[IC] The Protectors of Greensfen (Part II)

[nerdytenor]

Todarr and Joshua circle around the beast, both hammering punishment into the many-appendaged creature. Moreen, finally free from her sticky prison, charges forward, slicing several legs off of the beast with one gigantic stroke.

The beast twitches in pain, its every disgusting part shaking. Then, the beast falls flat against the ground, motionless. As it dies, all of its unnatural pieces separate into their constituient parts. The four orc arms fall off of the body, followed by the two spider thoraxes which gently slide apart with a nauseating squishing noise, exposing all manner of innards that most of the party could have done without seeing.

At each connection point between different animals (orc/spider, spider/spider), a thin layer of blackish muck can be seen. A similar pattern can be seen in those among the dead orcs who were 'augmented' with various foreign parts.

 

[The Digger]

"Fascinating! If a little noxious." Joshua covers his nose with a clean handkerchief before minutely examining the corpse.

"It seems to have been held together with some kind of super glue. Some paste that dissolves on death. Absolutely fascinating!"

There are presumably all sorts of goodies on the bodies and in the tents but Joshua seems pre-occupied with the dead construct. He (Joshua that is) is obviously a little strange that way!

 

[Arbanax]

There are presumably all sorts of goodies on the bodies and in the tents but Joshua seems pre-occupied with the dead construct.

Whereas Joshua was preoccupied Rellek wasn't, he took a moment to both gather his energies and listen and look for any further signs of pursuit. Then, once he'd assured himself that his companions were ok he motioned silently to karis to help him check the bodies and tents.

[assuming this goes without hic up]

Shortly all that was of value had been piled neatly in the centre of the camp for the party to divide among them.

 

[covaithe]

Karis cleans herself and her blades carefully of the black ichor, cursing in disgust when she finds how sticky the entangling goop is. "Why can't mages cast clean spells, like fireballs? This is just sick. Sick."

Satisfied that she is as clean as she is going to get, she helps Rellek search the area.

 

[nerdytenor]

As Joshua ponders the fusing of body parts of the orcs, the sporc, and the spider-spider-orc-orc-orc-orc, Karis and Rellek search the area.

Many of the orc fighters wore stained leather armor, and all of them had the same basic pattern appearing somewhere on their person (whether tattoo, armor, helmet, or blade) - a humanoid figure in the center of a circle, surrounded by beasts of every sort.

In the tents, Karis quickly locates a sizeable stash of gold near a small cache of unremarkable weapons. In addition, she finds a potion in the corner of the tent where the sporc resided.

Rellek immediately notices a supernatural sparkle on one of the axes wielded by the once-mighty abomination - gingerly removing it from the separated orc arm, he can see the axe is of very high quality, and bursting with magical energies.

[sblock=Loot!]
250 gold. One healing potion. One lightning battle axe +1.
[/sblock]

Unfortunately, there are no documents to be found anywhere, nor any maps, nor any obvious clues as to where this band of warriors came from, or where they were going.

 

[covaithe]

Karis glances briefly at Rellek's find. "Nice axe. I'd wash it before using it. Just saying."

At their lack of a further direction, she puts her hands on her hips and sighs. "Well, it was worth a try. Better than just killing that guy, anyway," she gestures at the fallen enemy mage. "I guess now we either try to look for a trail leading back to wherever it is these guys came from, or go back to town and wait for what's-his-name's mentor. And hope she can find this lair. Rellek, are you any good at tracking?"

 

[Arbanax]

Rellek felt the blade in hand, tested it weight and then nodded to the party, swapped out his old blade for his new one.

I will see friends what tracks we might be able to follow

Rellek took his time, looking around the camp first following the line that the Horrific Spider beast had taken in, as well as any other subtle signs that the other Orc creatures may have left previously.

[sblock=crunch]

Rellek will roll to see if he can find a trail to be followed. I'm taking ten as far as tracking is concerned and taking my time to see what I can find the obvious and perhaps not so obvious as well.

I rolled 17 (9+8 skill) + 10= 27

[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

[sblock=Rellek]
There are tracks going in every almost every direction except northwest (the way back to Greensfen). You can spot everything from fresh prints to barely discernable tracks near the camp - it seems clear the orcs have been here at least a few days. Unfortunately, it is not possible to tell where they came from.
[/sblock]

As Rellek searches the area for clues, a very large eagle flies towards the party and lands on top of one of the tents. It opens its beak, and, expecting a bird call, the party hears the voice of a woman instead.

"Brave heroes," speaks the woman through the bird. "It is I, Glaelyn, friend and tutor of Mardrick. I have been told of your plan, and I say to you - retrieve your warrior and recapture Tromolden at once. The mage cannot be trusted, and I fear he will see through your ruse." The bird pauses to pick something out of its feathers and then continues. "Return to Greensfen at once - we have much to discuss."

The bird shakes its head rapidly, no doubt as surprised as the party to discover Glaelyn's voice emerging from it. It opens its beak once more, and a high-pitched squack emerges. Merely an eagle now, the bird flies away, dropping bird poop on one of the dead orcs.

 

[Arbanax]

Rellek shook himself to break the stunned silence that had fallen over him as he marvelled at the mages power. Something deep within stirred and he considered whether he to might try his hand at the magic arts. But then the stirring of the group pulled his thoughts back to the matters at hand.

Rellek spoke, Though late, her message confirms what we now know to be true. Furthermore friends, the tracks here are confused by many days activity and no clear way is obvious to me. Perhaps Greensfen is to be our next destination? What say you?

 

[The Digger]

"Joshua, who had been staring open-mouthed at the talking eagle, shook is head in disbelief and agreed with Rellek.

"Be nice to get a drink and something hot inside us. Maybe a few hours sleep if we have the time."

He looks at the carnage around them "What about the bodies? Should we just leave them?"