Ashes of Aequaria IC

[Wordplay]

For Cassandra The orders came about two weeks ago. Your class had just finished their 'passing out ceremony' in front of Flerac's minor dignitaries. Your unit paraded in dress uniform. The day was hot and the drill yard dusty, but your spirits were high.

A number of the recruits families had turned out to watch from the low stone parapet that marked one side Aden of the barracks block. Golden haired Tala, who'd broken all her male squadmates hearts at least once in basic training, marched to your right. The girl beamed with pride, as her mother and father waved from the stands, dressed in gaudy finery.

Aden, marching to your right, shared a look with you and rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, only to suddenly stick out his chest as he caught sight of his old father peering out from the stands. The new red emblem of the 2nd Fleraci skirmishing company gleaned in the sunlight - a red rose grasped in a bleeding hand.

Over the last few weeks, the 36 recruits had come to know each other really well. There'd been frictions at first, with cliques, petty rivalries, and even open hostility between the high and lowborn. Over the weeks the exertion of the training - bruising arms drills, soaking camping trips into the country, early morning hikes, and classes late into the evening, had forced the recruits to pull together. None of that was anything compared to the harshness of the officers, and this, more than anything, united the disparate recruits into a unit. Now there was a great camaraderie, or at least a grudging respect for each other. Even Gawin - a fat round youth, who'd sobbed for his mother the first night - had managed to make it through. He was almost unrecognisable now as you watched him march in front. Some of the fat replaced by lean muscle, and only this morning he'd answered the customary taunts with cutting banter of his own.

The drumbeat changed tempo, the sound of the fife rose in the dry air, and the squad shifted as one. With perfect timing the unit split, marched, counter-marched, and set up for the grand finale - a simple sword dance, traditional to the Fleraci people.

Old Ironheart, the Drill-Sergeant gazed fiercely over his bristly moustache as the squad came to attention - as if daring them to make a mistake. Taking in the squad, he turned and saluted. A minor dignitary began giving the speech from dais up on the parapet - but his nasally voice didn't carry well. Something about how proud you should be, as some of the first soldiers to serve Flerac in it's own right, now that Flerac was a kingdom - not merely a city in the province of Flamia, and how fortunate you were to be able to serve Hariman, the First.

As the speech droned to a close, the squad exchanged covert grins. The drinks after the ceremony were legendary - and everyone had been looking forward to it since the end of the first week of basic training. The plan was to meet at the Copper Kettle, where the young recruits would get at least one free drink in honour of passing out...but rumours were that the ultimate destination was the Wizards Staff - which had a reputation for serving magically altered drinks - if you believed half the crazy rumours about the place.

You were brought to attention, and Ironheart dismissed the squad to barracks. There was a little confusion - what needed to be sorted before the leave? Some last warning about the depravities of the city nightlife? The mood didn't really become sombre until Major Erasta and Captain Quin entered the briefing room, their faces like thunder. It dawned on the squad that they really weren't going to get the customary passing out drinks.

The brief was simple as it was dismaying. The squad were to pack their gear immediately, and deploy down to the river docks. There they were to put aboard river barges and moved out on deployment. The orders were secret, and not to be shared. Major Erasta frowned as she warned at length the importance of secrecy - that the mission wasn't to be discussed - if found you were to deny it had ever existed, and you were not to speculate as to your ultimate destination. Captain Quin would lead the squad.

Late that evening, the squad had boarded the barge. The mood was foul - the rations basic. At each town, the Captain was careful to deny the soldiers shore leave. The ferrymen were resentful of the soldiers, and quarters were cramped.

The journey seemed to last for ever. A brief bit of drama in Burford over their transport upriver broke the monotony briefly, and the squad had to take to the third barge in their journey in the dead of night. As the lights of the city shone dimly behind them, they found their way single-file, in silence to a forgotten creek, where a bribed Captain lay in wait. This was far from Fleraci interests.

Late one night, the squad discussed it silently. 'There's nothing up here'. groaned Silav Basa, perching uncomfortably on a grain sack. 'I swear, I think they're sending us on an embassy to the elves'. The girl had been disconsolate - she'd left a sweetheart back in Flerac, and she hadn't seen him for months now.

'I'm telling you', said Gyid as he dealt the next hand of cards, 'It's got to be Forcehead. That's the only interest the Forak have this far north'.. Some of the squad muttered agreement, but it was days before it became clear that Gyid had been right. The weather turned cold, and the land became wild. Towns quickly gave way to villages, and then to fortified camps. The barge made the crossing up something called 'The Giant's Step' but so late at night that most of the squad missed it.

6 hours out from Forcehead, Captain Quin broke the news. 'We're to march to the north of Forcehead, and wait in cover. We're then to link up with a returning convoy of Fleraci troops, and escort them into Forcehead, and likely back to Flerac'. A sigh of relief that the journey had an end back on home soil. 'Any speculation as to the origin or nature of the convoy is forbidden. Discussion of the convoy outside the unit is prohibited. As far as you're concerned, it never happened. You will not ask anyone from the convoy any questions'.

Quin assembled the sergeant and corporals, and gave each 12 men, breaking the squad into 3. A pathfinder was assigned to each. Aden said a brief goodbye as he was assigned away to Corporal Gif's sub group. The squad disembarked an hour out from Forcehead, and skirted the town to the East, marching through the brush. That evening, spirits rose as the 2nd Skirmishers made camp. The exercise had been invigorating, and everyone was reminded of the camping trips in basic training. The weather was fine, and the evening pleasant. Pine smoke sweetened the night air.

Then the waiting began. Three days, being eaten alive by insects, strung out in three groups. The northern mountain forests rising like a sea whilst the squad waited for...something.

'Serana'., Jocan muttered. 'That's corporal Serana, Jocan'. the sub-leader muttered as she brushed pine needles from her hair.

'Sorry, Corporal, I heard something'. 'What'. the Corporal's nose wrinkled. 'Are you sure? Alright, Cass, Tala, Yasse, you're with me. Noch? Get out in front with Jocan, the rest, follow behind'.The soldiers edged through the trees, following Jocan and the pathfinder. Ten minutes later, Serana called a halt. 'I don't know Jocan...are you sure -

The corporal came to a stop, as a wet gurgle rose in her throat. Her eyes were wide with shock and surprise, as red blood ran from the feathered tuft of the crossbow bolt in her neck.

The next few moments were chaos. There was a distant shout '2nd Skirmishers to me!' Sarana's group surged into a clearing and the middle of a melee. Strange Fleraci soldiers appeared before them, falling where they stood, hard pressed by a group of strange warriors in grey furs. Searan's group broke into the flank, surprising the grey ones for a moment, and causing them to falter. The burgundy uniformed Fleracis barely had time to take solace, when crossbow bolts rang out from the wood, cutting 5 of the strange Fleracis down there and then. Captain Quinn, broke out from the woods 'Twelve curse you, take the bowmen! Protect the convoy'. Your eyes met Aden's just as a grey furred warrior came from nowhere to plunge a sword into his belly, punching through the chain armour.

You drew your crossbow, searching in vain for a target. Captain Quin was in the middle of a forest of grey, roaring defiance. Tala was hard pressed - parrying the swords of two grey cloaks. There was a splitting pain in your head....and all went dark.

You awake. You have the sense that time has passed. You feel cold, and your head aches. You can hear a distant sound of metal on metal. You open your eyes. Make a Spot Check.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul.
You woke as the morning sunlight streamed through the trees. The smell of mule filled your nostrils reassuringly. Your hand reached out, only to find the familiar touch of your prized keg. You paused. You contemplated the birdsong for a moment.

Thoughtfully, you turned to one side, and vomited noisily into the straw. You rest for a while. You paused. Then you vomited again.

After a while, a couple of village dogs peeked in through the stable door...tentatively approached, then started eating.

You remember you got into the village last night. The people were friendly enough, and you were able to trade for some goods and food. The accents were rough, but you could just about understand their trader tongue. They had no beer though - none worthy of the name, anyway. They told you of a town, to the South, and a great nation of men, stretching out the horizons, and of a distant sea.

It's a sleepy hamlet. The people timid, and quiet, slipping through the woods like ghosts. The houses made of stone, and roofed with turf, blending into the forest. They kindly let you have the use of the village stable for tonight - frankly it's probably the most comfortable building in the village.

You get up, pack the mules, and prepare to leave. After a quick meal from a wisened old man - last nights warmed leftovers - you depart the village, climbing out of the hollow, leading the mules on.

The morning passed uneventfully, with a solid hike through broken, forested country. The air was clear and clean, and the afternoon warm for late autumn. Though, from a high peak, you could see a distant bank of cloud bearing down. It would be wise to get to a good shelter by nightfall.The insects rose, annoying the mules with their bites.

Make a Spot and a Listen check.

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
The last few weeks have been some of the best in your life. Nature, in all it's tranquility has surrounded and enfolded you. Only twice have you seen another person - a woodcutter, from a distance, some weeks back, and a small boy, keeping watch on the smoldering mounds of a charcoal burner's camp, whilst the men took a brief rest in their hut. He took a fright at the sight of you, staring from the woods, and ran inside.

Each night, you have heard the howl of the wolf, causing Slobber to growl in his sleep, or rub against you, hackles raised.

Once, you saw a mighty brown bear drink from a moonlit pool - not seventy paces from your camp. The deer are plentiful, and rabbits abound. You felt truly in harmony with nature, and happy in yourself, in a way you never thought you could be.

But you are worried. The seasonal changes are writ large for all to see. Autumn in the mountains is drawing to a close, and you know that the winter will come on suddenly, and with a vengeance. The deer are already growing their winter coats - the snakes and toads have already hidden themselves away. Soon the bears will den. You are not too sure that you can survive on your own out in the winter. You may soon have to again seek out the company of men.

In anticipation, you've begun to move your camps closer to Forcehead. Today, you packed much of what you owned, and set out to find a new camp spot. You're out in the woods with Slobber. Something seems wrong.

Make a Spot check or a Knowledge (Nature) check.

[Wordplay]

For Lena
The journey to Forcehead was longer than you were expecting. The local amber trade has been difficult to break into, but with your charm, and a fair bit of coin spent at the frontier town's bars, you've been making some inroads.

You may make a Gather Information Check to pick up details on the town.

The locals have given you something to worry about - the talk of the ferocity of the mountain winters, how quickly they can come on, and how they close the river traffic for four months. You're aware that it is now quite late in the season, but you haven't managed to book passage on any of the remaining river boats yet.

The day dawned uncomfortably hot, and it's almost difficult to believe the stories of the citizens about the winter. You washed your face in the basin in your room at one of the town's better run guesthouses and went downstairs for breakfast...only to find a runner dressed in the uniform of the Forcehead garrison, with a message for you from the governor.

As you wolf down a hurried breakfast you hear wild rumours in the taproom - a terrified merchant, half dead, missing his horses and his caravan...monsters in the forest. Already, the tale is growing with the telling, but it's clear that something has happened.

You wonder if it has anything to do with the worst kept secret in Forcehead -the imminent arrival of a mysterious military convoy from the north. What Flamian soldiers would be doing north of here is a mystery, but you've investigated the rumours, and the convoy's existence at least seems credible - the cooks and quartermasters at the fort have been preparing for one for months, and the rumours seem to stem from the town garrison. As to what the soldiers are doing, you've heard a thousand stories, but ultimately no-one really seems to have a clue.

You grab a bread roll, and eat it hurriedly as the messenger whisks you out of the inn towards the Governor's mansion.

Mansion is a rather generous name for it, but the wooden building is one of the largest in the town, and serves as the prefecture for the nearby fort as well. You are led in through the front door, and wait for 10 minutes in a spacious, if plain room with a sturdy pine chair.

Then you are shown in to the governor's office. Ireas Strolm himself sits before you. A tall and well built man, with broad shoulders, black hair, and a well trimmed but full beard. A scattering of grey hairs are showing, and the wrinkles around his eyes are deep. He's wearing the black tabard of the garrison commander, with the insignia of a white tree, over a black shirt, with black leather gloves. Behind him, a large map table spills it's contents onto the floor. A large window provides plenty of light. A man, with the insignia of Captain is just closing up one of the maps. The walls are lined with books, and curios - examples of local carving, a stuffed falcon peers out from a cornice, old and vicious looking polearms, and fine warrants, hung in frames behind glass. The room has a well-used feel to in.

Ireas gestures politely to an empty chair in front of his desk, upholstered in red leather.

[Wordplay]

For Beigette.
You awake on a mossy bank, covered in dew. Everything hurts, your head feels like you'd lost a boxing match with an iron golem, and your tongue is coated. Stretching your limbs caused them to spasm.

You pat yourself down, feeling a little better. All limbs seem to be intact, at least. In your pocket, you find a necklace, a red enamel circle, hanging from a gold chain. You cannot for the life of you remember seeing it before.

You appear to be in the middle of a forest. Tall pine trees rise on every side, and around you, you can see distant mountain-sides rising into the sky.

The air is clear and cold. You can hear the sound of a babbling brook. The birdsong seems shrill, unfamiliar, and in hurts your head. You feel very thirsty - as though you've not had anything to drink in ages.

You may make a Spot Check

[PersonMan]

I assume this is directly after getting 'ported to the Material Plane.

Beigette groans, rubbing her forehead for a moment, wondering just how much she had drunk to have such a terrible headache. Normally she knew when to quit - it must have been really good stuff for her to get so full she'd feel this bad the next morning. Then her eyes snap open and she realizes something. This didn't look like Sigil at all. In fact, she hadn't been drinking...It all comes back to her. The final crash, after she was kicked out of school. Screwing up the ritual she found seemed like a perfect way to say goodbye to the place.

Finding the necklace, Beigette shrugs and puts it on. It isn't the first time she's forgotten stealing something and it probably won't be the last. Comes from having such well-honed reflexes and skills, she thinks to herself, smiling as her headache fades a bit. Making sure her spell component pouches are secure, she stands up slowly, looking around. Definitely not Sigil. Where was she, then? If she had been caught, they wouldn't throw her in an illusion or anything of that sort, and it didn't look like one...Perhaps she'd been shunted to some prison plane while they decided what to do with her?

"Hey, Magi Tarner, if you're listening, I really don't think this is in accordance with the school rules," Beigette says, grinning to herself as she imagines the man's reaction to hearing her say that. Normally it was the other way around - she was halfway through climbing out a window (whether she had gone there for the purposes of theft or something else), often with a keepsake clutched in one hand, and he came out of nowhere. "I don't think this is in accordance with the school rules" he'd say. The man was one of her favorite teachers - when she went from being his star student to being the class troublemaker to the school troublemaker, he stayed friendly rather than constantly tutting about "wasted potential".

That was probably why she'd only broken into his room once, and only to tell him to get a new lock.

Sighing, Beigette brushes the dew off of herself and takes a moment to stretch properly, actually working at the kinks in her muscles rather than just stretching back to show off as she occasionally did. Rolling her shoulders, she takes a better look around. Had she landed in some sort of park? It didn't look like any of the ones she knew, but then again perhaps it was an area she wasn't used to being in. Beigette was more aware of where people went to get privacy in such places - both for personal use and for nicking a few things from obnoxious people who decided to bother her peaceful walks by being loud.

[roll0]

[Azoth]

[roll0] Listen

[roll1] Spot

[MuffinPuffin]

My spot check was 6 by the way.
Cassandra wakes up to the sound of metal on metal. She attempts to sit up, only to be stricken by a wave of pain from the back of her head. She lays back down, and raises a pale hand to her scalp. She feels her hair damp and matted by her blood, and a bump caused by swelling. Gingerly she feels the area, deciding that the injury isn't life threatening. Standing up wearily, she looks around. At first everything looks orange, but after a few moments everything settles down. No sign of anyone, friend or foe, Cass gathers her dropped belongings, and stumbles to the sound of fighting.

[Wordplay]

For Taliana
They were kinder in the North, or at least they were more used to people with elvish features. The coarser insults had dried up as you travelled towards the source of the Force. It had been a while now since anyone had aimed a kick at Tali, or spat at her, and many weeks since the village where the children had gathered to throw stones at her. A sign, you hoped, that you was finally getting close to the lands of her mother's people.

Back on the road, there had even been a kind elderly couple, travelling the road in a covered cart, who'd shared their food and fire. They'd tried to encourage you to join them, but you shied away - fearful even of the enclosed space of their wagon. You left them as they reached the foothills of the Aelfica, worrying that staying with them would draw you from your goal.

Still, despite the warming sentiments, you skirted the town of Forcehead - travelling through it at night. There had been one furtive trip to buy some goods. Your heart felt like it was beating fierce enough to burst from her chest, and your eyes roved the room, checking the doors and windows as the kindly little shopkeeper made the trade. Afterwards, Tali fled the shop, and breathed heavily, panicked. Since then, you limited yourself to scavenging in the middens for scraps.

Yesterday, you struck out heading north. You knew it was a long way from Forcehead before there would be another town.

Last night you dreamt your mother held you in her arms once more, and sang to you as she combed your hair. Mal stood by, and fussed as mother tended to his hair. You couldn't remember being so happy.

You awoke, cold and stiff, a tear running down the side of your face. You clasped Janie to you. A familiar warmth...was absent.

Frexburr is nowhere to be seen.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
You can see a number of crows whirling overhead in a descending spiral. You know from the aftermath of battle that that can only mean one thing - death, and lots of it, straight ahead.

You hear rough voices in the distance.

'Tell us where it is dog!'.
'Commander please! Oh twelve preserve me. Help me! Oh, no, no, NO!'.

A bloodcurdling scream rings out ahead.

For Beigette
The necklace is slightly cool to the touch, but nothing unusual happens as you put it on.

If Magi Tarner could hear you, then there was no reply.

A bright yellow sun hangs in the sky. As you rise you almost stumble into the brook. High moss-covered pines rise all around, dappling the light. The mountain stream runs clear and cold. It's full of river worn stones, and green plants of a number of varieties that you don't recognise sprout from the bank. There's a slight discoloration washing down the flow... the water is coloured with blood.

Turning left, you see a figure lying face-up in the brook. A young man, with a hook nose, amber eyes staring wide into infinity. He's wearing a short sleeved chain shirt over a burgundy shirt, with black hose. There is a badge on his chest. A crossbow bolt, with green fletching sticks from his chest. Blood still flows from the wound.

For Cassandra
As you stumble through the woods, your gaze suddenly meets the dead, lifeless eyes of Tala. Her golden hair is matted with her own blood. As you watch a fly lands on her face, and crawls over her bloodless cheek.

All around you the forest clearing is scattered with the bodies of the slain, Grey Furs, Fleracis in their burgundy uniforms, and you can put a name to half the Fleraci faces here.

Just then, a scream rises from your left, and a loud guttural bellow.

Make a Search check

[MuffinPuffin]

Search Check: [roll0]

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
The forests appear almost deserted...and quiet, far too quiet. That can only mean one thing - people and lots of them have disturbed the wildlife around here.

You can hear the distant alarm call of a jay through the woods... to the northeast - likely there's someone over there. You can see a number of crows and pies gathering overhead. There has been death here - more than nature can usually provide.

You can see something glint through the trees...in the distance you can see figures carpeting the forest floor, and three distant figures standing over another figure, prostrate. They're about 150 yards away. You don't think that they've seen you.

Out of nowhere, a hooded figure appears in front of you, clad entirely in mottled olive green. Slobber yelps in surprise. The person is about two feet taller than you. You make out the texture of leather on the figure's torso, and A cloth mask covers the figure's face, and the hood casts a shadow, but you just have time to see a pair of blue eyes widen in alarm, before the figure runs off in the direction of the distant standing figures, moving so silently and gracefully as would put a cat to shame. You think that you caught sight of a scabbard under the figure's cloak.

[Wordplay]

For Cass
You home in on the source of the scream with ease. You peer carefully through the concealment of a thick bush.

About thirty foot away two of the Grey furred warriors are standing over a broken, upturned cart. A slight, tubby man is being held down by a third warrior, a rangy looking man. The man is wearing a burgundy tabard and a fur surcoat - Fleraci military colours but not military uniform. Tears run down the tubby man's face, and he screams, as the third warrior sticks him again with a knife and twists it.

A a well muscled Fleraci soldier, wearing an officer's breastplate, is crumpled next to the cart. There's a javelin through his belly, and blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. His hair hangs in grey braids, and he wears a full beard - you can't make out his unit emblem at this distance.

Of the standing grey-furred warriors, the tallest is wearing a fine breastplate, and a large greatsword hangs at his hip. His cobalt eyes are large, and wide, and a greasy black mane of hair covers his head, just as a bristly sable beard covers his face. He seems well built. The second looks younger, with brown hair, and large sideburns but no beard. He is propped up on the cart and wheezing slightly - he seems to have taken an arrow to the body - he doesn't look well.

'Commander, please! Just give it to them! Oh Gods, oh gods'. The tubby man wails.

To remain concealed, make a Hide check (+2 Circumstance bonus)
You may also make a Knowledge (Local) check on the tubby man.

[MuffinPuffin]

Hide With circumstance modifier: [roll0]
Knowledge Local:[roll1]
Cassandra watches the scene from the bushes, deciding any interuption would mearly add another body to the battlefield.Cass loads a bolt into her crossbow and readys her magic to conjure up some mage-armor if the soldiers spot her. She examines the tubby mans appearance for any clues as to who he is.

[Malak'ai]

Tali shivers as she wakes up. Slowly lifting a hand and wiping the remains of the tears from her cheeks, she then moves her hand down to her middle where Frexburr normally sleeps, but feels nothing.
Blinking as she slowly sits up, clutching Janie tighter to her chest she starts whispering in a whimpering voice, "F-f-fexy... F-f-fexy, where are you? F-fexy? D-d-don't leave me F-frexy"

Standing and starting to search through the surrounding underbrush the tears start forming again as Tali is getting more anxious. "W-w-where d-d-did he g-go J-j-janie? W-why would F-f-frexy l-l-leave us?" she sobs, her tears streaming, her voice thick as her crying grows in volume.

Spot Check: [roll0]
Search Check: [roll1]

[Marlowe]

Gather Information [roll0] Lena nods politely, if not terribly humbly. "Thankin' yer kindness, and this honour Lord Ireas". As she takes the seat she racks her brains for what the correct form of address should be. A question especially complicated because of her not even being Flamian.

"An' to what do I owe this summons? I canno' think o' but one reason why a man o' yer importance would be lookin' for one such as I; an' I'm not in prison so's it canno' be that one" She keeps her eyes straight on the black-clad man, trying to get an idea of what maps are on display.
Spot: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Thumble had enjoyed the past few weeks, finding a balance with nature that he hadn't achieved to date. During his time on the island, he had managed only a tenuous truce with the world around him, vice a cooperative relationship. However, since spring he had learned a greater appreciation for the environment ... and earned an equal amount of respect from the wilderness at large.

Of course when the weather was warm, and trees and flowers were in bloom, life in the wild was easy. With the falling leaves came falling temperatures, and the beginning tendrils of winter. Soon snow would cover the forest, and Thumble would be hard pressed to provide for himself and Slobber.

Stepping across a carpet of old leaves, the gnome glanced skyward, the heavy clouds pregnant with the promise of rain or sleet ... he could smell it in the air. Looking down at Slobber, he rubbed the dog's ears. "I guess we should make for town, eh buddy? Better than freezing ... or sharing a cave with a pregnant bear ..." Trailing off, Thumble stopped, frowning for a moment. Something felt off, not quite right. As he stoodmfrozen, staring down atnSlobber, he realized what it was - the forest was deathly quiet. Normally, that meant you were being stalked by something big. This, however, was different ... unnatural.

A single cry came from the woods - the raucous call of a jay ... or so someone was pretending to be. Thumble motioned for Slobber to stay while he investigated. Slipping closer, Thumble saw figures standing over what looked like a sleeping person ... or something a little grimmer. As he watched, he was startled by the sudden appearance of camouflaged individual.

Blinking, the gnome stared for a bit, uncertain what was going on. Then he started after the retreating figure, intent on finding out what was going on.

[PersonMan]

Beigette smiles as she finds the brook, kneeling and lowering herself to the water for a drink. Noticing a bit of an odd taste, she frowns and looks down at the flowing water, her gaze going upstream until she finds the body. Startled, Beigette nearly loses her balance, looking around briefly, then in the direction the bolt must have come from, before standing up.

Walking quietly, Beigette approaches the corpse, murmuring a half-remembered prayer to Pelor (who memorized death rites, anyways? Certainly not her) to protect the boy's soul after such a violent death. Of course, she isn't the only one who might need protection...this certainly wasn't a park in Sigil, nor was it a place the mages had put her.

"I guess you can't tell me what happened, can you? But maybe...what kind of place this is," Beigette whispers to the body, kneeling to examine it - looking at the badge and searching through his belongings, doing her best to ignore the corpse. It was important to find out as much as she could - if he had a map or something similar, she could use that to get to the nearest city. If he had been carrying something important, she might be able to use it as a bargaining chip if whoever killed him found her, too...

"I hope you don't mind this. You see, normally I wouldn't frisk a corpse, but I have no idea where in all of the nine hells and abyssal levels I am. I don't even know if the people here would understand me - damn, I could be anywhere," she says, realizing as she speaks what probably happened. That half-assed-looking portal had worked after all! Beigette swears under her breath - she could literally be anywhere on the Wheel if it had had the power to shunt her from Sigil. At least she hadn't landed on the elemental plane of fire...

[Azoth]

Ursuul staggers a step as he hears the voices. A hand coming to cover his mouth as the crows spiraling makes him a little dizzy. Why do little things have to move so quickly when I am realing from a hangover that would give demons room to pause...

The scream draws his eyes wide, not in disbelief of the thought of murder. That he was too used to, but it made his head ring like a forge anvil. He lays a comforting hand on his mule's back as he guides it to a nearby tree. His hands deftly work the harness into a knot around one of its branches.

Speaking softly he reassures the animal, D'nt ya worry. I'll be right back for ya. Jus gonna go an see what exactlty is goin on. Be patient fer me ana don' let yerself get spooked and break my barrel.

