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"Out of the Frying Pan"- Book III: Fanning the Embers
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 1929407" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #63 (part ii)</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px">Osilem, the 24rd of Sek – 565 H.E.</span></p><p></p><p>The next day Ethiel came to the party early in the morning, and noting Kismet’s deep sadness, he had one of the elves bring her somewhere where she could take a warm relaxing bath in some elven herbs that might help soothe her trauma.</p><p></p><p>Beorth and Martin took turns explaining all that had happened at the Pit of Bones, with Ratchis and Kazrack interjecting their own opinions on things occasionally.</p><p></p><p>By the time they were done it was time for lunch, and afterwards, Martin was escorted to the library chamber below so that he might copy a more detailed map that might show a good route to Nikar. Beorth went to aid him. Ratchis, feeling much better, (1) spent the afternoon playing with Kwa and finding he was much better behaved than he used to be. Kazrack continued to work on the stone pieces of the set of King’s Men he was making (2). He tried to make one of the ‘priest’ pieces look like Belear. Anarie spent the afternoon in closed chambers with Ethiel and Findulias discussing whatever news of elves they might have gained since they last saw her.</p><p></p><p>---------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Late that night, after everyone had retired, Beorth awoke with a start. He leapt from the bed, as there was the silhouette of a figure standing over him on the left, fang-shaped green glow seemed to hover before the figure’s chest.</p><p></p><p>“Who is there?” the paladin said, grabbing his sword and lighting the lantern beside the bed. </p><p></p><p>Martin was standing there fully dressed, the Book of Black Circles clutched to his chest. The watch-mage’s eyes were wide open and unblinking. The necklace of undead control that Beorth normally carried in his pack was around the watch-mage’s neck. (3)</p><p></p><p>“Martin!” Beorth called loudly, ripping the necklace from the watch-mage’s neck. Gunthar awoke in the other bed.</p><p></p><p>“Whut’s going on?” the blonde Neergaardian asked groggily.</p><p></p><p>“Huh? Wha…?” Martin blinked and crumpled onto the bed, dropping the book.</p><p></p><p>“The Book seems to have made you walk in your sleep,” Beorth said. “It seems to be able to control you.”</p><p></p><p>”Oh no,” Martin moaned. He sat up and buried his face in his hands.</p><p></p><p>“This tome is too dangerous to keep around,” Beorth said. “Perhaps we should wait no longer, and you should open it and use it right now and destroy it.”</p><p></p><p>“You might be right,” Martin replied. “But what if you are wrong and I am permanently corrupted by the book?”</p><p></p><p>“Then you will meet Osiris,” Beorth replied calmly, gesturing to his sword. He turned to Gunthar. “Go wake the others. This must be taken care of now.”</p><p></p><p>Gunthar ran over to the next room and banged on the door until it opened. Kazrack looked up at him angrily. </p><p></p><p>“Baldie wants you and the Pig-f*cker,” he said by way of explanation. “Now.”</p><p></p><p>Gunthar ran further down the hall to awaken Anarie.</p><p></p><p>“Bring your weapons and armor,” he told the elf maid. “We may have to kill dough-boy.”</p><p></p><p>“Do not let them do anything rash,” Anarie said. “I will go get Ethiel.”</p><p></p><p>Gunthar winked at her and ran back to the room to find the four heroes arguing, though Martin did so sullenly.</p><p></p><p>“We should deal with this right now,” Beorth said. “He had taken the cursed necklace from my things. This is getting too dangerous to let sit.”</p><p></p><p>“I fear Beorth might be right,” Martin said.</p><p></p><p>“Have you felt any more compulsion from Osiris as to do something in particular?” Ratchis asked.</p><p></p><p>“No, but…” He choked a moment. “We don’t know that that is what will happen. I have the book now, maybe there will be no more compulsion because if I fail to destroy it I will die anyway.