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Leaving
Town
The day comes when
it's time to leave: 8 adventurers on horseback, one mule, and Daggda,
who still maintains that she can do just as well in the long run on
foot, altho she's willing to admit that muleback is faster for
short periods of time. After negotiating with the royal provisioners,
everyone has an extra week's rations in his/her pack, and it's time
to leave. There's a brief discussion of how to find the exit of
the tunnel, there's no guide this time and there were lots of
turns and cross tunnels. But the dwarf remembers that these are
NOT tunnels, but a sewer system. Just follow the water down stream,
and eventually you'll get out.
So that's what they do.
Having left in the hours before dawn, it's almost noon by the time the
group finds the exit and sees the light of day. Andrew is greatly
relieved to look around and see bushes and trees instead of buildings,
and to have grass underfoot instead of cobblestones. Within a
few minutes, you've found the narrow dirt track that is the Old Coast
Road. There is no traffic on the road. The last time you
went out, thru the gates at early morning, there were fishermen heading
to their boats at the river delta, but by now, they are all at work.
This portion of the road is a little higher than the surrounding marshy
ground, and no one thinks that the enemy army will be sloshing thru
that so the only threat is likely to come along the road
-- either from the front or back. After a brief stop, the group
sets out.
[OOC: Marching order, anyone? I'll assume
Tav at the front because who would put a guy with a lance in the middle,
but other than that ...?? I will assume you travel at "normal"
speeds, unless y'all say otherwise. If you speed up, you'll move
faster (DUH!) but make more noise and have less chance to detect someone
before they detect you. If you slow down, the opposite will apply.
Let me know if anybody wants to do any special scouting ahead, etc.]
As the land begins to rise, the soggy river delta is left behind.
There are sightings of the occasional animal, but nothing of particular
interest. The bluff looms larger as the group approaches
it; the twisting road that goes up its face can be more easily
seen as the sun moves behind the adventurers' backs. Avon's stomach
is telling him it's getting to be supper time, and a quick look at the
sky confirms that it's about 5 or 6 pm. These are the longest
days of the year, and the sun will not set until after 9.30pm.
Based on the last time they went thru here, Andrew ventures a guess
that it would take another 5 hours or so to get to the plateau.
Although the road bears prints of several parties of horses and men,
there have been no other signs of patrols all day long, and the surrounding
area here is pretty heavily wooded. The forest seems "normal":
there are the usual small mammals scampering thru the trees and underbrush.
For about the last hour, Esmee has been sending pictures to Ven of her
swooping down on some small creature and then ripping it to pieces.
There are large and small birds overhead, and when the horses are stopped
during rest periods, the sound of the surf can be heard faintly to the
south.
Nothing
Suspicious
Andrew
sighs a very audible sigh of relief as the forest begins to unwind
his city frazzled nerves. Each breath he takes gets deeper until
it feels like he might pull the entire forst in. Andrew will take
up the position next to Tav unless someone has a better spot for
him and try to keep a sharp look around for anybody we don't want
to see.
Avon is surprised when he feels a relief when they reach the end
of the sewer system. He takes a deep breath, he notices how the
air fills his lungs. The air so clear and fresh that in even hurts
inside its chest. He can't suppress a faint smile when he hears
and sees the small animals in the forest. And he even is impressed
by the imposing force of the forest itself. But the feeling isn't
long lived. Soon his mind is busy calculating how much interest
he would get from his golden dragon egg. He rides at the far end
of the group carefully avoiding riding next to Sandros.
Sandros takes up a position near the rear of the group, as usual.
He finds himself kicking his horse into a trot now and again, impatience
beginning to wear on him. But each time, he slows down until he's
back at the end of the line once more, smiling with chagrin.
[OOC: Filling in, this makes the marching
order something like:
Tv An
Mg Ko
Av JJ
Da mule
Sa
Ve
]
Sandro's mind is awhirl with all that's happened the last few days.
His sister...DeeDee... He still couldn't believe he had found her,
and by accident at that. Now if only he could get her away from
that place, and someplace safe. He sighs. Not like she wanted to
leave anyway,
but still...
