The One True Game: According to Hoyle, and Others

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 27 – Moonday, Juna 16th, CY 81]

The soldiers and militia were slow to rise the next morning. Groans and grunts were heard from all around. Igor concocted a strong smelling brew meant to wake those who drank it. Not many agreed to. The sergeants of the army brigade began ordering the soldiers into their ordered routine again. As usual in the mornings, Brother Ben and Darius prayed while Kayla read alone in her room. Ben felt strangely different now when he prayed. He had somehow changed after the ceremony with Father Hedrick. His mind felt lighter and his body rejuvenated with power. He decided to hold a special service for the encampment. His sermon focused on the evils of gluttony and how the ‘cups’ could control a man and even take his life. Afterwards, Darius helped out with confessions in the infirmary above. Quite a few had misgivings about their actions the day before.

The others in the group readied their gear for exploration and gave orders to the well watch team to listen for their return. After the whole team descended, the guards above lowered by rope a makeshift wooden bridge. It was the one Darius had previously ordered to span the sandtrap in the caverns below Quesquaton. The front door opened very, very slowly as if it were losing power. This disturbed the group. Darius looked over the door. “It is as if it had aged 1000 years since last I saw it.” They decided to stake the door open from now on and keep a twenty-four hour watch on the well above in case any dead kobolds were still in hiding. Upon entering, Ben noticed that all of the stone walls in the upper level had deteriorated since his last visit only a couple weeks ago. He wondered if Igor, Kayla, or Darius had noticed the same during their talk the day before.

Stopping in the magical circle room they saw its carved stonework had deteriorated. The circle did not seem to work. They called out “Zelligar” and nothing happened. The wood bridge was dragged down the stairs. Even the archway to the caverns was no longer protected by the wizard’s name. “I guess we’ll have to rope over to Zelligar’s rooms through the collapsed storage room behind his throne” said Dram. Ben was not sure this was a wise idea. The team moved into the dug out second level and saw that a lot of the sandy flooring within was wet. After placing the bridge over the sandtrap they started exploring to see if anything else had changed. Heading back up the stairs, Kayla noticed that every pool was empty in the large poolroom. The carved stones around their bases were crumbling too. Down below in the kobolds’ mock throne room, Ben noticed that the secret room hidden behind the little bone throne and had held the godnail was completely collapsed into the abyss below Quesquaton. Once they met back up the extensive damage was confirmed by everyone. Much of the floor had sunk in the lower cavern portions and the chasms were growing. Kayla speculated that the pulsing red hangnail might have powered the front door, the archway, and even the circle. It was not a thought Ben wanted to dwell on.

The group moved on to the boulder covered entrances to the massive bat cave when Ben noticed Igor stuffing the torn up, red wax statues into his backpack. “How is that possible!?” exclaimed Brother Ben. “This is some devilry!” Darius and the others jumped in pointing out that while the pack was unusual it had actually helped in saving Ben’s life. Discretely they did not mention putting him inside it however. “’s the same pack I always ‘ad. My dear mother gave it to me on ‘er deathbed.” Brother Ben decided to keep a good distance away from Igor when the group entered the bat cave. From within clattering noises could be heard in the darkness. Whoosh! A small bone creature flew past Mirel. “Unbelievable! They can still fly!” called out Dalin.

Ben filled himself with divine power and willed it at the undead bats. The sickly things looked even more deteriorated than before and popped in midair by the dozens when the light fell on them. There were still thousands of bats left over from the previous ‘cleaning’, so the group decided to wait while Brother Ben worked to destroy them all. They walked to the center of the room towards the biggest mass of boney-bats. A few members sat down to get away from the swarm when out of the gloom a green tentacle reached out for Igor and wrapped around his leg.

 

[howandwhy99]

A large shambling mass of vines came into the torchlight. Its tentacles swung at Dalin and Kayla while another held tightly to Igor. Kayla backed away towards the cave entrance, which was too far away to see in the torchlight. Dram ran up through the flying bats and swung at the mound severing one of its vines. Two more mounds appeared to the right of him. Dalin ran over to Igor and swung his torch at the vine holding him. The flames grew on both the creature and Igor. The cockeyed chef screamed and dropped to the cavern floor rolling around trying to put himself out. Ben backed away and focused his divine energies on the bats flying within the melee. Mirel stood beside him. Several bone-bats exploded sending out fragments in all directions, but the area thinned and the others could see again. Darius pulled out a torch of his own and lit it off of Dalin’s. The two hirelings, Ormand the Redd and Rogg both back away. Ormand shot into one of the mounds, but it seemed not to injure the plant at all.

