Gheorix, dodging the hail of fire from the mounted imperials, quickly follows Cookie's orders, lashing down the sternsail...
With everyone's help and Alejandro firing harassment shots, the yacht soon hits the slipstream with no further injuries from the pursuing gull riders. As usual, the boat shudders when you enter the slipstream but handles it well.
"I'll have the ertu bring us out of the slipstream at the broadcast point. Then we'll go back in and head to the rendezvous point." Cookie says, well aware of his pilot points.
"Nice sailing, Cookie!" Agripos didn't know much about the art, but he knew Cookie got them out of trouble really fast.
He looks toward the armorers they'd rescued. "Gentlemen, you've created some fine armor here. I don't know how it's possible that I'm faster and stronger wearing this armor than not wearing it."
Surturs flaming balls, I kind of doubt thats the last we have seen of these "devourers" though. She pauses
It is a job well done, and drinks are on me once we reach a bar.
She says with a wide grin.
Anyone still wounded?
You drop out of slipstream after a day of travel and send a message with the rock fairy. Not knowing if the message was received you jump back into slipstream to travel back to Horath. The trip takes another thirteen days.
You drop out of the slipstream and maneuver to come in for a landing at the docking towers on Horath. As you approach you see massive destruction. Numerous fallen troops lie frozen where they fell in battle. Other indications of the ferocity of the battle are the remains of air ships that litter the area, and the carcasses of two war elephants resplendent in imperial colors.
Well f~*~. What are these non-wooly mammoth things? Sigrid pauses
Lokis f+&$ing mare bugger my lovelife... Her swearing fails her....
Lets check for survivors, perhaps we can help, somehow!
Uh-oh, does anyone know where their backup plan was to rally? Agreed, let us get down there and see if there is someone we can aid. Gheorix looks grimly at the destruction below them atop the snow.
"What in Hades name happened here?!" Agripos did not expect this base to be found and overwhelmed. "Who won the battle? Or did everyone just die?"
Agripos tries to assess the situation and what might have happened as best as he could.
You land and check the situation. You find no one alive. Any who may have survived the battle and was not picked up looks as if they would have frozen. You find several of the Council of Lords ships are missing, captured or escaped there is no way to tell. There are numerous casualties on both sides and you do not know which won the battle but the imperial casualties do make a direct line for the rebels hidden cave. Also, the closer the imperial casualties get to the cave the rebel casualties begin to outnumber them.
You believe the battle probably took place a couple of weeks ago. Right around the time you left Talas.
You find a vile cannon that is salvageable on one of the downed elephants. Also, there are food stores that seem to have been untouched.
Gheorix walks the battlefield, shocked that the victor didn't even honor their own dead. As Council casualties mount approaching the cave, he mutters, Doesn't look good for our allies, what now? Missing ships could either indicate escape or complete defeat, but we're still here so all isn't lost. walking back outside he pokes around at one of the downed elephants, hauling a cannon from its mount. Hey, this thing looks like it works, we should take it with us!
He brings it back to the group, setting it by the entry to the cave. Going inside, he pries open a box, This food looks salvageable, we should take that too. Its not doing anyone any good here, and we can eat it on board to wherever we're going next.
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"Remember what the Council of Lords explained? If the Council was gone from Horath, they would rally in north-west Burgundia, home of New Atlantis. We should get anything useful from here and then set our new course. Hopefully the missing Council ships are a sign they escaped."
Shit, looks like a loss. The cannon over there is salvagable
Alejandro looks out over the battlefield in dismay.
"The cold slows the decay, but I think the elephants have been dead a couple of weeks." he reports. "If the battle was then, I don't know if they would have got our message. We'd better get what we can then try and rejoin them."
You board the yacht and again move into the slipstream. This time for another four days. You come out of the slipstream just above the south side of a large forested island with a mountainous interior. You can make out a few communities on this side of the island, the furthest south being the largest.
During the journey, Agripos practices hard to learn how to fight with his new armor. The breastplate seemed to impart extra momentum on his strikes with his body, and he finds himself able to attack faster than ever before.
