Zombie Hunt I
Aleksandra sensed this mini zombie swarm some distance away and approaches fairly carefully on horseback at least until she sees the beleaguered group. A faint frown is then worn for a moment as she smoothly unsheathes her sword and kicks the horse into a canter, accelerates to a gallop, the first walking corpse has its head neatly sliced from its trunk and literally sent flying as she passes in a long low leap that sets the horse slamming into a dense knot of the undead to send them reeling, another dropping to the ground as she spins and neatly inserts the point of her blade through an eye socket.
At this point the horse freaks out at the scent of rotting bodies surrounding her and bucks in terror before being hamstrung and unleashing a horrible scream as she falls, Aleksandra removing the arm from another zombie as she falls but getting an ankle caught in the stirrup and ending on her back on the edge of the mob with her leg caught and teeth gritted against the pain. "Shit!"
Marrow is about to retreat backwards towards the pinnacle of the hill, keeping pace with Tessa. This plan is a bust when Aleksandra takes a dive, "We FLANK." He shouts, "Winter, Watchman, HILL NOW. Love the scales, beautiful - a little help?!" The latter is shouted at Celeste. His sticks are a whirl of thumping, thudding maneuvers that dispense death even as he takes a blow from a clawed hand that is soon severed by Winter's ice blade. Carving is out of the question, but the cleric begins to pummel a path towards Aleksandra.
Winter keeps fighting her way back towards the hill. The ice glittering in the light as she hacks and slashes at the zombie horde.
Tessa frowns at Marrow, but doesn't say anything, instead turning to assist Winter as they clear a path toward their safe spot of sanity atop a lonely little hill.
Celeste notes Aleksandra's predicament and she exhales and mutters, "Squishy bipeds, at least the knights have sense to wear armor." even as scales ripple and flash as she lumbers towards Alekera. Zombies try to bite and claw at her but apparently dragon hide is a little bit more resilience though Celeste uses her tail and talons to dislodge them as she goes, progressively getting more irritated as she moves towards Aleksandra. She takes a moment to clear some space between the woman and herself, slashing and whipping her tail dangerously about-prompting Marrow to be careful. This done she leans down and her mighty maw opens and clamps around the horse's neck-abruptly ending it's terror and pain with a sickening *crunch* before lifting her neck and growl-grunting as she tries to lift the horse from Alek's leg-but the horse weighs nearly as much as she does and being mindful of the woman's injury seems to make it difficult as the Dragon manages to just lift the corpse of the horse enough for Alek to get her leg out.
Aleksandra does at least seem to be able to hold her own once she is downed, for whatever reason her slender bladed cut and thrust sword seems to destroy zombies just as easily as it would the living and she wields it with a stark economy of motion as she regards the approaching dragon. Said dragon is given a polite bow of her head before she then audibly wince as the horse is shifted. A hiss of pain is coupled with her hurriedly scooting out and freeing her leg though, then a moment of unpleasantness as a zombie takes advantage to jump on her resulting in a few seconds of desperate scuffle rolling before she gets her dagger in hand and starts to ventilate the thing as it tries to gnaw through her right hand gauntlet without success.
The path towards the sanctity of the hill merrily bludgeoned by Marrow is quickly obscured with throngs of undead. He takes a hit across his back; cassock shredded though no blood is drawn. "Oh GOOD!" He croons at Aleksandra, "Can you walk?" Pivoting from his torso he holds the sticks parallel delivering a drumming WACK to the midsection of an advancing corpse.
Celeste drops the horse, "You can hop aboard if you promise never to tell anyone." she rumbles in helpful offer while the remaining zombies begin to close in around the trio with their unearthly moans.
Winter sends her blade careening in the direction of a rambling zombie as it tries to follow her up the hill, impaling the undead thing in the chest. Again the blade shatters and rips the chest of the monster open. Winter then kicks it aside as it falls forward and another blade of ice appears in her hand, glittering in the sunlight in contrast to the bits of zombie everywhere.
Tessa realizes something. These zombies are ridiculously clumsy. One charges her, hands outstretched and she sidesteps and extends a foot. Splat.
The next one receives a double handed push, though it lacks all her strength since she's injured now. It too begins to roll down the incline. Teehee.
Aleksandra finally delivers sufficient stabbings that the zombie atop her stops moving before shoving it roughly aside and taking a few ragged breaths, her dropped sword is retrieved before she swallows and looks up to Celeste, then to Winter. "I can walk... Maybe, but it not very quickly. Thank you, dragon, I do not know your name?" She hauls herself up to one knee before pulling herself up onto the dragoness' neck with surprising ease given she avoids putting any weight on her right foot in the process.
