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Post by sfliegel on Feb 1, 2007 15:02:27 GMT -5
Firebug dodged out of the way as the Tusker lunged past him, and moved quickly back behind the more armored of the group to where Arthur was standing.
Reeks comes around with shield and warhammer drawn.
Siff also drew her spear and shield.
Arthur dropped back behind the group and prepared to cast an energy bolt at the Tusker
Gaul charged around Siff with his Cudgel drawn and giving an orcen roar.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 3, 2007 15:03:06 GMT -5
Firebug scrambles to get away from the beast and put some solid armor between them. Siff fumbles to get her shield & Spear ready. She appears stunned by the ferocious and unexpected attack. Arthur to seems paralyzed. Jaws working to cast a spell but uttering no sound. Only Reeks & Gaul seem unaffected and respond with haste. Gaul was the first to respond while the others prepare and move. The Tusker and Orc meet head on as Gaul angles to face the Tusker. The beast gores Gaul, tusks penetrating his leather and piercing his legs. (10 hp) Gaul grunts from the pain but brings his kobald made cudgel down onto the creatures skull with a loud crack (12 hp) The thick skulled tusker seems unfazed. It dislodges itself from Gaul who staggers back, blood leaking from the puncture wounds in his thighs. Reeks managed to get along side the beast and gives a mighty swing. The Tusker takes the hammer on its side (16 hp) causing it to focus on the dwarf. It snaps its tooth filled jaws at the mercenary but only tastes metal as it rakes its teeth on the dwarfs iron shield. Both Orc & dwarf swing again as Firebug collects himself to cast a spell of fire. Both hammer & cudgel reign blows upon the Tuskers sides, (11 hp), (16 hp). The Tusker in unable to defend itself. Mage fire leaps from Firebugs extended hand striking true (9 to hit) engulfing the now wounded Tusker. (25 hp) The animal gives a loud screech as it flails around during its death throws and suddenly lays still.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 3, 2007 15:11:25 GMT -5
The group all take a moment to catch their breath. Siff chants a soft prayer while holding Gauls wounds. A faint glow is seen. (6 HP healed). Gauls wounds are still there but no longer bleeding. A shout is heard from the north. "It came from over there. Tell Firebrand." a rough voice yelled in southern.
"Its the bandits. They must be holed up here after all. We have what we need. Let us go!" Reeks commanded and began making to leave.
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Post by sfliegel on Feb 5, 2007 11:01:45 GMT -5
"Everyone fall into a single file line, secure your gear, and there will be no talking until our next stop." Firebug looked incredibly serious.
Reeks looked back over his shoulder, "we're moving now folks, double time, and try to step exactly where the person in front of you steps." He then moved off into the woods.
This time there was no hesitation, everyone did as they were told. There was no talking as they jogged through the forest.
Occassionally, Reeks signaled for them to stop behind some brush and to take a knee for a few long minutes. But then they would move again.
Siff could feel her ears burning as she strained to hear anything.
During one such pause, Gaul plucked some thick grass and stuffed a wad of it into his mouth where he chewed on it, then would spit at his feet.
Siff turned around and put a single finger to her lips and motioned for him to be quiet. He nodded then spit again, but this time almost completely silently. He gave Siff a green toothed smile. Then it was time to move on again.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 5, 2007 20:14:33 GMT -5
The group had traveled till nightfall. Surely the bandits had either lost the trail or given up. Nothing had been heard for hours. "We'll make camp here for the night. No fires. We've traveled much further west then we anticipated and to far into the Old Kingdom for my liking. We need to keep alert tonight. At sun up we'll head south till we reach the Old Kingdom River. Then we'll look for a place to cross." Reeks went on in a tone that rebuked any argument. "Siff? How are Gaul's wounds?"
"I was able to heal the worst of it. He should be recovered by morning though maybe a bit sore." She said matter of factly. "Gaul good. Feel no pain." 'sniff' "Men no follow. Gaul can't smell them. we safe."
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Post by sfliegel on Feb 6, 2007 19:36:41 GMT -5
The group was tired from the pace of the day as Reeks gathered the group into a huddle, "We are going to pull 2 hour shifts again tonight. Firebug I want you to pull the first watch, then Arthur, then me, and Gaul you have the last watch, you can try to get some rest." They moved without a word to set up camp. Gaul barely got his bedroll layed out before he collapsed and was sound asleep.