As they arrive on the new island, Agripos peers out at the settlements, hoping for signs that they were still undisturbed by war.
"Should we head toward the largest settlement over there?"
Seems as likely a place as any, maybe we can pick up any leads for the Lord's Alliance there? Gheorix echoes Agripos' idea.
"I believe that big one is called Showerton, bunch of gnomes." Cookie says as you sail down to it.
Showerton has a moderately busy port. There are several ships obviously manned by gnomes, a ragtag dirigible apparently piloted by skasaw, a ship designed to resemble a bird with large pontoons at the ends of the wings manned by orcs, and two other vessels which appear to be commanded by humans. The port area is defined by a four foot fence with a sizable gate nearest the town proper.
Showerton has much of the standard for a trade town; inns, taverns, and merchants. The gnomes sell most basic items with several who trade in magical goods
I am a big fan of stagger proof boots, but I dont think any of use got money, unless we want to sell the extra armors on the free market, which seems like a rather dubious idea. Sigrid cautions.
Cookie, do you have like, prepared protocols for how to contact the alliance? She asks.
He also designates an island in north-west Burgundia as your rally point should the Council be gone from Horath when the team returns. This is also the site of the Atlantean resettlement of New Atlantis. The Council of Lords will not have forces stationed there but a ship will make periodic irregular checks to see if anyone is trying to make contact. The checking ship will be disguised as a fishing trawler but will have a talking rock attuned to a rock fairy on the Cloud Sprite, the ship awaiting you in Thuringia, and will fly a pink pennant.
"No, ma'am. I believe there was supposed to be a fishing a trawler, though how long that would take I am not sure."
I suppose we look for a pink pennant, and maybe find New Atlantis while we're here? Gheorix suggests.
In Showerton Gheorix wanders around, asking people for directions to New Atlantis, and any rumors thereof....
Gheorix wanders into town and I assume everyone else does as well. Cookie for one is imagining a large brew and heads off for the nearest tavern. Gheorix is visiting shops and asking directions with the others in the near vicinity when a gnome wearing a bright pinkish-red belt comes strolling along. He glances in your direction, "Lo and pledge! A Knight," he says. Hurrying over, he gives a gracious bow to Gheorix, "Sir Knight, I have heard of your kind but never thought I would see the like. My name is Teddy Rosybelt, a leader of sorts of these good gnomes. Tell me, do you save damsels in distress? Better yet, do you slay dragons?”
Gheorix looks slightly ambushed by Teddy's approach, but nods after a moment, I am merely a humble warrior, seeking to carve my own path as best I can. When damsels need saving, I do my best, but I'll admit, its been a long while since my companions and I saved any damsels; and while I've heard tell of many dragons in the water and far-off misty caves, I've not drawn the dragon's wrath from there. he settles into a smoother cadence of words, threatening to let the power of song and word overwhelm him, turning to the other companions, These heroes are the stuff of songs, and I, Gheorix, am blessed to have honed my blade against the Iceni, and again in Gaul before journeying to these shores. We have stood powerfully against those who sought to do harm to others, my companions, Alejandro, Agripos, and Sigrid have all stood tall when the hands of oppressors seek to smite those whom they deem inferior. We have been the shield to the people we meet, and the sword of justice when the wicked seek to do harm... Tell me of your deeds Teddy Rosybelt, have you stood as the flame against the darkness of oppression? Do you and yours seek to stand fast against the tides of darkness lapping at your feet?
Alejandro lets Gheorix talk, but studies the gnome carefully, trying to get a read on his intentions.
As well as giving other aid to those stricken by wounds. As far as the slaying goes, no dragons yet. I did however save some daring gentlemen in dire straits. But it would be churlish of me to elaborate too much of the specifics.
She says with a smile that doesnt quite reach her eyes.
The poor schmuck I fake sacrificied will remember me for the rest of his life. Wonder if he is alive still. Still I should be carefull to not give away too much to this Gnome, I wonder what his deal is?
