Turn 39 - The Halfling
Fabian Benavente
kirs...@yahoo.com
stairs led down and west-into the guts of the Kaladrun foothills.
RPG: Muttering a prayer to the Spirit Below as he came to the body of
the long-dead dwarf, Grakram nicked his thumb with his axe and allowed
three crimson tears to drop on the skeletal remains, in honor of the
dead and to feed the Spirit. For a moment he wondered what manner of
beast had devoured the ancient warrior from the waist down, but
quickly discarded the thought; it was obvious the damage had been done
ages past, for closed confines like these often acted to preserve
remains. That even dwarven weapons had rusted away almost to nothing
was further proof. The beast - whatever it had been - was long gone. A
pity.
Grakram then turned his attention to the stairs, going down a few
steps, carefully sniffing the air, pressing his ear to the stone to
listen for sounds carried by the bones of the world. After a few
moments of silence the dwarf nodded his head and marched out,
carefully stepping around the body of the fallen warrior. Outside, he
took note that the Halfling stranger was still alive; obviously the
manling hedge-wizard hadn't smelled the taint of Shadow on that one.
"Found us a way outta this mess!" the dwarf rumbled almost cheerfully,
invigorated by the moment spent under the shadow of the mountain. "A
hidden path, leadin' west through the bones o' the world, safe from
the eyes o' the Shadow. We go that way an' we'll win a few hours at
least, an' in yon tunnels, one dwarf can hold back an army o' gobbos
if need be. 'haps even a manlin' coulda manage some," he added after a
moment of thought. So, let's git goin' already."
TAG: Everyone interested...
NRPG: Right... underground we might elude our pursuers for a while,
but we can only guess where the path leads (Eventually out, I'd
imagine, since it begins from a safehold) but there is a chance that
what killed the dwarf or its descendants still lurk about. Aboveground
we'd need to move very quickly indeed to get away.
Grakram's vote naturally goes for the underground escape ;^)
-Jussi / Grakram
tacet pressim
Urokk cursed as his body refused to follow the worg. Was his mind addled too? Why had he punched the thing? He should have gripped by the throat so it could not run and squeezed it to death.
He needed to rest. There was no time. He had failed to kill the last of their aggressors. The worg would return to the main force and it would not be long until it brought them here. There was not much time.
The dwrog turned around and spied Brew conversing with a child. Some vague recollection of having seen her before came to mind but his dismissed it as a trick of the mind. He often felt like this when he returned to his senses after a blood rush.
He began the laboured walk back to the others. As he passed the goblin he picked it up by the leg and searched through its belongings as he walked. He was not sure what he might find but the shadow were notoriously better fed than most and sometimes carried items of curiosity that often told more than one could find by torturing them.
When the dworg drew level with the child and Brew he dropped the goblin. He had finally figured out the situation. The night wolf and its dworg riders must have killed the child's parents not far from here. The poor girl was alone and vulnerable in a dangerous world. They were obliged to help her.
Brew appeared to be having quite a mature conversation with it but the dworg's heart still blotted out most sound with its beating so he heard little. Typical that the old soak should be chatting when they had to move. There was no time to lose.
In one movement Urokk scooped up the girl with an arm like a tree trunk covered in clotting blood. He tossed her over his shoulder and kept walking.
[Tag – Cita]
"Come on Brew!" The Dworg exclaimed curtly. "We've gotta go!"
[Tag - Brew]
Justin Kroona
Brew was moving as quickly as he could up the slope,
which wasn't all that fast but he was doing the best
he could. The halfling girl, woman (was hard to tell
sometimes with them) seemed frightened but since she
had been speaking with Grakram, Brew didn't blame her.
The fierce dwarf could unnerve most people. But
Grakram had gone back towards the cave, so hopefully
the halfling would feel more at ease.
"Greetings, traveler. As you may have heard, the
name's Brew." Brew bowed his head slightly to the
woman.
"And don't mind my companions, they're a bit rough
around the edges but they mean well. What brings you
to this part of the world?" Brew smiled at the woman.
[tag/Cita]
(OOC: I'm going to assume Cita doesn't get a chance to
say much before Urokk comes back and picks her up and
starts carrying her off.)
