The bells atop the Temple of Erastil toll their midday song, echoing throughout the quiet town of Kassen. As the peals begin to fade, the first of the townsfolk make their way into the square, dressed in black, as if attending a funeral. They slowly fill the square, moving quietly across the cold, hard ground, their eyes downcast and mournful. After a few moments, a murmur passes through the crowd as it slowly parts to let Mayor Uptal through. He leads the way with a tarnished silver lantern. Behind him, an old pony drags a cart laden with backpacks and supplies.
Once he reaches the center of the crowd, Mayor Uptal stops and calls out to the assembled townsfolk.
“Once again the winter winds blow through the Fangwood, marking the end of another harvest. There are wolves in the woods, howling at our walls, and serpents in our shadows, waiting to strike. Just as it was one hundred and seventy-four years ago, when Kassen himself left these walls to protect us, so it is today. Where are the heroes? Where are the brave folk that will venture out to Kassen’s tomb and retrieve the flame to keep this community safe for another winter?”
Nadab takes a step forwards from the crowd. Holding his head up despite what he believes to be several shocked murmurs at his move he looks the Mayor in the eyes and says "I will volunteer to retrieve the flame!"
Earlier in their small home behind the smithy Nadab had told Jake of his intention to volunteer in the manor that a labourer asks his boss for some time off. Jake Greene had always always looked at their relationship as one of father and son and although Nadab had caused the man endless amounts of trouble he was proud of the man that Nadab seemed to be becoming. "You know boy, when I was a little older than you are now I went to get the Flame." Jake said taking a longspear down from the wall. "Carried this spear with me that day. I'd be honored if you'd carry it with you today" He finished simply with a smile.
Bern, an extremely tall and muscular young human male with close cropped brown hair and grey eyes, steps out of the crowd. "I too will go to retrieve the flame."
He stands next to Nadab and gives him a nod of recognition. Not exactly friends, but not really enemies the two being close in an age and size had in many ways grow up together. From encounters as rivals on school yard playing fields to the shared misery of being drafted by a town elder when someone needed a strong back (as in "go get those two big lads to clean out the cess pit/move the down tree/shovel the snow from the town hall/etc") the two had a shared history. Most recently they had renewed and strengthen their ties as Bern as spent time in the smithy getting his armor fitted properly and learning a few tricks of armor care from Jake Greene, who Bern had always seen as Nadab's foster father.
"Why not?" Venedictos' baritone voice booms out, coming up stand between Nadab and Bern. There's a distinct smell of alcohol in the air, though the big man seems steady enough on his feet, leaning as he is on his glaive with an intricately carved wooden haft. "I too will go to retrieve the flame."
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That morning Zane got up early, earlier than everyone. That almost never happened, and Dunya, his mother read through him like an open book when she saw him awake. She was a wise woman, and after giving birth to seven boys, she had to be strong as well.
"So...you'll go today." - she said that matter-of-factly, more of a statement than a question.
He did not answer. He could not. Zane simply continued waxing his armor, trying to pretend not to notice the tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. He wanted to get up, to tell her Mom, I love you. Please understand, I must do this! He wanted to race to her, to hold her tight and never let her go....but he could not. He knew that his voice will betray him, and there'll be a river of tears then. Both hers and his. So he just kept quiet and continued to double and then triple check his equipment and his meager belongings, while she went into the kitchen. Soon, the pleasant aroma of corn flour pollenta and cayenne pepper bacon filled the house. Dunya appeared in the doorway once again, and simply said: "Your father will be proud"
Not long after that both the boys and Alakor, their father woke up and appeared. The boys, his brothers, asked question after question, and Zane did their best to answer them. Surprisingly, there was no teasing at all. Their father did not spoke. They finished their breakfast, wished him all the best and said their goodbyes. Zane went alone towards the square. They all went to work.
And now, Zane stood alone, his heart beating in his chest, his throat constricting and his ears pounding like crazy. To his surprise, he saw that first volunteer was blacksmith's apprentice, half-orc Nadab. Zane barely knew him, nbut before he was able to contemplate the strangness of that fact another person approached the mayor. It was Bern, and Zane knew him much better. And then, a strange looking fellow, friar by the looks of him volunteered as well, in his own strange way.
Zane could hear himself saying: "Me! I will go as well!" and before he could even understand what was happening, he was parting the crowd to pass through. Reaching the opening he made a few steps towards the mayor Uptal, his eyes darting between Bern and Nadib, saying silent Hello when he noticed it.
There, on the opposite side were two familiar faces. His mother was crying and smiling at the same time. The look at his father's face was unmistakable - his father was proud!
A few moments pass and it becomes clear that no other volunteers intend to step forward. Mayor Uptal gives the four men a good looking over, displaying a satisfied grin at Bern and Zane, his usual polite tolerance of Nadab, and a clear expression of shock at the Venedictos.
"Well then," he says, raising his voice toward the crowd. "I present to you this year's champions of Kassen!"
