RP:The Frostmawian Job

Part of the Hour of Wolves Arc

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc

Summary: At the request of Eirik, Meri and Sabrina meet up with the Lycan to help him on another informal patrol. None of Eiriks previous scouting had been successful. However tonight is different! Discovering a sleeping Oline, they wake her and question a citizen about her husband’s last actions. Little does the group know, but an ambush awaits them further north! Eirik discovers a map, Oline pilfers red dust, and the odd team captures a lowly participant of the enemy gang!

Somewhere in Frostmaw

Eiriks frame comes to a halt, head twisting to allow silver eyes to scan the area; gaze sweeping the nooks and crannies. The non Frostmawian berserker putting his ears and scent to use, though the others wouldn’t know it right away. Two rather large Rosfjorian dire wolves, a new addition to the man, coming to a halt on either side of the guild member. Despite having been here numerous times, things were different. A man laid high on something, whilst his wife, presumably, scolded him. “You spent all ‘er coin ya b’stard.” She looked furious, face red with anger contorted in his vile display. The lycan is quick to notice this, but waits to make his move hoping the others would arrive shortly. The rest of the place shows signs of a new drug that has taken hold of the population, a few stumbling here or there and bumbling absolute nonsense. As per usual he stood clad in armor, Brann Forbruker tied to his hip via means of a leather baldric. A single well calloused hand rises to scratch the his chin, scrapping against an unshaved face.

Oline was slumped against the side of a nearby house, her eyes closed and her dyed-red hair draped over her face. The heavily-pierced giantess, who at present was actually her full height for a change, snored loudly as she lay there surrounded on either side by large mounds of snow. She held in her right hand a small, leather pouch... whatever it had once contained empty now... much like the three empty bottles of whiskey scattered about nearby. Numb to the world, she heard nothing of the arguing couple or the mumbling, staggering addicts. But at least it shut out the screams of the dead.

Sabrina ’s attention turns as she walks past the woman scolding the man with absolutely no qualms over private business airing out for the whole walk to hear. She arches a thin dark brow and comes to stand near Eirik with a hushed question over standard social behavior. “Is that normal in these parts?” She still had her head twisted to keep focus on the madness in the path. Half the people here looked twice risen, and what remained looked unconcerned or passed out. The moral was low, at best. She is dressed in full uniform, as always, the only exception being the fur-lined boots that were more function over fashion.

Meri was perhaps the only one who was not dressed in her usual attire, though the brunt of what she wore was hidden by a thick fur-lined cloak to help keep the cold at bay. Sabrina and Eirik were easy to see and Meri approaches accordingly, booted feet crunching into the snow as she nears them. No notice of Oline is taken, not immediately at least, for Meri's gaze is focused on Eirik, Sabrina, and the couple fighting a few paces ahead of them. "Sabrina. Eirik." comes her greeting to the both of them before she fixes her gaze past them, to openly stare at the couple in a verbal altercation.

Eirik does not turn to face the newcomers, not right away at least. His focus still on the fighting couple for a few heartbeats longer. Without word Eirik turns his head to face the slumbering Oline, a small smirk smearing his rough features. Silver eyes flick to Sabrina and Meri carrying the same expression. “Sometimes,” he responds to Sabrina. “Though its never like this.” Hand waves to the entire area before them. Eyes return to Meri, “Glad to see you,” her attire is noted but nothing further is stated on it. “Give me just a moment would you?” A single hand points to the Giantess, “We might need her.” His near six foot frame moves again, carrying him to Oline. A steel toed boot kicking at her feet abruptly. “Time to Wake up Oline. Could use you for this tonight.” They would certainly be a hodge-podge mixture of warriors and fighters under the Knight-Commanders orders. The kick isn’t all that hard, but is serious in its intent. Just incase she wakes in a mad panic Eirik jumps backwards ensuring he is out of arms reach. He would eye her momentarily and wait for her to join before turning his attention to the others. “Well, since your all here, might as well explain what we are looking for.” His voice low intentionally making it hard to detect by any eaves droppers. “I’ve been asked to see if I can pick up a trail. Find a source or at least obtain a viable lead in some direction. We’ve been hit hard by some drug.” Hand points to the man still being scolded by his wife. “That, right there is what I mean. There are signs of it everywhere.” Hand shifts to Oline, “If it were just booze, you might see the bottles, like those which lay right beside her as she slept.” He was done using the Giantess as an example. “All I ask, is that you keep your eyes and ears open. Point out anything you might see.” That grins smears his features again, “and maybe, just maybe, we might find what we are looking for.” He would wait till all understood what was going to happen this night; a serious patrol.

