"Just wait a damn minute wizard, give es more ina bloody minute!" Luca snarled as she finished stripping the last of the guard's and tossing their gear onto a wagon. She grunted as she dragged the corpses to the side of the road and threw them out of site without ceremony. When the last of the bodies had been disposed of she spit on the corpses and muttered the most vilest dwarven curse she knew.
The garbage taken care of she turns goes to move among the newly freed slaves, her rarely seen smile in full shine. Upon seeing the two dwarves she pushes her way through the crowd to greet them. She smacks a fist on her chest and says in dwarven "Hail! I hight Luca Sigurdsdottir of clan Shatterstone. Gladly met!"
Breewyn had a look of mild disgust on her face with the way the bodies of the fallen guards were unceremoniously dealt with. Not the best way of dealing with the hateful humans, but certainly effective. She turned back to Tar, smile just as big as before with her arms laden with bandages. "Let's tend to those that are the most gravely injured, shall we?" She said, almost melodically, as she traveled with Tar around the wagons to tend to everyone else.
"Let's get the wounded up on the wagons as well as any others that can fit! I'm sure some of you are hungry, feel free to grab a meal from the food stores as we go. Mount up!"
Those horses are dangerous. I will ride in the wagon and snack on human ears as you suggested. There are plenty of ears to go around if anyone else wants one.
With that, Zorgg can be seen climbing back up.
The group of what could be the beginning of a new rebellion climbs into the wagons, at least most of them. Some of them decided to walk for a bit at least. Targen was one of those that were walking, following Breewyn and tending to any wounds that were, spending the rest of his days spells on any major injuries.
When everyone was tended to, Targen moved to the front of the caravan, where the other dwarf Briatha would be once the caravan would start to move. Her conversation would still be going on with Tsakua if they had more to speak about.
Targen would be the first to give a hearty smile as he saw the approach of Luca, his own fist going to his chest as he gave a slight bow to the other dwarf. "Greetings lass, I am Targen Gurathar of clan Little Mountain. This here," gesturing to Briatha if she was still in conversation, "Is Briatha Nath of clan Shadowstone."
"Glad to be rid of some more humans eh?" He chuckled lightly as he dusted his hands before looking to where the caravan was moving. "It's only a matter of time now till we take back what's ours."
Ishak huffed once everything started moving. He clambered up onto the wagon where the other three Kobolds were. They all looked at him for a moment as they all regarded each other for a silent minute. The other Kobolds were not of the same sect as Ishak was, they were all different colors, one was a deep ruddy red, the second was a slimy green and the third was grey/silver. Ishak tilted his head, clicked his tongue and then all relaxed.
Ishak was off in his own little world as he dove right into conversation with the other kobolds in a quick form of draconic. They all seemed to be introducing themselves one at a time before Ishak began speaking to them the majority of the time. Almost as if he was asking questions and answering them in turn. This would continue unless someone interjected them.
Jietin finally comes back out of the woods only to see the guard have been killed. He raises his brows in surprise and grunts. Suppose that takes care of that. Pity, I found a good little pond too. "Got lippy, did they? Can't say I'm too upset about it. So what's the plan now?"
Breewyn manages to climb up into a wagon. She turns to Jietin and shrugs, "Dunno, wherever our feet take us? I mean we have a way or two... Then she thought for a moment. "Possibly more if Iraldia managed to find anything whilst scouting ahead near the ruins. She then sat down in the cart looking at the sky. Oh how I wished it was night and that I had something to draw with. She missed being able to make her own little star charts like she did back when she had a home.
Iraldia stopped to survey the area, hoping to glimpse any movement or to note any landmarks around the area.
But there was still a measure of sand in her eyes it seemed. Her eyes watered an she wiped them away as she trudged on to the site of the ruins.
Zorgg sees Breewyn climb into his wagon and he turns to her with a big smile on his face. Reaching out his hand he offers her a human ear. They are a special treat among my people. Human ears are very tasty.
Breewyn turns to Zorgg and is disgusted. She does however try to keep a calm and peaceable face. "Well uh, n-no that's quite alright. If they are a treat it would be rude of me to leave you less wouldn't it?" The corner of her mouth twitched subtly and she hoped that he didn't insist. It would be really difficult to maintain her composure otherwise.
Tsakua had stared after Octavian as he had mutilated the knight's corpse. He had been surprised at the wizard's actions, and a bit annoyed at the tone that followed, but didn't let it show. Walking alongside the wagons, he continued his conversation with Briatha, nodding thanks to Targen and Bree as they came by and applied first aid to his wounds. Hearing the conversation between Bree and Zorgg in the wagon, Tsakua hid a chuckle.
