September 20th is slightly cooler and partly cloudy. A brisk breeze blows out of the northwest.
At McTavish's urging, you are back on the road an hour after dawn, heading north towards Brach Prol again. He has put on his old suit of plate mail.
At midmorning you see a cloud of dust on the road ahead of you. Squinting, you can make out a large number of wagons and pack animals...escorted by quite a few people. They are approaching you.
You move ahead cautiously...and can soon tell that it is a trade caravan. Thee are several dozen wagons laden with goods and gear, several score of pack animals likewise burdened, and another several score of ill-fed and obviously ill-treated kobolds and goblins, shackled together with chains, with large packs on their backs. Escorting them all are about 50 mercenary soldiers: men, half-orcs and orcs...mostly mounted. Riding on several wagons are a group of merchants: males and females, humans and half-orcs.
One soldier rides ahead of the main caravan and stops a short distance ahead of you. He is a large, ugly half-orc with a squashed nose.
"What news from the south?" he asks you gruffly.
When no one answers his question, the half-orc growls, rides up to Illyana and grabs her.
"WHAT NEWS FROM THE SOUTH, WENCH??" he says in her face, as he shakes her 'til her plate mail rattles.
"Err.. Umm.. News? Aside from that town getting burned down? Nothing that I recall recently. Oh yeah, a few other patrols have been rumored to have been seen." says Illyana between rattles.
Banqou says, "Your death orc dog!"
With that he proceeds to use his new magic sword to hit the orc in the back, his hands are full of Illyana and the back is the only place open to hit without hitting her...Banquo then says, "OK Raz, get the artillery at the ready I think we'll need it."
However, Banquo's sword is rather easily turned by the half-orc's armour.
"What th' hell are you tryin' to do?" the soldier snarls, throwing Illyana aside and off of her horse, sending her sprawling to the ground, and turning on Banquo with his broadsword.
With a look of disbelief, Raz quickly backs away from the range of combat and casts a fireball into the emassed soliders.
The fireball explodes...engulfing the caravan and turning it into an inferno.
The air is filled with cries and screams of people and animals being burned to death.
Out of the clouds of smoke and fire comes one man...badly burned.
"Good move, Raz!" says McTavish, and he's not being sarcastic.
Meanwhile, the half orc roars and attacks Banquo...easily connecting for 9 hit points of damage.
Ayazin simply bugs out his eyes, a bit overwhelmed. "Good Heavens!" he exclaims, then pulls out his book and begins flipping furiously through the pages.
Humphrey charges forth and heads for the caravan.
Banquo, sensing he is outclassed, nontheless attacks again aiming at any unarmored portion of the orc's legs.
This time the man connects, gashing the half-orc's leg open.
"Shit, here we go again." Illyana scrambles to her feet, draws her two handed sword and moves in to help Banquo. "What is it with you and these guys anyway?" she asks.
As he swings Banquo says, "Two sisters and a mother raped and murdered, 1 brother raped and murdered, 1 brother murdered and a father imprisoned. Nuff said?"
"I would guess so. You identified them really quick."
The half-orc swings his broadsword again...slicing Banquo's leathers apart and wounding him for 8 hit points.
Banquo gurgles blood and drops.
Humphrey seeing the one man who has survived the fire moves forward to intercept him.
Sharone shakes her head in disbelief " boy you guys have a hair-trigger "
She casts 'hold person ' on the halforc " we need someone to talk to about what this caravans business WAS "
Illyana attacks the fighter, and nicks him.
Sharone's spell goes off...and suddenly the half-orc stiffens.
Having cast the spell she will ride off to look for any other survivors.
Humphrey confronts the wounded man...who wears ring mail (gleaming) and carries a fancy shield.
His fancy duds offer no protection against Humphrey's shortsword...as he cuts him down without ado.
No one else appears to have survived the fireball attack on the caravan, Sharone discovers.
Kelar goes over and tends to Banquo.
Banquo regains consciousness after a few moments to taste his blood in his mouth. He sees the half-orc standing paralysed in mid-swing, and the other fighter from the caravan reduced to a bloody, charred corpse.