Oline jerked awake, but fortunately not in enough of a blind panic to lash out at anybody. Her bloodshot eyes blinked rapidly as she struggled to focus on what was going on. Eirik, Meri... and the healer lady? Fuzzy-headed and hungover, the giantess slowly struggled up to her feet with one hand hiking her loincloth back up onto her hip where it belonged and the other shoving the empty leather satchel away into her pouch at the first mention of 'drug'. "Ah'm up... sodditall... Ah'm up..." she muttered, hand wiping the sleep from her eyes. "Wh... whut kinna drug izzit tha' we's s'postuh b'findin?" She swayed a bit back onto her heels and took in a deep breath of air. Nope. Still woozy. Wonderful. Oline found herself wishing she'd brought another bottle of whiskey... or another satchel of dust. This sounded like it was going to be a long night to make it through sober. "Ahs open... goddit..."

Sabrina greets Meri with a smile, checking out her duds, as it were, cause… girl stuff. “You look lovely today, my dear. Furs do you justice.” She would hold out her hands to grasp Meri in a sort of ‘personal space’ type greeting, those two were not he touchy-touch types anyway, just a formality. Her attention is stolen to the Northman approaching a slumbering Giantess and she winces when he goes to kick her foot. “Do you think that wise?” Before she can answer a boot flies just in front of her face, where the woman previously scolding the man had removed her own shoe to extend her point with a shrill but crusty curse towards, presumably, her husband. Her eyes flash to Meri, clearly she is holding back a bout of laughter, honestly she does not know what to do about the situation. That lady was crazy. She is brought back to Eirik again, taking control and looking all serious. That was adorable. Still, she listened attentively. “Are there any districts with a sudden influx of violence or revenue? Drugs are expensive because they are profitable.” The Healer can not help giggle towards Oline too, it would turn out that they woke up similar by most accounts.

Meri was so rarely the touchy-touch type, that much Sabrina had right, which made Meri appreciate the greeting all the more. A warm smile to Sabrina, "Thank you, Sabrina. You look as lovely as you always do." With these words spoken, her blue eyes trial after Eirik as curiosity gets the better of her. It's at this point that she notices Oline and her eyes are intent upon everything that the giantess does from the moment Eirik kicks her foot. It's unclear it Meri actually notices what Oline is stashing away, but if she did would she really snitch out the giantess like that? Hm. If Oline is lucky no one else notices the gesture, everyone will be distracted with explaining the mission, listening to said mission, and a wife throwing a boot at her husband. Said boot whizzing by is about the only thing that breaks her gaze from Eirik/Oline once the lycan begins speaking. "You've got it," comes her simple reply, curious to see what this patrol will actually entail and just what else may be witnessed. With the mission explained, Meri breaks from her position near Sabrina to approach Oline. There would be a quick smile as a way of hello and then the artist would try and steal a quick look at the giant's ankle. Just to see what she can see now that she is back to full height.

Oline is in luck, Eirik pulls free a flask of his own, filled with Ice-Breaker rum. Perhaps not her drink of choice but it was procured here in frostmaw. The item in question is tossed to her to most likely, drink it all. “Keep it.” Eyes move back to the group just in time to dodge a poorly aimed boot. Eirik nearly scoffed at the sudden attack, though realizes it was meant for someone else. “I much prefer an angry giant following us and scaring away a mob of disapproving addicts, to just being ambushed by them." His response is aimed towards Sabrina with a smile. Its good to see her again, but attention does not linger long. Business time. “Lionel keeps calling it red dirt.” He’d leave it at that, hoping their own individual skills could help him spot or hear something that he himself does not. Plus having their blades or abilities in combat would sure lend a helping hand. As if confirming Sabrinas words, “We are in the heart of it now.” This area had been hit the hardest. The lycan had meandered through Frostmaw a few times to confirm such thoughts. Lionels request was rather vague, giving Eirik little to work with. It doesn’t matter though, as he fully intended to his strengths to garner more insight. The lycan turns on foot, and heads towards the frantic wife, and before he can even speak his own ears are berated. “I kept sa’in to this ‘ere fool. We needs coin, not this.” A pouch is thrown at him, filled with something unexpected. “He won’t be needing this an’more. I be drag’in his ass back inside.” Silver eyes look to the bumbling husband as his significant other does exactly as stated. “Well this couldn’t have worked out any better.” Eirik turns to the group opening the pouch, nostrils flaring to inhale the scent, but not the drug. “This is what we are looking for.” Perhaps the lady dragging her husband had some more information?

