A Watch Kept

[Birdnerdy 1539]

   "Halt!" barked Ecthallion, raising a fist in the air to further communicate the command. The two Watchmen who followed behind him stopped in their tracks upon hearing the order, falling into a loose attention stance behind the Watch Captain. A young girl of about 19 or 20 stood at the head of the party. Seeing the Watchmen assembled behind her, she pointed a finger toward the crumbling tower that stood in the center of the secluded mountain lake that the group had stopped at.

                                

   "There," she said in a rather choked voice. "My sister is in there." One of the Watchmen, Shea Volenduir, broke off from the group and took a position on top of the giant mushrooms surrounding the lake.

    "Captain, I see light inside the tower!"  shouted Shea, as he gazed out over the desolate scene, noting anything that might hinder the Watchmen on their mission. Ecthallion turned to the girl. It had been but an elven hour ago that she had come to the Volenduir Winery seeking men who would rescue her sister, who had been kidnapped by bandits. The story had seemed, for lack of a better word, rather generic to Ecthallion, but nonetheless, he rallied the Watch and they had moved out within minutes, following the girl through the treacherous northern wilderness surrounding Hanseti in search of her lost sister. Indicating for the others to do the same Ecthallion took his longbow off his back, checking the bowstring for any irregularities that might cause it to fire less than perfectly. 

 

 "Would you prefer to wait here while we fetch your sister?" he asked, turning to the girl. Instead of giving an answer, the girl curled back her lips into a rather nasty smile, revealing a pair of long serrated teeth. The other Watchman, Eorden Greyhame, slowly drew the longsword at his side. 

 

 "Why have you brought us here?" he growled, pointing the tip of his sword at the girl.

 "Come and see." she replied, her voice changing to an almost feral snarl, before vanishing before their very eyes. 

 

 "Watchmen, on me!" shouted Ecthallion. Shea hopped down from his perch on the mushroom, his bow in hand, falling into formation behind the Watch Captain. Eorden sheathed his sword, doing the same. "It appears that we are up against something more powerful than a few bandits," said Ecthallion, gazing over the desolate scene. "I can only assume that she is in the tower. We will move in, staying together, and keeping ready to fight at all times. Understood?" 

 

  "Aye sir." the Watch repeated. The small group stepped out into the lake, keeping to the shallows and stepping stones. Making their way onto the island, they approached the tower, keeping their eyes open for any sign of the girl. The tower wall had no holes or crannies that the men could fit through.

 

  "Find an way in." shouted Ecthallion, walking alongside the wall, looking for any entrances into the tower. After a few minutes, he heard a shout from Eorden.

   

  "Found one, Captain!" The Watchmen rallied to the sound of his voice, and once again fell into a loose formation as they moved into the tower. 

   The tower was filled with objects of the strangest kind. Pieces of furniture ravaged by the effects of weather and time littered the first floor. Giant mushrooms had overgrown much of the room, giving the place an overgrown, abandoned look.
 

 

 

  The Watchmen moved up through the tower, keeping their bows at the ready and their minds attentive and alert. Each new story held a new collection of items, ranging from a bed, to a banquet table, to a mechanism detailing the movements of the stars and planets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  At last, the Watchmen reached the second highest story of the tower. Through the holes in the tower's side, they could see the the light from the small villages scattered throughout the mountains. Suddenly, they heard a cackling voice coming from the top floor of the tower. 

 

 "Come and play, little rangers! I'm waiting for you!"

 

  Ecthallion gathered the Watchmen into a tight huddle. "If she's on the top floor, we have only two options. Our first is to all charge up at once, risking being killed in a large group in the process. If she is waiting for us to make such a move, she would be able to end us all right then and there. The other options involves one of us checking to see if it is safe before the others come up with them. Which plan seems more reasonable?

  "Two sir" replied Shea.

   "Any volunteers?" asked Ecthallion.

   "I will go." said Eorden, his expression revealing his grim determination.

   The Watch Captain gives a curt nod. "Good luck."

 

   Ecthallion and Shea watched with bated breath as Eorden climbed the last set of crumbling stairs. Upon reaching the top, he gave a shout, "You'd better see this!"

 

  The pair raced up the stairs after Eorden. Awaiting them at the top was a chilling scene. A form that Ecthallion could only assume was the girl stood perched on the edge of the tower. Shards of ice hung in the air around her. A flurry of snow blew in circles around her body, obscuring her face and giving her a ghoulish appearance. Her hands were held in the air, almost appearing to orchestrate the movements of the wintry elements. 

 

   Letting loose another evil cackle, the foul creature raised her hands into the air, the ice shards mimicking her movement. "I see you've made it to the top, Watchmen! A shame that you won't stay for long!" As she said this, she pointed her hands towards the rangers. The shards of ice flew towards the small group, making a sharp whistling noise akin to that an arrow makes when it is released from the bow. 

 

  "Take cover!" shouted Ecthallion, diving behind a cluster of rocks. The ice narrowly missed him, shattering on the wall behind him. Shea dodged the ice in a graceful roll. As he landed back on his feet, the tall elf drew an arrow, notching it into his bow. Taking aim at the creature, he let the arrow fly, praying that it hit a vulnerable spot. The arrow was blown off course by the wind that circled the girl, and sent flying off in the wrong direction. The ghoulish form laughed.

