[D&D 3.5, E6] The Colony at Gaunche [IC]

[senrath]

Thurstan

"I help patrol the border of the colony. And I was taken captive when I was out hunting. One of the brutes managed to sneak up on me and knock me out in one hit. They seem rather good at doing that. It's a pity I don't speak orcish, or I might've been able to learn why they wanted me, or what they were doing. As it is, I haven't the slightest clue." Thurstan said, shaking his head. "And hopefully I'll be more help if we do run into orcs on the way back."

[Lyndworm]

Orgnal

"Unfortunately, I was forced to use my more powerful magic to save your lives. I shan't be able to do it again for some time. I require rest and meditation to prepare my magics, so I'll be of little combat value until I get it. I can still sap a foe's coordination today, as well as a trick similar to your marbles, Thurstan Weaver." The goblin appears to have lost some of his earlier fire.

[Darwin]

Steelheart

Without a word Steelheart walks out on the platform. Before starting on his scouting patrol he withdraws a small flask of oil he applies to the dented area of his metal visage. Three seconds later the dent has disappeared and Steelheart starts moving from platform to platform without taking his eyes off the forest.

Spoiler

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Repair Light Damage - (1d8+1)[4]

[HempRope]

Ranier

"So are you with the army?" Ranier asks.

That reminds me... have to ask Orgnal if he found out anything about this magic the orcs were using.

[senrath]

Thurstan

"Not really. Which is probably why I've been stuck for three weeks." Thurstan said, shifting slightly as he did so.

[HempRope]

Ranier

"So what do you mean, you 'patrol the border of the colony?'"

[senrath]

Thurstan

Thurstan shrugged. "The army can't be everywhere. I just go where they're not. Sure, I don't get paid to do it, but it's pretty much all I can do to help the community."

[HempRope]

Ranier

Ranier pauses for a moment -- that's not an answer heard much in Vinganca proper.

"That's good of you," he says. "How'd you get so wrapped up in 'helping the community?'"

[senrath]

Thurstan

"My wife and son were killed a few years ago by bandits. I don't want anyone else to have to feel that pain." Thurstan said, his features hardening.

[HempRope]

Ranier

Ranier nods, not feeling any need to keep questioning the man.

"If you're heading back there, so are we very shortly, I hope. May as well travel in numbers," he says, before turning to Orgnal.

"Come outside with me for a moment," he says.

Once outside he motions Steelheart to go back in, and in a hushed voice asks the golbin, "Did you get any idea of what the 'strange magic' Velaz'quez mentioned might be? About the orc's bow blazing?"

[Darwin]

Steelheart nods. "No sights of interest to report. I will keep an eye of our newcomer," he says before he heads inside the tower.

As he steps inside the tower he puts a firm stare on Thurstan. "I'll keep an eye on you for now, just to make sure you are not up to something.".

[Lyndworm]

Orgnal

"No, sergeant, nothing like that. There's nothing in my knowledge that would behave that way... I can't even tell you what discipline of magic it was. It's almost as if the effect wasn't magical at all..." It's hard to tell if Orgnal seems more disturbed or dismayed by this information.

[HempRope]

Ranier

Ranier nods, almost as if he expected the wizard's empty answer.

"Oh well. We took the outpost. In the end.

"I'd be tempted to leave some men here to hold it if there were more of us and we were in better shape, but I don't think we can really manage that, especially with only three of us now. Velazquez can send different men back to hold it, it's not so far. I'll take a moment to look at the journal and then we'll get going."

Unless Orgnal adds anything else, Ranier goes back inside and sits down on one of the bunks.

"I just need to look something over and then we'll get going. Steelheart, can you carry the armor and bows back? We can trade them for supplies. Leave one of the bows for me, though."

He starts looking through the journal.

[Darwin]

Steelheart starts collecting the equipment from their fallen foes. He notices the dropped darkwood shield and picks it up. Shortly after he returns to the inside of the tower.

"I have collected all the undamaged equipment." He holds up the shield. "I shall replace my old shield with this if there are no objections."

[HempRope]

Ranier

"None at all," Ranier says two seconds later, his mind clearly on the journal in his hands. He looks over the first two pages and then skips to the end. A moment later, he begins skimming the whole thing, but finishes after less than ten minutes.

"Alright, let's get going," the Sergeant says, standing up. "I assume you're coming with us?" he asks Thurstan, his tone making it clear that he expects a 'yes.'

He picks up the bow Steelheart left as he moves toward the door.

I suppose it's too much to hope that the bows...

Once outside, he notches an arrow and nonchalantly looses it into the clearing below, watching for any effect but not anticipating much. He then begins a slow descent down the ladders, clearly still in pain.

"We'll have to figure out some way to recover from injuries," he says as he goes. "Those potions you found don't come cheap, especially here. Any suggestions?"

