Reinforcements 3
Edo jumps towards one of the hounds bringing his staff down upon it with all of
his strength. The hound takes some damage, it's ear hanging by a thread of skin,
as it turns it's flame full upon Edo. Edo drops down, trying to avoid the flame
but is unable and takes the burn on his left arm as he rolls to safety. His arm
on fire, he continues to roll putting the fire out, but the burn still pains him
deeply. Laban, hurries to his aid, and dispatches the hound with twirling
scimitars leaving 2 hounds still circling, closing in. One towards Edo who rises
from the gound with his injured arm, and one towards Alexander who is unconscious
under the slab of rock.
Standing his ground, Edo menaces the flame breathing cur with his staff,
smacking it aside the head.....
Laban backs towards the rock that pins Alexander down keeping his attention
on the hounds he tries to get himself between them and the rock and
Alexander.
Edo smacks towards another dog, but misses as the dog leaps with agility
out of
harms way and then advances again.
Edo continues his battle against the hellhounds, working his way towards
Alexander and Laban...
Laban continues to press the hellhounds and tries to get between them and
Alexander.
Continueing on, the 2 finally manage to subdue the hounds, as the last 2 standing flee the area.
"Laban, help me! Hurry, Alexander might still cling to life!" shouts Edo
as he struggles to lift the stone slab from atop the druid.
Laban is at Edo's side as soon as he speaks and places his good shoulder
against the rock, he heaves with all his might to lift the rock. "Come on
you Pytack move!"
Laban looks down at Alexander and breathes a sigh of relief. "I think
perhaps we should make camp here for the night." He looks around switching
to infravision to see if there is any heat traces that may indicate any
other beings. "Perhaps if you make a small fire and get him as comfortable
as possible?! I will scout the area around here and see what I can find!"
"Aye, that I will do.. but first our captured "friend" over there." says
Edo, pointing to the tied creature. "What should we do with it?"
Releasing Alexanders body from the boulder finally, and finding him breathing
easily thanks to the quick thinking of Edo, sends the 2 men to contemplating
their next act. At Laban's suggestion to begin a fire for warmth and to stave off
the blackness of midnight, Edo agrees but comments thoughtfully, reminding them
both of the bound, but yet alive bugbear not far away.
Laban looks at the creature and grins, "Well if I were normal amongst my
people we would either enslave it or kill it!! However I am not normal so
this I must leave up to you and will go with your decision!" He walks to
where the bugbear lies tied up and glares at it.
"Do you understand me, beast? Can youy speak a civilized tongue?" asks
Edo, looking at the trussed creature.
"We can leave it there for just now, whilst I see what I can find around
here. If you make a camp fire I will scout and be back soon." He smiles
and walks away.
Edo attempts to waken the creature, by various means. Slapping him
lightly has no effect, a bit harder still nothing, water dumped on his
face, his head just rolls back, and he coughs, but stays unconscious.
Making certain it is still very secure, Edo searches the sleeping creature.
Assuring yourselves that the beast is secure, you start to search the body.
It's wearing ratty old breeches and equally smelly and torn tunic. You find
no weapons or money, however it does have a small vial tucked into the
recesses of it's right boot. The vial contains a black colored liquid.
Laban returns, informing you the area looks safe, and that he finds no
signs of any other nasties in the area. Of course you both realize that
after the day you've had anything is possible. But you buck up and hope
the Gods will grant you a night of peace. After all, it's been a long
day.
You check on Alexander, and he is breathing fine now, his color
completely returned to normal. He is still unconscious, but as
comfortable as you can make him currently.
You get the fire lit, and cook the rabbit Laban returned with, enjoying
a tasty meal, and feeling full and satisfied, you discuss a night watch
so you can get some real sleep. The night is warm, with a slight
northerly breeze, the moon and stars fairly bright and the sky is clear.
The time is around 1:00am or so.
"Perhaps you could take first watch? You have slept some tonight and I
have not." asks Edo.
Laban agrees, and Begins his perimeter patrol, stepping out of the range of the
fire to use his superior night vision. Edo, has no problem finding a
comfortable spot to curl up and get some much needed sleep. Laban allows Edo to
sleep the entire night, and upon Edo waking up in the morning, he finds the
creature is awake, and Alexander seems to be awakening as well.
"Well, good morning. Can you speak a civilized tongue?" asks Edo of the
trussed beast.
