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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BlindKobold" data-source="post: 1598517" data-attributes="member: 1375">Chapter ThreeChapter ThreeThe trip back took the rest of the day, and by the time they reached Bluefen, the sun was no longer visible in the sky.  Luckily, between Ilmirranor's elven sight and the orc's darkvision, they managed to stay on track.  Now, the rough wooden palisades of Bluefen loomed over them, the gates shut, and no doubt barred, for the night.  While Ilmirranor tried knocking on the gates, Redwolf bellowed out a call for the guards.  The guard who answered recognized them and quickly opened them gate and let them in.  They entered the city and headed back to the Cracked Barrel to rent a room.  The innkeeper was a little surprised to see them back so soon, back then saw the goblin in his ragged, bloody pants and understood.  "Run into some trouble?""An alligator attacked us," replied Ilmirranor coolly, "we just need to rest for a day or so."The innkeeper nodded and handed over the key.  "Two gold, same as last time.  And I'll get you a cot."Ilmirranor handed the innkeeper the coins and took the key.  Redwolf picked up Ricket and carried him up the stairs to the room.  Last time, Ricket had slept on the cot, but Redwolf placed him in the bed instead deciding to take the cot for himself.By the time the ranger had slipped off his armor, the little goblin was fast asleep... and snoring loudly.  The other two soon followed their dreams strangely troubled.When Redwolf awoke the next morning, both his companions were gone.  He slipped on some clothes and headed down to the common room.  Sure enough, there was Ricket, finishing up what appeared to be his second plate of eggs and sausage. "Mmm...Gud mornjing," he muttered, chewing on a piece of sausage.  Redwolf nodded a greeting. "Leg better today?"The little goblin stood up and then bent his legs a few times to show that his leg was better, though the orc noticed that he favored his injured leg.  So better, but not completely healed, he thought.  He moved his gaze across the room.  In the corner, studying his spellbooks was Ilmirranor.  Redwolf knew better than to disturb a wizard while he was memorizing spells... especially elf wizards.  Although he liked the elf, he knew that the elf's addiction to the arcane ate at him everyday, just as it did all of his people.  It seemed to be especially bad since the destruction of the Sunwell.  Without the Sunwell's magical energies, he knew all high elves everywhere felt the magical absence.  Settling down in a chair across from Ricket, the ranger motioned to the innkeeper to bring him some breakfast."So, when we leave," squeaked the little goblin."As soon as I buy another horse," replied the orc."Umm... Ilmirranor sold his horse this morning," stated the goblin.  "He said he doesn't need it in the swamp and we should be able to book passage back to Rachet with the next ship."The news surprised Redwolf.  While the elf wasn't exactly frail, he knew Ilmirranor wasn't as accustomed to the wild like he was.  Neither was Ricket, who rarely left his workshop in Rachet.  But the orc did understand.  Who knew what dangers they'd face in the swamp?  And trying to control a horse in combat was a lot more difficult than just riding on the road - doubly so with a horse that hadn't been trained for war.  In the last fight, it had been all Ilmirranor could do, just to keep his horse from bolting like Redwolf's.The innkeeper slapped down a plate of eggs and sausage in front of him, breaking Redwolf out of thought.  He suddenly realized how hungry he was, especially for something other than trail rations or grill snake.  He wolfed down the food in record time and motioned the innkeeper for another plate.  Humans may have their issues, he smiled, but they make great food.A few hours later, they started off once more for the lighthouse.  This time, though, they were on foot and Redwolf was happy to see that Ricket seemed to be keeping up, even with a slight limp.They traveled until the sun begun to fall and then stopped for the evening.  While Ricket and Ilmirranor made camp, Redwolf went out hunting.  Unfortunately, the only thing he could find was a large turtle.  After killing and shelling it, he threw the carcass over his shoulder and headed back to the campsite.  While a little tough, the turtle wasn't bad after they had roasted it over their campfire.  After the meal, they went laid down on their bedrolls and tried to get some sleep while Ricket took first watch.  The swamp was slow going on foot.  Once, Ricket accidentally fell into a bog and another time, they stopped and stayed absolutely still after the thundering roar of some large creature echoed through the area.  After many minutes of not seeing or hearing anything, they continued on.  Then, in late afternoon, they spotted one of the lizardfolk.  It was about 50 yards away, dressed only in a loin cloth with some sort of tribal markings covering his arms and legs.  