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She looks to Wren as she eyes him coolly. Smells wonderful doesn't it?
Wren sits and smells the aroma.
I'm surprised you can smell it over your own stink. Wren smiles back.
"Yes, it is lovely. Nothing quite like the smell of cooking something that wanted to eat you," Wren agrees. "How long..." Wren cuts his question short, his face scrunching up in confusion. "I'm sorry...I forgot your name. What was it? My name is Wren."
* * *After the introduction
"How long have you been in the Order? And did you say you came from Castle Firrine? Is that far away?"
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The lady claps a closed fist against her armor. My name is Calrianne Blix. She says with a sense of pride.
I have not been in the order long but I have been preparing for it my whole life. My ancestor, a man named Fabian Blix. He was a cleric at Redlake Fort. He died during the final siege of the fort as the orcs overtook it, but one of his sons (Calrianne's Great-Grandfather) escaped through an underground tunnel. He fostered me into the Knight I am today. She says with a smile.
Castle Firrine is not terribly far as it stands just south of Ghostlight Marsh at the edge of the war zone. It serves as a supply station and a place to regroup my order of knights battling the orcs to the west and undead to the north.
She takes a seat as she grasps a steaming flank of drake from the platter and begins to eat heartily.
"Not sure ye've heard, but Trunau was recently attacked by orcs and giants." Kraygan says as he shovels drake into his mouth with one fist and drinks from a mug with his other. He doesn't touch the bread, as it would take good room away in his stomach that he would prefer to fill with drink. "Word is a giant chieftain named Grendelshek sent 'em from Redlake Fort. We're headed there ourselves to make sure another army isn't mustered fer a second attack."
Kraygan turns his eyes to Captain Bloodtusk. "Is Castle Firrine on our route?"
Back to Calrianne, "Ye mentioned a tunnel. That a secret thing? Also, why haven't yer Knights ever taken back the Fort?"
Jorgan gorges himself on the food, not seeming to care if the juices and crumbs tumble down his beard and into his lap. He occasionally tosses a scrap back to Hops, who has also joined the meal, contentedly lowing in the background. "You been up that way a lot?" he asks as she talks about Castle Firrine. "We're heading up towards Ghostlight Marsh, as it happens, but none of us has ever been. What's it like in the Marsh? What should we expect?"
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A look of anger fall over Calrianne's face. No, I did not hear about Trunau. Does the town still stand?
Her face turns to shock s she drops he meat onto the plate. Redford Lake has never been very organized between the orcs and giants. Unfortunately Castle Firrine is not in route.
Her eyes lower as she goes back to eating. We have not taken back the fort because our order does not currently have the numbers or equipment as we are busy fending off orc attacks from the other tribes and the undead to the north.
As for the tunnel, I am not sure if it is secret so much as it is a sewer tunnel that from stories of my great grandfather were flooded at the time he had to desperately use them.
She grabs a piece of charcoal from her small satchel and etches out a very rough diagram of Redford Lake as she places an X on roughly where her great grandfather said he had used the sewer tunnel.
At the mention of Ghostlight Marsh the Knights head raises. Stay clear of the Marsh. It is a dangerous swamp that even the orcs avoid at all costs. Not only do vile creatures frequent the swamp but as the orcs pushed back the Druids from the Council of Thorns during the war it ended in the druids supposedly sacrificing themselves in a very bloody ritual. Now it is said that ghostly lights and voices occupy the swamp along with it's denizens.
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Know (History) - Blix (Calrianne or Fabian)
Know (History) - Castle Firrine
Wren leans forward as the woman finally starts spouting something interesting.
"You know much of these lands. What can you tell us of the Twisted Hearts? Uskroth? Is it true that Grendelshek is a female?"
Wren slows his eating, more interested in the words than the food at this point.
Torgan has fashioned a splint for his leg with bits of wood and the remainder of one of his tunics. He limps back on to the deck before taking a seat at the table. He grabs a hunk of bread and begins to make a river drake sammy as he listens to Wren and the women go back and forth.
