Perception +7 +2 vs Humans
Track +8 +2 vs Humans
Perception:
After i have finished looking round ill approach Tionan and Malliuss and Say " look i dont think justice is the same as death and your point about Ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law is true and i know different lands have different laws which you should abide by if you are going to enter that land, all im saying is its a shame these men had to die" indicate the bodies around the camp anyway i think we should go and report to the caravan and these bodys will need dealing with. And before you say anything NO i will not be going charging into the one wood to extract vengeance but i will report what happend here. ill then start back towards the caravan.
I can understand that Ulgath I will follow cautiously
I'll follow slowly, with a sigh, the wet weather and the injury have done little to put me in a good mood anyway. I'm going to mutter a prayer to Caeril and set off towards this caravan. It looks like my path's been taken towards humans again...
Perception +7 1d20 + 7 +2 vs Humans
Track +8 1d20 + 7 +2 vs Humans
In all the chaos and confusion of blood, mud and tracks, you notice one set of tracks that look like some one dragged them selves away from the conflict, heading east. It would be fairly easy to follow the tracks.
WAIT! We may have a live one, see these tracks?
I will then set off with cautious haste following the tracks. Im caught between wanting to rush off and the knowledge that who did this may still be close or indeed also followed the tracks some how
Ill go back to where tionan indicated the tracks,have another quick look
Perception
before setting off after tionan cautiously. im happy to let tionan lead as he is obviously more at home out in the wild than me also im sure he would not be happy if i messed up the tracks with my great clod hopers
With a mumble about things never being easy I shall follow along. I don't want to cast anything just yet, after all we don't know waht it is...
The tracks are not hard to follow, from the look of it 'he' dragged himself out of the camp after the battle, his marks cross over and obliterate many of the animal prints.
It doesn't take you long to find him, one of the lumberjacks. Tionan you recognise him from when you studied the camp, he was the camps cook and quartermaster. He lies on his side, the rain washing the blood from his many wounds. He has been clawed and bitten several times on the legs, arms and chest and for a moment you think it is too late, but then a faint gurgling cough bubbles up from his lungs, spraying bloody spittle onto the grass. His eyes are closed and he has no obvious weapons.
You see no signs of danger, you can just make out the three wagons a few hundred yards south of you.
I shall move past the others. Tionan may spend his time watching out but this man could die. A life is still a life and I cannot simply let him die if he has struggled to hold on this far. I shall lean over and cast a spell, praying for the chance to assist this man in his survival. I believe that the camp has suffered enough.
Cure Light Wounds -
Ill move besides maliuss and ask "is there anything i can do to help maliuss, i have some healing powers? ill then wait for direction.
I will keep my eyes alert for trouble, Spellcasting is seldom a quiet act and it remains possible that we are being watched, i will cast a wary glance even at the woodland animals as it would appear that these also may not be trusted due to the signs of slaughter in the camp.
At the application of your healing touch there is a sudden silence as if the rain momentarily stops falling and the winds stop blowing and then almost too quickly the rain begins to pound down again and the man's eyes flicker open and blood burst forth from his mouth splattering over the ground. He sits bolt upright and speaks in a gargled voice, the sound of a man drowning in his own body fluids, a voice both human and unworldly at the same time.
"For the animals and forest shall rise up and strike down those who defile the One Wood!
A curse on all touch their tainted work!
You will find even in death this wood will resist your hand, warping and working towards your destruction!
None shall enter the woods and live to tell the tale apart from at my bidding!"
With that the man gasps one last time and slumps unconscious......
We need someone more powerful than I am to remove this, I can't repair the damage. They did not want this man to live.
I am not able to speak directly with Caeril to ask him if this man has learnt his lesson, instead all I can offer is a prayer to request that should he believe it to be so he heeds my prayers and lets this man go.
"that dont sound like any lumberjack to me, come on lets get him to the caravan and out this dam weather. ill then pick up the uncon
scious lumberjack. "will one of you bring my club please " ill will then start to carry the lumberjack back to the caravan. Ill ask " either of you two know anything about the one wood. Is it cursed or do you know of any evil spirits that dwell there " it may be an uncomfortable question for toinan but it was asked without accusation or malice.
Untrained heal check
I will pick up Ulgath's Club.
There are many rumours regarding the one wood being cursed, however Maliuss would know more than I. Save to say that my Mentor Drux is the bravest being I know and he would not walk into the sacred wood. From what little Maliuss told myself and luke when we ventured in to free him. Walking the One wood is a death sentance for anyone not a friend of the forest..... Maliuss, could you tell us anymore?