At Breewyn's remark, Zorgg shruggs his shoulders and shoves the ear into his mouth.
On the way to the ruins, the caravan stumbles upon an ancient cobble roadway, destroyed mostly by the vegetation and trees that have grown around and next to the road. Though this is a an assured sign that what ever these ruins were once, it was important enough to have spent the time and effort to build a cobbled road. The forest had grown thick and abundant, so getting the caravan through took time and effort, making the trek longer then it would've been by foot. Though the benefit was having enough gear to post up at the ruins.
Along the way there were odd rocks jutting out, all detail that was once their had been eroded away by time and the weather, making them undistinguishable, though it did not stop them from providing an eerie sort of feeling to the air, making it almost palpable. The air was fresh and the breeze was soft, but the road was devoid of much animal life.
The trip was rather uneventful. The day was slowly aging into the evening. The good weather held up.
"Ay a bastion. Tis caravan be heading to a outpost. Some ol' rinky dink s%#@ pile of an outpost. Tis was the first shipment to make repairs. They were gonna build it on da spot there." She shook her head, sighing with a slight exasperation. "Folly if ye ask me. But da dank ruins might be a good start. Have foundation existing to build atopa'. From what I hear, they were gonna use ta valley as a forward launch into the conquest to the eastern lands. From what I hear, they stopped at the mighty ol' dessert froma north a here. And ta the west they holdin ground. 'parently over in da west theirs alotta conflict. When ya slave masta's fill with liqa, they liken to spew anythin' they know."
The massive trees loomed overhead, their canopies filled with vibrant green leaves. Their branches creaked in the soft breeze that made its way through the valley. The shafts of sunlight breaking through the weaving network of branches and leaves. Everything was almost serene as everyone made their way through the woods along the patchy cobbled road way. The creak of the wheels and the clap of the hooves against the stones were a soft melody against the trees.
What made everything so much sweeter is the lack of shackles, the lack of the sound of chains clinking or banging against each other. Just the sound of the caravan making its way through the quiet forest as the sun sits above, passing its high point as the heat of the day began to slowly pass. There was no rush to the steps, there were soft voices holding a conversation. Freed slaves finally smiling and holding a cheerful conversation about where they had come, what they remembered and what they hoped to accomplish with the heroes of the party.
Ishak stood up in the back of the caravan and was gesturing wildly with his arms and spoke in a quick and excited tone, most likely sharing the wondrous events of his travels or the dragon he served.
A laugh broke out amongst the elf's and aasimars as a joke was passed, their faces finally free of the years of pain that bound them into grim frowns. For a moment anyways, they could forget everything as the caravan moved through the forest to the ruins that lay hidden ahead.
The trees only seemed to get larger and abnormally large the deeper in the caravan travelled, though they did not feel imposing, but only majestic as their thick solid trunks towered above everyone like massive towers. The caravan slowly followed a bend in the road, as it was forced by the tree that now stood there.
When the caravan turned the bend, a gasp was heard from the dwarves in the front. Every ones conversations quieted as they all turned forward to see what lay before them.
Ruins was not apt for what stood before the caravan. Massive stone structures, overgrown with ivy, moss and grass stood defiant against nature. Weathered and broken they were still magnificent monuments of what was probably the outer wall of the ruins within. The road passed through two old towers which stood about thirty feet from each other. Remnants of a gatehouse could be seen. On the other side of the ruined and crumbling towers were remnants of a wall that stretched into the woods, trees and foliage over taking it. It was hard to see how far they even went but they were easily still thirty to forty feet high.
As the caravan passed through the structures, it was almost as if the ruins were a forest. Trees grew out from the stonework, a testament to how much time had passed since these ruins had ever seen life. The road within the ruins were more complete and less scattered as it wound its way in like a slithering snake, passing shells of what were once homes. The shells of the homes were just that, crumbling walls with weathered portals of where windows once stood. The roofs gone, decayed a long time ago.
The ruins crept deeper and deeper into the forest that had taken hold of what was once a magnificent city or fortress. The trees and plants made it hard to even see how far the settlement stretched. It feels like you could spend a month exploring what was here and still only scratch the surface.
The caravan crawled to a stop as the road came to an end, blocked by a fallen building, what might've been a tower laid in large pieces, stone overtaken by several trees roots that perched on it like a fallen log. To the right stood a large stone structure, a barracks or some old tavern? Regardless of what purpose it once had, it would suit the needs of the caravan perfectly.
