Travels amongst the Border Princes (WFRP 2e) IC

[dojango]

https://lpix.org/3275829/Border Princes 1.png

Everyone has their reasons for travelling to the borderlands. The caravan master, George Beaumont, had been guiding caravans there for nearly thirty years. The merchant, Linus Springer, had hired him to as a guide. The caravan consists of the merchant, his young daughter Bernice, three muleskinners, two guards, two scouts, and a handful of ne'er do wells and adventurers heading south. And a dozen mules, laden with goods and supplies.

The caravan left Imperial lands three weeks ago. It travelled south, through the mountain passes, watched over by flint-hearted dwarves. Were they guarding you, or guarding from you? South through the forest of beasts. It was quiet, although one of the scouts disappeared without a trace. Nobody was willing to search for him. The caravan master said that the badlands were safer, since barely anyone could survive there. Two weeks struggling through the maze-like hills and wastelands showed the truth of that. The last spring, a stagnant pool called "Sweetwater Springs" had been two days ago. Finally, the caravan climbs a rocky ridge. Thin bushes and grasses dot the landscape. You make camp for the night.

The next day dawns. The caravan master gathers everyone around the mule train. He hits one of the water barrels with his walking stick. There is a disconcertingly hollow sound. "Drink up!" he laughs. He points to a notch in the mountains to the south. "There's Faucon Pass. There's springs on the other side. There's a toll to get through; Master Springer has offered to pay it in thanks for helping guard the caravan. Past that... well, that's up to you. Thirty years in the wastelands. This is my last trip. Gonna settle down in Faucon Pass with the missus." The caravan master looks at the arrow suddenly sprouting from his chest. He crumples down. More arrows spatter around the crowd. Two of the mules go down, screaming. Confusion erupts. A dozen figures emerge from the ridge and charge towards the group, cudgels raised.

[Haval]

On the journey south Gabriele has been doing what she could to make herself useful. If she could catch anything the more food they had the better. On the same basis, while the scouts seemed to know their business, she would rather not trust her safety to someone else.

She has been half expecting something like this since the scout disappeared. She's still surprised but will try to recover as quickly as she could. If they won maybe they could get the old man to a healer.


Use a Fortune point to get another half action

Half Action - Ready Longbow
Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Shoot the nearest mutant

vs. BS 42 (+10 Aim)
[roll0]

Damage (with Armour Piercing - ignore 1 AP if they have any)
[roll1]

Ulric's Fury if any
[roll2]
Extra damage
[roll3]

FP: 3/4
Wounds: 11

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil looks up at the passes with some relief, though he does his best to keep up an impression of disinterested aloofness. It wouldn't do for an elven mage to be seen worrying about something as mundane as water. Still, though, he was glad to finally be out of the badlands.

The arrow's sudden appearance rudely pulled him away from thoughts about how nice that first drink of water would be. He stared wide-eyed for a moment--was he dead? The further arrows landing among the caravan, as well as the human's response--what was her name again? He couldn't remember right off--shook him back out of his momentary shock. He regarded the mass of cudgel-armed figures. Fear for his life mingles with disdain for the lowly attackers. He rises up, gathering magical energy around himself, and trying to recall the proper incantations and gestures for the magic dart spell he'd been taught. Arrows? Psh. He'd show these people what real power looks like.

Half action: Channeling test for a +1 on Casting Roll
Vs. WP (36)
[roll0]

Half action: Cast Magic Dart spell once the targets are close enough (16 yards)
Casting Roll (target 6)
[roll1] +1 if Channeling test is successful
Damage: [roll2]

FP: 3/3
Wounds: 9/9

As I said, this is my first time playing WFRP, so if I do something wrong please let me know!

[rs2excelsior]

Off to a good start: Casting Roll was a 1, so gotta take a WP test or gain an insanity point on my first spell of the game.
vs. WP (36)
[roll0]

Well, that's good at least :D

[em.]

Even as the words left his thick lips "...last trip..." her agitation increased, heightening from its previous churn on the disappearance of the scout the night before. Didn't he know that to make the Gods laugh, one merely must tell them ones plans?

As the arrow sprouted from his chest she was almost unsurprised, but not quite: sudden death was still that, when all was said and done.

All arrows pattered down around the crowd she reacted instinctively, moving back to the questionable cover of the wagons: loosing and knocking an arrow from her trusty bow - not bothering to aim.

Maybe it'd slow the charging brigands down for at least a few moments.

[RossN]

Carl had been happy to make himself useful as a guard during the trip and also chat idly with his travelling companions. By Halfling standards he was rather dour and stiff but that still made him talkative and good humoured by human standards. The Halfling soldier had been somewhat startled to find that one of his fellow travelers was not just an Elf but a magician as well and it had taken considerable restraint not to pester Torendil into showing some tricks (more than once a day anyway.)

Having stood close to Beaumont when the attack happened Carl found himself instinctively reaching for a weapon - his soldier's experience temporarily pushing away the shock and grief at seeing the likable man die. Though 'Bertha', his beloved handgun was the most powerful weapon he had Carl instead grabbed for his sling. Shot was expensive and rare and he might need the extra kick of a handgun elsewhere!

"Esmerelda and Sigmar, I'd like a little help if you can!" Carl murmured in prayer to the Halfling goddess and the patron of the Empire before letting a smooth stone fly from his sling towards the nearest mutant.

Ready Sling (Free Action thanks to Quick Draw talent)

Aim (Half Action)
Shoot Nearest Mutant (Half Action): [roll0] vs 68 (BS 48 +20% for Aim with the Sharpshooter talent.)
Damage: [roll1] (3 for Sling + 1 for Mighty Shot.)

[rax]

The past three weeks have demonstrated to everyone that Severin Cinderhill certainly isn't work-shy. He has ridden with the scouts when extra eyes were needed on the trail, wrangled stubborn mules with the caravan master, and always taken his turn on watch without complaint. In between, he has made a concerted effort to get to know his fellow travellers, with Carl Greenarrow - a fellow Halfling - bearing the brunt of Severin's sociable inquiries.

Today, Severin has spent much of his time chatting with Bernice, the merchant's daughter, regaling her with more or less outrageous tales of his adventures back in the Empire. "No, young lady, it's all true - I swear! This scar right here?" he says, tracing the knife scar on his face, "I got it when I was defending Lady Nettelbach from a pack of assassins, sent by her wicked uncle Luthor! That was a fierce fight, I promise you! I... Bernice! TAKE COVER!" he shouts as the arrows begin to fly.

Positioning himself and his pony between Bernice and the oncoming mutants, Severin takes up his shield to grant them both some protection, then unwinds his sling and starts fumbling forth a sling stone.

Half action: Ready shield.
Half action: Ready sling.
Spend Fortune Point for another half action.
Half action: Load sling.

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[dojango]

The attackers close the distance. Carl's stone and Gabriel's arrow fly past them. Wertha's hasty arrow flies true, striking one of the mutant attackers in the right arm. He (it?, hard to say) shrieks in pain, mad eyes rolling as he searches for the source of the arrow. Torendil carefully channels arcane energy, much like he has seen his teacher do it back home, but under pressure, he loses control of the power. Arcane tendrils flare up his arm before flickering out. A lesser, human, mind might quail at a such a setback, but Elves are made of sterner stuff. And Torendil's an elf. As the attackers close, you can see that they are strange, twisted forms. Perhaps they were human once, but now they are thin and wasted, with bizarre, animalistic forms and twisted limbs. They growl, 'meat, fresh meat' as they split into two groups.

The first group engages the two guards, who have drawn swords and raised shields to meet them. The second group is in amongst the mules and muleskinners, lashing about with clubs. One of the muleskinners goes down as he is cracked in the head with a stiff blow. The others draw their daggers and attempt to defend themselves. The mules shriek and kick as the mutants are among them. A few of the mutants draw knives and start cutting at bridles and traces. Linus shouts out, "Beatrice, stay back! Get them!" He pulls a crossbow out and loads it. The remaining scout lets an arrow fly at one of the mutants. In his haste, the arrow goes wide. Bernice draws a small sword, uncertainly, while also taking shelter behind Severin's shield. There are three groups of the enemy; a fierce melee around the two guards, mutants amongst the muletrain spooking the mules and attacking the drivers, and on the ridge, you can see a few hunched forms with bows. They are nocking arrows and aiming now, ready to let fly again...

[Haval]

Gabriele will stifle her momentary feeling of panic at missing and try to calm herself down. It wasn't like she hadn't seen worse back home.

Now the closer mutants are too close to the guards to make easy targets. She'll reach for another arrow and aim for one of the bowmen before they had the same idea.


Free Action to reload with Rapid Reload
Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Fire on one of the mutants with bows

vs. BS 42 (+10)
[roll0]
Fortune point if needed
[roll1]

Damage (1d10+3 with Armour Piercing)
[roll2]

Taal's Fury
[roll3]
Extra Damage
[roll4]

FP:3/4
Wounds: 11

[RossN]

Carl

That could have gone better, Carl thought to himself. He could feel his cheeks flushing with the shame of a miss.

Hoping the others could resist the nearby mutants for a moment Carl sent another sling shot hurtling towards the bow'men'.

Reload Sling (Free Action thanks to Rapid Reload talent)

Aim (Half Action)
Shoot Bow-armed Mutant (Half Action): [roll0] vs 68 (BS 48 +20% for Aim with the Sharpshooter talent.)
Fortune Point re-roll (if needed): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] (3 for Sling + 1 for Mighty Shot.)

[Ionbound]

Alyssa swears angrily, "Gods-dammit!" as she sees the arrow land in the caravan master's chest, and leaps to her feet, drawing the shortsword kept on hand for self defense. Instead of immediately engaging as the others had done, she slips around to the side of the caravan wagons, taking cover from the arrows and waiting until the attackers leave themselves open.

Seeing the mutants cutting at the bridles, she smiles and steps forwards, thrusting her blade towards one of the mutant's heads in an effort to catch him off guard and end his miserable life in a single well-placed blow.

Alyssa tries to find a concealed position in the first round, and then ambush the mutants that are trying to cut the mules lose. So without further ado...

Concealment: [roll0] vs 30
Move Silently: [roll1] vs 30

Hand Weapon attack: [roll2] vs 29
Hand Weapon Damage: [roll3]

Ah...An auspicious start.

[rax]

Severin

Taking careful aim, Severin lets fly at the closest of the mutants trying to steal the mules, but the shot goes wide... just.

Half action: Aim for +10% to hit
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 53 (43+10 from Aim)
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil claps his hands to his head as the magical feedback courses through his mind, but quickly shakes his head to clear it. Frustrated, he takes aim at the mutant which Wertha's arrow struck, at makes another attempt at the spell. His attempt to draw in magical energy isn't as successful this time, but he goes ahead with the spell anyway, and is rewarded by a burst of magical energy lancing toward the mutant.

Half Action: Channeling test
vs WP +10 (46) [I forgot the Aethyric Attunement talent last round]
[roll0]

Half Action: Cast magic dart
Target 6
Casting Roll: [roll1] (+1 if channel test is successful)
Damage: [roll2]

Extra WP roll either vs insanity or for Ulric's Fury:
vs 36
[roll3]
Extra damage: [roll4]

[em.]

Wertha peeks out from behind her improvised wooden cover, tense, looking around for a bandit unengaged in the sprawling melee - hands automatically knocking another arrow. The guards could handle themselves. If all the muleskinners went down, the caravan would be a wreck and ruin. She sights, aims and releases.


HA: Half aim.
HA: Attack. (vs 51)


[roll1]

Ulric's Fury as/if applicable.

[roll2]
[roll]1d10

[dojango]

The mutants have clearly sinned against Taal. He guides one of Gabriele's arrows to its mark. The mutant collapses atop the ridge. Carl's stone is well sped as well, striking one of the bowmen in the head. Severin's shot is not so fortunate, missing one of the mutants. Torendil's next spell is more carefully put together, and with a flash of light, one of the mutants in the melee falls down. He hears an audible gasp from Bernice. Alyssa tries to creep into the mule train, sword drawn, but the panicking mules don't trust her. When the mutant cuts the traces, they run in all directions, leaving her exposed. She swings and misses. Two of the mutants turn towards her, their twisted faces show a mockery of a grin. They are wielding cudgels and knives. One of them grunts in pain as Wertha's arrow strikes him in the back, but they are undeterred from their attack!

The surviving enemy archers let fly against Gabriele and Carl. Two arrows miss their marks, but one hits Gabriele in the left leg (8 dmg). The two mutants facing Alyssa lash out with their cudgels. One misses, but the other lands a solid blow to her head! (11 dmg) Around her, the mules bolt in all directions, to where they think is safe. Bernice shouts out, "I'll get the mules!" and takes off running after one of them. The guards, fighting with an abundance of caution, hold off the enemy's blows, but fail to land any of their own. The drovers, in a desperation borne of panic, lash out with daggers, wounding two of the attackers. Blood (and in one case, a strange ichor) stain their daggers. Linus aims his crossbow at the back of one of the mutants attacking the guards, and hits it square in the back with a bolt! The scout fires his bow at the archers, and hits the wounded one square in the shoulder! It slumps over as well.

You can try to dodge those hits if you want. That's 7 dmg hit to Alyssa after armor and toughness, and 5 to Gabriele. If you want to dodge go ahead and roll it and we can retcon it in!

[Haval]

Gabriele gasps in pain as she feels the arrow enter her leg. Well that's torn it. Can't very well make a run for it while hobbling. One more and she'd need to take cover.

Gritting her teeth and thinking of all the worse Kislevan curse words she'd heard from her Dad, she'll line up another shot.


Free Action - Reload with Rapid Reload
Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Fire on the one who shot her

vs. BS 42 (+10)
[roll0]
If I need to FP
[roll1]

Damage (1d10+3 with Armour Piercing)
[roll2]

Taal's Fury
[roll3]
[roll4]

FP: 3/4
Wounds:6/11

[RossN]

Carl

Carl frowns as he swiftly selects another smooth sling stone. The halfling soldier is torn between drawing his own shortsword and moving to help and trying to deal with the archers. In the end he sticks with the sling for now, sending another shot towards the bow wielding mutants.

Reload Sling (Free Action thanks to Rapid Reload talent)

Aim (Half Action)
Shoot Bow-armed Mutant (Half Action): [roll0] vs 68 (BS 48 +20% for Aim with the Sharpshooter talent.)
Fortune Point re-roll (if needed): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] (+ 3 for Sling + 1 for Mighty Shot.)

[rax]

Severin

"Careful girl! Stay out the line of fire!" he calls out as Bernice begins chasing the panicking mules. Cursing under his breath, Severin quickly reloads his sling and lets fly.

If there's a mutant in the clear among the mules or near the guards, Severin will aim for it. If everyone is now involved in melee, he'll try for one of the remaining bowmen.
Half action: Reload sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 43
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[rs2excelsior]

"That's more like it!" Torendil calls out in Eltharin. "Flee, or face destruction!" He sizes up the battle--the guards seem to be handling themselves well enough, so he targets the mutants attacking the drovers. He calls upon the winds of magic once more, and is rewarded by another bolt of magical force darting out toward its target.

Half Action: Channeling test
vs WP +10 (46) [I forgot the Aethyric Attunement talent last round]
[roll0]

Half Action: Cast magic dart
Target 6
Casting Roll: [roll]1d10/roll] (+1 if channel test is successful) I rolled a 9 on the OOC, so the spell was successful.
Damage: [roll1]

Extra WP roll either vs insanity or for Ulric's Fury:
vs 36
[roll2]
Extra damage: [roll3]

FP: 3/3
Wounds: 9/9

[Ionbound]

Alyssa swears as the blow brings tears to her eyes. She ducks away, riposting as she tries to disengage from the mutants.

Attack: [roll0] vs 29

Damage: [roll1]

After the attack, Alyssa moves back to the caravan.

Wounds: 5/12

[em.]

Wertha continues as she means to go on, older women having no intention of getting into a brawl with these slavering degenerates - knocking another arrow and trying to wing it past Alyssa as she backs away from the pair: hands steady despite a racing heart.

If this caravan goes down, we'll have no guides - or pay...


As before - rapid reload means the shortbow's fairly quick.

HA: Half aim.
HA: Attack. (vs 51)

[roll0]
[roll1]

Fury?

