| Logs |
2002 January 06
| Birthright |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Birthright Logs |
Chapter 4
Scouts Are Always Prepared
Tilara is a young woman both pretty and possessing that indefinable presence that transforms mere attractiveness into beauty. She has bright red-gold hair and laughing emerald eyes in a tanned face. Her graceful and athletic figure is partially hidden by the practical traveling clothes she wears, dark green tunic and brown leggings with black boots and a dark grey cloak. She carries a quarterstaff, and her tortoise-shell cat is usually either riding her shoulder or twining about her feet.
Brother Starguard is a tall man, strangely dressed in the brown work
clothes of the acolyte cleric. The strange part is because he seems
too old to be an student in the church. His thick, bushy, mustache and
beard, once black, is now salt and pepper, the darkness interspersed
with star-like flecks of white. His face is light and lively, blue
eyes sparkling, though with a few hard wrinkles, a few laugh lines. His
nose is a bit hawkish, giving him a bit of an intense look.
His body seems in decent shape, if not particularly strong, but most
of his form is hidden beneath the cloth of his clothes. He wears a
midnight blue robe, short, with easy release clips so that he doesn't
get caught by it in a fight. Depending on the situation, he may also
wear his studded leather armor, but always has his morning star at his
hip, in case of trouble. He walks more like a soldier than a
priest...but the wooden symbol of the two stars entwined hung on the
leather strap states otherwise.
Yuri is a young man of average height and wiry build, with sandy blonde hair and an easy, fluid demeanor. He has a ready smile and a glimmer in his eye. He is dressed in a leather jerkin, light wool trousers, soft boots, and a fine wool cloak, all in subdued grey tones. The hilt of a rapier is visible at his belt; otherwise, he seems rather lightly equipped.
When last we left our brave and well-chewed heroes, Yuri and Starguard were recovering from their wounds, while Andreth fetched wood and Tilara fussed. It is now three days since Jane hired you; only eleven remain.
Yuri says, "Since it's going to be evening before we're ready to move, perhaps we should try going to the farm near nightfall. I'd really like to do some investigation before we head back to town; it would be a shame to walk all this way for nothing."
Tilara nods. "That should work. The dogs are still pretty much out of the picture."
Starguard nods. "We can still go on. I think that everyone will be as right as rain in the morning. You've only got a few bruises left, it looks like. Mirra said the dogs were back, though, so they'll know we're there.
Andreth quietly brings in more firewood.
Tilara frets at the delay, but puts the time to good use by having Mirra scout out the farmstead. Finally, everyone is healed and ready to go.
Mirra returns after her scouting. Men. Barn. No cows. No pigs. No chickens. Whimpering dogs.
As night falls, the party members slowly creak to their feet, doing a few limber up exercises, before following Mirra to the forest's edge. There's plenty of music to keep them occupied, between the spring mating calls of the many birds. The farmhouse sits in a large somewhat rounded clearing. It consists of a large barn, and a taller shorter house, built on to form the short leg of an L. There are windows in the house, and lanterns are lit.
Yuri turns and murmurs to the others, "We should wait here a bit and see if anything moves outside.
Starguard holds back, worried. His spell casting is drained until he can see the Mother Star and ask her for blessings. "Agreed," he whispers. "I don't want to make any hasty moves.
Yuri looks around for a convenient hiding spot at the edge of the clearing.
Tilara nods and murmurs, "Mirra says there's men in the barn, too. Let's not get caught between them."
Yuri says, "How about we crawl into the bushes? Or would the low-hanging branches of the trees at the edge be better?"
Yuri drops to a crawl and slithers into the bushes at the edge of the clearing, then sits motionless and watches the barn.
Starguard holds back into the woods, staying well away, and as quiet as possible...
The barn sits eyelessly, watching nobody. From within come the faint sounds of metal striking metal, overlaid with the whimperings of badly wounded dogs. The lantern light in the farmhouse window never flickers.
Yuri motions for someone, Tilara or Starguard, to crawl closer.
