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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 40136" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #4 (part II)</strong></p><p></p><p>Malcolm, Jeremy and Kazrack found Beorth at the temple of Anhur. They walked through the open courtyard of clay (34) and passed the statue of the great bald and spear-toting god. They knocked on the door. The priest there, Greglon, showed them into a finely appointed wood-paneled parlor, where Beorth was enjoying a breakfast of fluffy biscuits with jam, eggs with sausage and tea. </p><p>“I see you’ve had a better breakfast than we have,” Jeremy said, stomach rumbling.</p><p></p><p>“I’m sorry. Greglon and I were talking way into the night, exchanging stories about brave warriors who honorable fought their way into Anubis’ Realm and finally it just made sense for me to stay the night here.” </p><p></p><p>“We came to get you because we are going after the goblins again,’ Kazrack said. </p><p></p><p>‘We are?” Beorth was puzzled. “Why?” </p><p></p><p>“They are a danger to the town, and it is our duty to do something about it,” Kazrack continued. </p><p></p><p>“Well, shouldn’t the authorities be alerted?” the paladin asked getting up. </p><p></p><p>“They ahve ben but tha lousy bastards wunt do nuthin’ `bout it yet,” Malcolm interjected. </p><p></p><p>“I’m not sure this is the best course of action, but if you are going then I’m afraid I must go too to ensure that bodies are defiled.” Beorth shot a glance at Malcolm. “And to help ensure that you do not go to meet my master too quickly.” </p><p></p><p>Beorth began to gather his things. “Will Jana be joining us?” </p><p></p><p>“She doesn’t want to come for some reason,” Kazrack said. </p><p></p><p>“Who cares? She’s a girl. But since she’s not coming Chance isn’t coming,” Jeremy said. </p><p></p><p>“Well, Chance…” Beorth sighed as if to say, `what difference does that make?’ </p><p></p><p>He continued, “but perhaps I can convince her to come with us when we stop at camp. Her healing skills might come in necessary if the tide of battle turns against us. Speaking of which…” </p><p></p><p>Beorth looked at both Kazrack and Malcolm. Seeing that Malcolm was still slightly wounded from the previous day’s engagement. He said, “Malcolm, bow your head.” </p><p></p><p>The skald obliged him, and Beorth placed his hands upon his head. </p><p></p><p>“Anubis, please strengthen this man’s corporeal form so that he may not come to meet you before his appointed time.” </p><p></p><p>Malcolm felt the sudden discomfort of some of his wounds healing quickly, and stretched to get out the sudden kinks in his muscles. “Thahnk Anubis,” he said with a smirk. </p><p></p><p>The four of them headed back to camp, stopping only to buy a lantern, which Kazrack added to the collection of things he would keep on his overfilled pack. </p><p></p><p>---- </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Jana was waiting on line to get her hard biscuits and watery gravy that was being served for breakfast at the camp, when she overheard two of Crumb’s boys talking ahead of her.</p><p> </p><p>“I’m telling you Finn, they left very early this morning, before dawn,” the one closer to Jana said. </p><p></p><p>“Hunting goblins?” the one named Finn asked, he had black hair and that permanent tan of a sailor. </p><p></p><p>“Are they stupid or something? They’ll get themselves killed!” </p><p></p><p>“Well, they heard some other guys did it. You know, Malcolm and those guys? And they thought, they could do it too.” </p><p></p><p>“I hope for their sake they don’t run into any goblins. This is bad,” and they got their gravy and biscuits. </p><p></p><p>Jana wondered who else would be stupid enough to go after goblins as well, as she walked back to her tent in the misty rain, her plate sopping with biscuits drowned in gravy. Instinctively, she looked around to see if anyone she recognized was missing. At that moment, Chance came running up to her, gravy stained his chin. </p><p></p><p>“Jah-na! Jah-na! Did ya here? It is all over tha cahmp. Sohme of the others went out to hunt tha goblins!” </p><p></p><p>“I know, I heard,” Jana said. </p><p></p><p>“What are we gonna do? They could be in dahnger,” Chance said betraying his obvious anxiety. </p><p></p><p>“Well, the others have already left, so maybe they’ll catch up to them and send them back,” Jana reasoned. </p><p></p><p>“Ah hope so, but they said they left very early,” Chance said. “Maybe we should go ahfter them to warn them.” </p><p></p><p>“I think the smartest thing is to just wait. It is best that we don’t wander around by ourselves.” </p><p></p><p>“Ah hope yer right.” </p><p></p><p>--- </p><p></p><p>The others returned with Beorth and collected their stuff. Beorth sought out the young girl from Westron. And he was having little luck convincing her to come along as well. </p><p></p><p>“Honestly, Beorth I am surprised you are going with them. It only encourages them,” Jana said, not caring that the others were there to hear her. </p><p></p><p>“I must go to ensure that both justice and my god’s will are served,” Beorth replied. </p><p></p><p>“Ahnd he’s got to help the others that went ahead,” Chance interjected. </p><p></p><p>“What others?” asked Kazrack. </p><p></p><p>“In turns out some of the others decided to hunt some goblins for themselves,” Jana explained. </p><p></p><p>“Oh no, they could be in danger,” Beorth said. </p><p></p><p>“We’ll find them and send them back,” Kazrack said. </p><p></p><p>“Ya know, Jah-na, maybe we *should* go. If someone is hurt, they might need ya skills,” Chance said quietly to the girl. “We both knows those kids ud jast git slaughterd by those goblins.” </p><p></p><p>Jana sighed, and finally relented, “If and when we find them we come right back, okay?” </p><p></p><p>Most of the group agreed, though Malcolm’s agreement was muffled. </p><p></p><p>As they began to retrace their steps of the previous day, thunder exploded once again and the rain picked up strength once more. </p><p></p><p>--- </p><p></p><p>The group fell into what seemed like normal marching order now. Malcolm was out in front scouting, while Jeremy walked alone between Beorth and Kazrack and Jana and Chance who were respectively paired up. </p><p></p><p>The rain kept coming down, and as Malcolm creeped ahead towards the