"I might not have the time to stand still for a longer time." Lynn jokes. She shows him the drawings she does and asks if he ahs some of his painting with him.
Finally she goes to bed too.
Sosiel looks over the drawings commenting on them and how you two need to do some art together.
The night passes uneventfully, the next day as well, you make it 10 hours further along the path with no incidents, making camp along the river.
Lynn uses the long way to move back and forth in the trek and talk to some of the palladins. She wants to get an idea who they are, what experience they have and what their motivation is. Also to show them, that she recognizes them as persons and not only as a mass to command around.
With her advisors she also talks. "Aron and Nurah, tell me - what deities are you following. Most of the others wear it bold on their chest or shields. But I got no idea who you're worshipping."
Don keeps watch as they march along and will relieve anyone is is overly tired.
"I venerate all the good dieties that help support us in fighting and closing the wound that spews forth the demons." Aron tells Lynn, "I don't really follow one God, I follow my music and history, they all play a part in this." Nurah tells Lynn.
Azrael meets a very well liked Paladin Arles Jhestander, the man has a sour out look on what is going on in the world wound and has obviously been in battle with many demons or cultist in the lands just beyond the river.
No one really pays to much attention to Othirubo since people just assume that he is Azrael's aide. A few people have put in orders for potions form him though.
The 2nd night is uneventful, Horgus is very strict on the potions of meal size, he is trying to make the food last. Even with the extra units of food and supplies you picked up the destroyed town. The next morning everyone is up and ready to go by 0700, those who pulled last watch are allowed to sleep in the saddle and are taken along by a fellow. As the sun reaches almost Midday Aniva and Aron come riding up quickly.
"The ford has been taken, there are enemies abound probably in the 200s." Aron says quickly as Aniva gets Irabeth to halt the army.
- DV 20 or 24 vs spellcasting army
- OM +10
- HP 16
"What army is that? Demons? Cultists?" Lynn inquires.
"They looked like Tieflings, we didn't want to get to close" Aniva comes over.
"Did you get an idea about how well they equipped? From the numbers it looks like we could take them easily. But I don't like surprises. Have they dug themselves in in the fort?" Lynn continues to ask.
"They don't look overly well equipped but there were more than enough of them to take the Ford with out an issue. They have set up pickets but it doesn't appear they have dug in, they were probably planning to leave soon."
"Okay then. We'll take them down in one swoop. Aniva, Aron, take us as close as you can without them noticing us. Tell us what to expect from the terrain." Lynn orders. "Irabeth, we're going to run them over. Shooting while going in, and wipe up what's left after that. Send word through the ranks, I leave out the speech to keep the surprise on our side."
"Azrael, want to talk to your redeemed companion first? We'll fight his kin."
Once all is set up Lynn leads the army silently into position and then with loud battle cries they come over the enemy army.
Don eagerly saddles up and charges with the paladins, his crossbow sending a rain of death into the ranks for the enemy
"This isn't a fort per say move like a way station and crossing point for the the river." Aron says to Azrael.
Your Army starts out slow and then gets a full Gallop going, the archers unleash their arrows then switch to swords and shields as they get closer. Once the Paladin's engage in melee they mop up the army quickly and efficiently. A Demon can be noted to be to standing on the balcony of one of the buildings, then disappearing.
url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/demon/demon -brimorak/]Brimorak[/url
"Oh, fffumbleweed. I should have paid more attention in the classes about demons." Lynn curses. "Who has seen that demon on the balcony and knows what kind it is and how it managed to simply disappear?" she asks those around her.
Not waiting for the answer she orders "Search the area! Make sure no one gets away. And these tieflings need to eat like we do. Check for provisions."
"And I have to say - It's an honor to lead you. You're determined, precise and to see you all charge is really impressive. I love you guys!" she runs over with enthusiasm.
"That was a Brimorak." Tink says, sat upon his cart, pulled along by SteelGate.
He spends a few minutes laying out what he knows about them, mentioning their unexpected weight and their affinity for fire magic. He also mentions the fact that they have been observed to teleport as this one did, but only once per day
Well our cover would have been blown sooner or later. After we search for provisions, et us geta move on.
