(003A) Ambush on the Trail!

[joertexas]

Sits down by Eodrien and Dez, "Very true and well said! But I'm bummed he didn't offer to share his wine." Reaches up and flicks Dez's ear.

Eodrien grins. "Best be careful - Des is pretty good with that axe."

[Eris]

The evening passes quietly. The drivers are taking the watch tonight so all of the PCs are getting the night off.

After dinner, while Darian is seated on the rock, the halfling magic user walks over and says, "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

"Tony's the name, in case you forgot. Tony Lightfoot." he says as he takes out a pipe and starts to stuff the bowl with some plant material and lights it with a snap of his fingers next to the bowl and puffing the pipe alight.

"So, are you interested in swapping some spells from our spell books?" he asks smiling up at Darian, "I want to warn you I don't have many as I'm just out of my apprenticeship. I'll learn more when I get to Elsburg and study with the wizard there...Master Halsthorn, he's called."

[ateno]

"So, are you interested in swapping some spells from our spell books?" he asks smiling up at Darian, "I want to warn you I don't have many as I'm just out of my apprenticeship. I'll learn more when I get to Elsburg and study with the wizard there...Master Halsthorn, he's called."

"Why yes I am, I'm not selfish and feel all magician should have all they can. I have:

Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Mage Hand. Mending, Identify, Sleep and Spider Climb

Darian will explain any that Tony does not know.

Darian

[Eris]

"So, are you interested in swapping some spells from our spell books?" he asks smiling up at Darian, "I want to warn you I don't have many as I'm just out of my apprenticeship. I'll learn more when I get to Elsburg and study with the wizard there...Master Halsthorn, he's called."

"Why yes I am, I'm not selfish and feel all magician should have all they can. I have:

Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Mage Hand. Mending, Identify, Sleep, and Spider Climb

Darian will explain any that Tony does not know.

"Oh! You have many more spells than I." Tony says, "I have Nukkua, Velho Panssari, Havaitse taikuus, Kanin hyppy, and Vallan kivi. That's what we call them anyway. Um, in Common that would be...um...Sleep, Wizard's Armor, Detect Magic, Rabbit Jump, and Powered Pebble."

The two of you talk and discover Sleep and Detect Magic works the same for both of you. You've haven't heard of Wizard's Armor, but discover it is what you would call Mage Armor (+4 to AC, lasts an hour, Level 1). You've never heard of the other two.

Tony explains the other two, they are Cantrips and almost all Halfling Magic Users learn them.

Rabbit Jump can be used at will and allows the Magic User to Jump, from a standing start, up to 15 feet in any direction (including up). Think/say, "kanin hyppy" to activate. (Cantrip, touch, 1d20 + Mage Class Level + Str Mod >= 5, Nat 1-can't use again until you study spells).

Powered Pebble allows the Magic User to point at a target, up to 60 feet away, say/think the words "vallan kivi", and a bolt of magical energy flies from his finger at the target. It is a ranged attack that can miss its target and doesn't do a great deal of damage, but it's better than throwing a dagger or dart because you never run out. The Powered Pebble ignores all non-magical armor, hence target number is 10 against all normal armor. (Cantrip, Range Attack, 1d20 + Mage Class Level + Dex Mod >= 10 to hit, 1d3+1 damage, Nat 20-doubles damage, Nat 1-can't use again until you study spells)

BTW, Halflings get a natural +3 to all Ranged Attacks, so Tony (level 1, Dex +2, natural +3) only needs a 4+ on a roll to hit with his Powered Pebble!, which is darn good!

[Darithe]

Enjoys her night off and curls up by the fire reading the book borrowed from Darian.

[ateno]

"Oh! You have many more spells than I." Tony says, "I have Nukkua, Velho Panssari, Havaitse taikuus, Kanin hyppy, and Vallan kivi. That's what we call them anyway. Um, in Common that would be...um...Sleep, Wizard's Armor, Detect Magic, Rabbit Jump, and Powered Pebble."

The two of you talk and discover Sleep and Detect Magic works the same for both of you. You've haven't heard of Wizard's Armor, but discover it is what you would call Mage Armor (+4 to AC, lasts an hour, Level 1). You've never heard of the other two.

