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As they found various war items and food in the camp, Sarya helped by putting everything in an easy to carry bundle, using the camp's tents and cloth to put it all together. She wanted to leave as soon as possible. Before they left, she commented "We should get rid of our footprints. The bulk of the army will come through here eventually and it would be better if they don't have much information on us."
As they headed back, Sarya foraged out of habit.
She was glad to see the refugees take the news well. When they showed what they had brought, there was particular interest in the food and construction tools. The weapons they brought were left somewhat untouched. In her head, Sarya thought The weapons are of decent quality and are still needed. She touched her own new sword to feel it still there. Let them have this moment., she thought, but made a note that they should not stop their fighting training. This cave was not to be made a permanent residence. That hole in the back was not to be ignored.
Sarya spent the next few days practicing with her sword and magic. She felt the need to use magic that could make a trap easy and fast, and she managed, with Kasana and Cheshire's help, to master such a spell. After a few days, however, she started to grow restless and eventually approached the others and said "I am glad the refugees are getting some respite, but we shouldn't let our guard down. I suggest we start exploring the region close to this cave. I don't want any more surprises. Also, we should resume their training. We brought weapons and armor. They're not made by a master smith but they will do."
OOC: Yes, he was the one huffing and puffing when the bridge was blown up and you guys fled into the forest.
He was the son of the commander in charge of the Phaendar invasion. I bet Daddy won't like it much when he finds out that his deranged son was killed. :)
Questions?
Game on!
In the joy of victory Cheshire knelt at the edge of the ridge around the hobgoblin camp. A rush of happy and sad emotions twisted on his face. He began to cry.
After a few minutes he slid down the rope the others had left to get into the camp. He joined the search with the others. Finding a bevvy of clothing and gear of a halfling or gnome he looked through the stash of bloody clothing and cast off. "No boots poor halfling." He noted that one item a cloak no this was a cape. The red cape trimmed in gold was vibrant. He picked it up and the it blew in the breeze with a faint hint of brimstone. His connection to magic at once told him that this was something special. He wrapped it around his shoulders and spun watching it trail around him. He pulled the hood over his head and wrapped himself. As the cape swirled around him he disappeared in a puff of red smoke. Appearing up on the ridge again overlooking the camp. [b]"Well that's handy. He looked down called to Kasana, [b]"Its okay I am right here." He wrapped the cape around him and frowned feeling the magic gone for the moment. He returned to the rope and rejoined those in the camp.
"Well we need to burry or burn this tent." He looked away from it grief hitting him. Were some of these skins his neighbors and friends?
Happy to put the camp behind him. Cheshire was quiet on the return trip. Though once at Misthome he was happy to relay the death of leader of the Phandeahar raid. He did not speak of the horrors of the tent.
Kasana found the camp well supplied all things considered. Joining Cheshire in their survey, she noted his fascination with a particularly luxurious red cape. "I know its nice but in that color, it's probably best to leave that behind unless you want to ma..." Kasana began before Cheshire vanished in a puff of smoke. Panic taking her, she sprinted out of the tent to the others before hearing the gnome call her name. Gods I'll never get used to his magic, she thought to herself inwardly as she discovered to her shock that he had somehow teleported back to the top of the ridge. Slightly embarrassed at her reaction - and unaware of the cape's magical properties - she called out as flatly as possible before trudging off, "Neat trick. I still wouldn't keep that cape. Oh and please give me a heads up the next time you feel like vanishing into thin air."
After corralling all the useful supplies they could carry, she finally went into the tent she feared entering the most and looked at the faces adoring the walls; hoping upon hope not to see anyone she recognized.
Gazul was in a much better mood after the battle. In fact, it was the first time that he had felt happy since his sister had passed away. This was because he felt that vengeance had been enacted, and as such the grudge was settled. He was certain that her spirit rested easy now in the afterlife, along with the rest of their ancestors. A weight had been lifted from his shoulders, which allowed him to smile again. With a slight smile breaking through his bushy beard, he looked at Cheshire and said "Don't worry lass. Even if he goes invisible we'll be able to find him by following the explosions."
"Don't worry lass. Even if he goes invisible we'll be able to find him by following the explosions."
