oscar is with Koldur and Sable
"It looks as if you gentlemen have neglected hygene supplies, mending kits, pack animals, comfort food supplies, and your supplies of writing equipment are woefully under represented if we are going to make maps." D stops shakes his head and rises a single eyebrow "And is that my life savings your are spending Koldur? Gentlemen I have very little use for material goods but one would like to be asked for a contribution before the money is gone. In any case I will like receipts and will expect to be recompensed at a future time. No I have no objection to it being spent, but it is not limitless and should be spent wisely."
Koldur raises an eyebrow.
"Nay Laddie, tis is my own gold I be Spending. What use of writing supplies will I need being that I can almost not read my own writing. Nay. I'll leave that in more capable hands. And your words point you to be rather narrow minded. Has it occured to you to check first or did you assume all to be petty thieves? A mindset like yours will not gain us any allies at all though I commend the sharpness of your tongue."
Turning to Sable.
"I can see why you hired this one. He's a good man to be sure, looking out for your interests in this."
Razaniel goes along with Xara, if she is making any purchases, debating about the considerations at hand, where they should be heading first, and details about settlements in the area.
When the group gets back together vehiculates the information he can recollect.
"While we were out gathering the necessary supplies, I had the chance to think some more about the questions that we had pondered earlier, regarding the Stolen Lands" - he commments - "The only single pieces of useful information I can recollect are the fact that there is rumor of a temple of Erastil in the Stolenlands, but I believe it to be decently far away and central to the whole region, so this may not be immediately accessible to us"
Absent mindedly checking the pull on his bow he adds - "As far as survivability... The one place of civilization in the stolen lands is Oleg's outpost, a trading station more than anything I guess. Oleg and his wife live, and trade from there - it may be a good first option as to where se should head"
Koldur doesn't take his eyes of the keenstone as he put a fresh edge on his axes.
"We need to be there. As for why I don't know. If you say this Oleg's Outpost is a good place to start then we should head there unless,anyoen else have objections?"
"A trading station sounds perfect," Xara says.
|
Sable laughs then does a soft punch on D's arm, "That's why I have you, to remind me of such things plus it is your domain, I can read a map but I can't make an accurate one. Plus I thought you had those mending kits already?"
Once Sable got back to his room he collected his own chest and gear, with his and D's horse. Also his man at arms who watches the horses and tends them.
Now that everyone has collected gear for their travels, the group starts to head out.
Well our current goal is the temple. nods oscar
"Then let us get moving along" - Razaniel adds with a smile from atop his horse.
As the group heads out the West Gate, do any of you do anything besides just heading out?
I'm afraid Oleg's isn't run by Oleg and his wife any more Raz. Oleg was killed by bandits some time back. Dwarves run the old fort now. I haven't been there since they took over the place so I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than that.Henric looks the lot over as they head out the gate; an obvious air of relief shows on the young man, as they head out of the city.
Xara alternates between letting Reafan fly overhead in broad circles, and walking alongside the horses. He can't keep up with the horses on foot for very long, however, so if anybody wants to have a conversation with Xara, she'll dismount and ride on his (is everybody else a guy??) horse, letting Reafan soar on his own.
As Koldur adjusts to the rather uncomfortable Saddle, to him that is, he looks out to see if there's anyone following them and also to listen out for interesting tibits. He would also arrange for a messsenger sent out to Iron Peaks to inform them of his whereabouts and for them to keep running as usual.
"Dwarves eh? Nice to know I'll be going to see some kinsman. Is there anything else we should know about tis stolen lands? Bandits ye mentioned?"
Bandits shouldn't be too much of a problem
"I did not know that Oleg's had been assaulted by bandits - living in the Stolen Lands is not easy for sure..." - Razaniel shakes his head - "Koldur, do you believe we have a good chance that these dwarves will be friendly towards our intentions?"
