Magic Under the Sun

[adanedhel9]

((Hey! Shalar got a shave!))

((I'm not sure what you're referring to. You can't see any leg hair in stick-atar, I don't think I've ever noticed her having unusual amounts of facial hair, and her regular hair is as shiny as ever.

Either way, I think you need to watch your mouth!))

What direction is the potential camp in? (Relative to Razorvok's camp, that is.) I'll wait for Merlin to make his rounds and let him know what's up. Then I'm going in for a closer look.

[Tarinth]

Hooray, were off to face more baddies, in the wonderful world of magic under the sun. (If you read this in a singsong way, doesn't it remind you of we're off to see the wizard. Um anyway, it amused me for a second or two.)

Also, Tamboc, I think Quint is refering to the fact that our DM's avatar lost his beard. Besides, he obviously said it in a happy joking sort of way.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

The camp is to the south and a smidgen to the west. But not enough to even call it south-southwest. Just "south and a smidgen to the west."

[Entertainer13]

((Shalar used to be a guy... oh, never mind!))

[Tarinth]

Well, I guess we're off. I am going to initiate Inertial armor before we go and augment it for a total of 5 points and a +6 armor adjustment, making my new AC a spiffy 23When we get closer to the camp site I will initiate conceling amorpha for 2 points.

(Ok, why is Tamboc peeved? I'm confused as usual. I guess Shalahar's Avatar does look like its got a boob coming off the right side, but i know that's his sleeve.)

[Entertainer13]

(Ok, why is Tamboc peeved? I'm confused as usual. I guess Shalahar's Avatar does look like its got a boob coming off the right side, but i know that's his sleeve.)

((He... is a girl... now...))

[Tarinth]

So, this camp is pretty small, right? We could surround it from all sides if that's the case, preventing them from running. Of course, Quint's sweet ranged spells would kill them all anyway, but we're going for capture right?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

The answer to that depends on a coupla details.

1.) Tamboc saw it just before turning back. He'll have to get closer to make out the details. So, does he?

2.) Has Tamboc reported this camp to anyone yet?

[adanedhel9]

1.) Tamboc saw it just before turning back. He'll have to get closer to make out the details. So, does he?

2.) Has Tamboc reported this camp to anyone yet?

I'll wait for Merlin to make his rounds and let him know what's up. Then I'm going in for a closer look.

10 characters

[Shhalahr Windrider]

(( Gah! I got so caught up in the Out-of-character GB-week comments, that I missed that! Sorry. ))

It looks like a mostly abandoned camp. There's only one tent that's still standing. But what captures your attention is a fenced in area with a lot of people in it. There are also a few larger humanoids on the outside. Can't be sure without getting much closer, but it looks like they might be ogres.

Of course, as it's such a clear day, if you get any closer to confirm that suspicion, they will definitely see you, if they haven't already.

[ericoedge26]

To make sure they don't see me, I could hide and ready my arrows. That way they won't see me and if need be I can shoot my arrows.

[adanedhel9]

Okay, we'll turn before we get too close and head back towards camp. Hopefully Merlin's relayed the message, and we can make our plan of attack.

((Quintar's 16 Int says we should probably take steps to make sure the presumed slaves don't get caught in the fray. Tamboc, Squaw, and Azzy could put themselves between the slaves and the guards while the rest attack from the other direction.))

[Entertainer13]

Sounds like a plan, boys and girls. I say we just go for it, and position appropriately!

[Tarinth]

Sounds good to me.

So, let's move out. As soon as I see Tamboc dive into the camp, I'll attack the first orc, ogre, or other icky thingy I come across.

[ericoedge26]

I'm all up for it.

[Tarinth]

So, now that we've all weighed in DM, does everything go OK en route to the camp. Do we have a map or is this going to be a rinky dink fight(and by that I mean no offense since these are probably just left overs from the main force of Raservak)?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

When you reach the camp, you find the place in shambles. Tents, flags, carts and more are scattered about. Much of the debris has been burnt. Some ash piles still smolder, creating the smoke Tamboc saw while scouting. There's even a small mound of as-yet unburied orc corpses.

Yet amidst all this destruction, there remains a slave holding pen, miraculously untouched. There are many people inside. Guarding it are two ogres and a hellhound.

