You mount up and ride on.
As the morning progresses the Great Western Road curves more and more towards the south. You are alone...but there are times when you feel as if you are being observed. The land around you is gently rolling scrub and grassland, still covered in almost 10" of old, mealy snow. Once the breadbasket of the Empire of Saltar, these lands have been neglected for centuries.
Late in the morning you find yourself approaching a solitary sod hut at the side of the road. It is as run down as the land it resides in. As you get closer a door in the side of it opens, and a half a dozen trolls come piling out.
They watch you expectantly.
You are about 100 yards from them.
Raz stops in his tracks and waits.
Oh dear, Beth thinks. This could get ugly. Beth discreetly casts a Shield spell upon herself and makes sure her wand is close to hand.
" Raz , as I recall we need to burn trolls to eliminate them....do you think you can oblige us?" Sharone looks to the mage expectantly.
"I can", says Raz quietly, "but perhaps there is no need. Illyana what do you think?"
"We wait until they attack us. Keep your guard up."
Stepping up beside Raz, Aldarin prepares to let fly a web spell with the first sign of conflict.
Tassier dismounts and says to his horse, "Take off till this is done."
His horse turns and gallops back down the road, stopping about 100 feet away.
He then proceeds to get a torch out of his backpack and light it. As he does so, he says, "I would suggest missile weapons...let's make them come to us."
Once the torch is lit, he draws his sword and waits.
Ayazin waits for the trolls to attack.
Afraid that his companions might attack without need, though, Raz steps foward a little bit and calls out to the trolls..."What is it you want? Will you let us pass?"
"Five gold from each o'ye t'pass!" replies a troll in a hissing voice.
Humphrey, says, "Yo trolls, do you have any problem with us passing by peacefully, paying no Toll of course."
"No troll - errrr - toll, no pass!" is the reply.
Tassier says, in a voice low enough that the trolls won't hear, "That isn't much gold, but we shouldn't let the travesties of nature continue to live. Who knows how many lives they have taken on this road already?"
"Do you have any idea how many lives we've taken out on this road?" asks Illyana.
Tassier says, "How many were women and children? Or the poor who couldn't pay you?"
Ayazin says, "Tassier, have you ever heard tell of the garrison of Vile Orchold? Or perhaps the city of Brach Pol? Well, from what I've seen and heard, you can erase those names from whatever maps you have. I am no friend to trolls, but I am glad that we can finally move along without laying everything in our path to waste. I'll gladly pay, and I suggest an extra tip if they'll say they never saw us pass this way."
Tassier frowns and says, "Whatever helps you sleep at night. I will follow the lead of the group, but I feel it is my duty to say that I do not agree with this cowardly tactic."
"Aye, cowardly perhaps...but perhaps prudent too," mutters McTavish. "Didn't any of you fools hear me when you returned from Sandas, last? The patrols is out...an' I'll bet they're lookin' for us. We've done too much torchin' in Nolthen already."
"Our job is to get McTavish home, not to engage everything in the countryside. We are nearing the war zone, and I do not want our position known well before then." says the girl.
Illyana calls out. "Deal!"
Tassier says, "I guess there isn't any difference to you then."
He shakes his head and motions for Moonrose. His horse comes galloping up.
He puts out his torch and gets onto his horse silently.
Then he adds, "Go up and pay them Illyana...let's see how well they keep a deal. My money says that they will attack you as soon as you are close enough. After all, were are they going to spend that money? I would also bet they are hungry here in the middle of nowhere."
He stops speaking for a moment and says, "I hate to give up the advantage...it will be a harder battle in hand to hand with them."
Once again he shakes his head, then he shrugs and moves Moonrose back to behind the wagon. He dismounts.
Aldarin speaks, "There are many evils in the world, some of the worst being ones that deem themselves good. If these creatures do not commit any evil act in our presence, then we are not obligated to dispatch them."
Farad shakes his head. "I'll not pay any troll ANY coin! Such evil must be destroyed. No compromises!"
With that he begins to cast a lightning bolt at the trolls.
"And the homicidal lunacy starts again!" Illyana hits Farad with her quarterstaff, doing no damage but ruining his spell. "I am in charge here, you do not attack without my agreement!"
"You are not in charge of me, Illyana. Not when you make deals with evil."
Farad glares at her.
"Damn you Farad!" exclaims Raz as he releases a fireball upon the money-hungry trolls.
"Just because they are evil is no exuse to blast them! You are no better than them in that case!" exclaims Illyana.
"Hey can you guys wait untill this little battle that Farad started is over. Then I will be more than happy to beat some sense into him. But for now Raz before the idiots on horse get there you want to fireball them." says Kelar.
Once again there is a brilliant flash...as Raz's fireball engulfs the trolls and their sod house.
The trolls run screaming out of the inferno at you, hell-bent on making you pay. Most of them are nearly burned to death...but already showing signs of recovering...
