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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Storms of Change [IC]
- Thread starter silentspace
- Start date
silentspace
First Post
Darien tells everyone to let the orcs pass. The first group of orcs head down the line, all on one side. As the second group passes, you notice the orc with the poncho is concealing something large and bulky in front of him, on his riding lizard. As the rain strikes it through the poncho, you hear a hollow sound, like a box or a chest might make. The third group also passes. It consists of eight orcs, like the others. There are no more groups after that. As the last group passes, you follow Darien and escort the orcs to the front. Rowyn is asked to stay behind and keep watch.
As you ride behind the orcs, Darien says “What was that all about? Are we sure they won’t be warning their brethren?”
The orcs continue on ahead, disappearing into the rain. Afterwards, Darien returns to the rear with the rest of the rear guard. When you’re all gathered together, he addresses you.
“I’m not sure what was happening there, but I’ve never met a squad of orcs I haven’t battled with. You’re a pretty clever lot, parleying with orcs! That took me by surprise. I hope it was the right thing to do. That was the largest orc squad I think I’ve seen. They’re usually less than half that size around this area. And they usually attack right away, or retreat right away to get their friends. They seemed a little unusual, didn’t they? What were those animals?” You’ve not seen Darien disconcerted like this before. Up until now, he seemed to know exactly what he was doing.
He looks at Zanock for a moment. He looks curious to know what was said in Orcish, but he doesn’t ask. Probably figures Zanock will tell him if its important.
“Oh, there’s something I forgot to tell you. I meant to tell you this last night at The Shining Griffon, but I forgot. It’s about the hobgoblin ambush the other night. We were ambushed by Khelan’s war band, the last of The Night Swarm Clan. We ambushed The Night Swarm Clan a while back, wiped most of them out. Anyway, those were the hobgoblins that were following me. They used hit and run tactics like they did the other night to take out some of my men a week ago. Never lost a driver before though. Anyway that’s why the caravan was low on guards. I’m not sure how many Khelan’s got left, but I think we got all of her ogres. That was the first time she committed her ogres. And the last as well! As far as I know, she still has her shaman, her two sergeants, and maybe ten or so hobgoblin troops. I don’t think she’ll try another ambush like she did the other night. I hope so anyway.”
Looking at Aronai, Darien says “So who are you?” Turning to the others, “A friend of yours?”
As you ride behind the orcs, Darien says “What was that all about? Are we sure they won’t be warning their brethren?”
The orcs continue on ahead, disappearing into the rain. Afterwards, Darien returns to the rear with the rest of the rear guard. When you’re all gathered together, he addresses you.
“I’m not sure what was happening there, but I’ve never met a squad of orcs I haven’t battled with. You’re a pretty clever lot, parleying with orcs! That took me by surprise. I hope it was the right thing to do. That was the largest orc squad I think I’ve seen. They’re usually less than half that size around this area. And they usually attack right away, or retreat right away to get their friends. They seemed a little unusual, didn’t they? What were those animals?” You’ve not seen Darien disconcerted like this before. Up until now, he seemed to know exactly what he was doing.
He looks at Zanock for a moment. He looks curious to know what was said in Orcish, but he doesn’t ask. Probably figures Zanock will tell him if its important.
“Oh, there’s something I forgot to tell you. I meant to tell you this last night at The Shining Griffon, but I forgot. It’s about the hobgoblin ambush the other night. We were ambushed by Khelan’s war band, the last of The Night Swarm Clan. We ambushed The Night Swarm Clan a while back, wiped most of them out. Anyway, those were the hobgoblins that were following me. They used hit and run tactics like they did the other night to take out some of my men a week ago. Never lost a driver before though. Anyway that’s why the caravan was low on guards. I’m not sure how many Khelan’s got left, but I think we got all of her ogres. That was the first time she committed her ogres. And the last as well! As far as I know, she still has her shaman, her two sergeants, and maybe ten or so hobgoblin troops. I don’t think she’ll try another ambush like she did the other night. I hope so anyway.”
Looking at Aronai, Darien says “So who are you?” Turning to the others, “A friend of yours?”
Someone
Adventurer
Dunathar reappears when the orcs are out of sight.
"Orcs from lands far away. That sounds like if someone were gathering them; no small feat, if I know something about orcs." says the dwarf. "I wonder if that has something to do with the rumours we heard a bout a war brewing."
silentspace said:
"Orcs from lands far away. That sounds like if someone were gathering them; no small feat, if I know something about orcs." says the dwarf. "I wonder if that has something to do with the rumours we heard a bout a war brewing."
Dimwhit
Explorer
Aronai moves up closer to Darien, studying him a little as he approaches. "You are Darien, then? My name is Aronai," he says casually. "A letter was sent to me at my grove." He pauses. With a mumble, he adds, "Couldn't have been better timing, actually." Aronai looks briefly at the others and turns back. "I was asked to meet you here and accompany your caravan. So here I am. At your service...so to speak."