Rogg took out his sword and started hacking at the bats as they flew past him. More were descending from above, but kept outside of Brother Ben’s range now. Darius thrust his torch into one of the two new plants and it went up in flames. The other shambled into the center of the group and flung its vines around Dram. They were glistening with purplish sap. Fortunately for Dram none held tight, but he was badly cut and felt a sting from the wound. Dalin moved over to Dram’s side waving his torch trying to hit the vines. “Don’t burn me!” called out Dram. Igor had managed to put out the flames and stood up from the ground. He pulled out his sword and swung into the flaming plant, which had grabbed him. Its body offered little resistance. Instead it flailed wildly and moved away from the torchlight. The flames had shrunk it considerably. The burning bush Darius had lit backed away too all the while hissing and smoking. Brother Ben followed the fighters in closer trying to destroy more of the bats. Mirel ran over to the uninjured plant with her own torch, but missed. It swung its vines around her trying to engulf the girl.

Darius and Dalin charged the last mound and managed to strike it with torches. Dram reached into the flames and vines and pulled Mirel out. The group retreated now all the creatures were burning. Black bits of charred leaves floated around them in the cavern. When all was done the deadly plants were nothing more than burnt ash and wood. Brother Ben continued to sweep through the great cavern destroying what bats he could. Darius called on Thor’s power to heal Dram and the pallor returned to his face. The rest of the team waited patiently as nearly every undead bat was destroyed. The process took over an hour in all. In the meantime, Igor picked over the plant creatures’ remains. He was in the middle of collecting their sap when Darius put an arm on his shoulder. “Good. We will need this to make an antitoxin for the infirmary above.” Igor nodded silently. After cleaning themselves up they walked out the large tubular exit cave. Darius remembered to check the crevasses near its opening for places the kobolds could have hid. He suspected undead kobolds may still be within. Unfortunately none of the gaps were large enough for even the dwarf to squeeze inside and check.

Exiting out onto the rocky, shale hilltop a mist hit their faces. “It’s still overcast, but at least it isn’t raining”, thought Ben. In the distance the black spiraling cloud could be seen as well as the rain that poured out of it. “If Zelligar’s books are correct, the river below is the Greenwillow River” said Kayla. “It should flow back west and out of the forest, if ever we need to leave quickly.” Dram started climbing a nearby tree. He had a good idea of direction now assuming the storm cloud had not moved from over outpost Xavier. Igor checked the ground for tracks and found several. Some led up onto the hilltop, but he lost them on the black rock. Another set of tracks led away towards the direction of the storm. “That is northwest” Dram declared pointing at the cloud. Darius made a mental note to inform the army of a possible orc attack from the southeast.

 

[howandwhy99]

Climbing down the hill and back towards the river, the band returned to the dryad’s grove. With their ears properly stuffed they approached the fallen tree. This time however the bear hid behind the tree. The dryad did not notice the group until several calls went out to her. Nonchalantly she said something Ben could not hear because his ears were stuffed. But Darius waved on the group to a nearby hillside. Climbing down the hill and back towards the river, the band returned to the dryad’s grove. With their ears properly stuffed they approached the fallen tree. This time however the bear hid behind the tree. The dryad did not notice the group until several calls went out to her. Nonchalantly she said something Ben could not hear because his ears were stuffed. But Darius waved on the group to a nearby hillside. It seems they had done their duty by checking on the Dryad, but she was not interested in talking. Brother Ben recognized the area as the group moved away from the grove and slowly up the slope. This was the same hillside that he and Dram and run down a marauding orc on before letting it go free. Ben felt uncomfortable heading straight for their lair, but if they were working for the Giant they may have some clues to where he was.

About half way up the hill Darius had Igor swing the party to the right so they could circle the hill and avoid any possible lookout. After a few hundred feet the crew turned upwards again and marched to the crest. The hill’s strange shape corresponded to the map Darius had. It was horseshoe shaped and had several caves in the interior ravine. Darius pulled out his large map and Kayla her ink and quill as they noticed at least two cave entrances that were not on the original map.

After a few minutes of spying into the ravine, the group decided to check in the nearest cavern to see what lay inside. Everyone took out their weapons in expectation of ambushing the orcs. The closest cave was back towards the river, but still atop the crest of the hill. As they approached Kayla saw a group of tall hairy creatures with thick, striped manes running down the backs of their heads. Instead of the red-skinned pig-like orcs these had mongrel faces with green skin and fur. Each stood a foot or two taller than any human and had strong, lean bodies. Each carried an axe or a bow and wore metal armor. At the sight of them Kayla screamed out: “ATTACK!” Chaos ensued.