You approach the caravan, which has remained safe while you have been away and are greeted by the caravan guard captain. A wirey built man, dressed in armour and a long rain cloak, he is soaked through to the skin, he starts barking orders to the other guards to clear a place for the injured man long before you get with in talking distance and then closes to meet you. Out of earshot of the caravan he asks "what have you found?"
Maliuss:
Ill say quietly to miller " it looks like every one from the lumber camp is dead except luke and this guy here, and im not sure how much longer he is gonna last, tionan's attempts to heal him seemed to make him worse. He did say something or at least it came from his mouth about the animals and forest rising up to strike down any who defile the one wood and a curse on those touch their tainted work. It looks like the lumberjacks had been felling trees and hunting in the one wood and someone took bloody revenge for doing so. ill give miller a few seconds to digest the information and for tionan and maliuss to give there thoughts on what happened.
Maliuss is the healer, not I big man. However, simple mistake to make we have known one another for a few moments
I will address them all
These woodsmen where driven away from my home in the dark wood for exactly the same reason they have now lost there lives. I was asked to follow them and record there activities as my master was concearned they would make for the One Wood. It would seem that he was correct. It is regrettable that they had to loose there lives, yet i also fear that it was the gamble they were prepared to take for the profits returning to human civilization with the rare tree's that dwell in the wood, such are the times that we are all living in
Once Ulgath has put down the dying man, i will hand back his weapon. I have no wish to offend you or Maliuss, but it may have been a more compassionate act to end this man's life quickly and painlessly. It would appear that the wood has spoken and we are now powerless to prevent it anyway
It is your call, I wouldn't be able to seek help from the One Wood and if it's too far to get him to town I guess I can understand what you are saying.
I'm staying out of their musings, my feelings about it are a little biased after all.
Ill place the unconscious man in the place that was cleared for him before turning to maliuss and tionan I hope you will for give me for mixing up your names, its probably not the best way to make new friends but its not a mistake i shall make again. ill then Give them a smile and take the offered weapon from tionan with a nod of thanks.
The unconscious man groans and mumbles in his delirium as you place him down. A couple of the guards and teamsters are huddling in the shelter of one of the wagons, they look nervous and point at the lumber camp and then back down the road. Miller, sensing their mood asks "What now? Collect the lumber and go? Or just go?"
I would advise just leaving, do you really want to enter the lumber camp? your men look nervous enough as it is. Should you wish to profit from the lumber, It would be advisable that before anyone enters the camp that those of a stronger consitiution enter to clear up and give the dead some dignaty.
Tionan will then take a few moments to consider his words carefully as he can.
Normally I would suggest leaving and allowing nature to take its course the bodies will be consumed by the environment soon enough and we may be at risk with tampering with the forests prey. However I feel that it would be somehow disrespectful to remove the lumber without burying the dead first, should you wish to collect the lumber, I will Insist upon and help you bury the dead.
I'll watch, the humans and their customs are not mine. However should they decide to go in to bury their dead I will help. It would be unfair of me not too, and I believe fate has brought me to them already.
I will follow any decisions you make... for now with a slight smile.
Ill say to miller " id like to atleast bury the dead and the wood thats cut will only rot and go to waste if we leave it, but its up to you and the caravan master and how you feel about curses"
Miller looks at the caravan guards, teamsters and the Merchant Zaister, then nods, "okay we move into the camp and bury the dead and load this wood." The caravan starts its slow lumber towards the yard when the with a deafening boom the camp is illuminated in a flash of brilliant blinding white light as a bolt of lightning slams down into the lumber pile, splitting and scorching the supports. With a rumbling crescendo the log pile collapses the top most logs rolling over the bodies of the nearby dead, crushing tents and supplies alike. As the light and noise fades a distant howl of a wolf reaches your ears.
Damn it!
If i get changce and if I am riding in one of the wagons, i will jump off (not wanting to be on one just in case another bolt of lighning strikes)
Perception +7 +2 vs Humans and Sub-Races
Perception
Ill get a good grip on my club and ready a partial charge if i can. Im expecting an attack any second. Ill say " i dont think that was any natural lightning, i wish the sneaky bas***** would just come out and tell us what they want or come and fight us " from the look on my face its hard to tell if im frightened or angry or both but either way i look like im gonna go into a rage .
spellcraft
Perceptiom
I will try to get close to the wagons. I don't want to be involved in a fight however I shall keep my hand on religious symbol. Should a fight be instigated I shall be ready to bless everyone and steel them for anything that may be ahead.
