his shield held in front and somewhat high to protect from any bow fire.

Wordlessly and grimly, Tob dashed off down the hill, toward the Goblins, drawing another arrow as he went, his eyes fixed on the lead goblin. He was worried about that horn, and who it was for. Was it dragonlords? A hunting party on massive wolves? Whomever it was, it would be best if there was no one here to greet them as friends. His swords paired on his back, slung just beneath his quiver full of arrows, thumped reassuringly on his back, promising bloodletting to come. The haze of battle did wonders to clear his mind of its wretched aftermath.

Tob and Coren both watched as 5 of the goblins broke formation and moved towards them with swords drawn. Tob fired his bow at the advancing goblins. The first arrow struck it in the shoulder, and the second felled it where it stepped.

The first few moments of battle were not as productive as Li-eira had hoped. There was no way to plan for all of the outcomes, she'd heard Coren say that often, and today she'd have to agree. She took a moment to scan the battlefield and the surrounding area, hoping to see if the horn had called reinforcements. Her gaze then settled on the group of Goblins hovering around the slave pen and let her magic come forth. Her right hand glowed as she issued her command. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”.

She felt the power swell within her. She was already beginning to feel the effects of the first spell on her body as her spellbolts arced out again from her outstretched left hand. One struck the same goblin that Coren had shot. It staggered, but it's smoking body kept coming. Another of her bolts flew past them and struck one of the remaining guards in front of the slave pen. Those two guards both fired with their bows towards the source of the magical bolts. One came very very close to striking the beautiful Pathmage. She knew, had it not been for Mathern's blessing, she very well might have been struck. She also knew how much that second spell had cost her. The ringing in her ears began and she felt the first telltale thumpings of a headache.

Aislinn watched how this situation unfolded, her eyes growing wide. "That definitely could have gone better, in some ways," she murmured softly. Quickly, she ran through what spells she could ask of Mathern, checking the armor on the dolfanc. Hide, no help there, she thought. Weapons are probably leather-wrapped as well. She sighed softly, though her grip on her staff grew white-knuckled.

Her only chance really to help her friends was if some of the dolfanc came up the hill. She didn't dare go rushing down into the melee. Even she knew better than that. So, she watched and waited for an opportunity to be of aid.

Janus watched as things unfolded around him, and on the valley floor below. Realizing Yahim couldn't accomplish his mission with the Dolfanc clustered around the door to the eastern cage, he focused his attention there. He extended his thumbs at right angles to his palms, and touched his index fingers and thumbtips together, forming a diamond with his hannds as he intoned the words of power. "Beldermenethellae, gi vellouvas courniscus"

Yahim heard the creak and pop of leather bindings as Janus' spell caused one of the bars to bow. It created a large enough gap so that one, then another of the women were able to slip out before the first child came through. None of them knew that Yahim was there. Thankfully, none of the goblins could see the women outside the pen.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Yasminna prayed the goblins be distracted by Coren's charge, then moved to where the corner of the enclosure that had just miraculously came apart. Maybe I can get them into the cover of the trees, she thought, ready to trip the first monster that stupid enough to chase them, then stab the second.

Yasminna didn't know if she was any match for a goblin in a fight or not and didn't relish finding out like this. Tob and Coren were too far away to be of immediate help. So she watched the women and children, hurrying them along in her mind, silently. She watched the goblins, especially the leader, sizing him up, waiting for the moment when the humans were clear and she was free to act on her own. But if they come looking for trouble, by the Luckbringer, I'll have some for them...

Two more children were handed out between the gap in the bars of the pen. Yahim watched as the women were able to work unnoticed by the goblins engaged in combat. The two guards at the gate were obviously distracted in the prey they were seeking on the hilltop.

Janus smiled, as the captive women and children began filing out of the cage, and slipping off into the trees. He saw the two remaining goblins at the doorway to the cage, and realized that they needed to up the ante, to ensure their escape was unmolested. He extended his right hand palm up, and the fingers of his left he raised over the palm, and pointed them downwards. "Beldremenethallus ignatious fedocim"

The yound druid felt the surge of Beldrem's power pour into him from the ground. He felt the warmth flow up through his legs and into his torso until a small spherical flame appeared in his right hand. He let it fly towards the goblin guards at the slave pen, but it sailed too far past it and to the left. He landed on the ground and flashed out of existence. Janus felt the power rise again as another sphere began to coalesce in his hand.

The familiar ache of exhaustion forced itself into Li-eira's thoughts and reminded her that she needed to stand down if she wanted to survive this fight. She leaned heavily upon her staff as she took what cover she could from the hilltop. Her breaths were raspy but not yet labored and she knew that if she had to she could cast another spell or two before she lost consciousness.

Out of the corner of her eye, Aislinn spied Li-eira. Then, she noticed the woman's fatigue. Well, I can fix that, at least, she mused thoughtfully. She grasped her pendant and murmured the prayer to Mathern, concentrating on Li-eira. "Holy Mother, please help me aid Li-eira by removing her fatigue. She is generous of soul and spirit and deserving."

Li-eira felt the headache recede, first. Then energy returned to her limbs and mind. Aislinn smiled softly at her, that peculiar light in her eyes. It nearly shouted that she'd called upon Mathern once more.

The worried frown that creased Li-eira's face fell away. She looked up, her eyes full of confusion and almost wet with gratitude. She wasn't immediately certain how it happened but she knew without question that the rigors of her fatigue had been washed away. When she caught Aislinn's gaze and the realization hit that it was one of her blessings, she inclined her head with the humblest of respects.

Tob ran on, stepping low to drop his bow. His face began to stretch into from a grimace to a grin, and he reached his hands behind him to unsheathed two swords, one short and one long. He looked into the widening eyes of the dolfanc as he ran into their midst, and he enjoyed their looks of dawning apprehension.

He swung both blades in a spiralling death but was struck by one nof the goblins before his blades managed to slice another of them almost in two pieces. It fell to the ground in a bloody mess.

Coren dashed at the lone goblin who was able to slice the warrior before his axe cleaved it's head from it's shoulders. It spun in the air showering the Great White Bear with it's blood.

Yahim tore her gaze away from the slaves as she heard the first roar and growl from the clearing north and east of the pen that held the women and children. It was more than animal. That she knew. The Sundaryan looked around and realized no one else had heard the sound except the goblin leader, who was now grinning from ear to ear and had drawn his blade.

Revitalized by the sweet Mother's blessing, Li-eira scanned the area and was concerned that the Goblin Leader was so far away from her armed companions. She called forth the power once again, her hand surging with the silver of her power. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”. Two more spell bolts erupted from her outstretched hand and sped towards one of the goblins that was guarding the slave pen. They slammed into it hard and forced the goblin back a step. It managed to raise it's bow and fire two shots at the young magi. One of the arrows flew wide to the right, but the second struck her squarely in her left thigh.

Li-eira gasped in pain and lifted her hand to her wound. The sight and feel of the sticky blood almost made her woozy, but she closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she was able to bring things back into focus.

That sound chilled Yasminna to the bone. Whatever it was, it was intelligent -- maybe even moreso than the goblins. She glanced around. Still three slaves in the pen. Two goblins guarding the gate. The leader, grinning there with his sword drawn. I don't know what's best... what would Tob do? She looked at the leader again, and swallowed heavily. Oh Luckbringer, look upon me with a smile, I pray you... let me take him down before whatever that... thing.. is, reaches us....

Touching the Luckbringer's amulet to the blade of her sword, Yasminna crept over the top of the enclosure, swift and silent, all extraneous thoughts and fears dropping from her with every step. She'd been trained for this, the quick, silent kill in the service of others. She was behind him and close enough to smell him when Li-eira's magic bolts hit him. Using that distraction, Yasminna lunged forward, planting her blade as deeply into the monster's back as she could push it. Her blade exploded from the goblin's body causing blood to spurt. It was a good blow, but not quite lethal. The goblin spun around and swung at the empty space where Yahim was but a moment ago. He had managed to pull his blade out and roll to the right to avoid the instinctual slash of the leader of this band of goblins.

