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<blockquote data-quote="Rerun" data-source="post: 6021447" data-attributes="member: 6700532"><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Morning brought more marching. The sores on my feet healed overnight and I think Kugo’s feet are harder than his armor but Trang was nursing some ugly blisteres. Kugo could have cured it with a word if he’d wanted, he might have even done it if the elf had humbled herself to ask, but I knew it would never happen. So Trang refilled her flask from the barrels our commander could seemingly wish full, nursed her medicine, and limped along in silence.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> The woods grew steadily thicker as the day wore on and three times we had to cut trees and clear boulders for the wagons to continue. It was hard work that fell to the scouts as we weren’t encased in metal armor. None of us were woodsmen but we made it work. At twilight a group of goblin wolf riders was spotted by the forward scouts and quickly dispatched by Liuetenent Menlos, one of the few wizards with the Stormbirds, and his three apprentices. The scent of charred meat filled the air as we moved past.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> That night we got our first combat orders. Liuetenant Komwill informed us that the scouts would spend the night advancing ahead of the company until the enemy was sighted. We would then spy on them and if possible take prisoners. I was a mixture of fear and excitement. Trang, Kugo, and I would finally start to earn our pay.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Under a sliver of a moon and a hundred constellations I’d never bothered to learn we crept north in a gulley between two low hills. The ground was thick with blueberry bushes and the occasional twisted oak. Our eyes and ears were straining to hear voices or footsteps in the rustling leaves. After ten minutes of traveling the gulley ended and a meadow opened up before us. To our surprise two hundred yards ahead of us perhaps a half mile apart burned two small fires. We slowly advanced on the eastern until we could make out two figures huddled next to a spit.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> We moved forward seemingly inches at a time until we could make out the wart covered green skin and ratty locks of small forest troll and the scrawny figure of a goblin hunched over his back. The turquoise rock around my neck was whispering to me <em>quiet, quiet, quiet.</em> The goblin was tattooing the troll with small pricks of a red hot dagger while the troll snarled and cursed. </span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> The goblin may be a witchdoctor, whispered Kugo, he’s mumbling prayers to Maglubiyet. The troll isn’t saying anything I understand. Kugo’s voice gained a note of excitement as he fingered his sap. We’ll have to take them before either can scream. The goblin runt should drop fast, I’ll take him. You two subdue the troll and we’ll burn him in the fire.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> If anything goes wrong who knows how many of their fellows might come to their aid I said. We should check the other fire, it may be easier.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> I agree with the orc, said Trang, I think we can fell these two quickly. I noticed a slight hitch of fear in her voice and wondered if she was fighting it with bravado. I didn’t see any reason not to check the other camp, but it was two votes to one.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Kugo gripped the charm around his neck and began to whisper fiercely in orcish. After a few seconds I felt a rush of anger and aggression. It felt good, but Trang seemed to have other ideas, she turned slightly green.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> I’ll take the goblin first said Kugo, the troll is already making noise. He crept forward, Trang and I followed. As the goblin burned a crude spiked circle into the troll’s back, Kugo rose up behind him and slammed the weighted sap over his head, dropping the goblin. Trang thrust her rapier into the trolls back and I picked up the goblin’s heated knife and sunk it into the trolls back. He screamed.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> I wished I had a god to curse by. Kugo shoved the troll into the fire and I helped Kugo hold him there. The troll scratched a long gash in Kugo’s arm and tore a hole in my leather breastplate but he was overpowered. When the thrashing stopped Kugo looked at me with an enormous grin on his face. </span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> First Blood. Gl’ok tholl u’ruk slotit Hornfoot. Kugo cut off a snarl of the Troll’s hair and stuffed it into his neckpouch. Then he drew a line of black blood across his forehead. He raised a bloody finger and looked at me inquiringly. I grinned. Kugo gave me a line across the brow as well. I was pumped. Kugo’s joy at our kill was infecting me. Trang took out her flask and took several swigs. Enough of that she said. Your god is no doubt pleased. Let us return with our prisoner.