Tired beyond belief at this point, Torgan just listens to the elf. They overcooked the haunch... he thinks dismally to himself as he chews on the gamey, rubbery meat.
As the group discusses the marsh and fort, Kraygan watches Torgan out of the corner of his eye. Leaning closer, he gestures to his cousin's leg, splashing it with some ale.
"We spent a pile o' coin on those wands. This trip seems cursed with all sort o' bad luck, so ye should pro'bly use one."
The dwarf guffaws at the woman's question of Trunau. "We ain't the Trunau Five if Trunau ain't still around."
---
When Kraygan whispers to Torgan, Torgan responds. "Maybe in th' morning. Good t' feel pain every once in a while. Keeps yer wits fresh. Pass whatever ye tapped from our stores." Torgan reasons, having nothing more than bravado behind it.
He looks at Wren and the newcomer and speaks up after he's heard enough.
"Sounds like we are in agreement. We leave for th' Marsh tomorrow, after..." Torgan looks about as the sun sets. "Where're yer men again?"
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Oh, I have traveled these parts my whole life so I know a bit about it....... Calrianne's eyes begin to roll back in her head as he head slams into her plate of meat.
Quickly the Captain stands up as does Coxswain. What in the hells is going....... The Captain collapses to the deck in a slump as the crew quickly falls one by one.
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Torgan (15/40)
Wren
Jorgan (19/39)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan falls limp against his seat as he faceplants into his open-faced drake sammy.
Kraygan blinks as Calrianne dives into her plate. Then again as the Captain follows suit. He jumps to his feet as Torgan slumps forward.
"Wren? Is this yer magic?!"
"Wren..." He stops short when he finds the elf unconscious too.
Jorgan has eaten enough of this meat so far to become immune to the tranquilizer inside. "Amateurs," he says as he shakes his head and takes another bite of the meat before leaning over and starting to shake everyone else awake, starting with Hops.
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Jorgan, Vanderhoff and Kraygan seem to be the only ones not to fall asleep to the tainted meat as Jorgan's body seems to have become immune to the tranquilizer that he kept sampling earlier.
Jorgan continues to eat his meat as he shakes Hops. As he begins to shake Hops the yak's eyes slowly roll open and it doesn't look like it feels well at all.
As Hops awakens Jorgan begins to hear gruff voices out on the main deck.
This the right ship Tark?
Another voice much louder yells. YOU QUESTIONING ME? MELIRA SAY THE SHIP BE WOULD BE NEAR HERE. NOW FIND THEM AND KILL THEM.
Looking around the cramped room the crew seems to be lying all about as a few of them have fallen into Captain Bloodtusk's cabin.
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Torgan (15/40; -1 Str; unconcious)
Wren (-1 Str; Unconcious)
Jorgan (19/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Vanderhoff has quiet, watching the female knight with mixture of curiosity and....desire? He merely picks at his food as dinner starts, trying to focus on the conversation, but his gaze continues to fall on Calrianne.
He suddenly drops his fork and curses softly as everyone begins to drop unconscious. Knocking his chair over as he stands, he cocks his head and looks to Jorgan and Kraygan. "Is that the damned coxswain talking or the cap'n?"
"The Cap'n is right there!" Kraygan hisses, pointing to where Bloodtusk lies next to the table. "Whoever that is talkin is lookin for the girl we fought in the bildge. Now start wakin folk up!"
Taking his own advice, Kraygan smacks Wren, then Torgan.
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Wren's head lolls into his drakesteak as the dwarf's rough hand smacks him (with, what I assume is a very satisfying sound).
Wren lifts head, his hand touching the gravy and food detritus on his face.
"Wha...?" Wren's glazed eyes look at the Captain and the Lady asleep. He looks at Kraygan with a fixture of anger and annoyance...and questioning.
