Pharris puts the greatsword away and pulls free her longbow. She joins the march and naturally takes up the rear - her movements sure and without much noise.
Tracking is slow work on the hard, rocky ground, but within the hour Laithe and Keildrithe have managed to track the gnolls’ trail back to a camp-site about a quarter of a mile away to the north, through the hills.
There’s little of value at the campsite – some extremely ragged and flea-ridden blankets and bedrolls, the remains of a fire pit, a foul smelling midden heap and some chunks of unidentifiable and unpleasant looking raw meat drying on a crude timber rack.
As best the trackers can tell there were some five or six of the beast men camped here, along with two wolves. It seems that the camp has been here for about three days or so, and there is much two and fro of prints in that time, ranging around the area, the heaviest traffic being between the camp site and the road. With the confusion of prints it proves impossible to tell where the band originated from.
Laithe, whilst scouting about in wolf form, you catch whiff of a very faint, lingering scent … something quite unpleasant and unnatural. You smelt something similar at the goblin village in the valley.
Keildrithe can't hide his smirk as Pharris calls Laithe a "cuddly wolfman." As his friend then picks a path up the rocky hillside, Keildrithe takes his horse's reins and leads the beast on foot, not far behind the druid. Once they reach the spot where Keildrithe felled the fleeing gnoll, he inspects the ground more carefully, bringing what assistance he can to Laithe's tracking efforts.
Alton smirks as Laithe is addressed as a 'cuddly wolfman' and follows Laithe at the front when they finally get moving.
When they arrive at the campsite, Alton looks draws his rapier and looks around, searching for hidden foes.
Tracking is slow work on the hard, rocky ground, but within the hour Laithe and Keildrithe have managed to track the gnolls’ trail back to a camp-site about a quarter of a mile away to the north, through the hills.There’s little of value at the campsite – some extremely ragged and flea-ridden blankets and bedrolls, the remains of a fire pit, a foul smelling midden heap and some chunks of unidentifiable and unpleasant looking raw meat drying on a crude timber rack.
As best the trackers can tell there were some five or six of the beast men camped here, along with two wolves. It seems that the camp has been here for about three days or so, and there is much two and fro of prints in that time, ranging around the area, the heaviest traffic being between the camp site and the road. With the confusion of prints it proves impossible to tell where the band originated from.
Laithe, whilst scouting about in wolf form, you catch whiff of a very faint, lingering scent … something quite unpleasant and unnatural. You smelt something similar at the goblin village in the valley.
Once done inspecting the camp, Laithe returns to the party to confer. "Well, the good news is that there is no sign of prisoners or recent victims from the road. The bad news is I may have not been completely wrong with my initial instinct that the imp was involved in the attack. If I'm not mistaken I detect a faint lingering smell of what I can only assume is its presence around this camp."
He pauses to think for a moment before continuing. "Perhaps the ambush on the road was not a chance encounter. It seems like the Imp was here; probably not this day, but recently. And the gnolls had pearls on them similar to those originating from the valley. Perhaps the imp paid them to wait at the road and waylay us if we were to pursue it this way?"
"Whatever the case, there does not appear to be much more gained here, and I don't think the faint scent I caught would be enough to track the imp by, even with Keildrithe's aid. It's wings give it a distinct advantage over our tracking abilities. We should probably head back to the road and continue on to Lichford. Be on guard though - if my theory is correct we should be wary of other obstacles on the road." He gestures towards Pharris "I doubt we will be fortunate enough to have another unexpected ally spring a second ambush before it can fully entrap us."
If he feels like he can cut west back to rejoin the road further along, Laithe will take the party that way. If the terrain looks as though it would prevent this, he follows the route back to the site of the ambush to rejoin the road.
"The bad news of the fiend's presence is also good... after all, we did want to find this demon again in order to exact vengeance upon it for having taken Jirkin's life, and that of so many others."
Thinking on the druid's intention to rejoin the road right away, Keildrithe adds: "did we not intend to camp in order to permit our wounded comrades to heal? Or do you feel that we are in imminent danger, cuddly wolfman?"
"Lovely. At least we know we're headed in the right direction." Alton says, looking around more cautiously for the foul creature or more of it's allies. "I say we set up camp here. We're off the road so we aren't in as much danger of being found by any trackers Vorn sent out and it looks like we won't have to worry about any more of those.. gnolls you saud they were? Besides, I'd like to have this hole patched up quick-like." Alton says, prodding gently at his bandaged wound.
"The bad news of the fiend's presence is also good... after all, we did want to find this demon again in order to exact vengeance upon it for having taken Jirkin's life, and that of so many others."
Thinking on the druid's intention to rejoin the road right away, Keildrithe adds: "did we not intend to camp in order to permit our wounded comrades to heal? Or do you feel that we are in imminent danger, Laithe?"