Rosybelt seems to genuinely be seeking help. "Well, sir." Rosybelt begins in response to your closing remarks, "I have not but I think we would if it were needed yet we are not quite trained for such things, standing agains the darkness that is. But you my good fellow and your companions seem to be the type of people we need. We have a dragon problem. Many started calling her Poison and it sort of stuck. It’s a black monster that spits acid. She attacks our cattle and sheep. This often ends with gnomes getting injured not to mention the financial impact. Second, we can’t move any further inland. We are looking to expand north into the inner plains of the island but she savagely attacks any group going beyond the great cleft. If you are willing, we would like to hire you to rid us of this menace. The senate and I have already had meetings on this. We can offer 15,000 gold for proof of the dragon’s death. What do you think?”
"If we're hanging around waiting for this ship anyway, we can at least check it out." Alejandro says in a low voice to the others. "We might even be able to help, as long as it's not too big."
Agreed. What is the dragons color btw? Size? Wingspan? Any witnesses we can interview? Information saves lives. Sigrid asks.
"Come on back to my house, it's the white one at the end of the lane. You can meet my wife and we can discuss the particulars. She's a black dragon that spits acid to answer your question. I'll see about calling in some witnesses to try and get an idea of her size. Of course, it'll likely be exaggerated."
Once at the house you are ushered into a good sized dining room and lunch is served. Once everyone has been served Rosybelt says, "I have the scouts being brought in to discuss the information we have on the dragon."
"We also have a wonderful library," comes another voice from the doorway. A well dressed gnome with a white wig on his head steps into the room. "Teddy, you should have told me we you found some valiant knights to take up our cause. How do you do all, I am John Adamson. I pushed for the building of the library and I am glad I did. It's been so useful. Not only have we held congress there, so much so that we call it the Library of Congress now, but I have books on every subject imaginable. If you have a question about this dragon, I'm sure we could find it in the library." He comes up and takes a seat at the table. "What do you think of my wig? I believe it adds a bit of solemnity and professionalism to the wearer."
"Nice to meet you John. Your wig is . . . very interesting," says Agripos. It was hard to figure out what he was supposed to say given his oath to tell the truth--the white wig was definitely interesting--and strange and made the gnome look old. "Well, John Adamson--we wouldn't mind any information your libraries might have about a black dragon. It sounds quite fearsome. And while we are capable warriors, I am not sure how we can defeat a flying dragon while we are stuck standing on the ground."
You may call me Sigrid. Wigs are a somewhat unusual concept for my people. And our lawyering frequently gets down to trial by combat, where detachable hairdos would be of limited utility. She replies to Mr. Adamson.
If we find its lair, we may be able to force it into a fight in a barell so to speak, where it cannot avail itself of its mobility advantadge. I fully agree that a ranged engagement would be folly.
I can increase 2ishpeoples protection from acid, but seeking to blind it may well be more effective. Sigri offers.
Agripos nods in agreement with Sigrid. "Yes--catching the dragon in its lair may be best, so that it can't just hover and breathe fire while we stand helpless."
"My good sir, I appreciate your taste. I will have one commissioned for you." Adamson says to Agripos. "I fully understand my lady. Perhaps as civilization overtakes you, your sentiments of such things will change. Oh, look, here comes Abe and wearing his dignifier. I helped design those as well." he says pointing out the window. You see a rather tall gnome walking toward the house with an exceptionally tall cylindrical hat upon his head. Adamson looks to Agripos smiles and nods.
"Yes, well," Teddy breaks in, "Hear are the scouts. Let's get the report from them."
The scouts, while giving numerous pieces of unrelated information eventually cover the following topics.
1) The creature lives on a foggy island on a lake in the central mountain range. They have witnessed the creature coming from the island from the safety of observation boats.
2) There is a tribe of kobolds who serve the dragon. It seems to be a large tribe, estimated to be about one hundred warriors strong, probably twice that many non-warriors.
3) It is a black dragon and has been seen belching a stream of deadly acid.
4) The dragon does not seem to be overly old. The scouts estimate it to be about 15’ long from head to tail.
Our insistence on trial by combat, which as a matter of fact are less brutal then you may think, after all most such trials end with one side yielding in a wounded state rather then in death, is in part a deterrent to frivolous lawsuits.
