"We shall. But for now ... Let's get to the best part! The juicy bits yess"! Jhaelwyn grinned and readied her favorite mantid-carving knife. Sword. Saw? Something!
Jhaelwyn sets to harvesting the corpses of the fallen foes. A few of the soldiers dig crude spades out of their packs and set to digging a grave for their own dead comrade, the veteran soldiers sombered but business-like about the loss.
"If these things really can freeze you solid with a scratch the way I've heard, the only reason we lived through this is the antidote," says one.
Unlike many creatures whom avoid the smell of their own dead, the mantids flock back to sites when many of them are killed in order to cannibalize any remains. It would be best to vacate the area soon, or prepare to fight again.
"Remember, no word of that to anyone," Drekisal warns the soldiers. "Likely the other mercenaries would be willing to take drastic actions to take the antidote from us."
A few of the soldiers nod as they all offer a general murmur of acknowledgement.
Once the wounded have been seen to and the venom glands have been harvested the group readies itself to move. Looking over the field of battle Histrok nods solemnly. "Well fought everyone. We learned much today, and at a high cost. We'll bury the body of Soldier Chalmers here. For now I will recommend that we withdraw from the Mantid territory for the day, and return to hunt again with this new knowledge. In addition to gathering the venom glands we should harvest trophies of our victory as well as any other parts which can can be sold back at the . Every soldier should take the time to find whatever token from our fallen foe will remind them of our victory here and inspire us for the future. This is our first victory, but we should be aware that it is far from our last!"
After turning to Leader Surtur for acknowledgment, Histork leads a group of soldiers that don't see otherwise occupied to the Mantid corpses and beings to point out the parts that are worth harvesting.
At the words of Histrok and the soldiers start to dig a grave, the coin drops for Gork at last and he violently shakes his head.
"Nono-notsy bury poor pinky here.
Ham can carry brave-pinky-man back.
Me doing prop'a Merry funeral for him t'ere."
"We shouldn't linger too long. They will soon be back. And in greater numbers. Maybe we should lace the bodies with poison? First we'd need to brew it ..." Jhaelwyn offers as she gathers together the diced bits and wraps them tightly in mildly scented cloth. "They are a hungry race and will happily eat their dead. Their living too if needed... Better they feast on the carcasses then us!"
"But let's leave a little for them. A nice little gift ahah..." Jhaelwyn grinned widely and briefly touched one of the dead mantids and channeled magic into it. "Don't touch this one! Or maybe you should? It could be a valuable lesson ... It's a gift for the hungry mantids!"
The soldiers, despite Histrok's tutelage, make a complete mess of the work. The mantids have a biology and anatomy that is entirely foreign to them, and they ruin and waste most of the corpses.
"Er, sorry there boss," one of them says to Histrok. "I suppose we'll learn to do better."
Histrok nods, not apparently bothered at how the attempt goes. "Learning is a process. We're taking the first steps now, and in time it'll seem as natural as if you've always known how to do it. For now, let's just remember what didn't work and do different things next time." With that the hobgoblin steps away from the corpses and reports to Surtur. "I believe that we've done what we can do here, Leader Surtur. The men are ready to move out at your command."
"Mm..." Jhaelwyn softly hums to herself as she cleans her tools and packages the last of the scavenged bits.
The company picks up and marches directly away from the heart of mantid territory. Even slowed by your wounded, you make it over halfway back to the hunting camp before night falls.
"Well, we've gotten a taste of what hunting the bugs is like," says the sergeant of the troops. "Not fun, but hardly a massacre. So long as they can't freeze us up with one hit, at least. What's the plan now?"
Histrok nods at the sergeants's assessment. "For tonight we set up camp and make sure that the wounded are tended to. Today was a learning process in many ways, not what we were expecting. We need to make plans for the coming days based on this new information.
"Speak of which, if you or any of your soldiers feel that you've learned anything that we might be missing I want you to be sure that you pass it on. It's important that we take any steps we can to preserve lives and increase our success a the hunts. I want it known that ideas are to be rewarded in our company, not punished. We're far from the homes we've known and need to adapt to information as we gain it. This is true of Leader Dresikal, but it's true of everyone else in the company as well."
Histrok helps set up the camp and make sure that the watches are set before joining Drekisal, Jhaelwyn and Sir Gork at the central fire, being sure to invite the sergeant to join the discussion as well.
