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The Thorns of Winter -(updated 8/1/2023)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8185451" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p><h2 style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center">Ogres and Ranches 1/30/2021</p> </h2> <p style="text-align: center">(I've been swamped, but I have freed myself to write more often once again.)</p><p></p><p>Bookshelf looked straight at Rosa at confusion and then turned to look at The Blade being lofted into the air. The ogre below him, took aim with a bow and shot an arrow to the nearest figure to them, the old woman Doxx. They wondered abstractly if they would need to bury the old woman, when Doxx spun as the arrow hit her chest.</p><p></p><p>Except it didn’t as Doxx completed her spin, Bookshelf noticed in surprise she opened her hand and dropped the arrow to the ground. “Interesting,” the warforged remarked, and they watched as the old woman leapt at the ogre, swinging her stick and smacking it three times, each one causing her foe to yelp in pain, until the ogre was staggering around in a daze. Bookshelf shrugged, and they pointed their finger at the same Ogre, and a beam of cold white light emitted from their finger, striking the ogre in the torso, causing it to bellow and fall to the ground.</p><p></p><p>As it did so, The Blade made his move and jumped down from the ogre’s hatlike bush and took aim with his longbow, missing with his first shot. But as he moved to gain distance his second one sank deep in the hulking humanoid’s chest. Looking around, The Blade saw that more ogres had emerged. But instead of attacking, they headed to the sides of the campsite. The Blade watched one pair of ogres moving quickly, discarding their bushes, and ran to one of the horse stands. With one on either side, they squatted and tried to pull up the wooden posts from the damp earth. “Citizens! They are after the horses!” he shouted, which was followed by the sound of bone cracking.</p><p></p><p>Turning Bookshelf saw Debrika had swung low with her maul on another ogre aiming his bow at Taryn, and had connected it squarely with its knee, causing it to bend an unnatural angle. It howled in pain and dropped its bow in favor of a club, and swung at the dwarf, connecting solidly in the chest. But she didn’t even flinch or give ground. Debrika simply spat on the ground, smiled and waited. The ogre looked at the solid dwarf in confusion, when suddenly from a smokey mist, Taryn appeared, swiftly swinging a short sword, making four deep cuts in its hide, causing dark blood to spray everywhere. Bookshelf noted this aspect of Taryn; he was more than just a simple merchant or Dragonmarked scion. Behind the Mrors, another pair of ogres made for a second set of horse stands, and too were working to remove them from the earth. Close behind them, Taryn’s Blademarks with drawn swords ran to stop the abduction of their mounts, but neither blows seemed to register with the focused ogres.</p><p></p><p>“Face ME!” Mobad bellowed and Bookshelf saw the orc, charging towards another ogre. The ogre shot the rampaging orc, but it didn’t stop him. The orc raised his axe and brought it down, through the bow and deep into the chest of the ogre. The ogre blinked in surprise at the assault, bellowed and quickly pulled out a club and swung it at the raging orc, only to find his blows bouncing off Mobad’s grey skin, all while the Orc continue to hack away at his prey. Bookshelf nodded in satisfaction, knowing that Mobad was unlikely to need help.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sage Reboubt pursued another pair of ogres heading to the third stand of horses. The Juggernaut, charged at the pair; his massive steel frame, caused the ground to tremble as he bore down towards the ogres. Affixed to his arm, was a warforged arm blade, which he pulled back for a large swing. As the massive warforged started to swing forward, his blade erupted with a green flame, slashing the first ogre, who bellowed in pain. But the flame spread to the one next to it, searing the ogre’s flesh. Both ogres stopped in their tracks, and both swung a club at Sage, but he simply clanged his blade against his shield, causing a quick flash of light. The ogre’s weapons never found their mark as they seemed to hit something solid in front of Sage. “That’s even more interesting,” Bookshelf remarked realizing that the Juggernaut wasn’t some simple sword and shield for the line; he had arcane skills as well.</p><p></p><p>Bookshelf heard a crack and turning they saw that the tiny Rosa had created a whip of vines and thorns, and she used it against the ogre where The Blade once stood on top of. The whip wrapped itself around it, and the halfling pulled the ogre straight towards herself, heedless of the danger, as she yelled, “Now, you just leave my friends alone.” Bookshelf fired another white beam of frost, striking and slowing down the ogre as it turned to smash Rosa.</p><p>“You should stay back Rosa!” The Blade said, as he ran through the camp, loosing four arrows at the Ogres trying to steal their mounts. Shooting on the run, each arrow found its mark sinking deep into ogre flesh, and each causing an ogre to grunt in pain. As The Blade ran, he passed the Mrors and their blademarks, all trying to stop the theft of their horses. Their ogres had managed to lift one post out of the ground, but were now busy trying to defend themselves. Debrika swung once, and leveled one ogre, while Taryn quickly darted around another, slashing it with deadly drawcuts, spilling blood everywhere.</p><p></p><p>Mobad had turned into a storm of fury, slaughtering his foe, and charging headlong into the ogre who Rosa had given a whipping. His greataxe and body was covered in dark blood, but in his fury, the ogre somehow managed to avoid the orcs uncoordinated attacks. But it wasn’t so lucky from a swiftly moving Doxx, who’s stick slammed into the side of the ogre, with the resulting sound of cracking ribs and the ogre bellowing, “Not faaair!”