Ashes of Aequaria IC

[PersonMan]

Beigette doesn't move for a few moments. Then she stands up slowly, returning her crossbow to her side and going to collect her bolts. Normally she wouldn't bother, but...they were from Sigil. They had become priceless. After she collects as many as she can find and returns to the crowd of still living in the now freshly strengthened field of corpses, Takolan speaks to her. Looking up, Beigette is silent for a moment, her gaze somewhat unfocused before she looks him in the eye.

"She...she's ok, I think. I-I, unless you 'T-Terials keep singing when you're asleep," her voice is trembling and as Beigette finishes, she begins to laugh. It's humorless, a laugh born of stress and emotion after the battle.

[Azoth]

Ursuul chuckles as he sees the Corporal, "Can't let you an' yours have all the fun na can I? Ya can save the rounds of drink as long as ya don't mind me taking the spoils of ma kills. You civilized folk frown on it I hear."

With that Ursuul drops to a knee and starts searching the last man he killed for anything for taking. Going far enough to strip the corpse to leave no chance of missing something. If no one stops him, he will do this for each man he killed but not those killed by others. He has no right to their spoils.

[Starbin]

Thumble finds himself a bit overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events. The situation had gone from a strange meeting in the middle of the woods, to an ambush-style attack, to the sudden arrival of the local militia. With a short whistle and clap, he called Slobber to his side, quieting the dog as the big folk talked.

Keeping to himself, he moved to the hurt woman and Tali, trying to lend what little aid he might be able to offer. He had a couple more goodberries for those in need, so hopefully they would suffice for now.

Spoiler

Show

Going to tend to Lena and any others that appear to be hurt. Because he still doesn't know what's going on, Thumble is going to listen intently for the details behind this battle, as well as taking care of both friends and foes ...

[Marlowe]

She don't wan' the others t' know her name? I'll no' ruin tha' for her. At least no' yet. instead she says; "Oh, I did well? I ha' to be tipped off by another, made m' stand in the middle of a clearing, and spent the fight on my back. It's like bein' sixteen all over again. I called up the escort t' help with wit' the wounded. In which category I now ha' t' include mysel'. It's enough t' put you off irony. But thank you all the same."

She hauls herself to her full height against the cart. "Yea, corporal. I'm alive. An' I need a better bow. An' we all need t' get movin' before the clouds burst. Those o' ye I've haven't met yet; I apologise f' my urgency, bu' I've a mission to get whoever can help wit' what's goin' on here back t' town an' I mean t' do it. So let's ha' everyone look sharp an' get themselves movin'" She give the dead greycloak a look. "Well done everyone. He would probably ha' been a useless excuse f' information anyway"

[Wordplay]

Takolan flashes Beigette a brief smile, before walking over to attend to Lena.

He nods as Lena speaks, then leans in to speak quietly to her.

For Lena, or accessible on a DC 15 Listen check.

Spoiler

Show

'If we ride we're going to have to leave some people behind. I want to get you any survivors from the battle back to town as quickly as possible. I think that they may be more enemies in the woods'.

'I suggest we take the horses from the mounted infantry and have them walk back to the customs post - but they aren't going to like it'.

'There's something else - that big barbarian there - he told the soldiers that giants stole his mules. It looks like the report from that merchant was true. I'd like to go with him to investigate it'.

Corporal Sturbish replies to Ursuul. 'No skin off my nose. Afta all, it's not like they're gonna need it. If ya employer leaves ya wit'out pay at the end o' a battle what else is a body ta do?' She strides off in the direction of her charges.

The garrison soldiers look shell-shocked. The woman appears to be on the verge of tears, and the red-haired boy doesn't look much better.

For Beigette.

Spoiler

Show

You manage to recover 2 crossbow quarrels. Two others are lodged in men that the large barbarian seems intent on stripping of their goods.

Ursuul rifles through the bodies of the men that he killed.

Spoiler

Show

Assuming that you're taking 10 on a search check.

On the warrior you find:-
A black fur surcoat
A chainmail coat
A knife
A battleaxe


On the three archers you find:-
3 longbows.
3 quivers with a total of 48 arrows.
3 coats of chainmail (one badly damaged)
3 hooded cloaks
3 long knives...probably steel.
3 sets of of leggings.
3 belts.
3 pairs of cloth boots.
A gold ring with a plain blue stone.
A set of knucklebones.
A grey amulet in the shape of the head of a dog-like creature...it seems to be snarling?
Coin pouches with strange round coins, pierced with a hole. (74 gold pieces, 5silver pieces, 3 bronze pieces)... and 2 crossbow quarrels... it seems like a couple of them had been wounded by others before Ursuul put them down.