Janus gritted his teeth, and gave a silent curse at the errant shot. Damn my aim, but at least theyre concentrated on us, instead of the slaves. He rared his right arm back, and hurled more fire at the Dolfanc guard. Janus hurled his ball of holy fire once more at the goblins. Unfortunately his arm was not as strong as his faith, and the ball fell short of it's mark.

Aislinn grimaced at the action below. She felt a little sick to her stomach, but she still kept watch over all the proceedings. She kept Li-eira in her peripheral vision just in case. She hoped she wouldn't have to use another spell so she could heal those that needed it, afterwards.

"By Vwrg's hammer!" roared Coren. The little varken had managed to scratch him before he had sliced off the creatures head. And, even then, the bastard had managed to get blood all over his cloak. Coren shook his head and turned.

There were a couple of goblins some distance away near the slave pen but, nearby, two of the creatures were harrassing his companion, Tob. More importantly, Coren's magical comrades were on the hill behind him. He couldn't let the creatures past him and up the slope.

Taking a step closer to Tob and the nearby goblins, Coren let his foresty friend know he had help.

"I have your side, Tob", he announced. "Let's finish these off and then head to the slaves". And with a battlecry to Verengaard, the Great Bear dodged the goblins's thrust and brought his down upon the shoulder of the dolfanc slaver. He nearly split it in two as it fell at the barbarian's feet.

Slipping into his native tongue, Tob uttered words that no Derugarian clansman would utter in his mother's presence - words that called into sharp question the Dolfanc's lineage and the canal of their birth. Grunting with the effort, he swung his swords around again as a pair, bringing them to bear against his foes. Foes that were as small as children and as mean as hell itself. Rarely was their honor in doing violence to anything so small, but Verengard was always brought glory in the cleansing of the land.

"Aye, Coren, let's do that," Tob replied in their shared language, his southern speech dragging the vowels out and doing small justice to the consonants. Tob was able to parry the goblin's attack and prevent it from drawing additional blood. The beast almost deflected Tob's swift attacks, but the ranger was able to get inside it's defenses and slide his shortsword into the goblin's chest. It fell to the ground and was silent.

Yahim then saw, out of the corner of his eye, the ten-foot tall creature that was bearing down on them from the clearing. To his horror, he saw another behind it. They both had massive clubs out and were heading through the gap in the trees.

Yasminna fought down the urge to panic as the gigantic monsters strode toward her, their long legs eating up the distance like a ravener. She didn't know if Tob, Coren, and the others had seen them yet, nor what they were or what she should do about it (except staying out of range of those clubs, which seemed like a mighty fine idea).

The goblin next to the leader had just taken a chestfull of Li-eira's magic bolts. Neither of them looked healthy; in one of those "clutch-moment" decisions Yasminna decided to see if she could give them both a bad case of dead -- or at least the leader. She'd rolled to the right to avoid the return blow and so just kept on rolling, tumbling to her feet then flipping in an aerial cartwheel to position herself behind the leader. Coincidentally, it also placed her behind the goblin with bow who'd just fired two shots. Without hesitation she drove her sword once again into the leader's back, praying this time she hit something vital.

Li-eira shook her head towards Aislinn, hoping that she wouldn't waste any more of her precious spells on her. Then she turned her attention back to the battle and sent two more bolts flying into the guards that stood near the slave pen. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles” Her first spellbolt hit the guard and levelled him where he stood. Her second missile struck the other goblin guard and staggered him, but he remained standing. The throbbing started in her head again and she felt a brief wave of nausea course through but recede.

Janus sighed, and rared back once more, throwing his third ball of fire at the wounded guards. If nothing else, its keeping them off Yahim. Beldrem was with the young druid as his ball of fire struck the goblin leader and exploded on impact. Yahim had to pull his attack at the last moment lest he get caught in the radius of flame that erupted momentarily around the goblin leader.

Coren saw the goblin that had been hit by Li-eira's magical bolts fire a couple of it's black arrows back at the hill behind him. He hoped that, given the elevation of the hillside, none of his comrades were hit. Still, right now there was no time to worry about that. Over the top of the slave pen, Coren could see enemy reinforcments coming.

"Ogres!" Coren grunted to Tob.

The sight of the large, ugly brutes did not faze Coren. Right now, he would've tackled one of the Dragonlord's wyrms if it had flown into the clearing. Coren didn't fear a couple of big ogres. He'd fought worse on his own.

Aislinn chewed at her lower lip. She was torn between a choice to help now and saving her spells for after the combat. When the ogres rumble onto the scene, she pales. "Oh, Blessed Mother," she breathes. "I know I really shouldn't wish for another's death, but please let them go down quickly."

Quickly, her blue eyes took in the scene. "Janus, how long with that entangling spell hold? It will be very bad if they get free while they're trying to take down the ogres."

Janus glanced over at the lovely Priestess, as the ball of fire left his fingertips. "Five more minutes, give or take, by my reckoning. Keep Li-eira throwing those bolts, dont forget, Beldrem grants me some healing, too."

"Keep the little ones back, I will kill those big bastards." Tob was heedless of whether that might insult a fellow warrior. His hatred of Ogres was total, eliminating all other thought from his mind except their hasty and expedient demise. He charged on, readying his swords for the remaining goblins that might intersect with his collision course with the massive manxome foe.

With the goblins immediately in front of them down, Coren charged off towards the remaining goblins near the entrance of the slave pen. He needed to take down the rest of the little greenskins to make sure they didn't nip at their heels whilst they took on the big ones. He saw Li-eira's spellbolts fell one and hurt the other of the two goblin guards. Coren charged and swung his axe at the other goblin who didn't have time to react before it, too, joined the others in death.

The first ogre rushed to meet Tob while the other leapt over the slave pen and swung it's massive club at Coren. The small tree of a weapon crashed into Coren's shield arm and he grimaced in pain. Tob, however, was like a creature possessed. His longsword sliced into the back of the creature's leg and forced it to kneel down as it swung it's club at the ranger. Tob, however, was able to duck under the attack as he swung his other blade across the creature's throat. Blood gushed from the wound and it fell over...dead. The goblin leader, who but moments ago was grinning in anticipation, now turned to flee. He was able to take two steps before Yahim's blade caught him in the back as the leader of this dolfanc band was trying to escape. Her final thrust ended the creature's life.

Janus looked over his shoulder at Li-eira, glancing down at her leg, and the arrow protruding from it. An unfamiliar look lit his blue eyes, before he looked at Aislinn. "I'm going down the hill to help Coren and Tob." Was all he had time to say before he took off down the hillside, letting Beldrem's burning will fizzle in his palm. He was able to close the distance and position himself in case he was needed.

Coren left arm felt numb from the ogre's powerful beating. Thankfully nothing was broken but it was close. They'd be bruises all down that limb and the left side of his body for weeks. In his mind, Coren thanked Verengaard that he'd managed to get his shield in the way of that massive club in time. If he hadn't, he'd probably be a sticky red smear on the ground by now.

Stumbling to the side a little, Coren swore and nearly lost his footing. Luckily he regained his balance before the ogre could get any closer and take advantage of his discomfort.

Growling, keeping his eyes on the ogre, Coren feinted left, swung his right arm back and then brought his large battle-axe round in a long, wide sweep at the ogre's torso.

"Eat axe, dog breath!", he yelled in his native Nartuk as his axe sunk deep unto the ogre's torso. The creature gushed blood but reared it's arm back to bring the club down upon the barbarian's skull.

Tob quickly smeared three fingers, soaked in ogrish blood, across his left cheek before he turned towards Coren and his opponent. "Mother owl, guide my talons as you would your own," he whispered his prayer of righteous fury as he jockeyed quickly to keep himself out of the ogre's line of sight. He aimed the point of his long sword at a point just beneath the dolfanc's ribcage, and prayed all the more fervently for his God's favor and glory. Tob saw the bloody creature taking aim for Coren's head and dashed inside to drive his blades deep for the killing blows.

