***Meanwhile***
"Not currently, Fenris. I will call for you should I need your services again. What do I owe you?" Alrik pulls out his coin pouch.
The man scratches his neck. "Eh, a gold is fine. Didn't have to go far."
Alrik drops two gold pieces into his hand. "Get your dogs a bone or something to chew on... call it their payment." He smiles and gives a curt nod. "Let's go, Tuck... we have to keep being proactive. You keep studying and practicing... I'll see if any of my Mage Guard contacts have any advice..."
@Chantry Williams
Tucker and you head back to your cabin, questions filling both your thoughts. The information you've found out is strange. Perhaps taking the dogs out further to where the apron was found could help? You haven't seen the others in a while either, and this seems to be spiraling into a bigger, messier problem than ever.
Back in the cabin you both try to focus as well as you can on reading. Tuck picks up a few words, knowing some of his basic common letters. But the warm salty air and the drowsy buzz of the afternoon make him sleepy, and thoughts of his friends keep his mind drifting.
By the late afternoon and early evening, he's got a few phrases under his belt. He can write his name, and understands the difference between the schools of magic.
He leans back in a chair, his brain fried. "Can't we just skip this stuff and go back out hunting? It feels so... weird to do this. Wouldn't practical experience be better?"
"Normally I'd agree with you... but we don't know what we're dealing with..." Alrik pulls out a piece of paper and begins writing, a quite elegant flow to his script for an orphan.
"-Nathbryn T'sossz, my apprentice and I have hit a dead end and could use some advice. His friends are missing, and we found one dead... murdered. His throat was cut. We found an apron nearby that we tracked back to the blacksmith, Ferrar. When we asked about it, he recognized it as his son's... someone who is also missing, disappearing before Tucker's friends. I wouldn't write if it weren't important... I'm afraid my age is playing against me, as I'm not too experienced with this sort of problem. Any advice you may have would be a godsend.
Best Regards, Alrik"
Speaking aloud as he writes so Tucker can read over his shoulder, he seals the letter with the usual blue wax before slamming his hand down onto it, a ball of electric energy whooshing the paper from the cabin in a small thunderclap.
"I'm grasping at straws here, Tuck... I'm thinking we need all the help we can get... maybe it's time we find Etny and Oredion... and Atriox, if he even cares enough to help us orphans..."
Tuck nods. "A-alright. I guess those guys are prolly over at the inn or something. Should we go look for them? The faster we get this figured out the better."
"Agreed. Gather your stuff and then some rations from the larder. I'll do the same and meet you out front in 15 minutes." He stands and grabs his staff, looking out the window as if looking for guidance.
The kid meets you outside at the time specified, a bag over his shoulder with all his gear. He seems antsy to get going, finally awake now that there's action again. You still haven't heard back from Nathbryn, but you know she'll reach out to you as soon as she can. You think....
The two of you head to the inn, night coming on. Tucker shivers with the thought of what is to come. "What are their names? Etny and Ore right? They seem really nice."
@Chantry Williams Tucker cuts off what he was saying as he sees Etny and Oredion in the distance, outside of the inn in the moonlight. He clears his throat and look away with a bit of a embarrassed scowl.
You can see your two comrades seem to be doing well despite the static of war in the air. Oredion does seem a bit under the weather.
Alrik nods at Etny and Oredion, approaching them with his gear and Tucker in tow. "We're heading back into the woods... could use some backup..."
He looks at Tucker and flips a gold coin at him. "Go see if you can find Fenris... him and his dogs would be a great help."
Tucker snatches the coin and heads off to the market, looking left and right as he goes.
Oredion grips his stomach and stands tall. He looks Alrik in the eyes and confidently speaks.
"Im not sure lads. We just decided to help Atriox anyway we could, but I guess finding a few missing people would be just as much help as helping set up fortifications. What do you think Et."
Oredion steps back his head spinning a bit, but does not let onto to his companions.
@Collin J. L. Robinson @Chantry Williams @Andrew Woodhouse A flash of light and purple smoke appears on a nearby crate. The air smells heavily of lavender and oleander... A reply from The Scourge.
"To the Tempest,
The murder of children is inexcusable, even for me. Enclosed is a pair of potions I've saved. They'll transfer a portion of life energy from one person to another, should the need arise. Very unstable magic, but perhaps you can find a use.
Kisses,
Nath"
"Well," says Etny, "I think we should all reunite with Atriox, and relay any news we have to him."
She begins somewhat shy, rubbing her upper arms.