With his piece said, he begins to make his way towards the sound of the screams. His Guisamere used as a walking stick as he navigates the woods. A free hand lightly drumming on his travel keg as he moves. His voice carrying out as if he wasn't aware of the men ahead of him.

Bring us in good ale, and bring us in good ale;
For our Blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no brown bread, for that is made of bran,
Nor bring us in no white bread, there therein is no game;
But bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no beef, for there is many bones,
But bring us in good ale, for that goes down at once;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no bacon, for that is passing fat,
But bring us in good ale, and give us enough of that;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no mutton, for that is often lean,
Nor bring us in no tripes, for they be seldom clean;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no eggs, for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale, and give us nothing else;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no butter, for therein are many hairs;
Nor bring us in no pig's flesh, for that will make us boars;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no puddings, for therein is all God's good;
Nor bring us in no venison, for that is not for our blood;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no capon's flesh, for that is often dear;
Nor bring us in no duck's flesh, for they slobber in the mere;
And bring us in good ale.

[Wordplay]

For Tali
The forest is barely reconisable from when you finally lay down last night in the twilight. You're in a depression in a dark dell. Judging from the position of the sun you've rested until mid-morning. You can smell thr scent of wild thyme.

After a while you find a faint trace through the underbrush where a rabbit might have passed - you also find spoor. As you follow the bent brush you find a leafy plaintain that's been gnawed. It seems Fexxy got hungry during the night.You think that you can follow the trail...

[Wordplay]

For Lena

You've been in Forcehead a little while, but you don't need to be sharp to realise that the town is very tense at the moment. 5 months ago the young head of the Forak family united the houses of Flerac, and proclaimed himself King of Flerac. Forcehead was first settled about 20 years ago by colonists originally from Flerac. Though nominally self-governing, and sending its own delegates to the Great council, in practice the town is dominated by Fleraci and House Forak and House Moreat influences - they own much land and command the allegiance of many. Haranad Forak's marriage alliance with the Fleraci branch of House Moreat has effectively unified most of the town into a loyal fiefdom of the young King.

Yet Forcehead is a long way from Flerac. Many did not take Haranad's declaration of himself as King of Flerac well - particularly the ruling families of the other two city states. There are fears of Civil War. In which case, Forcehead could suffer gravely.

You know that what agents there are of the other first families in the town tare desperately playing catch-up in Forcehead - trying to acquire lands and loyalties. The Moreat alliance took everyone by surprise - they had been relying on the Moreats to counter balance Forak's influence in the town.

Ireas is known as a kind and fair man. He owes his allegiance to House Forak - without whose favour no-one could get the position of governor. However, Ireas is known to take the position seriously - trying to show impartially where the office requires it. He appears taken aback by your mention of prison. You know the garrison (a nominally apolitical force) has about seventy men - the town has about 2,500 citizens - the smallest autonomous town in Flerac. The correct form of address is indeed Lord Ireas - though Lord Governor is also acceptable - though you've heard the man doesn't stand on ceremony.

You catch the barest glimpse of the map before the Captain rolls in up - the bottom of the map seems to show the Aelfica mountains, with notes and lines drawn over it in red ink...possibly passes or routes.

'Get that put away Captain. Ireas barks.

Ireas looks perturbed 'Oh, and what thing would that be, that could give me cause to put you in prison? I had contacted you, Ms Chillmast, because I have heard good things about your skills as an agent and gatherer of information who could be trusted...and I was hoping to discuss a business proposition, but now...I'm wondering if my trust could better be placed elsewhere'. His tone is guarded, but polite - he makes a better attempt at you name than most Flamians.

Outside, you can hear the thump of many boots, thundering down the corridor.

[Wordplay]

For Beigette
The man's not much more than a boy - he's a little scrawny. His hair is dark, there's no beard on his chin, and his skin is a pale bronze. He's wearing a coat of mail, a baldrick and belt of brown leather, from which hangs a plain shortsword, a burgundy shirt, black hose and a decent pair of boots. In his belt pouch you find 1 silver and 5 copper coins - they show a port with an octagon around it on the obverse, and several standing figures on the reverse - it's hard to make them out. You also find a pair of dice, such as are used for playing games of chance.

The badge on the man's chest is a red rose with a thorny stem being grasped by the red outline of a hand from which two drops of blood fall. An octagon borders the emblem. There are two parallel strokes at the bottom of the badge.

Please make a listen check, DC 15. To continue checking the body please make a search check.

[Malak'ai]

Trying to slip through the brush as quietly as possible, still clutching Janie tightly, Tali follows the faint trail as best she can while still checking over her shoulder every couple of steps and calling out in a quiet, quivering voice, "F-f-frexy? C-c-come b-back! D-d-don't l-l-leave m-me p-p-please F-frexy."

Spot Check: [roll0]
Listen Check: [roll1]
Search Check: [roll2]
Move Silently Check: [roll3]

[PersonMan]

Listen: [roll0]
Search: [roll1]

Disturbed by the man's youth, Beigette takes a few moments to collect herself before she continues with her search. First she takes his longsword and uses it to cut the badge out of his clothing, putting it in one of her own pouches. It's just like stealing, but...he can't use it, anyways. There's no problem, Beigette thinks, avoiding looking at the face of the corpse she is searching.

Beigette frowns at the coins, not recognizing anything about them. Odd...well, she was definitely not anywhere near Sigil. Perhaps she'd been shunted to that place...what was it called? The Plane of Materials? That would explain the fairly Sigil-like climate and plants as well as the presence of people.

Unable to focus properly, on her surroundings or her search, due to the corpse and her still-present headache, Beigette gives up after a short time and sits back, resting her head in her hands, wondering what kind of place she has been sent to.

[Marlowe]

Lena is tempted to laugh, and thinks better. ""Chillmist". Now there's a name I ha' not heard fo' long. Well, if'n you know the name you know why I'm a tad spooky. Mother was no' one fo' makin' friends on the mainland. Nor anywhere else. An' I've lived the past few years knowin' someone might want t' fit me for a cell or a noose or a knife just 'cause o' that.

"Still, I been called many things, but "untrustworthy" is no' one of 'em. And I'm good at what I do or I'd be dead already. People think well o' you, Lord Ireas, so I'm honoured by your invitation as I say.

"Y' don't trust me? Sunshine. People in Flamia don' trust me as soon I open my mouth, but it turns out they trust each other less. An' I'm just the sort of trustworthy they need, sometimes. We lived hard, where I ame from, and we did what's necessary. As lon' as I'm here it's necessary for me to keep mysel' on good terms with any that aren't poison. So what business would you ha' me to do? A' me a pirate's whelp turned cat rat?" Seeing the man's flusterment over her looking at the maps, she keeps her eyes on his. And her hands on the arm of the chair, where he can see them.

[I'll get the hang of this accent...eventually.:smallmad:]

[Wordplay]

For Cass
You settle into the undergrowth, rustling the leaves slightly. The biggest grey furred warrior turns his head in your direction for a moment, but he doesn't seem to have noticed you, and he turns his attention back to the torture of the tubby man.

The man isn't wearing any insignia, but he is wearing burgundy - so your best guess would be that he's a hired civilian, attached to the army. There were some back at the barracks - cleaners, adjutants and language tutors who dressed similarly. This man is probably either an adjutant or an interpreter - and definitely a Fleraci citizen.

As you settle in you hear a distant voice raised in song. The grey warriors hear it too, and the torturer exchanges a glance with the big warrior. The largest says something that you cannot quite hear. The torturer gives a tight nod, sheaths his knife, draws a short sword, and slinks off into the forest in the direction of the singing. The glade is now silent but for the blubbing of the tubby man as he bleeds. The big warrior draws his greatsword and points it against the tubby mans chest. The song gradually becomes more distinct.

..........and give us enough of that;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no mutton, for that is often lean,
Nor bring us in no tripes, for they be seldom clean;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no eggs, for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale, and give us nothing else;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no butter, for therein are many hairs;
Nor bring us in no pig's flesh, for that will make us boars;
And bring us in good ale.

Bring us in no puddings, for therein is all God's good;
Nor bring us in no venison, for that is not for our blood;
And bring us in good ale.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
You secure the mules easily, and they settle - seemingly glad to rest for a while. You walk in the direction of the scream for couple of minutes.

A voice calls out from the shade of the woods.

'Hold'.

There's a dark shape hidden in the shade of the trees in the road ahead. You may make a Spot check.

'Say what business have you here?'

The accent is closer to your own than the folk around here - but still foreign.

[Azoth]

[roll0]

Ursuul stops when he hears the voice. His head cranning towards the shadow, his free hand placed over his brow to shield from light.

I am jist wanderen about mostly. Pretty woods round here, not bad for a place ta get way from 'tall really.

Now, ain't too polite like ta grill a man from the shaders like tat. Whydontcha come on out inta the open huh? Got myself a party good ration of ale here. Might be a bit warm from the walk, but that ain't nothing to spoil a good drink. We can get ta know one another over a pint and a bite huh? Sounds like a might fine offer iffin I say so me'self.

So why don't you just come on out Mr. ... seems I missed your name. What was it again my friend?

[Wordplay]

For Starbin
At first the camouflaged figure heads in the direction of the other figures, but glancing around, it notices you in pursuit, and veers off at right angles. The figure is moving very quickly, and seems to be outpacing you. Slobber is running alongside you, and keeping up with you easily.

Just then a blood chilling scream reels out from up ahead where three figures...stand over a fourth...something big is behind them...looks like...a crate?

Make a Spot check DC 15
Make a Reflex save (Spot check affects DC)

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
'Bad luck for you'.

You think you can make out a drawn sword...but the outline of the man isn't clear. The man steps forward, and seems to take a look at you.

'You're a fair way from home, aren't you? What's a tribesman doing so far South?'

As the man steps forward upon him a shaft of sunlight falls across him. The man is rangy, with a scar across his nose, and dark brown hair and beard. He's wearing a chain shirt, and grey furs.

You've seen several warriors dressed similarly, just once before. There were a small party of them on the battlefield, fighting alongside another tribe against yours. You remember that day very well - though you've tried to drown it in the bottom of a hundred tankards - because that was the day Garoth died.

[Wordplay]

For Tali
'You creep through the sylvan vastness with silent tread. You follow the trail for a while...but somewhere you seem to lose it. Not far from there, you find the kill of some animal - it's impossible for you to say what it was -something small and furry.

You remember how close you seemed to Frexxy - sometimes it felt like you could almost reach out and touch his thoughts.

Feel free to make any relevant check, including one last search check, or to use your empathic bond (good for up to a mile).

For Beigette
It's difficult to pull the badge from the body - it seems to be held to the chain shirt by copper pins, but you manage it with some effort. You don't find anything more of interest on the body.

You're unable to hear anything, but the babbling of the brook and the sound of birdsong. If you take the shortsword - it weighs 2lbs, roll 1d6 for damage.

For Lena
Ireas seems to have a little trouble following you, but then relaxes a little. 'Ah. Rest assured, I don't intend to arrest you because you're Corvallan. Nor for whatever your kin may have done. I didn't know you were a pirate's daughter, but it makes sense you would fear the authorities. I didn't know anything of repute attached to your name - I happen to know how our accent differs from Corvallan and worked back...'

'I hope I would judge a person on what they have done - not the actions of their kin. You have a reputation as a tough negotiator and a driver of honest bargains...'.

Lord Ireas stares at you appraisingly for a moment.

'I appreciate your candour, Miss Lena, and I think that I can trust you'.

'You've been straight with me - in turn I'll be straight with you. This morning a merchant stumbled into town - one that works the lesser passes around here and trades goods and food for amber. The man injured and frightened half to death'.

Ireas sighes.

'And unfortunately he was shouting his mouth off about giants. The man's in the infirmary upstairs - a broken foot, some scrapes, but he'll live. Of course the rumours have already spread through the town like wildfire - tonight I'll have a deputation of townsfolk asking what I'm to do about a whole horde of giants'.

'The man's actual story was this - he was riding his horse and leading his mules accompanied by two fellow merchants - the three of them are known in these parts as a team, so that's likely true. He claims something big hit them from the side of the trail and dragged the horse right from under him, and scattered the group. When he came too, he found his fellows gone and footprints in the shape of a man's, but much bigger'.

'Now, I know giants do exist in these mountains - but they're very rare, and tend to keep themselves apart. The man's fellows, if they took fright, may have headed back the way they came. That however, is not my problem'.

Ireas glances at the Captain.

'My Chaplain, Father Sal, has cast his divinations - and apparently we are in for a heavy storm tonight - one that will last a few days, we think'.

'I'll need all my men to guard the town tonight, especially if I'm to allay the townsfolks' fears. I'm short handed - I'll see what we can get from the private estate guards, but I doubt they will share their best - the merchant houses will keep them to guard their property'.

'Now, I take it you've heard that a military convoy is due. The report has been prattled and bandied about the town by every Jack-the lad and scullery maid - much to my frustration'.

'I was ordered by men far superior to me to keep that convoy secret, and to treat it's safety as a matter of highest urgency. The convoy is now three days overdue'.

Lord Ireas frowns. The Captain is looking at you with a fierce expression.

'I requested reinforcements to safeguard the convoy from those who sent it. I was informed that they had been dispatched. They should have arrived by now'.

'I fear that something has happened to the convoy, and probably the reinforcements as well. I want you to investigate, to find the convoy, and either to report their fate to me, or bring them back to Forcehead safe'.

'Well, that's what I need. Here's what I can offer. You've been in Forcehead a few weeks now, yes? I hope you like our little town. No doubt you have heard stories of how quickly the season can turn'.

Lord Ireas rises, and looks at the map table.

'We know from experience that the storm tonight signals the arrival of winter. Father Sal has informed the boatmen - as is only humane. Only two more boats will leave the town before next Spring. The first should depart -'. Ireas glances at an hourglass and a chalkboard in the corner 'Right about now. The second is a military ship and will leave -' he turns back to look at you, eyes sharp 'Either with that convoy's leaders, or with news of their demise. I can get you a place aboard that ship. I'm the only one that can get you a place aboard that ship'.

'In addition -'. a small purse chinks on the table.

'I can offer you a small fee. I'll pay twice as much again if you bring back the convoy, or proof of it's demise, and ensure you a place on the last boat out of here'.

Lord Ireas looks up at you.

'Well, can we deal on these terms? What say you?'

[Starbin]

Thumble hurried to catch up to the figure, but quickly found himself being outpaced. Touching his companion on the shoulder, Slobber slowed down so the small gnome could slip onto his back. However, as Thumble made to mount the large dog, a blood-curdling scream rang out from ahead, startling both the gnome and dog.

Spot: [roll0] vs DC 15
Reflex: [roll1] vs DC TBD

EDIT: Whew!

[MuffinPuffin]

Cass watched the scene, thinking. Looks like neither them nor I know who that is. Poor person, will probably be ambushed and killed... Visions of Tala's lifeless body swim in front of Cass's eyes, before she shakes them out. No, now is not the time for mourning. There will be time for that later. She wrestled her mind back to the singer. Well, he doesn't sound like an ally, but hes not a grey cloak either. I probably have some time before he comes back. Better act now.

Drawing upon her magic reserves, she conjures up a suit of glistening, semi transparent armor. Dropping her crossbow swiftly, but carefully, as to not trigger it, she got out from her hiding-spot. Leaping from the bushes, she rushed over to the grey cloak and the tubby man on the ground.
Standard action spell-cast: Mage armor on self.
Move action to beside grey cloak, during which i draw my quarter staff. Ready to make an attack of opportunity against the grey cloak if they try a coop-de-grace on the tubby man.
Initiative:[roll0]

[Wordplay]

For Starbin
Suddenly you see a dark figure in the undergrowth before you - a bloodied corpse lies in your path. Without a pause in his stride Thumble sticks out a hand and swings himself into Slobber's saddle on the move.

As light falls through the trees it dawns on you that the undergrowth around here is littered with bodies - armoured soldiers wearing chainmail and dark clothes, and grim warriors dressed in grey furs. Many have crossbow bolts through the chest.

They have been violently killed - the bugs have yet to settle on them - this is what drew the ravens.

Ahead you can see two of the grey cloaked warriors are standing in the shadow of an upturned cart over a figure lying on the ground. A glint shines off something, and you catch a glimpse of a living soldier crouching in the shade of a bush, in cover.

The scene seems to freeze in your mind as you take it in in a single glance.

Suddenly the soldier rises and moves towards the warriors.

The figure in camouflage is running away from the others, moving quickly through the trees - but Slobber might be able to catch up.

[Wordplay]

For Cass
Cass successfully cast mage armour and rushes into the space next to the tall grey furred warrior with the greatsword.

The grey furred warriors start.

You can hear the sound of running feet behind you.

Initiative
[roll0]
[roll1] Map to follow shortly.

Edit: Here's a map. It's a bit rough and ready, but it should give you an idea. Trees are impassable, bodies and bushes are rough terrain.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvCg0_cE29RUdEQtMXRjZDR6WUNQTFVqMUljNkpKV nc&usp=sharing

[MuffinPuffin]

Cass, believing she caught the grey cloaks off guard, takes a deft step to the right of the grey-cloak she is beside and swings her staff at him.
5-foot step to F5.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Cass
Cass cracks the big warrior over the head with her quarterstaff, sending the man reeling, and drawing a little blood.

The second grey one stares in surprise, dumbfounded, as the big man swings his sword in reply.

Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

Edit: His stroke swings wide, missing Cass by half a foot - the blow must have dazed him.

Just as the second one lurches into action the tubby man suddenly comes to life and makes a desperate grasp for his feet - tripping him. The two badly wounded men fall into the leaf litter (C6).

[Azoth]

Ursuul stiffens a bit at the mention of him being a clansman. He lasts that way only a moment as the man comes into view. It takes him a moment to deside if it is fear in hi stomach or the remnants of his morning's reversed breakfast...he decides it is a bit of both and chokes it down.

Unconsciously, his hand tightened on the shaft of his weapon. The blade slowly coming down to level out at chest height without him realizing it. All pretense of friendliness leaving his voice as he eyes the man. The light behind his gaze a mix of anger and caution.

I am no tribesman. I am just a lone man in the woods. Just as you seem to be. Though after a better look at you, I won't be sharing my ale, It would just be a waste. So what is a fatherless son of a goat doing here? Too many women turn ya down even for coin so you have to come rut out a little relief with a creature as stupid as you are ugly?



Ready an action to trip the enemy as soon as he comes in range of my weapon. That is 10 feet from me.

[MuffinPuffin]

Out of the corner of her eye, Cass acknowledges the Tubby Mans struggle, seeing now that the two of them are badly wounded. Cass takes another step around the grey-cloak, putting her back to the cart so she couldn't be surprised from behind. Cass then quickly lets out another swing of her staff, attempting to catch him while he was still in a daze
5-foot step to E4, attacking the grey-cloak.
Attack [roll0]
Damage[roll]1d6+4[roll]

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The man wears a feral grin.

'You ask too many questions. I'm going to enjoy killing you'.

The man has his sword out, and stands just out of reach.

Roll initiative
Grey one's initiative [roll0]

Map https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvCg0_cE29RUdEU2UTFncWJFWVRFcTJibFpHNndCY Wc&usp=sharing

[Azoth]

Initiative: [roll0]

[Wordplay]

For Cass
Cass whacks the man's stomach with a loud crack as his armour absorbs the blow.

He smiles

'You'll have to do better than that'.

[roll0]
[roll1]

The grey one appears to have drawn a knife, and he and the tubby man are struggling for it frantically.

Edit: The warrior's sword punches through Cass's armour, and she gasps. Just as Cass blacks out, she hears a terrible cry - the fight over the knife has resolved itself.

[Wordplay]

Cure Light wounds [roll0]

For Cass
Cass opens her eyes, to find the big warrior kneeling on her chest. The second warrior is standing behind him - breathless, holding a bloody knife. Her staff and backpack are nowhere to be seen.

'Try not to breathe too deep - you'll open your wounds'.

The warrior holds one of your potion bottles level with your eyes.

'Useful stuff. You're in luck. It seems we're in need of a new prisoner - you friend wouldn't talk. Perhaps you will'.

The warrior leans in close - you can feel his breath on your face.

'Sing little bird, go on, I dare you, scream, call for help, beg for mercy...so long as you talk'.

[MuffinPuffin]

Cass has been knocked out during fights before. When she started her training in the military, before she started to use her magic, she was knocked out and brought back with magic a couple of times before. Although it was strange and painful the first time, she had grown eerily apathetic about it over time.

This time was different.

"Look, I'll tell you what I know..." she said loudly, not trying to yell or scream, but failing to remain calm. "Just don't... Just.. I wont scream."

[Azoth]

Ursuul smiles slightly at the man's comment. Killing, something he was born and bred to do. While others thought themselves killers, they had merely adopted the notion. Ursuul was born of it. Blood ran over his flesh as easily as in his veins for as long as he had lived. Combat shaped and molded him. Peace was something he had never known, even as a man.

Calmly Ursul stepped forward towards his foe. His second hand grasping the shaft of his weapon with the familiarity one uses to embrace an old friend. The bladed head shot forth swiftly as if to stab the man in his loin, but just a bit too low. On its path Ursuul twisted his wrist to turn the blade so its back hook was behind his foe's leg. With almost an unamused look of effort he pulled the pole back towards him. If things went as he had hoped, the man would be on the flat of his back looking to the sky in time for what was to follow.

With a small flourish the weapon would spin before coming down in his plane of view again. Ursuul's full might behind the clieving blow. Intending to make true of the fainted promise before. The blade would aim to tear into his enemy's lower abdomen and genitals.

It'd take better than the likes of your ilk to kill me. I am Ursuul, as only befitting to tell you the name of the one who is casting your mangy corpse to the tortures of the Abyss. May you be tortured until not a shred remains of your soul and you vanish entirely you sorry son of a whore.



Move action: move to H7

Standard action: attack

Touch attack to begin trip: [roll0]

Strength Check for Trip: [roll1]

If successful:

Attack against pron enemy (who has -4 AC)

Attack: [roll2]

Damage: [roll3]

If unsuccessful: drop guisamere

[PersonMan]

Beigette, suddenly struck by the feeling that she's being watched, looks around without success for someone in the nearby underbrush. Setting the sword down, and drawing her rapier, she considers what to do. Well, if there's still a fight going on I'll probably hear it before I'm spotted myself...I'll need to go see what in the Lady's name is going on here, and how I can get myself to the nearest cluster of huts they call a city here.

Looking through the trees for any signs that it gets lighter somewhere, such as from a clearing or, hopefully, the forest thinning out, Beigette takes a last glance at the corpse and, unable to simpy leave it, turns back around. Taking out two of her own copper coins (from Sigil), she lays them on his eyes after closing the lids, whispering every death rite she can remember before she turns, stands up, and leaves.

Heading towards any lightening of the forest she sees.

[Starbin]

Thumble blinked in surprise at the sene before him. He had witnessed death before, but never on a scale like this; nor with the brutal violence these men had visited upon each other. It looked like the grey warriors might have ambushed the soldiers, but he couldn't be certain. And who was the camouflaged figure running away?

A sudden glint caught the gnome's attention - focusing in, he saw a soldier leap from the bushes, intent on attacking the warriors. Out of the orner of his eye, the mysterious figure continued to run. What should he do? Call out a warning? Aid the soldier? Pursue the figure?

Curious - does Thumble know anything about either group, based on their uniforms? Are these guards/soldiers from Flamia, perhaps? Any rumors of incursions? Which ones were shot with crossbows? Just a few questions before I make my bad decision.

[Malak'ai]

Beating through the bush until she loses the trail, Taliana keeps sobbing and calling out Frexburr's name.
When she spots the remains of the small animal that had become some predators snack, she sinks down to her knees, Jingling Janie falling to the damp ground next to her. Her crying becoming louder and more violent as she screams at the top of her lungs, "FREXY! NOOOOO! Y-YOU C-C-CAN'T B-BE E-E-EATED! FFFRRRREEEEXXXXXYYYYY!"
Her emotions out of control as she lays her forehead against some of the remaining fur, she keeps sobbing in her grief, "P-p-please c-come b-b-back F-f-frexy. P-please b-b-be a-a-alive."

Spot Check: [roll0]
Listen Check: [roll1]
Search Check: [roll2]

Also using the bond to call Frexburr back to Tali.

[Marlowe]

Lena gives Ireas a long look before responding. This sounds very fishy. "Yr askin' me, a newcomer t' the area wit' no' wilderness skills, to go out an' find yr lost sheep right before a storm breaks, an' this after you've waited thr' days to even put somebod' on the job? Because I'm a negotiator? Night's Mist. If the local word abou' ye was no' so good I'd say you really were tryin' t' kill me."

She stands up. Life around here was getting boring anyway, and the bow was digging into her back. "I'll do it. I'll require a riding horse wit' saddlebags--I've a mule, but that's too slow, an' some maps, an' some idea of where to take shelter 'twixt here and the passes when the storm breaks. I'll take yr fee, but forget the ticket back t' th' city. I'm no' done wit' my job here yet. An' I'm no' so in love with Flerac t' run back t' it emptyhanded. Unless..." her eyes narrow.


"Unless I've misunderstood ye completely, an' the reason yr talkin' t' me is that you suspect there are people in town here that know all abou' wha' happened t' th' convoy, an' ye wan' me t' try weasel 'em out. Is tha' it?"

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
OoCFair questions...Unfortunately you don't have Knowledge (Local) as a trained skill, so the available information is limited. However, you are able to tell that both the grey furred warriors and the dark clothed soldiers have been killed with crossbow bolts, in roughly equal numbers - you see crossbows in the hands of dead on either side.

You know that the soldiers of Flamia's army wear a number of different uniforms with little standardisation between different units (as they are each levied by different cities and families). You do not recognise either of the uniforms.

Thumble's been pretty well isolated from people, but he's heard no rumours of invasion or strange goings on from the occasional trader he's met (some weeks ago now).

Incidentally, I would have given you more time to intervene in the combat, but for the fact that one of the combatants is a PC, and they didn't wait - until now. Strictly OoC knowledge - don't want you to feel that I'm doing you out of choices.