"The bad news of the fiend's presence is also good... after all, we did want to find this demon again in order to exact vengeance upon it for having taken Jirkin's life, and that of so many others."
Thinking on the druid's intention to rejoin the road right away, Keildrithe adds: "did we not intend to camp in order to permit our wounded comrades to heal? Or do you feel that we are in imminent danger, cuddly wolfman?"
Laithe nods at Keildrithe's words regarding the imp, but then throws the bard a dark look at the use of his apparent new nickname.
"We still have some daylight left which I had intended to use, but you are correct in that we are carrying some wounds so perhaps rest is the wiser course. And I guess resting off the road is probably not a bad idea. I would suggest we move a little away from this camp though."
Alton tenses at the mention of thier fiendish foe, looking aound cautiously "Lovely. At least we know we're on the right track. I agree, we should stay here if we're going to make camp. It's off the road so we'd be less likely to be spotted by any trackers dispatched by Vorn and we could probably hold off any of these gnolls that remain. Besides..." he says, poking ginerly at the bandage over his arrow wound "I'd like to get this patched up quick-like; I don't find myself overly fond of being a holy man."
Alton tenses at the mention of thier fiendish foe, looking aound cautiously "Lovely. At least we know we're on the right track. I agree, we should stay here if we're going to make camp. It's off the road so we'd be less likely to be spotted by any trackers dispatched by Vorn and we could probably hold off any of these gnolls that remain. Besides..." he says, poking ginerly at the bandage over his arrow wound "I'd like to get this patched up quick-like; I don't find myself overly fond of being a holy man."
Laithe nods at the consent of the others and begins looking for a spot nearby that is suitable (not wanting to use the smelly and flea-ridden gnoll camp).
He will then use the afternoon daylight to forage some food for the group.
Pharris practises with her sword as the party set up camp. She keeps performing the same moves over and over again, as part of some archaic battle dance.
The greatsword twists in her grip over and under her body as she leaps about the place.
Everyone in camp hears her repeating, "I am the blade, the blade is me. I strike quickly, before the enemy strikes. I am alive, the dance is death."
By the time the gnoll’s camp is found and investigated, and then a suitable nearby campsite is found for the group, the sun has passed mid-point. Foraging for food adds another couple of hours.
The group settles in for the afternoon and night, in a sheltered spot in the lee of a hill, near a small stream which flows down to the river.
Pharris offers to help with the camp watches and otherwise spends the evening relaxing. She eats little.
Pharris offers to help with the camp watches and otherwise spends the evening relaxing. She eats little.
As they settle down, Laithe offers the one minor healing spell he still has in memory to Pharris. "I was saving it in case we encountered further trouble today. It is not much but should help you rest a little. In the morning I should be able to do more for you."
Around twilight, Laithe settles down a little away from the camp to be with nature and request the healing magics needed for the party. He takes the time to enjoy the relatively relaxed afternoon, and the added comfort of being away from the road and it's representation of civilisation.
He returns to the camp just after it turns dark and settles down. "Ehlonna has granted me a spell which will help us rest through the evening. I can bestow it's benefits on 3 of us." He settles down quietly and begins the casting, taking up a steady chant in the Karandic tongue. This goes for almost 10 minutes before he rises and moves over to Pharris, touching her gently on the forehead. He then moves onto Alton and does the same. Finally he lays the hand on his own forehead.
Once finished with the casting, Laithe settles down to rest and eat. As it is still early in the evening, he turns to Pharris and asks "So tell us something of yourself? What brought you out to the road today?"
Regarding watches, Laithe will offer to take the first or last watch of the evening.
"Hmm, I can see that my being out in the wilderness is a still a source of concern. I said I was hunting, for sport and it's true."
She reflexively pulls the greatsword close and stares into the fire.
"Behind that is another truth, my father is a great warrior and I have always wished to be one to. My mother is an arcane spellcaster, and she wants me to become one too. But I hate the weakness of a wizard and will never sell my soul to magic. A good sword is all I need. Oh I know scrolls and wands and spells but I'm not going to be the one stood in a battlefield without a spell left."
Pharris giggles to herself a little, "it became a bit of a pain, the arguing and the pressure, so I have been given time for fun and sport, to perfect my sword skills and see the world. Time before my mother pulls me in."
She looks at Laithe honestly. "There is more but that is for when I know you better. Everyone has their secrets."
With that the lithe warrior rolls away and closes her eyes.
Alton nods in thanks to Laither, although he's unsure what the druid did for him "Thank you."
Alton watches Pharris perform her battle dance, admiring her skill and grace 'I hope she's on our side. It would be a shame if we had to find who's the better swordsman.'.
