Jericho yells to the others, "You all got this!" Jericho rushes in to the waystation, looking for the Ozem knight by the name of Blix. He calls out for her, hoping she is still alive.
Penny keeps her crossbow loaded and a wary eye on the surrounding area.
Spear at the ready, Ulmo kept it trained on the captive orc. In Orcish he growled ”Answer truthfully.”
Jericho rushes into the way station and sees a blonde-haired woman dressed in chain mail, bruised, gagged and bound by ropes struggling to free herself. Jericho frees her and she introduces herself as Calrianne Blix, an Ozem knight assigned to this way station. She heartily thanks Jericho and the rest of the party as she walks outside to greet them.
You interrogate the orc and he happily reveals that the orcs were planning to sack several of the way stations along the river. Calrianne suggests that only good orc is a dead orc, but leaves his fate in your hands.
Afterward, Calrianne asks about the party, as she has never seen you before on the river. "Why are you traveling on the river?"
"Trunau was attack a few days ago by a huge hoard of orcs. Supposedly led by some giant matron or other. You haven't happened to see any giants around, have you? We've an appointment with them."
Without a second thought Ulmo ended the orc. He saw no reason to allow it to victimize others. Wiping his spear clean he joined the others.
Being a resident of Trunau for some time now Penny watched Ulmo end the Orc and considered it perfectly sensible.
Turning her attention back to Calrianne now that minor problem was gone.
.
The knight looks shocked at the druid's words. "Giants?! No, these were orcs with their bears who overpowered me. Thank you for your intervention. These bastards spoke about doing things to me...I am glad you killed them. They mentioned raids up and down the river. They never mentioned that they were working for any giants. Where might these giants be found for your appointment with them?"
Calrianne shrugs off the orc's death and nods at Ulmo for taking care of the issue.
Jericho was glad to hear there was not a larger conspiracy between the orcs and giants. "We're headed to Redlake Fort to take on the giants. Have you been there? Anything you can tell us about the place?"
”Aye. And any Giant movement ye’ve seen. If the big ones are moving without orcs then that alone is worrying. Well…unless…” He trailed off and decided to wait for an answer, lest he color the response with his speculation.
Calriannne raises her eyebrows. "Redlake Fort?! One of my ancestors, a man named Fabian Blix, was the fort’s cleric. Fabian died during the final siege of the fort, but one of his sons (my great-grandfather) escaped through a hidden sewer tunnel." Calrianne draws you a rough may of Redlake Fort, showing the sewer tunnel on the western side of the fort.
"If you do visit the fort, I would be interested in knowing of my ancestor Fabian’s fate, if you learn anything of value. I cannot abandon my current post, but if you could send me some communication, I would appreciate it. For saving my life, I don't know if any of you ride, but this magical saddle may prove helpful." Calrianne gifts the party with a Horsemaster's Saddle. "Thank you again for saving me. I am forever in your debt."
Ulmo gave a warrior’s salute, and left the decision about what to do with the saddle to the others. The pride as towards the man’s ancestors and his dedication to duty spoke to him.
”Dead orcs, a map, and a warrior-true met. This was time well spent.” He said to the group.
Jericho shakes the knight's hand and with a smile, says, "No worries, you were worth saving, Lady Blix. Thanks for the saddle and the information about the secret entrance. We will definitely send word if we learn anything of your ancestor. Be safe."
Jericho leads the party back to the boat to continue the journey.
Penny nods to the knight and follows the others.
Wondering if she should tell Ulmo that the knight was female, but deciding it was a conversation she didn't want to have. :)
[oox]Is Goliath still with us?[/ooc]
"You'll be missing out on a good fight, but I understand if your duty keeps you here. Thank you for the intel on the fort." Goliath prefers using the front door, however. "Before we leave you, do you have enough supplies for the time being? Or a letter you wish to send with our boat?"
You return to the keelboat with your magical saddle and some knowledge about the fort. You continue the riverboat journey for 2 more days. On the morning of the 3rd day, you reach the waters of the Ghostlight Marsh. You are sitting down to enjoy breakfast on your final day of the journey.