[senrath]

Thurstan

"Well, I don't have anything else to do, so sure." Thurstan said, as he followed the sergeant outside. "And I'm not sure where we could come up with healing. I can do some minor healing in combat, but that only works when I'm fighting actual enemies."

[HempRope]

Ranier

"You mean you suck life-energy from them?" Ranier asks, his voice clearly conveying alarm.

[senrath]

Thurstan

"As far as I understand it, it's a divine gift. The only thing I'm pretty sure is that it's not draining life energy. Because it definitely doesn't harm them, apart from the damage done by whatever weapon I'm wielding."

[HempRope]

Ranier

"Ok..." says Ranier.

Now that sounds like magic Velas'quez would be interested in.

"Other thoughts on how we can avoid buying potions?"

[Darwin]

Steelheart

"I have a proposal Sergeant. I recall from my memory that I once wielded magical wands and staves in battle. I am certain that I shall be able to reconstruct those powers. I estimate it will take me no more than a single night."

[esorscher]

Your return voyage through the woods is uneventful. As you get nearer to the colony, you see a few cows meandering through the wood, nourishing themselves on the brush. When you return, a man dressed in a bizarrely embroidered brocade vest is waiting for you at the gates. He flags you down. "Oi!" The guards sneer at you as you pass. "Wait a minute," he says. "What happened to the savage? No matter. Velas'qez told me to let him know the minute you arrived, he'll meet you at your tents." He says, then takes off running for the only building in the area. You head for the clearing with your tents.

Velas'qez enters the clearing soon after you do, the man in the brocade vest behind him. He turns first to Thurstan: "Good to see your alive, son." then to the rest of the party: "How did it go?

[Lyndworm]

Orgnal

"Not great." Orgnal thinks back to how he nearly died, and how, moments later, he saved everyone from the orcs. "On the bright side, we did find a journal one of the orcs had, and a large quantity of mundane items."

[HempRope]

Ranier

"We were successful, sir," Ranier begins, providing a rather different take on the mission than Orgnal. "We slayed two orcs on the march to the outpost, and the three orcs who were guarding it. We found this man, Thurstan Weaver, their prisoner. However, the scout, Tuskhunter, abandoned us as we engaged the orcs at the tower. We don't know where he is or why he left us."

[esorscher]

"Hmm..." Velas'qez says, rubbing his thick beard thoughtfully. "Let me see what you've got." He takes the items you found on the orcs, passing over their armor and most of the items, but taking pause at the gems. The diary he leafs through quickly, then hands to the vested man next to him. "We'll have that studied, and see what we can glean." He holds the gems up to the sun, inspecting it carefully, then hands them to the vested man as well. "Good work, men. If you'd like, the company would be happy to pay you for the rest of what you took off the orcs."

Judging from the way Velas'qez confiscated the gems and the journal, you guess that anything he gives you for the goods is more than he needs to.

"Did you run into any problems?"

[HempRope]

Should I not broach this yet?

Ranier

"Sir, what about Tuskhunter?" Ranier asks.

"And can I take another look at that journal?"

[esorscher]

Velas'qez shrugs. "Cost of doing business. Either we'll find him, or the orcs will, either way he won't last out there for long." He is clearly not alarmed. As for the journal, "I'll make sure you get a copy."

[HempRope]

Ranier

"So... Ranier says, "Are we treating him as an enemy?"

Are you going to send someone to hold the outpost?" he adds.

[esorscher]

Velas'qez smiles. "Upon your arrival, I dispatched a small unit to fortify the position. You've done well, men. Don't worry about what will happen to the tower next. As for Tuskhunter... if you see him, capture him. But don't waste your time searching for him. I have another assignment for you.

"As you know, we trade with the goblins regularly. Recently, the orcs have begun harassing our caravans, and these arcane units that you faced in the tower have been seen on the field with their regulars. Since you have the experience, I'd like you to escort our next caravan to it's destination. For secrecy, you won't meet up with the caravan until its a mile outside the fort. I'll send some supplies with Cruces in the morning," he says, gesturing with his thumb to the vested man at his side. "For now, rest. The caravan leaves just after dawn, so be ready."

With that, he turns to leave. If you have anything to ask of him, now is the time, else it will have to wait until morning.

[HempRope]

Ranier

"Sir! Ranier says as Velas'quez turns to go. "None of these men are in any state to fight, and truth told neither than I. Those orcs put up a good fight, 'specially since we ran into the extra pair. We either need a few days of rest or some attention from a healer. And if there's any way we can take something that will help heal us on the road..."

[esorscher]

Velas'qez turns around, smiling broadly. "Well, why didn't you say so? Cruces, what can we offer these soldiers?"

The vested man, Cruces, moves forward, touching his belt as he touches each of the "meatbags" in turn. Then, he gestures with his hands, casting a spell as he touches the Warforged. After he finishes, he turns to Ranier. "I'll bring you something with your supplies in the morning."

[2d8 for Ranier, Thurstan, and Orgnal, 1d8+3 for Steelheart. Roll your own.]