Van smacks his forehead when Kraygan points out the drugged captain. Gripping his hammer, he says. "I don't know if kickin' 'em will wake them. We best ready ourselves to take them on. Down here or above decks?"
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Wren looks around, mostly focusing on the seeping wounds that plague Torgan and Jorgan.
"Maybeeth weeshoood heeeeeall uppp," Wren tries to say though his tongue doesn't comply. He does point at the healing wands.
He slowly steadies himself, getting out of his chair. It's clear he's in no rush to open the door to fight, but wants a few moments for his brain to clear.
Kraygan moves to guard those still sleeping. "I'll hold em off if needed. Hoff, Jorgan, I think Wren and Torgan need healin."
Kraygan pulls out his axe and steps in front of the doors.
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Slowly the group is awoken one by one Though once awoken they feel a bit weaker and quite ill.
Wren wakes up as every limb on his body shakes as he feebly points to the healing wands. Looking up he sees Kraygan step in front of the doors to the main deck and kick them open to see who or what is yelling on the deck.
As his eyes quickly adjust to the moonlight he sees that a well organized squad of dripping wet orcs have clamored onto the ship. The orc in the back looks to have burned skin covering over half of it's body and looks to be quite painful.
Kraygan stepping out quickly catches their attention as the burned one yells out. THERE THEY ARE! KILL THEM ALL!
The orc laughs Looks like Melira was able to drug you as she said.
The forward orcs begin to swarm the chart room as three in the rear and Tark each draw a deadly javelin.
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Tark
Orcs
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (15/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (19/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
"Did she *cough* tell ye that before or after we dropped 'er corpse into th' ocean?" Torgan retorts to the pesky orc.
He draws his wand of Cure Light Wounds and heals his wounds, while drawing Agrimmosh in his other hand.
"Come on in, if ye dare!"
Kraygan chuckles, offers the orcs a clear view of a rude gesture, then steps back and closes the doors.
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Round 1, part 2
Wren nods as Kraygan shows some good sense. He gingerly draws a goblin skull bomb from his 'sack. Then he draws the wand of cat's grace.
"I hope they like fire. I'll burn this ship down and take them with me."
HP: 25/25
AC: 13
Effects: Endure Elements, Sickened
Right: goblin skull bomb
Left: alchemist fire
[ dice]1d20+8+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
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Wren prepares himself as Kraygan taunts the orcs while pulling the wooden doors shut.
Shakily Torgan uses the healing wand on his wounds. Some of the small scrapes and cuts heal themselves but the large gash in his side still pains him.
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Tark
Orcs
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (19/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (19/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff grabs a wand and heals Jorgan, then moves across the room the heal Torgan next.
Glancing at the closed doors and the small room, Van looks at Wren. "Let's hope they don't beat us to the punch and burn this ship down around our ears, eh? Ain't sure barricadin' ourselves in here is the right move."
"At least until we recover, cousin." Torgan assures Vanderhoff.
At Wren's statement, Torgan looks a bit worried that the elf might do it, but then realizes they are close to shore. "By all means, glorious elf. By all means." he encourages the man.
but who brought the freakin' yak to dinner? No wonder the food is tainted![/ooc]
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Jorgan casts a healing spell on himself and grabs his axe while staying near Hops.
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Jorgan and Vanderhoff both grab a wand and begin healing Jorgan's wounds as quickly as possibly.
TEAR THE DOORS OFF NOW!
The yellow and red orc rush the doors. Their muscles heave as the yellow orc's door begins to splinter. The red orc screams as it tears the door right off of the hinges and throws it across the deck.
The purple orc hurls a javelin at Kraygan as the rest of the orcs surge forward.
The javelin sticks into the nearby stairs.
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Tark
Orcs
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (19/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (31/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
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Round 2
"QUUU-arr!" Wren says, invoking the wand upon himself, hoping that its power will nullify the sickness in his stomach.
Wren 5' steps, drops the wand, and opens the back doors to the Capt'ns bedroom.
