Scarred Lands -- Logs

ScarGM says, "when last we left the party, we'd just finished a major battle with 6 dire rats, 5 of whom were killed, one was found torn in half. All daggers/darts were recovered, Goran threw one spell that healed him"

Libby says, "Ready."

Goran looks around at the carnage, and for the first time, he doesn't appear to be grinning.

Libby says, "***editor:my last was not IC. please kill."

Flibsy stays close to Libby. "That last rat ... around the corner. What do you think happened to it?

Libby accepts Flibsy's small hand rather absently, and inspects Goran when he's not looking.

Goran searches around for his dropped mace, finds it and picks it up and starts cleaning it

Libby says, "If it was wounded, the other rats in the tunnels probably ate it. I wouldn't worry, Flibs."

Bret says, "That's possible."

Goran says, "Looks to me like something bigger got it. Large reptile, maybe

ScarGM says, "you notice that Goran doesn't seem anywhere nearly as crazed as he had appeared."

Libby says, "Shall we move along? We might want to be away from the carrion before something hungry smells it and comes looking for lunch."

Goran nods. "I wish to leave this place."

Bret says, "Right...We'd best be going."

ScarGM says, "You travel further along the dark, damp corridor. The stench of refuse and decay gets steadily worse as you move along. It is quite dark, and the flicker of the torch casts eery shadows along the irregular surface of the "walls". Now and then, you hear something scuffling in the shadows, perhaps darting into one of the miniscule side-tunnels dug into the wall by an unknown beast. The tunnel continues on more or less straight, sloping slightly downward at times, bringing the muck up above your ankles (or Flibsy's knees) at times. Side tunnels break off occasionally, heading to other sections of the city, but those are either gated off or marked on the map as not heading towards the exit."

Goran seems to be muttering something quietly, hands fidgeting.

Libby keeps rearguard, with an eye on their mapreader Flibsy.

Libby says, "Are we there yet?"

Flibsy moves slowly, holding on to Libby's hand and regularly checking the map.

Goran ceases muttering, but keeps fidgeting his hands.

ScarGM says, "For a little under an hour, though it seems like a year, you've been trudging th"

ScarGM says, "through the sewers. Finally, up ahead, there appears a spot of daylight flooding in from what you can only presume is the exit."

Goran comes to a stop and draws his heavy mace again.

He is grinning again. "I don't know you, and you don't know me, but we all know that place back there, and we're almost out of here free. Two guards posted outside the sewergate, they told me. Two guards would send us to the mines.

Bret listens to Goran's muttering with a little concern but does not put

much thought to deciphering it

Libby eyes Goran thoughtfully. "Are you saying you'd rather not go to the mines, friend cleric?"

Flibsy lets go of Libby's hands, and listens quietly, while looking around intently.

Goran grins and continues. "I want to go home. Or anywhere else where they can't get at me, where I can serve the Gods in peace...

Bret moves forward to try to listen for anything that might be up ahead.

Libby says, "So, friend cleric... the guards would seem to be inconvenient to that plan, no?"

Goran's grin turns a little sour. "These guards serve those who would have me defy my Gods' wills.

Libby stays put, talking quietly to Goran.

Libby says, "Ah. Well, would you like us to kill them as a group bonding exercise?"

After looking around carefully, Flibsy listens intently. Goran was prattling about guards, after all.

Libby says, "Or did you have a way to subdue them instead?"

Goran looks dark but grins. "I don't want to go back to that city. Those guards would make me.

ScarGM says, "If any of you wish to go back, you can. I didn't want to be there in the first place, and I'm not going back alive. "

ScarGM says, "erp, that was GOran"

ScarGM says, "*******"

Libby smiles thinly at Goran. "I'd rather not go back as undead either. I suppose we'll have to kill them. Shall we discuss this as a group and have a plan of attack?"

Bret says quietly to Flibsy, "I don't hear anything, do you?"

Flibsy shakes her head at Bret, and then motions back down to Libbry and Goran. Her wave seems to indicate "You first?"

