"These are my people?"Elrik's stomach turns the moment he hears Abby say the words, and he wonders just who it is that Abby is addressing.
"She can't possibly mean that, Thane. She's a child...she's bewildered." says the dwarf. Elrik then follows Fargim closely, for he fears the Longhunts will not be far off, especially if Abby's absence is detected.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: Each character has received 50 XP for the social encounter.
DM Screen:
16/43
Fargim Perception:-1
It all quickly becomes a blur. As Fargim searches for Abby, he and Elrik suddenly see a mass of forms leap from the woods. Javelins darken your vision as they fly toward the campsite. Thane has nocked and arrow and drawn his bow for a shot, but doesn't have time.
Nearly two dozen javelins sail over Elrik and Fargim and land in the campsite. While a few narrowly miss Hox and Volthero by sheer chance, the orc target is clear. Two javelins strike Thane, punching through his armor, and he is grazed by another two. Wrenching the javelins free with a growl, Thane hobbles to his horse. "Damn it! Flee! They know damn it, we stand no chance! We must find Roccar!"
Volthero quickly gathers his gear and moves toward his horse trying to keep low to avoid becoming a silhouette. Once upon his horse he cast Create Bonfire 60ft away from the party trying to cause a distraction to allow their escape. (and a wildfire wouldn't hurt if it'll catch some Orcs.)
The ground and woods in these parts are dry enough that Volthero's bonfire slows the orcs just enough for you to be able to mount up and flee. The orcs give chase, but thanks to your horses and the distraction of the fire, you are able to outpace them. When you finally stop for the night, Thane nearly collapses from his wounds.
You find the following morning that the Longhunt camp has once again broken camp and moved quickly, and along with them, Roccar and his Reavers, who had no way of knowing that you had not kept pace with them.
After allowing Thane some extra time to heal his wounds, he and Fargim track the orcs North and you finally find the Reaver camp many tendays later. Thane rides a short distance ahead and is at the edge of the camp speaking with Roccar when you arrive."
"Hail, Thane,"Roccar says. He looks worried, and speaks with a sullen voice, "Found Old Poe near Dead Orc Pass. He had managed to pass as a trader for a time, but they must have somehow figured him out."
"Nine hells!" Thane shouts with balled fists, "Scar somehow knew who I was, it's the only explanation. He taunted me by displaying Abby like a trophy. Do you know where the orcs have gone?"
"That's why we're here. We think Old Poe knows, but can't understand him. Maybe you'll have better luck,"Roccar contemplates.
Thane reacts with surprise, "They let him live?"
Roccar's eyes find the road below him. "I wouldn't call it living, Thane..."
Inside the camp, Old Poe is lying in a tent. He has no hands, and no face. "Perhaps the orcs believed he was a shaman. They are superstitious, and he is an odd one. Rather than risk him coming back as a ghost or hexing them, they crippled him and left him to die by the elements. If it weren't for a half-orc soldier and his band of fighters he would be dead by now."
Old Poe wheezes and mutters "13 Fangs,"then whispers something unintelligible.
"He keeps repeating that. 13 Fangs...we don't know what that means,"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Elrik looks upon Old Poe and does all he can to remain stoic. The dwarf's effort to remain calm is only partially successful. "Ruhks narâg! Ruhks zathûr uznak!" swears Elrik aloud as he grimly envisions his role in making Scar suffer for his evil.
"For pity's sake, someone must put the old bard out of his misery. This is a horror." Elrik then looks into the faces of all those who are nearby, wondering if anyone else feels the same.
Returning his gaze to what is left of Old Poe, Elrik searches his mind for any memory or lore of a place named 13 Fangs...
Fargim falls to his knees seeing Old Poe like this. He mouths "what did they do to you...." with such intensity that it carries to Old Poe magically (cast Message to which Old Poe can reply).
"Thane, I think Old Poe is referring to the pyramids that lie to the north--the red pyramids of Ascore," suggests Elrik. The dwarf then attempts to track the communication taking place between Fargim and the bard.
Hox pats Old Poe's leg, "Strange elder...you do good." Hox then looks about for the half orc and his band, curious on whether it was by chance or planned that they found Old Poe in this condition.
Roccar lights up at Elrik's suggestion. "Ascore? Of course, the orcs may call the ruins of the pyramids 'fangs' for their appearance. This may be our best chance yet, then. We can use the dunes for cover and hit them hard. Are you with us? No more chasing! We end this now."