As Thumble makes his decision, there is a fast exchange of blows as the soldier ambushes the grey ones. You think that the soldier is a woman, with long blonde hair. She cracks the big warrior over the head with a quarterstaff, whilst the other is tackled to the floor by the prone figure.

The big warrior swings, but his blow goes wide. The soldier smacks the warrior in the ribs with her quarterstaff, but to little effect. The warrior thrusts her clean through with his sword, and she drops to the ground. Meanwhile, the other grey one appears to have prevailed in his tussle, and rises, holding a bloody knife.

The warrior retrieves something from the woman's bag, kneels on her chest, and does something with his hands on her face that you can't quite make out.

Meanwhile, the camouflaged figure has stopped - some 100ft distant, and has adopted a defensive stance - no weapon drawn.

Map: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvCg0_cE29RUdEVDMUZaVEhUOWJ2ZUE0aGVxUkJHe lE&usp=sharing

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The man is caught by surprise, bringing his sword down to parry the blow - too late. The man is knocked flat on his back.

Ursuul follows through quickly, moving before the man has hit the ground. The barbarian puts his full strength behind a thrust into the man's stomach with the guisarme...where the weapon lodges for a moment, as Ursuul tries to rip the man's belly and groin. The man makes a grab for the weapon, but Ursuul pulls it back too quickly.

The man springs to his feet, despite the gaping hole in his abdomen, which he quickly clamps with his offhand.

'Heh. Not bad. Maybe if the rest of your kind had fought like that they'd still be some of you left. My turn'.

Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

For Lena
The governor seems frustrated.

'I'll be dispatching my best tracker with you, of course. As for a horse, or any other equipment you need, Captain Telerac will direct you to quartermaster Atmas in a moment'.

The governor pauses for a moment, then says exasperatedly

'Surely someone with your political instincts realises it is because of your independance that I seek you out. You have no connection as of yet with any of the great families. Do you know how rare that is? In addition, your discretion, your reputation for keeping your master's secrets. I don't want any new information about the convoy spread.

This convoy was a Fleraci mission - which means a Forak mission, effectively. No-one in the garrison was supposed to even know of it's existence, aside from a few trusted officers, but now the whole town has found out - that's too many leads for me to track back - but I have uncovered that the first leak came from the garrison'.

'The town garrison is levied from all the families militias and they return to their units at the end of their tour of duty. Nominally they're independant, but in practice they look out for their employers interests - just as I look out for House Forak's interests when I can'.

'Now most of these men were levied from Forak, or Moreat. Now I know the Forcehead Moreats sided with the Fleraci branch in declaring for King Haranad, but the senior Karas branch certainly didn't. It wouldn't be surprising if there were the odd dissenter in Forcehead. Besides which, I know that there are Karasi spies in the town - from House Errecan at the very least. They may have suborned Forakkans. I don't know which of my own people I can trust'.

Lord Ireas seems pained, and somewhat embarrassed at this admission.

'I don't think you're the first that's been sent, either. I'm pretty sure my contact with the family has sent a number of people before - he as much as said so'. he mutters, darkly, almost as an afterthought.

'The convoy were seasoned light infantry - about fifty left, we think. They'll be wearing Fleraci burgundy, and their unit emblem is a blue cross in a blue circle, surrounded by the Eight Walls of Flerac. The sign of the sign of the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion - the River-riders. If you can't find a living member, bring back one of the emblems, as proof you've completed your mission'.

'Is that all, or do you have any questions?'

[Wordplay]

For Beigette
After a hundred yards you come across the second body. Then a third, and a fourth...too many. They're all either dressed like the boy Beigette, or bearded man, wearing grey furs. The dead wearing the boy's uniform were roughly half male and female, but the grey furred warriors all seem to be men.

The dead are fresh killed, with blood still running from some wounds. Most have been hacked with the sword, or piercing with crossbow bolts. You see crossbows in the hands of the dead of both sides in roughly equal numbers.

You can see something up ahead, through the trees...

Make a Spot and a Listen check.
If you wish to investigate up ahead, stand by, if you wish to check the bodies instead, make a Search check

[Azoth]

Attack of Opportunity as he rises from prone (arguably with the same -4 to AC since I can't trip him as he is not considered standing yet by RAW).

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]


As the man begins to rise and speak a look of anger washes over Ursuul's face. His arm moves before he thinks and the broad blade is thrust out sharply at the rising form's chest. Without his focus he can't put his weight into it, but enough raw emotional force is there to easily bare a lesser man into the mud with several inches of steel in his heart.

Ursuul's form rigid and eyes like ice. He is fighting to control his emotions. Something made harder by the drink still in him. He won't give the man the pleasure of seeing his true anger, no his rage is to wasted on this form of filth.

[PersonMan]

Spot: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Tali
As you reach out through the empathic bond you get a sense of Fexxy's presence back. A wave of relief washes over you, briefly, before you sense Frexxy's fear. The little rabbit must be quaking somewhere hidden. Frexxy won't move, but he desperately wants you to come to him.

You get a rough sense of his general direction, and you think you can see some signs of trail again.

You also spot a dark shape lying in the grass ahead. It's the body of a large middle aged man. There are slash wound to his head, shoulder, and neck. He was pretty badly cut up before he died. He's dressed in black leggings, black padded armour and a large surcoat and shoulder wrap sewn from grey furs.His greasy black hair is long and braided, and he wore his beard short. An iron greatsword lies in the grass nearby, and all the ground is badly trampled.

Frexxy lies somewhere past the body.

[Wordplay]

For Beigette
You can hear hushed voices talking.

Ahead of you, you can see an upturned cart. 1 of the grey furred warriors is standing next to it. Another is kneeling on a soldier dressed the same way as the boy you saw - a young woman with blonde hair.

He's holding an empty bottle in front of her face.

None of them have seen you yet...there are plenty of trees, and some cover.

[PersonMan]

Beigette grows increasingly worried with every corpse she sees. Eventually she tries to ignore them, just stepping over them rather than performing rites for each one. If the grey-beard warriors all carry some sort of badge or insignia, she uses the pilfered longsword to cut herself one of those. As she approaches the clearing, she narrows her eyes, drawing her weapon. Pent-up anger rising as she aims, Beigette's thoughts are focused only briefly on the nature of the conflict.

I really shouldn't be getting worked up over this...'Terrials fight and kill each other all the time. Why is this any different? Beigette thinks. Then her eyes go to the woman on the ground and she fires at the one straddling the woman, aiming for the place where his spine passes in front of his heart.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1] + [roll2]

EDIT: Meh...Hope his armor isn't especially good.

After firing, Beigette speaks, taking a moment to conceal herself as best as possible (+8 modifier).

"Hey, 'Terries! I don't know if you can understand me, but if you can, lay off and throw down your weapons! If you don't, I won't hesitate to put bolts in you until you're full of Sigil iron!" She says, shouting to make sure they hear her, preparing for another shot.

Now I'm aware of missing quite a few rolls. Next comes init, I guess, followed by Intimidate (+8 and +5 respectively).

[Starbin]

Stifling a gasp at the sudden furious exchange that appeared to leave two more soldiers dead. While Thumble normally felt capable of handling himself in most intuitions, these warriors seemed too tough, too stong, for he and Slobber to take down ... at least in a fair fight. Perhaps the other figure knew more about this situation? They were at least not killing anyone ...

Moving as quickly and quietly as he could, Thumble nudged Slobber in the direction of the hiding figure.

no worries on the pacing - things can move fast, especially where PCs are involved. I haven't read ny of the other charcters stuff yet, so I haven't spoiled anything for myself so far!

Hide: [roll0] w whatever modifiers Slobber adds/subtracts
Move silent: [roll1] - ditto

Whoops ... Forgot the spoilers!

[Marlowe]

Lena smiles with her teeth behind her hand. Again, I'm the only one anyone trusts. Although I don't like that "independance". Too much like "expendability"."I already said I'll do't, and there's no time for me t'be standin' around. You've got yer own issues here. Sunshine. Sort 'em out. I'll be heading out on yr errand soon as I get the necessity and get mysel' repacked. Tha' unequivocal enough? Mam didn't raise me t' waste time." She's already ready to move to the door.

[OOC: She'd probably wouldn't be this gung-ho if I didn't know the other characters are out in the forest. In short, I'm afraid I'm metagaming.:smallfrown:]

[Malak'ai]

Tali lifts her head as she feels the slight resonance of Frexburr's feelings, her tears abating just a little, whispering, "F-f-fexy?"

Standing, she grabs Janie and rushes through the bushes and trees in the direction she felt her Familiar in. When she comes across the body, Taliana screams, pulling Janie up to cover her mouth. Stepping slowly around the body she then breaks out into a run, still searching the plants and hollows for her rabbit friend.

Spot Check: [roll0]

**Hmmm... Seems like all Tali's done so far is cry and scream, with a little bit of running thrown in to break them up :smalltongue:.**

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The man very nearly dodges out of the way, and perhaps if he had not been so intent upon his next stroke, he would have.

Ursuul's spear transfixes him, catching him under the arm as the man extends himself forwards, slipping through the ribs, and punching out the other side.

The man's eyes begin to cloud with a dull surprise. He wheezes, and blood bubbles in the corners of his mouth.

With his last breath, the man chuckles softly.

'It's better this way...see you in hell...Ursuul'.

The life leaves the man.

You may make a fresh listen check, a search check if you want to check the body, or any other suitable check.

EXP to be awarded later. Congrats on the first kill. (though not first blood).

For Thumble
OoC
Sorry, nice roll on the Hide check, but it won't work for the figure at least, because the figure has had you under constant observation - same reason why the figure hasn't got a new hide check either, because you've had the figure under constant observation.

It will, however, likely stop the warriors and the soldier from picking you out.

The figure stands still in a defensive stance, palms out. As you and Slobber head towards the camouflaged figure, it draws a short sword from under it's cloak.

You may make a Sense Motive check.


For Lena
Ireas replies,

'Your directness is refreshing. I'll keep that space for you on the boat, just in case you change your mind'.

You may make a Sense Motive check. Know the others are in the forest, eh? Someone's been reading through the spoilers...or making some deductions.

'Captain, please escort Miss Chillmast to the quartermaster'.

The Captain nods curtly, and leads you out through the door you came though, past the waiting area, and down a narrow corridor, turning first left, then right at any junctions.

'Miss Chirrmis, may I present, Quartermaster Atmas'.

A short man, with a large chin, prominent nose, and wide bulbous eyes, below a heavily creased forehead is presented to you. His blond locks hang in limp curls, and seem to be beating a swift retreat back across his scalp.

'Master Atmas, you're to see to any reasonable request'. The Captain turns back to Lena.

'Just loans, you understand, please return anything you borrow. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and see to getting you a horse'.

The Quartermaster nods and gestures at a heavily barred door behind him. The interior is snug, and dim, with a smouldering fire in a grate. There are no windows, so oil lamps illuminate rows of low shelves filled with boxes.

'I am at your disposal, dear Lady. Please allow me to furnish you with whatever you require'. the Quartermaster's tone is florid, and a little pretentious, but sincere.

For Tali
Frexxy's thoughts pull at Tali...and give her a faint sense of his direction. After running for a little while, Tali comes across a pair of mules, tied to a tree.

Walking just a little further, Tali spots a large man in the distance - very tall, well muscled, with dark hair, and wielding what appears to be a vicious spear. The large man stands over a second, fallen on the ground, and dressed in grey furs.

As the second man rises, swinging a sword, the first man thrusts with his spear, and pierces the second right through.

The two are quite distant, but straight ahead, with an uninterupted view. Tali stands on a path, with cover to either side. Frexxy's presence is somewhere beyond the men...not far now.

Edit: Make a Move Silently Check please, Hide check optional

[Azoth]

Ursuul smirks a bit as he pulls his weapon free of the man's ribs, after a final twist to make certain he isn't faking his death.. He moves to the body and begins to systematically check the man for his possessions. His ears keeping vigil over him for sounds of this man's friends should he have any.

Search:[roll0]

Listen:[roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Cass
The big man laughs.

'Of course you'll talk - and we'll see whether you scream'.

The man draws a knife.

'I'm going to ask some questions. Every time either you, or the old man doesn't give me the answer I'm looking for, costs you a finger. If we run out of fingers, we'll move on to eyes, ears, tongue, and so on...'

'Soldier. Don't talk'. You might have thought the officer was dead, crushed under the cart like that, but his voice rasps, weakly.

'If our city means anything to you, don't talk. Don't give them...the satisfaction'.

'Ha. We'll see old man. I think you just won't be able to stand the sight of me cutting the girl up. After all, we've got enough of your potion to bring you back from death one more time...'

'Now let's get started...who sent you?'

Just as the words leave his lips a crossbow bolt suddenly appears in the man's chest. It pierces the armour. He looks down surprised, and his face turns white. A voice calls out

"Hey, 'Terries! I don't know if you can understand me, but if you can, lay off and throw down your weapons! If you don't, I won't hesitate to put bolts in you until you're full of Sigil iron!"

The big man rolls off of Cass, reaching for her discarded pack and the Cass' last potion.

In that second, Cass realises two things - firstly, she is free to move, and secondly...her mage armour spell is still active.

Put 'For Beigette' at the top of your next post, outside spoilers, and roll initiative.

For Beigette
The crossbow bolt hits home, striking the warrior exactly where you were aiming, and sticking there. You can't tell at this distance whether the armour stopped it or not. The grey furred warriors seem to quail at your words, and appear shaken.

The one closest to you shouts 'Look, there she is!'

The other is already rolling away from the captured soldier - he appears

'Aye, I see her, fool'.

You get the impression that there's something wrong with the warrior closest to you - as though he's been injured already.

Current Initiative
Warrior with Shortsword (nearest)
Beigette
Warrior with Greatsword (shot with crossbow)

Please mark the top of your next post 'For Cass'

Map for both of you.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvCg0_cE29RUdEw1Q3B1a05tWkhWelZQNUgzUXo0W Hc&usp=sharing Bushes and bodies are rough terrain, trees and carts are impassable.

[Wordplay]

@Ursuul
The man is most definitely dead.

You find 12 copper pieces in the man's belt pouch. 5 of them are worn so badly you can't make out any detail. Three have faint impressions that you don't recognise, but the rest are simple discs, pierced with a hole, and seem reminiscent of some of the currencies traders occasionally used when dealing with your village.

You also find a silver piece...it shows a harbour surrounded by an 8-sided shape. The belt pouch also contains a set of knucklebones.

The man wore a fur surcoat, made from the hide of some beast...it looks a bit like wolf. The man's padded armour is completely ruined - the cloth shredded by Ursuul's guisarme.

The man carried a simple iron short sword - there's a decent edge on it, and you find the scabbard on his body. There's a sheathe for a knife, but no knife. The man's boots were leather, but they're heavily worn, and covered with dirt.

You also find a small piece of dried meat - enough for a snack.

Stand by for results on the Listen Check please.

[Starbin]

No worries - the stealth checks were for the soldiers mostly!
Sense Motive: [roll0]
Thumble raised his own hands, palms out. In common tongue, he whispered "Peace, friend ... there's been enough violence already. Do you know what happened here? Or if we should intervene?" Thumble didn't make any sudden moves, but he was prepared to bolt if necessary.

[Malak'ai]

Standing, looking at the body on the ground and the figure standing over it, Tali raises Janie to her mouth again. Her body shaking with fear and anxiety.
Feeling Frexburr so close is eating at her, urging her to keep going.
Stepping as quietly as she can into the bushes she tries to ease her way around the killer before her.

Hide Check: [roll0]
Move Silently Check: [roll1]

[PersonMan]

Cass'n'DM
As I said in the OOC, I misinformed you about my Init/Intimidate rolls, it's 25/8, not 8/25.

Spotting the injuries of the closer warrior - and not interested in being in melee before she's drawn her rapier - Beigette aims at him carefully, taking advantage of him not yet being entirely in a fighting stance to aim between his ribs before firing. She hopes that she can take him out of the fight before they close in. Beigette doesn't doubt her ability to fight one of them (Konliff had always said she was immensely talented with her rapier), but a two-on-one was...not a good idea. If she was the one, that is.

"Has the 'Terry air here rotten your brains? Give up, or I'll punt you off the spire!" Beigette shouts, firing again.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1] + [roll2]

EDIT: I wish I'd shot at the other guy...13 damage at level one could probably one-shot either of them, at least into negatives.

Move - Reload
Standard - Fire

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
The figure stands stock still and impassive. It makes no sound, or any attempt to reply. Its sword remains drawn, but neither does it make any attempt to advance.

Thumble gets the strong sense that the figure will attack if he approaches, from the figure's body language. It seems like the figure wants to be left alone.

There is some commotion to your left...something is happening with the warriors and the soldiers. You hear a distant voice shouting, but you can't make it out. You'll have to take your eyes off the figure if you want to look...

For Ursuul
You hear something rustle behind you - back in the direction you left your mules - as though someone is trying to move into the undergrowth silently. You also hear the sound of a distant shout up ahead...sounds like a fight.

For Cass and Beigette
Initiative Beigette 25
Warrior Shrtswd 15
Warrior Grtswd 4

Cass is yet to roll

Before the warriors have a chance to react, Beigette has loaded a second quarrel and fired. The shot goes high...and hits the smaller warrior in the head -puncturing his skull at short range. The darkness covers his eyes and he falls down - dead.

[Azoth]

Ursuul pockets the man's coins and takes his short sword. The empty dagger sheath stood out to him, and then he heard the rustle of the underbrush behind him. His massive frame rose up with weapon at the ready. The fighting up ahead could wait a moment. He drew a deep breath to steady himself.

Then bellowing at the top of his lungs, I know you are there skulking at my rear flank. Your friend attacked me first I am afraid, and fared poorly with a sword. You have only a dagger and wish to try where he failed?

Step into the open and release your weapon. A conversation is better than death, and I am in no more a mood to kill another man for a reason I know not. Be peace, or be dead...that is all I have to offer you. Which will you choose.

[Wordplay]

For Tali
The killer stoops over his victim, and checks the body, looting the corpse thoroughly.

For a moment Tali thinks that he hasn't noticed her. Then the big man speaks with a loud and booming voice.

'I know you are there skulking at my rear flank. Your friend attacked me first I am afraid, and fared poorly with a sword. You have only a dagger and wish to try where he failed?

Step into the open and release your weapon. A conversation is better than death, and I am in no more a mood to kill another man for a reason I know not. Be peace, or be dead...that is all I have to offer you. Which will you choose?'

Mark your next post 'For Ursuul'

[MuffinPuffin]

For Beigette and Word
[roll0]
Wheres Cass's staff? should i roll a search check? Spot?
Cass watches as a bolt shoots across the air and impales itself in the other soldier. With some one who appears to be an ally on her side, the tables in the fight have been turned. Quickly realizing she can now act freely, she starts searching for her staff. Without wanting to get into a fist-fight with the grey cloak, she decides she need to find her weapon.

[Wordplay]

Cass and Beigette
Initiative
Beigette
Cass
Warrior

Cass' quarterstaff is lying on the ground at F4.

The Warrior, at G5, seems to be scrabbling towards Cass' pack at G6.

It's still Cass' turn.

[Marlowe]

Lena thinks of the storm she's doubtless going to be caught in soon and inwardly groans. "Ye got a wand o' Endure Elements?Relax, I'm kiddin'. I got cold weather clothes, but no tent, blankets, or bedroll. Better make that good and ver' sorry if they come back a mite damp. As fo' other, I'd be best wit' more info, but I don' know if yr the one t' talk to about that".

[Malak'ai]

For Ursuul and Wordplay:
As the killer's voice booms out Tali stops in her tracks, quivering like a leaf and a loud sob escapes her mouth.
Holding Janie in front of her face, one eye closed and her face turned to the side, she steps out of the bushes.

Peeking past the rag doll he eye finds the big man. Her voice coming out in between fits of sobbing, "P-p-please... P-p-please d-don't k-kill me. I-i-i o-only w-w-want t-to f-f-find m-my F-f-frexburr. H-he's g-g-gone m-m-missing."

[Starbin]

Thumble stopped, watching for a moment, when a commotion began to his left. Patting Slobber, he whispered "Watch..." then glanced to his left. What strange things were occurring back with the warriors?

[MuffinPuffin]

For Beigette and Word
Cass finds her staff laying near her, then rolls slightly over to pick it up. Realizing the Greycloak is looking for her last potion, she quickly grabbs her staff, and without standing up, quickly spins and swings her staff at him.
Move action (provoking Aoo) pick up staff at F4 (I assume if you can drop an item to an adjacent square, you can pick one up too.
Standard action attack on Grey-cloak.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Lena
The Quartermaster nods.

'But of course. That's no trouble at all'.

The man moves quickly down the lines of shelves, pulling out boxes, and fetchin a large bundle, then resting in on a desk back in front of the door. The man staggers slightly under the weight of it.

'There, we have a four man tent, two winter blankets, and one sturdy bedroll. Is there anything else I can get for you? Simple weapons? We have chainmail if you'd like some? No?'

The man marks out the items on a ledger, and asks Lena to sign for them.

The man looks around quickly, then presses something large into Lena's hand.

'Be careful...if you pick up any wounds...drink that. I shouldn't give it to you really...our little secret?'.

The Captain returns, and picks up the bundle.

'I've readied your horse. I'll stow these on a mule for you. If you're finished here, the horses and the tracker are ready outside. It's important that you don't let the tracker learn any more than he needs to know. As far as he knows he's looking for some lost soldiers - that's it. Anything else you discuss...or anything you might find out about the convoy beyond its fate...should be kept secret'.

For Ursuul (and Tali)
A slight and slender woman steps out of the forest, some distance behind Ursuul. She is very beautiful, with sparkling green eyes and long blonde hair so fair it's almost white. Yet something about her seems a little off to Ursuul - she doesn't seem quite human - there's an odd cast to her features.

Besides this, she clutches a ragdoll to her face - the sort of thing a young child might have. She looks absolutely terrified.

For Cass and Beigette
Cass scrabbles in the fallen pine needles, until her hand finds her stave. She brings it smartly round in an arc aiming for the Grey warrior...the staff thwacks hard into the dirt, just to his right.

Meanwhile, the warrior pulls the quarrel out of his chest, and pulls the last healing potion from Cass' pack. He gulps it down, then rises, knife still in hand.

Provoking an attack of opportunity from Cass.
[roll0]

Edit
For Thumble
Slobber gazes at the figure, whilst Thumble looks the other way.

Things have changed dramatically, very quickly. Only one of the grey warriors is left...and he's scrabbling in the dirt for something. The soldier is up, and wielding her quarterstaff once more - she tries to bring it down on the back of the grey warrior, but just misses.

Slobber barks urgently. The Figure appears to have run towards you, and thrown something...it falls just short, splattering the ground with a gooey gell like substance of some sort.

You may roll initiative.

[Azoth]

For Tali&DM


Ursuul lets his face relax as he sees the seemingly harmless girl. The grip on his weapon remains firm, and his muscles speak of the murder he is prepared to commit if need be, but his face is soft.

He turns ready speak and wave the girl on when he turns and sees the other figure. His instincts take over as he side steps the corpse and turns to keep both in his view. The softness gone from his face and his second hand frimly on his weapon.

He wouldn't put it past the bastards to use women or children where men had failed.

Halt! Identify yourself immediately or be sanctioned an enemy!

He the used the butt of his guisamere to thud the corpse next to him for effect. An enemy dies.

[PersonMan]

Cass'n'DM
Move: Reload
Standard: Fire

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

Beigette, further angered by the enemy's refusal to surrender, fires again at the remaining furry man, no longer able to get a clear aim on his vitals but shooting at his torso, hoping to take him down as well. Somewhere in her mind are plans to find out from the woman where she was and how to return home, but for now all of Beigette's pent-up anger and stress are being channeled into the fight.

[Malak'ai]

For Ursuul and Word:
Tali stops when the man prods the body on the ground, demanding to know who she is.
"M-m-my n-name i-is T-t-taliana. P-p-please d-don't k-k-kill m-me. I-i-i j-just w-w-want to f-f-find F-frexburr. H-h-he's m-my f-friend. H-h-he's a r-r-rabbit." she cries from behind Janie, her body almost convulsing from her sobbing.

[Marlowe]

Lena smiles her appreciation to the quartermaster. "Ta very much, an' good luck t' ye!" And then in a noticably lower voice; [COLOR=purple]"Ye wouldn' be throwing me an bit o' extra share 'cause there's someone you know missin' out there would ye?"

Whatever the answer, she'll listen to it with interest, and counter the Captain's words with a "Secrets are safe wit' be; I'll keep 'em t' my grave. Or rather, to something wit' intstructions t' be opened in the event I met a mysterious an' untimely death." and move outside quickly to pack the beasts and meet the "tracker", a person who's existence in this scenario relieves her greatly.

[Wordplay]

For Lena
'Just want you to be safe ma'am - like I said, our secret?'

The Captain listens to Lena, and nods.

'Good. So long as we're clear - good people are hard to come by'.

The Captain leads Lena out into a cobbled courtyard. A pair of mules, and two horses, a dappled colt and a grey mare are waiting. Two young stable-hands, dressed in smart, but worn livery, are attending to the beasts. The Captain hands the quartermaster's supplies to one of the boys, who starts to pack them on to one of the mules.

A rangy looking man, with unkempt short brown hair is standing alongside the dappled colt. His eyes are dark brown and a little close together. He's hunched a little forward, and he seems restless. His face is covered in a thick growth of stubble. The man's dressed in shades of brown, with leggings, stout boots, a tunic, jerkin and hood. The man wears several wide leather belts, with dull buckles. Several sheathed weapons and a variety of pouches hang from his belts.

'Mistress Chirmiss - may I introduce Sergeant Takolan, on secondment from the Pathfinders'.

The man glances at you, then looks away.

'Pleas'd t'meet thee Miss'. he gazes up at the sky, hands on the pommel of his saddle.

'Excuse me if I do not clasp thy hand - I do not like to touch. Folk say my manners are a little strange, if you listen to hear 'em tell it. Please be clear I mean thee no offence - it's just my way'.