"Easy for you to say when you're not the one all of his 'events' seem to happen around!" Kasana replied back in a slightly petulant manner. Though she was indeed still annoyed with the gnome, a smile was slowly creeping back across her face as she squabbled with the others.
Kasana was much more subdued on their journey back to the camp, fatigue and a racing mind seemingly weighing her down after the highs of the past few days. Scouting ahead throughout the trip, she used her time alone in the forest to think on what everything she had gone through the past few weeks since joining up with this band of survivors and what they might need to do next.
When they finally arrived back at the troglodyte caverns, she let the others take the lead in sharing all that had happened before, content to sort and organize the spoils of their victory within the camp.
The following morning, after taking a rare day "off", Kasana searched for both Orthos and the camp healer Rhyna . Though they had been lucky so far, Kasana had come to the conclusion over the past couple of days that living on the edge as they had in the past was likely to get them killed if they didn't improve and change how they operated. And though she wasn't as magically gifted as the others, there were still practical skills she could learn that would help to keep the tides in their favor moving forward. Asking both healers to teach her the basics of healing, Kasana spent the next few days practicing her newly learned techniques with gusto; coming away at the end of the intense session confidant she could diagnose, treat and triage, common wounds, illnesses and aliments.
The rest of her time back at the camp went by rather quickly. In between her healing sessions, Kasana helped Cheshire and Sarya workshop a new spell for the elf as well as restarting her training program she had started the week prior. It was an odd, though nice feeling, to have a few days in a row where she did not feel the need to be on edge the entire time. But while she enjoyed the momentary respite, she knew it wouldn't last long and she continued to keep her skills sharp at night, ready to strike or defend at a moment's notice.
Cheshire "Well getting the rangers involved seems like a good thing. If they are trying to cut off Tamran that is going to give them access to a lot of settlements in the west. Worse it cuts of Tamran or points west from provision or reinforcements. At least not without a long trip."
”Getting them involved? Mean getting them to take over. It’ll be great to have some real experts on hand. This type of situation is their craft! Why, they’re probably already in motion working against the hobgoblins.” Gazul said, glad to hear that there were still three forts full of trained warriors on their side.
Cheshire nods, "Yes that is putting it better."
OOC: Done, sorry 'bout that. :)
"Yes I agree. Having more allies on our side can only be to our benefit. How far of a trip is Fort Risin?" Hopefully there are actually people to recruit... she thought to herself.
While she was pleased with the positive news from both Juno & Aubrin, she had to remember to stay realistic and not assume that finding and recruiting these Rangers would be as easy as Aubrin made it out to be - which even still sounded like a rather complicated task. Who knew if they were even still at any of these forts, or even alive for that matter...
Orthos spent his time trying to rebuild his stock of medical supplies and herbs, with limited success, as well as teaching Kasana medicine.
He also held classes in Goblin for anyone who wanted to know the language of their enemy.
Cheshire spends some time with his father and the other survivors. His gratitude to those who helped his people is deeply felt. He is happy to attempt to learn goblin.
Cheshire makes a point when discussing plans to find Fort Risin. "We have been pulled here and there. In the last weeks. This forest has more to it that we can use than we have had opportunity to use. As we think about starting a search for allies we should start to learn the land, that is going to be crucial if the enemy continues to press us."
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In very rudimentary goblin, Gazul tried to respond "Me forest good. They forest bad. Look forest? They no good. Bad! They no. Me forest look...then!" He had to look down at his notes several times to say that, but when he was finished he looked very proud with himself.
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At it's basics without going into higher math, the basic goblin numerical system goes: "One, Two, Many, Lots".
Stewing and muttering to herself in the corner in an obvious mix of anger, confusion and frustration was the camp's archer. Having never truly experienced difficulty picking up new abilities and skills in her young life, this study session was a challenge to both her character and her self-appointed identity. Suffice it to say, she was not taking this well.
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A frustrated Sarya looked up to the sky in confusion. "It doesn't make sense, what's wrong with three, four and five?" Then, trying to make sense of it all, she continued "And what about this thing about birds? You say they call doves and pigeons by the same word? How have they managed to not be extinct by now?"
They breed... prolifically I am afraid, he said with a helpless shrug.