The party turned to see seven creatures running toward them through the woods and pulling out their axes. Ben and a few others hid behind trees trying to gain cover when arrows started to zing by coming from beyond his vision. Bizarre archaic words fell from Kayla’s lips and almost every face turned towards her in confusion. Ben screamed in terror of her. The seven charging humanoids fell to the ground a few yards away from Kayla. Ben could hear the barks of the unseen archers now moving away in fear. Igor ran forward with Dram and Dalin and started cutting the sleeping beasts’ throats. Darius pursued the retreating archers with Mirel at his heels. “This is all very wrong”, thought Ben. “This is devilry, a witch’s work.” Scared at losing sight of Mirel, Ben ran after her.

 

[howandwhy99]

Hearing heavy breathing Ben turned back to see Dalin and Dram running behind him. Ormand the Redd and Rogg followed too. Kayla was outpacing everyone in her light robes. Igor was still back hunched over the bodies. Ben thought he saw a severed head in his hands being stuffed in his sack. Dalin and Dram had bloody fur-tipped ears in their own hands. “By the Gods”, thought Ben. After a short run the archers ran into the cave the group was originally headed towards. It sloped downwards into darkness. Loud barking and growling echoed out. Kayla started climbing a tree. Mirel was already in another loading her sling. Darius ran past the entrance and several arrows shot out. He leaned against the far side of the rocky crag surrounding the hole.

Dalin ran up to the other side of the cave and Ben and Rogg backed in behind him. Ormand the Redd and Dram began to fire from behind a bush into the darkness inside. Out of it stepped two of the creatures with axes. They towered over the party members and immediately swung at Darius and Dalin. Dalin was hit badly, but stayed up. Mirel and Kayla slung stones at the creatures, while Rogg and Ben moved in front of them swinging sword and flail alike. The creatures were difficult to hurt with both their thick hide and heavy armor. The action continued for another couple of minutes as Dram and Ormand attempted to close in with their bows to point blank range. Slingstones flew over Ben’s head and one even hit him in the back. Bowshots were coming out of the darkness now too.

The line of combat stood merely a foot within the cave entrance making it impossible to surround the enemy. Darius did land a solid hit on the left creature he and Rogg faced, but it dropped back into the cave with another moving up to take its place. “What do you know about these things!” yelled Dalin. Kayla thought while loading her sling. “I think they are a half-breed of some sort. They have gnomish features!” “Disgusting”, thought Ben. He had moved to the right corner and now swung around the stone with his flail. Arrows and rocks continued to fly in and out of the cave exit and into the throng of combatants. Barking and growling filled the air. Dalin dropped back from the door and took a swig of healing juice. He had taken several hits and was bleeding badly from his leg. While those in the trees stayed fresh, Ben and the others in melee were slowly wearing down and the fatigue began affecting their ability to hit.

Ben stepped away and rested, while Rogg held the right side of the cave mouth. Moving to the front and replacing Dalin on the left, Darius could peer into the darkness. He saw at least two more rows of the spotted animal men waiting to step into their ally’s places. The archers were doubled up behind these. Darius judged that the monstrous things were bigger and tougher fighters than his own group. Though they were pinned in now, something might happen to change the tide of battle. He saw Igor creep up and fill in for Ben. The strange man hid under cover near the cave entrance examining his foe just inches inside. It was too busy to see him. Suddenly Igor struck swinging his sword up and into his foe’s neck just missing the front of Rogg’s face. He nearly cut its head clean off, but the creature maintained standing. As if in retaliation, the dog-man in front of Darius managed to swing out around its corner at Dalin again and the gambler fell to the ground unconscious. Two more fresh warriors moved forward to take their allies’ places. “Too much damage is being taken!” yelled Darius. The dwarf called out for bandages on Dalin and regular swapping for the men up front as he continued to hold the line.

