DM Bigrin |
The knight looked aghast at Molly's whispered comments, but was saved having to reply by the sudden spate of good-natured bickering that washed across the room.
It seemed to go on for days, though in reality it was but a minute or so before Raaj Bloodtusk said, "Enough! Calrianne, if that is all, we'll be leaving as soon as you get the beacon fire burning. This may not have been all of the orcs in the area, and forts downstream may need warning of anything heading their way."
"Lets be off, then, unless you have more questions for Cal?"
Storn of Gorum |
"Nope, let's get moving!" roars Storn. He looks over to Sanders, grinning.
"That bed won't be so comfy when - if you get back. You'll miss the hard ground and the exploding skulls of your enemies. They always do. War changes us. We become war."
Quill the Fletcher |
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Quill is ready to go (as if his anxious tap dancing isn't clear enough). He wants the she-knight to be safe and is happy to wait until fires or lit.
"We become war."
Quill doesn't really know how to counter that thought. He knew war was changing him. It already had. He had killed people in the last war and he would probably kill again. He knew that if he was ever going to kill his parents, he would need to get much better at killing. Yet he was not sure he wanted to change all that much.
"Maybe I can just become a skirmish. Or a spat. Or a minor to-do. I'm not sure I want to become war," Quill says after a lot of thought. "Maybe I can just be a quibble. Can I just become a quibble?"
DM Bigrin |
The conversation continued along that vein as you made your way back to the keelboat. Loading up was the work of only a few minutes, and soon you were back in the middle of the river, oars stroking as you watched a plume of smoke rise from the beacon.
The countryside looked clear of both orc and animal intruders, though Quill maintained a vigiliant watch on land, water, and sky alike. The rest of you quickly fell back into your shipboard routines. The day passed without incident.
The following day, just after daybreak, you came upon a dam constructed across the bridge. Large logs seemed to have been lashed to boulders, then fortified with smaller sticks and logs before being slathered with mud. Atop the obstruction lay a giant corpse, that of some kind of half-man half-fish hybrid. The body was riddled with arrows. Around it lay the remains of four orcs and a dire wolf. Two more of the giant forms lay on the eastern bank, also surrounded by dead orcs and wolves.
The giant figures are merrows. Merrows are best described as the aquatic cousins of ogres. Although their green, scaled skin and webbed hands and feet make them appear different, merrows are just as cruel, savage, and wicked as their ogre relatives.
Quill the Fletcher |
Quill whistles as he sees the destruction as a result of some fight. Still on ship, he tries to make sense of what happened. And he looks for danger.
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 Perception
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Survival
If he can get close enough to examine the arrows, he will.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Craft (bows) - who made arrows (Orc/human/other?)
Molly Blackfoot |
"Huh," Molly huffs. "Question here is, were the big uglies with the Orcs or against them? Other question is, do we need to take out this dam so we can go on? And final question, who wants to bet there's troops waiting to stop us from doing just that? No, wait, tell a lie, one more question: who did for all those Orcs and the big uglies if they didn't waste each other?"
DM Bigrin |
From the keelboat, it is impossible for Quill to see the arrows all that closely, but he does note that some of the orcs are carrying bows, and that the giants' legs looked to have been bitten and torn by fangs much like the wolves'. If he had to make a guess from the boat, the giants were killed by some number of orcs and wolves, though how many of the attackers may have survived is unclear.
Captain Bloodtusk came to the front, already holding weapons at the ready, and barked an order to stop the keelboat before it got anywhere near the dam. "Damn merrows, always on the lookout for an easy meal. They've been blocking the rivers for years now. We just run them off, and tear the dams down, but they keep rebuilding. Been a while since we came this way, and that damn looks big. Going to take days to clear it away enough to get by. Looks as if some orcs done for 'em though."
Storn of Gorum |
Storn grumbles as he takes a look over the dam.
"I can prepare some spells to make us large and mighty in Gorum's image tomorrow, although it doesn't last too long. We probably want to get an idea of where the orcs came from, and if they're coming back. We can keep the orcs off of everyone's backs while the dam is cleared."
