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If Iorskan could have shrugged he would have. ”I will walk with you. My kobolds are fine so long as nobody tells where they are.”
Iorskan is iffy about telling bandits about where the kobolds live. What if they try to rob them? Humans are greedy and mean! We should murder the mites though. They are at war with our subjects. Burn them all! Will get a better post up soon.
Everyone, after a long days walking and/or talking, goes to sleep so that they can walk more or talk more the following day.
The get there just as the rain is letting up, which is fortunate, as it means that the bandits are happier not seeking shelter inside the tunnels.
The mites have been warned of the bandits' coming, and aren't suprised by them. If Ozzy and Iorskan decided to wait for the rain to let up before heading off to speak with the kobolds, they're surprised by Abaos's arrival with the bandit force.
The boggard opens his eyes. They lock with Guthruc, and he realizes he has no chance for escape. He tries to move, and regrets it, wincing at the agony of being bludgeoned within an inch of your life.
"I think we started off on the wrong foot." The amphibian extends a hand to shake, displaying atypical charm for a boggard. "My name is Anura. Humor my asking, but how did an orc such as yourself become guardian of the crunchy little lizardfolk? And where did you learn to speak boggard?"
Awn will dutifully wait for word from Abaos as to where to reconvene. The woodborn is concerned the formerly-and-currently-not-mute Dharak and Townsend will blab...stuff, so rather than bivouac in the trees outside the fort such as is his wont he'll bunk with them and keep an eye on Garess and her "official retinue".
If Ozzy isn't actually expected to lead the mites anywhere, she'll have them wait out the rain, so I think we can consider her group joined with Abaos et al.
My turn. Why did you attack the kobolds? Why did you attack me? How do you feel about the stag lord? And, finaly, would you like to join a warband?" Guthruc asks the final question as though he expects a certain answer, as though there is a right and wrong answer.
The Swordlords' soldiers decide to keep a perimeter, to ensure they aren't as suprised by a hostile force as they would have been by Team PNP. They fan out in groups of two into the adjacent hexes, with about half of their people in the field at any time. Each soldier takes two horses with them, and swaps between them to keep them from tiring.
About half of the total force are grizzled veterans (of course, constant battle can grizzle a veteran long before middle age) who carry themselves with the confidence of someone who trusts themself and trusts their team. The other half are noticeably more awkward in the saddle, and wear their armor stiffly.
Townsend is awkward while in the trading post, since the Levetons give him dirty looks whenever they see him (he did rob them, repeatedly, after all) and he's nervous around the soldiers because he's paranoid that they might recognize him as a criminal (unlikely, but he doesn't always think rationally). If Townsend learns that Bright Awn would rather sleep out in the woods, he'd be eager to go with.
Dharak, on the other hand, decides to go and socialize with the troops, figuring that 1) they're new people that he hasn't talked to before and b) this might be his chance to get in good with people who have clout in Restov and 3) he doesn't plan on lurking in the Greenbelt robbing the occasional woodsfolk forever, and if he impresses them he might be able to join an actual military.
The frogman raises his hands helplessly. "One at a time! Your accent is lamentable, don't ask so many questions at once. I didn't attack the kobolds, I was eating them. And then you interrupted me, so I had to eat you . . . I'm still hungry. Who the hell's the Stag Lord? King of the deer? I didn't even know that kobolds had government and 'rulers', and now you're telling me that deer do too? That's weird. Can you speak to deer too? Is that a thing that all orcs do?"
"And, finally, would you like to join a warband?"
"A warband of one?" but the boggard sounds curious, rather than derisive. "Well . . . it seems that all four of my loyal parishiners have perished or deserted since our exile from the Hooktongue Slough . . . so I agree. On a condition. One day, after we've gathered numbers and conquered lands, we return to my ancestral home and teach them the power found in Moloch's teachings, the power found in restraint and unbridled fury. I'll fight your battles if you'll fight mine. Sound fair?"
"Do we have anyone else in our warband?"
I also ask that you no longer prey on these kobolds, nor the mites in the large tree up north. There will also be a bandit camp arriving shortly. These are all tribes and warriors of my allies. Attacking them will be seen as an attack on me as you have seen today.
Finally, while I trust that I can set you free now, I'd like to introduce you to everyone in a calm manner in which nobody would get hurt. Therefore, I request that you remain in this passageway until my allies arrive. I will at least stay within earshot. Anything further you wish to say?"
As the party arrives, Guthruc hears them outside the cave and motions for Anura to follow. He exits the cave with Anura close by. "Guthruc find warband soldier" he introduces. "Small dragon, translate to dragon men?