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t think so,” said Ratchis. “Kazrack and I both felt a compulsion that seemed to grow stronger or weaker depending on how far along we were in completing our task. We have no reason to believe yours should be any different.”</p><p></p><p>“Why wait to be compelled?” Beorth asked with frustration. “Would that not go against the tenets of your faith? Would it not be better for him to do it freely now?”</p><p></p><p>“He took this oath on freely to begin with,” Ratchis said. “Whatever comes of it now, he knew getting into this it would not be easy.”</p><p></p><p>“Uh ‘ill conshult uh wuneschtonesch n’ shee ish my gods uv any guidance for ush, even though this is a muhtter that originates with Oshirish,” Kazrack offered through the clenched fragments of his jaw.</p><p></p><p>“Patience is a good idea,” Ethiel’s smooth voice was from the doorway as he entered the room. “And at the very least, if you plan to use such a powerful artifact I ask that you do it far from here. We are already charged with watching over one evil. We need not tempt it with another.”</p><p></p><p>Beorth nodded.</p><p></p><p>Kazrack went back to his room to consult the dwarven rune-stones, and returned about twenty minutes later shaking his head.</p><p></p><p>Uh do nut think my wishdom was equal to tuh tashk,” he said his solemnity undone by his ridiculous way of speaking now. “The runesh were vague, but there were definitely shignsh that we should prosheed with great cau-shin n’ peehapsh even timlinessh.”</p><p></p><p>“So that settles it for me,” Ratchis said. “We wait.”</p><p></p><p>“So what now? Am I to be bound to my bed each night to keep others safe?” Martin asked.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps it is when you are sleeping that you are vulnerable, and you should keep the ring on and sleep as little as possible,” Ratchis suggested. “ We can keep a watch on you for those two hours.”</p><p></p><p>Martin nodded.</p><p></p><p>“Un peehapss the amulet hash as much to blame, Beorsh,” Kazrack added. “We should not keep two such curshed objectsh of power in such a clush proshimity.”</p><p></p><p>Beorth and Martin nodded.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px">Tholem, the 25rd of Sek – 565 H.E.</span></p><p></p><p>Next day after another elven breakfast that Kazrack sneered at, but ate anyway, the Fearless Manticore Killers packed their gear and made ready to head overland by foot to Nikar. It would be a journey of several weeks, though with the map Martin had copied, Ratchis thought he could lead them there in as little as two; Bes be on their side.</p><p></p><p>Ethiel and all the other elves of Aze Nuquerna gathered at the door to the stone and wooden fortress to bid them a safe journey. They provided them with what they could in way of supplies, but it was not quite enough. It was decided that Gunthar and Anarie would make a quick journey to Ogre’s Bluff to get the rest of it, as no one would recognize them. They would all march to within an hour of the town, and then the two of them would go the rest of the way on their own.</p><p></p><p>Ratchis confided in Martin that by sending the two newest members of the group he hoped that they would be less likely to hear some news that would delay them, as they would be less likely to recognize a name, or what have you.</p><p></p><p>Martin sighed, tired of moral acrobatics. </p><p></p><p>However, they had not gotten far when they spotted Debo jogging towards them, his great sword on his shoulder, and his wolf’s head hood bouncing up and down on his back. The three of them walked to where the others were waiting.</p><p></p><p>“Time for plan?” Debo asked Gunthar.</p><p></p><p>“We went over this dog-breath,” Gunthar replied. </p><p></p><p>“We need to go to dragon now,” Debo said.</p><p></p><p>“No, Debo, we have to hold off on that part of plan,” Gunthar said. “We have other things t odo before we can do that. Well, <em>I</em> do anyway.”</p><p></p><p>”Where we going?”</p><p></p><p>“Nikar,” Ratchis answered.</p><p></p><p>“Where?”</p><p></p><p>“It is about a month to the southwest of here,” Ratchis said.</p><p></p><p>Debo hollered and threatened Gunthar. But the Neergaardian would not give in.