All around you stood shells of buildings, overtaken by moss and vines along with trees jutting out of the ground and buildings. In any direction you looked it was the same. Smaller remnants of the road snaked out every other way.
Breewyn was kind of lost in her own thoughts, just quietly listening to the idle chatter taking place around her. She sighed wistfully, feeling a tad left out. She kept listening, or at least trying to until the hush had fallen over all of them.
The absence of the chatter had roused her out of her waking dream she seemed to be having and cause her to sit up and try to look around. She stood, moving to one edge to climb the side of the wagon some and get a better look at what had caused the silence. She let out her own soft gasp.
Buildings. Huge stone buildings, covered in ivy. It was a city, long lost and forgotten. Was it human? Dwarven? Elven? She thought to herself as she was struck by the awe of it. Perhaps. Then again it might even be older... Another voice said in her head. It sounded different, and yet the same.
She sat back down and stared up at the looming ruins of the structures as they passed between them in the caravan. She spoke aloud finally, "Whether or not we make this a home, it has witness ages come and go..."
Iraldia slipped through the ruins, knowing the caravan would be here soon. She (hopefully) had gotten the sand and dirt out of her ears and eyes and she searched the ruins for any kind of danger. In her head, she began to sketch the layout, mapping the ruins so that she could help the survivors navigate the maze of crumbling walls and forest covered remains.
As her eyes have failed her before, the kitsune taps in to her animal nature. She closes her eyes and focuses instead on smell. Her black nose sniffs at the air, checking the air for anything out of place.
Tsakua was silent as he looked around the ruins. Ever inquisitive, he looked at each building with wondering eyes, trying to fathom the style and the areas that needed repair. Perhaps he could even learn something from the ancient architects themselves.
Still, there had to be a reason no one lived here anymore, and that reason could still be aware. Taking a short walk around the immediate ruins, Tsakua looks for any sign of immediate danger.
Even Zorgg could tell that this place had been abandon.Look around at all the half broken structures, he seemed amazed.
This place is going to be terrible at keeping the weather out if we stay here. We will need to build mighty roofs and walls. Those humans won't want to steal it though. They don't like dirty places like this.
There were a lot of ruins and rubble that made everything almost blend together, though you were able to get a rough idea of how the ruins are laid out so far along the road to the fallen tower.
Tapping into your sense of smell, you really don't smell anything out of the ordinary, though there was a faint smell of dry rot coming form the larger building that you were near. If you followed this scent it would lead you into the ruined building and into what looked like a courtyard with what remains of a door after centuries, hangs open. Plant life growing on it as it had never moved an inch on all these years. When you venture further in you find remnant of tables and what could've been large furniture. These objects taking more of an appearance of rotted logs, though they were a little recent then the ruins. Maybe a past group passing through that set up camp a long time ago?
The small continued to lead you to what appeared to be an old chest. This chest was mostly metal, rusted beyond belief from the elements, but it still stood their with weed growing thick around it. If giving a tug, the lid was secured, either by the rusted inner lock or it just the rust fused it together.
As you look at the ruins that still stood you could immediately be amazed that the walls still stood. The architects from the past had formed the walls out of a pattern of rock laying and what seemed to be very hardy mortar or what ever it was that bound the rocks together. It almost felt like it was just the continuation of the rock itself. This allowed any buildings who may have hard stone arches to not have crumbled away in time. Arches, struts, curvatures of stone that seemed like they should've fallen ages ago still stood.
Maybe there was some remnants of what they used still locked away somewhere?
There appeared to be no signs of immediate danger. The birds were chirping, the wildlife haven't wandered in too close or at all. For now you assume it's fairly safe with no threats present, especially our deep you were into the forest.
Iraldia eyed the chest suspiciously. Her curiosity was peaked, but she didn't want to bash it in or break one of her weapons trying to open it. Maybe the group had a crowbar or some tools. She made a mental note of its location. She heard the sounds of the group off in the distance and left to rejoin with them. Upon doing so, she described the layout of the ruins, "I haven't seen any dangers, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss something. Find somewhere to set up camp and lets get the wagons out of sight. If nothing else, the ruins will provide cover from being spotted."
Tsakua looks up from his musings. Chuckling, he calls back to Jietin, "Granpa, seems we've found ye yer cottage in the woods!" He was in a good mood, enjoying the pleasant weather and the prospect of shelter. Roofs would need to be built if this became a long-term stay, but that would need to be decided. If nothing else, he could at least try and study the architecture to find out how it had weathered the times so well.
With a smile on his face, Tsakua grabbed some of the tarps from the wagin and began making his way to the large building. "Come on then, lets get settled in fer the night. Tis someone else's turn to do the cookin', unless ye'd rather take a chance on mine again."