Archard, you agree with Ulgath, that was no act of nature, that was magic manipulating nature to bring down a bolt of lightning. What is more, the magic that can do this also allows you to bring more bolts down over the next few minutes. It was obviously a warning to clear out.
Tionan and Archard, through the rain and wind you spot a half dozen figures standing on a low rise several hundred feet from you. While several are slim humanoids the last is a large bear. The seem to be standing in a row studying the caravan. As you watch the bear rears up and your vision is pulled to the edge of the camp where a second bolt of lightning slams into the ground.
Ulgath, you can see nothing of great note, when suddenly another bolt of lightning slams into the ground, this one closer to the road leading to the camp and by default closer to the caravans.
All,
The horses on the wagons neigh and nicker and the teamsters struggle to hold them. A few of the guards point and make startled exclamations as they spot figures on the rise to the west.
We can make two choices here, move out or move in. I shall look to the others. I would prefer not to fight, I have no desire to be culled by the people I live with thanks... also my daughter is there. Unless you want me to try and head over to them, I sadly suspect my people are being their usual xenophobic selves and blaming everyone for the crime.
Perhaps maliuss it would be good if you went and had a word with them, we do seem to be at an impass and whilst there actions at the camp may have been an act of divine retribution or whatever they wish to call it, were not in the one wood now and I do not like being threatened for nothing!
fists clenched, i will take a moment to calm down.
they may also be lingering because they see you here and beieve you are being held captive... the tracks we left would probably tell them as i have said before that at elf had been caught in a bear trap and then removed by the people whom set the trap. It may be time to set them staight about that actual facts so they can go back to there precious wood and leave well alone
i agree with tionan if you can go and speak with them maliuss and tell them we only want to bury the dead and we want to avoid any more bloodshed ,i think that would be best.
Archard:
Tionan:
As you all debate, a third bolt of lightning slams into the road, splattering mud and soil in a large radius. The smoking crater left behind smells strongly of fish (ozone). Still the bear and the six humanoids watch from a crest. Zaister the merchant starts ordering the caravan to turn round and retreat a distance. Miller looks at Ulgath for guidance, he is clearly out of his depth.
Fall back, let them take the dead. They will be given a warriors burial by their killers. Let us go.
I won't explain the rest to these people and make myself a victim to argument. I'll just leave with them, perhaps I can worry about myself and my daughter later. She's always been safe there and at the moment that's more important to me.
This is as good as it will get if we linger...
So what now? You go back to your people, the caravan leaves for pastures new?[/b}
I will take a moment to think
[b]I dont like this one bit, Why? does it feel like a defeat? I will let out an audiable shy Miller, where are you heading? Would it be possible to secure passage with you for a while? I have no fixed or pressing destination?
I will stand my ground waiting for a response.
I dont like this, but you know your people best maliuss
I will take a moment to collect my thoughts
Miller, where are you headed? I have no set destination or agenda. Would it be possible to secure passage at least until the next settlement?
I will then turn to maliuss What now for you master elf? I guess you will be heading back to your people?
ill say to miller ” well if what maliuss says is true then we are done here, unless you want to fight to get whats left of the wood but im sure that will cost lives. i would suggest we leave.” guessing what millers answer will be ill trudge after the retreating caravans. as i walk away ill mutter ” And they call my fathers people savages"
Another bolt of lightning from the heavens urges the last of the caravans to turn around and retreat from the lumber camp. Miller calls you all up on to the last caravan, where he and Zaister the merchant are holding court. The waxed material covering on the caravan has done its best to hold off the majority of the water, but even it has felt the strain or the relentless torrent.
Miller looks solemn and Zaister looks angry, the latter is the first to speak, "Well it looks like I find myself in a difficult situation, I am bound by law to report these murders to the crown and without a load to deliver to Hommlet I see no reason to send 3 caravans there, what are you thoughts Miller and Ulgath?"
Miller replies in his Zard drawl, "We still have one half carts worth of tools to deliver, how would it be if we take two of the wagons back to Zard to secure another supply of wood and to report these matters and Master Ulgath here delivers the sole caravan to Hommlet?"
Both Miller and Zaister look at you to see your thoughts, so far nothing has been discussed about Tionan or Mallius.