Goran speaks even more quietly. "Well, I'd rather charge in quietly and rush them. Sammuel, you'd probably be the best partner for that. If you've got a better idea, though, I'm all ears.

Libby says, "Charge in... quietly? Ok, Goran. No, your idea sounds fine. You and Sammuel can rush in swinging, and the rest of us will come in behind you as backup."

Goran looks around. "Lets all move as quietly as we can towards the opening, then we rush them. Are we all ready?"

Sammuel nods grimly, getting his chain ready.

Libby cocks her head to listen for a moment.

Libby hears nothing. She nods to herself.

Bret says, "What makes you so sure there's someone up there?"

Goran grins. "There are others in the city from my homeland, and we all wish to escape.

Goran starts creeping towards the exit side-by-side with Sammuel

Flibsy flattens herself against the wall, waiting for everyone else to pass. This is one exit she has no intention of making ... other than as the last one out.

Libby moves as silently as she can toward the opening, feeling a little proud... she seems to be quiet indeed.

Libby waits for Goran and Sammuel to pass her; she'll be second-wave.

Goran peeks his head out and looks left, seeing one guard with his back to him. Sammuel does the same to the right, seeing another guard, also with his back to him.

Bret steps aside to allow Goran and Sammuel to go ahead.

Libby gestures at Bret, pointing at herself and then him; she nods approvingly when he waits.

Goran and Sammuel charge. everybody roll initiative

Bret nods to Libby.

ScarGM says, "Goran swings and connects solidly with one guard's helmet. The guard crumples."

Sammuel swings his chain which wraps around the other guard's swordarm, digging in deeply.

ScarGM says, "uhh, Libby, we're at you"

Libby chucks a dagger at the remaining guard. It bounces off his armor.

Bret fails in his attempt to skewer the guard. I'm better at distance attacks why do I always let myself get into melee range today?

Goran swings and misses the second guard. Sammuel, however, manages to wrench the guard into a position where he can wrap the remainder of his chain around the guards neck, digging in deeply there, as well. The guard twitches as his blood leaves him

Flibsy go ahead and spoof it

ScarGM says, "*****edit that"

Flibsy cowers back in the shadows beside the gate, waiting.

Libby steps in to recover her dagger, in the absence of hostile life.

ScarGM says, "The party, sans Flibsy, is in a clearing at the base of the hill atop which Cannas sits. Behind you is the large open grate out of which you came. In front of you are two guards, one with blood flowing out of his crumpled helmet, the other with blood flowing from his mangled arm and neck."

ScarGM says, "There is a path heading roughly ahead and to the right of the sewer exit"

ScarGM says, "There are trees all about this clearing"

Sammuel, without a word, starts searching the bodies of the two guards.

Libby searches the nearest guard's corpse for useful things.

Flibsy listens hard for combat. Since things sounds quiet, she creeps out through the gate, and watches carefully. She keeps her eyes on the path and the trees though, rather than the bodies. Her face is slightly green.

ScarGM says, "On the corpses of the guards are found: two suits of scale mail, human-sized, one ruined and one serviceable iron helm, two broadswords, one light crossbow, one quiver of bolts, two waterskins, 12 GP (8 on 1, 4 on other), and one rolled up parchment."

Bret,while their searching the bodies, will fall back and give Flibsy the all clear signal.

Flibsy nods at Bret, her eyes still averted from the corpses.

ScarGM says, "all the equipment and weapons, save the waterskins, bears the emblem of King Virduk..."

Bret noting the parchment. "Let's have a look at that, it might be their orders."

Flibsy peers at Bret. "Orders?

Libby picks up the bolts and stashes them in her backpack. "Anybody mind?"

ScarGM says, "The parchment has a picture of a man in a hood and cloak. Very little detail of the man is in the picture, but he is described as having a gray-green outfit, lurking in the woods alongside the roads nearby, and that he should be captured if possible, killed if necessary."

Libby takes the light crossbow as well.

Bret shrugs, "If you think you can use it." How many bolts in the quarrel?

Flibsy looks at the pile of loot. "Mind if I take the crossbow, Libby?

