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Post by Game Master on Jul 27, 2007 13:11:39 GMT -5
*You bloody well did! What do you think will happen to Gaul if those meat grinders come across him? They need to have someone with them who can identify Gaul. Send me or Kursaville.*
The contact between the two hero's was broken so abruptly by Reeks that FireBug felt as if his mind had just been ripped at the edges. He recovered quickly enough that no one noticed but Reeks had moved away from FireBug by then, obviously upset that he would forget about their dimwitted friend.
It was becoming quite apparent to FireBug that while Reeks may not sat so openly he truly was bonded to the groups orc companion.
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Post by sfliegel on Jul 27, 2007 16:18:59 GMT -5
"Master Halfhelm," Firebug began, "a moment sir." He placed a hand on Halfhelm's shoulder and leaned in whisper into his ear, "I didn't mean that when we split up that your soldiers would go to the this mysterious cave. Look, we have a man of sorts on the inside. He very well may be in that cave. It was brought to my attention that I could be endangering him if I don't include someone who could identify him with Silvermail's group. What I need from you is to explain to Silvermail that if my person says to spare a specific orc, that Silvermail and his men will listen to him. We have grown rather attached to the little guy. So could you please do this for me?" Firebug was rather surprised that he found himself pleading for Gaul's safety. He did promise to take care of Gaul, and that was now what he was trying to do.
Halfhelm stared intensely into Firebug's eyes and began nodding his head slowly, "I understand lad. I'll have a word with Hauptmann Silvermail. Who will be going with to identify your man?"
Firebug nodded his head toward the grumpy dwarf now sitting alone with thick arms across his chest, "I think Reeks would be the best choice. He is a miltary man so he wont slow the group down, he can fight and isn't handicapped with the need of a lantern."
Halfhalm turn to see Reeks and nodded his head, "excellent choice lad." He then moved quickly toward Silvermail and without pausing motioned to Reeks, "this way lad, quickly now."
Reeks scrammbled to his feet and followed Halfhelm. He glanced at Firebug who was moving back to the other group and motioned a salute but smiled when he realized that he probably couldn't see him. Firebug caught the salute and returned it without missing a beat. The smile fell off his face as his mind began screaming, "how in thw world?"
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Post by Game Master on Aug 1, 2007 14:23:23 GMT -5
Leaving Reeks to ponder the mystery the two groups set out on their seperate ways.
Silvermail lead the dwarven contingeant west in the same iron wall formation as before. Once they were engulfed by darkness and out of earshot Firebug gathered his 'troops' together. the Jaegers strted things off by introducing themselves.
The smaller of the two fellows had a blackish beard streaked with grey. "I'm Jokhan Elfthrasher and this here is Bhor Goldworker." he said pointing to the taller dwarf with a snow white beard. What are your orders?"
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Post by sfliegel on Aug 1, 2007 16:53:06 GMT -5
Firebug thought for a moment, maybe Silvermail's formation could work for us too, "Master Elfthrasher and Golderworker, I would like you lads to take the lead shoulder to shoulder with Master Halfhelm behind you. Next I would like Siff and that lantern of her's turned down as low as possible please, and Kursaville and myself at the rear, making the best possible use of the lantern. We should try to step lightly and keep the noise down to a minimum."
Halfhelm nodded, "Aye lad, ther is no telling what we might find down here so we should try to avoid any major encounters. Well, we had better get moving then."
Once everyone was in please they looked around at each other, Firebug nodded to Halfhelm and he motioned to the Jaegers, and they too slipped into the blackness.
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Post by Game Master on Aug 2, 2007 3:00:33 GMT -5
The passage South toward the Castle continued on straight as an arrow. Sixty feet later the tunnel opened up into a large chamber. The ceiling was the same hight as the tunnel, some 18 feet above the heroes. The room appeared to be rectangular in shape. If it was paced out FireBug would guess that the far side from where he now stood was a good 120 away. The short sides of the room were about half of that. The party had entered the room from almost at a corner instead of the center of the wall. Three more passages identical to this one branched off from the chamber proper. Two to the East at opposite ends of the east wall and another opposite of the one the group had entered by in the South wall.
+---| |----------------| |---+
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+-----------------------------+
ooc: I really miss my scanner right now.
The room itself is filled with crates, boxes, barrels, smithing hammers, pick axes, shovels, piles of wood, piles of metal rods, blocks, and rope, all in a variety of sizes from dwarf, to human to...much larger.