Out of the burning house come six more trolls, only lightly scorched.
"That was just plain stupid!", shouts Raz at Farad as he prepares to cast magic missles at the remaining trolls.
His first spell cuts down three of the trolls.
"What is stupid is trying to cut a deal with trolls!" Tassier steps from behind the wagon and blasts three magic missles into a single troll.
His spell kills another troll.
"Wow those trolls have been Razzed. Charge!" With that Humphrey charges forward with both swords swinging as his sings "No tolls for trolls, No toll for Trolls..."
Britan spurs his horse and charges after Humphrey.
"Jeez..." mutters McTavish, as he sits back and watches.
Humphrey and Britan meet the trolls midway. Humphrey easily chops one down with his glowing shortsword. Britan lowers his lance as he charges and skewers another to death.
Six more trolls are about to jump them.
"Idiots. They can't kill them without fire, and we can't burn the things with them in the way." says Illyana.
Ayazin motions his wolf to stay back, then draws his cloak of displacement about himself and casts Flame Blade before wading forward into melee with the trolls.
Beth fires off a magic missile spell, sending each of her three missiles into a different troll. She follows that with a second magic missile spell.
She bruises the six trolls slightly.
After that, she calls, "Somebody apply fire to the bodies!"
She then proceeds to attempt to zap the strongest remaining trolls with her wand of paralyzation.
The ray strikes a troll, and he freezes up solid.
Aldarin lets go with a Web spell, directed at as many as he can get.
Four of the trolls are snagged in the webbing, but two of them break free.
Tassier draws his sword and charges forward....turning invisible on the way.
Realizing that his friends are in the way, Raz holds off on a fireball spell. Raz instead turns his focus upon Farad momentarily. Satisfied that a fight isn't going to break out behind him, Raz then returns his attention on the trolls and cast lightning...forking it to hit two of the healthiest looking ones...
Making it look easy, the mage sends one tyne of the bolt to either side of Britan and Humphrey...cooking two trolls in the process.
Seeing the confusion breaking out among the party...Raz shouts, "Focus your efforts upon the Trolls and not each other...what done is done...the Trolls must be eliminated now."
"Burn the Trolls when they fall!" he shouts.
Humphrey and Britan fall on the last troll. The monster swings wildly as Humphrey buries his glowing shortsword to the hilt into its belly. It then claws him for 8 hit points of damage. Britan rams his lance into the monster as it bites Humphrey for 11 hit points. The fighter then slams his glowing dagger into it and the troll drops.
Suddenly, though, a fireball detonates right beside Raz...engulfing you all.
All of the horses and mules but for Tassier's are incinerated.
Tassier, Raz, Humphrey, Britan, Aldarin, McTavish, Kelar and Beth each take 13 hit points of damage.
Banquo, Ayazin, Sharone, Illyana and Farad each take 26 hit points of damage.
Banquo falls to the ground, unconscious and in flames.
A movement overhead catches your eye. Looking up, you see a black robed man hovering some 100' above you.
"Shit," says McTavish. "I'll bet it's the Patrol."
"Damn!" says Ayazin, "I knew we should have avoided trouble! Watch your backs, there's probably more than one around!"
Ayazin casts Cure Light on himself and looks around for any more opponents.
He is healed for 4 hit points.
Spying the remaining trolls, he heads after them.
Illyana lowers her voice, recovering from the blast. "Damn. I knew we would get in trouble for this sooner or later. McTavish, is there any way out other than to fight? Can we bribe them?"
"How the hell would I know? Banquo's the one to ask," McTavish replies, motioning to the burning body. "I suggest we either fight or run."
With that, he jumps off the burning wagon and takes his own advice, ducking into the bushes at the side of the road. Raz, still beating out his smouldering clothing, follows.
Aldarin yells, "Sharone, can you take care of Banquo, before there's nothing left?"
Sharone moves quickly to Banquo's body, throwing her cloak over the body to extinguish the flames. She casts a cure light wounds on him for 8 hit points of healing. Then she moves the body away from the centre of the battle area and into the shrubbery where McTavish and Raz just went.
Banquo groans and comes back to consciousness. However, he is badly burned and in shock. In other words, he is out of action for a week...again.
Aldarin turns and fires off 2 Magic Missle spells at the mage.
The spells are stopped cold some 5' away from the mage.
At the same time, Kelar fires off one magic missile spell at the mage and keeps an eye out for any others.
It too does not strike him.
"I don't think they will want a bribe now that we have already attacked. McTavish how big are the patrols usally and what is their complement?" the elf asks.
McTavish does not reply.
Farad, taking note, fades away.
Beth points her wand up at the man hovering over the group and attempts to paralyze him.
The mage dodges the ray just in time.
Suddenly Tassier appears in the air behind the mage, his glowing longsword flashing. Somehow, the magic user dodges the blade as well.