He frowns.

'Storm's coming'.

Sergeant Takolan's voice is soft, and surprisingly composed. The speech seems to have cost him a great effort, however and he immediately clams up. He avoids meeting anyone's eyes, and swings himself into the saddle of the dappled colt.

'Sergeant Takolan is the best tracker we were able to acquire, Mistress Lena. This is the best horse we have here at the garrison - in fact she belongs to Lord Ireas himself - you'll be riding her - see that you bring her back safely'.

'An escort will meet you at the guard-post at the top of the mountain road - should be three of them - Corporal Varnow has command'.

The Captain offers to help Lena mount the grey mare. As he does, he draws close to Lena and whispers.

'I meant what I said about the tracker. He's the best we could get at short notice - but it's no secret that he's ultimately loyal to the Mistress of Rutherni'.

'Don't let him speak to anyone, see any papers, or hear anything that he shouldn't - he's there to track. He may seem simple, but he's bright enough in his own way'.

The Captain smiles, and gestures to the low slung gateway out of the courtyard.

'Well, good luck'.

For Cass and Beigette
Attack [roll0]
[roll1]

Edit: Cass tries to catch the grey warrior as he downs the potion, but the blow is mistimed, and without force. The man's armour absorbs the strike without a problem, and he grins for a moment.

A moment later the grin is wiped from his face as another crossbow bolt slams into his torso, piercing his armor. The first wound is still bleeding - it seems the potion was not as effective as he'd hoped.

It's Cassandra's turn next.

[Marlowe]

Most other people would have this sinking feeling of being flung into the deep end at this point, but Lena's an experienced chancer, so she just smiles down at the captain, waves "Until w' meet again successful! and prodes her heels into the mare. Moving the expedition out of the castle, under the gate, and into possible nightmare.

An escort. Useful and reassuring. Assuming that they don't have orders to dispose of the discriminating Sergeant Tagalong and I as soon's we find out whatever it is we're not supposed to be finding out.

And assuming that's not his job, given by someone else, for me.

She turns to Takolan as they reemerge into sunlight. "A bright sky an' a fair wind t' be meetin' ye, sergeant. I'm sure we'll get along--" like wire an' windpipe"--famously. I do insist ye take the lead."

[Starbin]

Thumble was surprised at the sudden flurry of activity, having assumed the soldier was already dead. Fortunately, Slobber's bark warned him in time to see the figure throw a bag of sticky goo at him. Whether to stop him from giving chase or to leave him as easy prey, the gnome wasn't sure - but he was sure he didn't want to find out the hard way! Nudging Slobber back away from the goop, he had to decide what to do next ... move closer to the combat or deal with this figure.

Shaking his head, he waved a frustrated hand at the figure. Hissing quietly, "Fine ... I'll leave you be, you leave us be!" Thimble turned and moved away from the figure and back towards the fight, glancing back to make sure it wasn't coming towards him, while searching for the other gray warrior.

Initiative: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]
Spot: [roll2]

[Azoth]

For Tali & DM


Ursuul lowers the head of his weapon for a moment. He hates making snap decisions but this moment calls for it. He turns back towards the sound of fighting and lets out a slow breath.

You aren't going to find anything amidst all this fighting. Best follow me and stick close. Once the fighting is over we can look for you rabbit together. Just watch my back and don't let anyone get the drop on my ass, and I will keep ya safe.

With that Ursuul takes off in a hustle towards the sounds of fighting. He isn't going to sprint headlong, but he is going to move swiftly with a purpose. If the girl follows that is up to her, but he has to make this area safe for his ass...and more importantly his ale.

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
The figure, retreats a little, and takes a defensive stance again. At Thumble's words, the camouflaged figure begins to retreat backwards.

The grey warrior seems to be in serious trouble. The soldier is flailing at him with her quarterstaff, but to no avail. The grey warrior has just finished drinking from a bottle. As Thumble watches a crossbow bolt comes from nowhere and nails the grey warrior in the chest as he turns around to face the soldier.

The grey warrior looks like he's pretty close to death.

It will take Thumble about two rounds to reach the grey warrior.

Thumble spares a final glance for the camouflaged figure - it's beating a swift retreat through the trees, and is already almost out of sight.

For Lena
Takolan looks a little puzzled.

'Well, of course'.

The ride is uneventful, as Lena and Takolan ride out of the Courtyard at the rear of the governors House, they join the main road out of town. It's a wide dirt track, and the light dust rises off it to the hoofbeats of the horses and the mules. After a while, they leave the town, passing the stout timber wall that skirts the north side.

A few buildings scatter the outskirts, where a few people choose to live outside the defensive wall. The scent of a nearby tannery fills the rider's nostrils for a few minutes, acrid, then ripe. The horses snort and pick up their pace.

The road narrows slightly, and enters the darkness of the pine forest. The trees rise around Lena and Takolan. They ride in silence for about twenty minutes. The road starts to climb steeply, and wind. There are signs of woodcutters - logs piled by the road, the occasional cutting through the trees, and markings on the trees. The forests are largely silent, except for the trilling songs of the birds.

As the road curves up, there's a break in the forest, and Lena and Takolan get a good view of the town of Forcehead laid out below. The mostly wooden buildings, spread out, low and squat. The governors palace, Traders Lane, and Mule street are clearly visible, but it's not possible to see the Upper Force from this angle. Lena thinks she can just about make out the Inn where she's been staying, but it appears unremarkable from this distance.

Five minutes later, the town disappears from view, and the road levels out. A small stone guardhouse stands to one side of the road, a short, fat built of rough grey stone. It barely reaches two storeys, but has only a few narrow windows. A single storey building with red tiles adjoins the towers, stretching out to one side. As you ride up to the guardhouse, a man holding a halberd, and wearing the black and white tabard of the town garrison bars your way.

'Halt! Say your names, and business'.

Takolan speaks up.

'Wren seeks eagle'.

The guard takes a second, then looks slightly surprised.

'Erm...yes, er, Pathfinder, I'll just fetch your escort'.

The guard darts back into the guardhouse. You notice his helmet is a little too big for him.

Takolan mutters 'Just going to leave the road unguarded then? Blasted Fleracis - and they're supposed to inherit the Empire?'

For Tali and Ursuul

Tali can sense that Frexburr is just a little further onward.

Ursuul can hear that the sounds of battle are quieting...

You may both make a Listen check.

[Starbin]

Thumble shrugged to himself at the figure's departure, having made his decision. Moving closer, he decided to watch and see what was going on. Why was the warrior drinking something, and who was shooting from the side?

Perhaps he should follow the figure instead ... well, he could always try and track him (or her) later.

Continue to advance cautiously, looking about for other threats.

[Azoth]

For DM

[roll0]

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
You pick your way towards the fighters.

You can see the soldier is young, and with blond hair. She's incredibly beautiful, even now with her hair slicked with sweat, her clothes muddied, and a dark stain on her maroon tunic. She looks desperate as she swings a thick quarterstaff at the warrior.

You spot the shooter as well - a strange looking girl, tall and lean, with her brown hair framing her face. She wears fine armour, bearing an unusual design that you've never seen before: an orb of red with a crown around it, surrounded by a starburst of yellow. She's skulking in the bushes, cocking her crossbow.

The warrior looks to be in a bad way. He's tall, with lank black hair and a full beard. A big and powerful man, a crossbow bolt through his chest. As you watch he stumbles, and draws a weapon.

You cast your eyes around the grim corpses that litter the forest floor - many young men, and some young women. As you look you see a bronze skinned young man with dark hair, blood running from a head wound, and a nasty gash. You notice that his chest is moving.

Your eye is also drawn to a twitching of some undergrowth - there is a very small animal taking cover under the brush, near Slobber's feet. It seems scared.

For Ursuul
You can hear a distant thudding, back in the direction of the mules...

It's very soft, but irregular...

The sounds of battle are carried on the wind - mostly howls and shout - sounds like about three people now, and very close ahead.

[MuffinPuffin]

For Word and Beigette
Cass watches as her unseen savior lets another bolt loose from somewhere to her right. While he is startled by the impotency of his --her-- health potion Cass attempts once again to strike her aggressor.
Attack [roll0]
Damage[roll1]

[Azoth]

For DM & Tali



Ursuul slows his stride for a moment. The sound back by the mules gives him pause for thought. Not that he is particularly attached to the animal, but it is carrying his barrel, and that would be a real son of a... to carry back to town himself. He doesn't owe the people fighting anything, but he can't bring the mule through a battle field. He will have to hope the mule survives long enough for him to clear a path and make it back.

His voice is low but gruff, Something is approaching from behind us. Its steps irregular and awkward, but it may mean trouble. My mule will probably only distract it for a few moments. Hopefully, we can clear the field of battle by then...hopefully.

[Wordplay]

For Beigette and Cass
Finally, Cass brings down her staff with all her strength. The blow is timed perfectly, slipping past the warrior's guard and cracking him on his unprotected head.

The warrior's legs collapse from under him, and he topples like a fallen tree. The light leaves his eyes - he's clearly either dead or dying.

Spot checks please.

Congrats on the win - XP to come soon. Roll search checks to search the body higher search checks affect loot...i.e. some stuff's concealed.

The officer caught under the cart breathes out.

'On your guard soldier - 'ware the one who helped'.

The man tries to crane his neck to see Beigette.

'Thank you for your help. Who sent you?....Do you bear the head?' his voice is very weak...his words come with difficulty. It seems he is having trouble breathing.

[Marlowe]

Lena bites back a laugh. so he can be chatty when the mood takes him. She leans over and murmurs quietly.

[COLOR=purple]"Agreed, shockin'. So shall we make off wit' the road while their backs are turned?"

[Starbin]

Thumble wasn't sure who to help in this situation, even if he odds seemed vastly different than he had originally witnessed. He paused, trying to work out the mystery of the battle when Slobber stated, looking down at something in the grass. Slipping off of Slobber, Thumble leaned low, cooing slightly at the creature. With a slight click of his tongue, he beckoned the little critter closer, holding one of his berries out as a bribe. Slobber watched interestedly, wondering if the new creature was a friend or toy.

Okay, so Wild Empathy can take awhile, but I figure this is like any diplomacy check, and can be shorter or longer: [roll0]

Basically, Thumble is waiting to see what kind of animal it is ... And whether he can speak to it!

[PersonMan]

DM, Cass
"The what?

Hey, I can understand you! Well, that's a relief. I always heard 'Terials speak some weird language you can't understand unless you were born there," Beigette begins, emerging from her hiding place and coming into the clearing. She collects her bolts - normally not her style, but this was the Material Plane...who knew when she'd next find quality ammunition?

"I wasn't really sent, I just...ended up here. Long story. Point is, I'm from Sigil. You guys have any interplanar portals sittin' around I can use?" Beigette continues, speaking quickly, looking from the woman to the man under the cart.

"Oh-! In the name of Pelor's favorite sock, why didn't you mention you're hurt, man?" Realizing that the man is probably severely injured, she slings her crossbow over her shoulder and goes to him, sitting down and applying what little medical knowledge she had.

"Sorry, 'Terial, I never paid attention in Bodies course. Well, I did, but not the right kind. And in Extraplanar Creatures," she admits.

Taking 20 on Heal for 22 to give First Aid/otherwise aid him for now.

[Malak'ai]

Word and Ursuul:
Tali lowers Janie just a little as she takes a tentative step towards the man, her voice coming out in a surprised whisper, "Y-y-you're n-not g-g-going t-to h-hurt me?"

Spot Check: [roll0]
Listen Check: [roll1]

[Azoth]

For Tali and DM



Not unless you give me reason to.

[Malak'ai]

Ursuul:
The girl swipes her forearm across her face, clearing the remaining tears away and keeps following Ursuul, her steps quickening, catching up to him quickly.

[Wordplay]

For Tali and Ursuul
Tali notices it too - she feels the vibration through her feet - a muted, irregular thudding.

For Tali
Just as she follows Ursuul up the track, Tali thinks that she sees a distant tree sway behind them...

The half-elf girl and the barbarian head up the trail. After a short while, they come across a glade. A upturned cart is in the middle of a small clearing, with brush to either side. It seems that someone is stuck under it.

A beautiful woman, with long blonde dressed in a maroon and red uniform, is crouching next to it. She has a quarterstaff to hand, and she looks pale, and upset.

Another woman, crouches next to her. The second woman has long brown hair. She is wearing fine leather armour, marked with an orb of red, encircled with a crown, surrounded by a starburst of yellow. She has a crossbow slung over her shoulder. They appear to be attending to a man, with shoulder length grey hair and a beard.

The corpses of two warriors, dressed similarly to the man Ursuul killed, lay on the ground. One lies face down the top of his head caved in - it's difficult to tell what he looked like, but he was taller and bulkier than the man Ursuul killed. The other was young, black hair, and badly cut up.

The body of a third man lies near - a fat man with brown hair, dressed in a burgundy tunic. It looks like his throat's been cut. There are a number of knife wounds on his body in non-fatal areas...

In the scrub, you can both see the shapes of what look like more bodies around the glade...a limp hand appears through the bush here - there the leaves are smeared with blood. It looks as though there was a fierce battle here.

For Tali
You can feel Frexxy is very near now.

For Beigette and Cass
'Ah, you would know whom I meant if you had been. A stranger then...' the man appears to fade out for a moment.

For Beigette
As Beigette examines him, it amazes her that the man is still alive. The ground is soaked with his blood, and his torso has been badly crushed under the cart. It seems that the weight of the cart is holding some of he wounds closed - it might kill him to take it off. The man's ribs are crushed, and Beigette thinks one of his lungs is probably punctured. He also seems to have taken blows to the head. You do what you can, but you've never heard of anyone living through wounds so severe without magical healing.

The man seems to rouse slightly as Beigette examines him. He was clearly powerfully built and in good condition before he was injured.

'Soldier. I don't know if I can trust you. You said you would talk...but what choice ....do I have?' The man twists a fold of his tunic open, exposing an emblem on his collar - a black snarling wolfshead on a white background, with a black border.

'Cut this out. Take it with you. There's a box in the cart - it's inlaid with blue tiles...it's small, and hidden, find it...don't try to open it...the acid...will destroy the report'.

The man struggles to breathe, wheezing heavily. He seems at the end of his strength.

'Get the box to Hassur Travaen in Flerac. You must...reach him. Tell him, Nighteye told you...it's just as we feared. It's just as we feared'.

'Have you got that soldier? Repeat it to me. If you have any love for your country, or your king...by the First ones...if you even give a straw for Flamia, you'll do it. This one thing'.

Just then, two strange figures come in sight, walking up the path from the direction the third warrior disappeared to earlier. The first a huge hulking man, his pale skin covered in scars, with blue eyes and black hair, carrying a huge bloody guisarme, and dressed all in leather. It seems something is strapped to his back.

The figure that follows is as different as night from day. A slight waif of a girl, shockingly beautiful, with hair so blonde it's almost white, and dazzling green eyes. Her features are fine, but something seems a bit off, as though she's not quite human. Her look is rather spoilt by her snotty nose, grubby face, and the ragdoll she clasps to her chest - it looks like a child's toy.

For Thumble
As you lean low, you see the little creature is a plump rabbit, hiding under a clump of dock leaves. It's trembling with terror. You move a little too quickly, startling the rabbit. It give you a sharp nip. The poor thing shivers...but it seems to calm down a little.

'Water'. a voice gasps softly.

You spare a glance back to the soldier and the shooter. Two new figures have entered the glade. The first a huge hulking man, his pale skin covered in scars, with blue eyes and black hair, carrying a huge bloody guisarme, and dressed all in leather. It seems something is strapped to his back.

The figure that follows is as different as night from day. A slight waif of a girl, shockingly beautiful, with hair so blonde it's almost white. Her look is rather spoilt by her grubby face, and the ragdoll she clasps to her chest - it looks like a child's toy.

For Lena
The man looks a little shocked, as though he had forgot he was accompanied...

'Well...they're supposed to serve Flamia's army...don't like to see that'. he mutters.

'Better to wait for the cloppers...they can keep the wolves off our backs, if nothing else'. The man sulks momentarily, as if angry with himself for speaking.

The soldier hurries back out, rattling as he runs. As he draws up, his helmet falls over his eyes, and he drops his halberd as he raises a hand to adjust it. The arm clatters into the road, narrowly missing Lena. The man blushes.

'Um...Corporal Sturbish coming right out'.

Three soldiers appear, wearing similar gear, though much better fitting, and armed with short swords. A plump short woman, with brunette hair, and a corporal's blue triangle hanging from her neck, leads a skinny piebald horse. She's followed by a slight, young woman with soft features and dark hair, leading a bay horse, and a tall young man with carrot coloured hair and sideburns, both cropped short, leading a chestnut pony.

The corporal snaps off a quick salute.

'Corporal Sturbish, reporting for duty, Pathfinder'.

OoC: With the exception of Lena, I think that we can dispense with the spoilers from here. If Marlowe just does his best to keep OoC knowledge separate we should be fine.

[Azoth]

Ursuul stops at the sight of the battle. His eyes quickly scanning the area. Too many dead for just those two, expecially with the wounds he sees on the ones closest to them. The guidamere levels towards the two, "What happened here and who are you?"

[PersonMan]

"Ah! Another 'Terial lookin' for some answers, eh?" Beigette smiles. "Well, when I showed up things were alrady pretty well on their way - the dust had fallen, y'know? From what I figure, these guys," she gestures to the soldiers that seemed to have been on the young woman's side, "and these'ns," Beigette indicates the furry grey ones, "Got into some fight about something, which you silly 'Terials do all the time,"

[Malak'ai]

Stepping into the clearing just behind Ursuul, Taliana lets out a squeak when she see's more bodies. Her sniffling starts again, her lip starting to quiver.

Suddenly her head shoots up, her voice coming clear and strong, "Frexy?"
With that said, she starts looking round, ignoring the bodies and the others that are talking, her ears trained for the slightest sound.

Spot Check: [roll0]
Listen Check: [roll1]

[PersonMan]

Beigette raises an eyebrow at the odd behavior of the woman behind the new, armed 'Terial in the clearing.

"Say, eh, mind telling me what's going on here? You seem to be in the same situation I'm in, but" Beigette turns to Cass as she speaks. "you should know at least a bit. You were here before.

...Speakin' of which, do ya recognize this?" Beigette pulls out the badge of the dead man she had found before. It shows a red rose with a thorny stem being grasped by the red outline of a hand from which two drops of blood fall. An octagon borders the emblem. There are two parallel strokes at the bottom of the badge.

[Wordplay]

One final spoilered post for Thumble (because I missed a couple of things out) This was supposed to go up last night, but I had an internet glitch.
The rabbit wavers, then hops into Thumbles arms, burrowing deep into the folds of his clothes, and pressing it's warm nose up against him.

Thumble gets the impression it was more fear of Slobber than the lure of the berries that drew him.

Thumble looks, puzzled for the grey furred warrior. There's a fresh corpse on the ground, a big man, face down, with the top of his head bashed in - looks like the soldier took him down, as Thumble was distracted by the rabbit.

The brown haired girl seems to have a crossbow slung over her shoulder...could she have been the shooter?

The big leather-clad man and the slight woman holding the ragdoll have just emerged into the glade, following a path, it seems.

Thumble has moved close, and the group will likely spot him unless he makes an attempt to conceal himself.

'Please, for Twelve's sake, water'.

Someone seems to be calling out, to Thumble's left...it's weak, and not one of the people in front of him....could it be the young soldier who he'd noticed showed signs of life?

[Marlowe]

Lena looks the new meat over with the eye of whatever experience eighteen years of piracy and this-and-that have given her. Whatever these people are, they don't look like potential assassins. "Lena of Corvalla. Obliged t' meet such as ye. Now we've some lost sheep t' find an' a storm gloomin' in; so get yerselves mounted an' movin'. The goo' sergeant has the lead. Ye--". She holds out a hand to the tall young man. "Strappin' mate like ye; why you on a pony? You ride yr last horse into the ground like an Orc on an Halfling whore?"

[Wordplay]

Tali pushes past the others, walking over the fallen bodies, as she comes to the edge of the glade. It feels as though Frexxy's right beside her.

Listen and Spot
Tali hears a voice croak.

'Water'.

Tali can also hear what sounds like the snuffling of a large dog.

As Tali pushes through the bushes she comes across a bronze skinned little man, face criss-crossed with faint scars. The man's a little more than half Tali's height, is quite thin, and has shaggy brown hair. He's dressed in furs and hides, and carries a spear. A large, brown, short-haired dog is panting excitedly next to him.

The little man is holding something in his arms...something furry.

For Thumble
Before you have a chance to move, the slight looking girl pushes through the bushes and comes upon you.

For Cass
Just in case you need the reminder, Beigette's showing you a copy of your unit badge - the Fleraci Second Skirmishers. She obviously hasn't spotted the emblem on your chest yet.

[Starbin]

For DM & Tali
Thumble was petting the rabbit, trying to calm the creature when he heard the call for water again. He was torn between moving back and avoiding detection, and finding out what was going on ... when fate decided for him. The small young woman with the doll stepped forward, calling out, "Frexy?" Blinking, he crouched there, petting a shivering rabbit, with a wild looking dog a few feet away.

"Uh ... hello. How are you?" Glancing down at the rabbit that seemed intent on the girl and then back at the girl (who seemed intent on the rabbit), he stood and held the bunny out. "Is he your friend?"

Glancing out at the others, he continued to speak quietly. "Do you know what happened here?"

I presumed the two belonged to each other, and that the rabbit wasn't running from the girl :smallbiggrin:

@ Wordplay - are the grey furred warriors actually furred creatures, or simply wearing furs?

[MuffinPuffin]

Cass's head stops swimming, the loss of blood and the impact of all that's been happening to her stunned her for a minute. She snaps out of her stupor after the weird speaking girl asks her a question.
"Oh, uh, sorry, just..." she stutters out, then takes a look at the badge in Begette's hand. "That's my units emblem, see?" she says, pointing to the emblem on her own chest. "Where'd you get that?"

[PersonMan]

"I got it from..." Beigette is still for a moment, looking back to where she came, the sheer magnitude of the death she had seen catching up to her now that the battle rush was gone. "One of your comrades, he must have been. Lying in a river.

Can you explain what's going on? Did I land in some 'Terial war zone or something?"

[Wordplay]

Everyone listening to Beigette notices there's something odd about the way she speak... there's a small delay between her starting to talk, and the actual sound. It's a little off-putting. Now that you notice it, the movements of her mouth don't seem to match up with her words either, even with the delay. Her accent is completely unplaceable.

[MuffinPuffin]

"An ambush more like it, came out of no-where and attacked us. I guess most of us are gone... nearly killed me twice..." Cass's voice trails off as shes talking. She looks around at all the bodies laying on the ground, then turns back to Beigette. "I'll take the emblems," she says, reaching out her hand, "That one and the wolf one."

[Wordplay]

For Lena
The red haired youth blushes scarlet.

The Corporal actually answers. 'Nothing like that, Mistress. Burke's a newbie rider, and ain't much in the way of mounts up here. Thing's big enough to carry him, and about e'en tempered enough too'.

'On'y other beasts we got here is Thunder an' Misty - an' we have ta leave Thunder in case they need ta send a runner into town'.

'As for Misty, well, threw the kid just the other day as I were givin' him a lesson. Crafty like that. Can sense he's not used ta the beasts'. The woman answer politely, and dourly. Then the Corporal turns and shouts.

'Well Burke, Lisandra, you heard the Mistress! Mount up!'

The Corporal turns back.

'By the way, didn't catch your name Mistress'.

'Ma apologies - Corporal Varnow was suppos'd ta be in command, but he's holed up - dysent'ry'.

The soldiers are mounted up. At first it doesn't look like the skinny piebald should be able to take the weight of the Corporal, but it's deceptively tall and strong.

'We're here for your protection Mistress - jus' remember we're mounted infantry - don' expect us to do any cavalry stuff - 'cos we can't'.

You leave the guard post behind. The trail narrows, and darkens as you head into the thick pine forest. Takolan ranges in front, weaving about the road to-and fro.

Sometimes he raises his head to sniff the air. A couple of times he calls a halt...once to listen...he puts an ear to the ground, another to check the spore of an animal he's found.

'Hmm...boar'. he grunts.

'Keep an eye out...the mountains are full of wolves'.

Apart from that, the journey continues silently for over two hours. Apart from the occasional gibe Lisandra throws at Burke when his pony starts to wander off and has to be reined in.

Then Takolan suddenly puts up a hand and signs for a halt. He takes Lena to one side and speaks to her quietly, a little apart from the soldiers, but in clear view.

'Crows and pies up ahead. Means death - a lot of it. I think we should ditch the cloppers here, and go in on foot. The less they know the better - or so I'm told'.

'The convoy was due three days ago - and the birds are settling. If this is the convoy whatever did this is probably long gone. If not, then it took out a company of seasoned light infantry. In either case I'd rather not have these folk under my feet - I say leave 'em to guard the beasts - they'll live longer'.

Takolan's drawn a pair of long handled knives, and seems ready to go.

'After all, my orders were to bring you back safe'.

[PersonMan]

"Go ahead. Not like I have use for it," Beigette says, giving her the badge she cut from the shirt of the corpse. "So you just got ambushed outta nowhere? Where you carrying anything important, or is it normal for you? I mean, I hear that you 'Terials are always killing each other over some little stuff, but this is..." she looks around again. "...terrible."

[MuffinPuffin]

Cass looks at Beigette curiously noticing her strange way of speaking. "Why do you keep calling us ''Terials'? she says, dodging the question,"And whats with your accent? It's nothing like I've ever heard before."

[Wordplay]

The dying officer speaks faintly.

'They'd been following us. Tracking us for days...picking us off in skirmishes. Managed...to get a message off...to my contact. We were in retreat when we hit your picket lines soldier - joined with your skirmishers we had...the numbers, but not the initiative...Saw them cut down your Captain...everyone around him...and my last sergeant. Made 'em pay for it though...I think nearly everyone's dead'.