"I've had dreams like this only..." Marrow doesn't finish that phrase and that in itself is a blessing! THWAAAP! Moistly splattering sounds echo through the rancid air that makes it difficult to breathe. The dire knolls are a rotisserie of rot and Marrow advances towards the hill, shouldering past a duo of milling men: once behind them he brains both with a dual wield of bludgeons.
A horn sounds from the flank of the zombie hoard. From the wood line the armored form of Chessy...and her Knight step into view. A horn blasts again as Harold's patrol comes to the edge on line with the Grand Master. After a moment Harold raises his Axe, Chessy surges forward the half dozen armored men with Harold surge forward a moment later.
RPG: Harold challenges a difficulty of 10. Harold chooses Force and the gifts GKN-KG, PHY-ST, SKL-AR, and STY-KN. Harold succeeds.
Tessa's small shield is swung around, a complete 360 spin driving the reinforced metal right into the leering face of the same zombie who took the chunk out of her arm. The effort sends her into a spasm when all the force is adsorbed across her injured arm, the cloth of her coat soaked through now. She begins to falter and give ground, sweating and flushed, shield arm cradled close to her body. To say she seems relieved when the Mandrake-Feldane party begins its march up the hill to them is not an exaggeration. It only deepens at the line of charging knights though.
Celeste calls, "Grand Master, if you aren't a sight for Sore eyes!" She kneels and lets Aleksandra mount up, wings unhitching. As before snaps of her jaw (careful not to actually bite) and lashing of her tail keeps them both clear of Zombie's until Aleksandra is mounted, "Celeste." she offers politely before rising and wading through the bodies, carnage and hungry zombies, leaving them to Harold and his men and focusing on getting her team-or at least Aleksandra-away from the danger.
Zombies continue to try to throw themselves in unholy ravenous hunger at any that they come near. There's just a handful left but the ground is hazardous, littered with fallen tries and zombie bits.
The War Steeds iron shod hooves make a sickening sound as meat and bone are churned beneath them. Harold's Axe seems to harvest corpse severing heads from rotted bodies, or bodies in twain. His shield crashes into zombies that clutch in vain at his steel clad body. His men ride in behind widening the gap as they push to the hill. Hearing Celeste he guides Chessy that way, crushing anything in his path.
Aleksandra is riding a dragon! With knights riding to the rescue! She manages to look entirely unexcited and mostly concentrates on efficiently wiping her dagger clean before returning it to its scabbard and giving her a free hand to cling on, then she takes a moment to impale a zombie's head with her sword before flicking it clear when the thing gets too close for comfort. "So, who do I have to thank for my rescue?" She addresses this to Celeste.
Marrow is left to fend for himself as the draconian takes flight. The breeze from Celeste's powerful wings stutters several shambling bodies allowing the cleric to deliver bludgeoning blows to wailing craniums and advance towards Harold.
Celeste favors one limb as she goes but as she has three others this doesn't slow her down much as she pushes and clears a path out for those behind her while she carries Aleksandra, "Doctor Celeste de'Mandrake, Lady Proxy of Mandrake, Childe of the Order of Golden shield, and lots of other insane title. Pleased to meet you."
Zombies fall to the earth with sickening thugs and gruesome splatters under Marrow's assault. Those not having set their milky stares on Marrow look towards Harold with hunger, foolishing running at a jerky and unnatural sprint to feast!
"Blessing of the Horned Lady to you Grand Master!" Marrow digs the heel of a stained boot into the temple of a recently fallen, "Trouble you for a ride?"
From the steep valley between two tree-covered hills come Celeste, Aleksandra, and Marrow There's a line of trees with broken branches and several trees have been broken. Corpses of zombies strewn on the ground and a handful more rushing madly at Harold as he charges, Axe brandished.
Winter smiles brightly, relieved when reinforcements appear in the fray as she watches from the hillside, the tide of zombies seems to have slowed up on the hilltop as they seem to have condensed in the valley. She stands with Tessa on the top of the hill watching Harold's troops rush in to the rescue.
Izett rides up along behind Harold. Her dagger attached to her hip, remaining in the sheath for the moment. Green eyes surveying the scene keeping back for the moment after her escapades of yesterday.
Chessy draws up near Marrow "couldn't let you have all the sport, could I?" he lifts his visor and looks for a realativly whole zombie "Will that one do?" he shouts to Izett as he indicates the zombie in question.
Aleksandra does blink as the dragon introduces herself before noting. "I believe we have had the pleasure of meeting before Lady Proxy of Mandrake, at court? Our appearances were perhaps rather different at the time, yours more than mine." Charging knights seem to be dealing with the zombies just fine so while she seems on the lookout with her sword ready she is not unduly concerned.
Tessa leans up against the splintered trunk of a tree, taking a moment to catch her breath before unclasping the belts of her shield and shrugging out of her coat to inspect the wound on her shoulder.
