Cormorant and Kuwaia run directly through the center of the caravan line to take defensive positions in the middle of the line of caravan javelineers. Not concerned with the opinion of the caravaners, if any of them even noticed, both used their individual talents to conceal their images. Sprthnt, who cannot run as quickly, moves to take a position to the right flank of Kuwaia, who is on the right of Cormorant. He too will obscure his presence and ready his remaining javelin to throw. Sprthnt is about twice the distance from Kuwaia as she is from Cormorant, putting him at about the front of the line of people to be protected. Britta will move to the rear of the line and hide when she gets near the main path, obscuring her image and readying an arrow to fire. Cina, who was already moving ahead, does not try to cross the road, not knowing the proximity of the coming Da’Roneh. She will hide, camouflage herself, and ready an arrow to fire.
Cormorant yells to his friends with little more volume than normal speech. “I will move to the center of the line.”
Sprthnt yells back. “I will take a flank from Kuwaia and move toward the head of the line."
Britta says, mostly for the benefit of Cormorant, “I will take the tail of the line and try to ambush my first target.”
Cormorante and Kuwaia take their desired places in the center of the caravan line. The javelineers nearest them feel comforted and bolstered by their presence. The guards ready their javelins for their first throw. The dust of the coming threat can be seen before the people. Cina takes her position, unknown to anyone else. Britta then takes her position. Some of the caravaners see Britta before she hides, but no one is aware of the second archer. Sprthnt then arrives at the front of the line.
The danger may not be as great as first feared. These females have their hair tied into multiple braids. The braids only reach their shoulders. The older and more experienced the Da’Roneh females, the longer their hair. Though the girls are not particularly attempting to hide, they do not charge straight in at the caravan. Several of them are seen at various locations along the line of the caravan. It appears they will attempt something of a projectile assault.
The nearest to each Britta and Cina is at about a short bowshot. Two are closer to Cormorante and Kuwaia. Close enough that Kuwaia thinks she might reach one before she can do whatever is her intention. Sprthnt can see more than one, but he is not yet nearly as fast as he wants to be. With a few steps forward as he throws, his nearest should also be within short range.
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Arrows: 18: ularin
Sprthnt: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kuwaia: full wellness
Mantle: 30 - 1 = 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
It takes no amount of time for Kuwaia to make her decision. She runs directly at the closest enemy, swinging her left sword laterally. She mystically enhances her athleticism as she moves. Cormorant charges forward, as well. He swings his right hammer overhead as he moves to the right of his target, hoping to hit her in the head. He mystically enhances his strength as he moves.
Since ceramic is basically stone, Sprthnt bends mechanical waylines to cause the blade of his javelin to emit a sonic pulse when it strikes. Britta and Cina both take aim at a near enemy. Cina mystically enhances her athleticism to help her aim.
Britta fires her arrow a mere fraction of a second before Kuwaia reaches an enemy. The arrow buries itself to the fletching, causing significant damage and incapacitating the first Da’Roneh. Kuwaia slashes across the abdomen of a second, but her corded tunic helps reduce the effectiveness of the cut. That enemy throws her stone straight into the chest of Kuwaia. It sounds like thunder when it strikes, but the sound has no effect on her. The stone barely hurts.
Within a few more tics, Cina fires her first arrow from her place of concealment. It flies straight through her target, causing the massive loss of blood. That Da’Roneh falls to the ground and is dying. A few tics after that, Cormorante reaches one of the enemies. His hammer does, indeed, strike the skull of his target, killing her, outright. As she falls and the stone in her hand strikes the ground, it, too, resounds like thunder, but this has no effect on Cormorante.
Next, Sprthnt throws his javelin. The weapon produces a singing tone as it flies. The blade is partially deflected by the corded tunic worn by his target, but it still draws a line of blood. The singing tone increases in volume to sound like the ringing of a gong. The sound is so damaging to that Da’Roneh that she almost loses consciousness.
There are five more Da’Roneh in the enemy party, and each throws a rock. They do not try to hit any specific person, but throw at the ground near to people. The throws are evenly spaced along the line of the caravan, and the stones all sound like thunder when they strike. While this sound does no harm to any of the party, it does, in fact, hurt several javelineers and other members of the caravan who are near to the strike point.
The would-be robbers are not stupid. After throwing their stones, they realize that half of their numbers are down and that people of greater power than their own are protecting this caravan. They retreat, leaving their fallen; at least, five of them do. The one who was so confused by Sprthnt is hindered enough that Kuwaia runs her down.
