Ashin's Commission: Buried Alive

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Right--Michael took an officer's emblem from the ghouls, right? I seem to remember he took something for identification so that it would be clear that he found them)

*Michael tracks his way back to his hidden cache, which is actually somehow still blocked with rocks, unmoved by the Afflicted. They clearly knew where it was, with the one who intruded as proof, so the fact that they didn't break in is unusual. Perhaps they were a bit busy somewhere else--there were an obscene number present inside at the crucial point of the battle, after all.*

*As Michael moves aside the rocks, he finds that he was at least half-right--the Afflicted didn't eat all the food, but while Michael was away for a day, the demon horse got into it, eating what it liked and spilling much of the rest.*

 

[ajanders]

Is the horse there?
I figured the Afflicted would have eaten it.

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Yup, the horse is still alive--apparently the Afflicted didn't get into the little dead-end cavern Michael used. As mentioned above, it's kind of odd that they didn't, but they didn't. It may be because they were all called in before they could.)

 

[ajanders]

Michael mounts up and heads for the Fallonese army.
Along the way he tries to keep not thinking about the intelligence necessary to call in the clans like that, because it makes him very uneasy.

This isn't near close to over yet.

The demon horse appears better behaved today, and Michael is able to eventually distract himself by looking for wild foods to eat.

Michael's survival check (1d20+7=22)

"Hey! Mushrooms! And a rabbit..."
*sling*
*thunk*
"A slow rabbit..."

The nicest kind thinks Michael as he starts a breakfast fire.
There may even be leftovers.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Michael heads back at half speed so he can hunt for food, and he goes around the way that skirts the village and any possible Afflicted there, so it is dark before he reaches the camp again, though he knows he is close enough to make it if he forced the march. Otherwise, he shall have to camp for the night.*

 

[ajanders]

Michael decides to push: even with a good meal in his system, he's eager to get this resolved.
The demon horse grumbles, but not as much as usual.

Apparently nobody enjoyed their night last night.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Michael presses on for three hours, and demon horse takes 7 lethal damage and is exhausted, but eventually they do reach the Fallonese camp, though night has since fallen.*

 

[ajanders]

Michael got to pass the pickets, or is he waiting for Sergeant Rollo again?

In either case, once Michael reaches the Fallonese, he dismounts, pets the horse, thanks it for its help, and heals it, converting his detect evil to a cure light wounds.
(Invisible Castle seems to be down.)

If he needs to go anywhere else tonight, he wants to walk and lead the horse.
This may change when the army of Afflicted shows up, but he decides to be cautiously optimistic.

Continuing to make much of the horse (which now looks confused and suspicious), Michael asks if the lieutenant wishes to see his messenger tonight or not.

Nothing discourteous is said, but Michael's tone is coldly formal.

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Waits for Sergeant Rollo at first)

*Sergeant Rollo lets him in, and sends another soldier to check with the lieutenant. The soldier returns shortly.*

"Sergeant, the Lieutenant wishes to speak with the messenger with all due haste. He says he feels trouble brewing."

 

[ajanders]

Michael snorts and looks at the broken arrow symbol on his chain shirt. "Let's go then." He leads the horse after the runner. Actually, he stops for a moment to lift off the saddle and carry it on his shoulder.

I'm gonna need this horse tonight...

The horse looks at Michael as if to say "Who are you and what have you done with the guy who used to ride me?"

(OOC: Surely after taking all that damage from Inflicted, there's been enough wear and tear on that holy symbol to efface it? About the second time Michael's chest got ripped open, you'd think it would wear off...)