</p><p></p><p>His face a bright purple, finally Debo said, “Me go guard Kan-On then.”</p><p></p><p>“Sush!” Gunthar put a hand up to the barbarian’s mouth, and Debo bit at it fiercely and brought his sword off his shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Kazrack and Ratchis tensed to draw their weapons, but Gunthar put u pa hand.</p><p></p><p>“Guard the what?” Beorth asked.</p><p></p><p>Martin snickered. “<em>That</em> is your plan? To use a cannon against the dragon?”</p><p></p><p>“What is a cannon?” asked Kazrack.</p><p></p><p>“It is a Kan-<em>On</em>,” Gunthar said. “For someone who is supposed to be educated you sure do sound like an ass half the time.”</p><p></p><p>“It is a gnomish weapon of war that explosively launches heavy iron balls,” Martin explained.</p><p></p><p>“Ifish thish weapon ish sho fearshome how come we do not shee them more often?” Kazrack asked. </p><p></p><p>“They are unreliable,” Martin said. “You are as likely to blow up yourself as you are to fire it correctly.”</p><p></p><p>“Bah!” Gunthar said. “Frederick said he knew of two distinct tales where Kan-Ons were used to fight a dragon, both leading to the dragon’s death… Well, at least gravely wounded, but with the dragon-slaying sword, it was supposed to make up the difference. Thus the change in plan.”</p><p></p><p>“What is the plan now?” Ratchis asked.</p><p></p><p>“You guys are the plan,” Gunthar said. “I help you do your things and maybe get my brother back and then you help me and Debo, and Rondar, if he ever shows his wart-covered ass again to slay the dragon, using the Kan-On. If figure the pig-f*cker and stubby here won’t be needing any princesses, and though I have heard that elf women can marry in their culture, I try not to think about it too much because it gets <em>hard</em> to think about any thing but…” </p><p></p><p>He winked at Anarie. She made no response whatsoever.</p><p></p><p>“So even including Jeremy, we still have plenty of princesses,” Gunthar continued. “Unless you count Baldie, and while I think he has balls, he must certainly pee sitting down.”</p><p></p><p>Beorth stiffened, but Ratchis put one of his huge hands against the paladin’s to gently hold him back and calm him down.</p><p></p><p>“You know, Gunthar,” Ratchis growled. “We invited you into our group and we can uninvite you.”</p><p></p><p>The blonde warrior turned back to the short dark barbarian. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Take your wolf-skin to where the Kan-On is and guard it and see if Rondar shows up, and if you get hungry, eat him.”</p><p></p><p>“It is going to be a long time,” Ratchis said. “Months.”</p><p></p><p>“Debo can’t die,” Debo said, and then without another word took off jogging to the northwest.</p><p></p><p>“Eh, waste of flesh,” Gunthar swore, as he and Anarie began their short trek to Ogre’s Bluff.</p><p></p><p>A little over and hour later Gunthar and Anarie were entering the town square of Ogre’s Bluff. There was a large crowd gathered, and what was clearly a large gallows had been set up on the far end of the square. There were so many people they would have had to force their way to the crowd to get up close and get a good view.</p><p></p><p>“What’s going on?” Gunthar asked a middle-aged pot-bellied man with wiry hair.</p><p></p><p>“Oh just some robber ‘ looters,” the man said. “They was some of them there so-called ‘dragon-hinters’, but they gots ta ‘bey the law like anybody else. I say.”</p><p></p><p>“Sure. Sure,” Gunthar nodded. “What’d they do?”</p><p></p><p>“Ida know, robbed or looted or sumthin’,” the man replied. </p><p></p><p>Six men with sacks tied over their heads were led on to the gallows and each had a noose affixed about his neck. Without so much as a word of ceremony, the platform was knocked out from under them and they began to jerk on the ropes.</p><p></p><p>Disgusted, Anarie stepped into Margun’s General Store.</p><p></p><p>“Wait, you’re gonna miss the best part when they s**t themselves right before the stop wrigglin’,” Gunthar teased. </p><p></p><p>“It seems unfortunate that people hired to protect the land would turn against its people,” Anarie said, as she made her way through the packed shop, while patting the overenthusiastic golden dog that leapt at her happily.