Coldtree nods and asks the Maldrog, "Is there a stockpile of ore?"
Later, in private, Coldtree says to Tehn, "The Deviard will probably be on guard to keep their remaining workers. I propose we hit their supplies, which might be less guarded. We could find something really good that they do not know what to do with."
The Maldrog nods. "I did not even think about that. That particular mine where you rescued us has a fairly good lode of iron. There is a forge where we were being kept but not a full smithy. Once enough ore is gathered of a particular type, the Deviard would make bars of it. They must be taking it somewhere else, but that I cannot say. I have seen people leave by different paths than the main way of travel. I do not know their purposes."
Later in response, Tehn conveys his agreement with the thoughts of Coldtree. "It would be too much to hope for to hit their outgoing ore supply, but even taking out a hunting party is to our advantage."
The two men feel that they have spent enough time in town and take back to the trail, the following morning. It literally takes just over 60 hours to walk to the Kozzog Monastery. It is just over another 20 hours to the Deviard community. Along the mountain path, the usual first leg of the trip is done in 6 days plus a wake-up.
The first leg of the trip proves to be routine. Game is collected, but nothing untoward is encountered. Rising at their usual early hour, when the sun burst over the horizon, the two men dry and warm themselves from the night's cold and the previous day's rain. It should be decided if it would be expedient to visit with the Kozzogs or to press on to the goal.
Tehn suggest that the two divert for a visit with the Kozzogs. "It may be to the advantage of our wealth and our reputation to converse with the Kozzogs. Since some of theirs were freed in our first raid, they may be interested in offering a little financial motivation for our continued activity."
Coldtree: full wellness
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 52 Tehn: full wellness
Tunic: 52
Currency:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 437
Harnin Bucklers: 2
Harnin Hammers: 12
It is two hours of steady incline to reach the gate marking the entrance to the Kozzog Monastery. As Coldtree calls greeting in the Kozzog language, he and Tehn are recognized by the sentry on duty. The walk-gate is immediately opened to allow entry.
After the recent return of some of their own, the Kozzogs are gracious toward their visit. The elders convey that after the loss of a mining party, Deviard scouts have been more frequently noticed about the mountains but not in any sizable force. Because of this, the village has sent out fewer expeditions and those have been of larger number. No confrontation has yet occurred, but the tension is high.
Having the DWAC return is considered fortuitous. A proposal is made on making another run at the Deviards with the hopes that further loss may provoke them to move on. An oddity for the Kozzog, who are a bit of isolationists, it is also conveyed that a member of theirs would like to join the adventuring company.
Coldtree: full wellness
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 52 Tehn: full wellness
Tunic: 52
Currency:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 437
Harnin Bucklers: 2
Harnin Hammers: 12
Suspecting that the two men will have reservation, the young Kozzog steps forward, so that he may be seen. He is no so tall for his own tribe but still has the heavy musculature that is common to them. His long, dirty-blond hair has been tied back out of his face. He addresses the elders in Kozzog, but switches to a passable Orngaddrin as he turns toward Coldtree and Tehn.
"I was not chosen by some council to be forced on you in some interest of our elders. It was my suggestion. I volunteered. I realized a few years ago that the Deviard are not the only people to possess magical talent. This was confirmed when I first met you. No, no, we Kozzogs are not so superstitious as most. We do not see this talent as a curse or a blight, despite the behavior of the Deviard. My point is that I can help you. I have watched the Deviard skulk through the passes. I have seen what they can do and I have realized that I, too, have the exact same talent."
When he says this, he pulls a small stone from a belt pouch and tosses it across the ground. By the second bounce the stone glows like torch, but it is not on fire.
"I want to be able to give the Deviard a taste of their own tactics."
Coldtree makes sure the Kozzog know the precise location of the Deviard camp.
