The caravan has formed up, awaiting Conner and Evaneligh's return. A few members have passed the fallen, speaking a few words, or gesturing in prayer to whatever gods or goddesses they favor, to watch over the men on their way to the Boneyard.
Shylocke's breathing and slumber improve, and should revive soon, with luck only a little worse for ware. The group seems to assume Sir Gareth will take the seat on the lead wagon, though he has yet to do so.
The guards have made a point of keeping their bows in hand, rather than normally having them tucked under the buck or in the floorboard before them. The gossip seems subdued, and some look up to watch the sky, forgetful that in the Verduran, the sky is most often shades of green.
One bright sign seems to be the way those few of you have stepped up to take charge. The people seem eager to be lead, and they have shown approval. The pack horses you might have lead have been shifted to others, gear has been repacked to lighten your loads to just your gear, and ranks have closed up, allowing you more freedom to move outside the prior rigid formation Shylocke had preferred.
Waiting for Conner, d'Orionus readies his warhorse to take the lead in front of Shylocke's wagon. Hunter has been fitted with his barding and saddled as usual. If anyone comments about him riding in the wagon, he replies that he only rides in wagons if he is injured, otherwise warhorses.
He speaks to Aedin and Agnar to ensure they understand to keep the wagon rolling as smooth as possible and alert him when Shylocke regains conscious.
d'Orionus asks guard Shu to reinforce the last supply wagon and take charge of the rearguard.
When Conner returns, d'Orionus will ask him to take the lead with him to track the Delts' wagon.
Not finding anything else in the cook's belongings D'witt picks up the locket and pipeweed and goes over to wagon where the bodies had been loaded on to. Finding cook Dry's body the tiefling tucks the pipeweed into the man's shirt and slips the locket around the man's neck. Giving it a pat D'witt offers a small prayer of his own. "Dreams and vice's make us who we are."
Returning to the dry goods horse D'witt leads it over to Stonewall. Tying the lead to his own pack horse he finishes getting ready to move out at the Knight's word. He quickly double checks his hidden blades, the shots in his pistols and the barding on his horses as he waits.
Conner mounts up and rides up to a position next to Sir Gareth.
Sir Gareth, there was a slight trail off the main roadway up ahead that led down to the riverbank, where a boat or raft could have made land. the tracks were not enough to suggest that the whole party that left went that way because as I said before, the tracks head to the fork ahead.
Conner urges his mount ahead.
Come. I will show the way that the leaving Caravan Master took, and I will point out the side track where we discovered it.
Conner rides with his Bow resting across the pommel of his Dappled Gray mare, "Smoke".
Conner will lead ahead following the tracks as far as he did, showing Sir gareth the sign, then picking up the trail in whatever direction the caravan decides to take.
Survival (track):
Seeing Sir Gareth and Conner mounting up on their horses, he mount up on his horse and follows Sir Gareth and Conners lead following about four to five feet behind. Says a little prayer for the deceased and for everyone's protection as he leaves the camp with everyone.
"It would be wise to be ready for an ambush.. Although i suspect whoever did this got what they came for, seeing how they could of killed us all in our poison induced coma's.. All the same be prepared.." Angel rides atop a jet black stallion named Paladine, and will come to the front of the train to join Sir Gareth and Conner..
Also, the tracks that lead down to the river's edge went back up to the roadway. No boat has beached there recently either.
D'witt mounts River and begins following close behind Xavorin. Leading Stonewall and the cook's horse he keeps his eyes open for any signs of trouble.
Oh, and there was a sign of blood on a cloth at the end of the trail by the river. It appears the murderer may have come from the river and escaped the same way. How and if this is tied to the exit of the Caravan Master remains to be seen. Thoughts, Angel or Sir Gareth?
As the wagon train begins to move forward, a loud cracking sound occurs towards the back of the train. The first supply wagon lurches and comes to an abrupt stop as an axle band snaps, and the rear wheel shifts at angle away from the wagon body.
Hoy ho, all stop goes the call as the drivers stop their horses.
Driver Darby jumps down from his wagon and moves to inspect the wagon as guard turned driver Garn hops down, lamenting I didn't do it, the rock I didn't see it, I'm sorry. I ain't no driver, babbling on as he stands helpless next to his experienced elder.
Pipe down boy, twert you. Tha rock nae do this, holding up the severed band.
Masters, we bin dead futter'd 'ere. The ends of the band appear to have corroded away, eaten apart by acid perhaps. I dinnae thin she cannae hold too much o' tha ruff.
