Remnants of the Horde-Flight from Aruth

[Jeremy]

"Hu hu hu... Bargo like." Bargo takes the helm, with head still in it, with him. As the ground shakes beneath him and Forlash begins dashing towards him, Bargo puts 2 and 2 together (and gets 6) deciding that he better go to. He turns and hustles out the way the puny giant came in. Elf-Splitter in one hand, Frost Giant helm and head in the other.

 

[Velenne]

Durgo looks around and chuckles. "Even walls are afraid! Hag-bitch minions no fight us now!" Searching the chamber, the ogre finds only one likely exit and so, as the others rush about (Why dem running? Hag-bitch dead! Hmf...cowards.), he nods solemnly to Kurg and starts for the corridor.

"We go!" he calls out over his shoulder as he walks. If there was more treasure to be looted here, he wasn't concerned enough about such things for it to cross his mind. But he does give an eye to the frost giant on his way by.

OOC: If the giant looks like it has any readily-aquired gear, especially a weapon, Durgo stops to grab it up but otherwise continues his leisurely pace down the hall it came from. After all, what does he know about imploding cottages?

 

[Uriel]

Durgo looks around and chuckles. "Even walls are afraid! Hag-bitch minions no fight us now!" Searching the chamber, the ogre finds only one likely exit and so, as the others rush about (Why dem running? Hag-bitch dead! Hmf...cowards.), he nods solemnly to Kurg and starts for the corridor.

"We go!" he calls out over his shoulder as he walks. If there was more treasure to be looted here, he wasn't concerned enough about such things for it to cross his mind. But he does give an eye to the frost giant on his way by.

OOC: If the giant looks like it has any readily-aquired gear, especially a weapon, Durgo stops to grab it up but otherwise continues his leisurely pace down the hall it came from. After all, what does he know about imploding cottages?

The Frost Giant has a big belt and/or pouch of what looks to be dwarfhide (you can see several Dwarf chins/beards:the hair is braided around various rings etc for weapons to hang from). He wears a suit of mail, but that would take some time to salvage, and he is quite a bit bigger than any of you <16'tall at least>.
The giant has a massive Greataxe and a longsword (used as a dagger, no doubt).

Forlash pulls several trinkets from the Hag's body before running.

********************************************************

Down and down run the Band, halls and chambers collapsing in upon themselves behind them, sometimes the very stones of the floor tearing apart within yards of their fleeing feet. Finally the chamber wherein you fought the Golems and Trolls comes into view. Kurg stops to pick up a Flaming Greatsword, thinking it might be useful later.

The Door is reached, and you all get outside to see that the Cottage is covered by a shimmering aura, a pale green nimbus playing about its surface.

Inside, a pack of creatures is coming for the door, 2 Hill Giants ,Trolls, many Orcs. Within 20 feet of the door, the group sees their salvation in sight, only to have all of their hopes for life dashed.
Suddenly, without warning, the Cottage falls in upon itself with an audible *Fushhhut!*, sounding like a torch extinguished in a pond.

Making for the Swamp, you see the other Hagborn sitting on a Stump, grinning.Wordlessly, he turns and begins picking a path back to the lair of his Mother.Loping off, you begin the trek towards Home.
In the confusion none notice the disappearance of Midnight Fang...


*******************************************************

Idiotic Ogres. Buffoons. Not fit for a Menagerie.
Midnight Fang trudged through the swamp, finally rid of the Myrachian trash. She was making for the Aruthan Border, more Southerly than the foolish Ogre and his lackeys. They didn't even check for loot, by the Hells.
Midnight Fang stopped, her boot upon a log and opened the sack. Emeralds,rubies and sapphires shown out,as well as cups and necklaces,an enchanted brooch. The Trolls lair had been good to her She could parlay this into a grubsteak in her new guise. What woudl it be this time, a Merchant?A Courtesan? Perhaps she would be a Duchess, she liked the sound of that...all the better to pic out potential taregts as well as clients.

