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Author Topic: The Road to Katherian - by 'Red'  (Read 982 times)

Olme

The Road to Katherian - by 'Red'
« on: August 08, 2016, 11:27:10 am »
 Chapter 1 - A Gathering in Center -

I had been in Center but a few days and was still as they say, getting the lay of the land.

After a bit of respite in the local watering hole I headed over to the fire pit near the edge of the wood. The pit seemed a kind of natural meeting place, perhaps imbued with some sort of magical force designed to attract colorful folk. However the magics had seemingly failed of late as I was the only one tending the fire and warming the logs . But no matter, if none showed I could serenade Ausir with song, and maybe inspire myself.

As I got closer it seems the magics had returned in full force! The gods had bestowed a bounty of varied characters such as is rarely gathered elsewhere in the realms. Despite their obvious disparate raiment and racial differences they all seemed at ease with each other.

As I got closer it was apparent they were contemplating a journey of adventure and wealth. Unfortunately that talk abruptly ceased as they turned their attentions to the stranger – myself.The woman Delia , clad in the color of the wood was quite friendly and flirtatious. To my delight, She christened me 'Red Tail' (later shortened to just 'Red' ) in honor of my, apparently not fashion forward hair style.

A metal clad elf was there as well. His name is Tharivian. He has a hearty laugh and a curious habit (which here I first observed here) of apparently drinking through a reed so as to not remove his helm.

Near the edge of the group, a greataxe resting easilyon his shoulder, was a hearty dwarven warrior clad in the traditional colors of his god Vorax. He was introduced as to me as Borbre Barradok. For the rest of this tale he shall be known as Sir Borbre,

A gnome priestess of Katia, named Fern also honored us with her presence and blessings. She seemed the most 'grown up' of this motley crew despite her short physical stature.

After much bantering and surprisingly little (to me) preparation the group decided to set out to test their mettle against trolls and other denizens of swamps to the south. There was a hope that precious gems, ore and other wealth in huge quantities to be had if a certain cavern could be found and successfully breached.

And so I, Red, set off with these new found companions. I tried not to let on that despite all their experience and preparations I could not have been less prepared (or experienced). For my pack was nearly empty. No bandages, no healing potions, but a loaf of cornbread , a few bottles ale. I was armed with  a skinning knife, a woodcutters axe and a borrowed shortbow. I had, in my zeal to be off, forgotten that a bow w works much better if one has arrows! 

But I did have the most important of tools:  parchment, ink, and a quill that I might make notes and bear witness to all the great deeds that destiny was sure to bestow upon us.

So, with songs  to lighten our steps,  we set off for glory.

To be continued...

 

 

 
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Olme

Chapter 2 - The Moors - We
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2016, 07:12:33 pm »

Chapter 2 - The Moors -

 We traveled south through lush fields of grains and every crop imaginable. In the distance, if one looked carefully, a glimpse of a high wall and even higher buildings could be seen in he far distance. The spires of the city of gold glittered like a gem of Beryl newly polished. But our destiny lay on as different path. We soon entered a most pleasant wood that lined the well traveled road to Fort Vehl. The pace was brisk but not tiring and the company was most pleasant. Delia has a quick wit and keen mind under her playful words I am sure. Little was to be seen of Sir Borbre as he insisted on being in the vanguard.

 Somtime later the company veered off the road onto a rough path cutting through scrub and brambles.

At the edge of a swamp a rude camp was made. Food, ale and a bit of nervous talking were the order of the day. Several were busy inspecting their weapons and other kit. I looked at my meager arsenal and decided the wood axe would be my best option. Delia laughed a bit as she saw me taking a few practice swings. She advised me that the bow would probably be a better choice. I pointed to the empty quiver. She laughed a bit more, but then seemed to grow serious. Without a further word she dug into her pack and handed me some fine arrows. Watches were set for the night. Word was we would no doubt wet our blades in blood in the morning.

The dawn broke, but it was dismal and dreary here near these foul fens. The camp was broken down and the group gathered together. Prayers were offered by the priestess and Katia answered with bountiful blessings. At one point, the elf Tharivian nudged me. I looked to him and he whispered ' Put the bow away and take out your sword.' Well having no blade as such, I armed myself with the tree axe. One by one my companions weapons blazed forth with heaven sent fire. The incantations were then directed to me. I smiled as the axe glowed with flames. I jumped back in shock as it immediately burned to a crisp the useless head thudding to the ground. My hand was black with the residue but there was no injury except perhaps to my pride

 The group, except for Tharivian, seemed not to notice the calamity. They were in truth properly concentrating on their own preparations. He, much in the manner of Delia quietly handed me a lean but lethal looking longsword. I'm sure he was chuckling to himself under his helm but he never displayed the slightest sense of arrogance toward my plight.

 Preparations went on for a bit more ...for most of us. Sir Borbre at some point decided he had had enough of this. Perhaps his god demanded he get on with, but whatever the case even now the only sign of him was an occasional glimpse of the back of his gleaming armor shimmering in the dim light as he waded into the bogs.