An instant later someone appears behind the half-elf, swinging a broadsword. The blade chops into the back of Tassier, doing 11 hit points of damage on him.
Revealed now is a man in black scale mail.
On the ground, the fireball burned away the webbing that held two trolls, and they immediately move to attack Britan and Humphrey. They are ready for them, though.
Dismounted now, Britan attacks with his longsword, missing badly. The troll fares no better.
Humphrey does better, though, and cuts down his troll with one swing.
His victory is a small one, though, as suddenly many of you on the ground are engulfed in a whirling cloud of sharp, cutting blades.
Illyana, Aldarin, Kelar and Beth each suffer 24 hit points of damage.
Kelar is sliced to ribbons and dies immediately.
Beth falls unconscious to the ground, under the blades, which are at waist level.
Overhead, some 50' distant from the mage, Tassier and the fighter, you now see a previously invisible priest, holding a scroll.
Illyana gets out of the way of the blades as quickly as possible by dropping to the ground. She crawls for the bushes, dragging the bleeding body of Beth along with her through the bloody mud.
Instead of engaging the trolls, Ayazin signals to his wolf to flee, then follows McTavish and Raz into the shrubbery.
Sharone completes her preparation of a Hold Person spell. Seeing that she has two targets she selects the magic user for the full spell and casts it.
"The magic user has a shield spell up and is immune to your magic missiles, fire them at the priest or the fighter attacking Tassier. " shouts Sharone to the others as she moves to another place amongst the bushes.
Her spell does not affect him either.
Raz says, "It is obvious that we are out classed here. We should yield now and conserve our strengths."
"Surrender?" says the voice of McTavish from a short distance away. "You fuckhead!"
Ayazin - now in the bushes - growls to Raz, "I'm not finished yet."
He casts Summon Insects and directs them to attack the man in black scale that just attacked Tassier.
Raz shakes his head and after muttering a few magical incantations...disappears.
Tassier, still battling, says, "Maybe we should divide this group into those who are adventurers and those that are cowards."
"Two people are down, one is dead, and I am severely hurt. There is a difference between courage and suicide, and I suggest you learn it." replies Illyana.
"Those of us that are fighting could use all the help we can get. Hiding in bushes doesn't help anyone but you...and it might not last since who knows how they will react when the dig you out of your burrows. Finally, don't suggest anything to me...you don't have the right. You gave it up."
"Had you listened to me from the start, we would not be in this mess! No, you had to go and attack the damn trolls when a simple amount of cash would have gotten us by without problems. Now the idiot who started the mess has run off to leave us behind. Besides which, the cleric and mage will kill me long before I even made it to them!"
"I didn't start the fight, not that it makes any difference. You know, if you are trying to avoid danger, you are in the wrong line of work!"
Tassier tries to magic missile the fighter twice while making a retreat, but the fighter comes after him and chops him again with his broadsword for 9 hit points before he can complete his spell.
The half elf gurgles, loses consciousness...and then falls 100' to the ground...being killed on impact.
Banquo suddenly winks out of sight.
Aldarin also dives for cover (hopefully near Raz) tossing a card out as he does so.
The card is too far away from them to read or be affected by it.
Suddenly Farad appears in the air behind the cleric. He blasts him twice to no effect, so he attacks with his longsword. That gets the man's attention, as he skewers him but good.
The cleric twists around in midair, pointing a wand at the elf and saying -
"Kablooie!"
Suddenly the cleric shrinks to a mere 6" in stature.
"Shit!" he says, as this was not quite the effect that he was hoping for.
Then there is the humming of angry insects in the air...as a cloud of bugs swarms the scale-clad fighter, rendering him helpless.
The magic user turns on Farad and unleashes a flurry of magic missiles on the elf.
Five missiles strike him for 17 hit points of damage.
Then the mage winks out of sight.
Meanwhile, Britan is still trying to deal with the last free troll. Dodging a clawed hand, the cavalier plunges his longsword into the monster...and it drops.
Illyana tries to bandage Beth and succeeds.
Exposed to observation from above, Britan makes for the bushes.
Humphrey follows him, not smiling.
Aldarin speaks between short breaths, whispering (possibly to Raz), "Does anyone have a potion of healing or something?" as he takes a card and places it on the ground for easy access, then from a one knee kneeling position, swings the bow from his shoulder and begins firing arrows at the fighter in scalemail, from the safety of the surrounding foliage.
Raz does not answer him.
Both of his arrows miss.
"Burn the trolls!" Illyana looks up at the combatants in the sky.
From 90' - 100' away it is very hard to tell their condition. The fighter is being swarmed by insects and going by his yelps, he is being bitten and stung.
The cleric is only 6" tall, now, so it is impossible for you to see how he is.
Farad is badly hurt.
The magic user is not to be seen.
"Damn, I don't think I can help," she says, but pulls her bow out anyway.