[roll2]
[roll3]

[dojango]

Alyssa swings and misses at her attackers before cautiously backing away. One of them suddenly slumps over as another of Wertha's arrows plants itself in its back. The other one backs away as from Alyssa. It runs over to where the fallen muleskinner is and begins trying to drag him away. Carl and Gabriele manage to land hits on the distant archers, but Severin's powerful shot flies past a mutant's head. If it had connected... but alas. Torendil throws another bolt of aethyric energy at one of the injured mutants. It screams and thrashes for a few seconds as it falls down.

The outnumbered guards continue their fight with the mutants. Their armor and shields absorb most of the blows, although one grunts as a blow slips in. They manage to lash out at their attackers, injuring two of them. Another of the mutants turns from them and charges the merchant, Linus. He attempts to block the blow with his crossbow, but is hit solidly on the arm, and drops his crossbow. The muleskinners are fighting with their daggers. One manages a solid blow on one of his attackers, who turns and runs, but the other is knocked down by a savage blow.

Taking stock of the situation; two of the muleskinners have fallen, while three of their attackers are dead. One of the survivors of that group is running, while the other two are trying to drag away one of the fallen muleskinners. Of the mutants attacking the guards, several are wounded but none have fallen. One is standing over the merchant, Linus, who is attempting to fend off his attacker. The scout, seeing this, drops his bow, draws a short sword, and runs over to try and save Linus.

[Haval]

Gabriele is heartened that no one one was firing arrows at her for the moment, but otherwise it wasn't going well. She really hoped that the muleskinner that was being dragged off was already dead, but the merchant was alive for the moment at least. She'll fumble for her sword and follow the scout. Maybe they could scare it away with numbers.


No Quick Draw so Charge next turn

Half Action - Ready Sword
Half Action - Move to the mutant's other side from the scout (Clark?)


FP: 3/4
W: 6/11

[RossN]

Carl

His face a mask of concentration Carl plucked yet another smooth, round sling stone from his belt pouch and wrapped it in his sling in a single smooth operaton.

The halfling soldier could see how fierce the fighting was and if it came to it he'd draw his shortsword to defend the caravan but he was better at range than at melee - and those archers were still very dangerous. He sent the stone hurtling in their direction.


Reload Sling (Free Action thanks to Rapid Reload talent)

Aim (Half Action)
Shoot Bow-armed Mutant (Half Action): [roll0] vs 68 (BS 48 +20% for Aim with the Sharpshooter talent.)
Fortune Point re-roll (if needed): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] (+ 3 for Sling + 1 for Mighty Shot.)

[rax]

Severin

Steady, dammit! Breathe, focus and AIM! Severing curses himself as another shot goes wide. He reloads and - spotting the mutant attacking Linus - he prepares to attack. But then help arrives in the shape of Gabriele and the caravan's scout. Swiftly changing targets, he tries to bring down one of the mutants dragging away the fallen muleskinner.

If at first you don't succeed...try, try again. :smallredface:

Half action: Reload sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 43
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil nods in satisfaction as another mutant falls. The muleskinners seem safe for now--those two are dragging one off, but he appears dead, and there's no point trying to save a dead man. They should be distracted for a while. He turns his attention to the mutant attacking Linus. Feeling confident in his success so far, he taps once more into the flow of magical current around him.

Half Action: Channeling test
vs WP +10 (46)
[roll0]

Half Action: Cast magic dart
Target 6
Casting Roll: [roll1] (+1 if channel test is successful)
Damage: [roll2]

Extra WP roll either vs insanity or for Ulric's Fury:
vs 36
[roll3]
Extra damage: [roll4]

FP: 3/3
Wounds: 9/9

EDIT: So close to getting Ulric's Fury to trigger! Oh well, casting rolls have been good so far, can't complain about that.

[em.]

Wertha continues crouching in her position of relative safety.

Seeing the merchant being charged, she almost drops her bow in favour of the dagger at her side - but others have noticed, and arrived to save their (pay)day! Instead, her attention turns back to some of the foul brigands with bows - How are such twisted creatures even capable of using such instruments?



HA: Half aim.
HA: Attack. (vs 51)

[roll0]
[roll1]

Fury?

[roll2]
[roll3]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa curses as she sees the mutant loom over Linus and joins the scout, blade out as she strikes at the mutant's back.

WS: [roll0] vs 29
Damage: [roll1]

[dojango]

Carl hurls his stone at one of the archers. He's pretty sure he scores a solid hit. It doesn't spoil the mutant's aim, as it manages to plant an arrow in Carl's shield arm, just missing the shield. (9 dmg. Ouch!) Severin hits the mutant in the leg with his stone. The mutant looks at him with strange ophidian eyes and hisses... before dropping the fallen man and running away. Wertha's arrow lands far short of her target. Once again, Torendil taps into the Aether and sends a bolt of raw energy at a mutant. It starts screaming, slapping itself, trying to put out invisible fires. It barely notices when Alyssa slides her dagger into its legs. It falls down, bleeding out rapidly. The blood seems to hiss and steam as it spills out, whether due to the mutant's unnatural nature, or the strange energy that afflicted it.

With that, one of the archers screeches something unintelligible. The mutants fighting the guards turn and scatter, trying to flee to safety. The guards manage to nick their assailants as they flee, but they don't give chase. The standing muleskinner backs away from his assailants, who glare at him, but they turn and run as well. They flee in several directions, away from the caravan's stalwart defenders and the cruel magic of the terrible elf, leaving five of their number behind. The caravan is not unscathed, however. One of the muleskinners is quite dead. The other fallen one, who was being dragged away, is bleeding from a blow to the head and is badly concussed. The guards' armor protected them most of the blows, but they are sporting a few bruises and cuts. And George... the caravan master. The arrow in his chest looks quite bad. One of the guards checks him. "I think he's still alive. Tough bastard. What should we do?" One of the strings of mules has managed to flee after the mutants cut the traces; another string is panicking as they try to escape, hobbled and tethered. One of the mules is badly injured by an arrow. The third string is uneasy, but still intact. The scout, Clark, kneels down by Linus. "That arm don't look good. We need to get you to a bonesetter."

The merchant groans, "Uh. How bad is it. Where's Bernice? Where is she?" He starts looking around. Where is she, indeed? She ran off after the fleeing mules, to try and catch them...

[Ionbound]

Alyssa helps the merchant to his feet but when she hears about his daughter, she swears, "Taal damn them!" She looks up, trying to spot the mules, Bernice, or any sign of the retreating mutants.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil looks with satisfaction as the foul mutants turn and run like cowards. He is on the verge of hurling more insults as their backs when he hears the merchant calling for his daughter and quietly curses instead. He shakes his head. The caravan wouldn't move until the girl was back, he was sure of that. He scowls at the vaguely muddy road, and attempts to keep the hem of his robe raised as he jumps down from the wagon. Attempting to retain an imperious air, avoid tripping, and keep his clothing clean simultaneously, he marches over to the drivers who are still standing. "The mules," he demands in the precise Reikspiel common to elves. "In what direction did they flee? Did the girl follow them?" He checks for signs of where they might have gone himself, as well.

Perception test:
vs Int +10 (53)
[roll0]

[RossN]

Carl

Fighting back tears of pain and rage at his wound - even without looking he knew it was very bad - Carl sent another sling stone hurtling after the archers as they turned to go, praying to draw a little more blood in spite for his injury.

If possible Carl is aiming for the mutant who hit him.

Reload Sling (Free Action thanks to Rapid Reload talent)

Aim (Half Action)
Shoot Bow-armed Mutant (Half Action): [roll0] vs 68 (BS 48 +20% for Aim with the Sharpshooter talent.)
Damage: [roll1] (+ 3 for Sling + 1 for Mighty Shot.)

Edit: Damn. :smallfrown:

[Haval]

Gabriele wishes she still had her bow on her but will let the mutant leave. She'll pause to check her own wound before worrying about anything else. Better to rest her leg for a bit while it healed, although this wasn't the place for that. 'What are the chances they'll be back?' Looking at George, other people had it worse. She'll ask the guards, 'Where's the nearest village? Would they have anyone who can help him?'

After she retrieves her bow from the ground she'll join the Elf in looking for the mules. They were panicked but they shouldn't be that hard to find.


Perception to look for the mules or Bernice
vs. Int 33 (+20 if Acute Hearing is useful here)
[roll0]

[rax]

Severin

"Don't you worry, Master Linus, we'll find her - and the mules as well. They can't have gotten far. But Clark is right - your arm is in a right state, and Beaumont is in a bad way as well. Unless someone here is secretly a surgeon, we need to get all the injured to a healer as quick as we can."

"With Bertrand here, I'm as fast as the mules. If we can get a trace on the mules and Bernice, I volunteer to help round them up."

If no one manages a successful Follow Trail, perhaps Animal Care would allow Severin some to use some "animal psychology" to predict the mules' likely behaviour?

[roll0] vs. Int 34 ...NOPE! Damn mules. Too stubborn to even follow a predictable pattern. Yeah, that must be it...:smalleek:

[dojango]

The caravan had made camp in a small gully. The meager path heads south, towards Faucon Pass. The bare soil is rocky, and marked with thin scrub here and there. Not much cover, and not much to find a trail... Still, the mules aren't trying to hide. And Gabriele can read their hoofprints easily enough. They mostly ran down the easiest path, to the north, and you vaguely recall Bernice following them. Some fresh prints lead that way as well. The archer mutants are on the hill to the west. Carl speeds a stone over their heads as they disappear over the crest of the ridge.

Torendil marches over to the uninjured muleskinner, who is trying to calm some of the panicking mules. The driver doesn't look at him, but responds, "you got powers, right? Elves n' animals... like you can talk and they'll listen to you? Can you help calm them?"

The scout looks to the south. "Bout ten miles through the mountains to Faucon Pass. There was a barber there last time I went through. Don't think George here can walk... and Linus don't look much better neither. Gonna see about makin' a sledge. You can help, or maybe track down those mules. I think we bled them enough that they won't come back till we're gone, but I reckon they'll come back soon enough. They wanted meat and I ain't gonna waste time burying the dead. You don't look so hot neither, Carl. I seen big men go down from a blow like that..."

The guards, professional soldiers to the last, are looking over the bodies. One of the guards aims a kick at a fallen mutant's body. "They ain't got nuttin. Bastards."

It's hard to hear over the braying of the mules, but was that a sudden shriek? You listen for a few moments more, but don't hear it again...

[Haval]

'Quiet.' Gabriele holds up a hand. 'I think that was a scream.' She'll move off at a run to the north in the direction that Bernice and the mules had gone.

[rax]

Severin

"Hold up, Mistress Gabriele! No need to go racing off by yourself, I'm with you!" Giving the reins a quick snap, Severin urges Bertrand onward, trotting after the hunter.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil stares at the muleskinner with incredulity. That was his job, was it not? Did he not realize how much more important it was that they track down the girl? "No. I do not speak to animals," he responds after a moment. He looks up sharply as Gabriele and Severin head off in the direction of the sounds. Without another word to the mule driver, he takes off after the other two, still trying to avoid soiling his robe too badly.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa follows Gabriele as well, touching a hand to her head and realizing that her hair is matted with blood from her head wound. She shakes it off, muttering, "Gotta keep going...Can't stop and let them get away..." and takes a deep breath before speeding up in pursuit of Gabriele and, by extension, the mutants.

[RossN]

Carl

Carl looked up and over. The halfling soldier looked pale and was gripping his left shoulder. He'd removed the arrow but the wound looked bad.

'That was bracing,' he smiled weakly. 'I'll do my best with Linus and George but I agree we need a true surgeon - or a Sister of Shallya.'

[dojango]

Heading back north, Gabriele follows the trail of the mules. Soon, the party comes upon a mule tied to a thorny shrub. The mule is eating contentedly, the past fright gone from its mind. Footprints continue onward, along the top of a small ravine. Along the edge, there is a very messy bloodstain. Examining it, there are a few scraps of hide and fur; one of the mules must have been killed here. No bodies. The trail is somewhat confused at this point, a small group of... something was here. A few of the footprints seem human enough, but some are a little strange. The trail leads off to the west. By now, about half an hour has passed.

[Ionbound]

As they walk, Alyssa looks a little green and eventually asks, "Does anyone have a bandage or something for my head...I'm feeling a bit off."

When the reach the clearing, she looks at the ground and frowns, looking at the trail, and sighs, eventually saying, "Off to the west then..."

[Haval]

The tied up mule was a good sign. Bernice must have been here. The blood was a less welcome one. 'They shouldn't be able to move very fast if they're dragging a dead mule.' Gabriele was trying to be optimistic in spite of herself. Hopefully Bernice was still alive.

With the trail still visible at least they wouldn't need to waste any more time. To Severin, 'I'd rather know where they're going. Can you catch up to them on that horse or is that likely to get them shooting at you?'


Perception to hear anything
vs. Int 33 (+20 Acute Hearing)
[roll0]

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil trails after the group, panting heavily. By this point he has given up on not getting the hem of his robe dirty and is settling for not tripping over it. He sees the mule and lets out a sigh of relief. "Oh, excellent, she should be--" he glances around, looking for some sign of the girl. "Are. You. Serious? She isn't here?" With a long-suffering sigh, Torendil catches his breath and gets ready to continue following the trail.

[RossN]

Carl

Carl was too busy trying to patch up the wounded to go after the missing girl - and really too severely injured himself to have gone anyway. After giving Linus an apologetic look (he doubted his hasty battlefield treatment had done much good) the halfling soldier walked over to the scout.

'I'm not in great shape but I'll help with making the sled.' Carl smiled weakly. 'You seem to know these lands Clark. Are all our new neighbours going to be so happy to see us?'

[rax]

"Ahem! Don't let Bertrand hear you calling him a horse. He's sensitive about that," Severin admonishes with surprising seriousness. "But yes, if the mutants are dragging along a mule and perhaps Bernice as well, I think I have decent odds of following as long as the trail is clear. Don't much fancy the idea of presenting myself as a target, but since I'll be on ponyback I should at least be able to beat a hasty retreat. And as long as the rest of you don't fall too far behind, we might still catch them."


OOC: Severin doesn't have Follow Trail trained, so if tracking skills are required, he'll auto-fail. If the tracks are obvious or if a Perception roll will do, then he has some chance of staying on target.

[dojango]

Back at the Caravan:

As Carl checks on the wounded, Clark busies himself constructing a crude stretcher. Some canvas between two tent poles. He cuts a few packs lose from the mules. "Anything we leave behind'll be stolen by those filthy savages."
Linus protests weakly. He asks the guards to save the most valuable packs. As that's done, they trample and tear apart the packs being left behind. "No time to burn it," one mutters.
The wounded submit to Carl's ministrations, but Linus has a broken arm, and it's beyond Carl's skill to set. And George... the arrow is lodged in deep. His breathing is getting shallower and more labored. As the others work, the injured muleskinner sits beside George. After a while, he says, "I think he's gone..." he says. There is a moment of silence. "Poor bastard. One day left until retirement..."

Clark talks to Carl as he works. "Can you walk, Carl? We can make room on the stretcher. Happy to see us? I don't know. George's widow ain't going to be happy. That's Lord Bremcote's lands. He thinks he's back in Bretonnia, knights n' peasants n' ****e. But he drove off the orks out way back when, so most people don't complain too much. Least not when he's around. Guess it depends on what you want to do. Linus was gonna set up shop somewhere. Everyone likes a merchant that pays his taxes... but wandering thugs? Well, there's always that sort of work to be done, I suppose."

[Haval]

Gabriele will reach out and stroke Bertrand's nose. 'Sorry Bertrand.'

[dojango]

In the desert:

Gabriele points out the mess of tracks heading west, deeper into the desert. At one point, she thinks she hears the sounds of rocks clattering down a hill. Severin and Bertrand trot off as the others follow on foot.

Severin follows the obvious path for a about ten minutes. The path winds into a small ravine. Looking down, he can see a number of figures as they disappear around a bend. Carefully following at the edge of the ravine, he sees a small group of mutants. Two of them are carrying the body of a mule lashed to a pole, while one is leading a young woman by a rope, her hands tied in front of her. She has a number of the mule's packs on her back as well. They are travelling slowly, with their burdens. It would be fairly easy for the party to catch up with them, but if they wanted to spend the time to forge ahead of the group, perhaps they could lay an ambush?

[em.]

Wertha stays with the main group and does her best to help the muleskinner with the animals and assist to the security of their diminished caravan, saying a quick prayer for the dead before getting on with things. She wouldn't be able to track somethin' faster than an elf or a trained ranger, and too many folk'd make too much noise.

[rax]

At the sight of Bernice captured, Severin curses quietly. This would have been so much easier if they'd only gotten the mule...