[Urokk/old]
"Come on Brew!" The Dworg exclaimed curtly. "We've
gotta go!"
[Brew/new]
"Now Urokk I don't think carrying our new acquitance
around like that is a good idea." Brew scowled. "And
I am well aware that we don't have much time but I do
think she can walk on her own."
Brew followed after the dworg as quickly as he could,
back down the mountain towards the cave.
[tag/Urokk]
[Grakram/old]
"A hidden path, leadin' west through the bones o' the
world, safe from the eyes o' the Shadow. We go that
way an' we'll win a few hours at least, an' in yon
tunnels, one dwarf can hold back an army o' gobbos if
need be. 'haps even a manlin' coulda manage some," he
added after a moment of thought. So, let's git goin'
already."
[Brew/new]
Brew arrived back near the cave and took a moment to
catch his breath while Grakram reported on his find.
Brew took out his flask and took another quick sip.
The prospect of being stuck in a small, dank, and dark
tunnel for several hours made Brew's stomach turn.
However, Grakram had a good point, assuming the
tunnel's exit wasn't blocked or underwater or
something. But staying above ground would be even
riskier; if their pursuers had more worg riders...or
worse.
"I think we should take the tunnel. We don't know
where it comes out but it's better than being caught
out here in the open."
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Justin Kroona
Greta slowly got to her feet; deciding it was time to
take a good look at her wounds and see what needed to
be done. She walked away from the cave a little ways.
Then she grabbed the neck of her hauberk and pulled
it out and looked down at her chest. The cut there
wasn't too deep and there wasn't as much blood as she
had thought at first. The heavy shirt she wore as
padding beneath the hauberk was getting pretty beat
up, however. She wasn't sure where she was going to
get the materials to replace it but she'd have to
start thinking about it; the shirt had acquired
several cuts in the past couple weeks that had
required crude repairs. The shirt was also badly
stained with her sweat and blood. Speaking of which,
she could use a bath really badly. Slight chance of
that happening, she mused. Getting back to her work,
Greta took her water flask and poured a bit of water
over the cut and then put a rag over it, relying on
the undershirt and the mail to keep the cloth in
place. Soon it would be just another scar, one of the
many that covered her.
Greta noticed that everyone seemed to be regrouping at
the cave, so she moved back towards the cave to see
what was going to happen next.
[Grakram/old]
"A hidden path, leadin' west through the bones o' the
world, safe from the eyes o' the Shadow. We go that
way an' we'll win a few hours at least, an' in yon
tunnels, one dwarf can hold back an army o' gobbos if
need be. 'haps even a manlin' coulda manage some," he
added after a moment of thought. So, let's git goin'
already."
[Greta/new]
More tunnels, Greta felt a slight pang of
disappointment. She had had enough of caves, holes
and tunnels for one lifetime. Soon enough, she
thought, they'll be back under the open skies.
"The tunnel seems to be the best thing to do," Greta
said flatly.
(OOC: and if Cita is there with the others)
Greta looked at the newewst arrival. The only
halflings Greta had ever seen had been slaves;
despairing, broken people with dead eyes. Seeing one
that was free and with spirit...even in the Void Greta
could not but smile. Greta extended a bloodstained
hand to the halfling.
"My name is Greta Reed," Greta's cold eyes clashing
with her warm smile.
[tag/Cita]
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Carinthia Devi
"Greetings, traveller. As you may have heard, the name's Brew." Brew
bowed his head slightly to the woman. "And don't mind my companions,
they're a bit rough around the edges but they mean well. What brings
you to this part of the world?" Brew smiled at the woman.
[Cita – New]
Cita stared cautiously at the human. He seemed harmless enough
although Cita recognised the signs of a heavy drinker. She wondered
if he could even see straight.
"What are you doing out here in the mountains?" Cita asked guardedly.
She knew it probably sounded like a silly question given her own
circumstances. "And why were the shadow spawn attacking you?"
[Tag – Brew]
[Urokk – Old]
In one movement Urokk scooped up the girl with an arm like a tree
trunk covered in clotting blood. He tossed her over his shoulder and
kept walking.