Izett looks out over the field glancing over as Harold calls to her. Her horse picking its way over toward the body indicated considering it for several moments., "I..I don't think so. Needs to be as whole as possible. I'll..just look over the field of bodies to choose from." she comments softly moving to dismount to tred through the field of slaughter to see if she can't find what she's looking for.
"Nice duds." Marrow checks his brazen teeth in the glint of Harold's armor as he grips both sticks in one hand and casually thuncks a creeping corps across the jaw. His freed hand is extended should the knight fancy giving the cleric a lift.
Celeste calls over her shoulder, "Check under the fallen trees!" she suggests, "Some might still be trapped." She then pauses and rumbles to Aleksandra, "You ought to be safe here, I ought to fetch the others."
Tessa is busy cutting away the tatters of her blouse from her shoulder with a dagger, a small flask kept next to her thigh. Some manner of cleaning solution, perhaps.
"If you could set me down so that I can inspect my ankle Lady Celeste it would be much appreciated." Answers Aleksandra now with a nod. "Again, my thanks for your assistance, that could have easily been fatal without it."
Harold scans the bodies "Bah! they are too busted up!" he nudges his horse toward the tree, the weight of the tree did it's damage to the zombies "Dammit" he snarls "Were there anymore large groups of them?" he asks looking around the folks assembled.
Izett walks slowly into the forest amongst the trees. Kicking through the bodies and various parts. The work already done for her she simply just needs to find one that is relatively whole. Green eyes scanning over the scene listening to the barking of Harold. She finds two bodies, one with it's leg crushed and one beheaded, "We're going to have to go with two, Sir Harold. That way we can examine all the parts. They are impossible to kill without damaging it in some fashion..may as well do two to thorough." she calls to him motioning to the two bodies she's found and moves to head toward her horse.
Marrow rakes the fingers of his lean hand (the one extended to Harold) through his hair, leaving the honeydew mop miraculously neater than before. He steps out of the way of the Knight's horse and mumbles something underneath his breath, kicking the twitching torso of what once was a young bearded man.
Celeste notes to Aleksandra, "We've two doctors, we'll get you tended." she lowers down so Aleksandra can easily slide off her back while Celeste's knelt down, "I did not see any more but I could take to the skies to look, Grand Master. Tell me, do you see Watchman Tessa and a chaplain your way anywhere?"
Tessa reaches over, blindly slapping at the ground, and places a stick between her teeth. Her dark eyes study the small vial clasped in one trembling hand, bites down hard on the branch, and then dumps the content on the open wound.
Funny how a low moan of pain sounds like a zombie, really.
Aleksandra sets herself down carefully, weight remaining all on one foot, then uses her scabbarded sword as a cane to drop down on her rear and sit. Then she starts to carefully feel at her ankle through her boot. "If we have actual doctors then I would definitely appreciate their attention, though I can attend to myself if need be. I have broken ankles before!" A frown. "Normally though trying to be too acrobatic in ill advised heels though." She straightens her leg out and keeps it still.
Harold glances at the injured "How bad?" he asks Celeste as Izett picks through the bodies.
Izett moves to climb up onto her horse, kicking the mud and gore from her boots. Collecting the reigns she looks over the field of battle before moving her horse toward the woods leaving the medics to tend the injured.
Marrow commences his walk towards the top of the hill. His climb takes time and effort, maneuvering through slain bodies. One reaches with a quaking arm to latch onto his ankle. Nonchalantly, the cleric whacks the hand away, shattering the wrist. He makes it to the top of the hill and promptly squats before Tessa, "Watchman? Yoo-hoo? Think you're gonna throw up?"
Celeste notes, "Not so bad here, but watchman Tessa is likely worse off. You see her or my kinsman over there anywhere, Grandmaster?"
Harold growls as Izett rides off "Baroness, wait you can't take one alone!" he calls then looks again at the wounded "I need to remain here." he dismounts "someone needs to go with her, she'll get herself killed" he gestures to the Baroness then moves to help Aleksandra .
Winter stands and watches the others gather from her little perch atop the hill. It's as if she a tiny sentinel while Tessa tends to her wound. She smiles at Marrow as he approaches and calls for Tessa.
Tessa cracks open an eye, dark eyes studying Marrow's face without recognition for a second. Then, finally, she snorts. "I think I lost consciousness for a second, and my stomach feels as if I am one poke away from expelling my lunch but unless you have a zombie eyeball in your hand, I think I will be able to hold it back." It is fortunate indeed that she is not aware of the many morbid decorations that rest in her hair then! One of them actually happens to be an eyeball. "Is it over?" She looks past the priest and to Winter with the question.
"I am fairly sure I saw the baroness deal with one of them when we first landed Sir Harold." Notes Aleksandra to Harold there as she sits, in about the same tone she adds. "If anyone is seriously injured and at risk of dying then please inform me, I can most likely prevent it."