Aldarin says, "I could burn them if I could make it close enough to them, but in my current condition, one more strike could mean death. Illyana, you try to hit the priest, I'll take the fighter. I sure wish we knew where that mage went to..."
One of her arrows hits him, and you hear a small yelp.
Then he too disappears.
Ayazin comes back out of the bushes, shouting, "Somebody kill that fighter! The insects will keep him busy for a while, but they won't last forever. MacTavish, get that flaming sword out here and help me, Aldarin, you too."
Ayazin sets to applying the flame from his Flame Blade to the trolls.
"Keep an eye out for that magic user, and if you see him, hit him with a missile weapon, not a spell. And don't stand together in a group, spread out!"
Those are his last words as the mage appears again, this time pointing a wand at Ayazin. A fireball explodes beside the druid...vapourising the bodies of the trolls and inflicting 13 hit points of damage on him.
Ayazin sprawls out in the now dried muck, in flames and near death.
You hear noises as Banquo drags himself deeper into the underbrush, following the trail in the slushy snow that McTavish and Raz have made.
Britan, just out of the area of effect of the latest fireball, rushes back out onto the road and drags Ayazin into the bushes.
As he does so he is hit by five magic missiles for 15 hit points.
The magic user turns invisible again.
Farad suddenly winks out again.
Sharone mutters a quick prayer to her God, "Idun give me the strength to overcome this great evil "
Though he may be only half a foot tall, the cleric is not out of it yet, you discover, as suddenly a pillar of flames erupts from the underbrush where Britan had dragged Ayazin. Luckily for both of them they have moved deeper into the scrubby bushes and so were out of the area of effect, and hopefully invisible to the enemy above.
The bushes near where most of you are hiding is afire, though.
The cleric turns invisible.
Illyana whispers, "Damn! We're totally outclassed! Let's get out of these bushes. Spread out, or one attack will kill us all. No one fire - we don't need the attention drawn to us."
Sharone gets to her feet and runs towards where Britan and Ayazin were last seen. She readies herself to apply first-aid to her injured companion. She will use a CLW if it will help get Ayazin to his feet. Calling to Britan, "Where are you ? "
"Right here," he replies, as she tends to Ayazin.
Ayazin groans and comes to...to find that some kind soul has dragged him into the bushes.
Seeing that he is more or less conscious, Britan and Sharone help him to follow after Illyana. Humphrey brings up the rear.
Aldarin picks up his things and heads further into the bushes away from the fire, trying to follow Sharone.
The fire started by the cleric's flame strike continues to grow, which is good news for you as the smoke serves to cover your retreat. Adding to it is the fact that the magic user has started raining fireballs down on the area by the road...hoping for a lucky strike.
You make your escape...crawling and running through the low scrubby cover and away to the south. After awhile you come to a small, polluted-looking stream flowing through a bit of a gully, and there you find McTavish and Raz. You are about a half a mile from the scene of the battle, and Banquo and Ayazin can go no further.
Looking behind you, you see that a great black cloud has risen high into the atmosphere...dwarfing by far anything Raz has yet attempted.
Beth regains conscious to find herself lying in the slushy snow by a small, polluted stream in a little gully. It is afternoon, and rising up into the sky perhaps a half a mile distant is a large cloud of black smoke.
Tassier and Kelar are dead. Also present are Banquo (invisible and badly injured), Raz (invisible), Ayazin (badly injured), Sharone, Illyana, Humphrey, Britan, Aldarin and McTavish. All of you are hurt.
There is no sign of Farad.
The only equipment and supplies you have are what you were carrying on your persons.
"Well," says McTavish, as he watches the sky. "That was a learning experience. Now we know what happens when Imrimil twitches a whisker in our direction."
Beth looks around. "What happened?" she asks. "Did I die?"
"I don't think so," grunts McTavish. "The Patrol pasted us...that's what happened."
Beth looks around. "Did Dope make it? My horse, that is. I had a couple of my travelling spell books in her saddle bags. Are they gone? If they are, it's going to greatly limit my usefulness until the next time I'm in Sandas."
"All ye have is what was on you," says the dwarf. "All of the horses are dead, as far as I know."
"How about the saddle bags? The bodies? If they are near, I'd like to look to see if I can find those spell books." she says, then pauses.
"Could somebody remind me who Imrimil is?" Beth asks.
"He's the ruler of this forsaken land. A big-time evil Wizard."
Ayazin winces. "Ouch. Damn Patrol bastards, I knew I should have protected myself from fire first. Cowards, they are, attacking that way. Poor Kelar and Tassier, I feel like I've barely met them. I wish we could have recovered the bodies. Did Farad get away? Ooh, my head... thank you for saving me, my friends." Ayazin collapses, exhausted.
"Aye, they're bastards, an' they play for keeps," says McTavish. "Don't know what happened to that idiot Farad."
Sharone moves around the group checking and bandaging burns and wounds. " I have two more cure light wounds to cast, Aldarin requested one, does any one else feel they desperately need the other? Otherwise I intend to cast the other onto Ayazin."