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Britta and Cina go to the hurt members of the caravan, clasping their heads in their hands and whispering words of comfort while making a show of rubbing their temples, bending mystical waylines to soothe their mental anguish, knowing that no one is physically hurt. Cormorante, Sprthnt, and Kuwaia gather anything of interest or value from the fallen Da’Roneh and secretly distribute the items to random members of the caravan. Any trail food is distributed among the guards. Once Britta has finished with the injured, she offers her bow and arrows to one of the javelineers. She realizes that she should be using a sling and stone so that she can add her mystical talent to a throw.
Sprthnt addresses the caravan. “We will take care of the bodies. You folks should go ahead and move on. We have learned that caravans are regularly attacked at this location. We intend to put an end to it.”
After that sugar caravan departs, the Sojourners wait another three Tendays for seeing another. At that point, two are returning from South Road Fair, traveling together. Moving to communicate with these caravans as before, they pass without incident. Perhaps the Da’Roneh only attack one departing from Asylim.
Eleven more days brings another caravan up from Asylim. This one is designated by carrying a fish banner, but it is not the salt caravan that originally employed Cormorante; although, it is a salt caravan. Moving to meet this one as before, the dust of enemy robbers is seen from across the way.
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Stones: 20:
Sprthnt: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kuwaia: full wellness
Mantle: 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Britta and Cina elect to take ambush positions, as before, with Cina going to the head of the caravan and Britta going to the tail. Cormorant, Sprthnt, and Kuwaia, distributed themselves evenly along the line. Sprthnt says to Cormorant and Kuwaia, “I expect this group may be more formidable than the last, since others from the previous raid will have reported stronger protectorates.”
Kuwaia blinks once and gives an almost imperceptible nod. Cormorant responds, “I will be ready. May the Earth that supports my heartmate keeps her and Cina safe. Those, alone, have saved us before.”
The approaching robbers spread out as they get nearer to the caravan, just as the previous group had done. They also stop moving forward, across the path at about short bow range to load stones into slings. These Da’Roneh look more like the ones that had beaten the party in the previous conflict in the mountains close to their village. The long hair on these adult females is down to about the middle of their backs and in multiple braids. Their clothing appears to be of a higher quality, but they are still equipped with bone clubs.
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Stones: 20:
Sprthnt: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kuwaia: full wellness
Mantle: 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Britta will cause the stone that she will sling to emit an electric shock when it strikes. Cina mystically augments her athletic skill as she fires her first arrow. Cormorant mystically augments his strength as he charges toward the nearest enemy. Kuwaia mystically augments her athletic skill as she runs toward her nearest enemy. Understanding that the Da’Roneh followed the same mystical talent as his, Sprthnt decides to neglect his javelin and close to melee. He intends to weaken his opponents as he employs his swords.
Da’Roneh are known for their cruelty but not for speed. Everyone in the party, even Sprthnt, is faster, but not the caravaners. Kuwaia moves in and plants her left foot sliding forward slightly as she swings her right sword. She cuts across her target’s chest, but the blade does not make it through the kevlar tunic to cut flesh. Neglecting the stone she was going to sling, that Da’Roneh swings her bone club in her left hand. Kuwaia blocks the club and counters, but the robber is, again, protected by her tunic. When the club is blocked, it emits a ringing tone that dazes Kuwaia. Cormorante charges forward, not slowing as he swings his right hammer, knocking nearly all of the wind from the Da’Roneh, but she does not go down. Like the one on Kuwaia, this one swings her club in her left hand instead of slinging a stone. Cormorante blocks the club and is unaffected by the ringing tone it emits.
In between the physical assaults of Kuwaia and Cormorante, Cina fires her arrow then Britta releases her stone. The arrow from Cina flies into and almost through her chosen target, nearly killing the Da’Roneh, who falls to the ground and will not rise again. The stone from Britta strikes her target square in the chest, knocking all of the wind from her and causing intense mental anguish when it flashes. The robber loses consciousness.
Finally, from the party, Sprthnt reaches his target, slashing with his ceramic sword, which his enemy blocks with her bone club. She then retaliates by swinging her club, which Sprthnt blocks and counters. Though his blades do not harm the robber, the simple touch from Sprthnt is debilitating, significantly slowing the Da’Roneh. The remaining five raiders sling their stones at strategic distances along the line of the caravaners. They do not aim at the people but at the ground near them. The stones resound like thunder, disabling five javelineers and five teamsters. The remaining five javelineers throw in vain, not hitting a single mark. The eight functional Da’Roneh show no indication of quitting the fight.
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
