Thomas Hobbes
First Post
Now that's damn cool! Where'd all the houses and walls come from?
Company of the Random Encounter ('complete' 14 Nov 2004)
- Thread starter Capellan
- Start date
Capellan
Explorer
Wow - I go away for a three day trip and come back to find myself still on the front page of the forum. Did everyone else go off on holidays as well? 
To answer the question about the scenery in the game (and to give this post some level of value): the houses are all paper models from the WotC Chainmail site. A friend printed the model kits onto normal paper, then I pasted them to extra heavy paper stock (210 gsm, for those that care). Once they were dry, I cut them out and assembled them. All pretty straightforward, really, and a great way to build up inexpensive scenery.
The palisade, on the other hand, was hand-built by the Padre's player. He's the arts'n'crafts one of the group. In later sessions, I'll probably include shots of some of the other scenery he's built for our use. It's pretty darn cool!
To answer the question about the scenery in the game (and to give this post some level of value): the houses are all paper models from the WotC Chainmail site. A friend printed the model kits onto normal paper, then I pasted them to extra heavy paper stock (210 gsm, for those that care). Once they were dry, I cut them out and assembled them. All pretty straightforward, really, and a great way to build up inexpensive scenery.
The palisade, on the other hand, was hand-built by the Padre's player. He's the arts'n'crafts one of the group. In later sessions, I'll probably include shots of some of the other scenery he's built for our use. It's pretty darn cool!
Thomas Hobbes
First Post
Capellan said:
I thought I recognized them from somewhere...
Kudos to Padre's player- thats a nice piece of work.
Capellan
Explorer
"Hooberan's Stockade" by Wicht - Part 1
It takes a while for Amberdale's inhabitants to recover from the festival. Even on the second morning after it concludes, there are still many sore heads being nursed. These are not helped by the bang and clatter of a heavily laden dwarf tramping down the stairs.
"Ulfgar." Ming Li inclines her head gracefully. She is the only customer in the taproom, the remains of a simple breakfast on the table before her. "You are leaving?"
"For a few days." The dwarf answers gruffly, "My people's halls cannot be left in disrepair, filled with the stench of orcs."
The monk nods her understanding,
"The memory of our ancestors must be respected."
"Aye." Ulfgar breaks into a rare smile, "You're alright, for a human."
"I am pleased you think so. Do you require assistance with your task?"
The dwarf cocks his head to one side.
"Another set of hands would be useful." He admits, "But I'm not much for talking."
"Good." Ming Li smiles slightly, "I am close to understanding a new martial technique. Labour would occupy my body while my mind could reflect."
"Fair enough." Ulfgar nods, "When can you be ready?"
Silently, Ming Li picks up her small sack of possessions, throwing them over one shoulder. Ulfgar barks a shirt, explosive laugh, wincing slightly afterwards.
"Let's get going, then."
As the mismatched pair two move toward the door, the Padre comes down the stairs. It is the first time he has voluntarily emerged in several days, and he looks a little bleary-eyed, as if he has not been getting enough sleep. Ulfgar and Ming Li nod to him as they leave, earning a grunt in reply.
It is only a matter of minutes before another member of the Company appears. The Padre has only briefly been introduced to the newcomers, and he doesn't even spare a grunt for Twinkle as she slips into the chair opposite.
"I saw Ming Li and Ulfgar outside." The gnome shares cheerfully, while the Padre shovels a stacked plate of eggs and bacon into his mouth, "Ming Li said she wanted to go someplace where she could concentrate without being interrupted all the time." Twinkle frowns slightly, "I'm not sure what she meant by that."
The Padre grunts.
As the priest's plate slowly clears, others of the group begin to filter into the taproom. Mantreus is the first to emerge, setting Shadow on his lap as he sits down. The Padre gives the cat an unfriendly star. It pointedly ignores him.
"Any of the others around?" Mantreus wonders.
"Briar and Macwood probably won't be." Twinkle filches some of the Padre's bacon while he isn't looking, and feeds it to Shadow, "They had a Post-Festival Party last night. It's just the three of us."
"Or not." Mantreus points at the door, which opens to admit Stormstrider and Elspeth.
"How'd you know they were there?" Twinkle asks, eyes round, "Did you use your magic?"