It was all happening so quickly, monsters and blood and fire and steel. Yasminna yanked her sword from the roasting goblin's back, heard a massive club hit something with bone-shattering force and knew that if it had been directed at her, she'd likely be dead. Coren and Tob could probably handle the big dolfanc on their own, but she glanced over to the goblins struggling in their grassy bonds and knew there wasn't much time left.

As Tob maneuvered behind Coren's opponent, Yasminna went over the enclosure again, this time not bothering with stealth. When she reached the far fence she scrambled to the top of it, pausing only to gather her balance before using her new, elevated vantage to leap toward the dolfanc. She had intended to plant her sword deeply in the monster's broad back, but held fast as she saw the creature fall under the onslought of Coren and Tob. She looked around and saw nothing left but the dolfanc still held fast within the writhing mass of plant life.

Coren took a stumbling step backwards as the huge ogre tumbled to the ground dead. He sucked in a breath, letting his anger and bloodlust die a little. The main threat was over but there were still dolfanc trapped in Janus' vines. So Coren's bloodlust did not fade completely.

Breathing deeply, he looked around at Tob.

"I could've taken him", Coren boasted, referring to the ogre. He then nodded and grinned. "Still, I thank you for the assist and saving my head".

Li-eira looked hard at the battle below her. Her worry for Coren was evident on her brow, but after watching Tob slice through the other monster she felt that it would be safe to rest. ...if only for a minute before her fatigue overtook her. She stepped close to Aislinn when Janus left, and felt comforted just by being near her.

Aislinn gasped and held her staff even tighter. She saw and heard the crunch of that club hitting just as surely as if she were standing next to Coren when it happened. The thought of calling another spell, perhaps to try charming one of the goblin guards or to produce her own balls of flame was put on hold. I'll need my healing after this is over, she thought.

She tore her eyes away from the field of battle to assess Li-eira's wound. She hoped she could pull it out without too much trouble, rather than having to break it off and push it through. Already she started triage, leaving room in her mind for futher injuries sure to come. "I would gladly remove your fatigue again, Li-eira, but I'm afraid we'll need all the spells at my disposal and Janus's before this is done. Some of the male captives look like they could use some healing as well. I could go down and help, but that would distract Tob and Coren too much, I think," she mused insightfully.

Li-eira nodded quickly in agreement, the idea of being alone on that hill was not a welcome one. "I'll be fine." She reached over and squeezed her hand briefly, her thigh was painful but she was relieved that Aislinn didn't waste any more of Mathern's blessings on her. Li-eira sat down so that she could catch her breath. She steadied her breathing and felt strength beginning to return to her limbs and her spirit.

Janus closed the distance to where Coren stood over his fallen foe, and pressed his palms together, fingers upwards. He recited the ancient words, and placed his right palm on Coren's chest.
"An der namen die Beldremenethellas dubis enschriieben." He felt the Embrace of the Father it surrounded him and flowed like purest spring water into Corens body, repairing the damage that had been done.

Coren had no time to react to Janus' spellcasting. His eyes opened wide as Janus placed his hand on his chest and he felt some sort of power enter him. This was different to Mathern's blessing. That had been kind and reassuring, like a mother's watchful eye that inspired confidence. Beldrem's power was much wilder, like an strong, ethereal wind or a ghostly rushing river blasting right through him. Coren felt the harsh throbbing of his shield arm dull to a minor ache whilst the pains in his side, neck and legs reduced to practically nothing.

Releasing a deep breath that he didn't know he was holding, Coren closed his wide eyes for a moment, letting the presence of the mighty god fade. He opened his eyes again and muttered to Janus, "Praise be to Beldrem, eh?"

Janus grinned, and nodded, his blue eyes shining. "It's not required, White Bear. Just do what you do best, and Beldrem willing, I'll keep you standing to do it."

There were eleven goblins struggling helplessly in Janus' trap. Li-eira counted them and recounted them, not quite able yet to stomach shooting them. Instead she grounded herself and tried to catch the rest of her breath.

The priestess on the hill also noted the struggling goblins. She was also relieved that Janus got to Coren before the large man could do more damage to himself. She gazed out over the battlefield and a knot formed in her stomach. Her mind reconciled what was likely to happen, but her heart cried out against it. Tears welled in her eyes, even as part of her mind laughed at herself. It was probably the first time anyone ever cried over any dolfanc's life.

"Holy Mother," she prayed silently. "Please grant me the strength to get through this, and grant me the wisdom to not pass judgement on my friends. I know the realities, but I know through your teachings and those of my earthly mother, that every life is precious, just the same. I pray for those lives already lost, too. May they find peace in death that they didn't find in life."

Yasminna looked at the goblins struggling against their grassy bonds, then at the light of hatred and battle lust in Tob's and Coren's eyes. She glanced up the hill, found Aislinn's slender form there beside Li-eira's. The Sundar girl knew Mathern's priestess would likely not stand to see goblins slaughtered, even if leaving them alive put their mission at more risk.

She dropped her voice to Yahim's register and shouted up the hill. Aislinn's devotions were abruptly interrupted. "Mother Aislinn! If you would see to the women and children in the trees! They'll need your assistance!"

With that, Yasminna leapt down and spoke to the three men near her. "We can't hide from her what needs to be done here," she said, voice tight. "But we can give her something else to concentrate upon while we do it." She punctuated the sentence by stabbing the point of her sword into the ground and readying ier small crossbow.

Li-eira summoned a small smile for Aislinn and nodded encouragingly to her, hoping that she would go. "I'll keep guard here."

Aislinn looked from Yahim to Li-eira. The mage saw the tears standing in her eyes as she took a deep breath. She knew what they were doing and while she was a mostly grateful for it, she was also worried, for a couple of reasons. Still, she nodded. "Don't stand so much on that leg if you can help it," she said quietly. "You'll make things worse. I'll take care of it in a moment."

She gave a small smile to Li-eira, turned and headed rapidly in the direction the women and children should be. By the time she arrived, the tears were gone, replaced by her habitual gentle smile. "Please, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to where we have our horses. My friends are freeing the men, now and they'll be with us, shortly." The symbol of Mathern shined prominently around her neck as she held out a welcoming hand and gestured toward the horses with her staff.

Tob looked back at his where he'd dropped his bow, looked at the dolfanc, looked at Yahim, looked at the sky, and looked at Coren.

"I can't," he said. "I can not shoot a trapped foe, even dolfanc." He raised his voice so that anyone in the are could hear him. "Does anyone speak the mongrel language of these beasts?"

Turning to the dolfanc, Tob pointed at them with his long sword, and yelled "Get down! Get down on the ground, you bastards, so that you might live to face another sunrise!"

Yahim pulled up his slurbow abruptly, shot undischarged. "I do not like it either, Tob -- but you are the one who said if any escape, they are just going to come back with reinforcements." His voice was still tight, but leveling out a bit as the immediate danger seemed past.

"They will fit in one of these cages quite nicely," Tob replied. "If we leave them bound and caged, they are in the hands of fate, and not in mine. It is not an ideal solution, but there is no ideal solution. To stand and wait for them to be free so that we can slay them fairly is begging the fates to kill on of us. I can take prisoners, I've done it before."

Janus could hardly believe his ears. "Youve done it before? When? When you had an Army of the High Kings KNights and retainers with you? Forgive me brother, but I see no standard. When those weeds drop, those Goblins will do what Goblins do. They may surrender now, but if we leave them behind, they will kill again. They will take more slaves. Do you want that on your head, because shooting them when you have an advantage isn't fair? It didnt bother you to shoot at them when they didnt know you were there."

"I am not sure that leaving them bound and helpless in the wilderness is any mercy, Tob," Yahim said, still invisible.

Coren looked around, startled at hearing Yahim's voice. It sounded so close and yet Coren could not see the swarthy skinned spy.

"Aye. And anyway, Tob, these creatures are evil to their very core", he said to his ally in arms. "They will stop at nothing to see all that is fair and good in this world is destroyed. Either they will die a slow and lingering death in their prison as Yahim says", he looked around still unsure where he/she was, "or will escape to kill and capture more innocent people, as Janus mentioned. Or follow us to stab us in the back".