She looks around the group.
"I expect I could use all kinds of healing," Beth says. "I feel like I can barely move."
"Then I think we should get some more distance between us and that patrol. They'll soon stop to search for survivors and realise we have escaped and if they're still mad they might come looking for us."
It does not look like Beth, Banquo and Ayazin can move any farther at the moment.
Raz suddenly becomes visible. He looks okay for the most part...with only minor burn marks and scratches about his face and upper arms. Looking tired and ruffled he takes a seat on the ground with his companions. "I agree with Sharone, but I think we owe it to our fallen friends to attempt to retrieve their bodies. If it is not safe to do so now...then perhaps we can return after we are healed."
Raz turns annd looks at McTavish. "Is there a safe town that we might be able to enter and get help nearby? We really need to find a temple...preferably one that will heal us cheaply."
"No, there isn't," says McTavish irritably. "Get it into your thick head! There is no safety for us for as long as we are in this land. Those people who just attacked us are agents of the government! Do you understand?"
"Calm down McTavish", replies Raz irritably, "Anger and insults will get us nowhere."
"They will get us somewhere if they make you listen to what me and Banquo have been trying to tell you since we entered Nolthen!" the dwarf snaps. "But, you're right. We have to look ahead."
Raz shakes his head and says, "Point taken."
Raz looks at each of the surviving members of the party in turn.
"It is obvious that we need help. We are in no shape to travel and we may be discovered if we stay here. Are any of you skilled at thievery or disguise? If so...might it be possible to gain access to a nearby town and buy some healing potions and perhaps a wagon and/or horse? I know that I am stating the obvious here, but we need to find a place to hole up while we recover...maybe even retreat from this region for awhile. How far back was that town we passed awhile ago? I know there wasn't much to it, but maybe we could hole up there."
"Quite a few days," McTavish replies. "On the far side of Frawnaford...and I ain't goin' through there again if I can help it."
"I was afraid of that," comments Raz.
Raz starts looking through his things. After a moment he then says, "We might also want to go over the resources that we have available to us now. I have supplies for a few days and will be in shape to memorize a new set of spells in the morning. The only thing I have left spell-wise right now is a few magic missle spells...which have very limited usefullness."
"You got yer books?"
"My main spellbook was packed on the horse, but I have both my traveling spell book and spell leaf on me now," replies Raz.
McTavish rummages through his stuff.
"I got me a cloak, a waterskin, 20ep, 11 heavy bolts, 9 vials of oil, a tinderbox, 50' of rope, just over 18 days worth of iron rations, three nice bits o' jewelry...and that's about it."
"And you people wondered why I specifically stated do not attack without my authorization." Illyana sighs. "What is done is done. Raz, do you have any teleport spells on you? We can't just sit around."
Raz shakes his head. Farad has those.
Humphrey looking sad, "Well I say we get the heck out of this land and then come back. This is a sad day indeed."
Banquo reappears and says, "Why are we still alive? We lost a fight with obviously deadly opponents, why are we still here? Imrimil does not leave enemies alive unless he has a reason, what does he want from us? McTavish, something is wrong here, any ideas?"
"I don't know. Maybe we're just lucky. Maybe they got what they wanted," he says. "I think we should move on as soon as we can. Give us a few hours to rest and then move on after nightfall."
The dwarf pauses in thought for a moment.
"I think they'll be quizzing Tassier an' Kelar about the make up of our group...who we are...our strengths an' weaknesses. That was just an exploratory strike...a reccon. Once they know exactly what they're up against, they'll be back.
"And I don't want to be here when they return."
"Wait a second here. They can speak with the dead?" asks Illyana.
"If they can't then they'll go to someone who can," says McTavish patiently. "They are the storm troopers of Imrimil. They have lots o'resources."
Banquo frowns and says, "I don't buy it. They wouldn't retreat and leave us alive without a reason. In any case we need to go after Tassier and Kelar, I won't leave them in enemy hands. If nobility has no hold on you, they know too much. They will find out who you are and come hunt you down no matter what. If you want to live McTavish we must go after our comrades, preferrably quickly."
Ayazin says, "I agree with Banquo -- but we are too injured to be going anywhere. By the time we are fit to travel and pursue Tassier and Kelar, the Patrol will have long extracted all the information they need. The powers of evil here are even now speaking with their corpses, I imagine, and if we see our former comrades again, they will most likely be undead. Sharone, if you see either of them, attempt to turn them at once."
"I have a wand of magic missile which would be better off in the hands of a magic-user, at least until I am on my feet again. Until then, I recommend natural cover -- a dense grove of trees, a cave, or perhaps even a gully -- anything that will give us some bit of cover from the air. And hopefully -- ow -- someplace nearby."
"They're dead, Banquo." McTavish says tiredly.