Storn tries to peer over the bodies for an idea of how long they've been dead.
Taking 10 on heal for 16 to get an idea if the bodies have been dead for hours, days, weeks or longer.
Mawj |
"If Mawj had to guess... Mawj would say that the orcs have probably tolerated the merrow for a long time. Bribe them with food and shinies, they don't get violent. But now the orcs need supplies. Not just supplies, but clear supply lines. These merrow could no longer be accepted. Just a thought."
Quill the Fletcher |
Quill looks around.
"So...what now? Do we go around? Loot the dead?" Quill asks. "I can't find too much sorrow for these dead. Looks like a good fight, though."
Sander Thistlewight |
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Really? Stupid die roller. Guys, we have a spoiler possible unless I'm the only one with Knowledge (local).
Sander is quiet for a time after Storn's comment in the fort, disturbed at the thought the big man could be right.
What would Louly think if that's true. I know she thinks I'm braver than I really am, but she couldn't like me if I end up like Storn, could she? No! No way do I let that happen!
He's finally brought out of his reverie as they arrive at this latest bit of horror.
I should really move to Andoren or something. If only Louly would go. It's much safer there than here, though.
Aloud, he simply notes, "I might be able to blow up the dam with my bombs..."
Though in reality, I don't think I have the discoveries I'd need to do so and my bombs, as energy damage, would actually be less effective than regular weapons.
DM Bigrin |
As the group looked over the blockage, and the dead creatures upon it, a few things became clear. First, the bodies hadn't decayed much, nor had they been overly damaged by wildlife. So, it was a good bet that the action had happened no more than a day, perhaps two, ago. Second, the dam was a hastily thrown together construction, with the boulders forming the anchoring elements that the logs and other debris was strapped to. It wouldn't be hard to disassemble it, just tedious.
Anything you can think of to make the job easier (e.g., bombs) will shorten the time it takes to get through the obstruction. Just because it wouldn't work well in game mechanics is no reason not to try.
"Megafauna? You mean big creatures, like mammoths? Not that I know of. But then, I'm a river jock now, and I don't get out on land much."
Molly Blackfoot |
"Shame. Might've been I could trick one into attacking the dam... Well, looks like there's naught for it! Time for some elbow grease, folks. Leave behind anything that'll melt or tear if it gets wet and let's be getting on with things."
I could summon a celestial pony to help, for a bit.
Quill the Fletcher |
Quill does what he can to help, and that's mostly sitting in the crow's nest (or some other vantage point) keeping an eye out for more trouble.
Take 10 Perception with arrow nocked: 21 Perception
Quill's noodly arms are not good at moving heavy things, and his ammunition doesn't explode, and he has no fire to speak of.
Storn of Gorum |
Storn looks over the dam, thinking for a long, long time about the best way to move it. He finally snaps his mighty fingers before fumbling through his pack to produce a scroll.
"Ant haul, handy little spell for this sort of thing. I also have a couple of enlarge spells to move stuff easier. If Sander can just blow up anything that's stuck, I'll be able to move it without problem."
Storn will use his ant haul scroll on himself so he can carry heavy loads for two hours, and has an enlarge person spell, and a pearl of power to repeat it if necessary. He also has the potion from Sander although he'd prefer to save that for a smashy day.
Mariana Trellis |
K. Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
"Looks like we have Water Ogres to deal with..."
Pauses as she looks at the blockage and shakes her head, "Do you think a grease spell might help? I suspect that if I use grease all over it, it might make things a bit easier to move..." trails off as she seems to come out of a daze.
DM Bigrin |
You got to work. Mariana cast her grease spell, and Sander set his bombs. The resulting explosion and fire got rid of the small branches and light debris. The more sustantive objects - the logs and boulders - just took an amazing amount of back-breaking labor.
It was decided to use the draft horses for hte keelboat, in conjunction with Storn's enlargement spells, to pry the logs and boulders up, drag them to the nearest bank, and deposit them out of the water so as not to create any artificial change in the waterflow.
