DCC DotSK: Act 1-3

ROUND 1
Init Order (still in process): Broegan, The Hound, Ty, Anora, Morgan, Dolsten

Everything is suddenly in motion as Broegan runs for his daughter and the heavy but open front door of his establishment -- and as The Hound is suddenly moving, leaving the bloody, ruined remains of watchman. Casting aside half of its victim's ribcage, the demon-wolf grins a many-fanged, slavering grin at Anora as it suddenly lopes towards her!

Dufgal sees and hears the attention surge outside and he suddenly recommits to the protection of the Lady Anora.

ROUND 1 (UPDATED)
Init Order: Broegan, The Hound, Ty, Aldric, Dufgal, Anora, Morgan, Dolsten

Over Dolsten's shoulder, Ty sees the innkeeper Broegan dash out of the shadows to the south. He sees the beast toss aside the grisly remains of its victim and round on Anora, who still stands in the market square with sword drawn.

Something about the tableau makes the elf shove past Morgan's father and into the night. As he runs, he shouts, "Anora! You've proven your valor!" Not what he'd call it, but 'asinine folly' isn't likely to incline the wizardess towards his plea. "Retreat while you can!"

Skidding to a halt closer to the fray, the blind beggar spreads his hands. Lets the magic rise and boil through him. And surrenders to what the magic demands, a paroxysm of the mouth, verbal vomit that seems to have a life of its own:

"FUCK THEE, BEAST OF HELL! FUCK THINE ARSE, AND RUSTY BE THE FUCKING! MAY SORCERY TORMENT THEE, PROFANE THEE! I SAY IT AND IT IS SO!"

In his own head, Ty wills his spell to surround the monster in color and light. To dazzle and blind it, to cover what he hopes will be Anora's escape.

As Ty pushes into the night with intent, Dufgal follows. Knowing he cannot cross the distance between he and the hound, nor wanting to if he were honest, the only thing he can think to do is throw the two strips of "questionable" elk meat that he collected on their first encounter with what he can now assume was the hound’s destruction. As a boy, were he ever threatened by a hungry street dog, he would try to distract it by tossing a piece of bread or dried meat in the opposite direction he wanted to walk.

So, he runs as far as he can to reach scent range. He tugs out the jerky from his pack and whips it over his head a few times before releasing it, hoping to divert it from chasing Anora.

Anora is about to do something foolish. She knows she can’t stop the beast, and yet…

Then, the elf’s magic catches the thing fully in the face. She could let her blade drink deeply of the beast’s black blood if she wanted. She hesitates a moment, wondering if they would get a chance like this again.

But then she drops the point of her blade, and heaves a tired sigh. This wouldn’t end the beast… Not in the way that Hirot needed. She might cut the things heart out here and now and it would be back again tomorrow, or so she suspected from the stories the villagers told.

She turns on her heel and runs for the door. The others would surely sigh and shake their heads at her foolishness. She would at theirs if the rolls were reversed. And yet… she contents herself with the idea that another soul had been denied to the beast. Each time the wizardess opened the doors of their makeshift bastion, another Hirotian life had been spared.

And so she runs…

Dufgal hurls the rancid meat towards the beast as Ty finishes casting his strange elf-magic, and then Anora makes her decision, beating a retreat back towards the inn along with Morgan.

---

ROUND 1
Init Order: Broegan, The Hound, Ty, Aldric, Dufgal, Anora, Morgan, Dolsten

Aldric rises from his salt beer as the others engage in heroics.

Ah, so my speech did sway the heart of the elf! Look at him, valiantly calling upon the powers of fae and daemon! And Dufgal, never a coward, showing his character yet again. Perhaps Anora can survive to tell this tale after all.

He runs to the door and pulls his sling and bullet from its pouch. This weapon was the bane of many a bird and hare back on his farm. He didn't expect it to hurt a demon dog, but it certainly would show Pelagia he means to confront it. Anora wouldn't be the only one to try to wound the moon beast! Once the stone is loosed, he makes a tactical retreat to the strong walls of the inn.

Suddenly, there's a small crowd outside the Wolf-Spear as both Morgan and Anora come boiling back towards the front door, feet flying. Ty stands outside, witnessing the results of the spectacular magical energies he called down, while Aldric hears his slingstone crack against a building on the other side of the market. He retreats back inside as Dufgal waits on Anora and watches -- hopeful that this now blinded demon-hound will be further distracted by the meat he's thrown...

Dufgal thinks to ready his spear and put himself in between Anora and the beast if he must.