</p><p></p><p>Sage ignited his blade, and the flames once again seared and slashed at the ogres, unable to get close to the horse stand. They howled in frustration as they swung, their clubs only bouncing off the juggernauts’ shield with no effect. Bookshelf was considering their options, when they heard the sound of a horn blow from the edge of the campsite.</p><p></p><p>There stood a lone ogre female, who must have stood a head taller than her kin in the melee. Her face was knotted in frustration and disapproval. Her frustration grew, as The Blade fired another pair of arrows, piercing the ogre’s hide easily. She blew the horn again, and the ogres in the camp, ran towards the female. Bookshelf concentrated and a bead of fire started to manifest in their hands when the female spoke.</p><p></p><p>“YOU! THE PRICK!” and the female pointed at the elf who turned and aimed his bow at the sound of her voice. “YOU BEAT US. WE REMEMBER YOU!”</p><p></p><p>“It’s ‘The Blade’ you stup...Just go!” the elf retorted. The would be thieves all ran past the female with the horn, and after all the surviving horse rustlers passed her, she then turned and retreated into the darkness. The sounds of the horses panicking settled down into tired whickers, and everyone’s labored breathing started to slow.</p><p></p><p>“Is anyone hurt?” Rosa shouted, as she moved back into the campsite.</p><p></p><p>“I think Mobad got shot,” Bookshelf said pointing toward the orc.</p><p></p><p>The orc grunted, and in response simply pulled out the arrow from his pectoral and discarded it. He was drenched in blood, but almost none of it was his own. As he approached the fire, he waved off a frantic Rosa trying to examine him.</p><p></p><p>“Did we lose any horses?” Sage called out, as he wiped his blade on a fallen ogre and also returning to the center of camp.</p><p></p><p>“Good news, no!” Taryn replied, stepping next to a fire and warming his hands. He was all smiles and had a look of giddy excitement. “I knew that Melisandre had found the right people,” and he pulled out a rag to wipe off the blood from his short blade, completely oblivious to Debrika shaking her head in quiet disagreement. “And if the ogres here are the culprits to the missing cattle, they will have second thoughts on causing problems in the future!”</p><p></p><p>The Blade frowned at this. While the Blademarks, along with Sage moved the corpses to the side of the camp, he knelt down by the one that moments ago was a bush rising up. He looked at the ogre and its equipment, and with his bow poked the body’s stomach.</p><p>“You shouldn’t poke the dead like that,” Rosa said as she looked over The Blade for injury. “Last thing we want is them to get back up and smack us.”</p><p></p><p>“It doesn’t make sense,” The Blade muttered.</p><p></p><p>“What doesn’t?” Rosa said confused.</p><p></p><p>“These ogres aren’t exactly well fed,” he said poking the loose skin fold around the dead ogre’s belly. “If they had been taking cattle, I would expect them to be more round.”</p><p>Rosa frowned a moment and looked at the ogre’s corpse. “You might be right, this one looks a bit…hungry. Hungry enough to want to take horses from us.” She then hummed a tune looked aloft at the great oak above her. “So, what do know about cattle?”</p><p></p><p>“Cows? No…no cows. No cow droppings for hungry roots. Not in…a while…” the oak mumbled and drifted off.</p><p></p><p>“Well the oaks haven’t noticed any in a while,” Rosa relayed. “I wonder if something else is going on.” As she said this, Sage and a blademark, dragged the corpse off to outside of the camp.</p><p></p><p>“We have to make inquiries at the ranches,” The Blade said, and he moved to the edge of the camp, and quickly climbed up onto one of the oaks, and planted himself on a branch looking towards the direction the ogres ran.</p><p></p><p>“Hhmm…hmm…tickles…” the oak murmured to Rosa.</p><p></p><p>“Oh enough…I need to sleep,” Rosa hummed back, and made her way to her tent. Next to it, Mobad was already asleep, his head poking out of his own tent, his axe in easy reach. </p><p></p><p>Directly across, Debrika, Taryn and the Blademarks, finally done with the bodies were settling in to sleep.</p><p></p><p>But in the center Doxx warmed their hands. Turning they noticed that Bookshelf watched the woman intently. “Keep doing that you’ll go blind dear,” Doxx said mockingly.</p><p></p><p>“I see, things are hidden,” Bookshelf mumbled. “ You aren’t useless as you appear. Taryn very skilled as is Debrika. Elf has inaccurate name, to hide his skills with bow. Juggernaut knows how to use spells. What does Rosa hide I wonder?”</p><p></p><p>“What do you Bookshelf?” Doxx said, their eyes narrowing at the slender warforged.</p><p></p><p>“I hide? Yes I do. A pleasant face to hide the…” and Bookshelf looked downwards for a long moment before speaking again. “Doesn’t matter.”</p><p></p><p>“You are one strange Warforged.” Doxx said and then they retreated back their tent, closing the flaps behind them.</p><p></p><p>“Did you expect everything to be so open?” Sage said, setting their shield down next to a log.</p><p></p><p>“Honesty rare. Hoping things were as they appear. Nothing ever is though,” Bookshelf said shaking their head. “Does it matter? Could it matter? Will it save them? No. No it won’t. Hiding never saves anyone; it only makes it worse. Death finds you all the same. Death isn’t fooled.” And the warforged went silent.</p><p></p><p>Sage stared for a moment at Bookshelf. He had seen dwarves that came back from the war, unwilling or unable to find the selves they left behind. Some did find a semblance of being normal. But Bookshelf seemed to be one that had seen too much and too often. Unwilling to probe the damaged Bookshelf further, he took a stone and a small flask of oil from his pouch and started to sharpen his blade, and pass the night away.</p><p></p><p>[HR]---[/HR]</p><p></p><p>The next morning’s heat woke them before the sun finally crested the Ironroot mountains to the east. The clouds were a solid blanket of grey above, unwilling to provide rain, and equally ill disposed to allow the sun’s light to pierce their veil. It didn’t take long to strike camp; as Sage took time during the night to replenish wood in the covered berm, They also burned the dried bushes, to prevent the ogres from trying again with future travelers. The group finshed packed their things, saddled the horses, and continued north, following the road to the outlying ranches.