In answer, Mantreus merely leans back and looks mysterious. Not to mention smug.
"He saw 'em through the window." The Padre spoils the illusion.
The two rangers take seats at the table, nodding to their companions. Stormstrider still appears a little uncomfortable in the civilised surroundings, but Elspeth apparently has no such qualms, happily accepting a lavish breakfast from Brent Birchwhistle.
"Where's Rose?" the Padre asks her, his mind probably straying to the group's promise to keep the halfling out of trouble.
"I left her at the ranger's tower." Elspeth jabs her fork in the direction of the distant building, "I think Captain Jarrek's made her nervous about coming back into town."
"Can’t imagine why." Mantreus observes dryly.
As the rangers finish their respective breakfasts, Brent Birchwhistle arrives to take their plates away.
"I trust everything was to your satisfaction?"
"Too much salt." Twinkle complains, ignoring the fact that she never bought anything, and being ignored in turn by Brent.
"I've been asked to give you a message," the innkeeper continues, "Captain Jarrek asked to me to send you to see him this morning. He has something he wants to talk to you about."
It takes a while for Amberdale's inhabitants to recover from the festival. Even on the second morning after it concludes, there are still many sore heads being nursed. These are not helped by the bang and clatter of a heavily laden dwarf tramping down the stairs.
"Ulfgar." Ming Li inclines her head gracefully. She is the only customer in the taproom, the remains of a simple breakfast on the table before her. "You are leaving?"
"For a few days." The dwarf answers gruffly, "My people's halls cannot be left in disrepair, filled with the stench of orcs."
The monk nods her understanding,
"The memory of our ancestors must be respected."
"Aye." Ulfgar breaks into a rare smile, "You're alright, for a human."
"I am pleased you think so. Do you require assistance with your task?"
The dwarf cocks his head to one side.
"Another set of hands would be useful." He admits, "But I'm not much for talking."
"Good." Ming Li smiles slightly, "I am close to understanding a new martial technique. Labour would occupy my body while my mind could reflect."
"Fair enough." Ulfgar nods, "When can you be ready?"
Silently, Ming Li picks up her small sack of possessions, throwing them over one shoulder. Ulfgar barks a shirt, explosive laugh, wincing slightly afterwards.
"Let's get going, then."
As the mismatched pair two move toward the door, the Padre comes down the stairs. It is the first time he has voluntarily emerged in several days, and he looks a little bleary-eyed, as if he has not been getting enough sleep. Ulfgar and Ming Li nod to him as they leave, earning a grunt in reply.
It is only a matter of minutes before another member of the Company appears. The Padre has only briefly been introduced to the newcomers, and he doesn't even spare a grunt for Twinkle as she slips into the chair opposite.
"I saw Ming Li and Ulfgar outside." The gnome shares cheerfully, while the Padre shovels a stacked plate of eggs and bacon into his mouth, "Ming Li said she wanted to go someplace where she could concentrate without being interrupted all the time." Twinkle frowns slightly, "I'm not sure what she meant by that."
The Padre grunts.
As the priest's plate slowly clears, others of the group begin to filter into the taproom. Mantreus is the first to emerge, setting Shadow on his lap as he sits down. The Padre gives the cat an unfriendly star. It pointedly ignores him.
"Any of the others around?" Mantreus wonders.
"Briar and Macwood probably won't be." Twinkle filches some of the Padre's bacon while he isn't looking, and feeds it to Shadow, "They had a Post-Festival Party last night. It's just the three of us."
"Or not." Mantreus points at the door, which opens to admit Stormstrider and Elspeth.
"How'd you know they were there?" Twinkle asks, eyes round, "Did you use your magic?"
In answer, Mantreus merely leans back and looks mysterious. Not to mention smug.
"He saw 'em through the window." The Padre spoils the illusion.
The two rangers take seats at the table, nodding to their companions. Stormstrider still appears a little uncomfortable in the civilised surroundings, but Elspeth apparently has no such qualms, happily accepting a lavish breakfast from Brent Birchwhistle.
"Where's Rose?" the Padre asks her, his mind probably straying to the group's promise to keep the halfling out of trouble.
"I left her at the ranger's tower." Elspeth jabs her fork in the direction of the distant building, "I think Captain Jarrek's made her nervous about coming back into town."