"So we've learned much about the Mantids and scored a victory. What should our next steps be?"
Drekisal nods sagely in agreement to Histrok's words to the troops.
"We shall learn from our battles and become stronger. This battle today was just a first step. Our next we will do better." His voice is clear and surprisingly strong for such a small creature.
Back with his 'officers', he does not hesitate to answer Histrok's question.
"We return to camp, mourning our casualty and how few mantids we killed to avenge him," he states. "We act as if it was a great tragedy that we lost a man in battle. The others will be expecting us to have been slaughtered in a first attempt, likely--if we draw attention to our success without bragging, it will set tongues wagging. Attention will turn to us."
"Then... we fight without casualties. We must, as we said, learn from our battle and fight better next time. I suspect death is common here. We will want more men in time, and more influence now. Unexpected success will bring us both, though not without danger. The others will seek to learn our secrets. They must not until we choose."
"Caltrops to break their charge? Or a puddle of grease maybe. Pits and traps and snares would be nice!" Jhaelwyn speculates in how to cut down their casualty rate. The thought of the annoying bugs rushing into traps filled her wit glee. Killing mantids was a fun job after all!
The sergeant passes Drekisal's orders to the troops.
The next morning, you complete the trek back to the hunting camp, setting up in the same area that you had left. Plenty of interested eyes watch you arrive.
As Drekisal predicted, more than a few of the watchers seem surprised that you've come back with so few casualties, or perhaps that you've come back at all.
Late that evening, Yidi Tir shows up unannounced in Drekisal's tent, asking him to send for Histrok. When the hobgoblin shows up as well, the halfing speaks. "Not a bad re-entrance from your first hunt. You can imagine the questions are flying thick with the other groups. Officially, I'm here to weasel your methods out of you for Garca, if I can. He doesn't expect me to succeed - which I won't, of course. There's also the issue that people are trying to pump your troops for information - but none of them are giving the same story. Most don't talk much, a couple just claim you're that good, others claim the boss 'figured something out.' Mysterious stuff. But the other groups definitely know something's up, but there are so many rumors already that none of them have come close to the truth, so far as I can tell."
Drekisal notes the truth of his predictions with veiled amusement.
He is unsurprised when Yidi appears. After sending for his second-in-command, he sits crosslegged on the ground within his tent, wings half-open on his back.
"So long as they continue to resemble anything but the truth, rumor serves us well. Indeed, it might well conceal the truth even if one of our men lets it slip. Though we must add to our worries the idea that one day someone will resort to more direct methods to determine the truth," he states in reply.
"Keep watch for any who may resort to such," he orders Yidi. "No doubt our success will win us a place on what passes for a council here. Further success will cement that place. From there, it will be a matter of turning influence into power."
After entering the tent, Histork listens to the report and Drekisal's reaction before speaking. "Thank you for the report. I believe that Leader Drekisal is correct that letting the rumors continue at this point is in our best interest. Our secret will come out eventually, but having a reason for our success isn't a terrible thing for others to learn eventually. I do have a couple questions about the situation though.
"Has Kulwa given any particular reaction that you've seen or heard of? A successful hunting troop seems more likely to hurt his position here than most others. I suspect that we'll need to confront him soon, but I don't know if this is the catalyst that will cause that to happen.
"Also, what information will Garca be satisfied with? Does he believe you to be his agent here primarily or something else? Would your standing with him increase were you to bring a credible story back? We want him working with us long term I suspect, so giving offering information he wants to improve our relationship, especially if we expect him to learn it eventually anyhow, might be beneficial to us.
"Finally, have Urim and his band returned from their hunt yet? We met them in the field and found them more open to interaction than I had expected. If they were here when we had a confrontation with Kulwa that could work to our advantage, assuming it went well."
Upon returning to the main camp, Gork looses no time in preparing a great ceremony for the fallen soldier.
He digs a deep grave atop one of the cliffs overlooking both the road and the campsite.
He asks his comrades to come and for them to tell the assembled a short bit of 'talksy' about the fallen.
Once everyone who wishes to has spoken, Gork says the blessing of Merry over the dead and the mourners.
"Merry sees da deed of her fol'owsys.
A' wat SHE sees - is gud.
His deeds, no be in vain.
Merry says: tis be da land of Merry-folk.
Not land of bugsies.
We, doing her will, be blessed.
Da dead, be blessed. A' be welcomed to Merry-side."