Banquo rolls his eyes, "Since when has a little thing like that stopped Imrimil's crowd from questioning someone? Also party loyalty demands we regain the bodies to try and restore them to life or at least bury them. If they had no plans for the bodies why would they take them?unless you want a zombie Kelar or an undead Tassier on our trails as well we better get them back."
"Aye," mutters McTavish, "Assuming they're still around. The Patrol, that is."
"And how do you propose to pursue them, Banquo? You yourself can barely stand, and Beth and I are no better off. We have to wagon to carry ourselves, like last time, and we have no horses at all. Even so, the Patrol is flying and we cannot."
"I agree we must retire to heal as we can but I know McTavish, he'll start rolling along and next thing we know we will be three counties and two river crossings away and deep in another mess."
"Are you insinuating that I'm the one who gets us into these messes..?" asks McTavish, in a deadly low voice.
Banquo ignores him. McTavish settles for a glare.
"We pursue as we are able after healing."
"Aye, and by then the trail will be a week old."
"And where do you suppose they are being taken? The destination is surely a secure spot, with much more firepower than the recon patrol packed. With the three of us out of action, two dead and Farad missing, we stand no chance."
"I never claimed to want a pitched battle, I didn't want this one. This is my land and I know that to get things done you must do them by stealth and trickery, force is signing your own death warrant. Stealth is also my territory and if I have to pursue alone I will, in fact it might be better to send off a small group while the rest of you proceed to a known spot. You will draw off attention."
McTavish nods.
"Party loyalty does demand that we regain the bodies, but life is long, and death is longer. There will be time to retrieve our comrades, but they will wait for now. We must look after the living before we pursue the dead, else we will all share the fate of our fallen comrades, and there will be no one left to rescue us. We were beaten back there, defeated, and we barely escaped with our lives. We must accept that and begin dealing with the consequences instead of risking what we have left in an attempt to undo what has been done."
"We didn't escape, we were let go. If he wanted us dead we would be, something very wrong is about to happen and if we wait any longer than we have to we will pay for centuries. Life is long and death is longer but the state in between can be an eternity, just ask Farad's brother."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not," says McTavish. "The Patrol is powerful, but they also like to know what they are up against. Our best bet is to get the hell out of this area before they come lookin' for us."
"I do not know Farad's brother, but I sense that you are right, Banquo. I agree that we should consider pursuing them, after we have healed. My concern, though, is that once we surrender that time -- and we have little choice -- we will find that they are so far away as to be unreachable, or so well protected that no amount of force or trickery will allow us to reach them."
"But as long as we have this time, I would like to know exactly what information they will be able to gain from the corpses. Tassier did not know much about us, but I gather that Kelar has been with this mission from the start. Did he know the route we will take, or is that only known to McTavish? And what else could he tell them about us?"
"He knows who I am," says McTavish.
"Of course. Perhaps Imrimil already knows who all of us are. But, more importantly, does he know exactly where you're going, and what path you will take to get there? If not, is that something Kelar could tell him?"
"Probably..." says McTavish thoughtfully. "Kelar was present when Humphrey and Illyana were quizzing me about our route, last week. So was Tassier, now that I think of it. So...we'll have to change our route. Since we've lost our horses and the damned wagon, we'll be on foot. I think we should leave the Road and head overland...making dead southeast. But first, Raz wants to return to the troll house and see if his spell books survived...and Banquo wants to try to retrieve the bodies. Can we do that invisibly?"
"I have another invisibility spell ready," replies Raz.
Humphrey pipes up, "Don't forget Tassier's horse was out of the area of all those fire balls, if we can get his horse along with the Tassier's spell books in the saddle bags then that will help."
"Please, check for my spell books too," Beth says. "There were two of them in the saddle bags of my horse."
Raz nods and says, "Yeap."
"As far as the bodies of our fallen and the other horses, they all maybe ashes." The last is said looking at the cloud that is rising in the sky.
Sharone checks her belt pouches and shoulder bag. "My first-aid kit is looking a little used. And I'm afraid making hot tea will be a little difficult for a while but unlike the magic users getting more spells isn't a problem. "
"By the way any cleric throwing blade barriers and flame strikes at us is more than capable of speaking with the dead bodies of our comrades. It's a skill I learnt during our visit to Sandas. So I guess by now they may have obtained some info. But speaking to dead doesn't mean they have to be co-operative, so the value of the info that they have obtained mightn't be great." she looks hopefully to the sky and Idun.
McTavish stands.
"Looks like Raz an' at least one other are headin' back to the troll house," he says, trying to sum up. "As Banquo says, now is the time for stealth...an' he's the only stealthy one, really, an' he's out of action. Who else should go with Raz, then?" he asks. "The rest of the group - the injured ones and at least a few bodyguards - should move on out of the immediate area."
He squints at the westering sun.
"We're almost dead south of the troll house. The Road runs southeast. I think the injured people should move east...back closer to the Road, but keep under cover. Raz and his party can then meet up with the others there. How does that sound?"