high clearing where he should have been able to see the ocean to his left he saw nothing but a blurred grey that made no differentiation that could be called horizon. </p><p></p><p>Up ahead, he saw the lump of a tarp of some kind, figures were cowering beneath. Malcolm waved his companions forward and stepped up to the tarp. </p><p></p><p>“Who’s there?” a frightened voice called out. </p><p></p><p>“Ets Malcolm,” the skald said, and he tried to pull off the tarp, but whomever was below held on too tightly. </p><p></p><p>John and Guisel looked up meekly from beneath the tarp. Carlos was tucked in behind them. Kazrack and the others approached. </p><p></p><p>“Oh, Malcolm! Thank Ra you found us! There were goblins everywhere it was terrible,” John said. </p><p></p><p>“Yeah, we thought a couple of goblins would be no trouble. We’re are going to a dragon, aren’t we? But oh, it was worse than terrible. They came out of everywhere,” Guisel added. </p><p></p><p>“Where was this?” Kazrack asked. </p><p></p><p>“By a ravine not far from here,” Guisel said. “We thought we’d split up to find them easy and then they started shooting arrows at us!” </p><p></p><p>“Si! Si! Era horrible! Empersaron a venir de cada lado. Cucos! Cucos!” Carlos cried in his native tongue. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm tried yanking the tarp off again, and failed. </p><p></p><p>“Do you want to come back with us?” Kazrack asked </p><p></p><p>“No!” said Guisel. “There are still two of us back there though.” </p><p></p><p>“Dunkle and Doris,” said John. </p><p></p><p>“When the goblins came out they were at the bottom of the ravine and we were forced to leave without them,” Guisel explained. </p><p></p><p>“You left without them?!” Beorth said, trying to hide his disdain. </p><p></p><p>Jana smirked. </p><p></p><p>“What else could we do?” John pleaded. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm tried to pull the tarp off of them again, and yet still failed. </p><p></p><p>“Get up!” he roared. “Git back ta tha cahmp!” </p><p></p><p>The three got up with a start and started moving back towards the direction of the camp. Kazrack stopped Carlos. </p><p></p><p>“Do you want to come with us? You can fight,” the dwarf asked. </p><p></p><p>Carlos just shook his head in fear and jogged to catch up to the shelter of the tarp his friends still held. </p><p></p><p>“What a fine lot of heroes Crumb has collected himself, huh?” Kazrack said more to himself than the others. “We had best hurry. The others might be dead already.” </p><p></p><p>With that the six of them began to hustle towards the ravine, moving down the ridge, they could see the mist-shrouded rocky out-cropping that stood above the ravine and cave entrance. Kazrack called the group to stop, but Jeremy kept on going eager to find out what had happened to the others. </p><p></p><p>“Somebody stop him,” the dwarf hissed. “They could be waiting in ambush for us. We should go around the back side of the hill and try to get high ground.” </p><p></p><p>“I’ll go,” Beorth offered. </p><p></p><p>“No, let Malcolm go, he runs faster,’ Kazrack said, and with that the skald took off telling the others he’d meet them at the other side of the rocky hill. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm poured on the speed trying to trip Jeremy once and failing, and finally grabbing hold of his shoulder and spinning him around, not far from where the party had fought their battle on the previous day. </p><p></p><p>“Ya bloody git! Whadya doin’? Ya cahnt be roonnin’ off by yerself that way,” Malcolm said. </p><p>“Where is everyone else?” Jeremy asked. </p><p></p><p>“They went around tha uther way. Ya woulda nan that if ya had listened.” </p><p></p><p>“Oh, I. . . “ </p><p></p><p>And with that a rain of arrows came flying through the misty air at the two companions. The rain and fog made it hard to see the exact direction they came from, but it was somewhere to the right. Jeremy dropped prone, while Malcolm ran behind a nearby tree to attempt to get cover, but it was too late they both felt the sting of arrows and already their blood was flowing, however lightly. </p><p>“Get back here, ya bloody git!” Malcolm cried to his friend. </p><p></p><p>Jeremy began to crawl on his stomach into the cover of the brush. He could feel arrows bite at his feet a he did so; more arrows thunked into the trunk of the tree Malcolm was standing beside. Not satisfied with his progress, Jeremy go up despite the rain of arrows and dove in to the brush beneath Malcolm. While they knew the general area that the arrows were coming from, the mist obscured the exact spot. </p><p></p><p>“They’re shooting arrows at us!” cried Malcolm hoping his friends would hear, but unfortunately they did not. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack and Beorth began to climb the rocky hill from the other side, with Jana and Chance behind them. This side of the barren hill was a series of small plateaus at varying heights, and mist clung all around it, obscuring vision. They had made their way halfway up when arrows began their rain on them as well. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack tried to find a way to get to where the arrows cam from, fanning to the right. Beorth, Chance and Jana continued straight on, and the gambler paid the price for this wager. In a second, Chance cried out and dropped to the ground, the bite of two arrows drawing blood. He placed his back to a plateau wall to stay out of their sight. </p><p></p><p>“Ahm gravely wounded!” he cried out. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack began to supply cover fire with his crossbow from his vantage point, while Beorth and Jana climbed up to the very top of the hill – a vantage point above the goblins that were firing at them. Unfortunately, when the stepped up there, looking to see how to get down to where the goblins were, there were two things they did not expect. The first, there was another rank of goblins behind those that were firing and they turned from where they were firing at Jeremy and Malcolm and fired point blank at the two of them, injuring them. In addition, at that moment a second volley of arrows came from another direction, somewhere across the ravine, and more blood flowed. Disabled, Jana dropped to the rocky ground. </p><p></p><p>Jeremy and Malcolm had been looking out of their cover, trying to determine where the arrows had been coming from to no avail. However, they could see Beorth standing above the mist on the highest plateau and the direction he was looking, so they had an idea of where the goblins might be. Malcolm decided to take his chance and drawing his bastard sword ran full speed towards the top of the hill. Suddenly, another rain of arrows came out of the mist from another direction, peppering him, but he did not stop until he had leapt from plateau to plateau and stood among the three original goblins - One had been dropped by a crossbow bolt from Kazrack. The goblins dropped their bows and pulled clubs. </p><p></p><p>Chance poked his head up over the edge of the plateau having heard Jana cry out and seeing her on the ground, climbed up and shielded her body with his. </p><p></p><p>“Dun move,” he said to her, but she had no intention of moving, the slightest strain would aggravate her wounds, and she would most likely bleed to death. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack leapt down to the ground level, thinking he’d find another way around and up at the goblins, but he twisted his ankle and fell to one knee. Jeremy followed Malcolm, but was also shot by arrows out of the mist. The Neergaardian drew his longsword and short sword and arrived beside his companion and now, he and the skald and the Ghosthunter of Anubis surrounded the three goblins. However, Kazrack could now see four more goblins with bows emerging from the brush near where Jeremy and Malcolm had been hiding. Steping into the brush on his own right, he leaned his halberd against a tree, feel to one knee and began to fire his crossbow at them. They fired as well, but the arrows got caught up in the brush, and failed to hit him. Kazrack’s aim was true and one of the goblins dropped with a single shot. </p><p></p><p>Atop the rocky hill, the three companions were having a hard time with the three goblins. Jeremy and Beorth were both trying fancy double blows from their weapons and failing to make contact. One of the goblins dealt a heavy blow to Malcolm’s brow, drawing blood.</p><p>Jana pushed Chance off of her and rolled over to the edge of the plateau to see what was happening in the battle. She mumbled her arcane words, but none of the goblins seemed to take notice. </p><p></p><p>Finally, the three warriors were able to fell the three goblins. Beorth immediately charged down the hill, leaping and bounding to support Kazrack, thinking that the danger was over at the top of the hill. </p><p></p><p>But the follower of the Jackal god was wrong, for in that same moment Chance began a stuttered cry… </p><p></p><p>“Tharce mar coming!” </p><p></p><p>Jana turned to look and four more goblins armed with bows were hustling up the south side of the hill. These must have been the source of the second flight of arrows. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm climbed up to where Jana and Chance were, but Chance in fear for his life dropped down, getting in the way of Jeremy who was trying to find a way up. Before they knew it, the goblins were upon Malcolm and Jana. Jana had had her club at the ready and smacked one hard, knocking it down, but it got up rather quickly returning the blow. Malcolm fought fiercely, swinging his bastard sword wildy, but not to much effect. Jeremy finally began to climb up to them, when a goblin struck a lucky blow against Malcolm’s jaw, sending him reeling backward. The back of the barbarian’s head slammed against the stone with a crunch, and blood erupted from his brow wound. He lay still, and the goblin that dealt the blow stepped over him towards Jeremy who came up to the plateau. </p><p>Meanwhile, Kazrack had rushed out his hiding place in the brush to charge a goblin with is halberd, shoving the broad blade deep into the creature and flinging up and over his head like a rag doll. Now he and Beorth were fighting side by side against the two remaining goblins that were down there with them. </p><p></p><p>Jana and Jeremy continued to fight two goblins, one of the other two waited to move into the action, but the fourth still had his bow out and as Beorth dropped the last goblin before him and Kazrack he felt the bite of a goblin arrow in his back. Reaching pathetically for the arrow in his back he slowly turned and dropped, disabled, to the ground. </p><p></p><p>“No!” cried Kazrack, and pulling his crossbow began to fire bolts up at the goblin. </p><p></p><p>Jeremy sliced deeply across one goblin’s belly with his long sword and another stepped up, striking a firm blow to the warrior’s hip. Keeping his balance Jeremy swung again, but the blow was parried. </p><p></p><p>Jana crushed the skull of her opponent and moved to tend to to Malcolm’s wounds. All this time Chance was trying to climb back up to offer help once he heard Malcolm fall, but the slippery stone and constant rain conspired against his efforts. </p><p></p><p>One of Kazrack’s bolts found its target and another goblin dropped. The remaining goblin turned and ran, but passing Jana she quickly swung out her club, crushing its knee cap and knocking it face first into the stone, where it lay motionless. </p><p></p><p>“Quick, do something. Help Macolm!” Jeremy cried. He kneeled on the other side of his friend and tried to help the young healer, but his lack of knowledge was obvious. </p><p></p><p>“Stop!” Jana said to him. “If I need your help I’ll ask for it.” </p><p></p><p>The blood kept on pouring out, blue, black and red. The skald’s eye was scarred, his breath a thin wisp of steam in the cold air. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack knelt beside Beorth. “Are you okay?” </p><p></p><p>“I’ll be okay. I just need some help to move,” the paladin said, trying to get up. </p><p></p><p>“Just sit still,” the dwarf said. </p><p></p><p>“Chance,” Kazrack cried up. “Come help me with Beorth!” </p><p></p><p>Chance obey and came down the hill towards the dwarf. </p><p></p><p>Jana’s attempts became more frantic. She pressed an absorbent herbal leaf on the wound. Smeared it with a poultice made of berries meant to help coagulation. But more blood began to pour from the skald’s nose, and then he coughed a bubbled of bright red blood. Malcolm’s face looked like one enormous bruise. </p><p></p><p>And with one last raspy breath, he stopped breathing all together. </p><p></p><p>Jana and Jeremy just stopped and looked down at their former friend. Kazrack and Chance walked up, carrying Beorth between them. </p><p></p><p>“How is Malcolm?” Kazrack asked. </p><p></p><p>There was a long silent pause, the constant rain was the only sound as it fell into Malcolm’s still open and now lifeless eyes. </p><p></p><p>“He’s dead,” Jana said quietly. </p><p></p><p>“Whut? No…” Chance said quietly, and helping Beorth to sit, he sat down as well and buried his face in hands no. </p><p></p><p>“Are you sure?” Kazrack asked. “Isn’t there anything you can do?” </p><p></p><p>“I have done all I can. The bleeding was mostly internal. There is little to be done about such things.” </p><p></p><p>Suddenly, Jeremy leapt up from where he sat. </p><p></p><p>“He can’t be dead! He can’t be dead! I was supposed to watch his back. Do something!” he grabbed Malcolm’s corpse and shook it. Tears flowing down his now ruddy cheeks, his blonde hair plastered to his forehead by the rain.. </p><p>“Jeremy, stop. It’s over,” Jana said, placing her hand on his arm. </p><p></p><p>Jeremy roared in frustration, and standing grabbed one of the goblin corpses and made to toss it off the side of the hill in anger. Of course, Beorth moved to stop him, running to tackle him, but the sudden action aggravated his wounds, and he wrapped his arms around him only to collapse. Blood billowed from the wound in his back, and Jeremy paused to look down at the crumpled form However, even as Jana ran over to bind Beorth’s wounds before he bled to death, Jeremy tossed the body over the side and pulling his sword, sunk it repeatedly and violently into all the bodies of the goblins that were about. After a moment or two of this he collapsed as well, dropping his sword and burying his face in one hand. </p><p></p><p>Kazrcak decided that he would gather the goblin bodies in order to burn them, so that Beorth would not see the desecration of the bodies if he were to awaken. After making a pile not far from where Jana tended to Beorth, the dwarf walked down towards the ravine floor to retrieve the body Jeremy had tossed. He was surprised to find a human corpse beside the altar stone the goblins had used in the previous day’s rite of passage. He recognized it as one of Crumb’s boys, perforated by many arrows and he shook his head. </p><p></p><p>“Hello?” he heard a voice call out from the entrance to the cave where they had fought the goblin warlock. The dwarf hefted his halberd and walked closer to investigate. </p><p></p><p>“Someone there?” the dwarf called. </p><p></p><p>“Kazrack?” said an unfamiliar voice, and another of Crumb’s boys emerged from the cave mouth’s darkness. Kazrack recognized the boy’s face, but knew not his name. </p><p></p><p>“Are there any more goblins out there?” the boy asked. </p><p></p><p>“They are all gone for now. My companions and I killed them. What are you doing?” Kazrack asked. </p><p></p><p>“I was hiding from the goblins. They came out of nowhere…everywhere and this seemed like shelter so I came in here. Have you seen Dunkle? The last I knew he was crouched behind that square black stone.” </p><p></p><p>“He is dead,” Kazrack said simply. </p><p></p><p>The boy cringed backward toward the cave mouth. “What? No! Oh, no! Not Dunkle! No,” was all he could say. </p><p></p><p>“Where are you going?” Kazrack asked. </p><p></p><p>“I’ve gotta hide. There could be more goblins around. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!” the boy became hysterical and sobbed, crouching back to the cave. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack stepped forward and grabbing him, shook him. “Listen. What’s your name?” he demanded. </p><p></p><p>“Doris.” </p><p></p><p>“Listen Doris, pull yourself together. This is no time for this. We have to get out of here. We have lost a friend as well.” </p><p></p><p>“Who?” </p><p></p><p>“Malcolm.” </p><p></p><p>“Oh sweet Ra! Malcolm’s dead, too?” Doris sobbed. </p><p></p><p>“Come help me with your friend’s body. We need to get him out of here.” </p><p></p><p>“Leave the body. Let’s go. Let’s hurry up. I don’t want to die too.” </p><p></p><p>“No. Come help me,” the dwarf said. </p><p></p><p>In time, a stretcher was fashioned for Beorth to be carried back to camp without further harming him. Malcolm’s body was stripped, and Jeremy hefted his friend’s body over one shoulder. Chance grabbed the skald’s bastard sword. Chance helped Kazrack with the stretcher, and Jana and Doris carried Dunkle’s body between them. </p><p></p><p>The walk back was long and hard, and the companions had to rest often in the rain that never seemed to rest. Eventually, the made it back. </p><p></p><p>Among the first people they saw was Boris E. Crumb who happened to be returning to camp at the same time. </p><p></p><p>“What is going on?” the fat man asked in his basso voice. </p><p></p><p>“Goblins,” said Kazrack. “Beorth is injured and Malcolm and Dunkle are dead.” </p><p></p><p>“Whut?” Crumb sighed “Whut in Set’s Realm were people doing wandering around after goblins for?” </p><p>“I don’t know. We went after them, but were too late to save Dunkle.” </p><p></p><p>“After ya went off to hunt some goblins yourself I’m sure. I know how it is. Well, this can’t be tolerate,” Crumb grunted, angrily. ‘Well take care of your injured friend and do something about the bodies. I’m gonna have to hold a meeting about this tomorrow. I can’t be letting my investments get killed on wild goose chases.” </p><p></p><p>He was already turning and walking away and mumbling as he finished. “Deet! Deet! Where are ya?” </p><p>Dunkle’s body was left at the camp, but Malcolm’s corpse and Beorth were brought into town to the temple of Anhur. There, Greglon of Anhur, showed them a room where Beorth could be laid in a bunk, and another where Malcolm’s body could be placed (after asking several questions about whether Malcolm had died as a brave warrior). The militant of Anhur then went into the room with Beorth, asking the others to wait outside. In a few minutes he returned. </p><p></p><p>“Beorth has been healed, but he needs his rest. He asked to speak with you, but keep in mind what I told. I will give you a few minutes alone, but then I will ask you to leave,” Greglon said. </p><p></p><p>“Of course,” Kazrack agreed. </p><p></p><p>In the room