The townsfolk in black garb pull back their hoods and give the party their well-wishes, while young women and children push through the crowd and crane their necks to see this year's volunteers. After a few moments, the mayor puffs up his chest and clears his throat.
"Which of you will have the honor of carrying the lantern and bringing back Kassen's flame?" Mayor Uptal asks, lifting the tarnished silver lantern before the men to give them a better look.
Nadab looks longingly at the lantern and then to each of his companions, although he'd have liked the honour of carrying the lantern he didn't feel he had the right to claim it. A flicker of recognition shows in his eyes as they rest on Venedictos. is that alcohol on his breath?
"Bern... You should take it." he says under his breath. Nudging him on the arm.
"Alright" Bern says and then he steps forward. In a strong clear voice he says "I'll take that your honor", he takes the lantern "and give it to the best of us" and thrusts it into Nadab's startled hands "along with the service of my sword to bring both it and him home again."
Nadab eyes go wide, What are you doing he thinks giving Bern an incredulous look. He holds the tarnished lantern aloft and turns slowly to the gathered people giving an awkward smile and hoping no one objects.
"I... I promise to bring back the flame of Kassen and keep his legacy alive"
"Yep. We got this."
Venedictos pats Nadab on the shoulder.
Nadab looks to the Mayor Uptal for any further instructions or comments. If none are forthcoming he attaches the lantern to his belt nods stoicly to his new companions and heads for the town gates.
Whether touched by Bern's grand gesture or shocked at the idea of a half-orc carrying Kassen's flame, the mayor stumbles through the canned acceptance speech before the townsfolk begin unloading supplies and the backpacks they'd prepared from the cart.
Each volunteer receives a bundle of meals (5 days of trail rations), a small tent, a winter blanket, a full waterskin, and a piece of trail map that leads from Kassen to the Crypt of the Everflame, all wrapped within a linen cloth tied with twine and set at his feet. Additionally, each man is fitted with a light backpack containing ...
The mayor once again speaks to the townsfolk.
“I present to you the brave heroes who will follow in Kassen’s footsteps to retrieve the Everflame! Some of them may not return, but I say to you that their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Go, brave heroes, and do not return until you have the eternal fire.”
With that, the mayor points to the south, the direction of Kassen’s tomb. The townsfolk begin waving goodbye with cold, solemn looks on most of their faces.
Nadab swings the light pack over his shoulders and hefts the larger bundle and turns towards the gate smiling quietly at his feet as he walks.
Once the group gets out of the gates Nadab turns to Bern. " What are you playing at Bern? Trying to give Mayor Uptal a heart attack? " he says smiling widely and taking a moment to nod to Zane and Venedictos.
"Maybe." Bern grins back. He sighs, and then shrugs his shoulders "I don't know, all of a sudden, it struck me that if people treated me only half as badly as I've seen them treat you over the years I would of ... Well my first instinct is say burn the town to the ground, but you know me, quick to anger quick to cool off, I probably would of punched somebody though." He shakes his head "I just realized that it takes a lot something I don't have to put up with all the stuff you do, and that makes you better than me at least."
Venedictos states at Bern as if seeing something totally new...
...or, he might just have forgotten his name.
"I suppose I should leave Modestine here, rather than outside a crypt in the wilderness. Donkeys make tasty snacks for wolves."
He stuffs the potion in his pack with nary a second thought, but carefully packs the brandy away near the top.
Zane walks alongside his fellow volunteers in silent contemplation. His thoughts dwell on his family and their pride in his service to Kassen.
Two uneventful hours pass as the volunteers travel the first few miles of their 40-mile journey to the crypt. This Neth has been unseasonably warm, with only the slight chill in the breeze giving any hint of the fall. Sunlight creeps between the bare limbs of the Fangwood's canopy and a soft bed of fallen leaves cushion their travel along the well-worn trail.
The narrow path winds through the raking claws of the trees, now bereft of their leaves, which crunch loudly underfoot. Up ahead, a fallen tree trunk blocks the path. Suddenly a trio of snarling humanoids leaps up from behind the log, all greenish skin and fearsome tusks, bellowing vulgar challenges.
INITIATIVE: Bern Venedictos Zane Nadab Orcs
Bern moves forward and attacks the orc on his left.
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http://beta.ditzie.com/50990/52b080c7afc60
Nadab drops his bundle of gear readying his longspear. He steps in behind Bern Stabbing at the Orc (2) to the right.
Venedictos holds his glaive out in front of him and an arc of lightning leaps out at the rear green guy.
Touch attack:
Thrown by the force of the magic blast, or just none too steady on his feet, his glaive flies up and lightning slams into a hefty tree branch, which comes crashing down nearly on his head.
Zane draws his shortbow, knocks an arrow, and fires at the first standing orc before him.
Bern's brutal strike fells the orc in front of him (Orc 1). Likewise, the combination of Nadab's spear and a well-placed arrow from Zane brings the second orc (Orc 2) to its end. The third orc (Orc 3), seeing his two fallen comrades, bellows an orcish obscenity and charges the closest pink-skin in sight. He brings his greataxe down at Bern with a crude flourish, managing to draw a wide gash down the fighter's shoulder.
