”Oh good.” the woman says. ”I am Precentor of Magic, Veena Hailu. I’m glad to see you survived the captain. I’m unsure how that vile man ended up in charge of paperwork and greeting new recruits, but I’d wager it has something to do with the chaos in Vigil, I’m sure you saw. She looks back to the table for a moment and makes a note, then adds a small piece to the map.
”Your aid is most welcome. As for the warlords. I thought them something of a myth as we’ve only heard the rumors for about two weeks. Before that I was quite occupied with the fact that we were fighting a month long battle that ended in a pyrrhic loss. It seems that our scout underestimated the enemy force by a factor of at least ten. Where we set out to push to through to Ugir, now I’m hard pressed to hold our original border.” she sighs.
”Everything we hear about these warlords is worse than the last. They don’t seem to be orcs. Those who encounter them only do so from afar, or else from inspecting the remains of those unfortunate enough to get to close. Bodies are being dragged from the field and our scouts go missing following any sign. Several of our clerics have begun to suspect some sort of foul necromancy is taking place. Not unheard of among orc tribes, but also very rare.”
She gestures to the map. ”I would have you move northwest of here,’ she draws a path wide of the battlefield. ’Our latest reports show one of these bands working in the badlands here. The main goal should be to find out what they are doing and sabotage it, hopefully find our missing scouts and if you feel confident enough, engage the leader and kill him.” She speaks with a fiery passion that denotes her care for those under her command.
”In camp there is food or bedrolls if you need to recuperate before departing. See our quartermaster for your stipend.” After you’re done asking questions or responding she motions to dismiss you.
Gaurm nods to Veena, and his voice is a little deeper than normal when he speaks, "We will be happy to do what we can do gather intel upon, disrupt, or destroy the northwest band. How likely is it that you will be able to hold here long enough for your strike teams to do some good?"
”Oh yes.” she responds. ”Thank Iomedae, we are less than a month from the rain season. The main orc force has pulled back to the wall fortresses at the Sunwall and Hordeline, as well as some returning to their clan encampments and Ugir. The lower basin of the badlands floods for about two months in the spring. It can be passable, but it is very treacherous, especially for large unmounted forces. It should buy us some respite. With luck, tactical teams of small adventurers like yourselves will be able to weaken the power structure of the enemy so that when the campaign ramps up again mid summer, it will be an easier go for us.”
Barrett eyes the map, considering the circumstances of their task. Survivors would be a difficult endeavor as it would draw their attention away from sabotage.
"Has the band made camp, then? Have they fortified at all?"
Elo nods. "Yes'm." She jerks her head to the left, indicating the rest of the party. "Ma'am, who's to commmand our squad?"
She taps her chin and glances at the group, pondering for a moment. "Sergeant, I'm field promoting you to lieutenant." she says to Elo.
She makes a quick note on parchment. "Mr. Jericho will be your staff sergeant. This however is for operating purposes, you are still a volunteer militia. None of you are oath takers and you may come and go from service as you please without fear of reprimand. That said, follow your officers, and execute your duties in the grace of Iomedae."
She makes another quick notation. "To answer you question, Mr. Armstrong, the main orc force is heavily fortified, within actual forts, even now, we have long weeks of building siege engines ahead. The war lord bands are more akin to roving bands of brigands however, the traverse the badlands, never staying in one place for more than a day or two as far as are scouts and limited divination can tell."
"Congratulations, Lieutenant" comments Barrett.
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Elo blinks and surveys the woman, making sure she realizes the import; then she nods. "My life for the crusade, ma'am; for as long as Irrisen can spare me."
Pulling out her own sheet of parchment, she quickly sketches out the key features of the area as well as the group's target.
"Reconnoiter, engage, retreat. Avoid senseless casualties. As you order."
After the events in the tent are resolved, Elo looks around everyone. "Well, it seems I'm responsible for all of you. That doesn't mean I order you all to shine my boots and salute, I'm sure many of you are independent by nature or profession. It does mean if we work together, not only do we survive but we might get paid, as well as contributing to this crusade."