Something moved in the foliage around her. Midnight Fang drew her blade, watchng, waiting. Nothing showed itself. Relaxing, she continued to go through the sack of findings, her fingers touching upon something small...
Lifting it out, she laughed, it was the Silver Key that she had taunted the halfwit Necromancer with so many days ago, the Key to unlock his precious Spellbook.Well, he had no use for it now, he was dead...
'The Key...'
The voice cut through her blood like a hot knife through butter. It had sounded like...must have been the wind.Must have been...
Midnight Fang was hit full force from behind by something large, knocked to her hands and knees. Looking up, she saw a shape in the gloom 'The Key...' Red bolts slammed into her, Magic Missiles, sending her back, sprawling, where whatever had knocked her down now pounced upon her again. Ot was a wolf...no a Worg, an Undead Worg.
The shape in the gloom stepped forward...the necromancer....wizzened and gaunt. He was...the ...it came back to her, the Undead Treants, they had killed him...he was a Wight. The last thing she heard before dying was his sibilant hiss 'The Key, yes, My Key...'
There was nobody around to hear her final screams...

 

[Jeremy]

OOC: I love this game...

 

[Velenne]

Durgo snatches up the dwarvenhide pouch and the giant's weapons before moving on, suddenly aware the walls weren't exactly quivering with fear ....

***

The ogre had much to consider on the way back. Now that they had done the killing came the hard part. The other Hag was just as bad as the one he had brained and Kurg had pigstuck. He needed to make sure she stayed true to her word, but such thoughts had no place in the mind of Durgo. Battle was one thing but parlaying with mojo-makers something else. Captain Varn was really good at that, and Ravarg too somtimes...but not Durgo.

Biting his lower lip and scrunching his brows together, the ogre thought and thought and thought...but nothing came to his simple mind.

OOC: I'll ditto Jer's comment!

 

[Uriel]

OoC:Well, I was hoping you guys wouldn't kill her until I had a chance to.

 

[Uriel]

At last coming to the first Hag's Cottage, the Myrachian band stands before an open door where the two-headed Troll smiles and gestures you in with a cordial bow (the one head still looking at Wekerak and drooling). DOwn long corridors (seeming shorter than before, however), you soon find yourself in the chamber of the Hag's throneroom. Against the wall stand a dozen Giants and Ogres, as well as Orcs and Gnolls, as before. Upon the Throne sits the Hag, her beautiful guise intact, a tal;l and sensuous creature, though one with impressive musculature. Languishly, she says,sniffing the air briefly,'So, you have the package, excellent. Bring it forward, Gnoll, that I may see it...and fear not, great and powerful Ogre, I keep my word. That was entirely the problem with killing my sister, a Pact with our word as guarantee against treachery. Of course, it said nothing of outside agents...Now, Gnoll, my Heart, if you please.'
Kurg looks to Durgo for direction, the Gnoll twitching and tittering nervously.

 

[Velenne]

Durgo looks back and forth from Kurg to the Hag. How did she know the gnoll had the heart? And how did she know he no like her? Stupid mojo bitch!

If it were possible, Durgo looks even more displeased than normal. He turns that disapproving gaze down to Kurg and holds out a hand for the Heart, nodding. Accepting that, he walks forward to meet the Hag himself, black heart in hand. He holds it out to her, head held high,

"Good. You no want us to do to you what we done to sister. Puny giants and orcs just more meat for fires. Not Horde-warriors of Zuregath like us! Now you send us North to castle. We go."

 

[Uriel]

The Hag actually laughs at Durgo's words, for if the brute only knew what she could do to him with a word, the briefest word. Perhaps he would enjoy being a toad. That was an interesting option.Maybe a swamp rat, though that really wasn't appropriate. No, she would make him a big toad, if anything at all.

Reaching out to take the Heart, the Hag smiled her shark's teeth at Durgo and mimed a kiss at him. Then, gesturing for him to lok at one of the far walls, she stood and strode to it.

The wall was comprised of a huge crystaline facing, swirling colors and whorls of smoke interplaying upon it's surface. With a wave of her hand, the entire wall took on a liquid appearance, forming into a coherant view of the swamp. then, at a speed ten times faster than the most quick of birds, the view raced Northward, across swamplands, showing legions of troops marching northward, Elves, thousands of Aruthian Legionares heading towards Myrach, Dragons in their midst,Treants and Giants as well...

Moving further, the view showed the mountains and crags of Myrach, then onwards into the volcanic realm that was Zuregath's.
Across the parapets of Castle Zuregath, a battle waged, Black Armored Hobgoblins and Ogres fighting againt like troops in green and white, the troops of Iron King Bevrokk,Zuregath's neighbor to the West.
Bevrokk was sacking Castle Zuregath...

'Interesting, very interesting...that is unsporting, now isn't it...what a dastardly fellow.' The Hag seemed amused, though at the same time, her tone held a note of unhappiness, as if some machination were being set into play that she did not approve of.
Turning, her eyes fell upon your group, and then to Durgo, drawn to his satchel,to something Within...
Smiling once again, she waved a Hag-Born over, the female hag/Orc listening to whatever she said in soft tones and then nodding and departing, waving two Ogres with her.