The sounds continue for a good twenty minutes, before coming to a halt. In the silence you can hear an inside door, slamming shut. The lantern in the window dims for a moment, as a hand passes before it. A second door somewhere shuts.
Starguard looks over at Tilara, giving he a questioning look as he glances at Yuri's summons.
Tilara nods to Starguard and moves forward, as slowly and quietly as she can manage.
Yuri murmurs to Tilara. "It seems pretty quiet. Maybe they were doing weapons practice in the barn. You wanna ask Mirra to try sneaking closer/
Yuri says, "?"
Tilara nods. Mirra, love? One more time, please. Can you sneak into the barn?
Mirra rubs her nose against Tilara's hand, before disappearing into the bushes. A few moments later a dark shadowy form slides across the clearing, before being hidden by the barn's shadow. Some minutes later, Mirra butts Tilara's hand again. Doors closed.
Tilara murmurs to Yuri, "Interesting. The barn is in good enough shape not to have any gaps for her to get in. Thought this place was supposed to be abandoned?"
Yuri murmurs to Tilara, "Do we know if there's any lights showing in windows on the other side of the house?"
Yuri murmurs, "Abandoned doesn't always mean decrepit, it seems. Still, I can't imagine a bunch of bandits taking the time to patch all the holes in the walls."
Tilara nods. "Indeed." She turns to Mirra again for a moment. Lights in back?
Mirra looks up. One lantern, this side. Smell roasting dead cow.
Yuri murmurs, "Maybe we should try sneaking up from the other side. It doesn't look like they're being very organized about the perimeter here.
Tilara shakes her head. "No. Just the one lantern. Someone's cooking. I do hope that little weasel wasn't lying to us."
Yuri says, "Well... I think we've seen what we're gonna see from the outside. Let's get closer."
Yuri pulls his blackjack out of his sleeve, and leads the party in stalking around the edge of the clearing to the side without the lantern.
Yuri notices Starguard's hesitation. "We're gonna try to avoid any needless bloodshed, if that's what you're worried about."
Yuri says, "I know it would be safer to wait, but time's a-wastin'."
Yuri says, "And during the day they'll be able to see us."
Tilara nods. "Let's at least check if this is the right place. Andreth, what does Big Joe look like?"
Starguard shakes his head. "No, I'm just wondering what's the hurry? They're there, and not leaving yet, it appears. Wouldn't it be better to wait until we feel up to our best?"
Andreth smiles at Tilara. "Exactly the way his name suggests. He's tall, and very very muscular."
Tilara says, "Any distinguishing marks? That could be any tall farmer, y'know."
Yuri hmms, thinking about getting mauled by a dog. A mangy, measly cur...
Andreth shakes his head. "Huge muscles. You'll know, the moment you see him."
Starguard says, "Look, folks. Just cause three of the dogs found us doesn't mean there aren't others, or twenty men, or..."
Tilara shrugs. "Okay... we'll see what we can see. We're not going to start a fight tonight, Starguard. And Mirra's pretty sure there aren't any other dogs."
Yuri says, "Maybe if I go alone? I'm sure I can get away from anyone who tries to stop me."
Tilara considers. "All right. I'll keep watch. You want to take Mirra along with you?"
Starguard chuckles. "I'll trust a cat to know that, I guess. If you're set for this...well, if you're taking Tilara, we might as well all go."
Yuri says, "Sounds good to me. I'm sure she can keep up."
Yuri says, "Yes, looks like Mirra and Yuri."
Starguard says, "Ah, just you and Mirra then, that's a bit better."
Yuri sneaks off around the edge of the clearing on his own, hoping that he won't end up tripping over the cat.
At first Yuri moves easily through the bushes. As he escapes the lantern's light, he moves into the clearing. Now he can see the other side of the barn, as dark and dreary as the first, and the house is a gloomy shadow attached to the barn. The clearing, on this side, appears empty.
Yuri stalks across the clearing to the side of the barn, and then along the wall, looking for a door or other entrance.
As Yuri leaves, Starguard moves up as close to the edge as he dares, watching Yuri and Mirra slink through the shadows, ready to charge down if an alarm is sounded.