Dalin lay bleeding into the grass as the minutes passed, while his enemies soaked up more and more damage. The battle was seemingly without end as they continued to switch in rested reserves. Darius saw even he, with the aid of his full plate armor, could not hold against the creatures successfully. The archers within the cave stopped firing and a deep howl issued forth. The enemy retreated. When they turned their backs to run, Darian and Rogg hit those in the entranceway. The party panted in relief staring into the inky darkness of the cave mouth unsure whether or not to pursue. Ben rushed over to Dalin’s side and prayed for the Gods’ power. Healing energy passed from him into the body of Dalin, but he remained asleep. Then an arrow hit Rogg in the chest from the left side of everyone’s vision. The fighter fell to the ground. Three more of the creatures were approaching swiftly overland. Dram, Ormand, and Mirel quickly climbed out of their trees sensing a retreat was in order. Darius kept his ground in front of the cave with Igor beside him. Howls from outside the cave now joined those from within. Ben moved over to Rogg’s body trying to bandage him as fast as possible.

 

[howandwhy99]

Staring at the lead archer Kayla murmured some recited words from up in her tree and motioned with her arms. The beastman stopped shooting. Kayla barked at it in a strange tongue. It barked at the other two behind it and they ran away in the other direction. Brother Ben was thoroughly confused by the turn of events. Dram grabbed the other side of Rogg’s body and he and Ben started down the hill with it. Ormand and Darius grabbed Dalin too and the party started following after. Kayla quickly climbed down from her tree and backed away in retreat. The archer she had charmed began following her absurdly with its guard down. Igor ran from the tunnel entrance and into a flanking the creature. Kayla barked out once more and it fled back to its brethren. Igor looked crossly at her and sheathed his sword.

On the run back down to the river Dram could hear the faintest tunes of the dryad singing again. He yelled out an order for ears to be plugged. The rag-tag crew quickly moved to the riverside and stuffed Rogg and Dalin in Igor’s bag. Ben backed away again in fear of it. He eyed Kayla when she arrived with Mirel trailing behind. The team kept up the quick pace and headed back up to the top of the hill leading to Quesquaton. Igor brushed away their tracks as they climbed. Once within the cave the group caught their breaths while Ormand the Redd kept lookout for anyone chasing behind. The long walk back through Quesquaton was uneventful. Brother Ben cleared what few more of the dead bats he could with the Gods’ power. A rope was lowered for ascending the well and suddenly they were all back in the pouring rain of Outpost Xavier. It was like two different worlds.


[DAY 28 – Feastday, Juna 17th, CY 81]
- [DAY 31 – Fastday, Juna 20th, CY 81]

Three days passed with Dalin and Rogg both in the infirmary. They were the only two with real injuries, so the militiamen were booted out of their beds to make room. Brother Ben had decided to clear the infirmary of all false patients. Word began to spread around the camp about the new healing power Ben now possessed just as Darius the paladin. Morale still wavered though. Many of the men and women were depressed Pendra and Certa had still not returned. Rumors spread about the Giant having killed the two heroes. For their part, Darius and Kayla spent most of the time talking with Elion in his tent. The dwarven paladin seemed anxious about something. He kept asking about any messengers having come from the Keep. By the morning of Fastday when Rogg and Dalin were both back in good health, Darius already had the horses packed and ordered ten men of the militia to march with the group back to Keep Margrave. If a message had been sent without arriving, they would soon find out.

Early morning sunrays began to peek out of the sky after a half day’s march. There were hours to travel still when Igor heard a strange noise. A deep guttural hoot came from the left of the large nineteen-person cavalcade. Running full bore straight into the middle section was a strange looking creature. To Brother Ben it looked like a massive owl with the speed and size of a bear. Its beak was easily large enough to bite a man’s head off. Three of the soldiers were hit by the creature and crushed under its sharp claws and bulk. The rest started to run off the road in panic while they shook in fear of the animal. But Brother Ben and his companions did not run. Dram, Dalin and Rogg charged at the creature with their weapons drawn. Its heavy hide turned their blades, but Darius’s hammer hurt it. Igor pulled out a glistening purple substance and began applying it to the tip of his sword. “A bastard sword for a bastard, heeheehee. I will kill the vile beast!” he said to himself. Darius and Mirel both noticed Igor’s actions and began to berserk at the sight of the poisoned blade. Mirel began slinging stones at him, but missed wildly.

Kayla ran around behind a few of the soldiers and stepped up close to the owl-beast while waving her hands. It fell snorting to the ground. Brother Ben ran forward too and checked the three mauled solders. Two were torn apart, but Ben was able to heal the third. Igor ran from Darius into the surrounding thickets and the paladin struggled to calm himself once Igor was out of sight. Mirel ran over to Brother Ben and pulled both he and the healed soldier away from the sleeping monster. Dram moved closer and thrust his sword into the sleeping creature’s eye killing it. Blood poured out of the immense body and covered the dirt path. It took several minutes to regroup the hiding soldiers and then to find the horses that had run in fear. As a trophy Dram cut and peeled off the bear-owl’s hide. While no one was watching, Igor followed the creature’s tracks a few hundred feet into the grassland and spotted a large nest like structure in the far distance. A similar beast was within it. Strangely, he noticed several hoofprints along the trail too.