Winter nods as she looks down at Tessa, "I think it is indeed over."
Celeste looks around, "looks like it's all in hand." she decides and takes a running leap before her wings spread and she ascends up into the sky.
Marrow examines Tessa's wound, "Look at you!" He beams at the Watchman with pride, "You'll have me out of a job in no time." His jovial spirit is accompanied with a boyish grin of glinting teeth. His hand covers the bite mark and with his loamy eyes closed he mumbles a prayer - or what surely sounds like one. His proximity to Tessa and medical ministrations allow him to pick the dangling eyeball from behind her ear and flick it covertly aside. Of all his companions, the good doctor looks the cleanest, except for the gash on his cassock and a scrape on his tanned cheek.
Tessa laughs, "Doctors. Always with the jokes to calm the patients." She could be speaking with Winter as much as she is Marrow. "Am I going to be able to fight?"
Harold kneels down by Aleksandra "How is your ankle?" he asks quietly.
Aleksandra hmms there and looks up to Harold before giving a slight chuckle. "Extremely painful Sir Harold, I am fairly sure it is broken, though I am a noble of Amber. It should be fine within a few days if properly braced and I avoid being an idiot putting weight on it."
Winter chuckles softly "He does have a unique bedside manner, doesn't he." She looks at Marrow then back at Tessa, "I think you will be able to fight again, Watchman Tessa."
Harold lifts Aleksandra and sets her in Chessy's saddle before leading horse and woman over to Tessa and Marrow.
Marrow appears meditative for an indeterminable measure of time. His hand drifts from the gash in her shoulder, leaving the wound looking better already, "If I said /no/ something tells me you'd still find a way. You can fight. You'll be right as rain by morning, but I will have to suture it shut soon as we get to camp. No worry of infection, though there might be a bit of a scar." He has ripped the sleeve of her uniform and ties the gruesome gash even as he speaks.
Izett slips down off her horse moving to walk along the battlefield. Green eyes considering the landscape seeming deep in thought. Her booted foot kicking some of the bodies seeming to study them as if doing a process of elimination or conducting a study of them in their different aspects of brokenness.
Aleksandra blinks at being carried about like that without a word, but does not really complain, working to keep her broken ankle straight and still even if she does grit her teeth. She is surprisingly heaven given the weight of steel plates in her armour.
Harold glances back to Aleksandra as he leads her mounted upon his horse "Battle fields are treacherous" he agreers, leaving off more so for a woman. "Marrow how fares the good Watchman."
"Hiyo goddamn silver!" Is heard with the sound of approaching hoof beats and the telltale whooshing of flames. Even before he comes into view, Enzo can be heard. "Ha! Take that! Not so touch now, are ya ya smelly, dead basta... oh, You want some of this... here... take THAT!" When he comes into view he is predictably covered in zombie gore, but grinning despite that. "There ye all are!" He gestures a flaming scimitar at Marrow. "Huh. Who let him do stitches? He sucks at them!"
Izett glances toward Harold as she makes her slow return from inspecting the battlefield, "I need one..still animated." she sighs softly as she grows frustrated. Walking over toward her horse she moves to mount up, "Enzo..since I need a babysitter. Care to help me take one alive?"
Marrow picks a sliver of zombie bits from Tessa's hair, smiling winningly at the woman. "She'll be doing cartwheels by morning That is if ever she knew how. My miracles go only so far." He turns towards Aleksandra, rubbing his palms together, "Broken ankle? I like ankles!" The mounted lady earns a wink, but for all his bravado he is already looking at the hurt limb.
"Good enough," Tessa informs Harold, "Thank you, Grandmaster. Doctor." She smiles back at Marrow, though it is subdued. Then she is striding down the hill to link up with Izett. "Allow me to assist."
Aleksandra's ankle is... A bit swollen looking, but currently lodged within a very solid looking leather boot of entirely practical design. "Well if you could splint my ankle I would be most appreciative though it can probably wait until we are returned somewhere more secure and I can try to get this boot off without destroying it."
Enzo leans in the saddle towards Izett, as though uttering in confidence. "Uhm... I think it's a bit late fer capturin' them alive. Them bein' zombies an all. But sure, glad ta help. Capturing intact isn't quite my specialty, but I'll try anything, once." He looks dubiously back at Aleksandra. "He's nae much with broken bones, either. Jus' so ye know. He does try hard, though."
Izett reaches into the saddle bag on her horse pulling out some rope. Green eyes flashing with her annoyance, likely over the lack of a necromancer or being able to figure these zombies out. Draping the coil of rope over her saddle horn, "Then you kill the rest..and just leave one. I need it whole..animated..and undamaged..well as undamaged as a zombie gets." moving to climb up into her saddle she nods to Tessa, "Your help would be much appreciated."