Beorth tried to sit up, but failing merely turned his head and said weakly, “Malcolm is dead? I’m not sure of the last thing I remember.” </p><p></p><p>“Yes, he is dead. His body is here in the temple to be taken care of,” Kazrack said. </p><p></p><p>“We must burn him in pyre as is the custom of his people,” Beorth said. </p><p></p><p>“Yes, that is what he would have wanted. Shall we try to arrange to send his stuff back to his kin?” the dwarf asked. </p><p></p><p>“I don’t think that it would matter even if we could,” Jeremy said. “He was exiled.” </p><p></p><p>“Then we will put his things to the fire as well,’ Beorth said. </p><p></p><p>“Except his bastard sword. I’m keeping that,” Chance said. </p><p></p><p>And it was agreed. Chance, Jana and Beorth returned to camp, but Jeremy asked for and received permission to stay at the temple with Beorth, not wanting to be far from the body of his companion who he had loved. </p><p></p><p>At the camp, Kazrack found Kamir digging Dunkle's grave all by himself - the rain making the sides of the hole erode, even as he shoveled out the dirt. So, he helped.</p><p></p><p><strong>End of Session #4</strong></p><p></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(34) Temple of Anhur have open clay courtyards for daily martial practice and sparring.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 40136, member: 11"] [b]Session #4 (part II)[/b] Malcolm, Jeremy and Kazrack found Beorth at the temple of Anhur. They walked through the open courtyard of clay (34) and passed the statue of the great bald and spear-toting god. They knocked on the door. The priest there, Greglon, showed them into a finely appointed wood-paneled parlor, where Beorth was enjoying a breakfast of fluffy biscuits with jam, eggs with sausage and tea. “I see you’ve had a better breakfast than we have,” Jeremy said, stomach rumbling. “I’m sorry. Greglon and I were talking way into the night, exchanging stories about brave warriors who honorable fought their way into Anubis’ Realm and finally it just made sense for me to stay the night here.” “We came to get you because we are going after the goblins again,’ Kazrack said. ‘We are?” Beorth was puzzled. “Why?” “They are a danger to the town, and it is our duty to do something about it,” Kazrack continued. “Well, shouldn’t the authorities be alerted?” the paladin asked getting up. “They ahve ben but tha lousy bastards wunt do nuthin’ `bout it yet,” Malcolm interjected. “I’m not sure this is the best course of action, but if you are going then I’m afraid I must go too to ensure that bodies are defiled.” Beorth shot a glance at Malcolm. “And to help ensure that you do not go to meet my master too quickly.” Beorth began to gather his things. “Will Jana be joining us?” “She doesn’t want to come for some reason,” Kazrack said. “Who cares? She’s a girl. But since she’s not coming Chance isn’t coming,” Jeremy said. “Well, Chance…” Beorth sighed as if to say, `what difference does that make?’ He continued, “but perhaps I can convince her to come with us when we stop at camp. Her healing skills might come in necessary if the tide of battle turns against us. Speaking of which…” Beorth looked at both Kazrack and Malcolm. Seeing that Malcolm was still slightly wounded from the previous day’s engagement. He said, “Malcolm, bow your head.” The skald obliged him, and Beorth placed his hands upon his head. “Anubis, please strengthen this man’s corporeal form so that he may not come to meet you before his appointed time.” Malcolm felt the sudden discomfort of some of his wounds healing quickly, and stretched to get out the sudden kinks in his muscles. “Thahnk Anubis,” he said with a smirk. The four of them headed back to camp, stopping only to buy a lantern, which Kazrack added to the collection of things he would keep on his overfilled pack. ---- Meanwhile, Jana was waiting on line to get her hard biscuits and watery gravy that was being served for breakfast at the camp, when she overheard two of Crumb’s boys talking ahead of her. “I’m telling you Finn, they left very early this morning, before dawn,” the one closer to Jana said. “Hunting goblins?” the one named Finn asked, he had black hair and that permanent tan of a sailor. “Are they stupid or something? They’ll get themselves killed!” “Well, they heard some other guys did it. You know, Malcolm and those guys? And they thought, they could do it too.” “I hope for their sake they don’t run into any goblins. This is bad,” and they got their gravy and biscuits. Jana wondered who else would be stupid enough to go after goblins as well, as she walked back to her tent in the misty rain, her plate sopping with biscuits drowned in gravy. Instinctively, she looked around to see if anyone she recognized was missing. At that moment, Chance came running up to her, gravy stained his chin. “Jah-na! Jah-na! Did ya here? It is all over tha cahmp. Sohme of the others went out to hunt tha goblins!” “I know, I heard,” Jana said. “What are we gonna do? They could be in dahnger,” Chance said betraying his obvious anxiety. “Well, the others have already left, so maybe they’ll catch up to them and send them back,” Jana reasoned. “Ah hope so, but they said they left very early,” Chance said. “Maybe we should go ahfter them to warn them.” “I think the smartest thing is to just wait. It is best that we don’t wander around by ourselves.” “Ah hope yer right.” --- The others returned with Beorth and collected their stuff. Beorth sought out the young girl from Westron. And he was having little luck convincing her to come along as well. “Honestly, Beorth I am surprised you are going with them. It only encourages them,” Jana said, not caring that the others were there to hear her. “I must go to ensure that both justice and my god’s will are served,” Beorth replied. “Ahnd he’s got to help the others that went ahead,” Chance interjected. “What others?” asked Kazrack. “In turns out some of the others decided to hunt some goblins for themselves,” Jana explained. “Oh no, they could be in danger,” Beorth said. “We’ll find them and send them back,” Kazrack said. “Ya know, Jah-na, maybe we *should* go. If someone is hurt, they might need ya skills,” Chance said quietly to the girl. “We both knows those kids ud jast git slaughterd by those goblins.” Jana sighed, and finally relented, “If and when we find them we