It took most of the rest of the day to get a small opening in the obstruction. Mawj was nearly washed away as the river pushed the logs lashed to the next set of boulders aside. He was only saved by a quick grab from Mariana and Molly.
Quill sat as lookout, earning himself some nasty looks for not at least trying to help, though those became less and less frequent as his bow sang out to kill curious crocodiles.
The next day went much like the first, and ended shortly before dusk fell. The temporary dam was completely gone now, the last of the rocks and logs pulled aside or tumbling downstream. Exhausted, you rested through the night, waking the next morning with aching muscles and sore tempers.
Captain Bloodtusk did not awake. Apparently the effort of the combat at the watch station and the clearing of the dam was enough to cause a relapse from the poison. He lay in bed, breathing shallowly, with his normally green skin an ashy gray.
Standing over his bed, Halrex said, "We should stay put until he recovers. He kicked the poison once before, he will do it again."
Molly Blackfoot |
Molly lightly touches the Captain's brow.
"Storn. Can't you talk Gorum into giving you a spell to drive out or delay poison? Halrex, do you know if there are any healers out in these lands?"
Healing Hex 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4. Got nothing better to offer... :-/
Storn of Gorum |
Storn stands over Bloodtusk, and he looks over to Molly before grunting and shaking his head.
"Gorum rewards slaughter with power. Sure, I'm pretty good at slaughter, but there's more to be done before I gain access to such spells. However, I am a healer. This form of poison requires "
Storn mutters a small orison to give Bloodtusk some help while he continues his typical routine of shouting and a tea made of strange animal genitals.
Heal, Treat Poison + Guidance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Quill the Fletcher |
Quill does what he can to help Captain Bloodtusk, even offering to tend to the man during the night. He tries mud, spit, and letting others draw the poison out to help the Captain recover.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Heal - poisoning
"Not sure The Elf That Hugs The World trusts me enough yet to make decisions to help with this kind of thing. Maybe, if I become a better hugger, the Great Elf will see me grow," Quill says, trying to help.
Storn of Gorum |
This form of poison requires an incomplete sentence, apparently.
Quill the Fletcher |
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Quill watches Sander's...uh...unconventional method of poison extraction: climbing around and above the infected area and compares that to the Storn's rambling dropped thoughts and wonders why he is the only sane one on this pleasure barge of the damned. All he needs next is for Molly to vomit more spiders on the captain and things would really be perfect.
Mawj, did you want to come roll around in the mud with the Captain? I'm sure that would help too!
DM Bigrin |
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After the hard day's work, the down time was spent trying to cajole, beat, spit, and purge the poison out of the Captain. Finally, Halrex had had enough and ordered everyone out of the cabin. The crew lazed idly in the boat during the day, fishing and repairing lines, but otherwise just taking some time off.
Halrex had a guard standing outside the captain's cabin, just in case somebody decided to spit spiderwebs up Bloodtusk's nose, or some other damn fool thing.
Just before nightfall, the Captain stumbled out of his quarters, looking haggard and still a little gray, but at least mobile. He called Halrex into his room. A quarter of an hour later, she exited, coming straight to you.
"The captain assures me that none of you actually managed to kill him, and that he wants to get moving at first light. Something about a timetable to hold to. He described the place we are looking for, and it shouldn't be too far now. I imagine we'll get there late tomorrow or the next day. He also described the signs on the shore that will show us where to land - a stone about the size of my head, carved with a circlet of thorns. Find that stone, and that's where we stop."
Quill the Fletcher |
"A big stone to match your big head with circlet of thorns," Quill confirms dutifully, ready to keep an eye on it from the watchtower.
"Hear that, Sander? That's what we are looking for as we proceed." Quill makes sure the gnome understands if he's going to be in the watchtower.
Quill returns to his post to watch.
Sander Thistlewight |
"Er, yes, I did. Do you need me to help you watch for it?"
Huh. The lad seems to think he's not the distractable one. Oh well. At least he's not looking around and seeing gnomes where there aren't any, like he did that one time.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Storn of Gorum |
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"Stone with a circlet of thorns. All right. That is where I will begin my quest to kill everything in sight."
