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(Cydra) The Year 271 Campaign (Low Magic experiment)
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2469922" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>Journeys to Lumber</strong></p><p></p><p>It takes several days for Kyle and Otis to recover enough to travel. Otis spends the time being badgered and harangued by Xastys; finally, his heart aching, he confronts her.</p><p></p><p>“Once, you were a teacher to me,” he tells her. “I thank you for all that you have given me and all the mysteries you have opened before me.” He takes a deep breath. “But lately, you seem to want to harm more than help. You seem to want power for its own sake, not for the good of others. You set me pointless tasks, yet my skills have gone beyond alphabetizing your tomes and dusting your shelves. I am a wizard in my own right, now.”</p><p></p><p>Slowly, he counts out five pieces of gold. “My last contribution,” he announces gravely, “to your research.”</p><p></p><p>“If you walk out that door, you won’t be returning,” Xastys declares.</p><p></p><p>With a nod, Otis turns and gathers his bags to depart the Tower of Xastys for the last time. On his way out, Nodding, one of Xastys’ other apprentices stops him. </p><p></p><p>“Fool,” Nodding sneers. “You will be back here in a few months, begging Lady Xastys to take you back.”</p><p></p><p>“I will be <em>beyond you</em> in a few months,” Otis retorts tartly.</p><p></p><p>“I look forward,” Nodding chuckles, “to seeing you fail. You’re going to need Lady Xastys’ help, and I will enjoy seeing her cast you out.”</p><p></p><p>“I look forward to seeing <em>you</em> fail!” snaps Otis. “Someday, you will need my help. And when you do- I will <em>give it to you.”</em> With that, he makes his exit.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Dahlia, Cara, Kyle, Cur, Jorgen and Otis begin their journey before noon, heading directly across country for Lumber. There is no real road or path, though (according to Dahlia’s map) there is a road that connects Lumber with the capitol of the Barony, Kamenda City. </p><p></p><p>“It looks like it will only take us a day or two to get there,” Dahlia comments. </p><p></p><p><em>While we’re out here, I’m going to keep my eyes open for that orc,</em> resolves Cur silently.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The sun is about to touch the tops of the western mountains when our heroes encounter the goblins. As soon as they come into view, Sheriff Jorgen gives a warning cry and charges forward, sinking his longspear deep into the chest of the first one before the goblins even have a chance to draw weapons. Then the grasses start entwining around them. The scrubby arms of the red-barked manzanitas seize the little red-skinned humanoids. </p><p></p><p>The goblins scream in terror. One of them manages to throw a javelin at the party, but it is caught by the wind and flies wide. No one can even tell which of our heroes it was aimed at. Two of the goblins manage to squirm free of the entangling plants and wriggle out of the area of effect; another, not caught by the plants at all, turns and runs away. Jorgen thrusts into the ribs of one of the ones escaping the <em>entangle</em> and strikes him down in a single forceful blow, and then, as another attempts to flee through his reach, he strikes it through the head, destroying the goblin’s black brain in an instant. </p><p></p><p>Another of the little humanoids manages to claw his way out of the grasping plants and starts to run away. Otis blasts him with a <em>magic missile,</em> but the goblin continues to stagger away.</p><p></p><p>Kyle smirks. <em>Persistent little cuss, ain’t he?</em> he thinks cockily, whirling his sling. He draws back his arm to fire- not as easy to line up a shot now, with the eye gone- and somehow, the straps on his pack come undone! The backpack collapses off of him, throwing his aim off; his sling stone bounces into the air pointlessly. He almost trips as the pack catches on his belt and nearly pulls his pants off.*</p><p></p><p>One of the goblins screams out in crude Kamendan, “We surrender! Please no hurt!!”</p><p></p><p>“Drop your weapons,” Cur Sed Seed commands. After only an instant’s hesitation, two of the goblins give up while the last one- Kyle’s persistent little cuss- manages to flee. Our heroes let him go while Kyle re-straps his backpack, buckles his pants again and generally straightens out his kit. </p><p></p><p>By the time the goblins have been thoroughly searched and bound, it is dusk. Jorgen interrogates them at length. “What are you doing here?” he demands.</p><p></p><p>“We sorry,” the one that speaks Kamendan says, cringing. “We mean no harm.”</p><p></p><p>Otis glares at him. “You mean no harm! You are <em>goblins!</em> You steal babies and goats and raid and kill our people!”</p><p></p><p>The goblin only cringes. Jorgen walks Otis aside and settles him down, then returns to the questioning.</p><p></p><p>“If you mean no harm, why are you here?”</p><p></p><p>“We flee Goblin Gorge.”</p><p></p><p>Kyle cocks an eyebrow.