Having completed their morning rituals, the group of newly minted mercenaries packs up camp and heads out, confident that today is the day they will reach Almah's caravan and begin their first mission as Bees in earnest.
Shortly after mid-day you pass over a small rise to see a craggy tree, and ist becomes obvious how the place got its name. With five immense, mostly leafless branches, the growth looks more like a giant skeletal talon than a thing of living wood.
A caravan of a half-dozen wagons and a large tent clustered around the distinctive tree comes into view as well. Mules in a nearby pen prance in agitation, and a clutch of confused goats and levestock wander the grounds around the wagons. Perhaps a dozen mena dn women rush around the campsite, chasing down an animal or hastening toward the center of the cluster near the tree with pails of water in their hands. One of the wagons is on fire!
Lush orange and red flames engulf the elaborate wooden wagon emplazoned with painted moons and stars. A gout of smoke pours from an open door, and as you approach an ill wind blows a number of colorful fortune-telling Harrow cards from inside the wagon. One of these cards blows directly at Aodhán, catching up against his chest in a burst of orange cinders. He brushes it off, and as he catches the remains of the card in his fingers he notes that it is the Cyclone - signifying a force that tears through whatever it meets at the behest of an intelligent being. This card portends war, arson, and destructive plans. As the group's attention shifts from the card back to the wagon, the entire claw shaped tree erupts into brilliant flame.
The central flap of an elaborate tent flies open and a beautiful, regal woman who can only be Almah herself steps out into the camp, flinching at the heat from the flames. "Douse that flame!" she shouts to the men surrounding the wagon before turning in your direction. "Find some way to help!"
OOC
Long description; some possible actions include:
Helping with the fire.
Pulling the closest other wagon out of danger of catching.
Location: columbia, missouri, u.s. of north america, terra, sol III, Milky way, third demension
Posts: 4,843
[ooc] is there enough people to form a bucket bigade? if wo, Harnrey will try to assemble one [/ooc]
Because he is not very goow with animals or moving wagons, Harnrew will apply his abilities at forming a bucket brigade if possible, if not possible, he will grab two buckets and start carrieing water himself.
Being the best equipped of the group to do so , Houwlou will first see that Puddin' is safely secured somewhere FARRR from danger, and then will rush to assist those busy wrangling the livestock and animals. If there is no apparent leader among those doing this work, then Houwlou instantly assumes the mantle of leadership and directs as many animals as can still be saved (hopefully all of them) to a safe place. (He's more at home with animals than people anyway.)
Stat Block
Houwlou Groulenas - Male Olcán Ranger 1
Initiative: +1, Perception: +8(?)(+2 more smell/sound,+2 more vs. undead), Low Light Vision 60' (I think?)
AC: 17 (4Chain Shirt + 2Lg. Shield + 1Dex);FF16;T11
Fort: +2 Ref: +3 Will: +4
HP: 21/21
Aodhán is most likely the best equipped to help the injured fire fighters, but seeing Keeland taking care of them, the Abhac turns his attention towards the burning wagon.
He hurries close to the flames and begins incanting a minor spell of his god, calling upon the power to create water. Aodhán targets just above the flames and causes a few gallons of water to drop onto the wagon.
OOC
Cast Create Water, creates 2 gallons, range is 25 ft.
Aodhán and Harnry rush to help Almah with the fire. Along with the two of you and Almah are a slightly older man with a lantern jaw and short black hair who moves like a swordsman and four soldiers dressed in the distinctive red chitin armor of the Pactmaster Guard (elite soldiers assigned as bodyguards to high ranking members of the Merchant's Guild). They have formed a bucket brigade - with the help of Aodhán and Harn it will take about 8 rounds to get the fire put out. If the other wagon is not moved to safety the fire will spread to it before it is put out.
Keeland finds himself helping a red-headed halfling tend two severely burned mercenaries. The halfling introduces himself as Father Zastorin. He is currently working on a badly wounded guard. "See what you can do with her," he says as he points with his chin at a fallen female sworder. Preliminary examination reveals that she is near death from terrible burns and smoke inhalation.
The flaming wagon has unsettled the modest collection of pigs, goats, and sheep that accompanies Almah's party and they have somehow escaped from their pens in the chaos. Two middle aged humans, a man and a woman, are doing their best to wrangle the panicking animals. Houwlou rushes over and begins working to collect and calm the animals. (Five animals, one Handle Animal check per round if you please).
Houwlou starts off like a champ, then the middle aged human woman looks at her husband and says, "Look at that wolfkin. He's just showing off!" The criticism doesn't sit well with Houwlou as he is only trying to help them, and it distracts him to the point where his skills begin to suffer.
The halfling looks at his companions rushing to the fire, the fallen firefighters and the animals, shrugs his shoulders and goes to lend his meager strength to the efforts of moving the other wagon out of reach of the fire.
OOC
Just need an actions from Keeland - Heal Check? Cure Light Wounds? That'll take care of one round, he'll have seven more before the fire's out at the brigade's current rate of moving water.
The elf first casts a spell (1d8+1=2) of curative magic on the female sworder. Not happy with the results he calls upon his skills at healing (1d20+2=22) as well.
Seeing the bucket brigade beginning to get a handle on the flames, Aodhán will turn his attention to the wagons, attempting to help Kecil, but the Abhac cleric is struggling to find a grip on the large objects.
With Aodhán's help, Kecil and the four Guards just manage to pull the wagon away from the fire. As he lowers the wagon tongue Aodhán realizes that they were too late to escape the fire completely - the rear of the wagon is smoldering and flames are starting to lick their way up the tailgate.
Aodhán will once again call upon the divine aid for assistance in this time of need, the raincloud forming over the wagon, dropping cool, refreshing rain on the blaze.
OOC
Again, casting Create Water as long as he can over the flames
Aodhán's summoned rain quenches the fledgling fire on the second wagon before it really gets started. With Keeland's help the others manage to get the initial fire put out, but while that wagon is still intact it is no longer usable.
As the group stops to catch their breath, gazing around at the ashes swirling on the light mountain breeze, the camel driver (OOC: The middle aged man helped by Houwlou) begins moaning softly and murmuring about someone named Rombard, who is apparently missing.
The beautiful woman takes a deep breath of the charred air as a look of resolve settles on her proud features. She turns to the group of newly arrived mercenaries.
"I am Almah. I take it you are the mercenaries promised by Commander Tadhg? I thank you for your timely assistance. If you will accompany me to my tent we'll take care of our preliminary business."
Turning to a tall, lantern jawed man with salt and pepper hair she continues, "Garavel, please get the camp cleaned up and start an investigation into this fire. I want whoever's responsible . . . they owe me for the wagon and the loss of my astrologer."
With that she turns and strides toward the tent from which she originally emerged, clearly expecting the party to follow.
![LoF - A Merc's Life [IC 01]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/playing-game/lof-mercs-life-ic-01-a_ltr.gif)
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