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Post by homeskillet on Feb 24, 2007 2:50:02 GMT -5
Stone keeps walking the mule. He has found himself enjoying Klarina's company. She is very noble and beautiful. Stone was even able to convince her that her horse; Aluria, would be safe with Mason. In fact once Stone explained Mason's expertise, she became quite at ease. She even complimented him on his judgment. Briggs during all of this was the same, but a little bit more jumpy and when he made the mistake of grumbling about Mason, he earned a little problem. Sull, watched Briggs' every move. All in all, things were great. As the party approaches the wagon, Stone finds himself smiling.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 28, 2007 17:14:27 GMT -5
His smile soon dies as he sees the occupants of the wagon. When Aiko first met Rat face and Hawk nose he was suspicious of them. That feeling has not gone away. Ratface pulls the wagon to a stop.
"Now ain't this a coincidence. You all find Tabor alright folks?" Hawk nose asks.
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 28, 2007 19:40:41 GMT -5
"Yes," Stone looks Hawk nose in the eyes as he walked the mule past. Stone is making it known he is not interested in conversation.
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Post by Game Master on Mar 2, 2007 3:16:04 GMT -5
"Well your not being real friendly there are you." Ratface adds. At that moment Ratface pulls a sword, Hawk nose lifts a light crossbow from the deck of the wagon and two more men pop up from the wagons bed both carrying maces. "We figured you must of made a pretty penny doing deals with Tabor. Why don't you all just hand over your gold. Consider it tribute to Fire Brand."
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Post by homeskillet on Mar 2, 2007 21:45:00 GMT -5
" Ride this mule back to town Klarina and don't look back," Stone commands as he gives the mule a slap, "Well boys, should we give tribute?" Stone takes up his Naginata before he even gets an answer from Briggs, Sull and Earl.
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Post by Game Master on Mar 5, 2007 3:13:57 GMT -5
Aiko decides to strike at Hawk nose who is aiming a crossbow at the group. He is at the end of Aiko's reach so he decides to thrust his Naginata straight at him. Seeing the wickedly large blade coming at him and unable to block the attack with a crossbow, Hawk nose attempts to evade it by leaping off the wagon. Failing miserably Hawk nose is pierced in the side of his ribs bursting a seam in his soft leather armor as well, but the wound is not fatal do to the range (12 hp). Rat face leaps from the wagon at Aiko while his weapon is extended. Within his guard Aiko can't hope to parry (3) and Rat face lands a slashing cut with his broadsword raking the Earth Masters left arm (6 hp). With his peripheral vision Aiko notices Sull toss something in the wagon bed. A loud WHOOOSH is heard and the wagon bed erupts in intense flames. The mace wielder (#2) leaps out the back and avoids injury but the other fellow is engulfed in white hot flames (18 hp). He screams and flails about crazily falling out of the cart. Earl tosses a knife but Aiko isn't sure at who as it gos flying over the wagon and skids down the dirt road. The Startled horse takes off at a gallop taking the now unmanned cart with it up the road just missing Brigs. Brigs lunges at Hawk nose but the bird like man ducks and rolls out of the way still cradling his unfired crossbow. Aiko does a double step back, turns his blade sideways and pulls it back into guard position. the blade grazes Rat face on the way but doesn't penetrate the Soft leather armor he wears (14 sdc to armor). Rat face brings his sword back around for a reverse cut but catches air (3). Brigs thrusts his sword but this time at the poor burning bandit flailing around. He dies mercifully (7 hp).
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Post by Game Master on Mar 7, 2007 5:37:06 GMT -5
Ratface continues to press the attack this time coming under Stones blocking Naginata and cutting a small gash into his meaty left thigh (5 hp). Brigs chases after Hawk nose who is back stepping and slashes him soundly across his chest (6 hp). Hawk nose finally fires his cross bow. At point blank range the bolt gos right through Brigs' mail in the left side of his gut and continues out the other side (Critical 20, 10 hp, internal bleeding of a major organ. loss of 1 hp per hour until healed or dead). Brigs grunts with pain but presses on. Sull pulls out his cutlass short sword and runs at Mace. The mace wielding man responds in kind and the two clash in the middle of the road. Sull strikes first but is blocked. Aiko steps back yet again to put Rat face back in the kill zone. In a blur of motion his Naginata chops down into Rat faces left shoulder wounding him for the first time (13 hp). Mace pushes the cutlass off the shaft of his weapon and swings hard. Not used to fighting dwarf sized foes the man overbalances and spins like a top. He loses his footing and crashes to the ground (critical miss 1). Ratface in obvious pain continues to keep Stone on the defensive as much as possible. In his fury his attack catches only air. A good thing considering Aikos difficulty blocking the blade. Brigs, now mortally wounded puts all his strength into his next attack. Unable to parry the blow with his now useless crossbow Hawk face takes a slashing his neck. Hawk nose falls to the ground gurgling and spraying Brigs with his life blood (9 hp). Sull waists no time in taking advantage of the mace mans prone form. He sticks the man to the ground, shoving his blade through the bandits midsection (12 hp). The man struggles feebly to free himself but soon loses strength. Aiko once again aims to cleave his opponent in two. He shreds whats left of Ratfaces armor and gives him a vicious cut from pelvis to shoulder. (6 sdc from armor, 8 hp). He drops his sword and falls sideways to the earth.