And then, there was his nephew. The Duke probably had terrible things
in mind for the poor child. And he would be damned to a hell worse
then the vampire-infected one he *could* be, if he didn't do something
about it. As soon as he was able, he was going to find a way to
get near enough to the Duke, that he could take the kid out of there.
And if he got so lucky as to have a chance to kill that bastard
in the process, so much the better.
Sandros realizes then that he better stop thinking about it; with
the dark looks he's starting to get on his face, the others might
wonder if he's finally gone over the deep end. And he'd rather not
find a stake driven through his heart today.
The party pulls to a stop within sight of the base of the cliff,
and the serpentine road that goes up its face. Not a very
high cliff -- the plateau above is only 100 ft up -- but very steep.
While most of the road is visible, portions are out of sight as
it goes behind outcrops of rock or small stands of trees.
And of course, sometimes the trees lining the road thru the forest
make it impossible for the adventurers to see the road at all.
The ride and the surroundings has a good effect on the druid and
he almost seems more alive out here. "If we have a quick bite
and a get back to the ride we might make the plateau by darkfall."
When Andrew suggests continuing onward into the night, Sandros pipes
up with his opinion. "Not sure that's a good idea. I'd love
to get there that quickly, but if we end up running into trouble
once we get there, I'd rather we be well rested. Maybe we can find
someplace well hidden to stay the night?"
JessJazza eats quietly, wanting to ask one of her new companions
if they want to spar with her, but knowing the noise would attract
unwanted attention.
For about the last hour, Esmee, perched on Ven's shoulder, has been
sending pictures to Ven of her swooping down on some small creature
and then ripping it to pieces. Clearly she's hungry and is
just daydreaming about food -- much like Avon does [*G*], but Ven
asked her to sit on his shoulder, and there she sits, her tail wrapped
around his throat. There are large and small birds overhead,
and when the horses are stopped during rest periods, the sound of
the surf can be heard faintly to the south.
Ven, realizing that Esmee is hungry, sends her up to catch herself
a bird. "While you're up there," he thinks/asks,
"make sure that nothing suspicious is near by. Thanks.
Enjoy your meal."
Esmee bounds up into the air, and Ven is glad he's wearing the leather
vest over his chain shirt--the pseudodragon's claws are sharp, and
her grip seems to be powerful as well. "You take care,
now, boychick. Esmee's just going to get a little snack.
Don't do anything foolish or dangerous." She beams back at
Ven.
The group dismounts for the meal break, but stays on the road.
Ven finds that he can stay in touch with Esmee mentally for a good
long distance -- at least 100 yards. That's more than double
the distance that Myridian seemed to be able to achieve with her
familiar, Flybreath.
Ven wasn't sure why -- maybe it was Esmee's built-in abilities --
but he was glad of it.
As he's "chatting" with her, he notes that she's managed
to catch, dismember, and eat a plump pigeon, all the while soaring
on the thermals produced by the hot sun, the nearby water, and the
cliff. He casually reminds her to let him know if there's
anything suspicious in sight.
"No, nothing suspicious," she dutifuly reports.
"Some men on wooden things out in the water, pulling fish
out of the bay. A trail that runs along the base of the cliff,
leading inland. ... 15... no make it 16 fat squirrels in the oak
trees over your head. ... 8 men on horseback coming down the cliff...
no it's 10 men... a deer that is..."
"WHAT!?" blurts Ven. He'd been sitting silently,
and this verbal outburst surprises the others. Ven remembers
and goes back to thinking what he wants to say. "Esmee!
That could be important. You should have told me right away."
"It's just a deer !"
"No," Ven thinks, mentally gritting his teeth, "about
the the men on horses."
"Calm down, dearie. You're so excited. Take a drink
of water... The men are not suspicious.. .it's just some men on
horses... You see them all over the place: in the woods, by rivers,
in cities... Understand? Not suspicious or strange at all.
" Sniffs Esmee. "I saw them about half an hour ago,
coming down the cliff. You mean you didn't see them?
Your eyes are not very good, are they. Poor boy !! Are
you feeling ok? Maybe you need to rest. Your thoughts
are very jumbled."
Esmee swoops down and lands gently on Ven's shoulder, curling
her tail protectively around his throat. "I feel responsible
for you, ever since I adopted you, you know. Why don't
you lay down and rest..."
