Looking as pure as driven snow, Ûzorgráng says to Keith: "Bloodthirsty? I'm practical, that's what I am!"
Then smiles wryly at is own joke, whether anyone gets it or not.
He frowns as he says, "The the thing is the bandits are not going to cooperate. Why should they? If they come with us they're likely to be branded, or have their necks stretched. No they're going to fight, tooth and nail. Look if we find one or two we may well be able to subdue them. Franly I'd support that, any intelligence we can gleam from a live prisoner will be of great use. The thing is they're not going to conveniently line up two by two. No they'll try to break us and I fear you will have no option but to kill or be killed. Trust me when that happens you'll be very glad to have our bloodthirsty friend over there around!"
"Thrust me, Keith, I have done some real fighting with my instructor, and know when it is time to fight without pulling your punches. A dead protector is of no use for anyone.
Even the goddess teaching to her paladins say that.To cite the code:
The best battle is one I win. If I die I can no longer fight. I will fight fairly when the fight is fair, and I will strike quickly and without mercy when ti is not."
Looking as pure as driven snow, Ûzorgráng says to Keith: "Bloodthirsty? I'm practical, that's what I am!"
Then smiles wryly at is own joke, whether anyone gets it or not.
Julius smile at Ûzorgráng.
"Sure"
Addressing nobody in particular, Ûzorgráng asks the group as a whole: "What sort of plans should we make next? I for one would like to get some training exercise in before we set off."
"I second Uzgorgang's idea about practice. It has been far to long since I have done my Scimitair excersizes." It had only been a week, but to Shyr that was seven days to long. Hearing Keith's and Julius' conversation, Shyr joined in. "Don't think that because our goddess advocates redemption of the evil that we shirk from killing Master Flint. s Julius said, we won't offer evil the chance of redemption if it risks the lives of others. As for the evil that cannot be redeemed, to it I offer no mercy. No darkness can stand up to the sun." Shyr's voice became more hash as she spoke the last couple of sentences. It had been sixteen when she and several of the other priests came across a butchered caravan, one of the Ishlar people, a pacifistic group that nobody bothered. The brigands who had carried it out had possessed no reason to kill the members of the caravan, but they had done it anyway, as well as other things that had sent her retching to the ground. There was evil in the world that truly could not be redeemed, that was the lesson she had drawn from it. It had caused her to hate herself for doubting one of the core tenants of the church, but she couldn't change her feelings in that regard. "As for planning, I'll leave that to you. I unfortuantly have never been much of a thinker myself. "
"I am ready to train with you, friends. I am curious to see if there are differences in how we use our scimitars, Shyr.
Ans I should do some work with the morningstar too. There are foes that require different weapons.
Protector Colson has always recommended at least 2 hours of training every day."
After a few days together you have hear several times the name of this protector Colson. He seem to be a celebrity between the inquisitor of Sarenrae in the north, at leas if you listen to Julius.
Actually he is a minor celebrity, something like a 7th level inquisitor that has defeated some powerful foe, but the last year he has retired after fighting a necromancer and his minions. With the help of Julius and several other trainees he was able to force the necromancer to flee, destroying all of his minions and henchmen, but he suffered several permanent negative levels and so far no one has been able to remove them. Currently he is on retirement, both for his advancing age (he is over 50) and the debilitating effect of having multiple negative levels.
Ûzorgráng listens to Shyr …
He notices the emotion in her short outburst. "It looks like she is remembering something that upset her. Bandits, maybe?"
"Getting a few hours of hard practice every day will be good! I need the practice after all I just ate! I'll need to practice with my guisarme, heavy flail, daggers, sling, and 'Varguthauk', my spiked chain. It will be interesting to watch each other's styles. I would like to see Shyr and Keith practice with their scimitars and Thorgrund practice with his axe."
Looking at Shyr with a quizzical expression, he finishes off by saying "I like it because I forget bad things while I practice hard."
Keith smiles and nods along while wondering, 'What the heck? I didn't do anything! What a bunch of sanctimonious nonsense. I suppose I have to suffer this, we will need the blessings of the gods. Too bad the clergy always have strange ideas.'