With the last sentence spoken, he raises the holy symbol high above the grave and holds it there for a long moment.
Then starts filling the grave, having the mourners to help in the task and the deep grave is filling quickly once many hands work as many shovels. Once the grave is all filled up, Gork reveals the work of the night before: a two-foot wide wooden eight: Merrys holy symbol. With great care, the giant places it atop the grave.
A last, long moment and finally, he turns to leave, waving every mourner over to the group's fireplace for a proper Merry-feast.
"Ain't heard much from Kulwa's camp since you returned. But yeh, you're probably right. When Urim's band was the only ones actively driving into mantid territory, he could still claim to be somewhere near the top. If you guys keep this up, he doesn't even get second rung. Don't imagine he'll like that."
"You let me worry about my place with Garca. He's a clever old bird, and I wouldn't want to risk him getting a hold of information lest he start to figure out a lot more."
"Urim ain't back yet. If he keeps to his usual schedule he'll return tomorrow or the next day though."
As Gork holds the fallen soldier's funeral, he notices that more than a few of the attendants are members of other groups at camp, hobgoblin and human alike. He doesn't know if they are Merry worshipers, or here to pay respects to another fallen hunter, or merely curious - but they watch respectfully.
It has been a week since the group first arrived at the Lodge. The day dawns bright and clear. A group of hobgoblins arrive just after dawn, toting the allotment of fire fuel that Histrok had arranged for.
Drekisal looks to Histrok. "We shall need to begin cultivating other contacts. Keep your eyes on our men, see if any are striking up friendships with the others. I shall watch myself as well."
He turns back to Yidi. "And you as well. Our success will breed envy, but it may also attract those who seek a better deal, so to speak. I would rather know when they come to us what manner of men they are than to be surprised after the fact."
Jhaelwyn sharpens her arrows, spears and then knives. And then again. Being confined to a cosy camp wasn't bad, but she longed for the hunt again.
After he finishes his morning meditations, Drekisal sends for his officers to join him in front of his tent. Once all are assembled (and he has checked to make certain no one else is nearby to listen), he begins, "It is time for another hunt. One hunt has established us as exceptional. Another will cement the fact that we cannot be ignored. Our goals in this are twofold. First, we must maneuver to lead here in this camp. We are not many, and we will need more to accomplish our goals. Second, we do wish to begin clearing out the mantids in this area. If we can clear even a portion of these lands of their presence this place can serve us as the beginning of our strength."
He sweeps his eyes over the others, and somehow his sense of presence makes up for his lack of height. "We must learn from our previous experience. What can we do to prevent casualties in this next battle? What might we be missing in our plans?"
Gork raises a massive hand.
"We stickin' together.
No splittin'.
Too many bugsys, too few of Merry-folk.
Maybe magicks to deal with many-bugs in one place?"
"Magic is good. Yes. Clever for an ogre? Yes!. And traps; maybe magic traps? Those are fun... Bear traps, caltrops and Nodes of Blasting. Those are *really* fun. Deploy them in front of the troops and pepper the scum with arrows." Jhaelwyn grinned widely and gesticulated wildly, first going through the motions of setting traps and then wringing her hands in glee. The thought of dead mantids really appealed to the elf. She has some suggestions as to do after they have slain the pesky bugs. "And we shall bring poison; tasteless poison. Poison the bodies left behind for a second harvest of mantids."
"What traps and poisons do we have supplies for?" Drekisal asks pointedly. "It is a good thought, but we can use only what we have on hand. I doubt there is much to purchase here that would be useful for such things. In addition, we would need to draw them in to ground of our choosing. How could we do this?"
"Ham car'y Gork fast.
Pinkies on yummy four-legs fast too.
Ma'be bugsy lil'brains follow into trapsys?"
"The Nodes I will do for free. I graciously only require the joy of watching mantides explode. A-hah!" Jhaelwyn swallows a laugh. "All the traps are quick to deploy. The grunts can do it. The less bright one might have a few less fingers at the end of the week, but that was bound to happen anyway."
Drekisal nods to Jhaelwyn and Gork. "Is there anything further we may do to improve our tactics?"
"Now we shall talk of where we shall hunt. In addition to power among the hunters, we must also think of land--once clear of mantids, the land we claim can be another source of strength for us. It is my thought to work towards the old mine in the area. Do any of you speak against this?"
"A mine? Our mine. Mine. Heh. That will do nicely."
