The biting pain of the axe, swiftly followed by the warm glow of the dwarven healing magic was becoming all too familiar to Karst who comes back to consciousness with a start and surges to his feet knowing that there may not be another chance. "Die traitor!" as he thrusts with all his considerable strength straight at the general's armoured chest, trusting in his arm against the steel of his enemy. 

Attack with longsword 25 for 13 slashing damage. 

Gorcrom yells in pain as Aradurk brings his sword across his body. Stumbling, he parries the second strike, looking on in horror as Aradurk quickly turns his sword back in and lunges, but the half-orc cannot find a gap in his armor. Meepo throws another dart wide of its mark, and Murmen leans down to Karst while his spiritual weapon continues to harass the orc general, who meets the hammer with his axe, then turns to strike the dwarf, shocked to see Karst now standing there instead. The quick moment of hesitation is all the paladin needs, thrusting his sword with all of his strength into Gorcrom's chest and out his back.

Still impaled on the sword, the orc's shock turns to a macabre mirth and he chuckles, coughing blood into Karst's face. "You have lost...Rowan is there by now...war will...rage..."

The proud orc general breathes for the last time, then falls off of the sword, collapsing dead onto the forest floor.

OOC: Each character receives 525 XP for victory over Gorcrom and the orc rearguard.

"Damn.  Damn!"

Murmen sighs in frustration.

"We need ta' move fast, which is a shame.  I dinnae have much magic left in meh.  I ken throw together a bit o' a heal on the road, though."

Once the party sets out once more, Murmen will cast prayer of healing on the entire party (if he can cast it while riding).  Healing everyone for: 14

(You have got to be kidding me . . .)

I quickly retrieve my thrown weapons from the dead orcs and do a cursory review of the materials in possession of the orcs and the General. I hand the Orc axes over to Karst to put into the bag of holding then climb aboard my steed. I look like warm crap in a cold fridge.

Taking the great axes from Aradurk I bend down over my vanquished foe "Hoar finds all betrayers and the punishment is never less than deserved, may your gods find you wanting and banish you from their halls." His hand moves to the great axe at the centre of this plot "There is a good man who could have used you better I feel, I only hope I can return it to him in time." Karst then places Roccar's great axe in the bag and rises up, placing his hand over his chest he pauses for a moment in silent prayer using the limited healing powers granted to aasimar then cleans his blade sheathing it and looking over tyne others.

OOC used Healing Hands for 4 points of healing (I haven't added them myself DM) 

"Haa... Haa... Let's us hope Ser Mary Glendale made it in time..."

Still battered from the fight, Meepo tries to scurry next to the fallen orc general in hopes of finding something useful before he proceed to pick up the two darts he had thrown.

"If we are ready we need to move fast, we don't know what Rowan has planned but we need to try and find the others and stop him before all hell breaks loose. Hopefully, he has a higher opinion of Gorcrom than he should've and won't be expecting us at least not so soon." Karst prepares to move out as quickly as possible. 

OOC: Roccar's Greataxe has been added to Karst's inventory.

After a quick look over Gorcrom's body, Meepo finds 5 pearls and a potion of greater invisibility in his possession.

OOC: Assuming the party is splitting the gems, that leaves a pearl and the potion of greater invisibility up for grabs.

As you mount up and prepare to ride off, a high pitched shrill interrupts you. "You are searching for Rowan, yes? The Watchblade?" The voice asks, dripping with hatred at the name. An imp reveals itself in the trees, explaining, "I am Pipyap - and I know where Rowan is." It scans over the group, sneering until his eyes go wide staring at Karst. "You...so much raw power within you. I will bring you to Rowan...if you will take me as your fiendish patron. I can unlock your true potential!"

Guiding his mount closer to the imp Karst's blazing white eyes narrow as he scrutinises the newcomer. "We seek Rowan, he must be brought to the light of justice, but you must be the greatest of fools if you think you have something I want, dark one. The power you feel within me is divine, and lightness itself, a celestial has given me the opportunity for greatness and the teachings of Hoar the skills to use the power correctly. You have nothing I want, tell your secrets if you will, but I will give you nothing in return." The defiance in Karst is unmistakable, badly wounded still from battle, armour torn and bloodied he nonetheless projects an aura of radiance. 