</p><p></p><p>“Why?” asks the sheriff.</p><p></p><p>“Something terrible came,” the goblin answers. Then, “You... you kill us? We mean no harm, we just run...”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you,” Jorgen responds soberly. “It will depend. If you tell me useful information, and you don’t lie to me, and you truly mean no harm- well, then, I will probably release you in the morning.”</p><p></p><p>“Please!” the goblin squeaks. “Me tell!”</p><p></p><p>“What happened?” Jorgen asks. “What came?”</p><p></p><p>“One night it comes,” the goblins gasps, his face contorting in fear. “From old elf ruin, something comes. Fire and death!” The goblin stares at Jorgen, fear on his face. “Monster, burns goblins, fear and flight. Goblins on south side of gorge driven out- some go north, some run away. We run away.”</p><p></p><p>“This must be why there have been so many rumors of increased goblin activity lately,” muses Jorgen aloud. He nods. “Very well. In the morning we shall decide your fate.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, that same evening, about a mile west of the town of Whitewater, from whence our heroes came, lies the estate of Sir Martin Whitewater and his family, including Sir Cedric. It is here that we find both Cedric and Goer, in conference with Sir Martin and a visiting group of knights from Kamenda City. They have come with a message of great concern.</p><p></p><p>“It appears that Sir Bors has gone rogue,” one of the visiting knights announces to the Whitewaters (and Goer, Sir Cedric’s squire).</p><p></p><p>Sir Bors was always a knight of some repute, but recent tales have him performing more and more abuses on the peasants and even killing in cold blood. </p><p></p><p>“He must be found and stopped, before he besmirches the name of knighthood everywhere,” declares Sir Martin.</p><p></p><p>“Of course. That is why we have come. We would like you and your sons to join us as we comb the surrounding lands for him.”</p><p></p><p>“You think he ith here?” Sir Cedric says incredulously.</p><p></p><p>A shrug. “Perhaps.”</p><p></p><p>“We should also inform the sheriff,” Sir Martin states.</p><p></p><p>“Thquire, you mutht go track him down and let him know of thethe developmentth poththathte!” orders Sir Cedric.</p><p></p><p>Thus it is that, the next morning, Goer uneasily begins a lone journey, borrowing a horse from Sir Martin and getting Tad Ranger to point out the way to Lumber. His heart pounding, Goer kicks the horse into motion. Going alone... across country... for a day’s journey is a very risky proposition. </p><p></p><p>He shudders, thinking of Kyle and Otis and their brutal encounter with the hawks, and anxiously fingers the hilt of his sword.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> A midnight encounter on the road! The fate of the goblins is decided! And Goer breaks the horse!</p><p></p><p>*This was a particularly bad fumble.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 2469922, member: 1210"] [b]Journeys to Lumber[/b] It takes several days for Kyle and Otis to recover enough to travel. Otis spends the time being badgered and harangued by Xastys; finally, his heart aching, he confronts her. “Once, you were a teacher to me,” he tells her. “I thank you for all that you have given me and all the mysteries you have opened before me.” He takes a deep breath. “But lately, you seem to want to harm more than help. You seem to want power for its own sake, not for the good of others. You set me pointless tasks, yet my skills have gone beyond alphabetizing your tomes and dusting your shelves. I am a wizard in my own right, now.” Slowly, he counts out five pieces of gold. “My last contribution,” he announces gravely, “to your research.” “If you walk out that door, you won’t be returning,” Xastys declares. With a nod, Otis turns and gathers his bags to depart the Tower of Xastys for the last time. On his way out, Nodding, one of Xastys’ other apprentices stops him. “Fool,” Nodding sneers. “You will be back here in a few months, begging Lady Xastys to take you back.” “I will be [i]beyond you[/i] in a few months,” Otis retorts tartly. “I look forward,” Nodding chuckles, “to seeing you fail. You’re going to need Lady Xastys’ help, and I will enjoy seeing her cast you out.” “I look forward to seeing [i]you[/i] fail!” snaps Otis. “Someday, you will need my help. And when you do- I will [i]give it to you.”