'Get my report to Hassur...please...or our deaths...and all we suffered, was for nothing'.

[PersonMan]

Beigette raises an eyebrow. "I call you 'Terials because that's what you are. As for my accent...I have none. You, though, I'm surprised I can even understand ya,"

As the dying man speaks, she looks more closely at the woman before her. "This...sounds pretty important,"

[MuffinPuffin]

"I'm not a "Terial", Im from Fle..." Cass catches herself and turns to the officer under the cart. Pushing visions of her fallen allies and friends out of her mind, she asks, "Who are these people, why do they want some box?"

[Azoth]

Ursuul sighs a bit as he hears all the talking going on. None of it seems terribly important to him at the moment. Some military squabble who gives a rat's..."My Ass!" Ursuul slaps himself in the face hard enough to leave a red print.

He begins to turn from the group as he remembers the irregular thumping sound from a moment ago. ****e, need ta go an fetch the hairy thing. Hope its alright or else the damn cask is gonna be murder ta move. If its hurt then it'll probably make me strain hard enough to schlitz myself to death carrying that effin thing. Figures it would take an ass to make me fear the schlitz! Ugh...gotta go...be back in moment...wait up me!

[Marlowe]

Lena's been looking out for carrion-kites herself, but she doesn't have the Sergeant's wilderness senses. "Agreed wit' ye, sergeant." She slides off the back of the mare and draws her bow.Note to self; get compound shortbow. She turns to the escort. [COLOR=purple]"Wit' yer indulgence, Corporal. We reck' you an' yer...soldiers should should stay an' play horse-guard. We'll snoop ahead afoot."

She turns back to Takolon, "After ye, good sergeant"

Spot:[roll0]
Listen:[roll1]
Move Silently:[roll2]

[OOC: whoops, add +1 to that MSilently check. Forgot her actual ranks and her ACP]

[Malak'ai]

Tali suddenly rushes off into the bushes, the groans of a dying man ignored for the moment as she searches for her little rabbit.
After a bit of rummaging through the undergrowth, she comes across a short... Man? He's holding a small grey thing in his hands. She stops, staring at the little creature in the figures hands, her own hand coming off of Janie and slowly reaching out towards the rabbit.
"P-p-please d-don't h-hurt h-him. H-h-he's m-m-my b-best f-f-friend." she starts sobbing again, tears forming and making trails down her cheeks.

The little man starts talking, and Tali can barely comprehend what he's saying through her worry over Frexburr.
"I-i'm T-t-taliana. I-i d-d-don't know. I-i-i w-woke u-u-up and F-f-frexy was g-gone a-and w-w-when I-i l-l-looked f-for h-h-him, I-i-i s-saw a m-man k-k-kill a-another m-m-man. I-i-i f-followed h-him o-o-over t-there," she points to the clearing, Janie hanging by a leg from her half closed hand, "A-and t-t-then I-i f-f-felt F-f-frexy o-over h-here. C-c-can I-i-i h-have h-h-him b-back p-p-please?" she sobbing thickens as she makes little clasping motions with her empty, outstretched hand.

[Wordplay]

'They were...trying to wipe out all the witnesses. I don't think they know about the box yet...it contains my reports...a log or journal. It's easy to open...but there's a vial full of acid...triggered if you don't use the combination - it'll dissolve the report, so don't open it...Hassur will have the combination'.

'As for who they are...we thought that they could help...help with the plan...restore the glories of the Empire...but we were afraid they...they are a danger to Flerac and Flamia soldier...and that's all you need to know'.

For Ursuul
You hurry back to where you left your mules and the supplies that they were carrying.

As Ursuul draws near he has a bad feeling... which is soon born out - the mules are gone. The rope Ursuul used to tie them is still there though - snapped in the middle.

The ground has been disturbed, and a young tree, twice Ursuul's height is snapped in the middle. The bushes and scrub are heavily trampled. Ursuul could really use a drink.

For Lena
As soon as Takolan points them out Lena can spot the scavengers herself - the man's clearly got very sharp eyes. The Corporal snaps off a salute.

'As you wish, Mistress, we're ta follow your orders'. as Lena and Takolan depart, Lena's catches one last glimpse of the soldiers. They seem to be breaking out a selection of pastries and some ale - if you didn't know better, you'd think they were on a picnic.

Walking in to the woods it doesn't take long before you spot the first bodies. Young men and women wearing Fleraci red are scattered about the ground. The crows are already getting to work...Lena's eyes fall on what had clearly been an attractive young boy - slender, with a pleasant face. A crow is using his chin as a perch. As Lena watches it's beak darts forward to pluck out the boy's eye.

There has clearly been a battle, and recently too - most of the corpses aren't even cold...

Intermingled with the Fleraci youths are some others - all men...hard looking warriors, most of them dark haired, and almost all of them wearing beards. They are wearing grey furs...wolf probably...except Lena notices one or two that wear spotted pelts, that never came from any wolf... The pattern looks oddly familiar.

The dead of both sides have been killed by crossbow bolt, or slash wounds...in fairly even numbers. Fallen soldiers on both sides carry crossbows.

When Lena checks the emblem on the first of the Fleraci dead, it's not the one that Ireas had described - the blue cross and circle - instead it shows the outline of a red hand gripping a red rose, with a single drop of blood falling, on a black background. The whole thing is surrounded by a beige octagon though.

Takolan whispers. 'This is a sorry sight - looks like something delayed them...then killed them'. he licks his lips...he looks a little feral in the gloom of the forest.

'Voices. That way... shall we?' Takolan gestures.

Just then Lena spots a soldier who does seem to have the correct emblem - a blue cross in a blue circle, with a white background surrounded by an octagon.

[Starbin]

"P-p-please d-don't h-hurt h-him. H-h-he's m-m-my b-best f-f-friend." The slender girl starts sobbing, tears forming and making trails down her cheeks.

Thumble blinked as he held out the rabbit, the girl answering his next question with a rush of words, punctuated by constant frantic sobs.

"I-i'm T-t-taliana. I-i d-d-don't know. I-i-i w-woke u-u-up and F-f-frexy was g-gone a-and w-w-when I-i l-l-looked f-for h-h-him, I-i-i s-saw a m-man k-k-kill a-another m-m-man. I-i-i f-followed h-him o-o-over t-there," she pointed to the clearing where the fighting had taken place, "A-and t-t-then I-i f-f-felt F-f-frexy o-over h-here. C-c-can I-i-i h-have h-h-him b-back p-p-please?"

Thumble glanced down at the proferred rabbit and back at the girl. "Uh, of course. Frexy is his name? Thumble was just trying to protect him ... he looked scared ... " Thumble inched close enough to hand the rabbit to the strange girl as gently as possible. Once done, he stepped back away, bowing a little by way of apology. "Thumble wouldn't have hurt him ... and neither would you, ya big puddle of drool." The short man appeared to be talking to the wild dog next to him, who indeed seemed to be full of drool ... if the amount leaking out of him was any indicator.

"Thumble was just trying to help, hunh, Slobber? He don't hurt critters for no reason!"

[Azoth]

Ursuul rubs a hand over his face as he begins to curse in the Orcen tongue. His words loud and vulgur enough to make an Ord blush. The urge to down his entire personal keg is stronger than he'd like to admit. Still, he pushes the urge back for now.

He drops low to examine to the ground and try to see what clues he can. This much disturbance has to have left something in its wake that he can follow. It was just time to dwell on what little he could remember of years ago, in his home.

*Survival to follow/find tracks of the mule and creature responsible (without the Track feat I can not follow a trail that has a DC higher than 10): [roll0]

[Malak'ai]

As the little man steps closer, Tali stiffens a little. But as he hands Frexburr back to her, her face breaks out into a smile. Raising the bunny to her face with both hands, Jingling Janie still hanging by a leg, and nuzzles his nose, her voice quiet, but sob free, "You silly rabbit. Don't go missing like that again! You scared me and Janie really bad!"

After giving Frexburr a little telling off, she clutches him firmly but gently to her breast and looks down at the little man... Thumble? and shyly says, "T-thank you. H-he can b-be silly s-sometimes when h-he's h-hungry and goes o-off by h-himself." Holding Frexy out again she continues, "T-this is Frexburr. D-do you want to pet h-him?" before looking over at the big dog and taking a step to the side so Thumble is between them a bit more.

[Starbin]

Thumble shook his head. "He's happy to be with you. But you can pet Slobber, if you'd like.". He gave the dog a look, who promptly sat down and wagged his tail happily, looking like he was grinning for all the world.

Glancing back at the clearing, he nodded to the others gathered there. "Thumble's wondering if you know them? And we should probably get that hurt man some water ..."

[Wordplay]

For Tali and Thumble
Frexxy burrows into Tali's arms delightedly.

For Tali
Through the empathic link you get flashes of memory - hunger, the taste of herbaceous plants in the moonlight, the scent of a predator, and a panicked flight. Then, the scent of strange people all around.

As Thumble mentions giving water to the injured soldier, the young man opens his eyes, and stretches out a hand.

'Please...'.

For Ursuul
Ursuul has a good look about...the earth is a little soft, and he can see impressions of the mule tracks occasionally leading up to where he tethered them...but none leaving.

The trees and scrub is thoroughly disturbed...Ursuul finds the outline of what seems to be part of a footprint...a round depression in the earth. A chilling feeling runs down Ursuul's spine as he sees the size of it...Ursuul can stand in it comfortably.

Ursuul follows the destruction for another thirty yards before he finds another soft patch of ground - though he has to fight his way through some briars. Here there is a clear print...whatever it was was big...and wore shoes. Following the trail for a few more minutes, Ursuul estimates the stride of the thing as about ten feet...and there may have been more than one of them...though it's difficult to tell. All of a sudden, there's a break in the forest, and Ursuul comes across a road...or a wide dirt track at least.

Looking to his right, Ursuul can see some people and a number of horse shaped animals...they look like they're sitting, eating. They haven't spotted you yet.

[Malak'ai]

Noticing the wounded man of the ground, Tali gives a small squeak and takes a step away from him.
"I-is h-h-he d-dying?"

[Starbin]

Thumble nodded solemnly. Stepping forward with his waterskin, Thumble gave the man some of his water, and started to check his wounds. "Easy there ... Thumble's got your water. Not to fast now ..."

Provide water, give him a good berry, if necessary, check for other wounds.
Not sure if I rolled for those goodberries initially: [roll0]

[MuffinPuffin]

"Those traitorous bastards! First they take my last potion, then they... no wait." Cass backtracks a bit. First the say they will help, then the betray us, and take my last dammed potion!" Cass vents to no-one in particular. Turning back to the man trapped under the cart, she says "I'm sorry this all happened, but I swear on my soldiers honor that I will see this mission completed." Cass takes a long look at the man, seeing him so close to death. She opens her mouth, in an attempt to say something to comfort him, or help him. Instead she swallows hard on nothingness, and turns away, going to search the cart for the box.
Taking ten on search check. Modifier +6 for 16.

[Marlowe]

Meanwhile, Lena is presumably enjoying a quiet sneak through the woods in the company of a ruggedly handsome older gentleman.

[Marlowe]

Lena flicks her morningstar at the nearest carrion bird. "It's better at sea. The sharks jus' take 'em. It's no' pretty bu' it happen out o' sight. Two regiments here, an' the greycloaks," she mutters. She slings the the morningstar and notches an arrow to the bow. "Lead on sergeant. See wha's talkin'. But not too far ahead. If'n ye see grey furs, give me a sign of a fist. More than three, we run. Less than a', we kill them. An' if it's anyone else, keep yerself hidden and give me an open palm sign. I'll speak fo' us."

[Wordplay]

For Tali and Thumble.
The man is human, about 20. He has light brown hair and blue eyes, with a snub nose. Like most of the soldiers he is wearing burgundy - in his case a shirt over some kind of armour. An emblem is on his chest - a blue cross and circle on a white background, surrounded by a beige octagon.

There's a dark stain on his shirt over his belly, his left hand clasps it, weakly. His face is unnaturally pale...he's bleeding white.

Thumble pours a little water into his mouth.

'Thank you'. the soldier closes his eyes.

He resists a little as Thumble pushes the goodberry into his mouth, but he swallows it, and it seems to take effect. After a few moments a little colour returns to his cheeks.
Either of you may make a heal check

For Beigette and Cass
The man seems to take comfort in Cass's words.

'Thank you, soldier. That's all I needed to hear'.

Whatever force that was animating the man, or keeping him going seems to ebb out of him.

You hear a faint murmur that might have been 'I'm sorry' then ever slowing ragged breaths.

Cass searches the cart. Debris is strewn about the clearing. Crawling under the cart, there's not much light, and it's difficult to see into certain parts. Something heavy made of canvas seems to be taking up most of the room.

The remains of what you recognise as the wrappings for dry rations are stuffed into every crevice - greaseproof paper stamped with the mark of the bakers who'd made it...it looks like they'd been on a very long journey - the cart must have started out near full of rations.

Wedged near the back there's a small locked chest, made of an exotic dark wood, with brass fittings. It's about a foot wide, a foot tall, and a foot and a half long. It seems to hinge in the middle. It's plain, with nothing but polished dark wood on each surface. It smells faintly aromatic. It's quite heavy for it's size. A few bedrolls are spilt out onto the floor - they're a little dirty, and appear slightly thicker than standard issue.

Picking over the ground you recognise a whetstone, a small pouch with a flint, steel and some dried grass, a tiny pick, and a few miscellaneous tools.

For Lena
Takolan nods in agreement. The man creeps into the bushes- stealthy as a cat. He seems to disappear into the brush, taking perfect advantage of the shadows, his clothes blending in with his surroundings.

If Lena hadn't been watching him she would have been hard pressed to spot him.

The two sneak forward, carefully. Passing more bodies, and signs of battle on the move. Takolan is blending in perfectly, and it often takes Lena a moment to spot him again whenever she takes her eyes off him, despite him never straying more than fifteen feet. The man seems utterly absorbed in moving silently and unseen. The voices become more distinct.

"I-is h-h-he d-dying?" - a woman's voice?

Spot check please

[Marlowe]

spot check[roll0]
Edit::smallbiggrin: Can I get a listen check instead? Failing that, can I just cast a Ghost Sound off to one side to make it sound like I've got backup and stomp on in thundering "what's all this then?", or some variation thereof?

[Starbin]

Thumble nodded and patted the man. It looked like he was a bit stable, but the gnome was no trained healer. Pulling a small package out of his pack, Thumble opened it up and revealed bandages, poultice, threads and needles. "Hold still ...Thumble will do his best to help you ..."

Heal check w/kit: [roll0]

[Wordplay]

For Thumble and Tali
Thumble may not know much about healing, but after examining the man closely, Thumble thinks he could be saved...

The man winces as Thumble pulls away the man's hand, and cuts open the man's shirt. There's a big wound to the man's gut. It's fairly clean - looks like a sword thrust. The blood has clotted, and it's not bleeding much at the moment. On the other hand, the man lost an awful lot of blood. The man doesn't appear to have any other injuries.

Thumble does his best to try and close the wound with his healing kit. It's tough work, and Thumble's hands tremble. The stitches are rough and ready. The man whimpers faintly as the first one goes it, then seems to drift off.

Thumble's done the best he can, but it looks as though the man's unlikely to last without magical healing.

[Wordplay]

For Lena
Lena walks into a tree. Takolan is so busy trying to keep quiet, he doesn't notice. The two of you conceal yourselves thoroughly in some brush, but the leaves and branches partially obscure your view.

In the distance you can see bodies lying under the trees. You can't make out the uniforms though. A diminutive figure appears to be standing over one of the bodies. It says,

'I will do my best to help you'.

The little figure appears to be doing something to the body...

[PersonMan]

Beigette is silent for a moment as the man's life slips away, briefly unable to deal with the situation before she breathes deeply, sends a brief prayer to Pelor for the man's soul, and opens her eyes.

To see the woman soldier searching the upside-down cart. Running the bridge of her nose with two fingers for a moment, Beigette speaks.

"Oh, c'mon, you crazy 'Terial. We're a pair of strong girls, let's just flip this thing over. No need to hock* around under it," the Sigil dropout says, patting her upper arms briefly and stepping into position to lift the cart. "Ok, right over there...now eins, deux, tres!" On the final syllable, she presses the cart up, then pushes to force it back upright. There was no worry about the man bleeding out now...he had already died.

*Sounds more like 'huck'

[Wordplay]

For Beigette and Cass
It's difficult to tell whether the man was still alive...his breath had grown so faint...

Beigette and Cass manage to right the wagon, though the effort is strenuous. Beigette starts to sweat, as they lever it over, first onto its side, then back onto it's wheels. A pile of canvas and some wooden poles spill out of it as it's righted, as do a number of pieces of paper - they look like wrappings for food.

The tracers are mangled and torn, the side panel is smashed...and one of the wheels is misaligned, but the wagon stands upright.

Tali and Thumble hear a crash, and look around to see the wagon righted.

For Lena
You hear a distant crash.

[Azoth]

Ursuul heads towards the picnicing group without much pause or seem of worry. His ale is missing, and even if it means slaying a giant bare handed he will get it back. His guisamere held loosely back over his shoulder and a smile on his face.

He calls out in a booming and friendly voice, Hey Oh! You guys seen my mules? Left the buggers tied up while I walked off to answers nature's call and they seem to have gotten themselves off and on an adventure! Ifin ya could help me find them, I'd be happy to offer up a reward for their safe return with their cargo. Whataya say friends...Help out a fellow traveler?

[Malak'ai]

Hugging Frexy and Janie tighter, Tali starts shaking as she watching Thumble work on the man. It was the blood or smell that was scaring her, she was used to those from her time helping Ol' Nan with the birthings she was called to.
It was the fact that these wounds had come from violence that were sending her nerves into a frenzy.
It reminded her of the last time she saw Malconian... On his back in the in the dust, eyes glazed and vacant, the gaping wound in his throat. The memories bring new tears to her eyes.

"M-m-maybe o-one o-o-of t-the o-others c-c-can h-help h-h-him?" she stammers, taking a few small steps backwards towards the clearing.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The people start in surprise at Ursuul's voice, half rising.

Now Ursuul's a little closer, he can see that they are soldiers...or at least dressed as them.

There are three of them. A tall, gangly youth with ginger hair, reaching for a halberd, a pretty dark-haired woman, eyes wide and mouth full. Finally, an older, plump woman, whose hand has gone to her sword. They're wearing scabbarded short swords, armour, helmets, and tabards. The tabards are black, bordered in white, with a white tree emblazoned on them. They appear to be enjoying a hearty meal of cold meats, bread, and cheese. They've also unpacked some cups...though you can't see what they're drinking.

They seem to have five horses , a fine grey mare, a dappled horse, a bay, a scrawny piebald, and a chesnut pony. They also have two mules which have large packs on their backs.

They gather themselves. The younger two make a good show of covering their fear with fierce faces. The middle-aged woman approaches, calmly.

'Traveller, eh? Whereabouts is it you say you hail from then sir? An' what was that about some lost mules? If you wanna report 'em stolen, we'll gladly take a report, an' investigate - rustlin' can be a capital crime in these parts'. The woman's face is impassive, but she speaks in a polite enough tone.

[Azoth]

Ursuul watches them passively for a moment. Five on one is not the kind of fight he wants to have. Even if some of them look greener than a fresh pea.

Heh, well I ain't from round these parts honestly. I just headed out from the town about half days way back 'ata way.

Ursuul gestures casually with his guisamere in the direction of the town.

I left some of my friends back the other way too. They went ahead to set up lunch, and now I have gone and lost the refreshments. If I don't get back soon, I am sure they are gonna be a good bit mad at me to say the least. I know it'd be a lot of trouble to stop yer lunch on account of me, but if ya can help me find them I will make it worth your while. I promise that one.

They can't even have gotten far. I mean how far can a couple of mules get with a full 50 galon barrel of ale hoisted betwixt 'em? I am sure it would only take a few minutes of your time.

[Starbin]

Thumble looked from the man to the frightened girl, then nodded. Rising up, he approached the clearing cautiously, clearing his throat loudly as he approached. "Pardon, but we found a man who needs help. Does someone have skill at healing?"

[Wordplay]

For Lena: Assume you can hear everything Cass, Beigette, Tali and Thumble say...but you can't see any of them, except Thumble, and even with him, not clearly.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
'Yah, I figured ye weren't. Can't place your accent rightly'. The woman looks thoughtful, and the other two soldiers relax.

'If ye came back from there, you musta been meanin' the mountain folk, yah?'

'You say ya were with a party o folk? How many would that be sir, and what was your business? One of the local merchants had some trouble the other day...'

At that comment, the other two soldiers pay attention, and look a little worried.

'So jus' to be clear sir, did ye see who, or what took ya mules? It's just it sounds a little like another case recently, and it would be good ta put ta rest a few...troubling rumours'.

The other two have straightened up slightly, and started to put the food away. They look slightly abashed.

[Azoth]

Ursuul smiles a bit as he shifts his guisamere from one shoulder to the other.

Well we ain't exactly known eachother long. Kinda met up due to circumstance ya see... Group of barbarian mercs from up north jumped us, and well battle makes strange bed fellows really. Battle makes a man hungry too, so we figured settle up and travel together for safer passage really. My business ain't much, I brew a bit and well drink more than i brew most days...but its enough to afford me travel so I can see new places.

As for what took my mules, can't say I saw it, but I tracked it this way. Damn thing is big enough to have a stride twice my height and feet human enough you can hop from one print to the next. Looks like a kid putting his foot in his Da's boot prints. Whatever it is I don't want to meet it alone in a dark alley. Found its prints easy enough, but my mules' tracks stopped after a few feet. Can tell ya now its a strong sone of whore...that barrel alone weighs more than two burley men. I can barely lift it off the ground...to carry that and two mules...nough said I say.

Look I can't promise ya too much, but I got a few gallons of my brew with me that ya can help yourselves to after we're done, a fair share of whatever we find on the way, and 5 gold coin each for the trouble. Seein ya soldiers an all...a week's pay for an afternoon's work ain't so bad. Especially not with half gallon of ale strong enough to make a dwarf's hair stand on end to wash it down... a piece

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The woman curses and spits to the side of the path.'Lord and Lady, that whoreson was telling the truth'.

She turns to the other two.

'Get the beasts together - and set up a proper picket'.

She turns back.

'Listen sir, mind if we step one side fer a moment'.

She gestures for Ursuul to join her off to one side.

'Look, I dunno what dealin's ye've had with the law before, but 'round here, the watch and garrison are duty bound to make a proper investigation o' your complaint without ye paying us. Matter o' fact, paying us could get ye into trouble. Course, if ye were minded ta give us a thank you drink or three afterwards, na one would think twice 'bout that. It's not that I don' appreciate yer fine offer, I do'.

'Now, second, I feel you should know, this morning a merchant limped into town - had a broken leg to hear the tellin' o' it. Told some story about having the horse ripped out from under him...blathering about giants, and monsters an' all sorts o' boogeymen. 'Course, the town's in an uproar, and the garrison's all called up'.

'I'd like ta help - but there's a couple o' problems - first, our officers, as ye can see, are absent. They should be back soon, and they're gonna want ta talk ta ye. Our orders are to wait here - now normally I wouldn't take so much notice o' that, but this morning we were told under no uncertain terms to escort 'em here, bring 'em back, and keep our eyes, ears and mouths firmly shut. Orders from pretty high up, if you catch me meaning. Second problem - look at these kits - Burke here has never seen combat, and Lisandra's been in one skirmish - with a couple o' mountain bandits, and she didn't come out o' that too well. We're mounted infantry, so can't do no fighting on horseback neither. If there really are giants, probably gonna send damn near whole garrison to deal with 'em'.

'Now, there's a couple o' reasons why ye should wait fer our officers - firstly, one o' them's a decent tracker, secondly, there may be a reward fer yer information, third, they will have the authority ta order us - could probably persuade the guard post down the valley ta help too'.

'So I think you should wait with us...an' I'd ask ye ta be patient. You look like the sort that might actually have a chance against a giant, with decent back-up. If you go off alone, you'll most like get yeself killed. Like I say, governor's got ta deal with the giants. If ye can confirm their presence ta him, he'll be sendin' out least a company ta deal with it anyhow, I reckon'.

The officer sniffs suddenly...then sniffs again.

'Sir, have you...have you been drinkin' by any chance?'

[Azoth]

Ursuul lets loose a sigh of profound exasperation at this. If he tries to leave, he may end up under detainment. They didn't say it, but they didn't have to...he knew how military types worked.

With a heavy shrug he reached down and grabbed his travel cask in his free hand. He bit the cork out and took a long drink by anyone's standards from it before lowering it and recorking it. The burn helped him swallow the idea of waiting when the trail was fresh enough to still be steaming.

His blue eyes level over the group as he shakes his head. Either way the cask was probably a loss. Damn giant would open it sooner or later, and then drink itself stupid on his hard work. At least with this group have half trained half starved mangy southern gits he may get some sort of vengeance against them.

Guess I dunna hav mucha choice na do i? Go get meself kilt, or held up by ya either way ifin I ahs gonna get goin. Mit 'swell sit riht her and waits fer yer bossesssss ta shew ther asses aboot.

Tha honstly ifin ya git a buncha useless girls swinging nail files like scorned whores...mightaswell let 'em get some exercise out and aboot. Tech 'em a ting or three 'bout real fightin. Nah sayin I'ma bash the buggers like the poor sods they're...but might be good ta bruise up the fruit tech it ta be firm. Make a man out the comfort girlies ya got there...take that copper whore shine right out their eyes...makes ther asses as sore ther mouths! Hehehe...

[Marlowe]

Lena's heard enough to ascertain that these people are not directly responsible for what's happened, and not immediately dangerous. She throws a Ghost Sound, imitating the clank of armour, off in the direction that the sergeant isn't, then strolls out into the open.

"Stormwinds! Captain! Can ye at leas' try an' keep yer men quiet? Is this is a betrothal party?" she bellows in the direction of the phantom sound, then turns on the figures before her, her bow notched but pointed at the ground. "Sorry, mates an' maties. Lena..of Corvalla. Warrant officer, Upper Head Special Recon". It's not like anything there is actually a lie. "Who are ye, and why are ye standin' around in field o' dead soldiers?"

