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[Lazakus]
In the past several months I have encountered death a number of times. I have seen my companions dish it out, and even struck killing blows in defence of myself or others a rare few times. I have come within a breath of passing from this mortal realm myself, a sensation I am in no hurry to repeat, although it does make one view the world with new clarity.
Today for the first time one of our group fell in battle and healing could not rouse him. Ricard, our stalwart if conscience challenged mageblade, faced a great opponent and lost.
We had tracked the beast, sight unseen, from where it's victim lay to it's lair, entered to discover a bear of Dire proportions with cub, and successfully left. Thank any fates that it was asleep or more of us would doubtless have perished in that hole. Invisibility to sight and scent allowed our Faen to enter and take such pieces of treasure were in a side nook, and we could then have left the richer. But Ricard had not had a decent fight in months, as he had been frequently reminding us, and wanted to claim the glory. However, he was not so foolish as to tackle it alone, and we agreed to help.
Norva softened it up with a couple of explosions, killing the cub, and when it charged out of the cave wounded and full of fight we unloaded everything we had at it. Ragnor bore the brunt of the charge, having opted to set my spear (runed) directly in front. He tumbled away and the bear turned on the next closest person. A blur of teeth and claws and Ricard was torn asunder.
It was the bear's last act, as an arrow from Ragnor immediatly following was enough to take the wounded beast down. I rushed to apply healing aid to Ricard, but it was too late. I used his sword to finish off the unconscious beast. Ragnor went .. a little crazy for a few minutes, hewing into the bear's corpse with his sword.
In accordance with his wishes, as discussed the first time we really had bodies to dispose of, we distributed Ricard's possessions amoung ourselves and burnt his remains. Ragnor included the bear's heart on the pyre, something about providing a servant in the afterlife. Given the poor luck Ricard had fighting bears in general, I'm not sure he'll rest very easily with one following him around in the next world. I carry his sword, although the natural enchantment it bore has faded, and shall care for his horse until we can find a suitable owner. Ragnor has most of his magical items, as they seemed most suited to his use. Norva has taken custody of everything else of value, to be divided up at a later date.
I know the others feel as bad as I about the loss. Any of us could have done more - Norva could have used another earth burst first up, if Ragnor had been able to shoot fractionally sooner, if I could have hit with my crossbow shot as the bear emerged or my rune-summoned wolf had penetrated it's hide or even if I had not delayed my followup attack in favour of moving up cautiously the felling blow might have struck that much sooner.
However, he knew the risks and accepted them, and we still have a mission to complete against which this was but a costly side-trek. When we return to Khorl I shall make sure something is done to honour his name. He sought recognition in his own way, but I think he'd appreciate that.
[/Lazakus]
In the past several months I have encountered death a number of times. I have seen my companions dish it out, and even struck killing blows in defence of myself or others a rare few times. I have come within a breath of passing from this mortal realm myself, a sensation I am in no hurry to repeat, although it does make one view the world with new clarity.
Today for the first time one of our group fell in battle and healing could not rouse him. Ricard, our stalwart if conscience challenged mageblade, faced a great opponent and lost.
We had tracked the beast, sight unseen, from where it's victim lay to it's lair, entered to discover a bear of Dire proportions with cub, and successfully left. Thank any fates that it was asleep or more of us would doubtless have perished in that hole. Invisibility to sight and scent allowed our Faen to enter and take such pieces of treasure were in a side nook, and we could then have left the richer. But Ricard had not had a decent fight in months, as he had been frequently reminding us, and wanted to claim the glory. However, he was not so foolish as to tackle it alone, and we agreed to help.
Norva softened it up with a couple of explosions, killing the cub, and when it charged out of the cave wounded and full of fight we unloaded everything we had at it. Ragnor bore the brunt of the charge, having opted to set my spear (runed) directly in front. He tumbled away and the bear turned on the next closest person. A blur of teeth and claws and Ricard was torn asunder.
It was the bear's last act, as an arrow from Ragnor immediatly following was enough to take the wounded beast down. I rushed to apply healing aid to Ricard, but it was too late. I used his sword to finish off the unconscious beast. Ragnor went .. a little crazy for a few minutes, hewing into the bear's corpse with his sword.
In accordance with his wishes, as discussed the first time we really had bodies to dispose of, we distributed Ricard's possessions amoung ourselves and burnt his remains. Ragnor included the bear's heart on the pyre, something about providing a servant in the afterlife. Given the poor luck Ricard had fighting bears in general, I'm not sure he'll rest very easily with one following him around in the next world. I carry his sword, although the natural enchantment it bore has faded, and shall care for his horse until we can find a suitable owner. Ragnor has most of his magical items, as they seemed most suited to his use. Norva has taken custody of everything else of value, to be divided up at a later date.
I know the others feel as bad as I about the loss. Any of us could have done more - Norva could have used another earth burst first up, if Ragnor had been able to shoot fractionally sooner, if I could have hit with my crossbow shot as the bear emerged or my rune-summoned wolf had penetrated it's hide or even if I had not delayed my followup attack in favour of moving up cautiously the felling blow might have struck that much sooner.
However, he knew the risks and accepted them, and we still have a mission to complete against which this was but a costly side-trek. When we return to Khorl I shall make sure something is done to honour his name. He sought recognition in his own way, but I think he'd appreciate that.
[/Lazakus]
