Search Posts
Brvheart/all, My apologies for the sudden disappearance, but I was notified at the beginning of the month that my unit was being activated. This caught my family and out of the blue as we were not in the cycle for activation, but such is the life of a reservist. Due to it though, I will not have steady access to the boards and have to bow out. Again my many apologies, but sometimes RL does not give me the flexibility that I wish it did. v/r,
I am going to be in and out today, so I didn't want Tarkus' post to be holding us up. Since speaking is a free action, I don't think there is an issue with him warning the others of the new people approaching. Also OOC, I know they are good guys, but in the middle of a fight, that line may be very blurry. :)
Breathing heavily from the short sprint to the front of the wagon, Tarkus saw the summoned hound distracting the brigand and lashed out with his axe.
His strength left him and his axe blow fell short as he saw the arrival of two more men, approaching them. "Their leaders have arrived! Prepare for the worse!"
Is Tarkus in the radius of the grease also? If so, I will need to do a check as well. Although with both enemies near us gone, where will the provoke come from? The archers?
Replied back to you. Let me know what your thoughts are.Replied off list. :) Just sent it. This has been a chaotic Friday so far, so my apologies.
Tarkus runs towards the front of the wagon as the bandit in front of him falls to the ground.
Side stepping the sword strike of the bandit, Tarkus brings his axe down in a short chop against the man's exposed side.
The one day procedure has turned into an overnight and continued observation this AM. As soon as we get home and I get my wife settled, I will get a post out. If Tarkus' turn hits first, please NPC his action and I will catch up from there.
Advancing towards Vaunu and the two brigands behind the wagon, Tarkus attacked the man hoping that his attack was true.
Climbing down from the back of the wagon, Tarkus readied his axe to go after the brigand in the back.
Still staggered from the attack. Tarkus fights to maintain his balance and grip on his axe.
Did the 10 hit? If not are we in Rd 2 now?
Sorry for the delay. I am out of town for the weekend. Tarkus will try to flank and attack and by the others time to get in position.
Tarkus could feel the nervous energy of his companions the remainder of the evening as they left the inn and proceeded further down the road before making their camp for the night. It was an odd feeling to be sure, as no sane person dangled themselves on the hook waiting for the fish to strike, but here they were doing it for the promise of gold and the knowledge they made a difference where others were fearful to try. ~Or are we alone? Could there be out in the dark another grouping of like minded souls chasing the ones we seek?~ Eating the simple meal of trail rations and a simple soup that was handed him, Tarkus nodded his head in thanks and mentally chided himself for not offering to take a turn at preparing a meal. He was not the best cook, but he thought he could just as easily throw salted meat into hot water as the next person to soften it enough to not lock the jaws after eating a stick or two of it. Knowing that his watch would be fast upon him, he climbed into the wagon to catch a little rest. Once more putting rolling his cloak and chain shirt into a makeshift headrest against the wagon's wall. When Rhian-non shook him out of his slumber, Tarkus took a deep pull of his waterskin to wash the taste of sleep from his mouth and then pulled the chain shirt back on. While he knew many of his kin that could sleep in their armor as easily as their bare skin, Tarkus had not campaigned nearly long enough to develop that ability. Seeing Vaunu stretching as well, Tarkus nodded his head in silent greeting and then started to pace around their small camp to stretch the sleep fully from his limbs and scanned the area intently as he did.
"Aye. Let us go and act as if we are none the wiser for what awaits."
Listening to Fibek and Rhian-non, Tarkus glanced to the others as Baaliantar began searching for the fleeing bandit's tracks. "Now the choice is ours. Do we pursue him as the dog does the rabbit, or do we remain slow in our casting of the net?"
"Aye, but it would be foolish to assume that only humans in this area have felt the call to take what is not theirs. It would be a huge boon to us if that was so though."
"I fear we may be chasing ore in a mine that has been played out. The bandits have the luxury of striking when they want and how they want, while we can but ride the road to and fro hoping to draw them to us. They could also be operating under a strike slower now that they have gotten the notice of the town, perhaps even laying low for weeks to give the illusion they have fled." Sighing and gesturing to the plains outside their wagon, Tarkus continued. "All that being said, I do think traveling a bit more down the road to see if Fibek's idea pans out anything is a solid idea. I think if we are to truly sell it, we will need to set a camp and produce the noise to bring them to us, instead of taking it to them. There is more risk that way, but it also allows us to control the shape of things."
Nodding his head at the elf's idea, Tarkus stops before going inside with the group. "Your plan is solid. I will stay out here and wait for you all to return. If your return happens to coincide with a bit of ale, then so much the better."
Nodding in agreement with the others, Tarkus ties his axe with a peace knot before entering the establishment.
"Sounds like a good plan to me."
Since Darkwood is listed as a core item in the books, I hope you don't mind Tarkus asking about it. I figured who better to know where things may be than the people who harvest it for a living.
As the group starts to load themselves back up on the wagon, Tarkus pauses for a moment and looks back at the men. "I do have one question more to ask, and I promise this would be fully in your line as timber men. If we wanted to harvest wood from a darkwood tree, where do such trees normally grow? I have seen merchants demanding high prices for wares such as that and would be keen to know any way that I might save myself the trouble of dealing with the middleman. I know professional tradesmen such as yourself all discuss the bounties of the woods, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask before we parted ways."
~At this rate, it is likely the bandits will just simply come into our camp saying they are looking for those looking for them. Such is life though.~ Seeing the situation is diffusing, Tarkus casually scans the area of the camp again while his companions talk to the lumberers.