Britan nods.
"I can escort Banquo, Ayazin and Beth," he says. "I'm no good at sneaking around."
Aldarin says, "I should be able to track them if we return to the sight of the battle, unless they are able to carry the bodies away in flight."
Humphrey replies, "I am also no good at moving in silence, therefore I will stay with the wounded as well."
"I will need at least two of you to go with me if you expect to bring a significant amount of supplies back.", comments Raz.
Aldarin stands, "I will accompany Raz back to the battle sight to see what we can salvage. Sharone if you have any more spells, I would like to be healed a little more before doing so. If we have any potions in the group, now may be the time to make use of them also. If need be I can also memorize an invisibility spell, but it will take a little while."
Raz smiles and says, "Thanks Aldarin."
Sharone casts her second-last cure light wounds into Aldarin for 8 hit points.
Sharone looks at the wounded. "My spells had little effect on the patrol so my going with the group to search would seem to be of little value, whilst staying with the injured may be useful. Can someone search my horse and bring my saddle-bags ? Also is there someone in the group going back who would rather receive my last cure? Might just help keep you alive. "
"Also...." rumaging in her shoulder bag , she pulls out a scroll " this protection from magic scroll might be useful for one of you if the patrol spell-casters are still at the troll hut. " She offers it to any non-spell caster going back. "Sorry, Raz but it stops incoming and outgoing spells as well as magic items so its probably of little use to you.....lets hope you don't have to use it at all. "
Raz nods and says, 'That's fine Sharone...it will at least ensure that one of us makes it back in one piece."
Looking about at the others Raz asks, "Anyone else up for a daring and somewhat suicidal jaunt back into the battlefield?"
Humphrey on hearing the last bit, says, "If someone is under the protection of the scroll will they not be visible?"
Aldarin answers,, "It does not negate magic or its effects that have already been cast, but instead hinders the creation of anymore within the area."
Humphrey smiles, "Ok, then I'll remove my armour and you can cast invisibilty on me and I'll go with you and take the scroll."
Since Humphrey is also going to go, the cleric casts her last curative spell on him...for 6 hit points.
The three of them make their preparations, and depart for the troll house.
Sharone helps Beth to her feet and moves off towards the agreed meeting point. The remainder of the party follows.
Sharone helps the more badly wounded along. At the mention of the beheading of her companions she raises a prayer to Idun.
" Seems we have all been guilty of being a little heavy handed during the last months, but one thing is for sure fighting amongst ourselves will only further the evil that riddles this land. As a group we may be able to overcome the evil...individually despite the strength of our beliefs we are doomed."
She continues to pray quietly to Idun for strength to continue.
Reaching a hidden point near the road, you wait as Britan moves closer to the thoroughfare to watch for your companions.
After a bit he returns with Aldarin, Humnphrey, and, you assume, the invisible Raz. Also with them are Tassier's horse, Farad and a gnome.
Upon arriving back with the rest of the company, Raz turns himself visible once more... before you stands a lean and tall young human man wearing the tattered remains of a brownish red robe and wide-rimmed brown hat. His dark hair and beard are matted down and his blue eyes are strained with the weight of the recent conflict upon them. Raz looks at the newcomer and says, "Hello."
"Uh, hello," answers the gnome. "I'm Gamvik Skotternop." He looks uncomfortable with being surrounded by so many tall people in armor. He is dressed in leather armor and a brown cloak. Despite his long white braided beard and bushy white eyebrows, he looks like a fairly young gnome, though it is hard to judge.
"Who are all of you, and what are you doing in this desolate land?" he asks.
A very handsome elf responds. "Leaving, or we will be soon. Farad Golamarth is the name."
"We are a just a band of tired adventurers...right now were just struggling to survive", comments Raz sourly.
Raz then moves over and takes a seat on the snowy ground. He looks about at the shattered remains of the group and asks, "So what now? Has anyone found a place for us to hole up in yet?" Raz then turns his eye towards the gnome and smiles slightly, "Sorry for being so rude earlier. It's been a long day. We've just had a very bad encounter with some locals. Would you know of anywhere that we might go to stay for awhile while we all recover and decide what to do next?"
"No, afraid not," says Gamvik. "All I saw was that ruined city with the glow over it up north, and I don't want to go back that way."
Beth greets her returning companions. "Were you able to find the body of Dope, my horse? Were you able to find any spell books in her saddle bags?"
Humphrey takes out Beth's spell book: scorched but intact. He also tells you that they recovered Kelar's magical tent...and his nose as well. They also found Tassier's four spell books on his horse.
Raz shows everyone the sceptors he found and explains that most of the items on and about the bodies were taken...including his main spell book.
Aldarin tosses a sack full of coins onto the ground and helps lay the body of Tassier to the ground.