Taking care to remain out of sight, he dithers about how to proceed. One small Halfling against three big mutants? That's a fool's bet, Severin Cinderhill. But I'll have the element of surprise, won't I? Still THREE BIG mutants, you dunderhead! Remember what dad always said? Yes of course - a heroic Halfling is a dead Halfling. Words to live by, right? Still, they're moving awful slow. Perhaps slow enough that Gabriele and the rest of them could catch up some time soon? Maybe...

Finally, he makes a decision. He will continue shadowing the mutants, keeping pace with them, hoping that the rest of the party will be moving fast enough to catch up sooner rather than later. Then they can make a plan for freeing Bernice and recovering the mule and stolen goods. Should the mutants pick up the pace, he'll try and delay them somehow.

[dojango]

The Searchers:

The ravine winds across the landscape. Severin hurries up ahead to find some way to delay the mutants. Spotting some loose rocks and scree by the edge of the ravine, he (with a lot of help from Bertrand) tries to dislodge the debris into the ravine. It's tougher (and noisier) than he expects, and after a few minutes of sweating and annoyed neighing, the bottom of the ravine has a small rocky pile across the main part of the trail. The mutants have to stop and carefully lift their spoils over the debris before continuing. As they reach the other side, they confer amongst themselves for a few minutes, before one points up in Severin's general direction. They pause some more, sharing a few swigs from a waterskin, not offering any to Bernice, who sinks into a limp pile under her burden. Severin hears some noise from behind him as Torendril, Gabriele, and Alyssa approach.

[Haval]

Gabriele is trying to preserve her energy. The desert was a bad sign. How were they even living out here? And it was far too exposed for her liking. She was really not in Ostland any more.

While she follows the trail she will try and keep an eye on the terrain around them. They could be heading for another ambush and not even know it. Seeing Severin came as something of a relief. 'Did she make it?'

[Ionbound]

Alyssa keeps up with Gabriele, and when they find Severin, she adds, "If they laid a finger on her..."

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil is thoroughly out of breath, staggering through this gods-forsaken desert, and seriously considering the merits of just going back and saying they lost the trail. However, the others show no sign of giving up, so he stumbles along, muttering to himself and gradually falling further behind, until he sees the others have found Severin. He gathers up a reserve of energy from somewhere and catches up, doing his best not to collapse from the long chase, and glances down into the ravine. He quietly spits a curse in Eltharin, and sits back to catch his breath.

After a moment he glaces over again, and quickly drops back. "Well, the mule is past saving, so it's the girl we want. I can force the creature holding her rope to drop it." He begins clearing his mind and forcing his heart to stop hammering, preparing himself mentally to try and cast again.

[rax]

"Good to see you all," Severin greets the other three, keeping his voice low. "I was plumb out of ideas for how to slow them down," he admits.

"Bernice looks fine - they've just mistaken her for a mule," he jokes. "Looks like there's just the three of them. We have cover and the high ground. I suggest we take advantage of that and hit them with a barrage of sling stones, spells, and arrows. Alyssa - how about you make as much as noise as possible when we attack. Make it sound like we brought the whole caravan with us. Hopefully they'll do a runner if they think they're outnumbered and leave Bernice and the packs behind. If they stand and fight, we'll have to hope we can bring one or two of them down and then swarm the last ones before they try any mischief against the girl. Sound good?"

[Haval]

Gabriele looks grim. She didn't want to think about whatever the mutants wanted Bernice for as a prisoner.

'Sounds good to me. We hurt them hard enough and maybe they'll leave.' Unless they're hungry enough to be desperate.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa chuckles as she replies, "That's generally the opposite of what I do, but sure. I'll try and figure something out."

[Haval]

Gabriele is going to move quietly to the edge of the ravine and try to find an angle on the mutants where she can shoot one of them in the back. She'll wait until the others are in position before opening fire


Silent Move vs. Ag 38 (+10 Rover)
[roll0]

Not shooting until the others are in a position to join in

In case it's needed
[roll1]

Half Action to Aim
Half Action to Shoot

vs. BS 42 (+10 Aim)
[roll2]
Fortune point if needed
[roll3]

Hits without the fortune if they count as unaware, but she did fail stealth

Damage (1d10+3 with Armour Piercing)
[roll4]

Taal's Fury
[roll5]
[roll6]

Wounds: 6/11
FP:2/4
Arrows: 6/10

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil follows Gabriele up the slope, also trying to stay as quiet as possible. He also waits for the others to get into position before acting.

Silent Move
vs. 1/2 Ag (21)
[roll0]

Half action to make a channeling test:
vs WP +10 (46)
[roll1]

Half action to cast Drop on the mutant holding Bernice's rope
Target 4: [roll2] (+1 if channeling test successful)
If the spell is successful target must make a WP roll to resist

WP test in case of nat 1 on the casting roll (36)
[roll3]

EDIT: Well, made the channeling test, but still wasn't quite enough to get the spell off.

[rax]

"Then let's get to it," Severin replies grimly. Slipping off Bertrand, he loads his sling and tries to make his way stealthily to a good vantage point from which he can hit the mutant holding (or closest to) Bernice. Taking careful aim, he launches his sling stone!

Silent Move [roll0] vs. Ag 47 / 2 = 23

Initiative [roll1]

Half Action: Aim (+10 to hit)
Half Action: Standard attack with sling [roll2] vs. BS 53 (BS 43+10 Aim) or 83 if unaware (BS 43+10 Aim +30 Unaware)
Fortune Point if needed
Standard attack with sling [roll3]

Damage [roll4]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
Standard attack with sling [roll5]
Damage [roll6]

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[dojango]

As Gabriele tries to move in position, she knocks a rock with her foot. The mutants shriek and point up again, and so Gabriele and Severin let fly with their missiles. The mutant holding Bernice feels some strange tug on the rope, and so she clutches it tighter. The slings and arrows hit her, and she looks hurt. The other two look surprised and brandish their knives, but the ambushers are quicker on the draw.

[Haval]

Gabriele wasn't use to deserts. She'd have to learn not to do that if this whole Border Princes thing was ever going to work.


Half Action to Aim
Half Action to Shoot

vs. BS 42 (+10 Aim)

Fortune point if needed
[roll1]

Damage (1d10+3 with Armour Piercing)
[roll2]

Taal's Fury
[roll3]
[roll1d10

Wounds: 6/11
FP:1/4
Arrows: 5/10

[rax]

"Lousy shot," Severin curses himself as the sling stone fails to do any appreciable damage to the mutant. Reloading, he quickly launches another rock at the same mutant and catches her square in the head!

Half Action: Reload
Half Action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 43 or 73 if still unaware (BS 43+30 Unaware)
Fortune Point if needed
Standard attack with sling [roll1]

Damage [roll2]

Ulric's Fury if applicable
Standard attack with sling [roll3]
Damage [roll4]

Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

...TWO rolls of 01 to hit? Sometimes the dice roller is just freaky!

[dojango]

Gabriele's arrow flashes by the mutant, followed by Severin's stone, which catches the mutant square in the head. Dazed, bleeding, she stumbles backwards, trying to get away. The other two mutants scramble away as well. One of them, with a strangel, bird-like head, takes the wounded one's arm, and tries to pull her to safety. The ravine winds around a corner, and soon they will be out of sight.

Bernice, trailing the rope behind her, runs in the opposite direction, away from the mutants.

[rax]

"We need to recover the packs as well as Bernice! I'll go after her, the rest of you get down there, pick up the packs and follow. As soon as we've put some distance between us and this place, we can stop and divvy up the packs. Bertrand's no mule, but he'll be able to take a couple. See you in a jiffy!"

Severin quickly scrambles back from the ravine, mounts Bertrand, and sets off in pursuit of Bernice. As soon as he's a little distance from the ambush site, he calls down to the merchant's daughter. "Bernice! Stop! It's me - Severin from the caravan! Stop and I'll help you!"

[dojango]

Back at the Caravan:

About an hour has passed. Clark finishes his work. It's crude, but it will bear the weight of the injured merchant. Once he's done, Carl and Wertha see the two guards approach Clark. There is some arguing. The guards are insisting that the caravan leave immediately. "Too dangerous... the mutants could be back, the others are probably dead by now..."

Clark is hesitant. The merchant is their paymaster, and he wants to stay until Bernice is rescued. But, on the other hand, you can't get paid if you're dead...

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil mutters as his spell fails and begins to try and cast another, but the others are faster on the draw and the mutants flee anyway. Still, he makes an attempt to send one more magical dart after the creatures, just to make sure they get the message.

Afterwards he makes his way carefully down the ravine, picking up one or two of the smallest and lightest-looking packs.

Channelling test
vs. WP +10 (46)
[roll0]

Casting Magic Dart
Target 6
Casting Roll: [roll1] (+1 if channel test successful)
Damage: [roll2]

Extra WP roll for Ulric's fury or vs Insanity on a nat 1 casting roll:
vs WP (36)
[roll3]
Extra damage: [roll4]

[Haval]

To Severin, Be careful. We don't know what else is out here.'

Gabriele will follow Torendil down into the ravine to retrieve some of the packs. She's watching the direction the mutants went in in case they decided to come back. She'll also look to see if she can recover her arrow.


50% percent chance of recovering the arrow she missed with
1 - to recover it, 2 - it's broken
[roll0]

[em.]

"Hey now, what's this about leaving man? We've seen off the mutants - now do your damn job..." she says shortly, giving the guard a hard look.

"We saw off a surprise ambush, and they've half the numbers previous - them twists ain't gonna come back," Wertha explains to Clark, tone moderated somewhat, "the others will be back in a couple hours, and do you wanna be the one explaining why we moved on without 'em? No, my neither."

[dojango]

Chasing Bernice:

Torendil's magic dart strikes the wounded mutant square in the back! She stumbles, and falls to her knees. The other two grab her by the arms and pull her out of harm's way. Torendil heads on down to where the packs are, and shoulders two small and light ones. They'd been making Bernice carry an entire mule-load. Gabriele finds one of her arrows; it hit a rock and the shaft is shattered, useless. She can heft the remaining packs, with a little help from Alyssa. A little ways away, Bernice stops as Severin and Bertrand ride up, breathing heavily. "Oh, thank Sigmar. Thank Taal. Ulric and Ranald. Oh, thank you," she says, holding up her wrists for you to cut her free. "They were gonna eat me. If you hadn't come along..."


At the caravan:

With Wertha speaking up, Clark tells off the guard. "We wait. We've got enough water to last today. It'll be thirsty work, and we'll be safe on the other side of the mountains. We wait until noon." He tells the guard to climb up the ridge and give a shout if he sees any mutants coming back. The guard grumbles at that, but does so.

After about two hours, Alyssa, Torendil, Gabriele, Severin and Bernice return. They've recovered a number of packs, and one of the mules. Bernice runs over to where her father is resting. There is a tearful reunion, before Clark steps in. "Best we were gone. Already lost two, and you ain't in any condition to fight again. C'mon, lie down on the stretcher and we'll be off..."

Flipped a coin, and the arrow is lost! Alas. OK, we're all back together. Let's take 200 XP for fending off the mutants and recovering Bernice.

[Haval]

Gabriele is leaning slightly on her bow but will nod at Clark. She could do with a rest after all that, but it would be harder if she actually sat down and had to get up again.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa, who had mostly thrown rocks at the mutants during the fight to little, if distracting, effect, nods and lifts the two small packs as she replies, "We couldn't just let them take you." She looks at the others, shrugs, then adds, "Back to the caravan?" as she slices Bernice's bonds open with a twirl of her shortsword.

When they get back to the caravan, Alyssa nods to Clarke and adds darkly, "Quite. It's likely that there's more of them out there somewhere who are just a little nettled we killed their friends and stole their loot back."

[rax]

Severin helps distribute the packs among the remaining mules and volunteers Bertrand to carry one or two of the lighter ones if necessary. "Lead on, Clark. The sooner we can get to what passes for civilization in these parts, the better."

[em.]

Wertha is vindicated as the other group appears after a tense wait of several, raising a hand to hail as they approach: doing what she can to get the whole caravan moving swiftly - offering to handle the reins on one, in place of the recently departed muleskinner.

Growing up in a four horse village, she had the experience after all.

"C'mon you lot, move it!" she cheerfully berates the animals, happy to be moving again: they might even be in line for a little bonus!

[RossN]

Carl

Carl lets out a sigh of relief as the order is given to move on.

'Thank Esmerlda!' The Halfling soldier looks at his fellow wounded apologetically. 'I am sorry I couldn't be more aid with your injuries my friends. I fear I'd make a poor barber-surgeon.'

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil seems far more exhausted than he should be upon returning, given that he wasn't carrying much of a load. He nods as he sees the caravan still intact and the wounded still alive--the thought that they may have even considered going on and leaving them stranded hadn't even crossed his mind. He finds an unladen mule to toss the packs onto, and it says something about how tired he is from the chase that he actually leans against the animal's side to catch his breath. "Let's get out of this gods-forsaken place. I doubt we'll find a proper town, but it can't be worse than this."

[Haval]

'Thank Esmerlda!' The Halfling soldier looks at his fellow wounded apologetically. 'I am sorry I couldn't be more aid with your injuries my friends. I fear I'd make a poor barber-surgeon.'

Gabrielle now notes how much worse off Carl seems to be. 'At least you tried. You seem to be the only one here who knows enough to have a go.'

As they move out she is suspicious enough to watch the landscape around them for any sign of life. They were in no state to deal with another ambush.

[dojango]

Once the caravan has recovered, somewhat, and is all together, the last part of the journey begins. It is hot, and dry, as you wind through the foothills towards the pass. The injured make going slow, and with the late start, the caravan doesn't quite reach the pass. Everyone passes a cold and unpleasant night huddled in a small shelter near the top of the pass. Nobody wants to risk a fire, and everyone drinks the last of the stale water out of their waterskins. Fortunately, the recovered packs have dried food, so nobody goes hungry. The next morning, everyone wakes up bright and early. After cresting the pass, the going is much easier. After a few miles, you reach some small springs. Cool and clear, the water refreshes everyone dramatically, men and mules. The barren mountains give way to a few gentle hills. You can see pasturelands, goats and sheep grazing on the grassy hills. Atop a hill overlooking a small river, there is a small stone hillfort. A small village is clustered beneath it, sheltered by a smaller stone wall. The path leads up to the stone gate. "Faucon Pass," says Clark. "Not much here, but the Duke's got a few soldiers. They don't usually patrol over the pass, but if you try to dodge the toll, they'll chase you halfway to Altdorf."

Sure enough, as the caravan arrives at the village, a few guards and a toll collector approach. "3 pence per leg, chief," the collector says.
Bernice counts out the money and hands it over. "No discount for the wounded?" she asks.
"Still got all his legs? Then no." is the response. "Yer in luck, though. Sir Laurens is visiting. Brought a barber up from the capital with him. Might get him ta look you over. Run into trouble, did ya? Might want to tell Sir Laurens about it."

"Lightly Wounded" characters recover 1 wound

[RossN]

Carl


Gabrielle now notes how much worse off Carl seems to be. 'At least you tried. You seem to be the only one here who knows enough to have a go.'

As they move out she is suspicious enough to watch the landscape around them for any sign of life. They were in no state to deal with another ambush.

Carl gives the human woman a grateful if tired smile. 'Thank you. You fought well. You are from Ostland right? I think I recall the accent - my regiment served alongside a brigade of the Wolfenburg Irregulars at Kleigersdorp. They drank like dwarves, gambled like Marienburgers and fought like ogres. Fine soldiers.'

Carl slept poorly during the night. As a soldier he was used to going without a proper bed but the severity of his wounds made lying down painful. It was only when they caught sight of the village that a semblance of life flowed back into his haggard (by halfling standards) face.

'Barber first, then the local commander to report, then a tavern...,'

[Ionbound]

Alyssa spends most of the ride resting in the wagon. She's much more injured from the club than she initially let on, and spends most of the trip with her head tied in padding and bandages. When they're stopped for the toll, she peers outside and calls to the guards, "Can't we get a discount? Surely we deserve it for doing our part to keep the roads safe."

Charm: [roll0] vs 31

[Haval]

Carl gives the human woman a grateful if tired smile. 'Thank you. You fought well.'


Gabriele will wave that off, 'I can shoot a little. Otherwise it's safer avoiding having to fight altogether.'

Mentioning Wolfenburg was a sore spot considering the state she had last seen it in after the sacking. Still, the Halfling was obviously right. 'The finest soldiers. We sort of have to be.'