Reading their faces and their stances, Tarkus was not surprised at their terse greeting. "My companions an I are seeking information on the bandits that have been striking in this area of late. We only seek information on them if you have any. As my friend said, they have a bounty on their heads and we aim to collect it to make this area safer."
Finally a good roll!
~Well, it isn't like we can make this situation more tense~ Climbing out of the wagon and seeing the grim faces of the humans, Tarkus wondered if their lives would have been easier just killing the rats in the sewers. Sure their clothes would reek of filth, but at least you always knew which side of the moral high ground you stood on when confronted with a rat the size of a dog. Coming to stand beside Vaunu, Tarkus once more tried to examine the men to get a read of their body language. If these men were simple lumberers, then the group could parlay and relax their fears and maybe gain some information. If not, well then Tarkus was glad he left his chain mail on under his shirt.
Tarkus sat up and started peering about the camp from his limited vantage point. While he would not be able to tell a full logging camp from simple traders who dealt with timber as their trade, he felt he could tell a common worker from one skilled with a blade. Learning how to fight always left the person changed, or dead if they felt their skill was greater than what it really was.
Keeping his axe ready should this be the brigands, Tarkus nods at Vaunu's instructions to be silent. ~We shall see if they are wolves or fellow sheep.~
First combat back on the boards and I lead off with a Nat 1. It can only get better from here. I hope. :)
Stretching the knots out of his back and donning his armor once more for the day ahead, Tarkus hopped off the wagon and approached his companions. "Top of the morn..." His words caught in his throat as a group of rats the size of hounds came out of the thick grass. "To arms!"
Planned Actions: Depending on how the rats go, Tarkus will seek to flank if possible and attack with his battle axe.
It seems that what Tarkus will be doing is fumbling to free his axe with his nat 1 for attack. :)
Feeling disappointed in himself, his dwarven pride being bruised was a terrible thing to live with, Tarkus nodded his head in agreement and slid off the chain shirt and rolled it up to place beside his pack once more. "Aye, here is to another day and another chance."
Coming back into the camp, Tarkus frowns as he glanced back towards the distant burning campfires. "It would seem that my perception at night is not what it should be on the plains. I still think the best course of action is to let the others sleep and discuss the findings in the morning. If I was having an issue getting to them, they would have the same of stumbling upon our camp in the dark."
"I do not want to awaken them for something that could be simple travelers, but I am also leery of blindly going into an ambush." Tarkus mulled the decision over again and finally spoke. "I can approach the camp and scout and return back quickly to tell you. If I am not back in a reasonable time, say twenty minutes, then come after me as I will either be dead or up to my neck in trouble. Does that sound agreeable?" Stealth check:
[ooc: Tarkus will boost up his rations as well before leaving town. no need for a booster seat either. :)[/ooc] "These eyes of mine work best when there is the least light, so I will take the mid watch with you. Just give me a shake when it is my turn and I'll be ready." Trying to make himself as comfortable as he can in the back of the wagon, Tarkus' snores are soon heard coming from its depths.
Do we have people that can make good survival skill checks as well? Just in case we need to forage a bit more than anticipated?
"I do not have much experience driving a wagon, but I can shoot a crossbow as well as the next dwarf and my axe is always willing to make a new friend when they close in."
"I am also in the same boat as the others. While I have not had much practice looking for people in the wilds, I am sure we can figure a way to bring them to us."
Sorry for dropping off this weekend. Heading over now to read and catch up.
Looking at the three half-orcs when he returned from a trip to the bar, Tarkus opted not to bring up overhearing the tale of a band of orcs being ran out of the Duskmoon Hills. If their travels took them near there, and he was able to get the measure of them more fully, perhaps then he would. "I have no qualms with hunting rats or hunting those who act as rats."
Nodding his head with the innkeeper's words, Tarkus smiled at those gathered around the table. "Well then, here is to hoping that the loose tongues around us can provide us with insight on the road ahead."
“You just have to give ’em some warning,” the man tells you solemnly; “Mistress Greythorn is a good woman, but she doesn’t much like surprises.” Taking the coins out to give to Barnky, Tarkus once more tries to ignore the near emptiness of the pouch. ~There will be coin when there is coin.~ "Mister Barnky, do you happen to know who we could speak with for work outside of the postings on the bazaar listings? An inn as busy as this must see all types come and go and perhaps some have requested extra assistance along the way?"
Watching the lad head to the kitchen, Tarkus followed the Rhian-non to an empty table and placed his empty pack on the floor beside him. As the human woman pulled out her cards, Tarkus arched an eyebrow up at her. "Planning on reading the runes for our meal, or just looking to tell some poor bloke a tall dark stranger is soon to come into their lives?" While Tarkus had as much respect for the supernatural as the next dwarf, enough to realize there was more to the world than hammer and stones, he still trusted more in the things he could shape with his hands, or disassemble with his tools, than things he could not see with his natural sight.
"I may be outvoted, but I still think a meal and a drink to wash the taste of the road from our mouths are in order before we rush to the bazaar boards. We may lose an hour, but we may gain a better feel for the city as well from the people around us. Taverns are the hearts of cities, even the gods could not dispute that fact."
I got the idea for Tarkus from a random google image of a dwarf in a basic leather apron surrounded by misc gears and other mechanical pieces. While I know that it is just RP fluff, I always try to give the chars something to make them more than cookie cutters of the class.
Thanks! I will borrow some of that and tie it in with the on dwarven walkabout as well. :)
|