come right back, okay?” Most of the group agreed, though Malcolm’s agreement was muffled. As they began to retrace their steps of the previous day, thunder exploded once again and the rain picked up strength once more. --- The group fell into what seemed like normal marching order now. Malcolm was out in front scouting, while Jeremy walked alone between Beorth and Kazrack and Jana and Chance who were respectively paired up. The rain kept coming down, and as Malcolm creeped ahead towards the high clearing where he should have been able to see the ocean to his left he saw nothing but a blurred grey that made no differentiation that could be called horizon. Up ahead, he saw the lump of a tarp of some kind, figures were cowering beneath. Malcolm waved his companions forward and stepped up to the tarp. “Who’s there?” a frightened voice called out. “Ets Malcolm,” the skald said, and he tried to pull off the tarp, but whomever was below held on too tightly. John and Guisel looked up meekly from beneath the tarp. Carlos was tucked in behind them. Kazrack and the others approached. “Oh, Malcolm! Thank Ra you found us! There were goblins everywhere it was terrible,” John said. “Yeah, we thought a couple of goblins would be no trouble. We’re are going to a dragon, aren’t we? But oh, it was worse than terrible. They came out of everywhere,” Guisel added. “Where was this?” Kazrack asked. “By a ravine not far from here,” Guisel said. “We thought we’d split up to find them easy and then they started shooting arrows at us!” “Si! Si! Era horrible! Empersaron a venir de cada lado. Cucos! Cucos!” Carlos cried in his native tongue. Malcolm tried yanking the tarp off again, and failed. “Do you want to come back with us?” Kazrack asked “No!” said Guisel. “There are still two of us back there though.” “Dunkle and Doris,” said John. “When the goblins came out they were at the bottom of the ravine and we were forced to leave without them,” Guisel explained. “You left without them?!” Beorth said, trying to hide his disdain. Jana smirked. “What else could we do?” John pleaded. Malcolm tried to pull the tarp off of them again, and yet still failed. “Get up!” he roared. “Git back ta tha cahmp!” The three got up with a start and started moving back towards the direction of the camp. Kazrack stopped Carlos. “Do you want to come with us? You can fight,” the dwarf asked. Carlos just shook his head in fear and jogged to catch up to the shelter of the tarp his friends still held. “What a fine lot of heroes Crumb has collected himself, huh?” Kazrack said more to himself than the others. “We had best hurry. The others might be dead already.” With that the six of them began to hustle towards the ravine, moving down the ridge, they could see the mist-shrouded rocky out-cropping that stood above the ravine and cave entrance. Kazrack called the group to stop, but Jeremy kept on going eager to find out what had happened to the others. “Somebody stop him,” the dwarf hissed. “They could be waiting in ambush for us. We should go around the back side of the hill and try to get high ground.” “I’ll go,” Beorth offered. “No, let Malcolm go, he runs faster,’ Kazrack said, and with that the skald took off telling the others he’d meet them at the other side of the rocky hill. Malcolm poured on the speed trying to trip Jeremy once and failing, and finally grabbing hold of his shoulder and spinning him around, not far from where the party had fought their battle on the previous day. “Ya bloody git! Whadya doin’? Ya cahnt be roonnin’ off by yerself that way,” Malcolm said. “Where is everyone else?” Jeremy asked. “They went around tha uther way. Ya woulda nan that if ya had listened.” “Oh, I. . . “ And with that a rain of arrows came flying through the misty air at the two companions. The rain and fog made it hard to see the exact direction they came from, but it was somewhere to the right. Jeremy dropped prone, while Malcolm ran behind a nearby tree to attempt to get cover, but it was too late they both felt the sting of arrows and already their blood was flowing, however lightly. “Get back here, ya bloody git!” Malcolm cried to his friend. Jeremy began to crawl on his stomach into the cover of the brush. He could feel arrows bite at his feet a he did so; more arrows thunked into the trunk of the tree Malcolm was standing beside. Not satisfied with his progress, Jeremy go up despite the rain of arrows and dove in to the brush beneath Malcolm. While they knew the general area that the arrows were coming from, the mist obscured the exact spot. “They’re shooting arrows at us!” cried Malcolm hoping his friends would hear, but unfortunately they did not. Kazrack and Beorth began to climb the rocky hill from the other side, with Jana and Chance behind them. This side of the barren hill was a series of small plateaus at varying heights, and mist clung all around it, obscuring vision. They had made their way halfway up when arrows began their rain on them as well. Kazrack tried to find a way to get to where the arrows cam from, fanning to the right. Beorth, Chance and Jana continued straight on, and the gambler paid the price for this wager. In a second, Chance cried out and dropped to the ground, the bite of two arrows drawing blood. He placed his back to a plateau wall to stay out of their sight. “Ahm gravely wounded!” he cried out. Kazrack began to supply cover fire with his crossbow from his vantage point, while Beorth and Jana climbed up to the very top of the hill – a vantage point above the goblins that were firing at them. Unfortunately, when the stepped up there, looking to see how to get down to where the goblins were, there were two things they did not expect. The first, there was another rank of goblins behind those that were firing and they turned from where they were firing at Jeremy and Malcolm and fired point blank at the two of them, injuring them. In addition, at that moment a second volley of arrows came from another direction, somewhere across the ravine, and more blood flowed. Disabled, Jana dropped to the rocky ground. Jeremy and Malcolm had been looking out of their cover, trying to determine where the arrows had been coming from to no avail. However, they could see Beorth standing above the mist on the highest plateau and the direction he was looking, so they had an idea of where the goblins might