Oline was hardly in any state to be kicking down doors and hunting down drug dealers, but... well... maybe a little hair of the dog would take some of the edge off her pounding headache at least. She took one swig from the flask of rum, emptying it, and was about to offer it back when the instruction to 'keep it' reached her ears. It... wasn't exactly a giant-sized flask... but, hey! Free stuff is free stuff! Into her satchel it went... and on went her 'business face'. There were answers waiting, right inside the house of that arguing couple. She thundered over looking for all the world like some kind of violent wildlander. "Oy! Laydee! We godda cuppla kwesshins fer yeh! S'about tha' sheyeht yer ol' man blew alluhv yer soddin' scrip on!" Her words didn't quite get the backup they'd intended from her somewhat wobbly approach. "D'yeh goddenneh ahdeeya whurree goddit frum?" She... only had half a clue what in the hells she was even asking about, but maybe that was fine. Eirik seemed to know what they were after, and if it made sense to him then all she really needed to do was look intimidating. The bone-crafted studs and rings poking out from just about every available piece of real-estate on her body had been having that effect even in her half-sized form. Conveniently for Meri, her final footstep landed the tattooed ankle right in the halo of light from a nearby hanging lantern. The tattooed emblem of Valkr had not only survived her size transformation... but almost all of the redness and swelling had completely healed. Apparently she did have a higher healing factor than the average human.

Sabrina is quick to follow Meri’s lead, centering herself among the group so she wasn’t to near or too far from any one person as Eirik prepared to divulge a plan. She is looking Oline up and down, and then back up. This close, her size is really too distracting to take into account her odd mannerisms; everything she did looked ungraceful and odd. While Eirik studied the contents of that small ouch the elfess was facing the other direction to study the husband as he is hauled off by his wife. Mental notes are taken that include posture, willingness to fight, pupillary dilation. That guy was checked out. “It doesn’t present with hostility, that’s a plus, isn’t it?” She directed this question to Meri. Surely she too had been around her fair share of addicts- she was, after all, as well travelled as the Healer, if not more. She steps out of the way of Oline, honestly not trying to get underfoot this early in the game.

Meri smiles for a number of reasons. The first smile is more to herself, as she is pleased with what she has seen upon Oline's ankle -- it had worked more beautifully than either of the two could have hoped. The second smile is aimed toward Sabrina, in approval of her choice as center of the group but this is also no huge surprise to Meri. She has always known Sabrina to be a smart woman, they've just never worked this closely with one another. Her attention takes keen note of everything else going on, the wife throwing the pouch at Eirik, the identification of the drug, Oline blazing forward to try and question the wife. That part causes Meri to wince just a touch, intimidation could easily go either go one of two ways, the answers could come freely or the intimidation could cause someone to clam up. "For now," comes Meri's answer to Sabrina as she notes there is no hostility present. Maybe Oline's stragedy would be effective, perhaps the wife was consumed with enough anger that she would willingly release the name of the husband's dealer. Meri's feet would bring her nearer to Oline so that she could overhear the answers given and study the reactions.

The wife of the drugged male looks up to Oline and her massive size, having plenty of dealings with many giants - they were after all -in- Frostmaw. “He been spendin’ a ‘hole lot’ of time north o’ here.” She off handedly waves in the indicated direction. “This be’in the third time I drug ‘im home. Don’t know mor’ then that.” She resumes going back to dragging that man indoors. During Eiriks explanation, in the distance, a couple of people can be found. Standing off to the side of the road looking entirely too shady. Their heads flicking back and forth while some deal is struck. An exchanging of items before they both separate. One however, takes a quick turn and leans up against a wall, coin counting in his hands.

Eirik shifts to Oline and her sudden shift of weight. He didnt even think about questioning the lady. This is why he brought others along. “The plan is to find more. A dealer perhaps, and trail them. See what we can find.” Eyes flick to his dire wolves, “Get,” he waves a hand shooing the duo. They weren’t trained enough for what they were about to do. Little did Eirik know, but a scene he had described was possibly happening in the background to the north. The berserker is sure to listen in on the chatter between Meri and Sabrina, but is content to just listen.

Oline only really had the one play... look scary and ask obvious questions. Beyond that, she too was oblivious to anything else going on. Hell, she still wasn't aware of the whole boot-flying-by thing. Then again, given the fact that she was ten feeet tall and the boot had soared past at about waist hright to her... maybe that wasn't entirely on her slightly-intoxicated state. The drug though, that had her curious. She turned to Eirik and that pouch of the stuff with interested eyes. "So we got sum kinna red dust crap 'ere in Frostie-land... en blue sheyeht in Cenrilll wunduh wuz next. Green dust? Rennbowz'n spahkuhlls?"