"I know things didn't go...well last time we spoke to him, but I have tried to make up with him. I think we should at least try."
@Collin J. L. Robinson At that moment your eye flares up green. You hear footfalls. Familiar ones. Tucker races around the corner followed by a grizzled old soldier and one of his bloodhound dogs... And by a green kobold.
Tak skids to a stop, gasping to catch his breath. He looks between the three of you. You remember the last meeting between you was not.... Pleasant. Residual rage simmers in your gut.
Gulping in some air, Tak growls loudly through angry, frustrated tears. He keeps his head bowed low. "Need--Need your help!! P--Please!"
"You know you have it Tak. Now calm down and tell us what's wrong lad?"
The green flame disappears from Oredions eyes and he runs up to the kobold and places a hand on his shoulder. Concern fills his face. As much as they fought and found themselves at odds. He can't help but like this little kobold.
Alrik looks at Tak, noting the look in his eyes. "Take a breath, Flame-Scar... pause and catch your air before you continue. No sense not being able to speak from gasping."
@Collin J. L. Robinson Tak breathes heavily, staring the dwarf in the eyes. He shakily puts his claw on Ore's forearm. He glances at Alrik and nods gratefully.
"We--We just got the ourskirts of town today to dig. Scouts in--forest--they saw Atriox taken by orcs. He went get Oxious back. T-there was explosion on White Birch. War drums. We--I--"
He looks panicked at all of them, his eyes wide. "I think the war is here."
Alrik's eyes grow wide, looking from Tak to his apprentice. "I'm not going to tell you not to come... but I won't lie to you. This will be dangerous. I won't blame you if you want to stay here..."
He walks over to the boy. "Your friends... they might have been taken like Atriox... I will find them, no matter how long it takes..."
Oredion straightens up and looks towards the woods on the outside of town his eyes burst into a green flame. He feels his heart beat faster and faster. His arms grow tense and the hair on his neck stands straight. He does not know why, but he feels his ferocity grow immensely. He looks at Tak, eyes ablaze, and speaks.
"Lead on."
@Chantry Williams Tucker steels his resolve, shaking his head. "No. I will go with you. I have to try. Otherwise what point is there in me becoming--" his eyes narrow, thinking about the paths before him. He can't say it, but you know exactly what he means.
Fenris nods. He tightens his grip on his bloodhound's leash, the dog panting with nervous excitement.
@Collin J. L. Robinson Tak nods, glancing between you and Etny. His claws clench and unclench and he exhales, taking a moment to process this new attempt at trust. A very desperate attempt.
"Tak will lead. Don't have a mount, gave to Darr to rush to Stonebreak. Hope they make it in time."
The sound of wardrums continues far off into the distance. Peasants with carts, sacks, and bags of all kinds, are headed towards Dragonshore as you exit the city. As you draw near to the towns outer fortified parameter, you see guards with torches ushering crowds in. The town is preparing for battle.
A throng consisting of villagers and farmers presses its way through the mouth of the town's entrance betwixt the kobold trenches and wooden spikes.
(Tak rolls a 11 with disadvantage... not bad actually, considering he ran all the way here. XD Tucker got a 9.)
Tak runs ahead of your group leading the way. He weaves his way around underground tunnels, not wanting them to collapse from your approach. Tucker sticks right by Alrik, gripping his knife tightly in his hand. His breathing is strained but he remains resolute.
Oredion, you feel a surge of power flood your limbs. Despite how exhausted your muscles felt earlier, the wind on your face, the moonlight on your back, it all coalesces into a rush of energy. You are reinvigorated, and run beside your kobold friend.
@Andrew Woodhouse @Chantry Williams (Chant, athletics check for me if you get a moment! ♥ :3 I have plans for you good sir... haha.)
Etny, having sobered up quite a bit from this news you sling your bow higher up on your shoulder. You have no trouble keeping pace, watching Tak and Oredion ahead of you. For a dwarf he is definitely a sprinter.
(Feel free to post as well on her thoughts/what she says, if you'd like! I know she didn't get to yet, not to rush you or drag you along)
Etny runs after the others, keeping pace with them. She looks down at the Einhycacht Tak, her face an unreadable mask.
In what seems like another time--another life--she wouldn't have hesitated to shoot such a creature, but now...seeing these reptilians work in close tandem with humans and other races was, at the very least, puzzling to her, even to this day.
"Tak," she calls out after the Einhycacht, "did your prince receive something recently? Do you know?"