The dwarf sat, his spear leaning against him, while he thoroughly enjoyed his breakfast. He was certainly not at his sharpest, but at least he was (for the moment) quite content.
Penny leant against a cabin wall and enjoyed a rare moments peace from the cooks passive-aggressive looks.
Jericho sits down to enjoy his last day on the keelboat before continuing the grand mission.
On the last day of the party's voyage on board the keelboat, the boat’s cook, Gashnakh, promises and delivers a special meal for the party and the crew. The party is relieved from performing their daily duties, as the boat is docked. The deck of the boat is outfitted with tables. As the special guests of honor, the party is served their meal last, while chatting and drinking with the crew. With their meals getting cold due to the constant conversation, the party starts to dig in, when Jericho senses something off, after a few bites. His experience and exposure to different types of poisons as a rogue reveals a special type of sleep poison, used in anesthetics to knock patients out. Jericho yells a warning to the party, who quickly spit out the food. You are able to fight off the sleeping effects, since you did not ingest the full meal, though it takes a few rounds to fight off the dizziness and get your bearings. When you recover, the rest of the crew was not so lucky, as they were a few minutes into the meal, and you see them unconscious, their heads resting on the dinner table.
Orc screams jar you into action as 6 orcs and one leader climb onto the deck, as you see Gashnakh come out of the kitchen, garbed in a chain shirt and wielding a longbow. Finally, a burly orc leader climbs onto the deck. He is a badly burned orc with blotches of discolored and severely scarred flesh. When Gash sees the party conscious, "Damn the hells! That poison was strong enough to knock out an ox! How are ya still up?! Guess we are going to have to gut ya! Right Tark?" The leader of the orcs looks over at the cook, "I am disappointed in you, Gash, but I will deal with you after we kill these guests!"
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Round 1: Jericho
Jericho tries to shake off the effects of the poison, as he hears the cook boasting. So the cook and his goon's plan was to knock out the crew and them and then murder them in cold blood...that was nasty and vile. Jericho was pissed.
He rushes north toward the orange orc, drawing his elven blade as he moves, until he is adjacent and tries to skewer him!
Jericho moves forward and beheads the orange orc, as its body slumps over the railing back into the river.
Round 1: Orcs
The orange orc's death infuriates the gang as they cream for vengeance in Orc.
Black Orc:
He lifts his falchion and attacks Goliath, but misses.
Purple Orc:
He moves forward 25', as he has cover from wall, so no attack of opportunity and attacks Jericho with his falchion, but misses the dexterous half-elf.
Blue Orc:
The orc follows his friend and attacks Ulmo, but his blow glances harmlessly off the dwarf's armor.
Yellow Orc:
The orc moves east and attacks Goliath and draws blood!
Green Orc:
The orc moves east and attacks Goliath, who is flat-footed and cannot take AoO, but misses!
"Bah! Goliath spits, drawing his Earth Breaker and adopting a defensive posture. "Worthless and weak!" The druid roars as he brings his tribal weapon down on the head of the orc that cut him. He takes a step back to a slightly more defensible position, flanked by one of the long tables and the ships boat. "I didn't expect dinner and entertainment!"
The yellow orc's head pops like a tomato when Goliath's earth breaker lands on it.
Round 1: Tark
The orc barbarian rages, quick draws his falchion, and rushes forward toward the half-elf! His blow misses the half-elf, but Jericho can feel the force behind it!
Round 1: Gash
The orc cook yells out, 'Always hated you upstaging my cooking, Penny!"
He takes aim at Penny, taking 2 shots, hitting once.
Ulmo got to his feet and brought spear and shield to bear. Already an ancestral enemy sought to bring him down. Orc ferocity. Dwarven resilience. It was a tale as old as both of their people. His eyes narrowed, a promise that when all was said and done it would be that would be standing.
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While tempted to blast Gash Penny decides that Goliath needs a hand so she points and blasts Green with a Scorching ray. "You should have learned to cook Gash. You couldn't even hide poison in that slop you make!"
Penny's scorching ray hits, incinerating the green orc.