</p><p></p><p>The road led up out of the valley, leading into tall grasses and low hills, while stands of trees started to thicken down on the valley floor. The heat only grew, and the damp air made it uncomfortable for the majority of the travelling band. Before midday they came to a split on the road and Taryn halted the caravan.</p><p></p><p>“Well, here we must part. This branch heads up to the Keldran ranch, where Debrika and I are headed,” the Mror said.</p><p></p><p>“How far to the other ranch?” Rosa asked squirming to get comfortable in her saddle.</p><p>“After midday you should see a marker for the Tannoch ranch,” Taryn replied. “We’ll all meet up in Denning after we see what is going on, and to be clear; I value you. Don’t take any unneeded risks, but please find my cows and find Myrai! Good luck!” and with a quick flick of the reins, the Mrors and the two Blademarks started their way toward the Keldran ranch. The group watched for a moment, and then turned their mounts and continued northward.</p><p>The road followed the valley walls, with the forest below growing denser, and grassland on top growing thicker and thicker. It was well after midday when in the distance they saw something standing tall above the grass. As they approached, they saw it was a sign, set between a pair of posts and stretched across a branch in the trail. On the old grey wood were letters carved out in relief the words:</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">“Tannoch Ranch”</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p><p>They paused a moment to look around. For as far as the eye could see north and south was grassland, while to the east the grass started to thin as it climbed hillsides and forests on the side of the Ironroots. To the west, the river valley was full of trees, only just touched with green spring buds.</p><p></p><p>“Well…I can say one thing, he’s right,” Sage said somberly. “Not a cow or a cow cake—”</p><p>“—Patties. Or Pies.” Rosa corrected.</p><p></p><p>“Whatever. None of them either.” Sage continued. “Nor any ogres.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, hopefully the ranch will have answers. Let’s get moving citizens.” The Blade said sitting tall in the saddle, eyeing the grass with suspicion.</p><p></p><p>The horses plodded forward quietly along the trail and the light overhead was starting to fade. Along the trail, it the grassland was waist high and swayed in the faint breeze. But for as much grass as there was, there was nothing moving in the grass and certainly no cattle. Even the birds seemed to have abandoned the area. Finally it was Bookshelf who broke the silence.</p><p></p><p>“Smoke ahead.” the warforged said with a curious tone.</p><p></p><p>“Chimney smoke,” Doxx said squinting under a wizened brow.</p><p></p><p>The horses continued, until they reached a simple fence line, made of a single thin log, supported by a pair of shorter logs in a triangular brace. The line appeared to surround a compound of various structures; two small buildings that appeared to be bunk houses, a larger two storied house, and a large barn. Most of the buildings were grey from the weathering, and the bunk houses and the main house all had smoke rising from the chimneys, and lights from everbright lanterns near each of the doors. Hitching stands for horses were lined up in front of the manor house, along with a trough filled with water. But the ranch was devoid of any horses or cattle. It was still, with only the barest whistling of the breeze through the grass and open barn,</p><p></p><p>The group sat on their horses and looked at the ranch with unease and then at each other with confusion and trepidation.</p><p></p><p>“Where is everyone?” Sage asked. “I would have thought we would have been seen and greeted by now.”</p><p></p><p>“It is too quiet citizen,” The Blade said frowning. “But the fires are lit, we should find someone here.”</p><p></p><p>“Let me look around first,” Rosa said, sliding down from her magebred pony. She walked forward in front of the horses for a number of paces before stopping.</p><p></p><p>“You should stay…” The Blade started to say, but his voice faded. As he watched, Rosa started to grow, her shoulder and hips broadening. She shifted her stance to accommodate it, and then she fell gently forward, as her hand sprouted claws and then deep brown fur. The fur then spread across her, enveloping her clothing and gear. Her face elongated, and her ears shifted upwards along her skull. She opened her mouth and gave a noise that was between a growl or a grunt, her jaws now filled with larger teeth. Then the bear started to move quietly towards the bunk houses.</p><p></p><p>“…Or you could do that.” The Blade said as he rested the length of his bow crosswise across the saddle and waited.</p><p></p><p>Rosa ambled into the center yard and moved towards the bunkhouses. She sniffed the air cautiously as she approached. The scent of burning pine was strong, as was straw and grass and something musky in the air. But ahead she smelled nothing else; no person, no horse, no cattle. Rosa could only make a grunting sound, as she approached the closest bunkhouse. She moved to a window and then raised herself upright, using her forepaws for balance and looked inside.</p><p></p><p>Through the dirty windows, she could see eight bunks a large table, with some chairs. Around the bunks were pots with plants, their shoots dry, dead and listless. A table with mugs and plates set, with some stools around it, while a fire blazed against one wall. But it was empty of any person or even so much as a cat.</p><p></p><p>Rosa looked and blinked squinting. She resumed smelling the air, and beyond the smells before, there was no scent and no sign of any person in the bunkhouse. Suddenly, she heard in her ear a sound…louder than a whisper, but it still echoed in her head.