In addition, if one makes suit, one needs to put ones own skin into the game so to speak.
Plenty of provisions are made for lawsuits by and against people who are combat incapable, and, if a case is seen as just, they may find it very easy to avail themselfs of the services of a champion who is willing to take up arms for them in the legal matter at hand. Sigrid recounts her tribes justice system, which she deems to be the least bad justice system she knows off.
The goal of our justice system is to prevent fracticidal civil wars, it does so in part by reducing a quarrel that could spark a civil war, and in which casulties could easily be in the thousands, into a duel where the maximum number of casulties is 2. I also wonder as to how bloodless verdicts against one party are actually to be enforced? If a party to a quarrel loses in a trial by combat, then they have seen that the victorious sides mettle exceeds theirs, and will likely abey terms. If one side loses, be it based on legal arguments or based on the judge being bribed, would they not be far more likely to resort to arms in the face of a hostile verdict, thus ensuring a civil war?
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But how does this not invalidate the will of the Ri? They should be the one to dictate how the laws are interpreted with the will of the gods present in their judgement? Ach, we're off track. What do the scouts say, if it is truly only 15 foot long, perhaps we can get a weighted net to help dissuade it from flight? Gheorix looks confused by the Gnomes egalitarian system of justice, and their strange affectations with wigs and dignifiers...
Rosybelt seems rather taken aback by Gheorix's comment, "By jove, that's a great idea. Leonardo "the fishy", had developed a net thrower for catching flying fish. The problem was a limited number of flying fish and so he was stuck with targeting birds. I bet we could have him modify it for throwing a heavier net. John, make yourself useful, grab Abe and go see if you can find Leonardo."
"A net, you say? Clever. Or foolhardy, I'm not sure." Agripos wonders what these clever gnomes might create for them.
"Stopping it from flying would be the best, I'm not well equipped to fight things in the air. If we an ambush it that would make the fight easier too. Could we get to the island without noticed? And where do the kobolds live?"
One of the scouts raises his hand bouncing up and down when Alejandro asks his question. When he is recognized he says, "My lord, they live inside the island. We can see a quay where their boats are pulled up but there is an overhand so we have not been able to see the entrance to their cave."
"Hm, is there a way to approach this cave without being seen by the kobold tribe? I worry about giving the dragon too much warning of our arrival."
Hmm, let me think. Sadly I have no magical means of making us stealthier. Have the Kobolds been participating in raids? What is known of their tactics? Only a fool invades without knowledge, or not takes serious creatures just because of their size.
Sigrid offers.
Lake placid, where the kobolds stay, is a roughly circular body of water sitting on a plateau in the middle of the mountain range. As its name would imply the waters lie still. Along the shore are the remnants of some long ago village. In the center of the lake is an island with a stone quay at the base of a large entryway.
"We could land on the island on the opposite side to the stone quay." Alejandro suggests. "There may be fewer lookouts on that side, if they expect anyone going to the island to head to the dock."
Yeap, can we setup some type of distraction? Or do we try to go in full sneaky?
"We're not experts on being sneaky. Does anybody ever travel to this island normally? Would be great to go when the kobolds are distracted."
I gooned that up. The island map is that of New Atlantis. No one travels to the kobold/dragon island on lake placid. Even the scouts stayed well away and used spy glasses.
Okay, so sounds like we land, and travel a little distance, maybe we can work out with Cookie again about swooping in to pull us out when and if we're in trouble. If they don't get visitors they'll probably be pretty casual about their defenses, I can't see a tribe of kobolds being very keen on monitoring a border which doesn't get incursions.
"The island is kind of flat topped. It's possible there used to be a building on top of it. From what we saw, you will need to climb down from the top to get to the quay if you land up there. Of course you could dock at the quay." One of the scouts says.
"Mind you, a dragon is a pretty good defense!" mentions Agripos. "Tell me about this fancy net of yours. I'm willing to try anything to keep the dragon grounded."
"In addition to a net, do you gnomes have Tanglefoot Bags? Maybe if we hit the dragon with sticky stuff, it won't be able to fly."