Gai is searching the corpse of the man he killed.

Cass has resumed searching the battlefield to see if anyone else can be revived.

The female soldier comes over to Tali.

'It's ok, miss, we'll get you back to town safe. How did you come to be out here in the first place?'

Thumble tries to get Slobber to calm down but he seems more excited.

As he glances at Lena, Thumble can see that she's in a bad way. A trickle of blood drips from the corner of her mouth.

[PersonMan]

Beigette returns the smile, glad to have something normal to help her push through the insanity of this place with.

As she looks to retrieve the last two bolts, she turns to the man who seemed to be working on looting the bodies. More composed than before, Beigette still takes a deep breath before she starts to speak. "Ehh, ey 'Terial? Can I have those?" She asks, gesturing to her ammunition. "They're pretty important to me, seein' as you can't get any of 'em on this plane. It's Sigil steel,"

Spoiler: Listen

Show

(1d20+2)[4]

[Azoth]

As Ursuul is looting the bodies and pocketing smaller objects while finding places to stow the larger items he hears someone talk to him and looks up.

Names Ursuul not 'Terial. Bolts are yours, ain't got any use fer 'em. Guessing you da one who soffen em up fer me. Ifin ya want a cut of da loot ya entitle ta some o it. Was yer name anyway woman?

As he sets back to work organizing the spoils and stripping bodies he calls out to the others.

Git yer wits about ya! If ya wanna make a copper off this here fight, start stippin corpses an fast. Otherwise their buddies'll git here an run us off before ya know what happened. No sense letin good coin and supplies go ta waste. Ain't like they gonna object one bit ta it, and they'd do the same ta you if sitiation was reversed.

[PersonMan]

"Thanks. And sure, imaw nab some 'Terial clink while I'm here," Beigette replies, taking the bolts and placing them with the others back in their proper place. It was nice to have at least some of them again.

"Ah, I'm Beigette. At least, that's what I go by," she adds, shrugging.

[Marlowe]

Lena remains standing against the cart. Supported by her hands. She nods to Takolon, but is thinking of the female soldier. Blows all kind of weather this one. Accuses me one moment and goes gushy the next. Let's not turn our back on her; Lena girl.

Not that we have much choice right now.

She spits out a gobbit of blood to the earth, and addresses Takolon in a voice as carrying as she can manage. "I'm no' askin' th' troopers t' give up their mounts, bu' they may need t' go double wit' a recent aquaintance. Fix my mount up t' this cart-a poor use fo' a proud beast; but needs must--an' see if can be moved. If so, put every matie tha's still salvagable ont' it and we'll get movin'. This forest is full o' surprises. An' I don' like th; look o' th' sky"

[Starbin]

Thumble felt his stomach turn slightly at the apparent apathy the big folk seemed to have for all this loss of life. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, frustrated at the looting and such but unable to do anything about it. Instead he focused on the injured woman and the young girl Tali, trying to treat the wounds on one, and keep the other from freaking out.

Spoiler: Checks & OOC

Show

Heal check: (1d20+3)[22]
Listen check: (1d20+7)[9]
If new level applies now, add +1 to listen and +2 to Heal.

Giving Lena two goodberries, which heal two HPs and should stop any bleeding at least.

[Wordplay]

Takolan nods in response to Lena. As danger becomes more remote, he seems a little less purposeful, and begins to revert to his shyer demeanour. His gaze starts to wander away from Lena's face and off into some fixed point behind her ear.

'Alright. I'll see what we can do.

But it looked to me as though the cart had busted an axle.

And I'm no wainwright'.

Takolan pads over to Cass and the female soldier, and starts examining the cart. They are joined by Gai shortly afterwards. They flip the cart back over and examine the underside. After a brief chat, Cass walks over to Ursuul.

Meanwhile, the gnome with the large riding dog comes up to Lena, palm outstretched with a pair of berries. He nods encouragingly at them to Lena, and mimes at her to eat them.

Cass reaches Ursuul.

'Hey there - don't think I caught your name. Thanks for your help in that scrap. Without you and Beigette we'd have been in trouble'.

'We're trying to fix the cart, so we can get everyone back to town. Problem is, it's got a busted axle. The Sergeant thinks he can bodge together a temporary fix - but we need an axe. Did any of these scum have one?'

As Thumble ministers to Lena, Slobber wanders up to Tali. The enormous dog bounds up, and gives Tali a big, friendly lick.