Ven concentrates on concentrating. "Esmee... what
did the men look like? -- and how far away are they from here?"
She beams him a picture of 10 armed men, wearing the colored
surcoats of the Benignity's army, some with spears, others with
crossbows, a few with swords. She indicates there is still
1 loop of the sinuous road before they reach the bottom... Perhaps
10 minutes away, Ven estimates. He peers thru the trees along
the road at the cliff ahead, but still can't see the other group.
The mage breaks off with the pseudodragon. Everyone in the
group is looking at him now, knowing that he's been "talking"
with his familiar. Hurriedly, he explains what she said.
Moongloom
says, "I don't think we have time for a fight do we?
Quickly, everyone into the trees and be quiet, I think I can make
them run right by us, but only if you are quiet." Moongloom
directs everyone to stand in a semi-random order amongst the forest,
not too close to any existing trees. "It is important you do
not move either, walking trees attract more attention than talking
ones." He waves his hands and chants, pulling a filmy
but transparent veil from his pocket and pulling it over his eyes.
Eyes are cloudy, brain confused,
Simple logic goes unused,
While this forest goes untested,
Let it appear unmolested!
The air shimmers around the party and they (hopefully) appear to
be trees amongst the forest...
[OOC: casting phantasmal force]
JessJazza and Dragonfly walk into the woods with everyone else and
as Moongloom casts his concealing spell JessJazza draws her sword
and fixes her gaze at the road. Not that she doesn't trust Moonglooms
magic, but she decides that hiding Dragonfly deeper in the forest
would be a good idea, and she hides herself behind a tree thats
already there, just in case. She is ready to charge the enemy if
need be.
Tavarak looks at his lance, then at the forest before making his
way into the bush. He positions himself facing the road lowering
the weapon in such a way that will be least inhibited should he
need to charge.
Ven, too, scurries into the trees. He goes behind the warriors a
bit, making sure he's out of their way in case it comes to a fight.
He thinks soothing thoughts to Esmee and asks he not to make a sound.
He considers sending her up for more recon, or into a tree, but
he feels better having her near in this time of danger so he keeps
her wrapped around his shoulder and neck.
Esmee is confused, but goes along with her person after Ven explains
a bit. "Good thing he's not trying to cast that spell
on me,." huffs the highly magic-resistant
pseudodragon. "Or you either." She
coils her tail a bit tighter around Ven's neck. "You'd
never look good as a tree part."
Actually the spell is not cast on ANYone in the group, to Daggda's
obvious relief.
Moongloom weaves his hands thru the air and a shimmering forest
appears between the party and the road. He tries to make it
as broad as possible, but has to sacrifice a little on that in order
to get the trees to be taller. In the end it turns out to
be about 20ft tall x 35 ft wide. From the adventurers' side,
it looks like a transparent sheet on which a dense forest has been
painted. They are about 20 ft from the road and the illusion
is about 5 ft in front of them, between them and the road.
Koprith, JessJazza, Daggda, Sandros and Tavarak are in the front
rank now, facing the road, with Andrew, Moongloom, Veneron and Avon
a few feet behind them. The horses shift uneasily beneath
their riders, and everyone is a bit uneasy about the rustling sounds
of their feet in the thick layer of oak and other leaves that covers
the ground.
In just a few minutes, the group of soldiers comes into view from
around a bend at the foot of the cliff. The leader is dressed
in partial plate, and bears a lance. "We'll stop here
to water the horses. DisMOUNT." He barks.
The warriors hiding behind the tissue of illusion tighten their
grip on their weapons. The soldiers dismount and two of the
spear carriers gather the mounts and leads them to a small stream
just a few feet on the other side of the road. The other soldier
who is carrying a sword saunters over to the side of the road where
the party is concealed. He removes his gauntlets, and fumbles
at his crotch, lifting the chain mail and then partially lowering
his chain breeches. Finally having himself arranged to his
liking, he waters one of the *real* oak trees, just a few feet in
front of the illusion.
"Please don't let him look up and see that these thick trees
come to a sudden stop 20 feet up." Thinks Koprith.