Stepping into the first room, Tsakua took some time to look around. Suspending the tarps from the roof wouldn't be too difficult if he could reach it, but he wasn't the lightest on his feet if he needed to actually climb up on the walls. Sticking his head out the doorway, he called "Oy, Zorgg! Git up on the roof, will ye!"
Zorgg looks at Tsakua like he is crazy. That is to high. Just because I am small does not mean I am a good climber. I could fall and hurt myself.I will go find us some food.
With that Zorgg wonders off into the woods.
Jietin looks around at the ruins. Bet they were really something else in their day. "We shouldn't have to build anything. They're run down but there's still plenty of cover. Here, give me that tarp edge." He takes the corner of the tarp in his teeth and starts climbing to create some shelter.
Breewyn wandered around the ruins, lost in thought. She reached out and touched each ivy covered wall, letting her hand slide across the surface feeling the age on it. It is a venerable place, almost like a forgotten city. Who could have lived here? She bit her lip, puzzled, as she continued to wander deeper into the heart of it. Enough of it appeared to have collapsed so that very few areas were not bathed in the light of the sun. It was beautiful, and she looked at all the different plant-life. She thought hard about what kind of plants they were and perhaps, judging by their size, she could guess approximately how long they had been growing.
You made it to a good spot without no harm, finding a perfect rock to attach the tarp to. You could see the other party members moving about, exploring their immediate area and some leading the horses and carts into the ruins to help protect them from what ever might call the ruins home. Others began to offload some food crates and strike up a camp.
While your gathering food, you notice that is has gotten slightly quieter.
Unfortunately there was only a split second before you see a large furred form barrel towards you, catching you by utter surprise. There was no time for you to react to defend yourself.
You were easily distracted to not see something, stalking you, much like the other, you were at least ten minutes from the rest of the group.
It was almost only too late as a chill ran up your spine as you see shadow flash behind you before a savage snarl rose up behind you.
Breewyn cries out trying to struggle with the tiger. "Help! Someone! She screams, wide-eyed and panicking. She attempts to free herself from the grapple.
Her eyes filled with tears as she knew she might very well meet her end at the claws of a tiger. She prays to the heavens, their will be done.
Fight! A familiar voice said.
Live! It spoke again.
She held out her hand and with a uncharacteristic scowl she shouts.
She is unable to cast her spell with the tiger savagely grappling her.
Grappling or Pinned: Casting a spell while you have the grappled or pinned condition is difficult and it requires a concentration check (DC 10 + the grappler's CMB + the level of the spell you're casting).
Jietin jerks his head around at the cry for help. Leave for two minutes... He thinks as he climbs back down and runs to the noise. "We're coming Bree!"
Octavian was riding next to the first wagon as they pulled into the ruins and couldn't help but marvel at the durability and scale of the ancient city. Though most of the buildings were falling over or pierced by nature it was still a magnificent avatar of engineering. As he went about directing where the wagons were to go a cry suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Help! Someone!"
Jietin suddenly jumps down and begins to run towards the battle. "We're coming Bree!"
Octavian spins Acteon around and looks for the male dwarf who had announced himself a cleric. "Come quickly, we need your healing!" he cries out in dwarven while holding out a hand for the stocky humanoid to aid him in climbing up on the horse.
Iraldia's ears perk up at the sound of a cry. She drew her bow and darted into line of sight of the two. Seeing the attacker is an animal and not a human, she hesitates to draw an arrow. Instead, she lets her bark do the talking. Drawing back her lips into a snarl, Ira's throat vibrates in a growl that expels into a bark. It was weak compared to anything the tiger could do but hopefully she could get its attention.
It was pitiful. She drew the arrow and took aim.
While looking for food, Zorgg finds an abundance of things to eat. He is walking along, when suddenly he feels sharp pain, and everything goes black.
A character with 0 hit points, or one who has negative hit points but has become stable and conscious, is disabled. A disabled character may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can he take full-round actions, but he can still take swift, immediate, and free actions). He moves at half speed. Taking move actions doesn't risk further injury, but performing any standard action (or any other action the GM deems strenuous, including some free actions such as casting a Quicken Spell spell) deals 1 point of damage after the completion of the act. Unless the action increased the disabled character's hit points, he is now in negative hit points and dying.
When Breewyn attempted to escape from the tiger it only made it throw its weight fully on her, keeping her pinned, keeping its pray in its tight grasp. It lunged in again, attempting to instinctively bite down on her throat, ending it all with. To the tiger, Breewyn was just dinner.