Sabrina was trying to take in as much information as she could. “So…” she thinks over about her interjection. “Nevermind.” She steps away from the pair, mostly because she didn’t fit into the interrogation portion of this venture. Now she is more focused on Eirik, following his eyes as well as his train of thought. He was smarter than he gave himself credit for. It is only after the Northman defines his search criteria that she goes ahead with her suggestion. “You are looking for a person who is not high… that drug makes its user far too unmotivated to manage a business… also, maybe someone who has something of value and also lives in a place unfit for said item?” She juts her chin out to a shanty of a building to the north. It was still too far away for real details, but what stands out is a prized stallion, freshly saddled and tethered in place, while sheets blow through glassless windows. “Like a new ride in the low-end bracket housing district.” In a place where people were having a difficult time shoeing themselves, it was odd to see a method of travel such as this, especially in Frostmaw. It wasn’t enough to merit a Drug Lord, but a stupid low-grade dealer, for sure. The woman chuckles inappropriately at Oline’s words. She is quick to clear her throat and wipe that smirk off her face, something had to match Eirik’s serious nature.

Meri was, much like Sabrina, trying to take in as much information as she possibly could. Like the answer that Oline gets from the wife, causing Meri's gaze scan the distance before finally settling northward right as Sabrina begins to call attention to the fine looking horse. Red lips twitch up into a brief smirk at Oline's humor but that smirk is gone as Meri chimes in with her own agreement on Sabrina's observation. "Mhm," the blonde begins. Much like Sabrina, a chin just also comes from Meri (probably because it was warm under her cloak and she does not want to gesture and catch a breeze, okay?), except hers is geared to the shady looking individual leaning up against the side of a wall, counting his coins. "I wonder if said horse doesn't belong to that individual right over there, counting his coin to make sure that he has been paid all he is due."

The shady coin counter finally counts his last piece of silver and gold satisfied with his particular earning. The stallion, mentioned previously, is quickly approached and climbed answering Meri’s worded question. The dealer begins to trot away further north still, leaving a clear trail of hooves to follow if they could not keep up. Before he is out of sight and the group is left to pick up the trail by their own means.

Eirik lofts a brow to Oline. “Gods I hope not.” The last thing they needed was an entire rainbow of colors. Sabrina is his next target. “Exactly,” he smiles to Sabrina. She knew exactly what he was doing. Lay low, find a dealer and follow him. Abruptly Eirik turns to her mentioned abode with odd white stallion. “A person like that,” he confirms. The northman begins to walk, whether the others followed or not. They had dawdled on for far too long and this needed to be handled soon.

Oline was content just to follow Eirik's lead. She wasn't exactly the brains of the outfit... least not in her current state. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that she should be so much better at this... and yet she just felt sluggish and tired. Maybe it was that blue dust finally wearing off... or the dregs of her hangover desperately trying to reclaim hold over her brain... but all she could think about was finding someplace to lie down and sleep. She tried to shake the feeling off every so often... but it meant that she was definitely lagging behind now. Maybe not behind the rest of her party, but those long legs of hers should have had no trouble keeping up with a trotting horse. The fact that they felt like they were made of pudding just... slowed her down a bit. At least there was the trail. That was easy enough for the giantess to follow... if not quite the dramatic chase one might imagine it to be. Whether the others overtook her or not remained to be seen. Sabrina was already on her way up the road when Meri points out the leaner. Surely they would deal with him in her wake, if not she was certain he would follow her path as she strode towards the path of equestrian discovery. She is passed by the shady coin counter and soon joined by Eirik himself. She does not falter though, where once she was attempting to approach the homestead she now keeps keen eyes on those tracks. Her own, however, were surprisingly vague; only slight disruptions to the top fluff were left behind, not only could she track but she was decent about not leaving tracks of her own. The powder though, made it exceedingly difficult. Mismatched gaze seeks the domiciles lining the streets. With a veer, off-track she takes to the roof-top view. It is with a certain level of agile grace that she meanders topside, skipping over roofs and matching the Northman’s pace. It wasn’t that she disliked a gathering such as this, but she was accustomed to hunting solo and really -with a sluggish giantess- the element of surprise was gone. In moments, she would be gone from view.