It carried a crude spear, held like a walking stick and simply stood there watching them.Redwolf remembered that mayor of Bluefen had mentioned lizardfolk raids and quickly grabbed his bow.  He notched an arrow and aimed for lizardman's chest.  Before he could fire, Ilmirranor put a restraining hand on his shoulder. "We should wait and find out if it's hostile."The orc looked down at the elf, incredulously.  "What?!"  When he looked back, the lizardman was gone.  Redwolf grumbled as he put away the arrow and slung his bow over his shoulder.  He looked back to the elf.  "Why didn't you want me to shoot it?""We don't know that it was hostile," replied the elf.  Ilmirranor looked around at the twisted threes and large patches of weeks and overgrown tall grass.  "And more importantly... we don't know how many might be hidden out there."Redwolf looked around.  The elf was right, he admitted.  The last thing he needed was to bring a whole tribe of lizardfolk down on them.  Shrugging, he turned and started back down the path. "Let's keep going then."The trio continued their northeastern trek through the swamp, once again stopping for dinner.  This time, their evening meal consisted of trail rations.  With the threat of lizardfolk dogging their trail, Redwolf decided against a short foraging trip so as not to split the party.  While they each took turn at watch, none of them got much sleep.  Every shadow seemed to hold a lizardfolk and every sound seem to be a lizardfolk moving nearer.But morning came uneventfully and they continued their journey.  According to the thing townspeople, they should come across the lighthouse sometime today.  In fact, it wasn't long before the swamp gave way to hilly dunes, beyond which they saw the beach.  They turned north along the beach and prayed they were still on course.A little after midday, they were rounding the top of a sand dune when they spied a lizardman standing on a dune about a hundred yards away.  Whether it was the same one they had seen earlier, they couldn't tell.  But as soon as Redwolf brought up his bow, it ducked down behind a dune and was gone from sight.  When they searched the area where it had been, they fight a mish mash of tracks.  The loose sand left no clue as to which might be the freshest set.  On their guard, the three companions continued to the lighthouse.  Within an hour, they had spotted the tall structure peaking over the dunes.  There was no light in the lighthouse tower.  The three quickened their pace and made there in half an hour.The lighthouse was probably about a year old.  Perched on the side of a two hundred foot cliff, its light would be visible to ships for miles.  If it were lit, of course.  The first thing they noticed when they reached the lighthouse was the door ajar.  Redwolf also found tracks, both human and lizardfolk all around the lighthouse. "Looks like they had company.""Hello!" screamed Ricket.  He had already loaded his blunderbuss and was brandishing it menacingly. "Anyone home?!"  The other two turned and looked down at the goblin, who was suddenly uncomfortable under their combined gazes."What?" shrugged the goblin."So much for stealth," muttered the elf.  He made a few arcane gestures and spoke ancient words of power.  Redwolf watched as red energy gather around the mage, forming a ghostly red suit of armor which lasted briefly before fading away.  Mage armor, thought the orc.  He'd seen Ilmirranor cast it before.  It created a mystical force armor the mage which granted him some protection if they got into a melee.  The orc turned to the door, drawing his falchion.  "Let's see if anyone is home."With Redwolf leading the way, the three adventurers entered the lighthouse.  Everything was quiet, but they stayed on their guard.  They moved from room to room on the first floor, searching for the lighthouse keeper and his family.  What they found instead were signs of looting."Hmm," mumbled Ricket, "it looks like someone took all the good stuff.""Let's go up," said the elf, quietly.  He had a bad feeling about this.The trio searched the rest of the lighthouse and found the family... dead.  Each of them had their throats slit, and each was buried under piles of clothes.  No one said a word as the ghastly deeds left them without words, but with a growing anger towards whoever had done this horrible deed.  The only person unaccounted for was the lighthouse keeper himself."Do you think it was the lighthouse keeper," asked Ricket in a subdued voice, as they climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse."Could be," said Redwolf.  He had wondered the same thing.  There was no sign of a break-in, and there didn't seem to have been a fight in the house.The air was cool and salty at the top of the lighthouse.  They walked around, looking for any clues."I don't think it was the lighthouse keeper," said the elf suddenly, as he looked over the railing toward the cliff below.Redwolf and Ricket looked over the railing and followed Ilmirranor's gaze.  Halfway down the cliff on a large outcropping of rocks, they saw the unmistakable shape of a human body."Maybe he jumped," said Redwolf."Me not think so," said Ricket, "see how far away from the edge he is?  