Arthur was preparing his bedroll when he noticed Firebug sitting on his pack, starring off into the woods, and was absentmindedly rubbing some sort of small carving on a silken cord around his neck. After a few moments Firebug turned to meet Arthur's puzzled gaze. He gave a friendly smile, then casually dropped the figurine into his shirt.
Firebug then turned without comment to setup his sleeping area. Arthur finished his area quickly then moved over to Firebug, "Hey, are you okay? Still pretty shook up by that Tusker this morning?"
Without stopping his work Firebug replied in a whisper, "If I had known what it was at the time, I don't know, maybe we could have done something different"
Arthur moved closer, "We killed it, what would you want different about that?"
Firebug threw his blanket down onto the bedroll, "tuskers usually travel in packs. We were lucky this one was alone. Look at one did to us, think about what a pack of five could have done." With that said Firebug stood up and walked over to Reeks who was pacing the perimeter.
Arthur stood motionless, staring at where Firebug had been, "five of them?"
Firebug pulled out the map before sitting down on a fallen tree and he worked with Reeks to figure out their approximate location and some possible courses to get back to the Old Kingdom River.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 8, 2007 3:21:39 GMT -5
"We've traveled pretty far, Firebug. I think we're about here." Reeks pointed with his stubby index figure at a point close to the edge of the map. Firebug concurred and Reeks continued. "This map doesn't extend much farther and I can tell its not to scale but, we're too far into the Old Kingdom. This is bloody Ogre territory. We need to head south and be quick about it. The good thing is those mercs and bandits alike shouldn't trek this far west in search of us. If we can make it to the river we can just follow it back East until it narrows. If it doesn't then...there's always the dwarf and his ferry."
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Post by sfliegel on Feb 8, 2007 15:13:08 GMT -5
Firebug nodded, he agreed Reeks anaylsis. "We'll head out at dawn and move south by southeast. With luck we should be able to reach the river by dusk."
Reeks only gave a groan in agreement and patted Firebug on the arm, "I'm getting too old for this. I'm going to get some shut eye. See you in the morning."
Firebug thought he noticed a limp in Reeks stride but before he could catch it a second time, he was to his bedroll and layed down.
Siff sat on her bedroll and picked at some of her rations. After a quick snack tucket them away but resumed staring into the darkening woods. She seemed to shiver for a moment but pulled her blanket around herself.
Arthur settled in for a quick nap.
Firebug remained on the fallen tree and let his eyes adjust to the dark.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 9, 2007 3:31:38 GMT -5
The night withdrew without incident. At breakfast Gaul insisted on cooking but Arthur was having none of it. "I'd just as soon eat my own foot then that mongrels cooking!" he yelled angrily. Arthur was quickly backhanded by the enraged orc only to be held in check from further injuring the wizard by Reeks.
"THATS enough! We are a party and we will behave like one. If you can't get along then maybe you don't belong in this outfit. Arguments are bound to occur but if ANYONE strikes another member of this party he OR she will have to deal with me. Understood!" Reeks bellowed.
Realizing that this last statement wasn't a question brought everyone in line. The march was grueling and just about everyone complained at least once on the return trip to the river from fatigue or soreness. A unified cheer went up from the five companions as the great Old Kingdom River came into view. They were in the grasslands again. About knee high to everyone but Arthur who had to wade through it at chest hight. "We must head slower now don't we? To insure we don't stumble upon those Mercenary patrols?" Arthur inquired more in the hopes of a slower pace then any fear of mercenaries.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 11, 2007 3:00:37 GMT -5
Uncertain if they are being watched or followed, the group forms up in little groups. Taking the lead Arthur sneaks forward ever watchful for movement in the afternoon sun. Reeks and Sif follow next, moving quickly and pausing often to look around. Next in line were Firebug and Gaul. They stopped when Reeks stopped ever alert for anything amiss. No one wanted to be caught out here in the fields of open grasslands. The group moved this way until finally they reached the rivers edge.
It wasn't long before they found an area that looked passable over the river. A sand bar had built itself up and provided an excellent avenue to use. The party still got wet of course and some of the members were nearly swept away by the Mountains snow melt that quickened the rivers currents for this time of year. Safe on the other side it was a simple walk to Garrotten.
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