SESSION 12
Morning came and with it a new day. Anson woke and put on his armor. He rousted everyone from their sleep. Some of them had to be kicked as their sleep was alcohol induced, namely the dwarf. He stepped outside and saw the aftermath of the battle from the previous day. Litter strewn everywhere, arrows in roof tops. Dead bodies still littered the streets in places.
He took the party to the mayors house. Once there, they met up with the mayor and the leader of the clerics, Father Ramic. Anson was none too pleased to see the cleric, but would not say anything. Cyrian stayed behind with the two cats of Gamaliel's. Denal came along and so did the dwarf and Agatsu. Cyrian's hawk rested on Gamaliel's shoulder.
The Mayor started the meeting. "Anson, The town needs your services again."
"Is is because of the fact that the clerics sealed us in with stone walls?" Anson remarked, hoping to get a response out of the cleric.
"We need a small party of no more than 6 to go to Argoth with news of this attack. The trip will be hard getting out of here, the rest relatively easy. Anson has done some good deeds for me in the past."
The Cleric piped up; "I agree. I have a 'feeling' about this man. He looks 'good' enough for the job." Anson shot a glance at the cleric, wondering what the guys purpose was here.
"What's the job pay?" Anson asked. "I won't do it for free. and I cannot speak for the others."
The mayor asked Anson; "What do you want?"
"I was what is owed me by the captain of the guard. I had a bounty to collect from him for an elf slave I brought back. I was only paid half."
"What is owed to you Anson?" The mayor asked.
"150 gold." Anson said.
"Alright. I can do that. Plus, I'll supply an additional 900 gold for the whole group to do what I need. I'll give you half now, the rest when you come back." The mayor said.
"We will also need to be supplied with provisions, Alchemical fires, Tanglefoots, reagents for spells. Horses. some of us don't have them and won't walk the 6 day ride.’
"You can get what you need in town. We can spare a couple horses." The mayor said.
"Why do the clerics not do this magically?" Anson asked.
"We would but it is not possible. Over that great of a distance, we would have to do the same thing, trek over land to get there." Father Ramic said.
Anson conferred with the rest of the group and said; "Ok, we will do it. We do however require a few slaves to help load us up. Denal shot a look at Anson.
"My slave won't be enough and I need him in top shape." Anson said to the mayor.
"I'll see what I can do. Any I can get will be at your horse within the hour." The mayor said. Here is a scroll that you have to give to the clerics. This is your pass to get into Argoth. Do not open it, it will invalidate the scroll."
The party proceeded to go to the Alchemist and get the equipment they needed there, including cleaning out her stock of healing potions. They gathered 28 healing potions for 75 gold a piece. They also picked up the Alchemist fires, Tanglefoot bags, and tinder twigs.
The party gathered up the horses, 3 slaves that stood waiting for them, and headed towards the Guards house/Jail. They moved the rubble aside and proceeded down into the caverns below the city. After reaching the first junction, they heard the sounds of the corridor caving in. Agatsu looked back and saw that they were effectively sealed in now. No going back.
Cautiously, they moved forward with the old map they made. They saw no signs of the orcs down here. As they moved along, they saw the rooms left as they left them. There was no trace of the orcs having been here since the battle. They eventually came to the intersection where the first outside entrance was. Denal heard noises from farther down the corridor, so he had the party make haste to get towards the rope bridge.
Once they set foot into the room that opened up into the underground stream, they saw that the bridge was no longer attached to this side. They did see the bridge floating on the water, still attached to the other side. Formulating a plan, they tied a rope to Agatsu and he dove in to get the bridge tied off. Agatsu swam against the current, knowing that the road he heard was from a waterfall father down the stream. He tied off the rope and then climbed on the bridge and maneuvered to the other side.
Once there, he yelled over to the others to bring the bridge over. They did so, and Cyrian sliced off sections of the rope and tied the bridge securely to the pieces that were left on his side. Apparently, something big had been on the bridge and it snapped. Cyrian climbed on the bridge and tested it for strength. Anson grabbed onto the ropes and pulled, shoved, shook them. Cyrian had to adjust his stance to keep from being tossed over.
"Yup, they're strong enough." Anson said.
They party went across the bridge one at a time, saving the horses for last. The slaves brought the horses across without incident. Climbing the rough slope to the surface, They emerged well behind the orc army. They could see about 500 yards away, the orcs arcing arrows into the town. Quickly they mounted their horses and moved out.
Once they got far enough away, they stopped and told the elf slaves that they were free. The elves looked at one another and were very perplexed. "You are free." Anson said. "You can leave. "
They understood that part and headed back towards town. "No.. No.. " Anson said to them.