 

  "Your puny weapons are no match for me!" As she said this, the foul creature raised up into the air, standing on a platform of ice controlled by her twisted mind. Shea took a few steps back, moving behind cover to redouble his attack. 

 

   "She's a Frost Witch, we need fire!"  Upon hearing this, Eorden ducked behind a wall. Pulling out his his tinderbox, he frantically began to make a fire. Observing Eorden's efforts, Ecthallion moved into a position to cover him, motioning for Shea to do the same. Together, they faced down the Frost Witch. 

 

  "Watchmen, fire at will!" shouted Ecthallion. The two elves began firing in rapid succession at the Witch. Most of their arrows were blown off course, but a few nearly hit the foul creature, forcing her to deflect them with ice. Behind them, Eorden redoubled his efforts, focusing all of his attention into creating a spark. The Frost Witch began advancing towards the group, each arrow fired at her deflected by her icy shield. At last, Eorden emerged from his hiding place, a lit torch in his hand. Placing the tips of their arrows in the fire, Ecthallion and Shea let loose a fiery barrage at the ghoul. The flaming missiles were much more effective than their unlit counterparts, and the Frost Witch was slowly pushed back away from the group. Ecthallion waited until she was back on the other side of the tower. When she was in the perfect position, he gave a final order. "Watchmen, fire on my command!" The three Watchmen readied their flaming arrows, then aimed them at the frozen heart of the ghoul. "Fire!" shouted Ecthallion. All three arrows sped towards the Witch. One was deflected by her icy shield, but the others hit their target. Letting out an unearthly shriek, the Frost Witch collapsed to the ground, before vanishing in a mini explosion of ice and snow. As the last remnants of the Witch's magic returned to whence they came, a loud voice boomed from the sky.

 

 "Good work soldiers!" A light shone down from the heavens, and a sword fell from where the voice originated. Just as suddenly as it came, the light vanished. Eorden caught the sword by its hilt. Examining it closely, he called Ecthallion over to try and make sense of the strange markings that ran across its cross guard. Meanwhile, Shea noticed a puddle of liquid where the Frost Witch had died. Taking a small vial out of his pocket, he collected what he could of the strange substance.  

 

 Ecthallion placed his bow back on his back, and made to exit the tower. "With me, Watchmen. We will return to the winery, and take a day of rest, for we have vanquished a mighty foe. I will take this sword to be examined by a holy man, and the liquid I will take to an alchemist." With that, the three descendants traveled back to the Volenduir Winery, where they spent the day celebrating and training for their next battle. 

 

    As long as we draw breath, we will keep the North safe. We are efficient. We are dynamic. We are precise. We are Watchmen.

 

                   
 

[Birdnerdy 1539]

(( Thanks to Kraal who did this event for us! 

[xDK 1205]

The wicked witch hears of the happening in the north, while sitting in a tavern, eavesdropping on a couple of people talking about another dead frost witch. She places her now finished cup on the table in front of her, as she listens in on the conversation with interest. The men continues to speak about the bravery of the watchmen, however the talking is interupted with a cup tilting, rolling down on the floor from the table next to the men. The wicked witch is now stood up, on her way towards the taverns exit, her cape filling the intirety of the doorway as she leaves into the night.

[Mephistophelian 977]

"That is no frost witch these men boast of with such gusto."

The mutter escapes the mouth of none other than the warlock, present in the tavern where said boasting takes place. His eyes follow the exiting witch, his form rising soon after. He exits with a simple explanation.

"Creatures of that making do not draw their powers from the void, and thus the ice would have remained and melted away...Nay, they faced a voidal mage with a knack for pointed teeth. Still a feat, but not as great."

((Looks like it was great fun! Small note, however; edit out the part of the ice vanishing back to the void and you have yourself a fancy frost witch battle! If so, nullify my emote, too. Keep em coming, Kraal! ))

[Birdnerdy 1539]

"That is no frost witch these men boast of with such gusto."

The mutter escapes the mouth of none other than the warlock, present in the tavern where said boasting takes place. His eyes follow the exiting witch, his form rising soon after. He exits with a simple explanation.

"Creatures of that making do not draw their powers from the void, and thus the ice would have remained and melted away...Nay, they faced a voidal mage with a knack for pointed teeth. Still a feat, but not as great."

((Looks like it was great fun! Small note, however; edit out the part of the ice vanishing back to the void and you have yourself a fancy frost witch battle! If so, nullify my emote, too. Keep em coming, Kraal! ))

((Will do!

[Birdnerdy 1539]

(( made some minor edits.

[Talesofvalor40 17]

Scaran strolls up to the party of Watchmen as they march to the winery. "I have heard of your endeavors, you watchmen are what truly keep these roads safe for all people of the North." Scaran taps the hilt of his blade. "Perhaps I may assist in the future?"

[Birdnerdy 1539]

Ecthallion looks to Scaran as he approaches. "You may aid us anytime, old friend. It will take more men than just the Eagle's Watch to keep the North free from filth." As he says this, Ecthallion picks up an extra longbow from a stack that lay on a nearby worktable. Tossing it to Scaran, he gives a good-hearted chuckle. "Though this might be a more appropriate tool for the task then that old poker you insist on carrying."

[Birdnerdy 1539]

(( made further edits.

[Mj. 697]

Aethos might have been drunk when he heard the story, but at least he wasn't drunk enough to forget it.

 

"Thez-" *Hic* "Eagles watch might be something to get involved withh" 

[Heero 4092]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.