[Wordplay]

For Thumble, Tali, Cass and Beigette.

You hear a clank of armour, and a voice calls out from the woods.

"Stormwinds! Captain! Can ye at leas' try an' keep yer men quiet? Is this is a betrothal party?"

A figure appears before Thumble and Tali, just visible to Beigette and Cass if they turn to look. A tall young woman appears. She has blond hair, and green eyes. She appears confident and self-assured. A morningstar hangs at her hip.

She holding a bow with an arrow notched, but pointed at the ground. "Sorry, mates an' maties. Lena..of Corvalla. Warrant officer, Upper Head Special Recon". It's not like anything there is actually a lie. "Who are ye, and why are ye standin' around in field o' dead soldiers?"

[PersonMan]

Beigette turns to the woman soldier, breath quieting after their turning of the cart.

"Is she one of yours?" She asks, curious about the newcomer. With bad luck, there was a third faction of 'Terials in this battle and there would be another fight...Beigette was already tired of all the death. Without truly waiting for a response, she turns and makes her way to the newcomer - the soldier could find that odd package she needed for her mission without her. It wasn't her business, after all.

"Aiv, another 'Terial. I'm Neiri Alinson, of the spire city. Call me Beigette, though, I prefer that.

As to what I'm doing here, well, I was helping her over there fight some other 'Terials and looking to find out what's going on here, myself. What do you know 'bout it? You're a recker - can you at least tell me how many different 'Terial groups are out here?" Beigette gestures back to the soldier at the cart when she says 'helping her'. She takes a moment to examine the new 'Terial, hands casually on her hips. She spoke just like all the other ones - looks like they weren't exceptions after all. Pity.

[Starbin]

As seemed usual amongst the bigger folk, Thumble found himself being ignored, as important as his question had been.

Snapping to Slobber, the wild dog barked loudly. If and when the others turned to look in his direction, Thumble spoke loudly. "Pardon, but this man is dying! Does anyone have skill with healing?"

[Marlowe]

Lena gives Beigette an odd look. Is this how people feel when I talk to them?. However, she continues to approach. "Fair Winds, Beigette. An' t' answer ye question I've heard no' about anyone called "Terials". Bu' if'n ye mean "distinct groups of combatants" we've got at leas' three. Maybe four, countin' you. As f' who's on who's business the' I'm going t' have to ask ye ladies an' gentleman." She turns back to the woods briefly and bellows: "A' ease; Captain. Whatever happened here, we missed it . Move on and leave the sergeant to scout the perimeter, then he's to bring up the horse guards. Looks like I've got some talkin' to--"

She's interrupted by Thumbles shout. Nice pair o' lungs there. She looked at Thumble and made a quick decision. "N' skill; bu' I do have a potion which may do some good. Or kill 'im. Or tur' 'im into a ferret fo' all I know. Whole op so far's been complete ragtag an' bobtail. Show me t' him anyway. If'n he's dyin' we can't kill 'im twice."

[Malak'ai]

**A Few Minutes Ago**

Tali follows the little man on his way back towards the others and stops just behind him, lifting Frexy a little and buries the lower half of her face in his fur.

She jumps when the sound of clanking armour and a woman's shouting ring out through the trees.
Turning her head as the woman appears, she backs away, trying to keep behind Thumble.

[Wordplay]

For Lena
Now that Lena's standing closer, she can make out the people a little better.

A scruffy looking gnome is standing over a young Fleraci soldier. The gnome wears an assortment of furs and hides, and looks none too clean. His skin is bronzed, and his brown hair tousled. He has sharp green eyes. There's a bag next to him, from which bandages, threads and poultices spill. The gnome's has cut away the boy's shirt, and is competently closing up a gaping wound with a needle and thread.

A very slight young woman, little more than a girl, stands to one side. She clutches a plump rabbit to her face, and holds a ragged doll in her hand. She looks terrified.She is very beautiful, with white blonde hair, and green eyes like yours and the gnome. Yet there's something a bit off about her features...something not quite human about her features. She's shorter than you, and very slender.

As Lena turns her head she sees two young women, both wearing armour. One is blonde, and blue-eyed - an unremarkable sort of face. She's wearing burgundy, and leaning heavily on a quarterstaff. There's blood on her clothes, and her face is wan. She's wearing the same uniform as the dead Fleraci soldiers - her insignia is a bloody fist gripping a flower.

The second young woman is pretty. She also has green eyes, but her hair is brown. Her armour is striking, clearly very well made, with an emblem orb of red with a crown around it, surrounded by a starburst of yellow. The emblem painted or embossed on it somehow, rather than wearing it on a badge as is the Flamian custom. She looks wiry, and she carries a crossbow.

There are the bodies of warriors wearing grey furs, and Fleraci soldiers lying all about the clearing. A large cart, badly damaged, rests on it's wheels next to the young women. At the feet of the young women lie the bodies of a Fleraci officer, badly crushed, a plump man, dressed in a burgundy tunic, who looks like he was badly cut up before he died, a grey warrior with a crossbow bolt in the middle of his head, and a grey warrior whose head appears to have been staved in. The ground's been badly disturbed near the cart.

For Tali, Beigette, and Cass if she fails the Sense Motive check (DC 15)
You can clearly hear the sound of this woman's troops as they take up position. Though you can't see them yet. The woman is confident, and clearly used to carrying authority, her position demands.

For Thumble, and Cass if she passes the Sense Motive check
The woman appears genuine...but when she calls to the Captain, her voice catches a little, and she seems to be staring at an indeterminate point. You get the impression she's acting. You hear the clank of armour - but it sounds like troops marching on a parade ground, not processing through a forest. It seems to stop and start rather abruptly. You certainly can't see anyone.

For Ursuul
'I caught about five words o' that, an' all o' them were 'whore' '.

The woman frowns.

'An' some o' my best friends happen ta be whores - those men and women do a difficult job, I'll have ye know, and I'll not hear them slandered'.

'As fer ye training up me young recruits - well ye see, normally that would sound like a good idea...if it weren't coming from a giant o' a man, drunk off his head'.

'I don' reckon ye're in a condition ta spar safely right now. An' don' be lookin' down too much on me guys here - they may be green in some ways, but they have other talents. Talents that come in useful when ye're running a customs post'.

The woman looks off to one side. Then she turns back, pursing her lips thoughtfully.

'I'm not dumb - we can see something happened over there - something bad. We're not supposed to know about it, and frankly, I don't want to. The less we know, the safer we are. This was a fairly quiet posting until recently - an' there's plenty o' ways ta get rid o' soldiers who seen too much''.

'Ye came from that way...so ye probably saw it already. That's what our officers were sent ta look for. If you go back that way, ye might find 'em, and ye can give yer report ta them. Might hurry 'em up a little'.

'Ye'd be lookin' for a tall girlie, bit o' a looker, green eyes, blonde hair, an' a squirrelly sort o' man - wears a lot of brown, carries two blades - that's yer tracker. Didn't catch the woman's name - some civilian we got lumbered with, and told ta follow her orders, but the tracker's Sergeant Takolan. Now when ye get ta him ye tell him...'

The women frowns, as though she's trying to remember something.

'Wren sings sweetly, fires burn bright - ye think ye can remember that?'

[Azoth]

Ursuul smirks a bit as he looks to the woman he has been talking too. He wasn't drunk, not by a long. That swig actually helped settle his hangover a bit. His accent just comes out more heavily while drinking.

'ey now lassy, easy wit all dat nah uh? I love me a whore more t'an your men 'll eva know. Rit nice set a girlies long as you keep yer mouth shut ana don bruise 'em up. Bessa compnny a man can buy 'imself fera evnin. Get jus wat ya want and nah much else, as long as yer coin is right.

Fer ya boys dere dough...I can leave the scabbard on and jus thunk em a bit. Nah much sense usin me pack stick on 'em. 'At'ed jus be plain oll mean a me nah woun't it.

Loss me ass answerin nature once lassy, na willin ta lose more in dem dare woods should she call 'gain. Asides...ifin I dunna answer her, ain't much an pression of a man in soaked briches talking to the law 'ut summin shoulna rightley be na is't?

Nah nah nah...bess if I stay 'ere. Ifin the girls can't get there skirts muddy...supperose we can just have a snippet oh ale anna continue on wit lunch. Though stale bread ana hard cheese and sausage not the bes of food...it'll hava doo I guess 'uh?

Say speaks'in bout hore'n all...taint so bad ta lookey at yerself. Right fine compliment from the coinisour o hores I be.

[Starbin]

Thumble raised an eye at Lena's call to the woods, wondering who she was actually talking to. He heard noise, but it didn't sound like a group of soldiers scouting about ... it sounded like one of the parades he had seen when he was young.

He shrugged his concerns away, however, since the woman was at least trying to help the dying man. He stood by to see what happened with the elixir Lena gave him, petting Slobber as he waited.

Figures I make the sense motive, but don't really care :smallbiggrin:

[Wordplay]

For Thumble
Make a Spot check, if you like.

For Ursuul
The woman is in her late forties if she's a day. She has a plain face, with a waxy complexion. Her nose is slightly bulbous, her skin light brown. Her teeth are yellow and black. Her brown hair is a little greasy, and tied back in a simple ponytail. There is a large boil on her left cheek. Her features are a little frog-like. She barely comes up to Ursuul's chest, and she's nearly spherical.

'Well, ain't ye a gallant fella'. she comments dourly, though she has a half smile on her face.

'Nice ta know I 'taint bad lookey'. Seriously though, I have a kid about your age. Have a few actually'.

'But that is a right nice thing ta say. Almost prepared ta excuse the slander o' our bread an' cheese. I'll have ye know, was baked fresh this mornin'. An' our fine selection o' cheeses is the envy o' the town. Perks ta runnin' a customs house, ye see'.

'If you're so keen ta spar, why don' you and me have a try then. Might be instructive fer the recruits'.

[Azoth]

Ursuul takes another drink from his mini keg...this a good long chug as if hoping it'd wash the taste of something fiercely foul out of his mouth. He wasn't lying, she looked none too bad for a whore...a two copper whore on a dock to sailors who've had to seriously considering sharing bunk cause there hands were cut off in an attack.

As he finishes, he recorks it and lurches forward slightly as if about to heave. Then leaning back with a deep inhale...lets loose a long strong belch that reeks of booze and bile.

Sure t'ing love. What rules ya wanna set huh? I got Guisamere, morningstar, short sword, dagger, and me own fists...so pick whichever ya like. Show the pups how a couple of real dogs scrap it out.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
'Well how's about fists?'

'Lisandra! Burke! Come over here. We're gonna learn ye a thing or two - watch closely now'.

The soldier unstraps her sword, and takes off her helmet.

'Ye'll have ta lose them spikes. Let's say first one ta cry mercy, or ta get knocked out wins'.

[Azoth]

Ursuul smiles as he takes off his guantlets and clips them to the back of his belt under his keg. He then stabs his guisamere into the ground and rolls his shoulders. A smile on his face as he loosens up.

Lady can have the first blow. Just dunna hurt me too bad eh?

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The soldier smiles.

The little mousy haired girl, and the big red haired youth walk up, and prepare to watch. They look worried. The road is silent, except for the shrill of a bird's song, and the occasional caw of a rook, or raven.

'Gather round y'all. Ye see me an' our frien' here are gonna have a nice sporting fistfight. First one ta cry mercy or get knocked out wins. No weapons allowed, ye see. Watch carefully, an' try an' learn something'.

The woman steps apart, and adopts a casual, open stance. She grins slightly. She's over a foot shorter than Ursuul. She replies to Ursuul's offer of a free punch.

'Well, I'll try not ta hurt ye, but I can't make any promises. An' another thing - I ain't no Lady - come on, son, hit me!'

Roll initiative
Corporal's initiative [roll0]
(Don't think we need a map - assume you're standing 15ft apart, and there are no obstructions. I'll draw a map if people start moving about.

[Azoth]

Initiative roll: [roll0]

[Azoth]

Ursuul smiles and then spits to the side. His frame making this seem all too easy if she wasn't so sure of how things go. Hearing her call to hit her made him smirk.

If'n that's how ya wanit...down blame me for the bruises.

With that Ursuul throws his full weight into a run. When he draws near her he let's his body slide to a stop as his right hand shoots out for her midsection.



Full round action: charge
Attack roll: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]

[Marlowe]

Lena holds the dying soldier's head up and administers the potion given to her by the quartermaster. "Swallow, boy tha's it".. Then, vaguely hoping it won't turn him into a pumpkin, stands straight and faces the others. "

"Well, I heard enou' t' know tha' it weren't ye responsible for this hecatomb. And I'm thankin' the satorially impressive Lady Beigette for her introduction. Yet I'd still like t' know who ye all are an' how ye came t' be here, an' how ye the ones still standin'. Soldier." She nods to Cass. "By ye ensemble I can guess you've a professional connection to many of these poor maties". She indicated the scattered dead around them twist of her head. "What happened to ye?"

And a Bardic Knowledge roll to see if she can identify the Greycloaks:
[roll0]

[Wordplay]

Thumble holds the boy's head back whilst Lena tips the potion down his throat. He chokes slightly. He splutters.

Then there's a slight silver glow all around him... the wound on his stomach begins to disappear before your eyes and the colour returns to his cheeks. His breathing becomes easier. Thumble can tell that he's going to be alright now.

For Ursuul
The woman's eyes widen in surprise as you dash forward, and you can see she was getting ready to sucker punch you before you could close.

Ursuul gets in too fast however, and lands a blow to her gut...but it seems that her armour takes the full force of the blow.

The woman smiles, and counter-attacks.
Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

(Incidentally, that's non-lethal damage)

Edit: Oops, forgot Bardic Knowledge check results
For Lena
Lena doesn't recognise the grey furred warriors. She runs through all the Flamian military units she's heard of - which covers most of the prominent ones. Some wear fur-trimmed uniforms, some incorporate grey, but none wear anything like this. The style of the clothes isn't Flamian either.

The men have lighter skins than most Flamians. People live in the Aelfica mountains beyond Flamia. Some come to trade in Forcehead. In her time in the town Lena's seen a hand full of traders from the far side of the Aelfica mountains - and they look a little bit like these folk. Their lands are not well known, nor their customs or language.

Lena also notices something else...something about the men is reminding her of home...but she can't quite think what. They certainly don't look Corvallan. She tries to clear the idea from her head, but it sits on her mind...perhaps if she looked at one closer...

[PersonMan]

"How I'm still standing? I got 'ported here after the kriegin' was over, I think," Beigette says. "I came from the G-rock where I woke up and found two of the more vamply 'Terials threatening 'er," she gestures to Cass.

"Is there a 'Terial kriegerie goin' down here? I don't want to be on the front lines of a war," Beigette adds after a moment. It would be just my luck to get 'ported into the cennr of some
'byssie 'Terial war...

[Wordplay]

For Lena
There seems to be a slight delay between Beigette's mouth movements and the sound of her speech. The shapes she's forming with her mouth don't seem to match up with her speech either.

She's speaking the Corvallan dialect of Low Varic like a native.

For Thumble
There seems to be a slight delay between Beigette's mouth movements and the sound of her speech. The shapes she's forming with her mouth don't seem to match up with her speech either.

She's speaking in the Aequarian dialect of Low Varic like an inhabitant of Queia itself.

For Cass and Tali
There seems to be a slight delay between Beigette's mouth movements and the sound of her speech. The shapes she's forming with her mouth don't seem to match up with her speech either.

Whereas her speech seemed oddly accentless before, she's now speaking the Flamian dialect of Low Varic like a native - though you can't place the accent beyond that.

[Marlowe]

Lena gives Beigette a long, long look. "Ye really no' from round here, are ye'? No' tha' I can talk. Well, I don' need a book t' figure out "Kriegin'", if tha's what you actually said. Bu' you may have to explain "Vamply" an' "G-rock", those a' hard words to puzzle over. In any even'; tell me abou' these mites in the grey cloaks. Tell m' how they fought an' acted, 'cause something is off here."

[Azoth]

Ursuul takes the hit and smiles a bit to himself. Not a bad blow, but not something he can't handle a few more of. He shifts his weight and slides a foot behind hers, he then slams both of his arms into her chest. His body moving already to deliver a swift kick to the ribs should she fall over.



Touch attack to Trip: [roll0]
Strength check to trip: [roll1]

If successful
Follow up attack against -4 AC: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

[PersonMan]

"'Course I'm not from here," Beigette begins, raising an eyebrow. "I'm wearing - oh, you prolly don't recognize the emblem of the spire city, do you? Well, I'm from Sigil," there's a definite tone of pride in her voice as she says this.

"Anyways, G-rock is where, you know...you land. From a TP. Vamply is...hard to explain. It's like, well, vamps. They don't get much sun. Pale skin an' all that," Beigette continues.

"These guys fought, well...badly. They were quälin' this one man with cuts and were gonna get started on 'er when I put some Sigil steel in 'em. They were after some reports the people had in the wagon," she explains.

[Wordplay]

The boy is still unconscious, but the wound has disappeared. He seems to be sleeping peacefully.

Lena's eye is caught by one of the furs that the nearest corpse is wearing...it looks slightly different from the other soldiers.

For Ursuul
The attack should have worked, but the woman was ready, and evaded at the last moment. Ursuul's left clutching at thin air.

The young mouse haired subordinate, standing on the sidelines, has taken out a piece of paper and pen - she's taking notes.

You realise that your opponent's fighting defensively, limiting openings, but sacrificing opportunities to attack you to do so.

Your opponent examines you critically. As Ursuul recovers from the failed attack, she speaks to her recruits.

'Alright, pay close attention. First lesson o' soldierin' - survive. I'm gonna show ye how ye can weather the blows o' even a giant like this'un'.

The woman throws a punch.

Attack [roll0]
Damage (non-lethal) [roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul

The woman almost manages to Dodge, but Ursuul makes the trip. The woman lands on her back.

Ursuul follows through with a kick, but it doesn't seem to have made any impact.

The woman rises, allowing Ursuul to get in a swift blow.

AoO [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

The blow is solid, and Ursuul's fist connects with her face.

The young mouse haired subordinate, standing on the sidelines, has taken out a piece of paper and pen - she's taking notes.

You realise that your opponent's fighting defensively, limiting openings, but sacrificing opportunities to attack you to do so.

'See what he did there? That's a decent move - realises if we just pound at each other, he might do down first - so he looks to even the odds'.

Your opponent examines you appraisingly. She speaks to her recruits.

'Alright, pay close attention. First lesson o' soldierin' - survive. I'm gonna show ye how ye can weather the blows o' even a giant like this'un'.

The woman throws a punch.

Attack [roll2]
Damage (non-lethal) [roll3]

It's a little pitiful, and far from Ursuul - it's as though she didn't fully commit to it.

[Azoth]

Ursuul watches the attack go wide and smirks. His hand reaches out to grab her fist and pull her towards him in an attempt to knock her off balance before stepping past her in an attempt to throw her back to the ground. As he does so, he shifts to try and land on top of her with the full of his weight and crush her to the ground.



Touch Attack to start a Trip: [roll0]
Opposed Strength Check for Trip: [roll1]

Follow Up Attack if Trip is successful:
Touch Attack Initiate a grapple (against -4 AC): [roll2]
This provokes an AoO with a -4 to hit Ursuul. If Ursuul is hit the grapple attempt fails.

Strength check to deal unarmed damage in grapple if the grapple is established:
[roll3]

[Starbin]

Thumble didn't understand all the talk between the two ladies who were having the discussion. He bowed his head to the one who had helped the dying man. "Thanks for your help. Thumble and Slobber could not help him.

We stumbled upon this battle, so we know nothing about what caused it." He stepped back a bit, still a little overwhelmed by all the death and mayhem present.

[Marlowe]

Lena narrows her eyes. "A little too enthusiastic in their works then; well, I suppose this par' o' things can thank ye for ye presence, Beigette of Sigil. Did they get the reports? 'cause if they didn't then whoever's behind them is like t' try again. Dangerous times, an' a storm brewin'. I reckon you'll do all the better sleepin' in Forcehead tonight. For right now, though--",She kneels to inspect the odd looking fur; "--like I said, something's off"

[Wordplay]

For Lena
Stopping to examine the furs of one of the warriors, Lena realises what had bothered her - most of the warriors are wearing what looks like wolf fur.

However, this one, and a few of the others wear furs with a spotted pattern. A cold shiver runs down Lena's spine as she realises that some of the warriors seem to be dressed in the pelts of gnolls.

[Marlowe]

"Gnollskin, stylish." she mutters. " You mates ha' some pretty serious enemies; that's sunshine. Well; if one of you ha' the reports these bitterns were after; and I'm not saying' I'm askin' since I was ne're told abou' them, then I recommend tha' you get them off ye hands and int' those o' the rightful recipient as soon a' ye can. Someone wa' prepared t' get a few hundred men killed t' get them. Tha' someone will certainly kill you. An' if ye don't ha' the reports; the' we should probably look for them." A pause. And a long look around the others.

"Bear i' mind. Storm tonight, an' for the nex' few days. Good odds o' we don't get 'em somewhere safe soon they'll be sodden sludge by the morrow. So I won' be lookin' for long. Now, shall we search, or does someone wan' me to turn my back so they ca' put on a squeaky voice an' tell me it's already unnecessary all anonymous-like?" Her eyes absently wander the treeline, co-incidentally taking the others out of her field of vision.

[School trip starts tomorrow. I'll be out of action for the next 4 days.:smallfrown:]

[Wordplay]

A distant rumble of thunder sounds through the hot and muggy air.

@Ursuul
Ursuul grabs the woman's fist, but she slips through his grasp.

The woman throws another punch - she seems to commit fully to this one.

[roll0]
[roll1]

Edit: Ursuul ducks to the side, and feels the air from the blow as her fist flashes past.

Recovering, she takes a step backwards (moving back 5ft)

[Azoth]

Ursuul watches her disengage and smiles. His arms come up infront of him as he lets out a heavy breath. This old bugger ain't half bad, but that doesn't mean she is gonna win this. Its obviously an attempt to bait me in. Step in and she she is going to do something unpleasent.

Ursuul lets himself relax a moment as he falls back into a readied state. What's a matter love? Getting winded after such a short go...an they sayin menfolk be done in a minute of vigorous rompin... Donna tell me ya gonna run off scared nah?

ursuul takes the total defense actions gaining a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round. AC 19 Touch AC 16 Flat Footed AC 17

[Malak'ai]

"E-e-excuse m-me. I-i-is t-that m-man g-g-going l-live?" Tali stutters, lowering Frexy to the ground as she follows the others.

Finally taking in the sight of the other bodies on the ground, her bottom lip starts quivering as she hugs Janie tightly.

[Starbin]

Thumble looked back at the girl, nodding his head. "That vial of liquid helped ... he should live. But those others look too busy for such talk." He stepped back away from the group as they ignored Thumble, Slobber, Taliana and Frexy, intent on searching for something ... a message did one of the women say?

He turned back to Taliana. "How did you get here?"

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The woman smiles, and spits to one side - a large silvery gobbet that flies some five feet.

'Ye ain't half so dumb as ya look, mountain man. I'm glad I let me kids have the benefit of seeing me clobber ya'.

She appraises you.

'By the way, never did catch yer name? Mine's Corporal Irena Sturbish - o' Lord Merryem's 3rd Mounted Infantry - what's yours?'

After Ursuul's reply, the woman crouches.

'Well then - let's see if ya can take ma strongest blow'.

She steps forward, and lashes out.

Power Attack (-5 from attack, -2AC, +5 damage)
Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

Edit: The blow thunders into Ursuul's armoured chest. It does no damage, but Ursuul can feel the force of it through the armour.

Ursuul realises the witch has been pulling her punches up to now.

[Azoth]

Ursuul smiles warmly at her compliment. The blow feels stronger than he can muster, but knows it won't land easily against him. Too wild and slow.

My name is Ursuul, from the North. You're not half bad yourself, but I know the pups around us don't measure up in this one lick. Time to end it!

With that Ursuul lunges forward with one of his hands to grab to top of her head and slam her to the ground. If he succeeds, he will let his weight fall with her and attempt to straddle her chest to pin her to the ground.



Touch attack to initiate Trip: [roll0]

Strength Check to Trip: [roll1]

If trip succeeds:

Touch attack to Initiate grapple against -4 AC:[roll2]

This provoke an AoO on Ursuul, if she hits it stops the grapple. She is at a -9 to hit (-4 from being prone and -5 from power attack).

Strength Check to do unarmed damage in grapple: [roll3]

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
This time Ursuul grabs hold of a fold of the woman's clothing. However, Ursuul tries to pull her straight forwards to trip her, and she is easily able to resist.

She smiles, showing her yellowed teeth.

'Well, ye took ma blow without flinching. Fer that ya have ma respect'.

'Well, we've gi'en each other a bit o' a bruisin...might be good ta end it now. Wanna be in decent shape if we're gonna fetch back yer beasts back from the giants'.

'On the other hand, if ye want ta continue...I won't hold back'.

[Malak'ai]

Carefully stepping around the bodies on the ground, Tali follows Thumble.
"I-i've b-b-been t-trying to f-find m-my m-m-mother. S-s-she l-left me a-and M-m-malconian w-with O-o-ol' N-nan w-w-when D-daddy d-d-died f-from h-his s-s-sickness.
I-i-i've b-been t-told s-s-she m-might l-live in t-the f-f-forests a-around h-h-here. She's an Elf." she tells the Gnome, the last sentence coming out sounding proud, and with no stuttering or sobbing.

[Starbin]

Thumble blinked in surprise. "Your mother? Thumble hasn't heard about an elf living in the woods, but we could try and help you ..."

Thumble wracked his memory for any sign or word from the animals of a lone elven woman living in the woods.

Does Thumble remember any such rumors? Or are there any appropriate knowledge skills to attempt for this?