With a genuine smile he agrees with Ûzorgráng, saying "Yes practice seems like a good idea. I'm a little rusty with the crossbow although I was judged a fair shot as a youth. Of course I have other talents, we should practice fighting multiples mixing magic in with bladework. Its best I save my offensive spells for fighting three or more in close quarters, The thing is I'll need a clear arc in front or I won't be able to take the shot."
Thorgrund listens to the others, nodding in agreement. He is encouraged by the enthusiasm of the young ones, even moreso that they want to train before heading into what could be a very dangerous set of circumstances.
"Good. I do need to practice myself. Trying to learn to use the shield and the axe at the same time is taxing..."
"A spell with a cone spread, Keith? What kind?
Some of our clerics can learn burning hands, but I don't have the knack."
There is a hint of longing in Julius voice.
"I can create some bolt of fire and get some basic protection, but nothing special."
Keith nods, "Yes Julius, although I usually change the wording to summon a fan of frigid cold instead. Much less likely to accidentally set something on fire that way. Anyway like I said we need to practice, I'd feel awful if I got somebody by mistake."
Ûzorgráng will address Baron Lumont about his offer of pre-payment. Polite, but blunt as ever: "I am Ûzorgráng. I could use a Great Axe and more sling bullets. And a hand-pulled cart, because I am strong. That means we will not be slowed in battle by our packs. It is good to have pack animals. If bandits see us with pack animals, they will think we are merchants and we can surprise . And pack animals are good for carrying prisoners and booty back we have won. My friends might need other things. But I am Ûzorgráng, and I know what I need to fight."
Ashar spends most of his time during the meal trying to get tales out of the baron, to learn more about him, his family and the his lands. He will alternate with others to tell tales of more remote locals. When he tires of tales I will ask after more specifics on the three current threats to the area.
It is pleasant to see everyone getting on so well. I hope to show you some surprises in practice. I fight using a scimitar and either a katar or scorpion whip depending on the occasion.
As for supplies, it may be wise to bear a few alchemical weapons, in case there are creatures immune to normal steel.
Looking at Ûzorgráng with his usual broad smile.
A cart is an excellent idea, but there is no need for you to pull it. Omid, my donkey, is sturdy and able to pull a small cart.
"Thank you, Ashar. If we look like merchants with carts and donkeys, the bandits will look for us. Saves us time. Then get a surprise!"
Then, rubbing his chin thoughtfully (or as close to thoughtful as Ûzorgráng gets): "Three of you use scimitars? Interesting. I use big weapons because I am big."
Shyr shrugged. "It is both the wepon of my goddess and my home people. It would be strange if I didn't use it. As for the cart, that is a good idea. Of course, we need some disguises, and in your case, quite a good one." Shyr said. She drew her scimitair from it's scabbard. "You said you wanted to see our differences in fighting style Julius" she said, taking up a position opposite of him.
Ûzorgráng raises his eyebrows in surprise at Shyr's remarks. He obviously hadn't thought about disguises. He winces at the prospect of being made to wear a disguise so silly that the bandits surrender by being overcome with laughter.
"Hard to ambush bandits if I look too silly in a disguise!"
He then shrugs and watches Shyr's style with curious interest.
Thorgrund watches the others for a bit, even admiring the quickness of some with the scimitar.
"Moving quick-like is well and good, but sometimes its just easier to walk right up to yer enemy, and smack him right down on his head..." says Thorgrund, hefting his waraxe.
He looks at the others for a few seconds to see how they react, then guffaws loudly.
"Bah...just kiddin'. A true warrior tries to size up his enemy before charging at him...or her, gods forbid."
"Ûzorgráng is happy all of you like his ambush idea!" He's obviously well pleased with himself.
He will also take up Baron Lumont on his offer of a 50 GP advance and spend almost all of it right away on some new gear he believes will be needed soon enough:
• One great axe; 20 GP
• One Lucerne hammer; 15 GP
• Twenty (more) sling bullets; 2 SP
• Five bags of caltrops; 10 GP
He will explain to everyone: "The great axe is for things more dangerous than bandits. The big hammer is for smashing armour. It is good to have many sling bullets; in a forest, bows are hard to use. Caltrops are are obstacles you carry. Most of my things I will have in one of our carts so I am not clumsy in battle."
