Same here. I'm interested in continuing, if you're willing to keep running it. I'll keep an eye out here for updates.
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Still no response, dunno what's going on. Hope everything's okay.
Looks like he's been posting in at least one of his other campaign threads. I'll send him a PM.
"Hmm. The front, then." Nargond again shakes his head, wondering once more why everything has to go wrong simultaneously, and then heads for the front door. Again.
Nargond shakes his head, then follows Hanna around the back. It's not worth taking the chance of one person being caught alone by whatever slipped over the wall.
Hanna & Rizzen: "Inside? What of the creature that overcame the wall?" Interrupted mid-sentence by the disappearance of the light, Nargond heads back to the barn door.
Hanna & Rizzen: Nargond's eyes narrow slightly at the display. "Not what I meant, lady, but we can speak of this later." The grim dwarf turns with purpose and stalks to the rear of the barn, looking for anything disturbed. Or... disturbing.
Hanna & Rizzen: "Nothing. Perhaps it has gone, but where? And that swift... We need light.
Hanna & Rizzen: Hearing Hanna gasp, Nargond backs up toward her slightly, still keeping his eyes to the back of the barn. Wondering if he really saw or heard anything, or if the stress and darkness is just getting to him. "Hmm?"
Hanna & Rizzen: Darker than the Karak tunnels in here, Nargond thinks to himself, while straining to hear any whisper of movement in the pitch-black barn. Wish I had a light. Damn this rain, anyway, it would have gone out before I got this far... I know something came in here, now where is it? Probably heard us open the door, too. Maybe one of the others will bring light, if that indolent sod even passes the message. Still, the horses aren't spooking, so maybe it's gone already.
Hanna & Rizzen:
a cretin like Minous Clever!
Hanna & Rizzen: Nargond steps quickly through the door, axe at the ready, scanning for anything out of place or hostile.
Hanna & Rizzen: Dripping wet, squelching through the mud as quietly as he can (), Nargond approaches the stable door. He gestures to Hanna, indicating that she should stand off to the side of the door and open it, and he will go through first. With luck, he thinks, they will have the element of surprise. With more luck, they may even survive this.
Hanna & Rizzen: Once again, Nargond's eyes narrow as he nods as Hanna, grimly. Axe at the ready and skilled staff fighter at his side, he stalks quietly towards the barn, hoping that whatever is there doesn't realize it's been noticed.
Hanna and Rizzen: Nargond's stomach lurches sickeningly at this confirmation. He glances sideways at Hanna, and speaks softly. "So, definitely something. Rouse we the others, or skulk it unaided?"
Hanna & Rizzen: "I think... something came over the wall. Something white." "Beware, if it came from outside the wall there will be trouble. I will check for markings." Nargond draws his axe and begins walking cautiously towards where he saw the blur.
"Indeed, I will scrutiny with you. You fought well today, lady, where did you train?" Nargond turns to the others for a moment. "Let us hope that was not scouting. Scouting leads to invasion, and I do not wish to war. We should tell of such finding to the soldiers. Middenheim has such, I think."
"I do ponder what beastmen hoped, on the road. Why only four, with so many others nearby?"
The dwarf looks around the room appraisingly as he eats, noting who is armed, who carries themselves like a fighter or a hunter. He pitches his voice low, so as not to carry to eavesdropping ears. "So. You travel to Middenheim or farther? If more road is like this one, it thinks to travel with strong arms and keen eyes."
The warmth and dryness of the inn common room is a welcome thing to Nargond, and he finds a barstool with the others.
Hearing Hanna's order, Nergond catches Edden's eye. "The same, but no drink for me. We are not far enough from the day."
"Hmph. If we cannot rest the dead, at least let us be living. Time to go, yes?" When the group starts moving, Nargond takes up a position just inside the treeline north of the road, watching and waiting for the next attack.
No time for graving the man. I do not wish to leave him for the beastmen, but we must reach walls or be whelmed. Let us swift.
Nargond, knowing he cannot disengage to help the flighty halfling without leaving an opening for the beastman in front of him, continues his assault, sharp steel flashing in the downpour and lantern light. He knows that it's only a matter of time before more beastmen show up, and if the impromptu warband can't finish this quickly they'll eventually be overrun.
Nargond flicks his eyes to both sides, trying to keep appraised of the situation without leaving an opening for the horrific creatures. After his initial surprise, Nargond seems to focus on the threats.
Also, can we get a rundown on the rest of the house rules please?
I'm sort of conflicted about that, actually. It'd be nice to get an easy crit now and again, but then again given the number of enemies we're likely to fight it's far more probable to kill us first. Ah well. Also, (@Rizzenmagnus) are we using the basic or advanced armor rules?
The book I'm looking at (published 2005, p130-131) says Ulric's Fury requires first a 10 on the damage roll, then another successful attack roll, and only then can you just keep rolling the exploding damage die. Is there some errata I'm missing?
"Someone look the others - if they flee we will not find them!" ****
Nargond winces at the doggerel, turning to fix the halfling with an appraising look. "Rust. Pah. You do not care your tools. One day they will regret you."