As the dust settles and whatever Tieflings weren't slain flee back across the river, the army can see what took place after the battle in which the tieflings won.
Heads of the dead Crusaders, their entrails and other body parts line the bunker like buildings facing the river. What looks like the HQ for this crossing has a few dead hanging from ropes.
Aniva and Aron take their leave to go scouting again to see if there are any hold out crusaders or other larger units of enemies hiding.
Irabeth, Sosiel and Nurah take their leave as well to go and search for survivors as well.
"I thought I heard something in the bush over here."
Irabeth and Sosiel find some survivor inside of a building carved into the stone of the cliff face the Ford backs on to.
Lynn is blissfully ignorant to everything but the obvious. "Do we have some tools to give that crusaders a burial?" she asks.
There are tools at the ford for such a thing.
"I will help as you ask yes, I guess this is pennence?" Othirubo asks
Irabeth sends a runner to find the group to tell them about the survivors
Don knows nothing and sees nothing. He helps big mass graves for the slain defenders.
Tink hops off his cart, and uses prestidigitation to help move stones and the like out of the grave. "We must be quick about this. I would like to not be here when whoever that demon reported to comes looking."
SteelGate helps with the digging as well.
Blue does note anything for miles, looking into the world wound gives blue and Tink a preview of what is to come.
With 500 persons to help it doesn't take long to bury all the dead crusaders.
As nothing else presents itself here Lynn gathers all and asks Sosiel to speak a few words in remembrance of the fallen. Once that is done too, she orders that all prepare to leave again.
"In case someone comes back I want to be somewhere else already. I don't need surprises at night."
Sosiel introduces you to the surviving members of the Ford's defense once he has said a few words, Aron takes over and tasks the army with scavenging any usable equipment and other items that will help the army out, he leaves this in Horgus' capable hands.
Groans go up from the army about having the become "scavengers and looting the dead" this is from a number of the new members of the army of those who are older and slightly disheartened.
As Lynn hears the groans she looks around where Azrael is. "Azrael, something seems to make them unhappy. Can you talk to them. You seem so chipper and full of hope all the time. Maybe you manage to rub it off on the army?"
"This is Kamilo Dann, she was the commander here at the Ford. She helped the dozen men and women keep hope that rescue would come. Apparently people were being taken and sacrificed by that Demon we saw teleport away."
The woman is still in her battle gear, her long hair matted against her head, dried blood and ichor on her armor.
Don helps with burying, foraging and patrolling. There being no demons to smite tends to limit his contributions.
"Thank you, my men and I will return to Kenabres to tell those there and get message to the queen to have more people come help defend here." The woman is exhausted and malnourished, it looks like she hasn't eaten since the ford was taken.
Best get some food at least, we don't want you toppling over. Don turns to his companions. So when will we be heading out?
"As soon as nothing else pops up." Lynn replies kinda frustrated.
Night has nearly set upon the army as the bodies are laid to rest, the Tieflings are burned or whatever you are doing with them. The survivors are tended too.
"As the light of the day ceases, I guess we have to make camp here." Lynn realizes. "Make all the preparations and set up watches. I don't want to be surprised by some counter attack at night." she tells the team that tells the orders to the divisions of the army.
She helps setting up the tent with the improvised war room, before recounting the events of the day with her advisors. Once that is done she goes to sleep.
"You can use my office as your command room if you wish, we do have hopefully some items left in there, maps and such." Kamilo says
Don checks a map. So where will we be headed next? We'll no doubgt face more opposition.
"We know that they have a larger army further north at a place called Keeper's Canyon, it doesn't show on any of the maps though, the Demons may named it." Kamilo says.
The area contains the Ahari River bed, a dry spot since the river was dammed off further north to prevent Drezen from having water.
"What do you know about that army? Is it just more of these tieflings? Or is it demons?" Lynn inquires.
Don looks at the map but ends up holding it upside down.
"Just that this army that came here was a fraction of what is awaiting further north." Kamilo says sitting down and resting.
"You got an idea how large that other army is?" Lynn inquires.
Kamilo shakes her head "no"