Grand Duchy of Adventure
Session 7March 13, 2014
Reclaiming the Horses
Loshdain 9th of Thaumont, 1001AC
Following the easy to see trail of the stolen horses, the group heads south into the Dymrak Forest. After a short time, they come across a grisly scene. A score of dead goblins and handful of dead horses lay about a clearing. As they approach, the group sees six giant beetles feasting on the carcasses of a few of the horses. Wanting to examing the scene a bit closer, it is decided to try to drive off the 100+ pound vermin. Marcel and Draven urge their mounts in opposite directions, moving to flank the beasts. They both start banging their weapons on their shields, trying to frighten them. Meanwhile, Griffin readies his crossbow and begins moving into position to shoot if needed.
Unfortunately the loud clanging sound does not deter the beetles. In fact, it catches their attention and they quickly abandon their meals of dead horse flesh for live Human flesh! The giant bugs scurry toward the sources of the noise, aka Marcel and Draven. Both men dismount, not wishing to be thrown in case their mounts are spooked by the creatures advance.
The beetles moved far quicker than was expected and they were on their quarry in no time. Marcel and Draven fought for their lives against the vermin while Griffin took a shot and missed. Taras, the homesteader approached on foot, swinging his two handed axe and proving to be quite effective, splitting a beetle in half with his first swing. Remar also dismounted and moved up to help Draven, who was locked in combat with two of the beetles. Marcel fared a bit better, putting his shield and spear to good use, wounding one quickly, then dispatching another one almost as fast before using the butt of his spear to flip the remaining beetle over on its back, revealing its softer, less defensible underside.
After just another moment of fighting, the beetles were either squashed or had run off. A quick search of the carnage revealed that the Goblins, who were Jaggadash (Vipers) based on their facial snake tattoos, and horses had all been killed by a mix of wolf bites and axe and spear wounds. All of the Goblins had been stripped of anything of value as well. Signs pointed to the Wolfskull tribe, as many of that tribe had been witnessed fighting with axes and spears in addition to the fact that they kept Dire Wolves in their ranks.
Another clear set of horse herd tracks left the area, still heading south. Some other Goblin and wolf tracks were also seen heading out to the east. Wanting to focus more on finding the horses and less on stirring up more Goblin trouble, the group headed south.
The tracks were followed for another hour or so until they came to a much thicker and overgrown section of the forest. The trail narrowed, allowing only 1 horse to pass at a time. They soon came across a crude wooden sign that was stuck into the ground. On it was printed in Traladaran "Equine Entrepreneur - Dealer in Fine Horses- Miss L. Fydorell" There was also some other script printed on the sign, possibly in Elvish.
Griffin dismounted and decided to take a sneak peek up ahead. He made his way through the thick woods and after a few moments came across what appeared to be some sort of encampment. He could see 3 covered wagons in a small clearing. Beyond the far wagon, he could see a fence and see a good number of horses, mostly white ones. Griffin saw a man in the camp and realized that the man saw him as well. They greeted each other and Griffin was invited into camp. They spoke for a moment as the rest of the group approached. The man in the camp asked if they were interested in buying or selling horses.
It is soon revealed that there is another Human man in the camp as well as the camp leader, an Elf female named Fydorell. Taras, recognizing his horses, demands that she return them, but she refuses, saying she bought them fairly from some Goblns earlier in the day. Marcel and Griffin both believe she is telling the truth and finally she agrees to sell them back for the same price she paid for them. This is unacceptable to Taras in addition to the fact that no one has that amount of coin to make a deal with.
Deciding to regroup and make a new plan, the companions head back toward where Remar was watching the horses. As they left the camp, they could hear something crashing through the nearby woods, coming right toward the trail. Everyone quickly readied themselves for an ambush of some kind, but the attack from the forest never came. Instead, they were ambushed from behind by Fydorell and her men. She leaped forward and ran Taras through with her longsword while the others engaged Marcel, Griffin and Draven. Griffin charged through the melee to trade some blows with Fydorell, though it was quickly evident that she was a better swordsman than he was. After a moment of fighting, another Human male leaped out of one of the wagons and joined the fray and then another climbed out from behind another wagon and engaged as well. Marcel was able to incapacitate one with a punch from his shield while Draven traded blows with two others. They called for Remar to come give them some assistance. Things were looking good for a moment until Griffin found himself receiving a telling blow and falling to the ground unconscious. As the others battled the Human henchmen, Fydorell managed to hop the fence into the corral, mount one of the horses and take off out of a rear exit. With their leader gone and one of their number down, two of the Humans fled into the forest while the remaining one surrendered.
Draven quickly set to work, using his divine healing powers to help revive Griffin and Taras. Neither man was in danger of dying, but both had been rendered unconscious by their wounds. The others quickly searched the camp, making sure no further dangers lurked nearby. It appeared that Fydorell and the others had truly fled the area. The wagons were searched as well, turning up a good amount of gold and some usable equipment, in addition to what appeared to be a spellbook, probably Fydorell's. Two of the wagons were in very bad shape, not movable at all, though the third one looked like it could be hooked up to a few of the horses and pulled back to the homestead so all of the gathered loot and supplies were piled into the wagon and with 24 of the homesteads white horses and 10 additional horses in tow, the companions headed back toward the homestead.
 |
| Dead horse feast! |
Unfortunately the loud clanging sound does not deter the beetles. In fact, it catches their attention and they quickly abandon their meals of dead horse flesh for live Human flesh! The giant bugs scurry toward the sources of the noise, aka Marcel and Draven. Both men dismount, not wishing to be thrown in case their mounts are spooked by the creatures advance.