Swapping his battleaxe to his newly-healed left hand, Coren pulled a throwing axe from his belt.

"Better that we end their misery now, so that the bloody varken cause no more trouble in the future", Coren added, stepping closer to the tangle of root, grasses and trees that marked the boundary to Janus' entanglement spell.

Coren then remembered Tob's obvious hatred of the ogres.

"If it helps, think of them as small ogres. Other than the differences in size and brains, there's not that much between 'em". He then spied the nearest struggling goblin and aimed an axe in its direction.

"I cannot leave them to a slow death," Yahim's voice said. "Perhaps they do not deserve a merciful end, but I could not live with myself if I left them to die of thirst and hunger -- or to be eaten alive by other predators. Go assist Aislinn if you have not the stomach to do what needs to be done here. Coren, Janus and I will do what we must."

"You are sure, brother," Tob said. It was a statement and not a question, directed at Janus. Tob was vastly relieved to not have to be in charge of all the decisions anymore. Being the only soldier, and the one people turned to for what to do next. He did not have the knack for leading people, did not have the talent for creative tactics, did not have the time to puzzle everything through, and he knew it. "Let's be done with it quickly." He went briskly to retrieve his bow, and took aim without a word at the goblins on the far side of the clearing, taking care to place his shots to avoid the possibility that the men in the cage might be harmed if he missed.

Axe, bolt, and arrow tore into the helpless creatures as they screamed. One by one their blood and life spilled to mix with the writhing plants that held them still as if Beldrem himself were turning them into targets. There was no challenge or difficulty as the three were easily able to find the killing shots.

"Ik'lach n'guch Daamon???" one of the goblins shouted in their own tongue. "Saves us, Master. They kills us as we helpless. Has they no mercy? Avenge us oh Lord of Light!!! See how these evil creatures attacks us to steals our property and now murders us with no chance to defends ourself. Into your holy spirit are we bound. Lets our souls adds to the fire that returns the holy lands to we Dolfanc, the rightful keepers of your wor..."

Coren buried one of his hand axes in the creatures skull, cutting off any further words or prayers.

Aislinn was able to gather the women and children together and safely lead them beyond the hilltop and out of sight of the massacre. They naturally took to her words and followed her instructions. Her presence alone had a calming effect on the children.

By the time the last goblin fell, the plants returned to their apparent natural state, and the male slaves were calling for help to escape the cage.

Janus spent the last few moments of the fight healing Tob, and Corens remaining damage. He used his sling to help dispatch the last of the slaver scum as best he could, until they were all down, and the spell faded. Looking at his companions, he shrugged, and began to move towards the nearest Goblin carcass, lifting it by the shoulders, he struggled to start dragging them all into a line, so arrows could be recovered, they could be searched, and then disposed of. He was curious about one thing in particular however, and as soon as they were organized, he went to search the Goblin Leader.

"This one somehow escaped the power of Beldrem's grasp. I think there must have been some magical help for that."

Coren moved to the goblin he just dispatched and retrieved his axe, wiping away the foul blood from the blade.

"Bloody chatterbox", he muttered, giving the body a little kick with his boot whilst looking at the body up and down. Then, noticing Janus' actions, he grabbed the goblin's body and hauled it with the others. He did the same with the others. When they were all together, he began searching the bodies and their makeshift camp for anything of interest. He was looking for a variety of things. Unusual items, maps, written missives, any hand axes, but most of all he was looking for any money pouches. He was most interested in any gold or silver he found.

"Who must do the hard things?"

Old Muamar's voice, thin and reedy, piercing through the dust motes dancing along rays of sunlight in a tiny classroom. Her sister Leila nudged her and she shot up straight, caught daydreaming during philosophy lessons once again.

"Who must do the hard things? Highness?"

His tiny, dark eyes had been encased in a thousand folds, sun lines and age lines from decades spent in a land where the sun was not one's friend.

"I am sorry, Teacher. I do not know the answer."

He leaned back, smoothing the drapes of his robes of office. "Of course you do. The answer, Highness, is, `she who can'."

Yasminna hadn't understood that at all, not for years. Not until she'd helped Ibrahll kill a cabal of assassins bound for Kughdad and cleaned up the aftermath. Now as she surveyed the killing field she felt the truth of old Muamar's lesson once again. Who must do the hard things? She who can, for whom else could you trust?

Seeing Janus about the grim work of lining up the bodies, Yasminna suppressed her emotional reaction, shook herself, and discovered that the spell of invisibility had worn off at some point. She became Yahim once again, and headed for the enclosure to see what could be done about releasing the captives there.

Li-eira now sat in the sweet grass, the fresh scent a welcome distraction to the bloody battleground that lay at the bottom of the hill. Sitting relieved the more acute pain from the arrow in her leg...and she was grateful for the momentary solitude that her perch provided her.

While they walked, Aislinn gently asked the former captives about their journey. She was relieved to find out that most everyone that was caught, survived. When they arrived at the horses, Aislinn bid them all wait a moment. Then, she went to tend to Li-eira's wound, pulling out the arrow, then calling upon Mathern's blessing. Her hands glowed slightly with a silvery-blue light as the healing power washed through her. She gave the mage a smile that faded as she looked over the aftermath of the skirmish.

"Now comes the healing," she murmured. "In several ways. I'll go see to the wounded men in the cage, first." Aislinn walked with her back straight, head held high and her usual gentle smile in place. She made her way down the hill and over to the cage, assessing the damage in her mind before she arrived.

Looking around, Coren noticed Aislinn treating Li-eira's leg wound. A look of concern flashed across his face followed by anger. He abandoned his theft of the dead and hurried over to them.

"Lass, are you injured?" he called out to Li-eira. "Damn it!" he cursed, then continued in a lower, muttering tone. "I should've stayed near you and shielded you. Tob's a strong enough fighter to be able to take on those greenskins. And Janus should've healed you before he dealt out Beldrem's healing magic to me".

"Stop fussing about." Li-eira offered him a half hearted smile. "I'm fine and Janus left me in Aislinn's most capable hands. Would you have preferred him to send her to the front lines while he tended to me?" Her sweet tone softened her chastising words, in truth she had wondered the same thing. Not that Janus didn't make the right decision, but it was odd for her needs to be ignored, she wondered once again if he might have ill feelings towards her. But she shook her head, most certainly a thought for a quieter time.

Aislinn opened her mouth to reply, but closed it again when Li-eira beat her to it. She knew her nerves were stretched thin, so it was better that the mage answered.

Janus dropped another carcass into line and wiped at his brow. He looked over at Coren and chuckled a bit as he headed off to get another body. He said nothing though, realizing that it was frustration speaking, and not a genuine second guessing. (Even still, he went over the decision in his mind again anyway, retracing the steps of his logic.)

Li-eira stood back up, taking Coren's offered hand even though it wasn't needed. She looked fondly at the sweet priestess of Mathern and gave her a soft hug of thanks, she wasn't sure which of them needed it more but it felt good.

Tob went about gathering arrows, wiping them carefully clean as he went. He used his knife to slit each throat of each goblin that he passed, and a few gave a last gurgling sigh as he did so. He did it all methodically, mechanically, the same way a cook might wipe down the pots and counters once the cake was in the oven. He looked a little absent minded. He spared the occasional glance for the men he had rescued, but he did not smile or waive, or offer himself to be thanked. He kept busy over his trade, and let those with better tongues do the talking. He assiduously did not look for the women. They had likely had enough prying eyes for a lifetime.

He called out to Coren. "We should move back up the hill for the night. Do you think there will Dragonlords here before dawn, or would they come this far inland?"

As she made her way to the male captives, Aislinn's blue gaze took in Tob's actions. There was no judgement in her expression, only a certain bleakness coming from her yearning to help and knowing he likely wouldn't allow it... right now. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Yahim and nodded once. Just enough for him to catch the gesture and reassure him that she'd be available to talk after all was settled, if he wished.

Yahim looked up from the lock on the gate and returned Aislinn's nod. From the set of that jaw, the Mother knew that Yasminna was holding herself together by sheer force of will, alone.

