Though relieved by their rescue, the villagers are still in a state of shock. "We could not understand what they were saying," one of the men speaks up.
Another one of the men, "We don't know where we were being taken. There were other villagers taken before us. But we do not know what happened to them."
"They are likely dead, one of the women calls out. "We would have all been dead ourselves within a day." She looks at the villager still roasting on the fire. She begins to shiver and cry.
Darkness begins to dominate the light as night approaches.
Haskyll conjures water to put out the fire.
I think we should ask the surviving one, but let us travel away from here with these people and get them towards thier home.
He then takes a bit of time to set the worst of the injuries, and then stands where he will get the villagers along with our hurt people and not the Ogres.
"This reminds me the ogres said something about the the prisoners being a bargain chip with with someone called Gristlecrack. Sorry, things went wild afterwards. I could not here anything else of use." explains Leira, sad at the people "We should interrogate for the lair of Gristlecrack. Let's tie him up and force him spill directions"
The second Ogre succumbs to its injuries and dies. Both the first Greatsword wielding first Ogre, and the third Ogre stabilize.
As healing energies courses through both the party and the Villagers, sighs of relief can be heard.
With her leg bone set, the hardy young woman, named Cara, asks "Who are you?"
A middle-aged bearded man, a miner named Guthrie, looks intently at the party, "I believe they are Ruby's Champions."
A woman with a tattered scarf barely hanging on her head, named Sarai, explaims, "Ruby's Champions!
A more clean shaven old man, named Oscar, nods his head, " Did you see how quickly they took down those Ogres. Only veterans could do such. And there are not many veterans in these parts."
We only need one. The greatsword wielder looks like tha leader. kill the other, and bind the first.
Anga looks coldly on the orges, no mercy in her eyes.
Orges be stupid, canibalistic thugs, so don't expect much from them, but we may get a name or two, an maybe a direction. And only thing it gets as reward is a quick end.
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Kaos gives Anga a nod. Then moves over to the Ogres quickly killing the one. Then binding the other with rope.
After a few moments trying to figure out how to tie up the large brute.
Someone else may want to tie this thing up. I'm much better at just killing them.
As hopefully someone else moves to check the bindings on the Ogre. Kaos move to the villagers. Yes we are Ruby's Champions. I am Kaos the Doctor there is Haskyll the vanishing girl is Leira. The Dwarf talking to his hammer is Ulfgard the scary young woman there is Anga. This this taciturn fellow is Ragnir and last the quiet one over there is Droja. We will get you home soon. But how many others where taken and was it at the same time as you?
The third woman is named Cerrina, "There was another group of Ogres ahead of us. They had Alderman Shinnerman, and about six others. They did not look good. We were taken at different times. I was taken last near the village. Cara and the men are all prospectors. They were taken along the river at different times. Cara had been with them the longest, nearly two days. None of us knew the fellow in the fire. We think he was just passing through the area. Poor fella. "
Cerrina will respond, "I am not sure. Several hours at least. The Ogres split up back in town."
Well met ladies and gentlemen, do you think you will be able to return on your own ?
Haskyll continues to quickly look over the villagers to ensure that the worst of the injuries have been dealt with.
I do say Torag does seem to do his best work, but it seems that we are going to have to rush to catch the other group.
Haskyll grimaces slightly as he pulls the now cooling body from the fire.
Kaos, can you at least dig a quick grave so we can bury this fellow, while I check everyone else to ensure that no hurts are remaining?
There is a shovel in my pack, if you need it.
Looking at Ruby's Champions with a bit of bewilderment, "On our own?" Cerrina will say. "Yes. I suppose we can." She can't help but feel a twinge of fear racing through her mind and body.
The other captives look at each other with a degree of uncertainty. "We understand," Guthrie says. "If I were with the others, I would want to be rescued too." He looks down at his now bare feet, then looks up, "Thank you for rescuing us."
They all once again thank Ruby's Champions for their rescue.
Seeing that no one else is complaining about injuries, Haskyll looks at Kaos.