Sharone is checking out what is left of the caravan. All of the people, pack animals and slaves are dead; and most of the goods it was carrying have been destroyed as well.
Already the vultures are starting to circle.
Ayazin covers his eyes with his hands in disbelief. "Excuse me," he says to no one in particular, "but was all this REALLY NECESSARY? Did all of these creatures have to die in punishment for one man's insolence? Even Imrimil himself might have showed more mercy than this."
"I doubt that," snorts McTavish.
He jumps down off of his wagon and goes and starts rummaging through the charred debris.
Aldarin shakes his head, "Such needless, wholesale slaughter." Turning toward Banquo, he continues, "If ever an occasion arises similar to this, I am more than capable of rendering large groups of humanoids helpless without destroying the innocents. You have but to ask."
He begins moving around the dead to make sure that none are clinging to life.
Banquo grins and says, "I'm not the one who toasted them, or even suggested it. I said, "Raz, get your artillery ready.". I never said to fire it."
Rax frowns at Banquo's comment and replies, "Oh..so now you try to shift the blame huh? Well...I've no need to justify my actions..once you attacked the orc our course here was set."
Banquo laughs at Raz's sensitivity and says, "My aren't we a wonderful group of sensitive 1370's kinda guys. As I have said before, the only thing that is recognized in this land is how well you deal in death. All else is secondary, if we had wanted to have all our possessions stolen and most if not all of us killed we could have been diplomatic. After taking out the orc we could have negotiated from a much stronger position, that's how orcs operate. They couldn't care less if one of their number dies. He assaulted a member of our group, he was no longer protected by protocol and fair game. The rest of the caravan would have made noise but wwould then have negotiated. I do not object to you frying an orc caravan but they were far off and could have been dealt with easily before they were a threat. There was no imminent need to immolate them. You made that decision yourself with no input from the rest of the group. I agree a threat as opposed to an attack would have been more diplomatic on my part but a fight would have ensued nonetheless due to the personality of the orc. He would have been subdued and then we would negotiate. The protocol of this land does not follow the "civilized" rules, and if you expect it to you will suffer."
Raz looks tired after listening to Bankquo's long oration. "Well...what is done is done. I'll try to be a little less spontaneous in the future. For now let's just put some distance between us and this ahhh....misunderstanding."
You notice that Raz is looking very unhappy as the confronation comes to an end.
Giving Banquo a stern look he says, "I acted out of defense here Banquo...actions which would not have been necessary had you been able to keep yourself under control. I do not like killing innocents..even when it is necessary to. Please try to restrain your killing lust in the future...or at least save it for the evil creatures we encounter."
Ayazin says, "Defense? I don't see how lobbing a fireball at wagonloads of merchant families, or helpless slaves in chains, not to mention the poor mounts, can be acting in defense. And I don't think Banquo asked you to slaughter these innocents. Banquo lost his cool over one rude soldier, and you murder two hundred innocent beings; then you have the nerve to blame their deaths on him? No, Raz, the deaths of these people are on your hands, both the innocents and the guilty."
Ayazin huffs and gestures, trying to calm down. "Just remind me never to ask you people for news from the South."
Banquo looks at Ayazin and says, "I envy you your idealism but it has no place in Imrimil's reign. In order to receive mercy you must show it and any orc under arms in Imrimil's domain that shows mercy is summarily killed. This caravan was guarded by orc troops which means they got their booty by working for Imrimil. In other words by raping, torturing and killing humans, not necessarily in that order. If they were passing through after paying tribute they would have had a human guard. I do feel sorry for the slaves killed but I keep underestimating the radius of Raz's fireballs. The slaves were as good as dead if we did not kill the orcs and this is a much cleaner death. Let's get on with the questioning so we can get out of here."
Banquo works on patching up his mouth and says, "Ending the life of an orc is not killing, it is necessary vermin control. Normally I am fine but the sight of an orc assaulting a woman comrade was a little too much. I will endeaver to do my orc-killing in a less obvious manner in the future. Please ask your questions quickly as there will be someone/thing along fairly soon and we wish to be gone by then. The tell-tale signature of Raz will be linked to the orc-outpost we destroyed. Oh does anyone object to the termination of this slime after we are done?"