</p><p></p><p>“Rosa, this is Bookshelf. Do you see anything? You can reply to this message.”</p><p></p><p>Rosa made a grunt, and then with some effort thought back to the dweomer in her head, “No darling. No one is here. Only a lit fire. Come up to the main house.” And Rosa turned towards the two-story structure, and again stood up looking inside a window, next to the front door. She saw through the somewhat cleaner glass, that the fireplace was a blaze here too, near a long trestle table and benches. A stair way led upwards to the second floor, while a hallway wrapped around the side and headed towards the back. Again, her nose told her almost the same story as before; smoke, musk but here there was also the distant scent of pine tar in the air.</p><p></p><p>Still standing, Rosa began to shrink, and her hair and claws receded back into her body. She scratched her ears, freeing loose fur away as she returned to her halfling self and waited. Soon the others rode up and dismounted from their horses, tying them to the stand. She turned to look at them shaking her head, “I don’t smell anyone; just things related to plants and smoke.”</p><p></p><p>“Wut idiot lights fire and leaves,” the taciturn Mobad said, his axe in hard as he suspiciously looked around, sniffing the air as if to confirm Rosa’s investigation.</p><p></p><p>“Some one afraid,” Bookshelf said also looking around.</p><p></p><p>“If that were true, I should have smelled someone,” Rosa said shaking her head.</p><p>“Let’s search the house. Perhaps there is a clue inside,” The Blade stated. Mobad didn’t need any encouragement and lifted the latch and pushed the door open with his massive shoulder. He then moved inside, keeping his knees bent, and his back hunched over, as if ready to take arms against the furniture.</p><p></p><p>The rest stepped inside, and they too could smell the smokey pine. But no one was cooking, and the light amount of dust on the floor and tables, made the place look unattended, despite the fire on the hearth.</p><p></p><p>“Mobad, Bookshelf, head upstairs,” The Blade commanded. “Doxx and Rosa, check towards the kitchen. Sage, follow me.” The group looked at The Blade and collectively shrugged and followed the suggestions.</p><p></p><p>Rosa and Doxx, moved to the left, and passed the table and benched and entered the kitchen area. Doxx swept a finger across a butcher block, pulling up more dust. Despite the fire being lit, there was neither a kettle or pot on it for an evening meal. And looking around, there was no sign of any cooking. No bread was present in the nearby baskets, and no plates were in an empty tub that was likely used for washing. Above them, they could hear the heavy steps of the orc and the warforged as they examined the second floor. But Rosa and Doxx could only look at each other in bafflement.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, The Blade and Sage made their way to the left around the stairs, passing by large cabinets. About halfway down they came to a small hoist that stood above a door in the floor. The Blade bent down and looked at it closely, as Sage took a couple more steps down the hall. The Blade looked around at the dust on the floor, and then noticed that the door itself was clear of it. “Sage, someone has used this door,” The Blade said.</p><p></p><p>Sage turned and looked over the The Blades’ shoulder. “Indeed. Perhaps they are below.” Nudging the elf out of his way, the warforged used his armblade to lift open the trap door. From below, the strong smell of musk filled the air as they both peered into the darkness.</p><p>Just beforehand, Bookshelf and Mobad made their way up the stairs. As they did so, Bookshelf opened a panel on his chest, and pulled out a brass globe, which then emitted a warm yellow light. He tossed the globe up and with a finger gesture, pointed ahead of them. The globe obediently surged forward, shedding light in the darkened floor. The pair climbed the stairs to the landing and looked around. From the landing were three openings to different rooms. As they stepped forward on the wooden planks suddenly Bookshelf put a hand on Mobad’s shoulder. Mobad turned in confusion, as the warforged, put a thick finger to his jaw, and pointed ahead towards the ceiling.</p><p></p><p>Mobad held his breath and followed where Bookshelf was pointing. There on the ceiling was a panel that led upwards into the attic space. But as he looked, he heard scraping on wood, and a faint amount of dust fell from a crack in the slats above. Mobad nodded and moved ahead and stood just beneath the panel.</p><p></p><p>Rosa, started to investigate the kitchen further. Something nagged at her as she looked around. After several moments, she whirled and looked around. It wasn’t that bread was missing; there was no food at all to be seen. Barrels nearby that would have contained roots or vegetables were empty. There was no sign of cheese. Opening cuboards it was apparent that the pantry was empty of any food at all.</p><p></p><p>Doxx in the meantime, rounded the staircase and saw that Sage had lifted open a trapdoor and he and The Blade were peering down below.</p><p>“What do you see?” Sage asked the elf.</p><p></p><p>“Shelves and some barrels. But not the entire cellar; too many things in the way.”</p><p>Doxx shrugged, as they walked towards the pair. As he did so, he saw that one of the doors to the large armoire like cabinets was slightly open. He reached towards it and pulled the door aside.</p><p></p><p>Mobad, leaned his axe against the wall and looked up. Giving himself a three count, he lept upwards, knocking aside the panel with his head, and caught the edge of the hole with his forearms. As his eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, he saw a girl. She had brown hair, set into a messy ponytail, and her face was streaked in pine tar. Her blue eyes bore into the orc, as her the look on her face changed from fear to hate.</p><p></p><p>As Doxx started to move the door aside, he was struck as both doors broke away from the cabinet, followed by two other cabinets doing the same. From the dark interior, four arms stinking of musk and rot surged forward towards Doxx, as they tried to grab him by the neck.