The morning of departure, Tress comes knocking on Lillyanna's door, carrying a lacquered wooden box. "Morning!" she says, cheerfully. "Can I ask you for a little favour?" Provided the Half-Elf lets her in, Tress opens the box and takes out a brush. "I can never quite get this bit in the back right," she says, indicating some of the wilder tangles in her red hair. "If you help me out, I'll return the favour. Sound fair?"
Regardless how that pans out, the redheaded woman is soon at breakfast, wolfing down a large amount of food, which she washes down with milk and tea.
When the captain speaks of the parallel line and the marching order, she listens attentively.
"My eyesight isn't exceptional," Tress says, shrugging. "Give me the middle position, on the basis scavengers will go for the back and serious attackers will go for the front. Whichever strikes first, I'll be able to move up and help."
I too prefer a middle position but don't think we'll be able to have two as there are only five of us. Three on one side two on the other. Tress, would you object too much if it were you, myself then Lillyanna? My eyesight isn't bad and I've my bow to shoot at creatures but I'm not armored much until I've cast a spell or two.
"Did someone in the caravan catch your eye already?"
Lilly lets Tress into her room and assists her in an attempt to tame her wild, red locks.
Later, once they get to the common room for breakfast, Lilly helps herself to decent sized meal, somewhere between the Tress's and Verrin's.
As positions are discussed: "I would prefer to ride up near the front position. You never know what hazards even natural terrain can pose and I would like to try out the trail before the caravan goes over it. Also, are there any maps of the areas we are going to be traveling through? If so, I would like a chance to look over them."
Between mouthfuls of food Silvash continues,
Or how about Lillyanna, myself, then you Tress? I trust you to watch my back.
"Nah, give me a few days," Tress snarks during the brushing session. "I just like to know everything's in good form back there, you know? Alright, thanks bunches! Your turn."
Unless Lillyanna protests too strenuously, Tress sets her down and does exactly as promised / threatened. The experience is not painful, and perhaps surprisingly professional, like a visit to one of the better kinds of beautician.
"There! Now you can go hunting 'n all!" Tress says once she's done, clapping Lillyanna on the shoulder.
"I'm cool with that," Tress says, nodding at Silvash's suggestion.
Her eyes meet his for a moment between bites, and she grins. "Yeah, I'll watch your back for you."
Good that should work then.
The caravan passed along the well-constructed highway with ease. the Bridge of the Gods they call it and every mile passes with a small, well-armed garrison within a signal fire away from the next. The size of each garrison also increases as the road leads further away from the keep.
About 20 miles down the curving road, the Captain rests the caravan and dismounts to inquire of the sergeant about what looks to be massive damage in the road.
What has happened Sergeant? Dongun's Hold is our next stop and is only about 20 more miles. We were hoping to make it by sunset.
I'm sorry about that Captain, replied the sergeant, Dongun's hold is under siege by an army of orcs. We have been fending off their raiding parties ourselves. My men are doing their best to repair the road. I was hoping you were the reinforcements from Cloudreaver."
So, if we get this road repaired, we can proceed? Should we expect for you to be the last of the friendly faces we see along the road? the Captain asks.
I think that it is best if you avoid this route altogether as we art the last station that we know of left. None of my scouts have returned. I know it sounds crazy, but it might be best to leave the roadway and circumvent Dongun's hold for now. There is an outpost about twenty miles east of here to rest and rethink your route.
That is gnoll territory! You must be kidding!The captain objects.
True, but much less in numbers. the sergeant replies.
Damn! Dongun was one of my stops.
Yes, but not the stop! The lieutenant reminds him.
Thaane awakes and wanders towards the keep famished and disheveled.
He stops in the tavern hall to get a drink and some food.
What'll ya have? the wench inquires.
What's edible? remarks Thaane.
The stew and bread then. she decides.
Thaane looks around while waiting for his meal and notices that there are surprisingly few patrons for it being the middle of the day.