Cyrian stepped up and said, "Anson, We have a place we can take them to."
They rode out heading to the Trading Post. Upon reaching there, they met with the owner, Celestra. she welcomed them into the Trading Post. No elves were to be seen in the place. Denal and Cyrian talked to Celestra and she came over to Anson. "Those are fine looking elves you have there. I'd like to take them off your hands and put them to work here."
Anson agreed and told the slaves that they now would work for Celestra. Celestra was in fact, the human contact that Denal and Cyrian had for the elven underground. She would see to the safety of the elves and getting them to where they needed to be. The group finished up there and headed out to continue their mission.
The first day was uneventful, they made camp that night along the road near the Pine Woods, the elven ancestral homeland. The party split into watches, Anson and Denal taking first, Agatsu and Druegarr taking second, and Cyrian and Gamaliel taking last. During Agatsu's watch, strange things began to happen. Noises started coming from the south. Druegarr readied his axe and squinted. Druegarr saw shapes in the distance, flittering. He thought to himself, 'I hope they are not flittering evilly.'
"Look, can you see them?" Druegarr asked.
"No." Agatsu said with much reluctance.
"Are ye blind? They're plain as the whiskers on my face!" Druegarr said.
"Oh.. THOSE shapes. I see them now..." Agatsu said with a smile on his face. "They look evil."
'I knew it! Grrrrr." Druegarr said as he started in their direction, "Damn flittering evil things.."
Agatsu stopped the dwarf and told him to hang on. "Let's wait and see if they get closer."
The sounds were not loud enough to wake the party, but enough to be a concern. Agatsu became more concerned when he heard the noises coming from the north as well. He walked over to Cyrian and woke him up. "Cyrian, wake up. Listen: OoOoh"
Cyrian sat up and listened to the sounds coming from the woods, not understanding why Agatsu felt it necessary to make his own version of the sounds. He stood up and unsheathed his sword. He started to walk towards the woods and stopped suddenly. "I just remembered, no one that has gone in there has ever come back the same. I'll just see if they do anything."
For the next two hours, the sounds continued. Shortly before Agatsu's watch ended, the sounds from the north got real loud, and the sounds from the south got real soft. He got up and went to wake Anson up when all of a sudden, the sounds stopped. He decided not to wake Anson and instead woke Gamaliel. "Your watch." He said to him.
Agatsu and the dwarf dropped off into slumber. Cyrian filled Gamaliel in on what had happened. The rest of the night was un-eventful. Anson and the rest woke with the morning sun. Anson was upset that he was allowed to sleep through the whole thing. That was very unwise.
They broke camp and continued on their journey. They started getting into the part where the Flame Woods was to the south and the mountains were to the north. This was called Flame Wood Pass. About midday, they broke for lunch. As they sat around talking, Gamaliel saw something inside the border of the Flame Woods. Black roses grew in a large clump about 50 yards inside the woods.
He proceeded to walk up to them, only to hit an invisible force. Perplexed, he tried again. Some unknown force stopped his entry into the woods. "Guys, look at this." He said. He pointed out the flowers in the woods and told them of how he could not get in. Denal tried to go in and hit the same wall. Druegarr tried. He also hit the invisible wall. Gamaliel tried to send his cats in and they also hit the wall. Agatsu and Arik had no luck as well.
Gamaliel picked up a rock and tossed it in. That went through the wall. Gamaliel pulled out his sword and tried. That too went through the wall, but as he slid it into the invisible wall, it stopped at his hand. Only the blade went through the wall. Anson tried as well. He pulled out his sword and thrust it through the wall. But this time, it did not stop. He whole hand went through the wall. "Woah" he said, surprised.
He looked shocked. He tried again, with his other hand. That hand as well slid through easily. He smiled. Just then, his hand started to burn. He screamed and yanked back, dropping his sword. He pulled off his gauntlet and looked at his left hand. A number 6 was burned into his left hand. It stung for a moment and then subsided.
Gamaliel saw this and inquired; "What? Ya gotta take a number??"
Anson looked at Gamaliel and shook his head. "Here, put this on, you try." He told Gamaliel as he gave him his gauntlet. Gamaliel put the gauntlet on and tried to put his hand through. No luck.
"It must be you." Agatsu said. Anson looked at the rest of the party. He saw the dwarf looking rather silly as he pushed and shoved on the invisible wall. Anson jumped inside with his whole body, gritting his teeth for another burn. None came. He looked up and smiled. He jumped out of the forest. He jumped back in. He jumped out.
