Snow, snow, and more bloody snow..
Alastor looked over the Mausoleum, a largely intact and ornate building surrounded by the crumbling remains of the district. A number of skeletons could be seen shuffling around the entrances (maybe soldiers once sworn to guard the crypt judging by the weapons they carried). Alastor knew his band of brutes could deal with the issue easily enough and a few of them scurried off into the snow, still, an illusionary soldier will help prevent any of the idiots getting himself injured (money he would rather not have to spend). The illusion however promptly ran directly onto the spear of a skeleton and vanished with a flash, much to the amusement of the men.
Alastor was making a mental note of the sniggering men when one of them shrieked and dropped onto his arse with an arrow in his thigh. Alastor scanned the ruins and saw movement among the ruins, Harad frigging Grumpyguts that snivelling weaselly bastard had come to claim the prize for himself. Alastor quickly conjured up an illusion of some loot that would hopefully distract some of Harads warband long enough for Alastor's men to grab some of the real loot and clear out before this situation got any worse.
To his right the apprentice Caul was proving a poor investment, spraying sparks as he failed miserably to cast any of the bloody spells he had been taught. A few of the men had dropped to enemy bow-fire and spells (a few of the useless bastards had even gone down to the skeletons) and he was sure he had seen a snow leopard leaping about. They needed to leave now.
He ordered a retreat and the men began to flee the field with whatever loot they could carry. Caul had gotten himself injured (by a skeleton of all things) and was desperately dragging himself to safety and Alastor made a note to give that boy a thorough slapping if they get out of here alive. As the last of the men were escaping a woman in a suit of shining armour appeared from the gloom and began to advance on a young member of Alastor's warband. Alastor didn't care about the well-being of the young lad but he was carrying what looked like a decent haul of loot and there was no way he was going to let Harad and his cronies get their filthy hands on it. He leapt to the lads aid and held off the knight long enough for him to scurry away to safety, a look of admiration in his eyes for the heroic actions of his employer, the foolish little snot. Alastor quickly found himself outclassed by the woman and he couldn't keep her at bay for long, he was able to protect himself with his staff but it was only a matter of time before a blow was delivered. Luckily for Alastor it was a blow from the knight's shield that had caught him and he dropped to the snow. He waited for the knight to finish him off, she looked at him for a moment and said "this is a treasure hunt not a war-game" and left him in the snow as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Alastor awoke being dragged through the snow. He swore to the gods that if it was frigging leopard from earlier he will be having stern words when he gets to the afterlife. He looked around and was relieved to see the young lad he had saved earlier, he had come back to find him the daft bastard. "We's found an owd brewery that's in good nick it is boss, still got some ale and and a few bags o' pork scratchins". A brewery would certainly do nicely as after today's bloodbath he is going to need to hire some new men and they will flock to the promise of ale.
Back at the brewery Alastor was amazed to find no men with any significant injuries and a considerable haul of loot. The gods had taken pity on them as amongst the gold and silver there were also a number of magical grimoires and weapons. Somehow everything had worked out and Alastor smiled to himself as he gathered up the books "Now where is that apprentice, I owe him a slap".
Alastor the Blue
Illusionist
Level 3
345xp
