Act 1, Scene 1: "Through the Undergrowth" (Main Game Thread)

[Nocturno]

If there is a sac left, he will grab it. Grimacing as he gets nearer the dirty straw.

Hefting a sac "How much do you figure is in here?" he will check out the symbol on the bag also.
[Familiar to him?]

He will then head back to the room where the major melee happened.

[TristenC]

Stik: I suppose a spear made for the purpose could work that way, but I would think a normal spear might not be up to the task of mounted combat without having to make a save. We can say that Boyd obviously intended his spear to be used that way, and so we’ll call it a Lancing Spear or something. But a normal spear he picks up and uses in a mounted charge will have to make a save. The other difference is that a lance isn’t very effective when not used from horseback.

The group has been conversing in Common so far.
* Indicates the following sentence is in Elven
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Kak’s Den: Boyd, Dran, Katten, Linar, Nocturno and Salem
[With Eariel, Hew and Tag]

Feliz? What’s a.. Can’t you keep your foot out of your mouth for one sentence Hew? The other human says over him. Pardon, m’lady. Hew here was raised in a barn. That sounds very exotic, he replies with an easy smile. You’ll have to tell us about… As the talk goes on, Eariel rolls her eyes in the darkness. Suddenly her voice breaks out over the human chatter the way only a Sargent’s can, Snap to, privates! Can the chat, you’re not back at your mother’s teat yet. The men instinctively snap to attention, though Tag opens his mouth to speak but apparently thinks better of it and stops himself.

Boyd jabs the dead worg in the eye to satisfy himself that it truly is deceased. Once he is convinced, he plucks the watery orb out and feeds it to Salem, who slurps it greedily from his fingers. He turns and asks the former prisoners about others. You can answer them. the Sargent says to the humans That Dwarf just saved your life. Just don’t go thinking you’re home yet… The humans nod, and this time it is Hew that speaks. No sir. We haven’t seen any dwarves. Some of the other prisoners were here before us, though. They say they were led here from one of the other Wetrock lairs. Fiz could probably tell you; that’s the Gnome in the other chamber. He’s been here the longest… well, aside from the Trog anyway.

Nocturno surveys the group and proposes they get the prisoners free. Right, Eariel agrees. We just need to search the place first and see if we can salvage anything. Linar puts the lose coinage in a spare bag and asks for aid with the sacks in Elven; the trio look towards him. *What have you found? The Sargent asks in perfect Elven. When he hands out the food and the crest she absently tells the men to save the jerky for later. Looking at the cloth emblem she seems a little dazed… after a moment her fist tightens around the object before tucking it away. The Drow realizes the cloth stuck to the back matches her badly tattered uniform.

Drawing again on the innate magical essences, Linar lifts the fingers of one hand and points to several random places in the air. Small orbs of light appear with each motion, hovering and following his movements. Hew curses silently and his sword instinctively goes up. Tag, on the other hand, stares dumbfounded at the diminutive ranger. You’re… you’re a cat…? Eariel rolls her eyes again and swats Tag on the back of the head. Put your tongue back in your mouth, ape. That damn Tribal has better manners. And Hew, If a Drow wanted you dead you’d never see it coming, and he sure as hell wouldn’t light your way. Shaking her head again she nods to Linar. *Thank you, she continues in Elven. *Don’t mind them, they’re idiots. The pair have the good sense to blush, though each still stares openly at the newly revealed adventurers. *If you don’t mind my asking… how did one… I mean, how did you come to speak the language of the Fair Folk?*

The men blink when Katten speaks to them again, finally noticing Dran as he moves up beside her and watches them curiously. *Help her. And mind your manners. The Sargent orders. The soldiers salute, tuck their swords behind their belts, and go as directed.



Tunnel Room: Elden, Garroth, Vanidur
[With Arac, Hamart, 2 Wild elves female (armed), 2 Human males, 1 Human female, 1 Tribal Human male, 1 Rock Gnome male]

As the minotaur rises, the humans begin to back away, watching him with obvious concern. The presence of the human and Elf helping him does only a little to ease their apparent nervousness. The human man in the remnants of tribal gear stares into the dark passage south as if he might try to simply bolt through the impenetrable dark in desperation. The wild elven women in the corner, still armed with spears, watch both the north and east passages warily; apparently still prepared to fight if necessary. One of them keeps glancing at the hall southward as if she too is long past ready to be gone.