The smell of his urine is strong, and JessJazza's horse exhales
somewhat noisily and stamps her foot. The Illuvitarian quickly
pats Dragonfly's neck in a soothing gesture. But the soldier
is looking over his shoulder at his comrades and notices nothing.
Watching him relieve himself for what seems to be a very
long time, it occurs to Ven that one well-placed arrow just now
would put him out of action. Eventually he finishes and manages
to get himself put back together, and he returns to his group.
The scouting party sits wearily on the ground near their animals,
chewing on hard rations. It has been a hot day, and the swampy
river delta nearby makes the air steamy and thick.
Andrew casts his eyes at the blue mage at his side as the minutes
pass. His eyes are open, yet seem to be unfocussed.
Before too many minutes have passed, small beads of sweat break
out on Moongloom's forehead. He opens his mouth as his breathing
becomes more and more labored under the strain of maintaining the
illusion. Andrew reaches over to steady Moongloom's horse.
Finally after 20 minutes of high tension, the officer orders his
men to remount. They head back toward the cliff, but
turn off on a small trail leading north before reaching it.
As the army patrol passes out of sight, the adventurers begin to
relax. Moongloom continues to strain to maintain the illusion;
it's almost as if he's not aware that they soldiers have gone.
Andrew glances at the sky. "Almost 6 pm now."
he thinks. "If we start now, the last hour and a half
on the twisty, steep road up the face of the cliff will be in the
darkness, but if we wait 'till morning, there will probably be another
patrol."
Camping in the Woods
JessJazza
picks a long piece of grass (from an area FAR AWAY from where the
guard relieved himself) and chews on it thoughtfully. "Well,
I can't really comment on the tactical value of it, but I have no
desire to sit through THAT again." She sheathes her sword and
exhales. "Lets hit the slopes."
Tavarak watches the soldiers as they head off down the path. With
a sudden intake of air he realizes that he had been holding his
breath. Relaxing his grip on the lance he turns as Avon speak.
Avon wipes the sweat of his face. Sits quietly for a second than
scratches every inch of his body he can reach, "That was close,
I couldn't sit still for another minute." Then he smiles at
Moongloom, "I could make you rich, you know. Soth! With tricks
like that we could really do some business back in town." Smiling
he rides out of the forest and onto the road, ready to do some adventuring.
He turns around in the saddle, "Come on you lazy bums, that
golden egg won't be there for ever". And after a silence, "That
was a joke, you understood that, right?". He looks around the
group with an innocent face.
Tav grins and shakes his head only half wondering if the thief is
serious or not, "Well now Avon aren't you in good spirits"
Ven spurs his horse forward gently. "I agree with Avon, again--I
can't believe I keep agreeing with him, that's twice in a day, I
think!--let's get out of the path of these patrols. Next time a
soldier might just piss on one of us and that's sure to start a
fight." As Ven begins to move along, hoping there won't be
a long protracted congressional hearing to make this decision, he
leans over to Moongloom, "Nice job on the illusion."
So Esmee, he thinks, can you hear other people's thoughts
or just mine? You know, 'cause if you can, you would be a great
help to me in the bars of Squarento. In fact, that little trick
you did with sending those very nice vivid images from your hunting
expeditions, well, I can think of a few very entertaining applications
of that particular skill too . . .
Esmee gives Veneron a small slap on the top of his head with
her tail. It's not polite to listen to others' thoughts
without permission. Besides, she sniffs, I can only
send thoughts, it's up to someone to catch them. And you can
send thoughts just to me, since I adopted you, right? I mean,
I can't catch everything you think, and you dont catch everything
I think either. Just what I want to send. Like for example,
if you have trouble keeping your stinger under control, I could
*ZAP* it with my stinger, and that would melt THAT particular problem
for quite a while. Esmee's attitude and tone is very prissy
and disapproving.
[OOC: Ven can send to Esmee because she's his familiar. Esmee
can send to anyone she wants to send to.]
Sandros voices his opinion as well. "Well...I know earlier
I said it might be best to rest while we could. But now...I think
maybe we *should* keep moving. Besides, I'm not tired at all, myself.
We can handle a little darkness; not like we haven't wandered around
in it before, eh?" He grins.
