(Adventure) The Haunted Halls of Stonepike

[Uriel]

Garunn says quietly 'That be the Carduthian Empire. Of course, I s'pose that the battle hain't got to yer City yet, but it's only a matter of time before the Legions arrive...'

He looks morose and continues to sip his tea.

OoC:Recap and a first mention for a few, I think...quoted from Feral Smackdown

"...brewing War in the East between Carduth and the borderlands between that great Empire and the West. The Carduthian Emperor has not yet acknowledged the existance of the Brotherhood as anything other than a minor nuisance, but rumours of espionage and sabotage funded by this organization hindering his war effort have been the talk of many a local watering hole for the last several months. So far, Carduth has met stumbling block after stumbling block in it's attempt to subjecate the dwarven City of Stonepike and their allies, the Hillmen of Bainlund.The Legions of Carduth stand poised to expand their enormous Empire Westwards, and little seems to be able to stop them."

In reference to The Brotherhood of Peace, a group rumored to be helping the bainlunders and the Stonepike Dwarves against Carduth.

Folks, Carduth is Rome at the height of it's Power. Expanding (with magic and many other advantages which Rome didn't have...).

 

[dpdx]

[Dude, who reads that historical stuff? ]

Rurik moseys over to the discussion group, and listens to the story of the Carduthian Empire. "Aye, once I'm done with the report I'm owin' me grandah, I'd be 'appy ta 'elp agin' tha Carduthians..."

"But fer na', wha' say we stop botherin' the Bainlunders n' git ta what we're bein' paid fer?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Sturm listens, nodding, seeming to have no sympathy for the plight of the Bainlunders -- in fact, it just never occurs to him to think of it as a plight.

"Mus' be borin' stuff, fightin' humans whene'er there's a war. Ain' sayin' 'ere's no fightin' among Dwarvenfolk, but tha' sort o' scratchin' would ne'er reach Down Thrusch... Us, our wars 're fought 'gainst things so strange 'n dark, e'en those brightest o' poetic sorts can't think o' words fer describin' 'em... And kobies. Lots o' kobies. But fightin' with kobies ain' much worth callin' war, really. More like housekeepin'."

Scratching at the thin, dark red scabs across his face, Sturm mounts his pony once more, bidding a hearty farewell to Garunn and the others.

 

[Uriel]

OoC:Off it is, then...

IC

Garunn takes the Salve from Thurgan with reverence and care. He had never met a Wizard, says the man, and he would save this for a special emergency.
The Bainlunders load your packs with breads and honey, sausages and jerked rabbit. It would be later, down the road, that the Dwarves would all find a skin of bitter and dark Bainlunder beer as well, a parting gift to see them through until they reached Stonepike.
Later as well, as they were doing chores and cleaning, the children would find the most wonderful things, small and bright jewels under their pillows, a parting gift from a quiet and shy Lady.
As well, a small piece of parchment with the note 'Thank you, your generosity will not be forgotten' and a Runic Mark would be found long after the Adventurers had gone...

 

[Uriel]

Riding over the hills in the morning Sun, with the rainclouds seeming to hover just overhead, as if threatening you all (but unwilling to tip their hand just yet...). the band makes quite good time upon the grasslands of Bainlund.
Even Aranel's horse and Thurgan's pony seem to be behaving themselves (Urgan says that they are happy to be in the open, and they are all on their best behavior).

Some time around dusk, having stopped by one of many small rivulets encountered in this verdant land, Urgan confers with Algram and the Map that he carries, turning at last and proclaimin that you have all travelled some 70 miles, the horse keeping a good clip of 10 or 15 miles an hours for the most part of the day. The slick and wet ground has slowed your progress somewhat (as well as the riding skillls.or lack therof...) of many of the Band, but the Jasperfist brothers seem amused and impressed by the time that you have been able to make, just the same.

Algram seems to think that rest was for the best (your bottoms all feel like they have been getting kicked by Ogres all day long...), and he sets out to scout the surrounding area.
I is perhaps a half an hour later when he returns, saying ' P..P...P'raps a qu..qu...quarter mile aw...away, there's a c..c...copse of woods, small...g...g..good for camp,though.'

OoC:Unless someone objects

It takes 10 minutes or so to reach the place that the Dwarf mentioned. Indeed, it is a small copse of oak and ceder, perhaps 20 trees in total. Hardly a proper Forest, but providing cover and a welcome shed from rain.

Telerin <Surv 20 roll> finds wild strawberries as well, enough for all, the steeds included, and enough to still leave some for the animals of ther area. there is spoor of antelope as wellas rabbit here and the markings on the trees of a large predator as well, though it's nature remains a mystery.

 

[nimisgod]

"This brings memories of steeds being tethered near a monastery a week and many miles away" Sir Ishmael smiled at the reminescence. "Save that in Master Bekkle's stead, we have two stalwart 'stonefolk'. Indeed, this looks a place is excellent as any for rest. Methinks Courage is quite eager for a pause in his travels."

The halfling dismounted then surveyed the area. "It looketh to be a bear about but I am no woodsman. What think thee of this beast's marks, Telerin?"

 

[dpdx]

Rurik clears a crude circle on the ground, and surrounds it with a roughly 1' wall of stones. He then collects some dead wood to place in the center, some dried leaves underneath to get it started, and sets to work with the flint and steel to get it ablaze.

The wet wood takes much longer than normal to get started, but after much cursing and numerous attempts, slowly catches. In about a half-hour, a modest fire is going, suitable for cooking, drying out, or keeping warm.

"We ne'er got ta go'n build us a proper firepit o' the monast'ry, eh, Sturm? Ol' Bainlunder's fire felt too good ta go w'thout, I'se thinkin'..."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Sturm helps where he can with the firepit, probably more than he needs to: He approaches the task as if its nuances are some bit of arcane knowledge which must be lost on the others...

"We're w'ot good mortar, but what mud's 'ere should bake crisp 'nough'n hold fer t'night... Don' wan' fire breathin' too much, ye ken? Else it'll eat itself right out fr'm under..."

Once he sees how the wood burns, though, it occurs to him that more airflow might be a good thing... It's an easy enough thing, though, to place a few more stones at the bottom with gaps in between.

"Remind me'n take some time off 'fore what job comes next'n get together some strips o' real packrot... 't'll burn hotter 'n easier, 'n what smell it gives'll be a thing o' comfort, 'stead o' this chokin' mess."

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Telerin looked to Ishmael and shrugged, "It is possible. Either way, I would suggest that we not venture far from the camp. We most likely won't have to worry about it..."
He patted his horse, got a whine from Whitefang, and sat down to pay the wolf some attention.

 

[Uriel]

Rurik finds enough stones for the firepit and Sturm and ishmael find quite a bit of dry wood underneath one of the larger trees Soon a fire is going, and the Jasperfist brothers have strung up several tarps that they have packed along, providing a dry camp for all, the steeds included.

Dinner is a simple enough thing, with sausages from Garunn's larder cooked over the fire being the main course, as well as the other foods carried, and soon the weariness of the saddle and the trail is wearing on all.
Bedding down is easy enough, as there are enough dry areas under the larger trees. Soone enough snores and murmurs of drams are resounding amongst the trees, intermitten with the patter ofrain upon the tarps above.


OoC:Guard for the night? Just on case you folks expect trouble.