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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Axel" data-source="post: 5588243" data-attributes="member: 93196">[sblock=OOC]Apologies for the late action...been on an emergency trip to the Pilbara region of West Australia (Pannawonica if you're Google Map savvy).  These trips are becoming more common....  I had typed a massive post on my phone at the airport that does not seem to have been added.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" />(((In a more game related vein, happy to throw a bluff check, diplomacy check or any other e-Check our esteemed DM deems fit.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />[/sblock]"Well gents, now that the dirt of travel and honest labour has been washed off you, I would happily remind both of you that the ladies love a hard working and bloodied man.  To me, I think it encourages the mothering instinct.  Didn't you see the way she looked at me when she came over?"  Alden grinned broadly at his last comment.  "Asking questions of the gnolls is to get ahead of ourselves, Tio.  Please allow me the luxury of starting at the beginning, as is customary.  It is not a long tale to tell...  To my right, and just quietly between ourselves," Alden said in a low voice, indicating Alex, "sits the commander of Bear's G-division.  I am but a poor aide-de-camp in comparison.  I can't tell you why we were on the way to Rem, even if I knew...  Still, we were and that is all that is important."  Alden paused, to take a gulp of ale.  Catching the eye of the serving girl he holds up his mug upside-down, hoping that she catches his drift...  "Before we arrived, an unearthly screeching sound came from beyond the hills.  I daresay you heard it too.  Horrible noise, and I am thoroughly glad it was not the last noise I ever heard in this world.  Our horses were proper spooked at the sound.  It took a good deal of horsemanship to keep in the saddle and under control, even if I say so myself."  Alden looked up as the serving girl came over with more mugs of ale and winked at her.   "Thanks love, you have no idea how good this tastes after a long trip."  Raising his fresh mug, he takes another gulp, letting out a satisfied sigh.  "So, the screeching.  Over the hill comes one of those demon-cats.  The fur pulls back from its face when it sees us and screeches again!  Not knowing what manner of beast it was we set off at the double towards Rem.  To my everlasting surprise there were four more of them across the road, right in front of them.  Oh...gods above it was a horrible moment when THEY started screeching too!  I think my stomach is still in my boots somewhere.  The horses were near uncontrollable by this point, so we dismounted before being thrown off.  Now, this is where the story gets strange.""Drink up lads!  Near-death experiences don't come around too often.  Enjoy surviving them, because I didn't enjoy being almost dead."  Alden takes another gulp.  It is becoming apparent he is, well, rather relieved at being alive."Now, the strange part.  His Lordship does what any good soldier and noble would do.  He drew his sword, gathered his magical powers and marched straight up the centre at the four demons.  For myself, being slightly more practical minded about fighting four demons, I got out my crossbow.  I had one down before the boss here got close.  Then, the weird bit.  The demon-cat that we first saw was still chasing us.  And behind is was a pack of Gnolls!  Dirty great big ones too, waving spears and barking and yipping at things!!  I will admit that my first thought was something along the lines of Bloody Cats and Dogs!  Hard not to laugh it was, and must've put my aim off with the giggling.  From that point, I don't think I could've hit the water if I had fallen out of a damned boat.  Eventually I have up - it was too hard to shoot without hitting the boss."More ale goes down the back of his throat at this point, as if Alden is surpressing some horrible memory.  "So, seeing as the pack of dogs caught the demon-cat at the back and, for all I know made some sort of hat outta it... I draws my sword and runs in to help the boss.  He had given a good account of himself, but three - two it was by then - demons is more'n enough for any man to fight on his own.  'fore I get there the boss goes down.  I should've thought more about that at the time, but 'twas all I could do ta keep meself from getting smashed.  I got the last one just after the boss went down.  Disgustin' effen stink to the ichor and blood....ugh!"Alden tries to drink again, but realises his mug is empty again.  "MORE ALE LOVE, THASSA GOOD GIRL!" he bellows at the serving girl.  "Drink up I say!  It's a good day to be alive.""The effen dogs caught up to me'n the boss by then.  They made some sort of circle or somefen and started barking.  I dunno...was too busy trying not to die.  The last demon-cat got me 'fore I got 'im.  Then there was an old geezer looken' at me when I was onna floor."  Alden stares at the bottom of his empty mug of ale, wishing it was full again.  "I dun wanna talk about whad happened inbe'ween the fight an' the floor.  's not nice.  When'd you come 'long Tio?  I didn't see ya.  And how'd you chase the dogs'way?  Fought 'ey was gonna eat me I did...""Ah, more ale.  Drink up lads!"  By the gods I hope they both buy it.  Playing the drunken fool is easy enough, but its a fine line between pretending at and being.  Still...Lord High-and-Mighty deserves whatever he gets.  Commander of the Gnolls.  Pffft!Still, I don't mind that serving girl.  Its not going to be all bad up here... </blockquote>

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