The beetles moved far quicker than was expected and they were on their quarry in no time. Marcel and Draven fought for their lives against the vermin while Griffin took a shot and missed. Taras, the homesteader approached on foot, swinging his two handed axe and proving to be quite effective, splitting a beetle in half with his first swing. Remar also dismounted and moved up to help Draven, who was locked in combat with two of the beetles. Marcel fared a bit better, putting his shield and spear to good use, wounding one quickly, then dispatching another one almost as fast before using the butt of his spear to flip the remaining beetle over on its back, revealing its softer, less defensible underside.
After just another moment of fighting, the beetles were either squashed or had run off. A quick search of the carnage revealed that the Goblins, who were Jaggadash (Vipers) based on their facial snake tattoos, and horses had all been killed by a mix of wolf bites and axe and spear wounds. All of the Goblins had been stripped of anything of value as well. Signs pointed to the Wolfskull tribe, as many of that tribe had been witnessed fighting with axes and spears in addition to the fact that they kept Dire Wolves in their ranks.
Another clear set of horse herd tracks left the area, still heading south. Some other Goblin and wolf tracks were also seen heading out to the east. Wanting to focus more on finding the horses and less on stirring up more Goblin trouble, the group headed south.
The tracks were followed for another hour or so until they came to a much thicker and overgrown section of the forest. The trail narrowed, allowing only 1 horse to pass at a time. They soon came across a crude wooden sign that was stuck into the ground. On it was printed in Traladaran "Equine Entrepreneur - Dealer in Fine Horses- Miss L. Fydorell" There was also some other script printed on the sign, possibly in Elvish.
Griffin dismounted and decided to take a sneak peek up ahead. He made his way through the thick woods and after a few moments came across what appeared to be some sort of encampment. He could see 3 covered wagons in a small clearing. Beyond the far wagon, he could see a fence and see a good number of horses, mostly white ones. Griffin saw a man in the camp and realized that the man saw him as well. They greeted each other and Griffin was invited into camp. They spoke for a moment as the rest of the group approached. The man in the camp asked if they were interested in buying or selling horses.
It is soon revealed that there is another Human man in the camp as well as the camp leader, an Elf female named Fydorell. Taras, recognizing his horses, demands that she return them, but she refuses, saying she bought them fairly from some Goblns earlier in the day. Marcel and Griffin both believe she is telling the truth and finally she agrees to sell them back for the same price she paid for them. This is unacceptable to Taras in addition to the fact that no one has that amount of coin to make a deal with.
Deciding to regroup and make a new plan, the companions head back toward where Remar was watching the horses. As they left the camp, they could hear something crashing through the nearby woods, coming right toward the trail. Everyone quickly readied themselves for an ambush of some kind, but the attack from the forest never came. Instead, they were ambushed from behind by Fydorell and her men. She leaped forward and ran Taras through with her longsword while the others engaged Marcel, Griffin and Draven. Griffin charged through the melee to trade some blows with Fydorell, though it was quickly evident that she was a better swordsman than he was. After a moment of fighting, another Human male leaped out of one of the wagons and joined the fray and then another climbed out from behind another wagon and engaged as well. Marcel was able to incapacitate one with a punch from his shield while Draven traded blows with two others. They called for Remar to come give them some assistance. Things were looking good for a moment until Griffin found himself receiving a telling blow and falling to the ground unconscious. As the others battled the Human henchmen, Fydorell managed to hop the fence into the corral, mount one of the horses and take off out of a rear exit. With their leader gone and one of their number down, two of the Humans fled into the forest while the remaining one surrendered.
 |
| Ambushed by the horse traders! |
Draven quickly set to work, using his divine healing powers to help revive Griffin and Taras. Neither man was in danger of dying, but both had been rendered unconscious by their wounds. The others quickly searched the camp, making sure no further dangers lurked nearby. It appeared that Fydorell and the others had truly fled the area. The wagons were searched as well, turning up a good amount of gold and some usable equipment, in addition to what appeared to be a spellbook, probably Fydorell's. Two of the wagons were in very bad shape, not movable at all, though the third one looked like it could be hooked up to a few of the horses and pulled back to the homestead so all of the gathered loot and supplies were piled into the wagon and with 24 of the homesteads white horses and 10 additional horses in tow, the companions headed back toward the homestead.
Continued on GDA8 Preparing for the Drive
Cast of Characters:
Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne JamtgaardMarcel Maas, a down on his luck Traladaran soldier turned mercenary commanded by +Christian Blouin
Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos piously played by +Jason Packer
and +Jason Woollard as the DM
Goodness, I leave at 12:30AM and in 10 minutes, half the party falls unconscious! How long have you played after I left?
ReplyDeleteWe finished the fight. Marcel did great shield bashing everyone! Griffin went down and the Elf chick fled.
ReplyDelete