Alton’s arrow flies towards its mark – but this time the leaves and branches of the tree obscure the shot enough that his shot misses.
Alton:
---
Laithe sees nothing else lurking in the loft, and descends the ladder. As he passes Yruch, the paladin still stands awkwardly holding the screaming baby. “Laithe,” the young man calls. “I am willing to defend this babe with my life … but I know little of children, and cannot fight effectively whilst holding him … is it safe to put him down here somewhere, that I may join the fight?
“In addition …” he seems somewhat troubled, “I have used the senses that Arton gifted me with … and I can sense no evil from the man in the loft. For whatever that is worth.”
---
Keildrithe, the black-clad, blood covered man groans and reaches for your hand.
Laithe sees nothing else lurking in the loft, and descends the ladder. As he passes Yruch, the paladin still stands awkwardly holding the screaming baby. “Laithe,” the young man calls. “I am willing to defend this babe with my life … but I know little of children, and cannot fight effectively whilst holding him … is it safe to put him down here somewhere, that I may join the fight?“In addition …” he seems somewhat troubled, “I have used the senses that Arton gifted me with … and I can sense no evil from the man in the loft. For whatever that is worth.”
---
Keildrithe, the black-clad, blood covered man groans and reaches for your hand.
"It's alright, Laithe, he'll live..." Keildrithe glances around the loft to see if he can find anything from which he could tear off strips of cloth to further staunch the blood flow and bind the man's wound. The bard grasps the man's hand, and leans in, whispering. "Please forgive my friend, he did not intend to hurt you this badly. Though I have little experience in the healing arts, I promise that I shall do my best to save your life, sir... What is your name? Is there something you wish to say?"
Keildrithe looks at the man's outfit and attempts to discern any distinguishing marks or insignia that he might carry on his person, but is too busy trying to save his life to be able to conduct an effective search.
"It's alright, Laithe, he'll live..." Keildrithe glances around the loft to see if he can find anything from which he could tear off strips of cloth to further staunch the blood flow and bind the man's wound. The bard grasps the man's hand, and leans in, whispering. "Please forgive my friend, he did not intend to hurt you this badly. Though I have little experience in the healing arts, I promise that I shall do my best to save your life, sir... What is your name? Is there something you wish to say?"Keildrithe looks at the man's outfit and attempts to discern any distinguishing marks or insignia that he might carry on his person, but is too busy trying to save his life to be able to conduct an effective search.
Keildrithe, there are some blankets and bedding up here that you can use as make-shift blankets. The man is barely conscious, and does not react to your soothing words, nor does he grasp your hand back. Although you have stabilised the man, he is still in danger of slipping away.
In the darkness of the cottage and your haste to staunch his wounds, you get little sense of his garb, other than that he wears dark coloured clothing and leather armour, and has a large knife sheathed at his belt.
---
Alton, outside in the clearing, no further arrows are fired towards you, although the sounds you heard earlier continue. Your hidden archer remains concealed around the other side of the tree – from what you can tell he is on a branch about twelve feet up, and you cannot make out what he is doing.
Laithe sees nothing else lurking in the loft, and descends the ladder. As he passes Yruch, the paladin still stands awkwardly holding the screaming baby. “Laithe,” the young man calls. “I am willing to defend this babe with my life … but I know little of children, and cannot fight effectively whilst holding him … is it safe to put him down here somewhere, that I may join the fight?
“In addition …” he seems somewhat troubled, “I have used the senses that Arton gifted me with … and I can sense no evil from the man in the loft. For whatever that is worth.”
Yruch's words give Laithe pause. In the heat of being attacked he hadn't considered that the men attacking might not be evil and that this could all be a mis-understanding.
The adrenalin of the battle starts to fade as the implications that he may have just attacked and almost killed an innocent man sink in. But he is also torn by the battle still being fought outside. "What about those men outside - what have you detected in them? And what about Vorn - do you detect evil in him?"
He calls up to Keildrithe "Perhaps we should try to end the bloodshed and call a truce. You are a better speaker than I; I can tend to the man's wounds and watch the babe while Yruch and yourself negotiate a cease fire? What say you? Is it worth a try?"
“A man does not need to be evil in order to kill you,” Yruch replies. “He may be a good soldier, following orders, or he may truly believe what he does is right – whether it is or not. As for those outside, I cannot say, my senses cannot reach that far with any accuracy. And Vorn …” Yruch hangs his head. “Truly, I did not think to sense it within him.”