[Azoth]

Ursuul turns and points to the axe amongst the pile of items he still has to find means for transporting. Axe right there. Just don't mess it up too bad. Gotta make sure its worth selling when we get to town.

Shrugging his shoulders he leaves the pile of armor and weapons alone for now.

If none of you are going to search the rest of them mind if I go ahead and get it done with? Ain't like we all can't use the coin, and all that.

If there are no objections Ursuul will start going over the other corpses as he had with the ones he killed.

[Wordplay]

Taking Ursuul's axe back to Takolan, the soldiers flip the cart.

Takolan directs Cass and Gai into the woods with the axe. They come back a little later with some lengths of wood in various sizes.

Takolan sits down to whittle at the wood, whilst the soldiers work away on the cart. Once Takolan's finished, they begin to fix the new pieces of wood into place, before the four of them flip the cart back onto its wheels, gently.

While the soldiers deal with this, Corporal Sturbish attends to her underlings from the garrison. The two young soldiers seem quite shaken up from being in combat, but the Corporal's questions and reassurances seem to recompose them.

For Tali

Spoiler

Show

Frexxy stirs fitfully, as the big dog with the gnome bounds up. It's breath smells strongly as it licks Tali's face.

[Malak'ai]

Tali shudders as the large dog attacks her and tries to shuffles away from it.
"D-don't... H-h-help! G-get i-i-it a-away from m-m-me!" she screams, more in surprise than real fear.

[Wordplay]

Slobber barks excitedly, happy to have made a new friend.

Thumble gestures that he wishes to see to Lena's wound.

If Lena allows him...
For Lena and Thumble

Spoiler

Show

If Lena allows him, Thumble works briskly, but with tenderness and practice. He removes Lena's armour, and raises her shirt so that he can examine the wound.

He removes the remnants of the arrow, cleans the wound. Then he stitches it to close it up, and gives it a field dressing with what clean linen he's able to find.

It's painful as it's cleaned, and difficult to bear the stitching.

Luckily it seems that the arrow avoided any major organs. It's painful, but it should be just about possible for Lena to ride.

Heal (1d6+7)[9]

And another +2 if you ate the berries.

As the cart is righted for a final time, Takolan walks over to Beigette and Ursuul. He's back to his usual self. He speaks softly, and doesn't meet her eye.

'We've made a fix to the cart, and we're heading back to town. I don't know how you came to be out here miss, but it's obvious from the way you move that you don't belong in the forest. I suggest that you return to Forcehead with us'.

He turns to Ursuul.

I suggest that you come with us too sir. I've more questions about those giants...and I'd like to help you get your animals back, if possible.

'There are people here who wouldn't be alive, if it weren't for the actions of you both. Their masters will likely want to repay that kindness. Further, the governor will likely have questions for everyone involved - and it would be easiest to get them over and done with'.

Takolan meets Beigette's eye briefly.

'I know him. He's a good man - for a Forakii. He'll be pleased with both of you for helping, and his goodwill is useful to have'.

[Marlowe]

Lena has no reason to mistrust Thumble. Stormwinds. Even the random frother that turned up for the second course seems reasonable and civil and submits to his ministrations while the cart is repaired. Once she gives a slight giggle. Some of them seem to think i'm some kind of leader, but I'm doing nothing while everyone works. Typical "Leader" I suppose.

[HP now at 4. Yay, standard actions again.]

Lena turns to Thumble after it's done. "Than' ye ver' much maties. Nice t' be shipshape again",then and shoulders her bow. "Mother gave m' this when I wa' ten. I think it's become qui' clear tha' I've outgrown 't. Ri'. Do w' have everyone an' everythin''". She raises an eyebrow at Ursuul. "Tha's salvagable an' substantial? If'n I here a "not sure" then five minutes to check for any other breathin' bleeders. Or loot if'n ye mus'.; we load up an' leave now else."

[PersonMan]

"Well, zooming you split the clink from the 'Terials I shot, go ahead," Beigette replies, shrugging. As Takolan turns to her, she smiles in return, still clearly shaken by the fighting but beginning to recover. "I...yeah, I'm not a park girl at all. How big is this one, by the way? I can't even see the skyline from here," she turns upwards, looking through the canopy for a moment.

"Or is all that crazy talk about 'Terials not having real cities true?"

[Wordplay]

Takolan smiles slightly at Beigette's comment.

'Well the forest covers most of the Aelfica mountains, but it thins out around the town. I don't know if you'd call Forcehead a city - more of a frontier town really'.

