"Well our mother was a lovely little thing. She deserved better than what she got."
He briefly examines his nails and cleans them of dirt. "But I said I wouldn't harm Verzale or his mutt unless they step out of line and I keep my word."
"Why couldn't she have a horse, why a mutt? Its like someone hates us up there."
The mercenary slowly stands, brushing earth off his legs and back. "I need some sleep, Good night Creed."
-
"And thanks," can be heard as the man walks off.
Everyone beds down under Verzale's and Degmar's watchful eyes and soon the fire dies to coals. Verzale wakes up Scardd and throws another small stick on the fire to keep it going and wanders off to catch some sleep. Soon the eastern horizon starts to lighten and Scardd wakes Tuon for the last two hours of watch and falls back to sleep.
The sun finally cuts through the trees and the forest starts to warm as the sounds of birds and animals fill the trees.
You awaken to the sounds of Creed exercising. He stands at the edge of the woods, stripped to the waste, swinging his greatsword in graceful arcs. He alternates between fast, ferocious movements and slow, deliberate ones in a dance that is one part calisthenics, one part shadow-fencing, one part yoga, and another tai chi sword.
Despite the chill morning air, he is sweating profusely, and he seems to be muttering--perhaps chanting--under his breath.
Scardd wakes to the morning light and Creed's combat routine. The forest is alive with life and the Half-Orc blinks at the early morning dew glistening off the brightening sun. Cracking his neck from side to side to work out the kinks, the Warlock goes over to look at the trail that Roderick spotted the night before.
Still keeping a tactful distance from Tuon, Verzale's morning routine consists of grooming Dagmar in a kind of meditative daze followed by a long silent sit, staring at the trees. When he rises, he shakes out his long limbs, looking refreshed and much more at ease.
He joins Scarrd.
"What do you think? Follow on foot or try to take the wagon? That fearsome dwarf won't thank us if we leave it for any passing looters, so if we're not taking it, we'd better find a way to hide it."
"No wagon. It' just going to give us away when we follow. I'd be surprised if they haven't got guards posted and maybe an ambush after the way we dealt with them yesterday."
"Hopefully they have run away. Otherwise we will have to kill more."
The mercenary starts pulling the wagon into cover, "Rod, give us a hand hiding this."
Unasked Verzale helps shift the wagon under cover. He looks at Roderick.
"Tuon's got a point about an ambush. We weren't discreet. A druid and a ranger between them should be able to scout ahead though. Want start the day with a bit of tracking?"
Scardd nods at Tuon's logical assessment and helps with the wagon. To pass the time while Verzale and Roderick scout ahead, the Warlock practices with his spear.
Creed cleans himself up and joins the others as they hide the wagon.
Tuon prepares to travel on.
"Shall we follow the tracks and signs that Roderick has probably left. Once we have a general direction, those two can scout further ahead."
"Skid, I've changed my mind, your magic is strong and being bigger will help me in battle so I'll leave it up to you. Given the choice though, give it to Creed or Roderick before me. Is that OK?"
Tuon prepares to travel on.
"Shall we follow the tracks and signs that Roderick has probably left. Once we have a general direction, those two can scout further ahead."
"Skid, I've changed my mind, your magic is strong and being bigger will help me in battle so I'll leave it up to you. Given the choice though, give it to Creed or Roderick before me. Is that OK?"
"Of course."
Tuon smiles at Skiddifig, "that Bugbear tripped me and your magic would have given me every chance of that not happening."
After the last bit of the wagon is camouflaged Roderick joins Verzale and starts following the wagon track through the forest. Roderick walks on the edge of the trail watching for a potential ambush. "Doesn't seem like they were to worried about pursuit once they left the main road. The tracks are pretty obvious now." he says to Verzale.
Shadowing Roderick on the other side of the trail, Verzale ponders aloud.
"I wonder how many of them there were? They might have sent someone to stay low, watch and report. If they did, that's not good news is it, and we can expect a big reception."
Bri gets up in the morning with the rest of the group and prepares for the group to leave. "I think it is a good idea to leave the wagon as well. It will be quieter and easier for us to hide if we are on foot. I am not sure that I want to find out how many of them there are but at least we can be prepared."
Scardd looks to his companions, determination in his eyes. "Let uzzz try to no kiill one right avay. Ve queztion for anzwerz," he finishes his statement by patting his chest over his heart.
The tracks lead into the forest for a couple miles and soon the sound of a sizable river can be heard up ahead.
Distracted by the brightness of the morning, Verzale finds his mind wandering from his duties as a scout ...
Scardd follows Tuon's lead. His concentration is focused on stealth. So he forgets to stay alert.
Tuon walks carefully but his mind wanders as he tries to prepare for every eventuality. The possible ambushes and counter strikes that may save people. he mutters odd words to himself as he thinks, "enlarge? reduce? bows? rod? the ring?"
Bri stops in her step, "Wait a second, does anybody else hear that? I heard a shout and laughter and then I heard something creepy snarl. I think we should wait a second and see if we hear anything else, I can go ahead and see if I can sneak up there and then come back and tell you what I see." Bri says without waiting for the rest of the group to comment.