As Pharris speaks, the questions she answers merely raise more questions. She's right though; everyone is entitled to their secrets so he keeps his questions to himself, for now.
“Well, that settles it,” says Kajetan softly, later on when he thinks that Pharris won’t be able to hear him. “Given her casual attitude to magic – despite her dislike for it – she’s unlikely to be Thuringian. I’d like to say that such tall, beautiful women are common in my home land, but her appearance and accent do not mark her as Lorin, or Karandic either.
“Regardless, there is something about her – an innocence – that I trust. I think she’ll be a good companion, for as long as she chooses to travel with us.”
---
The night passes peacefully enough. It is cold, but Laithe found a good sheltered spot, and instructs the band on keeping the fire hot without generating a lot of flame and smoke.
Several times during the night the howl of wolves (or perhaps gnolls?) can be heard in the distance, but nothing disturbs the camp. Everyone gets a restful sleep.
Camp is broken early in the morning, before dawn (given that half the previous afternoon was spent resting), and the group sets off west, determined to reach Lichford before the day is out.
Pharris wakes very early and moves to one side of the camp. Quietly she takes out a whetstone and hones the fine greatsword to a more deadly edge, humming gently with each stroke.
As the day wears on, the landscape gradually changes. The hills become generally less tall steep and rocky, more rolling and grass covered. The canyon-like river valley opens out into a fertile flood plain, dotted with small woods and fields. Signs of habitation become more frequent and less hostile looking, with farm houses here and there, and tiny villages nestled between the hills. Here and there, other paths cross the one you have been following (which now runs some distance away from the river), with occasional sign posts pointing the way to various villages, and of course Lichford itself. You even see other travelers on the road, although most give you a wide berth, even going out of their way to leave the road and hide at your approach; obviously armed strangers riding out of the bad-lands mean bad news to some hereabouts.
It is an hour or two before midday. The road is passing through a small wood when you catch the scent of woodsmoke from up ahead.
Spot 20+
Listen 16+
In the morning Laithe offers further healing to Alton and Pharris. He approaches each and lays his hands gently on the worse of their wounds, whispering a quick prayer to Ehlonna to lend him her power once more.
Laithe takes up point as per usual on the during the day, eager to make up for the lost afternoon of the previous day. Passing through the small woods though he calls a halt by rising an arm. "There is smoke over the rise and I can hear at least two high pitched voices. Alton, do you feel up for scouting ahead and checking it out?"
"I hear em too." Alton says, dismounting the horse and slips silently towards where he thinks he heard the voices, taking advantage of what little cover there is.
Sitting astride his horse, Keildrithe waits pensively for Alton to return from his scouting trip. "Pharris," he says quietly, "do you know of any open conflicts in the region?"
Up ahead, a large merchant’s wagon lies on its side in the middle of the road. Smashed barrels lie in heaps about the ruined wagon. The rear of the wagon is partially burnt, and still smoulders slightly.
At the head of the wagon lie the bodies of a man and a horse. Blood stains the earth around the bodies, and the skin of both is a terrible fiery red. The bodies are horribly swollen and almost seem to steam from several deep punctures to the necks and chests. The man’s legs are buried beneath an upturned chest that has opened and spilled hundreds of silver coins across the ground.
Two small figures – about Alton’s size – skitter excitedly about the place, chattering and calling to each other in a strange language and high pitched voices, stuffing their pockets with silver and peering into broken barrels. They don’t appear to have noticed the stealthy halfling.
Spot 6+
Spot 10+
Spot: 16+
Alton creeps back and says quickly and quitely "Burning merchant wagon, looks like it was pillaged. I don't think any of the merchants are still alive though. Two creatures are looting it I think; dwarves maybe."
Alton creeps back and says quickly and quitely "Burning merchant wagon, looks like it was pillaged. I don't think any of the merchants are still alive though. Two creatures are looting it I think; dwarves maybe."
"Dwarves?" asks Keildrithe, somewhat surprised by Alton's discovery. "Whoever or whatever they are, looting a merchant wagon clearly makes them far from benevolent... and if there are only two of them, then perhaps we can -- and should -- dispatch them, or at least try to capture them in order to find out if they were acting on orders from someone else. Alton, do you think it would be possible for us to discretely encircle them? And while we do so, perhaps Kajetan should stay behind to watch the horses?"
Kajetan seems a little put out at being asked to mind the horses, but agrees, given that combat is not his forte.
“I’ve heard that dwarves are not uncommon in this region,” he says, “and I’ve also met a gnome who was from Lichford.”