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Post by homeskillet on Mar 7, 2007 23:08:43 GMT -5
Aiko runs to Briggs to see the extent of his injuries. It doesn't look good. " Lay down my friend. Let me look at your wound," Aiko is gentle, calm. he helps Briggs down so he can begin helping Briggs.
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Post by Game Master on Mar 13, 2007 2:44:33 GMT -5
"Brigs my friend. I think that arrow may have scratched your liver. You will bleed to death from the inside if we don't get you to Androsia. Do you understand?"
Aiko asked the mercenary after prodding and bandaging his wound.
"Yes I understand you Stone. I'm in pain not delirious." Brigs spat in his normal foul temper.
"Good. Lay still." Aiko stood up and addressed the dwarf and gnome. "We need to find some herbs to cut Brig's pain and slow the bleeding." Aiko described the plants needed to Earl who drew pictures of them with charcoal and paper. Handing a copy to Sull the thee split up to search the area.
The Lord of light shined on the fragmented party for they were able to find both herbs within a half hour. Administering the herbs to Aikos satisfaction the wandering earth-master then began to build a makeshift sled, using the soft leather armor from the dead bodies wrapped and tied around some wood pole like sticks. Again satisfied with his work he began hauling Brigs to town with his companions in tow. Sull searched the brigands bodies and found little of use. A dagger, a solid mace as well as 15 gold crowns and a water flask.
The group trekked on non-stop with Sull and Aiko taking turns hauling their comrade. Brig's counted his blessings that he inherited the ability to resist fatigue from his parents. Every little bit helped him stay conscious and alive.
Even Earl was able to help by making conversation as he often did in-order to keep Brigs focused and awake.
"Did any of you notice the markings on the brigands?" Earl asked after a lengthy lesson in the conjunctions and dual meanings of many common words of the southern human tongue spoken in these parts.
Sull spoke up. "Yes. When I was searching them I saw the burns."
"Exactly. They are called brands, master Sull." Sull chuckled at being called master but Earl continued unphased. "They tend to be used on cattle, live stock and beasts of burden to show ownership. Slave brands are also common in Timiro."
"So you think these bandits were ex-slaves?" Briggs asked grateful to be able to talk instead of just listen to Earl prattling on.
"Ahh, no, no not really. All four men, well three men at least considering the fourth was burned to a crisp." Another chuckle from Sull. "They had a brand of an intricate camp fire."
"Sooooo,....." Brigs asked perplexed.
"Don't you get it? A brand of fire. A Fire Brand. It refers to Fire Brand the Bandit. They were indeed who they said they were." Earl said quite satisfied with his deduction.
"So we killed Firebrand?" Sull asked excited. "We should go back and take heads!"
"No you stupid gully dwarf!" Brigs barked. "They must have just been some of his men. There was no way any of those corpses were Firebrand."
"How you know?" Sull challenged.
"Because my diminutive friend. Fire Brand is a Fire Giant. He's over fifteen feet tall!" Brigs scolded.
"Oh." was all Sull could say.
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Post by Game Master on Mar 15, 2007 2:21:47 GMT -5
Brigs slowly weakened and became more and more incoherent. He passed out just as the exhausted couriers entered Garrotten. Aiko dragged him the final half mile to Androsias just as some other patrons were leaving. "Quickly! Put him over there on that table." Androsia commanded urgently when she took stock of Brigs' injuries. Lady Klarina was there and looking better as well. Unable to help their friends further the three remaining men left to get some rest while leaving their two companions in Androsia's capable hand.
After resting at the Inn Stone returned to find Brigs out of danger and sleeping. "He will be fine." Androsia assured.
"Good. He can pay his own bill." Stone replied and promptly left with Klarina to regroup with the others. Tull was found at his uncles shop working on inventory. Warm greetings were exchanged and they all left together. Earl was next to be rounded up, found just exiting the Nexus point. Lastly Sull was found sitting with Mason outside Blimm's house.
"Well everyone. Shall we go see if he's home?" Asked Earl.
Blimm was indeed home. Not maimed or killed as all had feared. He greatfully payed the gold bonus agreed upon and sent them on their way. Only Brigs would have to return later for payment, but no one was really worried about it.
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Post by Game Master on Mar 16, 2007 2:49:42 GMT -5
Lady Klarina said her fair-wells and thanked Mason for keeping her horse safe before she mounted and trotted off.
Tull said goodbye and that he had to go work for his uncle. Clasping arms with Aiko Tull spoke "If ever you need me Stone. I'm there for you. I'll travel anywhere you want to go." And with that he left.
Earl left as well but not before offering to place protection wards on Stones medallion. "I don't know what it does, but something that coveted should be protected. They won't be as powerful as whatever Blimm placed on it before, but you saved my life fighting off those bandits on the road. I owe you my services. You can find me whenever your ready at the Hall or the Nexus point."
With Brigs layed up at Androsias that left Mason, Stone and Sull the dwarven thief. "So what we do now Mason? Go eat steak and have ale?"
"Why not my friend. Stone here says you had a nasty surprise for some bandits you ran into?" Mason asked merrily
"Oh, Mason should have been there. I pulled out my glass fire...."
The three friends walked to the Drunken Griffin for a long needed rest.
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