[Cita – New]
Before Cita could even cry out she found herself off her feet and
dangling far above the ground. She began swearing, first in her
native tongue, then gnomish and finally in traders tongue.
"Let me go you big great, hairy, lummoxing oaf. How dare you!" Cita
tried to wriggle and squirm but the creature was far too big and
seemed almost oblivious. She considered biting its ear but it didn't
look too clean.
[Tag – Urokk?]
Charl did not seem to have the same reservations about this creature
as the dwarf. Only moments after Cita was bundled onto its shoulder
Charl lightly leapt up onto the other shoulder and settled down.
"Well if Charl doesn't object, it can't be evil," Cita reasoned with
herself. And she stopped her futile struggling.
Fabian Benavente
gate. Does anybody want to do anything else besides that? I mean there are
bodies, weapons, a fight scene, a previously hidden door, places inside the
'gate', etc.
L8r,
Fabian
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carinthia Devi" <carinth...@gmail.com>
To: <Hope-for-the-Childre...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 7:41 AM
Subject: [Hope for the Children - The Midnight PBEM] Re: Turn 39 - The
Halfling
Kirsdrake
Anyway: Grakram will search the bodies for useable loot if anyone else
doesn't get there first and he'll "harvest" some meat for himself
(He'll offer it to the others, naturally - he can be companionable
under certain circumstances and finding the tunnel after a moderately
satisfying battle counts as one) but I doubt many others will be
interested in goblin steak or worg legs ;^)
-Jussi
tacet pressim
[Cita - old]
"Let me go you big great, hairy,
lummoxing oaf. How dare you!" Cita
tried to wriggle and squirm but the creature was far too big and
seemed almost oblivious. She considered biting its ear but it didn't
look too clean.
[Urokk - new]
Urokk seemed oblivious to the kicking and complaints. He just strode on, the feeling coming back to his muscles.
[Brew - Old]
"Now Urokk I don't think carrying our
new acquitance
around like that is a good idea." Brew scowled. "And
I am well aware that we don't have much time but I do
think she can walk on her own."
[Urokk - New]
"I'll carry you too if you can't keep up," Urokk snapped impatiently. He was in a foul mood after letting that worg slip away.
[Tag - Brew]
[Cita - old]
Charl did not seem to have the same
reservations about this creature
as the dwarf. Only moments after Cita was bundled onto its shoulder
Charl lightly leapt up onto the other shoulder and settled down.
"Well if Charl doesn't object, it can't be evil," Cita reasoned with
herself. And she stopped her futile struggling.
[Urokk - new]
The cat's appearance surprised the dworg. He had seen plenty of orts, grass cats and leopards, even eaten a few, but he had never met a domesticated feline before. Its affability and trust were foreign to Urokk who had grown up shunned. It was so small, barely a meal, but so trusting.
The dworg at once felt peaceful and calm. He raised his left hand to pet the creature and it purred while it licked congealed blood from his fingers.
Urokk gently let the girl down from his shoulder at the cave entrance.
[Tag Cita]
[Grakram - old]
"A hidden path, leadin' west through
the bones o' the
world, safe from the eyes o' the Shadow. We go that
way an' we'll win a few hours at least, an' in yon
tunnels, one dwarf can hold back an army o' gobbos if
need be. 'haps even a manlin' coulda manage some," he
added after a moment of thought. So, let's git goin'
already."
[Urokk - New]
Urokk nodded silently in agreement. The Dothane had spoken that was what they would do. He hated the underground. He preferred the shallow caves that hid him from view but from which he could breathe fresh air and quickly escape, but it was not his place to disagree. He turned as Brew arrived out of breath and was about to reiterate Grakram's plan as an order, expecting disobedience from the self righteous man but to his surprise Brew agreed. The dworg bit his tongue and said instead.
"We found this kid. I think we should take her with us. I don't think she stands much chance out her on her own."
[Tag any]
Carinthia Devi
Urokk gently let the girl down from his shoulder at the cave entrance.
[Cita – New]
As soon as the large creature set Cita back on her feet, she sprang
away from him, keen to get out of the reach of the dworg's long arms.
Turning quickly she kicked him hard in the shins.