There are no obvious doors along the side of the barn. Only at the far end are the two double doors, now locked, and a smaller opening above, with some kind of joist. Possibly for hay? In the other direction along the wall the house is built right on to the barn, and there's a porch, covered in shadows.
Yuri listens at the door to see if he can hear anything inside. Like snoring.
Yuri checks the barn doors to see if he can open them quietly.
The barn doors are secured with an old, large - rusty you'd say from the flaky feel - padlock.
Yuri tugs on the lock to see if it's actually locked, and glances up at the hay mow to see what kind of climb it would be.
Mirra takes one look at Yuri's intent face and fades into the shadows.
Yuri decides against jumping and continues to sneak around the side of the house.
While Yuri is investigating the barn, Starguard hears a step behind him. And feels a knife held in his back.
Starguard silently swears, his hands raising slowly, and empty. "Good evening, sir or madam..." he says.
A second step, and Tilara, too, is caught by surprise and a knife in the back.
Tilara doesn't move. "Ah... yes?"
"Right. Stand up slowly, and no funny gestures, or she buys it," whispers a voice behind Tilara's back.
Andreth slowly rises to his feet, his hands fists at his side, eyes downcast.
Starguard says, "Any particular reason you're putting knives to the back of people looking down at a farm in the woods?"
"Hah. Ferg'll tell you that. Come along now." The knife digs deeper for a moment, pushing Starguard forward.
Starguard steps forward sedately, hands high, not willing to risk Tilara's life.
The knife braced in Tilara's back digs in a little deeper. "And now you, missy. Slow and steady, and let's walk towards the light. You there, walk on ahead," and a hand waves Andreth forward. Andreth, in turn starts walking slowly forwards.
Tilara shifts slightly forward, and gets up when the knife pressure relaxes slightly. She keeps her mouth shut, but warns her familiar to stay hidden. Keep out of the way for now, love. We'll see how this goes. Be ready.
Yuri With me
Mirra hides beside Yuri, butting his hand.
Yuri earscritchies Mirra. "I know, kitty. I see."
Yuri is considering. Two bandits vs. three people, could be vs. 1 if I can take one out...
Andreth keeps his eyes and ears open as he marches, biding his time, reflecting all the while that he didn't have this much patience just a few short years ago.
The arrow flies between Starguard and Andreth, surprising the guards who reflexively push forward on the daggers.
Tilara twitches at the arrow's flight between them, but breaks away from her captor in time to suffer only a bit of a scratch from his dagger as she pulls away. Mirra! What'd you let him do that for? She moves away, pulling a dagger out of her belt.
Starguard hears the thump of a nearby arrow, and yelps as he feels the sharp press of the dagger break skin. But he's already moving forward, spinning as he draws his mace.
Tilara glares as her former captor moves toward her. "I don't think I want to talk to Ferg." She drops the dagger then, her hands coming up and the guttural syllables of the spell direct the flames that emerge from her fingers.
The man shrieks in agony, as the fire licks over him, and drops to the ground, rolling as quickly as he can..
Starguard's mace swings out, ready to retaliate. "Surrender or die!"
Andreth hears the screams behind him, and rushes to Starguard's side, ready to deliver a deadly blow to his assailant, but stops short as Starguard demands the surrender of his foe. He decides to wait with Starguard for the thug to decide how lucky he feels.
Yuri runs up to his comrades, stopping about twenty feet away and covering the fight with his bow.
The bandit snarls at Starguard. "Die, scum!" Dropping his dagger and pulling out his shortsword, he slashes at Starguard.
As the bandit charges in, Andreth and Starguard strike as one, swinging hard at the incoming target...but he ducks the punch, and before Starguard's mace lands, pushes his sword through his gut, causing the priest eyes to widen in shock...and then he cries out, slumping to the ground.
Andreth lets out an incoherent yell as Starguard goes down, but unfortunately he lets his rage cloud his judgment, and the kick goes sailing past the thug's ear.
Yuri says, "I want to switch to my rapier and stick the second bandit."