He couldn't have jumped that far.  He was thrown.  Probably by something big.""A lizardman?" wondered Redwolf."No," the goblin shook his head. "Bigger."  Suddenly, the goblin climbed up on the rail and pointed. "Look at that!"The elf and orc went over to the rail and followed the goblin's pointing finger.  Out on a rocky stretch of reef, about 5 miles away was a second lighthouse, made of wood.  From its tower burned a bright light.  While it wouldn't fool anyone from this distance, ships going by the light would navigate directly into the dangerous reefs that dotted this side of the peninsula."But...but... if ships think THAT'S the lighthouse," said the goblin, "they'll run into the reefs!"Ilmirranor's face became hard. "I think that's the idea.""Let's go pay them a visit," suggested the orc.  "I suspect they have some evil to atone for."Silently, the three made their way down the steps of the lighthouse and started for the fake lighthouse.  They suspected that whoever was running the fake lighthouse was probably responsible for the death of the lighthouse keeper and his family.  As they rounded a dune, Redwolf suddenly called a halt.  He motioned for silence and pointed towards a shape coming up over a dune about fifty yards away.  It was a large jungle troll.  Before they could do anything, the troll suddenly sniffed the air and then looked directly at them.Jungle trolls had been part of the Horde in the last war, and had fought alongside orcs to repel the scourge.  Generally, jungle trolls were friendly to orcs and other members of the horde, so Redwolf waved, hoping to ask it some questions.  But to his surprise, the troll spun around and loped off into the distance, its long legs carrying it out of sight in a few seconds."That was strange," he muttered.The trio had continued along the trail for about 15 minutes when they suddenly crested a hill and found themselves once again confronted by the large jungle troll.  This time, he wasn't alone.  A large orc with a great axe stood along side of the troll.  Before Redwolf could call out a greeting to his brother orc, it let loose a primal scream and the two of them charged towards the ranger's party.No sooner had the orc and troll charged, when a rune covered elf stepped out from behind a dune and began making arcane gestures.  Two magical crimson darts burst from her finger flying unerringly towards their targets.  One hit Redwolf squarely in the chest and the other struck Ilmirranor's head.  Redwolf billowed his own challenge and started to rush the orc and troll when a crossbow bolt slammed into shoulder, burying itself deep in his thick muscle.So, thought Redwolf, as he reached up and grabbed the quarrel, they had been waiting for them.  The troll had warned the others and they had set up an ambush.  His teeth clenched, the ranger pulled the quarrel from his damaged shoulder.Tossing the bloody crossbow bolt to the ground, he looked for his companions.  The little goblin was working furiously at loading his blunderbuss, once again looking out of place in combat.Ilmirranor was pulling back his bowstring, taking careful aim at the elf caster.  "Blood elf," he spat.The ranger had heard of blood elves.  They were high elves who had become embittered at the lost of the Sunwell and the loss of their homeland to the Scourge.  They were now fanatics, who lived the path of revenge.  They took out their anger on the Alliance and Horde, which allowed their homeland to be destroyed, and especially the Scourge and Burning Legion - whom they despised above all else.  And with the destruction of the Sunwell, the major source of arcane magic in the world, the blood elves had begun looking for alternate source of magic.  They had begun siphoning off magic from ancient artifacts, captured demons... and even other captured casters.  They were shunned in most lands, if not outright attacked or imprisoned.Stepping forward, Redwolf kept himself between the rushing orc and troll and the other members of his party.  While they each had their individual skills, neither Ilmirranor nor Ricket had the martial training he had.  He tightened his grip on his falchion in his right hand and Hagag-Ogshaw in his left.  The Hagag-Ogshaw were thick but sharp metal claws that were strapped on his wrist.  It was like having three sharp, curved daggers at the end of his hand.  He looked on to his opponents, waiting for them to come into range.  He didn't have to wait long.  The troll was first, its larger loping gape bringing the large troll into range.  The troll swung a furious blow with its large club, but Redwolf ducked under it and sliced his scimitar across the troll's abdomen.  The troll bellowed in pain and tried to bring the huge club back around for another strike.  Before he could, Redwolf stepped forward, burying the sharp steel claws of the Hagag-Ogshaw into the troll’s side.  The troll staggered back, one hand clenching the deep wound.If the troll's orc partner cared about the troll's wounds, he didn't show it as he came racing up to the ranger, swinging his great axe in a deadly arc aimed at Redwolf's head. "Zegar-lug," growled the other orc, saying the orc word for traitor.  