He will show them his spiked chain in training: "My chain is 'Varguthauk' and not as fancy as Thorgrund's axe, Vengryn. But it is good for things. The spikes and its weight will hurt. It can trip enemies. And it can disarm enemies. It is my favourite weapon." He will show everyone he is proficient with this strange weapon in training. He has the strength and the skill to whirl it around like a length of (very dangerous) skipping rope.
"Here we go Shyr."
Julius draw his scimitar and start fighting with Shyr. His stile is solid and based mostly on his above average strength. He tries to overwhelm the adversary capacity to block using his powerful build; when facing adversaries with an equal or superior strength like Shyr, Thorgrund and Ûzorgráng he change how he fight, starting with Shield of faith to become harder to hit. If the enemy is heavily armored he use liberally his fire bold ability while trying to keep out of melee range.
After a couple of bouts of training (and only if we train in the late afternoon/early night night] you see him bated in a halo of light (judgment of healing).
He seem to have trained to fight together with others, generally waiting to see what is companions are doing instead of immediately moving ahead to engage.
Something that those fighting with him can notice is that he seem to concentrate particularly on moving in melee range with Keith when they are in opposite teams, bypassing his eventual companions, even at the risk of getting hit by them.
Keith rises before dawn and eats a humble breakfast before stepping out onto the training ground. At first he practices with the crossbow.
His first few shots are good, with two a fingers span from the bullseye, but overconfidence strikes and his last shot goes wild.
By now the others are practicing group formations and Keith joins in, using a cantrip rather than the real spell. This proves just as well, for he can only manage the real one a few times per day and at first people were in the line of fire. But towards the end everyone gets the hang of it and as was inevitable the others learnt to get the wizard first.
Later despite aching in various places he'd never known he had, Keith was in a fine mood saying, "Well that was a good start, we were coming together there. Although we need to practice with the enlarge spell, it took Ûzorgráng by surprise."
Taken aback initially by being enlarged by Keith's spell, Ûzorgráng liked it. "Good in battle! Especially if bandits don't expect someone suddenly being big and strong as an Ogre!"
After it's worn off, Ûzorgráng decides to follow Keith's lead with target practice with his sling, since he's now got enough sling stones for a protracted battle. He'll just use some stones lying about rather than risk losing the lead sling bullets he has:
"Not so good!"
"Good!"
"HA! Very good!"
"Could be better."
"HA! Another good shot!"
"Not bad!"
Quite pleased with his sling practice, he then decides to try his hand at moving targets using his spiked chain, Varguthauk. He'll get people to throw simple straw dummies at him while his back is turned and then spin around and try hitting it with Varguthauk:
"Disgusting!"
"Not good enough!"
"Passable."
"Not good enough!"
"Not good enough!"
"HA! One good hit!"
Plainly disgusted with his lack of consistency with Varguthauk, he will flatly declare "Ûzorgráng needs much more practice today!" He will then spend almost the entire day practising with Varguthauk in particular, but also all the other weapons he has. He will ignore fatigue or hunger and will only stop when the sun goes down or he collapses from exhaustion. Which ever comes first.
Shyr stifled a giggle at the thought of Uzorgang in a wardrobe of different ridiculous disguises before begining her practice bout with Julius. Her style is focused more on defense than his is, based on defending until she can find an opening, which she then uses to strike. Taking a break, she watches both Usgorgang and Keith practice hitting their targets. She decides to try the same method that Uzgorgang is trying.
She spat out a tribal curse, and almost immediately covered her mouth out of habit. Most of the clerics at the monastary hadn't had a very liberal view on cursing. I've been depending on spells for to long to bolster my natural abilities she thought to herself, I must change that. Shyr spent the rest of the time training, and was disgusted without how tired she felt at the end of the day. Her travels across these pleasent lands and her complacancy as a result had taken off some of the edge needed to survive in the desert. It was up to her to regain that lost edge.
Thorgrund decides to practice with his axe versus a large tree trunk spiked to the ground. The fact that it is made up to look like an armored warrior is irrelevant in his mind.
Clearly, Thorgrund needs to get more practice in order to use the axe and shield together in battle. While comfortable with Vengryn, he still needs to build strength in his arm to be able to deliver a devastating backswing attack. While he can still get his shield up to defend even after attempting a bash, he realizes he needs to become less dependent on being mostly right arm dominant.