The dwarf slows slightly from his position in the group, dropping back to speak with Elthaslas. Quietly, he speaks. "I glad that at least one knows danger, even an Elf. This is skulking weather. Rain to quiet the hears and shorten the see, softness on the ground to walk. I am Nargond." All the while, his eyes never stop roving.
A low, stocky figure walks along the edge of the road, staying mostly out of the mud while remaining within speaking range of the traveling throng. A dwarf, obviously, but with quiet, assured movements and eyes constantly turning this way and that, as if watching for a sign. His voice is low and somber, and barely carries over the squelching of mud on boots. "Even the inn does not safe, Man. It shelters from rain and wind, but some beasts walk on two legs. Some beasts grip with fingers. I am bewared of observing - something skulks us. A dwarf does not cower at imaginings. Who has blade and skill, for slashing of beasts? If ambush is attempted, who will aid in giving of sharp death?"
Revised backstory:
Today I prepare for the travel. In service to the holds, I carry the runescripts to and fro. I skulk, and the filthy greenskins do not find me. For long, I swift with messages, knowing the secret ways of stone and darkness. With silence, I endure.
Today, I was looked in the beard hairs. Nargond, I am told, here is your order. Here is your task. Hugeldal, Ubersreik, Geissbach, Bogenhafen, Altdorf, Kutenholz, Brockel, Mittelweg, Delberz, Sotturm, Malstedt, Schoninghagen, Middenheim. It is a long task, and there are no tunnels. You must swift, you must silent, you must endure. Beware the greenskin, beware the elf, beware the beast-man. I will. Today, I sharp the blades. I oil the boots and cloak. I pack the food and the bedroll. I mend the clothing, and wash the beard. I repeat the orders. It is a long task, but I will endure. A dwarf does not coward from the sky or from greenskins. A dwarf grims. A dwarf endures. A dwarf gives sharp death to enemies and ale to friends. A dwarf delivers the message. I do not know what the message says. A bearer does not spy his burden. The message will arrive. Today, I travel. With sky fire banking into darkness, I leave the hold through secret ways. Every order is training for the next. Only the idle tool rusts. One day, I will be worthy of the messages myself. I will know the runes of others, and I will give orders. That is the art. But today, I travel. ... Today, my count is six beast-men and two greenskins. Four days of travel, two attempted ambushes and a scouting party. I suspect schemes. I will inform leaders so. Still, Nargond endures. I bear runes for city dwarfs, and I will not fail.
Nargond's backstory: Another day passes with snow, and I wait. I skulk the forest, watching for a food beast. It has been six days, and still there is no message. I work the axe and the bolts upon a stone until they shine with sharp. I work my skulk and my shoot upon the beasts until there is no hunger. It is terrible on me, listening to the blubber of the city dwarfs. We must be patient, they say, we must wait for the human officials, we must wait for the negotations. Always we must wait. Working a craft until its lines are perfect, that is the art. Working a craft until it becomes a shapeless mess is inferior. We, the dwarfs, know craft. I, Nargond, rancor against this waiting. Schemes fester when work is waited. It is not the art.
... There is rumor of illicit skulkings in the ale house. I have no work, I say. I will place scrutiny on the skulkings. I will find the unscrupulous culprit and slash its throat meat. I will solve this scheme. ... Two nights of ambush. Tainted stableboy was culprit. Boy human, vandaled the horse of a nobleman with flesh. I worked murder upon the foul creature. His blood stacked on the ground and on the walls. Sheriff got informed, I told him beware the taint. He bellowed me there was no taint. I showed him extra arm of boy human, he did not see it three times. Sheriff complained lack of evidence. Oh, that unscrupulous sheriff! He does not understand taint. I am bewared of Sheriff. Unscrupulous guards required coins for cleaning of stables and murder of horse. Wolf beast is to be blamed, they bellowed. I got no reward for solving scheme. At least I bring no shame upon dwarfs. ... A score and seven days have passed, and I contain bile for Sheriff and city dwarfs and waiting. I spoke with city dwarfs again today, they bellowed at me for vandaling their talk. I do not want to be made outcast. A dwarf is adamant against threats, I bellowed. A dwarf braves! No illicit skulking, no illicit extra arms, no vandaling of horse beast. I am not unscrupulous dwarf. City dwarf glared at me with malice, bellowed I will take message north, to human Middenheim city. I have heard the stories, I do not wish to go. But, I am not unscrupulous dwarf. I do not question city dwarf to his beard hair. I will take the message. As I left, city dwarf laughed with malice. He bellowed at me what "Middenheim" means. ... Three days on the road to Middenheim human city. I feel observed. Illicit skulkings, I am bewared. I have seen no food beasts. My blades shine with sharp, but they go unused. A dwarf does not coward. If ambush is attempted, it will be to my excitement to give them sharp death. A dwarf knows this to be kindness, corpses do not suffer. I do not look forward to human Middenheim city. I, Nargond, make useful. This message will arrive. Nargond endures.
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