At the Rawley estate:
Alis is good to his word and he trudges up to camp with purpose. He looks tired and at the edge of tears, but determined. Packing takes no time, Hamish it appears has spent some of his free hours re-arranging and organizing things. Your journey is also met with good fortune. The ground is again just frozen enough to allow the wagon easy passage over the plains. You meet the road and join up with another wagon train of pilgrims headed south. You reach Bremel by 10 am.
In town:
The celebration of market day goes late into the night and you can find all manner of amusements to bide your time. The Inn is packed but Ghalen works it so you each have a private room if you wish (1 gp for the night). Dolgi, when you come downstairs in the morning, you are delighted to see your friend Draymun sitting at one of the corner tables, having a hearty breakfast.
Edit:
Map of the Entrance to the Valley
Dolgi sees Draymun and yells across the room, "Draymun lad, good to see you it is!" After greeting Draymun and heading over to the table Dolgi embraces Draymun as an old friend. "How goes your bear training and research?" he asks his friend.
ReplyDeleteDraymun looks noticeably gruffer than when you parted ways, with fresh claw marks across his shoulders and chest. He nods to Dolgi and smiles with the embrace before returning to his brew.
Delete"It goes well, friend. A little more... intense than I had anticipated, but I feel that Tom and I are both shaped for the better."
He finishes his tankard and holds it up in the air to signal a refill.
"Tell me, how goes the hunt for the Banshee?"
Dolgi takes a drink and then looks over at Draymun.
Delete"Lad, it's not going so good. After we were attacked by the undead and came back here, we found the entrance. Only to be surprised by the sentries. We killed two but the third got off a warning blast from a signal horn. As we continued up the valley, we were ambushed again. We almost lost the wizard and only by the skin of our teeth escaped. We could use your help, you and that bear would be a blessing from the gods, for sure. What say you?"
Pondering for a moment while staring into the still empty tankard he grunts and nods, putting a firm hand on his companion's shoulder.
Delete"Yes. I think we've done what work we can on our own, and it's time that we rejoin the Vengeance troupe. I think you'll be a little shocked by how we've grown." He grins.
You haven't heard any rumors or suggestions of treasure, magic or intrigue since we have been gone have you?
DeleteDraymun shakes his head.
Delete"Can't say that I have. We've mostly kept to the outskirts and wooded areas while training. I trudge back into the city for a pint and supplies, but generally keep to myself."
"I've a bit of a story, I'd share once Thor and Rayla get back with the wagon. Picked up a trinket that might help us with that adventure too. Apparently, I've been touched by the fey." Dolgi proudly states.
DeleteShade, in his best impersonation of the dwarves' accent says, "Aye, and how did they touch ye son?" Before bursting into laughter at his expense.
DeleteShade awakens to a new day at the Inn and collects his thoughts, briefly meditating on his daily spells before heading out to check on what breakfast food is available. Receiving a bowl of gray porridge from the kitchen he joins the dwarves at their customary spot, quickly falling into a foul mood that is only brightened at the prospect of the soon arriving company of his fellow wizard, Rethas. Their discussions of the nature of the arcane and about the benefits of Elven wizardry or human knowledge always brightened the worst of the dreary adventuring life.
ReplyDeleteJul declines the private room. Spends his night on the floor of the common room. Then checks his horse at the stable and returns to the Inn to break fast with the Inns' offering. He then joins the others.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Jul and the other dwarves happily engaged in conversation Shade takes out a pipe and packs a bowl, lighting it with a flame from his finger.
DeleteRayla ties her mule to the back of the wagon and spends the trip getting to know Hamish and Alis. Comforting the love-sick Alis with assurances that his Nancy will be impressed with his status as a member of Vengeance Falls and listening to Hamish's tales of bravery while protecting the wagon at the Rawley Estate she rides into Bremel.
ReplyDeleteThor remains fairly quiet on the journey back, focusing on the coming battle. As the wagon pulled into the familiar streets of Bremel, Thor looked around for signs of his compatriots before deciding to head to the inn.
Delete"That's not all that's touched you!" Thor roared, stepping into the inn at just the right moment. "The Elves tell tales that would blush your beard!" he laughed, greeting his old friends as he sat down at a chair with them.