A heated discussion begins between the soldiers in red, Cass, Gai and the female soldier, and the garrison soldiers in black and white.

Takolan looks around, and prepares to head over to deal with it.

[Starbin]

Thumble whistled again, calling Slobber to his side. Then he nodded to Lena, bowing his head in thanks for her gratitude. "I'm just happy I could help. I'm not much good in a fight, but this is something I can do ... a little, at least. I'm Thumble, and this is Slobber. Why are you all here?"

He didn't mention that understanding her and the other woman was like trying to communicate with an excited squirrel, but there it was.

[Marlowe]

Lena groans a little inside has she hears the soldiers start to squabble, but turns and walks behind his shoulder with her best "this better be about something I need to know" expression.

Like to hear what this is about. The randoms around here seem to have more discipline than the actual soldiers. Well, I'll let the good corporal do his job as an NCO if it doesn't take him more than a minute. Stormwinds, we don't have time for this now.

[Wordplay]

Quite a heated discussion is taking place...

'...an' what about our supplies?' the red-headed soldier asks

'We'll just stick them on the cart'. replies Cass.

'It would be better if we went for help'. the short dark-haired woman from the garrison chipped in.

'Now be reasonable - there might be more of them out there in the woods. If we do run into them, I'd rather face them as a group'. Gai intervenes.

'It's a lot for the mules to pull'.

'They'll be fine - they're hardy beasts'.

'I don't trust the fix you did on that cart - if that comes apart on the down slopes, it could crush our beasts'.

Then Serra speaks up, 'We could just as well get out and walk with the cart on the downslopes - take some of the weight'.

'Then why even bother with the Cart at all'.

Corporal Sturbish and Sergeant Takolan arrive.

'Problem Burke?' asks Sturbish.

'These Fleracis want us to yoke our mules to their cart'.

The tall youth turns to Takolan.

'Why are you helping them? This isn't garrison business...what would your house want to do with...<ouch>'.

Corporal Sturbish reaches up and clips the young soldier around the ear.

'First thing, it's why are you helping them Sir! got that Burke?'

'Yes Corporal'.

'Stan' up straight boy. What've I tole you about asking questions 'bout politics?'

'...We're not getting paid to ask them kind o' questions'.

'Good boy. Remember the crollary. Now the two of you yoke up them beasts'.

Sturbish turns to Takolan and executes a lazy, but precise salute.

'Problem Corporal'.

'No sir'.

'...Good'.

The mules are hitched up to the cart, and Burke and Lisandra transfer the supplies that the mules carried into the cart. Gai, Cass and the third soldier (Serra), take up station on the wagon. Gai takes the traces for the mules, and the women load their crossbows.

Burke and Lisandra fetch their horses. Lisandra bends low to help lift Sturbish to the stirrups, and Burke practically slings the Corporal over the horse. Then they mount up themselves, and take station around the cart. Burke to the right, Lisandra to the left, with Corporal Sturbish covering the rear.

Takolan leads the governor's horse over to Lena.

'You may be better off in the cart... but it's your choice. Do you need a hand mounting?'

Corporal Sturbish calls out.

'Civies! We're moving out. If ya don' wanna be left for the wolves an' worse, I sugges' ya fine folks accompany us back ta town, an' get yaselves on yonder cart'.

[Marlowe]

Lena darts an eye at Takolan, but simply replies; "A moment, sergeant" Then picks up the body of the former greycloak prisoner and slams it down into the cart. Not gently. She's still feeling a little shaky. "I di' no' hav' much luck, mysel'. Arrogant lil' cormorant. Bu' a Cleric might ge' something from 'im later. I'll take that foot-assist now, if'n ye please"

With Takolan's assistance, she swings herself into the saddle and stands up in the stirrips, dropping her accent "[Friends! You heard that officer of the realm. We are leaving for Forcehead, where I'm sure I'll find something good to say about all of you. So dump your loot in the cart, or yourselves if you don't feel like a hustle, and let's get going. Now you--"

She trots over to Ursuul."We've no' been introduced. Lena Chillmist, among other manglin's." She offers a hand. "Ye seem good a' killin' people. Our major point o' threat will be from the rear. I'd coun' it as a personal favour if you would cover that post for us."

[PersonMan]

Beigette collects herself, sitting down on the cart. She was used to long walks - Sigil wasn't small, and even on campus she generally ended up going quite a distance between classes, but at the moment she didn't want to walk, to see the corpses beneath her feet and avoid stepping on someone's head.

[Wordplay]

Takolan nods, and helps Lena into the saddle.

