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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 7, 2006 15:03:47 GMT -5
Arik knew the basics of the proposition had been discussed privately between the dwarves before he had asked it. Arik had asked Gorom to inquire with Thorgar privately as a matter of respect between their kin before it was proposed in front of the Wolves.
Had Thorgar not agreed in the private meeting, Arik would not have asked in front of the rest; it would have been disrespectful. When he saw Gorom emerge from their meeting with a smile on his face, he knew he could proceed with the invitation. Such were the best ways with dwarves and Arik knew how to be considerate of their manners. He had never called Thorgar by his low name in front of anyone other than either man's kin.
"So my brothers. We have before us an opportunity. Lord Ironstar has made it known that he will aid us. Gratefully, we know that Shernof will also aid and guide us. Most importantly, Moradin and the Red Knight will aid us in this endeavor. We are Wolves who will soon be among the sheep..." A smile came over his face with that last sentence.
"Let us pray!" Arik kneels placing his sword balanced upon his right shoulder, postured as if being knighted, "Gentle Lady, we come before you ready to do thy will. We who labor to defend the weak ask that we be granted safety in travel, success in our hunt, and valor in battle. We ask that the fruits of Chauntea would be granted to our kin and that their labors would be made light. Let us reflect thy better virtue this day and let us stay Brothers until we find ourselves in the clearing at the end."
"Brothers. I would ask that Lord Ironstar also importune Moradin's blessing for his kin. Let us be reverent. Once he is finished, we will ride with justice in our hands."
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Post by DM Cyphus on Mar 7, 2006 15:56:15 GMT -5
When the prayers were finished and the men ready, they all gathered together outside the city along the road to Sundrah and Antezra. The Ranger Shernof was only slightly later than intended, and was quick with an apology upon arriving.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Jonathan had something that needed my attention," quietly and to Arik only, "When the Wolves return with our friends at Featherale, there may yet be more work for everyone...if you can spare the time. I cannot speak on it any futher until I am certain, and it will take time, I assure you. When I can, I will explain more."
With that, Shernof moved onward and greeted the newest arrival amongst the Wolves and introduced himself. Then, turning back to Arik, "We shall ride on to the Featherale Ruins. We will arrive there in six hours if we make haste. It will be nightfall then, but I am praying we do not encounter our foe. Instead I am hoping to find friends who have either already dealt with our foe, or require our assistance to do so. I trust the Wolves will be capable either way."
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 7, 2006 18:24:49 GMT -5
Arik laughed, "Brothers, if ever I am in peril, I ask that you bring this man that I would be rescued with haste."
They rode for a few hours engaged in conversation. The dwarves and food stuffs were in two carts pulled by a pair of mules each, but the riders were sure to sidle alongside to chat with the smaller folk. It was a good time traveling. Shernoff was leading the small group when Arik rode alongside, "Shernof, could you perhaps give me an idea of the terrain surrounding this place? Are we going to find an abandoned sprawl or a fortified keep? Cover, approach, and background would be appreciated."
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Post by DM Cyphus on Mar 8, 2006 16:18:55 GMT -5
"I forget how little time you spent in True Lantan," Shernof laughed a bit, "and I suppose I also often forget how that time in True Lantan was spent chasing down villainous scum in the wilderness. An oddity really that you aren't more of a woodsman,
"The Featherale Ruins are an abandoned keep. No one's quite sure how it got that way. Story goes that the Dwarf who manned it disappeared, along with all of him men, in an attack on the keep by a large band of men and Orcs. We know the attack happened, but not who won. The battle damage, and now time, have widdled the stone walls away mostly. The walls surrounding the keep were brought down in some areas and still stand in others. The easiest approach is right from the front down the pat that leads to the keep. To come at it from any other angle, especially for an attack, means navigating through rubble and debris that neither the Elves nor Lantanites have been willing to clear away. You can mostly see through the holes in the wall. Two stories high, and only a few rooms have interior walls. Other than that, we should be able to judge decently how many await us inside before we approach it or we're seen,
"The keep is large, but it can also feel constricted. Depending on their number, we may prefer to fight them outside...though our preference may not matter. Inside, you're shield wall should be effective if you can find the room. If they outnumber us, they will swarm and try to surround us. If they're few, they'll try to draw us in to tighter areas and use bows and crossbows until we do. If they've barricaded themselves in..." The Ranger paused a moment and contemplated this for a moment. None of what he'd suggested was unexpected, or even anything Arik hadn't thought of...but this was the troublesome question.