"Can’t imagine why." Mantreus observes dryly.
As the rangers finish their respective breakfasts, Brent Birchwhistle arrives to take their plates away.
"I trust everything was to your satisfaction?"
"Too much salt." Twinkle complains, ignoring the fact that she never bought anything, and being ignored in turn by Brent.
"I've been asked to give you a message," the innkeeper continues, "Captain Jarrek asked to me to send you to see him this morning. He has something he wants to talk to you about."
Capellan
Explorer
"Hooberan's Stockade" by Wicht - Part 2
Captain Jarrek has obviously been expecting the group, for he wastes no time in getting down to business.
"Yer remember that grave robber yer captured -" he begins.
It quickly becomes apparent that the group, in fact, does not.
"I thought we killed them all." Mantreus opines.
"Then I got a mighty active corpse in m' cells." Jarrek gives the rogue an exasperated glare.
"One survived." The Padre ought to know - he was the one who patched the bandit's wounds.
"Right." Jarrek waits impatiently for the adventurers' attention. "Now that the Festival is over, we've had a chance to question him. Seems someone hired him and his mates were hired to steal the bodies."
"Necromancer." Mantreus hazards.
"Evil Priest." Stormstrider counters.
"What did the guy look like?" Elspeth tries to keep things on track.
"He said he didn't see the man's face." Jarrek continues, "Always wore a hooded black robe, apparently."
"No problem, then." Mantreus is sarcastic, "Can't help but find him with a detailed description like that."
Jarrek ignores the interruption,
"We found out where they were taking the bodies after they stole 'em. I've sent some men out there to look into it. But somethin' else came up while we were questioning the robber. Turns out he once 'eard this black robed fellow refer to Hooberan."
The group looks blank. For a change, however, they remain silent.
"Otto Hooberan is head man of a settlement about a day's travel from here." Jarrek explains, "He's a good friend of the mayor here, and he always attends the Harvest Festival. Except this year, he didn't turn up. The mayor's concerned that something might have happened to him."
"What'll you pay us for checking?" Mantreus gets down to brass tacks. Jarrek looks sour.
"Ten gold each." He ignores the dismissive snorts. "If it turns out that something has happened to Hooberan, you'll get an extra two 'undred for sortin' it out."
The Padre opens his mouth.
"Total." Jarrek's worked with adventurers often enough to know what question is coming. "Whenever I'm payin' yer per person, I'll say so."
After a short discussion, the group agrees to Jarrek's terms, then asks him - twice - how to get to Hooberan's settlement.
"It's a day's travel north-east of here." Jarrek words are heavily emphasised as he gives the directions for the second time. "Head out to the ranger's tower. You should know where that is."
"We do?" Stormstrider's discomfort at being in a settlement is evidently making it hard for him to concentrate.
"We killed the rats there." Mantreus, at least, remembers.
"Go to the tower." Jarrek repeats with the kind of heavy patience that precedes a minor fit of apoplexy. "Keep heading north-east until you hit the cart track. Follow that. It'll lead yer straight to Hooberan's Stockade."
"Do we get the ten gold in advance?" Twinkle wants to know.
"Hell, no." Jarrek scowls, "I ain't runnin' a charity. Speaking o' charities, though, the Priests at the Sanctuary want yer to stop by there before yer leave. Hooberan supplies their sacramental wine, so they want to know what happened to 'im, too. One of their acolytes is going to go with yer. A young elf named Sirdros."
"No problem." the group promise as they take their leave of the militia captain. They're halfway to the Sanctuary when Twinkle pipes up,
"Sir Dross, eh? Do you think he's a real knight?"
Captain Jarrek has obviously been expecting the group, for he wastes no time in getting down to business.
"Yer remember that grave robber yer captured -" he begins.
It quickly becomes apparent that the group, in fact, does not.
"I thought we killed them all." Mantreus opines.
"Then I got a mighty active corpse in m' cells." Jarrek gives the rogue an exasperated glare.
"One survived." The Padre ought to know - he was the one who patched the bandit's wounds.
"Right." Jarrek waits impatiently for the adventurers' attention. "Now that the Festival is over, we've had a chance to question him. Seems someone hired him and his mates were hired to steal the bodies."