"Well said, both of you,"Roccar says. "We move immediately. We will not afford the orcs another chance to slip by us."
Three Reavers stay behind with Old Poe, leaving Roccar his remaining force of twenty two. Rushing to the sandy ruins, you see the unmistakable massive orc camp in the distance, wedged between the remains Ascore's thirteen windswept pyramids. Thane returns from a quick scouting run and lowers his hood. Roccar stares grimly at him, standing next to a half buried ruined obelisk and asks, "What are your thoughts?"
"There is no mistake. They are arming for war. It explains their sudden tactics and migration. I do not know their target, but I don't care to find out. The wind is picking up...if we time it right, we can use the blowing sand for cover. Between these four and your Reavers I say we hit them hard and fast, find Scar, cut off the head as Volthero likes to say, and scatter the Longhunt clan for good," Thane says.
Roccar's eyes narrow as he contemplates. "Thane, it sounds like saving your blood-kin isn't your task at hand,"he responds.
Thane spits, "I have no blood-kin. Hit them hard."
OOC: This is the final "social encounter" mechanic of the adventure. How does each character respond to Thane's stance, in either first or third person?
"These are my people?" Elrik's stomach turns the moment he hears Abby say the words, and he wonders just who it is that Abby is addressing.
"She can't possibly mean that, Thane. She's a child...she's bewildered." says the dwarf. Elrik then follows Fargim closely, for he fears the Longhunts will not be far off, especially if Abby's absence is detected.
Hox draws his daggers, "No, no talk back! You tell green ones of camp!" He takes cover under a few bushes, wanting to remain hidden.
Stealth: 25
OOC: Each character has received 50 XP for the social encounter.
DM Screen:
16/43
Fargim Perception: -1
It all quickly becomes a blur. As Fargim searches for Abby, he and Elrik suddenly see a mass of forms leap from the woods. Javelins darken your vision as they fly toward the campsite. Thane has nocked and arrow and drawn his bow for a shot, but doesn't have time.
Enemy Attack Rolls:
Javelin Attack: 12
Javelin Attack: 14
Javelin Attack: 8
Javelin Attack: 8
Javelin Attack: 7
Javelin Attack: 7
Javelin Attack: 14
Javelin Attack: 10
Javelin Attack: 11
Javelin Attack: 11
Javelin Attack: 7
Javelin Attack: 8
Javelin Attack: 13
Javelin Attack: 11
Javelin Attack: 13
Javelin Attack: 8
Javelin Attack: 15
Javelin Attack: 12
Javelin Attack: 8
Javelin Attack: 7
Damage: 6
Damage: 5
Damage: 9
Damage: 5
Nearly two dozen javelins sail over Elrik and Fargim and land in the campsite. While a few narrowly miss Hox and Volthero by sheer chance, the orc target is clear. Two javelins strike Thane, punching through his armor, and he is grazed by another two. Wrenching the javelins free with a growl, Thane hobbles to his horse. "Damn it! Flee! They know damn it, we stand no chance! We must find Roccar!"
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"Fargim, run!" yells Elrik.
Fleeing for his life, he then dashes toward his horse, hops in the saddle, and urges the beast into a full gallop.
Volthero quickly gathers his gear and moves toward his horse trying to keep low to avoid becoming a silhouette. Once upon his horse he cast Create Bonfire 60ft away from the party trying to cause a distraction to allow their escape. (and a wildfire wouldn't hurt if it'll catch some Orcs.)
Fargim, not really understangin what's going on, follows Elrik however quickly he can.
Hox scampers off to the horses as well.
The ground and woods in these parts are dry enough that Volthero's bonfire slows the orcs just enough for you to be able to mount up and flee. The orcs give chase, but thanks to your horses and the distraction of the fire, you are able to outpace them. When you finally stop for the night, Thane nearly collapses from his wounds.
You find the following morning that the Longhunt camp has once again broken camp and moved quickly, and along with them, Roccar and his Reavers, who had no way of knowing that you had not kept pace with them.
After allowing Thane some extra time to heal his wounds, he and Fargim track the orcs North and you finally find the Reaver camp many tendays later. Thane rides a short distance ahead and is at the edge of the camp speaking with Roccar when you arrive."
"Hail, Thane," Roccar says. He looks worried, and speaks with a sullen voice, "Found Old Poe near Dead Orc Pass. He had managed to pass as a trader for a time, but they must have somehow figured him out."