Tilara takes aim at the burning thug, but misses as he thrashes around on the ground. She winces as Starguard goes down. "Oh, gods.. we've got to get out of here. Finish him off, already."
The bandit wastes not a moment's thought over Starguard's prone body, but immediately turns and slashes at Andreth, opening up a long gash along his ribs.
Yuri sees the second bandit stab Andreth, and growls. He drops his bow and pulls his rapier, then runs up to engage the bandit.
Tilara steps back as the bandit stops burning, and misses her hasty throw with the dagger. She pulls her third out, backpedaling.
Tilara's eyes widen as the bandit scrambles to his feet and charges her. She calls the power again, and the flames wash over her assailant a second time.
This time, he goes down, and doesn't get up.
Andreth finally remembers his training, lets out a piercing cry, and lets fly with a fist - this time connecting, and dealing the thug a staggering blow.
Mirra comes running up to Tilara, meowing anxiously. Moving light!
Yuri makes a fencer's lunge with his rapier and shoves it through the bandit's chest, skewering him thoroughly. "Bastard!"
Yuri yanks his rapier out and lets the bandit fall to the ground.
Tilara blinks, her eyes dazzled by her own fire spells, as Mirra calls her alarm. "Gentlemen, we'd best be gone. We've made a bit too much noise. Pick up Starguard, please, and let's move."
Yuri looks around quickly to see if they're about to be overrun.
Yuri whispers back, "We don't have much time...
Yuri whispers, "They're coming to investigate. We have only seconds."
Yuri says, "How is he?"
Starguard shudders as the blood is staunched, but he's weak and pale. Andreth watches anxiously as his breathing slows...then stops. For moments, there's nothing, no pulse, no movement... With a cry, Tilara pounds on Starguard's chest...and he breathes out a death's rattle...but somehow, his chest rises again, and in his wrist, ever so slight, blood continues to course.
Yuri murmurs, "There's three people coming from the farmhouse. We don't have long before they discover the bodies, maybe just a few minutes. Can we wrap up Starguard and get out of here? Is it safe to move him?"
Andreth breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods, yes. Let's go."
Yuri says, "Right. Let's get out of here. Maybe back to town. He needs more help than we can give."
Tilara sighs. "I don't know how safe it is, but it's not safe to stay, either. Back to our little cave for now, I think. I've got one last fireburst in me, and then I'm tapped out."
Andreth nods shortly, and carefully lifts Starguard up, joining in the march back to relative safety.
Yuri obscures the party's trail as best he can.
Tilara leads the way back to the caves, with a little help from Mirra.
The cave is still the same as it was when you left it, less than two hours ago. The firewood is still stacked, and no wolves have decided to den here. Andreth carefully lowers Starguard down to the same spot where he lay before, while Yuri manages to erase all trace of the party's passing.
Yuri enters the cave and sits staring, glumly, at Starguard.
Tilara sighs. "That was a bust. That's where they are, though, all right. It won't help Jane, though... the mayor won't send the militia on our word. We've got to get some of the stuff back. Can we carry him all the way back to town?"
Yuri says, "We can try tomorrow. If we can make it to the road we might be able to flag down a cart or something."
Yuri says, "I think that under the circumstances, maybe we should go after clues in the Middens. This farm is proving to be the death of us. Besides, some of the weapons may be hidden with Big Joe himself."
Tilara nods. "Might be worth a look. But I'm not sure it'll be any safer. Maybe we could get that little urchin to scout for us again?"
Yuri says, "I'll take first watch, I don't think I can sleep anyway. And the rest of you really need it."
The night passes uneventfully, barred only by the occasional whispered groan from Brother Starguard. A few times you hear voices, but always distant.
Yuri hmms...
Yuri says, "Shall we improvise a litter for Starguard?"
The morning dew evaporates slowly under the faltering rays of Brother Sun's chariot, as clouds impede his path across the heavens. But no rain. Not yet.
Tilara nods. "Safest way to do it, I think."
Yuri rummages around in his pack and finds some cord, and lashes together a litter out of some of the firewood.