Boy, was he suddenly hungry... He wonders if maybe they don't have
time to do some quick hunting while they travel, and perhaps get
some fresh meat to eat. What he wouldn't do for a huge, mouth-watering,
bloody haunch about now..."Err...anyone else hungry? Maybe
we can shoot a rabbit or something, eh?" He shrugs.
Moongloom shakes his head and pulls the veil off his face. "I
need to relieve myself," he says, and stumbles off his horse
over behind some trees. He walks back to his horse and strains to
get on. "Wow, I sure have some luck. Of all the spots... well
let's get going."
Andrew too lets out a sigh of relief as the guards FINALLY ride
off. Nodding his thanks to Moongloom he'll take up the lead and
begin making for the summit and with any luck get the party there
in one piece.
"I'll try to scare something up for us all once we make camp."
He says in response to Sandros' comment about food.
"You find it, I'll shoot it." JessJazza offers.
Making for the top as fast as safety will allow Andrew marvels once
more at the freedom being out in the forest brings. As night falls
he is intoxicated by the sounds and smell it almost seems he had
forgotten while being stuck inside the city.
June
18/19
The group makes good time at first, eager to get up to the top of
the bluff. The road twists and turns as they climb the steep
cliff face. About 2/3 of the way to the top, the sun is gone,
and they must slow down. The moon is not up yet and a wrong
step in the pale starlight could cripple a horse--or worse.
They dismount and lead the horses at the steepest points.
The moon is nearly at its darkest, but the slight cresent comes
up over the crest of the cliff ahead of them giving them a better
look at what is ahead. Off to the north, the campfires of
the large Army of Freedom Fighters flicker in the distance like
so many fireflies.
Finally, nearing midnight the group gains the top of the plateau
and everyone except Sandros is very tired. Sandros has been
feeling more energetic since the sunset.
The trees atop the bluff are sparse near the edge, but the forest
reasserts itself within a few dozen yards. The group drags
itself further forward, looking for some way to get off the road,
and find a place to rest. Andrew, on foot, finds a rocky area
that will conceal their tracks as they leave the road, and they
head off into the depths and darks of the woods.
The night is alive: nocturnal hunters and scavengers large and small
can be heard, making their catches -- just another night's work
for the owls, ocelots, wolves and raccoons.
There is no clearing to be found, but the group continues for a
good distance, not wanting to risk a chance encounter with some
sort of early morning patrol. Finally amidst a stand of beech
trees in this mostly oak and pine forest, they tether their horses
and make camp for the remainder of the night.
They look at the scrap of map and figure out where they are
[OOC: Check the “you are here” mark on the map at http://www.oocities.org/melfis_rpg/melfis_basemap.html]
and discuss what the best way might be to get to the swamp where
Shelby’s Creek ends, for that is the only clue they have about the
location of the swamp witch. There’s the creek itself to cross,
the High Road of course, and what to do about Riverside, which seems
to be a stronghold for the Duke and his henchmen.
[OOC from DM: As a reference point, Sandros
was infected on the night of June 3-4. It is now June 19,
16 days into the month he has. The info you have is that by
July 3 he will irreversably become a full blooded vampire.]
Fight
or Flight ?
JThe
group decides on watches of 1.5 hrs each:
Andrew & JessJazza 1-2.30am
Sandros & Veneron 2.30-4am
Daggda & Tavarak 4-5.30 am
Koprith & Moongloom & Avon 5.30-7 am
Avon
doesn't look like he is going to arrange anything for the camp. He
just gets his belongings from his horse and starts making a comfortable
place to sleep. While doing so he talks to nobody in particular, "Well,
I am not an out doors person. But I would not stick to the road tomorrow,
that's like breaking in using the front door." He grins, "Maybe
if we follow the river we won't bump into anything and still get to
the swamp. Besides we also might get some cover by the sound the river
makes." Avon shrugs. "I'm going to take the last shift,"
his eyes gleam at Sandros, "just wake me up." After this
he lays himself down and tries to sleep.
JessJazza volunteers to take the first and last watches, and to sleep
in between. Moongloom will take whatever watch.
Andrew takes good care of his horse with a good rub down and some
food and water before preparing to rest. He will take first watch
with JessJazza and get up a little early so he can worship in the
morning before everyone is up.
