WOT Adv 3

-- The Wheel Turns ---

"Let's go!" Maeslyn cries, holding her dagger in front of her defensively, her left hand clasping a brooch about her cloak. "Down the stairs or out the window?"

"The window!" you say briskly moving quickly toward the opening that shows the now fading daylight. You realize there's probably enough light outside and leave the torch. As you move to the window, you glance back and can see shapes and shadows moving beyond the area illuminated by the torch light. You stand with your back to the window, spear at the ready. "You first, Wise One," you say as you turn to face the sounds in the approaching darkness. "I will keep them at bay."

The swarm of rats advances in a rush towards you and Maeslyn sheathes her dagger and steps out onto the window ledge, her riding boots picking her way daintly, but nimbly across the ledge. She looks for a safe way down.

"Men! She mutters, as she concentrates on the task at hand. "Always taking the hard way, when they should be using their brains! It must be some 25 feet down! Stairs are built to be used!"

"Those stairs are also swarming with rats!" you shout back.

"Hmpph! Stubborn too!" and she grabs onto a vine and begins to climb easily down.

The rats rush forward concentrating on you, eager for an easy and solitary prey.

You stab down hard and swift at the gathering shapes killing and stepping on several of them, more of them are nibbling at your toes, calves, and soft boots. Others have moved to your sides attempting to get behind you.

Seeing that Maeslyn is nearly halfway down, you strike out again at the rats and move slowly back onto the ledge and manage to sneak a glance at Maeslyn's progress below. You can see that she's some 15 feet below you, making good progress.

It's then that you hear the flapping of wings and can see the cawing of jet black ravens as you look down you can see Maeslyn halfway down, scream as dark wings swarm about her. You can see a frenzy of beak and claw, tearing at the woman some 15 feet below you. She vainly tries to keep them away, using one hand to hold on the rope and the other to beat at the birds.

She manages to hold onto the vine, but can make no further progress down the vine-covered wall.

You mutter one of your favorite three-fold curses, sheathe your spear and begin to slide down the vines, to quickly get at Maeslyn's level. You arrive after a brief climb to the midpoint and you can see her more clearly now. Her clothing is in tatters with sharp claw marks on her hands, face, and arms. She's bleeding.

"At least we left the rats behind!" you shout above the clamour of the birds, ducking your head as a claw rips at your clothing.

"You spoke too soon!" Maeslyn shouts back. "Look!" And she motions with her head above you. You can see a few rats, perhaps 10 or so attempting to venture out onto the vines themselves. The wing, claw, and beak of black ravens beat and trash at you.

"Keep climbing!" you order.

"I can't hold on much longer!" Maeslyn cries and the vines rip through her hands, you try to catch her with one hand, while still hanging on yourself, but you simply aren't fast enough and she falls with a thud below.

"Maeslyn!" you yell.

"I'm all right..." she mutters and she gets into a kneeling position. But you can tell she's lying.

The birds and claws that were about her now swoop and claw at you although three dive down to Maeslyn's crouched form and once again you hear her cries.

Small sharp claws rip furrows in your flesh and begin to shred your clothing. You continue to climb and rapidly reach the bottom without further problems. You quickly draw your buckeler and shield and stand near Maeslyn, ready to defend her to whatever end comes.

The ravens caw and swoop again and again they come, all around you, biting, raking, clawing. Many of them you manage to dodge or block, but blood now covers your arms, chest, hands and face where some rather deep marks gone through your defenses. Soon your breathing becomes more haggard and you realize you can't take much more of this punishment.

Maeslyn now stands and whispers "stay close!" in a stern voice. She then moves so that she's standing directly next to you. You can see her brow furrow somewhat as if in concentration or in deep thought and then she all of a sudden collapses, and falls to the ground with a sharp gasp and a grimace of obvious pain. She doesn't move. Her still form worries you and the blood that's coming from her mouth and from the claw wounds worry you even more.

The ravens are circling about you, dodging in closer...