ReplyDelete"We've returned from the farm," Thor went on, his tone growing more serious as he got down to business. "Both Hamish and Alis are with us, but Rethas moved on and there didn't appear to be enough time to catch him. Perhaps a message can be sent on to Ashmont through the guild."
"In the meantime," Thor said, returning to the matter at hand, "Dolgi mentioned something of a story, and there is still the matter of Minx to discuss."
As the group settles in at the table, eating and drinking and catching up, Dolgi clears his throat and tells the tale that the gnome told him.
Delete"In a kingdom far to the south lived a king who had a daughter, he loved her very much and didn't want her to get kidnapped so he kept her indoors. She became fairer and fairer."
"So in order to make sure she never got hurt he made her a special house deep in the woods and placed her there. She became stiller and stiller and then the king thought if he died, he wouldn't be able to take care of her so he filled the house with gems and jewels and placed his best guards to guard the house."
"Over time the princess became stiller and stiller and eventually became a statue of purest ivory and the guards became statues too. The gnome mentioned that to rescue her, we would need to do the opposite of what the king did. He also gave me this feather. " Dolgi pulls the feather out of his pack.
He said. "This is a finder. Tell it one thing you want it to find and it'll take you there. You can only choose one thing so make it good! And be careful when you pick, the spirit bound in it can be a tad literal."
"I'll put this in the wagon for safekeeping."
Rayla listens to the story with interest then follows Dolgi out to the wagon and trades the set of mail she's wearing for the chain shirt.
DeleteDolgi hands her the 4 vials of antitoxin and she places these in her belt pouch.
DeleteShade listens with little interest before quickly departing the company with a few murmured words. He knows now that the last vestige of civilized folk have abandoned him to journey with these uncouth savages... And dwarves.
ReplyDeleteBut when did he begin to think of his friends as savages, and what was so wrong about dwarves anyways? He hastily scribbled a note which he passed on to a courier, giving up a full gold coin to ensure that the letter made it to Ashmont and found Rethas.
"Dearest friend Rethas, of the Elven lands, Stalwart of Heart and Quick of Mind.
I have now heard word that you have given up the guild as lost and returned to Ashmont, probably to find a new group or to head back to your homelands. I beseech you not to leave me amidst the lesser folk who do not dare dabble into the mysteries that you and I bend to our will. I ask that if you find yourself at all interested in greater power, if you yearn for magical strength beyond compare... Then meet with me at the final destination in 3 weeks hence, the mine.
I am told that there may be some other fellow adventures who have journeyed with you in the past already making their way there, Khazad of the Deeplands, for one. I intend to increase our supply of magical implements and to gather the best and brightest of our kind in this place in time... And I would like you to come and see if we can't find greater power and glory together.
The Wizard Shade.
Rayla climbs out of the wagon, grabs a handful of dried grass and being careful to avoid his teeth, rubs down the mule before saddling it. She rides to the city well and dismount to let the mule drink its fill thinking all the while that she really should give it a name. Returning to the wagon she builds a fire and fries up potatoes and sausage and the last of carefully guarded eggs in a rough hash, leaving the rest for Alis and Dolgi she tells them she'll meet under the large sycamore tree outside of town. Seeing Shade talking to the courier she waits until he's alone and then tells him of the meeting place, asking him to relay the information to the group inside the inn. Spying a farm wife headed out of town in the right direction she tags along until they reach the tree and then bids her goodbye.
ReplyDelete(Rayla is going to tie the mule out of sight and watch the road while she waits, making sure she wasn't followed and looking to see if those coming to her have attracted any attention.) Rayla pulls out her knife and cutting a small branch from the tree begins to fashion a simple whistle.
DeleteThor saddled his warhorse in grim silence with a determination that he knew Thunor would be proud of. Mounting, he took the reigns in his hand and waited for the others to form up in front of him before he rode off, protecting from flanking attacks.