ScarGM says, "there are 20 bolts in the quiver"

Flibsy says, "I've always facied one of those."

Libby looks down at Flibsy. "Guard took mine when I entered the city... shall we flip a coin for this one, since we both want it?"

Goran GRINS. "AHH, I KNEW THIS WOULD BE FUN!" He wipes off his mace and hangs it at his belt.

Goran exclaims, "We are FREE, friends, but we are still close to danger. I think we should leave, quickly, before these two are missed.

Libby winces away from the overexultant cleric.

Flibsy shakes her head at Libby. "You take it. The guard never noticed I carried a sling.

Libby scoops up the cash, since no one else has.

Sammuel grabs the two waterskins, sniffs them, then hangs them from his pack.

Flibsy says, "Shall I carry the parchment, Bret? I can always use more scrap paper. And the back seems to be delightfully blank."

Libby says, "Grab anything you think we might need, guys.."

Sammuel then grabs the two broadswords and straps them to his pack.

Libby says, "If we don't take it now, we can't come back for it later."

Bret says, "I think we should find this fellow. No, Flibsy, I think I'll hang on to this for now."

Flibsy ohs, looking crestfallen. "Alright then, Bret.

Bret will grab the waterskins if noone else does.

Goran looks puzzled for a second. "But where do we go now? I want to go home...bah, first let us get away from here." and starts heading forward into the woods, not following the path

Libby nods to Flibsy, "Thanks. We'll find you a crossbow too. I'm very tired of having only a couple darts."

Libby shrugs and follows Goran. "I'd hate to lose the life of the party."

Flibsy runs after Libby, her backpack jouncing.

Bret smiles at Flibsy, "You'll have it later." Bret looks to see if it gives the man's name before pocketing the parchment.

Flibsy waves at Bret over her shoulder. "Promise?"

ScarGM says, "after walking briskly for twenty minutes or so, the party comes to a small stream flowing to the party's left. Goran halts up here, looks at the stream, and leans over to wash his hands and face in it."

Bret accepts a waterskin from Sammuel.

Flibsy looks around carefully, staying close to Libby.

Goran looks up with a grin. "Alright, friends. What do we do now with our freedom?"

Bret says, "We do our best to guarantee we stay that way."

Libby says, "Well, money and better equipment would be good. Any thoughts on the local opportunities for that?"

Goran grins at Bret. "Oh yes. Yes yes."

Flibsy looks innocent. "We could always try the dwarves. We already know they're not on Cannas's side.

Goran frowns a little. "I do not know too much of the surrounding area. You see, I was captured when Virduk's men invaded Durrover...again...

Bret says, "The dwarves here abouts might have decided it best to kill humans on sight. That would be unpleasant."

Bret says, "I think our best bet might be to find the highwayman from the parchment and question him."

Goran nods about the dwarves. "They have human allies, but we're heading the wrong direction for them to trust us.

Flibsy wows. "Nice map.

Libby says, "How do the dwarves and non-Cannas locals feel about nonhumans?"

Flibsy says, "Why would the locals mind non-humans, Libby?"

Goran looks at Libby. "Depends on where you go. Durrover, I know, will accept anyone willing to help them, though not all would admit to it. But we're on the wrong side of the kelder mountains to go there...

Libby says, "Cannas was very unfriendly to almost all nonhumans, Flibsy."

Libby says, "I'd like to know the atmosphere of the rest of the region."

Goran nods. "Cannas doesn't like non-humans, dwarves especially. Most of Virduk's lands are that way. I pity the halflings, the little-folk, especially. Other lands are more friendly, but we are not there. Which brings us back to my question. Where do we go?

Flibsy ohs, nodding at Libby. "I think I understand." Sitting down, Flibsy pulls out a fwe ribbons and begins weaving them into a knot, whilst humming under her breath. "Perhaps we could go west, to New Venir? Or does Virduk rule that too?"

Goran nods. "New Venir is controlled by Virduk. We would not be welcome there. Geleeda's Grove is closed to all, under penalty of death, and is also annexed by Virduk. Our only chance for evading Virduk is heading into the Blood Steppes, where even he dares not tread. Otherwise, it looks like heading to the Irontooth Pass and taking our chances getting through to safety is our only other option

Flibsy begins to hum under her breath ...

