Rangers in danger:

[Spearmint]

April 29th 1066

Helix village. Duchy of Aerik.

8.00am: Sunshine. Light breeze.

Vann Hector picks up the supplies, two days of preserved rations (24 meals), four fresh skins of water, a case of 6 oil flasks, two dozen firebrand torches and a wicker basket which holds two carrier pigeons. The items distributed around the team.

Dawg Dann is ready as arranged by the guild. He carries a longspear and shoulders a short bow and quiver of arrows. He checks the plan of action.

"So Mr Hector, you want to go along the Moorwash Thumb, combing the riverbank for evidence of the old poacher Basil and his 'prentices. Well easier to hide four snakes in the grass than a pride o' lions. Follow me."

He points to the hex map of the region. "I suggest we follow the trail road to Ironguard to this point about 8 miles away. We then head directly southwest to arrive I the area where the Moorwash begins to divide into the delta drain arbitraries." It is a basic plan, he reassures you saying he knows the place like the back of his right hand, though he holds his left in the air to inspect.

The trek out is unmolested. A small caravan of traders pass you by on one side, some hooded pilgrims in a wagon singing hymns pass you later. By an hour you have come to the edge of the surrounding forest which suffices as the de facto boundary for any militia patrol.

actions and comments, Vann Hector, Rondahl and Dalin please.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"Well we trust in your expertise and the recommendation from Osen. As we journey perhaps you can tell us about the area we are going to. What creatures inhabit the place? Are any tribal creatures, lizard men, orcs, gnolls there. What about the undead that plague the Moor?"

After his experience he regrets not approaching the cleric or friar of Ygg to assist.

He suggests too that we could chat amicably with traders on the trail. Possibly they might be aware of rumours, dangers or have knowledge we could benefit from.

[SirOwen]

Rondahl the Grim

Rondahl appears on time, "having had" and ready to go. "Good morning, brothers!" Looking around, he adds, "Is this our team? Or are we expecting more?" The gates on his helmet are open, and it is not difficult to read the young man's face. He seems confident and happy. His primary weapon seems to be the trident that he had the night before and is in his hand now. Once Vann starts questioning their guide, he get quiet and listens carefully.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin merely nods his head "Greetings. Sorry my head is still achin' a bit from my last bout."

[Spearmint]

April 29th 1066

Helix village. Duchy of Aerik.

10.00am: Sunshine. Light breeze.

Dawg Dann chats as you travel. "Sure, the river and the banks are a dangerous place. Roving bands of lizardmen regularly stalk the caravans, emerging from the woods to harass Ironguard bound travellers or the Bogtown community. Closer to the Moorwash delta the forest thins out to the flat reed beds and Moor bogs. I heard tales of toadfolk and boglings dwelling there and you have the normal wandering critters, bears, snakes, even water buffalo. The river serves as a little boundary, we stick to the Northside and the tribes to the South. Can't imagine your guys would be foolish enough to trek beyond. Then where the rivers splits, you got all sorts of jeepers-creepers wandering out of the mounds."

The quartet keep a good pace, stopping just a couple of times to check the trail for it is rutted with gouged furrows and boggy with pools which cause it to meander rather than cut straight through the forest. It certainly is not maintained as a highway. The trees overgrow in long stretches to cast deep shadows. Travellers always have a sense of unease as there are numerous places for bandits and worse to spring traps. With that in mind, your attention is high and you catch sight of a group of 'stick-figure humanoids with insect wings', that seem to be feasting on a deer carcass. With grasping hands they snatch morsels of the disemboweled creature. A larger one is perched on a tree feasting on the choicest sweetmeats and eyeballs.

There are probably a dozen or more of these unidentified creatures, small humanoid in stature with red streaky carapaces and bug eyes. They see you too and immediately leap flying into the air, buzzing noisily like a swarm of provoked hornets.

actions please Dalin, Vann Hector, Rondahl.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin not trying to sound rude asks "And just what exactly are those things?" he asks Dawg Dann indicating the insectoid things.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"Never seen them before. Heard about 'robber flies' and insectoids. May be a type of that but if they took down a deer instead of stumbling across a carcass then I don't want to stick around and find out. Light up a torch. Most insects avoid fire.

Let's keep moving."

The elf draws his sword out in case he has to waft any away. Do we have to pass them to cross the trail? Perhaps we can cut into the wood and away from them. I am aware I still have some injury from the ghoul fight so am not at max hp either, any encounter could be critical.

[SirOwen]

Rondahl the Grim

Trusting an Elf to know best in the woodlands, Rondahl grabs one of the torches purchased earlier and lights it. Putting his trident on his back, he holds the torch in his left hand, in front of his buckler and draws a short sword with his right. He holds the torch aloft and takes up a middle position, to let the fire of the torch be a shield for everyone else..... if it works.

[Spearmint]

April 29th 1066

Forest Trail, Helix to Ironguard. Duchy of Aerik.

10.05am: Sunshine. Light breeze.