"If you ever touch me again without asking," Cita hissed at Urokk, "I
will turn you into a toad and serve you up on toast at a goblin
feast."
[Greta – Old]
"My name is Greta Reed," Greta's cold eyes clashing with her warm smile.
[Cita – New]
Cita looked up. In fact she was doing a lot of that, why did these
people all have to be so tall? The girl talking to her had funny
hair, but that was beside the point, she didn't seem inclined to pick
Cita up or anything else offensive so she was prepared to cut the
woman some slack.
"Hi." Cita said, smiling nicely and taking the girl's hand. "Cita.
What are we doing in this damp and smelly cave? …In fact, I don't
even know why I'm here."
[Tag – Greta]
Bill Boyden
In one movement Urokk scooped up the girl with an arm like a tree
trunk covered in clotting blood. He tossed her over his shoulder and
kept walking.
Before Cita could even cry out she found herself off her feet and
dangling far above the ground. She began swearing, first in her
native tongue, then gnomish and finally in traders tongue.
tried to wriggle and squirm but the creature was far too big and
seemed almost oblivious. She considered biting its ear but it didn't
look too clean.
herself. And she stopped her futile struggling.
Kruack/New
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tacet pressim
[Cita – old]
As soon as the large creature set Cita back on her feet, she sprang
away from him, keen to get out of the reach of the dworg's long arms.
Turning quickly she kicked him hard in the shins.
"If you ever touch me again without asking," Cita hissed at Urokk,
"I
will turn you into a toad and serve you up on toast at a goblin
feast."
[Urokk - new]
Urokk smiled to himself at the girl's spirit. She would grow up into a real spore in the shadows side.
While the others prepared themselves for the underground trip Urokk assisted the dwarf in ransacked the goblin bodies. They stripped of the clothes from the goblins and piled their naked gory corpses in one heap and their belongings in another. There was no time to dry the meat and cooking it was out of the question. They would have to eat what they could on foot and leave the rest for the crows.
The dworg broke off a goblin leg with a wet crack of bone and cartilage. He bit into the flesh dripping fresh blood down his hairy face and chewed the meat wetly.
"So we ready to go?" He asked between mouthfuls.
[Tag - any]
Lex Aevum
[Ganwin - New]
Ganwin watched as the others hopped around, wondering at how they could
all have such energy. For his own part, it was all he could do to prop
himself up with his scythe and move back towards the cave.
Sighing in the cool darkness, the rogue was glad the group would be
going through the tunnels. Although not as comfortable underground as
the Dwarf and Dworg, Ganwin was getting tired of always being on open
ground. The cavern walls were not quite the walls of city buildings, but
they would do for now.
Justin Kroona
"What are you doing out here in the mountains?" Cita
asked guardedly. She knew it probably sounded like a
silly question given her own circumstances. "And why
were the shadow spawn attacking you?"
[Brew/new]
Brew didn't feel this was the time or place to tell
her the entire story; they had pursuit to worry about.
And there was the chance that Cita was an agent of
the Shadow; although that seemed unlikely to Brew. In
his experience the forces of Shadow had nothing but
contempt for halflings. But one never knew...
"Well, to answer your question about the fight, isn't
it clear my companions and I are in clear violation of
about half a dozen of the Shadow's 'laws'," Brew's
face contorted in disgust at the mention of the
Shadow's laws.
"As to your other question, its a long story and one
that will probably have to wait until another time,"
Brew was apologetic, "We need to start moving before
more enemies arrive."
[Urokk/old]
"I'll carry you too if you can't keep up," Urokk
snapped impatiently. He was in a foul mood after
letting that worg slip away.
[Brew/new]
"There won't be any need for that," Brew snapped in
reply as he hurried his pace a little, muttering a
curse or two under his breath.
(OOC: While Grakram and Urokk and others are looting
the bodies)
[Brew/new]
While the group quickly and efficiently stripped the
bodies of the slain, Brew went around to check on
everyone's wounds. They didn't know what was in the
tunnel, and using more magic right now wouldn't matter
much as far as their pursuit was concerned. Brew knew
he didn't have the strength to fully heal everyone;
and he needed to conserve some in case of any
unpleasant surprises; but Ganwin, Kruack and Urokk
needed attention. He gestured for them to line up.