Know (Local) - what kind of orcs are these?
HP: 25/25
AC: 15
Effects: Endure Elements, Sickened
Right: goblin skull bomb
Left: nothing
[ dice]1d20+8+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
As the doors are ripped away, Kraygan sets his feet wide, takes his axe in two hands, and tries to hack through both orcs in the doorway.
"Just in time fer dessert! Here, eat this!!"
Jorgan casts barkskin again to protect himself in the upcoming fight. "Dessert? Don't be spoiling my appetite, Kray!"
Torgan heals himself once more with his wand as he waits for additional assistance from his cousin. "I'm stuffed, guys. If you want seconds, then it is all yours." he says as he taps himself with the wand.
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Wren uses the wand as his old legs seem to become nimbler. Stepping back he opens the thick wooden doors to the Captain's room.
Wren doesn't notice anything significant about the orcs but does see that they all bear the emblem of the Twisted Heart Tribe. The burned orc in the back seems to stand a bit taller and seems significantly stronger.
Torgan continues to tend to his wounds. Hefting his large axe in both hands Kraygan steps out in the doorway just enough to get a complete swing on the two incoming orcs. His blow easily fells the two orcs as they fall into a heap in front of the door. Similar to the crew lying all about the room.
Jorgan's skin seems to become as thick as Hops' hide.
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Tark
Orcs
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (22/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (31/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff turns and heals Torgan, shrugging.. "Seems Kray has the orcs handled for now."
Stepping north, he keeps the wand in one hand and his hammer in the other, he grins at Kraygan.
"Good shot, cousin!"
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Vanderhoff heals Jorgan's wounds further
Get them out of there! bellows Tark
The green and orange orcs slash their deadly falchions at Kraygan.
The orc's blades slide into the tight quarters and slash Kraygan's neck. Blood begins to spurt very quickly all about the room.
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Tark
Orcs
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (22/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (9/38)(Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (31/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Jorgan winces as he watches Kraygan take a heavy hit. Not able to reach the orcs himself, he casts a healing spell and moves up to his cousin. "That ain't nothin' to a Steelkeg! Kill 'em back, Kray!"
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Round 3
Wren grunts as Kraygan takes equal blows to the ones he delivered. He does what he can to help. Taking a 5' step back and putting away the wand, he draws upon the remnants of his magics to aid in the fight.
He calls upon his magic sparkly trick upon the orcs.
HP: 25/25
AC: 15
Effects: Endure Elements, Sickened
Right: goblin skull bomb
Left: nothing
[ dice]1d20+8+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
Badly wounded by the two orcs, Kraygan roars and swings his axe again, but his injuries make the attack clumsy and desperate.
Wiping away blood from his eyes, he asks, "Did I get 'em?"
"Damn..." He growls when he notices both orcs completely unharmed. Taking a hand of his axe, he grabs a potion from his belt.
"Wren! This ain't the time for redecorating the ship! There's intruders! Silly elf...."
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Wren steps back calling on his innate power. His spell begins to bedazzle the ships deck with a blinding light that continues to glitter in the moon's rays.
Three of the orcs begin to blink as they grope about. Tark and and one of the orcs close their eyes just in time as the spell completes.
Kraygan swings his axe in a small circle but it seems that both the orcs and Kraygan are blinded momentarily and the dwarf misses the large orcs right in front of him.
Jorgan steps up and heals Kraygan's immediate wounds.
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Tark
Orcs (Orange-blind; purple-blind; blue-blind)
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Wren (-1 Str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Torgan (22/40; -1 Str; sickened 24 hrs)
Kraygan (14(22)/38(46))(Haggis 16/18)
Jorgan (31/39)(Hops; -1 str; Sickened 24 hrs)
Van decides healing Kraygan is the best option and taps him with wand.
Torgan leaps on to the table and moves to heal the grievously injured Kraygan with his wand. "Hold still, cousin!" he yells as the dwarf dances around attacks from the two orcs.