In the village

A tavern sounded nice. If nothing else she could rest her wounded leg.

[em.]

Wertha's just grateful to be here and uninjured. A tavern sounded like a pleasant way to spend the afternoon and the perfect place to hear about opportunities, now that they were so close to The Borderlands - and that's what this trip was all about, wasn't it?

In the village...

Heading somewhere appropriate to listen to local rumours and regale the locals with tales of our (general) heroism - always good to spread the word around for the next job.


Gossip
[roll0]
3 Degrees of Success vs 42, assuming flat.

[rax]

Severin

"I'll go with you, Carl. Time enough to find accommodation later. Anyone else coming with us to see Sir Laurens' barber?"

[dojango]

Faucon Pass:

The toll collector merely chuckles at Alyssa's question. "Aye, if we gave a discount to everyone who got in a scrap, well, where would we be?" He waves everyone through once Bernice has paid. "Tell Sir Laurens about the bandits and he'll make short work of them, I'm sure."

The village is filled with people, of course, a few stores, some crude workshops. There is a well in the town plaza, with a few stocks. Unoccupied at the moment. The tavern is easily recognizable, from the barrels stacked up beside it. A sign proclaims it to be "The Black Sheep", as you can tell from the picture. In front of the tavern is a small crowd, clustered around a man sitting at a table. He's hung up a few bloody bandages on a placard, and is currently attempting to extract a tooth from a terrified looking woman. He pauses, takes a long swig from his ale, and then with one quick twist of the pliers, there is a brief scream. He holds up the bloody tooth, triumphantly. The woman gets up, a little unsteady, probing at her mouth. "Next!" shouts the barber-surgeon. Seeing Linus & Carl's wounds (and the gold crown spinning in Beatrice's hand), he beckons the injured over. "Run into a spot of trouble? Looks more serious than a tavern brawl. You've come to the right man. Albrecht Stangl, at your service."

Once Bernice hands over the gold crown, he bids everyone to sit. He examines Linus first, then Carl. Then the others, in turn. The tavern keeper brings out a round of drinks for anyone that wants one. Linus gets his arm carefully set, and wrapped up in a splint. He pulls out some needle and thread. He holds the needle briefly over a candle. "As your surgeon, I advise you to have a drink," says Albrecht. "This may hurt a bit..."

Wertha regales the locals with the story of the ambush, and the heroic rescue of Bernice. There are some appreciative nods at their victory over the mutants. "Wait," someone says. "Ol' George didn't make it? Someone should tell his wife... widow..." The biggest news in town (before you arrived) is that Duke Bremcote's youngest son is in town. Sir Laurens. He's come to collect the tolls, true, but he's a fine lad. A knight, don't you know? Shining armor, sword, the whole deal. A group of refugees came down from the north a few months ago, but they kept moving. Now that summer's coming, isn't going to be any traffic from the north. Since the wells are dried up now.

Heavily wounded people recover 1 wound thanks to the barber-surgeon. Lightly wounded people recover 1d10.

[Haval]

As villages go Faucon Pass was certainly different from those in the Empire. Gabriele wandered how long it had even been here. At least the place had guards. She's not as badly hurt as Carl, but will accompany the Halflings to get her leg looked at.

She doesn't drink that much but will take one here to steady herself. 'Thank you Herr Stangl.' She hadn't expected there to be actual Knights running things down here. 'This Sir Laurens, what's his story?'



Assuming I roll the d10 myself
[roll0]

[dojango]

"Another arrow wound, eh? Good thing I get a lot of practice on these," says Albrecht. When Gabriele asks about Sir Laurens, he stops what he's doing. Picks up his flagon and raises a glass. "To Sir Laurens!" The villagers mutter and raise their glasses as well. "He's a good lad. Known him his whole life. Delivered him meself, as it were. Aye, that were a tale. We was under siege by the foul Greenskins. Arrows landing all around, the Duke was battling with the enemy leader, while Lady Bremcote was going in to labor with a crossbow in hand. Sir Denis was a lad, maybe five, clutching a wooden sword, and vowing to kill the orcs... those were the days. A horde of orcs had overrun the valley. Duke Bremcote united the villages... fought off the orcs. For that, they made him their ruler. He's been ruling the valley with a fair and just hand ever since. He just awarded Sir Laurens his spurs. Sent him up here to collect the tolls, judge any disputes, that sort of thing. I come up here couple times a year, make sure the guards are healthy enough. You're lucky I was here! Luckier still with that wound. NIce and clean, nothing major, it'll hurt for another day or two. See if you can find some willowbark tea if you can. Next patient!"

Yeah, roll the 1d10 for yourself so you can mark it on your sheet.

[RossN]

Carl

Carl moves to the table and gives the Barber-Surgeon a martial nod of respect. 'You look - and sound - like a man who keeps himself informed Here Stangl. This duke and his lad, how do they feel about halfling types?'

[rax]

Severin

"So, umm, there's no Orcs about now, I hope?" Severin asks with a worried look over his shoulder.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa makes her way to the surgeon's as well, asking as she walks in, "Could, ah, someone take a look at my head? I took a nasty club to the skull and I...Haven't really felt right since."

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil scoffs a bit at the stories of Sir Laurens--knights were all well and good, but when was the last time he had warped reality to his will?--but still, it was a good sign. There was civilization, even out in this backwater, and the knight's entourage probably made this little town one of the best defended in the area. That was something.

He orders a stiff drink and sits down with the others outside. Most of what he expected to hear would be the usual inane small-town gossip, but there may be some useful information he could pick up. Besides, these kinds of folk tended to be mistrustful of mages, he'd learned the hard way, and so best to stick close to the people who were not complete strangers, at least.

[dojango]

Albrecht looks at Carl's wounds. "I've always known you folk were tougher than you look... the Duke never met halflings until he came to these lands. But he knows there's good and bad halflings, just like men. The ones that stood with us during the siege were braver than half the men of the southern ranges... there's a community of them at Bremcote castle, and there's halfling farms all across the south valley. The ones that live in the forest... well, they fell under the influence of some bad sorts. They were raiding our lands. Along with men, as well. His lordship had to put a stop to that. Pushed down into the woods, forced the villagers there to bend the knee. Stralwald (E20), they call it. They've accepted his rulership, as well they should, since he's brought law and order to them. There are a few other halfling communities around. The village of Appledel (I22) has a fine market. It's down where the river enters Tammuz Canyon. Ah, Sir Denis took a stone to the side during the fighting, he certainly had some strong words to say while his ribs were healing. I haven't asked Sir Laurens' views on halflings, but I know he enjoys the venison pie. As for the other folk... the Dwarves mostly keep to the mountains in the east. I know they have some mines in the valleys, but none serve Lord Bremcote. You can find their stonework all over, though. There is also an Elven woman who works for the Duke at Castle Bremcote. She's the stablemistress. Breeds the finest horses outside of Bretonnia, I'm told."

"Orcs are all over these lands, the scum. Duke Bremcote came here during the troubles, about 30 years ago. As a young man. Orcs had overrun this valley, and were raiding everywhere. Lord Bremcote drove them off, the big battle at Boneyard Pass. Killed thousands, including their leaders. A terrible battle, but necessary. We... he... reclaimed this valley. He's been the strong shield of these realms, protecting them against the orcs ever since. They make raids here occasionally, and his lordship tries to make sure that none return alive. He also raids their lands to keep them off balance. "

"Head injury? Hmm, let me take a look at that. I've seen terrible head wounds where the man would be up and running a weak later, and ones that looked minor, and yet... well. Do you see any strange lights when you blink? Do you smell sounds? Feel dizzy? Let me check..." he pulls back her hair and examines the bruising. "As long as the swelling is on the outside of the skull, you should be OK. If it's on the inside... well, I've never tried trepanning before. To remove the excess yellow bile from the brain is tricky. I remember my uncle tried it once, but, ah, the patient died."

You recover [roll0] wounds.

[Haval]

Gabriele was not the sort of person to get overly excited about nobles doing what they ought to be doing anyway, but at least this Bremcote was the type of noble that protected people. To Severin, 'My Grandma said she came through here once. Said it was safer to assume there are always Orcs out there somewhere.'

[rax]

Severin

"Sounds like an upright fella, this Duke of yours. Maybe we should pay Castle Bremcote a visit when you're healed up," he says to Carl. "Could be we've got kinfolk there."

"Sounds like a wise woman, yer grandma," he replies to Gabriele. "She travel a lot?"

[RossN]

Carl


Severin

"Sounds like an upright fella, this Duke of yours. Maybe we should pay Castle Bremcote a visit when you're healed up," he says to Carl. "Could be we've got kinfolk there."

"Sounds like a wise woman, yer grandma," he replies to Gabriele. "She travel a lot?"

Carl smiled and nodded, then winced. Though he felt better he was still a long way from hale and hearty.

'I agree. I know how to make venison pie if it helps, but I might be better suited to helping keep out the orcs with this.' He pats the handgun slung across his back. It isn't really oversized but on a halfling it looks big. Turning to the surgeon he offered his hand. 'Thank you for your fine work Herr Stangel. I'm Carl Greenarrow, late of Von Kreidel's Marksmen.'

Stepping aside to allow Alyssa through he gives the human woman a sympathetic smile. 'I guess you have the good luck to have a thick skull, right Alyssa?'

[Haval]

"Sounds like a wise woman, yer grandma," he replies to Gabriele. "She travel a lot?"

'She did. Came up from Estalia originally. She taught me how to shoot.'

She pats her bow, 'On that, my quiver is running a bit low after the mutants. I suppose the ones I shot didn't want to give the arrows back. Maybe there's a place here to pick up supplies.'

[dojango]

Once the surgeon finishes treating the group, he smiles. "Yes, the craftsmen here help keep his lordship supplied with arrows. They are usually plentiful in these lands. His lordship does not approve of gunpowder weapons, so I suspect that it will be very hard to find additional powder while you are here. Something to keep in mind. Now, if you excuse me..." he beckons over the next patient, an old woman.

Watching the surgeon treat his patients is about the most exciting thing happening in town, so there are a number of gawkers. The tavern is doing good business. Linus rents one of the inn's private rooms to rest in, as the muleskinners see to the mules. Clark wanders off, muttering about visiting the widow Beaumont, while the guards begin drinking their pay. Bernice beckons you over. She doles out 6 gold crowns to everyone. "Your wages, plus a bonus. If you are still interested, we're heading down to Castle Bremcote, hopefully we can set up shop there. Same wages, 1 crown per week, plus expenses. Probably will rest here a few days, though."

[Ionbound]

Alyssa listens to Albrecht's musing as he looks at Carl's and her wounds, then nods to Carl and says, with a weak laugh, "Thinner than I'd like." She pauses for a minute, then says thoughtfully, "I think I need to meet with Duke Bremcote. I'd like to get to know him and his court better."

[rax]

Severin

"She taught you well then," Severin compliments Gabriele.

"Much obliged, Miss Bernice, and I'll be happy to ride with you to Castle Bremcote as well. Do you know it well?"

[Haval]

Gabriele will thank Bernice and pocket the money in the inside of her cloak. She was uncomfortable having this much money on her at one time.


"I think I need to meet with Duke Bremcote. I'd like to get to know him and his court better."

She is frankly impressed by Alyssa's confidence. 'Might as well see what one of the bigger towns looks likes.' At the moment one place seemed as good as another. 'Would this Duke have any reason to employ us?'

[dojango]

Bernice laughs at that. "I never left Altdorf until two months ago. Our shop started to fall apart a few years back. After mother died... well, father's heart wasn't really in the business anymore. I was still too young, and... well, we decided to make a clean break of it. Go far away, start anew, away from creditors and taxmen and gangers, and other scum of the earth... maybe the borderlands wasn't the best choice, but here we are? So I don't know this duke or his castle at all. If there's a town, there's people who need to buy and sell, and maybe we can make a go of it there... I hope. A real duke back in the Empire wouldn't give us a second look, but down here? Who knows... A chance to meet one of his kids and we just got here. You go meet with him. I'm going to take a bath and put on some clean clothes so I can make a good impression. Tell me what you think of him before I go talk to him."

[Haval]

'There's too many people in Altdorf. I don't know how anyone lives there.' Gabriele had briefly passed through it on the way south.

On the idea of changing she'll look down at her own travel stained clothes, 'If we have to clean up first someone else should probably do the talking.'

[rs2excelsior]

The others seemed intent on meeting the duke, and Torendil didn't think this was a bad idea. It seemed like the duke was fairly competent, so he should have a decent handle on what is going on. Maybe he'd even be willing to hire on a court wizard. Perhaps he should have asked the surgeon how this Duke Bremcote felt about mages, or elves for that matter. They'd find out soon enough.

Torendil also gave his dusty robes an annoyed glance. "I would also prefer a chance to clean up both my clothing and myself. Country rubes such as this might not care much about appearances, but noblemen tend to. I suppose the inn offers bathing facilities, at least?" He had nothing more than a simple travelling robe, but perhaps he could make himself halfway presentable.

[dojango]

Torendril asks the innkeeper for a bath. The innkeeper grunts, "1 silver. The young lady's in there now, so you'll wait yer turn. I run a respectable establishment, y'hear?" Once Bernice is done, a servant shows him to a small room off the kitchen with a large tub full of water. Severin goes to the well in the center of town, draws a bucket of cool, clean water and splashes the travel dust off. Once everyone feels cleaner, the party heads towards the bailey. It is built on top of a large mound of earth. Stone stairs fixed in the sides are overwatched by the bailey's towers. At the top of the hill is a gate set into a curtain wall. The guards wave you in. The doc sent word ahead, apparently.

Once inside there is a bare training yard. A few spectators, soldiers, camp followers, servants, are watching two knights sparring. Wearing expensive full plate, the courtyard rings with the sound of their sword-play. After a few minutes, a servant carefully approaches, and tries to attract their attention. The knights stop sparring, and bow to each other. They pull of their helms. Two healthy-looking young men, hair cut short in the knightly style. One straw, the other reddish. The man with the red hair approaches. "Ah, you brave fellows! The travellers attacked by mutants. Terrible, terrible. Tell me, when and where did it happen? Are you all right? How many mutants were there? Foul cretins. By my honor, I will avenge Master Beaumont!" The words all jumble out in a haste. "Forgive me, I am Sir Laurens Bremcote. This is my friend, Sir Patrocles Leclair. It is my duty, my knightly charge to defend these lands!"

[RossN]

Carl

Carl bowed - then winced. Even with Albrecht's ministrations it would take time before the halfling soldier was hale and hearty. Still, he wanted to make a good impression.

'An honour to meet you noble knights. I am Carl Greenarrow, late of the Emperor's armies. The mutants attacked us two days south of "Sweetwater Springs", but we managed to fight them off, with injuries and losses I fear.'

[Haval]

Gabriele will let others bathe first if they wanted. As long as someone was capable of making a good impression it didn't really matter what she looked like. She hadn't really had the chance to get a good bath since that place in Wissenland though. She was honestly curious to see what this Bremcote was really like, but even if the reality was less impressive then the Doctor had made it sound, it would be better to be on good terms with the local lord.

Gabriele will bow awkwardly. Mam had been around and tried to teach her some things. 'Gabriele, late of Ostland. We chased them into the desert afterwards to get one of our people back. Maybe they're living out there somehow.' Leclair, was that Bretonnian?

[rax]

Severin

"Severin Cinderhill of the Imperial Messengers' Guild. Recently...retired, m'lord. And may I say, Carl and Gabriele are much too modest. Their archery was instrumental in driving off the bandits."

[dojango]

Sir Laurens nods gravely at your tale. "Those badlands are empty for good reason. If those mutants are there, they must be passing through. Can't let them get too far a head start. Aye, archery is good for driving off the foe, but you need cold steel and a lance charge to bring the battle home, eh? We will avenge the deaths of your comrades. I want you to guide me to where you fought them off first thing tomorrow." He turns to Sir Leclair. "Can't let my brother take all the glory, eh? We leave after break-fast."

[Haval]

Severin
"Carl and Gabriele are much too modest. Their archery was instrumental in driving off the bandits."

Gabriele looks embarrassed at this praise. 'I've seen worse.'

'Should be easy enough to follow their trail as long as the weather holds.' Hunting down the remaining mutants wasn't the worst idea. If they hungry enough they'd only attack someone else. As long as she and the others had some more experienced fighters to stand behind.

[dojango]

"Excellent! My guards and I will leave first thing in the morning. You all can guide us there so we can slay this menace. Meet us at the main gate just after breaking your fast. You are dismissed," says the knight, waving you off. "Sir Leclair, looks like we see battle tomorrow! Have the men rest up, don't let them get too drunk."