To the young Kozzog he says in Orngaddrin, "You may join us, but first let us have your name. As for our talents, we do not display or speak of those in public or outside of our travels. Tehn and I have developed our skills considerably, but if others knew how strong we were, they might begin to see us as a threat to their authority. It is enough for the local communities to know that we are capable of doing the jobs we are hired for. The DWAC is a profit driven organization. We do not do anything for free, but sometimes what we profit on is found in our travels, and therefore divided only among us. Once we take a contract, we do not turn aside until it is finished. We prefer to deal with our opponents in such a way that we have the advantage. For these Deviard, who greatly outnumber us, we will choose the location of our battles and strike from concealment with lethal force. If this is agreeable to you, then let us begin."
The young Kozzog apologizes for his oversight. "I am Bjorn Manskadare. I am the son of a Arvic the smith and Skadare the medic. I go by Bjorn. Your advise is heeded. I agree with your strategy. I am ready to travel."
Coming quickly to agreeable terms, including monetary favor from the Kozzog Monastery, the, now, three members of the Dragon Way Adventuring Company rest for the night and head back along the trail the following day. It will take another day and a half of normal walking to reach the known location of the Deviard encampment. The definitive trail ends at the farthest north mine, which is simply called by its number of 10, and game trails are used to aid in travel.
As camp is being made from an uneventful day, none is yet to say if it is Fortune or Misfortune who smiles, but a solitary Deviard is seen coming from the north. He, and it is a male, is following a game trail that will lead him directly to the camped party. Watching him from the higher vantage point, he appears wary of his immediate surroundings but has not looked far enough up to notice anyone from the party. The solitary figure will disappear from view for a time, because of the nature of the trail, before he arrives.
Coldtree: full wellness
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 52 Tehn: full wellness
Tunic: 52
Currency:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 437
Harnin Bucklers: 2
Harnin Hammers: 12
Bjorn looks at his two new friends and quickly assesses that both are built for speed and stealth; whereas, he is not. He whispers, "I will be bait. I will kneel down by our fire and play the fool. Being solitary, he is likely a formidable foe, but I need to test my mettle at some point."
He does just what he says, kneeling down to the side of the fire where he has a clear view of the upcoming game trail and where he is also in clear view. He sets his carving axe on the ground to the left of him and his javelin on his right.
The main reason for the view being obscured is a small, scrub, acorn tree on the northern side of the path, with its trunk butted up against a large boulder. As the tree grows, it will likely unseat the boulder, causing an avalanche, but that will not be for many cycles yet. Nigel backs himself into the boulder beside the truck using the canopy as cover. The Deviard should pass him on his way toward Bjorn. He would have to deliberately look back over his shoulder to see the man.
Lunnaya does not find as good of a location and has to get down on his knees to hide among some brush and smaller boulders.
Coldtree can hear the crunch of the rocky ground in the man's steps before he comes into view. The two hidden men watch the Mhytre walk deliberately toward the kneeling Bjorn. He snickers to himself as he does, drawing a heavy hammer from a belt loop, and he says, "Mi hoz ki egy szo"ke juhot a lyukbo'l?"
It is obviously an insult, even if the words cannot be understood.
GM:
Coldtree and Tehn are about 6 strides from Bjorn. The Deviard is almost exactly between them when he speaks and draws his weapon.
Coldtree checks to make sure no one else is accompanying the Deviard. When he is sure there is no one else, he intends to charge and attack from a flanking position. He will manipulate waylines to do increased Mind damage with his strikes.
Bjorn may not understand the words, but he understands the attitude and intends to adjust it. He stands from his kneeling position retrieving his weapons as he does. Since he is not expecting to be able to have time to throw the javelin, he grips it for melee combat. He will bend light to obscure his image as he stands. He says in Kozzog, "Kom och to lite!"
Coldtree edges forward from his hidden location to look and listen in the direction from which the Deviard arrived. Feeling certain that this enemy is alone, he charges forward.