Bret says, "As I said before, I'd like to find the highway man they're looking for, I'm sure between us we could convince him to be talkative. He may know something about these lands we don't."

Goran shudders. "New Venir is...a cursed land, as well. Many many witches there of an evil disposition. I do not shun any God, not even Belsameth, but her followers I would rather not deal with."

Goran nods. "Good idea, Bret."

Libby nods, "If he's wanted by Virduk, I'm very curious too, Bret."

Sammuel asks, "How are we to find him, however, if Cannas

ScarGM says, "cannot?""

Libby says, "Why does Virduk fear the Blood Steppes, Goran?"

Libby says, "Perhaps we should camp and cook something that smells worth robbing, Sammuel."

Goran smiles ruefully. "The Blood Steppes are a harsh land, and in it only the Titanspawn dwell. Not even Calastia dares tread there yet."

Libby says, "After we've gone a ways, that is... I wouldn't want Cannas-men to show up for dinner too."

Bret says, "Let's get a little further away from Cannas first, Libby."

Libby says, "Um... could we survive the Steppes, Goran? Or do you think our only real choice lies with the mountains?"

Sammuel smiles toothfully at Libby. "Perhaps. But I say not here, not in eyeshot of Cannas's watchtowers and searchparties."

Flibsy says, "Do the Titanspawn like a good story?"

Goran says, "I do not know. Neither choice appeals much to me."

Goran chuckles. "Many stories can be told of the Titanspawn, little girl, but none of them good. Goblins and ogres and trolls and hags...things of nightmares."

Sammuel says, "Well, let us head further from here, perhaps following this stream for a ways. I think we should not stop until nightfall, and even then we should not make a large fire."

Flibsy ohs very quietly, and knots furiously, one eye alternatively tracking Libby and the countryside.

Bret says, "Alright, Sammuel's right, the farther we get from here before nightfall the better."

Libby nods and shoulders her pack. "Let's go. We can talk and move."

Flibsy follows in Libby's footsteps, humming a faint martial air, and occasionally muttering snatches of text ...

Bret says, "yeah, I think we'r eall following the stream."

Bret ackk******************Editor strike that line.

Libby pauses to walk /beside/ Flibsy, not in front.

Libby smiles kindly down at the shorter girl and pats her shoulder. "You'll find more stories now."

Flibsy smiles up at Libby. "More songs, too. I'm working on a new one. Just escaping makes me feel more alive.

ScarGM says, "The party gets the vague sense that its moving more or less northeast"

ScarGM says, "okay, about 45 minutes have passed, its late afternoon, party still heading NE along the stream?"

ScarGM says, "******editor"

ScarGM says, "The party trudges on for another hour. The sun is starting to head down towards the horizon. Nothing happens. The stream gurgles softly, the trees look either young and fresh or old and weather/firebeaten in this area."

ScarGM says, "Birds chirp occasionally, far off, but no squirrels or other wildlife are apparent. Of course, having a large lumbering human and half-orc in the part probably doesn't encourage critters to hang around to be seen."

Libby pauses to load her crossbow in case she spots dinner.

ScarGM says, "After another uneventful hour, it is starting to get dark. Sammuel suggests they look for a suitable spot to make camp soon."

Flibsy begins to sing snatches of a song, sotto voce.

ScarGM says, "Up ahead, it looks like the forest clears up slightly, and there might be a road ahead"

Flibsy breaks into song, before noticing the road up ahead. Heave the pick and cull the coal, Dead man's horse and dead man's foal .. Dead man's hoard and ... and ... and ... and dead man's horde? She falls silent, and slows down.

Bret says, "I'm going to go ahead and scout out the clearing and see how close we are to the road." Bret loads and cocks his crossbow."

Goran and Sammuel nod.

Libby nods.

Flibsy nods, silent now ... even if her lips are still moving, shaping words.