</p><p></p><p>“It happens,” Margun replied, his eyes growing wide in awe of an elf in his shop.</p><p></p><p>“I have a list of things here I need to acquire,” Anarie said, and it was all business.</p><p></p><p>The two of them had been gone less than three hours when they finally returned, laden with goods.</p><p></p><p>Anarie mentioned the hanging.</p><p></p><p>“Good,” Kazrack said.</p><p></p><p>Ratchis threw his dwarven companion a disapproving look.</p><p></p><p>“Uht? Ifish they were robbing ur looting they got what they desherve,” the dwarf reasoned.</p><p></p><p>“Could you tell who they were?” Ratchis asked.</p><p></p><p>The elf and the man both shook their heads.</p><p></p><p>“There is nothing to be done about it now,” Ratchis said. “Let’s go.”</p><p></p><p>“I hope they get a proper burial, whoever they are or whatever they did,” Beorth said.</p><p></p><p>And on they marched. </p><p></p><p>The woods gave way to the river once again, but this time they were crossing it much further north where it crossed a narrow plain and was much shallower; crossing it was no problem.</p><p></p><p>Soon they were traveling among sparsely wooded hills, weaving about them at times, but occasionally Ratchis would lead them over one to get a good view of the lay of the land and compare it to Martin’s map. Tall black mountains loomed like an impenetrable wall several days west of them.</p><p></p><p>The end of the day found them making camp at the top of a squat wooded hill that had reminded Martin of something like half-melted ziggurat that leaned over to one side, making northeast side slightly more steep than the rest.</p><p></p><p>Ratchis and Beorth watched first and then woke Kazrack and Gunthar to watch in the dead of night. It was a cool night, and they had made a small fire, which Gunthar fed occasionally, while the dwarf marched around the camp.</p><p></p><p>Some hours into their watch a violent hoot echoed in the night. Kazrack stopped in his tracks, while Gunthar leapt to his feet.</p><p></p><p>“Sounds familiar…” Gunthar began, when another echoing hoot cracked the night. This time, closer. </p><p></p><p>“It’s those sh*t-bears from the Honeycombe!” Gunthar hissed to Kazrack. (4) </p><p></p><p>-------------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) <strong>DM’s Note:</strong> Ratchis made his secondary save for the energy drain caused by the Book of Black Circles the night before.</p><p></p><p>(2) <em>King’s Men</em> is basically the Aquerra version of chess, though some of the pieces are named differently.</p><p></p><p>(3) The Fearless Manticore Killers found this on the care-taker of mortuary south of Stone Bridge, way back in Session #8</p><p></p><p>(4) Also known as ‘quaggoths’. The second time the party ever met Gunthar’s Crew was in the network of caves beneath Ogre’s Bluff, called the Honeycombe (see Sessions #23 & 24).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 1929407, member: 11"] [b]Session #63 (part ii)[/b] [size=4]Osilem, the 24rd of Sek – 565 H.E.[/size] The next day Ethiel came to the party early in the morning, and noting Kismet’s deep sadness, he had one of the elves bring her somewhere where she could take a warm relaxing bath in some elven herbs that might help soothe her trauma. Beorth and Martin took turns explaining all that had happened at the Pit of Bones, with Ratchis and Kazrack interjecting their own opinions on things occasionally. By the time they were done it was time for lunch, and afterwards, Martin was escorted to the library chamber below so that he might copy a more detailed map that might show a good route to Nikar. Beorth went to aid him. Ratchis, feeling much better, (1) spent the afternoon playing with Kwa and finding he was much better behaved than he used to be. Kazrack continued to work on the stone pieces of the set of King’s Men he was making (2). He tried to make one of the ‘priest’ pieces look like Belear. Anarie spent the afternoon in closed chambers with Ethiel and Findulias discussing whatever news of elves they might have gained since they last saw her. --------------------------------------------- Late that