"Necromancer." Mantreus hazards.
"Evil Priest." Stormstrider counters.
"What did the guy look like?" Elspeth tries to keep things on track.
"He said he didn't see the man's face." Jarrek continues, "Always wore a hooded black robe, apparently."
"No problem, then." Mantreus is sarcastic, "Can't help but find him with a detailed description like that."
Jarrek ignores the interruption,
"We found out where they were taking the bodies after they stole 'em. I've sent some men out there to look into it. But somethin' else came up while we were questioning the robber. Turns out he once 'eard this black robed fellow refer to Hooberan."
The group looks blank. For a change, however, they remain silent.
"Otto Hooberan is head man of a settlement about a day's travel from here." Jarrek explains, "He's a good friend of the mayor here, and he always attends the Harvest Festival. Except this year, he didn't turn up. The mayor's concerned that something might have happened to him."
"What'll you pay us for checking?" Mantreus gets down to brass tacks. Jarrek looks sour.
"Ten gold each." He ignores the dismissive snorts. "If it turns out that something has happened to Hooberan, you'll get an extra two 'undred for sortin' it out."
The Padre opens his mouth.
"Total." Jarrek's worked with adventurers often enough to know what question is coming. "Whenever I'm payin' yer per person, I'll say so."
After a short discussion, the group agrees to Jarrek's terms, then asks him - twice - how to get to Hooberan's settlement.
"It's a day's travel north-east of here." Jarrek words are heavily emphasised as he gives the directions for the second time. "Head out to the ranger's tower. You should know where that is."
"We do?" Stormstrider's discomfort at being in a settlement is evidently making it hard for him to concentrate.
"We killed the rats there." Mantreus, at least, remembers.
"Go to the tower." Jarrek repeats with the kind of heavy patience that precedes a minor fit of apoplexy. "Keep heading north-east until you hit the cart track. Follow that. It'll lead yer straight to Hooberan's Stockade."
"Do we get the ten gold in advance?" Twinkle wants to know.
"Hell, no." Jarrek scowls, "I ain't runnin' a charity. Speaking o' charities, though, the Priests at the Sanctuary want yer to stop by there before yer leave. Hooberan supplies their sacramental wine, so they want to know what happened to 'im, too. One of their acolytes is going to go with yer. A young elf named Sirdros."
"No problem." the group promise as they take their leave of the militia captain. They're halfway to the Sanctuary when Twinkle pipes up,
"Sir Dross, eh? Do you think he's a real knight?"
Capellan
Explorer
"Hooberan's Stockade" by Wicht - Part 3
An acolyte greets the group upon their arrival at the Sanctuary.
"We've been sent to pick up Sir Dross." Mantreus announces smoothly. To his disappointment, the acolyte makes no reaction to the deliberately mangled name.
"I'll get him for you."
After a few minutes, the acolyte returns with a young elf in tow. The newcomer is busily strapping on scale mail armour as he approaches, and walks with a heaviness that is unusual in one of his race.
"Good day." He nods to the group, "I am Sirdros. The High Priest has asked me to accompany you to Hooberan's Stockade."
"I'm Tweedlefinkle Dessandri Rhowyn." Twinkle thrusts out her hand to the elf, who gives her a rather startled look, "Tweedlefinkle is the birth name my parents gave me, while Rhowyn is my family name. I come from a long line of Rhowyns. Now, Dessandri -"
"Maybe something shorter?" Sirdros interjects with a nervous smile.
The gnome visibly deflates,
"Oh, just call me Twinkle."
Each of the other adventurers introduces themselves quickly, and they are all soon on the road again, heading north east toward the ranger's tower.
As they enter the forest, a wolf pads out of the undergrowth and falls into step beside Stormstrider. It happens so calmly and smoothly that most of the group don't even break stride. The elves have been familiar with the druidic faith their whole lives, and their relaxed attitude toward the animal eases any concerns the others might have had. Only Shadow appears displeased, retreating into Mantreus' familiar pouch with a dismissive twitch of his tail.
Eventually, the tower comes in sight. The building has obviously been the subject of recent care and attention. The splintered front door has a crude but serviceable replacement and the brush around the tower has been cleared.
"Did you ever find the ranger who hired us to kill those rats?" the Padre asks Elspeth.