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Surprising myself with my boldness I spoke up with another idea. Let’s tie and gag the goblin and take the other camp. Kugo looked interested. Trang dissented. We’ve accomplished our mission. Morin, don’t let the bloodlust from the orc’s blessing cloud your reason.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> I paused. Her words rang true, but the hitch was back in her voice. Trang was didn’t want to assault the other camp, even if the odds were good. She was afraid. Kugo must have heard it too, but he surprised me. Battle sister, he said almost gently, the enemy is here and we are unhurt. I think you aren’t just a lush, I think you carry some of your courage in that flask as well. So drink deep. Drink up so we can down our foes.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Trang’s face was a mixture of emotions I couldn’t unravel. I… It isn’t… she paused conflicted. But then her voice found new strength. We’ve done our duty.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> The enemy is here Kugo insisted. Morin is with me. For the sake of our squad don’t stand in the way of our glory.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Trang’s face twisted. Your glory, she said. Here is my glory, it is Love and Freedom and Grace, let me show you Kugo. She raised an index finger and tapped him lightly between the eyes. Kugo’s head snapped with whiplash and he flew back against a tree with a crack. His eyes crossed, you’ll pay for that uknoruk pishith he said haltingly. Trang stood defiant.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> I didn’t know what to do. My turquoise friend Urchin was whispering for me to sneak off and leave. We <em>couldn’t</em> have a fight here. Our captive could wake up. My friends might kill each other. Did I just think that? Friends? Forget it, concentrate. You don’t have the tongue to talk them down Morin. You don’t know how to make them fear you into backing down. You’re a terrible liar. You… you can put this off.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> At the camp. I say. At the camp. You are soldiers and you are Stormbirds and for your honor you will not kill each other in the middle of a mission.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"> Kugo got to his feet unsteadily; he didn’t really look like he was in condition to kill anyone. All right, he said, we will settle this, <em>at the camp</em>.</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: white"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"> Ok, Trang said simply. </span></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rerun, post: 6021447, member: 6700532"] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Morning brought more marching. The sores on my feet healed overnight and I think Kugo’s feet are harder than his armor but Trang was nursing some ugly blisteres. Kugo could have cured it with a word if he’d wanted, he might have even done it if the elf had humbled herself to ask, but I knew it would never happen. So Trang refilled her flask from the barrels our commander could seemingly wish full, nursed her medicine, and limped along in silence.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] The woods grew steadily thicker as the day wore on and three times we had to cut trees and clear boulders for the wagons to continue. It was hard work that fell to the scouts as we weren’t encased in metal armor. None of us were woodsmen but we made it work. At twilight a group of goblin wolf riders was spotted by the forward scouts and quickly dispatched by Liuetenent Menlos, one of the few wizards with the Stormbirds, and his three apprentices. The scent of charred meat filled the air as we moved past.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] That night we got our first combat orders. Liuetenant Komwill informed us that the scouts would spend the night advancing ahead of the company until the enemy was sighted. We would then spy on them and if possible take prisoners. I was a mixture of fear and excitement. Trang, Kugo, and I would finally start to earn our pay.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Under a sliver of a moon and a hundred constellations I’d never bothered to learn we crept north in a gulley between two low hills. The ground was thick with blueberry bushes and the occasional twisted oak. Our eyes and ears were straining to hear voices or footsteps in the rustling leaves. After ten minutes of traveling the gulley ended and a meadow opened up before us. To our surprise two hundred yards ahead of us perhaps a half mile apart burned two small fires. We slowly advanced on the eastern until we could make out two figures huddled next to a spit.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] We moved forward seemingly inches at a time until we could make out the wart covered green skin and ratty locks of small forest troll and the scrawny figure of a goblin hunched over his back. The turquoise rock around my neck was whispering to me [I]quiet, quiet, quiet.[/I] The goblin was tattooing the troll with small pricks of a red hot dagger while the troll snarled and cursed. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] The goblin may be a witchdoctor, whispered Kugo, he’s mumbling prayers to Maglubiyet. The troll isn’t saying anything I understand. Kugo’s voice gained a note of excitement as he fingered his sap. We’ll have to take them before either can scream. The goblin runt should drop fast, I’ll take him. You two subdue the troll and we’ll burn him in the fire.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] If anything goes wrong who knows how many of their fellows might come to their aid I said. We should check the other fire, it may be easier.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] I agree with the orc, said Trang, I think we can fell these two quickly. I noticed a slight hitch of fear in her voice and wondered if she was fighting it with bravado. I didn’t see any reason not to check the other camp, but it was two votes to one.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Kugo gripped the charm around his neck and began to whisper fiercely in orcish. After a few seconds I felt a rush of anger and aggression. It felt good, but Trang seemed to have other ideas, she turned slightly green.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] I’ll take the goblin first said Kugo, the troll is already making noise. He crept forward, Trang and I followed. As the goblin burned a crude spiked circle into the troll’s back, Kugo rose up behind him and slammed the weighted sap over his head, dropping the goblin. Trang thrust her rapier into the trolls back and I picked up the goblin’s heated knife and sunk it into the trolls back. He screamed.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] I wished I had a god to curse by. Kugo shoved the troll into the fire and I helped Kugo hold him there. The troll scratched a long gash in Kugo’s arm and tore a hole in my leather breastplate but he was overpowered. When the thrashing stopped Kugo looked at me with an enormous grin on his face. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] First Blood. Gl’ok tholl u’ruk slotit Hornfoot. Kugo cut off a snarl of the Troll’s hair and stuffed it into his neckpouch. Then he drew a line of black blood across his forehead. He raised a bloody finger and looked at me inquiringly. I grinned. Kugo gave me a line across the brow as well. I was pumped. Kugo’s joy at our kill was infecting me. Trang took out her flask and took several swigs. Enough of that she said. Your god is no doubt pleased. Let us return with our prisoner.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Surprising myself with my boldness I spoke up with another idea. Let’s tie and gag the goblin and take the other camp. Kugo looked interested. Trang dissented. We’ve accomplished our mission. Morin, don’t let the bloodlust from the orc’s blessing cloud your reason.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] I paused. Her words rang true, but the hitch was back in her voice. Trang was didn’t want to assault the other camp, even if the odds were good. She was afraid. Kugo must have heard it too, but he surprised me. Battle sister, he said almost gently, the enemy is here and we are unhurt. I think you aren’t just a lush, I think you carry some of your courage in that flask as well. So drink deep. Drink up so we can down our foes.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Trang’s face was a mixture of emotions I couldn’t unravel. I… It isn’t… she paused conflicted. But then her voice found new strength. We’ve done our duty.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] The enemy is here Kugo insisted. Morin is with me. For the sake of our squad don’t stand in the way of our glory.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Trang’s face twisted. Your glory, she said. Here is my glory, it is Love and Freedom and Grace, let me show you Kugo. She raised an index finger and tapped him lightly between the eyes. Kugo’s head snapped with whiplash and he flew back against a tree with a crack. His eyes crossed, you’ll pay for that uknoruk pishith he said haltingly. Trang stood defiant.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] I didn’t know what to do. My turquoise friend Urchin was whispering for me to sneak off and leave. We [I]couldn’t[/I] have a fight here. Our captive could wake up. My friends might kill each other. Did I just think that? Friends? Forget it, concentrate. You don’t have the tongue to talk them down Morin. You don’t know how to make them fear you into backing down. You’re a terrible liar. You… you can put this off.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] At the camp. I say. At the camp. You are soldiers and you are Stormbirds and for your honor you will not kill each other in the middle of a mission.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white][SIZE=4] Kugo got to his feet unsteadily; he didn’t really look like he was in condition to kill anyone. All right, he said, we will settle this, [I]at the camp[/I].[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=4][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=white][SIZE=4][FONT=Calibri] Ok, Trang said simply. [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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