 We finished and headed out. Even though we had by now lost sight of him, even those with no tracking skill could easily follow the trail Sir Borbre had so recently blazed. Then we heard it. Yelling, cursing and the name 'Vorax', mixed with other bellows in a guttural tongue, the sound of metal on metal. We quickened our pace. And then he was in sight. Sir Bobre stood as if a boulder swinging an axe. A dead creature, separated from his head by several feet lay at his feet. A second was on the ground gasping his last breath. Sir Bobre had squared off with a third, but three more, wielding vicious looking double axes, even now bore down on him. Delia and Tharivian made all haste to flank the creatures. With a quick glance to the side I noted that Fern even now had let loose a volley from a sling.

Combat was upon us.

To be continued...

 

 

 

Olme

Chapter 3 - The Lair of the
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2016, 11:58:33 pm »

Chapter 3 - The Lair of the Trolls -

The battle did not go well for the swamp creatures. The combined arms of our party were indeed formidable. I suppose one schooled in disciplined military style tactics would view our small band but one notch better than a mob,and yet, watching this slaughter first hand, the reality was that some advantages accrued to such a disparate group as ours, for the very diversity in styles and armament meant we had many options. But I digress. Back to the battle.

Sir Borbre held firm as the swamp creatures charged in. Delia and Tharivian subdued the flanks then joined our Voraxian rock in a line. The rest either used missiles or spells as was their wont. I let fly a pair of arrows in the fray. Both shot wide of their target.

Then it was over as abruptly as it started. We regrouped, bandaged our wounds as needed and checked the dead creatures to be certain they were dead and a cursory search for any booty. Barely time to catch a drink and Sir Borbre was off charging ahead like a dog on a scent.

And this how it went for the next two days. Sharp violent encounters with ragged groups of the swamp natives swarming to our silvered dwarf as moths attracted to a light. Twice they brought forth shamans to confront us. It made no difference. They all met the same grisly fate.

Near nightfall of the second day we found the entrance to the cavern. We made camp, set watches and laid plans. There was a bit of discussion on how to best advance in the cavern. The concern was the constricted passageways and how best to use them. There was also concern that Sir Borbre would do well to use a bit more restraint in this pit, as the troll shamans were known to have powerful magicks and the danger of being cut from the group could be fatal.

We crept into the cavern at first light outdside although inside it was surreal, timeless. The air was foul and the stench of troll everywhere. Again though we were all safely cocooned in the blessings of Katia. One was sent forward to scout as Sir Borbre was to be the linchpin of our defense, for we intended to make the trolls come to us! And so it was. The scout returned but not alone, at least a dozen vile trolls lumbering down the cavern and crashed into our line. The trolls proved far more formidable than there swamp brethren but it made not a bit of difference for we were up to the challenge. I did my part in this skirmish, singing to inspire and adding my archery to help with our victory.

Again the pattern had been set : Scout. Set a defense. Lure. Kill. Search. Regroup Move on. This is how it went as we made our way deeper into the pit.

And then, after one particularly vicious battle in a wider chamber, the pattern was broken. Sir Borbre stopped, looked around with a gleam in his eye  and then stowed his greataxe. With remarkable agility he had a miners pick in hand and was already furiously examining the rock here, then there, then a swing,,and another and a piece of rock would fall. He would scoop it up as fast as could be even as he was on to the next rock. The rest of us set watches on the entrances to this cavern. We tried to rest in our turn, but the incessant hammering on the rocks made that impossible .

Certainly if there were more trolls about it was only a question of when they would find us .

To be continued ...

 

 

 

 

Olme

Chapter 4   - The Pit-We
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2016, 09:43:55 pm »

Chapter 4   - The Pit-

We spent quite some time searching the tunnels and passages in the search for riches. The quarry proved elusive. It was only very occasionally that it would offer up a gem of indeterminate quality . Sir Borbre though managed to load the group up with ore that he wished to haul to town and smelt

The mining excursion was not unopposed by the trolls as they confronted us several times. We knew what to expect and how to quickly dispatch them so it became more of an annoyance than anything else. I had, by this time , become more competent in using the bow: My shots were more accurate and I could now hit a troll (which I admit is not the most difficult of targets) as often as I missed one. Improvement. I had also learned that I had neither the armor, weapons, nor desire to confront a troll directly in melee. I did, on two occasions, swing my blade on a flank attack doing a bit of damage but certainly nothing decisive. My strengths lie elsewhere, for not all are meant to encase themselves in armor, confronting enemies so openly. It was the way of Sir Borbre to do this in the most careless of fashion, while it seemed Therivain (and others) took a more calculated approach.

The search for wealth continued. A passage was found going deeper into the cavern and so we followed it. At first it was little different but then, rounding a sharp bend, an immense chamber stretched before us. We had barely begun a survey of it when we were besieged by hordes of spiders. They too fell quickly to our swords and missiles. A beholder had also taken up residence in this pit and it too met the same fate before it could turn its horrid gaze upon us.

This pit proved quite extraordinary. Sir Borbre quickly had enough of it when he realized it held no gems or any of the precious rocks he sought. And yet... ... A more careful exam revealed scorch marks on stone and what appeared to be a now collapsed and impassable gigantic entrance way. This pit had once been the home of a giant wyrm ! Some of wished to spend a bit more time here but truly we could not. The expedition had only limited supplies and this pit was certainly no place to forage. So we headed back, retracing our steps back to the surface. The trolls would muster a few times but it seemed, that while they were certainly still dangerous, they wished us to only to leave their realm.

We spent the next few days making our way out of those swamps without event. Eventually we broke from the grip of the swamps to regain the main road. The party then tramped on , spirits high to our destination : Fort Vehl.

To be continued...