</p><p></p><p>Mobad blinked in surprise, as the girl surged forward, with a feral snarl on her lips, and the orc bellowed in pain as the girl’s, dagger sank deep into his shoulder, causing him to roar.</p><p>A startled Bookshelf whirled around, as he the saw figures, rushing on all fours, from the rooms around them on the second floor. The smell of death and musk strong on them and as they dash towards the warforged and the orc in the ceiling, it was all that Bookshelf could do to shout:</p><p></p><p>“AMBUSH!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8185451, member: 6971069"] [HEADING=1][CENTER][CENTER]Ogres and Ranches 1/30/2021[/CENTER][/CENTER][/HEADING] [CENTER](I've been swamped, but I have freed myself to write more often once again.)[/CENTER] Bookshelf looked straight at Rosa at confusion and then turned to look at The Blade being lofted into the air. The ogre below him, took aim with a bow and shot an arrow to the nearest figure to them, the old woman Doxx. They wondered abstractly if they would need to bury the old woman, when Doxx spun as the arrow hit her chest. Except it didn’t as Doxx completed her spin, Bookshelf noticed in surprise she opened her hand and dropped the arrow to the ground. “Interesting,” the warforged remarked, and they watched as the old woman leapt at the ogre, swinging her stick and smacking it three times, each one causing her foe to yelp in pain, until the ogre was staggering around in a daze. Bookshelf shrugged, and they pointed their finger at the same Ogre, and a beam of cold white light emitted from their finger, striking the ogre in the torso, causing it to bellow and fall to the ground. As it did so, The Blade made his move and jumped down from the ogre’s hatlike bush and took aim with his longbow, missing with his first shot. But as he moved to gain distance his second one sank deep in the hulking humanoid’s chest. Looking around, The Blade saw that more ogres had emerged. But instead of attacking, they headed to the sides of the campsite. The Blade watched one pair of ogres moving quickly, discarding their bushes, and ran to one of the horse stands. With one on either side, they squatted and tried to pull up the wooden posts from the damp earth. “Citizens! They are after the horses!” he shouted, which was followed by the sound of bone cracking. Turning Bookshelf saw Debrika had swung low with her maul on another ogre aiming his bow at Taryn, and had connected it squarely with its knee, causing it to bend an unnatural angle. It howled in pain and dropped its bow in favor of a club, and swung at the dwarf, connecting solidly in the chest. But she didn’t even flinch or give ground. Debrika simply spat on the ground, smiled and waited. The ogre looked at the solid dwarf in confusion, when suddenly from a smokey mist, Taryn appeared, swiftly swinging a short sword, making four deep cuts in its hide, causing dark blood to spray everywhere. Bookshelf noted this aspect of Taryn; he was more than just a simple merchant or Dragonmarked scion. Behind the Mrors, another pair of ogres made for a second set of horse stands, and too were working to remove them from the earth. Close behind them, Taryn’s Blademarks with drawn swords ran to stop the abduction of their mounts, but neither blows seemed to register with the focused ogres. “Face ME!” Mobad bellowed and Bookshelf saw the orc, charging towards another ogre. The ogre shot the rampaging orc, but it didn’t stop him. The orc raised his axe and brought it down, through the bow and deep into the chest of the ogre. The ogre blinked in surprise at the assault, bellowed and quickly pulled out a club and swung it at the raging orc, only to find his blows bouncing off Mobad’s grey skin, all while the Orc continue to hack away at his prey. Bookshelf nodded in satisfaction, knowing that Mobad was unlikely to need help. Meanwhile, Sage Reboubt pursued another pair of ogres heading to the third stand of horses. The Juggernaut, charged at the pair; his massive steel frame, caused the ground to tremble as he bore down towards the ogres. Affixed to his arm, was a warforged arm blade, which he pulled back for a large swing. As the massive warforged started to swing forward, his blade erupted with a green flame, slashing the first ogre, who bellowed in pain. But the flame spread to the one next to it, searing the ogre’s flesh. Both ogres stopped in their tracks, and both swung a club at Sage, but he simply clanged his blade against his shield, causing a quick flash of light. The ogre’s weapons never found their mark as they seemed to hit something solid in front of Sage. “That’s even more interesting,” Bookshelf remarked realizing that the Juggernaut wasn’t some simple sword and shield for the line; he had arcane skills as well. Bookshelf heard a crack and turning they saw that the tiny Rosa had created a whip of vines and thorns, and she used it against the ogre where The Blade once stood on top of. The whip wrapped itself around it, and the halfling pulled the ogre straight towards herself, heedless of the danger, as she yelled, “Now, you just leave my friends alone.” Bookshelf fired another white beam of frost, striking and slowing down the ogre as it turned to smash Rosa. “You should stay back Rosa!” The Blade said, as he ran through the camp, loosing four arrows at the Ogres trying to steal their mounts. Shooting on the run, each arrow found its mark sinking deep into ogre flesh, and each causing an ogre to grunt in pain. As The Blade ran, he passed the Mrors and their blademarks, all trying to stop the theft of their horses. Their ogres had managed to lift one post out of the ground, but were now busy trying to defend themselves. Debrika swung once, and leveled one ogre, while Taryn quickly darted around another, slashing it with deadly drawcuts, spilling blood everywhere. Mobad had turned into a storm of fury, slaughtering his foe, and charging headlong into the ogre who Rosa had given a whipping. His greataxe and body was covered in dark blood, but in his