ScarGM says, "Bret notices nothing unusual, no one on the road or otherwise in the area"

Libby sits down and takes off her pack, resting til Bret returns. She keeps her crosbow cocked beside her.

Bret will go to the edge of the forest to look at the road.

Sammuel perks up a bit. "I think I hear something behind us."

Flibsy arms her sling, and turns around to look behind.

ScarGM says, "Bret sees nothing unusual, save for some bats flying above him, scooping insects out of the air.""

Libby picks up her crossbow and turns to look behind her.

Bret when finished will return to the party.

ScarGM says, "the road heads roughly East-West for 100yds in either direction before it bends just enough to prevent you from seeing further."

Sammuel says, "Well, maybe I was wrong,"

ScarGM says, "everyone make another spot check and another listen check. last chance :)"

ScarGM says, "*****edit"

Flibsy nods at Sammuel, and somewhat loudly announces that she is sure there's no one there. Then she hunkers down, her sling at the ready, and waits ...

ScarGM says, "Everyone except Flibsy sees a man moving towards the party up the stream. The man is wearing a long gray-green "

ScarGM says, "though mostly gray, cloak and hood. He is not wielding any weaponry you can see. "

Libby's eyes narrow, and she raises her crossbow. She jerks her head at her partymembers, hoping they'll be quiet and look at what she thinks she sees...

ScarGM says, "The man is about 100feet away and moving quite quietly"

Flibsy notices Libby jerk her head, and turns to look ...

Libby watches the man and waits for him to get closer.

ScarGM says, "The man looks up and sees everyone but Flibsy staring at him. He raises his right hand and says "Greetings! I know I've met one of you before, but the rest of you I've not seen.""

Flibsy stands up slowly, looking up at the man; her eyes started at his feet and are working their way upwards.

Flibsy says, "Greetings, sir.""

The man in the cloak looks more closely as he continues to walk slowly towards the party. He's 75 feet away now. "Ahh, I've met two of you before, I see. Forgive me for not recognizing you earlier. I can only assume that you're the ones who so effectively dispatched the two guards at the sewer exit?

Libby tilts her head. "Greetings. Why does Virduk want you dead or alive? It's personal curiosity, I've just left Cannas for good with no fond memories. And yes, we are."

The man in the cloak says, "I doubt Virduk himself wants anything to do with me, or knows of my actions, but his underlings undoubtedly suspect me of being a scout sent by Vesh. And they'd be correct."

Flibsy perks up. "Vesh?

Libby says, "Hm. Is Vesh a person or place?"

The man in the cloak smiles, and is now 50 feet away. "Yes. But first, let me introduce myself more formally, since even the two of you I met before do not know my name. I am Blain, son of Malin, a Vigil of Vesh. And I'm very glad you've made it out of Cannas alive." He bows slightly and pulls back his hood, revealing a fairly closely-shaven scalp with a couple minor tattoos near the hairline

Flibsy nods slowly. "A pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Flibsy. May I include you in our ballads?

Blain continues. "You may, Flibsy, though not by name please. I'm just doing my job. And you *he looks to Libby* I have not met before. Vesh is a large nation to the east. Some would call it one of the better lands there.

ScarGM says, "everyone notices that this man appears to be the man depicted and described on the parchment"

ScarGM says, "except Flibsy, that is ;>"

Blain continues. "So, what news have you of Cannas?"

Flibsy says, "Well, sir, I can tell you it's a nasty gloomy place. Curse the man who sent me there on a cruel whim. But ... I can always get back in now."

Libby grins. "Vesh sounds much friendlier than here, Blain. Cannas sent us out to spy on the dwarves at the Irontooth Mine... I suspect with ill intent."

Blain chuckles. "Well, I don't think that man will ask you to go back again. But I am curious as to what errand the boys in that city decided to send you all on."

Blain smiles at Libby. "Vesh is nice. What is your name, madame...elf?"

Flibsy sidles closer to Libby. "Well, as she said ... the dwarves are being ... difficult? An Officer Theed briefed us. Only he didn't say very much and he kept scowling every time I asked a question and he was really scary and so he didn't tell me much.