"We were lucky and retrieved some of our items and a little recompense, the rest had been looted." Looking to Farad, he adds, "It is good to see you still in the land of the living my friend, where did you go?"
Farad sighs. "I retreated to the astral so that I could have time to cast a detection of invisibility and then reappear on top of that mage. He would be hard pressed to cause much more trouble with an elf dragging him to the ground and slashing at him. But the combat was too quick, and I lost track of everyone when they released the fireballs. When it was over I saw no one left in the area and abandoned the attack to watch and observe. They looted what they found and beheaded the bodies, then teleported away. I'm assuming the cleric will be questioning the heads and learning what they know."
"In any case, it is now time to go. McTavish has decided to go on alone. He says he'll put in a good word for us with Ray Jay though, and thus satisfy our requirements for Yuri."
Farad hands Raz the teleport spell. "We'd best get back to Sandas. Ray Jay mentioned all sorts of other places that we might be needed. Also we'll need to spend some time obtaining spells and other things we lost."
Raz frowns deeply as his eyes fall upon Farad, but he says nothing.
Farad offers to heal those of the newcomers who are still wounded.
Beth greets the new gnome. "Kailar, is that you?" she says. "Wearing a new face if it is. If not, I'm Beth."
"McTavish here," says the dwarf. "And like I told the others, I'm continuing on my way alone. The rest of you can go home. If ye want to see the world, Mr. Gamvik, I think you should go with them. If you stick around here, most likely you'll end up dead...or worse."
A woozy-looking half-elf in leather armor says, "Greetings, Gamvik, I am Ayazin, son of Ayazin, and it is my goal in life to rid Nolthen of evil. Unfortunately, I will have to postpone that goal temporarily."
"Greetings Gamnik " a young. attractive woman steps towards the gnome. "My name is Sharone, priestess to Idun." She is looking decidely scuffy and her hair and clothing is singed. She wears a green surcoat over a suit of chain mail. " Please excuse my appearance things have been just a little hectic during the last hour. "
"Raz, were you able to save my saddle bags? As they contained little of value they my have been left. But we could all do with a cup of tea and my tea-pot was in the bags," she looks to him, a hopeful look on her face.
Humphrey shakes his head.
"Raz, MacTavish has just fired us all and released us from our debt to Yuri. He recommends that we use your teleport scrolls to travel to Sandas immediately, where we can rest up and hopefully put the bodies of Kelar and Tassier to rest. The Patrol is busy interrogating their heads, and when they return, we will surely be killed. I can't think of a safer place to be than Sandas right now. Gamvik, you might want to come along, for I fear that associating with this group can be dangerous -- it has brought me near death twice this season -- and I wouldn't want to be the only one here when the Patrol comes looking for us."
"Like I said," replies McTavish, as he hoists his pack, "I've decided that I stand a better chance of surviving to get home if I go on alone...minus you and your fireball-happy group. Farad's got a teleport scroll...he's gonna teleport you back to Sandas. Now...I'm on my way. I want to put a lot of miles between me and here...'cause the Patrol is going to be back."
With that, McTavish turns away and leaves you...heading east into the scrubland.
Banquo glares at the departing dwarf's back with an expression that says he would like to run a knife through it...then he passes out.
Raz nods and looks to the gnome. "You coming along with us?" he asks.
Gamvik looks around at the tattered group, the awful countryside, and the miserable scrub they are hiding in. Then he shrugs, grins, and says, "Well... sure, OK. But I get my share of whatever we find. And nodividing shares by height, either."
"We'll rest in the Drunken Dwarf in Sandas, assuming the teleport works for you. Now that everyone is here, lets go." says Farad.
Ayazin looks around before leaving. "Does anyone see my wolf friend around? I sent him away when the battle turned against us, but I have no idea where he went, or if he intends to return. If not, I suppose he'll be fine, he's a wolf after all, he'll thrive here."
Your wolf runs up...
Ayazin gives his wolf a hearty hug. "Wonderful. Let us be off, then."
Raz then takes the teleport scroll and uses it to transport everyone present to Sandas.....
Suddenly you are standing in a busy square in a large city. Gamvik has never seen the likes before. It is crowded with people - humans, mostly, but also a fair number of elves, dwarves and halflings, too - and animals: horses, oxen, goats, cows and pigs, for it is market day, and the square is filled with farmers and merchants hawking their wares.
For mid-November, Sandas is in the middle of a heat wave: the temperature is over 100F, it is humid, and a light drizzle falls out of a grey sky. After being in Nolthen only an instant ago - where it was cold, sunny, and there was snow on the ground - this comes as quite a shock to you.
Sharone takes her leave to visit the temple to Idun, agreeing to meet later with the group at the Drunken Dwarf.
The rest of you head across the square to the Inn of the Drunken Dwarf - an establishment that is popular with adventurers, Gamvik is told - and there you book rooms and settle the injured party members in while they make their recovery.
Meanwhile, you have some dead people to deal with.