Logically they don't have much time for linguistic nuance. Survival, until they can earn their way in the tribe, is their sole concern. NOW if we are talking at a higher level, such as conversation used by Hobgoblins? They steal from other races, peppering and augmenting their communications with terms, typically military ones, from common and dwarvish, although the pronounciation will be distinctly goblinoid in flavour, he expounded.
Agreed... we need to better our hand, he said heading to his bedroll and pack.
"Yes sometime today I would imagine; I think we could all use a break from our goblin lessons. How long do you believe Misthome will be able to take care of themselves while we're gone?" Kasana asked Aubrin.
Once the group had separated to prepare for their next journey, Kasana returned to her corner the cave to grab all of her belongings. Her enchanted bow, folded and slung across her back, her sword and shield, recently cleaned and sharpened during their reprieve, her leather armor, mended and resting comfortably again above her golden Mierani clothing, and the masterwork Thieves' Tools Gazul had made for her previously, still new and glistening within their oiled wrappings. Lastly, she picked up the Healer's Kit she picked up at the goblin's camp. Though she hoped she wouldn't need to use them on this trip, with Orthos' instructions burned into her memory, she was confidant that she would be able to assist the party in another way should situation call for it.
Satisfied that she had everything needed for their next journey, she slung her pack over one of her shoulders and headed out of the cave towards the others, cautiously hopefully that their was help to the south.
cautiously hopefully that their was help to the south.
OOC: busy yesterday but intend to move things along today...
and yes, it's north that you are going.
Action 2...
Facinating, Orthos breathed, in awe of magical experimentation that had become a species in its own right. Facinating but terrifying - these things are brutal! Is there a way we can draw them away without fighting them?
Cheshire looked about. "Do we still have bear traps. . . . we know they like rabbit."
Orthos looked doubtful...
It miiiiiight work. Maybe. We'd have to kill them at that point... and if it doesn't work? Welp, it could be fatal miscalculation on our part, he whispered.
Gazul looked at the creatures, and realized that he knew next to nothing about them. "Yeah, I like the idea of setting traps. Those claws look sharp and powerful enough to cut through steel. But they're still animals. I wonder...maybe once they've eaten, if I can observe them for a bit, I can figure out a way to get rid of them." He trailed off, deep in thought.
"If you can move those things on I guess. If we have to take them out. They are lots of meat and good pelts. Misthome is not far."
"Gazul, if you think you can speak with them and convince them to leave this area for good then I'm willing to give that a shot. Otherwise, I'd rather strike first while he have the advantage. They're dangerous if angered and we could use any advantage we can get." Kasana shared.
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Sarya finished packing her adventuring gear as she thought I feel... Something about this sword is speaking to me... There is a malicious feeling in it.
Sarya said "I don't know those creatures, but they're magnificent. Still, I think we should make sure they don't come too close to misthome. Maybe we should set the traps near the cave entrance. It may even help them catch small game occasionally."
"They are remarkable.
OOC: owl bears are considered monstrosity, not beasts...
Looking closer at the creatures in front of them, Kasana turned to Gazul and asked, "Can you speak to all manner of creatures? If I remember correctly from my studies, I think they're less beast and more... other."
That is NO animal, Orthos emphasises in a low voice.
With a sigh Gazul said "Ah well. Best I don't meself mauled then. I think that the best thing to do is lure them out away from us. Any hobgoblins that pursue will run into them and it'll slow them down."
With that, Gazul motioned for the group to wait for him while he went to work. The ranger went out to secure proper bait, in the form of wild animals that he could kill and leave out. All they would have to do was make sure that they were well out of the way, and to carefully move around the odd beasts, so that the owlbears would become the hobgoblins' problem, not theirs.
"Are we sure we should leave them rooming so close to Misthome? No one back there would be able to handle one of these creatures, never mind two of them. It might be simpler to handle them ourselves while we're fresh and not particularly stressed for time..." Kasana offered
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Sarya was glad that the others felt as her about the owlbears. Although it did pose a threat to Misthome, it wasn't reason enough to kill them. However, she was worried that their redirection techniques would not be enough. She said "If we fail to remove them from here, I think we'll have to fight them. At least wound them so they learn to not come closer."