Only the small folk don’t seem terribly concerned about the rest of the cavern. The newly arrived Halfling man is helping the injured former prisoner bandage up his wound. You certainly let them punch a hole in your hide… thought you were quicker than that, Arac. Oh, stow it, Hamart. How did you find me anyway? the injured prisoner says with a wince. Why, simple investigation skills, my good man. Arac looks at his friend dubiously. Alright, alright. I found that Dwarf outside and he said there was a cave full of goblins under here.

The gnome moves over near the two haflings. Hey, can’t we get out of here? It’d be nice to breathe fresh air again without the stink of goblin and feel the sunlight…


===
Eariel will confirm the symbol is the Bordertown military crest

Linar uses Dancing Lights

Stik: [We’re sorry, your “princess” is in another castle…]

[Chris1234]

Linar says to Eariel, "You're welcome. I am Linar and learnt it mainly from the surface elves that follow Corellon Larethian, as do I. These lights won't last long so I suggest you use the time to make your own illumination. May I have the honour of knowing your name?"

[Nocturno]

Once back to the melee room:

Nocturno will introduce himself to the wild elves.

"How did this lot manage to capture you?"

[Jenara]

"Indeed. I am Feliz. And you are Menn.." she starts to curse, but then stops her words. "Forgive me, we of the Forest hold prejudice's of our own.. Thank you for helping us." Allowing them to help her she starts to lead the group out of the cavern.

"How is Bull man?" She asks with something close to concern.

[TristenC]

The group filters back into the room where the larger battle occurred. As they re-emerge, the other former prisoners seem to calm down a little; especially when it becomes clear the Minotaur is in no condition to do damage.

*You follow the Protector?! Eariel asks the Drow in hardly controlled shock. *I guess that explains why you... What I mean is, thank you again. Eariel Ala'irina, Sargent of Bordertown. so... you lot know each other? I mean, you all work together?

When Katten returns, the other humans stare openly at her almost as much as the Drow. The small-folk seem less concerned, but still a little curious. As the soldiers help Tag tries to explain, No! I didn't mean anything bad, i just.. I'm sorry, that was rude of me. It's just that I've never seen a... Now who's tripping over his tongue. Hew jibes, amused. Tag shoots his friend a glare but goes on, Look, we're from Bordertown, right? Nobody goes there unless they luve there, so we don't really get out much... but.. Feliz? Hew nods, and Tag continues, Cat-folk are so rare I doubt there's a handful of people in the whole town who have eber seen one...


Nocturno approaches the wild elves, who are still armed. One looks him over with a small smile while the other peers past him at the others. Greetings, Sun Brother**. I am Indendien and this is Dillosel. We hunted for others who were taken, but their beast proved a skilled tracker. Luck rode woth them... Taking in his armor and clothing she asks, What led you here, fair one?**


===
**not-uncommon terms for Wild elves to call High elves, though 'Fair One' is seldom used casually.

[Jenara]

"Now you have. My People not like Menn, Menn destroy forest." She states firmly, her eye is drawn to the Wild Elves, like a familar face yet one she couldnt recall. "You return to Bordertown? You tell other Menn Feliz Protect Forest." Moving herself to the Elves she regards them closely.

[Nocturno]

"I was tasked, tasked to find the source of and eliminate this goblinkind threat. Signa led me to this group, it seems we have the same goal.

He thinks for a bit.

"I found this trinket, and saw the same symbol here by an altar. Does it mean anything to you?" He will show them the trinket with the symbol.

[Stik]

"I will do that," Boyd replies, nodding. He then turns his attention to the worg, ignoring the rest of the conversation.
He hefts the worg by the scruff to see whether it is too heavy to carry. With a grunt, he lowers it to the ground and gets to work with his knife, figuring that it will be lighter to carry if he field dresses it first. It's his first time processing a worg, but one furry mammal isn't all that different from another at this stage.
When he has finished, he tries again to lift the carcass onto his back, so that he can carry it out to somewhere more brightly lit, so allow for the more delicate process of skinning it. (If it's still to heavy at this point, he'll ask for help.) He'd enlist Salem in the process, if the boar weren't busy picking through the umbles.