 

[howandwhy99]

Heading back Igor saw Darius congratulating the men who stood their ground and ordered everyone back into marching lines to ensure discipline was kept. Brother Ben picked out four men to carry the pieces of the dead to Keep Margrave for proper burial. Several others built a travois to carry the meat of the creature. The march was solemn after the brutal attack and darkness descended before they reached the keep that evening. As Igor led the way he related what he had discovered to Darius. Ben could hear adamant denials about applying something to his blade though. The keep opened the gate to the disheveled crew. Most were assigned to the military barracks and rest came quickly after.


[DAY 32 – Holyday, Juna 21st, CY 81]

Early the next morning Brother Ben woke up in the temple once more. It was refreshing to sleep in a feather bed after spending a week away. Darius had already awoken and left for the Keep’s inner bailey.

The dwarven paladin pounded on the heavy wooden door. “Hail. I come for a meeting with Lady Devereaux. Open the door.”
After a long wait and more pounding a voice drifted over from the other side.
“Lady Devereaux is no longer meeting with people.”
“I am Sergeant Darius Kord of Outpost Xavier, Ambassador of the Dwarven Kingdoms, Friend to Elion the Elf, and on a private mission for her Ladyship. I demand to be let in!”
“Hold on.” Several minutes passed. Darius then heard footsteps returning. It was the same voice. “Lady Devereaux is no longer meeting with anyone. I am told that she will contact you, if she has any further need for your services. You are ordered to keep doing…. whatever it is you do.”
“What about Captain Radcliffe, is he here?”
“Captain Radcliffe is with Lady Devereaux. He is not meeting with anyone either.”
Darius paused. “Sergeant Keenan is that you?”
There was no answer.
The dwarven paladin began pounding as hard as he could on the door again.

Brother Ben enjoyed his morning stroll through the keep. It was a cozy place. He noticed several of the soldiers who had accompanied him on the journey were standing around the barracks hall wondering what to do. Dram was already outside stripping the hide he had won. He had two metals vials stuffed in his belt. Before dawn he had trailed Igor to a merchant’s store. After doubling back and retrieving his coin pouch Dram went back to the store, but Igor was no longer within. A secret exchange was made with the tiny little man at the counter: two books for two potions. “Let them ask, if they’re so damned nosy” he thought to himself. Without looking up, Dram continued to quickly work the leather as the soldiers watched. He was nearly finished making the fur into a cape for himself when Kayla came up behind Brother Ben. She had a number of new y filled pouches hanging from her belt. She had done some shopping too, but he could not tell for what. “It’s called an owlbear,” she said pointing at Dram’s pelt. “I fear we must kill another on the return trip. Perhaps they were the source of the rumors we heard of bandits harassing travelers on the road?”

Ben inquired about their fellow companions. Apparently Mirel was very pleased to have finally returned to the keep and was spending the entire day with her parents and family. “Igor disappeared early in the morning” said Kayla, but Ben noticed she seemed to be holding something back. In any case, the easy mood was broken when Darius arrived a few minutes later. “Gather the men. We are heading back to Xavier. Now.” Ben reflected that the dwarf seemed to be in a very sour mood. All of the soldiers were found and called into assembly. Even Dram was forced to line up for the march back home (after he had completed his cape of course). Mirel was saddened about having to leave so soon, but she came without question.

 

[howandwhy99]

The large band marched down the curved entrance ramp away from the keep. The day was hot and dry. A little while later Igor was seen trailing behind and running to catch up. It seems they had left without him. By midday they arrived back at the spot where a large pool of dried blood was left over from the dead owlbear. Igor led the group off the road and to the north. After a short distance he spied the other owlbear in its nest. Very quietly Kayla crept up on the creature and sung a soft lullaby putting it to sleep. The soldiers silently surrounded its vast bulk and noticed the awful smell coming off it. This one was much larger than the other owlbear. When weapons were drawn, Igor mentioned to Darius that he could kill the beast with one stroke as he had a learned such things being a chef. Darius eyed the strange man, but eventually agreed. Igor raised his bastard sword over his head with the tip pointed at the owlbear’s neck. He stabbed and missed.