The beast either doesnt understand you, or just flat out refuses to answer your
questions, as there is no response. Alexander awakes fully during your
questioning, and smiling during his complaint of a headache he sits up and looks
about. "I had the strangest dream my friends. Azimuth appeared to me and warned
me of the magical ether being tampered with. I must go immediately to the
temple, but I extend my thanks to you both and will forever call you friend
should you ever need my aid, I will be available to you." Alexander stands, a
bit wobbly, and prepares to head out.
"You are welcome and can call upon our aid as well should you need it."
says Edo, bowing to the druid. "Perhaps you would have council on what to do
with this beast?"
"Perhaps you can illicit it's promise to leave this area alone? I know no other
alternative to it's death I'm afraid." Alexander replies. As he speaks, the air
begins to shimmer around him slightly. "I really must go my friends. My God has
need of my service" He begins to move away after a friendly wave, much quicker
than you would of thought possible after his injuries. Edo feels a strong magical
arua radiating from him, before he waves a hand in the air, vanishing from sight.
Turning to Laban, Edo asks the elf's advice as well.
Laban reiterates that in his world, they'd kill it outright. But he is torn
because of the cold heartedness of the act.
Once again Edo addresses the beast. "I'll try once more. Do you
understand what I say? Will you promise to leave this area in peace? If
not, I will have no option but to slay you.... painlessly of course."
The beast grunts, and begins struggling against it's bonds.
"So you do understand. I figured so. Remember this mercy beast, for I
will not be so merciful the next time we cross." Edo cuts the rope holding the bugbear.
It lunges towards Edo, with fangs and claws bared, rending his tunic
sleeve...and his right forearm, open for 3 inches.
Laban runs forward scimitars ready, waiting for a clear shot, hesitating for
fear of stabbing Edo as well the creature.
"Ungrateful wretch!" says Edo as he leaps backwards a staggering 10 feet,
allowing Laban a clear shot.
Edo leaps backward, and Laban reacts immediately as though the 2 of you have been
fighting partners for years instead of days. With scimitars flashing, Laban takes
off the head of the bugbear with the first strike, and it falls to the ground
jerking and convulsing for a few moments before it succumbs to death.
"Almost like we rehearsed it, eh?" says Edo with gradification. "Thank
you, once again I am in your debt."
It's late, Alexander has vanished, and all you have left to do is whatever
you
intend to do before bed. Laban offers to take first watch again.
Edo tends to his wound, before gratefully lying down for some much needed rest.
Edo cleans and binds the gash on his arm, noting it's pretty deep and binding it
tightly because of it. Sleep comes quickly, and the night passes uneventfully.
Morning arrives and finds Laban and Edo both well, alive, and hungry. Re-Stoking
the fire, the men eat left overs, and pack up their makeshift camp before
deciding their next move.
Looking around, you see dead hellhounds, a beheaded bug bear, and the original
emcampment that drew your attention with the long dead dwarf in residence. Other
than that, it's open ground with a few bushes and rocks and not much cover
leading away from the mtn side.
Laban winces a little as the sun comes up and tries to pull his hood up over
his face to shade his eyes from the wicked
glare. "Perhaps we should move on!"
"Did you have a destination in mind?" edo asks.
"Let us stay away from the main cities just now my friend! I am unsure how
I would be accepted just yet!" Laban replies to Edo's suggestion they head towards Dragonmeyr.
You travel southwest for a few days finding nothing of real interest but
Edo feels the pull of his calling and Laban goes along for the ride. You
crest a small hill as the sky begins to darken, and in the distance you
note a small grove of trees. Thinking it would be an ideal spot to make
camp you approach slowly, tired from your long day of travel. As you near
the small copse of trees you can smell the clean running water and it sets
your mouths to salivating. You get a bit closer, and you can see 4
riderless horses tied to the trees and you hear voices within.
Laban slows down "We should be cautious after all we know not who it is or
what they are doing. They might not welcome company, especially from one of
my kind!" He drops his hands to rest on the hilts of his scimitars.
Laban pulls the hood from his face and smiles at Edo "You continue in my
friend as it is getting dark I will scout ahead and see what lies within the
trees. I will never be far and you need only call my name if you are in
trouble my hearing is quite good." With that he runs off and into the
deepening gloom of nightfall.
You both approach, with Laban staying hidden in the shadows. You find 2
women and 2 men talking about finding 'the group' and 'the party'.
"Hail the camp!" shouts Edo from the darkness, keeping to the shadows for
now as he judges their reaction.
The story continues...
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