Still concerned about Li-eira, Coren barely gave Tob's question much consideration. "No, I doubt the Dragonlords will be here for these slavers" he said over his shoulder. "The slavers take their prisoners to the Dragonlords - not the other way round. At best, they'll stay at the coast, probably cursing these dolfanc for not showing".

The battle over, Giacomo watched his benefactors approach (or one of them), a Child of Mathern – if his eyes were working. He around at the other men in the cage with him. Like himself, each was bruised and ill-treated; but none serious. The men were still in various stages of shock at the combat they had witnessed. The ogres especially had put fear into them. And, Giacomo had been no different. Runtish goblins were one thing; giant, ogres were another.

As the priestess approached, all the captives found themselves smiling a little. There was no better sign for a wounded captive than a Child of Mathern coming to rescue them. Giacomo helped those worse off than he out of their cage, then climbed out – his young back rejoicing over once again being straight.

With a twist to his lips that might have been a smile under other circumstances, the Sundar stepped aside as the gate opened, content to be ignored for the moment.

“Thank you, Mother.” He said to the priestess. “My name is Giacomo and I am at your service.” He said with genuine affection and warmth in his voice. His face might have been handsome, were it not for the blackened eye and reddish-brown bruise that covered the left side of his face. His voice was somewhat muffled as he spoke through the swelling. He bowed to her gracefully, and seemed rather well practiced at the art. “If you have any food – there is much need for that here. Some of these men have been here longer than their stomachs find agreeable.”

"Good day, Giacomo," the priestess replied, her smile widening. "I'm Aislinn. I'm sure that between our supplies, what we can gather from the wagons or get hunted down, we'll be able to feed everyone. Will you help me get everyone up the hill, there? The women and children are waiting with our horses."

Surprisingly, she tossed a wink at him before she healed a wound on one man's leg, allowing him to walk a little better. "Then, we can see about fixing up that pretty face of yours," she chuckled softly.

Li-eira could see that Yahim and Aislinn were tending to the male captives and that Tob and Janus were busy with the more grisly business of cleaning up. "We should help." Her voice and look were determined as she spoke to Coren and made her way down the hill, limping only slightly on her injured leg.

When she arrived at the deceased goblins she noticed the items that they'd been sifting through. She watched Janus for a moment with a peculiar look before she spoke. "Let me see if any of this is magical in nature. ...we should be careful in case it's cursed." She closed her eyes for a moment to block the gruesom death that littered the ground and concentrated her power. The now familiar glow of the silver hand enshrouded her as she spoke. "Permissum meus oris animadverto qua veneficus habito"

Janus smiled as Ellyn moved away to safety. The young man then extended his left arm, turning his palm to the valley floor, and curled pinkie and ring finger down. He intoned the sacred words as quietly as he could. "Kor nok serenth mas din Beldremethellae." He felt the warmth of the Embrace of the Father wrap him, and the power reach out to the plant life in the valley below.

The shouts of the goblins filled the early evening sky as the plants and trees came to life. They were taken completely by surprise. Root and branch reached out and surrounded most all of the nasty dolfanc as well as the slave pen. The shouts and cries of the humans were heard, but lost in the more raucous screams. Three of the goblins, including the leader, were able to push their way past the area of writhing plants.

Tob’s first shot sailed over the head of the goblin leader, who turned to flee. The ranger’s second arrow grazed the creature across the shoulder, drawing blood, but it did not stop him. The goblin leader reached into his waist and pulled something out. Within seconds a braying sound was sent forth into the air. He then barked some commands to those not held fast.

Coren, his bow also readied, let his first arrow fly into one of the other goblins that had escaped Janus’ Entangle. He then swore loudly as his bowstring snapped while he drew back for his section shot.

Li-eira spied the third goblin fleeing to a space between the trees. She remember Tob’s words and turned to face the fleeing goblin as she summoned the power within her. Those who witnessed this saw a silver glow encompass her right hand as she said the words “permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”. Two glowing missles then flew from her outstretched hand and struck the creature full in the back. With a hoarse scream the goblin howled before it’s smouldering body fell forward dead.

The rest of the goblins moved into position near the slave pen holding the women and children as the leader took cover behind it. The frightened cries of the children were heard by all.

Oh, that's not good, Yasminna thought, backing up against the trunk of the tree to keep herself as narrow a target as possible. Was the horn to get his group's attention, or to summon help from the surrounds? Luckbringer, please let it be the former.... She paused there to look around and regroup, knowing her task was impossible if the goblins weren't drawn off somehow. Her eyes felt like they were everywhere on the goblins, the enclosure, and the hills beyond.

Embarrassed, clothes rent, one eye swollen nearly shut. The young Derugarian knew that it was his pride that had been injured, rather than his body. He scrambled to his feet as the sounds of battle came. He struggled to look – but he could see nothing coming.

He watched as the very plants sprung to life and began to surround and bind the goblins as well as the slaves. He flattened himself against the back wall and was able to avoid the tendril of grass, root, and branch.

“Look, friends.” He said to his fellow prisoners. “Here is freedom if we take it; follow my lead and we may yet be home for supper.” His smile was bright and his voice was strong; giving hope to those around him.

He then turned his attention to one of his guards. He spoke no goblinish – but he motioned the young goblin forward. “Please,” he said kindly, as he cast his Charm spell. “Let me out.” He pointed to the lock, then struggled with the door – hoping that the goblin would understand.

The goblin's eyes glazed over, but only for a moment before hatred returned and took residence in their depths. The creature's unintelligible snarl was all the Derugarian needed to know hos charm had failed.

Coren threw his bow down onto the ground in anger. "By Vwrg's teeth!" he cursed. Was it Mathern's 'blessing' ruining things after those blasphemous comments a few days ago? Or had he not offered enough to the Luckbringer during his last days in Freehold? Whatever, his bow was useless for the moment.

Grabbing his axe and his shield, he hefted both high and called out a suitable battlecry. "For Verengaard!!", he yelled and began his charge down the hill side. As he ran, he kept his shield held in front and somewhat high to protect from any bow fire.

Wordlessly and grimly, Tob dashed off down the hill, toward the Goblins, drawing another arrow as he went, his eyes fixed on the lead goblin. He was worried about that horn, and who it was for. Was it dragonlords? A hunting party on massive wolves? Whomever it was, it would be best if there was no one here to greet them as friends. His swords paired on his back, slung just beneath his quiver full of arrows, thumped reassuringly on his back, promising bloodletting to come. The haze of battle did wonders to clear his mind of its wretched aftermath.

Tob and Coren both watched as 5 of the goblins broke formation and moved towards them with swords drawn. Tob fired his bow at the advancing goblins. The first arrow struck it in the shoulder, and the second felled it where it stepped.

The first few moments of battle were not as productive as Li-eira had hoped. There was no way to plan for all of the outcomes, she'd heard Coren say that often, and today she'd have to agree. She took a moment to scan the battlefield and the surrounding area, hoping to see if the horn had called reinforcements. Her gaze then settled on the group of Goblins hovering around the slave pen and let her magic come forth. Her right hand glowed as she issued her command. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”.

She felt the power swell within her. She was already beginning to feel the effects of the first spell on her body as her spellbolts arced out again from her outstretched left hand. One struck the same goblin that Coren had shot. It staggered, but it's smoking body kept coming. Another of her bolts flew past them and struck one of the remaining guards in front of the slave pen. Those two guards both fired with their bows towards the source of the magical bolts. One came very very close to striking the beautiful Pathmage. She knew, had it not been for Mathern's blessing, she very well might have been struck. She also knew how much that second spell had cost her. The ringing in her ears began and she felt the first telltale thumpings of a headache.

Aislinn watched how this situation unfolded, her eyes growing wide. "That definitely could have gone better, in some ways," she murmured softly. Quickly, she ran through what spells she could ask of Mathern, checking the armor on the dolfanc. Hide, no help there, she thought. Weapons are probably leather-wrapped as well. She sighed softly, though her grip on her staff grew white-knuckled.

Her only chance really to help her friends was if some of the dolfanc came up the hill. She didn't dare go rushing down into the melee. Even she knew better than that. So, she watched and waited for an opportunity to be of aid.

