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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1176269" data-attributes="member: 6588">Episode 31Beastmen“Lord Hallerian is prepared to pay you 2,500 crowns each if you take care of this problem in a fortnight and 1,500 crowns if you take care of it in one month.” The messenger repeated the message for a second time.“One more time, this is better than a bordello full of starving lasses,” Gerhardt was positively giddy.“I assure you, as personal assistant to Lord Hallerian he is very sincere about this offer,” the young lady reiterated.“You just have no idea how nice those numbers sound, and let me say his lordship has fine taste in personal assistants as well,” Gerhardt replied.“The salt concession is a vital business interest and stoppage in the production cannot be tolerated. Haste is of the essence.”“Why us?” Hilde asked cautiously.“I have been assigned to assemble investigative teams as fast as possible. If you do not help resume the shipments quickly, I will be hiring other teams,” the messenger replied.“Surely a member of the ruling table has access to his own troops?” Hilde asked.“None as efficient or available as us, I dare say!” Gerhardt interjected. “Enough of this meaningless debate. You may tell your lord we accept the charge and salt will be flowing into his warehouses in less than a fortnight.”The messenger bowed. “I thank you. You will find in this pack maps and other materials to aid you in this endeavor.”…..“He is going to pay us what?” Gjord asked.“2,500 clinks in solid yellow my friend,” Gerhardt replied.“Do we need the elves?” Gjord asked.“Yes, absolutely, it is a per person reward, the more the merrier,” Gerhardt answered.The group set off for the salt mines the following morning. They found an overturned cart on the road, but no animals, corpses, or salt. The second day was another full of quick travel and they pressed on into the night. When they arrived on the outskirts of the village of Saline, they were ill prepared for the sights that greeted them.A huge bon fire burned in the middle of the village green. Strange creatures, half men and half beast, were dancing in drunken stupors around the fire. The village was sacked and several men and women were strung up on poles, their lifeless bodies swinging in the breeze.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1201_beastmen_camp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1201_beastmen_camp_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“What are they?” E’lissar asked Ranin.Ranin shook his head from side-to-side, “I have no idea. Gjord are these some strange creatures from the north?”“None that I know of,” Gjord admitted.“Clearly, they’re evil,” Inga stated.“I am not wading down there into the middle of that group, even if they are drunk,” Gjord said.“No, I quite agree,” Hilde said. “We need something to draw them into our position. I believe that fellow in the middle may be a shaman of some sort. If we could get them to come uphill at us we would maintain the advantage.”“Yes, well if we run downhill we can charge faster,” Gerhardt countered.“You’re not really that dumb are you?” Ranin asked.Gerhardt whirled to face the ranger, “Try me ears, just try me.”“I guess he is,” E’lissar added.“Enough!” Inga commanded. “I will run down and catch their attention and draw them to our position.”“Everyone, get in position,” Hilde commanded.Inga began to move down into the village valley and crept up to the celebrating beastmen. “Oh boys,” she called. “Is this a private party?”<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1202_ingas_ploy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1202_ingas_ploy_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The beastmen immediately ceased their dancing and turned to gawk at Inga for moment. Inga curtsied for the beasts and then began running. The beastmen tripped over each other in mad pursuit.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1203_the_chase.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1203_the_chase_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The beastmen chased Inga straight up the hill, running right into the rest of the party.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1204_beastman_battle.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1204_beastman_battle_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Inga turned to face the beastmen, “Where’s the shaman?” she yelled to Hilde.Hilde shrugged.Inga charged down the hill as the elves let arrows fly towards the cloven-hoofed foes.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1205_inga_charges.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1205_inga_charges_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Gjord and Quarion followed, supporting Inga’s flanks. The beastmen charged ahead and divided into two groups attacking all of the party members.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1206_late_battle.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1206_late_battle_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The drunkenness of their foes allowed the adventurers to carve into the beastmen quickly. Two of the foul beasts fell and three others had sustained severe wounds. Suddenly, the missing shaman made his presence known. Appearing just outside of Quarion’s reach the shaman invoked a spell.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1207_beastman_shaman.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1207_beastman_shaman_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Fire rolled from the shaman’s fingertips, but his aim was errant and he missed Quarion narrowly. Another set of attacks from the adventurers killed more of the beastmen. The shaman, sensing the battle was lost, began his retreat.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1208_shaman_on_run.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1208_shaman_on_run_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The remaining beastmen rapidly fell, but one managed to wound Quarion heavily. Two elven arrows tagged the retreating shaman, and Inga began pursuing the wild spell caster. Sprinting down the hill the enraged barbarian caught the shaman quickly, and her blade cleaved a major portion of the shaman’s skull off. The beastman collapsed in a pool of blood. The battle had lasted less than three minutes.“We can rest and then see what is going on up in the salt mine,” Gerhardt announced.“We will rest and bury these villagers properly tomorrow,” Hilde corrected.“That will take hours,” Gerhardt complained.Gjord placed a hand on Gerhardt’s shoulder, “It is only day three.”Gerhardt shrugged Gjord’s hand off like an insolent child, “We don’t know these people. Let the wolves have them.”“I will take first watch,” Quarion volunteered.“There are some shovels and picks in that building,” Inga announced.“I will stand watch with you Quarion,” Ranin offered.“Thank you friend,” Quarion replied.“Well, tomorrow is shaping up to be a fun day,” Gerhardt sulked.…..Morning brought a bright day and the group started work on their grisly task. Over villagers were laid to rest, and all graves were consecrated by Inga or Hilde. The group decided to wait another night before checking out the mine, much to Gerhardt’s distress.Finally, the daybreak came and the group walked the trail to the salt mine entrance. The first chamber was neatly laid out and numerous tools were pegged neatly along the walls.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1209_into_the_mine.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1209_into_the_mine_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>A short passage led to another finished chamber, there a horrific sight greeted the adventurers. Twisted and mangled bodies were strewn about the chamber. Shredded beyond recognition, they barely resembled men anymore.Inga said a mundane prayer to herself.The area beyond the chamber was far rougher and unfinished. A grating noise came forth from the passage.“What was that?” Gjord asked.“I will scout ahead,” Quarion volunteered.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1210_quarion_scouts_ahead.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1210_quarion_scouts_ahead_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Slowly and carefully the rogue crept down the chamber. His low-light vision picked out the faint details of the darkening passage. The passage opened up into a larger chamber where he spied…<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1211_umberhulk.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/1211_umberhulk_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>to be continued…</blockquote>

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