You hear a frightened horse neigh in the woods. You hear the two pundits are still running.
Servayn will advance towards the sound of the horse, hoping that the eagle is keeping the elf, at least, in full-blown retreat.
If nothing else, we can make the bastard walk home...
The eagle attempts another strike at the fleeing elf, moving like a feathered meteor.
, +1 if evil
"I can hear a horse, think it belongs to our runaways?" says Tuck through gritted teeth still tender from his wounds. He pops the stopper from one of Bokken's potions and drinks the sweet almond-flavored liquid. "Remind me to not make fun of Lukasz for being shot so much.."
Fury in his eyes, Janku stomps off through the woods in the direction he saw Kal disappear. He makes more of an imprint on the environment.
The halfling turns around when Kalsgrim shouts and mocks him: "Wow! 'You CANNOT esCApe!!!' That's a good one! Don't you think you're funney?" He waves his free hand, pointing at Kalsgrim. The paladin feels a roar of laughter course through his body. Fortunately, he shakes it off quickly.
The halfling then climbs on his poney and kicks his sides, making him bolt forward.
The elf is in bad shape, and crouching slightly. He seems intent on getting away. He gets on his horse and the horse dashes forth.
Servayn takes a shot with his crossbow at the fleeing halfling, while the eagle continues it's attack on the elf.
The eagle gives a bloodthirsty screech, sounding more like the scream of tortured metal sundering than anything should come from the throat of a celestial animal.
, +1 if evil
, +1 if evil
Blood refuses to take purchase on it's gleaming feathers, spraying off of it's flapping wings in a fine mist, leaving it unsullied.
, +1 if evil
The elf collapses in his saddle, and his horse slows its stride down. The halfling curses loudly but pushes his mount forth, hoping to escape with his life.
While the others chase after the fleeing bandits, raising quite the racket, Tuck returns to the horses and gathers them up. If there's still time he'll mount up and start riding towards the others.
The elf collapses in his saddle, and his horse slows its stride down. The halfling curses loudly but pushes his mount forth, hoping to escape with his life.
Janku head down bowling over small shrubs, and tearing through brier patches continues chasing the fleeing halfing as thought he had a chance to catch him.
Servayn dashes forward, instead of reloading his crossbow, shouting for the eagle to "Kill the halfling!" while attempting to reach the elf and his horse.
If the elf is capable of being saved, he'll give that a shot.
Otherwise, he'll just leave the man slumped over his horse, and lead it back towards the others.
Kalsgrim's arrow strikes true, in the middle of the halfling's shoulderblade. He slumps slightly, but rides on. The eagle soars a little ahead, ready for a diving charge. Janku clambers forth, but his attempt seems futile, as the gap widens even more with each stride.
As the halfling bandit shoots forth, an exhilarating pursuit ensues.
Tuck gets the horses together and springs around the thicket to meet Servayn and Janku. Meanwhile, watching his first arrow miss, Kalsgrim rushes to Lyndalan's horses and mounts it, pushing the elf on the ground. He then pushes the mount after Benin Barrowsnatch. The movement of the horse, at full speed, makes firing very hazardous. First a shot misses, then a second lands again in the halfling's back.
Meanwhile, the eagle circles ahead of Benin, to then close in, talons first, but the halfling was expecting it and his rapier catches the predator which misses its charge. Another circle to get ahead, while Kals' arrow flies wide, and the eagle closes again, changing its angle. Kal's arrow then catches him and, this time, the eagle is the more precise opponent. His talon catches the halfling's throat and he lies flat on the back of his stead, only to flip from the movement of the horse's hips and land crashing on the ground.
The group rallies around the paladin and the eagle flies in a victorious circle. They bring the two bodies (both dead I'm afraid) together, with the horses and their possessions.
2x light warhorses
Lyndalan:
MWK Composite Longbow
MWK Studded
Scimitar
Benin:
Small MWK Studded Leather
Small Shortbow
Small Rapier
Cash: 15 GP
Potion of Comprehend Languages
Potion of Hide from Animals
The party proceeds South, following the river, hoping to find a suitable campsite to care for their wounded. The come upon the old bridge that broke when they first tried to cross it, splitting their party, but this time from the other side.
As they approach, a figure moves out from the cover of bushes, almost invisible prior, his hand raised in a peaceful gesture. The man is of great size, with dark blond hair and beard.