"Following the river should be fine, good thinking Avon."
After a small meal of rations Andrew finds a good spot in the shadows
to spend his watch.
Sandros seems to be getting a bit antsy as night deepens, and he paces
back and forth a bit as the others speak of plans. Finally, he says,
"I'll stay watch all evening if you guys want. I don't think
I'm going to get any sleep anyway..." he shrugs, trying not to
appear TOO freaked out, managing a nervous grin. "And the river
works for me. Good as any other plan."
Looking around quickly, Sandros fingers the hilt of his sword, while
running a thumb along the dagger's pommel across from it. "Anyone
up for sparring before bedtime? I really could use the practice..."
He almost looks desperate in his plea, as if he's afraid of what will
happen if he doesn't burn off some of his unnatural energy.
He had refused to touch any of the hard tack the party had brought
along for food. When it was offered to him, he turned slightly green,
as if nauseated by the concept of eating the stuff. "No thanks..."
he muttered to any who offered.
After Andrew sees to the animals and has a bite to eat he'll take
Sandros up on the offer. "Which would you prefer," he says
motioning to his scimitar and then his spear, "both very different
types of sparring."
After Sandros chooses Andrew will stretch a bit and go through some
practice swipes with whichever weapon then after clearing a bit of
room he is ready.
"A bit more of a challenge, we'll try to keep this mostly silent
OK? Serves 2 puposes, very intense practice and we won't alert anyone
of our presence here."
JessJazza, on the other hand, doesn't wait to eat and thereby beats
Andrew to the punch. She draws 'Sabertooth' and faces Sandros. "You're
on!" She says confidently, a happy grin spreading across her
face.
Sandros is a bit amused by the enthusiasm that JJ (as he has begun
to call her) shows, and even more so when Andrew suggests he'll spar
as well. "Well, either you're all as jittery as I am, or the
lot of you hope an accidental swipe of a sword will remove this quest
from your agenda rather quickly." He winks.
“Well, JJ...guess it's you and me, first, then." He moves to
the spot that Andrew had set aside for sparring, and draws his sword
and dagger. "Hope ya don't mind me using two...that's where I
need my practice." He grins.
Settling down astride an animal trail running thru the woods, the
group gets ready for the what's left of the night.
After a few limbering stretches, JessJazza and Sandros begin to spar.
Sandros makes a few "light" attacks and quickly finds himself
on flat on his back with Sabertooth in his face. Sandros looks
a bit sheepish as he picks himself up, and gets serious about it thereafter.
The sparring among JessJazza, Sandros and eventually Andrew continues
for most of the watch. There is a lot of mock-fighting and not
much "watching" for intruders. By the time Ven is
called for the next watch, JessJazza and Andrew are tired and sweaty
in the moonlight, Sandros is still wide awake.
He looks up at the moon thru the gaps in the trees overhead, and shakes
his head. Ven settles down for his turn at the watch, and spends
most of the time listening to his friend not kid around.
Sandy's seriousness worries Ven more than anything else that could
have happened. In the darkest hours of the night, there are
only a few owls screaming in the distance and very little conversation
between the friends.
When Daggda and Tav take over, Sandros agrees to lie down for some
rest. "No matter how you feel now," Daggda says, "you're
going to need some rest tomorrow."
"Thanks Mom." Sandros needles back with a smile.
But he does lie down in his bedroll, staring at the sky with open
eyes. Half an hour later, Tav strolls by on his rounds, and
finds Sandros asleep.
At the end of the watch, in the false dawn of morning, Daggda and
Tav are about to wake Koprith, Avon & Moongloom for the last watch,
and Andrew who wanted to be up near dawn. Andrew wakes easily, a few
hours of rest in the forest, he decides, is worth a day of sleep in
the city. Koprith and Moongloom rub the sleep from their eyes
and are getting ready to take over as expected. Avon grumbles
his way to wakefulness.
Daggda and Tav come alert to sounds of a horse pounding thru the forest
down the trail from the east. The reddish-brown equine has black
mane and tail, and white around the eyes, and is as large as a draft
horse, but not as heavy in the body. He comes to a shuddering
stop as he sees the two adventurers standing near it with weapons
drawn. The horse is breathing heavily and is lathered around
the mouth and the leather straps of his tack.