All this enthusiasm is contagious, so Julius too, after sparring with his newfound friends do some target practice, first with sling (sing stones) then with the morning star and scimitar and last with disrupt undead to train his his touch attacks withouts expending limited use abilities.
Julius is proud of his results.
I am in good shape, my only weakness is with disrupt undead. Maybe the other guys will accept to work as moving target for it?
"Boys ... and Shyr, next time some of you can work with me when I train my ray? It won't damage living people, it work only against undead and having a active opponent trying to dodge it is better that aiming at a strawman. It will help you in learning how to avoid this kind of attacks too."
"Ûzorgráng can help Julius tomorrow by dodging his rays. You can help me tomorrow too by holding weapons or poles for me to practice disarms with Varguthauk, my Flail, and my Guisarme. A bandit with no sword is like a snake with no fangs."
"We will do that with my morning star. I wouldn't like to damage the scimitar edge.
I will try my best to avoid being disarmed.it is a useful training for me too."
"Good! It is also useful to have several weapons, like you and I. Because things often go wrong in battle."
"Good! It is also useful to have several weapons, like you and I. Because things often go wrong in battle."
Thorgrund chuckles. "If things go wrong, I'll most likely be dead already..."
"But you are right, Uzorgrang. I have my crossbow as well, but I mainly use that for hunting."
Ashar saunters out to the training field, a bit late as he has everyday. Gazes around at the sparing, and practice, then loudly cracks his whip and launches in to lengthy and loud tale of a bumbling farmer that through luck manages to win a war, defeat a dragon and marry a princess. As he does so, he dodges among the group, changing opponents and styles as he goes. He clearly isn't as skilled as some of the group but he is in excellent condition and somehow, his loud chaotic actions bring the group together.
Curiously, at a few points in the training it looks like the bard has managed to step in to the way of someone's swing or shot, but instead of blood flying there is just a puff of sand and a gust of wind and he dances aside unharmed.
"Ûzorgráng uses his sling to hunt in the forest. Too many trees for long bow shots. Weapons are like blacksmith tools. Different tools for different jobs."
"I have a crossbow as well, but no weapons besides my Scimitair I am afraid." Shyr said. "I would also like to join in on the Disarming practice, it is another thng I should probably try."
With a smile and a laugh Ashar joins in to the disarming shenaneghans by trying to surprise Ûzorgráng with his whip as he is swinging his chain.
Despite the bruises and the deep physical exhaustion, Keith fond himself unable to rest, for he had several unbidden insights into magical formulae. Working feverishly through the night he perfects the wording on several new spells. At next morning's practice, a tired and slightly disheveled Keith shows off his discoveries.
He waves one index finger in a peculiar pattern and intones the word "Viscose!" and he has to stop Julius, "WOAH! Not a step further! Look the ground has become terribly sticky. It only lasts for a couple of minutes but anyone who blunders through that area is likely get entangled by the sticky ectoplasm. Don't worry it's perfectly harmless, but in a battle - well you wouldn't want to be stuck next to our fine friends Thorgrund and Ûzorgráng!"
He then clicks his fingers and all eyes turn back to him, but he's gone! The thin air next to Shyr says, "I've also learnt how to vanish, if only for a short time" Sure enough, moments later he reappears.
Moving along to Disarm practice with Keith and Shyr, Ûzorgráng will use Varguthauk. He has carefully wrapped the barbs on it so they can't cut into his friends during practice. These are just a sample of the day's training:
Versus Keith:
"done"
"HA!"
"done"
"HA!"
"Keith is strong! Good you have extra weapons in case you are disarmed!"
Versus Shyr:
"almost"
"almost"
"good"
"HA!"
"Shyr is fast! Hard to catch!"
Interrupted momentarily by Ashar's Whip:
"HO! Ashar cracks jokes with whip!"
Ûzorgráng laughs as he immediately tries, unsuccessfully, to take Ashar's feet out from underneath him as a witty response of sorts.
"Alas! Ashar is too fast for Ûzorgráng's reply!
After Keith's demonstration: "Keith has interesting magics for battle! Very useful!"
Then Ûzorgráng will try dodging Keith's ray, as promised:
"HA! I dodged that one!"
"HA! I dodged that one!"