Harold glances back "Nobody get Killed!" he warns and drives his Axe into the ground near Marrow "what can I do?"
"I know how to bind an individual completely, it's part of my training." Tessa informs Izett.
For those who haven't noticed: Enzo and Marrow look suspiciously alike, being twins and all, "Don't mind him, lady. His solution to every wound is cauterize first, diagnose later! I'm afraid I will have to cut through the boot, but I am certain we can find you a decent pair at camp." From his sash he withdraws a thin, scalpel like knife, but gazes at Aleksandra before carving through the fine dark leather.
Aleksandra apparently objects to this, and pulls her foot out of the way before her boot can be cut into. Rather curtly. "As I said before, I would rather not have my boot destroyed. For the moment it does a perfectly good job of supporting the joint and I am fairly certain no cobblers were brought with this expedition. If you are going to disregard my words that much then I will treat the injury myself."
Enzo performs an improper salute to Harold. "Right. We'll be back in a jiffy with everyone alive an' one zombie nae quite as dead as it could be." He nods affirmatively to Izette. "Right. let one keep shamblin'. I can do that." He Yells back over his shoulder. "Still tryin wa charm ladies outta their boots! Ha!" But he's already getting down to business, sobering somewhat.
A small group of zombies zero in on Enzo. They shuffle at him a low moan comes from dead lungs. (Battle cry?)
RPG: Enzo challenges a difficulty of 8. Enzo chooses Force and the gifts FIR-WM, LIF-HH, and SKL-AR. Enzo succeeds.
RPG: Tessa challenges a difficulty of 8. Tessa chooses Resolve and the gifts SKL-GU and STY-PE. Tessa succeeds.
RPG: Izett challenges a difficulty of 8. Izett chooses Wits. Izett succeeds.
Harold rolls his eyes "Your brother has an odd way about him" he informs Marrow. "He is till handy in a fight."
Marrow shrugs, flipping the tiny knife between lean, tanned fingers, "Fine, Go lame for all I care." He turns from the horse and rolls his loamy eyes to Harold as with a silent look that seems to convey one meaningful word: 'women'! He moves towards Winter. "That Enzo does!" Marrow retorts to the Knight, "But if ever he offers to juggle, say 'no'. Might lose your eyebrows."
Tessa is walking at Enzo and Izett's side, quietly explaining a strategy before she takes a deep breath and moves ahead. She, purposefully, walks through the rough wilderness in search of a zombie, allowing branches to scratch at her flesh and making plenty of noise. Between that and her still fresh if treated wound, she seems to be making an honest attempt to draw the attention of any scraggler's that might want to leap out of the dark on a lone traveler.
For, you know, brain munching.
Winter doesn't go rushing off, remaining near Marrow and the others, watching and listening. When Marrow moves towards her she just smiles sweetly... or as sweetly as someone covered in zombie goo can smile.
The Zombies spot Tessa and forget all about Enzo, fresh meat. They shamble toward her arms extended, a low rattling from rotted throats
Aleksandra chuckles now. "I am two hundred and thirty years old, and I have grown to value good boots, my ankle will be fine by the end of the week and I would much rather it take a day more to heal than have to find then break in a new pair." Despite the chuckle she slips a hand to the hilt of her sword as the zombies close, even if she is out of the fight.
Izett dismounts, woods it is. Slinging the rope around her, she moves to head toward the woods. Dead as the woods may be or seem, indeed that seems to be where she is most at home. Seeing a group of them taking the bait of Tessa, she circles around behind. Scanning those in the group looking to separate one off. She motions to Enzo having made her selection, a bit of a smaller one but looking in less rotting condition than the rest. That's the one she wants..needing it separated from the rest she picks up a rock ready to launch it to try and get that particular ones attention toward her.
"Heeeere zombies... got a tasty lil bunch o' brains fer ye, right here." Enzo seems to be indicating Tessa. "C'mon... it's perfectly..." WHOOSH. His obscenely sized scimitar flashes, sizzling through one and leaving two halves smoldering genuinely foul smelling smoke into the air. Another's head flies and he nods to the ladies, indicating one. "That one looks healthy! Sorta. Wanna nab that one?" Fwooom!
Izett unloops the rope from around her shoulder, "Well we can lasso..or clothesline it. You pick.." she states seeing Enzo set to work, "Though I'm thinking we may need to do so quickly..he's lovin this just wayyy too much." she comments with a bit of her humor returning now that they are about what she set out to do.
Tessa kneels, taking her own length of rope. "You go high, and yank him down, then I will move in to crab tie h-- it." She straightens, waiting for Izett to make her move, in a classic sprinters stance. "Just say when."