Ill look at Zaister and miller and say" I happy to carry on to hommlet with one of the caravans as was my original plan if thats what you wish, after all there are still bandits in the area around hommlet." Ill turn to tionan and say " tionan if you have no plans as such id welcome the help in trying to bring to justice the bandits around hommlet." ill then turn to look at mallius, pause for a few seconds as if trying to decide what to say before asking " And what of you Mallius, what are your plans, Care to come to hommlet with us and see what Fate has in store for you or are you going back to your people."
Hommlet it is then, it is time I saw more of the word, and I dontlike the idea of lingering here much longer I will nod at both Ulgath and Miller an acknowledgement.
Knowledge Geography +4
Hommlet seems as fair a place to visit as any. I doubt I will be missed, I travel often and my daughter isn't old enough to come with me yet.
The only thing I'd like most right now is to rest up in a warm tavern, inspect the damage to my leg and drink something strong!
When the murders are reported perhaps you'd like to mention that had they not trespassed and caught me in their wicked traps along with it, they would not have encouraged this butchery.
Tionan:
Several years ago a huge battle between two sides occurred near Hommlet where the forces of Zantac managed to overthrow a growing army of bandits, humaniods and other vile creatures.
You all agree to take the cart full of tools to Hommlet and inform them of what has occurred, Zaister agrees to give you a letter of recommendation to the foreman in charge of the construction of the Keep. This will explain what has gone on an also instruct him to pay you for your services.
Miller explains that a lone cart is still a possible target for the surrounding bandits, so he will send two of his Guards with you and the Teamster. They will bring the empty cart back, uncovered so it is obvious it is not worth robbing, making the return leg much safer.
The trio of carts continue to rumble south, heading back towards the main east-west road, which you should reach as night falls, this will be a good place to stop for the night and in the morning the tools can be moved into one cart and you can head your separate ways.
ill make sure all my other equipment is placed in the cart that i will be traveling with before settling down for the trip.
As i am carrying all of my worldly possessions I will hop onto one of the cart's and find somewhere dry to keep my possestions and settle down. I will then wait patiently for us to depart.
Dm only:
I shall follow, I have little to add to this conversation. I shall quietly follow behind.
The carts trundle south until they meet the main road and then camp up in a subdued mood for the night. The guards taking a nervous watch just in case the murderous elves follow. Mallius notices that a few of them give you a wide berth and glance in your direction with a look of fear and awe. The previous days actions by your brethren have obviously coloured these peoples attitudes to the elves, which is pretty much what they would of wanted you think.
The morning dawns to overcast skies, the heavy rain having played itself out in the night but the clouds threaten the occasional shower. A cold wind scoops in from the east, the direction of your destination, the wind in your face is a bad omen for sailors.
The teamsters and guards load the supplies into one cart, it barely fills half of the long wagons available space and Zaister presents Ulgath with a folded sheet of parchment sealed with a wax impression of his stamp.
Miller moves over with a Guard and a Teamster, "These two gents will be accompanying you to the final destination of Hommlet," he claps the two on the back before offering you each his hand in turn to clasp. "Good luck, I doubt that bandits will pick on a lone cart, but keep an eye open for these are strange times indeed."
The teamster introduces himself as Ol' Jonas, a weathered man, with skin like sun bleached leather and a shock of grey hair, he must be well into his 50's, making him ancient by normal standards, but he leaps sprightly onto the drivers bench like a man half his age. He grins at you with a full mouth of teeth.
The lone guard, the only one who would agree to accompany you all, is Liam, a young archer, maybe only 18 years of age. He explains that this is his first trip and he does not want to miss out on a chance to visit the famous Inn of the Welcome Wench. He also explains that their is a bonus for the safe return of the wagon.
After a simple, but warm breakfast the two sets of travellers are ready to part and head in their separate directions.
i am away as andy says but i will try and keep the posts going :) even though its hard sitting by the pool in the sun. lol
after breakfast ill make my rounds saying farewell to all my new friends who are not travelling with us and then ill go and find miller and say well miller thats it we are ready to head out i think ill shake his hand and say you take care my friend and have a safe journey, its been a pleasure travelling with you and your men and i hope our paths cross again. and with 1 final slap on the back ill head to the cart jump up besides ol jonas and say well shall we get this wagon rolling, there's a beer with my name on it waiting at the welcome wench
I will have kept myself to myself since we left the doomed Logging site. However before we depart, I will briefly thank miller and the others for there hospitality, lementing that we should have met in such a way.
I will see to Maliuss, asking how is his leg is healing up and offering him any assistance on getting onto the wagon if needed when we depart.