He looks up again. “It seems that someone was waiting in ambush for us, and it seems that they wish to kill us. Whether we should fight back or parlay I do not know. I say only that I do not sense the darkness and malice that I have sensed within some … although … there may be something … on the edge of my senses …” he draws silent, appearing to concentrate on some distant sound.
Yruch's words give Laithe pause. In the heat of being attacked he hadn't considered that the men attacking might not be evil and that this could all be a mis-understanding.
The adrenalin of the battle starts to fade as the implications that he may have just attacked and almost killed an innocent man sink in. But he is also torn by the battle still being fought outside. "What about those men outside - what have you detected in them? And what about Vorn - do you detect evil in him?"
He calls up to Keildrithe "Perhaps we should try to end the bloodshed and call a truce. You are a better speaker than I; I can tend to the man's wounds and watch the babe while Yruch and yourself negotiate a cease fire? What say you? Is it worth a try?"
Keildrithe responds from the loft, where his hands are soaked in blood: "The hedilye ways teach that parley is always preferable to bloodshed... I hope it is not too late to initiate diplomacy. Hmmm... Our opponent is trying to tell me something... Laithe, come, let us trade places... I will see what I can do outside, if anything..." The bard tries to find some cloth with which he might wipe the blood off his hands before he heads outside.
Keildrithe responds from the loft, where his hands are soaked in blood: "The hedilye ways teach that parley is always preferable to bloodshed... I hope it is not too late to initiate diplomacy. Hmmm... Our opponent is trying to tell me something... Laithe, come, let us trade places... I will see what I can do outside, if anything..." The bard tries to find some cloth with which he might wipe the blood off his hands before he heads outside.
Laithe nods and once more begins climbing the ladder up to the loft. "Take care helidye and remember Yruch's words - these men may not be evil, but they may still mean us harm. Your safety and that of our companions is paramount so be sure to not expose yourself to harm. Gosia's life depends on us making it back to town to challenge her sentence. Be careful."
Once in the loft, he leans down and takes the babe from Yruch's awkward hold. He lays the baby down gently in a corner, away from the edge of the platform. He then calls on the last of his days store of magic to offer what little healing he can to the man, hoping to stabalize his wounds.
Keildrithe steps out of the cottage and calls out into the darkness, his palms open wide and arms outstretched: "It seems we may have a misunderstanding... whoever you may be, there among the trees, we mean you no harm. Your friend who was hiding in the loft has been wounded, but he lives... we struck him in self-defence. We would be glad to bring him out before you, if you should be so kind as to hold your fire against innocent travellers, and if you should come under a banner of truce and explain to us what it is you do here around the Lady Gosia's home... As a gesture of good will, I shall lay my sword down first..." The bard does as he says, and awaits a reply from the archer(s), standing near the doorway should he need to duck for cover...
Alton’s arrow shot is once again foiled by the concealing darkness and foliage, and does not appear to strike its target. The halfling retreats back towards the cottage entry, where Keildrithe and Yruch are just emerging.
Yruch accompanies the bard outside, positioning himself so that (hopefully) his chainmail will intercept any arrows ahead of them hitting the bard.
No reply comes in response to Keildrithe’s parlay … but nor do any arrows, at this stage.
Alton:
I retreat back to the door frame and enter the cottage, crouching behind the door and aiming my bow into the forest, ready to let another arrow fly should someone appear and end up being a hostile.
"I heard the sound of battle coming from the direction which Jarred went a few moments ago but its gone now." I whisper, eyes sweeping the clearing for foes "What was in there, I heard screaming."
I retreat back to the door frame and enter the cottage, crouching behind the door and aiming my bow into the forest, ready to let another arrow fly should someone appear and end up being a hostile.
"I heard the sound of battle coming from the direction which Jarred went a few moments ago but its gone now." I whisper, eyes sweeping the clearing for foes "What was in there, I heard screaming."
Laithe lays his hands over the worst of the man's wounds and calls on what little power he has left in him to help heal the tear.
Hearing Alton's question he replies from above. "I underestimated the power of my wolf-form and the soldier in the loft copped the worst of it".