Drekisal lets the silence stretch for a while before shifting his wings slightly. "Then we shall hunt towards this goal. Jhaelwyn, I trust that replacing our used antivenom is going smoothly? We shall need it as we press ahead."
He clacks his little claws together. "Let us prepare for the hunt. Are you all clear on your responsibilities? Then get to them. We move today."
"So, we be fightin' in da mine?
No Ham goin' t'ere."
He seems to be thinking. Long.
Then he looks at Jhaelwyn.
"Long-ear knowsy stuff.
Do bugsys dislike smoky?
We be startin' fire and smoke 'em out of mine?
Better fightin' them.
Gork can ride bugsys down then, yes?"
"I doubt there shall be much fighting within the mines themselves. It is the land around we shall have to fight for," Drekisal states. "Though I do not think any have ventured within to make certain of this. We must be prepared for either case."
"It takes time, but there are enough doses for now. More then enough. We have many sacks left to work on as well. Maybe we should use it to poison the mantids? Eh-heh."
"I am not sure my large eared companion. Or should I have used round? But that might confuse them with a human. Hmm. But they should breathe and everything breathing fears smoke. Except dragons. But they're not one and the same.."
15th Shine
Once again your group - now one soldiers down - trudges out from the Lodge at first light, your departure noted by various individuals up at the early hour. Drekisal sees surprise on some faces - it seems your group has notable ambition.
The road towards the abandoned mines and the city they supported is overgrown and provides no benefit to travel anymore, except perhaps as a guide. The distance is small enough that you could make it to the city by nightfall, but you would arrive nearly at sunset. Alternatively, you could camp further out and complete the journey the next morning.
We will travel cautiously, and camp further out.
Does anyone have suggestions of good precautions to take? I'd assume Jhaelwyn will scout again.
"Bury all our scraps so the mantids don't pick up the scent. Could be ... unfortunate. And hide our trail." Jhaelwyn suggests. "Carve some stakes at camp, make a defensible position. Yess let them impale themselves! We have to work quietly though..."
Gork will use his great strength and constitution of aid in the construction of the stakes.
If time permits, he will actually insist on making a double ring of stakes, remembering the far jumps their enemies were able to pull off.
The warband is unable to find much lumber with which to make their stake palisade in this area, but make do with what they can, Gork's strength helping dig defensive trenches through the hard, rocky ground as well. The night passes without incident...
In fact, several of you note that you've seen practically no sign of mantid presence here at all, nor of much wildlife larger than a rabbit.
The following morning, you finish the few mile's trek to the town, crossing from land that was mostly dirt and scrub bushes to a rocky, red-sand patch of hills and low mountains. The lack of foliage has helped preserve the mining town against time, and many structures still stand more or less intact - especially those that were made of brick and stone.
The road that leads to the entrance to the coal mines - and from there, you are told, to the mantids original nest and place of appearance - leads north. The road to the middle Gelkrosh region leads west.
"There will be little of use here," Drekisal comments. "Interesting that the mantids are not here. It will make travel towards the mine easy, though if there are none there to slay this will not be much of a hunt."
"The bricks and stones could be reshaped to a form more fitting. A fort? Or a statue of dead mantids. Hi-heh. That'd be nice ..." Jhaelwyn notes. "The mantids might thing they have devoured anything edible here and moved on to ripe hunting grounds. After all, there is little sense in staring at an empty bowl."
"Perhaps later we might do something with the materials. For now, let us press on towards the mines. Even if there is little to hunt, if the original emergence of the mantids was nearby, we may be able to learn something of our prey."
The road leads up a succession of hills, into land where nearly nothing grows save a bit of hardy grass and prickly bushes. About a mile from the town, the entrance to the mineworks opens up before you. To one side there is open earthworks, with bits of coal still showing where the miners abandoned old seams. A bit further off on the other side, the entrance to a shaft mine is partially collapsed - no doubt purposefully, as the residents sought to stem the emergence of the mantids. Their attempts were undone in the end by the stout timbers that shore up the tunnel, which even when partially burned were strong enough to hold up the opening.
The tunnel was not made for beasts of burden larger than a donkey - horses and certainly Ham will not fit inside.
Drekisal eyes the partially collapsed shaft.
"It seems likely any clues we might find about our prey would be within," he comments, then looks up at Gork. "We will need a rearguard, in case some mantids come to this place. Pick out which of the men you will keep with you."