All this is taken in at a glance. Faint metal on metal noises can be heard echoing around the room. It is difficult to tell just where it is coming from and what is causing it.
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Post by sfliegel on Aug 2, 2007 16:06:49 GMT -5
Firebug gathered everyone together, "we will have to be careful but we need to find where this noise is coming from. we need to move along this wall to the east, pausing at each door to listen for the source of the noise. We will need to move quickly but quietly in order to avoid drawing attention to ourselves."
Everyone moved against the east wall and resumed their original positions. Firebug paused along side Halfhelm, "Master Halfhelm, do you recognize any of these crates, boxes or material as belonging to your shoppe?"
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Post by Game Master on Aug 3, 2007 2:29:50 GMT -5
"Some for sure but there is too much for it all to be mine. I also sure as Hell don't have giant sized equipment. For Ogres or Trolls no doubt but one thing I can tell yeah is its all dwarven made."
The group paused at the first tunnel entrance. It was identical to all the others so far. 18 feet tall and a good 8 feet wide. Enough for 4 dwarfs side by side. The noises were clearly louder down this tunnel. It was a racket of clanks and bangs with an almost constant high pitched ringing sound in the background.
"That there is the sound of anvil work, make no mistake. Someone be smithing down there! A bloody lot of someones!" Halfhelm barked in dismay.
Yet before anyone could comment, Firebug fealt a prickle at the back of his neck. Turning to look further south he saw a huge, burly Ogre who must have just walked into the room from the other Eastern entrance undetected do to the loud noises. He wasn't an inch shorter then 10 feet and his earthy skin was smeared with sweaty soot and grime. He wore a giant sized warhammer at his waist and carried an enormous wooden crate in both hands. It was raised above his head ready to be hurled at the unsuspecting party.
(ooc, please)
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Post by Game Master on Aug 5, 2007 13:45:29 GMT -5
Lord Kursaville responded first. With lightning reflexes never before shown, the knight analyzed the situation and made a choice. Unable to charge the Ogre directly from his position in the rear of the group he darted to his right in order to clear the crates obvious strike zone and threw his dirk at the beastie. A dirk while ideally made for close combat against fully armored knights it was still a dagger and therefor somewhat suitable for throwing. The dirk pierced the Ogres meaty left arm ( 23 to hit, 6 damage) but failed to hamper the ogres intent to toss the crate. Even as Firebug began to chant a spell of fire at the monster he realized there was no stopping the crate from being launched save killing the giant man before him.
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Post by Game Master on Aug 6, 2007 4:18:39 GMT -5
Intending to blast the Ogre good in the face he realised that the decending crate would block most of the flames. At the last second before the release of the spell he lowered his arm and angled the green mage fire to the monsters chest instead. Taking the blast full on (20 to hit 22 damage) the Ogre screamed in pain. As Firebug predicted though it was too late to stop the crate from being hurled at the group. It soared in, end over end and crashed into the party. (15 to strike). Halfhelm rolled out of the way to his right in a tumbling move that had to come from training. (15 to dodge). Siff ducked behind her shield letting it absorb the huge chuncks of wood flying from the shattering crate. (18 to parry, 10 sdc to shield). Elfthrasher blocked as well with his small iron shield, (16 parry) lucky for him the crate crashed behind him and he was barrliy pelted (5 sdc to shield). Kursaville was well out of the way but poor Bhor Goldworker failed to close his eyes when FireBug gave warning. He failed misserably trying to get out of the way (6 dodge) and took the full brunt of the incomming crate. With a sickening crack, his head snapped back and he landed heavily on his back dropping axe and shield. (15 damage)
(ooc)
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Post by Game Master on Aug 7, 2007 13:35:48 GMT -5
With a sort of sixth sense Firebug was able to twist, turn, duck and dodge every bit of wood that flew at him in a maneuver that would have impressed any member of the 'U.g.a.t.i.' tumblers and acrobat guild. (dodge 22).
Kursaville was now able to charge the big brute with sword in hand. Coming in low and to the side, the Ogre made a good attempt at a parry with his oversized hammer but Kursaville's reflexes were better (8+4=13 to hit, 8 to parry) slashing at its leg (10 damage), blood pumped from what was obviously an arterial hit. The ogre faltered but brought its massive hammer down on the knights raised, small, iron shield. (13 to hit, 18 parry, 19 sdc to shield). The heavy blow knocked Kursaville to one knee. Halfhelm, back on his feet, jogged into range, hunkered low with smithing hammers raised. With two quick yet mighty swings the first hammer landed behind the stunned looking Ogres knee with a meaty, thwack (12 to hit, 7 damage). The Ogre buckled under, extending its knee forward for the dwarfs other hammer to crack it soundly on the cap. (25 to hit 12 damage, knee shattered). The monster crashed into crates and barrels kicking up dust around it. Blacking out from sheer pain and blood loss the Ogres life ebbed away and it lay still. Siff who kept one eye down the noisy tunnel ran forward to chant a blessing of healing upon the unconscious dwarf.
