Subject: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

[I'm still waiting on replies from Telwyn and Elotai, but I'm going to write up a turn regarding Erk going for Kayla and the equipment - which happens sometime after whatever discussion Telwyn and Elotai might have with Kubalc and the shaman. You guys can fill the back responses.]

There are few that Erk could help, but he healed all those who were not already dead. He saved three men from certain death, and healed one of a wound that would have surely festered. The tribe was small, and had grown considerably smaller today. All totaled, there now stood 15 warriors, and 12 more lay dead.

As the women and children emerged from hiding, Erk was happy to see many boy children, at least eight, who would someday replace their fathers. But today they wailed, holding their mothers close as the dead were collected and brought to grassy pyres. A piece of the great weasel's heart was cut and placed on the chest of each of the fallen, to mark their sacrifice to the tribe and bond their spirits to the great Khoftak.

When his work is done, Erk sets off up the hill the way they had come, heading back toward Kayla and the wagons. Two of Kubalc's warriors approach him as he leaves the group and speak in accented Common. One of these is the man whose wound was closed by his healing magic.

"It is not safe to wander these grasses alone, mountain dweller. Where do you wish to go in these great plains?"

"We have wagons with equipment," Erk responds. "And another friend who stayed behind to protect it."

The warriors nod, and begin to walk alongside the dwarf, peering into the setting sun to see the outline of the wagons at the crest of the rise. "Then we will come with you. You saved the use of this arm and allowed me once again to provide for my children and tribe. We will guide you to your friend by giving you eyes above the grass."

Erk then realized that once he went into the grass, he could have become lost utterly, not being able to see over its height.

"Thank you."

They traveled up the rise, roughly back along the path the party had made while descending. Much of the grass had returned upright, but enough of it was broken that a rough path could be seen. At the top, they emerged at the wagons and saw Kayla sitting smiling on top.

"What took you so long?" She quipped.

Upon seeing Kayla, the warriors scrambled for weapons, shouting back down the hill. "Noyakin! Noyakin! Kubalc, kree ballak Noyakin!"

Erk is shocked and confused by their reaction, but it is clear that they plan on attacking Kayla.

***

At the base camp, the cry is heard: "Noyakin!"

The women and children abandon what they had been doing and huddle together in the center of the clearing, as far from the grasses as possible, with a ring of six warriors circling them facing out.

Buchek and Holn instantly recognize the term, but wonder at the reaction. Noyakin were malicious grass faeries, no more than children's terror stories. They would spring from the grasses and attack before disappearing again - they were vicious fighters who would cut hamstrings, achilles tendons, and necks to slow down their victims, then would lie in wait to finish the job when their targets' strength had bled from them. They were no bigger than children, with pointed ears and...

if they were cleaned up and put in city clothes, they would look just like Kayla.

Buchek and Holn turn to each other with wide-eyed expressions. Telwyn had a confused look on his face, as he was trying to decipher what the men had said. Something had spooked the warriors who walked off with Erk, something that they called to Kubalc about...

Kubalc had already run off in that direction with his two bodyguard warriors, as had the shaman.

Buchek and Holn started to run after, calling back to the others, "They think Kayla's in evil spirit. Come on!"