fury, the ogre somehow managed to avoid the orcs uncoordinated attacks. But it wasn’t so lucky from a swiftly moving Doxx, who’s stick slammed into the side of the ogre, with the resulting sound of cracking ribs and the ogre bellowing, “Not faaair!” Sage ignited his blade, and the flames once again seared and slashed at the ogres, unable to get close to the horse stand. They howled in frustration as they swung, their clubs only bouncing off the juggernauts’ shield with no effect. Bookshelf was considering their options, when they heard the sound of a horn blow from the edge of the campsite. There stood a lone ogre female, who must have stood a head taller than her kin in the melee. Her face was knotted in frustration and disapproval. Her frustration grew, as The Blade fired another pair of arrows, piercing the ogre’s hide easily. She blew the horn again, and the ogres in the camp, ran towards the female. Bookshelf concentrated and a bead of fire started to manifest in their hands when the female spoke. “YOU! THE PRICK!” and the female pointed at the elf who turned and aimed his bow at the sound of her voice. “YOU BEAT US. WE REMEMBER YOU!” “It’s ‘The Blade’ you stup...Just go!” the elf retorted. The would be thieves all ran past the female with the horn, and after all the surviving horse rustlers passed her, she then turned and retreated into the darkness. The sounds of the horses panicking settled down into tired whickers, and everyone’s labored breathing started to slow. “Is anyone hurt?” Rosa shouted, as she moved back into the campsite. “I think Mobad got shot,” Bookshelf said pointing toward the orc. The orc grunted, and in response simply pulled out the arrow from his pectoral and discarded it. He was drenched in blood, but almost none of it was his own. As he approached the fire, he waved off a frantic Rosa trying to examine him. “Did we lose any horses?” Sage called out, as he wiped his blade on a fallen ogre and also returning to the center of camp. “Good news, no!” Taryn replied, stepping next to a fire and warming his hands. He was all smiles and had a look of giddy excitement. “I knew that Melisandre had found the right people,” and he pulled out a rag to wipe off the blood from his short blade, completely oblivious to Debrika shaking her head in quiet disagreement. “And if the ogres here are the culprits to the missing cattle, they will have second thoughts on causing problems in the future!” The Blade frowned at this. While the Blademarks, along with Sage moved the corpses to the side of the camp, he knelt down by the one that moments ago was a bush rising up. He looked at the ogre and its equipment, and with his bow poked the body’s stomach. “You shouldn’t poke the dead like that,” Rosa said as she looked over The Blade for injury. “Last thing we want is them to get back up and smack us.” “It doesn’t make sense,” The Blade muttered. “What doesn’t?” Rosa said confused. “These ogres aren’t exactly well fed,” he said poking the loose skin fold around the dead ogre’s belly. “If they had been taking cattle, I would expect them to be more round.” Rosa frowned a moment and looked at the ogre’s corpse. “You might be right, this one looks a bit…hungry. Hungry enough to want to take horses from us.” She then hummed a tune looked aloft at the great oak above her. “So, what do know about cattle?” “Cows? No…no cows. No cow droppings for hungry roots. Not in…a while…” the oak mumbled and drifted off. “Well the oaks haven’t noticed any in a while,” Rosa relayed. “I wonder if something else is going on.” As she said this, Sage and a blademark, dragged the corpse off to outside of the camp. “We have to make inquiries at the ranches,” The Blade said, and he moved to the edge of the camp, and quickly climbed up onto one of the oaks, and planted himself on a branch looking towards the direction the ogres ran. “Hhmm…hmm…tickles…” the oak murmured to Rosa. “Oh enough…I need to sleep,” Rosa hummed back, and made her way to her tent. Next to it, Mobad was already asleep, his head poking out of his own tent, his axe in easy reach. Directly across, Debrika, Taryn and the Blademarks, finally done with the bodies were settling in to sleep. But in the center Doxx warmed their hands. Turning they noticed that Bookshelf watched the woman intently. “Keep doing that you’ll go blind dear,” Doxx said mockingly. “I see, things are hidden,” Bookshelf mumbled. “ You aren’t useless as you appear. Taryn very skilled as is Debrika. Elf has inaccurate name, to hide his skills with bow. Juggernaut knows how to use spells. What does Rosa hide I wonder?” “What do you Bookshelf?” Doxx said, their eyes narrowing at the slender warforged. “I hide? Yes I do. A pleasant face to hide the…” and Bookshelf looked downwards for a long moment before speaking again. “Doesn’t matter.” “You are one strange Warforged.” Doxx said and then they retreated back their tent, closing the flaps behind them. “Did you expect everything to be so open?” Sage said, setting their shield down next to a log. “Honesty rare. Hoping things were as they appear. Nothing ever is though,” Bookshelf said shaking their head. “Does it matter? Could it matter? Will it save them? No. No it won’t. Hiding never saves anyone; it only makes it worse. Death finds you all the same. Death isn’t fooled.” And the warforged went silent. Sage stared for a moment at Bookshelf. He had seen dwarves that came back from the war, unwilling or unable to find the selves they left behind. Some did find a semblance of being normal. But Bookshelf seemed to be one that had seen too much and too often. Unwilling to probe the damaged Bookshelf further, he took a stone and a small flask of oil from his pouch and started to sharpen his blade, and pass the night away. [HR]---[/HR] The next morning’s heat woke them before the sun finally crested the Ironroot mountains to the east. The clouds were a solid blanket of grey above, unwilling to provide rain, and equally ill disposed to allow the sun’s light to pierce their veil. It didn’t take long to strike camp; as Sage took time during the night to replenish wood in the covered berm, They also burned