Then, with a bit more worry in his voice he says "Is Jarred still out there alone? Should we not head out and make sure he is ok?"
Almost as if summoned by Laithe’s words, a figure hurries into the clearing from the southern trail – although it is dark, his bearing and the spear he carries marks him as Jarred to Alton and Keildrithe (who are in a position to see him).
“More of them,” he whispers loudly, gesturing towards the south. He limps somewhat as he hurries towards the cottage.
Keildrithe remains just outside the cottage, arms still outstretched and palms open. "Who are they?" he whispers to Jarred out of the corner of his mouth, and "how many are there?' he adds, echoing Alton. "Laithe, is our prisoner in good enough shape to be brought outside, for his comrades to see? I'm not getting much of a reaction from his allies..."
Then, speaking out loud in the direction of the woods: "We mean you no harm, and ask that you grant us safe passage. We are innocent travellers in need of rest. Please show yourselves... perhaps we can share a fire and a meal? We have a babe with us that is in need of rest and care, as well... please... our intentions are peaceful..."
Laithe, your minor spell closes the wound on the man’s throat slightly – enough that his eyes flutter, and he groans. He appears to be coming back to consciousness.
---
Jarred reaches the north-west corner of the cottage, where the others are standing. You notice a broken arrow shaft lodged in his shoulder, and gash in his leg.
“At least four more,” he says in a low voice, pointing away south, “including at least one dead-eye archer amongst them. I killed one, but then the others turned up and gifted me with this,” he indicates the arrow in his shoulder.
In answer to Keildrithe’s second hail, a loud, harsh voice calls out from the forest to the south. “Come out to where I can see you, and throw your weapons down. Then we can talk – resolve this thing without further deaths.”
In answer to Keildrithe’s second hail, a loud, harsh voice calls out from the forest to the south. “Come out to where I can see you, and throw your weapons down. Then we can talk – resolve this thing without further deaths.”
Keilrithe takes a deep breath, then belts out a reply. "My sword is already on the ground. I shall come forward, unarmed, if one of you shall meet me in the middle of the clearing, likewise unarmed. Your companion shall be brought forth to the cottage entrance, so that you may see that he lives. What say you? Does this sound like an acceptable proposal?"
After a few beats of silence, an answer comes;
“That is acceptable.” After a few moments there comes the rustling sound of feet on fallen leaves.
"Laithe, bring the prisoner to the entrance, but be prepared to whisk him back in at the first sign of trouble," whispers Keildrithe. "Get whatever answers you can from him while I speak with our opponents' designated spokesperson. Alton, Jarred, cover me..."
The bard walks with arms outstretched and palms open in the direction from which came the response, stopping halfway between the woods and the cottage.
"Laithe, bring the prisoner to the entrance, but be prepared to whisk him back in at the first sign of trouble," whispers Keildrithe. "Get whatever answers you can from him while I speak with our opponents' designated spokesperson. Alton, Jarred, cover me..."
The bard walks with arms outstretched and palms open in the direction from which came the response, stopping halfway between the woods and the cottage.
As Keildrithe starts to move out, Laithe whispers loudly "Wait! I think we should use the front door to the cottage? It will give us a better chance to cover you and make it more difficult for them to cut you off. Alton, perhaps you can cover him from the window to the side of the door? Yruch, stand at the door as back up, and use your power to better gauge the intentions of the man Keildrithe will be dealing with. I don't trust him."
"Jarred, if you are able, can you help me down with this soldier from the loft? We can then stand ready at the back door in case they try and surround us, or we need to get out that way."
As gently as possible, Laithe moves the wounded man towards the edge of the loft, close to the ladder so he will be easier to get down. Looking down he notices the pool of oil still in the middle of the floor. Still in a whisper he says "Quick, we need to get this covered - if we can scrape the excess into the hide hole and then cover the remainer with blankets and anything that will prevent it easily catching alite should they torch the place".
Catching Laithe's suggestion, Keildrithe calls out to the spokesman in the woods: "I shall meet you out front, sir, and your captive ally shall be there for you to see..." The bard starts to make his way around the cottage, slowly, without making any sudden moves, always holding his arms out and palms open. He gives whoever is standing by the back door a quick look suggesting that they pick his sword up from the grass and bring it into the cottage once he has made his way to the front of the building...
