CH 7: The Slave Caravan

[HorizonsDream]

Tika playfully sticks her tongue out at Tas, despite the situation that they were in. "She knew what I meant," she said with a small huff before she looks over to Sturm. He seemed to be lost in his own little world, not that Tika could blame him at this point. While everyone is paying attention to Goldmoon, she crawls over to the knight and smiles slightly. "Are you okay?" she asks. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for helping me save the elf back at the inn."

[Jerrard]

"I was simply doing my duty. The Code and the measure are quite clear." the knight says after some silence.

"Surrendering to the enemy is not permitted, that and giving up ones weapon." he frowns deeply, he saw no hope.

"You fought well, but we need to teach you the blade i fear. Perhaps Laurana would teach you? A blade like she carries should be acceptable?"

[HorizonsDream]

"You did what you had to do," Tika says. "Besides, if we did manage to escape the inn, we probably would have been caught outside the inn," she explains. "At least this way we might have some time to figure out what to do." The idea was to try and cheer up the knight, but she had a feeling it wasn't working well.

"Well, uh, me and blades don't get along too well," Tika admits with a light giggle. "Caramon always use to say that I was hopeless at it."

[Jerrard]

"Or you did not have the correct training, you are older now, things have changed." He forces a smile. "I will train you myself, if needed."

"Figure out what? What are we supposed to do? We are trapped." He looks at the others, that elf, what was he here for? "But then maybe not." He gives her a smile, "Thank you, perhaps there is hope after all."

Moving over to the Elf he offers his hand, "I am Sturm Brightblade, are you really Laurana's brother?"

[JadedDM]

Gilthanas shakes the Solamnic's hand. "Yes, I am Gilthanas, second son of Solostaran," he says. "Lauralanthalasa is my sister. I am told there is a strong resemblance, in fact."

[Jerrard]

"Indeed there is." He smiles. "Why are you here? If I could ask? I would should think that.. Your Father is the Speaker correct?" He waits for the agreement. "I would think that he would be reluctant to let one of you out of his sight, not two." He looks directly at the Elf, thinking. "Do you know where they took the others?"

[JadedDM]

"Yes, I am a prince," the elf agrees.

"These are desperate times, and I volunteered for this job. As for Lauralanthalasa, she is not here on Father's behalf. In fact, he believed she was kidnapped, possibly by the dragonarmies. I wasn't sure what to believe myself. Kidnappers would have demanded a ransom." He shakes his head. "Apparently she just ran away to chase after a half-elf who had already rejected her once."

At his last question, the elf says, "The prisoners? I don't know for sure, but I have my suspicions. I imagine we'll be taken there, too. I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

[Jerrard]

"Indeed we will. I am glad I saved you, although you owe your life to Tika here." He glances at Tika then regards the elf Maiden a moment, saying nothing to her. "She has been useful so far, I believe she might be more than you realise." Patting Gilthanas on the back he moves back to the others.

[Jenara]

Laurana says nothing of the exchange between Sturm and her brother, she had run away, and for what? No we was going to prove them all wrong somehow.

[JadedDM]

A long day passes underneath a surprisingly warm sun. Draconian and hobgoblin guards remain on watch throughout the day, but no new prisoners are added to the cages. An air of waiting hangs over the wrecked town square.

As the sun drops behind the stumps of the vallenwood forest, the waiting comes to an end. The square suddenly swarms with hobgoblins, goblins, and draconians, all following the orders of the repulsive Sergeant Toede. (Evidently he had a recent promotion.) Huge elk are brought forward from the village pens, and four of the beasts are attached to each wagon.

Darkness falls as the guards form ranks before and after the column, which consists of three cages and two supply wagons. A driver and a guard climb into the front of each and urge the elk forward. The reddish glow of twilight provides one last look at the ruins of Solace as the caravan slips away to the south.

Sergent Toede rides a small, shaggy pony along with the column, shouting orders to his soldiers. He taunts the prisoners as he passes with tales of the dungeons and of the Dragonlord waiting to meet them there. His servant, a young, unkempt gully dwarf follows his master as best he can. He is constantly falling down or getting splashed by mud from the passing of wagons, and finds it difficult to keep up. He jogs past the party's wagon frequently, his new metal "helmet" askew over a face dominated by a massive red nose. A battle axe of doubtful quality swings from his side.

Evidently his name was Sestun, or that's what Toede kept shouting at him. The gully dwarf appears to be the object of Toede's ridicule and mistreatment. He runs the the Sergent's errands all day long, carrying messages from Toede to the other groups in the caravan, feeding and watering the Sergent's pony, and any other nasty jobs Toede could devise Toede knocks him flat at least three times this day, the draconians torment him, and the hobgoblins steal his food. Even the elk kick at him whenever he trots past. He bears it all with a grimly defiant spirit.

At the front of the column marches a troop of 45 kapaks, preceding the goblins by about 1/4 mile. One hundred goblins follow the draconians in a long line ending just before the first supply wagon. The three cages are next (the PCs in the first cage, the NPCs in the second) and another supply wagon follows. Last in line is a force of 100 hobgoblins.

Two hobgoblins man each wagon. The front supply wagon is the one that contains all of the party's equipment as well as a load of swords and shields. The last wagon is filled with grain.

=================

It is now Evening Watch (7:00 PM).

[HorizonsDream]

Tika had spent her time watching the gully dwarf run to and from his master. It was probably the most entertaining thing going on, even if it really wasn't all that entertaining. "Poor little guy," she says with a shake of her head. "And he is working so hard too."

[Jenara]

Magpie watches her fellow gully dwarf with a look of interest, "he do well for himself." she says to Laurana, "He important, like me." she beams.

"Hey you, where we going! Me big important. You do what Me say! She shouts at him.

Laurana watches this exchange with interest, Magpie obviously deciding her position was far superior. "Be nice, he is treated quite badly." she says nothing to her brother, knowing he was right. What had she done?

"Arkiss!" Sturm announces suddenly, the horse was left in the town, it would probably survive far better than they.

[JadedDM]

"Big castle place in mountains. Lots of mines," Sestun says, his helmet slipping over his eyes. He takes a moment to adjust it again. "Sestun work there before. Big fire--all day, all night. Smell bad." He wrinkles his nose. "Pound rock. All day, all night. I get good job in kitchen"--his face brightens a moment--"fix hot soup. Very hot." His face falls. "Spill soup. Hot soup heat up armor real fast. Lord Verminaard sleep on back for week." He sighs. "I go with Sergent. Me volunteer."

==========

(OOC: I was wondering when you'd remember the horse. )

[HorizonsDream]

"Lord Verminaard, who is that?" Tika asks curiously.

[JadedDM]

"Big boss man," Sestun explains. "Very scary. Wear armor that look like dragon. He run army."