When the party is ready, Chardak stands on the side of the tracks opposite Jondar. He waits for the cleric to make the first move.
Jondar nods to Chardak and walks on the right side of the tracks opposite Chardak. He looks down at the tracks once more to make sure he didn't miss anything and then turns to the rest of the group and asks, "Is everyone ready to resume our search?" and with a nod he resumes following the tracks.
Karthan follows the group a little separately simply allowing the scouts to do there work actin his part as the cavalry.
Chardak is just a step behind Jondar. He scans the ground and surrounding area as he walks. Occasionally he looks back along the trail.
"Stay off the tracks," he grunts.
The tracks continue to follow through the mud. The cold wind wanes down to a gentle but still cold breeze from the same direction. More trees pass by and the party quickly comes to a small gulley on the other side on the other side there are a lot of flies swarming around in an audible buzzing. Ahead in a small clearing there is a horrible smell like that of a corpse. In the clearing the flies are thick and some the bodies of two dead orcs and a chelixan man all of which have an oversized maggotlike creature on them eating the body.
Initiative
"Tell me, It that a Giant Maggot I'm seeing or, is it just my imagination?"
"I've never seen a giant maggot, but if I had to imagine what one looked like, I bet that" Jondar says as he points to the corpse covered in large maggot-like creature "is exactly what one would look like." he finishes as he reaches for his light crossbow across his back. "I'll never get use to the smell of rotting flesh."
Initiative:
Seeing the maggots, Symas' gut reaction is to reach for his short bow. "Well, not exactly what I signed up for. But, at least it'll make for a decent story," he says.
Initiative:
Chardak squints at the bodies and creatures and hefts his spear.
init order
Symas
Nesturuk
Chardak
Jondar
Karthan
Maggots
Anna.
Symas NEsteruck Chardak and Jondar are up.
Jondar draws the crossbow and then grabs a bolt in his right hand; quickly loading the light crossbow. With grime determination, he takes aim on the giant maggot atop the dead chelixan man and pulls the trigger.
Symas pulls out his shortbow and knocks an arrow. Crouching down he takes careful aim at the maggot straight ahead of him.
Chardak raises his spear and mentally matches up their foes. The horseman will charge on the right. Jondar and Nesturuk for the middle. Symas, Anna and I on the left. He takes two steps forward before hurling the spear at the leftmost maggot.
Spear .... damage
Chardak notes his spear fly high of its target, but wastes no time on regret. He shrugs his pack and sword off his shoulder and shakes the heavy blade free of its bearskin wrapping.
Releasing his greataxe from a downward facing sheath on his back, Nesteruk draws the hefty weapon, moving to B6.
Watch us spill blood in your name Gorum! Nesteruk cries out.
Anna readies ray of frost for the first maggot that gets (or is) within 25ft of her
Anna readies ray of frost for the first maggot that gets (or is) within 25ft of her
[dice=Ranged Touch Atk]1d20+2
[dice=Damage]1d3
Jondar's crossbow bolt hits the maggot but seems to deal little damage. Chardaks spear misses wide to the right of the maggot in the center
Left maggot charges nesturuk moving to square B5 as anna ray goes off but the maggot still seems to be finishing its attempt to bite [spoiler=attack]
The other two maggots slither slowly closer to the party as fast as they can but not closing the distance quickly.
"Don't call out to our Lord in Iron! SUMMON HIM WITH BATTLE!" As Karthan issues forth a batle cry his lance descends into one of the maggots bolstered by the power of his steed.
Mounted charge maggot in front of me.
Chardak swivels his head toward Nesturuk then Karthan. Gorum has delivered me into the company of heroes.
Smiling the big half-orc charges into the fray.
Greatsword ... damage
Karthan's charge skewers the maggot before it falls off after the large impact and massive internal damage.
The maggot in the middle charges Karthan who gets an attack of opportunity.
The maggot to the left still charges Nesteruk and misses.
Anna ray of frost hits the gaint maggot but it is still barely up and fighting.
edit Karthan AOO killed the maggot before it charged.
Chardak with a swing of the greatsword hits the last injured maggot and it collapses. Combat over.
The two dead orc have spears laying by the sides of them and are consumed by the maggots and wearing suprisingly intact studed leather armor. The chelixan man is gaunt and tall but badly wounded and has a longsword and wooden shiled. still laying by the side of him. and he has a backpack near where he collapsed.
The body of the chelixan man bears a resembelance to Olivia caravan Jondar and Chardak notice the tracks end here but something looks like it might have been dragged from the end of the smaller of the two tracks.
Symas tries to recover his shot arrow. Then gives even more thorough search of the bodies.
Jondar walks over to the corpse that resembles Olivia, "This must be Philnder Caravan, Olivia's brother. I will perform the rites of Pharasma and then I ask that you all assist me in covering the corpse with stones. We must show respect for the dead.", he says as he kneels next to the corpse of Philnder. He glances up to Karthan and says, " When we are returning to town we can make a litter and would mind pull the litter with your horse?"
"I think it best to let the townspeople know he's here and deal with him as best we're able now. Now that we know what we're against we can't waste time. You wanted haste priest. Now it's being granted." Karthan waves a lance in the general direction of the orcs. "Anyone have any idea where this lot came from?"
Chardak examines the corpses. [b]"Who was Caravan? "
Know (local) to recognize the orc tribe.
"I think it best to let the townspeople know he's here and deal with him as best we're able now. Now that we know what we're against we can't waste time. You wanted haste priest. Now it's being granted." Karthan waves a lance in the general direction of the orcs. "Anyone have any idea where this lot came from?"
The Hold of Belkzen no doubt. Stragglers and raiding parties frequently make it across.
"Philnder Caravan is the chelixan body, Olivia Caravan's brother that we were also asked to look into."
The misdeeds of the darker side of my ethnic origin cause us shame. We should hunt down any survivors. Perhaps Karthan can relay the fallen townsperson's location and catch us up while we continue.
On the bodies of the orcs symas finds 20 silver pieces total and studded leather armor he also finds two waterskins and two days trial rations.
On Philander's body Symas finds a waterskin and studed leather armor and 2 gold pieces 15 silver pieces and 10 copper pieces and a note saying all of the combat equipment is to be returned to southwatch for another gaurd to use and with a seal on it and signed by Vors Homestead.
Chardak cannot tell an exact tribe but the skin on these orcs looks a little bit of a lighter green than most you have seen from Belkzen.