[/i] With that, he makes his exit. *** Dahlia, Cara, Kyle, Cur, Jorgen and Otis begin their journey before noon, heading directly across country for Lumber. There is no real road or path, though (according to Dahlia’s map) there is a road that connects Lumber with the capitol of the Barony, Kamenda City. “It looks like it will only take us a day or two to get there,” Dahlia comments. [i]While we’re out here, I’m going to keep my eyes open for that orc,[/i] resolves Cur silently. *** The sun is about to touch the tops of the western mountains when our heroes encounter the goblins. As soon as they come into view, Sheriff Jorgen gives a warning cry and charges forward, sinking his longspear deep into the chest of the first one before the goblins even have a chance to draw weapons. Then the grasses start entwining around them. The scrubby arms of the red-barked manzanitas seize the little red-skinned humanoids. The goblins scream in terror. One of them manages to throw a javelin at the party, but it is caught by the wind and flies wide. No one can even tell which of our heroes it was aimed at. Two of the goblins manage to squirm free of the entangling plants and wriggle out of the area of effect; another, not caught by the plants at all, turns and runs away. Jorgen thrusts into the ribs of one of the ones escaping the [i]entangle[/i] and strikes him down in a single forceful blow, and then, as another attempts to flee through his reach, he strikes it through the head, destroying the goblin’s black brain in an instant. Another of the little humanoids manages to claw his way out of the grasping plants and starts to run away. Otis blasts him with a [i]magic missile,[/i] but the goblin continues to stagger away. Kyle smirks. [i]Persistent little cuss, ain’t he?[/i] he thinks cockily, whirling his sling. He draws back his arm to fire- not as easy to line up a shot now, with the eye gone- and somehow, the straps on his pack come undone! The backpack collapses off of him, throwing his aim off; his sling stone bounces into the air pointlessly. He almost trips as the pack catches on his belt and nearly pulls his pants off.* One of the goblins screams out in crude Kamendan, “We surrender! Please no hurt!!” “Drop your weapons,” Cur Sed Seed commands. After only an instant’s hesitation, two of the goblins give up while the last one- Kyle’s persistent little cuss- manages to flee. Our heroes let him go while Kyle re-straps his backpack, buckles his pants again and generally straightens out his kit. By the time the goblins have been thoroughly searched and bound, it is dusk. Jorgen interrogates them at length. “What are you doing here?” he demands. “We sorry,” the one that speaks Kamendan says, cringing. “We mean no harm.” Otis glares at him. “You mean no harm! You are [i]goblins![/i] You steal babies and goats and raid and kill our people!” The goblin only cringes. Jorgen walks Otis aside and settles him down, then returns to the questioning. “If you mean no harm, why are you here?” “We flee Goblin Gorge.” Kyle cocks an eyebrow. “Why?” asks the sheriff. “Something terrible came,” the goblin answers. Then, “You... you kill us? We mean no harm, we just run...” “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you,” Jorgen responds soberly. “It will depend. If you tell me useful information, and you don’t lie to me, and you truly mean no harm- well, then, I will probably release you in the morning.” “Please!” the goblin squeaks. “Me tell!” “What happened?” Jorgen asks. “What came?” “One night it comes,” the goblins gasps, his face contorting in fear. “From old elf ruin, something comes. Fire and death!” The goblin stares at Jorgen, fear on his face. “Monster, burns goblins, fear and flight. Goblins on south side of gorge driven out- some go north, some run away. We run away.” “This must be why there have been so many rumors of increased goblin activity lately,” muses Jorgen aloud. He nods. “Very well. In the morning we shall decide your fate.” *** Meanwhile, that same evening, about a mile west of the town of Whitewater, from whence our heroes came, lies the estate of Sir Martin Whitewater and his family, including Sir Cedric. It is here that we find both Cedric and Goer, in conference with Sir Martin and a visiting group of knights from Kamenda City. They have come with a message of great concern. “It appears that Sir Bors has gone rogue,” one of the visiting knights announces to the Whitewaters (and Goer, Sir Cedric’s squire). Sir Bors was always a knight of some repute, but recent tales have him performing more and more abuses on the peasants and even killing in cold blood. “He must be found and stopped, before he besmirches the name of knighthood everywhere,” declares Sir Martin. “Of course. That is why we have come. We would like you and your sons to join us as we comb the surrounding lands for him.” “You think he ith here?” Sir Cedric says incredulously. A shrug. “Perhaps.” “We should also inform the sheriff,” Sir Martin states. “Thquire, you mutht go track him down and let him know of thethe developmentth poththathte!” orders Sir Cedric. Thus it is that, the next morning, Goer uneasily begins a lone journey, borrowing a horse from Sir Martin and getting Tad Ranger to point out the way to Lumber. His heart pounding, Goer kicks the horse into motion. Going alone... across country... for a day’s journey is a very risky proposition. He shudders, thinking of Kyle and Otis and their brutal encounter with the hawks, and anxiously fingers the hilt of his sword. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] A midnight encounter on the road! The fate of the goblins is decided! And Goer breaks the horse! *This was a particularly bad fumble. [/QUOTE]
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