"So, first part of things... I've your names, but a quick word on all of your skills would be useful. We're about to engage an orc band on their own turf amid wild turf, a sound marching order and engagement plan is going to be crucial."
"Me... I'm not quite a wizard, not quite a swordsman. I've some magic, mostly ways to augment my place on the front lines, and this." Without moving a single muscle, her ponytail unwinds then re-winds itself and whips around her in a single terrifyingly fast movement. "I'm also as stealthy as any I've met." She looks enquiringly at everyone.
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Gaurm follows the others back out of the tent, ducking by reflex to pass through the open side.
Gaurm grins at the new liutenant, "My name is Gaurm. Never had a last name. Never needed it. I chop things into smaller things. I bash things with a wall of steel. And I protect my allies the while. I have found that, in the heat of combat, I have at times inspired those around me to be a more cohesive fighting force. And perhaps most importantly, I know how to follow orders." He considers Elo for a moment, "I am not sneaky. In the slightest. But I do make a mean campfire stew."
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"On the other hand, I'm an experienced practitioner. Mystical arts, collegiate training, that sort of thing. I can also put a pistol shot through a bullseye at 50 yards, so there's that."
"If you haven't guessed, I'm a bowman. I'm really good with it and prefer to use it rather than any blade. I can move quietly when needed and get along well in the wild."
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Midio explains his abilities by saying that he is unlimited psionic motion. He then proceeds to scratch equations in the ground to explain them. They appear to be theoretical quantum mechanics. They make little sense.
"Right. Scenario three ranks; first rank, Gaurm and I. Second rank, Midio. Third rank, Joshua and Barrett. Scenario two ranks; first rank, Gaurm and I. Scenario scouting; Joshua and I sweeping ahead, rest back."
She waits for objections.
With everyone acquainted, Elo is keen to head out ASAP. She grabs the best map of the area she can find- including semi-current troop and holdout positions- as well as provisions for the skirmish.
Before the wall spread out the terrain descends from light foothills into arid lowlands. Mesa's and clusters of trees dot the land. The ground is coarse grass with weeds and splotches of rocky ground. What cover there is is from naturally occurring warrens and dunes formed from the rushing waters of flood season receding back to the river to the north. The immediate plain in front of the wall is littered with bodies of orcs and crusaders. The dirt is dark red from blood flow.
Gaurm nods his approval of Elo's plan, studying the map over her shoulder. He speaks in a low tone, not so much trying to be secretive as trying not to be obvious about what he is saying, "Have you seen war before, lieutenant? This is my first taste of it, and I find it tastes particularly badly."
Joshua nods to Elo, "That makes sense to me. I'm ready to head out when you are."
Joshua travels with his bow out and ready to be used in an instant as the group travels.
Elo seems unruffled by the question. "I've seen skirmishes; raiding, defending, massacres, brigandry and 'forgettable situation's. This will be my first war."
Joshua looks at Gaurm as he asks the questions and seems to wince at one of Elo's responses. "This is my first war as well and I'm not liking the looks of it either."
Gaurm looks rather grim, but ready to face what may come, "Then we will learn war together and we will be made stronger by the tempering we will receive."
Gaurm checks the loads on his horses and reports that he is ready to leave.
"It'll be fine, just don't go overthinking it."
The group heads off.
Once out of safe zones and into open ground, they adopt Elo's scouting formation, with her and Joshua 80ft ahead of the rest.
It takes nearly two hours to traverse beyond the field of rotting bodies and to get away from the squalid flies and overwhelming stench. Moving into the lowlands, Belkzen in this area is very much a savannah, rocky outcroppings, low underbrush and brown grass, a shade giving tree every several hundred yards.
As Elo and Joshua approach a particularly large rock formation, a movement catches their eye. A large beast, followed by two others of the same type come loping out from behind the rocks. The beasts have small heads and large dorsal bone fins as well as a big tail ending in massive spikes.
The lead one lets out a moaning like roar and stomps the ground.
