Return of the Slavelords Part 3 “the Siege of Bright Tower”

[Scotley]

In a bold voice he says, "Engineer's ma'am. We are to help with bringing down the walls and maintain the seige engins. You don't really want goblinoids trying to do the technical stuff do you." In a lower voice for her ears only he adds with a gesture at Norbac, "Don't antagonize that one miss, his cousin is one of The Six, you know the one with a similar heritage. I'm to 'help' him lead this little band so he can feel he is doing something important for the cause. Please don't get him riled up, or I could get in trouble with our master. We got lost thanks to his 'great skill as a guide'. We've gotten seperated from the other engineers. Just let us get back to them."

 

[Karl Green]

(occ Verrick Bluff check (secret rolling and result) /occ)

The woman eyes Verrick for a long second and then spits onto the ground “This entire Army is a Chaotic cluster… but gold is gold. If ye be attached to the machines keep out of our way.” She then eyes the lot of you and pulls back away to join the other two humans that seem to be the leaders of an attachment of human mercenaries. Their banner, hanging limply in the rain, is a skull wearing a helm and holding a red, thorny rose in its teeth. Most of the humans are on horseback and have a wide motley assortment of weapons and armor. A group of four or five are wearing the unholy symbols of Hexor, and their arms and armor give the impress they are priests of that order.

The woman mutters something to the other two humans and watches your wagon a bit more, but they do not approach you again...

The party then moves their wagon in closer with the other engineers… mostly humans and traitorous dwarves and a few dark gnomes. Most of the siege engines are being pulled by huge draft horses, except for the ram that is being pulled by two Hill Giants and another – a catapult – which is being pulled by four Ogres and another two are hauling a wagon full of large spiky iron balls…

This group pretty much ignores the party and just assumes they are a part of some other unit or another

 

[Scotley]

Verrick Human Rogue/Wizard

Once the mercenaries are out of sight, Verrick lets out a great sigh of relief. "I was beginning to think our plan was ill considered. I was glad my breaches were already sodden as well." Glancing at Norbac, "You certainly have a way with the ladies my friend."

 

[Someone]

Norbac grumbles. "Dat was close, ugh. This horde iz more organizeded dan meeb thoght, wif patrols an such. But it was word da risk. Nows let´s stay qwiet an wait fer da baddle ter start.

 

[Karl Green]

The Army continues on into the night as the three brave heroes ride in the mists of the enemy. It is coming on towards daybreak, when a light to the south signals that they are now close to the Bright Keep, the Tower that is its namesake, clearly lighting up the night even in the rain.

Now the Army starts to splits up, one large group of mostly Orcs moves to the southeast. Meanwhile most of the siege engines (and the party) move towards the southwest. The bulk of the Army, along with the catapult pulled by the Ogres with the large metal balls, move into the hills north of the Keep.


(occ Ok just want to give the party a chance to plan or to act. Not sure what you wish to do, and what set up you would like. The Army does appear that it will be camping for the day, and the rumor is that Malice has promised to "dim the blighted light of the Manlings" on the next eve... /occ)

 

[Scotley]

Verrick Human Rogue/Wizard

"Well, here we are. Should we start by getting an idea of how many seige engins there are? Perhaps we could scout around just a little during the day, while most of our counterparts are asleep?"

 

[Someone]

"Meeb still tink weeb shud keep wif da engineaz" says Norbac. "Dem biguns are too much fer da trii o' us, weeb wuud die wivvout gerrin a chanz ter make any differenns, but meeb believe weez strongg enough ter deul wif da machinz´ krew. Nows, it wuud be gud ter know if any warrior weeb shud worry iz goin' ter remain 'ere."

 

[Karl Green]

Norbac drives the cart, remaining within the main group of siege craft. As they pull away from the main body of the Army, they do spot a large, black shored carriage of unusual size that is being drawn by a number of large draft horses. The black flag, with an Iron Fist, flaps lazily from it.

Within an hour or so, the siege craft group move out onto the flattened plain before the Bright Tower and start to set up camp. Camp fires can been see surrounding the Keep now, as the morning slowly lightens the field. A large burly half-ogre, wearing a leather and plate apron of some kind and carrying a chain whip attached to a large bastard sword, approaches the group and says in broken common “You camp ‘ere. Food hour, der’” he points “Wat’ engine ye work? Report der’ after food” he stands waiting for a moment.

 

[Someone]

Norbac eyes the large carriage with a curious eye. The same banner as the tower in the forest had, the army´s leader must travel there. If they could tell the werebears or the griffon riders... but the worg riders patrol the army. Damn.

"Report ter warm achine" says Norbac, who can´t wait for the moment to stop pretending being an idiot. "Sur. Weeb´re reportin' afta da grub, boss."

 

[Karl Green]

The half-Ogre stares at Norbac for a few seconds, then shrugs his shoulders, grunts, and then moves on to the next group of mercenaries. At this camp, made up of about 50 Orcs and around 80 or 90 humans and demi-human mercenaries, the two giants and a few other mixed race individuals, the separate groups go about setting up their own individual camps. A cooking mess is set up by four half-orcs and some goblins, and the smells wafting into the group’s small camp are not overly pleasant but not as bad as they cook be. Looks like they are making some kind of boar stew…

Within an hour shifts start making their way to the cooking wagon, but not all, as some start work on the siege engines or start to gamble among themselves, while a few start looking like they are getting ready to bedding down.

The group of heroes is pretty much left alone…