Tuck recognizes him as Kriger Eilifson, an agent of the swordlords with whom he has worked and traveled in the past. He knows the man to be trustworthy.
"Well met! I..." he stops in midsentence, lowers his hand and with a questioning look peers hard at Tuck. "Tuck? Is that you?" He slowly walks up and looks around at the small party, "Well it looks like you only got a few of your party killed this time. Word is they were sending five and six at a time out here. You're not bedding their women too, are you?" He says with a look of irritation as he crosses his arms waiting for a response.
After a moment of awkwardness and the look of discomfort on Tuck, After he wipes the tears from his eyes he continues, "I'm just foolin'! How you doing you ol' dog! It's been a long time!" He gives Tuck a big bear of a hug and pats him on the shoulder. "How you been?...Oh, sorry! Where's my manners." He turns to the rest of the party, "Name's Kriger. Resident swordlord trying to help rid the land of the scum bandits that infest these parts. And who might you all be?"
"Ah, Kriger, I'm not sure it's been long enough since we met last," says Tuck after greeting the man, "Didn't I leave you half-naked in a horse trough with a dozen Surtovan Battlenuns of Iomedae boiling from their church?"
"Nevermind that, I bet the lords have sent you here after my last report detailing what kind of a threat this Stag Lord is." He points at the others in the group, "We've got Kalsgrim, paladin of Erastril. Janku, cleric of Gorum and Servayn, a magician of sorts. A few others have gone to help a stray cleric of Erastril redeem himself at an abandoned temple in the woods."
Servayn lets loose a cheer as the eagle returns with blood on it's claws, signifying that the thrice-cursed halfling has met it's match, and allows the celestial raptor to return to it's heavenly respite.
He calls forth Ember while they examine the gear on the fallen elf and halfling, and sets the eidolon to digging a shallow grave for the two bandits, to the great exasperation of his otherworldly ally, who grouses extravagantly at being called forth to perform such drudge-work.
The grousing is cut short abruptly when the hole is remotely deep enough, as Servayn dismisses Ember as curtly as he summoned him, and rolls the two bodies into the hole, and pushes some displaced dirt, gravel and small stones over them.
Once the bodies are at least perfunctorily covered, he helps to strap the gear taken from the two to their horses, and walks on foot, leading the two new horses by the reins, while his own horse follows on it's own volition, being better-trained.
****
To the new arrival, Servayn offers a tentative handshake, "Any friend of Tucks, is... well, probably a scoundrel, but welcome, nonetheless."
"Ah, Kriger, I'm not sure it's been long enough since we met last," says Tuck after greeting the man, "Didn't I leave you half-naked in a horse trough with a dozen Surtovan Battlenuns of Iomedae boiling from their church?"
He lets out another hearty laugh, "Ahh yes." he reflects, "Good times."
"Nevermind that, I bet the lords have sent you here after my last report detailing what kind of a threat this Stag Lord is." He points at the others in the group, "We've got Kalsgrim, paladin of Erastril. Janku, cleric of Gorum and Servayn, a magician of sorts. A few others have gone to help a stray cleric of Erastril redeem himself at an abandoned temple in the woods."
"That they have. Sounds worse than what the Swordlords originally thought." After the introductions, he turns to Kalsgrim, "Well, so you're a follower of 'Old Deadeye'? Good. Looks like you're keeping better company than what you're use to, Tuck." He says with a wink and a smile.
To the new arrival, Servayn offers a tentative handshake, "Any friend of Tucks, is... well, probably a scoundrel, but welcome, nonetheless."
He grabs his hand in a big strong handshake and with a look of complete seriousness, "If you know what's good for you," he says with a stern look that quickly fades into a great big smile, "you won't be believing any different. HA! HA!"
A pleasure to meet you. What are you doing out in these parts? We've been doing our best to cleanse the area, but it is still dangerous.
"Like Tuck said, his last report reached the Swordlords and they got a little worried about the strength of the Stag Lord. Seeing's how me and Tuck go way back, they figured I would be the best at finding him, and helping out any way I can. Again." He says with a wry smile.
With a look of rememberance he continues, "Oh, I almost forgot," he reaches in his backpack and pulls out a wand, "Don't know how bad you fellas are hurt, but this here gadget it'll help fix you up. Swordlords said you might be needin' it." He hands it over to Kalsgrim.
As the group is joined by a new ally, a certain sense of hope fills its members. The day is now well advanced and the group could only push ahead for a few hours before sunset.