Name Anura. He no attack anymore. Any talk to Anura?""Would you like to say anything to my allies Anura?" Guthruc will attempt to translate anything Anura or the party wishes to say to the other.
Five days pass restlessly, with little of note.
The cryptic druid Bokken tells Awn where his allies are, and then tries to eat the woodborn's head-leafs.
The druid leads Bright Awn, Dharak, and Townsend to the Mite Tree, where Bright Awn learns from the bandits that his friends went to the kobold den, so he walks down there. The party is now reunited!
Where do we go from here?
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Abaos proposes a daring plan!
"Guys, look, I've been thinking. If the Stag Lord, via Kressel, does know where we are, what better way to scout him out, get an idea of his capabilities? Let's set an ambush- as far as we know, Kressel still plans on returning, and she'll have to, with Martin out of the picture. So, she comes to the camp's location. There we'll be, with scouts around- we'll either use the moment to gain an idea of the Stag Lord's forces and withdraw, if it's overhelming; or attack, if it's not. What do you think? Sound like a fair idea?"
”Sounds like a plan to me.” Iorskan only had one consideration in mind. Human tasted good, but it was so hard to get without everyone freaking out. If they ambushed these people, he’d get a fine meal and nobody would be upset. A true win in his book!
"Guthruc agree, but need more soldier. Guthruc need army!" Guthruc seems more focused on building his warband than the current mission.
Awn details his meeting with Captain Garess to the rest of the group, including her desire to get involved. Even a new woodborn can tell that competing factions are forming here, ones at odds with their original employer and Awn has no desire to help the Swordlords "civilise" the Broken Lands.
"However, they do count a number of experienced warriors among their retinue, and possess heavy armor and cavalry capability. Perhaps, at some future time, we might make use of them? Garess assumes a right of responsibility, and will want to be kept in some loop of information - we cannot ignore her forever lest we have a new Stag Lord at our backs, one linked back to the true Sword Lords, and their mighty resources..."
Awn aptly and adroitly asserts appalling ... I've run out of words starting with 'a'. But he notes that factions are gathering around the pie with cutting utensils to collect their pieces before the pie has even been properly bested with arms and magic. He also notes, however, that cutting utensils are good at killing things, especially if propelled at one horsepower.
Abaos wants to go back to the Thorn River camp and poke around, maybe lay in wait. This idea had been seconded, so I'll assume the party goes with it.
They set off into the wilds, following the river, and get to walking. They don't reach their destination until I get at a keyboard, so I can only assume they were waylayed ...
Looking over the side of the relatively shallow river canyon you're walking along, Awn and Mr. Winky (Blinky's eyes are further afield) notice that the typically clear water has taken on a pinkish tinge.
This is strange, and the party keeps an eye on the river.
Presently, you pass by the place where the rickety bridge stood, last time you passed this way. I say stood, because it stands now longer. It seems to have collapsed under the weight of a six meter long dragon, which, with the bridge, lays mostly concealed under the water some twenty feet below you. (I'm mixing metric with imperial ... bite me.) The wyvern's (it's a wyvern) copious blood mixes with the water. It isn't moving, but it's head, tangled in the wreckage of the bridge, is above water. At this distance, who knows if it's alive or dead.
It's obvious enough that a tiny fall like this didn't do in a dragon of it's size, or inflict such large and gaping wounds.
Mr. Winky, flying above, is the first to spot signs of a struggle on the edge of the canyon. As he lands on Ozzy's shoulder and whispers in her ear, Mr. Blinky confirms that there was, in fact, a struggle here between a feline and a reptilian creature .
Awn warily approaches the head of the beast, attempting to discern the apparent health of the creature.
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"However, they do count a number of experienced warriors among their retinue, and possess heavy armor and cavalry capability. Perhaps, at some future time, we might make use of them? Garess assumes a right of responsibility, and will want to be kept in some loop of information - we cannot ignore her forever lest we have a new Stag Lord at our backs, one linked back to the true Sword Lords, and their mighty resources..."
Abaos definetly expresses interest in meeting and using Garess, and her soldiers, though he'll follow Awn's advice and not immediately set about adding them into his retinue ().
As they approach the scene of the fight, Abaos looks across at the dead dragon. He turns to Iorskan, and asks in draconic "Is this one of yours?"
He'll then immediately rush down and see if he can help the wounded creature. The first dragon he met seems friendly enough, albeit very hungry; why wouldn't the second one be any less beneficial?
As he approaches, he'll softly whisper to the creature in a language it hopefully understands "Hey," he starts. "What happened to you, buddy? Don't worry, we'll get you out of there, no problem, you're going to be ok,".