"If they've barricaded themselves in it will be much more difficult. The walls are littered with holes, but none large enough to crawl through...only large enough to shoot through. We could try to break down the door, but we'll be the ones disadvantaged there. If they're larger than we are in number...by a substantial amount," he paused yet again before speaking the truth, "then we most likely do not have the forces here amongst us to take them. We could only hope to wait them out...and even then, as most things are, we aren't guaranteed success. The situation will require some scouting and appraisal before we act. When we draw nearer, I will approach quietly. You would be best to set up a small base camp out of sight. If you have any amongst you that you trust to remain quiet and sharp, they may go with me...but they must be the best. We will not know until we arrive if there are sentries watching for us."
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 8, 2006 17:46:02 GMT -5
Arik thought about things quietly as they continued on towards the ruins. If there was only one approach, then they would use two men across the front and two others on each side to form at least a good solid wall with the tower shields. The three archers and Shernof could provide cover from nearby as they made their approach. Once Shernof noted that they were within an hour of the site, Arik organized the men into a tight column. The dwarves and carts would be in the middle, the archers would ride in the rear with Mikale and Arik on either side. Of course, Shernof would lead the way. They rode on, waiting to get to the spot where Shernof indicated would be the best camp site.
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 10, 2006 17:34:31 GMT -5
[sat bumping along in his saddle throwing back Coronas and looking for senoritas...arriba!]
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Post by DarkAffair on Mar 10, 2006 17:55:42 GMT -5
[ the dwarves would be drinking but we didn't want to get too sloppy. Haters!!]
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 10, 2006 18:00:00 GMT -5
[like I really have Coronas in Lantan...I want Coronas at your house in an hour tho =x]
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 14, 2006 16:26:14 GMT -5
[bump? pleeeeeease?]
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Post by DarkAffair on Mar 14, 2006 16:34:23 GMT -5
[Paladin Must KEEEL!!!]
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 14, 2006 16:40:41 GMT -5
[Im not a paladin...Im a badass Paragon of Humanity who happens to be both good and tough with rugged good looks and a castle full of filth to conquer...ok, Im a paladin]
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Post by DM Cyphus on Mar 14, 2006 17:07:46 GMT -5
"We stop here," Shernof spoke suddenly in the midst of traveling. It was well after dark, and ahead in the distance a shadowy structure could be seen. With Human eyes it was hard to tell whether or not it was merely a gathering of trees ahead on the road that had not been cleared away as it had on other parts or if it was in fact the Ruins they sought. "I will go ahead and scout. Arik, Lord Ironstar...set up a base camp here. All appears to be quiet at the keep, but I don't wish to risk anything. Light no fires...you will only give away our presence. Divide your men up into three groups, Arik," Shernof said as he dismounted and then looked back at his friend, "If we require all three to storm the ruins, then so be it. If not, I will want one group stationed north of the keep on the road to protect and alert us of any potential Goblin movements from the north. I would advise you to keep the other group here for the same reason. The last thing I want is to be trapped in there. I do not doubt our ability to fight our way out, but I also do not seek to put it to the test against a vastly larger foe, "You and I will take the third group in. I'd request the Lord Ironstar go with us as well. His eyes will be keener in the dark and perhaps if we have two of their chosen the gods will look favorably upon our venture." (((Let me know how you wanna divvy your boys up. )))
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Post by DarkAffair on Mar 14, 2006 17:47:07 GMT -5
"Aye. We'll have this camp together in short order Master Pretens." Kicking himself over the side of then wagon landing solidly on the cool earth. "Come on Boys! Lets get these wagons turned round and set them Back into the woods there."
Calling over his two younger kinsmen, "Now I know ye may be tempted to bury your spear in to the gullet of some of these gobbers. An I ain gonna tell you otherwise, but be sharp boys. We have folks to get out'n I don wanna be throwin a rope ore the wagon lip here to be savin yer Skin. "
Slapping the two across the backs. with at toothy grin, "Now Git to work! I'm sure this hunch will be orderin you about, in a spark. Git!!"