Storn fishes around in a pouch before producing a tiny bone.
"Halrex! One more thing. Tell the captain to put this fox penis bone under his tongue for a fortnight as the poison will have sapped his breeding power. Once it's dissolved he should be ready to go. If an erection lasts more than six hours, tell him he owes me a drink."
Quill the Fletcher |
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"Stone with a circlet of thorns. All right. That is where I will begin my quest to kill everything in sight."
Quill makes a mental notes to hide from Storn once they reach the rock...or think about ways to blind the warrior from indiscriminately killing friendly elves.
With heavy and worried heart, Quill goes to keep watch.
Sander Thistlewight |
"But that won't work at all, Mawj! Or Storn! Chewing maca root may help, and I've heard there are a number of other herbs in southern Garund and even Tian Xia that can help, but powdered orc penis? That's just silly!" Sander protests.
DM Bigrin |
The next day dawned with much activity aboard the keelboat. Under the waspish orders of Halrex, the crew got the boat headed towards the fork where the Kestrel River you are on joins with the River Esk. That journey took only a few hours, then the hard work began. Going upstream against the River Esk's flow was hard work for the rowers and the horses alike. The Esk was broader, and swifter flowing than the Kestrel, and progress was slow.
It was late in the day, with the sun hugging low on the western horizon, when Quill's sharp eyes saw a round white stone, about the size of his head, embedded in the northern riverbank, about ten feet above the water. When the boat got closer, he could see a circular etching, possibly the thorn circle he had been told to look for.
Quill the Fletcher |
"LAND HO!!" Quill yells, not realizing that this might not be the right thing to say in this situation. Quill points and points at what he hopes is the right landmark.
"Sander! I think that's it!! Let people know!"
Storn of Gorum |
Storn spends the night before carefully, painstakingly cleaning his armour and weapons. Although a big, filthy, stinky man, there is one great enemy of the Gorumite - rust. And traveling on a boat can make things pretty rusty. Iron is scared and rust is blasphemy, and all care must be taken to ensure that iron remains strong and true.
Storn emerges from belowdecks gleaming in his spiked magical armour, Agrimmosh clanking against his thigh and a mighty shield strapped to his arm. He looks ready to get stuff done.
"It is time."
There's a pregnant pause.
"So what are we doing here?"
Storn of Gorum |
Storn grunts over to Mawj.
"Hopefully something unspeakable dangerous."
DM Bigrin |
Mariana 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Molly 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Quill 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Storn 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Vashta 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Mawj 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Mariana 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Molly 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Quill 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Sander1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Storn 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Mawj 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
orcs 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
The riverboat pulled up to the bank, and with many poles, ropes, and squabbles, the crew got it close enough for you to jump overboard and onto the riverbank. However, as you were assembling on deck, a horn blew. From the cover near the riverbank, a half-dozen orcs charged into the river, throwing grapnel lines that thunked solidly into the wood of the keelboat.
Only Molly saw the telltale signs enough to be prepared to act before the orcs swarmed the side.
Molly is up!
Here's the map
ignore the fact that there is no cover on the riverbank, I was in a hurry :p
Storn of Gorum |
"HAH! I knew there was a good reason for coming here. Let us delight in the sight of the entrails of our enemies and I can show you all a new instrument I've wanted to play, the bowelpipes! STOOOORN!"
Storn roars a prayer to Gorum as he gets ready for a fight.
DM Bigrin |
Molly curses, casts a single spell, then sets off at a run down the deck!
Molly casts Sleep on the Orc at I25, Will save DC 14 to negate, then moves to F27.
Sleep is a full round casting time. Is that still your action? It will not go off until the start of your next turn (everyone seems to miss this)
Mawj |
"Storn! Help Mawj flank this one!" Mawj retrieves a vial from his belt as he moves across the ship (move action to H26), pops the top and drinks it (standard). His features contort, becoming more bestial and ferocious. Pig-man is back!
"REEEEEEEEEEEEE!"