Elbowing his way through the throng of people, Doc finds the source of the cry. The Baited Hooks has just come back from a patrol mission for the Kalabutan government, ranging to the East to keep an eye out for the Bas'o tribes and read what they can of the Mzali threat off the land. However they ran into somewhat more than they could handle...
Of the six that went out, only four returned... and only one of those under his own power. A burly Ulfen man has collapsed to his knees drenched in sweat and is dry retching on the ground after the exertion he's just gone through. He seems in reasonable health despite the fatigue... but the sight on the sled he is pulling makes your stomach leap to your throat.
Three bodies lie on the litter, with only nine full limbs to share between them. A halfling is missing both legs below the knee, a female half-elf is missing her right arm from mid humerus down, and the Taldan man has all limbs... though is the worst injured. His face is mostly gone, and pock marks score his armor and flesh. The wounds suffered look caused by acid and jaw and the three are not long for this world unless they get attention.
The Ulfen grasps Doc by his arm and grunts "Help them" before his eyes roll back and he passes out.
Beraking out Elixers, Doc starts barking orders to everyone around him, getting people to help with tourniquets and getting hot water.
"Move 'em t' th' 'ospital tent! You! Get Sentis! Wolves tent! Go!"
Breaking out a number of powders and vials, Doc starts mixing things.
Before Doc has even finished speaking, Blaze races off to the where Sentis is, jumping over and spinning past anything that gets in his way. "Sentiscomequickanothersquadjustcamebackalltorntosherdsweneedallthehealersw ecangetDocisalreadyonthescenebutitswaymorethanhecanhandle!!!" The young mans words crash together in his urgent need to get help fast.
Responding to Doc's instruction the injured men are moved into the nearby hospital, which is thankfully empty. The Captain shoos away most of the onlookers and gets a couple of Kelish men to help move the litter and drag the insensate Ulfen.
Sentis had heard all the yelling for a medic right before Sunny came up and rattled off a string of words that came close to making absolutely no sense but he caught the gist. He ran towards the throng of people that had gathered and pushed his way through. His almond shaped eyes went almost perfectly round at the bloody mess before him. He went to the man who'd lost his face first.
Heal/Treat Deadly Wounds - -
he then callled upon the Green Faith to heal the man.
Cure Light Wounds -
And then the Halfling who looked close to shock.
Heal/Treat Deadly Wounds - -
and cast his healing spell as well.
Cure Light Wounds -
with no time to wait for results he slid over to the woman and cast his last spell.
Cure Light Wounds -
He then waited quietly to see how they fared.
The quick actions of Sentis and Doc stabilize the dying men and woman just in time, and the pair settle in for some palliative care over the next few hours. Although it was touch and go for a while, it looks like they will all pull through. The Ulfen is propped up in the corner to sleep off his exhaustion, though you check upon him to make sure he hasn't hidden any injuries from you.
The woman who now lacks an arm was the Corporal for the squad - the Baited Hooks. Checking with the Captain you find out that the two missing are both men, a dwarven priest and a Taldan marine.
It is early evening by the time that the first of them stirs, the Ulfen groaning where he lies against the wall.
@DOC
"I gots a dose o two o tha troll styptic handy less yah tink tha pain will make em worse fer wear."
"I gots a dose o two o tha troll styptic handy less yah tink tha pain will make em worse fer wear."
"Ah think we're good for now, Grusk. Ain't nothin' short o' actual troll's blood bringin' those limbs back, an ah ain't been able t' work out the formula t' keep it from killin' folk in th' process yet. They're stable. Tha's 'bout all we c'n do. Once they've slept a while we'll get th' story o' what 'appened outta them."
The Ulfen man continues to rouse in the corner, croaking ".. water.."
Sentis was still a little in shock at the sheer amount of deadly wounds this group had experienced and apparently survived....they're a tough bunch... but he came too quickly at the Ulfen's request. He hurriedly retrieved his waterskin and helped the man drink as much as he could without over doing it.
Easy does it. Cant have you choke to death now.
"Let's get the Ulfen to a bed an set a bucket o water right besides him, once he's rested likely tha best to ask wha happened, he kept enough o his senses tah get everyone back."
Kaavel helps silently, with the other squad wondering "What in the 9 Hells, did this?"
The ulfen accepts the water readily before asking "The others... they live?" sighing with relief when he hears that they do. "I thank you friends, and am in your debt... we didn't stand a chance, they came from beneath us...." and the man struggles to stand, though that soon proves an unwise decision and he collapses back down on his arse.
Blaze stays near the Ulfen, eager to hear what happened to his squad. When the man comes around, he steps over to where he's been resting. "What came from beneath you? And yes, the others of your squad live, thanks to the timely care and aid of my healer and alchemist." He nods his head to Sentis as he says healer.
"The ground gave way underneath us and before we could gather out footing they were upon us. Big insect beasts in green with dripping jaws... They struck hard and we were not strong enough to stand firm. We tried to withdraw, but more came upon us from behind... We lost one of our number and three limbs in the tunnels as we struggled for light, and the second man when a great gobbet of sizzling juice shot out from one of the beasts... Corporal only got some of it but the other..." the Ulfen's voice trails off and he sits with grim countenance.