ReplyDeleteThe group reforms at the outskirts of town and you ride toward the river and the forest. You leave the road in short order and there is no one on the trail. As the sun hits its crescendo, you enter the forest proper and begin the trek through the dense undergrowth. Dolgi and Draymun do their best to find an easy trail for the animals but it's still slow going. It's 2 pm when you come again to the hill where you know you are getting close to the hide out. You haven't seen a soul since you left Bremel and no animals bigger than a raccoon.
ReplyDeleteAs the group gets closer and closer to Minx's camp, Dolgi decides to call a halt. Dismounting, he signals to the others to do the same. Calling the group to him, he explains they are close and probably should continue on foot. Speaking to Alis, he explains that Alis should keep close and light no fires. Directing each person to unsaddle the mounts and stow their stuff, Dolgi unsaddles his mule.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking care of the mounts, Dolgi clears a spot on the ground and sketches out what he remembers of the valley, making sure to ask the others for their input. Once the valley is drawn to their satisfaction, Dolgi looks to each one for any plans.
Thor watched as Dolgi mapped out the area, analyzing the ground and considering their enemies tactics from the last encounter.
ReplyDelete"I think we should divide into two groups," Thor offered. "We make our way through the forest and ambush the guards from both sides. While we have them in a crossfire, we make sure no signals are sounded and no one escapes. What do the rest of you think?"
"I can back that plan, lets be cautious, and when its needed... Expedient." Shade pulls out his new blade, and, as if to draw a point to his statement he makes a swift slice through the air.
ReplyDelete"The plan sounds good. Let's finish this," Rayla says.
ReplyDeleteDraymun nods his agreement while patting Kumo on the flank.
ReplyDelete"Sounds fine to us. They'll never know what him 'em."
"Alright," Thor said, seeing nodding heads from everyone. "Dolgi, we will need you to guide the first group, with Shade, Rayla and Hamish. Draymun, we will need you to guide myself, Jul and Kumo. We will need all of your skills," Thor continued, looking at both Draymun and Dolgi, "to guide us quietly enough to spring the ambush."
ReplyDeleteTurning to Shade, he went on, "Shade, when you are in position, command Harken to caw once. If you hear nothing, wait five minutes and try again. This will let us know you are in position. When we are prepared to strike, Draymun can command Kumo to roar, and that will be the signal to begin the attack."
"When the attack starts, everyone should hit them from ranged with everything they have. When all of our ranged attacks have been spent, Hamish, Kumo, myself and anyone else can rush in and surround them. We need to keep them from fleeing, but just as important, we need to keep them from sounding any signal. If at any time anyone believes that we have no option but to retreat, the signal shall be three short and one long blasts on a horn."
Leaving the others to take in the plan, Thor put his arm around Alis and walked with him until they were out of earshot of the rest of the group. In a whisper, he gave Alis his orders. "Alis, we will need you to stay with the horses today. It would be best if you climbed a tree nearby where you can be afforded some cover. Remain out of sight. If anyone or anything attacks the horses, do nothing and remain hidden. You will play a crucial role if we need to escape. The last time we were here, Minx's forces nearly overwhelmed us, and Shade was at death's door. If we need to make a quick retreat, you will hear the signal from the horn. If you do, saddle the horses with all haste and be prepared to flee back to Bremel."
The groups form up and Dolgi and Draymun take the lead of their respective groups. It's slow going.
ReplyDeleteDolgi takes it a pace at a time, checking the path and moving limbs and twigs, he clears a way through the brush for you.
Draymun on the other hand, steps through the brush like an animal and you have to follow his feet precisely.
You marvel at both displays of woodscraft.
(I'll give everyone a +2 on your stealth checks since Draymun and Dolgi are "aiding" you through the forest. I'd like checks now, that's a d20 + Dex + 2 and remember to subtract your armor check penalty.)
((15+3=18, wasn't sure if I get the +2, ACP -1 =17 or 19))
ReplyDelete(8+3+2=13)
ReplyDelete((14+1+2-2=15))
ReplyDelete18+1+2=21
Delete((18 + 4 Dex Mod - 3 Hide Armor = 19
ReplyDeleteIf the bonus applies: 21 ))
Exhibit A as to why Tom removed his chain shirt when he wanted to be stealthy.
Delete((15 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 15))
ReplyDelete