@Andrew Woodhouse He looks over his shoulder as he runs, giving Etny an equally unreadable look. "Tak not know. We save him, you find out then!" He continues to run, no incing of lie in his voice.
"Fair enough," she responds. She continues to run, coming upon the dwarf with graceful strides.
"Oredion," she says, concern in her voice, "do you think he got it? Do you think we'll have a chance to work together, and put old hurts behind us?"
(In an uncharacteristic fashion... Alrik got a nat20!)
Alrik easily keeps pace with everyone, small sparks of lightning running across his skin.
(Bwahahaha... no worries bud. @Chantry Williams You go next. Tak got a 2, 7 total. XD Tucker a 19, Fenris a nat 1........)
Oredion looks back over his shoulder at Etny his eyes burning fiercely. He has a lightly annoyed tone to his rough voice.
"I am not sure Et. Now is not the best time to be worrying about a letter. Let us save him then pass notes."
Oredion looks back forward. His mind making him feel angry. He can't shake the feeling of wanting to attack something, anything.
Tak stumbles trying to slow down. "CRAP!" Before he can stop, he steps on a mound of lose dirt. Although a kobold weight wouldn't normally set these off, the combined weight of him and Oredion in the lead collapse the tunnel.
You both fall a few feet down, landing on top of a few blue kobolds. There is a scrambling and scratching down in the pit in the ensuing chaos.
Tucker stumbles forward, leaping clear across the hole. Alrik, you skid to a halt before tumbling in. Etny, you leap across as well, following Tucker. A yelping cry and angry curse ring out as Fenris falls in, his dog baying as it tries to disentangle itself from a snapping kobold.
The old man curses again, holding his leg in pain. "Dammit I twisted my ankle!"
(Strength 19+5)
Oredion tries to straighten himself quickly pushing everyone out of the way. He picks up Tak and throws him out of the hole. He turns to Fenris and carefully picks him up and lifts him out of the hole carefully. He then slams his fingers into the dirt wall angirly and climbs out. He looks down at the kobolds one last time and quickly says.
"Sorry lads didn't mean to just drop in unannounced."
Etny, irritation growing in her at her enraged dwarven friend, helps Tak up onto his feet.
"I'm not as much concerned with the actual MISSIVE as I that he'll KILL US ALL on sight, elenn!"
"On your feet, Tak," she says, "we need to hurry...lead us on!"
Tak grumbles and brushes himself off, stumbling a little from exhaustion. "I know, let's hurry! I don't know how long we have!"
You all continue on, Fenris opting to stay behind. He sends his hound along with Alrik, the beast baying at your side. He knows he's of no use with a twisted ankle, at least not for something that requires such urgency.
(You all make one last Athletics check or Acrobatics check.... your choice. This is to determine your exhaustion/how fast you make it to the White Birch Forest.)
Alrik looks down at the dog, pulling and yanking on it's leash. He shakes his head and looks at Fenris. "On your feet, old man... you aren't giving up on me yet!"
Alrik reaches out and grabs his ankle, a jolt of electric power surging through his body as his strength is bolstered. (Advantage on strength checks until the spell ends)
@Chantry Williams (Niiiiiiiiiice)
Fenris jumps with the shock, surprised by mage as well as the strength that has flooded back into his leg. He uses your help to climb out of the hole, running with a slight limp by your side.
"Appreciate it, soldier! You're a rather handy companion on a mission like this!"
@Collin J. L. Robinson @Andrew Woodhouse You all successfully make your way to the forest--what took hours earlier with the elk carcass now takes perhaps less than an hour. You're not sure you've ever ran so fast in your lives.
Tak leads you in through trails made by the kobold scouts, and you see several as you pass through the groves of trees. Orcs begin pouring your way but with weapons away--they are being led by kobolds, which you find a strange turn of events.
"Some joined, surprising. Vele came with Atriox. Left note. Convinced some. Better odds for us." Tak pants, trying to save his breath but feeling he should explain before someone gets their head chopped off.
@Chantry Williams @Collin J. L. Robinson @Aubrey Burmaster @Andrew Woodhouse
You all finally arrive in a clearing, marked with three skulls in the middle. Kobolds stand nearby, holding some of Atriox's discarded armor. An orc holds his glaive, handing it to him as he returns. The rest of you stop, Fenris and Tucker both a little uneasy at the sight of all the potential enemies. They look to your group for guidance.
This is the first time in many... many days, that you are all back together. It's a strange feeling to say the least.
No comments:
Post a Comment