Raz nods, "I hate to say this, but I agree with Banquo. It would be in our best interests to kill this orc."
Ayazin pokes through the cinders glumly. "I suppose that it's not worth mentioning that not everyone here was an orc. Most were human." He kicks the shackled corpse of a kobold. "Then again, perhaps it is better to die a quick death than live a life of slavery." He brings out his book again, and raising a finger in the air, recites from it: "'He who chains his brother hides his head beneath the bushes, and is thus unable to see the stars. In this way, he is like the flamingo.'"
McTavish looks at the druid with something resembling respect in his eyes.
"That's deep," he says reverently.
Ayazin frowns at the page. "Or perhaps it says, 'flaming O.' I apologize for my judgmental tone. I am a newcomer to this land and to this group, and I am not accustomed to 'dealing in death.' I prefer to deal in life, of which death is only a part. All the same, I would like to put some distance between myself and this place."
Banquo says with a smile, "Ayazin I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, 'What the hell is that Book?'".
"We can strip and unhold mister half-orc here, but he wasn't exactly too nice to me. He definitely isn't going to be thrilled over what happened." says Illyana.
Illyana sighs. "Regardless, he was not very nice to me. Still, it would have been nice to find out what the caravan was before we destroyed it."
Humphrey pillages through the ashes checking to see in anyone is alive or if there is anything of interest. After doing so he returns to the group.
"This shield and ring mail are of good quality could be magical."
He puts them in the wagon. He takes out the map. "The X spot should be in this direction. I say let's head towards it."
With that he gets back on his horse.
Britan continues to look around to make sure nothing is coming.
Britan says " Raz and the rest are right we should not linger long here, If no one objects I would like the shield though.?"
Britan takes the large shield.
"I'll take the other one," says McTavish, hefting it.
Searching through the charred remains of the caravan, you find nothing of value.
McTavish tears open a burnt pack off of a dead mule and pulls out some scorched uniforms. Banquo recognises the livery of the army of Nolthen. The other items carried by the caravan are likewise low grade military supplies: tarps, cloaks, boots, mess kits, tin cutlery, packs and webbing. Most of the items are damaged to a lesser or greater extent...only the mess kits would appear to be of any use to you.
"Materiel bound for those armies that Imrimil is supposedly massing in the south," McTavish says, returning to where Illyana has stripped and bound your half-orc captive. "As long as the stuff ain't headin' east...
"Who wants to interrogate this fellow?" he asks, climbing back onto his wagon.
The vultures have landed and are settling down for a feed.
Ayazin replies to Banquo.
"Oh! Forgive me. This is the collected wisdom of Mielikki, the sum total of her teachings and enlightenment, transcribed verbatim by my father and bound into this book. When he died, he left it to me. It is my guide and companion. When my intellect fails me, I simply refer to its pages and the answer is given to me. Of course, the truth is often hard to interpret, but who am I to question?"
Sharone returns from checking the carnage. " Well done Raz not a single survivor..... and as for you Banquo a little more control would be appreciated. At this rate our group will be more WANTED than the vermin we are fighting.
" Now if you're ready lets tie this orc before he comes out of my hold spell. Maybe we can get some info out of his worthless hide before we leave.
" By the way, I could really do with some training with this flail, and the extra spells would come in handy. Perhaps someone knows of a nearby temple to Idun ? " she smiles around the group.
"There that should hold our guest until we are done with his Nasty Hide, As for training I think all of us needs some but for now lets just worry about getting out or continuing on until we get to camp then we can worry about training." says Britan.
For wont of anything else to do, you bundle the trussed up and naked half-orc onto McTavish's wagon next to the wounded Banquo, who will be out of action for a week.
With Humphrey leading, map in hand, you turn off the road and go trundling off into the scrublands, making for the northwest.
The map is straightforward to follow, and soon you find yourselves approaching a desolate outcropping of rock, surrounded by scruffy and unhealthy looking thorn bushes. Facing you is a dark hollow in the rocks...evidently a cave entrance...
It is approaching noontime.
Humphrey looks at the cave, "Well this cave must be the X referred to on the map. Shall we enter?"
Illyana nods.
