The Storm

[Korbel]

Maciej and Twinscar quickly assess the situation and seeing they're outnumbered take to their heels.

[Korbel]

The bounty hunters try to run. Maciej helps his companion and with huge steps wades through the mud. But Hans is faster and flanks them, forcing them to face him and upcoming Ruthard. In the process Hans steps in a big pool, making footwork much harder for him. Meanwhile Ruthard tries to cut off the way to the manor for "Twinscars" and when he succeds, his opponent gives him a nasty slash to thighs and grabs him, twisting the sword out of his hand. Hans and Maciej are busy, too. The messer slashes at the massive chest of the bounty hunter but only touches the coat, then is redirected to legs and strikes the bones on the knee, making Maciej lose his balance for a split second. This very moment Karl joins the fight with his spear in hand...

"Leave us alone! We don't want to fight" - Maciej outshouts the storm.

[Marras]

"You rolled your bones, Maciej!", Hans answers as he gets a better footing finding a bit less slippery part of ground. As the big bounty hunter draws his club Hans presses his advantage slashing with his messer at the hound's chest. His strike connects and Hans follows the vicious slash with his weight driving the blade all the way to Maciej's chest.

As the huge hound drops to the ground Hans has to use his leg to free his messer between Maciej's ribs causing the blood flow even more freely to the ground where it mixes with water and mud.

Getting his blade free from the carcass of now dying bounty hunter Hans manages just a quick look at how the fight against Twinscar is going.

[Benedict]

Meanwhile Twinscars and Ruthard are still grappling in the mud. Karl, spear in hand, rushes to his old friend's aid. The bounty hunter tries to hit the albino in the face with the pommel of his sword, evaded at the last moment. The brawl continues strong, and Karl stands a few steps away, undecided as to what to do. The rain is still coming in hard, and gusts of wind whip the combatants with mud. Suddenly Karl decides to act. He throws his weapon to the ground and tackles Twinscars from behind. Not very effective as both men are tall and strong, but Karl's act decides the fight. In the confusion Ruthard grabs his opponent by the throat with both hands, and presses with all his might. Twinscars desperately thrashes about, and after a short moment that seems like a century to everyone involved, his eyes roll and his body goes limp. Ruthard relaxes his grip, grabs Twinscars before he falls down, and tries to catch his breath.

• "Don't worry Karl, he's not dead. Help me tie him up before he wakes up."

[Marras]

Just as soon as Hans sees that Ruthard and Karl are handling themselves quite well he kneels besides Maciej and begins to search him occasionally taking a look around for possible surprises.

[Marras]

Shortly after Hans gets up with short rope hanging from his left hand and he walks towards others.

"Looking for rope?", Hans asks grinning and volunteers to tie Twoscar's hands.

[Stempest]

"Yes, tie him. Then we need to get him out of sight. If the mob find him tied up, he's as good as dead."

[Marras]

"We have to move Maciej's body out of sight as well so the guards don't see him.".

Hans ties Twinscar as well as he can and asks "Ruthard, you okay?"

[Korbel]

After a while, Twinscars regains consciousness.
"Maciej!"
He tries to stand up, but he is dazed and tied. Then he realizes his friend is dead and stares bluntly at his body, now being dragged to the forest.

Hilde was left behind and now she is waiting, trying to find shelter under one of the biggest trees. But the rain and wind still harass her and Otto.

[Benedict]

Still trying to relax his breath, Ruthard replies to Hans.

• "Well, I've seen better days, that's certain."

Then turning to Twinscars, the albino kneels next to him and speaks calmly and composed.

• "I'm sorry for Maciej's death. That was unnecessary. I'm glad that you are alive though. I went to considerable lengths not killing you too, I hope you understand that. Now you see how desperate this situation is for all of us, and why I was asking for your help in the first place. It only saddens me that someone had to die."

[Korbel]

"You have killed my friend. He was unarmed and not willing to fight. No, I don't understand that. You can kill me, too. Go ahead!"

[Benedict]

• "I killed no one you stupid oaf. Hans killed your friend, and I'm sorry for that, but there was nothing I could do about it. At that time I was busy getting cut to the bone by you, remember? I'm no murderer you fuck, I'm a soldier. That's why I sparred you, even when I could have killed you there and then."

• "What you don't understand is that you are caught in the middle of a battlefield. On one end you have that crazy priest who whips these fools in a fanatic's frenzy. The way I see it the ruling lord is in league with them. On the other side you have me, a captain returning home with one goal: put an end to this insanity and kill that "priest" who killed my father and fucked my life. Hans, Karl, Otto, Hilde, all these people are just unfortunates that also got tangled in this mess."

• "When in a battlefield bounty hunter no one gives a shit about your life, let alone your reputation, you understand that? Everyone must choose sides. You made the mistake of choosing to try to go to them. I couldn't let you go, understand? I offered you a simple deal. Get the money and help us fight them. Hell, even without us you'd be bound to fight them. What did you expect, that they'd welcome you with open arms? I gave you a way out, take the bounty and walk. Or get the money and help. But no, you chose to become a liability. What did you expect, to let you become another enemy to slay?."

• "Consider this. I chose not to kill you because I believe your side is the same as ours. Even at this moment I say to you: Help us. But make no mistake. I have no problem at all killing my enemies. Choose your side wisely bounty hunter. I don't believe many men are as lucky as you, getting a second chance to live. Your friend certainly wasn't."

• "Shallow your pride, consider everything I said carefully, and then speak. This is your one chance."

[Korbel]

At first he doesn't say anything. He just stares and thinks.
"I will go with you" he says slowly at last.

[Marras]

Hans waits for Ruthard to finish his talk with Twinscars and while the bounty hunter thinks about the albino's words Hans changes subject speaking softly.

"So, you are a mercenary captain, Ruthard? If we survive this quest, are you heading back to your company?", Hans asks.

[Benedict]

• I used to run with the White Company Hans. I started as a water carrier as a kid, and rose to the rank of captain. Fifty men were under my command, a crack unit of longswordsmen. I left them. Because I was away for too long. As I said, there's only one thing to be done. Avenge my father who was murdered by that lunatic. And everyone who will stand in my way will pay for that. I don't know what I will be doing next. I might as well die. I don't really care. Only vengeance exists now for me."

He turns to Twinscars.

• "It's good that we have an understanding. But I won't lie to you. I don't trust you.
  Nor do I trust that "carpenter" over there."

• waving at Hans.

He goes behind Twinscars, unties him, and offers him his sword, gripping it by the blade.

• "But trust has nothing to do with trying to stay alive during a war. We must plan carefully. Then we must hit them fast and hard. Our only asset is the element of surprise. If we use it wisely we can kill the priest and the lord. By cutting off the beast's heads the rest will just flee."

• "A plan is forming in my mind as we speak. But I want to ask each and every one of you."

He turns in such a way as to face everyone.

• "What do you think? Is there something any of you believe will help all of us that we should know about?"