Marrow reaches out with a familiar touch to brush a bit of raw rotten flesh from the curve of Winter's cheek, "You look like you just crawled out of a grave yourself, lady!" He tells her affectionately, "I dig it." Winking, the cleric scrutinizes her physique. No, he isn't leering. His gaze is purely professional churning from loamy to a charcoal black with pupils bleeding into dominance of a hollow stare. Aleksandra receives no reply. She can keep her boots and her suffering, he's got enough wounded to tend to.
Harold orders his squire to take Lady Alek back to Town. Harold claps a heavy steel gore splattered gauntlet to Winter's shoulder "Makes you look tough." his eyes on the fields below.
Izett nods her head testing the rope, not really stiff enough for a true lasso, no one said she'd be horse handling in these parts. Still she works the rope into a slip knot testing it before she moves to work her way closer. The length of rope held in her hand, ready to slip over the zombie. A short distance away she breaks into a sprint, looping the rope around its torso from behind as she leaps hitting it hard right between the shoulder blades to force it face forward in its shambling.
"All part of the strategy, yer ladyship an' officer... don't worry, got everyin' under control. Got 'em right where I want 'em." He turns on one of the extra animated corpses and impales it explosively. "Get back here, ye slippery bugger!"
Winter wrinkles her nose in that cute little manner of hers, but she laughs lightly as she regards Marrow "You are an odd one. I stink! It'll take a week of scented soap to get this smell off me" She then grins at Harold as well, "Tough eh? That's not something I usually here." She giggles.
When Izett takes the zombie down from behind, complete with hissing and drooling and screaming, Tessa is right on her heels. She grabs the legs, wrapping her arm around the feet and bending them back and began to hogtie the brain eater's limbs.
Enzo cheers as he takes a position of over watch over the two ladies, lending a bit of a hand securing when it seems needed, though it seems well under control. "Yeehaw. Lasso that zombie, cowgirls. Er... cowgirl an' yer ladyship!"
Harold lifts the Gauntlet from Winters shoulder not leaving much Zombie gore at all behind "They got one" he points "maybe we can get out of these cursed woods!"
Izett grunts forcing an elbow into its back, she lets the length of the rope she looped around it lay so that Tessa can grab it to hogtie the zombie. She has her hands full keeping the upper body pinned down onto the ground, working the loop lower to encompass its upper arms while she feels the rope tightening with Tessa's efforts, "Don't sever..just tight enough to contain.." she grunts feeling its hand rake across her arm with her efforts. Moving to shift her weight to put more weight onto its shoulders.
"You should have seen this one in action," Marrow tells Harold, "She was a PIP!" He has taken Winter's arm, scrutinizing the gash upon tender pale flesh with his eerily darkened gaze. Swirling, the depths of his eyes shrink into pinprick pupils, returning to normalcy, "I am going to apply some antiseptic a put a waxy seal on the wound. I'd say you were lucky, but having been there myself know you were magnificent!" He grins at Winter.
Winter blushes deeply at the compliment, "Thank you Marrow. You were just as magnificent on the battle field. As was Watchman Tessa."
Tessa is as gentle as one can be with a struggling, twitching, bitey zombie. Straddling its midsection and working around Izett, she pulls the arms back and binds them alongside its feet. Then she looks to Izett, "I am going to try to make sure that it cannot bite anyone. May I muzzle it with a length of rope?" She is making certain that she understands the lengths she should take to make the prize safe for relocating.
"Don't sever, just enough to contain... if I had a nickel for every time I..." Enzo looks up to Harold.
"They got one!!" he calls back in confirmation across the distance.
Harold shouts back "Then quit your playing and get it up here!" he shakes his head "battle mages."
Izett jerks just as the zombie tries to take a hunk out of her arm, "Ya....before it bites someone's hand off." shifting her position to help Tessa keeping the undead pinned down. Finally she does what so many have threated others with, turning and simply sitting on its back panting for breath putting her full weight slight though it may be on the struggling, wiggling zombie well out of bite range.
Lookie Zombie, look't the twitching AHA!
Tessa jerks her hand out of the way before it can take off a few fingers and loops a rope between the teeth and pulls tight. Folded back uncomfortably, all its extremity curled in and made useless, the zombie looks completely bound. If Tessa ever gets fired from her peacekeeping and policing responsibilities, she has a future in Amber's kink shops. "It is as ready as it can be, m'lady."
Enzo calls back to Harold, "On our way!," quietly adding so that he might or might not be heard, "Sheesh, keep yer shiny chivalrous bloomers n, some of us are doin' work here... Alright. I'll grab it's... er... arm..." he murmurs, dubiously surveying the writhing critter Izett sits upon.
"Like children," Marrow nods sagely to Harold. From the wide sash binding his midsection he withdraws a pair of vials, hiding the scalpel within the pleats. The antiseptic stings, but the good doctor is diligent and gentle, anointing Winter's arm, "Will you accept my blessing?" He asks, gazing up at her politely.
