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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BlindKobold" data-source="post: 1598509" data-attributes="member: 1375">Chapter TwoChapter TwoRedwolf sat impatiently as the elf talked to the townspeople.  He wanted to be clear of the human town and out in the wilderness where he belonged.  He would be glad to leave behind the people of Bluefen and their curious - and sometimes downright angry - stares.  Ricket seemed to be listening intently... although Redwolf suspected he was feigning interest in the conversation and secretly planning his "machine".  Redwolf didn't know what Ricket's "machine" was, and he wasn't entirely sure Ricket knew either but the little goblin seemed intent on building it.Before he could begin speculating further on "the machine", Ilmirranor turned from the townspeople.  Behind his rose quartz lens, his elven eyes were unreadable. "They say there's a lighthouse to the north-east, which is supposed to keep the ships from running adrift of the reefs.""Hmmm... maybe the lighthouse not working." squeaked Ricket.Redwolf considered the new information.  The Shipping Guild had hired them to investigate why ships weren't arriving from Bluefen with the mithril and unique blue dye they had been expecting.  Now it appeared as if the ships had never arrived in Bluefen to begin with.  Perhaps something had happened to the lighthouse... some monster attack or natural disaster the townspeople hadn't heard about.  Redwolf turned to the elf. "How far?" "Three days walk," the elf replied.  "We should make it in half the time on the horses.""Agreed."  Redwolf didn't really believe it, but he could be optimistic.  The swamp surrounding the town of Bluefen had thus far proved itself inhospitable.The elf looked at the setting sun to the west.  "It's too late to start out tonight," he said.  "We should stay at the inn and get a fresh start tomorrow.""Good idea," agreed the goblin.  Redwolf wondered if staying in the human town was really such a good idea, but he kept his thoughts to himself.  The other two were welcome in to the humans.  The high elves were, after all, part of the Alliance and the goblins, while neutral, had helped supply the machines the Alliance needed.  Orcs on the other hand were still not trusted by most.  Even though his people and the rest of the Horde and joined forces with the Alliance against the Burning Legion and the abomination they created called the Scourge, there was still some bad blood between the humans and the orcs from the previous war.The three adventurers found an inn called the Cracked Barrel.  Like most of the buildings in this town, the Cracked Barrel used old stonework - possibly from an ancient tower - as part of its structure.  The north and east walls where newer construction... stone and wood, but the other two walls were an ancient stone, pre-dating humans on this continent.The elf talked to the innkeeper about a large room, while Redwolf tried to disappear in the shadows.  More than once, the trio had been kicked out of an inn... or village... because of him.  But the innkeeper, a slightly overweight human named Brok, seemed to want their money and slipped them a key.Not wanting to cause a disruption and possibly face a night in the local jail - or worse.  Redwolf ate dinner in his room while Ilmirranor and Ricket ate down with the humans.  He didn't mind the time to himself and after finishing his double portions, began sharpening his falchion.  If they did run into trouble... he'd be ready.  Little did he know, when he closed his eyes to go to sleep, how quickly he would be back at the inn.The trip to the lighthouse seemed to be going well.  Then, a little after noon, disaster struck.  Without warning, a large alligator flashed out of the murky swamp, apparently going after the horses.  Redwolf reigned in his horse, which was suddenly terrified of the large reptile.  He pulled his feet out of the stirrups, crouched on the saddle and jumped off, meaning to do a somersault overtop of the horse's head and land next to the alligator.  Unfortunately, at the exact moment he jumped, the horse reared and sent him soaring through the air.  He twisted in mid-air, trying to land on his feet, but instead landed flat on his back a few feet from the alligator.It was all Ilmirranor could do to keep control of the horse carrying Ricket and him.  While he fought to calm the mare, Ricket slid off the horse and started to load his blunderbuss.  So intent was he at loading the firearm that he didn't see the alligator shoot forward with amazing speed and lock his jaw's around the unfortunate goblin's thigh.  But he felt it.His blunderbuss forgotten, Ricket screamed and beat in vain on the head of the gator, which now had his leg trapped in its mouth.  His screams and the sudden movement of the gator was more than Redwolf's horse could take and it spun and bolted into the swamp.  "Can you handle this?" shouted the elf, still struggling to keep his horse under control.  The elf's raven was squaking as it flapped near the them. "Horse gone.  Horse gone."Redwolf grunted and nodded affirmatively. He didn't bother wasting energy in speech, getting to his feet and drawing his weapon.  Ilmirranor spurred his horse after Redwolf's fleeing mount, trying to catch up with the panicked creature.He stalked toward the alligator, which was trying to pull the struggling goblin into the water.  