Grunwald > Spring 1358 DR

[hedgeknight]

Early Morning, Mirtul 15th, 1358 DR

After a hearty breakfast of fish, eggs, and thick bread with honey, Cole and Nokrugh, along with Adain and Dorn, set out from Rast's cabin on a cool spring morning which promises rain. Their goodbyes were brief, mostly said the previous night around the campfire. Darkstar, Greystone, and Tarrin had decided to return to Neverwinter Woods to check on the Owl and Lynx clans and to investigate rumors of newcomers to the woods. Rast had given no comment about splitting their group other than to say, "Only the gods know when your paths might cross again."
The going is slow for the four companions, as they lead their horses more than ride them, including bearing the body of Gundar Brontoskin. But still they make good time with Nokrugh's senses probing the forest for trouble, and Cole picking the best possible path. As light fades on the day, the woods begin to thin and through the trees, they see the small barbarian town of Grunwald. And almost as soon as they see the town, the outlying guards see them (or perhaps hear their horses), and call out, "State yer business! And come no closer or yer blood will be on yer own heads!"
"No need for bloodshed, Forin, we have returned from the den of the skin changers," Adain says wearily. "Call for Pollard and the elders - we must meet and talk. I have...news, grave news about our king."

Forin nods and turns to a younger guard standing beside him. He whacks the boy, who is staring in open-mouthed dismay at the body draped across the horse that Dorn is leading. "Wh-where are the others?" the boy says, then flinches from the slap.
"Never you mind, boy. Fetch Pollard and tell him to assemble the elders. Now go!" Forin commands, and the boy wheels and dashes off into town.

I would like to know your actions when Pollard and the elders arrive.

[Belkregos]

Cole feels he is not very familiar with he tribe and does not want to over step his position or offend the elders, he waits for others with better standing to explain what happened and then state what he witnessed and knows,

[hedgeknight]

The rest of the day and much of the next is spent in counsel, with the elders of the Thunderbeast tribe conferring and questioning the survivors of the journey. By midday, Pollard and the rest were satisfied that King Gundar died during battle (not being murdered) and that his wishes for his nephew Adain, would stand. So, that night, there was much feasting and celebration > not only for the death of a great king, but also for the birth of a new one. Ale flows freely and boars turn on the spits and there is singing and dancing and several couples disappear into the night for a roll in the furs.
Needless to say, most folk are moving very slowly the next day. Most folk, but not all. Cole says his farewells to Nokrugh and to Adain, the new King, who gifts the ranger with a quiver of finely crafted arrows as a way of thanking him for his service to the tribe.
When asked where he is headed, Cole says, "To the Long Road and then south back home to Triboar. See what other kinds of trouble I can get into." He smiles and shakes the King's hand and departs.
Nokrugh is moving slow too, having had is fill (and then some) of the good ale and fresh meat. Hell, he even found a hot barbarian woman to share his furs, and she was not put off in the least about his heritage...in fact, if anything, she was more turned on by it.
And afterward, as he lay dozing, covering in sweat and sex, he had a vision...a vision of a dark forest with a smoldering volcano. In the vision, he saw dark-robed figures, an ancient stone archway with glowing runes, and an island in the sea. He also heard the sounds of cackling laughter, the splashing of waves, and the flapping of leathery wings. And lastly, he heard the cries of battle and the voice of Ilneval speaking clearly through the din..."A storm comes...with it chaos, fear, death...seek the sea...beware the Kraken!"

Yes, Nokrugh was moving slow, but not without purpose, knowing his path lies to the west, through Neverwinter Woods, and beyond.

Actions?

[rtdersch]

The sun was just creeping through a crack in the furs covering the window when Nokrugh finished loading his backpack with the various sundries he'd procured from the Stonebow earlier that morning. As quietly as he could muster he slung his pack over his shoulder, retrieved his battle scarred shield with the black boar painted on it, and then his worn bastard sword that rested on the side of the table he'd been packing on. He offered the sleeping wild woman one final longing gaze before creeping quietly to the door of the make shift stone hut and then out into the crisp morning air.

His head still felt light both from the nights passionate, almost feral lovemaking, as well as from the many tankards of the Stonebows mead he'd consumed. Still, the cool chill in the air helped him regain his alertness as he remembered the cryptic vision Illneval had sent to him that morning. He then headed west, the slowly rising sun warming his back.

Recent events, and his role in them had resulted in his gaining the trust of the Grunwald barbarian clan, and as he passed through the small village he returned the hails and handshakes offered him with both pride and sadness. He'd grown fond of the barbarians and realized he'd miss them, almost as much as he missed his village in the Silver mountains. Yet Illneval had called and he'd answer however, as he walked into the surrounding tree line he called out once again to his God.

"Mighty Illneval, you have called and as your faithful servant I answer. Please, tell me what task you've set forth for me? Why must I leave my homeland? What purpose have you for me in the land of man and elves?"

Nokrugh didn't expect an answer as Illneval, like all Gods, rarely if ever revealed their plans to their followers. That thought pissed him off but none-the-less, westward he marched.

[hedgeknight]

If there is an answer from the Orc god, it is in the wind that is blowing to the west, as if pushing you along your way. A day and a half later, you see the familiar stones of Morgur's Mound, but strangely enough...no barbarians are there to greet you (or run you off). It's as if the mound has been deserted...very strange indeed.
Riding on, you make good time as the land begins to roll and rise, leading into the Crags. You encounter no one or no living thing on the ground - you see crows and other fowl overhead, but other than that, nothing. A day later the wind turns toward your face...bringing with it the pungent odor of decay and not much farther on you come across the three wild hogs rooting around the remains of what looks like several bodies...at least a half dozen, already picked clean by the scavengers of the area, although the dried blood on the grass looks no more than a day or two old.

Actions?

[rtdersch]

The foul breeze interferes with the half-orcs normally acute olfactory senses as he's unable to detect any present danger. His eyes however do not deceive him as the hogs and dead bodies come into sight. Climbing down from his mount Nok unsheathes his sword, pulls his shield onto his forearm, and warily approaches the scene.

Hedge, what is he looking at? Amount and race of the dead, any salvageable equipment/goods? Can he get an idea of what transpired here?

[hedgeknight]

Hedge, what is he looking at? Amount and race of the dead, any salvageable equipment/goods? Can he get an idea of what transpired here?

There are the remains of six bodies. From the markings on their equipment, you would guess them to be hobgoblins, probably a hunting party. They have good armor and weapons (mostly banded mail and swords and shields, with a morning star and a few arrows), but no coin or anything that looks particularly valuable. There are other arrows, however, either broken or stuck in the ground. The fletchings are familiar to you > they look like those used by Greystone and Darkstar.

[rtdersch]

Recognizing the handywork Nok knows he's headed the right way, and not too far behind it would seem. Mounting his horse he continues "west" keeping his eyes and nose alert for any additional hobgoblin patrols.

[hedgeknight]

You travel for the remainder of the day as the wind picks up and howls through the hills bringing the promise of rain. When you reach the Crags just before dark, you see the ruins of a small manor off to your right. Your horse is tired and so are you. But as you try to decide what to do, you hear what sounds like cackling laughter coming from within the ruins, and also the sounds of barking and growling.

[rtdersch]

The manor would have provided much appreciated comforts but the barking and cackling make Noks decision easy. Pushing his steed further away from the manor he continues to travel west until the lack of day light puts his horse at risk then sets up camp and prepares for a long, wet night.

[hedgeknight]

Closing this thread > please respond in the new thread: Darkstar & Nokrugh > The Crags