[Wordplay]

For Starbin

OoC
Well, you only have Knowledge (Nature) as a trained skill, and I believe that you're not able to make untrained Knowledge checks...not that many of them would be of much help. This is what's commonly known.

Thumble racks his brains. In his time living wild in the woods he's not come across anyone living a similar existence.

There are a few smaller hamlets and settlements beyond Forcehead... that could be said to be living in the woods.

Elves are not well liked in Flamia, and they make up a very small portion of the population - they are mostly concentrated near the Aelfica mountains. There are also a fair few people of elvish descent in varying numbers - they suffer more discrimination if anything, though the discrimination is much less of a problem in this area.

There are some elvish folk and people of elvish descent in Forcehead. They generally have an easier existence than elves elsewhere in Flamia. Their community seemed fairly tight to Thumble when he passed through.

Most elves come either from the distant kingdom of Paros, or from a mysterious forest kingdom, beyond the Aelfican range. It is very difficult to get to, and this is not the usual way (though it would be the shortest route as the crow flies).

[Azoth]

Ursuul lets out a slow breath as he looks to her. His hands clenching and unclenching. He wipes a bit of sweat from his brow before reaching behind him. His travel keg going flying towards her with the speed of a gentle toss, but weighing in at almost 50lb it isn't a light catch.

Good enough to give 'em a decent idea of how bad thins can go. You coulna land a decisive hit because ya were too wild with tha swingin bout, ana I couldn't topple ya and pin ya propper cause ya a right hard tadpole ta grasp. Ifin itda kep goin on either ya woulda hada settle fer whittlin me down with weaker punches...or Ida had to try ana jes clobber ya stupid...not a decisive way to be handlin it. No matter how much I lika give a lass a good hard pound ever nahngain.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
Corporal Sturbish stands aside as the keg arcs towards her and catches it side on with both arms sweeping along its trajectory to arrest its momentum.

The Corporal grins.

'Aye, ya have a reasonable sense o' the tactics o' it...I'd either have had to whittle ya down - or start hittin' ya vital areas - but that's a little rough fer a sparrin' match'.

The Corporal grabs a tankard, and gestures to the keg for permission. She pours a half pint, and drinks it, swilling it around in her mouth before swallowing.

'Hmm...t'ain't bad. Full flavoured, decent kick, my thanks'.

'I'll hold off fer a bit...'cause - ya know, giants, an' I'd already had a pint with our dinner just now'.

'I'd offer ya a taste of ours - but it's not great - military surplus

'If ya really like fine ale, a friend o' mine in town's somethin' o' a brewer. He runs the Blue Leopard tavern, but he's somethin' o' an experimenter - I could give ya his name an lodgin's if ya like'.

[Starbin]

Thumble shook his head finally. "We have not seen any elves in the woods ... they're not liked around here. Most elves we've heard of live either in the mountains, or in Forcehead."

Glancing back at the others, who seemed to be searching around the area, he pointed to one of the women. "I think she said something about going back to Forcehead ... maybe they can help you there!"

[Malak'ai]

"N-not l-l-liked? B-b-but m-my m-m-mother i-is n-n-nice! S-she j-j-just g-got r-ready s-s-sad w-when d-d-daddy d-d-died."

[Marlowe]

Lena blows her breath out through her teeth. "Elf. Nixie. Tax Collector; we can account our crew when back under canvas. Or rather better. Whatever the lil' rabbit-choker is; I'll tell ye what she isn't, and that's a greycloak frother runnin' at yer wit' an axe".

" Lady Beigette," she says, turning toward that worthy. "I'm a' goin' t' ask ye straight; if I were t' look around for those reports in the wagon, would I find them? Or maybe ye coul' answer, Soldier?" she darts a look at Cass.

"'cause time presses. And weather waits. And threat is waitin' after. An' I don' wan' t' be stuck in the middle o' all three if it could all be avoided by one o' ye givin' a simple one-word answer."

[Azoth]

Ursuul chuckles a bit to them. Feeling the drink a bit more than he let on innitially. His face is beginning to flush as he thinks of the most absurd things. Like if female dwarves grow beards, or if it is their nethers that are braided and jeweled like a beard...or if their are any male elves cause all the ones he's met look and sound like wee lasses...or how far he could punt a gnome with a good running start.

Shaking himself back into a more stable mind he lets a smile grow over his face.

Bein a bit o brewer meself, I may jus havta take yup on dat one mefriend. Thinin me'n'im get long jes fine. Mit evan trade a bit'o secratses wif one 'nother given nough time ta chew the fatsansuches.

Who nas...givn week rso aft my ass be saved, maybeh can setya boyos and lassessessss oop wit a bit be'er ale as a thankeey. Errr a'lease git ya a barrel or two ta save ya from drenkin tha hot horse piss ya git thar.

[Wordplay]

Cass has hauled a small locked chest from the wrecked wagon. It's made of an exotic dark wood, with brass fittings. It's about a foot wide, a foot tall, and a foot and a half long. It seems to hinge in the middle. It's plain, with nothing but polished dark wood on each surface.

Suddenly a man appears from the woods, surprising everyone except Lena. He snaps off a crisp salute to Lena.

For Lena
It is, of course, Sergeant Takolan.

'Let me give you a hand commander'. The man's dressed in brown, from head to toe, wearing stout boots, leggings, a tunic, a jerkin and hood. His mouse hair is tousled, and a fine stubble covers his face. Two long knives are sheathed at his hips.

The man moves over to Thumble and Tali. He leans over the man that they've ministered to.

'What a mess they made of him. Try and get this man awake, if you can. We should be ready to move out quickly. If he comes to, ask him where they hid the logbooks'.

The man looks away from them as he says this - in fact he doesn't seem to be able to hold anyone's gaze.

For Thumble
This man has something of the wild about him. He moves with a natural grace - as if he were completely at home in the wilderness. You sense a kindred spirit.

The man pads over to the wagon, dives in, and starts rummaging through it, tossing out rubbish, bedrolls and canvas, as he searches. Once he's cleared the cart, he looks up for a moment at Cass - staring at her, straight in the eye.

'Soldier, either lend a hand with this, or get that medicine chest open and put it to good use. See if any more of your comrades are still in the land of the living!'

For Ursuul
Corporal Sturbish nods.

'Why thankee, I'm sure we'd all appreciate that'. she seems genuinely appreciative of the offer.

The slight young lady soldier takes out a small box from one of their saddlebags and dabs a little ointment on the Corporal's face. The Corporal mutters something, but acquiesces - looks like she'll have a black eye.

As Ursuul sits down, he realises the Corporal's split his lip slightly.

After she's finished ministering to the Corporal, the young woman tosses a little tin to Ursuul, and mimes rubbing it on. The tin seems to hold a clear ointment - the same as the one she applied to the Corporal.

The big red haired young soldier walks over.

'Well done. You gave the Corporal a bit of a run for her money. It's something of a rite of passage around here to lose your spare shirt and your first week's pay betting against the Corporal in a fistfight'.

'Mind yer mouth, Burke. A smart soldier always keeps somethin' back, 'til when it's really needed. Learn that an' ye may jus' have a chance o' becommin' an' old soldier'.

[Wordplay]

Thunder sounds out again, reverberating through the mountains - still distant, but getting closer.

Does anyone want to search the battlefield, try to wake the wounded soldier, or help the brown clad soldier search the wagon? If you look for specific things you will get better odds.

For Ursuul
The Corporal grimaces at the sound of the thunder.

'Break out the slickers, Lisandra'. Sturbish turns to Ursuul.

'Do you have anythin' with ya ta keep the water off? Might be able ta loan ya a spare oilskin if not...'

The Corporal frowns.

'The rain comes down pretty thick an' quick 'round here. Maybe I'd better see the tracks the giants left before the rain washes 'em out...'

[Starbin]

My bad ... I totally forgot to respond to this yesterday!

Thumble raised a hand apologetically to Tali. "Thumble's not saying they don't like your mother ... but elves are not well liked. They would probably like your mother if they got to know her ..."

Before he could continue the conversation, a man arrived from the edge of the clearing, saluting to Lena and offered to help her. Before he did, he walked over to the wounded soldier and turned to Thumble and Taliana. 'What a mess they made of him. Try and get this man awake, if you can. We should be ready to move out quickly. If he comes to, ask him where they hid the logbooks'.

The gnome blinked, surprised at being addressed directly by one of the big people. But there was something about this man that put him at ease, so he nodded hesistantly, then moved to the wounded soldier's side. Slobber followed him, happily, as Thumble gently shook the man, trying not to hurt him. His companion whined a little, then leaned down and gave the man a big, wet lick, staring expectantly.

Hopefully that does it! If we get him awake, then Thumble will ask about these 'log books' ... although why anyone would want to make a book out of a log is beyond me!

[Azoth]

Ursuul shakes his head at the question of a way to keep dry. His hand working the pomace he was tossed into his bruised skin and split lip. Occassionally stopping to spit out a bit of blood from his lip.

Nah, ain't got nothin to keep me dry cept my own addled wits.

As fer losing to her, I can see why. She may not hit as hard as I do, but she got plenty experience fightin. Lass has seen more battles than I have whores. Right problem is, she can shift herself between defense like a tower and hittin like a cannon when needin ta. Ifin ya ain't fougt many real fights she can jus wear ya out like a cheap pair oh boots and then hammer ya down at her leisure. I woulna bet gainst her in mos cases.

[Wordplay]

For Ursuul
The pomace stings slightly, and then feels cool. It soothes the sting.

The ginger-haired soldier chuckles and nods agreement.

Corporal Sturbish scowls.

'Yah, I got more tricks n' a performing monkey, thank ya Burke'.

The Corporal seems to be chewing something.

'Well, Lisandra can see if we've got a spare - bad enough havin' ta be fightin' monsters without bein' wet through'.

The mouse haired soldier picks out several poncho- shaped oilskins.

Sturbish looks a little impatient.

'What are they doin' over there? I don' wanna get caught out in this'.

Heal 2 non-lethal damage

[Wordplay]

The boy Thumble and Lena healed stirs, murmuring faintly.

'Wha...I'm alive'. his eyes widen in surprise.

He looks down at the wound, then up at Thumble.

'I...thank you...you saved my life. What was it? Was there a potion left?'.

'Wait, what happened to the others?'. then the boy looks a little worried.

'Who are you?'

The boy catches sight of Tali behind Thumble, and blushes slightly.

Meanwhile Cass forces the lock on the box that she's found. Those standing nearby can see it's full of compartments for storing herbs, dressings for wounds, and poultices. It's clearly seen heavy use - there's hardly anything left. Cass prys off an inset the box. In the bottom of the chest are a number of empty glass bottles...and one full bottle. Cass picks it out.

'Does anyone know what this is?'

For Lena and Thumble
The bottle is of identical manufacture to the one that you gave to the wounded boy - it's the same shape, the fluid is the same colour, and the glass is a similar clarity and thickness.

Cass curses.

'Look - these people are like family to me'. she implores pleadingly. She turns to Beigette.

'If there's any chance that we can do anything for them...or any could survive. You saved me - I know you're a good person. Most of these men and women have people who care about them. Please, help me'.

Cass starts searching amongst the bodies, trying to see if any show signs of life. She looks up at Tali and Thumble.

'Please, are either of you healers?'.

Meanwhile, the brown clad soldier is doing a pretty thorough job of tearing apart the cart.

'Any help would be appreciated...I do not want to linger here long commander'. he calls out.

For Azoth
Corporal Sturbish, Lisandra and Burke make ready, changing into their rain gear. They move the animals to shelter, stow everything away, and return to picketing - Burke guarding down the road, Lisandra the way ahead.

Corporal Sturbish stands between them with the animals. She turns to Ursuul.

'So, say that our commander returns, an' agrees ta go huntin ya giants'. she chews one last time, then spits out a mouthful of what's probably chewing tobacco.

'An' say we do find 'em. Wha exactly do ya propose ta do eh? We gonna fight several giants? D'ye think ya can talk 'em down? Or maybe just steal the damn things back?'

[Starbin]

Thumble blinked at the young man's thanks, stammering quickly, "Uh, Thumble, um, I didn't do anything! She gave you the liquid that healed your wounds!" He pointed at Lena. He paused as he other woman held up a similar vial as the one given to this formerly dying boy. "It looked like that!"

To Cass' plea, he stood nervously, wringing his hands and looking around uncomfortably. "Thumble can sometimes heal, but not all the time. I-I'm not prepared today!" He looks a little scared, and more than a bit worried about the situation, unable to help the others seemingly.

[Malak'ai]

Nodding at Thumble as he explains about how Elves are seen in this area.

When Lena calls her a Rabbit Choker, she looks down into Frexy's eyes and snuggles him a little more before opening her cloak and tucking him into a large pocket so only his head is poking out.
She then proceeds to do as she's told and starts tentatively search the bodies for signs of life. Picking up a stick and prodding them while saying to each, "I-if y-you're a-a-alive, d-don't h-hurt m-me."

[PersonMan]

Beigette is conflicted. On one hand, she doesn't want to end up in a field of corpses, checking for signs of life, in a storm. On the other hand, she doesn't want to kill one of these people by not checking them...

"Tell you what, I'll help find those log things then me 'n Mr ShyGuy will help you guck at the bodies, a'ight?" Beigette smiles as she speaks, clapping one hand on the woman's shoulder, trying to reassure her. "I've gone on enough H-an'-C raids to be able to find some little box in a cart easily enough,"

Then she heads over to the cart, doing a quick search first, relying on her experience. If that won't work she begins a much more thorough, slow procedure.

Search: [roll0]
If that fails, take 20.

EDIT: Aww yeah.

[Azoth]

Ursuul somber up at the mention of fighting the giants. All signs of intoxication leave him as his form straightens. His posture shifting from that of a drunken sell sword to that of a proud warrior of higher birth than he'd like to admit.

One calloused hand moving to whip back hair from his face as he looks to Sturbish. His ice blue eyes peering into her own with a frosted intensity. A strong fire burning behind them.

With or without your help, I will reclaim what is my own. I am no coward or thief to stalk their camp in the night and run with what was mine. I will face them openly, and without fear. Should I fall to them, then those asses and ale were not rightfully mine to begin with. A man who cannot protect what is his, has no claim to it...even his life.

I do not expect you or yours to fight to such an extreme alongside me, but know I will fight to the end. If you do come with me, and you do run, I will cover you and not hold it against you. After all, this isn't your fight and my ways are not your own.

[Wordplay]

The boy that Thumble and Lena healed eases himself up, falls back, then rises a little.

'Did we...did we win?' he looks upset.

'I need to get back to Forcehead. I don't want...I just want to see my sweetheart again. It's been hell, absolute hell the last few months'. his expression is anguished.

He looks around.

'Did anyone else ... no dammit, no.... we were only a day away. A day away from safety...if that'.

The boy gets up.

'The name's...ah Lord an' Lady, you saved my life, the name's Gai. I'm not supposed to say...officially we don't exist anymore...but light an' dark take it. I'm done...'

He sees Tali examining the bodies, and he starts to help.

'There are some I don't recognise - reinforcements'.

'Yeah, my squad'. replies Cass.

'All my friends. Looks like we got damn near wiped out helping you - so whatever you found...well it better be worth it'.

Tali pokes a body. A raven is perched on it, beginning its gory business. It turns and caws loudly, a piece of tongue held in it's mouth.

The second body is that of a young woman - her brown hers stare into infinity. Her hair spills from her helmet, a glossy black...there's no response when Tali pokes her with the stick.

Cass finds someone she knew. 'Aden, speak to me. Please'. she breaks down as she clutches the body of a man who's clearly far gone.

The third body Tali pokes is a wiry looking soldier, with brown stubble and a thin face. He breathes out heavily as Tali pokes him.

Just then Gai calls out.

'Got a live one...definitely not one of ours - yours maybe?'

The brown clad man nods appreciatively as Beigette joins the search. He moves over to make room for her, though he doesn't meet her eye. He's stripped the inside of the wagon bare - there's nothing left there. He swings himself over the side, and begins hunting under the wagon.

Slobber bounds over to the brown clad man with a happy bark, and starts sniffing about under the wagon. The brown clad man spares a moment to smile warmly at the large hound, and scratches the dog behind the ears affectionately, before returning to his search.

For Beigette
Beigette takes a look at the bare flat bed of the wagon...and something bothers her. She hops off the wagon to make sure. The bottom of the wagon seems rather thick...perhaps a little overbuilt - or it could be concealing a dead space. Probing the boards of the wagon carefully, Beigette finds one that looks a little scuffed on one side - as though someone had prised it off then nailed it back down. Putting a sword under it, then levering it off reveals a concealed compartment - containing a small box.

The box is about 12' by 6' by 4'. Each corner has a little foot. It's made of a plain light coloured wood. The top of the box is inlaid with a pattern of blue tiles, each of which has a glyph written on it. It looks as though the tiles can be rearranged. The glyphs blur slightly before Beigette's eyes, then return to normal. Beigette doesn't recognise the glyphs.

For Ursuul
Corporal Sturbish nods...and bites her lip.

'Hmm...ya. That sounds pretty dumb. Think if that's what ya intendin' we'll jus' watch. Should be pretty entertainin'. Ain't never seen a guy commit suicide by giant before'.

She looks at Ursuul.

'Ta my way o' thinkin' ya jus' 'bout good enough ta give an ole lady like me a bit of a workout. How ya think ya gonna do against several giants boy? I'm all fer bravery - when there's no other option -I didn't get this old by bein' a coward - but I didn't get this old by bein' an idiot either'.

'Just what are ya tryin' ta prove, eh? Ya think ya mules'll look at ya funny or something? Ya think the giants 'll respect ya? No-one cares how ya get back what's rightfully yours'.

Make a Spot check

For Bosh
Bosh cackles to himself happily as he trots up the road to the town of Forcehead - a spring in his step, and a large bag of amber strapped to his belt. His mind turns to avaricious thoughts as he imagines all the gold he can get for his somewhat legally acquired goods.

It's been a tough month scraping together all the amber. It rattles happily at Bosh's step bringing back pleasant memories. Long days prospecting up in the high mountains. The day rival miners had tried to steal his stash - fools. A good portion of the amber was the price they'd paid Bosh to spare their lives.

Then there was the merchant Bosh met at the crossroads. A laughing man, confident in his own strength. Bosh had managed to persuade him to gamble half his summer's work away on an arm wrestling contest. Bosh left the poor sap crying in a ditch about his wife and children as he massaged his arm.

It saddens Bosh a little to part with all the shiny stuff...until he thinks of all the gold.

The day is warm, and Bosh makes good time, full of anticipation for that first glass of ale at his journey's end. Forcehead's the only place for miles where you can get a decent ale.

Bosh makes it to the main road, and the upland forest starts to close in. Thick stands of mountain pine shutter out most of the light.

Up ahead Bosh can see some figures in the distance...it's not clear if they've spotted him...yet.

Make a Spot check, and if you wish, a Hide check.

And add a large bag of raw amber to your inventory. Let's say it weighs a pound (rounded up).

[PersonMan]

Taking the box, Beigette rises and clears her throat to get the searching man's attention. Smiling at him, she presents the box with obvious pride.

"There we have it, I assume? It takes a good eye to fine somethin' like this with a single sweep. Maybe I can show you how sometime? But then I may jus' spend all our time sweepin' you with my good eye," Beigette winks at the shy man, then heads off to bring the box to his commander.

"Ahem, 'Mmander o' Corvaya, yer handsome subco and I have found this. My awgs and denkungs tell me 'is prolly the logs. Looks pri'y well-sec'd to me, too," she reports, holding the box out to the woman soldier.

Following that, Beigette heads off around the clearing, checking corpses for signs of life and - if they lack them - uttering a brief prayer and padding them down for valuables. This Four's Head place was probably some dinky little 'Terial town they called a city that barely had a thousand in-livers. Finding the families of these troops would be easy enough, and it would be better to give them some of what their relatives had been carrying than to leave it here to rust.

[Azoth]

[roll0] Spot

Ursuul shakes his head as he begins to put his guantlets back on.

It is the way of my people. If you are strong enough to defeat someone, what you take is yours by right. They had no claim to it because they couldn't protect it honorably. Those giants stole from me, and my people do not tolerate theft. So I will reclaim what is mine or have it proven to me that it was never mine to begin with.

Just as you did not go all out against me, I did not go full force against you. I may not be able to take them in droves, but one or two I might manage. After all, I am not after the entire encampment just the thieves.

If it comes to it though, I will burn their camp to ash and put holes through every man there. My people were known to be quite...barbaric...by your standards when honor was denied them.

[Yas392]

Bosh's mouth is almost slobbering. These people are his next targets. So ripe for the picking. Is that blood he smell? So they had tire themselves, huh? His mind is brimming with lots of nefarious thoughts.

[Starbin]

Thumble nodded to the boy. Pointing to himself, then to the wild looking dog, he said, "Thumble and Slobber. We were just trying to help." He, too, tried to help check the bodies, using a bit more care than poking them with a stick. When he found a man too far gone, he would make sure their eyes were close and say a few words to send them on their way. If any were still alive, he would offer one of his charged berries, which would at least keep them alive ...

Not sure what else to do just yet ...

[Wordplay]

Beigette searches the fallen.

The first one she finds is definitely dead - a thin young human woman with strawberry blonde hair, high cheek bones, a stunned expression, and a crossbow bolt through the neck.

She's wearing the same red rose emblem as the first boy and Cass. She has chain armour, a black undershirt, maroon leggings, brown boots, and a sturdy stee helmet. There's a shortsword at her hip, and a crossbow quiver at her back, containing 20 quarrels. She wears a cheap looking pendent, and a copper torc. It seems a little strange - she has no water or rations, or other personal effects...

The second body is a well built dwarf, muscular, and broad as he is tall. He's next to the bodies of at least three grey warriors. It looks like he was wielding an axe and a longsword when they took him down. There are several sword wounds, and a large javelin still protrudes from his shoulder. His emblem is the blue cross. He wears a serviceable helmet, and chainmail - it looks as though the chain is badly damaged, however. In his belt pouch you find a small scrap of paper covered in runes, and a set of knuckle bones. There's an empty waterskin at his belt, and the remains of empty rations wrappings in his pack.

The third is an older human man - middle aged, strong looking, in a cluster of other soldiers and grey cloaks. Looks like they made a stand here. He has short cropped brown hair, somewhat delicate features, and a full beard. He's wearing a copper torc, of a similar design, but with a large pressed square and a X...looking around a few of the Flamian soldiers have torcs...but not all... there's nothing quite like this one though. His armour is chain. His insignia is the red rose. He wears a burgundy cloak and tunic. A short sword nearby looks like it might have been his - the hilt is delicately worked, and there are small red stones set into it. The blade looks like well sharpened steel. On his body Beigette finds 3 gold coins.

Amongst the personal effects of the three soldiers next to him, Beigette finds a pack of cards for some sort of game, a backgammon set, two more sets of knucklebones, a charm that looks like it might have been an amulet, cast in some kind of cheap pot metal, 17 bronze coins, and a small black book that looks like a diary. There are two crossbows on the ground. Beigette is able to find 23 more crossbow quarrels in various quivers.

All these soldiers wear the red rose emblem, and none of them seem to have any food or water with them.

Meanwhile Thumble also checks the bodies. A grey haired man, with the blue cross emblem - dead. Looks like he was carrying quite a few injuries before the battle - some of them have started to heal.

A grey furred warrior - very strong, and quite young. Clean shaven, and wearing his long brown hair tied back. Would have been a picture of health, but for a slit throat.

Thumble comes to a body that Tali had poked with a stick. It's a young woman - her brown hers stare into infinity. Her hair spills from her helmet, a glossy black... as Thumble puts a hand on her neck he can feel her heart is still beating - but the pulse is very faint. She's lost some of the fingers from her left hand...her face is white...there's an awful lot of blood. Thumble puts the goodberry into her mouth, and helps her chew it. The magic discharges...but it doesn't seem to have much effect...

Just as Beigette turns, something grabs her ankle. One of the warriors dressed in grey furs was alive. He seems to have wounds to the head and neck. He draws a knife from his belt.

'Help me - get a healer over here, or I'll cut you girl'. he winces in agony at his wounds.

'Don't move, knife's poisoned'.

For Ursuul
The Corporal is a little tight lipped.

'In the unlikely event that ta happen ta survive menacing a bunch o' giants, I should warn ya, folks in the lands ahead o' ya don't take kindly ta ya interpretation o' property rights'.

'I mean what happens if a big guy beats up a friendly little guy, takes his stuff, an' the little guy's friends come an' beat the big guy an' take their friend's stuff back. Whose is it? The little guy's? His friends? How many kinds o' strength d'ye recognise? If I take ya things without honour, does that mean ya never deserved them?'

'Let me tell ya a story. Down south an' ta the west o' here lies a plain. Once 'pon a time there lived a folk - took a similar view ta yours as regarded property - this is goin' back a coupla hundred years now'.

'They raided Flamia's borders back in the time o' Ole Aequaria...well, as ya can imagin' ole Empire dint take to kindly ta that. Empire had laws - they didn't suffer the strong ta prey on the weak, an' they dint trust a people that wouldn't look ta keep their hotheads in line'.

'The people o' the plain were nomads, 'n they fought with honour. Empire never fought with nothing but a fierce keen desire ta win'.

'See the Empire didn't fight fair - they killed the herds where they found 'em an' left 'em ta rot. They fell upon the woman an' children in their camps, and they took them captive. They poisoned the wells. They only engaged when they had overwhelmin' force, an' even then, they used smart tactics an' care'.

'Pretty soon, the people o' the plain who dint fight with honour any more - all the honourable ones were dead. Mind, not long after that, rest were too'.

'In a way I suppose the laws o' nations aren't much different - empire saw what they wanted an' they took it. They were stronger, an' they used that ta say that the gods had favoured them, and that their victory showed that they were the chosen people'.

'Dint mean nothin' - simply there were more o' them, they had better weapons, an' they fought smart'.

'Ye're right in a way, that might makes right...jus' remember this honour ain't worth a fig. Power matters - an' the will ta use it'.

The Corporal thinks for a moment.