After Starguard is gently placed on the rough litter, Andreth and Tilara lift him up, and set off down the path. Yuri and Mirra are both scouting ahead, and only once do they have to motion the party to a stop. "Scumbags," Yuri hears one man mutter to the other, "come to muscle in on our territory. We'll post more guards tonight." But the two men pass by, never noticing him as he crouches under a bush. A few minutes later the main road is reached.
Yuri ponders to himself, "Now what was THAT all about?"
Andreth quirks an eyebrow as Yuri relates the tale of the conversation he overheard, but says nothing.
The party sets off down the long road home. Yuri, still, is in the lead, but not by near as much. Now the hope is to snag a ride, rather than to avoid everyone. Alas, not a soul passes - excepting one old man on a donkey, and he gives the party one look before kicking the donkey into a gallop. Late afternoon places you back on the outskirts of town.
Yuri says, "I'll go get us a room at the inn. I don't really want to go home right now and we REALLY need a decent place to sleep."
Tilara nods. "Meet us at Father Pesci's, then."
Yuri says, "Mother's Oak, I think. it's right next to the temple anyway."
Yuri reconsiders... "Wait a minute, that's the wrong temple. Hmm...
Yuri says, "I'll get a room over at Old Ma Bethie's, and meet you at the temple. It's nothing special but at least the beds are clean."
Yuri splits off as the group enters the town, and Tilara and Andreth finish carrying the litter to Father Pesci's small temple. Several passersby give the trio some very nervous looks, considering the blood still staining their clothing and the obviously poor condition of Starguard.
Father Pesci tut-tuts, as the litter enters his little temple. Looking at the badly wounded Starguard, he glares at Andreth and Tilara. "Is this any way to treat ... hmmm, put him down over there. No, on the table. And let me see what ... oh hell." With that he places one hand on Starguard's stomach, tracing the wound. A blue light begins to glow.
Tilara nods. "We found the thieves. We didn't get away unscathed, I'm afraid, Father."
Father Pesci shushes Tilara. "Not yet, girl. See if this helps, first."
Starguard groans as the healing power floods through him, and stirs a little. "I'm getting too old for this," he mutters, his eyes fluttering open. "Where are we?"
Tilara stays shushed, looking to Father Pesci.
Father Pesci leans over Starguard. "Look at the ceiling, boy. Don't look at me; let's see now ... Eyes good. Turn your head? Yes, and the other way. And now, let me take this hammer and tap your knees ... Yes, excellent reflexes. Right. Now, miss, you were going to tell me how this young fool got himself ... ah, you're bleeding too?"
Tilara says, "Eh? Oh, that. No, that's old blood, just a scratch. Andreth got sliced up a bit worse than I did."
Starguard groans, and rolls over. "Right. I'm just going to lay here and whimper a little if you don't mind."
Father Pesci turns to look at Andreth. "Wounded, hmm? Well, boy, come here. I can't examine you across the room. And if you're going to whimper, Starguard, please do so quietly. Upsetting patients is rude."
Starguard winces. "Yes, sir..." He whimpers quietly.
Andreth nods, and walks over to Pesci, wordlessly showing the rather nasty gash he'd taken.
Tilara chuckles a little at that. "We found out where the thieves went, Father. We didn't have much luck sneaking in and out, though. We got two of them, and their dogs, but we had to leave a bit more quickly than we'd arrived." She sighs, serious again. "We nearly lost him. Will he be all right?"
Father Pesci shakes his head, tut-tutting sorrowfully. "You've been awfully careless with your ribs, lad. Let me see ... I'll have to stitch it up. Although ... well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Hop on the examining table, Andreth. Miss, can you help Starguard to the pallet over there?"
Tilara nods, and takes that as a yes to her question as she offers Starguard a shoulder. "C'mon, then. Let's give Andreth his turn."
Starguard staggers over, honestly in pretty good shape with that wound healed.
Father Pesci slowly traces the gash with his fingers. As a blue light shines into the wound, the edges slowly knit themselves back together. As he reaches the end, he taps down once, lightly, and dusts off his hands carefully. "Right, Andreth. Good as new. And remember, the Stars bless those who offer thanks."