Meri northward everyone would go, but as Sabrina took to the rooftops and Eirik takes his rightful place in the lead, Meri again finds herself gravitating toward the sluggish giantess. There is an attempt to drive a bit of life into the giantess by making it known to her that it was pretty apparent to everyone that she was dragging. This was not a good thing from a number of perspectives, like the safety of the group and the element of surprise, but really Meri was just trying to look out for a friend on a mission with another guild member. Look your best, sort of thing. There's a quick kick to the side of the giatness' foot as they walk, nothing rough. In fact to the giant it is probably like a poke. Meri jerks her head northward in a 'hustle' sort of manner, words are whispered but if they are overhead by keen of hearing, no crime, "Get your head on straight, girl."

Things were about to change; drastically. Little did the group know, but Eiriks presence here had been recognized. Clearly the Lycan had been noticed by the group in this area before. He had spent too much time snooping around. Much to the groups dismay an ambush of sorts waited for them. There’s only one who might be privy to the attack, based on her rooftop view of the area. From behind barrels, homes, and random carts around, shadowy figures stepped into view. Each donning their own grim view as mind settles on the attack at hand. Maces, blades, knives and spears gleamed in the dimly lit section of town. “Shouldn’t of come back ‘ere.” Hand waves for the five men on the right side of the road to move in. “Been watching you for some time and I don’t like ya sniffing around.” Yes. That is -exactly- what Eirik had been doing. Which is rather amusing. In all ten men stood before the group armed and ready to kill each of them. The group motioned to move only takes a step in.

Eirik flicks his gaze to the sluggish giant, whose pace could still keep up. To Sabrina the rooftop hunter and finally to Meri. The northman knew Sabrina could be relied on in a fight, but wondered if Oline would simply crash. He was curious to put the tattoo artist to the test as well, but low and behold his march comes to an abrupt halt. Damn, he thought. Without hesitation the berserker spits out words selling his own brand of lies. “Under the orders of Knight-Commander Lionel, I order you to stand down or die.” Lionel hadn’t asked them to capture anyone, this part Eirik had made up. Brann Forbruker, a runic longsword, is drawn without hesitation. As the men stepped forward the Lycan scoffed. “So be it.” Without a second thought, he is in the fray, the ice and snow of little hindrance to the mad berserker. That sword is yanked from left to right, severing a leg from their so called captain. Left hand reaches out and snatches the throat of the man - holding him in the air despite the numbers against them all. The foreigner is truly uncaring for any attempt of their intimidation. As far as he could tell, the other nine men belonged to the group with him.

Oline only finally seemed to shake off the haze once the trap had been sprung, the sharp kick of adrenaline serving to jump-start her combat reflexes and get the girl into fighting shape remarkably abruptly. She didn't know, of course, that their orders weren't to fight the drug-peddlers... whcih meant that Eirik's announcement was simply the way things were as far as the giantess was concerned. Oline dipped down into a brawling stance and was about to lunch into the fray right alongside the berserker when... suddenly it seemed to be pretty damn over. She stopped just short of plowing through one of those barrel-cades, peering down at the tiny thug 'hiding' behind it as the supposable-leader of the group is hoisted up off his feet by the throat and left hanging there in the air for all to see. Oline's lips curved into a wicked grin as her seely gaze returned to the thug behind the barrel. "Ah'd rilla lahk t'stronglee suh'jest y'surrenduh..."

Sabrina was crouched on the rooftop, spying the attack. Thus far there was no reason for her to intervene but she had wished she brought her bow on this trip. Her decent would eventually take her between two buildings, appearing at ground level behind the nine, awaiting the first idiot to avenge his captain. She would then dart forth, speed and some surprise being to her advantage. Left foot plants at the back of the knee joint of a skinny fellow, clad I furs. Right foot forcefully sets him down with her slight weight as a handy helper from his only remaining centre of gravity; between the shoulder blades. He is face first in the snow, more stunned than wounded, but the elfess remains standing on his person. She looks down at him, peering around and sideways so she can calmly request that he “Don’t.” When he is not so inclined to listen, she twists on the toe of her boot, likely skimming some flesh off the first few layers of skin to create the right amount of traction to kick him in the face before dismounting and daring another to charge her mate. She is fully aware that Eirik will likely scold her later for not keeping him conscious for questioning, but really, if the berserker lost it and killed the others, this one would wake up eventually. At least Oline was better with words, maybe then Eirik could get his answers.