After a short fight, you defeat the guards. The prisoners cry out, "Thank you! Please free us!"

[ericoedge26]

Azzy can sets them free, but makes sure that some of the people stay for questioning.

[Entertainer13]

Well, I don't think they have anywhere to go, Az. Let's feed them what we can, get them back to the camp site, and get what we can from here. If any of the ogres still breath, we take them back, and then all can be taken back to the castle.

[Tarinth]

Meow? unburied orc corpses? These guys aren't the ones we killed, right? I ask one of the freed slaves what happened here(as Politely as an intimidating wemic possibly can and without any weapons in my hands).

[adanedhel9]

Tamboc will check for injuries amongst the humans (?), then help Quintar out with any conscious beasts. Squaw will head to the sky again, to do some more scouting.

[ericoedge26]

Azzy helps wherever needed, I suppose.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

You release the prisoners. Most are villagers from Serranton and Carascon. Among them are Wynn, proprietor of the Sleeping Dog inn in Serranton and his daughter Zelda.

"Quintar? Tamboc? Is that you?"

***

After letting them all out, Tamboc sees to the sick and wounded. Many are suffering from dehydration and have minor wounds.

As Tamboc does so, Wynn tells Quintar what happened:

"They were on us 'fore we knew what was happenin'. They came through tha forest. Even kept that dragon o' theirs flyin' low to take the drop on us. Not that it woulda mattered much anyway. It was a pretty dark night.

"Anyway, I was seeing to tha tavern. Summa the boys were restless, an' it was gettin' rowdy. But then there was a racket comin' from outside. I wen' out to see what was goin' on. Crazy ol' Kerith's place was already in flames. Next thing I know, there were orcs, ogres, fire-breathin' dogs, and a winged horror above. 'Twasn't pretty.

"I ran in, rallied the boys that could fight, 'n' set Zelda to gettin' everyone else to tha cellar. Grabbed myself my club from behind the bar. But I didn' last long. After clubbin' one o' them nasty pigs in the face, I felt a club behind my own head, an' everything went black. I woke up in this pen with pretty much the rest o' tha village.

"Late afternoon, they shackeled us up, packed up their camp, 'n' we moved on. They sacked Carascon the next night. Then they marched us to where we are now.

"Anyway, yesterday, they were resting when suddenly that dragon o' theirs rebelled. Don' know why. Tore up the place pretty bad. Even took a piece outta that big black guy that was leadin' the horde. But he—tha black guy—told the dragon somethin' an' the dragon flew off.

"After that, they packed up what they could, left those ogres and the dog you killed behind to watch us. Whatever they were up to musta been important, 'cause he got orcs moving about in the middle of the afternoon. I think he mighta been chasin' after tha dragon, but I can't be sure.

"So, that's what happened here. What're you doin' here?"

[Entertainer13]

We were on a mission for the Empire. We were sent to stop this rampage. We'll take you back with us - all of you. I can't believe Serranton is gone...

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Wynn responds, "Nay, lad. Just the buildings. Tha importan' part, tha people are still here." He suddenly frowns, "Well, mmm... most of 'em anyway."

[Tarinth]

Tarinth asks, This, um, black guy. Did he have pointy ears and a thin fisique?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Wynn gives Tarinth a puzzled look "No. He was bigger than tha ogres. Big 'n' beefy. Had tha flamin' red hair. He was tha leader."

[adanedhel9]

((Hmmm, wanna bet the rebelious dragon was wearing a familiar-looking circlet?))

We need to get them to city. We can't hunt evil-doers with them nearby.

[Tarinth]

Well, a black guy seems like it could have described a drow. Anyway, I agree with Tamboc. I bet that was the red dragon we already killed.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

(( If you want to take them to another town, nearest place is probably Villmore, but that's a small village that wouldn't be prepared for refugees. ))

After thinking a moment, Wynn volunteers, "Oh, yeah. I don' know if its important, but there were a coupla strange folks in cloaks in tha group, too. Certainly tweren't orcs. Din' get a good look at 'em, as they kept their distance, but I'm bettin' they were magic-users o' some sort. Didja know about them when you came?

"Oh, and exactly how're you plannin' to, uh 'stop this rampage' as ya said?"