Janus watched as things unfolded around him, and on the valley floor below. Realizing Yahim couldn't accomplish his mission with the Dolfanc clustered around the door to the eastern cage, he focused his attention there. He extended his thumbs at right angles to his palms, and touched his index fingers and thumbtips together, forming a diamond with his hannds as he intoned the words of power. "Beldermenethellae, gi vellouvas courniscus"

Yahim heard the creak and pop of leather bindings as Janus' spell caused one of the bars to bow. It created a large enough gap so that one, then another of the women were able to slip out before the first child came through. None of them knew that Yahim was there. Thankfully, none of the goblins could see the women outside the pen.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Yasminna prayed the goblins be distracted by Coren's charge, then moved to where the corner of the enclosure that had just miraculously came apart. Maybe I can get them into the cover of the trees, she thought, ready to trip the first monster that stupid enough to chase them, then stab the second.

Yasminna didn't know if she was any match for a goblin in a fight or not and didn't relish finding out like this. Tob and Coren were too far away to be of immediate help. So she watched the women and children, hurrying them along in her mind, silently. She watched the goblins, especially the leader, sizing him up, waiting for the moment when the humans were clear and she was free to act on her own. But if they come looking for trouble, by the Luckbringer, I'll have some for them...

Two more children were handed out between the gap in the bars of the pen. Yahim watched as the women were able to work unnoticed by the goblins engaged in combat. The two guards at the gate were obviously distracted in the prey they were seeking on the hilltop.

Janus smiled, as the captive women and children began filing out of the cage, and slipping off into the trees. He saw the two remaining goblins at the doorway to the cage, and realized that they needed to up the ante, to ensure their escape was unmolested. He extended his right hand palm up, and the fingers of his left he raised over the palm, and pointed them downwards. "Beldremenethallus ignatious fedocim"

The yound druid felt the surge of Beldrem's power pour into him from the ground. He felt the warmth flow up through his legs and into his torso until a small spherical flame appeared in his right hand. He let it fly towards the goblin guards at the slave pen, but it sailed too far past it and to the left. He landed on the ground and flashed out of existence. Janus felt the power rise again as another sphere began to coalesce in his hand.

The familiar ache of exhaustion forced itself into Li-eira's thoughts and reminded her that she needed to stand down if she wanted to survive this fight. She leaned heavily upon her staff as she took what cover she could from the hilltop. Her breaths were raspy but not yet labored and she knew that if she had to she could cast another spell or two before she lost consciousness.

Out of the corner of her eye, Aislinn spied Li-eira. Then, she noticed the woman's fatigue. Well, I can fix that, at least, she mused thoughtfully. She grasped her pendant and murmured the prayer to Mathern, concentrating on Li-eira. "Holy Mother, please help me aid Li-eira by removing her fatigue. She is generous of soul and spirit and deserving."

Li-eira felt the headache recede, first. Then energy returned to her limbs and mind. Aislinn smiled softly at her, that peculiar light in her eyes. It nearly shouted that she'd called upon Mathern once more.

The worried frown that creased Li-eira's face fell away. She looked up, her eyes full of confusion and almost wet with gratitude. She wasn't immediately certain how it happened but she knew without question that the rigors of her fatigue had been washed away. When she caught Aislinn's gaze and the realization hit that it was one of her blessings, she inclined her head with the humblest of respects.

Tob ran on, stepping low to drop his bow. His face began to stretch into from a grimace to a grin, and he reached his hands behind him to unsheathed two swords, one short and one long. He looked into the widening eyes of the dolfanc as he ran into their midst, and he enjoyed their looks of dawning apprehension.

He swung both blades in a spiralling death but was struck by one nof the goblins before his blades managed to slice another of them almost in two pieces. It fell to the ground in a bloody mess.

Coren dashed at the lone goblin who was able to slice the warrior before his axe cleaved it's head from it's shoulders. It spun in the air showering the Great White Bear with it's blood.

Yahim tore her gaze away from the slaves as she heard the first roar and growl from the clearing north and east of the pen that held the women and children. It was more than animal. That she knew. The Sundaryan looked around and realized no one else had heard the sound except the goblin leader, who was now grinning from ear to ear and had drawn his blade.

Revitalized by the sweet Mother's blessing, Li-eira scanned the area and was concerned that the Goblin Leader was so far away from her armed companions. She called forth the power once again, her hand surging with the silver of her power. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles”. Two more spell bolts erupted from her outstretched hand and sped towards one of the goblins that was guarding the slave pen. They slammed into it hard and forced the goblin back a step. It managed to raise it's bow and fire two shots at the young magi. One of the arrows flew wide to the right, but the second struck her squarely in her left thigh.

Li-eira gasped in pain and lifted her hand to her wound. The sight and feel of the sticky blood almost made her woozy, but she closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she was able to bring things back into focus.

That sound chilled Yasminna to the bone. Whatever it was, it was intelligent -- maybe even moreso than the goblins. She glanced around. Still three slaves in the pen. Two goblins guarding the gate. The leader, grinning there with his sword drawn. I don't know what's best... what would Tob do? She looked at the leader again, and swallowed heavily. Oh Luckbringer, look upon me with a smile, I pray you... let me take him down before whatever that... thing.. is, reaches us....

Touching the Luckbringer's amulet to the blade of her sword, Yasminna crept over the top of the enclosure, swift and silent, all extraneous thoughts and fears dropping from her with every step. She'd been trained for this, the quick, silent kill in the service of others. She was behind him and close enough to smell him when Li-eira's magic bolts hit him. Using that distraction, Yasminna lunged forward, planting her blade as deeply into the monster's back as she could push it. Her blade exploded from the goblin's body causing blood to spurt. It was a good blow, but not quite lethal. The goblin spun around and swung at the empty space where Yahim was but a moment ago. He had managed to pull his blade out and roll to the right to avoid the instinctual slash of the leader of this band of goblins.

Janus gritted his teeth, and gave a silent curse at the errant shot. Damn my aim, but at least theyre concentrated on us, instead of the slaves. He rared his right arm back, and hurled more fire at the Dolfanc guard. Janus hurled his ball of holy fire once more at the goblins. Unfortunately his arm was not as strong as his faith, and the ball fell short of it's mark.

Aislinn grimaced at the action below. She felt a little sick to her stomach, but she still kept watch over all the proceedings. She kept Li-eira in her peripheral vision just in case. She hoped she wouldn't have to use another spell so she could heal those that needed it, afterwards.

"By Vwrg's hammer!" roared Coren. The little varken had managed to scratch him before he had sliced off the creatures head. And, even then, the bastard had managed to get blood all over his cloak. Coren shook his head and turned.

There were a couple of goblins some distance away near the slave pen but, nearby, two of the creatures were harrassing his companion, Tob. More importantly, Coren's magical comrades were on the hill behind him. He couldn't let the creatures past him and up the slope.

Taking a step closer to Tob and the nearby goblins, Coren let his foresty friend know he had help.

"I have your side, Tob", he announced. "Let's finish these off and then head to the slaves". And with a battlecry to Verengaard, the Great Bear dodged the goblins's thrust and brought his down upon the shoulder of the dolfanc slaver. He nearly split it in two as it fell at the barbarian's feet.

Slipping into his native tongue, Tob uttered words that no Derugarian clansman would utter in his mother's presence - words that called into sharp question the Dolfanc's lineage and the canal of their birth. Grunting with the effort, he swung his swords around again as a pair, bringing them to bear against his foes. Foes that were as small as children and as mean as hell itself. Rarely was their honor in doing violence to anything so small, but Verengard was always brought glory in the cleansing of the land.

"Aye, Coren, let's do that," Tob replied in their shared language, his southern speech dragging the vowels out and doing small justice to the consonants. Tob was able to parry the goblin's attack and prevent it from drawing additional blood. The beast almost deflected Tob's swift attacks, but the ranger was able to get inside it's defenses and slide his shortsword into the goblin's chest. It fell to the ground and was silent.