[Haval]

Gabriele will wait until the two knights were out of earshot before asking, 'I figured them owing us a favour might be a good idea, but is everyone ok with coming along?' She was aware that some of them had been hurt worse in the ambush then others.

Later she'll look into stocking up on arrows before taking that bath. If one was available she'll try and buy a room for the night. While she is comfortable sleeping outdoors, it's been a while, and she would be stupid not to take advantage of a decent bed if she could find one.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil isn't sure whether he's more miffed or relieved that no one paid him any particular mind. The knight's abrupt dismissal, as if they were some... peasants rankled, but he didn't press the issue. At least Sir Laurens seemed eager to deal with the problem personally--that was better than some nobles he'd seen.

"I do not see why not," he responds to Gabriele. "Though we do not know exactly where the creatures came from. I suppose we could lead them as far as where we tracked that party which had captured Bernice..." He scowls at the prospect of trekking through the desert once more.

[rax]

"We should be alright," Severin chuckles. "Sir Laurens requested that we guide him and his men to where we fought them mutants, he didn't say anything about us fighting them again. So we take him where he wants to go and then let the professionals handle the problem."

Severin too does his best to find a decent room for the night. Best to be well rested for tomorrow's business.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa bows respectfully to the knights, and adds, "Do you hold a court, sir? I was hoping to offer my aid there. My skills are not in combat so much as they are in aiding your administration."

As they return, Alyssa replies to Gabriele, "I'd like to avoid taking another club to the head...I'm not a good fighter, either. I hope there's something I can do for them other than going out and hunting mutants."

[Haval]

Gabriele is honestly curious about what Alyssa was even doing in the Border Princes. Her accent sounded like she came from money, and if that was true, why leave it to start again. Still, Gabriele had hardly been open about her own reason for coming south.

'I'm not great with a sword either, but I know to avoid a fair fight if I can help it. If there's anything bigger then a goblin out there we should probably keep it as far away from us as possible.'

[dojango]

Before they leave, Sir Leclair sneers at Alyssa. "I'm sure you can find someone to serve under." Sir Laurens shakes his head at that, and says, "I have all the servants that I need. I suppose you can ask my father's servants if they need help? There's always work for willing hands. Scribes, stewards, and the like. Never fear, though. You'll have two knights and a dozen guards with you on the morrow."

The afternoon is wearing on. The village begins bustling as farmers and herders return from the fields, heading home for dinner and a few drinks. A few dusty stalls and a general store sport some meager wares, if anyone needs to stock up on supplies. Arrows are easy enough to find, of course. A few craftsmen harvest reeds from the river to turn into arrows for the Duke's archers. Back at the inn, it is 10s for a private room, and 5p to sleep on the floor after the patrons clear out of the common room. "There's only two private rooms left, squire" grunts the innkeeper as he mentions this. The common room is filled with locals. The elf and the halflings get a few sidelong glances, but the locals mostly keep to themselves, and the room empties out a few hours after sunset.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa's smile cracks slightly as the knights mention servitude and she replies, in an ever-so-slightly strained tone of voice, "Thank you. And I am sure with your company we'll be safe in the wilds." With that, she respectfully takes her leave.

[Haval]

Gabriele's eyes will narrow at Leclair's comment but knows better then to say anything. This was the sort of thing she expected from most of the nobility. Away from the knights she'll say quietly to Alyssa, 'Maybe a mutant will get him.'

Later she'll pay for the other private room as the common room was far too full. In her experience not everyone was trustworthy in a place like this.


Expenses using book prices
10 s - for the room
2 p - 3 Ales for light drinking
4 s - 20 arrows

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil seems a little annoyed that there are only two private rooms left and they will likely have to share rooms. Still, there would be a roof over their heads--a marked improvement over the past few weeks. He makes sure they have the other room reserved, nurses a single ale while keeping mostly to himself, and goes to bed early. He won't necessarily suggest that they share rooms, but won't balk if someone else makes the suggestion, either.

He approaches the halflings, who had already reserved the first room. He screwed up his face a little--begging favors wasn't exactly something he was used to. "Is there any chance..." He stopped, grimacing. "Might I share a space in your room? I will pay my share." He pushes five silver coins across the table at Severin.


EDIT: I'm a bit late revising this, since the GM has already moved us along, but there you go.

[Ionbound]

This elicits a thin smile from Alyssa, even as she shakes her head, "Perhaps. Still, a grim thing to hope for."

When they return to the Inn, Alyssa glaces at Gabriele as she buys a private room and asks quietly, "Would you mind sharing? I...Don't like the look of this common room very much."

[Haval]

'I don't mind. I mostly took it to get out of the common room anyway. Feel free to take the bed if you want.'

[dojango]

The night passes quietly in the private rooms. The beds are... well, they are. The walls are thin, and in the morning the sounds of the innkeeper and his family getting up and starting their day as the sun rises is quite audible. In the common room, a bowl of porridge and some leftover bread is available for guests. At least, those that sprung for a private room. The guards and the muleskinners from the caravan spent the night on the common room floor.

After breaking your fast, the small group heads to the village's gate. Locals are heading out to the fields, and the guards haven't seen Sir Laurens yet. After about an hour of waiting, the two knights come through the village at the head of a small group of soldiers. The two knights are holding their banners, followed by four men at arms with spears and six archers with short bows and daggers. Three servants follow, leading some spare mounts and pack horses with supplies. Albrecht comes as well, riding a small horse. He smiles and waves at the group. "I'm glad see you are all recovered enough to join us. "

Sir Laurens nods at the party and says, "Lead the way. And we will bring them justice!"

The group heads back up the pass. The two young knights spend most of their time chatting and gossiping about life at Castle Bremcote, while the soldiers sing marching songs and subtly pass around a flask or two. The servants are busy wrestling with the supply train and making sure the two knights are provided with whatever they ask for.

[rax]

Severin

Severin lets the knights and their soldiers lead the way, mostly riding alongside the servants and muleskinners and chatting with them when they're not too busy. He attempts to subtly question them about Sir Laurens' and Sir Leclair's records as bandit hunters. Have they done this often? Are they known to be successful? He also tries to slip in a few questions regarding their personal lives. For instance, is either of them married or known to be courting what passes for local nobility? If not, has Sir Laurens' father made it clear what sort of match would be acceptable?

[roll0] vs. 42

[Haval]

Using her fur coat as a pillow, Gabriele has slept fairly well. She certainly has slept in worst places.

As the designated tracker she feels a certain amount of responsibility to the others to do this properly. There was always the chance she could get paid for doing this as well. She will walk slightly ahead of the column and will try to keep an eye out. As they had discovered once already, there were lots of possible ambush sites around here.


Perception for the hell of it
vs. Int 33
[roll0]

[dojango]

The servants are happy enough to talk to Severin in between their chores. "Sir Laurens? His father gave him his spurs just a few weeks ago. His older brother... well, half brother... has been his father's strong right hand for nearly a decade now. Sir Laurens is eager to prove himself... Sir Leclair is his best friend, they grew up together, trained together. Son of some knight errant who died in Duke Bremcote's service." When Severin asks about courting, the servant merely raises an eyebrow. "Not halfling girls, that's for sure..." he doesn't elaborate further and he and the other servants get in an extended conversation about which servants are sleeping with each other back at the castle.

She ranges ahead of the group. Across the pass and back into the badlands, following the trail from the day before. She doesn't see any signs of any other travelers, just some little game, surviving as best it can. She reaches the sight of the ambush first, and sees... well, nothing. The bodies they left behind, man, mutant and mule are gone.

[Haval]

Wait, this was definitely the right place wasn't it? This might be embarrassing. Gabriele is going to look around for sign of remains or for any tracks that might indicate that something has been here and dragged those remains away.

Animals might have fed on the bodies but would have probably left some sign behind. Maybe the mutants had come back to take away what meat they could get.


Perception vs. Int 33
[roll0] or [roll1]

Follow Trail vs. Int 33
[roll2] or [roll3]

Use FP as needed

[dojango]

Gabriele searches their former campsite. It's the right spot, she finds some garbage scattered around. Where she remembers the bodies of the fallen men and mutants, she sees bloodstains and visible drag marks. The attackers had come over the rocky ridge to the west, and the marks lead back over the hill. The fading light and the memories of ambushers lurking in the shadows keep her from following the trail for too long. The others arrive as Gabriele finishes scouting.

One of the soldiers says, "Beggin' yer pardon, sir, but we don't want to keep moving after dark. Should we make camp here and press on in the morn?"

Sir Laurens looks around. "How much further, do you reckon?" he asks.

[Haval]

Sir Laurens looks around. "How much further, do you reckon?" he asks.

Gabriele will fill everyone in, 'Hard to say. This is where the attack happened but something's come back and dragged the bodies away to the west. Should be easy enough to follow the trail in daylight but there's no way of knowing how far away they made it.'

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil tags along, keeping an eye out for any more of the mutant creatures and listening to the idle gossip of the knights. It truly was idle gossip--for nobles they seemed to be unduly interested in the affairs of those who they claimed were under them. Still, there was less haste in their trip this time, so he struggled less to keep up with the group this time around. It was almost a pleasant walk, aside from the possibility of being attacked.

Torendil isn't thrilled that they are going to have to camp out another night. "Hopefully the creatures have retreated, then, and will not bother us during the night. Perhaps we should keep a watch, just in case?"

[rax]

Severin

"I concur, master Elf, but I'm sure Sir Laurens already has a plan to secure our position for the night. Isn't that so, m'lord?" Severin asks. Might as well get the measure of the man if we're going to be camping out tonight.

[dojango]

Sir Laurens looks around. The campsite was a flat space in between two dry hills with a few meager shrubs peaking out between rocks. He sighs. "I hoped we'd be back home in time for dinner."

"Fear not, we'll see battle on the morrow," says Sir Leclair. "Besides, your brother spends weeks on campaign, it can't be too hard."

One of the servants pipes up. "Don't worry milord, we brought supplies, we won't go hungry tonight." While the servants begin gathering what wood they can find to start a fire and cook dinner, the knights rest on the ground as best they can, pulling out a pack of cards. "Master elf, would you care to join us?" asks Sir Leclair.

A little ways away, the soldiers begin setting up their camp. One of them, a sergeant, has taken charge and is ordering them around as they begin cooking their food. One of the soldiers digs a latrine downwind of the camp, while a few others start patrolling the area. Albrecht tells Carl, "The soldiers will keep watch tonight, I'm sure. You be sure to rest. Please let me check your bandages..."

[roll0] - Carl recovers another wound thanks to the expert barber-surgeon

[Haval]

While the camp is being set up, Gabriele is going to see if she can catch any game that isn't scared off by all these people. Mindful that the sun is going down she won't go that far, but she can normally move fairly quietly in case there is anything else out here.


Silent Move vs. Ag 43 (+10 Rover)
[roll0]

Outdoor Survival to look for food
vs. Int 33
[roll1]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa travels with the group, chatting with the servants about who's-who at court and other affairs, and otherwise generally trying to get a good feel for what's going on at the Fort. As camp is made, she rolls her eyes at Lauren's comments behind his back, and instead adds to Leclair's summation, "Worst comes to worst, you can skip dinner. It won't kill you."

[roll0] vs Charm (31) to get information out of the servants.

[roll1] vs Charm (31) to get that comment by Lauren without getting smacked.

[RossN]

Carl

Carl looked like he'd sooner not be on an expedition at all but he'd realised what a poor impression that would make on their knightly employers. Forcing a rueful smile the halfling soldier accepted Albrect's examinations. With newly changed bandages he went to join the others.

'What was that about dinner?'

[dojango]

Gabriele slips like a shadow over the barren hills. But no game is to be found. Whether it's because she doesn't know the habits of the local fauna, or because something has scared them away, she comes back empty handed. The servants start a small fire and begin cooking a stew, adding spiced sausage and chopped vegetables. "No chance of us taking a game hen?" asks Sir Laurens. The servant merely shakes his head. A thin plume of smoke rises over the camp.

Alyssa spends some time gossiping with the servants. The castle Bremcote serves as the seat of Duke Radulf Bremcote, his second wife, Duchess Heldeburgis Bremcote, his two sons Sir Denis Bremcote and Sir Laurens Bremcote, and his youngest daughter Lady Oriolda Bremcote. The eldest son has served has his father's strong right hand, leading raids against the orks, and leading the vanguard in the campaign against the Stralwald bandits. Sir Laurens, his half-brother, has just been knighted and is eager to prove his worth... hence this little expedition. Leclair grew up in the castle with Laurens, the son of a Bretonnian knight who fell in the Duke's service. He has no formal title, but he and Laurens are very close friends. Inseperable. The Duke has a court in the Bretonnian style, as he remembers it, with a Justicar to mete out justice to the peasants, a Castellan who manages the household and the estates, and an exile from the elven-homes, who manages the stable and who breeds the proud destriers that serve the Duke and his knights. She arrived about a decade ago, the newest addition to the court's inner circle. After a while, one of the servants whispers to Alyssa. "If you're in need of extra money, Miss Marzina le Houet is always happy to have reliable eyes and ears."

At dinner, Sir Laurens accepts Alyssa's barb with a smile. "Always best to fight on a full stomach, they say." He snaps his fingers towards the servants. "Make sure everyone has a hearty breakfast."

Once things settle down for the night, the soldiers take watch. During the third watch, after the moon has set, one of the watchers suddenly shouts out. "Oi! Who's there!"

[rax]

Severin

Severin awakens with a start at the sound of the sentry's challenge. "That's a mighty fine question," he grumbles quietly from under his blanket. "No one friendly, I'll wager."

Rising to his feet, he quickly unwinds and loads his sling. Looking over at the guard, he tries to catch any movement in the direction the soldier is looking.

[roll0] vs. Int 34 (with the benefit of 30 yards Night Vision)

[Haval]

Gabriele has been sleeping a little away from the fire so she can hopefully see better in the dark. In response to the guard's challenge she'll grab her bow and see what she can see.


Perception vs. Int 33
[roll0]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa rouses slowly, but once she realizes what's happening she grabs her sword and slinks towards where the soldier was yelling from, attempting to stick to the shadows and catch whatever he's confronting by surprise.

Concealment: [roll0] vs 30

[dojango]

As you scramble up the rocky hill, the you hear the sentry shout and then loose an arrow out into the darkness. He is nocking another arrow to his bow as you reach the top of the ridge. Alyssa slinks through the darkest shadows while the others peer into the darkness. Whatever the sentry saw is long gone. As the Sergeant climbs to the top of the hill, buckling on his armor, the sentry says, "Saw movement out there. Scared them away." A few feet down from the top of the ridge, Gabriele sees an arrow sticking out of the dirt. A crude thing, but still dangerous, as everyone had found out during the ambush the other day. There are but a few hours left in the night... the soldiers don't seem inclined to go back to sleep, but neither do they want to strike out into the darkness of the night.

[rax]

Severin

"Sterling work, friend," Severin congratulates the sentry. "Sergeant, perhaps our uninvited guest was a scout of some sort and it could be that they now know the strength of our little army, but if we're not going after them right away, then I think the best we can do is to try and get a good night's sleep," he opines. "It's not like there'll be any more or less of us to fight in the morning..."

[Haval]

Gabriele is going to look for tracks to check that it was only a scout. Just because the sentries heard them coming once it didn't mean they'd hear them if they came back before morning. Besides, now she was awake there was every chance she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep.


Follow Trail vs. Int 33
[roll0]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa hmphs about being woken up, and sighs, then turns and heads back into the light, adding somewhat more sarcastically to Severin's praise, "Yes. Excellent job waking the camp for shadows." She turns, and heads back to where she was sleeping as she stows her blade.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil mostly listens to the conversations around the campfire that night. He showed some interest at the mention of the elven exile, but didn't press for any further information. For one, the elves who handled stables didn't tend to be the kind to study magic as well.

When the alert was raised, Torendil had basically just managed to untangle himself from his bedroll and get himself on his feet when word came back that the threat was apparently gone. He took a moment to get himself in order and tried to hide his nervousness as the scans the darkness around them for any signs of motion, mind racing. What if the guard hadn't spotted something? What if he'd been killed before raising an alarm? It was one thing to face those mutant creatures in the daylight, when he was awake and ready to respond. The thought of putting his safety in the hands of another in this country with an obvious hostile presence frightened him enough that he didn't expect to be able to go back to sleep. After scanning the shadows, he wordlessly makes his way over to Gabriele and any of the others who might be staying awake, pulls a book from his pack, and begins studying the pages in the faint light.