Tony explains the other two, they are Cantrips and almost all Halfling Magic Users learn them.

"I would be happy to trade the 5 you don't know for the 3 I don't have. I know right now is not the time to do it, its late, But maybe when we stop in town we can get together?

Darian

[Eris]

"Oh! You have many more spells than I." Tony says, "I have Nukkua, Velho Panssari, Havaitse taikuus, Kanin hyppy, and Vallan kivi. That's what we call them anyway. Um, in Common that would be...um...Sleep, Wizard's Armor, Detect Magic, Rabbit Jump, and Powered Pebble."

The two of you talk and discover Sleep and Detect Magic works the same for both of you. You've haven't heard of Wizard's Armor, but discover it is what you would call Mage Armor (+4 to AC, lasts an hour, Level 1). You've never heard of the other two.

Tony explains the other two, they are Cantrips and almost all Halfling Magic Users learn them.

"I would be happy to trade the 5 you don't know for the 3 I don't have. I know right now is not the time to do it, its late, But maybe when we stop in town we can get together?

Darian

"We have a couple of days before we get to Goblintown." says Tony, "We could do some writing in our Spellbooks and maybe get a little practice in even before we get there if you like."

[ateno]

"We have a couple of days before we get to Goblintown." says Tony, "We could do some writing in our Spellbooks and maybe get a little practice in even before we get there if you like."

"Ylu know more where we are going than me, agreed."

Darian

[Eris]

The next two days pass in relative calm.

There is an encounter with a herd of large grazers, bison is what Master Ross calls them. The huge herd slowly ambles across the road from the south to the north. It takes over 2 hours for the herd to pass by. The Master Ross has the caravan wait for them to clear the road and move away before continuing.

"They can be touchy, especially this time of year, and if they panic and stampede toward you, you'll have no chance of surviving it unless you can outride them. A man afoot couldn't. The wagons couldn't. Even I couldn't on my horse." he tells the party as they watch the herd pass.

The caravan camps a bit earlier that evening. Tony and Darian spend the time exchanging spells.

Darian finds Kanin hyppy, the Rabbit Jump, spell easy to copy and cast, but he has trouble controlling how far he jumps, how high and what direction, it's going to take some practice and unlike Tony he can only cast it a few times before it doesn't work for him and he has to rest and re-read the spell from his spellbook.

"That's normal for a beginner." Tony assures Darian, "It takes a lot of practice to get the jumps where you want them, and your stamina will improve meaning you can practice the spell longer."


Vallan kivi, Powered Pebble, is even harder for Darian! He can get it to cast, but his aim is terrible! Plus, every third or fourth time he casts it his finger feels like he's jammed it against a hot pot.

"You aren't projecting the pebble out away from your finger enough. You might want to start your incantation with Mykt while you are learning. That reduces the power and won't hurt you as much while you're learning." Tony says then demonstrating.

"Mykt Vallan Kivi!" Tony says pointing his finger at a boulder about 30 feet from the pair. A bolt streaks from his finger and hits the rock with a soft 'Ting' but doesn't chip or spark on it like it normally would.

"As for as your aim, well, remember we Halflings are naturally excellent shots."

He adds with a grin, "You'll get better, but again it's going to take you a lot of practice time, but I doubt you'll never be as good as a Halfling.

The next day as the caravan crosses the top of a rolling hill you see a squad of Goblins about a half mile ahead. They are marching toward you. It looks like a dozen, or so, infantry with spears on their shoulders and 4 riders on Wargs. Master Ross passes the word that this is a patrol out of Goblintown and it is not unusual to meet one on the way into the town.

Ross says to your party, "I'm going to ride ahead to parley while the caravan pauses. Do you want to come with me and meet them?"

[joertexas]

Ross says to your party, "I'm going to ride ahead to parley while the caravan pauses. Do you want to come with me and meet them?"

"I will go with you," Eodrien says. She has her heavy crossbow cocked, but there's no bolt loaded. She keeps her waraxe sheathed, as well.

[ateno]

"Mykt Vallan Kivi!" Tony says pointing his finger at a boulder about 30 feet from the pair. A bolt streaks from his finger and hits the rock with a soft 'Ting' but doesn't chip or spark on it like it normally would.