Izett glances to Enzo, "Don't rip its arms off, but take it up the hill please?" she moves to get up, brushing the mud and dirt off of her. Glancing to her arm as its covered in blood, with a bit of a sigh she looks toward Tessa, "Well that went well. Great plan. Thank you. Now maybe we can find the puppet strings." she says with a look of contentment, "Care to ride back up the hill?" looking toward the other woman's shoulder with concern.
Winter winces a bit a the sting. She is still a lady after all. She then smiles and nods, "If you feel it necessary. Though I tend to heal quickly."
"M'lady, it would not be proper." Tessa responds, cradling the treated arm close to her side. "Please, pay it no mind. You should not walk while I ride." She spots the blood on the Baronet's arm. "What of yourself?"
Enzo moves along with them, hauling the writhing, growling, drooling, biting burden. "Oh, no, you two go right ahead, I'll just get this then. All in a days work!"
Harold walks down the hill to offers a hand on dragging up the squirming /thing/ "Now that we have it...what do we do with it?"
Izett laughs softly at Enzo, "Why thank you..so very gallant of you. I shall oo and ahh..appropriately at your strength and abilities. Feel better?" she questions teasing the man. Making her way through the woods and up the hill, for no matter what she isn't going to ride even if Tessa refuses the horse, stubborn that way.
Tessa manages a faint smile at Enzo's quip. "You 'volunteered'. Don't get to complain." She obeys Izett finally, up on the horse she goes... or would have if the beast did not suddenly stiffen up and blow hot air into her face, eye rolling crazily. "Uh, right. I forget. I don't /do/ well with horses."
Marrow dabs a waxy ichor onto the gash decorating Winter's slender forearm. Taking great care he is diligent to treat the scrape in her cheek as well, smiling all the wile with that boyish grin skewered at the corner. How of all his companions he managed to remain unwounded and gibbet free is a miracle. His cassock is clawed across the back and there is a scratch above his jaw and his boot and Sukho fighting sticks are all bloodied, but the white cowl and collar remain perfectly pristine, "I have some special soap back at the camp. Smells like apricot. You are welcome to it." The latter is spoken to Winter, not Harold. He does NOT offer the Knight scented grooming products.
Celeste returns, swooping in gently and landing, still favoring one leg as she trots to an ambling pace. Out of concern for the horses and anyone who may have joined them who might be alarmed by swooping dragons she lands a fair bit aways, though her shadow announces her presence.
Enzo considers Izette, sharing his zombie hauling with Harold. "It does, now that ye mention, ladyship. Not much point in lookin' all manly if there are no ladies about to oggle. And me? Complain? Never. A ray of sunshine, I am!" As he nears he regards his brother, brows lifted. "You brought -fruity soaps- on a military campaign, Marrow?"
Izett peers curiously, she's never seen her horse reacting that way. Frowning softly, "She's never done that before. Strange..Maybe been too rough a time of late." moving to sooth the animal and lead it up the hill, "We'll walk up together."
Harold drops the zombie and kicks it at the top of the hill "Thank the Graal I've a squire getting this muck out of my armor will take hours." growls removing his helm "There Izett...do what you need to do, I've had enough of this damned forest. He sees Celeste and walks over to the Dragon "How's your leg?"
Marrow reaches out to give Winter's shoulder a gentle squeeze once his vials are sealed and stashed beneath the brown sash of a Chaplain. Her cute nose receives a dab of his thumb and grinning he quips at Enzo, "I did. And also a squeaky toy shaped like a plucked chicken. I was drunk." The latter was clear from Marrows arrival the day before, what with him drooling on Enzo's shoulder and insisting polka music is for pussies. "Nice moves bro. Zombie wrestling can earn you an extra buck or two at some tavern I know!"
"Sorry," Tessa mutters, allowing Izett to take the lead and walking beside Enzo.
Celeste dips her head so she's more or less eye level with the night-a respectful sign apparently,
"Nothing serious." she rumbles in soft reassurance, "You Graal knights really have this rescue thing down pat. Much obliged. They teach you all to ride in just in the nick of time?" she teases.
Winter chuckles softly at Marrow and Enzo.
Harold nods "of course, they teach us dramatic timing as squires" he grins "that and a knack for leading insane nobles into haunted forests to catch dead things." he nods toward the squirming zombie.
Celeste's head lifts and she squints, "Huh." she lowers her head again and rumbles, "Why?"
Enzo considers his twin soberly a moment, before relenting. "Awright. The squeaky toy, I can understand. And who says I haven't been wresslin' there? But my stage name is 'Marrow'." He approaches the dragon with a guffaw, turning an eye to the wound. "Aye, lemme have a look. We got to teach you to dodge one day, lady proxy."