Devan lets out a long sigh of relief as the orcs pass. When Darien is done speaking , Devan will catch up to him.
"Excuse me Darien, I hope I wasn't out of line earlier. I was just concerned for the safety of the caravan, I'm certainly no captain. I just did what I thought was right."
"Excuse me Darien, I hope I wasn't out of line earlier. I was just concerned for the safety of the caravan, I'm certainly no captain. I just did what I thought was right."
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silentspace
First Post
“Related to the war?” Darien thinks on Dunathar’s comment. “Goruka has Orc soldiers, and Hobgoblins too, but how would they control them here, from a distance?”
“The World is changing. The Golden Emperor founded the Jangis Empire on the basis of Law and Good, defeating many Evil creatures to do so. But the Light of Law and Good has been dimming for many centuries. Today, many years after The Golden Emperor ascended to the heavens, the world is a different place. Even the Jangis Empire’s own armies are filled with Hobgoblins and other Evil creatures. Of the Three Great Civilizations of the World - Jangis, Iodaban, and Vindra, none shine as a beacon of Law and Good.”
“The Kingdom of Shillen may well be the last bastion of Law and Good in the World. And Shillen is being beaten down, by Goruka to the north and Pachen to the east. But as long as we have faith, and continue in our fight to rid the world of Evil, Heironeous will lead us to victory. I have no doubt of that.”
Darien turns to Zanock, quite pleased by the orc’s explanation. “Yes, that makes sense! Of course they’d be afraid of me! We’re much more disciplined and effective soldiers then those orcs, no offense intended! It’s all about combat tactics I tell you!”
Aronai studies Darien. Darien is a capable-looking, well-built human male with a graying beard and a battle-scar on his left cheek. He’s wearing banded mail under his cloak, and has a longsword, a shortsword, and a composite longbow within easy reach.
“A letter, eh? You might want to show that to Rowyn. She received a letter too. So I guess I’ll put you in the rear guard with her and these others. I’m paying four gold a day. I’ll give you eight gold when we arrive in Carodan. I can tell you’re not a regular guard, so I’m not going to tell you what to do. I tried that with these others, but it didn’t seem to work. Unless… are you a veteran? Do you know about cavalry battle formations?”
To Rowyn, “Aye, parley seemed to be the wise thing to do. Do you think we would’ve been wiped out? Including Aronai here, we have eighteen mounted guards and eleven drivers, not counting the merchants. Compared to twenty four orcs. Problem is we’re all spread out, and they were all right here. And we didn't know how many there were.”
“Devan, you weren’t out of line as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad you were around. I had no idea what was going on, myself.”
“The World is changing. The Golden Emperor founded the Jangis Empire on the basis of Law and Good, defeating many Evil creatures to do so. But the Light of Law and Good has been dimming for many centuries. Today, many years after The Golden Emperor ascended to the heavens, the world is a different place. Even the Jangis Empire’s own armies are filled with Hobgoblins and other Evil creatures. Of the Three Great Civilizations of the World - Jangis, Iodaban, and Vindra, none shine as a beacon of Law and Good.”
“The Kingdom of Shillen may well be the last bastion of Law and Good in the World. And Shillen is being beaten down, by Goruka to the north and Pachen to the east. But as long as we have faith, and continue in our fight to rid the world of Evil, Heironeous will lead us to victory. I have no doubt of that.”
Darien turns to Zanock, quite pleased by the orc’s explanation. “Yes, that makes sense! Of course they’d be afraid of me! We’re much more disciplined and effective soldiers then those orcs, no offense intended! It’s all about combat tactics I tell you!”
Aronai studies Darien. Darien is a capable-looking, well-built human male with a graying beard and a battle-scar on his left cheek. He’s wearing banded mail under his cloak, and has a longsword, a shortsword, and a composite longbow within easy reach.
“A letter, eh? You might want to show that to Rowyn. She received a letter too. So I guess I’ll put you in the rear guard with her and these others. I’m paying four gold a day. I’ll give you eight gold when we arrive in Carodan. I can tell you’re not a regular guard, so I’m not going to tell you what to do. I tried that with these others, but it didn’t seem to work. Unless… are you a veteran? Do you know about cavalry battle formations?”
To Rowyn, “Aye, parley seemed to be the wise thing to do. Do you think we would’ve been wiped out? Including Aronai here, we have eighteen mounted guards and eleven drivers, not counting the merchants. Compared to twenty four orcs. Problem is we’re all spread out, and they were all right here. And we didn't know how many there were.”
“Devan, you weren’t out of line as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad you were around. I had no idea what was going on, myself.”
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