be. Malcolm decided to take his chance and drawing his bastard sword ran full speed towards the top of the hill. Suddenly, another rain of arrows came out of the mist from another direction, peppering him, but he did not stop until he had leapt from plateau to plateau and stood among the three original goblins - One had been dropped by a crossbow bolt from Kazrack. The goblins dropped their bows and pulled clubs. Chance poked his head up over the edge of the plateau having heard Jana cry out and seeing her on the ground, climbed up and shielded her body with his. “Dun move,” he said to her, but she had no intention of moving, the slightest strain would aggravate her wounds, and she would most likely bleed to death. Kazrack leapt down to the ground level, thinking he’d find another way around and up at the goblins, but he twisted his ankle and fell to one knee. Jeremy followed Malcolm, but was also shot by arrows out of the mist. The Neergaardian drew his longsword and short sword and arrived beside his companion and now, he and the skald and the Ghosthunter of Anubis surrounded the three goblins. However, Kazrack could now see four more goblins with bows emerging from the brush near where Jeremy and Malcolm had been hiding. Steping into the brush on his own right, he leaned his halberd against a tree, feel to one knee and began to fire his crossbow at them. They fired as well, but the arrows got caught up in the brush, and failed to hit him. Kazrack’s aim was true and one of the goblins dropped with a single shot. Atop the rocky hill, the three companions were having a hard time with the three goblins. Jeremy and Beorth were both trying fancy double blows from their weapons and failing to make contact. One of the goblins dealt a heavy blow to Malcolm’s brow, drawing blood. Jana pushed Chance off of her and rolled over to the edge of the plateau to see what was happening in the battle. She mumbled her arcane words, but none of the goblins seemed to take notice. Finally, the three warriors were able to fell the three goblins. Beorth immediately charged down the hill, leaping and bounding to support Kazrack, thinking that the danger was over at the top of the hill. But the follower of the Jackal god was wrong, for in that same moment Chance began a stuttered cry… “Tharce mar coming!” Jana turned to look and four more goblins armed with bows were hustling up the south side of the hill. These must have been the source of the second flight of arrows. Malcolm climbed up to where Jana and Chance were, but Chance in fear for his life dropped down, getting in the way of Jeremy who was trying to find a way up. Before they knew it, the goblins were upon Malcolm and Jana. Jana had had her club at the ready and smacked one hard, knocking it down, but it got up rather quickly returning the blow. Malcolm fought fiercely, swinging his bastard sword wildy, but not to much effect. Jeremy finally began to climb up to them, when a goblin struck a lucky blow against Malcolm’s jaw, sending him reeling backward. The back of the barbarian’s head slammed against the stone with a crunch, and blood erupted from his brow wound. He lay still, and the goblin that dealt the blow stepped over him towards Jeremy who came up to the plateau. Meanwhile, Kazrack had rushed out his hiding place in the brush to charge a goblin with is halberd, shoving the broad blade deep into the creature and flinging up and over his head like a rag doll. Now he and Beorth were fighting side by side against the two remaining goblins that were down there with them. Jana and Jeremy continued to fight two goblins, one of the other two waited to move into the action, but the fourth still had his bow out and as Beorth dropped the last goblin before him and Kazrack he felt the bite of a goblin arrow in his back. Reaching pathetically for the arrow in his back he slowly turned and dropped, disabled, to the ground. “No!” cried Kazrack, and pulling his crossbow began to fire bolts up at the goblin. Jeremy sliced deeply across one goblin’s belly with his long sword and another stepped up, striking a firm blow to the warrior’s hip. Keeping his balance Jeremy swung again, but the blow was parried. Jana crushed the skull of her opponent and moved to tend to to Malcolm’s wounds. All this time Chance was trying to climb back up to offer help once he heard Malcolm fall, but the slippery stone and constant rain conspired against his efforts. One of Kazrack’s bolts found its target and another goblin dropped. The remaining goblin turned and ran, but passing Jana she quickly swung out her club, crushing its knee cap and knocking it face first into the stone, where it lay motionless. “Quick, do something. Help Macolm!” Jeremy cried. He kneeled on the other side of his friend and tried to help the young healer, but his lack of knowledge was obvious. “Stop!” Jana said to him. “If I need your help I’ll ask for it.” The blood kept on pouring out, blue, black and red. The skald’s eye was scarred, his breath a thin wisp of steam in the cold air. Kazrack knelt beside Beorth. “Are you okay?” “I’ll be okay. I just need some help to move,” the paladin said, trying to get up. “Just sit still,” the dwarf said. “Chance,” Kazrack cried up. “Come help me with Beorth!” Chance obey and came down the hill towards the dwarf. Jana’s attempts became more frantic. She pressed an absorbent herbal leaf on the wound. Smeared it with a poultice made of berries meant to help coagulation. But more blood began to pour from the skald’s nose, and then he coughed a bubbled of bright red blood. Malcolm’s face looked like one enormous bruise. And with one last raspy breath, he stopped breathing all together. Jana and Jeremy just stopped and looked down at their former friend. Kazrack and Chance walked up, carrying Beorth between them. “How is Malcolm?” Kazrack asked. There was a long silent pause, the constant rain was the only sound as it fell into Malcolm’s still open and now lifeless eyes. “He’s dead,” Jana said quietly. “Whut? No…” Chance said quietly, and helping Beorth to sit, he sat down as well and buried his face in hands no. “Are you sure?” Kazrack asked. “Isn’t there anything you can do?” “I have done all I can. The bleeding was mostly internal. There is little to be done about such things.” Suddenly, Jeremy leapt up from where he sat. “He can’t be dead! He