-------------
Noticing the alternating travel that Xara has adopted, the man addresses her with a polite smile - "Milady, if you would accept travelling with me, I believe Biel should be able to carry us, as long as we do not intend to gallop throughout the day - It would allow your raven companion to fly freely above us? An extra pair of eyes in the sky may prove very useful as we move into untamed lands"
The man carries on a conversation as they move along - "I apologize for my ignorance in these matters, but I would ask you - is the creature male or female? And what of his... or her name?"
Henric canters forward leading his mule along behind him. Henric nods to Oscar as he passes him. Bandit's can be quiet the problem. A pestilence worse than locusts to the common man. Some are just desperate men that is true enough those tend to evaporate when resistance shows up. The ones who like it though now they can be fierce opposition. Henric smiles But with the likes of this company I think we shall have the advantage. Henric then listens as he too is interested in Xara and her giant crow.
Koldur shrugs at Razaniel's question.
"Let us hope they are. Fighting them may not be a good thing. If I know my kin, chances are they would have reinforced the trading outpost. I know I would."
The group has left Restov and continue on the way to the Stolenlands. None of you get your presents from Moonshine, for none of you stopped at the West Gate, perhaps they will arrive later for you.
After the five day trip, you can all see what looks to be a fort in the distance.
You can see humans or humanoids around the fort, some huddled together as others walk around.
The humans seem to be destitute, by their state of clothing, they seem to have rags. They huddle together in small groups but you don't see any fires.
You believe that they are all infected with some horrible disease or... undeath.
"I see what seem like people around the fort" - Razaniel informs the others - "They seem huddled around each other, and from the state of their clothing they look like vagabonds or vagrants, probably in search for food?"
To Razaniel: Xara gracefully accepts his offer of company. "His name is Reafan. A servant of Andoletta led me to his egg, fallen from its nest. I tended the hatchling and reared him, and the two of us have traveled together ever since."
Perception:
"There are people walking and huddling around the fort. I don't think they're attacking, but something's off, unless it's just the dwarves inside being extra inhospitable. Give me a moment."
She pulls out her silent whistle and calls Reafan down.
Staying well out of bow shot from the fort, Xara leads Reafan closer to the fort to give herself a better look at the humans.
As Xara on the giant raven circles around the fort, you may look at all the spoilers above.
Upon seeing something very disturbing, Xara takes a deep breath and dives down, risking bow shots from the fort to get a closer look at the humans outside, trying to determine which alternative from that last spoiler is the truth, before wheeling Reafan around and returning to the group.
Understand that you are going to find 1/4 of food in the plains between Restov and the Stolenlands, as opposed to normal scavenging. Basically you will only need to eat one Ration Henric.
to supplement the rations while traveling
-----
Oscar will climb down from his horse, draw his weapon with one hand, holding the end of the blade down If they are indeed undead, then i shall cleanses them and put their soul to rest. if they are just infected with a disease, I will do what i can.
he slowly, in order to give enough time to the party to react, move up to the fort not really trying to hid his presence
You have always had a mission in your mind of defeating evil and staying to the tenements of good the best you can. You know you may have to pay for atonement, but as long as evil is expunged the celestials will sort it out. You have gained the ability to smite evil and later to detect evil. If you already have this ability gain it once more per day. You can never turn off your detect evil, and will never ask questions before smiting an evil entity. -5 to diplomacy checks or other social checks done with evil aligned individuals for your party, as they hold you back and want to smite it. Though you will follow your group's actions by holding you back, never harming them physically. :)
"My kin, the dwarves maybe under siege. Mayhaps we shall aid them bit only after proper scouting. Perhaps Xara can fly in and ask them?"
Looking at his axes.
"Or we could just charge them if they're proven hostile."
Xara takes out a white hanky and ties it to her longspear. "I shall go see if I may speak with the dwarves, and learn what I can."
Xara heads back into the air, waving her white flag clearly as she approaches the fort. She circles over the fort several times, looking for signs of life inside. If she sees dwarves, she will call down for permission to land inside.