Doc looked at Blaze for a moment and nodded in silent understanding. "Ye tell th' Cap'n. Ah'll git th' location an' draw out a map. We c'n b' ready t' go in twenny minutes."
As Kaavel listens to the Ulfen's story he remembers the massive bugs that attacked them on their last mission.
As Doc talks directions with the Ulfen you get a sense of where the ambush took place. It's a good days trek outside of Kalabuto. What is somewhat worrying is that based on the man's description you guess that some of the bugs he's talking about make the ones you slew seem small by comparison.
The Captain looks up as Blaze enters his office, and does not tarry when he hears that the Ulfen is awake. Coming to hear the story first hand, he seems to knowingly massage a spot at his waist as the details are expounded upon. At the completion he turns to Blaze "So Corporal, what are you proposing?"
"Let me take the Wolves and see if we can't rid ourselves of this menace once and for all. It would seem they are a definite problem, and my team has some experience combating and defeating them"
The Captain looks at the shattered squad with a thoughtful facade before shrugging his shoulders and giving a curt nod "There aren't many jobs coming in right now, so feel free to take some R&R time for a country walk." before fixing Blaze with a steely gaze "Just don't come back dead..."
The Keleshite grins "Would I do that to you?" He then heads over to the rest of the Wolves to inform of them their latest task.
"Doc yah still got tha bug juice?"
Sentis well understood how the giant bugs could ambush even a battle tested group like the Balmy Crew and he shuddered whenever he envisioned the horror of the wounds they inflicted.
My healing kit is empty. I'll have to replenish it and maybe grab another for a mission like this.
The half elf wandered off with his wolf in tow looking for the provisions quarter master...at least I think that's what darkbiter called him...
"Wha does we know bout bugs?"
Knowledge nature
"We goin' on a bug hunt Leiutenant?" Cort asks with a dark scowl, obviously ready for such work. "We should make sure to recover what bodies we can." He whispers, away from anyone else's ears. "No warrior should rot in such a hole."
Having returned from the quarter master's set up with two healing kit's...by the Green Faith I pray I dont need to use them... the druid reported in to their new sarge.
Hey Sunny, I could use a nights rest unless we're headed more than a day away. I can catch up on the road if possible. Either way its your call.
"Ye c'n rest up in th' Pack Wagon, Sentis. We c'n harness Lucky to it fer now. Ah gotta brew that'll let him pull the lot o' us. Grusk, we jus' gotta play it a bit smarter'n las' time. Ah got a few ideas, and it'll give us a chance t' test drive this new armor. It should give us an edge 'gainst their acid."
"It should take us the better part of a day to get there, so let's take tonight to prepare and set out at first light. If even one of us isn't fully up to par, it might not bode well for the whole team"
Watching everyone pack up, Grusk looks longingly at the sketch the halfling provided that is now on Doc's locker.....
Skylar takes to the air circling a few times also ready for the wolves to head back out to the wilds.
Grusk shoulders his pack a bit lighter than some given his strength but he always has to stay on his toes and ready to move!
Grusk takes the point looking back as the other wolves fall in....
As you prepare, Darkbiter is pulled away by the Captain for alternate orders and is required to stay behind in barracks; which means that Lucky stays behind as well. A bullock is supplied by the Company's quartermaster to get your freshly repaired wagon underway.
The wolves fall into line and begin the long roll on the wagons you look back to see the Ulfen leaning against the door of the infirmary. He gives you a knowing nod and thumps fist to chest by way of sending you off. Passing through the town you eventually start making your way East across the plains following the directions to where the Baited Hooks were ensnared in the nest of ankheg...
Grusk eyes the fresh bullock wondering if it will end up as food/bait for bugs, or when hunger hits the squad, either way he was not towing Docs wagon back again.
Too bad the Ulfen man was still recovering, he had shown promise as a puller for Docs wagon.....
Grusk notes the plains and thinks of both above ground and underground threats.....
His new chitin morningstar hangs ready.....
Sentis had hoisted his kit and bid Darkbiter a farewell before headed out with his brothers. Baran was a silent shadow at his side with tongue lolling and nose to the ground as he waited for the sign that the hunt was to begin. The half elf ranged to left and slightly behind Grusk taking up Dark's former position. Despite the impending danger to himself and the squad the druid felt much more at ease outside the city.
As the Wolves move out, Blaze says a quiet prayer to Sarenrae "Give us strength in this coming battle Dawnflower"
Cortland whistled as he walked, glad to see himself with his crew again on the way to a worthy challenge.
As the Wolves move out, Doc says a quiet prayer to his gem-covered canteen. "Give me booze in this coming battle Jewelflask."
The rest of the day passes reasonably peacefully and you travel until the light makes the footing more uncertain for the bullock. Based on the directions you were given you'd gauge there is another couple of hours travel come morning... but not a journey you'd want to make in darkness.
Around the campfire talk turns to how to approach the hazards and risks ahead of you on the morrow....
Sitting around the campfire with his fellow Wolves and Baran asleep at his side; Sentis felt truly at home. The dangers of the coming day were most present in his thoughts.
We know we cant get ambushed like we did before and definitely not like what happened to the Balmy Crew. What else did we learn from our previous engagement with the big bugs?
"We might want tah keep some solid footing, if we can keep to tha hills an stone were safer than wit dirt beneath our feet."