Random Encounter:
Type if necessary:
Janku returns a few rounds into the introductions, panting, and sweating out of breath.
"Good job with the whole Eagle thing". he smiles at the summoner. He then introduces himself to the new arrival...suspicious as always till he proves his mettle.
As they are about to set forth to get a few miles behind them before sunset, Kriger notices a rider coming from the north. Kalsgrim recognizes the man approaching and stay the ranger's hand: it is Lukasz, a friend and a dabbler in the arcane arts!
The wizard has opted at the last minute to follow the group south, instead of joining the team going to the temple of Erastil. He brings splendid news from Oleg's: the Swordlords have put a bounty on the Stag Lord. 5000 gold pieces to those who bring him down, dead or alive!
"Grand plan! Then it looks like I showed up just in time!" He says as he rubs his hands together in anticipation. "If it's one thing I hate, it's these bandit scum who go out of their way to taint the land." His faces bears a true show of anger at the thought. "I've heard a lot about this Stag Lord. Do any of you know what type of creature this lout might be?"
The one that Kalsgrim identified as Lukasz was not an impressive man by any means. A slim but solid frame and road worn clothing being the only real indicators of his time on the road."It seems that fate has graciously allowed me to continue with you all. I was on my way to the Temple with the others when we were set upon by those wolves once more. Not wanting to risk Ox's life in his condition, I played the bait and headed south. Fortunately, Maribel here was able to give them a good chase before we lost them." Lukasz gently pats his horse's neck before continuing. "Though launching an occasional spell over my shoulder certainly helped as well. Anyway, after losing the wolves, I found myself a little lost. So, sending Swiftbreeze to scout, she came back with a familiar feeling of an violent man in metal along with a calmer man with a bow. Thinking that it could just possibly be Janku and Kalsgrim, I followed Swiftbreeze until I came across you all."
Glad to be back with the group, Lukasz listens for a moment while Swiftbreeze gets comfortable perched up in a nearby tree. then the wizard chimes in with "Well, from what I recall, all we really know about this Staglord is that the bandits who work under him fear him and that he is a man with a mean temper, especially when he is drunk."
After the happy meeting, the group, now six strong, pushes south with great haste. They follow the western bank of the Thorn River until it meets the Shrike River. At this point, the Thorn is much wider and could easily be crossed. It seemed like a good place to stop for the night.
Encounter chance:
Type:
The sound of cicadas grows loud as the sun slowly sets. The temperature seems perfect, only a somewhat cold wind blows.
Glad to be back with the group, Lukasz listens for a moment while Swiftbreeze gets comfortable perched up in a nearby tree. then the wizard chimes in with "Well, from what I recall, all we really know about this Staglord is that the bandits who work under him fear him and that he is a man with a mean temper, especially when he is drunk."
"There's his problem already! His temper will be the death of him." With a slight smile, he moves his eyes toward the Gorumite to see if he gets a reaction. He turns back to Lukasz, "Or maybe, just my axe. HA! HA!"
"This is a fine as place as any. We can rest up and then find this Stag Lord tomorrow, and end him. Along with his bandit kin. Whatever watch you need me to take, I'm for taking."
Lukasz quickly sets about unpacking his horse and removing its saddle, getting Maribel ready to bed down for the night. Afterwards, he will organize a spot for himself as Swiftbreeze simple settles on a nearby branch. Once everyone has found a place for themselves, and the group has found itself some food for the evening, the will join in to the conversation about watch order and plans for the next day.
"If need be, I can take an hour or so at watch since my spell use has been rather minimal today and I still retain many of the spells I memorized this morning."
As they make camp, Servayn attempts to catch Lukasz up to date, and inadvertantly fill in the new arrival on the latest activities;
"The annoying halfling that bespelled us in the night has been dealt with, as well the leader of the elven bandits, if I'm not mistaken, so that's two loose ends wrapped up. We've also parleyed with the local fey, and should have less pranks in the night, as they support our moving against the Stag Lord, and have no love for the mites, as well, and would probably not shed a tear if we dealt with them as well..."
"The primary situations left to address are the Stag Lord, the mites, the wisp-creature, possibly the Boggard, although Gentle Ben seems to think him harmless, and building upon the tentative alliance we've established with the Sootscales, and, if possible, getting rid of that shaman of theirs and turning them to a more acceptable path of worship, such as the faith of the Horned Huntsman."