The massive creature went from sleeping to shrieking rage in the blink of an eye. An enormous paw swung wide throwing backwards every attacker that had surrounded it. Dram, and three others lay fallen and bleeding from the crushing assault. Igor, Dalin and Darius somehow managed to stand back up after being thrown ten feet from the blow. Brother Ben moved closer and pulled Dram’s body away, while taking out his bandages. Mirel ran up to the owlbear swinging with one of the fallen soldier’s swords. Possibly shamed into action by the young girl’s bravery some of the other soldiers pressed in to attack too. Others backed away shaking in fear. Darius swung his hammer hard connecting with the beast’s back. Kayla skirted along behind the fighters with her sling and helped Ormand the Redd fire into the melee.

Mirel scored a hit and Darius moved into the space beside to her. He shouted that she should move away from the battle. Mirel didn’t listen. Brother Ben used his healing powers on Dram. Igor circled around the back of the beast flanking it and tried to stay out of its vision. The owlbear stood up on two hind legs and attempted to back away from its attackers. Finding itself surrounded once more it changed course and charged forward instead. Dalin and two other soldiers were crushed beneath its hulking form. More soldiers began backing away and shaking in fear of the beast. Mirel and Darius continued their attacks and drew the owlbear’s attention. As it turned on them Igor held up his bastard sword above his head and thrust its tip up into the creature’s neck. This time he connected. The animal fell to the ground as Igor skipped agilely back. Others dropped to their knees in the sand tired from the fear and heat. “I killed the mama owl!” cried out Igor.

An accounting of the dead was taken. Five soldiers were placed on horseback for later burial. Dalin would survive as would Dram, but both needed a day to recuperate. In the nest Igor found four large eggs. Three had hardened brown shells, but the fourth was leathery and speckled. He placed them in his backpack for later. The caravan turned their horses around and began the slow walk back Keep Margrave. The whole trip had cost the party seven more militia members. Brother Ben prayed for their souls that evening in a sequestered room at the temple. He believed he had failed once more in keeping the lives of those around him safe. Ben counted to himself. Only five militia members were left to bunk in the barracks with the corporals of outpost Xavier. And two of those were Ormand the Redd and Rogg. Ten other militiamen were left back at the outpost. He then meditated upon the witch woman Kayla. She had saved their lives more than once in the past week. But he felt uncertain about her powers, which he believed were unholy. He wished the Gods would speak the truth to him. “Perhaps she shouldn’t read so much from wizard Zelligar’s books?” he thought.

 

[howandwhy99]

[Session 7]

[DAY 33 – Sunday, Juna 22nd, CY 81]

Darius awoke before sunrise the next day. Disturbed by the losses incurred from the owlbear attack, he marched straight over to the door of the inner bailey and commenced his pounding again. Strangely, he swore he saw Igor’s form in the early morning light, but it turned out to be a just another villager. The door lurched open. Inside stood Captain Radcliffe looking a little worse for wear. “Finally,” thought Darius, “Now I’m getting somewhere.” While the captain tried to cook hard-boiled eggs, pour water, and walk around in his yellow pajamas, Darius dutifully reported all the events of Outpost Xavier. Having left the outpost when the rains began Captain Radcliffe nodded without saying very much.

Five men were lost to the owlbears on the road. The threat had been eliminated, but supplies were woefully low at the Xavier. The fifty soldiers left to guard the tower were in poor spirits. Darius suggested switching out these men with some who were now at Keep Margrave. Captain Radcliffe nodded solemnly. Several books and other equipment were stolen from one of Darius’s men. They were highly valuable and may help in the fight against the Giant. Also, his team of soldiers had fought a score of gnolls near a series of caves in the woods. He believed the Giant had even more forces camped therein. Darius skillfully left out any mention of Elion’s councils and asked to speak with Lady Devereaux directly instead. “No. I think she wants to be... left alone”, said Radcliffe. The captain called in the quartermaster Sergeant Keenan. “Take this man, er… dwarf-man and, uh… give him what he needs. And go to his outpost with him too.” With that they watched as their leader turned around and walked out.

While disposing of his runny eggs, Darius requisitioned enough supplies for the army and his militiamen to survive for another two full weeks. He even planned out a strategy for all fifty troops to switch locations without either site lacking in protection during the transition. Sergeant Keenan sat and listened when he was not claiming the outpost “just happened to be scheduled for another supply of food anyways.” Afterwards, Darius checked in on Dalin and Dram. Both were still in poor shape, so he and Brother Ben called upon their Gods to heal them. One more day’s rest and they would be ready for duty. Assembling together the rest of the team, Darius informed them that he would be staying to watch over the two injured men. The others were all to accompany Sergeant Keenan back to Outpost Xavier.