"That looks like trouble."
Carefully reading the wind, Joshua then takes aim at the lead beast and lets loose two shots.
"We need to buy some time..." Elo mutters as her ponytail whips around into her hand, raised defensively. "GIANT LIZARD-ANIMALS! ADVANCE AND AID!"
She clatters her feet into the ground, trying to draw the creatures' attention, as she moves in front of Joshua and summons a cloud of concealing cloud.
Gaurm advances his horse, then dismounts and moves further forward himself, drawing his shield and sword. He adopts a defensive stance that somehow brings to mind the massive, impenetrable shell of a giant tortise. His massive size and clear expectation of being able to stop anything coming their way bolsters the spirits of all of his allies that are close to him.
His first arrow strikes true and causes the great beast to shift as it roars in pain. Joshua grimaces as his second arrow glances of one of the huge bone plates that protrude from the beast’s back.
Mist rises up and blocks Elo and Gaurm from view. Enraged and frightened, the two of the giant lizard creatures charge into the mists.
The beasts thunder through the mists attempting to run down their foes. The impenetrable mists however make the target a difficult one. They mistime their charge and end up stopping short, confusedly by feet in front of the warriors. The third one, more clever and older, walks into the mists and uses its sense of smell to find an enemy.
Coming out of the mist to his right, a huge spiked tail comes at Gaurm.
The low moving tail spike pierces the half giant’s calf bearing him to the ground with vicious force. His body is not enough to slow the momentum of the huge appendage.
Two of the three foot long spikes pierce through Elo's chest cavity, she can feel her lungs begin to fill with blood as she is knocked to the ground.
Midio mumbles nonsense, and moves towards the cloud.
Coughing up blood and on the ground, Elo calls out "Come in close, I'll drop the mist in a moment!" She defensively casts a spell.
Enraged by the pain in his leg, Gaurm immediately counter attacks while the beasts guard is down, slamming his spiked shield into the creature even as the attack jerks his legs out from under him.
Round 2
Gaurm climbs to his feet, favoring his wounded leg slightly, and slashes at the vicious creature.
Barrett calmly draws his pistol from its holster and fires at one of the visible lizards. Instead of a bullet, lighting erupts from the barrel accompanied by a loud *crack*.
Seeing none of what's going on inside the cloud Joshua shoots at the creature partially out of the cloud that he can see.
Kashuya utters 4 words in an unknown tongue, "Kreh Hadrim Kotin Krasaar" while her right hand touches a point in the air, forming a diamond, as she intones each of the words.
[Dice=init]1d20+8
Kashuya utters "Kreh Hadrim Kotin Krasaar" while her right hand touches a point in the air, forming a diamond, as she intones each of the words.
[Spoiler=Spellcraft DC 17] Cacophonous call [/url]
DC 18 will save or nauseated for 5 rounds.
Gaurm’s attacks glance off the thick hide of the beast, his normally strong strike thrown off by the force of the enemy’s blow.
From the ground, Elo’s calm collected demeanor allows her to maintain focus despite grievous injuries. Mutter a spell and coolly using the somatic motions quickly, her form appears to split into four slightly different Elos.
The giant beast that had attacked them was facing out of the mist, it’s head and forward body exposed. With a practiced hand, Barrett fires his pistol, the bullets spiralling with electric energy. Both bullets strike true delivering a vicious shock as well as causing a heavily bleeding impact wound in the beast’s neck.
Two of Joshua’s arrows strike immediately afterwards hitting the same beast behind it’s right shoulder puncturing it’s lung, wheezing a pained and panicked roar. Thundering in a cloud of dust, it retreats towards the rock outcropping. The other two sensing the bull’s distress back out of the mist and back up toward the rock slowly, still facing the group and letting out threatening roars.
The remaining two begin to shake their heads in disgust and back away faster.
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With the retreat of the animals, Gaurm kneels beside Elo, trying to identify which image is her, "Lieutenant, try not to move." He raises his voice through the mist, "Over here! We need a medic!"