Redwolf was surprised at the venom in the other orc's words and wondered why he would refer to him as a traitor. Using the Hagag-Ogshaw to block the axe, the ranger sliced his falchion at his enemy's leg.  The other orc deftly side stepped the blow.  "Konadak-kuz!"Redwolf understood now.  The orc considered him a traitor for associating with the high elf, who had been their enemy in the last war.  The ranger dodged a blow from the axe, and stuck his falchion forward, forcing the other orc to back peddle.  No sooner had he retracted his blade when he was forced to throw it up to block a heavy blow from the troll.  The force of the blow reverberated through Redwolf's arm, but the strain of his last blow was apparently more than he could take and the troll collapsed backward - its bloodshot eyes rolling up into its head.BOOM! Ricket's blunderbuss thundered, but missed the troll who had just collapsed. "Drat!" he heard the goblin curse.Still trading blows with his adversary, Redwolf barely registered a crossbow bolt that whizzed nearby him.  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of a goblin ducking behind one of the dunes.  "Goblin in the dunes," he muttered, bringing up his falchion to block the axe."He's mine," grinned Ricket, pulling a grenade from his belt.  The little goblin primed the grenade and rushed the dune hiding the other goblin.Focusing his full attention back on the orc in front of him, Redwolf ducked a wild swing of his opponent's axe and came up quick, his falchion leading the way.  Unbalanced from his great swing, the other orc couldn't recover in time to block and the ranger's falchion sank deep into his belly.  The great axe falling from his lifeless fingers, the other orc dropped into a heap on the ground. "Eg Nad Nadul Tanoz Agna," Redwolf said over the dead orc.  It was an ancient orc blessing which translated into "Safe Journey into the Dark Night."  It was said over the bodies of orc warriors to beseech the gods into granted them a safe passage into the afterlife.  Although the orc had been his enemy here and now, they might be friends or allies in the battles during the afterlife.Whirling to find his companions, the orc ranger saw that Ricket tossing the grenade into where the other goblin was working to reload his crossbow.  Seeing the grenade plop down in front of him, the other goblin tossed his crossbow to the side and ran for cover.  BOOM!  The explosion thundered throughout the beach and sent a spray of sand across the area.  Ricket took off after the fleeing goblin, brandishing another grenade.The blood elf in the meantime, had moved closer and was about to cast a spell when an arrow from Ilmirranor's bow suddenly struck her in the shoulder.  The force spun her around and ruined the spell, which Redwolf guessed would probably have been nasty.  Her left arm hanging limp, the blood elf turned and ran.  The orc ranger hesitated but a moment, then tore after her in pursuit.  He guessed she was running in the same direction as the fleeing goblin and angled himself to intersect her.  Another of the elven wizard's arrows whizzed by, narrowing missing the fleeing blood elf.  Redwolf picked up the pace, raced up the dune and came down quickly to get just in front of the blood elf who was so surprised that she nearly ran into him.She danced back, drawing her scimitar with practiced eased.  "Die foul orc!" she screamed, rushing forward.Redwolf blocked her scimitar almost casually with his metal claws and punched the blood elf in the face with the pummel of his falchion. The blow struck her just below the jaw and sent her flying backwards, her scimitar falling next to her unconscious form.The ranger looked up just in time to see the two goblins disappear behind some dunes.  "Stay here and watch her, while I run after the goblins," he told the high elf, as he rounded the top of the nearby dune."I can see them from here," replied Ilmirranor, notching an error.  He took but a second to aim and then the arrow was off.  A second later, there was a pained yelp and then a cheer.  "Got him."Redwolf nodded and turned back towards the unconscious elf.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement.  "Behind you!"Exploding into a graceful whirlwind of motion, the high elf pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot it almost point blank into the troll who had snuck up behind him.  The troll gurgled as it dropped its club, his hands clutching its throat.  It collapsed into the sand and taking no more chances, Redwolf walked over and loped off its head with his falchion."I forgot that they have regenerative powers," said Ilmirranor shrugging.  He turned to the unconscious blood elf.  "We'd better tie her hands and gag her so she can't cast any spells."Redwolf nodded, pulling some rope from his pack. "She has a lot to answer for."Within a few minutes, the trio had pulled anything of value of their fallen enemies and sat around the bandaged but bound blood elf, thinking of questions to ask her when she retained consciousness.</blockquote>

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