Later that same day he saw the caravan off and Father Hedrach gave them a blessing. Rogg and Ormand the Redd were loath to leave Dram at the keep, but Darius convinced them of where their loyalties lay. Afterwards, he met with Captain Radcliffe again. He really enjoyed having someone answer in the affirmative when he knocked at the inner bailey, even if he was no longer allowed to enter within. The speech he gave the Captain worked. He, Dalin, and Dram would stay at the keep and train in swordplay and archery. Captain Radcliffe would provide the lessons himself. The two worked on foot placement for the rest of the day. Darius thought to himself, “He is much better at swordplay, then at wordplay. Now if only I can convince him to speak on my behalf to her Ladyship. Then we might actually accomplish something!”

 

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 34 – Moonday, Juna 23rd, CY 81]
– [DAY 38 – Fastday, Juna 27th, CY 81]

The next few days passed quickly as Darius, Dram, and Dalin practiced with Radcliffe. Darius found his commander’s instruction to be slow-paced and more dull than inspired. So after a couple of days of boredom he switched to studying with Father Hetrick at the temple instead. Darius was feeling anxious. “It has been over a week now and still no reply to my letters.” Dram and Dalin had been quite shocked when they awoke to the absence of any friends or confidants, but both relished the chance to learn combat maneuvers from such a skilled teacher. They liked the man, even if he was a bit dim.

Dram's preferred weapon is longbow. He stumbles through his multi-weapon attack lessons with his sword and dagger. He's grateful for the armor lessons since he's relatively new to chainmail. He asks Capt. Ratcliffe if he can offer any tips on general battle tactics, particularly ambushes. He also tries to learn whatever he can about how to better combat specific creatures, both those he's already encountered and those that the Captain might've as well. As best as he can recall, Dram has battled, and survived, a goblin ambush, a stone throwing giant, orcs, giant rats, zombies, animated rock statues, kobolds, bats, a huge spider, kobold and giant rat skeletons, undead bats, an undead huge spider, gnolls, owlbears and some sort of wicked shambling vine creatures. He asks the Captain what he knows of these creatures without revealing any specific information about his sojourns in Quesquaton.

Capt Ratcliffe will during the lessons explain tactics. The comment about the tall hairy green humanoids with barking voices does spark much interest from him. He has fought them. He tells you their name in fact: Gnolls. And that they are believed to be a breed of trolls. Trolls are much larger and nastier versions of the gnoll. And like trolls are afraid of fire. He asks if you burned the bodies.

Dram reports that unfortunately our party was unable to burn the gnoll bodies because we had to make a hasty retreat. Dram seems to remember Igor wanting to burn the bodies for fear that they might reanimate as undead like the kobolds. "What is the reason for burning gnoll bodies?" Dram asks. He also asks Captain Radcliffe where he encountered gnolls before and if he knows anything about their lairs near Outpost Xavier.

They are a common enough foe. As they hire themselves out to the highest payer. But they are not trustworthy. So many civilized commanders won't use them. I fought some in my early days as a patrol rider and then as a commander of patrols. Some of them have more troll blood in them than gnome blood. And as a side effect they mend. The blows you land look like they lay them low. But in fact the beasts heal too fast. Fire will stop the troll blood from working.

He tells you to start using range and reach weapons against larger foes like the owlbears. And to avoid being bitten/stung by the spiders and some of the undead. Some undead are connected to the powers of Chaos. Their touch can drain the life from a man.

Dram takes this tidbit of advice to heart and asks if he can receive some training with the spear. He also asks if he can have a spear from the armoury.

You know how to handle one okay. And yes you are entitled to use the armoury. In fact spears and javelins seem to be the only weapons of abundance.

Capt. Ratcliffe is proficient with the bow... more so than you... but admits it is not his best weapon. He does show you how to care for the weapon though and instructs you to find better materials when you can. The Elven bows made with the tail hairs of a unicorn are prized weapons. With them you can use your full strength to penetrate even thick armor.

Dram asks if Capt. Ratcliffe has ever seen such a bow, or where one might find or purchase one. What kind of "better materials"?

Lady Devereaux was given one by Elian when she saved his life. They are only given to elf friends. But other materials can still make bows and their arrows better. The young Ents have branches, which make for good material. And some metals brought forth from the dwarves will make a nasty barbed arrowhead. The dwarves favor crossbows. But still an arrow can be found made from the stuff.