Servayn offers to take last watch, if no one else has need. When aroused for watch, if nothing untoward has happened before then, he will spend a minute calling Ember forth, and the beast's appearance has changed yet again, with his red scales having faded to such a dark shade as to appear black in the darkness, with only the firelight bringing out the red highlights. His footsteps are silent as he strides forth, and even his guttural voice comes forth in a lower register. Sleeker in form, he seems built for stealth, and, true to that observation, he settles down to sit watch, fading away into the shadows like a dark and dangerous dream.
Glad to be back with the group, Lukasz listens for a moment while Swiftbreeze gets comfortable perched up in a nearby tree. then the wizard chimes in with "Well, from what I recall, all we really know about this Staglord is that the bandits who work under him fear him and that he is a man with a mean temper, especially when he is drunk.""There's his problem already! His temper will be the death of him." With a slight smile, he moves his eyes toward the Gorumite to see if he gets a reaction. He turns back to Lukasz, "Or maybe, just my axe. HA! HA!"
"This is a fine as place as any. We can rest up and then find this Stag Lord tomorrow, and end him. Along with his bandit kin. Whatever watch you need me to take, I'm for taking."
Encounter:
Type:
The night is spent without any discomfort, and you wake fresh and ready for another long trek towards the reported position of the stag Lord's fort.
Sunrise is shaded in pink and blue hues as a thick cover of clouds plays with its scattered rays. A smell of freshness fills the air and a chilly light rain starts drizzling on the plains. Soon, the hooves of the horses slosh on the wet tall grass.
You leave the Thorn and start following the Shrike, going east.
"Kriger, don't get too far ahead. We've come close to death more than once from a surprise in these lands," Tuck calls as the tracker leads off from the group. "Thought it might be interesting to find him hanging from some trappers trip line."
Watch out for bear-traps, in particular. They are a popular surprise around these parts... Servayn adds to Tuck's warning.
"Kriger, don't get too far ahead. We've come close to death more than once from a surprise in these lands," Tuck calls as the tracker leads off from the group. "Thought it might be interesting to find him hanging from some trappers trip line."
As Kriger ventures ahead of the group, "I heard that!," he responds without ever turning around.
As the group slowly climbs a low hill, a good five or six hours after departing, Kriger stops ahead and signals them to do the same.
A few miles ahead, sits a small building. A wooden palisade surrounds a stone building. The walls seem spiky and in good shape, while the stones inside appear much older. A watchtower oversees the compound.
This is it! The stag Lord's den, and the center of all that's tearing at the Greenbelt's future...
Hills surround the fort, but they provide very little cover. Kriger notices a path, completely devoid of cover, that sinuates up to the fort's entry.
The wet rain has hardened since the morning. It's cold and a northern wind seems to pick up a little, making your horses shiver a little.
"Only two solutions to a badger holed up in it's den, find a way in unobserved, or find a way to draw it out." Servayn says. "If we present a weak enough target, do you think they'll send a group out to deal with us, that we can overwhelm outside of the protection of their fort, leaving them less men for the final fight?"
"I am at something of a loss for how we could take the fight directly to the Stag Lord. If we were, somehow, able to fell him decisively, I suspect that a percentage of his men would be demoralized and quit the field... A bandit's loyalties are to the strong, after all."
"Any thoughts?"
"I like the finding a way to draw him out plan. Trying to take him while he's all defensed up is suicide. I like your plan Servayn. The question is, which one of us is the weak target?" He thinks on it for a moment by rubbing his beard, "Well, we can't let Tuck be the target. He might wet himself. We wouldn't want him to suffer through that a fourth time." He returns to pondering again with a devilish grin, as he moves his eyes toward Tuck to attempt to catch a reaction.
"Okay. How 'bout I go out there, you know...wounded or the like. I can go out there screaming like a banshee, with something to the effect of, 'I'm here to collect my reward Stag Dung! Come out an face me like a real man! Or whatever you are!', then to go along with the whole wounded bit, 'I've killed most of your scum bandits already, now I'm gonna do the same to you, Dung Lord! One of your boys got a lucky shot on me but I saw no reason to heal myself. I just figured, since I'm wounded, maybe Lord Dung Heap might not be to scared to face me! HA! HA!'. "Well what do you think?" He looks quite proud and a little too excited about his "masterful" plan.