Druegarr saw this and shoved Anson back inside. Anson quickly grabbed the dwarf and tried to pull him in. He yanked the dwarf almost off his feet as the dwarf came tumbling into the forest with Anson.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Druegarr cried out as he cowered on the ground waiting for a burn. Nothing happened. he got up and brushed himself off and walked out of the forest. He turned around and tried to run back in, but bounced off the invisible wall.
"You want these flowers Gamaliel?" Anson said as he held out his hand. Gamaliel took the offered hand and Anson pulled him in. They went over to the flowers and harvested them. Gamaliel took ten black roses. After securing them inside a bag, he stood up and could hear the familiar noises of a normal forest, chirping birds, chipmunks, etc.
The two left the forest. Anson thought it a good idea that they should explore the forest at some later date. Now it would be prudent to finish their quest. Arik told Anson that it was a good idea to come back later, and not to tell anyone of this occurrence. No one had ever gotten into the woods, so it would be prudent not to tell anyone of this. Anson's mind reeled with the idea that he could explore the woods, and then set up shop as a tour guide. He could make millions!
The party got on their horses and headed off down the trail. it was about 4 when they came upon the Mountain Fortress. A dark elf and two other guards stood at the gate. The party could also see archers along the walls.
"Hello there!" The dark elf cried out. "Come inside the fortress!"
Anson looked a bit perplexed, and he had never known a dark elf that was that happy.
"You've hit the half-way point between Argoth and Csighd. Stay and rest. Giant attacks are frequent and we will protect you." the dark elf told them.
The party entered the fortress and took the horses to the stable. They went to the only Inn in the place to get some rest and some good food. Each room per night was 9 gold each. Anson felt that reasonable. But when he ordered food, he was shocked to say the least.
"27 gold for Steam Fried Boar?" He commented to the waitress.
"Yes, it will be a feast for you. One you won't soon forget." She replied.
Anson sat at a table near the stairs. The only other occupants of the place were another group of adventurers. 2 half-orcs, 4 humans, and 3 elf slaves. Druegarr joined him and ordered the Baked Boar, for only 23 gold.
Anson sized up the other group who was definitely mis-treating the slaves. Anson wanted to go over and teach them a lesson, but thought it wise just to watch. The waitress came back with Anson's dinner and he was shocked to see such a big plate. He wondered what steam-fried boar was like, and did not wait long as he dug into it. Mouth watering and delicious. Best boar he had in ages.
Druegarr got his dinner and loved it as well. Though, not quite how a dwarf would make it, it was still good. Noticing the other party in the room, Druegarr ordered a round of drinks for them. The waitress brought out the drinks and gave it to them. The leader of the party stood up and came over to Anson and Druegarr.
"Well met sir." He said. "I am Jundar Greysoone."
Anson looked up at the guy and motioned for him to sit. "I am Anson, this is my friend Druegarr." Druegarr wiped his mouth and nodded. he then took another chuck off his boar and ate it.
"So, Are you heading to Argoth?" Anson asked.
'Yes, we are. We have a delivery to make." Jundar said.
"Oh? you talking about those slaves?" Anson asked.
"Yup. A bounty was placed on their heads and we've collected it." jundar replied.
"Bounty? How much? Is it profitable?" Anson asked.
"Yes, it pays the bills quite nicely. " Jundar said. At that time, Denal came down the stairs. He has cast the spell Change Self and turned his skin a flesh tone, instead of the grey he had, and rounded his ears. He sat down with Anson and Druegarr.
One of the slaves started to act up and was slapped down by one of the half-orcs. Druegarr wanted to get up, but was stopped. Instead he grabbed his mug and a big boar leg and walked over, knowing that a frontal confrontation, without weapons and armor would be bad.
"Hey there, Like the drinks I sent over?" He asked.
One of the half-orcs looked at the dwarf. "Lookit, a Dwarf. Not much to him. Yea, we like the drink." it said as it gulped down the whole thing. "Now run along and get us another."
Druegarr started to steam, but kept his composure. "I'm not an elf, have them get it."
"They don't leave our sight." he said as he yanked back on one of the chains.
"What good are they if you don't let them serve yas?" Druegarr asked
"They're good for that bounty on their heads. that's all" The half-orc said.
"Bounty? Must be pitiful for these scrawny things." Druegarr said.
"Naw, These fetched a big bounty. Someone wanted them back real bad." The Half-orc said.
The conversations continued on for the next few minutes. Denal was keeping track because his spell was going to wear off soon.... real soon.