Cass and the female soldier stretch out their hands to help Beigette into the cart.

The female soldier speaks to Beigette. 'Thanks for the covering fire there Miss - was good to have a hand with those dogs'.

'Good to meet you. The name's Serra'.

Serra stretches out a hand to Beigette.

[PersonMan]

Beigette takes a moment to respond, but seems to have finally come out of the post-battle funk she's been in.

"Don't call me 'miss', it makes me sound old," she replies, smiling to show that she means it humorously. "I go by Beigette," the former student adds, taking Serra's hand. "I'm not from around here - I got tp'd here from Sigil. First time I've been to Terriland. Is...is there always this much fighting?" She asks after a brief silence.

[Wordplay]

Bow loaded, Cass jumps down, and lifts the unconscious casualty into the cart.

Gai and Serra exchange a look.

'Well we're soldiers but...no. No, it's not usually like this. Flamia has known relative peace since the fall of the empire. There are bandits on the roads - and occasionally goblin warbands come down from the mountains and raid the lowlands, but apart from that - the last war in these parts was over two-hundred years ago'.

'We were sent, on a secret mission over the mountains'.

There's a haunted look on Gai's face.

'The last three months have been unremitting hell'.

'Aye. Never able to sleep without fear we'd wake up dead. On the march for days and nights at a time - unable to stop - having to leave men when they collapsed'.

'Up all hours to watch the camp - raids and skirmishes in the night. An' having to listen to the howls of the folk that the enemy caught as they tortured them out in the darkness...'

'It looks like we're the only two that came out of it...'

'We thought we'd never see home again. I still don't really believe we will. Forcehead's been like a dream, for the last 6 weeks'.

The soldiers seem a little distant for a moment. Then Serra turns to Beigette.

'So where is Sigil, if not on Terillia? Asekka? Gata? I don't think I've ever heard of it...'

[Malak'ai]

Making her way back to the wagon, stepping slowly and tentatively, hoping not to draw too much attention to herself, Tali pulling Frexburr from his pocket and snuggles him close to her face.

Finally reaching the back of the wagon as the two female soldiers begin talking to the strange woman who had been firing the crossbow, she quietly peeps, still stuttering, "E-e-excuse m-me. C-c-could I-i p-p-please r-ride t-the w-w-wagon? O-o-only i-if i-i-it's a-alright o-of c-course.
F-f-frexy, J-j-jainie a-and I h-h-have b-been w-w-walking f-for w-weeks s-searching f-f-for m-my m-m-momma."
Her eyes looking tired and full of sadness, though surprisingly free of tears at the moment, but the tracks in the dirt on her face show that they haven't been gone for long.

[PersonMan]

Beigette nods as she listens to the soldiers' story. It sounded...terrible. Worse than what she'd heard of the place. Could it be that the rumors weren't embellished? What if they were even tamer than the reality of this place?

"No, Sigil's on the Spire, in the middle of the Outlands. It's a lot further away than any place around here. It's across the bubble, y'see," Beigette begins to explain, as the elf approaches the cart. That odd elf, who had barely spoken before. As she speaks now, Beigette feels a tug in her chest. Unlike ever before, she feels pulled into her story of sadness, and the urge to make her feel better rises in her. In the past, she'd occasionally done the older sister upperclasser for some poor girls who ended up being bullied, but there was nothing like this.

"It's not a problem, come right in!" Beigette says, smiling, extending an arm to help her up. Her voice is sweet, but there's strength beneath the surface - it's clear that she's not going to let either of the other women on the cart change her decision.

[Malak'ai]

"T-thank y-y-you." Tali says, a small hint of a smile twitching at her lips, before cautiously taking the strange woman's hand and climbing up on the cart.

Sitting as far from the dead body as possible, while still being close to the back of the wagon, she looks up at the strange woman. Something in the way she's looking at Tali makes the girl feel just a touch safer.
"T-this i-i-is F-f-frexburr. H-he's m-my c-c-closest f-friend. A-apart from J-j-jainie t-that i-i-is." the Half-Elf girl squeaks as she holds a little grey-brown rabbit up in both hands.

[PersonMan]

Beigette resists the urge to throw an arm around the slight elf and explain to her about how she doesn't need to worry, knowing that it would probably do more to frighten her than anything else.

"Ahh, I see. I haven't seen something like that outside the academy park...Are they common here?" She asks, bending in to look at the rabbit eye-to-eye. Slowly she extends a hand towards it, offering it a finger to examine. Looking back up to the elf, she speaks again, voice low. "I'm Beigette. Mind telling me your name?"