The Deviard laughs as he sees the image of Bjorn blur, readying himself for combat as he plants his right leg and slides his left backward opening his position so as to not offer his back to either Coldtree or Tehn. In an instant he makes eye contact with all three opponents, as his own image blurs to an even greater extent than that of Bjorn. He was evidently aware of the ambush, yet proceeded forward, anyway.
The Deviard is fast, much faster than his size would belie. He shuffles forward as he strikes out at Bjorn with his hammer, lifting his shield toward the oncoming Nigel.
In the span of the one second it takes to engage this target, all three men instantly realize why this Deviard would have the audacity to travel alone. His hammer flashes with light as he hits Bjorn square in the chest. The blow alone nearly knocks all the wind from him, but the addition of the flash is more damage than that for which his mind can compensate. Bjorn falls backward, having temporarily lost consciousness.
As Bjorn goes down, Coldtree slides around the extended shield of the Deviard to punch the big Mhytre in the ribs, but the blow is soaked by his leather tunic and the thundering noise of the contact seemed to cause no harm. Lunnaya sticks one of his sabers into his abdomen from the front but cannot penetrate the armor. The Deviard snorts dismissively at the falling Kozzog as he squares himself to face his two standing opponents.
GM:
NOTE: Even with no aid, Bjorn will regain consciousness in two combat sequences.
As he lays on the ground unconscious, Bjorn's subconscious berates him for attempting to match the Deviard in physical prowess. He should have initiated with a mystical assault from where he knelt. He hopes his new friends are faring well, as he is currently looking more like a hindrance than a help. His subconscious yells inside his void mind, "Wake! You cannot give up with one hit. Wake up!"
Coldtree intends to adapt his striking moments to time with Tehn's to give them both a better chance of connecting. He will manipulate waylines to attack his opponents Mind.
Tehn realizes that this is the toughest opponent that the DWAC have ever faced, except for maybe that skunk when they were still very green. He knows that their best option is to fight in coordination. Having nothing further he can effectively do mystically, he presses his physical assault with his twin sabers.
Not making a decision about which of his two remaining opponents is the most dangerous, he moves toward Lunnaya, because he is right handed and Lunnaya is on his right, but the Amiradtha proves much faster, if not quite as formidable. Lunnaya slices at the thick Deviard 3 times to his 1. One of the assaults is deflected by the Mhytre's shield but the other two cut through the leather tunic to cause minor damage.
Coldtree wastes no time jumping in to double-team. He rabbit punches the Deviard really hoping to get his attention, but the force of the blow is just barely soaked by the leather tunic; however, the pulse of sound that accompanied the punch causes some loss of breath.
The Deviard strikes back at Tehn, but the man avoids the hammer; however, the accompanying flash of light burns his eyes.
Coldtree and Tehn get the impression that the two of them, together, may be able to take this guy, but it will still be difficult. He is stronger but slower.
As Bjorn regains consciousness, his subconscious mind had continued to work on the situation at hand. He knows where he is and the formidability of his enemy. Not even rising from the ground, he sees that the Deviard is within range of his ability to touch waylines. Using an ingot of aluminum, he will attempt to shock him.
Currently being the faster between he and Nigel, Lunnaya draws the focus of the Deviard but cannot manage to hit him in this volley. Neither can the Deviard hit him.
Having turned his back, even for a second, in the necessity of facing Tehn, Coldtree rabbit punches the Deviard adding a thump of air with the blow. The combination would have dazed the enemy; however at the same time, Bjorn, from his prone position, lifts a hand from the ground and cups it toward the Deviard. The big slaver is jolted with a pulse of electricity that causes him to convulse and fall to the ground.
The man is still conscious; and as the three DWAC members well know, a conscious bender is still dangerous. Since he can no longer defend himself, Lunnaya stabs one of his swords through the man's eye and into his skull, killing him.
Bjorn slowly stands to his feet. He is a bit shaken but does not appear to be physically injured. The head trauma from losing consciousness should quickly pass.
Tehn says, "I am glad it was the two of us on him and not two of them on one of us."