can’t be dead! I was supposed to watch his back. Do something!” he grabbed Malcolm’s corpse and shook it. Tears flowing down his now ruddy cheeks, his blonde hair plastered to his forehead by the rain.. “Jeremy, stop. It’s over,” Jana said, placing her hand on his arm. Jeremy roared in frustration, and standing grabbed one of the goblin corpses and made to toss it off the side of the hill in anger. Of course, Beorth moved to stop him, running to tackle him, but the sudden action aggravated his wounds, and he wrapped his arms around him only to collapse. Blood billowed from the wound in his back, and Jeremy paused to look down at the crumpled form However, even as Jana ran over to bind Beorth’s wounds before he bled to death, Jeremy tossed the body over the side and pulling his sword, sunk it repeatedly and violently into all the bodies of the goblins that were about. After a moment or two of this he collapsed as well, dropping his sword and burying his face in one hand. Kazrcak decided that he would gather the goblin bodies in order to burn them, so that Beorth would not see the desecration of the bodies if he were to awaken. After making a pile not far from where Jana tended to Beorth, the dwarf walked down towards the ravine floor to retrieve the body Jeremy had tossed. He was surprised to find a human corpse beside the altar stone the goblins had used in the previous day’s rite of passage. He recognized it as one of Crumb’s boys, perforated by many arrows and he shook his head. “Hello?” he heard a voice call out from the entrance to the cave where they had fought the goblin warlock. The dwarf hefted his halberd and walked closer to investigate. “Someone there?” the dwarf called. “Kazrack?” said an unfamiliar voice, and another of Crumb’s boys emerged from the cave mouth’s darkness. Kazrack recognized the boy’s face, but knew not his name. “Are there any more goblins out there?” the boy asked. “They are all gone for now. My companions and I killed them. What are you doing?” Kazrack asked. “I was hiding from the goblins. They came out of nowhere…everywhere and this seemed like shelter so I came in here. Have you seen Dunkle? The last I knew he was crouched behind that square black stone.” “He is dead,” Kazrack said simply. The boy cringed backward toward the cave mouth. “What? No! Oh, no! Not Dunkle! No,” was all he could say. “Where are you going?” Kazrack asked. “I’ve gotta hide. There could be more goblins around. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!” the boy became hysterical and sobbed, crouching back to the cave. Kazrack stepped forward and grabbing him, shook him. “Listen. What’s your name?” he demanded. “Doris.” “Listen Doris, pull yourself together. This is no time for this. We have to get out of here. We have lost a friend as well.” “Who?” “Malcolm.” “Oh sweet Ra! Malcolm’s dead, too?” Doris sobbed. “Come help me with your friend’s body. We need to get him out of here.” “Leave the body. Let’s go. Let’s hurry up. I don’t want to die too.” “No. Come help me,” the dwarf said. In time, a stretcher was fashioned for Beorth to be carried back to camp without further harming him. Malcolm’s body was stripped, and Jeremy hefted his friend’s body over one shoulder. Chance grabbed the skald’s bastard sword. Chance helped Kazrack with the stretcher, and Jana and Doris carried Dunkle’s body between them. The walk back was long and hard, and the companions had to rest often in the rain that never seemed to rest. Eventually, the made it back. Among the first people they saw was Boris E. Crumb who happened to be returning to camp at the same time. “What is going on?” the fat man asked in his basso voice. “Goblins,” said Kazrack. “Beorth is injured and Malcolm and Dunkle are dead.” “Whut?” Crumb sighed “Whut in Set’s Realm were people doing wandering around after goblins for?” “I don’t know. We went after them, but were too late to save Dunkle.” “After ya went off to hunt some goblins yourself I’m sure. I know how it is. Well, this can’t be tolerate,” Crumb grunted, angrily. ‘Well take care of your injured friend and do something about the bodies. I’m gonna have to hold a meeting about this tomorrow. I can’t be letting my investments get killed on wild goose chases.” He was already turning and walking away and mumbling as he finished. “Deet! Deet! Where are ya?” Dunkle’s body was left at the camp, but Malcolm’s corpse and Beorth were brought into town to the temple of Anhur. There, Greglon of Anhur, showed them a room where Beorth could be laid in a bunk, and another where Malcolm’s body could be placed (after asking several questions about whether Malcolm had died as a brave warrior). The militant of Anhur then went into the room with Beorth, asking the others to wait outside. In a few minutes he returned. “Beorth has been healed, but he needs his rest. He asked to speak with you, but keep in mind what I told. I will give you a few minutes alone, but then I will ask you to leave,” Greglon said. “Of course,” Kazrack agreed. In the room Beorth tried to sit up, but failing merely turned his head and said weakly, “Malcolm is dead? I’m not sure of the last thing I remember.” “Yes, he is dead. His body is here in the temple to be taken care of,” Kazrack said. “We must burn him in pyre as is the custom of his people,” Beorth said. “Yes, that is what he would have wanted. Shall we try to arrange to send his stuff back to his kin?” the dwarf asked. “I don’t think that it would matter even if we could,” Jeremy said. “He was exiled.” “Then we will put his things to the fire as well,’ Beorth said. “Except his bastard sword. I’m keeping that,” Chance said. And it was agreed. Chance, Jana and Beorth returned to camp, but Jeremy asked for and received permission to stay at the temple with Beorth, not wanting to be far from the body of his companion who he had loved. At the camp, Kazrack found Kamir digging Dunkle's grave all by himself - the rain making the sides of the hole erode, even as he shoveled out the dirt. So, he helped. [b]End of Session #4[/b] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] (34) Temple of Anhur have open clay courtyards for daily martial practice and sparring. [/QUOTE]
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"Out of the Frying Pan" - Book I: Gathering Wood (reprise)
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