"Im no expert but it appears someone, or something doesn't wish us to reach our destination.." She turns in her saddle and yells aloud.. "If you're out there and listening fiend, I am Angel Dawnstar, a Watcher of Gallowspire, Slayer of Evil, and i will not be stopped whilst i still breath.. I will not be deterred from my loved one.." After her outburst she seems to calm and takes a deep breath.. "I am sorry for the outburst, but i don't care for underhanded tactics such as these and wish them to just come and face me instead of toying.." She looks to Driver Darby. "Do we have the supplies to fix this wagon?"
Aye missy, we kinnae do but try. I taint a tru waine, but me an Aedin bin round tha wheel a time er two. Let's be at it boyo.
I am heading off to work til 1AM. Here is a list of options to tide everyone over until my return.
Perception Checks for wagon inspections. Up to two checks per wagon. Time taken half an hour in total.
Wagon Repair roll, to be made once for each wagon discovered damaged. Please indicate which wagon is being repaired with each roll. Profession Wainwright, 1d20+4 (for Darby and Schoner as aiding assistant) Cannot take twenty on this roll, failure may cause additional damage. Each roll will take half an hour of activity.
Knowledge Local Check, for those with the skill. One check only per PC, no time.
Survival check, for those with the skill. One check only per PC, no time.
Perception:
Survival:
The second supply wagon has a bad axle as well, but it will likely make it to Homlett without weighing it down too much.
"Aye and Master Shylocke's wagon has similar damage as well.."
D'witt is forced to agree that the wagons won't make it past Hommel at best. "A slow pace may get us to Hommel, but we'll have to be extra cautious. It looks as if someone may be setting us up to be a plump target for goblin raiders."
He looks over to Sir Gareth. "I don't like calling one's character into question without proof, but could merchant Delts have sold out the caravan?"
"Goblin raiders you say? How o you know this? A traitor to our cause most certainly makes sense.."
After hearing Conner's assessment of the second supply wagon, Sir Gareth inspects Master Shylocke's wagon. "Master Shylocke's wagon is nearly as severe as the broken supply wagon. I remember some rumors that river goblins, the Webby Toe Tribe, have returned to this part of the Verduran, but the druids of Arenway have been warning them back to their Taldan hideaways. A dozen years ago, there was an attempt to hunt them to extinction by both Andoran and Taldan forces."
Replying to D'Witt, d'Orionus says, "Let us not smear Master Delt's honor. He had a 30% share invested in the caravan and has more to lose to his reputation. No, I suspect Delt's wagon was taken by a small force, because he camped further from us."
After walking around the caravan for a minute, he goes to Darby and Schoner, "How long would it take you to replace the bad axle on Master Shylocke's wagon with the good axle from the first supply wagon? With two good axle's, we should be able to load it up and make good time. If we have room, we can strip the lost wagon for parts."
When the repairs start, d'Orionus pulls together everyone else. "People, listen up. We've been attacked and sabotaged. If we all pull together, this trip will become an excellent pub story for you. Master Shylocke and I are counting on you and your skills to get us through this. Until we get rolling again, we need to post guards and be vigilant. Watch the horses, they usually have better senses. If anyone notices anything, make a lot of noise. Let's picket the pack mules together near the repair teams to make our caravan as small as possible. Right? Let's move."
Sir Gareth tethers his warhorse to Master Shylocke's wagon and walks around encouraging everyone.
Conner follows and pickets Smoke near the warhorse of Sir Gareth. I will make a circuit of the area on watch. He draws his bow and begins round.
Perception:
+2 if Goblinoids.
Angel follows the lead and ties up Paladine to one of the other wagons.. To spread out the senses.. She herself helps in anyway she can and keeps an eye open for trouble..
I'm sorry. Your engineering experience is more in the mechanics of firearms and alchemical compounds. Not alot of practical experience in wheels, braces, and wood-bonding adhesives.
It would take a few hours at best, with tools and lifts, to attempt to remove an axle from each wagon, and then to attach the best to one of the wagons. Here and now, it would take the better part of the day to attempt. I dinnae thin I kin make tha kinda repair. I kin might be cut down a wagon ta cart shape, but I'm nae sure it'll hold ta tha road. Repair, rebuild, or chop em down. We'll do what'ere ya want ta do.
Conner follows and pickets Smoke near the warhorse of Sir Gareth. I will make a circuit of the area on watch. He draws his bow and begins round.
Perception: 1d20+12
+2 if Goblinoids.
I will need more info on where your circuit runs, how long you take to make it, etc, to determine what you see or don't see.
Agnar takes three of the guards and forms up to provide support for the other caravan members, shortbows strung and ready. Remember, gobbos fear an hate those horses, they may run from them, or charge them first. Aim for those that look bravest, and the others may falter.
Evaneligh and two guards turned drivers gather together the pack horses and do their best to keep the beasts calm, though they sense the apprehension in their masters. Easy girl, good girl. No, shhh, shhh, ahh, its ok, we're safe here. Tshhht, tshht, tshht. Easy fella.