"Dwarves?" asks Keildrithe, somewhat surprised by Alton's discovery. "Whoever or whatever they are, looting a merchant wagon clearly makes them far from benevolent... and if there are only two of them, then perhaps we can -- and should -- dispatch them, or at least try to capture them in order to find out if they were acting on orders from someone else. Alton, do you think it would be possible for us to discretely encircle them? And while we do so, perhaps Kajetan should stay behind to watch the horses?"
Laithe nods in response to Keildrithe's plan. "Alton, use the woods as cover to circle around to the right. I shall circle in to the left as quietly as I can and we can take up position. Once we are ready, perhaps Keildrithe, Pharris and Kajetan can simply come up the road to confront them, missile weapons at the ready. That way we have a chance to talk with them if they allow it, but can still spring the attack if they prove hostile. What do you think?"
As an after thought he adds "I am concerned about the evidence of fire Alton saw - be wary of them and spread out across the road to make yourselves harder targets if they do attack."
Laithe nods in response to Keildrithe's plan. "Alton, use the woods as cover to circle around to the right. I shall circle in to the left as quietly as I can and we can take up position. Once we are ready, perhaps Keildrithe, Pharris and Kajetan can simply come up the road to confront them, missile weapons at the ready. That way we have a chance to talk with them if they allow it, but can still spring the attack if they prove hostile. What do you think?"As an after thought he adds "I am concerned about the evidence of fire Alton saw - be wary of them and spread out across the road to make yourselves harder targets if they do attack."
"Yes, that sounds reasonable... but perhaps I should first attempt to entrance these gnomes or dwarves with my beldach, before anyone else from our party comes into view... with good fortune, that should distract them enough to allow everyone else to take their positions. Or, using some words of power, I could also attempt to put them to sleep. Both propositions carry a certain level of risk..."
"Yes, that sounds reasonable... but perhaps I should first attempt to entrance these gnomes or dwarves with my beldach, before anyone else from our party comes into view... with good fortune, that should distract them enough to allow everyone else to take their positions. Or, using some words of power, I could also attempt to put them to sleep. Both propositions carry a certain level of risk..."
"If you music can gain us an advantage then definitely use it. However, I am loathe to send you out there by yourself without anyone in position to aid you if things turn. Can you entrance them from here without risking yourself?
Pharris nods agreement to Laithe and Keildrithe. She keeps an arrow trained on the pair of looters, as she approaches up the road with Kajetan and the bard.
Alton and Laithe-wolf slip off into the woods to the right and left of the path, seeking to encircle the looters. The others give them a few moments and then head towards the hillock and the overturned wagon beyond, Keildrithe preparing to sing, Pharris with her bow held at the ready, and Kajetan a little behind the others, leading the horses.
Alton, spot DC 10+
Alton, spot DC 17+
Laithe, spot DC 8+
Laithe, spot DC 25+
Pharris crests the ridge and looks at the looters properly for the first time. Their antics and the steaming corpses break her concentration and attempts at stealth.
DM Mothman
Pharris:
I’ll deal with the fallout from the stealth checks – if any – once the others have responded.
Noting the survivor, Alton alters his path so that he comes between the looters and the injured man. Stealthily approaching, he crouches behind a tree, waiting for Keildrithe to make use of his magical song.
Keildrithe crawls on his belly to the crest of the hill, keeping under cover, and is shocked by what he observes from his vantage point. "There, in the bushes," he whispers to Pharris, "do you see? There's another body there... but maybe still alive?" The bard then invokes some words of power without hesitation, hoping that his gentle chant won't carry on the breeze to the raiders.
Pharris in the open on the road, looks for the hidden bard she can hear thrashing around in the bushes.
"Laithe said for us to go up the road. Why are you hiding?" She is confused, especially now she has to keep one eye on the looters, one eye out for a survivor and one eye for a bard in the bush.
"Let's just take them, there are only two."
Keildrithe crawls on his belly to the crest of the hill, keeping under cover, and is shocked by what he observes from his vantage point. "There, in the bushes," he whispers to Pharris, "do you see? There's another body there... but maybe still alive?" The bard then invokes some words of power without hesitation, hoping that his gentle chant won't carry on the breeze to the raiders.
The small figures engaged in looting the crashed wagon are not so engrossed that they do not hear Keildrithe thrashing around in the bushes at the top of the rise. They glance about in apparent alarm – and spot Pharris advancing on them with her bow held ready.
Laithe makes his way cautiously through the undergrowth, circling the wagon. As he draws near he sees a pair of tracks - looking like those taken by the creatures. He looks quickly off into the bush to see if there are any more from that direction, but spots nothing. He decided to take up position around here, feeling that if they try to flee there is a chance they will come his way. He readies his short spear and shield and awaits Keildrithe to make his move.
Pharris trains her bow on the the "dwarves".
"One false move and you are dead. Stand still or my men will kill you."