Perception test vs Int+10 (58):
[roll0]

I don't really expect to see anything, but Torendil is unsettled enough he's going to keep an eye out. He'll continue to check periodically through the night.

EDIT: I do have the night vision talent, allowing me to see 30yd in starlight.

[dojango]

Gabriele slips into the night, trying to find a trace of the shadowy figures spotted by the sentry. She finds his arrow, stuck in the dirt, and a few paces beyond that, a few scuffled footprints are visible on the ground. They lead back over the hills to the west, but she cannot tell if it is a small party or a single man.

Alyssa and Severin stay up on the hill with the others. The Sergeant merely grunts at their comments. He simply says, "My men are up, I am going to see to their gear. You fellows can do as you like." The soldiers begin going over their gear, sharpening swords and arrows, testing their bowstrings. The two knights go back to where they were resting and talk in low voices. Torendil makes his way up to the top of the hill and looks around. His sharp elven eyes pierce the darkness, but he can see no movement. Perhaps his studies will prove more fruitful.

The servants, awakened, begin to prepare their cookfires. Per Sir Laurens' orders, they carefully unwrap some dried sausages and begin cooking a hearty breakfast for the knights and the party. The soldiers see to their own cooking. As the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Sir Laurens calls a meeting.

"Let's form up and head west. Find the enemy's camp and cut them down," declares Sir Leclair.

"Perhaps we should locate the camp first, milord?" asks the sergeant. "Send out our scouts to locate the enemy before we all head out?"

"And have them get lost? Or killed? We know they're out there, best we stick together," retorts Sir Leclair.

There is a long pause as Sir Laurens digests the two options...

[rax]

Severin

"With respect, good sir knight, your sergeant may be on to something. If we approach as a single group, we will likely be noticed by any sentries the raiders may have posted. Sending a smaller, stealthy group ahead might enable us to scout the location of the enemy encampment and formulate a plan of attack that will maximize our chances of success. The scouts would not need to move all that far ahead - they will need to be able to return swiftly to Sir Laurens and report if they are discovered, or if it seems that the raiders are beating a hasty retreat."

[Haval]

"And have them get lost? Or killed? We know they're out there, best we stick together," retorts Sir Leclair.


Gabriele mutters 'I don't get lost.' After which she will speak up, 'I'm willing if everyone else is. I'll bet I can be quieter then a load of bandits even if they know the land better. Even if I'm wrong, we'd have a better chance of seeing any ambush before it happens.'

[rax]

Severin

"Well, I'm certainly no master woodsman, but I'd be happy to accompany you Gabriele. If I bring Bertrand, I'll be quicker than anyone on foot. I could be the liaison between Sir Laurens and the scouting party."

OOC: Haval, I think you may have picked the wrong colour for your post. :smallwink:

[Ionbound]

Alyssa hmphs as she realizes that more sleep isn't an option, but nods with a sigh and adds, "Besides, if we send out scouts, it'll keep us from being massacred by an overwhelmingly large force...And considering how many mutants there were in their little hunting party I'd not count out that possibility."

[dojango]

Sir Laurens chuckles. "It's dangerous work, but brave hearts fear not! Very well. Send out scouting parties, and return to us once the mutant's lair has been found. We will be ready for battle."

The sergeant points at a few of the archers. "We'll send out two parties. They'll head out that way, and bear to the south. You mercenaries, try and search to the north. Don't bite off more than you can chew, and report back to us so we can take care of the problem, permanently." He points out to the west. The archers grumble a bit, but the selected ones gather their gear and prepare to head out.

"Don't worry about water, milords. Fill up your canteens before you head out. We'll head back up to the pass to refill the water barrells," says one of the servants.

[rax]

Severin

After making sure that his waterskin is full and requisitioning and extra one for Bertrand, Severin is ready to leave. "Gabriele, would you care to lead the way?"

[Haval]

'Right.' No pressure then. Doing this alone was one thing. Being responsible for other people was something else altogether. Gabriele will make sure she has enough water then will move to follow the trail she had found earlier that night. 'Maybe if they were over here watching us they've had as little sleep as we've had.'

If not for the need to follow the trail she would like to have used what cover there was to hide them from anyone who might be watching. Once again she will try to judge where the best spots might be to ambush them if there was anyone watching them out there.


Perception vs. Int 33 (+20 for Acute Hearing)
[roll0]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa frowns as she realizes that she's expected to be on one of the scouting parties, but remains silent, instead checking her waterskin and following Gabriele, on edge with short sword drawn.

[dojango]

Once it's light, it's fairly easy for Gabriele to find the mutant's trail. Not many footprints, heading back west. They lead through the maze of twisted rock hills and canyons. After about an hour, Gabriele's sharp ears pick up some distant sounds. Creeping carefully forward, she finds herself at the rim of a small canyon. Down in the valley, there is a gruesome scene... bodies, mutant, man, and mule are hanging from a crude rack. A pile of offal and bone is piled up in a corner. The mutants appear to be butchering and drying the meat from the bodies of the ambush. There are perhaps a dozen of them, each a twisted and unique parody of the human form. They are going about the bloody business of butchering their catch from a hunt. Something Gabriele has seen in hunting camps throughout her life... except for the fact that the bodies are human. Or humanish.

[rax]

Severin

As Gabriele begins to creep forward, Severin dismounts and winds Bertrand's reins around a rocky outcrop. "Wait here, there's a good lad," he mutters before moving as quietly as he can after the huntress.

"We did well to rescue young Bernice from such a fate," he whispers as he takes in the scene. "Shall I ride back and inform Sir Laurens?"

[Haval]

Severin
"We did well to rescue young Bernice from such a fate,"

Gabriele is grim faced as she looks around for any sign of sentries. 'Didn't work for the rest of them.' At least the other members of their caravan were already dead before they were brought here.

'Do it. If there's more of them out there Sir Laurens ought to be able to handle himself.' If the mutants supposedly knew they were here they seemed awfully relaxed about that.

[rax]

Severin

Quickly making his way back to Bertrand, Severin leads the pony a short stretch away from the mutant camp before mounting up and making his way back to Sir Laurens camp at speed. Once there, he informs the young knight of their find, taking care to note the number of visible mutants as well as the location and layout of the camp.

"They're camped down in a little valley, but we couldn't tell if they've got any boltholes or planned escape routes. Hopefully Gabriele will be able to fill us in on what sort of defences there are once we get there. In the meantime, I advise we proceed with caution - if they hear us coming or if they have sentries we haven't spotted yet, they may be able to escape."

[Ionbound]

Alyssa stays with Gabriele, though she looks somewhat ill as she averts her gaze from the grisly sight, and whispers, "What positions do you want to take in the meantime?"

[Haval]

Alyssa stays with Gabriele, though she looks somewhat ill as she averts her gaze from the grisly sight, and whispers, "What positions do you want to take in the meantime?"

Gabriele looks pained. 'It's the first time I've done something like this. You see a big group like that you normally try to stay away from them.' She'll think for a second, 'I can take a look around just to check that I'm not being paranoid. If you can be quiet you're welcome to come back me up, otherwise here is as good a spot as any to keep an eye on them.'

[dojango]

Severin heads back over the dusty hills, following the path they had blazed. He eventually sees a thin plume of smoke from where they had camped. A sentry nods at him as he crests the ridge. A small cookfire burns as a servant heats a small pot over the fire. The two knights wave him over as he delivers his report. "Excellent news!" says Sir Laurens, excitedly. He presses a cup into Severin's hand. "Have a cup of mulled wine, friend." The two knights toss back their cups, in high spirits. "Victory and the Lady!" they shout.

The sergeant blows three sharp blasts on a whistle, while the soldiers gather their things. The two knights call over servants to help them don their armor. It takes about half an hour for the group to get ready to leave. The sergeant blows the whistle one more time, and frowns. "Move out," yells Sir Leclair. "The other scouts can find us on the move." The group heads out in column towards the mutant's lair.

At the Mutant's Lair:

Once Severin leaves, Gabriele sneaks along the edge of the canyon to get a better look. The canyon curves around a bend, and she sees a few mutants head deeper into the canyon. While she is maneuvering to get a better look at the rest of the canyon, she knocks a few rocks loose, which tumble into the canyon with a clatter. She sees the mutants working on one of the mule hides freeze. They look up towards her, pointing. One of them mutters something, and then runs deeper into the canyon. The other doesn't move towards her, but is intently peering in her general direction...

[Haval]

This would never have happened if they'd been in a proper forest. Much as she would like to get a look at where those other mutants were heading it might just be a way for them to get up to her. She will move away from the canyon and away from where the others were hiding. If she was lucky maybe she could lead them into Sir Lauren's war party coming the other way.

When she is far enough away, she'll look for somewhere to hide. Maybe they'd see her as someone who'd merely stumbled across them by accident.


Concealment vs. 43 (+10 Rover)
[roll0]

Use FP if needed
[roll1]

FP: 3/4

[dojango]

Gabriele finds a place to hide behind a patch of cactus. After a few minutes, she sees three mutants climb up the cliff wall where she had been hiding. Two of them have bows, the third has a long bloody knife from his tanning work. The bow-armed mutants spend a few minutes looking around where Gabriele had been hiding. After that, one of them gives the skinner a solid backhand slap across the face, and says something like "Back to work, idiot" in guttural Reikspiel. He cringes away and flees down the slope. The two bow-mutants sit at the edge of the canyon and pull out some dried meat and begin eating it.

[Haval]

Well that was easy. Gabriele will draw her bow and continue watching the two on the edge of the canyon. From here it would be an easy shot, or she could just try and push them both over the edge. On the other hand if it didn't work she might have to deal with both of them at the same time. For now she'll wait.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil, who had stayed with the camp, begins gathering up his things when Severin shows back up. He spends the trip mentally running through his spell gestures and incantations--it wouldn't do to embarrass himself in front of the knight and his retinue by fizzling the spells. Also, the repetitive mental task kept his mind off the fact that he was once more going into a situation where things would be trying to kill him, and wondering--not for the first time--if he shouldn't have stayed in town and looked for a different caravan elsewhere. Nothing for it now, however--and besides, didn't all the great archmages command powerful magic that could smite their foes? He might as well get in some practice when he could.

Sorry I've been quiet for a while, things have been busy with the holidays and job hunting and I've let this slip by me. I guess we can just say Torendil has been cooling his heels in camp until now.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa decides not to follow Gabriele, instead deciding to hunker down in place, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive before deciding where and when to move.

[dojango]

Once the knights and the soldiers are ready to march, they head out to the west, following Severin's lead. The sergeant blows his whistle every few minutes, until the other scouts rejoin the party. They search the area to the north, they didn't find any signs of the mutant's lair. Nor did they find any lurking ambushers. It takes a few hours for the column to reach the area near the lair.

It's hot out in the barren hills. As the sun reaches high in the sky, the meager shade disappears. Gabrielle and Alyssa begin to sweat in their hiding places. The mutant sentries finish their meal, and head back down into the canyon. A few hours pass. Eventually, they see a cloud of dust coming from the east. The reinforcements. Down from the canyon, there is the sound of shouting as the mutants sound the alarm. Gabriele sees the mutants return; this time there are four of them, armed with bows, heading east towards the dust cloud. It looks like they are going to try and intercept your friends...

The mutants have spotted the incoming column and are moving to intercept... if you have any ideas about how to make the field of battle more advantageous for you, let me know...

[Haval]

It was getting uncomfortably warm in this coat, and hiding wouldn't be easy at this time of day, but maybe all she needed to do was distract them a little. She will try to creep over to the lip of the canyon to watch what the other mutants were doing. If not interrupted, she will take as much time as she needs to aim, then will send an arrow after one of the mutants with bows. She does not intend to hang around long after.


Will be running away after assuming she distracts them properly

Silent Move
vs. Ag 43 (+10 Rover)
[roll0]

Initiative if needed
[roll1]

Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Fire at the closest

vs. BS 47 (+10 Aim) (Range?)
[roll2]
or Fortune point
[roll3]

Damage (1d10+3 Armour Piercing)
[roll4]

[rax]

Severin

We're moving too slow and there's too much dust, Severin thinks as Bertrand ambles along. If the mutants have any sentries out at all, they'll see us coming...

"Ahem! Sir Laurens? May I propose a slight...adjustment to the plan? The sun is high, the day is clear, and I can't help but notice that we're generating a substantial amount of dust. I worry that, if the mutants have sentries out, they will already have noticed our approach. Would it not be wise to send a squad of men ahead to scout out the approaches to the mutant camp? If the mutants have prepared any mischief we might discover them before they attack, and if they're preparing to flee, the squad might be able to delay them."

[dojango]

Gabriele carefully aims at one of the mutants. Unaware of her presence, they make no effort to dodge the arrow. It sinks deep into the back of one of the mutants, who yells out in pain. They grab their bows and turn, but Gabriele is running away. Three of them chase after her, while the injured one ducks down behind some rocks. Gabriele is leading them away from the canyon and from the rest of their friends... but also away from her reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Severin makes his suggestion to the knights. They turn and think for a moment. Sir Laurens says, "I say, I'd like to see some action today, instead of skulking about." Sir Leclair responds, "They say there's a lot of waiting, and only a little terror. Guess this is what they mean." The sergeant details a few men to act as scouts. They climb to the top of a ridge, and wave the group forward. You keep heading west. About ten minutes later, one of the scouts comes back and draws a little sketch on the ground. "There's a canyon up ahead. Saw a dozen of... those things... waiting at the entrance. Saw a few fellas poking their heads up at the top of the rim, too. Archers, I reckon.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5136/5439797345_66cbd78910_b.jpg

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil frowns. Charging into a canyon full of hostiles--with archer support, no less--did not strike him as a plan which gave him a high chance of living to see another sunrise. He thinks for a moment, then speaks up. Perhaps this was an opportunity to impress the knight. "I could provide a distraction, perhaps. I can create sounds behind them--such as galloping horses, perhaps. It may be enough to cause confusion, distract the archers, or even convince them all to break and run. At the very least your soldiers may be able to overrun the group in the canyon before the archers realize there is no other threat and can aid them."

[dojango]

The two knights look at each other for a few seconds. Finally, Sir Laurens says, "Do what you think best, Master Elf. Very exciting. Fighting alongside a wizard, eh? My brother can't say that. Just like the paintings."

[rax]

"Sir Laurens, if you intend to charge the defenders, then perhaps it would also be wise to have the scouts attack the archers at the same time? I will gladly go with them and I dearly hope Gabriele and Alyssa are still out there and can add their strength to the attack."

[Haval]

Hard to fight with an arrow in your leg, and leading them away was good enough. Gabriele is mostly going to try and repeat her earlier feat of finding somewhere to hide or at the very least find something to put between her and the mutants so they don't have as easy a time of it shooting her.


Concealment vs. Ag 43 (+10 Rover)
[roll0]
or fortune point
[roll1]


FP: 1/4

[Ionbound]

Alyssa, seeing the party, attempts to quietly make her way along the ridge to where the archers are lying in wait, looking for an opportunity to silently pick a few of the archers off and take part in the distraction effort.

Stealth: [roll0] vs Ag (30)

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil stands up a bit straighter at the knights' reaction, though there is a bit of worry at the back of his mind. Still, he mentally prepares himself for the fight coming up, trying to clear his mind in preparation.

[dojango]

The soldiers carefully creep to the top of the small ridge, and peer down at the mouth of the canyon. They confer a moment amongst themselves. The sergeant raises his sword, and the soldiers yell, "For the Lady and for Bremcote!" and charge down the ridge towards the waiting mutants. The archers follow a moment later, trying to find a spot to loose their arrows at the enemy. As Torendil and Severin creep to the top of the ridge, they see a dozen of the twisted, inhuman mutants standing at the entrance to the canyon. They ready their weapons and prepare to receive the soldier's charge... On the north rim of the canyon, they can see four archers carefully drawing and aiming their bows at the incoming soldiers. On the south rim, there is no sign of any mutants.

Further along the south rim of the canyon, Gabriele finds a crevice in a rock pile, and crawls into the shadows. The pursuing mutants pass her hiding place, and look around. One of them sees movement further south, points, and shouts. The three mutants head over to where Alyssa is trying to conceal herself behind some thorny bushes...

[Ionbound]

Alyssa swears as she realizes the mutants have seen her and draws her blade, backpedaling away from the rim and reinforcements as she looks around wildly for help.