Round 2: Jericho
Seeing the big orc barbarian in front of him, Jericho decides to fight defensively to improve his AC.
Round 2: Orcs
The orcs, despite having lost half their number, still believe in their leader, and remain confident that they will prevail.
Black Orc
He swings at Goliath and draws blood.
Purple Orc
He takes 5' step east and attacks Ulmo, but misses poorly.
Blue Orc
He copies the purple orc's movements and attacks the dwarf, and misses even worse than his friend.
Round 2: Tark
Tark flinches at Jericho's cut and continues raging, as he full-attacks the half-elf! However, Jericho's decision to fight defensively pays off, as the orc barbarian's attacks both miss, unable to land a connecting blow!
Round 2: Gash
Gash gets pissed at Penny! "Slop?!! I'll show you!"
Gash uses Rapid Shot and now fires three arrows into Penny, exhibiting amazing accuracy and hitting all three times!
Round 3:
Jericho continues chipping away at the orc barbarian, slicing him.
Having sized up his foe, and properly taken a defensive stance, Ulmo stabbed out with his spear. Given that the orc was attacking without any thought for defense, it was not difficult to find an opening. He knew, from experience, that the hardest part was being ready for the inevitable counter.
Penny grins, a bit bloodily. Trying to pretend she's not in dire straits. "Oooof. That hurts, almost as much as your stew does!"
She blasts Gash with another Scorching ray.
Round 3: Orcs
The lone remaining orc stands side by side with Tark and tries to slash Ulmo, but misses.
"Sit down and shut up!" Goliath below at the archer. Turning to gave the distant foe, he raises his Earth Breaker over his head and brings it crashing down on the wooden deck, sending a a jagged chasm of splintering deck boards towards the orc, which explodes in a cloud of wood and nails beneath his feet. Then he strides towards Gash.
Tark:
The orc barbarian takes another slash from Jericho's sword and his anger grows even more, as he unleashes 2 more attacks that the half-elf smoothly parries away!
Gash:
The singed orc cook is knocked to the deck of the ship by Goliath's spell. "Take this, you fire hurling harlot!" His aim is true and Penny drops unconscious. The cook then takes a 5' step north.
Pulling his spear free from the orc which had attacked him, Ulmo watched without passion as the body fell to the floor. He had been prepared for a counter attack that never claim. Feeling slightly pleased that he had hit a vital organ, the dwarf turned towards the barbarian that was focused on Jericho. Knowing that there was no such thing as an honorable duel in such a situation, he moved in and expertly plunged his spear into the orc’s side. The orc was experienced enough, though, to recognize the danger at the last second. The wound was certainly deep, but it could have been *much* worse. He hoped that it would give his comrade the opening needed to finish the fight.
Round 4: Jericho
Jericho looked to his side to see Ulmo attack the barbarian and land a powerful blow. Maybe he'll swing at the dwarf, since I've been lucky to not get hit. Jericho continues to chip away.
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Orc:
The lone remaining orc, quite nervous now, takes a swing at Ulmo, but misses.
Goliath closes the gap betwixt himself and the horrible chef. "You donkey!" He doesn't get too close yet, instead waiting for the orc to leave an opening as he knocks another arrow.
Tark:
Feeling the power behind the dwarf's attack, the raging barbarian switches his focus to him, hitting once, and missing his second attack.
[dice-Attack]1d20+7[/dice]
Gash
Seeing the big bad but slow Goliath approach, the orc cook, smiles, as his prey comes into point blank range. "Humans are my favorite prey!" He focuses on damaging shots. Two shots fly out and drop Goliath. Gash turns and redirects his 3rd attack at Jericho, but misses.
Round 5: Jericho
Quickly taking a glance around, Jericho realizes that he and Ulmo are the only ones still standing from their party. "Gotta take this barbarian out quick, Ulmo!"
Gash Redo Round 4 action
Seeing Goliath closing in on him, the cook thinks better of it and moves around (NE), out of line of sight of Goliath.
With a single orc remaining, Ulmo thrust his spear into its side with practiced ease.