Darby and Schoner begin discussing the different options to take in trying whichever repairs Master d'Orionus wishes made. They gesture to various trees and rocks that might be of use to the endeavors. We'll be stacking tha goods o'er tha patch, by the brush. Boyo, we'll need some lads to lug out all tha gear n goods, then cart it all back up in tha other'en ta boot. May take a wee longer than I figur'd.
Mistress Yoakima and Staier are in Shylocke's wagon, seeing to his comfort and attempting to revive him. They feel it would be better to move him while conscious rather than manhandled like the baggage will be. I'll not see him handled like a poke of old turnips. He needs to be awake, to stand on his own. You may have the gods' ears, but if you don't get out of my way, taking Staier by his, you'll be giving up yours for sure. Now help me up into this thing. That steps too high for these old bones.
At this point, someone makes note that the quiet, unassuming guardsman Shu is nowhere to be found. It seems in the initial confusion, he has ridden off, whether away to Fusil or Bellis, none can be sure. Ner' spokted much, but he did take a shift at tha watch. Creepy red eyes tho'. An tha smell, like sumpin kinda dead twas...
Angel stays vigilant with the repair group and helps any way she can.. helping lift stuff for intance.. She keeps Paladine loosely tied, so that he may move should a goblin attempt to gut him..
Sir Gareth does not let his disappointment show to the caravan. He didn't think it should take longer to replace the axle than repair it, but obviously this work was beneath him. "Very well then. Please attempt to repair the broken axle and reinforce the damaged axle on Master Shylocke's wagon. That should take a couple hours by your last estimate. If that doesn't work, then we know what plan B is." He assigns a couple of folks to haul for the repair team as well as an additional two guards to watch them with ready weapons in case they are ambushed.
After the repair begins, he asks the rest of the able-bodies to take some of the material from the broken supply wagon to make a couple of bunkers. Something that we can take cover behind and protect the horses if we get attacked by arrows from the forest. He ensures everyone knows where their cover is if arrows start flying.
Besides this, he continues walking around listening for any other ideas and steeling everyone's spirits. D'Orionus will attempt to keep the repair team in view during his circling of the caravan.
___________________________________________________
I will continue to circle around the outside of the caravan, remaining within 30 feet of same, searching ever outward, for the period of time that it takes to effectuate the repairs. Essentially guard duty on alert for the presence of an ambush.
Xavorin helps in anyway he can carrying materials for the bunkers and for the repair of wagons while the others keep watch, but he still watchful not letting his guard down and keeping an eye out for anything that my be lurking around.
Aye boyo, lets git to tha job.
Darby and Schoner start with the supply wagon, placing the damaged metal brace back over the wheel/axle assembly. They bind several loops of rope round the housing, adding adhesives and tar to the mix, hoping to bond the piece together long enough to reach Hommlet.
Master Shylocke's axle was damaged along the supports for the assembly, so they begin similar treatments. I hae an idea Scho, let's try this. They further cut two holes in the upper floorboard and using a bit of chain from the supply wagon nail a link to the assembly, up through the floor, then back down and nailed to the other side.
Well, that's bout tha best we kin do now, sept pray ta Abadar he still likes tha good tha Master earns.
The whole process takes about an hour and a half. The wagon's are reloaded, the loads as balanced as can be, and everyone resumes their places. Ready for travel.
It is just before noon as all are set to travel. The scouts report nothing spotted yet, but then at ground level in the forest, it is difficult to see too far out.
Master Shylocke regained consciousness under Mistress Yoakima's ministrations. He thanks you all for taking charge in his absence. We would have been waiting for death, going to Pharasma without a reservation if not for you all.
He is still weak from the poison and wound he sustained. He asks Sir Gareth to continue leading his troop. As to what he remembers, he was sleeping fitfully, when something nagged at his nightmare, tearing him back to reality. He spotted a shadowy figure in his wagon, searching his gear. As he sat up and asked who's there, a light "thwhipp" proceeded the sharp stabbing pain in his chest, then his vision blurred and thats all of it.
The crossroads to the Nulb ferry should come sometime after nightfall, say around midnight.
You could reach Hommlet by afternoon tomorrow if you push through the night, though there would be some risk to the horses, pushing them hard like that.
When the repairs are complete and reloading process is underway, d'Orionus finds Angel. "M'lady, would you be comfortable leading the rearguard? With guard Shu missing and the two guards of the supply wagons dead, the rearguard is woefully under-protected. I feel I must lead the caravan and need Conner's tracking abilities in the van. I would feel much more confident if you would command our rearguard. What do you say?"
Whatever she says, he replies, "Thank you, m'lady."