the dried bushes, to prevent the ogres from trying again with future travelers. The group finshed packed their things, saddled the horses, and continued north, following the road to the outlying ranches. The road led up out of the valley, leading into tall grasses and low hills, while stands of trees started to thicken down on the valley floor. The heat only grew, and the damp air made it uncomfortable for the majority of the travelling band. Before midday they came to a split on the road and Taryn halted the caravan. “Well, here we must part. This branch heads up to the Keldran ranch, where Debrika and I are headed,” the Mror said. “How far to the other ranch?” Rosa asked squirming to get comfortable in her saddle. “After midday you should see a marker for the Tannoch ranch,” Taryn replied. “We’ll all meet up in Denning after we see what is going on, and to be clear; I value you. Don’t take any unneeded risks, but please find my cows and find Myrai! Good luck!” and with a quick flick of the reins, the Mrors and the two Blademarks started their way toward the Keldran ranch. The group watched for a moment, and then turned their mounts and continued northward. The road followed the valley walls, with the forest below growing denser, and grassland on top growing thicker and thicker. It was well after midday when in the distance they saw something standing tall above the grass. As they approached, they saw it was a sign, set between a pair of posts and stretched across a branch in the trail. On the old grey wood were letters carved out in relief the words: [CENTER]“Tannoch Ranch” [/CENTER] They paused a moment to look around. For as far as the eye could see north and south was grassland, while to the east the grass started to thin as it climbed hillsides and forests on the side of the Ironroots. To the west, the river valley was full of trees, only just touched with green spring buds. “Well…I can say one thing, he’s right,” Sage said somberly. “Not a cow or a cow cake—” “—Patties. Or Pies.” Rosa corrected. “Whatever. None of them either.” Sage continued. “Nor any ogres.” “Well, hopefully the ranch will have answers. Let’s get moving citizens.” The Blade said sitting tall in the saddle, eyeing the grass with suspicion. The horses plodded forward quietly along the trail and the light overhead was starting to fade. Along the trail, it the grassland was waist high and swayed in the faint breeze. But for as much grass as there was, there was nothing moving in the grass and certainly no cattle. Even the birds seemed to have abandoned the area. Finally it was Bookshelf who broke the silence. “Smoke ahead.” the warforged said with a curious tone. “Chimney smoke,” Doxx said squinting under a wizened brow. The horses continued, until they reached a simple fence line, made of a single thin log, supported by a pair of shorter logs in a triangular brace. The line appeared to surround a compound of various structures; two small buildings that appeared to be bunk houses, a larger two storied house, and a large barn. Most of the buildings were grey from the weathering, and the bunk houses and the main house all had smoke rising from the chimneys, and lights from everbright lanterns near each of the doors. Hitching stands for horses were lined up in front of the manor house, along with a trough filled with water. But the ranch was devoid of any horses or cattle. It was still, with only the barest whistling of the breeze through the grass and open barn, The group sat on their horses and looked at the ranch with unease and then at each other with confusion and trepidation. “Where is everyone?” Sage asked. “I would have thought we would have been seen and greeted by now.” “It is too quiet citizen,” The Blade said frowning. “But the fires are lit, we should find someone here.” “Let me look around first,” Rosa said, sliding down from her magebred pony. She walked forward in front of the horses for a number of paces before stopping. “You should stay…” The Blade started to say, but his voice faded. As he watched, Rosa started to grow, her shoulder and hips broadening. She shifted her stance to accommodate it, and then she fell gently forward, as her hand sprouted claws and then deep brown fur. The fur then spread across her, enveloping her clothing and gear. Her face elongated, and her ears shifted upwards along her skull. She opened her mouth and gave a noise that was between a growl or a grunt, her jaws now filled with larger teeth. Then the bear started to move quietly towards the bunk houses. “…Or you could do that.” The Blade said as he rested the length of his bow crosswise across the saddle and waited. Rosa ambled into the center yard and moved towards the bunkhouses. She sniffed the air cautiously as she approached. The scent of burning pine was strong, as was straw and grass and something musky in the air. But ahead she smelled nothing else; no person, no horse, no cattle. Rosa could only make a grunting sound, as she approached the closest bunkhouse. She moved to a window and then raised herself upright, using her forepaws for balance and looked inside. Through the dirty windows, she could see eight bunks a large table, with some chairs. Around the bunks were pots with plants, their shoots dry, dead and listless. A table with mugs and plates set, with some stools around it, while a fire blazed against one wall. But it was empty of any person or even so much as a cat. Rosa looked and blinked squinting. She resumed smelling the air, and beyond the smells before, there was no scent and no sign of any person in the bunkhouse. Suddenly, she heard in her ear a sound…louder than a whisper, but it still echoed in her head. “Rosa, this is Bookshelf. Do you see anything? You can reply to this message.” Rosa made a grunt, and then with some effort thought back to the dweomer in her head, “No darling. No one is here. Only a lit fire. Come up to the main house.” And Rosa turned towards the two-story structure, and again stood up looking inside a window, next to the front door. She saw through the somewhat cleaner glass, that the fireplace was a blaze here too, near a long