He gets up from his table and nudges a person passed out on the bar.
Psst. Excuse me he says as his gentle nudging becomes violent shaking.
Whaa?WHAAT! the man replies.
Have you seen a man in a wide-brimmed hat with a Mwangi woman, or man I'm unsure which?
Left with the caravan he slurs and goes back to sleeping.
The food comes and Thaane eats what he can nervously, until he can no longer take the stares of the barkeep.
Barkeep! Thaane yells as if the barkeeper was not paying attention to him.
When did the caravan leave?
About five or six hours ago. he skittishly replies.
Which direction?
South!
Thaane drops two silvers and grabs the waitress by the arm on his way out of the hall.
Where is the provisioner's store?
Frightened, she points him in the right direction to which he graciously nods a simple gratitude and walks off to see what he might find.
Thaane walks outside of the hall an into the courtyard of the keep where he notices the provisioner's shop. He casually walks in.
Hell...lloo replies the owner in shock. Thaane's visage is ghastly pale, irises as black as coal and seemingly pulsing as do the large corpuscles in his face.
Thaane freezes immediately as he notices his double-barreled pistol on the counter. Bone handle inlaid with platinum cracked and inverted skull.
The provisioner is now also aware that he has for sale a few items with this insignia on it. The insignia that his only customer bears upon his bandolier. An inverted skull, cracked in half to the teeth.
Thaane collects the weapons and scabbard and asks, Where did you get these?
The provisioner, physically shaking replies Why fffrromm.. Dddonggunn of course.
Thaane pauses in a seething anger for what seems to be ten minutes, but is actually just thirty seconds.
How much?
fforr aall? replies the owner almost rhetorically.
Thaane grins a hateful sneer.
Ah..about one thhhoussand gold?
Thaane rolls up his left sleeve and pulls a dagger out of his belt in the back. He digs deep into his left arm and slashes his forearm before holding it out onto the owner.
The provisioner winces in pain and lets out a scream right as the noon bells ring and then sinks into unconsciousness below his counter.
Thaane casually attends his wound, wrapping it tightly and drinking a small vial of elixir from his belt pouch. He collects his weapons and gear as well as a simple dark brown cloak and drops a bag of 200 gold pieces upon the counter before he leaves the shop.
At the gate, Thaane explains that he just woke from a great intoxicating dream and he needs to catch up with the caravan before they are too far gone.
You'd better hurry exclaims the guard almost mockingly.
Thaane begins the trek on foot towards the caravan.
The captain is visibly upset. This new plan will add at least two extra days to his agenda and for some reason, he seems really unhappy about skipping Dongun altogether.
He looks to the new hires and asks, I'll need scouts to check the east route, who'll volunteer?
"My chaperone and I would like to be in that group." Khartelosch volunteers.
I'll go as well
So, the wizard and the orc? NO ONE ELSE?
"I can go and scout out the eastern route as well."
"Careful, Lilly," Tress says as she heels her horse forward. "In a moment, the Cap'n's gonna complain it's 'only the Orc, the Wizard and the women', and then everyone is going to be sorry."
Tress smiles when she says this -- but there is no humour in it.
"I'll go."
I'll go as well, the hatted man volunteers with a grin.
Me too replies the more solemn oracle.
The scouting party rides ahead about one half of a mile and notices a break in the battlementsand rides through to the left. There is an impression of tracks, fairly old, heading east. After about five miles the party stops as they notice a party of six orcs fighting two giant scorpions.
Silas, being near the front, but on the outside is caught flat-footed by a giant scorpion.
The enormous clacking sound seems to come from nowhere as the Paladin narrowly avoids the destructive giant claw of the scorpion.
The Tiefling doesn't reply to the captain. He silently follows the rest of the... auxiliary guards that were hired at the last stop.
Winds whirling around him Silvash has his bow at the ready and makes sure is is back from the action but isn't quite sure who to shoot at first.
Silas, being near the front, but on the outside is caught flat-footed by a giant scorpion.