As Keildrithe begins walking around to the front of the cottage, Yruch nods, picks up the bard’s sword with his free hand and moves back into the cottage, resting the blade just within the broken front door when he reaches it and standing nearby, ready to wrench back the broken door and emerge if needed.
Jarred also moves through the back door of the cottage, and laying his spear down, mounts the bottom few rungs of the ladder to assist Laithe in bringing the wounded man (who is just regaining consciousness, but is doing little more than moaning in pain) down to floor level.
I dash up to the loft and over to a window that overlooks the clearing. I nock an arrow and prepare to fire upon the people in the woods should they break the truce. I look at the clearing below, trying to find an archers hidden in the trees.
While Keildrithe makes his way slowly around to the front of the building, Laithe helps Jarred move the wounded soldier down to the floor. Once there he directs Jarred to do what he can to clean up/cover the oil, while he tries to get some more information out of the soldier. "Who do you work for? Why did you attack us when we approached the cottage?"
Keildrithe, you see a humanoid figure standing in the darkness just under the eaves of the forest at the entrance to the southern trail.
Alton, are you standing by the east facing or west facing window? Or did you prefer to station yourself at the south facing window on the ground floor?
Laithe, the wounded soldier just moans again, staring at you with wild, scared looking eyes. He does not answer your question. Whether this is because he is terrified, stubborn or unable to talk with the throat wound is difficult to say.
Keildrithe, you see a humanoid figure standing in the darkness just under the eaves of the forest at the entrance to the southern trail.
Alton, are you standing by the east facing or west facing window? Or did you prefer to station yourself at the south facing window on the ground floor?
Laithe, the wounded soldier just moans again, staring at you with wild, scared looking eyes. He does not answer your question. Whether this is because he is terrified, stubborn or unable to talk with the throat wound is difficult to say.
Keildrithe advances to the mid-point between the cottage and the entrance to the southern trail, then stops, waiting for the other man to step forward.
The man steps forward a few paces into the clearing towards Keildrithe. He is tall, lean and dressed in black, and bears no clearly visible weapons; beyond that the darkness gives little away.
“You wished to parlay traveller?” the man calls. “I believe you hold one of my men? And have killed several more.”
The man steps forward a few paces into the clearing towards Keildrithe. He is tall, lean and dressed in black, and bears no clearly visible weapons; beyond that the darkness gives little away.
“You wished to parlay traveller?” the man calls. “I believe you hold one of my men? And have killed several more.”
"My name is Keildrithe Oldsun, of Barg," says the bard with a half bow. "And what, I pray thee, is your name?"
Keildrithe gives the man a moment to respond, and then continues. "We offer our sincere condolences for having taken the lives of some of your men. Your other companion lives; in fact, one of my friends has been applying his healing skills to help him recover from his wounds."
At that moment, Keildrithe waives back at his allies -- "Laithe, bring the prisoner to the door, and show this man that he has life in him still!"
After a brief pause, Keildrithe resumes his discourse in a level-headed tone. "We shall keep the prisoner in our custody until we are satisfied that your men shall no longer pose a threat to us. Yet with all due respect, sir, your men started firing arrows at us when we posed no threat to your party - you must concede that we wounded your men in self-defence. And believe me, we use deadly force only as a last resort. We simply sought shelter in a cottage that we thought was abandoned, following a long journey, when your men attacked us. Given your position among the trees and in the dark, inside the cottage, I could almost swear that you were waiting for us... if this is so, then why? What are you doing here? Did someome else put you up to this? Please, speak frankly, that we may resolve this situation without further bloodshed... and if you be mercenaries, then perhaps my friends and I can make you a proposal of our own... what say you?"
I inwardly wince as Keildrithe offers to pay off our attackers. "If they're professional mercenaries they'll take offense to that and possible become violent again and if they're not professionals it might make us seem like even better targets." I think, tightening my bowstring with increased readieness.
I inwardly wince as Keildrithe offers to pay off our attackers. "If they're professional mercenaries they'll take offense to that and possible become violent again and if they're not professionals it might make us seem like even better targets." I think, tightening my bowstring with increased readieness.
There is a long pause before the man answers. “My name is Atrek. Forgive me pilgrim, but in my experience innocent and harmless travellers in this particular wood are few and far between. Sometimes it is wiser to shoot first and hail later – although it would seem that my men fared worse than your own in that particular tactic.