Bret nods to Libby, "More than likely their planning an incursion to claim those mines."

Blain's brow furrows for a moment. "Dwarves causing them trouble? Whereabouts?"

Flibsy peers at Bret. "Who's they? Cannas? Or the dwarves? We should warn the dwarves if Cannas is gonna invade. Don't you think so, ChilBlain?

Flibsy suddenly turns pale white. Oops

Bret ****************Editor...They're not their

Libby arches an eyebrow at Blain, then shrugs and pulls off her stocking cap. Her ears are indeed quite pointy, under the pale hair. "You can call me Belian."

Bret nods to Flibsy,"Cannas."

Flibsy Flibsy turns to Libby, her eyes fixated on those ears. "Do you think ... we should warn the dwarves?

Blain looks serious. "So Virduk is planning on cleaning out his mines near the Irontooth? And they thing they're having Dwarven problems there? Hah!" He grins and laughs. "Care to know a little secret?"

Flibsy says, "*********Editor: There should be only one Fibsy. Not two."

Flibsy leans forward. "Oh. Yes please."

Blain continues. "If what I've been briefed on is accurate, and unless I'm gravely mistaken, there are no dwarves in those mines, since those mines are largely empty anyway. There are, however, a large number of Goblins and other Titanspawn coming down from the Blood Steppes seeking to plunder the mines in that area...My guess would be Cannas's spies had never seen a dwarf before, or a Goblin, and got the two confused." He laughs.

Libby grins rather nastily.

Flibsy ohs, looking downcast. "So we can't save the dwarves." Flibsy brightens up again. "We could warn the Titanspawn. They can't be any worse than the Glove containing the Hand forming a Fist."

Libby smirks but doesn't comment.

Blain smiles at Flibsy. "I doubt the Goblins would appreciate your concern as much as you'd deserve, Flibsy."

Libby says, "Pity. I'd love the Fist to get stuck somewhere unpleasant for it."

Bret says, "Besides, the goblin's are probably more than prepared for such an event. They're probably looking forward to the exercise."

Flibsy ohs again, her toe digging into the ground. "We could tie a note around a brick and throw it at them, and then run away real fast? Maybe Sammuel could carry me cuz I, umm, don't run so fast?

Blain grins. "Well, perhaps, but I suspect that you're all too tired to do much more today, after defeating those guards and playing in the sewage. I would suggest you all wash in the stream and then make camp. I would appreciate and welcome the company, if you'll let me walk with you for a time."

Flibsy nods at Blain. "Will you teach me a new song?

Blain grins. "You're asking the wrong Veshian. My brother was a fair singer, though, in his youth. If you're ever in Vesh, look him up."

Flibsy looks around. "We could make camp around here. There's enough cover when we're lying down, but we'll have to keep the fire small. And you can tell me all about your brother, Blain, so I'll know where to find him and how to recognize him?

Flibsy says, "Do you think we should make camp here, Libby?"

Libby says, "Works for me, Flibsy."

Flibsy grins, and begins scurrying around collecting firewood.

Libby says, "I have no objections to adding Blain's company to ours... though I am curious how he knows two of us already, and which two."

Bret says to Libby, "Perhaps fish would be better?"

Libby shrugs to Bret, "Do you have a hook? Fish sounds fine to me..."

Bret says, "No...Don't you?" Bret grins.

Libby grins to Bret. "Goran has a grappling hook..."

Flibsy looks at Libby. "Wouldn't tickling the trout be easier?

Bret exchanges a look with Libby, then says to Flibsy, "Do you know how?"

Flibsy nods.

Libby says solemnly, "Maybe Blain has a feather we can borrow in his stuff."

Flibsy wanders over to the stream, and pulls her boots off before wading in. "You have to stand absolutely still, and not move ... and then slooooooowly slide your hands into the water ... and when the trout swims between them, you just bring your hands together and throw the trout onto the shore.

Flibsy looks at Sammuel. "Or he could just wade in and kick them out of the water ...

Bret says, "You'll win."

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Last modified: 2001-May-09 10:05:21

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