Mounted on his back is a half-elven woman who looks exhausted.
She is of medium height and weight, well muscled; her dark hair is
twisted up braid. She wears a silver armband on her right arm, and
the metal bracer on her left forearm carries a half-dozen throwing
darts. Her studded leather armor is made up of several
pieces. There is a tight-fitting leather halter top with additional
shoulder and back pieces. Beneath the micro-mini skirt worn low on
her hips, she wears a pair of tight fitting leather shorts. She wears
a hip-length studded leather vest, providing additional protection
to her torso, and her lace-up boots extend over the knees. She wears
a belt, with a mace hanging from the right side and a sickle on the
other. A small silver and gold unicorn hangs from a chain around
her neck. Her middle is bare behind the open vest, and there’s
a silvery-blue crescent moon tattooed around her navel. Clamped
to the side of her saddle is a short bow and quiver. [OOC:
think "Xena"-type armor]
She dismounts quickly, but is unsteady on her feet. She leans
against the horse for support as a young silver wolf comes running
down the trail. Tavarak turns toward the animal with Dragon's
Claw ready, but the woman places her hand on the bard's arm.
"He's with me," she says. Tav looks at her again,
noticing for the first time that her left arm is streaked with congealed
blood, seemingly coming from the shoulder, where there is a large
purplish/green/yellow bruise centered around a long slice in her upper
arm which is still oozing blood slowly.
"Run for your life, or fight for your life," she pants.
"A large troll has been chasing me for the last 2 days.
It’s about.. uh.. 10 ft tall and a mottled green/brown. Very
hard to see in the woods. It surprised me just after
I caught my dinner. I thought I could take it, but the son-of-a-buck
heals itself. When I saw that, I ran for it. That was...
I dunno.. what day is this? At least 2 days ago. It just
won't go away. It can run almost as fast as Gala, " she
pats her mount affectionately, "and it never seems to get
tired." Andrew's attention is brought to the animals.
The wolf has a scabbed-over wound on his flank and the steed has an
almost-healed wound on his shoulder. He looks at the horse again.
It's a horse, but different. And it's been running for
2 days straight. The druid wonders if this could be one of the
Rojax, the steeds of the horseclans nomads of Helegorn that
could supposedly run at full speed for days on end.
"You got any water?" she looks at Daggda & Tav.
The dwarf hands over her wineskin. She takes a long drink
from the skin and then nickers to her mount. He whinneys back
and then tilts his head up slightly. Andrew recognizes
the equine language: she explained how he'd have to get the water,
and the steed asked if we were safe now. She had answered no.
The woman pours water into the Rojax' mouth in a long stream, and
then kneels. She cups one hand for the wolf and pours some water
into her hand and the canine laps it up eagerly. The wineskin
is nearly empty when she hands it back. "Thanks.
I don't know how long a lead I have...half an hour I hope. Last
I saw of it was yesterday sunup when I thought we had lost it...But
half an hour later there it was again. I'm too tired to think
straight. Should I keep running or do you people think
you can kill it? I'm Jessamyn Nyt, by the way."
Avon is already waking the others. He has no desire to go against
some hideous troll, but he could see no future in turning back and
walking into some army patrol either. Once the group is assembled,
the druid recounts the little he knows about trolls: "They
are unnatural and evil creations usually of some wizard or god.
They do heal themselves, but we can burn it. I think that's
permanent, I'm not really sure. It's been years..decades.. since
there's been a troll around here. There's probably several more
in the area.. somewhere. Let's hope they're not close."
"And they have a REALLY bad smell when you get up close,"
adds Jessamyn.
[OOC: Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce
Jessamyn Nyt (played by Jill), a half-elven Ranger/Cleric who
will be joining the survivors of the encounter with the troll.
Status: everyone is awake and healthy, fully spell-capable,
except for Jessamyn.
Jessamyn has used almost all her spells to heal Gala (the Rojax) and
herself (she has 1 first-level left), and she still has a serious
wound, so she will start out having lost 10 hp from her original total,
with some minus to her combat skills due to exhaustion.]
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