The tiger gripped her by the throat as it lifted her unconscious body up with its powerful neck, about to carry off its pray to a more secluded place for feeding. Breewyn's blood coating the tigers maw.
It jumped at the sudden bark of Iraldia, it haven't been paying much attention to its surroundings during the fight it didn't see this new threat appear. It turned its gaze to her, a muffled growl coming from it as it tried to back away while still holding Breewyn in its maw.
Targen followed Octavian quickly, dropping everything he was doing at the time to follow the group into the ruins towards the cries of help from Breewyn.
Aiming to wound it, Ira drew her bow and let loose her shot...
Her aim was pure for once though she did not intend such a grevious wound on the animal. But she could let her friend end up as food
The beast yowled in pain, dropping Breewyns limp body as the arrow struck its skull. A large gash was bleeding profusely from the animal as its shrill cries of pain erupted as it shook its head, trying to rid itself of the pain before turning and running, effortless climbing up over the rubble that was overgrown with trees and foliage before disappearing into the ruins. It's cries fading slowly into the distance.
It appeared the beast was just hunting for food and wasn't particularly an immediate threat. Though it did its damage to Breewyn as she continued to bleed out on the ground.
Targen would immediately spend his last heal spell on the sight of Breewyns body.
Jietin growls. Ruddy bastard. Must be hungry to be hunting humanoids.
Jietin whips around again with a growl. "Come on you bastards, I'll gut every one of you!" He starts running over.
Tsakua had rushed for the satchel of potions when he heard the scream. He wasn't particularly at home in the woods, and knew that everyone else would be running instantly, so he figured they should be ready for anything. He was surprised to hear Bree's scream, since he had only seen Zorgg walk off into the woods, but when he saw Jietin run in a different direction, he hurried after him, trusting the others to take care of Bree.
Zorgg wiggles and tries to break free. All the while screaming for help. I hope they can hear me.
Help!!
As Zorgg attempts to free himself, the tiger holds on fast, not letting him escape so easily. It snarled as it's prey was still alive. It fought to keep him still, raking its claws into the goblin with savagery.
The pain vanishes from Zorgg as everything went black for only a mere second, before he finds himself with his father and tribe, watching a trap about to be triggered by passing knights. A good amount of the goblins had fire arrows at the ready. They loved fire as much as Zorgg did. And they were finally going to burn a bunch of humans together and get their revenge.
Soon there was a great battle, Zorgg standing atop a body of metal humans throwing flames at horses and humans alike before. The screams and neighs of the horses and humans were like music to his ears and the hiss and roar of flame was the symphony he always dreamed it being.
Shortly there after, he and his tribe return home, to a large bustling village, the guards giving him a goblin-esque salute before returning to their patrols. Zorgg is Chief, Zorgg is mighty Chief.
Jietin and the others would only see a trail of blood and the signs of struggle, but no longer the goblin or the tiger.
Breewyn's eyes fluttered open some as she sucked in a ragged breath, causing her to cough and wince from the recent tiger mauling. She managed to mutter a weak, "Sorry.", before she coughed again, doubling over in pain, before gingerly leaning back to try and breathe shallowly, trying to avoid anything that would cause her to cough and hurt more. She whispered softly, "I didn't mean to make you worry Octavian, Tar, Iraldia..." She looked rather sheepish and still rather worse for wear.
Sliding off of his horse the moment the dwarf did, Octavian had scanned the area around for any sign of the beast who had mauled the gnome. He spots Iraldia on a rooftop nearby and calls out to her. "What did this?"
Her ears caught the sound of another strangled cry for help. "Tigers...going after the little ones.. I ran this one off but I fear we may have lost someone else..." with a pang of panic she rushes off toward where she heard the cry for help. She stops in her tracks to find a lot of blood sprayed across the ground. The kitsune's fear amplifies as she kneels down to trace the action.
She lowers her head and kneels down next to the spot. In prayer to the woods, she cuts her paw and lets it drip on the area, "My blood, my kin. Rest now in the halls of our ancestors and watch over our struggles."
Tsakua arrives right on Jietin's heels, looking around. He spots the blood and sees Iraldia examining the area. "What happened?" He asks, trying to read the scene from the blood on the ground. All he can see is the blood, the signs of attack, but nothing else. To Iraldia, he again asks, "What's going on? What happened?" Deep down, Tsakua knows what happened to Zorgg, or can at least guess, whether he wants to acknowledge it or not. All this blood, well, if Zorgg had gotten it from something else, they'd have heard him crowing in victory instead of crying for help.