night, after everyone had retired, Beorth awoke with a start. He leapt from the bed, as there was the silhouette of a figure standing over him on the left, fang-shaped green glow seemed to hover before the figure’s chest. “Who is there?” the paladin said, grabbing his sword and lighting the lantern beside the bed. Martin was standing there fully dressed, the Book of Black Circles clutched to his chest. The watch-mage’s eyes were wide open and unblinking. The necklace of undead control that Beorth normally carried in his pack was around the watch-mage’s neck. (3) “Martin!” Beorth called loudly, ripping the necklace from the watch-mage’s neck. Gunthar awoke in the other bed. “Whut’s going on?” the blonde Neergaardian asked groggily. “Huh? Wha…?” Martin blinked and crumpled onto the bed, dropping the book. “The Book seems to have made you walk in your sleep,” Beorth said. “It seems to be able to control you.” ”Oh no,” Martin moaned. He sat up and buried his face in his hands. “This tome is too dangerous to keep around,” Beorth said. “Perhaps we should wait no longer, and you should open it and use it right now and destroy it.” “You might be right,” Martin replied. “But what if you are wrong and I am permanently corrupted by the book?” “Then you will meet Osiris,” Beorth replied calmly, gesturing to his sword. He turned to Gunthar. “Go wake the others. This must be taken care of now.” Gunthar ran over to the next room and banged on the door until it opened. Kazrack looked up at him angrily. “Baldie wants you and the Pig-f*cker,” he said by way of explanation. “Now.” Gunthar ran further down the hall to awaken Anarie. “Bring your weapons and armor,” he told the elf maid. “We may have to kill dough-boy.” “Do not let them do anything rash,” Anarie said. “I will go get Ethiel.” Gunthar winked at her and ran back to the room to find the four heroes arguing, though Martin did so sullenly. “We should deal with this right now,” Beorth said. “He had taken the cursed necklace from my things. This is getting too dangerous to let sit.” “I fear Beorth might be right,” Martin said. “Have you felt any more compulsion from Osiris as to do something in particular?” Ratchis asked. “No, but…” He choked a moment. “We don’t know that that is what will happen. I have the book now, maybe there will be no more compulsion because if I fail to destroy it I will die anyway.” “I don’t think so,” said Ratchis. “Kazrack and I both felt a compulsion that seemed to grow stronger or weaker depending on how far along we were in completing our task. We have no reason to believe yours should be any different.” “Why wait to be compelled?” Beorth asked with frustration. “Would that not go against the tenets of your faith? Would it not be better for him to do it freely now?” “He took this oath on freely to begin with,” Ratchis said. “Whatever comes of it now, he knew getting into this it would not be easy.” “Uh ‘ill conshult uh wuneschtonesch n’ shee ish my gods uv any guidance for ush, even though this is a muhtter that originates with Oshirish,” Kazrack offered through the clenched fragments of his jaw. “Patience is a good idea,” Ethiel’s smooth voice was from the doorway as he entered the room. “And at the very least, if you plan to use such a powerful artifact I ask that you do it far from here. We are already charged with watching over one evil. We need not tempt it with another.” Beorth nodded. Kazrack went back to his room to consult the dwarven rune-stones, and returned about twenty minutes later shaking his head. Uh do nut think my wishdom was equal to tuh tashk,” he said his solemnity undone by his ridiculous way of speaking now. “The runesh were vague, but there were definitely shignsh that we should prosheed with great cau-shin n’ peehapsh even timlinessh.” “So that settles it for me,” Ratchis said. “We wait.” “So what now? Am I to be bound to my bed each night to keep others safe?” Martin asked. “Perhaps it is when you are sleeping that you are vulnerable, and you should keep the ring on and sleep as little as possible,” Ratchis suggested. “ We can keep a watch on you for those two hours.” Martin nodded. “Un peehapss the amulet hash as much to blame, Beorsh,” Kazrack added. “We should not keep two such curshed objectsh of power in such a clush proshimity.” Beorth and Martin nodded. [size=4]Tholem, the 25rd of Sek – 565 H.E.