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Post by The Ascendant on Mar 14, 2006 18:16:26 GMT -5
Arik smiled cooly. He loved the moment before the storm. "Lord Ironstar, you and I will go with Shernof into the ruins to scout them out and see if we can locate the brave men who have gone before us."
Then swinging his attention to his men, "Alain, I want you to take up a position about 60 yards forward on the road north of this spot. Hide in a good spot and even if you see gobbers, do not make yourself known. I want you to simply shoot the side of our old cart with a colored arrow then stay put and wait for them to engage the larger group. If their numbers are more than a dozen, then I want you to fire twice. Do not risk yourself my friend, and feel free to make your way back to Lethtar for reinforcements should we need them...I hope we wont. If we do, it is your job to help Alis convince them to come."
"Mikale, you are left in charge here. Arrange the carts and mules as Lord Ironstar has shown you with the mules and horses facing south; ready to move. Erect shields and use cover, while Johnas and Matt are able to harass whatever might approach. Gorom and Hroth, if the gobbers come in force, I want yourselves and Mikale to take the carts and horses towards Lethtar with haste while the two archers cover you. Stay in the carts and near the horses. If you are overrun and forced to leave them, make your way to the ruins and hold there. The last part applies to you as well Alain. The ruins will be our last resort, not our primary. I hope that the gobbers will think us vulnerable and attack with a smaller force against the group here...that would let us and Alain come from the rear hopefully with the men who entered this place."
"Beyond that, I hope we wont have to face the gobbers at all in the woods and we find them fat and warm within. If we do, we will have a rat hunt..." He smiled wickedly, but feared that the dark ruins looked too quiet to be housing goblins. He didnt like seperating himself from his men and didnt like seperating them from each other at all, but Shernof was a wise man and Arik trusted him...He breathed in deeply. The air within was bound to be less pleasant. "Let us be about our business Shernof."
"May the Gentle Lady keep you safe. We will return my Brothers." Arik, shrugged on his pack and moved forward to the path into the ruins..."Can you track them friend?"
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Post by DM Cyphus on Mar 15, 2006 12:41:07 GMT -5
Shernof led Arik and Thorgar down the road a ways before responding. His silent response was almost discomforting. Then, carefully, he kneeled down and touched the ground. "I see three sets of larger footprints back there near the camp, along with one set of smaller footprints" Shernof pointed to the camp about 200 feet or so behind them, "and then I find three sets of smaller footprints here. The footprints near the camp would seem to be our men. But it is hard to tell. It wasn't recent, and I can't honestly guess how long it's been. At least before last night...the rain has made their tracks hard to follow. The smaller set back at the camp and one of the larger sets disappears. I don't know where, though. The two remaining larger steps stops a short ways back there." Then the woodsman went quiet and paused before hurriedly exclaiming, "There!" The ranger ran in the direction he pointed. Carefully, he led the three to a set of rotting Goblin bodies. Looking them over, Shernof smiled. "Well, it seems our men did encounter some Goblins on their journey. If I had to guess, the little Gnome and one of his stealthier companions broke off the trail when they spotted the Goblins. From there they made short work of them. This," he said as he pointed to an arrow sticking in one of the Goblin bodies, "belongs to Kesson, the Elf, I'd wager. At least we know they made it this far." Shernof led the men further down the road. He stayed along the side of the road to help them avoid being seen. As they drew nearer and nearer, it was easier to make out the keep. After a few moments, Shernof stopped the men and sat silently. They were probably 1000 feet away from the keep. Peering through the war-torn walls, Arik, and Thorgar a bit better, could see the ravaged walls of the keep. The ruins were close and Shernof began to speak quietly to them. "It may be best to let me approach for a moment and see what I might spy. Then I will retu-," Shernof stopped speaking immediately. It wasn't hard to understand why. The horrible screaming that came from within the keep had startled them all. It wasn't human, that was for sure...and it wasn't Goblin. The noise was something else... (((You are 1000 feet from the keep's entrance. Proceed as you wish. I think it's easy to tell where you are in relation to time with the other group, if you've been following our story at all. )))
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