Aradurk will take the pearl and invisibility potion if one else wants it. 

“So little fella - what is your beef with Rowan?”, I say to the imp. “From the look on your face, seems like he pissed in your ale.”

"Meepo thinks the 'fiendish' part of your deal does not sound very convincing to us Pipyap.

But who knows, maybe in the future we have something that needs your help. For now, Meepo will keep your offer at the back of his head."

Meepo tries to salvage from his head any known information he has regarding imps.

OOC: The pearls and potion have been added to inventories.

For Meepo:

The imp spins wildly as it addresses each of the comments. To Aradurk, it says, "I want Rowan dead!" To Meepo, "I offer you nothing. The aasimar is the only one here worthy of my patronage." Finally turning back to Karst, it says, "Then good luck finding Rowan with your holiness and feelings!" 

With a cackle, the imp disappears again. The sound of leathery wings flapping indicates its departure.

"It seems Rowan lacks for friends in many corners, let us ease his suffering by ending him as quickly as possible. As for the imp, we have lost nothing we had a few moments ago so we should look for tracks and try and find the group as quickly as possible." The paladin starts to check the area for signs of the group they intend to track and Roccar and the others.

Survival 17 

Murmen will give Karst divine guidance to help him.

Guidance bonus 2

"Thank you Murmen, I feel the power you God grants". 

The recently disturbed land from the furious ride of Glendale, Roccar and Fumbles is easy to follow. Before long, you reach the outskirts of the town of Winter's Edge.

The horses of Glendale, Roccar and Fumbles reveal their location, bunkered down beneath a small hill. The relief on their faces is evident as you approach. Further down the trail, surrounded by forest on both sides, Shang is talking a woman in majestic robes. Surrounding them is a significant number of orcs and humans on either side, who are dutifully observing he discussion.

"Did you have trouble with the rearguard? You look like warm crap," Roccar smiles. It turns to a frown as he informs you, "We found Rowan in the trees for just a moment but he wears a cloak of Elvenkind...we haven't seen him since but he is somewhere in the forest watching the proceedings. We think he is hesitating to strike without the rearguard."

"We need to find him, and soon. Surely we don't have long before he strikes and sends this entire realm to war," Glendale says.

"If I had a good bit o' sleep, I could maybe try an' track some object the Warblade always carries, but I doubt we have that much time.  Other'n just lookin' for him, I ain't got any other ideas."

Murmen will give a cursory glance at his surroundings, at the off-chance that he might find something suspicious.

Perception: 18

Survival: 13

(Well, definitely didn't find anything.)

Reaching into the bag of holding Karst withdraws Roccar's great axe and presents it to the war chief. "This thing nearly killed Meepo and me, try and keep hold of it from now on" he says with an easy smile. "I took great pleasure in killing Gorcrom and retrieving it though, so it wasn't all bad."

Looking down the path his face grows grim as he looks over the scene. "We are all weakened and there is no time to rest, all we have to offer is a potion that can make one of us invisible and the knowledge that an imp is flying around trying to entice people into killing Rowan at the insignificant price of sealing a pact with him." Karst's sneer shows what he thinks of the offer.

"Who is the lady Shang is speaking with, would she be hostile to us?"

Murmen scans the trees, seeing absolutely nothing. Seeing his expression, Fumbles says, "He is in there, I promise you. Rowan isn't the Watchblade of Sundabar for nothing. We're going to need to do something to save this, but what?"

Roccar grins from ear to ear, gladly accepting his greataxe. "I thought I would never see it again. I am relieved to hear that Gorcrom is dead. The lady is Trelanna Armour. She is sealing the terms of the Pact with Shang. We don't know what Rowan is waiting for, but if he strikes her down, all our work will be for naught."

Glendale scowls, "The three of us can handle Rowan, frankly. We just need to get him out into the open, and make sure Trelanna and Shang are safe."

OOC: Roccar's greataxe has been removed from Karst's inventory, and Karst has gained Inspiration for returning the axe to its rightful owner.

"So, if we can flush him out of the forest then you can bring him down, we might be able to unsettle him enough to force his hand." Looking over the rest of the party Karst looks for sings of agreement "What do you think, I know we are beaten up but can we manage this one last dance?"