Awn and Abaos scramble down the steep canyon (not steep enough to force a climb check, though) to check on the wyvern.
The hapless creature has been torn to pieces; it's wings are shredded and it's tail ends in a stingerless stump. But the woodborn seer deftly pinpoints the wyvern's pulse; miraculously, it's still alive.
”Not one of mine. We should put it out of its misery though.”
Not understanding what everyone is saying, but learning that its alive, Guthruc decides that a larger dragon would be an excellent addition to his growing warband! "Small dragon, how say 'Large dragon, it good meet you. we and Guthruc fix you in fight health. Then you join rank of Guthruc warband!' Guthruc must recruit dragon. Dragon this Large strong." Guthruc will then walk up to the dragon and try very poorly to treat deadly wounds... without a heal kit... and a negative wisdom modifier...
”Guthruc. This is a wyrven. They are our primitive relatives. Violent, proud, always hungry. Very likely to go on rampages. Even if we can heal it, we won’t be able to control it. Manipulate? Maybe. And even then we won’t have enough food to keep it from rampaging away. It would be safest for all of us to put it down now before it becomes too big a problem.”
"Guthruc violent, proud, and like rampage; just cuz like rampage, Guthruc no hurt ally. ... Anura Violent and try rampage dragon men; Anura promise no hunt ally. ... Guthruc know how recruit this type.
How ask for recruit?"
Iorskan sighed. ”Wyrven, can you hear me? This orc is looking to build an army and is very impressed by you. He wants to heal you so you can fight alongside him. Will you join his army if we heal you? Blink once for yes, twice for no.
It's unconscious, and can't hear you.
Though it visibly heals the wyvern, the first charge from the wand of infernal healing fails to bring the dragon to consciousness. Thirty seconds into the second casting of the spell, however, and the two-legged dragon begins roaring and writhing as it becomes aware of how much pain it's in.
It stops it's ear-piercing racket abruptly, noticing the party surrounding it in the waist-high water. It becomes very quiet and very still, tensed up, eyes darting, teeth bared.
When it isn't attacked, and instead continues to heal, it puts two and two together. "I've heard of the shiny dragons, but I've never met one. It seems the stories are true . . . you saved my life."
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Abaos regally bows, and assumes the role of Zornesk "May I humbly introduce the grand, majestic Iorskan, kind of the kobolds, and...." he hesitates, a mischievious grin in his eyes "a true dragon."
"If it is no trouble, before your awakening, the mighty Iorskan had wondered as to your disposition and manner of being here. What are your intentions, wyvern, and how did you come to be attacked so?"
Though Awn can weave fate slightly to make Abaos more prepossessing, his own efforts to bow majestically in the presence of Iorskan the True Dragon come off looking a little forced and fawning rather than fearsome and formidable.
: Second sight - +1 to Abaos Diplomacy.
Standard Action: Aid Another.
The wyvern is agitated. "I was attacked!" it states the obvious. "By apefolk," it contradicts the evidence at the top of the rise, "days ago," it says, making somewhat more sense.
"They had stick throwers, and were throwing sticks. They didn't look good to eat. Dirty. So I flew away. Was coming back later." The dragon is furious. "They took my eggs and my shinies and my snacks," the wyvern lists, in order of importance. "I find out later, so chase them back to their nest. Big nest, made out of trees. Tree throwers! But no one using them. Weren't ready. Except also nest of cat-apefolk-spider-knifetail monster. That flies. Couldn't fight all at once, so left. Monster followed me . . ." Most of you aren't steller at reading draconic body language, but the wyvern looks morose. "Had to leave snacks and shinies and eggs and things."
The wyvern gestures to the south, where you have it on Bydon's authority you can find the Stag Lord and his fortress.
"So men, in forest-fortress, with bows, and possibly large spear-throwing contraptions. Still unsure what the catmanspider with a knife for a tail is though. I imagine at that point the wyvern was seeing things due to loss of blood."
Iorskan listened to all of this. First with joy, at how he was introduced. Then with annoyance, for he was territorial by nature, and the idea of another dragon being too close rankled him...and then horror. They had stolen the wyrven's eggs!
"We must recover these eggs." Iorskan said this with fire in his eyes.
"We could heal you. Then we can recover your eggs together. You handle the flying monster, after we assault the nest and their machines. What do you say?"
"So men, in forest-fortress, with bows, and possibly large spear-throwing contraptions. Still unsure what the catmanspider with a knife for a tail is though. I imagine at that point the wyvern was seeing things due to loss of blood."