"We can't go exploring hidden tunnels with you three
in such condition. I can't repair all of the damage,
though, so lets be careful all right?"
[tag Kruack, Urokk, Ganwin]
[Brew/new]
With that said, Brew stopped before each one, put his
hands on their wounds and said a few words. Each time
he felt energy surge in his hands and flow into them.
And each time Brew felt a little bit weaker. He wasn't
tapped out, thankfully, but by the time he was done he
had broken out in a cold sweat.
"Well, if there's nothing left to do, shall we go?"
(OOC: Brew casts Cure Light Wounds once each on
Ganwin, Kruack and Urokk)
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Justin Kroona
"Hi." Cita said, smiling nicely and taking the girl's
hand. "Cita. What are we doing in this damp and smelly
cave? …In fact, I don't even know why I'm here."
[Greta/new]
Greta paused for a moment before answering, her
expression unreadable. How to explain their mission
without sounding crazy or giving away too much?
"We are on a mission, we are heading west. There is a
tunnel inside that leads west, hopefully it will allow
us to avoid any more encounters for a while," Greta
replied.
Ignoring Urokk's declaration that they were taking
Cita with them, Greta offered "If you wish to come
with us, I do not think the others will object. These
mountains are dangerous for the lone traveler."
Greta paused again and gazed quizically at Cita.
"Speaking of which, how did you come to be here?"
[tag Cita]
[Greta/new]
Urokk and Grakram had started to loot the goblins and
Greta joined in. She took the goblin's shirts and
foot wrappings and doused them in whatever water that
the goblins had been carrying. The cloth could be used
for bandages or, given enough time and cleaning, Greta
could use them as the start for new padding for her
hauberk. She also took the axe of the goblin that had
wounded her. An axe, no matter how small, would be
useful once they got to some woods. Greta looked
wistfully at the dead Night Wolf. Its hide would have
made a fine cloak but there wasn't time to properly
skin, scrape and dry the pelt so it would have to be
left behind. She heard the sound of ripping flesh and
turned to see Urokk eating raw goblin flesh. Greta
only shook her head. Even in their leanest times, her
old band had never stooped to eating dead goblins or
orcs. The servants of the Shadow were corrupted and
rotten and Greta would rather starve than be reduced
to eating their flesh for sustenance. But as Urokk
had not asked for her opinion, she would not offer it.
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tacet pressim
[Brew/new]
While the group quickly and efficiently stripped the
bodies of the slain, Brew went around to check on
everyone's wounds. They didn't know what was in the
tunnel, and using more magic right now wouldn't matter
much as far as their pursuit was concerned. Brew knew
he didn't have the strength to fully heal everyone;
and he needed to conserve some in case of any
unpleasant surprises; but Ganwin, Kruack and Urokk
needed attention. He gestured for them to line up.
[Urokk - New]
Urokk was not going to line up. What was he some sort of puppet. He did not take orders from senile old men with canes. He pushed past Brew into the tunnel.
[Brew - Old]
"We can't go exploring hidden tunnels with you three
in such condition. I can't repair all of the damage,
though, so lets be careful all right?"
[Urokk - New]
"Heal the Dothane if you're so eager to show off," Urokk snapped. "I'll receive no help from you while you continue to disrespect him."
[Tag - Brew]Justin Kroona
[Urokk - Old]
"Heal the Dothane if you're so eager to show off,"
Urokk snapped. "I'll
receive no help from you while you continue to
disrespect him."
Brew rolled his eyes. He should have known Urokk would
be stubborn. The dworg had more pride than sense.
"Fine! Have it your way. Spirit's forbid I try to
assist the mighty Urokk," Brew spat as he walked away.
As Brew walked toward Grakram he wondered,
disrespecting the dothane? How was having questions
or doubts being disrespectful? Did Urokk seriously
expect everyone to just follow his and Grakram's
orders without question? Probably, Brew reflected
bitterly. Then Brew reached Grakram.
"Urokk insists he doesn't need his wounds healed; how
about you?"
[Tag/Grakram]
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