When able, Verrin mutters a mantra under his breath and leaps forward to strike at the scorpion, hoping to slay it before the larger battle becomes aware of us.
Initiative rolls please
Tress, who has been riding with her bow at the ready, coolly nocks an arrow, aims at the giant scorpion attacking Silas, and releases. She frowns when she sees the arrow go wide, but holds position, switching her bow and arrow for her scimitar.
Liilyanna aims her bow at the scorpion attacking the paladin.
ROUND 1
Armistad ( misses the torso of scorpion)
Khartelosch
Tress(arrow narrowly missed scorpion)
Ibrah
Lilly(arrow fires wide of vermin)
Silas (fires bullet into tough shell of scorpion)
Verrin(Verrin's sword attack misses)
scorpion misses Silas
Silas replies to the attack by drawing his pistol and lets off a shot.
Silas replies to the attack by drawing his pistol and lets off a shot.
1d20+6
You fool! Put that infernal contraption away before you draw the entire orc force down on us.
Khartelosch quickly scans for additional scorpions, knowing that they seldom travel alone.
Presuming he doesn't see any others, he dismounts and draws his lucerne hammer, keeping it ready in case a vermin thinks to get a taste of him.
If he does see any other scorpions near him, he instead draws his hammer while remaining mounted.
Khartelosch quickly scans for additional scorpions, knowing that they seldom travel alone.
[dice=Perc]1d20+5Presuming he doesn't see any others, he dismounts and draws his lucerne hammer, keeping it ready in case a vermin thinks to get a taste of him.
If he does see any other scorpions near him, he instead draws his hammer while remaining mounted.
There are no more scorpions nearer than the one attacking the orcs.
Armistad unleashes her spear upon the scorpion as she thrusts it towards the scorpion.
Silas, excited briefly about hitting the beast with lead, tries to avoid embarrassment as he realizes that Verrin is right and it was a mistake to use such a loud weapon. Luckily the orcs and other vermin are equally struggling to gain the advantage with each other.
The scorpion screeches in pain from the bullet but continues to fight on.
Ibrah crawls out of the hole he had taken cover in to hide from the Scorpion. He hates this desert. He hates the rough sand that he can never seem to get out of his fur, the dry air that parches his throat, and the ugly, drab terrain that offers no shade anywhere.
Seeing the scorpion attacking the party, he pulls out his Glaive and approaches it. As he nears it, he will use Bit of Luck on himself.
Ibrah moves to within striking distance of the Scorpion. Once there, he grips his Glaive firmly and strikes the Scorpion with it in a sweeping blow.
If the Scorpion leaves the threatened zone within 10 ft. of him (say, to pursue someone), Ibrah has up to 3 AoOs he can burn to attack the Scorpion with. Please roll those, should they happen, DM. I have +2 attack and do 1d20+3 damage with the Glaive.
The scorpion replies the bullet with a swipe of his enormous stinger.
The stinger scratches the chain shirt of the Paladin to no avail.
Tress leaps from her horse and runs over, manoeuvring to put the scorpion between herself and Silas. If she can do this and still attack, she does, her scimitar flashing under the desert sun. Her face is... almost blank. There is a very slight frown of concentration on it, but otherwise little to no expression. After what you have seen of her so far, it's really a little eerie...
Noticing that he's close enough to possibly strike the creature, Khartelosch takes Ice in his two hands and, favoring his non-lame leg, he swings it overhead, trying to break through the scorpion's chitinous carapace.
"Spirits aid my arm."
Recovering from the gunshot going off in his ear, Verrin shifts to work in concert with one of his allies and unleashes a flurry of sword strokes.
Thaane walks along the road with many miles to go, his boots making a soft clicking sound on the stone as the guards look upon his cloaked figure with curiosity.
ROUND 2
Silvash from RD 1
Armistad
Khartelosch
Tress
Ibrah
Lilly
Silas
Verrin
scorpion