Yahim then saw, out of the corner of his eye, the ten-foot tall creature that was bearing down on them from the clearing. To his horror, he saw another behind it. They both had massive clubs out and were heading through the gap in the trees.

Yasminna fought down the urge to panic as the gigantic monsters strode toward her, their long legs eating up the distance like a ravener. She didn't know if Tob, Coren, and the others had seen them yet, nor what they were or what she should do about it (except staying out of range of those clubs, which seemed like a mighty fine idea).

The goblin next to the leader had just taken a chestfull of Li-eira's magic bolts. Neither of them looked healthy; in one of those "clutch-moment" decisions Yasminna decided to see if she could give them both a bad case of dead -- or at least the leader. She'd rolled to the right to avoid the return blow and so just kept on rolling, tumbling to her feet then flipping in an aerial cartwheel to position herself behind the leader. Coincidentally, it also placed her behind the goblin with bow who'd just fired two shots. Without hesitation she drove her sword once again into the leader's back, praying this time she hit something vital.

Li-eira shook her head towards Aislinn, hoping that she wouldn't waste any more of her precious spells on her. Then she turned her attention back to the battle and sent two more bolts flying into the guards that stood near the slave pen. “Permissum is veneficus telum attero meus hostiles” Her first spellbolt hit the guard and levelled him where he stood. Her second missile struck the other goblin guard and staggered him, but he remained standing. The throbbing started in her head again and she felt a brief wave of nausea course through but recede.

Janus sighed, and rared back once more, throwing his third ball of fire at the wounded guards. If nothing else, its keeping them off Yahim. Beldrem was with the young druid as his ball of fire struck the goblin leader and exploded on impact. Yahim had to pull his attack at the last moment lest he get caught in the radius of flame that erupted momentarily around the goblin leader.

Coren saw the goblin that had been hit by Li-eira's magical bolts fire a couple of it's black arrows back at the hill behind him. He hoped that, given the elevation of the hillside, none of his comrades were hit. Still, right now there was no time to worry about that. Over the top of the slave pen, Coren could see enemy reinforcments coming.

"Ogres!" Coren grunted to Tob.

The sight of the large, ugly brutes did not faze Coren. Right now, he would've tackled one of the Dragonlord's wyrms if it had flown into the clearing. Coren didn't fear a couple of big ogres. He'd fought worse on his own.

Aislinn chewed at her lower lip. She was torn between a choice to help now and saving her spells for after the combat. When the ogres rumble onto the scene, she pales. "Oh, Blessed Mother," she breathes. "I know I really shouldn't wish for another's death, but please let them go down quickly."

Quickly, her blue eyes took in the scene. "Janus, how long with that entangling spell hold? It will be very bad if they get free while they're trying to take down the ogres."

Janus glanced over at the lovely Priestess, as the ball of fire left his fingertips. "Five more minutes, give or take, by my reckoning. Keep Li-eira throwing those bolts, dont forget, Beldrem grants me some healing, too."

"Keep the little ones back, I will kill those big bastards." Tob was heedless of whether that might insult a fellow warrior. His hatred of Ogres was total, eliminating all other thought from his mind except their hasty and expedient demise. He charged on, readying his swords for the remaining goblins that might intersect with his collision course with the massive manxome foe.

With the goblins immediately in front of them down, Coren charged off towards the remaining goblins near the entrance of the slave pen. He needed to take down the rest of the little greenskins to make sure they didn't nip at their heels whilst they took on the big ones. He saw Li-eira's spellbolts fell one and hurt the other of the two goblin guards. Coren charged and swung his axe at the other goblin who didn't have time to react before it, too, joined the others in death.

The first ogre rushed to meet Tob while the other leapt over the slave pen and swung it's massive club at Coren. The small tree of a weapon crashed into Coren's shield arm and he grimaced in pain. Tob, however, was like a creature possessed. His longsword sliced into the back of the creature's leg and forced it to kneel down as it swung it's club at the ranger. Tob, however, was able to duck under the attack as he swung his other blade across the creature's throat. Blood gushed from the wound and it fell over...dead. The goblin leader, who but moments ago was grinning in anticipation, now turned to flee. He was able to take two steps before Yahim's blade caught him in the back as the leader of this dolfanc band was trying to escape. Her final thrust ended the creature's life.

Janus looked over his shoulder at Li-eira, glancing down at her leg, and the arrow protruding from it. An unfamiliar look lit his blue eyes, before he looked at Aislinn. "I'm going down the hill to help Coren and Tob." Was all he had time to say before he took off down the hillside, letting Beldrem's burning will fizzle in his palm. He was able to close the distance and position himself in case he was needed.

Coren left arm felt numb from the ogre's powerful beating. Thankfully nothing was broken but it was close. They'd be bruises all down that limb and the left side of his body for weeks. In his mind, Coren thanked Verengaard that he'd managed to get his shield in the way of that massive club in time. If he hadn't, he'd probably be a sticky red smear on the ground by now.

Stumbling to the side a little, Coren swore and nearly lost his footing. Luckily he regained his balance before the ogre could get any closer and take advantage of his discomfort.

Growling, keeping his eyes on the ogre, Coren feinted left, swung his right arm back and then brought his large battle-axe round in a long, wide sweep at the ogre's torso.

"Eat axe, dog breath!", he yelled in his native Nartuk as his axe sunk deep unto the ogre's torso. The creature gushed blood but reared it's arm back to bring the club down upon the barbarian's skull.

Tob quickly smeared three fingers, soaked in ogrish blood, across his left cheek before he turned towards Coren and his opponent. "Mother owl, guide my talons as you would your own," he whispered his prayer of righteous fury as he jockeyed quickly to keep himself out of the ogre's line of sight. He aimed the point of his long sword at a point just beneath the dolfanc's ribcage, and prayed all the more fervently for his God's favor and glory. Tob saw the bloody creature taking aim for Coren's head and dashed inside to drive his blades deep for the killing blows.

It was all happening so quickly, monsters and blood and fire and steel. Yasminna yanked her sword from the roasting goblin's back, heard a massive club hit something with bone-shattering force and knew that if it had been directed at her, she'd likely be dead. Coren and Tob could probably handle the big dolfanc on their own, but she glanced over to the goblins struggling in their grassy bonds and knew there wasn't much time left.

As Tob maneuvered behind Coren's opponent, Yasminna went over the enclosure again, this time not bothering with stealth. When she reached the far fence she scrambled to the top of it, pausing only to gather her balance before using her new, elevated vantage to leap toward the dolfanc. She had intended to plant her sword deeply in the monster's broad back, but held fast as she saw the creature fall under the onslought of Coren and Tob. She looked around and saw nothing left but the dolfanc still held fast within the writhing mass of plant life.

Coren took a stumbling step backwards as the huge ogre tumbled to the ground dead. He sucked in a breath, letting his anger and bloodlust die a little. The main threat was over but there were still dolfanc trapped in Janus' vines. So Coren's bloodlust did not fade completely.

Breathing deeply, he looked around at Tob.

"I could've taken him", Coren boasted, referring to the ogre. He then nodded and grinned. "Still, I thank you for the assist and saving my head".

Li-eira looked hard at the battle below her. Her worry for Coren was evident on her brow, but after watching Tob slice through the other monster she felt that it would be safe to rest. ...if only for a minute before her fatigue overtook her. She stepped close to Aislinn when Janus left, and felt comforted just by being near her.

Aislinn gasped and held her staff even tighter. She saw and heard the crunch of that club hitting just as surely as if she were standing next to Coren when it happened. The thought of calling another spell, perhaps to try charming one of the goblin guards or to produce her own balls of flame was put on hold. I'll need my healing after this is over, she thought.

She tore her eyes away from the field of battle to assess Li-eira's wound. She hoped she could pull it out without too much trouble, rather than having to break it off and push it through. Already she started triage, leaving room in her mind for futher injuries sure to come. "I would gladly remove your fatigue again, Li-eira, but I'm afraid we'll need all the spells at my disposal and Janus's before this is done. Some of the male captives look like they could use some healing as well. I could go down and help, but that would distract Tob and Coren too much, I think," she mused insightfully.