Draw blade, move away from the mutants with as little distance as possible made between myself and Gabriele.

[Haval]

There was no way this could work again could it? She couldn't leave Alyssa alone though.

Gabriele will scramble out from the crevice she was hiding in and will whistle at the mutants to get their attention. With no time to aim, she'll fire another arrow at the closest.


Half Action - Move
Half Action - Shoot

vs. BS 47 (+ range?)
[roll0]

1d10+3 Armour Piercing
[roll1]

Ulric's rolls in the ooc

FP: 1/4

[rax]

Severin

"Any time you're ready, Torendil," Severin says. "I'll cover you." Loading his sling, he gives it a quick twirl and looses a sling stone at the nearest archer on the north rim.

Half action: Load sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 48
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Severin has his shield equipped, so ranged attacks against him take a -10 penalty.
Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 0/3

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil catches his breath as the soldiers charge forward, closing his eyes and drawing in magical energy. Just a distraction--enough to divert the archers.

Channeling test as half action

vs WP+10 (51)
[roll0]

Casting the Sounds spell as a half action

Casting Number: 4
Casting Roll: [roll1] (+1 for successful channeling test)

The spell can create a sound ranging from a whisper to a roar in volume, and can replicate anything other than speech. I would like to create the sound of hooves (like charging horses), possibly with the sound of shouting if that's okay, behind the archers--enough to make them think there's cavalry charging them as well.

In the event that the casting roll is a 1:
vs WP (41)
[roll2]

[dojango]

Three mutants draw their bows and nock arrows. One of the mutants suddenly crumples to the desert floor, arrow protruding from his neck. The other mutants, surprised, let fly their arrows harmlessly into the distance as Alyssa runs towards where she thinks Gabriele is hiding. She is about halfway to the rockpile that shelters Gabriele.

Torendil thinks of the sounds of hoofbeats, of horns blowing. He tries to create a ripple in the aether on the hills behind the mutant archers. A strange spell, one more used for practical jokes than on a battlefield... but on the canyon rim, he can see the mutants scatter as they turn and look behind them. One of them catches Severin's slingstone to his left arm as he tries to scamper away.

Meanwhile, the two knights race ahead of the soldiers, lances couched. Sir Lauren's blow takes one of the mutants squarely in the shoulder, and it falls, mangled arm hanging from its lifeless body. Sir Leclair's blow is off-center, and the mutant reels, but weakly swings its club at the knight. The two knights are quickly surrounded by half the mutants, swinging their clubs, trying to bring the over-proud horsemen down. A few blows rain down upon them, and they throw their lances aside and draw swords. The soldiers rush to the aid of their leader, swords drawn. The mutants put up a surprisingly fierce defense, although one falls, an arrow sticking from his chest, as one of the soldiers staggers back from a sudden and unexpected blow to the head.

[Haval]

The headshot had been as much due to luck as skill but Gabriele had no problem with that. The mutants probably deserved worse. She send another arrow at the remaining mutants.


Half Action - Aim
Half Action - Shoot

vs. BS 47 (+10 Aim) (+range?)
[roll0]

1d10+3 Armour Piercing
[roll1]

FP:1/4

[rax]

Severin

"Well done, that man...er elf!" Severin cheers Torendil. "Keep up the pressure! If we end up losing those two knights, I think we'll be in big trouble with the lord of this land." Reloading his sling he launches another sling stone after the archers.

Severin tries to target the same mutant again, but if he can't spot him, he just launches his sling stone at the closest mutant archer.
Half action: Load sling
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 48
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Severin has his shield equipped, so ranged attacks against him take a -10 penalty.
Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[Ionbound]

Alyssa turns on her heel when she sees the mutants drawing bows and instead lunges, aiming to pierce the throat of the nearest mutant.

Turn around, attack the nearest mutie: [roll0] vs 29
Damage: [roll1]

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil is quite pleased with how well the illusion seemed to have worked, and with the halfling's compliment. With the archers distracted or scattered he calls up a magic dart--those seemed to have been quite effective before--and fires it off at the creatures who are fighting the knights.

Channeling test (vs. 51)
[roll0]

Casting roll (vs. 6)
[roll1] (+1 for successful channeling test)
Damage: [roll2]

[dojango]

Gabriele plants an arrow into a mutant's back and it screeches in pain. Alyssa turns and lunges at her pursuers, but her wicked slash falls short. The two mutants set their bows aside and pull out their clubs, launching savage attacks at her. She fends them off with her right arm, one of them only manages a weak blow on Alyssa's, but the other one gives her a solid hit [5 damage].

Back at the entrance to the canyon, Severin sends a stone flying at the archers. It misses, and hits a cactus with such force that the top bursts apart. One of the archers is peering around, looking for phantom horsemen, but the other two recover, and send arrows flying at the knights. One hits Sir Leclair in the arm. Enraged, he swings his sword in a downward blow, neatly severing the tentacle of one of his attackers. It falls, and stirs no more. Sir Laurens wounds one of his attackers, and then is surprised as it is hit by a strange eldritch bolt, felling it. The soldiers and the mutants struggle against each other. The soldiers take advantage of their superior training (and armor), and they draw blood, forcing the mutants back. The archers begin a shooting duel with the enemy archers on the cliff, wounding one.

[rax]

Severin

Careful, lad! Severin winces as Sir Leclair is wounded. We don't need Laurens doing anything foolish to rescue you! Speaking of which... He casts his gaze about, trying to catch a glimpse of Alyssa or Gabriele whilst loading his sling.

Half action: Reload sling
Half action: Perception [roll0] vs. Int 34

Severin has his shield equipped, so ranged attacks against him take a -10 penalty.
Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[Haval]

Oh this wasn't good. She needed to get the mutants attention before they killed Alyssa. 'Hey Herr mutants.' Even if she missed it might distract them a little.


Half Action - Aim at one of the mutants fighting Alyssa
Half Action - Shoot

vs. BS 47 (+10 Aim) (+range?) (-20 firing into melee)
[roll0]
Fortune point if missed
[roll1]

1d10+3 Armour Piercing
[roll2]

FP:0/4

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil smiles as the bolt strikes the mutant, and winds up another bolt. What had he been worried about, exactly? This was going quite well.

Channeling test (vs 51)
[roll0]

Casting Roll (vs 6)
[roll1] (+1 if channeling test is successful)
Damage: [roll2]

Looks like that one fizzled :/

[dojango]

Severin deftly places another stone in his sling, and scans the battlefield. With archers on one side of the canyon, he looks to the south side, where he had left Gabriele and Alyssa. He doesn't see any sign of them, nor does he see any signs of any foes. Sir Laurens and Sir Leclair continue to hack away at their foes alongside the soldiers. Sir Leclair is animated by a deadly fury, he down into a mutant's head, and swings his bloody sword around, yelling. Sir Laurens, on the other hand, winces as a mutant strikes him as he tries to fend off another attacker. The mutants seem animated with a new sense of urgency, beginning to push the soldiers back. One soldier takes an exceptionally heavy blow from a twisted, bulky mutant, and staggers back, while a mutant falls with an arrow in its chest. Torendril attempts to sling a bolt of aetheric energy into the melee, but the elusive winds playfully slip out of his grasp as he tries to gather them together.

Meanwhile, at close range, Gabriele carefully plants an arrow in one of the mutant's back. It turns and hisses at her, rage twisting its strange alien features. It charges at her, club raised for a vicious strike. It lands a glancing blow on her arm [3 damage]. Alyssa is easily able to fend off her attacker, once its comrade is no longer threatening her, she easily plants her dagger in the mutant's unprotected side. [I rolled for her, she got a hit on the mutant]

[rax]

Severin

Spotting a careless mutant archer, Severin takes careful aim and launches another sling stone.

"I don't like the look of this," he mutters to Torendil. "Where are Alyssa and Gabriele? Stay here and keep supporting the soldiers. I'm going to look for the ladies."

Half action: Aim (+10 to hit)
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll0] vs. BS 58 (48+10)
Damage [roll1]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Severin has his shield equipped, so ranged attacks against him take a -10 penalty.
Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[Haval]

That worked a bit too well. Gabriele will try and keep the mutant at arms length while she got her sword out.


Half Action - Ready Sword
Half Action - Standard Attack

vs. WS 32
[roll0]

Damage
[roll1]

Wounds: 8/11

[Ionbound]

Alyssa grins as she watches the second mutant fall and draws her blade back from the one she stabbed, slashing as she draws back in an effort to cut the other mutant off at the neck.

[roll0] vs 29

Damage: [roll1]

[rs2excelsior]

Smug smile faltering as his next dart fizzles in his hand, Torendil acknowledges Severin--somewhat curtly, perhaps, though mostly because he is focusing most of his attention on his magic--and decides to try a slightly different tack. He targets one of the mutants pressing Sir Laurens, and attempts to compel it to drop its weapon.

I assume at least some of the mutants are using weapons--if the ones in melee aren't, he'll target one of the archers.

Channeling test (vs. 51)
[roll0]

Casting roll (target 4)
[roll1] (+1 for successful casting test)

If successful, WP test to resist

[dojango]

Severin's slingstone lightly hits one of the mutant archers atop the canyon wall. It flinches, but otherwise is unharmed. The duke's archers find their range, and two of the mutant archers atop the canyon wall fall over, shrieking, their strange bodies tumbling down the wall. The injured one turns and flees. Torendil has trouble grasping the fickle winds of magic, but brute force can suffice where finesse does not... Down in the melee, one of the mutants looks to its clawed hand, surprised as his weapon seems to leap from his grasp. He doesn't see Sir Lauren's blade coming down on his head. While Sir Leclair is struggling, the accompanying soldiers surge forward, cutting down the last of the rabble in front of them. The surviving mutants turn and flee deeper into the canyon.

Atop the southern rim of the canyon, Alyssa sees her opponent leave his guard open, and she expertly slides her dagger into the gap. It looks down at the blade, before sliding off her dagger in a bloody heap on the ground. The last mutant, fighting Gabriele, manages to evade her blow, and backs away from both women, trying to find an opening to flee from their wrath.

[rax]

Severin

Severin gambles that Alyssa and Gabriele haven't made their way clear across the canyon and makes his way up the south side. As soon as he's made it, he stops to load his sling and scans the area for signs of the two women.

Perception [roll0] vs. Int 34

[Haval]

Gabriele will try and keep the mutant distracted in the hope that Alyssa can finish it off.



Half Action - Standard Attack
Half Action - Parrying Stance

vs. WS 32 (+10 Outnumbered)
[roll0]

Damage
[roll1]

Wounds: 8/11

[dojango]

Severin climbs up to the south rim of the cliff, ignoring the tumult below. As he scans the horizon for the two women, he notices movement. A mutant, strange distorted features grimacing in pain, is sitting down, clutching its leg. Its bow is at its side. The mutant sees Severin at the same time he sees it...

Gabriele tries to strike down the mutant as it flees. Her wild blow serves to give the thing incentive to move faster... it picks up speed, heading for the cover of a distant ridge, heading away from the canyon.

[rax]

Severin

Seeing the bow next to the wounded mutant, Severin's eyes narrow. After just a moment's hesitation, he brings his sling up, gives it a quick whirl and launches a stone at the mutant.

Initiative if necessary: [roll0]

Half action: Aim (+10 to hit)
Half action: Standard attack with sling [roll1] vs. BS 58 (48+10) or 68 (+10 if the mutant counts as knocked down)
Damage [roll2]

Ulric's Fury if applicable:
Standard attack with sling [roll3]
Damage [roll4]

Severin has his shield equipped, so ranged attacks against him take a -10 penalty.
Wounds (remaining/total): 10/10
Fortune Points (used/total): 1/3

[Haval]

If she let it go there was no guarantee it wouldn't come back on them later. Then there was the memory of those bodies in the canyon. She'll move to retrieve her bow.


The bow was dropped, so I assume that's a half action to move and another to ready it.

[rs2excelsior]

With the mutants set to flight once more, Torendil calls up one more dart of force as they flee, then starts to move up toward the knights and other soldiers.

Channeling test (vs 51)
[roll0]

Casting roll (vs 6)
[roll1] (+1 successful casting test)

Damage: [roll2]

[dojango]

Severin's stone hits the injured mutant. With a loud crack of bone and chitin breaking on the mutant's grotesque hide, it falls and moves no more. Its crude shortbow at its side. Now that the coast is clear, Severin can see some distant movement to the south, amongst the rocky hills surrounding the canyon. Down in the canyon, he sees Torendil's bolt of magic force explode against one of the fleeing mutants. The mutant flies into pieces as the winds of magic tear it apart. The soldiers continue to chase down the mutants as best they can, although the two wounded soldiers hang back, waiting for the barber-surgeon, Albrecht, to tend to their injuries. Sir Laurens and Sir Leclair, ahorse, outpace the soldiers, hacking away at the fleeing mutants as they run. Several fall to their blades as they pursue them around the bend deeper into the canyon.

Gabriele readies her bow, nocking an arrow as Alyssa tries to stab the fleeing mutant. The mutant heads as fast as it can towards a nearby ridge... Gabriele will have one shot at it before it disappears over the crest. Unless she wants to pursue her quarry deeper into the rocky hills...

[rax]

Severin

He breathes a sigh of relief as the mutant collapses. Glancing down into the gorge, he sees the young knights riding down the fleeing mutants. And now it's a massacre...

Still worried about Gabriele and Alyssa, he reloads his sling and sets off at a swift jog towards the rocky hills where he thinks he can see movement.

Perception [roll0] vs. Int 34 to spot potential ambushes.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil sticks close to the soldiers, stepping around the mutant corpses with some distaste, and keeps an eye out for the rest of the group. The threat appears to be gone, but he would still prefer having others nearby if there are more lurking about.

"That was quite well fought," he compliments the soldiers. "Do you think that there are more of them out there?"

[Haval]

For a moment Gabriele thinks about shadowing the mutant in order to finish him off later. She might find out what she had missed earlier. At the same time she doesn't want to let him escape.


Because cannibal mutants. Maybe she'll miss

vs. BS 47 (+10 for aim)
[roll0]

Any damage
[roll1]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa herself beats a hasty retreat back towards Gabriele, crouching down overlooking the ridge to try to get a good view of the battlefield and warn their comrades about any potential ambushes.

Perception: [roll0] vs 24. You'd think a thief would be better at spotting stuff but I guess not.

[dojango]

Gabriele carefully takes aim at the mutant and puts an arrow through its back just as it reaches the top of the hill. It falls, lifeless, so close to escape.

Severin hikes out to where he thinks Gabriele is waiting. From about 60 paces away, he sees her shoot an arrow off into the distance, towards what, he cannot say.

He sees movement very close behind Gabriele, and what looks like two strange figures drop behind a patch of scrub about 10 paces behind Gabriele.

Alyssa heads to the edge of the canyon. There are two bodies near her, one fallen to Gabriele's arrow, and another to her knife. She sees Gabriele shooting at the fleeing mutant. In the short distance, she sees Severin approaching. Once she reaches the edge of the canyon, she sees the two knights cutting down fleeing mutants as they ride deeper into the canyon. She sees the soldiers pursuing as well, followed by Torendil.

She doesn't see any mutants trying to ambush anyone. Down in the canyon there is an butchery and a tanner's stand where the mutants were working, now abandoned. There is a bend in the canyon making it difficult to see further; the knights and the soldiers head around the bend. Alyssa follows along the edge of the canyon and sees...

The soldiers look nervously at Torendil. "Yes, Mister Elf, thank you. Ah, was that elf magic you were doing?" one of them asks. "You'd know their numbers more than us" adds the sergeant. "C'mon, let's make sure his lordship doesn't get lost or worse." The soldiers begin following the mutants deeper into the canyon. The mutants are too fast for men afoot to catch, although you pass a body or three, cut down by blows to the head by the avenging knights. At one point, the group passes a grim scene. Bodies of men, mules, and mutants are hanging up from racks, being butchered for their meat. The mule hides are stretched out on racks, being prepared for tanning, while a kettle of something is sitting atop an unlit firepit. The smell is deeply unsettling.

A few of the weaker-stomached soldiers stop to retch, while their hardier comrades step up their pursuit around the bend of the canyon. Torendil sees Sir Laurens and Sir Leclair sitting atop their horses, mouths agape. The canyon ends in a dead-end. At there is a strange structure, carved out of the very rock of the canyon wall. The last few surviving mutants are heading inside...

https://s27363.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Best-Things-to-do-Petra-Jordan-post-1163x775.jpg.optimal.jpg

[rax]

Severin

Grabbing a stone from his pouch, he reloads his sling and races towards Gabriele.