“If it seemed that we were waiting for something – then yes, we were. We track a dangerous shape-changer, a wild seeming man who can take the form of a great, grey wolf. He has been seen in this area, in this wood. A dangerous beast, a killer who has slaughtered many men. Have you come across such a monster?”
Early in the man’s speech, Yruch gives a slight gasp, and his hand tightens around the hilt of his mace.
There is a long pause before the man answers. “My name is Atrek. Forgive me pilgrim, but in my experience innocent and harmless travellers in this particular wood are few and far between. Sometimes it is wiser to shoot first and hail later – although it would seem that my men fared worse than your own in that particular tactic.
“If it seemed that we were waiting for something – then yes, we were. We track a dangerous shape-changer, a wild seeming man who can take the form of a great, grey wolf. He has been seen in this area, in this wood. A dangerous beast, a killer who has slaughtered many men. Have you come across such a monster?”
Early in the man’s speech, Yruch gives a slight gasp, and his hand tightens around the hilt of his mace.
"Well met, Atrek. And you speak true, it can be difficult to tell the difference between innocent travellers and those with malicious intent, especially in these dark times. I am glad that you understand our predicament. Your name sounds familiar to me... where might I have heard it before?"
Keildrithe raises his voice slightly as he makes the following remarks, hoping that his companions will hear him: "But to answer your question... a wild man that can take the form of a great grey wolf? Surely you jest. Would Arton allow such an abomination to exist? Sounds like a fairy tale that is meant to frighten misbehaving children. I must confess that some of my friends are indeed wild-looking, and even wilder-smelling, but as for the rest..." Keildrithe shrugs nonchalantly.
Then, after a moment's pause: "Tell me, Atrek, does someone offer a bounty for this wild man's skin? And what exactly does he look like? Now that I think of it, we did meet an odd-looking woodsman a few days west of here that might fit the bill, if such a man-beast truly exists... and I have no reason to doubt you... Yet I fear that my companions and I have neither the energy nor the bravery to track him down, though... Fighting humans is one thing -- mythical wolf-men is another..."
When I hear the man's words I shoot a glance at where Laithe stands, wondering if somehow these people seek him.
Laithe had been in the process of helping the wounded man to his feet, wrapping one of the man's arms over his shoulder to take the weight. He had almost gotten to the door when he heard Atrek's claim of who they were hunting for and stopped cold in his tracks, almost dropping the wounded man.
Catching Alton's glance, his eyes harden and his heart beat quicken's; he feels certain that these were the men who slaughtered his people. for a moment he considers dropping the man and fleeing from the back door of the hut, but as he hears Keildrithe continue, claiming ignorance as to his presence in the party he discards that option. Furthermore he knows he could not leave his companions to potentially suffer the same threat at the hands of this man as other had before.
He half turns and motions for Jarred to take his place next to the wounded man. He then turns to the man and with only a moment's hesitation strikes him a blow to the temple, hoping to knock him back into unconsciousness.
Calmed somewhat, he then whispers to his companions within the building. "I hope that you can recognise the lies in this man's voice. I am all but certain that he led the attack against my people, slaughtering them on orders from Vorn or someone higher. I fear he will not let us go without a fight, so prepare yourselves. Jarred, please take the man to Keildrithe as if I show my face we will certainly not avoid a fight. I will take up position at the rear door, and should they attack I will not hesitate to throw at them that which they claim to seek, in defence of myself and all of you."
“Oh believe me, the wolf man is real,” replies Atrek with a humourless chuckle. “A band of wandering Karands were found slaughtered, and evidence that this shapechanger had been among them, and committed the deed. I took a band of men and hunted for the murderer, but the beast ambushed us. All of my men were killed, and I barely escaped with my life, left for dead, wounded and disfigured.
“Perhaps this woodsman to the west is the one we seek – but you should be aware, this monster’s words are as fluid and twisting as his shape; whatever he spoke to you of may well have been lies, or half truths at best.
“But if the beast does not walk amongst you, then we have no quarrel, beyond the matter of mistaken identity and a regretful skirmish. Come, summon your companions from yonder cottage, have them bring my wounded man, we shall share a fire and bread, and discuss the weregild to be paid to the families of my slain men.”