Tessa stays near the back of the group, hand on the pommel of her sheathed sword and coat tossed over her (uninjured) shoulder.
Harold folds his arms across his chest "Because they are off?" he shrugs "I think walking dead thing is a walking dead thing....but no sign of a low life Necromancer."
Marrow turns towards the dragon. His eyelids lower and the grin vanishes from his face. Crossing the stand level with Harold he meets Celeste's draconian gaze, "So is this one of those 'other things' you chose to spare me back at Mandrake? Might need a bit embellishing." He hesitates, jutting his square jaw forward, "We need you at your best, Lady Proxy. Think you might let me look at that hock of yours?"
Marrow shoulders Enzo out of the way. BUMP.
Enzo puts his hand on his hips, looking from marrow to Celeste with an Arched brow. "What, yer gonna let /this/ one stitch you up? Smattering, are we out of blind drunken chimpanzees to do our medical work?" He bats at Marrow. "Hey. You'll have her lookin worse'n those zombies with your clumsy fingers."
Harold give Celeste the 'this is your problem look' and excuses himself to make sure the zombie is secure.
Celeste rumbles softly to Enzo, "It's nothing..." She then growls lowly and her crest rises and scaled lips peel from her maw, "Chaplain. I have had *enough* of your attitude. When have I had the opportunity to tell you? How many times during each time that I have spoken with you during return have I bothered to mentioned that there was much which required discussion?" she frowns and turns abruptly, forcing Enzo and Marrow to dodge her tail which is lashing in vexation.
"I was NOT the one who sutured that poor blokes foot back on BACKWARDS! Drunk I am still thrice the surgeon than YOU are, and NO spit isn't a valid form of antiseptic!" Marrow's elbow pokes Enzo in the ribs, aiming to leave his brother winded.
Izett listens to the goings on between everyone. Finally she pipes in, "Perhaps we should get this thing back to the village where we can examine it properly?" she offers the suggestion of looking between everyone.
Tessa peers at the two brothers, before falling in step with Harold to look over the zombie. "That seems like a wise suggestion, m'lady."
Enzo doesn't quite duck fast enough, busied with scowling with a defiantly extended chin to Marrow. *WHACK* Tail right in the face, mid, "Oh, yeah, well..." Then he's on the ground scowling up at Marrow. "Now see what you did? I hope yer satisfied!"
Celeste stops and looks over her shoulder, "Oh, Dammit..." She more carefully turns back around, "My apologies, Enzo. Are you alright?"
Harold draws his sword and squints at the zombie "Let's get this vivisection under way...where shall I cut first?"
Marrow ducks just in time to avoid the mighty swoosh of Celeste's tail. He glares at Enzo because clearly it's his brother's fault and looks over his shoulder at Winter, shrugging his exposed back with both tanned calloused palms spread helplessly apart in a 'there's no talking to her' gesture! He offers Enzo a hand up.
Izett sighs at Harold, "Back at the village, Grand Master. I don't want to have to wrestle one to the ground a second time. I want to be thorough about this. I want to light all the torches..and lanterns..get a good solid look at what we are dealing with. I want to find the puppet strings."
Winter can't help but giggle when Enzo is smacked by Celeste's tail. Thankfully she was just out of reach of said tail. She then moves to follow the others shaking her head, her ponytail swishing wildly behind her head.
Celeste sighs and rumbles to Marrow grating out as if it takes supreme patience and effort, "My apologies for loosing my temper, I suppose my leg is making me ill tempered, perhaps you'd best take a look." she admits grudgingly, settling on her haunches, "And yes, this does indeed require elaboration."
Harold gruffs "fine!" he sheathes his sword and grabs it by the back of the nack. He whistles sharply "Chessy!" The War Steed snorts and stomps before she follows her Knight back to town.
Izett winces at the way Harold handles it, "Grand Master..lets try not to damage it. We took a great deal of care. Its not like it isn't decaying already. I don't want parts falling off of it."
Enzo accepts Marrow's hand up, grinning. "It's nae worry, Celeste. Not the first time I been knocked out with a tail in my face." He nods to the entourage. "Maybe one of us should help examine the dead critter?"
Harold looks to Winter "Can you freeze it solid before we cut it into inch thick slices?" The Zombie squirms as Harold drags it along leaving bits of skin in it's wake.
Tessa just strides in the Grandmaster's wake.
Marrow glances at Celeste, loamy eyes askew, "Okay. But only because you asked nicely." He slaps Enzo on the shoulder, "It'd be unethical of me to meddle with your catch, bro. Go give it a poke." The retreating company receives a lingering glance, but it is unclear where his scrutiny lies.
Winter looks disappointed as she regards Harold for a moment, "I'm afraid I can't. My mastery with ice is in weapons crafted of it."