Meri was just about to call out to Oline and Eirik, making the suggestion that they leave at least one of them alive but low and behold there is Sabrina. It certainly would not serve the purpose of gaining information if everyone ended up dead surrounding them. This leaves Meri to focus on the now 8 other men (seven if you count the fact that Oline has one in hiding). It's the man with a mace that Meri sets her sights upon. Though she is armed and the mace is not her typical weapon of choice, the weapon the thug holds is wrenched free from his grasp violently only for it to fluidly fly through the air and into Meri's right hand which finally comes out from beneath the depths of her furs to grip it with a gloved hand, a black bracer worn on her forearm to for protection. Left arm tosses her cloak back and out of the way just in case. With no weapon in his hand, at least one of the thugs will surrender by deciding to run off like a little chicken. I'm sure his comrades will let him live that down, should the rest of them survive the night. The psion is not on the assault though, questions need to be asked, the suggestion was they surrender, information is more important than bloodshed in her eyes.

The men go wide eyed at the sudden unannounced attack of Eirik, captain unable to even take a breath in the madmans grip. Choking to death in his grasp, wind pipe crushing beneath the pressure and brown eyes make contact with Eiriks own silver hues which seemed to want his struggle to stop; to go lifeless before him. “Kill em,” he finally manages to choke out. Another found himself the victim to Sabrinas attack, going limp as he hits the ground. Now there were only eight. The problem is that these men fully intended to fight to their last breath. Each patrol member found two diving at them, blades slashing, spears thrusting and a fist flying taking wide swings to further bludgeon; this includes the coward behind the barrel. Meris psionic yank of a weapon only giving the thug a momentary pause. This is our turf they thought. They would all have to fight these thugs of the north.

Eirik finally drops the captain, noting Sabrina and her agile assault, but nothing further can be added. His patrol members were indeed ready for this. A spear thrust is sidestepped, longsword guiding it just beyond his torso. The tip of the deadly weapon tears through his black leather jerkin, doing nothing more than scratch the flesh. “Put em down!” He bellowed, Sabrina had the one they needed. Eiriks shock tactic had not worked. Runic blade twists, follows the shaft of the spear severing fingers of his assailant who cries out in agony. A blade coming from nowhere swipes at the Lycans features and head jerks back in response receiving nothing but the swiping of air. Brann suddenly finds itself engulfed in flames as ominous words hit the scene, “Ignite!” He grunts and twists the blade, thrusting it deeply into the chest of the spearman. They wouldn’t stop, Eirik wouldn’t stop. Now the group is left to fend for themselves.

Oline 's fist came down over the top of that barrel faster than the twerp hiding behind it could react, the melon-sized bludgeon at the end of an arm longer than a common sledgehammer. His face broke, teeth spraying from his mouth as he struggled to back away out of her arm's reach to no avail. Bad hiding spots... all of them. The impact knocked the poor bastard off his feet, but it was already too late for him. The giantess' foot had connected with the barrels he'd thought protected him and sent them now... well, barreling down upon him with the full force of her bodyweight behind them. The sound he made as the barrels crashed into him was as pitiable as it was brutal. It also wasn't the last. Oline was a flurry of motion, much faster than a creature her size had any right to be. She was also still feeling largely numb, which might explain why the barbaric huskarl seemingly shrugged off a rather vicious, bone-crushing blow from one of the men and his spiked club. Seemingly oblivious to the blood pouring from five matching holes punctured through the flesh of her waist, Oline's meaty hand grabbed the man face-first and promptly squeezed. His skull made a sickening crackling sound as it began to fracture, sending Oline into a sudden spasmodic shock when the bombardment of flashbacks from 'The Cenril Incident' came flooding over her. The man and his brutalized skull were not so much dropped as hurled into the nearest group of bodies. This just so happened to be the pair which had singled out Meri for tattack. Whether she chose them by dumb, blind luck or out of a desire to defend the woman she considered to be among her small circle of friends was unclear. Most things were becoming unclear, as the world very rapidly turned red around Oline.