The strange critters feast on the carcass, bloody hunks of rotting venison torn from the internal cavities. They aggressively swarm, snatching a morsel and fly to hover on fast beating wings before dive-bombing the corpse again. The air is alive with the drone of their sound.

Rondahl lights a torch. Just as well for the swarm seems intent on succulent fresh blood not congealed rottenness. The swarm rise, a dozen hovering over the corpse, another dozen crawl out, more now seen in branches nearby and in a coordinated mass begin to fly in short steps to assail you.

The first to reach you are singed by the firebrand, their wings burning and crackling, shriivelling like hot wax. The critters fall to the ground and get stamped upon. Crunchy underfoot, squirting pus and blood from squished abdomens and broken exoskeletons.

Undeterred, the swarm dive-bomb at your heads and exposed flesh, trying to penetrate you with sharp stingers or nip you with mandible jaws.

actions Dalin, Vann, Ron, Dann. First to post roll initiative.

[SirOwen]

Initiative [1d6]=1 +1 (DEX) = 2

Rondahl the Grim

"Kill as you go. Kill as you go...." Rondahl mutters as he keeps the torch moving over their heads and stabs the creatures that insist on daring the flames. He moves to get past the bugs and encourages the others to do likewise.

Rondahl - Attack with Short Sword [1d20]=5
Rondahl - Short Sword Damage S,M [1d6+1]=6+1=7

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin "Crap. Kill bugs? Alright I'll try my best dang it." the dwarf takes a swing at some of the critters dive bombing him, with his club.

Init [1d10+2]=9+2=11

Club (Melee) [1d20]=15 to hit, [1d6]=4 s/m dmg

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

"Stick together, back to back with a buddy. I can imagine the swarm seek to overwhelm one of a group so lets not get isolated." he advises while swishing with his sword.

Vann Hector longsword melee [1d20+1]=11+1=12 damage [1d8]=1

Can we get further away from the deer carcass. Maybe they will fly back to eat something that is not attacking back.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin heeds the warning and puts his back up against Rondahl & Vann.

[Spearmint]

April 29th 1066

Forest Trail, Helix to Ironguard. Duchy of Aerik.

10.06am: Sunshine. Light breeze.

The hornet's nest stirred, the angry insectoids harass the group. They perch in branches and trunks then dive-bomb their intended victim to grip them with claws and stab with abdomen stingers. The firebrand wielding Dawg Dann incurs mist of their wrath and a concentrated group swarm around him. Three burn in the flames and nosedive into the earth. The fourth lands in his shoulder and stabs his exposed neck. -2 damage and a failed save.

The characters stab but pointy blades fail to impale. Dalin demonstrates the last thing that goes through a critters mind when it face plants the cudgel is it's arse-end.

The thinning ranks of critters hesitate before the slightly larger one seems to corral their morale with some angry chirping and they redouble their efforts to bring down a body of juicy blood.

next actions please

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin attempts to repeat his club attack on the bugs.

Club (Melee) [1d20]=9 to hit, [1d6]=4 s/m dmg

[SirOwen]

Rondahl the Grim

Seeing that his sword isn't a proper weapon against the fine-winged creatures, he drops it and brings his flail into the fray. He quickly discovers, however, that the quick bug-like things are more difficult to hit than he expected.

Rondahl - Attack with Flail [1d20]=2

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

If I can I would like to get a second torch and touch it to the one Dawg Dann wields so that it increases the flame defence which seems more critical to disabling these critters.

Otherwise I miss in melee.

[Spearmint]

April 29th 1066

Helix forest trail to Ironguard. Duchy of Aerik.

10.08am: Sunshine. Light breeze.

The critters buzz angrily but try as they might they cannot hit the group with their stingers. The group in turn cannot hit the critters. The stalemate us broken with a second flaming firebrand which crisps the critters wings. Another half dozen succumb and the swarm, morale broken fly back to easier but less tasty food elsewhere.

Dawg Dann binds his wound with a bandana. It doesn't bleed but a large bruise shows. He complains of a little fatigue, perhaps the poison weakening him a little but otherwise he is good to go.

Proceeding further down the trail you come to a point where he signals to access the moor.

"The river lies that way." Past the forest fringe, the moor grasses grow tall and tangled. The ground is boggy and the peat soft underfoot. There is no discernible trail. A heavy mist, swirling in thick foggy patches obscures much of your view.

next actions, questions or comments please.

[SirOwen]

Rondahl the Grim

Glad of the clear skies, Rondahl notes the position of the sun as it relates to where Dawg Dann points. "OK," he says. "That way." Rondahl picks up his sword and returns his flail to its hook on his belt. He considers switching to his trident, but thinks that the tall grass might hinder his movement with the six foot weapon. "Dawg, are you able to lead the way, or if you are too injured, perhaps just navigate for me and I'll take point?" In either position, Rondahl sets out with his short sword in his right and a torch and buckler in his left.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin puts his club back in his pack and takes up a hand axe. "How poisonous were those bugs anyway? You look like you lost a nights sleep Dann."