Henric slides off his horse nocking an arrow he looks off toward the fort. Can someone tell me what we are looking at here? I couldn't make them out myself.Henric furrows his brow in frustration shading his eyes trying to get a better look.
Xara you believe you see more of the undead or diseased within the fort, perhaps twice as many with almost no signs of dwarves.
Oscar once you get within 60 feetof the first humanoid you believe it to be an undead and can sense evil.
|
|
survival supplementing rations during the travel with the rest of them.
Sable dismounts, not wanting the beautiful creature to become diseased. He flicks out his curved great sword from his back sheath. "Well shall we see if they are friendly? ... Ah yes sounds good we will wait until you get back Xada!"
Oscar will turn back toward the party and yell
They are all unfriendly undead before moving forward and then charging
Round 1
Xara flies back, shouting down, "Undead have taken the fort, and we are seriously out-numbered."
Koldur checks his axes as Xara flies back with her warning.
"Too late lassie, Oscar went in swinging. A Man after my own heart though I'm curious though......There're friendly undead? Haven't met any in my life or is that because I swung first and tried to make friend later......"
Moving slower doeesn't hurt too much here, there's plenty of foes and leaving the horses where they are Koldur ambles off behind his party members to give them support.
|
|
Sable still a bit sore lets the others take the fight to the undead, pacing himself next to Koldur as he draws his curved greatsword from his horse. "Jimmy stay with the horses and yell if you notice any threats that approach them, standard protocol. Koldur let us get the meat grinder started again." Sable says with mirth as he stretches from the long ride and his recent wounds.
"Sure."
Koldur cracks his neck as he stretches, swingin his arms to loosen them up and then a series of hops to ensure his movement isn't impeded.
Razaniel follows Oscar from bowshot range, leaving his horse behind - "Why does he risk so much like that?" - he comments to the others, closing the distance quickly as he notices his companion has engaged their foes.
So exactly how many zombies are we talking about?
There appears to be less than a dozen zombies on this side of the fort. The main gate that faces South is closed, thus keeping in many of what Xara saw.
ROUND 1
Oscar makes it to the zombies slicing the first one and it falls. The others begin to realize you are there and stand if they were sitting, or advance on you. Now three zombies are next to Oscar threatening him.
Xara do you land or just fly near them? Koldur, Sable, D, Brother Henric and Razaniel all begin to advance on the zombies, now 50 feet away from Oscar.
ROUND 2
Heroes first, then the zombies.
Well, Can't let the laddie have all the fun.
Koldur charges with his axes swinging despite his saddle sore buttocks.
|
|
Sable takes one stride for every two by the dwarf but keeps his pace to be beside him, it looks weird but rather natural for the elf, he must have had much practice doing it. He charges right in with Koldur. "Some good exercise to stretch the sore body!" He exclaims slamming his blade into a zombie, though the blade just bounces off.
Elven Courtblade attack, damage with PA.
"Aarrgghh, come on, not even a clean slice, I need to practice." Sable complains.
Round 2
May your soul find peace in the afterlife says oscar as he attacks yet another undead
Henric advances another 30 feet then picks a target of those circling Oscar and lets fly
The arrow sinks into the zombie, but looks to do very little real damage to it.
D moves forward and attacks with his temple sword for
Xara stays airborne, and performs a strafing run.
Ride:
Xara guides Reafan with her knees, aiming at the zombie Henric hit with his arrow. She thrusts with her spear while Reafan snaps with his beak. They use Fly By Attack so they are out of melee range at the end of their move.
Spear: (higher ground)
Damage: Like Henric's arrow, her piercing spear has very little effect.
Reafan bite: (higher ground)
Damage: The ripping of his beak has a lot more effect.
Razaniel stops his movement at no more than thirty feet from the creatures, and lets two arrows fly in quick succession at one of their foes.