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[OOC]

Stik: [We’re sorry, your “princess” is in another castle…]

I didn't really expect Boyd to find him here, and even if he had, he'd probably just have made fun of the schlub anyway.[/OOC]

[Rivi]

elden sits down still feeling his wounds

[Chris1234]

" 'Eariel', a good, strong name. Thank you, acknowledges Linar. "We have no met nor worked together before. If this ends well then we may do so again. Assuming some of us learn to keep one's mouth shut."
He pauses and returns to the present, "Now, do you have light? Do others need rescuing? Or can we leave? If leaving, some help carrying sacka would be good."

[TristenC]

Boyd takes out his knife and begins to clean the Worg. As expected, Salem goes right to the offal, taking snout full of the fresh vittles. The cleaning goes quickly, and Boyd tests the carcass, finding it manageable for him to move alone. Hefting it up, he takes it back into the room with the others, where Vanidur's staff shines brightly over the room.


Destroy the forest?Tag says, somewhat taken aback. Looking to Hew in confusion, We don't destroy the forest. It's not like we're out logging or.. or anything. I mean, we don't live in the woods like an.. his sentence halts abruptly and he flushes a little, Like an elf or anything, but... His words wind down. Yes, we're headed back to Bordertown as soon as the Sargent says. They'll probably send a patrol to see what we can salvage from the raid. When katten asserts her protection of the woods the two humans look at each other and back to her. Sure... Hew says, a little uncomfortably. Yeah, we'll tell 'em... uh... we were just trying to get to Thel Jeers before...

Nesserrr leaves the humans and moves over to where Nocturno was chatting with the wild elves. Tasked... We came of our own choice, Indendien says, Though there were only four of us. We sought to find the entrance to their lair and kill as many as we could as they came and went; then return to advise our tribe on their numbers.

Dillosel, who had remained silent so far, continues watching Katten's approach. You are the Guardian. she says abruptly. Signa sent you. She watches the ranger silently for a moment. They have Eathaniel, my mate. They kept us all in another place to the west of here, much larger than this. She turns back and forth between the elf and feliz. We must free him... there are many others as well...

Indendien gives her a sad look, and lays a comforting hand on her shoulder. There is little hope... Dilosel stiffens at the words, but her friend continues on They have Worgs... many, many worgs. They sent us here because we made trouble. They were digging... searching for something...

Yeah, and they never found it either. Arac, the injured halfling chimes in. Because I found it. The surprised looks of the other prisoners bring about a wide grin on the halfling's face. Some kind of magic thing they wanted... I couldn't use it, but it doesn't really look... complete to me... if that makes any sense.

Eariel and Linar continue their discussion, Once we get some of the supplies they have stored we can light our way out. At mention of the sacks, she takes a closer look at them. That is the Bordertown Guard crest... this was taken from our supply wagon. She says slowly.


Elden, Vanidur and Garroth hear something moving in the passage to the east... Of course! The escaped goblin!!!

[Chris1234]

"Let's get those supplies then. Which way?" Linar responds. "We can sort that out later, but they should be mindful that without us they would have nothing recovers, nor you and the others freed. How far is Bordertown from here?"

[Jenara]

"Yes, i am the guardian. I Protect this forest. And i will help you Wargs or no. I will.help." Stepping close she touches the Female elf's arm in comfort. "I may have just upset someone. I didn't mean to do so.." Katten looks back with regret.

"Stay with me, we'll get you weapons, and we take out Worgs." Giving a toothy grin she hoped was reassuring she moves back to the Humans.

"I sorry, my words were harsh. I did not mean to uspet you." Offering a hand to Tag she bows. "I am Guardian of the Forest. We need your help, if you are willing. We need to stop Nisser, they have more to the West. Will you help?"

[Nocturno]

"Yes, tasked. I grew tired of sitting idly fending off Goblin sckuts while in the town watch. I then voiced my opinion. Which led me to this group with Signa's help. he will seem flustered wben it feels like he being judged by the wild ones... I guess that is what that feels like he thought.

[Does he hear the goblin?]