"On my way" says Barrett as he pulls out his wand and heads towards Elo. When he gets there he starts using charges from the wand.
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Kashuya appears next to Elo, "I must say this is the first time I've run into really big dinosaurs outside books."
She looks down at the bleeding images of Elo. "Can you stand?" and offers Elo a hand, waiting for the right Elo to grab it.
"I strongly recommend that we get out of here most speedily, by the way you came from. You see, they have small heads, molars instead of cannies, and those spikes look more of a defensive nature. Therefore, I conclude that we're dealing with herbivores, and the only reason they'd be attacking us, is because we're in THEIR territory." She concludes her lecture smugly, seeming indifferent to Elo's distress.
"Oh, and don't take too long in deciding, the effects of that mental discipline of mine won't last forever."She taps her foot impatiently.
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Muttering curses in Irrisen, Elo grabs for Kashuya's hand, gets to her feat and dismisses her doubles with a syllable. She waves away Barrett, and pulls out her own wand.
"...I'll be able to see this is a good training fight as soon as the giant hole in my lungs stops aching." She nods to Kashuya. "Back to scouting formations, and this time, we proceed more stealthily."
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Once they're out of Stego territory, Kashuya introduces herself to the rest of the party. "I'm Professor Kashuya, of the Acadamae of Solthis, and I'm here to document the Lastwall conflict for my latest book, the Chronicles of the Lastwall." She holds out her hand for everyone to shake.
Her hand is pretty soft, her fingers slender and graceful. Not the hand of a warrior, though there are scribe calluses from holding an ink pen for too long.
As Elo uses the infernal healing wand on herself, she flips her black robes up a bit to reveal a smart looking pair of boots. "Try stand a while in these, they work pretty well for mending injuries."
Boots of the Earth
She gives a knowing smile, "Us Osirions have found ways of tapping into the Earth's powers for a while."
"Must say the security here is pretty questionable, considering I managed to slip past the border without being asked any questions. So, do you happen to be involved in the Lastwall conflict? What are you doing here, and where are you headed?" she asks. She then takes out her ink, inkpen and journal to start penning down replies.
Elo salutes. She looks the dandy up and down and shakes her head. "Thanks, but my scabs and scars are used to these wands, anything else and I ache through the nights." She shrugs. "I don't know about border security... but I can say that we're a new group commissioned to investigate and destroy an orc band and their unknown skullduggery." She looks around and notes the expressions on everyone's faces. "If'n you've a mind to join the cause and fight the good fight... we can use another." She extends her hand.
"Up to you, its your wand." She shrugs indifferently.
On hearing the rest of what Elo has to say. "Ahhh, a mercenary band, no? Going straight into the heart of the conflict? Excellent. " She rubs her hands in glee. "Now don't get me wrong about causes and good fights, they're all nice and noble sounding. I believe I shall hang around and provide assistance to you lot, as our purposes intertwine. Afterall, how many authors can boast of being in the midst of the action?" Kashhuya shakes Elo's hand.
"Oh, let me introduce you to an associate of mine, Hottentotta Tamulus."
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A blue banded greensting scorpion pops out of her sleeves and clackers its pincers in greeting.
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"A scorpion? delightful. Then you're some type of magi I take it."
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"Soldiers... or at least, I am." She gives the woman a hard look. "I've no position to judge whatever brings a fighter to the fight; just make sure you hold strong when iron meets iron."
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"Magi? Nay, it is all the power of the mind." She wags her index finger. "The mind is limitless, in many ways. With discipline, you can accomplish almost anything."
"Scorpions are common in Osirion, just that this little fellow here seems to be a little special. They usually don't come in these distinct colours, and this fine specimen even understands the teachings of Irori. I meditate with him every morning. He is my meditation focus."
"And you should know that even though Irorians don't start fights, we do finish them."
Joshua approaches the woman and takes her hand and shakes it, "Joshua Jericho. I'm the ranged specialist and scout. Let's get around these beasts and continue on our way. We'll give them a wide berth."