trestle table and benches. A stair way led upwards to the second floor, while a hallway wrapped around the side and headed towards the back. Again, her nose told her almost the same story as before; smoke, musk but here there was also the distant scent of pine tar in the air. Still standing, Rosa began to shrink, and her hair and claws receded back into her body. She scratched her ears, freeing loose fur away as she returned to her halfling self and waited. Soon the others rode up and dismounted from their horses, tying them to the stand. She turned to look at them shaking her head, “I don’t smell anyone; just things related to plants and smoke.” “Wut idiot lights fire and leaves,” the taciturn Mobad said, his axe in hard as he suspiciously looked around, sniffing the air as if to confirm Rosa’s investigation. “Some one afraid,” Bookshelf said also looking around. “If that were true, I should have smelled someone,” Rosa said shaking her head. “Let’s search the house. Perhaps there is a clue inside,” The Blade stated. Mobad didn’t need any encouragement and lifted the latch and pushed the door open with his massive shoulder. He then moved inside, keeping his knees bent, and his back hunched over, as if ready to take arms against the furniture. The rest stepped inside, and they too could smell the smokey pine. But no one was cooking, and the light amount of dust on the floor and tables, made the place look unattended, despite the fire on the hearth. “Mobad, Bookshelf, head upstairs,” The Blade commanded. “Doxx and Rosa, check towards the kitchen. Sage, follow me.” The group looked at The Blade and collectively shrugged and followed the suggestions. Rosa and Doxx, moved to the left, and passed the table and benched and entered the kitchen area. Doxx swept a finger across a butcher block, pulling up more dust. Despite the fire being lit, there was neither a kettle or pot on it for an evening meal. And looking around, there was no sign of any cooking. No bread was present in the nearby baskets, and no plates were in an empty tub that was likely used for washing. Above them, they could hear the heavy steps of the orc and the warforged as they examined the second floor. But Rosa and Doxx could only look at each other in bafflement. Meanwhile, The Blade and Sage made their way to the left around the stairs, passing by large cabinets. About halfway down they came to a small hoist that stood above a door in the floor. The Blade bent down and looked at it closely, as Sage took a couple more steps down the hall. The Blade looked around at the dust on the floor, and then noticed that the door itself was clear of it. “Sage, someone has used this door,” The Blade said. Sage turned and looked over the The Blades’ shoulder. “Indeed. Perhaps they are below.” Nudging the elf out of his way, the warforged used his armblade to lift open the trap door. From below, the strong smell of musk filled the air as they both peered into the darkness. Just beforehand, Bookshelf and Mobad made their way up the stairs. As they did so, Bookshelf opened a panel on his chest, and pulled out a brass globe, which then emitted a warm yellow light. He tossed the globe up and with a finger gesture, pointed ahead of them. The globe obediently surged forward, shedding light in the darkened floor. The pair climbed the stairs to the landing and looked around. From the landing were three openings to different rooms. As they stepped forward on the wooden planks suddenly Bookshelf put a hand on Mobad’s shoulder. Mobad turned in confusion, as the warforged, put a thick finger to his jaw, and pointed ahead towards the ceiling. Mobad held his breath and followed where Bookshelf was pointing. There on the ceiling was a panel that led upwards into the attic space. But as he looked, he heard scraping on wood, and a faint amount of dust fell from a crack in the slats above. Mobad nodded and moved ahead and stood just beneath the panel. Rosa, started to investigate the kitchen further. Something nagged at her as she looked around. After several moments, she whirled and looked around. It wasn’t that bread was missing; there was no food at all to be seen. Barrels nearby that would have contained roots or vegetables were empty. There was no sign of cheese. Opening cuboards it was apparent that the pantry was empty of any food at all. Doxx in the meantime, rounded the staircase and saw that Sage had lifted open a trapdoor and he and The Blade were peering down below. “What do you see?” Sage asked the elf. “Shelves and some barrels. But not the entire cellar; too many things in the way.” Doxx shrugged, as they walked towards the pair. As he did so, he saw that one of the doors to the large armoire like cabinets was slightly open. He reached towards it and pulled the door aside. Mobad, leaned his axe against the wall and looked up. Giving himself a three count, he lept upwards, knocking aside the panel with his head, and caught the edge of the hole with his forearms. As his eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, he saw a girl. She had brown hair, set into a messy ponytail, and her face was streaked in pine tar. Her blue eyes bore into the orc, as her the look on her face changed from fear to hate. As Doxx started to move the door aside, he was struck as both doors broke away from the cabinet, followed by two other cabinets doing the same. From the dark interior, four arms stinking of musk and rot surged forward towards Doxx, as they tried to grab him by the neck. Mobad blinked in surprise, as the girl surged forward, with a feral snarl on her lips, and the orc bellowed in pain as the girl’s, dagger sank deep into his shoulder, causing him to roar. A startled Bookshelf whirled around, as he the saw figures, rushing on all fours, from the rooms around them on the second floor. The smell of death and musk strong on them and as they dash towards the warforged and the orc in the ceiling, it was all that Bookshelf could do to shout: “AMBUSH!” [/QUOTE]
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The Thorns of Winter -(updated 8/1/2023)
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