"Gabriele! Behind you, in the scrub! Look out!" he shouts.

If it looks like figures are hostile, e.g. they start moving towards Gabriele, then Severin will stop, aim, and fire as soon as he's within 30 yards of them.

[Haval]

'Wha?' Gabriele is too caught up with dealing with the last mutant to notice Severin's approach, but she does take his warning seriously. She did not want to get into another sword fight if she could help it. She'll whirl around with her bow up and nock another arrow while backing away and looking for any new threat.


Free Action to Reload
Half Action to Move away
Half Action to Aim

Perception
vs. Int 33 (+20 if Acute Hearing is relevant)
[roll0]


Wounds: 8/11

[dojango]

Gabriele and Severin turn to face the lurking threat. The scrubby bushes wave menacingly. After a few moments, they notice a large tumbleweed caught in the bushes. When the wind blows, it drags the branches back and forth in a suspicious manner. But the bushes are empty...

You really failed that perception test! False alarm.

[Haval]

To Severin, 'Don't scare me like that. I don't want to end up shooting someone I'm not supposed to. Is everyone else here? '

Yeah, I figured :smallbiggrin:

[rax]

Severin

"I...I'm sorry. I was sure I saw two figures jump down behind you. I think it's this place, you know? It's getting to me." Severin pauses and glances around the area suspiciously. "I haven't seen Alyssa. Torendil is down there with the Sirs and their soldiers. The mutants broke and ran - the last I saw of our bold young knights was them riding down the survivors. We should probably find Alyssa and get down there."

Bah, one day Severin will be right and then...vindication! :smallamused:

[Ionbound]

Alyssa jogs gently back to Gabriele and Severin, replying, "I'm here, and the canyon looked clear from up here. I think we should be okay, for now. The ones that survived have been driven off." She glances around, adding, "I hope. Anyways, I agree. Let's get back down there and join up with the people with big swords and heavy armor."

[rs2excelsior]

"I ah... I didn't see their camp personally. At least not up close. One of the others might have a better idea about how many there are in total." Torendil glances over his shoulder to see if the rest of the group is catching up. He does his best to hold his breath as he passes the corpses, averting his eyes.

At the end of the canyon, Torendil stops short for a moment, taking in the sight. He gathers himself and moves over to the knights. "Well... If they are sheltering in there, it's not going to be easy to dig them out. Maybe if we collapse the entrance?"

Academic Knowledge to attempt to ID who created this?
vs Int (48)
[roll0]

[Haval]

'No harm done. Lets get out of here before someone else tries to kill us.'

On the way back Gabriele will do what she can to recover her arrows.



Arrow recovery rolls (1 to recover / 2 it's broken)

[roll0]

Wounds: 8/11
Fate: 0/4

[dojango]

Gabriele gleans her arrows from the area. Most are unusable, but one is still intact. Alyssa, Severin, and Gabriele find a spot to carefully pick their way down the canyon's cliff to the floor below. They approach to find the soldiers, the knights, Torendil, Albrecht, and the servants all milling around, trying to decide whether to pursue the mutants into the cliffside structure.

Sir Laurens and Leclair, of course, are all for leading a charge deeper inside, but the soldiers and servants are proposing caution. "We ain't got enough torches, I reckon" says the sergeant. "Hate to fight in the dark." As far as collapsing the structure is concerned, nobody has any idea about how to begin. There aren't any tools, and the pillars are far too thick and solid to be pulled down by mere hands.

Torendil is not a student of history or engineering, but his tutor back in Altdorf had tried to instill some knowledge of magical theory into his head. He's pretty sure this isn't elven or dwarven work, and it strikes him suddenly that many of the carvings and decorations on the facade appear to have some sort of arcane purpose. It almost appears as if the building itself was a magic spell of some sort...

[Haval]

Gabriele is going to try to get a closer look at the carvings on the outside of the structure. 'Some sort of temple maybe? But what's it doing out here in the middle of nowhere?'

[rax]

Severin

"Sirs," Severin addresses the knights. "The choices here seem simple enough to me. Either we pursue the cannibals inside in an attempt to finish them off once and for all, or we retire and bank on having taught them a harsh enough lesson already that they will move on and trouble your lands no more."

"The only other argument I can see for continuing inside is that this is indeed an unexpected and impressive find. While it may not conceal gold or other treasure, to secure it for Duke Radulf would surely bring him glory in the eyes of the scholarly. But perhaps such is of no concern to him..."

[rs2excelsior]

"This was done by magic." Torendil speaks suddenly, still staring up at the massive facade. "Those markings--they appear to be channels of a sort, the kind one would get from harnessing magic at this scale. Whoever made this was incredibly skilled... incredibly powerful..." He stares for a moment more, then snaps his attention back to the knights. "If you decide to pursue, I will go with you. I want to see this more closely." He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth--chasing the mutants into the cave was going to be extremely dangerous--but he had to see what was inside. If a powerful wizard had created it, perhaps they'd left secrets inside. He was willing to risk death to find out.

[Haval]

Gabriele will step back from the structure hurriedly. 'Magic. So not dangerous in the slightest than.' She'd only heard the odd story, but thought it was probably better to be very careful around something like that. 'Maybe as long as you keep your eyes open Wizard. If we're going in I suppose they might be less likely to hear a smaller party coming. Maybe we find out where they're hiding or at least find out that there are so many tunnels down there it would take all year to track them down.'

[dojango]

Gabriele examines the statuary in front of the door. A statue of a bull-headed man, seated on a throne of skulls. A raven-headed man, holding a staff and reading a book. A naked woman with clawed feet, dancing with a sword in one hand, and a heart, dripping blood in the other. And finally a fat man with a beard, a sack over his shoulder. He is reaching inside, pulling a out some sort of box, grinning. To the sides are strange grotesque forms, dancing, capering, some holding tools or weapons. Below the statues, a line of hooded figures, supplicating. Hooded figures leading rows of figures tied together. Hooded figures with knives atop fallen bodies. Atop the door, in the center, there is a statue of a crowned man, holding a scepter in one hand and a cup in the other. His hand is slightly raised in a gesture that almost seems one of benediction. Beneath his feet is a scarred and battered patch of rock, as if someone had taken the time to chisel out whatever was once there. The other writing on the facade is in an unknown language, where it hasn't been defaced, but there is a message in simple Reikspiel carved above the door, below the man's feet. "Clear-sighted friends are welcome at my hearth".

When Severin mentions Duke Radulf, the two knights nod in agreement. But when Torendil mentions magic, the soldiers audibly gasp and take a few nervous steps backwards. Even the two knights look a little paler in the noonday sun. Finally Sir Leclair says, "If those mutants had magic they would have used it on us, surely? They are brigands and beasts, fit only as vulture food."

Sir Laurens nods his head in agreement. "Set up camp here. Dispose of the carrion. Leclair and I will go in with the master elf and his guards." He points to two servants. "Carry torches for us inside. Albrecht?" The barber-surgeon shrugs. "I will stay here with the wounded. Although... I think I've seem this place before. In a painting. 'Heraklon and the Red Temple'. The Imperator has it in his palace in Monteche."

[Ionbound]

Alyssa looks back and forth at the threshold, then frowns when Torendil mentions magic and takes a smart step back, replying, "If it's magic, I for one, want nothing to do with it. Either the mutants made it, in which case it's a deathtrap, or something scarier than the mutants made it, in which case it's a deathtrap set by something else. Either way, shall we return to town?"

[dojango]

"The young lady's right, sir," says the Sergeant. "This place ain't fit for proper fighting. We've bled these bastards, taught them a lesson. Might be time to returning home."

[rax]

Severin

"So this place has a name," Severin responds to Albrecht's revelation. "And it was visited recently enough for there to be a painting of it. Master Albrecht, Have you ever heard of Heraklon or the Red Temple other than them being the name of a painting?"

[dojango]

"I forget, you aren't from around here. Heraklon is... was... a legend around here. He was an adventurer, a mercenary. A hero. Had a magic sword and everything. Defeated evil wizards, slew giants, the like. He unified this area a few centuries ago as a supreme warlord. There are statues and paintings all over of his adventures. I suppose some of the stories may even be true... the painting I saw was supposedly commissioned by one of his sons. It's hanging at the palace at Monteche. I know Duke Bremcote has a few paintings of him as well."

[Haval]

'So he built this? Or more than likely he came through here at some point and thought the experience was worth remembering. Wouldn't that make this the sort of place where the hero survives in spite of how dangerous it was?' Gabriele is managing to talk herself out of going inside. 'If we don't go in it's not like this place will be difficult to find again.'

[dojango]

Albrecht chuckles. "No, he killed whoever built this place. Or whoever was living here at the time. The painting showed him and his allies fighting monsters in front of the entrance. You spend much time here, you'll hear all about him. Supposedly the painting is one of a set, and if you put them together you can find a map to his last treasure. That's probably just another legend, though."

[Haval]

'So maybe the mutants are living in the ruins of someone else's house?' Maybe that made it a little less dangerous. Gabriele will see if she can see anything through the entrance without actually going inside. 'I suppose we came all this way, so I'm don't mind taking a look around. If there's any actual magic in there we let the wizard deal with it.'

[rax]

Severin

"My folks always said to steer well clear of mutants and magic, but if you're game to go in I guess I'll go too. It wouldn't do to let a lady face danger all by herself," Severin replies a little gruffly.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa frowns and replies, "I don't intend to let you two go in alone. Just let it be known that I think this is a terrible idea, and if it comes to it, I do vote no."

[Haval]

Gabriele looks guilty, 'I'm not going in to map the place or anything. If we see anything we can't handle I don't intend to hang around.'

[dojango]

Gabriele and Severin carefully move up to the entrance and peer in. Sunlight illuminates the first dozen paces or so, but beyond that, the tunnel leads back into darkness. Although there is some trash and rubble around the entrance-way, Severin can clearly tell that there is a cleared trail through, swept clean by constant traffic. In the distance, in the darkness, Severin thinks he sees a hint of light.

Sir Laurens and Sir Leclair can hardly contain their excitement. "So, we're walking in Heraklon's footsteps? This is where he defeated the Red Priesthood?" They look every inch the excited teens they are. The servants bring torches up. "C'mon, let's go!"

The Sergeant whispers to Torendil, "Watch out for anything weird, yeah? Master? Don't want anything to happen to the young lord." He picks two soldiers and orders them to form the rearguard of the party. "We'll be outside if you need reinforcements."

[rax]

Severin

"Well, unless there's a back door out of there, our cannibal bandits are in there somewhere," Severin mutters. "I see a clear path beyond this rubble, and what may be a light ahead," he speaks softly to Gabriele. Selecting a new stone from his pouch, he loads his sling and prepares to slip inside the temple, eyes open for any trouble.

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil nods to the sergeant, attempting to look more confident than he appears. "I shall do everything in my power to ensure no harm comes to them." Squaring his shoulders and doing his best to push away the fear nagging at his mind, he follows after the others into the temple. His eyes flick from point to point in the darkness, hands ready to cast in case something should attack.

Perception test as we advance?
vs Int+10 (58)
[roll0]

[Haval]

'Torches maybe? Or they have a fire going.' She'll try to move ahead of the others with her bow at the ready. If she was away from the party's torches her eyes might adjust to the darkness. Hopefully there was enough cover along here that they could hide their shapes from anyone that might be watching in the distance.


Perception vs. Int 33 (+20 if Acute Hearing counts)
[roll0]

Concealment vs. Ag 43
[roll1]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa sighs as she steps over the threshhold into the cavern and sticks to the shadows at the rear of the party, trying to blend in with the darkness as best she can.

Concealment: [roll0] vs 30

[dojango]

"In radiance, may we find victory," mutters Laurens, and the party sets off inside. The pathway is big enough for two to stand abreast, and so the knights stand together. Gabriele leads the way, trying to preserve her darksight, Torendil and Severin stand with the torch-bearers, while two soldiers take up the rear. Behind them, Alyssa skulks in the shadows. The light of the torch sends Gabriele's shadow dancing crazily all over the hallway. The walls are smooth and un-ornamented, in comparison to the ornate exterior. Torendil spots two dark holes in the wall; one on each side. Doorways into darkness.

[rax]

Severin

"Gabriele, any signs of which doorway has been used most recently, or at all?" Severin is no tracker, but perhaps Gabriele can interpret any signs, he reasons. As for himself, he strains his senses to catch any motion or noise from either doorway.

Perception test [roll0] vs. Int 34

[dojango]

Gabriele can tell this area has been used a lot. Too much for her to learn anything specific. Constant traffic keeps the trail clear. Cautiously peeking around the corners of the darkened room, they see piles of rags and plants all around the far wall. This must be where the mutants sleep. The other room has a number of sacks piled up in one corner, and food stored in another. In the center of that room there is a stone well. A bucket is tied to a rope and rests by the well. Both rooms are devoid of enemies at the moment. The mail corridor leads deeper into the mountain.

[rax]

Severin

"Coast looks clear to me, what about you?" he whispers to Gabriele. "They were in a serious hurry when they ran into the temple - doesn't feel like they'd have had the time or the inclination to set up ambushes in either of these rooms. Shall we press on?"

[Haval]

Gabriele will try not to look at whatever the mutants considered to be food for too long. She'll whisper back, 'Maybe. Or there's another way out down here somewhere.' She'll continue on into the main corridor.

[dojango]

The party heads down the main corridor. The light up ahead is unmistakable. Everyone cautiously emerges into a large, circular open space. A shaft of sunlight comes down from the ceiling. It illuminates a rock altar in the center of the room. The torchlight flickers and shows a huge, cavernous room. The area seems strangely well-kept. Free of rubble and debris. Votive offerings before the altar. Statues ring the edges of the room. Most have been vandalized, although a few remain intact. The intact statues seem to have offerings in front of them as well.

[rax]

Severin

Severin scans the room for any signs of an ambush before proceeding cautiously to the central altar to examine the altar itself and the offerings.

Obligatory Perception test [roll0] vs. Int 34 to detect hidden ambushers

Separate Perception test [roll1] vs. Int 34 to detect details or traps around the altar

[Haval]

Gabriele is very happy to see sunlight down here. Obviously the room looked like a temple of some kind, but she didn't like to think about what kind of gods the mutants worshipped.


Common Lore (Empire) vs. Int 33 to recognise the statues
[roll0]

Perception vs. Int 33 (+20 if Acute Hearing) to keep an eye on the exits
[roll1]

[Ionbound]

Alyssa looks up at the daylight, asking suspiciously, "Is it real, d'ya think? Or some kind of wizardry?"

[rs2excelsior]

Torendil sticks close, keeping an eye out on the shadows dancing in the firelight. When they reach the massive chamber he looks around, taken aback at the ring of statues. When Alyssa mentions the possibility that the light might be magical he turns his attention upward, trying to see if he can tell whether it's natural.

Academic Knowledge (Magic), perhaps? Or would it be Magical Sense?
vs 48 if Academic Knowledge, vs 51 if Magical Sense
[roll0]

Also--nice Darkest Dungeon reference :smallbiggrin:

[dojango]

Torendil opens his arcane senses. The altar and the room itself radiates dark magic. The light is natural, a cleansing presence amongst the shadows. A great deal of dark magic was spent here, and the room feels coated in its residue.

Severin inspects the offerings around the altar. There are flowers, a few coins, and cheap jewelry. Severin estimates about 12gc worth of coins. Gabriele looks around at the statues, but doesn't see any saints or symbology that she recognizes. She does see that there are three other passageways leading away at each of the cardinal directions. In the darkness of one of them, she sees shapes moving back and forth. A flash of two eyes in the gloom, reflecting torchlight.

[Haval]

In a low voice, 'We are being watched.' Gabriele will tap Severin on the shoulder and point in the direction of whatever was hiding in the darkness.

[Ionbound]

Alyssa's eyes flash to the side and she draws her blade, not seeing what Gabriele is pointing at but still on guard.

[rax]

Severin

"Then I guess we'd better do somethin' about that," he replies. Peering into the gloom, he uses his superior night vision to try and make out how many enemies there might be in the passage. At the same time, he begins whirling his sling, ready to loose a stone at the first foe he can identify.

Perception check [roll0] vs. Int 34 if needed - he does have 30 yards' Night Vision, after all.

[Haval]

For the sake of whatever cover it offered Gabriele is going to edge closer to the alter. Her bow is up and aimed in the direction of the darkened corridor.

Will shoot if whatever it is is actually a threat