When everything is ready to go, d'Orionus is the last to mount and signals departure.
Angel responds in kind.. "Of course i will.. Whatever is neccessary for the safety of the caravan.. We can ill afford to loose anyone else.. Paladine and I shall be at the utmost vigilance.." When the caravan again gets moving Angel will take up the rear atop Paladine..
Perception:
Conner quickly approaches Sir Gareth and Anngel at a dead run before they separate.
We have four canoes laden with goblins and some swimming dogs with them, approaching upstrean to the beach where we found the trail up ahead. If we move now, and quietly we will bypass the beach and outdistance them. I estimate their landfall in 15-20 minues. If not, we are in for a fight!
"How many? Way i see it we have 2 choices.. make a run for it and hope the wagons hold up, or find the most defensible spot along this road and dig in.. Encircle the wagons with the animals in center, ranged capabilites on the wagons and spread out the melee to fill the gaps between the wagons.. Have 2-3 men on the inner circle to provide support if weak spots occur.. Thoughts?"
Xavorin looks at Angel
"Well this the way I see it we can fight and buy some time before more show up and risk injury, or even more death, and slow us down or risk it and let the the wagons break again and hope that we have more materials to repair them again which will slow us down. Maybe should wait and see how many there is?"
"Personally i would rather dig in and be ready over possibly outrunning them, or instead being ambushed by them.."
Xavorin nods
"Can we risk losing anymore or injuries when we do not know what is to come up ahead?"
D'witt hears Conner deliver his report and then Angel and Xavorin debating over their choices.
"Or..."
The teifling finally chimes in.
"Or we could take the old forest track." He looks from the sorcerer to the paladin, then over to Conner and Sir Gareth. "From here it should save us nearly half a day's travel and we would avoid the ferry crossing. It would get us off the main road and it passes by an old fort. If it's empty we could might be able to camp there securely."
Xavorin looks over at D'witt
"The old forest trail? Also saves us time seems like a good option to me
"Well why didn't you say something earlier man.. Lets get a move on.."
Xavorin gets ready to move out so he can be ready if everyone agrees with taking this route.
Fair enough, I am game for that route, if we are in agreement. We really do need to get moving. I do not like missing the chance to kill goblins, though.
Looks over at Conner
[b]"You may still get your chance if some of them get too close. You think we should have you or D'witt on the back wagon in case they catch up since both of you do have range weapons?"
Sir Gareth acts on Conner's news and immediately signals for departure, "Conner, please go around the caravan and warn everybody to be as quiet as possible for the next hour."
Then, he turns to D'Witt, "Tell me more about this old forest track. The repaired supply wagon can't survive any rough terrain." Assuming D'Witt tells everything else in his Knowledge check, Sir Gareth asks D'Witt to ask Master Shylocke if he has ever heard of the old forest track and what he thinks. "Also tell Master Shylocke that we've found tracks of the Master Delts' wagon heading toward the split. We don't know if they'll head to Nulb or Hommlet."
D'Orionus rides in front with Conner keeping vigil.
D'witts tells Sir Gareth everything he can remember of the old track. When the knight asks him to confer with the caravan master he nods and moves over to the wagon to talk with Master Shylocke.
"Master Shylocke. How are you feeling?" He asks with honest concern before continuing repectfully. "Goblins have been spotted by the river. With the condition of the caravan it's been suggested that we use to old forest track to pass the ferry and head on to Hommlet for repairs. A scout also found Master Delts' wagon tracks but we don't know if they head towards Nulb or Hommlet yet."
Perception:1d20+13
You spotted roughly 16-18 goblins, a much larger, dark grey goblin, and three goblin dogs in the water.
Master Shylocke does recall the old forest track to Hommlett. The roadway is disused and out of favor, overgrown in spots, washed out and boggy in a few places. Master Shylocke leans up from his cot, trying to sit over the edge and balance himself. Many feel the old fort is cursed. The area always had an odd feel to it, and when the diabolists built the place, and sank so many lives and coin into holding onto it, even well after it made no sense in the face of overwhelming opposition. It was as if Asmodeus himself was keen to keep the spot. It was one of the last Chelaxian holdings lost to Andoran's rising, and one of the few that resulted in conflict.
Looking out the canopy to see the terrain, We should be about 7 or 8 hours out from the old track, 11 or 12 hours out from the Ferry Crossing. If we take the old track, we'll be best off camping about an hour from the turn out. Following at night will end us up in a bog, or worse.
Shylocke breaks a small sweat moving off his cot, and moving to his chair. From the Nulb ferry crossing, the run for Hommlett is about 12 to 14 hours out. Should we take the old track, though we would move slower, we should be able to make that stretch in 10 to 12 hours.