Sabrina didn’t expect the captain to be so forthcoming with the sacrifice of his men, kill them? Really? She turns to her right, facing off with a portly gent that stood more than a foot taller than she. His sidekick is similar to the one laying at her heels. The little guy is the first to step in as the Ardent sheds her gloves and surrenders the fine black pieces to the icy floor. Three swings of a curved blade are dodged with elf-bred diginity, then the lunge comes forward and she steps to the side, hooking her arms around his dominant and tugging towards her. Right hand scoops upward, latching behind his head to bring it crashing down hard into her knee. He stumbles forward, landing on top of the sprawled comrade and cradling a broken nose. The Elfess turns her attention to the miniature giant. She takes a deep breath and opts to close the three-pace gap; several swift sidelong strikes hit their targets but the combination of his flubber and furs provide minimal impact at the current weight differential. He grabs hold her arms, shaking her like an headstrong child and he is awarded with a knee to the groin. Cheeks red with anger fold the elfess’s arms behind her back and he is looking at her trying to decide whether to kill her or… something else. Her mismatched gaze is cold, obstinate, before a sarcastic smile spreads across her features. She doesn’t have the killer instinct, but it was apparent in her mind what would happen next. With his bulky, filthy sausages restraining her so, she could only announce with a calculated certainty. “He is going to kill you.” Her voice a soft mix of poison and malice. The larger framed male begins to laugh, keeping his back to the fight and assuming the only ‘he’ here was probably too busy to give a damn about one fallen half-pint. He gives her shoulders a squeeze, causing a twist of high discomfort when she feels the joint pop from its socket, but he doesn’t let up. Her mouth drops open, eyes welling in pain. She can hardly breathe, let alone call for anyone to assist her. She is hoisted up, feet flailing and useless as she is paralyzed by the sensation that this vice would crush her thoroughly. Behind the pair is a cascade of barrel splinters and cries for help, and on the other side of that, was Eirik. Why oh why, she thinks, did she decide to put so much space between herself and her comrades.

Meri took no issue with the senseless thinking of the thug whose weapon she's stolen from him, had he ran he at least might have had a chance at life. He turns though and barrels straight back for Meri, it's his turf and he would claim his weapon back from the one who took it from him and Meri would meet him half way there. The mace is reared back as the weaponless thug reaches out in a bid to grab hold of her weapon wielding hand by the wrist but Meri is able to move with quickness and agile footwork to circle to the man's side and bludgeoning him in the back of the head. The weapon is ripped free from the back of his skull leaving the man to crumple and lay in a forming pool of his own blood. This motion is barely complete before she finds that Oline is hurling a body at two other thugs looking to get the better of Meri from behind while her attention is elsewhere. Merely trapped beneath the weight of their dead comrade is not enough for Meri, her sights are on them next and they too suffer a death via a stolen weapon. One is still grounded when he receives a blow to the skull the second trying to escape while the first dies. It's two strikes for him, one delivered to the back of his shoulder and then the second delivered to the side of his neck. Perhaps Eirik would be able to save Sabrina, perhaps he would was consumed with the fight and didn't even notice. Was this a risk that Meri was willing to take? No. Sabrina was a long time friend to her. The mace in Meri's grasp is once more reared back but this time thrown toward Sabrina's assailant. Under normal circumstances the weight of the weapon would have it falling short from it's mark by several feet, coming to a useless halt in the snow. The psion is able to use her abilities to project the weapon further, maybe even guide it so that it smoothly strikes Sabrina's attacker in the back. Hopefully it's enough to at least shock him into letting Sabs go!

Eirik doesn’t even falter or hesitate; battle, death and gore is just another walk in the park for this ashen warrior. The last swordsman before him, turns to flee but Eirik would let no one escape. No man would be left to tell the tale of this night. To smear the details of his face to the rest of the gang. That was his advantage. The lycan unknown to most. Brann switches hands, the spear of the dead man is yanked and launched at the coward. Teeth straining as he sets his gaze towards Sabrina. The mace smashing into the assailants back and his arms weaken. Gasping for air in the sudden hit. Cold eyes flick to Meri and arms release Sabrina. However, its too late as the berserkers steps carry him swiftly to her. Eiriks own thick fingers reach for a fist full of his hair, pulling him back and off Sabrina with every ounce of his strength. The searing white hot blade, piercing the chest of her foe as they stumble away from the healer. Eiriks attack was sure to provide distance between them both. As the last body falls limp to the ground, blood smeared Eirik looks to each member ensuring that all still drew breath. “Everyone alive?”

Oline snarled. The poor boy... and he was, that... just a stupid boy barely old enough to grow hair on his chin... whom she'd buried beneath barrels and de-toothed had somehow, unfortunately survived. Oline's drug-and-trauma-fueled rage could not abide by that. She'd seen him struggling to get free, even with only one working arm and more blood spilling out of him than should have been survivable, and leapt with a beastial roar. She pummeled him... again, and again, and again... with both hands. Her bare fists kept coming away bloodier with each pounding thrust down into the kid's face, spattering herself and the snow surrounding her with blood and gore as she pulped him to death. He screamed... and he kept on screaming until there wasn't enough left of his lungs to scream with, at which point he gurgled horrifically. The silence, when it came, was deafening... but the blood still boiled in Oline's ears until finally the sound of Eirik's voice pulled her back out of the red mist. Panting, the blood-soaked girl turned to face the rest of her comrades and offered up a grimmly sheepish smile.. "Ah'm... Ah'm fahn..." No. No, she most certainly wasn't. "Evrywun else? Sorreh... w'diddun get th'answers we wuz lookin foh."