'Ma point bein', ya try ta tackle jus' one giant head on - ya gonna get smeared over Twelve's green earth like strawberry jam. That fancy stick o' yours is only gonna make ya look silly - ya might be able ta trip me up alright, but try somethin' ten times ya size, or more'.

'I like ya, in a way. I've seen a lot o' brave young men o'er the years tha fought bravely an' honourably, an' died young'.

'I figure ya fer a little smarter than that Ursuul...I see a spark o' somethin' in ya...a truly great warrior doesn't fear death - but he knows how ta stay alive'.

Burke speaks up...

'Corporal...think I saw something'.


For Bosh
Bosh hurries off the path quickly. In his haste, he cracks his head on a low hanging tree branch.

It's difficult to tell whether they saw you or not.

Now you're in the thread, no reading other peoples' spoilers please - or if you do, keep the knowledge OC.

[Azoth]

Ursuul listens to her tale and keeps a straight face through it. Though, that isn't easy for him. People that fought as the Empire did made his blood boil. Attacking women and children, wasting herds, poisoning water...all of it was despicable in ways beyond measure. Ambushes were one thing, fighting 10 to 1 was another, but to be so cowardly in your approach to war as to destroy the spoils of it...

The comment of seeing something snaps Ursuul to attention and his weapon is ripped from the ground as he turns to face the road behind him. His weapon held at the ready as he looks about the area. His senses focusing to find any sign of an approach.

Spot: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]

[Wordplay]

For Bosh
You may make another Spot check, and a Listen check.

For Ursuul
Ursuul thinks he does a good job of keeping his face straight, but maybe the Corporal picked up on something...or maybe she just thought alike.

'Seems pretty nasty right? An' to hear the tellin' there were folks at the time said exactly that'.

'Ya gotta bear in mind, the Empire fer the most part wanted ta be left alone. They were sick o' the plainsmen raiding their border towns, carrying their citizens off as slaves. They found it a nightmare ta negotiate peace - pay tribute ta one family, tribe or clan, an' the next one over raided'.

'They fought not so much fer conquest - but ta make peace... well, so they said... that were many years ago ...but it shows what can happen when two folks who don't share the same values'.

'When barbaric peoples fight, they fight wit' honour. Civilised folk fight with rules. When the two meet, all bets is off the table'.

The Corporal also turned quickly to Burke as he called out, hand going swiftly to her sword.

'Ya sure Burke - I dint see anythin''.

Ursuul himself neither sees nor hears anything out of the ordinary.

'I'm sure Corporal - there was a shape - didn't see it clearly, but something about man sized sneaked off the road up there'.

'Well that's good enough fer me'.

The Corporal turns to Ursuul and speaks quietly.

'What's say we give this fella a surprise? How are ya at sneaky type work'.

[Azoth]

'Bout as useful as tits on a boar. I'll be the bait...

Ursuul then begins towards where the soldier indicated. His guisamere held so the butt dragged on the ground noisily as he walked. He made sure to let his steps thud on the road ill timed. His voice raising loudly as he made his way.

Damn good fer nuffin soldiers...kent be bbothered ta help a man find his asses an booze! Yella sons of two copper whores went help eben fer tin goal a piece. Asses carriin booty werth mmore tan a years pay for 'em an they turn me way...even gave me a split lip for the ask in... Corrupt dogs o da empire. Ought a be taken out and put down like they got mange! Tower what aughta happen to em still too good ya ass me!

[Malak'ai]

When the grey cloaked figure grabs Beigette's foot, Tali steps back, pointing at the man, her voice trembling, "H-h-he... H-he..." then screams.
A red and green light emanates from her hand and shoots out, striking the man clear in the face.

Tali is casting Daze on the grey cloaked warrior. DC 13 Will Save to negate.

[Starbin]

Thumble was about to call out for more help when events suddenly exploded into action. He glanced over at the situation, uncertain what he could do to help just now. Of course, the young lady at his feet was in bad shape, too. Moving quietly over to the grey-haired man with the old wounds, he checked the man's belongings, hoping the healing was due to a potion and not just time ...

Staying out of the conflict for now and concentrating on the girl.

@ Wordplay - I also updated the table in the OOC - you might want to cut and paste that part into your first post, so it's easy for everyone to find!

[Wordplay]

Tali's spell connects with the young warrior, but seems to have no effect. The youth shakes his head.

'What did you do to me? Don't try anything, or I'll kill her - I mean it'. then a little of the fight goes out of him.

'Please I...I just want to live'.

The brown garbed soldier is edging steadily closer.

'Of course you do, lad, of course you do'. his voice is calm and soothing, his eyes watch the youth carefully.

'You're gonna be alright. Just let us have a look at you'. The soldier looks up from the youth, and tries to catch Beigette's eye.

For Thumble
Make a search check to find anything in the man's belongings. Make a healing check to determine the state of the girl.

[Marlowe]

Lena catches the look Takolon gives Cass and smiles a little inside. Looks like I'll be keepin' these two apart for the rest of the trip back. Already having made certain assumptions about where the mysterious reports have got to, devotes a passing interest in the checking of the dead, while keeping her eye out for signs of trouble, notably, involving Takolon.

When the mysterious Beigette suffers the beginning of a hostage situation, she wanders over to the scene with a practiced attitude of polite interest. "Ye need a healer? Well, that's just fine by me. Let's look ye a little nearer."

. She only has to get within 10 feet]

When she gets near enough, she casts Prestidigitation on the greyskin's knife, cleaning it and removing any poison. "Now, mate, here's sunshine. There's healin' for ye. [B]IF you unhand the nice young carlin and come along with us all nice and quiet-like. Else, there's another sort of healin' we can give." She draws the morningstar casually. "Fair enough?"

Diplomacy [roll1]

[Apologies to everyone for being away almost two weeks without notice, I'm just feeling run down from work all the time:smallfrown:]

[PersonMan]

Beigette is not happy with the situation. Just as she's preparing to come down on the fur-'Terial, the elf woman suddenly blasts him with some sort spell...which does nothing. Still, it left an opening that she could exploit. Maybe.

Then the 'Terial commander moves in. Glad to have help, she considers her for a moment. She mulls over her words and decides that they don't invalidate her former plan.

"In'eed. It'd be very counterproductive of you to kill me, since I'm the one who'd be checking your wounds," Beigette says, keeping her voice calm. "The 'mmander here can fix up some things, but I'm pretty sure your cut's not in her specialty,"

[What shes saying is more or less true, as they don't really have a designated healer and she's overconfident in her own healing abilities as well as dismissive of the "'Terial healing muck-schooling" she thinks the people here received.]

"Do you see this?" She asks, indicating the emblem emblazoned on her armor. "This is the symbol of the City on the Spire, Sigil. I'm a citizen of the Great City, y'see. An' in the City, all the honest leuts swear oaths to the Lady if they promise somethin'. You break it, she takes ya off and you're never seen again. I'm from a family of sellvolk, an' for someone like that, the oath is all you 'ave. Lose it, 'n you're naught a spider on the spire.

I jus' want you to know that, so that when I tell ya 'if you put that knife down, I'm gonna take a look at your wound and make sure you get out of this with your orebeat goin'', you know you can trust me. I may not like you, but I'm sure as 'Modie not gonna shik myself off to a place worse'n the nine double-fs over this.

So, how 'bout you stop grabbin' me like a drunk an' put down your cutcut there, so I can help you,"

This is in part a trick of wording. Everything Beigette is saying is true. She intends to help him...possibly violently, depending on how things go, but she sees his alternative as inevitable death, so that's a step up in her eyes.

[Wordplay]

For Bosh
Bosh can't see anything, but he hears the sound of a single set of heavy footsteps coming up the road. Bosh also hears a gruff voice raised in complaint:

.....ta help a man find his asses an booze! Yella sons of two copper whores went help eben fer tin goal a piece. Asses carriin booty werth mmore tan a years pay for 'em an they turn me way...even gave me a split lip for the ask in... Corrupt dogs o da empire. Ought a be taken out and put down like they got mange! Tower what aughta happen to em still too good ya ass me!

The sound appears to be drawing level with Bosh.

For Ursuul
The Corporal nods.

'Burke, Lisandra, mind the beasts'.

The squat woman walks off the road and slinks quietly into the forest.

Takolan edges closer, hands on his knives' hilts.

The youth listens to Lena, and she gets close enough to cast the spell.

'Wait what did you...'. the fight seems to go out of the youth, and he throws the knife to one side and releases his grip on Beigette.

'Alright - just do what you need to do'.

Takolan picks up the knife, and sheaths it into an empty slot on one of his many belt. He stands near Beigette and whispers to her.

'Well done'.

Then Takolan draws a long knife and holds it to the youth's throat.

'Alright, see here, if we're healing you it's on our terms. If you offer any trouble, I'll end you'.

Meanwhile, Thumble frantically paws through the dead soldiers clothes - but finds nothing, beyond the fact that the man wears damaged chain mail and has a dagger strapped to his belt.

Thumble realises that the girl's near death. The problem seems to be blood loss - but the wound to her finger isn't enough to cause it. Checking her over Thumble finds a wound to her thigh.

Frexxy scrabbles in Tali's clothes, moving to get more comfortable. The wiry soldier who'd showed signs of life when Tali poked him seems to be trying to ask for something.

Cass reluctantly tears herself away from her fallen comrade and goes over to Gai, and his casualty.

[Marlowe]

Lena nods with approval. "Enough. He's a broke one. Sergeant, please head back t' the horse guards an' get them up here wit' us. with the mounts. Only danger they're in here is o' losing their lunches. Lady Beigette, I'll leave this one--" flick of the wrist to the young greycloak, "-t' you. An' you", a nod to Tali. " Keep watch. He give any trouble, set yer rabbit on him."

"Now, let's save who we can. I may not have the healin' skills o' a drunken ogre zombie but this twinkly lil' trick o' mine", she flexes her fingers, and they sparkle with prestidigitation, "won't be fadin' f' a full hour. An' it can clean wounds just as well as knives"

Tryin'--sorry, trying--to keep part of her attention on the romantic scene woth Beigette and the Grecloak, she looks around for wounded worth trying to save.

[Wordplay]

Takolan looks up, and nods grudgingly.

'Alright. Would be good to have one to interrogate is all. I don't think he'll die easily'.

Takolan calls over Cass, and gives her the warrior's knife.

'If he moves kill him'.

Takolan pads off into the forest.

Lena can see that Thumble, Tali and Gai have each found someone alive.

[Marlowe]

Lena will use her cantrip to clean the wounds of those found alive, and also use her to cut some strips of uniform fabric and clean them to make improvised dressings. "There's another o' those potions I had in the medicine kit. Any o' ye got a vote on which o' the bleeders get it?"

[Malak'ai]

Still a little freaked out by the grey-furred soldiers threats, Tali backs off back to the wiry soldier.
Leaning down she stutters, "W-w-what i-is i-it? W-w-where a-are y-you h-h-hurt?"

[Yas392]

Bosh is drawn by the complaint, going to the main road.

I'd say days am grumpy for yer kind, lad. What in Moradin's name da bastards smelt that blows yer gutter off? Ain't no cheese and sticks.

[Wordplay]

A bearded dwarf wearing studded armour steps out of the forest in front of Ursuul and says

I'd say days am grumpy for yer kind, lad. What in Moradin's name da bastards smelt that blows yer gutter off? Ain't no cheese and sticks.

Bosh can see a large human in front of him - over six feet tall, with jet black hair, pale skin criss-crossed with scars, and sharp blue eyes. He wields a large polearm.


Meanwhile, back in the glen the wiry soldier is mouthing something - Tali can't quite make it out. The soldier is clutching at his belly with both hands - they're covered in blood.

[PersonMan]

Before Mr ShyGuy leaves, Beigette smiles at him. "Thanks. I had a few more tricks up my sleeve if he kept making trouble, though. Thresher taught me how to speak to boys way back when I was an erstie,"

Then she gets to work on the wounded fur-man. She more or less ignores him, as much as you can ignore someone you're sitting on and bandaging. While Beigette takes her time to do a good job, she doesn't put her best effort into it and certainly doesn't try to ease the man's pain.

Taking 10 for Heal 12.

[Wordplay]

Takolan smiles back at Beigette before he leaves.

It takes some time, but Beigette manages to field dress the man's injuries - cutting up his clothes, and binding his wounds.

A task made slightly easier when Cass brings over the remnants of the medicine chest - and helps with applying it's scant few herbs and dressings. Her eyes are red rimmed, and her face is grave.

'Thank you again for saving my life'. she mutters to Beigette as they work together.

'When you're finished, would you mind taking a look at the another? Gai found someone - one of my companions. She looks pretty bad'.

As they finish patching up the wounds Cass turns to Beigette.

'I've got to ask - why? Why heal him? That filth took out all my friends - my entire unit - and they massacred for the convoy as well. He threatened you. You could have just left him here to die - once he put the knife down'.

Lena can see that Beigette and Cass have the Greycloak in hand, and that Tali, Gai and Thumble have each found a casualty.

[PersonMan]

"Good frag, Tess," Beigette begins, looking down at the man she just dirtied her hands helping. Her response is as much for him as it is for her. "I guess it's 'cuz I'm from Sigil. Y'see, we denk quite a bit differently from you 'Terials. We don't have all these petty fights you do, and we came up with a thing we call the somethin' like 'The Peoplerights' or similar. It says stuff like, everyone is worthy of adequate curin'. Even 'Terials like this nbobo. Seeing as I'm more or less the place repper for Sigil here, it makes sense that I'd hold myself to all that. Oh, an', like that cute Mr ShyGuy said, we can frag 'im about the furry stuff later,"

The fact that Beigette simply couldn't stomach being in a field of dead and dying and then simply walk away from someone in the latter group is something she doesn't mention. The fact that, until now, she'd given no attention to whatever the Peoplerights said, or of Sigil's morals, or of its reputation, also remains unsaid. Beigette is tired, confused, frightened and desperately in search of someone to explain everything, whether she coats it with her bravado and flirting or not. What she wants is for someone to make her feel safe - Mr ShyGuy or the 'Terial commander or the soldier or whoever - and explain why she's there and when she can go home.

"Oh, and eh, somehow I doubt this furry killed all your peeps. If I gave a flyin' 'Modie-demmed mousecrap 'bout him, I'd frag 'bout what he thought. And he'd tell me he had some good reason for doin' this, summin' like you guys töting the king guy of his sister's brother's wife's neighbor's sheep or whatever you 'Terials fight about.

The fact is, kriegin' is nothing but bad, an' good peeps die all the time for s*** reasons. In Sigil we don't don't do that kinda dreck an' I don't plan on learning why you folks do. So, let's go patch up whatever pre-leik we can find and head back to the nearest place you 'Terials call a settlement,"

Normally Beigette would prune what she says to make her prejudice towards the 'Terials less obvious, but at the moment she has no patience for it. If these nbobos wanted to kill each other for stupid s*** like some 'mmander's diary book, she wasn't gonna help them do it. As she walks over to the next survivor, Beigette tries to ignore the field of dead, resolving to keep her tears unshed. This is why she'd never wanted to leave Sigil. Life was brutal, short and senseless here. Weeping for the soldier girl - Beigette wants to say 'her new friend' - and her lost peeps would do nothing.

[Starbin]

Thumble fumbled through the man's clothing, but could not find anything to help the girl. Moving back, he checked her wounds, frowning at the fingers with their pronounced lack of blood. After a few moments, he found the cut on her thigh, clearly a damaging strike. Pulling free some cloth from a nearby body, he quickly tried to tie off the wound for now, eager to stop the blood flow.

He thought he heard something from one of the tall women, so he called out, "Thumble found another hurt one. Please help the girl!"

Not sure what else to do but roll a Heal check to help the girl. [roll0]

Sorry about the delay, but now I'm back!

[Azoth]

Ursuul looks to the man for a moment and a bit quizzically at that. Then he erupts in a fit of good natured laughter almost doubling over a bit. Seems this Dwarf has either been struck by the forge hammer once to often or has just drained a lantern of its oil to talk like that.

As he straightens up a bit, he looks to the man more good naturedly. His hand moving his travel keg out towards him.

'Ere have a wee sip o dis an mayb ya hap make more sense ta me. Iffin ya wondering what's got me hotter than the mistress's kettle its tha my good got stole while I was off seeing ta drain my internal keg. Toll guards up a ways wha hapin and well...got a right solid punch to the face as a thanks fer ma askin em ta help me look. Lose two asses and find a whole company more for the trouble. Lest mine smell better an don't kick yer nethers for assin a favor na.

[Marlowe]

Lena steps up behind Thumble as the latter is setting up his improvised torquinette (sic:smalleek:) "Like I say, I can no' heal t' save my own life. But I can clean wounds and dressings. Show me where she's hurt."

[Aid another. I'm hoping having Prestidigitation active will count for something.

Amusiningly, before this I had no idea the spell worked for a full hour]

[Wordplay]

Thumble and Lena do their best - but it takes them some time to improvise a binding for the wound. The girl is still alive Thumble can feel a slow heartbeat - but she feels unnaturally cold to the touch. She probably won't make it without magical healing.

As Tali leans closer to the wiry soldier she can make out his words.

'Lissa...tell her I'm sorry. Lissa... Twelve above...so thirsty...so cold'.

Beigette and Cass arrive at the woman Gai's ministering to - she has long blonde hair, and would have been a beauty but for the fresh slash wound across her face.

'I know that cut looks nasty, but she took a pretty bad knock to the head. I can't wake her'. Gai looks rather wan. He trembles, and takes a moment to steady himself, reminding those who see that he wasn't in a much better state himself not long ago.

'Her name is Tala'. Cass says dully.

'Tala, please - speak to me'.

[PersonMan]

Beigette nods to the 'Terial soldier, kneeling next to the woman and cracking her knuckles before getting to work. She's tempted to go over everything twice, or even three times, following each step she remembers, but instead she just sticks to a simple, effective 'skeleton routine'. There were others to attend to...and if there weren't, she could come back to continue her work.

Take a look around, if anyone else needs help, take 10 for 12, otherwise take 20 for 22.

[Marlowe]

Lena stands up and gives the approaching stormclouds a filthy look. "This pretty lil' matie is f' the ravens withou' the potion. Soldier." she calls over to Cass. "Tha' potion is yr unit's resources. Might we have yr permission t' use it on her? There still may be others wit' more need."

[Starbin]

Thumble sighed a little once the girl was stable, but knew she wouldn't last long. When Lena stood and asked for the potion, he gave her a look of appreciation, hoping the big people reacted better to one of their own ...

For now, all he could do was comfort her and keep her breathing - someone else would have to bring her back from the brink.

[Wordplay]

As Beigette examines the girl she concludes that her injuries aren't too bad - the cut is largely superficial. She's knocked cold, and she may be concussed - but she should be safe to move, and she's likely to recover if looked after.

Looking around Beigette can see that Tali's dealing with someone who seems quite badly wounded, and that Thumble and Lena have a badly wounded casualty as well.

As Lena asks Cass for the potion she looks a bit surprised - as though she'd forgotten she had it, and then passes over the potion to Lena.

Thumble feels a weak grip on his hand...the girl soldier he was attending to clutches him. It seems to have taken her all the effort that she can muster.

Slobber comes closer, looking plaintive. The dog whines slightly, and starts licking the woman's face.

[PersonMan]

Beigette decides to do a thorough, but not excruciatingly long job with the soldier she's taking care of. The slight elf girl didn't seem to be having an especially easy time.

Finishing the final knot of bandages, Beigette stands and, leaving Tess and the 'Terial soldier behind, goes over to where she is standing.

"Heya Lissie, you doing' good? Ya seem pri'y vamply if I'm one to judge," Beigette asks as she approaches, coming in from the side of her view to avoid surprising her. From what she had seen so far, this elf was jumpy and seemed quite frightened of...well, everything. Best not to startle her.

Taking 10 for, with the Presti cleaning, 14 total.

Will do the same for the one Tali is at.

[Marlowe]

Lena briefly gives the potion a look. "Here's hopin' this is wha' I think it is. An' if it is; here's hopin', girl, that you're somebody helpful, or a' least nice", and then grabs the soldier's jaw and pours the potion into her mouth. "An' here's hopin' yer don't choke. Really, I'm buyin' a wand o' Lesser Vigour soon as I can afford one."

[Wordplay]

Potion cures [roll0]

Lena pours the potion down the girl's throat. For a moment nothing happens. Then the girl is briefly enveloped in a nimbus of light. Before your eyes her wounds almost seem to melt away. The colour returns to her cheeks and she breathes in deeply. Then she blinks, and looks about.

'Where am I? What happened...'. she sits up and takes in her surroundings.

'Are you... I won't talk'. she looks dismayed.

'We suffered too much - I don't care if you have t kill me again'. her voice falters.

Meanwhile, Beigette takes a look at the casualty Tali's been attending to. He seems pretty far gone. As Beigette tries to bind his wounds the life seems to ebb away from him...

He stirs, and holds out a hand towards Tali, pressing something into her hand.

'Take it to her...'

For Tali
The man seems to have pressed a small bronze pendant into her hand. It's in the shape of an elongated teardrop, encircled by a spiral.

The man falls back... his breath grows faint.

[Marlowe]

Lena gives the black-haired woman a hard look. A little overdramatic, this one. "Relax; matie, just a couple of total strangers tryin' t' save yr life. Do we look like a couple of greycloaked mountaineers wit' flensing knives? Now, do ye have any skill in healin'? Can ye move under ye own power? 'Cause you ain't the only one dyin' around here and I'd really like to get anyone salvagable back under a roof before cloud burst. An' time is runnin' out."

[Wordplay]

The woman seems to come too, though she still looks suspicious.

'I can move...but I'm sorry - I don't know anything about healing I'm afraid'.

She stares at Lena.

'Strangers? Just happened to be passing through? Doesn't add up. Which house are you working for?'

She pulls herself up.

'I think that there was a medicine chest in the wagon... not sure if there's anything left in it though'.

[Starbin]

Thumble shook his head, patting the woman on her now healed arm. "No, no! Thumble and Slobber only here to help ... we won't attack you!"

Looking around, he glanced at Lena for support, hoping it would lend credence to his assertion. With the young girl healed, he stood and bowed his head slightly. "You take it easy ... we need to look for more survivors."

Thumble continued to search amongst the others, lending his help where ever he could.

Let's go with a general Heal check to help anyone out. If someone else is better at healing, he'll try to aid - DC 15 either way, I think.

[roll0] - Wow, this is REALLY not my forte!

[Wordplay]

Slobber starts licking the girl's face again. She attempts to fight him off, but he mistakes it for playfulness, and jumps up, yapping happily.

'Help - call your beast off!'

Thumble doesn't find anyone else except the casualty that Beigette and Cass are tending to - examining him, Thumble comes to the conclusion that he's probably not going to make it.

[Starbin]

Thumble whistled low to Slobber, smiling apologetically. "We are just happy that you are alive and okay. Our apologies!"

[Yas392]

Bosh shrugs.

Ah, me ears timbered from the booze. Yer saying yer gotten classed by phantom goers, of course, they busted your ass, lad. Them poets ain't Samaritans, no way they flush themselves down ta gimps.

When Ursuul offers his keg, he snatches it and empties it down his throat.

[Malak'ai]

Jumping a little even though she saw the other woman approach, Tali steps back, holding her hand out with the pendant in her palm.
"H-h-he's g-going t-t-to d-d-die. I-i-i d-don't k-k-know h-how t-t-to f-fix h-him." she says, new tears forming in her eyes, this time from the shame of admitting she can't help.

"H-he w-w-wanted m-me t-t-to g-g-give t-this t-t-to s-someone n-n-named L-l-lissa."

[Marlowe]

Lena looks from the woman she just saved, over to where the young elf is spluttering over the man her decision probably just killed, and wondered if she should pray for a do-over. Instead she says "Stop wit' the panic. There's someone over there goin' t' the crows because we used the last potion on ye. Ye want t' stop makin' me think of yer as the worst mistake of my life, please get up and help. Even if it's just helpin' me cut bandages.

"Maybe ye could see if the cart's still in a useful condition. We should ha' some horses arriving soon; but no' enough for all and no' everyone's goin' t' be able to walk or ride anyway."

Not giving the woman a second look, she continues trying to aid the others with there relief efforts, even if all she can do is clean things.

[Wordplay]

After fending off Slobber, the raven haired woman comes over and takes a look at the wiry man... she says something, but it's too quiet to hear.

'Alright - I can see you mean me no immediate harm - even if you are working against my house'.

The woman kneels and feels for his pulse.

'You're right. I suspect there was nothing you could do'. her voice is tightly controlled, and she chews her lip. She leans over, and gently closes the man's eyes.

'I'll check out the cart'.

The stabilised greycloak laughs nastily.

The air feels oppressive and humid.

For Bosh and Ursuul
After Bosh downs the keg, a human woman steps out from the trees. She is short and squat, with lank hair, and a boil.

She's wearing a shortsword, armour, a simple helmet, and a black and white tabard depicting a stylised tree - clearly some kind of military uniform.

'Good day ta ya sirs. Corporal Sturbish - Forcehead Customs an' Excise - jus' conductin' a rountine counter-smuggling operation'.

'Could ya gentlemen kindly identify yaselves, an' is there anythin' ya wish ta declare?'

Further up the road there seem to be three soldiers and some horses and mules.

[PersonMan]

Beigette sighs, sitting back as the man's life leaves him. Well, that was one she couldn't save. She looks up to the elf woman, expression tired, indicating her hand with a nod of her head.

"Hey, Lissie...what he give ya?" She asks, voice as tired as her expression. She's had enough of all the death. More than enough, actually. As the furry man laughs, Beigette frowns, then stands up and walks over to him.

"What's so funny?" She asks.

[Wordplay]

The grey furred man smiles, a little nervously.

'I thought that I was a coward, fearing death - but that elf can't even bear the sight of blood'. he gestures at Tali.

He turns, wincing as his movement tugs on his dressings.

'But for a bunch of...argh... passerby healers we'd have finished every last one'.

His eyes look hungry.

'Guess we still might - where there's life there's hope, eh?'