Starguard nods. "I suspect I owe you several days of service, Father..."
Andreth swings his legs off the table and bows deeply. "Me too..." He grins lopsidely. "Though maybe not so many as Brother Starguard."
Father Pesci waves a finger at Brother Starguard. "Pfaugh. If the Stars don't heal the healers, who would? But belike, an offering, when next you have some time or money, would not harm at all, younglings. Now, miss, you were saying?"
Tilara says, "Heh. You're independent now, Starguard. We're supposed to support them financially." She digs into her pouch and pulls out some coins. "What's reasonable, Father?"
"A reasonable gift, miss? Well, for a healing such as Andreth's we usually ask a few silvers. Mayhaps a gold." Father Pesci smiles, waving around the small temple. "We're not Muirwen's followers, after all."
Yuri wanders in, looking around cautiously. "How is everyone?"
Tilara counts out five silvers. "More when we get finished and get paid, then. Thank you, Father."
Yuri looks visibly relieved that Starguard is conscious.
Father Pesci smiles, accepting the coins. "Bless you, miss. We'll put this money to good use; the herbs are low again. And now that the young swot doesn't do the shopping any more, prices have gone up."
Starguard groans. "I thought the Stars were going to take me...I saw them, and then they told me it wasn't time yet. And they called me a 'young swot'." He looks over at Pesci, with a bit of theatrical exasperation. "I blame you."
Tilara laughs. "A young swot, is it? I'll keep that in mind..."
Andreth hoots with laughter, leaning against the wall.
Tilara says, "After all, who am I, mere mortal that I am, to argue with the Stargods?"
Yuri stifles a chuckle. "Oh, Brother, you're only as young as you feel."
Yuri says, "By the way, I got us two rooms at the boarding house. I figured it might be nice to have somewhere to sleep tonight besides a cave."
Starguard groans. "I should stayed unconscious. I feel about as old as the Gods at the moment..." He sighs. "Let me at least get the herbs for you, Father. I've got connections, there."
Father Pesci, too, smothers a wide smile. "And glad I am that you rejoined us. So, how goes your first job? Found the miscreants yet?"
Yuri says, "Oh, yeah, we found them all right. We found them and then they did their best to carve us into dog biscuits."
Father Pesci looks perplexed. "Dog biscuits? But you don't us human remains for those ..."
Starguard says, "Tell the dogs that."
Yuri nods!
Starguard rubs his hand in memory.
Yuri holds up the shredded sleeve on his shirt. "If it weren't for Starguard, they would have chewed my arm to a bloody stump."
Starguard says, "And I suspect if it weren't for you lot, I'd be lying on the ground dead of a sword wound. Next time, hit them, _then_ ask for surrender."
Father Pesci looks fascinated.
Tilara snorts. "You're the one who asked for a surrender, Starguard. Don't blame me, I turned mine into bandit flambe."
Starguard nods. "Just making a note to myself."
Father Pesci leans up against the table. "Was that before or after he actually did anything to you, Miss?"
Yuri says, "That guy had absolutely no manners, or sense. He was outnumbered. If he'd surrendered we wouldn't have had to fight. His careless disregard for the odds shows that we're dealing with rank amateurs, and that makes them more dangerous."
Tilara says, "That was after he'd stuck a knife in my back, actually..."
Andreth says, "Maybe he thought he'd be okay till more of 'em showed up?"
Yuri says, "In that case, he could have surrendered and more of them would have shown up in less than a minute. There were at least three more in that farmhouse."
Yuri sighs. "Anyway, what are we going to do next? We're no closer to recovering Jane's stolen arms. All we've proven is that some shady characters are out at that farm.
Tilara nods. "And some in the barn. Ah, well. What d'you think they meant with talking about someone muscling in on their territory?"
Andreth says, "Us?"
Tilara says, "Hmmmm... maybe. Or is there someone already trying it and we got mistaken for some of them? We've got that set of arrows and the greatclub with Jane's mark on 'em, at least. Let's take 'em by her place and see if they're part of what got stolen."
Yuri nods. "That's a good idea."
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