"As for as your aim, well, remember we Halflings are naturally excellent shots."

He adds with a grin, "You'll get better, but again it's going to take you a lot of practice time, but I doubt you'll never be as good as a Halfling.

"Well perhaps, but i'm a pretty good shot for a human. <smile>.

"Tomorrow I will teach you Mage hand and Mending.



Ross says to your party, "I'm going to ride ahead to parley while the caravan pauses. Do you want to come with me and meet them?"
[/quote]

"I would, but maybe I can rife behind Eodrien, as I don't have a horse. Come on Kazan.

Darrian

[Darithe]

"I'll tag along too, if only to keep the others out of trouble. Lord knows they need my sober hand to keep them on the right track," she grins.

[bobk2323]

Ross says to your party, "I'm going to ride ahead to parley while the caravan pauses. Do you want to come with me and meet them?"

"I will go with you," Eodrien says. She has her heavy crossbow cocked, but there's no bolt loaded. She keeps her waraxe sheathed, as well.

"I'll go," the pale, tall cleric says. "It's interesting." (pause) "Maybe."

--
Bob K.

[joertexas]

"I'll go," the pale, tall cleric says. "It's interesting." (pause) "Maybe."

"We want it to be boring," Eodrien says dryly. "Boring, and safe."

[Eris]

Eodrien, Magdal and Frank walk along side Master Ross as he rides his horse up to the column of Goblins on the road.

"Hail! And well met!" Ross calls out then adds with a chuckle, "Oh, it's Sargent Crill isn't it?"

"Na! Captain Crill now!" calls a goblin who is riding a large wolf-like creature adding, "And what are you doing still alive Ross? My orders are to go up the Crossroads and find your bodies then guard the Crossroads."

"Yu know, we was told the Red Caps killed yu all up at the Crossroads." Crill says as his worg mount comes up closer, "Like always, seems like those bastards were lying their asses off as here yu is!"

Squinting up the road he adds with a feral grin, "And there's yu're wagons, too! The King Boso, hee, hee, is gonna roast him some Red Caps when you come a' riding unto town as fine as you please."

The pair chat a bit and you learn that Ross met Crill last year when he brought his caravan through Goblintown and was given an escort for 20 miles south of town by a troop of goblins due to Orcish nomads raiding in the area. You also learn that this troop heading for the Crossroads is to patrol from there up to the pass through Broken Ridge until relieved. Another troop has been sent south along the road to patrol it from "The Old Tower" back up to Goblintown. Crill adds that sending out two troops like that leaves Goblintown's guard very short staffed, in his opinion, but that's what the King Boso ordered, so that's what the guard does. Not really stopping while Ross and Crill talk the Goblin troop passes by the wagon train and continues up the road toward the Crossroads and the Broken Ridge. Before long the caravan is alone again on the trail.

The rest of the day and the next passes without event. Darren and Tony continue with their lessons and Darren finds that he is no longer hurting himself when he fires off the magic pebbles and he is hitting the rocks and stumps he aims at more often than not.

Tony says, "I held off telling you this until you got the hang of things, Darren, but you can do more damage with this spell...at a cost to yourself. If you point two fingers", he holds out his index and middle finger together, "you do more damage to your target, but you will take a little damage yourself" (does 1d6+1 damage, caster takes 1 point of damage), "and if you hold four fingers together and point at the target it does a lot more damage and you take more yourself" (does 1d8+1 damage, caster takes 2 points of damage).

OOC: If Darren tries the 2 or 4 finger attack he discovers Tony is right, he takes damage each time. It feels like some unseen attacker is stabbing him in the chest each time he does it. Darren can certainly see that if he did this several times in a row he could kill himself!

The other spells are copied back and forth between spellbooks during this time.

Late in the afternoon of the next day you all notice smoke coming up from beyond a rise in the road. When you walk up to see what is going on you see there are fires burning in the north part of a fairly large unwalled town about a half mile ahead. This is Goblintown and it looks like several houses are on fire on the northern edge of the town!

Ross looks at your group and says, "I'm holding the caravan here until I know what is going on down there. You go up there and find out."