The Storm

[Stempest]

"I know he's a herbalist, curse you! But look, his guards were helping Father Georgius. Do you think Sir Erich is not involved too?! And there was something not right about what we saw before. Didn't you see how the mob's eyes became glazed when that smoke passed over them. There is some sorc... no, not sorcery at play. What if Sir Erich has provided whatever the priest is burning in that censer? He would know how. And they were his guards. But why would he do that?"

Karl sighs.

"Let's wait until dark and then see if we can find the physician at the manor. *Karl's look hardens and his grip on the spear tightens* If nothing else we can force him to help Otto."

[Korbel]

Suddenly there is a commotion just outside the hut, some shouts and the sound of blades. Hilde runs to the corner with Otto, trying to hide.
- They're here! Oh God, please save us! - she whispers.

[Marras]

"Shit!", Hans curses. He draws his messer as he runs towards the door to keep it shut.

"Karl! Get ready with that spear, it's time for you to show how good you really are with that.".

[Stempest]

Karl motions to all of them for quiet and stalks towards the door, spear at the ready. If there are any windows or cracks he will attempt to see what's going on. Should the door be opened he will position himself to prevent anyone entering through the door while making use of the spear's length to hold them at bay.

[Marras]

Hans places his hand on the lock on the door ready to lock it and looks at Karl with question on his eyes.

[Benedict]

Ruthard enters the village while heavy rain clouds are coming in hard. He feels his skin crawling, something not being right. Closing the village center he eyes two peasants, strangers to him - but they clearly recognize him!

• "The Devil's Spawn! Kill him!"

Both draw their daggers and rush at him.

Calmly Ruthard unsheathes his longsword and starts circling around his assailants, putting one villager in the middle - Ruthard on one end, the other villager on the other. Without a word he quickly swings his blade in a diagonal arc, hitting the poor sod in his abdomen. Lots of blood quickly soaks the villager's clothes and he falls flat on his back with a moan.

Ruthard steps on the fallen man's face with his heavy boot, crushing bone and sinew in the process, and like a pilgrim kneeling before the altar, he thrusts his sword in a downward fashion to the man's groin, ending his misery. Ruthard lifts his gaze to the other villager and speaks.

• "And now it's time you get your due too."

The other villager tries to rush the kneeling warrior. Ruthard however expected exactly that. Grabbing his blade with both hands in a half-sword grip, he swiftly rolls by his opponent. Suddenly he reverses his motion, and from a half-standing position he powerfully thrusts at the back of his adversary in an upward manner, the villager slain instantly, the long blade protruding through his chest. Ruthard steps up and kicks his sword free from the corpse, then wipes it thoroughly while scanning his surroundings. Then he shouts.

• "What is this madness? Is there anyone sane out there?"

[Marras]

Hans's eyes go wide as he follows the carnage outside. "Jesus!", he utters in half whisper as he sees the second villager fall. Hans tries to recognize the slayer in case he is one of the hunters after him.

"Karl, as absurd as it might sound, he seems to be one of the sane guys. We should ask him in and tell him what we know."

[Stempest]

Karl peers out through a window or cracked open door, and is stunned for a moment at what he sees. After a few moments, he recovers his senses and hisses to the new arrival.

"Ruthard. Ruthard! In here, quickly!"

[Benedict]

Ruthard turns towards the hut and carefully goes there, holding the sword with his left and resting it on his shoulder. He reaches the door and swiftly steps in, then closes the door behind him and scans the hut's interior.

• "Karl? Is that really you?"

His gaze continues to sweep the room, then it falls on the two figures in the back.

• "My God! Hilde!"

[Korbel]

Hilde stands up.

- What are you doing here? Is this all - she points in the general direction of the center of the village - because of you?

[Benedict]

Ruthard sheathes his sword and slowly approaches Hilde, paying no attention to Karl and the stranger with the messer.

He stares at her, at the child at her side, thinking how much things had changed. He wants to say so many things at once, yet the words choke in his throat. He starts speaking with visible effort, his voice a harsh whisper.

• "I came back Hilde. At last I came back. For my father. For me. For justice."

Ruthard's shoulders are now stooping, as if he is carrying the weight of the world just by himself, his gaze lowered to the ground, a titan broken by the whims of fate. Suddenly he recomposes himself and steadily eyes her.

• "I don't know what is happening and I don't care. I came back Hilde. I came back for you!"

[Korbel]

Little Otto is looking at the stranger inquisitively and his mother doesn't know, what to say. She's waiting for Karl's reaction.

[Benedict]

Ruthard stares at Hilde, then the child, then Karl, then back at Hilde. He shakes his head, almost in disbelief.

• "I... see. No time for words right now. There will be a time and a place for that when we get out of this mess."

He kneels before the child.

• "Do not fear me boy. I'm an old friend of your mother. While I live no one will harm any of you."

Rising, Ruthard turns to the two men.

• "Karl, let me see the boy, he is feverish and in need of treatment. Dealing death is part of my profession, but I also know how to heal. After that explain what is happening here. If we are to live this through, we must help each other."

[Stempest]

Karl stares at Ruthard as he regards the others in the room, but snaps back to his senses a moment later.

"Ruthard... *Karl struggles with where to start* We think Father Georgius is controlling the townsfolk and getting them to kill everyone not with them."

Karl pauses, the silence quite awkward following the blunt summary of affairs.

"Otto is ill. We were hoping for the aid of the herbalist, but she is nowhere to be found. Perhaps caught by the mob, or hiding... I don't know. You say you are able to heal. I would be in your debt if you were able to help Otto."

[Benedict]

• "You two guard that door with your life and let me work."

Ruthard searches the herbalist's selves, picks some herbs and powders, and throws them in the boiling pot conveniently left on the fire. He stirs the mix, opens his sack and produces his pouch and throws another pinch of powder in the boiling herbal tea, then stirs again. He picks a flask from the desk and pours the boiling tea inside. Finally he gets a jug of clear water and pours some in the flask to cool it down.

After all is done Ruthard turns to Hilde and gives her the flask.

• "That should do it. I know its bitter, nonetheless make him drink two mouthfuls now, then again one every hour till he gets to sleep."