Skidd quietly swears. "If she'd waited a moment, I could have made her smaller. Or maybe sent Hattyn--actually, no. I wouldn't have sent him."
for Bri
For Duneharrow
for Conner
Two days ago you were enjoying the road between Keepers Dale and Narath-dur like you have several times in your life wondering what the next surprise would be. Never guessing it would be this. You were walking along with the wagons when the fire started and as you ran towards the wagons to help when something slammed into your back flattening you to the ground. You had just enough time to turn around and get a glimpse of the snarling hyena face before a blow to the head tossed you into darkness.
When you awoke to the rocking of the wagon your initial struggles were met with a savage kick to the ribs. When the wagon broke you were dragged from the wagon and dumped to the ground. Now you wait, bidding your time and looking for a chance to get free.
Verzale halts, annoyed with himself.
"How did I miss that?" he murmers.
Dropping down to Skidd's height, he looks cautiously around. "Follow her or stay put?"
Listen and Spot checks, respectively (1d20+4=14, 1d20+4=7)
Stopping for a moment to clear his thoughts: Concentration to gain focus (1d20+8=22)
"Hmmpf.. I'll show them," he says as he approaches the wagon with his sword in hand.
OOh my achin head....hurts so much all I can hear is my blood pounding and all I can see is Stars. Kord where are you?...
Spot and Listen checks (1d20+2=6, 1d20+2=9)
"Don't much like bein tied up." He frowns and flexes trying to break his bonds.strength cjeck to burst bonds (1d20+3=15)
Verzale halts, annoyed with himself.
"How did I miss that?" he murmers.
Dropping down to Skidd's height, he looks cautiously around. "Follow her or stay put?"
"Miss what?" He asks.
"She's a thief. We'll only create more noise.
The druid snorts ruefully. "Ain't that the truth. She heard something I missed and Dagmar missed. Not sure I like that too much. Maybe we should take a look Skidd. It's not a good idea to let Bri just happen to someone, now is it?"
"Boo! Did I scare you?" Bri says as she comes back towards the group. "Well do you want to know what I saw or do you want me to keep it to myself? Ah never mind you guys are no fun. Well I went towards the sound and saw something really interesting. I smelt smoke from across the river up ahead and could see a wagon on the other side, it was not a pretty sight, the wagon is all broke up. Behind the wagon was a few crates and there were four figures behind them. I didn't get a good enough look to see what or who they were but I think they are definitely not the friendly type. Well so I did my part for the day, what should we do now?"
"Time to get neighbourly I think Bri. Did you see if our friends behind the crates were armed?"
Rising casually to his feet, he calls Dagmar to his side, pulls out his sling and prepares to follow Bri.
"Sorry I didn't see if they were armed or not but it is best if we assume that they are armed. Well are all of us going or just the two of us?" Bri says as she heads back towards the river.
"Skidd, want to come along? An enlarged wolf would make anyone think twice about attacking. And Hattyn would like the outing."
Using his woodsmans skill, Verzale follows behind Bri, feeling unusually clumsy compared to his halfling companions.
"I really need to talk to you about that enlargement spell of yours." he comments to Skidd.
"Skidd, want to come along? An enlarged wolf would make anyone think twice about attacking. And Hattyn would like the outing."
Using his woodsmans skill, Verzale follows behind Bri, feeling unusually clumsy compared to his halfling companions.
"I really need to talk to you about that enlargement spell of yours." he comments to Skidd.
"Animals aren't the same as us.", Skidd says, "The spell is rather complex. It needs to be careful not to enlarge the brain in a way that would change it, and animals are unintelligent, so they can't be affected by the spell.
And Hattyn stays here."
"Animals aren't the same as us.", Skidd says, "The spell is rather complex. It needs to be careful not to enlarge the brain in a way that would change it, and animals are unintelligent, so they can't be affected by the spell.
And Hattyn stays here."
"I don't know about that. Dagmar's got more intelligence than a lot of people I know. And more sense than I'll ever have. Druidic power works a little differently to yours I suspect."
"Animals aren't the same as us.", Skidd says, "The spell is rather complex. It needs to be careful not to enlarge the brain in a way that would change it, and animals are unintelligent, so they can't be affected by the spell.
And Hattyn stays here.""I don't know about that. Dagmar's got more intelligence than a lot of people I know. And more sense than I'll ever have. Druidic power works a little differently to yours I suspect."
Skidd frowns. "Druidic power doesn't work that way on their animal companions."
Skidd frowns. "Druidic power doesn't work that way on their animal companions."
Verzale looks thoughtful.
"Power is power whatever the source. It's how we choose to use it that marks us Skidd. I know that for sure. Dagmar is the closest thing to family I've got. What harms her, harms me."
He shakes his head. "This is getting philosophical. When we get back to Keeper's Dale and have some decent beer in front of us, we can argue about power sources. Right now, I'm more worried about whatever Bri found."
And with that, he focuses on the whatever is in front of them, keeping a close eye on Dagmar for any advance warning.
Listen and Spot checks, respectively (1d20+4=14, 1d20+4=7)
Stopping for a moment to clear his thoughts: Concentration to gain focus (1d20+8=22)
"Hmmpf.. I'll show them," he says as he approaches the wagon with his sword in hand.