"No." the female ranger scowls at the reminder of the absentee whose work she has been doing. "Haven't seen a sign of him." Her tone speaks volumes about what will happen if she ever does find a sign.
The group presses on, making good time. Shortly before dusk, they crest a ridge to find themselves looking over a shallow valley. Most of the valley is lightly wooded, but about a mile in the distance is a cleared area, in the centre of which is a collection of buildings surrounded by a wooden palisade.
"Is that it?" Stormstrider asks.
"We'd have to be really lost for it not to be." Mantreus quips.
"Do we want to get inside tonight, or wait until morning?" Sirdros glances at the setting sun.
"It's already getting dark." The Padre shields his eyes as he scans the valley. "I suggest we make camp down there." He points to a copse of trees some four hundred feet from the stockade. "It looks defensible, and our fire will be shielded from the town."
"Does it matter if they see us?" Elspeth raises her eyebrows.
"It does if there's something untoward going on." The Padre responds, face carefully impassive. "Which seems likely, given the reasons we were sent here."
The others see the wisdom in this remark, and decide to follow the priest's suggestion.
"We should wait until dark and then rake a closer look at the stockade." Stormstrider suggests.
"Good idea." Mantreus agrees, "We can check if there are any lights on, inside the town."
Nobody points out that they could see any lights without moving a step: the idea of a midnight reconnaissance has fired their imaginations.
The group makes camp, carefully shielding their fire from the town, then wolf down their evening meal, debating the composition of the scouting party as they do so. The two priests are obviously not suited to the task, but all four of the others are keen to go.
Eventually - and much to his disgust - it is decided that Stormstrider should remain behind. More warrior than scout, he has the weakest stealth skills of the four.
"Remember," the Padre cautions the three who are to perform the scouting mission, "Just check it out and then come back. Don't do anything risky."
He has a sneaking suspicion he may as well be talking to himself.
An acolyte greets the group upon their arrival at the Sanctuary.
"We've been sent to pick up Sir Dross." Mantreus announces smoothly. To his disappointment, the acolyte makes no reaction to the deliberately mangled name.
"I'll get him for you."
After a few minutes, the acolyte returns with a young elf in tow. The newcomer is busily strapping on scale mail armour as he approaches, and walks with a heaviness that is unusual in one of his race.
"Good day." He nods to the group, "I am Sirdros. The High Priest has asked me to accompany you to Hooberan's Stockade."
"I'm Tweedlefinkle Dessandri Rhowyn." Twinkle thrusts out her hand to the elf, who gives her a rather startled look, "Tweedlefinkle is the birth name my parents gave me, while Rhowyn is my family name. I come from a long line of Rhowyns. Now, Dessandri -"
"Maybe something shorter?" Sirdros interjects with a nervous smile.
The gnome visibly deflates,
"Oh, just call me Twinkle."
Each of the other adventurers introduces themselves quickly, and they are all soon on the road again, heading north east toward the ranger's tower.
As they enter the forest, a wolf pads out of the undergrowth and falls into step beside Stormstrider. It happens so calmly and smoothly that most of the group don't even break stride. The elves have been familiar with the druidic faith their whole lives, and their relaxed attitude toward the animal eases any concerns the others might have had. Only Shadow appears displeased, retreating into Mantreus' familiar pouch with a dismissive twitch of his tail.
Eventually, the tower comes in sight. The building has obviously been the subject of recent care and attention. The splintered front door has a crude but serviceable replacement and the brush around the tower has been cleared.
"Did you ever find the ranger who hired us to kill those rats?" the Padre asks Elspeth.
"No." the female ranger scowls at the reminder of the absentee whose work she has been doing. "Haven't seen a sign of him." Her tone speaks volumes about what will happen if she ever does find a sign.
The group presses on, making good time. Shortly before dusk, they crest a ridge to find themselves looking over a shallow valley. Most of the valley is lightly wooded, but about a mile in the distance is a cleared area, in the centre of which is a collection of buildings surrounded by a wooden palisade.
"Is that it?" Stormstrider asks.
"We'd have to be really lost for it not to be." Mantreus quips.
"Do we want to get inside tonight, or wait until morning?" Sirdros glances at the setting sun.