[/size] Next day after another elven breakfast that Kazrack sneered at, but ate anyway, the Fearless Manticore Killers packed their gear and made ready to head overland by foot to Nikar. It would be a journey of several weeks, though with the map Martin had copied, Ratchis thought he could lead them there in as little as two; Bes be on their side. Ethiel and all the other elves of Aze Nuquerna gathered at the door to the stone and wooden fortress to bid them a safe journey. They provided them with what they could in way of supplies, but it was not quite enough. It was decided that Gunthar and Anarie would make a quick journey to Ogre’s Bluff to get the rest of it, as no one would recognize them. They would all march to within an hour of the town, and then the two of them would go the rest of the way on their own. Ratchis confided in Martin that by sending the two newest members of the group he hoped that they would be less likely to hear some news that would delay them, as they would be less likely to recognize a name, or what have you. Martin sighed, tired of moral acrobatics. However, they had not gotten far when they spotted Debo jogging towards them, his great sword on his shoulder, and his wolf’s head hood bouncing up and down on his back. The three of them walked to where the others were waiting. “Time for plan?” Debo asked Gunthar. “We went over this dog-breath,” Gunthar replied. “We need to go to dragon now,” Debo said. “No, Debo, we have to hold off on that part of plan,” Gunthar said. “We have other things t odo before we can do that. Well, [I]I[/I] do anyway.” ”Where we going?” “Nikar,” Ratchis answered. “Where?” “It is about a month to the southwest of here,” Ratchis said. Debo hollered and threatened Gunthar. But the Neergaardian would not give in. His face a bright purple, finally Debo said, “Me go guard Kan-On then.” “Sush!” Gunthar put a hand up to the barbarian’s mouth, and Debo bit at it fiercely and brought his sword off his shoulder. Kazrack and Ratchis tensed to draw their weapons, but Gunthar put u pa hand. “Guard the what?” Beorth asked. Martin snickered. “[I]That[/I] is your plan? To use a cannon against the dragon?” “What is a cannon?” asked Kazrack. “It is a Kan-[I]On[/I],” Gunthar said. “For someone who is supposed to be educated you sure do sound like an ass half the time.” “It is a gnomish weapon of war that explosively launches heavy iron balls,” Martin explained. “Ifish thish weapon ish sho fearshome how come we do not shee them more often?” Kazrack asked. “They are unreliable,” Martin said. “You are as likely to blow up yourself as you are to fire it correctly.” “Bah!” Gunthar said. “Frederick said he knew of two distinct tales where Kan-Ons were used to fight a dragon, both leading to the dragon’s death… Well, at least gravely wounded, but with the dragon-slaying sword, it was supposed to make up the difference. Thus the change in plan.” “What is the plan now?” Ratchis asked. “You guys are the plan,” Gunthar said. “I help you do your things and maybe get my brother back and then you help me and Debo, and Rondar, if he ever shows his wart-covered ass again to slay the dragon, using the Kan-On. If figure the pig-f*cker and stubby here won’t be needing any princesses, and though I have heard that elf women can marry in their culture, I try not to think about it too much because it gets [I]hard[/I] to think about any thing but…” He winked at Anarie. She made no response whatsoever. “So even including Jeremy, we still have plenty of princesses,” Gunthar continued. “Unless you count Baldie, and while I think he has balls, he must certainly pee sitting down.” Beorth stiffened, but Ratchis put one of his huge hands against the paladin’s to gently hold him back and calm him down. “You know, Gunthar,” Ratchis growled. “We invited you into our group and we can uninvite you.” The blonde warrior turned back to the short dark barbarian. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Take your wolf-skin to where the Kan-On is and guard it and see if Rondar shows up, and if you get hungry, eat him.” “It is going to be a long time,” Ratchis said. “Months.” “Debo can’t die,” Debo said, and then without another word took off jogging to the northwest. “Eh, waste of flesh,” Gunthar swore, as he and Anarie began their short trek to Ogre’s Bluff. A little over and hour later Gunthar and Anarie were entering the town square of Ogre’s Bluff. There was a large crowd gathered, and what was clearly a large gallows had been set up on the far end of the square. There were so many people they would have had to force their way to the crowd to get up close and get a good view. “What’s going on?” Gunthar asked a middle-aged pot-bellied man with wiry hair. “Oh just some robber ‘ looters,” the man said. “They was some of them there so-called ‘dragon-hinters’, but they gots ta ‘bey the law like anybody else. I say.” “Sure. Sure,” Gunthar nodded. “What’d they do?” “Ida know, robbed or looted or sumthin’,” the man replied. Six men with sacks tied over their heads were led on to the gallows and each had a noose affixed about his neck. Without so much as a word of ceremony, the platform was knocked out from under them and they began to jerk on the ropes. Disgusted, Anarie stepped into Margun’s General Store. “Wait, you’re gonna miss the best part when they s**t themselves right before the stop wrigglin’,” Gunthar teased. “It seems unfortunate that people hired to protect the land would turn against its people,” Anarie said, as she made her way through the packed shop, while patting the overenthusiastic golden dog that leapt at her happily. “It happens,” Margun replied, his eyes growing wide in awe of an elf in his shop. “I have a list of things here I need to acquire,” Anarie said, and it was all business. The two of them had been gone less than three hours when they finally returned, laden with goods. Anarie mentioned the hanging. “Good,” Kazrack said. Ratchis threw his dwarven companion a disapproving look. “Uht? Ifish they were robbing ur looting they got what they desherve,” the dwarf reasoned. “Could you tell who they were?” Ratchis asked. The elf and the man both shook their heads. “There is nothing to be done about it now,” Ratchis said. “Let’s go.” “I hope they get a proper burial, whoever they are or whatever they did,” Beorth said. And on they marched. The woods gave way to the river once again, but this time they were crossing it much further north where it crossed a narrow plain and was much shallower; crossing it was no problem. Soon they were traveling among sparsely wooded hills, weaving about them at times, but occasionally Ratchis would lead them over one to get a good view of the lay of the land and compare it to Martin’s map. Tall black mountains loomed like an impenetrable wall several days west of them. The end of the day found them making camp at the top of a squat wooded hill that had reminded Martin of something like half-melted ziggurat that leaned over to one side, making northeast side slightly more steep than the rest. Ratchis and Beorth watched first and then woke Kazrack and Gunthar to watch in the dead of night. It was a cool night, and they had made a small fire, which Gunthar fed occasionally, while the dwarf marched around the camp. Some hours into their watch a violent hoot echoed in the night. Kazrack stopped in his tracks, while Gunthar leapt to his feet. “Sounds familiar…” Gunthar began, when another echoing hoot cracked the night. This time, closer. “It’s those sh*t-bears from the Honeycombe!” Gunthar hissed to Kazrack. (4) ------------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] (1) [b]DM’s Note:[/b] Ratchis made his secondary save for the energy drain caused by the Book of Black Circles the night before. (2) [i]King’s Men[/i] is basically the Aquerra version of chess, though some of the pieces are named differently. (3) The Fearless Manticore Killers found this on the care-taker of mortuary south of Stone Bridge, way back in Session #8 (4) Also known as ‘quaggoths’. The second time the party ever met Gunthar’s Crew was in the network of caves beneath Ogre’s Bluff, called the Honeycombe (see Sessions #23 & 24). [/QUOTE]
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