The keep itself was busy with guards being rotated in and out and marching contingents off to Outpost Xavier. The final group was scheduled to leave early morning on Holyday.

 

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 39 – Holyday, Juna 28th, CY 81]

“A week without the dwarf around,” thought Igor. “This could be fun.” Only now looking back he knew it had been quite the opposite. He still counted himself lucky for selling off three of the owlbear eggs before being ordered to march back to this waterlogged, cesspit of horseflies and bigger pests. Mouse had not wanted the fourth egg. “Unfertilized”, the tiny man had said. Igor gave it to Kayla instead in hopes she might be able to use it in her wizardry. The woman had studied with the Elf Elion ever since their return. It bothered Igor as he had quite a few of his own questions to check with Elion about, but it did little good to let others know he was asking – asking about anything at all really.

Shockingly, the militia well guard was doing its job too. He had learned Darius had ordered that no one was to enter the well in his absence shortly before he left. Without the little guy here to rescind the order, the way down was closed. Even for a quick, single-person inspection. By the third time he asked the guard knew his face; or at least his current guise. Reflecting back on his choice of aliases, Igor thought he could have picked a little more wisely. The pain from wearing the hump when he first arrived at Xavier still affected his back when he leapt from one tree to the next. Yet, he liked those days better than these and their interminable rain. “Come ‘ere an try me seven layer salad. Made w’ seven kinds o’ beans and three o’ four things that look like beans”, he recited. “Y’need real food fer growin’ good brains. This dish ‘s good brains. Brain tasty too.”

The noise around him stopped. He forgot he was still in class with Mirel and Brother Ben. The oddball priest was lecturing the two of them in hopes they would learn to read. Igor wondered if he even knew Mirel was humoring him. She looked studious enough, but Igor knew willful ignorance when he saw it. She was scared of what reading and writing might mean for her. “She’s a smart girl”, thought Igor. He further wondered if the man realized how hard he himself was trying to learn the work while playing the fool. He spun his eye around again. “What did you say, good Igor?” said Brother Ben. “It’s EYE-GORE dammit”, Igor thought silently to himself as the cleric mispronounced his name yet again. He opened his mouth and lied: “o’ nothin’ Just me thinkin’ about me cookin’ agin.” That got him chastised. The priest started once more into his inscrutable monologue and Igor struggled to keep up in his head.

[SBLOCK][From quotes] Brother Ben focused on the shapes of numbers and letters giving special emphasis on the order and logic of each. "The ordinal nature of the numbers is representative of the underlying aspect of law present in all places. The completeness of the letters chart, including specific roles for consonants and vowels, will later be incremental in learning both language structure and propriety."

(stolen from Webster)”For instance: Consonants are divided into various classes, as mutes, spirants, sibilants, nasals, semivowels, etc. All of them are sounds uttered through a closer position of the organs than that of a vowel proper, although the most open of them, as the semivowels and nasals, are capable of being used as if vowels, and forming syllables with other closer consonants, as in the Common feeble (-b'l), taken (-k'n). All the consonants excepting the mutes may be indefinitely, prolonged in utterance without the help of a vowel, and even the mutes may be produced with an aspirate instead of a vocal explosion. Vowels and consonants may be regarded as the two poles in the scale of sounds produced by gradual approximation of the organ, of speech from the most open to the closest positions, the vowel being more open, the consonant closer; but there is a territory between them where the sounds produced partake of the qualities of both."[/SBLOCK]

Igor’s brain hurt. He reflected back on Kayla instead. A highly intelligent woman if a bit reserved. She was smarter than he was which normally meant trouble. But he felt he and her were right about where Igor wanted them to be: wrapped in a crisscross of truth and lie even he could not always discern. She had many questions for him and knew a little more of his real nature - at least that he was not just a simple cook. “What cook could use a bastard sword to kill an owlbear in one fell stabbing?” he thought. “Well, Sergeant Guido’s loss is my gain. May I never see his ghost again.” He shivered. It still unnerved him that a thing once dead might rise to seek revenge on its killer. But the blade, it was at least one item he could show openly. Everyone else still believed he had lost all his other belongings except his new sack in the theft. The truth was those books did not even pay for it. "They were money in the bank, investments.” His thoughts started to flow. “No, it was those pretty, pretty gems on that old wizard’s throne. How could everyone else overlook them? Wise men are bad and good are fools, facts evil - wishes vain appear, we cannot go… damn! What was the end of that line?” Igor could no longer concentrate with Brother Ben prattling on.