As they don't want to run alone, and the laddie there has a point, We can see you back to the village first.
He grins slightly as it goes dark, and then digs out a lantern and then casts dancing lantern on it.
As for them, I doubt there will be much that we can learn from them, however, we can bring that survivor along to question on route.
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We may want to see what we can get from him now. It may prove difficult to get him back to the village. But I am will to do what the group thinks is best. With that he will lay out a blanket and rap the dead man up. If we are heading back perhaps the Villager can give this man a proper burial.
Kaos will move over to Droja.
"I will take care that the ugly face does nothing stupid."
Ulfgard moves to the ogre and breaks his elbows. "I want him to walk, I want him to talk! I don´t want any chance that he hurts someone!"
Droja gives Kaos a wry smile.
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"I will take care that the ugly face does nothing stupid."
Ulfgard moves to the ogre and breaks his elbows. "I want him to walk, I want him to talk! I don´t want any chance that he hurts someone!"
Owch. Bind he's feet so he can walk but not to fast. Can we bring him just back to consciousness? Kaos says while unconsciously rubbing his own elbow.
Leira brings some smelling salts from her pouch and forces one of the ogre, the one that seemed to lead the group, to bring him to consciousness.
"You, dumb! Wake up!" she pushes the head of the one with her boot "We have some questions for you. Easy job, things will be better for you. Where were you taking the villagers?" The girl talks in Giant.
When the Ogre comes around it immediately cries out in pain from both the battle wounds and the broken arm.
When the Ogre hears what Leira has to say, it looks to the ground, then at the Rogue Arcanist. It spits a bloody loogey toward Leira's feet.
The Ogre looks back at Kaos with a dumb stare.
The Ogre is in too much pain to try and escape, at least at present.
Anga addresses the orge, her eyes nearly glowing with coldness..
The Ogre leader will look at the Dwarf Wizard, and ponder her words.
Anga snorted.
Anga pulls out her military pick, then pauses.
She turns to the others
this piece of garbage wants to head north. Thats where we'll find the missing villagers. We should get these good folk home and set off. Times a wasting. Ogres an giants should leave a good trail ta follow.
She looks at the bound ogre. anyone got questions for this one?
"Do we ken what or who this Gristlecrack be? I'm thinkin' we be askin' the brute tha' question." He nods at Anga.
Droja will look at Ragnir, "Gristlecrack led their raiding party. The question is, 'Who leads Gristlecrack?'"
Leira nods "Who leads Gristlecrack is a good question then" she kcicks the ogre head "Answer" Your people burned Truanau and killed mother, there is no peaceful dead for you, I promise
The girl will look around for the said tracks of the leading ogre group.
Not intimidated at all, but with increasing boldness, the Ogre leader responds,
Leira will become confused by the tracks.
Listen you oversized lump of lard, this spear hungers for blood, and I am tempted to let it feed. With this and my friends, we fear not this Gristlecrack, but he should fear us.
Haskyll looks completely serious as he takes heartspit and places it on the chest of the Ogre.
Now answer the Lasses questions.
Byth does seem brighter than the typical Ogre. The Ogre defiantly says nothing more.
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Kaos will see Leira looking at the ground some what confused. Are you looking for something? Kaos will look around as well.
Kaos will notice that the normal calm Haskyll point his spear at the Ogre and figure the questioning is over. Come on people it's time to go. Kill him already. We need to get these people home and then head out.
Richt then. We start headin'after this Gristlecrack.
After we see these folks back to their homes. Does anyone else need to speak to it, before I sentence it?
Haskyll looks at the Ogre, and speaks Giant in a very Icy tone.
As you have treated people like, I devoutly wish that Torag will treat you the same.
His creed is "Let not your enemies survive, let them and their young be scattered to the wind,
let not their elder ones provide risk to your people," and thus you will be Judged.
"Only a dead ogre is a good ogre" Ulfgard adds and whirls his hammer.
Droja will nod to Kaos.
As the party begins to returns to Shinnerman's Fortune, Droja kneels next to one of the other dead Ogres, not the leader.