His falchion slices down and across the back of the alligator, leaving a nasty gash across its torso.  Hmm, he thought, the alligator's hide was tougher than he thought.  He maneuvered closer to the alligator to get a better angle of attack.Ricket in the meantime was struggling furiously against the alligator's iron grip.  He was beginning to panic as the gator's movement's ground its teeth mercilessly into his poor leg, threatening to rip it off.  In a desperate attempt to get free, he grabbed his fallen mace and began pummeling the alligator's head.In the meantime, the orc ranger moved to a better attack point and was about to jab his falchion into the alligator's spine.  But a lightning fast strike from the alligator's powerful tail suddenly smacked into his leg, turning his otherwise lethal strike into a glancing blow.  Even so, he saw a long line of crimson appear across the alligator's back and the creature suddenly dropped the goblin and backed into the water.  Wary of chasing the alligator into the water, knowing there could be others hiding just beneath the surface, Redwolf dropped his falchion and grabbed his bow.  He notched an arrow and sent it streaking towards the gator as it swam away.  Unfortunately, in his haste, his aim wasn't the best and the arrow struck the water just to the right of the beast.  He was about to notch another arrow when he heard the Ricket whimpering behind him.  He set his bow down and turned to the small goblin trying furiously to bandage his wounded leg.Redwolf looked at the gapping wound and knew the goblin would lose the leg without magical healing.  He reached back into his pack and pulled out a thick claw bottle.  It was a special magical healing draught he had bought off a shaman in his tribe.  He had seen similar potions heal grievous injuries and hoped it would be enough to save the Ricket's leg."Here," he grunted, holding out the potion bottle. "Drink this, you will feel better."The goblin paused in his bandaging and looked up at the big orc.  He took the bottle and uncorked it, sniffing the contents.  He made a face and started to hand it back.Redwolf glared at the little goblin, pulling himself up to his full height and crossing his arms. "Drink," he repeated.Cowed, the goblin took a quick drink.  The thick liquid almost made him gag, but he forced it down, feeling a burning in his throat that became red hot.  Instead of moving away, the burning seemed to move down his torso, settling on his injured leg.  His eyes widened as he watched the muscles knitting in front of his eyes.  Quickly gulping down the rest of the potion, Ricket watched enraptured as the muscle and flesh quickly grew back, leaving only a large black and blue mark and a slight scar.“Thanks”, squeaked the small goblin, pulling himself up.  No sooner had he got to his feet than his newly healed leg collapsed under him.  Even though his leg was healed, it was still weak and sent jolts of pain through his whole body when he put any weight on it.  “Can’t use it yet.  Still weak.”Redwolf nodded. “It will be weak for a day for so.  The magic wasn’t that powerful.  Still, better than loosing the leg.”A thoughtful looked passed over Ricket as he imagined a steam powered mechanical leg replacing his leg if he had lost it.  He began thinking of the logistics of bonding flesh with machine and temporarily forgot about the pain.Meanwhile, the orc ranger looked around for his elven companion.  It had been several minutes since Ilmirranor had left in search of his horse.  With the thick swamp mist, it made it impossible to see beyond 60 or 70 yards and he no longer heard the splashing of the elf’s horse.Another 5 minutes passed before a dirtied, downcast Ilmirranor came into view, his familiar perched on his shoulder.  “Sorry,” he said, “there’s no sign of him.”"No sign," squaked the raven. "Horse gone."Redwolf took the news stoically.  He really hadn’t expected to see the horse again.  The swamp was hard enough to navigate for a trained ranger.  The horse wouldn’t have much chance on its own.  It may already be trapped in a bog or become a snack for other hungry swamp dezions.  He looked down at the goblin, who had whipped out a notebook and was furiously sketching something and scribbling notes.  His eyes flicked up to the elf and down to the small goblin, then back to the elf. “The swamp is no place for horses.  We should head back to down and stable yours before we lose it too.”  His eyes flicked back down to the goblin and he gave the elf a meaningful look.Ilmirranor got the message: the goblin was too weak to continue without resting, but would no doubt argue if they suggested they go back to let him rest. “Good idea, I don’t feel like loosing my horse.”  He glanced down to Ricket.  “You going to ride with me?”“Umm...Yup,” he didn’t hesitate.  He quickly put away his notebook and tried to get up.  Before he could fall again, Redwolf moved forward swiftly and picked him up, setting his small frame up on the horse behind Ilmirranor.“Let’s get going,” he growled.  Without another word, the three companions started back towards the town of Bluefen, their mission put on hold until the small goblin could heal.</blockquote>

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