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Post by sfliegel on Aug 7, 2007 20:28:39 GMT -5
Kursaville moved off toward the door from which they had entered this room and motioned for all who were able to move over to him. Once everyone was gathered he spoke in a loud whisper, "first let me say that, that was great team work, but it was pretty loud and might have attracted the attention of others. Siff I saw Goldworker took a heavy hit, is there anything you can do for him?"
Siff shook her head, "no, I'm sorry. His injuries were too sever, there was nothing I could do."
Halhelm placed a hand on her shoulder as if to console her, "don't worry about it lass. He died an honorable death, in battle against an enemy stronger then anyone of us. His mother will be proud of him."
Firebug spoke up next, "that ogre came in from that door," he pointed to the door on the wall opposite them, "he was down here working, not looking for a fight. Halfhelm, I need your help to search the body. He might have a list of instructions that might help prove some clues about who he was working for."
"That's a good idea Firebug, " agreed Kursaville, "Elfthrasher and Siff, you two are with me. I want to check those doors to make sure we have no more visitors coming."
As Firebug and Halfhelm walked Firebug commented, "you're really good with those hammer."
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Post by Game Master on Aug 9, 2007 12:28:41 GMT -5
The idea was proven futile as the Ogre didn't have so much as a pocket let alone a pouch to hold things in. Other then a dirty loincloth and the hammer he was itemsless. Firebug did notice a tattoo almost completely concealed under dirt and grime on the Ogres left forearm. With a little water Firebug cleaned the area to reveal a tattoo of an elven head stuck on a pike. "Do you recognize this Master Smith?" he asked the dwarf.
"No lad. I've never seen its like. Maybe one of the others." The rest of the group took a look one by one. Kursaville thought he remembered the symbol from the Constables office but couldn't pinpoint what it refereed to. It was Elfthrasher who revealed its nature. "Its a tribal brand. Many powerful War Chiefs make followers wear them. That mark belongs to Master Slayers tribe."
"Thats what it was." Kursaville confirmed. "Master Slayer is wanted by Royal decree. He's an Ogre chief who has a considerable bounty on his head.
Pondering that mystery for later the group refocused their attention back on the surroundings. The smithing sounds continued unabated. It appeared that the brutal skirmish was not loud enough to attract attention from that direction. The second Passage to the East revealed the same noises as well. A separate work shop or another passage leading to the same one? The Southern passage that continued on in the direction of the castle and presumably the cave was dark and quiet. No more Ogres appeared to be coming from that direction.
"What now Lad?" Halfhelm asked the appointed leader FireBug.
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Post by sfliegel on Aug 9, 2007 15:32:01 GMT -5
"I think the best way to stop the smugglers is to first cut off the supply. If those are the sounds of a smithy, and you would be the best to identify that sound Master Halfhelm, then we start there. It sounds like a good many hands at work in there so this could be exceedingly dangerous. What say the rest of you?"
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Post by Game Master on Aug 10, 2007 1:40:43 GMT -5
"I'd like a chance at revenge for Goldworker. I'm with you." Elfthrasher stated.
Halfhelm just gave Firebug a nod of approval while lazily twirling his hammers.
"No need to ask. I'm with you." The Priestess said checking her shield and speer.
"As a Constable I have sworn to protect the town of Garrotten with my life. How shall we proceed?"
"You'll be proceeding with us!" came a gruff voice.
The group turned to see Reeks and the rest of the Jaegers walking into the room via the East passage. Two of the dwarven soldiers were wounded while one was missing altogether.
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Post by sfliegel on Aug 10, 2007 8:39:20 GMT -5
Siff didn't need to be prompted she recognized her cue and hurried over to tend to the wounded dwarves.
"welcome back brothers, your swords are always warmly received. We believe there is some sort of smothing forge ahead with an unknown number of hands working it. That was one of the creatures that is moving around down here and he bears the mark of the ogre chief Master Slayer," Firebug pointed at the fallen ogre, "Master Silvermail, I fear this monster claimed the life of your soldier Goldworker. Reeks any sign of Gaul?"
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