Where in Minderhal's Valley are the giants?" The dead Ogre responds, "At the cathedral." "Where is this cathedral?" "Minderhal's Valley""I know that you dumb...
"WHERE IN MINDERHAL'S VALLEY?", the party overhears Droja yelling at one of the dead giants.
Haskyll and Ulfgard makes sure all the Ogres are dead.
Kaos will note tracks heading away to the south. They appear to go in the direction of a pass in the distant mountain ridge.
The party returns to Shinnerman's Fortune without further incidents.
All the remnants of the village comes out to greet the party. Tears flow freely when they see the rescued survivors.
After some hugs and tears, Alderwoman Straya Kraum, her normal stern exterior softer now, speaks to the party, "Thank you for rescuing our friends and loved ones. We will mourn the others lost. But please, it is night, rest. We owe you all our gratitude."
Almost all the villagers stop to listen at the Alderwoman's comments. Afterwards, they all begin to applaud and cheer the party's heroics.
Oscar, the older clean shaven captive, walks up to Alderwoman Kraum and plants on her lips a kiss. The Alderwoman quickly flinches and begins to resist. But then and just as quickly, she relaxes and embraces the older man.
The volume in the villagers cheers goes up a notch.
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Droja will nod to Kaos.
As the party begins to returns to Shinnerman's Fortune, Droja kneels next to one of the other dead Ogres, not the leader.
** spoiler omitted **
"WHERE IN MINDERHAL'S VALLEY?", the party overhears Droja yelling at one of the dead giants.
** spoiler omitted **
I will go check on her. You guys keep going. We will catch up. The Ogres are more likely to tell her the truth anyway. Kaos will mumble the last part under his breath.
Leira observes with interest how Droja speaks with the dead.
During the way back, she approaches the oracle "What are we to find in the Minderhall's Valley? What did you uncover? I want to face this Storm Tyrant"
The girl enjoys the return to the village and tries to rest a bit "We have to go back to the wilderness soon if we are to save the other villagers"
Droja will look at Leira, "The giants are gathering at a cathedral near a place called Utgorheim."
Watching with interest at Djora's talking, Haskyll looks around the Ogres and brings up his simple detect magic, and then looks over the Ogres.
Haskyll grins as Oscar kisses the Alderwoman, he then looks at the rest of the party.
I guess we will have to rush tomorrow to catch up with them, before they get to where ever that place is. I hope it is not to late for the others that have been taken.
He then heads over to inquire as to their mule, and to find out about lodging for the night.
In addition to the over-sized Ogre junk, Kaos will find a large masterworks Greatsword, a gold censer with platinum inlay (400gp), a gold flute of exquisite quality (1000gp), a small intricately carved statuette of Torag (300gp), and a sack with the following, 6 cut and polished pieces of Jade (50gp each), 120cpcs, 90spcs, 84gpcs, 24ppcs.
The flute has a slight magic aura. Kaos will determine it was designed for someone that can actually play the flute (At least one rank in Perform-Wind Instruments). Anyone that has at least one rank in Perform-Wind Instrument gets an additional +5 on their Perform skill check when playing this flute.
The mule was well tended. There is not an inn at Shinnerman's Fortune. However, there is a cottage offered to the party. They had buried its lone occupant earlier in the day. Alderwoman Straya Kraum, still holding on to Oscar will says, "It was the home of a retired prospector. We called him Old Tubby. He had no family. At least, it is a dry and warm place. You are welcome to it." It is a simple two room cottage. One a bedroom well kept. It contained two beds, one neatly made, the other not. The other is a common room. It has a fireplace with kitchen utensils around it, a small table with two chairs, and a couch, large enough to sleep a Dwarf. The floors around the couch are covered in soft brown bear rugs. Though small it is quite cozy.
Behind the cottage is an outhouse. In front, a well pump. There is a small outbuilding to the right. It contained a large tub and a pot bellied stove. There were several towels hanging on Hooks. It is a bathhouse.
Haskyll will find the table and various tools and utensils accommodating to his task.