Li-eira nodded quickly in agreement, the idea of being alone on that hill was not a welcome one. "I'll be fine." She reached over and squeezed her hand briefly, her thigh was painful but she was relieved that Aislinn didn't waste any more of Mathern's blessings on her. Li-eira sat down so that she could catch her breath. She steadied her breathing and felt strength beginning to return to her limbs and her spirit.

Janus closed the distance to where Coren stood over his fallen foe, and pressed his palms together, fingers upwards. He recited the ancient words, and placed his right palm on Coren's chest.
"An der namen die Beldremenethellas dubis enschriieben." He felt the Embrace of the Father it surrounded him and flowed like purest spring water into Corens body, repairing the damage that had been done.

Coren had no time to react to Janus' spellcasting. His eyes opened wide as Janus placed his hand on his chest and he felt some sort of power enter him. This was different to Mathern's blessing. That had been kind and reassuring, like a mother's watchful eye that inspired confidence. Beldrem's power was much wilder, like an strong, ethereal wind or a ghostly rushing river blasting right through him. Coren felt the harsh throbbing of his shield arm dull to a minor ache whilst the pains in his side, neck and legs reduced to practically nothing.

Releasing a deep breath that he didn't know he was holding, Coren closed his wide eyes for a moment, letting the presence of the mighty god fade. He opened his eyes again and muttered to Janus, "Praise be to Beldrem, eh?"

Janus grinned, and nodded, his blue eyes shining. "It's not required, White Bear. Just do what you do best, and Beldrem willing, I'll keep you standing to do it."

There were eleven goblins struggling helplessly in Janus' trap. Li-eira counted them and recounted them, not quite able yet to stomach shooting them. Instead she grounded herself and tried to catch the rest of her breath.

The priestess on the hill also noted the struggling goblins. She was also relieved that Janus got to Coren before the large man could do more damage to himself. She gazed out over the battlefield and a knot formed in her stomach. Her mind reconciled what was likely to happen, but her heart cried out against it. Tears welled in her eyes, even as part of her mind laughed at herself. It was probably the first time anyone ever cried over any dolfanc's life.

"Holy Mother," she prayed silently. "Please grant me the strength to get through this, and grant me the wisdom to not pass judgement on my friends. I know the realities, but I know through your teachings and those of my earthly mother, that every life is precious, just the same. I pray for those lives already lost, too. May they find peace in death that they didn't find in life."

Yasminna looked at the goblins struggling against their grassy bonds, then at the light of hatred and battle lust in Tob's and Coren's eyes. She glanced up the hill, found Aislinn's slender form there beside Li-eira's. The Sundar girl knew Mathern's priestess would likely not stand to see goblins slaughtered, even if leaving them alive put their mission at more risk.

She dropped her voice to Yahim's register and shouted up the hill. Aislinn's devotions were abruptly interrupted. "Mother Aislinn! If you would see to the women and children in the trees! They'll need your assistance!"

With that, Yasminna leapt down and spoke to the three men near her. "We can't hide from her what needs to be done here," she said, voice tight. "But we can give her something else to concentrate upon while we do it." She punctuated the sentence by stabbing the point of her sword into the ground and readying ier small crossbow.

Li-eira summoned a small smile for Aislinn and nodded encouragingly to her, hoping that she would go. "I'll keep guard here."

Aislinn looked from Yahim to Li-eira. The mage saw the tears standing in her eyes as she took a deep breath. She knew what they were doing and while she was a mostly grateful for it, she was also worried, for a couple of reasons. Still, she nodded. "Don't stand so much on that leg if you can help it," she said quietly. "You'll make things worse. I'll take care of it in a moment."

She gave a small smile to Li-eira, turned and headed rapidly in the direction the women and children should be. By the time she arrived, the tears were gone, replaced by her habitual gentle smile. "Please, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to where we have our horses. My friends are freeing the men, now and they'll be with us, shortly." The symbol of Mathern shined prominently around her neck as she held out a welcoming hand and gestured toward the horses with her staff.

Tob looked back at his where he'd dropped his bow, looked at the dolfanc, looked at Yahim, looked at the sky, and looked at Coren.

"I can't," he said. "I can not shoot a trapped foe, even dolfanc." He raised his voice so that anyone in the are could hear him. "Does anyone speak the mongrel language of these beasts?"

Turning to the dolfanc, Tob pointed at them with his long sword, and yelled "Get down! Get down on the ground, you bastards, so that you might live to face another sunrise!"

Yahim pulled up his slurbow abruptly, shot undischarged. "I do not like it either, Tob -- but you are the one who said if any escape, they are just going to come back with reinforcements." His voice was still tight, but leveling out a bit as the immediate danger seemed past.

"They will fit in one of these cages quite nicely," Tob replied. "If we leave them bound and caged, they are in the hands of fate, and not in mine. It is not an ideal solution, but there is no ideal solution. To stand and wait for them to be free so that we can slay them fairly is begging the fates to kill on of us. I can take prisoners, I've done it before."

Janus could hardly believe his ears. "Youve done it before? When? When you had an Army of the High Kings KNights and retainers with you? Forgive me brother, but I see no standard. When those weeds drop, those Goblins will do what Goblins do. They may surrender now, but if we leave them behind, they will kill again. They will take more slaves. Do you want that on your head, because shooting them when you have an advantage isn't fair? It didnt bother you to shoot at them when they didnt know you were there."

"I am not sure that leaving them bound and helpless in the wilderness is any mercy, Tob," Yahim said, still invisible.

Coren looked around, startled at hearing Yahim's voice. It sounded so close and yet Coren could not see the swarthy skinned spy.

"Aye. And anyway, Tob, these creatures are evil to their very core", he said to his ally in arms. "They will stop at nothing to see all that is fair and good in this world is destroyed. Either they will die a slow and lingering death in their prison as Yahim says", he looked around still unsure where he/she was, "or will escape to kill and capture more innocent people, as Janus mentioned. Or follow us to stab us in the back".

Swapping his battleaxe to his newly-healed left hand, Coren pulled a throwing axe from his belt.

"Better that we end their misery now, so that the bloody varken cause no more trouble in the future", Coren added, stepping closer to the tangle of root, grasses and trees that marked the boundary to Janus' entanglement spell.

Coren then remembered Tob's obvious hatred of the ogres.

"If it helps, think of them as small ogres. Other than the differences in size and brains, there's not that much between 'em". He then spied the nearest struggling goblin and aimed an axe in its direction.

"I cannot leave them to a slow death," Yahim's voice said. "Perhaps they do not deserve a merciful end, but I could not live with myself if I left them to die of thirst and hunger -- or to be eaten alive by other predators. Go assist Aislinn if you have not the stomach to do what needs to be done here. Coren, Janus and I will do what we must."

"You are sure, brother," Tob said. It was a statement and not a question, directed at Janus. Tob was vastly relieved to not have to be in charge of all the decisions anymore. Being the only soldier, and the one people turned to for what to do next. He did not have the knack for leading people, did not have the talent for creative tactics, did not have the time to puzzle everything through, and he knew it. "Let's be done with it quickly." He went briskly to retrieve his bow, and took aim without a word at the goblins on the far side of the clearing, taking care to place his shots to avoid the possibility that the men in the cage might be harmed if he missed.

Axe, bolt, and arrow tore into the helpless creatures as they screamed. One by one their blood and life spilled to mix with the writhing plants that held them still as if Beldrem himself were turning them into targets. There was no challenge or difficulty as the three were easily able to find the killing shots.

"Ik'lach n'guch Daamon???" one of the goblins shouted in their own tongue. "Saves us, Master. They kills us as we helpless. Has they no mercy? Avenge us oh Lord of Light!!! See how these evil creatures attacks us to steals our property and now murders us with no chance to defends ourself. Into your holy spirit are we bound. Lets our souls adds to the fire that returns the holy lands to we Dolfanc, the rightful keepers of your wor..."

Coren buried one of his hand axes in the creatures skull, cutting off any further words or prayers.

OOC: Closing this and opening the next part of the move.