Kolskegg stopped after a hundred yards. The snow was falling steadily now, there was no sense in continuing the run. They would not have a hard time finding him. Rubbing his chest, the Viking felt the armor where the bullets had struck him. They hadn’t pierced it but his chest hurt immensely. Verily it seemed as if a Jotun had hit him with a club. With a cursory glance he laid Alyward against a pillar before he snaked his hand under his shirt, feeling where the bullets struck.  He felt the welts. 

Whatever those sticks were they possessed a powerful magic.  Retrieving his sword, Kolskegg watched the snow swirl around him. Surly in such an area as this, the snow would give him away. No matter he had things to do. He had drawn first blood; he had killed one of the sorcerers. There were others, he had to figure out how many. 

Patting the bag he felt the magic within, he was prepared, he would call forth the next set of runes soon enough, but for now he would allow Ymir’s icy grasp keep him company. Rising again he stared at the ruins. They would provide him height; perhaps allow him to see his enemies. Narrowing his eyes the Gothi recalled what had happened.  He had killed a man, for he was sure it was a man. It was not tall enough to be an Alfar, nor stout enough to be a dwarf or troll. No it must be a man. 

Men were crafty, sneaky fighters. Kolskegg was a man and if he judged the ruins to be advantageous, so would other men. No. He would keep away from the ruins for now. He would use the woods and rocks to his advantage. With a wave of his hand a drift of snow piled up along the wash, creating a barrier nearly six-feet tall. 

Like the bitter cold stalked men and killed them, so would Kolskegg stalk these men. Climbing from the wash he made his way towards a ruined cottage a hundred yards or so away. The billowing, blustery winds that heralded the snow and frost lashed against the ruins, piling snow against the sides and filling the interior where it snaked it’s way in. 

Stepping inside, the Viking peered cautiously around a corner.  As he did a nasty sound filled the air as the heavy, metallic roars of the turret ripping the air. Bullets slaming into the wall, forcing Kolskegg to duck behind it, slowly backing away in a low crouching walk as large holes appeared where the impacts of the large caliber weapon punched through it. 

[color=f7941d]“Odin’s beard, their magic is indeed powerful.”[/color]  He murmured as he edged out the way he had come in. It was clear that these wizards controlled the very insects of this world as the angry buzzing and thwaps of bullets raced past him or punched the walls. 

Hefting his shield up, he ran across the open area towards a copse of trees and large boulders. His right side protected by the large shield, which was up to help cover his head. Keeping as low as possible in case they had an archer amongst them, he kept an eye on the skies for the dreaded rain of arrows. These were certes powerful wizards capable of controlling insects and projecting the strength of the Jotun themselves. 

Around him the swirl of snow continued, a line of tracers following him like a red laser, kicking up the dirt behind him. Powerful blows from the invisible fists crashed against the shield, causing the Viking to stagger a bit, his arm, nay his body shook at each impact. They came fast and furious, a stream of hammering blows that caused his teeth to rattle, but he never lost his footing reaching the pillars.