"It's already getting dark." The Padre shields his eyes as he scans the valley. "I suggest we make camp down there." He points to a copse of trees some four hundred feet from the stockade. "It looks defensible, and our fire will be shielded from the town."
"Does it matter if they see us?" Elspeth raises her eyebrows.
"It does if there's something untoward going on." The Padre responds, face carefully impassive. "Which seems likely, given the reasons we were sent here."
The others see the wisdom in this remark, and decide to follow the priest's suggestion.
"We should wait until dark and then rake a closer look at the stockade." Stormstrider suggests.
"Good idea." Mantreus agrees, "We can check if there are any lights on, inside the town."
Nobody points out that they could see any lights without moving a step: the idea of a midnight reconnaissance has fired their imaginations.
The group makes camp, carefully shielding their fire from the town, then wolf down their evening meal, debating the composition of the scouting party as they do so. The two priests are obviously not suited to the task, but all four of the others are keen to go.
Eventually - and much to his disgust - it is decided that Stormstrider should remain behind. More warrior than scout, he has the weakest stealth skills of the four.
"Remember," the Padre cautions the three who are to perform the scouting mission, "Just check it out and then come back. Don't do anything risky."
He has a sneaking suspicion he may as well be talking to himself.
Capellan
Explorer
"Hooberan's Stockade" by Wicht - Part 4
Twinkle, Mantreus and Elspeth make their way toward the stockade, skirting along the edge of the track as they do so. They move slowly, as Mantreus must take care when moving in the darkness. It is only a short while before the impatient Twinkle is muttering under her breath about the wisdom of bringing a human along on night time reconnaissance.
"There is something in the road, ahead." Elspeth suddenly announces. Following the elf's gaze, the other two dimly make out a small, light coloured rectangle that seems at first glance to be hanging in mid air. Unsure what this could be, they creep closer, and are able to make out that it is a strip of yellow cloth, tied to an arrow that has been lodged in the surface of the road.
"Fired at us, do you think?" Twinkle glances nervously at the stockade.
Elspeth shakes her head,
"Unlikely. I would have heard it land. And tying a ribbon to an arrow like that would ruin the flight path. It was fired here for some other reason."
"It's a quarantine marker." Mantreus frowns, then points ahead, where they can make out a flag above the stockade entrance. "I bet that's yellow, as well."
Continuing to move carefully forwards, the trio reaches the edge of the cleared area. Up close, they can see that the area is covered in row after row of orderly-planted bushes.
"Ooh, berries!" Twinkle suddenly scampers ahead, disappearing into the rows.
Elspeth and Mantreus stare after her, then exchange a look that speaks volumes, before beginning to sneak toward the palisade. Off to their left, they can hear the gnome happily murmuring to herself, her voice muffled by a mouthful of berries.
"There's someone in the tower on the left side of the gate." Elspeth whispers, "I can see their head."
"Really?" Mantreus squints in the direction indicated, but the effort is futile. His night vision is simply not good enough. "I'll have to take your word for it."
"Wanna berruh?" Twinkle appears beside them, proffering a sticky pile of fruit with one hand while popping them rapid fire into her mouth with the other. "Huh -" she swallows labouredly, "Hey, there's a guy up there."
"Apparently." Mantreus agrees testily, deliberately not looking at Twinkle's juice-stained shirt and face.
"He just nodded his head." Elspeth frowns, "I think he may have heard us."
"Nuht muh." Twinkle disavows through a fresh mouthful of fruit, "I wuth sneakuh."
"No doubt." Elspeth's tone is dry. "He just nodded again."
"I think he's asleep." Mantreus has an opinion even about things he can't see. He hefts a rock and points at the tower. "This ought to wake him up. Is he where I'm pointing?"
"More or less." Elspeth allows, having gauged the direction in which the rogue is pointing. It's hardly a glowing endorsement, but Mantreus stands and throws the stone anyway, then quickly ducks back out of sight. The blind and hurried throw is woefully inaccurate, however, wobbling over the palisade wall a good ten feet to one side of the tower.
"You thuck!"
"What?" the human rogue turns to glare at Twinkle.
"Suck." She enunciates more clearly, then catches sight of his expression. "Um. Nothin'." She ducks her head to gobble up a few more berries, avoiding Mantreus' eye.