INITIATIVE: Bern Venedictos Zane Nadab Orcs
Bern swings his sword at the orc who has just hurt him
but misses!
Map
Venedictos moves up and stabs at the orc without lightning this time.
Attack:
He thrusts his glaive forward at the orc. The polearm slides between Bern's legs instead and nearly trips the warrior.
Nadab's spear scythes around Bern seeking the new target.
Zane knocks another arrow as he rushes around Venedictos to get a clear shot at the remaining orc. Once in position, he lets the arrow loose.
None of the volunteers are able to connect with the enraged orc, who once again brings his greataxe to bear on Bern, who crumples to the ground at the force of blow.
Bern
Venedictos
Zane
Nadab
Orcs
Attack:
Damage:
Venedictos finally finds his mark, drawing blood.
Nadab growls, and speaks words of power waving a hand in front of him a shimmering blue shield appears.
Zane slings another arrow at the remaining orc, adding a puncture wound to Venedictos slash.
The orc steps away from Bern and toward Zane to exact a measure of revenge. He's unsteady on feet and wobbles slightly as he brings his greataxe down on the ranger. Zane manages to deftly lean away from the strike.
Bern
Venedictos
Zane
Nadab
Orcs
Nadab roars and drops his spear as claws grow from his fingers. "Come here you ba**ard! He steps in and swipes twice at the Orc.
Will save:
Venedictos channels, excluding the three Orc.
Zane takes a step back and fires another arrow into the orc.
The orc staggers when hit with the arrow, but manages to stumble forward and swing his greataxe wildly at Venedictos. The hefty blow nearly knocks the cleric off his feet, though there's nary a bit of blood.
"The orcs," Zane calls out to his companions. "They're not real. It's all an illusion!"
Bern
Venedictos
Zane
Nadab
Orcs
Will save:
"He's right. They're fake!"
He ignores the orcs and looks about trying to find the source.
"What? "
Nadab also looks around the source of the illusion
If nothing immediately jumps out at the group he crouches down next to Bern and gives the man a shake.
" Wake up Bern, your wounds aren't real! "
Upon the realization that the orcs were nothing more than an elaborate illusion, the remaining orc and any lingering wounds inflicted upon the volunteers suddenly vanish.
The party is able to travel for the most of what remains of the day in peace. As the sunlight begins to fade, a cold wind rattles through the leafless forest. There is now no sign of civilization in sight.
As the sun starts to drop Nadab comes across a lumpy stretch of ground between two thickets of bushes. " Should we make camp here, What do you think? It looks good enough to me... "
"It looks good to me want do you think Zane?"
Survival:
"Wouldn't you guys prefer this spot over here?" he asks, indicating a much flatter and more-sheltered area to the left.
Zane takes a look at the spot Venedictos has pointed out and shrugs.
"Eh, it's as good a spot as any, I guess," he says.
There is plenty of dry wood to be found, and before long the party combines their provided supplies into a bubbling pot of stew over a roaring campfire. The men eat and tend to their weapons as the flames flicker upon their faces, warming their bones against the chill wind that howls through the forest.
Perception:
Venedictos shivers against the wind, and at the howls.
To warm their spirits, Venedictos chooses a soothing Shelynite chant with which to entertain his new friends. As he sings, he sounds more sober than at any other time.
Perform singing:
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Sitting near the fire with his senses turned outwards, Zane is quiet as usual. He wolfs down his share of stew, and is more than pleasantly surprised by Venedictos singing. He enjoys the the priest's chant so thoroughly, that his usual attention to his surrounding is at a much lower level. Finally, with the song coming to an end, Zane sobers a bit and turns to his compatriots: "You know, I am not used to spending so much time in company of other people. So please do not take my silence as a sign - it's just that I...you know..."
The young ranger leaves the sentence unfinished, while he fiddles his hands over his bow. Finally, he speaks again: "There's wolves around. We should keep watch and make sure that fire is lit all the time. I can take the first shift, but maybe it'd be better if I take the last. Pa told me that if they attack, they do it just before dawn, when sheep and humans are the sleepiest. And one more thing - these...illusions today. I made a mistake of not searching the area and trying to find any tracks. Someone or something made those, with some purpose. We should be wary. You two" - he motions towards Venedictos and Bern - "...maybe you should take one watch together. I trust that Nadab's orcish senses will be enough not to let him be surprised."
"I'll share the watch with you.
Vene also supports the idea of keeping watch.
Nadab listens quietly to the chant and when it's complete Nadab continues to look at Ven. " Your Vene from the orphanage right? Didn't you become a priest? "
Vene nods. "I serve Shelyn, and travel the world to find and nurture all things of beauty."
He rummages in his pack and pulls out the brandy. "Let's see how beautiful this gift from the townspeople is."
He takes out the cork and downs a swig, sighing in satisfaction.
" You must have seen a lot... " Nadab says, watching the older man intently perhaps hoping for a story.
Nadab nods " I can see well in the dark. "