Inside the cottage:
“Oh believe me, the wolf man is real,” replies Atrek with a humourless chuckle. “A band of wandering Karands were found slaughtered, and evidence that this shapechanger had been among them, and committed the deed. I took a band of men and hunted for the murderer, but the beast ambushed us. All of my men were killed, and I barely escaped with my life, left for dead, wounded and disfigured.
“Perhaps this woodsman to the west is the one we seek – but you should be aware, this monster’s words are as fluid and twisting as his shape; whatever he spoke to you of may well have been lies, or half truths at best.
“But if the beast does not walk amongst you, then we have no quarrel, beyond the matter of mistaken identity and a regretful skirmish. Come, summon your companions from yonder cottage, have them bring my wounded man, we shall share a fire and bread, and discuss the weregild to be paid to the families of my slain men.”
Inside the cottage: ** spoiler omitted **
"Where have I heard your name before, noble Atrek? Wait, I think I have it... you are a huntsman of great repute and great standing within the Church of Arton, are you not? I believe that is what I heard, whispered amongst pious folk in Barg... would that be possible? Of course, that would explain why you would be the one to be out hunting for this ferral man-beast... yes, meeting one with as great a reputation as yourself would be enough to make me a believer in such unlikely tales... Blessed are we, that Arton would think to place a man such as yourself on the earth, to test the worthiness of humankind and its resolve to banish darkness from the world..."
Keildrithe does what he can to stall the Artonite by continuing to converse with him outside, hoping his companions are able to overhear the discussion from the cottage.
"It is honour to be invited to share a meal and a fire with such illustrious company. Yet I must confess that my companions are exhausted from the day's long walk and our nearly fatal encounter with a wolverine, and now by the surprise attack from your party. We would like nothing better than to retire early, within the shelter of the cottage. You and your men would, of course, be welcome to join us, although given this information you mention concerning a wolf-man, I for one would feel more secure if some of your talented sharp shooters would watch over the woods. As for the weregild... I believe that we were the ones attacked by your men, without provocation. If I am not mistaken, the church might frown upon such an assault against innocent travellers and local parishoners, and then asking them for money. If anything, we should be the ones seeking compensation. But we would be willing to forget about the incident, for given the weight of your present mission, it is understandable that your men would be nervous... but, if you insist, we can discuss this further..."
The bard stands immobile, waiting for Atrek to make a move, ready to draw his dagger should the man attempt to strike him.
I rest my bow on the windowsil as I listen to Keildrithe's speech and reach into my belt pouch, where I put the potion that I have from Gosia. I hold the potion out to Laithe and nod up to the ceiling. Regardless whether or not he takes it, I quickly resume my vigil on the open ground between the cottage and the trees, alert for any advancing foes.
Keildrithe:
“I am that Atrek, although either you seek to flatter or have been told exaggerations of my exploits. Well, if your band does not seek company, then I shall collect my wounded man, and the gear in this seemingly abandoned cottage that we had claimed as a base, and set up camp without. I shall call on a few of my men to assist, if you will have my man brought out.”
He turns slightly, although does not take his eyes of the bard, and gestures into the woods, apparently to summon some of his men.
Laithe, the cottage is rooved in weathered timber shingles. They could probably be removed without too much effort, although typically this would be easier from the outside than inside (where rafters and purlins would tend to get in the way). The pitch of the roof is quite steep, meaning that the roof comes to a point quite high above the cottage. This top bit, internally, is quite dark, but you would need to tightly hold onto rafters (climb), or perch on a few of the narrow roof beams (balance) to hide there. There is no roof space as such – beams and rafters are exposed. The loft essentially is the roof-space – in the main it has no walls, it’s walls are the steep inside of the roof.
Atrek steps forward and begins walking towards Keildrithe and the cottage, followed closely by two men wearing similar dark garb and carrying bows slung over their shoulders.
Keildrithe, as the huntsman approaches you, you see that his face is horribly disfigured and scarred by apparently recently healed wounds.
Atrek steps forward and begins walking towards Keildrithe and the cottage, followed closely by two men wearing similar dark garb and carrying bows slung over their shoulders.
Keildrithe, as the huntsman approaches you, you see that his face is horribly disfigured and scarred by apparently recently healed wounds.
"Friend," says Keildrithe to the scarred man, "forgive my indiscretion, but... what happened to you? Were you victimized by that very beast you now hunt, or...???"