The Hag stood there, watching the battle played out upon her crystal wall, frowning and rubbing her chin. Her glamour cast side, she stood before you a jet black Annis, respelndant in a diaphorous shift, younger and less horrid than most of her kin, as if she was recently [I[rejuvinated[/I] some how.
Minutes later, the Hagborn (Forlash's sister, one that he didn't completely hate,anyways...) returned, the Ogres bearing several sacks.
'You will need stealth, Pawns of Zuregath...I am feeling generous?grateful? Perhaps I am hedging a bet, or preventing a turn of events that do not favor me. At any rate, I have gifts for you, for your endeavor, Captain Durgo. If ever you see Zuregath again, in this life or in whatever Hell he dwells within, tell him that I, Malverna, aided him, and would do so again, to keep this Bevrokk from gaining too much power amongst the Iron Kings.'

The Ogres step forward and display several items of fine make, sized for the larger folk as well as for the smaller.

Recieved are :

Wekerak: A quiver of +1 Seeking, Bane Arrows: Elf (10), Giant (10), Demon (5),Elemental (5),Devil (5),Celestial (5),Dragon (5) Human (5)
<I am going to keep 3.0 rules, bows and arrows do stack>
a Brooch of Resistance +3
a Mithril Shirt +3 to replace his other one.
3 Potions Cure Serious Wounds 3D8+5
4 Potions Invisibility (12th Level use)


Bargo: The Hag gestures for you to dip Elf-Hewer into a pool of blood that bubbles nearby, telling you that it will enhance the magic significantly.

Elfhewer now has Bane:Giants.
Amulet of Health (+4 to Con)
a Cloak of Resistance +3
4 Potions Cure Serious Wounds 3D8+5
1 Potion Invisibility (12th Level use)
1 Potion Silence (12th Level use)


Durgo:The Hag gestures for you to dip Durgo's Maul into a pool of blood that bubbles nearby, telling you that it will enhance the magic significantly.

Durgo's Maul now has Bane:Evil Outsiders.
Amulet of Health (+4 to Con)
4 Potions Cure Serious Wounds 3D8+5
1 Potion Invisibility (12th Level use)
1 Potion Silence (12th Level use)



Forlash:
A Boccob's Blessed Book containing, <20 spells: 5 first,5 2nd, 5 3rd, 5 4th, 5 5th
I'll give you the list in email>
a Cloak of Resistance +3
Wand of Lightning Bolts (8th Level), 25 charges
Kurg: Cloak of Resistance +3
2 Potions Cure Serious Wounds 3D8+5
2 Potions Invisibility (12th Level use)
2 Potions of Silence (12th Level use)
(I gave Kurg less because he is an NPC now...)

The Hag also has several of her Hag-Born (Human-Hag and Orc-Hag) step forward, casting healing magics upon you all
<Healed of all damage>

Afterwards, the Hag hands Durgo a small bag, saying that it may helpin securing aid in his cause.
Waving at the wall, Malverna says 'Step through quickly, my little lost hounds of Myrach, the Portal lasts for a brief moment more...

Stepping through, you find yourself...

...not at Castle Zuregath, but instead on some plain, crags and mist-shrouded.
Forlash thought to himself 'Something must have gone wrong with the teleportation...or there was some Interference from forces arrayed against us? Damn...'

In the distance, horns sounded, three quick taps and a long note.
Wekerak knew that call, it was an ELven Trumpet signaling a Charge.
From the timbre and duration or the echo, it was in a canyon, maybe a valley. Perhaps a quatrer of a mile away...North,most likely.

 

[Jeremy]

Bargo greedily snatches up all that is offered to him. He looks strange with his bloody double horned helm that is the wrong color for Muragar. But everytime he looks at it he remembers cutting the frost giant in two and grins when he thinks of others remembering the same.

****

Bargo is very distrustful of the hags magic but steps through after Durgo clouts him straight across the chin with his thick gnarled elbow. Bargo growls, counting the ways he hates Durgo.

****

Stepping out onto the field Bargo is confused. He looks around, Elf-Splitter held tight and tries to see the dark spires of the Castle. Then the trumpet sounds.

The last time Bargo heard a sound like that his little band lost Captain Varn, and most everyone else (but not Durgo!) and left him with these scrawny remnants. Bargo growls loudly.