"Nine hells!" Thane shouts with balled fists, "Scar somehow knew who I was, it's the only explanation. He taunted me by displaying Abby like a trophy. Do you know where the orcs have gone?"
"That's why we're here. We think Old Poe knows, but can't understand him. Maybe you'll have better luck," Roccar contemplates.
Thane reacts with surprise, "They let him live?"
Roccar's eyes find the road below him. "I wouldn't call it living, Thane..."
Inside the camp, Old Poe is lying in a tent. He has no hands, and no face. "Perhaps the orcs believed he was a shaman. They are superstitious, and he is an odd one. Rather than risk him coming back as a ghost or hexing them, they crippled him and left him to die by the elements. If it weren't for a half-orc soldier and his band of fighters he would be dead by now."
Old Poe wheezes and mutters "13 Fangs," then whispers something unintelligible.
"He keeps repeating that. 13 Fangs...we don't know what that means,"
Thane turns to you, scratching his head.
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Elrik looks upon Old Poe and does all he can to remain stoic. The dwarf's effort to remain calm is only partially successful. "Ruhks narâg! Ruhks zathûr uznak!" swears Elrik aloud as he grimly envisions his role in making Scar suffer for his evil.
"For pity's sake, someone must put the old bard out of his misery. This is a horror." Elrik then looks into the faces of all those who are nearby, wondering if anyone else feels the same.
Returning his gaze to what is left of Old Poe, Elrik searches his mind for any memory or lore of a place named 13 Fangs...
Nature: 16
Fargim falls to his knees seeing Old Poe like this. He mouths "what did they do to you...." with such intensity that it carries to Old Poe magically (cast Message to which Old Poe can reply).
"There is no glory in leaving a foe like this once defeated. His life is his, if he wishes to end this I will oblige him.
I do not know of 13 Fangs. Could it be a person rather than a place?"
Elrik recalls from his travels that to the North, where the orcs are moving, lie the 13 red pyramids of Ascore.
Old Poe carries his response magically to Fargim's mind.
For Fargim:
Even with a mental connection, you can hear Old Poe's pain through the weight of his words.
"They said they are going...to 13 Fangs...please, Fargim...don't let Thane kill her."
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Fargim asks one more question, "What about you? What do you with we do with you?" (same, casting Message)
"Thane, I think Old Poe is referring to the pyramids that lie to the north--the red pyramids of Ascore," suggests Elrik. The dwarf then attempts to track the communication taking place between Fargim and the bard.
Hox pats Old Poe's leg, "Strange elder...you do good." Hox then looks about for the half orc and his band, curious on whether it was by chance or planned that they found Old Poe in this condition.
Roccar lights up at Elrik's suggestion. "Ascore? Of course, the orcs may call the ruins of the pyramids 'fangs' for their appearance. This may be our best chance yet, then. We can use the dunes for cover and hit them hard. Are you with us? No more chasing! We end this now."
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"Aye," says Elrik, "this dwarf is with you."
Elrik, looking again upon Old Poe, repeats himself. "This dwarf is with you. For the vengeance of many."
"Lets strike off the head and then deal with the corpse. How soon can we begin moving?"
"Well said, both of you," Roccar says. "We move immediately. We will not afford the orcs another chance to slip by us."
Three Reavers stay behind with Old Poe, leaving Roccar his remaining force of twenty two. Rushing to the sandy ruins, you see the unmistakable massive orc camp in the distance, wedged between the remains Ascore's thirteen windswept pyramids. Thane returns from a quick scouting run and lowers his hood. Roccar stares grimly at him, standing next to a half buried ruined obelisk and asks, "What are your thoughts?"
"There is no mistake. They are arming for war. It explains their sudden tactics and migration. I do not know their target, but I don't care to find out. The wind is picking up...if we time it right, we can use the blowing sand for cover. Between these four and your Reavers I say we hit them hard and fast, find Scar, cut off the head as Volthero likes to say, and scatter the Longhunt clan for good," Thane says.
Roccar's eyes narrow as he contemplates. "Thane, it sounds like saving your blood-kin isn't your task at hand," he responds.
Thane spits, "I have no blood-kin. Hit them hard."
OOC: This is the final "social encounter" mechanic of the adventure. How does each character respond to Thane's stance, in either first or third person?
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Elrik clings to his hope that Abby might yet be saved, but he chooses not to make any mention of her.
"And so it shall be. With the wind and sand comes Scar's reckoning."