"I am hit by one"
"I am hit by another"
"Hmph! Ûzorgráng is not good at avoiding spells like those!
Shyr will practice disarming with both Julius and Uzgorgang. She started off with Uzgorgang, wrapping her Scimitair's edge with cloth.
"Good thing you have extra weapons yourself Uzgorgang." Shyr said, although she tried to hide embaressment at the fact that she had dropped her scimitar while trying to disarm him.
She then turned to practice disarming agaisnt Julius
"I second what Uzgorgang said Julius" she said, and while she only managed to disarm the same number of times she had Uzgorgang, she was thankful that she hadn't ended up dropping her simitair this time.
When Ashar cracked his whip their way, Shyr joined in the laughing, then immediatly kicked a cloud of sand and dirt in his direction.
Unfortuantly, there wasn't as much loose dirt in the area, and Ashar easily avoided the small cloud of dirt. "Guess that trick isn't as effective here as it is back in the Desert Sea." she said.
"Dear friends, I think we are as ready as we can be, let's us spend the afternoon to prepare out bait, changing ourselves into rich merchants with a light escort and tomorrow we will try to fish some bandit."
Julius smile:
"I think that Ûzorgráng can be the single warrior protecting our caravan, while we can play the part of merchants and muleteers."
Looking around:
"Ashar, Keith, you think you can help us turning into merchants? I haven't the skill to do that. It would require some real magiv of mind or hands to it."
Clearly impressed by the way Shyr was able to disarm him, twice, Ûzorgráng says to her cryptically "I have other interesting weapons that you can not remove so easily! But they are for special occasions in battle. You will see them soon, I am sure! and concludes with a mischievous wink.
After Julius has spoken: "Julius is right. We are all ready. We have trained hard. We should leave tomorrow and take the road where merchants are attacked. They will expect soft merchants, not people who can fight."
After a short pause: "Maybe Keith or Ashar could make Ûzorgráng look less strong? But not silly! A dozen armed bandits would be easier for me than travelling with Shyr laughing at Ûzorgráng dressed as an old granny!
Julius smile:
"I think that Ûzorgráng can be the single warrior protecting our caravan, while we can play the part of merchants and muleteers."
Thorgrund scowls at Julius, sneering "Oh, I see...let the dwarf be the muleskinner, eh? That's what dwarves do, right? Well, let me tell you something lad, my axe don't really discriminate where she gets her blood from..."
He tightens the grip on his axe, the sound of cracking knuckles the only thing breaking the awkward silence.
Ûzorgráng quickly moves between Thorgrund and Julius: "We must not fight each other, only bandits! What would Thorgrund like Thorgund to do in the ambush? We are all strong, but we must seem weak at first to surprise the bandits. Even Ûzorgráng is willing to look weak to do this." Then he pauses thoughtfully: "Just so long as I do not wear a silly disguise that makes Shyr laugh."
Looking back and forth from Uzorgrang and Julius, Thorgrund seems to fume for a few seconds, then winks at each and smiles broadly.
"Just having some fun, lads. I'll do what's needed."
Ûzorgráng rolls his eyes up, sighs and mutters to Thorgrund, in Dwarven
"Don't forget! Twenty gold to see which one of us gets the most bandits!"
With a shrug, he turns to everyone else and says "We should get ready for tomorrow. Thorgrund should be best for finding tracks and other signs of bandits.
"True, after all the practice, we should get a good nights rest." Shyr said. "Uzgorgang, we'll find you a disguise that has every bandit between here and the desert collapsing into fits of laughter"
Ûzorgráng blushes furiously at Shyr's words and mutters something like "thags mush, id'll be luvlerlee".
Then, to no one in particular. "Ûzorgráng needs food. And sleep. Early tomorrow morning, then. G'night, all." And quickly goes back to the Thirsty Church like a graceful mastodon.
Thorgrund scowls at Julius, sneering "Oh, I see...let the dwarf be the muleskinner, eh? That's what dwarves do, right? Well, let me tell you something lad, my axe don't really discriminate where she gets her blood from..."He tightens the grip on his axe, the sound of cracking knuckles the only thing breaking the awkward silence.
Julius look Thorgrund with a perplex face after his outburst and then say, with a cold tone:
"Actually I am the one with a donkey."pointing toward the inn stables.