"He didn't react at all." Elspeth selects her own stone, staring at the tower as she does so. Then she stands, much more slowly than Mantreus, and smoothly throws the rock over the palisade. Even from the where the three adventurers are crouched, the clatter of the stone on the tower floor is clearly audible. "Still no reaction." Elspeth observes, "I think he may be dead."
"That, or he's very, very calm." Twinkle agrees.
Faced with a still and silent town, marked for quarantine and with only a single - apparently dead - guard in sight, there seems to be only one sane course of action. Mantreus, however, has other plans.
"I'm going in for a closer look."
Twinkle, Mantreus and Elspeth make their way toward the stockade, skirting along the edge of the track as they do so. They move slowly, as Mantreus must take care when moving in the darkness. It is only a short while before the impatient Twinkle is muttering under her breath about the wisdom of bringing a human along on night time reconnaissance.
"There is something in the road, ahead." Elspeth suddenly announces. Following the elf's gaze, the other two dimly make out a small, light coloured rectangle that seems at first glance to be hanging in mid air. Unsure what this could be, they creep closer, and are able to make out that it is a strip of yellow cloth, tied to an arrow that has been lodged in the surface of the road.
"Fired at us, do you think?" Twinkle glances nervously at the stockade.
Elspeth shakes her head,
"Unlikely. I would have heard it land. And tying a ribbon to an arrow like that would ruin the flight path. It was fired here for some other reason."
"It's a quarantine marker." Mantreus frowns, then points ahead, where they can make out a flag above the stockade entrance. "I bet that's yellow, as well."
Continuing to move carefully forwards, the trio reaches the edge of the cleared area. Up close, they can see that the area is covered in row after row of orderly-planted bushes.
"Ooh, berries!" Twinkle suddenly scampers ahead, disappearing into the rows.
Elspeth and Mantreus stare after her, then exchange a look that speaks volumes, before beginning to sneak toward the palisade. Off to their left, they can hear the gnome happily murmuring to herself, her voice muffled by a mouthful of berries.
"There's someone in the tower on the left side of the gate." Elspeth whispers, "I can see their head."
"Really?" Mantreus squints in the direction indicated, but the effort is futile. His night vision is simply not good enough. "I'll have to take your word for it."
"Wanna berruh?" Twinkle appears beside them, proffering a sticky pile of fruit with one hand while popping them rapid fire into her mouth with the other. "Huh -" she swallows labouredly, "Hey, there's a guy up there."
"Apparently." Mantreus agrees testily, deliberately not looking at Twinkle's juice-stained shirt and face.
"He just nodded his head." Elspeth frowns, "I think he may have heard us."
"Nuht muh." Twinkle disavows through a fresh mouthful of fruit, "I wuth sneakuh."
"No doubt." Elspeth's tone is dry. "He just nodded again."
"I think he's asleep." Mantreus has an opinion even about things he can't see. He hefts a rock and points at the tower. "This ought to wake him up. Is he where I'm pointing?"
"More or less." Elspeth allows, having gauged the direction in which the rogue is pointing. It's hardly a glowing endorsement, but Mantreus stands and throws the stone anyway, then quickly ducks back out of sight. The blind and hurried throw is woefully inaccurate, however, wobbling over the palisade wall a good ten feet to one side of the tower.
"You thuck!"
"What?" the human rogue turns to glare at Twinkle.
"Suck." She enunciates more clearly, then catches sight of his expression. "Um. Nothin'." She ducks her head to gobble up a few more berries, avoiding Mantreus' eye.
"He didn't react at all." Elspeth selects her own stone, staring at the tower as she does so. Then she stands, much more slowly than Mantreus, and smoothly throws the rock over the palisade. Even from the where the three adventurers are crouched, the clatter of the stone on the tower floor is clearly audible. "Still no reaction." Elspeth observes, "I think he may be dead."
"That, or he's very, very calm." Twinkle agrees.
Faced with a still and silent town, marked for quarantine and with only a single - apparently dead - guard in sight, there seems to be only one sane course of action. Mantreus, however, has other plans.
"I'm going in for a closer look."
Last edited:
jzashaedra
First Post
Sanity??? We don't need no stinkin' sanity!!!
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