As you enter the cave, you notice Raz whispering a spell...moments later he disappears before your eyes.
Ayazin will command his wolf to stay outside and guard the area. He will then cast Barkskin on himself before following the rest into the cave.
Kelar stays outside.
The cave is a narrow, winding tunnel which declines steeply into the earth. You move in single file. The floor is littered with bones.
After perhaps 50' the tunnel opens out into a small chamber...perhaps 30' across with the ceiling less than 10' high. The place is dark and damp...the floor dirt-covered.
Resting on the floor on the far side of the place are two ornate, closed coffins. They seem strangely out of place in such surroundings...
"If anyone has any protection spells, can they be used now?" Illyana looks at the coffins. "Who wants to open them?"
Farad casts protection from evil upon himself.
"I'll do the damned honours," mutters McTavish, lighting his sword and flipping open both coffins simultaneously.
Two vampires sit up, blinking.
"Who's that knocking at the door?" the first, a male says.
"This really sucks," says the other, a female.
"Try sucking this!" says the dwarf, as he swats at the male.
His sword easily strikes and opens a large, smoking wound in the creature.
Raz immediately sends a flurry of magic missles into both creatures.
His three spells explode the tranquility of the cave...killing one outright and badly injuring another.
Farad has had quite enough of vampires lately. He stays back and releases magic missiles at the already wounded male.
His spell injures the remaining female.
Once done he gets out his holy water.
Banquo says, "Have at thee fiend." And draws one of his many throwing knifes and takes a shot at the female vamp, believing that as with spiders the female is the more dangerous of the species.
He misses miserably.
Illyana tosses a few darts at the female. "Fire attacks, anyone?"
Illyana misses badly as well.
Ayazin brings out a small wand and zaps two magic missiles from it into the female vampire. The missiles ricochet off of the coffin.
Humphrey attacks the Female Vampire with his magical Sword, while fending off her attacks with the non-magical one. He will make a point to stare at the Torso of the vampire and not the eyes.
He misses her. She reaches out to bite him, but he sidesteps her deadly kiss.
Aldarin springs forward and attacks as well.
The elf buries his flame tongue into her belly...all but killing her.
Britan drops his mallet and stake and draws his Military Pick that he hopes will do some damage to these creatures of the Night.
" Back to Hell you Vile Blood sucking leeches." he says as he waits for a chance to attack.
"Aww," says McTavish, sounding disappointed as he regards the corpse of the male. "They're just pseudo-undead."
This revelation does not stop Humphrey from driving his glowing shortsword into the female's neck to the hilt...killing her.
Searching through their coffins you find a small treasure: six vials.
Wiping his hands together Raz says, "Well, that was relatively easy..let's see what else is in here."
Aldarin sneers at the bodies, "I hate undead with a passion."
He then allows the flames of the sword to burn away any undead ichor on it and sheaths it.
Britan walks over to the male vampire and put his weapon to the vampires throat just In case he is playing possum and then he searches the body for any thing then he does the same to the female vampire, then he will go over and says, "Is tasting the only way to figure out what they are? if so then hand me one and I will be a guinea pig."
Ayazin detects magic, examining the six vials, as well as the coffins, the corpses and their clothing, and pretty much anything else in the room.
Only the vials - or their contents - radiate magic.
You find no other treasure.
"Anyone have any clues as to what these things do?" asks Illyana.
"Taste them and see," says McTavish, as he finishes poking around.
Ayazin will taste one of the potions.
The liquid therein seems to nothing but pure, fresh water.
"Sweet water," says McTavish when the druid describes it. "A great cure for poison."
Britan tastes another potion...it is the same.
Checking them all out, you find that they are all sweet water potions.
"Let's take 'em and go," says McTavish.
You leave...noting that the vultures are back...sitting atop the rock outcropping waiting for you to depart.
By the time you return to the road - several miles north or where you met the caravan - it is midafternoon.
You continue along Interstate Seveny Five...north towards Brach Prol...or what is left of it. The afternoon's trek is uneventful, and that evening you camp several miles south of the turn off to Castle Rigarth and a quarter mile or so off of the road.
The night passes without incident...except for the passage of another southbound caravan along the road.