Sabrina is jolted backwards, the hit Meri scored cause the man to let go. She is dropped, a mere several inches and her ankles fail to support her fall. Her knees hit hard and she slumps forward on the ground, right hand supporting her weight while the left arm hangs back a bit. The scuffle of feet are viewed leading away from her and with that gory slosh of metal penetrating warm flesh twists her features up to see Eirik taking care of her own failure. That was two people that had to cover her ass. There is an odd moment of silence as she watches the giantess pummel the poor bloke. She says nothing, and will say nothing. She looks down at the ground and delays with her sound-off that she was indeed alive. With a groan she musters a low ‘yeah’ before shuffling her feet beneath her so she may stand. She is looking to the others in shame, none aside from her managed to come out of this with an injury- a tribute to her weakness. “Meri…” She’d call out, giving her left arm a sort of dangle-flop, indicating the need to have that put back in its socket. She cradles her shoulder and careens to the only lucky sap who survived this massacre by Eirik, Oline, and Meri. She kicks him in the side for good measure. Somehow this was all his fault. “All life is (kick) Precious!” Stupid sack of shyte.

Meri gives a slight tilt of her head as Oline leapt into the air with a roar only to continue the massacre with one that was missed and could have escaped. This causes Meri's mind to drift toward the one that Sabrina had intentionally downed in the snow and left unconscious and Meri's feet follow her thoughts. Once more tonight it seems that Sabrina and Meri are of the same mindset, both women approaching the unconscious man with the answers. Sabrina wanted to place blame and kick, Meri wanted to make sure he stayed alive. Her name was called, blue eyes drop to the arm that flops about, and a frown is displayed as Sabrina shows off her injuries. Granted Eirik was definitely the more capable to assist Sabrina in popping her arm back into the socket, Meri would still offer, because well...she gave a damn? Sabs was a good one, in her eyes. "I'm sure your fellow has you covered on the arm front...but if you want some help..." Just tell me what to do. Eirik's question is not ignored, "Yeah. You didn't lose any of us. But I think we should collect our prize and go..."

Eirik agrees with Meri, taking a moment to realign Sabrinas arm and pop it back into socket. "Thank you for your help tonight," he whispers to the three in attendance. "I don't have much to offer, but should you follow me in more things like this." Hand reaches to a few belt pouches attached to his hip. "Expect more pay," he'd smile as the bags mentioned are tossed to Oline and Meri, Sabs is just handed to hers. "Oline, do you mind dragging that man to jail?" A hand points to the carcass and then to the area where she might find the cells. "I'll meet you there shortly. We need answers. If he has any." Eirik then moves to the captain, and searches him. From the inside of one of his pockets, a piece of parchment is found and is opened to look upon in private. Seems to be a map, pointing to a warehouse. Eirik would take no more time investigating the scene, as hand waves for Meri and Sabrina to presumably follow Oline.

Eirik gave 2000 gold to Meri. Eirik gave 2000 gold to Oline.

Oline had a new priority. She set about searching the various bodies for any trace of this mysterious drug. Sure, maybe the dealer wasn't sampling the merchandise... but what were the odds that his flunkies weren't at least customers? That seemed slim. Sure enough, she did find a small pouch of the stuff... ironically enough, in a leather long-coat which had been left abandoned not far from where she'd kicked the barrels over. Was probably the kid's. Oh well. He wouldn't be needing it anymore. This got stuffed away into her satchel under the pretense of collecting another, smallter purse of gold and silver coins in the same motion. Then she was off to grab the sole surviving member of this little gang as instructed. Her head still rang with the screaming... the gurgling... the desperate pleas for help from the party-goers in Cenril... Valkr's divine might, she couldn't wait to get home and drown it all out again. Maybe a pinch of this red crap... maybe mixed in with a pinch of the blue crap... she was running out of ways to silence them. The man she'd been tasked to drag to jail wasn't particularly difficult for her to lift, and he'd quickly end up slung over her shoulder lazily like a log. Without a word, the giantess would trudge off in the direction indicated. She didn't know exactly what the joil looked like... but how hard could it be to find?