Chp. 5: WTF?!

[AleBelly]

"Damn it! Are you OK, Burt? No more splitting up! These cowards will pick us off one by one. I have a mind to run this sword through Mentzer right now!

After calming himself down, Wulfhart lowers his voice. I agree with Groyn. Let's leave at once!"

[Rhonon]

Eledhon takes a few fast steps to the cleric and grabs under his arm to support him.Myoh keep calm, good Albertus, you are among friends now.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, my internet was down for about a week, I hope it to be stable now.

[jakegreenxxxx44]

runs up and says a quick prayer for Albertus the cleric. How could this happen so quickly? We need to find who is responsible for this attack!

[jakegreenxxxx44]

Asks Albertus the cleric: do you need healed? how badly are you hurt?

[SlyFox]

The painted warrior looks on with concern. "It seems they will not stop until we are all dead, but they seem to be going after the holy men first. Something tells me this is a spiritual battle. Albertus, keep close to us at all times. There's no telling who they might try to pick off next."

[jakegreenxxxx44]

my twin war-hammers are ready for battle (literally and figuratively speaking)

[Grognardsw]

Albertus the cleric heals himself (4 HP). He tells his story to the others in the tavern. The party is wroth. All agree to stay together and leave for the Caves of Chaos, where answers and proof of Metzner's plotting will hopefully be found.

Meanwhile Vorkath the paladin confers with his hired urchins, footpads, spies. He relays shocking news: "Tayne was seen in the company of this Metzner. He was overheard to be visiting 'associates' in the Caves of Chaos! I shall accompany you! By the True God I will see justice served!"

The party sets out for the Caves.

The adventurers are making their way along the forest road, almost to the turning point north to cut through to the Caves of Chaos. They hear a loud noise from the sky, a piercing ruffling explosive sound unlike anything ever heard. Eyes turn to the sky. There, coming from the south, beneath the cloud layer, is what must be an armored flying beast of some kind. A metal turtle, some strange dragon, a massive insect? It looks like a wingless floating shield, circular, with flame and smoke billowing forth from jagged holes to the left of its mid-section. Three lights shine from its underside. The topside has a raised center. It flies shakily, off-balance, veering gradually in descent.

Flying the way it is, the adventurers realize this creature is going to crash further north. Then a human shape can be made out, falling from the metallic beast. It must be more than a 1,000' up. It is plummeting straight down above the adventurers. Then another figure is seen falling from the creature.

[Rhonon]

He whispers to the others: Come on, whoever was attacked by this creature maybe needs our help!
Eledhon draws two darts and sneaks to the place where he believes the human must have fallen down.

[AleBelly]

"Such strange things in these borderlands" grumbles Wulfhart. "But, if it's on our way, I suppose we could go check on whatever it is that fell out of that flying cockring. Probably a puddle of blood and bones. He fell a long way."

He will follow Eledhon.

[Zhym]

"It didn't look like a chicken," Boddin tells Wulfhart.

[SlyFox]

DesertFox shakes his head with wonder. A flaming metal bird! My people have tales of such things, though none has lived to tell the story of what happens when one is taken by the bird. All we know of are the deaths of many buffalo." The painted warrior follows the others quickly, using the trees as cover to keep the metal bird from seeing him.

[doughx99]

Niles will follow the others to investigate what fell or jumped from the flying object

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal

What in the blazes is that thing?!?

Fingal stands there dumbfounded waiting to see what happens next.

[jakegreenxxxx44]

curious about the flying object (always have wanting to fly herself) she's not sure what to do. She thinks to herself: safety in numbers as she chooses between the bigger of the two groups.

[Grognardsw]

The plummeting figure suddenly sprouts a balloon from its back, slowing its descent. Then the other figure, a grayish humanoid, sprouts a balloon, but wind currents push him far north.

The adventurers watch as the man leisurely floats down and lands with a roll. It is a disheveled elf.

"I am Asherrion," he says as he catches his breath. "Where am I?"

The saucer streaks north, flaming and smoking.

[jakegreenxxxx44]

watches as Asherrion drift to the ground from the sky in shear amazement / joy

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart watches, attempting to mask his amazement at a humanoid floating with a balloon. As the elf lands, Wulfhart listens to the elf's question and moves his hand to the hilt of his sword. "Not a very safe place, I can tell you that, but probably safer than that flying metal ship you were in" he answers gruffly, slowly nodding his head in the direction of the ship's path. "What kind of magic is that, anyway? In my experience these fantastic devices come bring along unfriendly creatures. What is your business here?"

[Zhym]

"My goodness!" exclaims Boddin. "It was a lucky thing for you that great silver beast spit you out when you killed it! Maybe it didn't find you tasty?"

[Rhonon]

Eledhon

He puts two two fingers to his mouth, then turns his hand. After performing the elven greetinggesture he says in elvish:

Please pardon my harsh friend. This is a dangerous time in a place like thisone. Especially for one who wanders alone.

he then continues in common:
Would you mind, explaining what happened here? None of us has seen a thing like that (pointing to the UFO).

[greyarea]

Asherrion

Asherrion removes an empty backpack with threads attached to the balloon that allowed him to alight the ground in safety.

He responds to Eledhon in Elvish,

Thank you for your kind words: it is nice to have company again, even if one is greeted harshly, especially the company of one's own kind.

Then, looking at the others, he says, in Common, I do not think it was a beast. He looks at where the saucer is disappearing to in the sky, Rather it was like a flying house or dungeon, with walls and floors of metal. I recall not how I came to be there nor what they wanted. I ache all over, though, and barely escaped with my life, it seems. If not for this strange backpack and the gaping hole in the wall, my light would have been snuffed.

He turns to Wulfhart, Speaking of unfriendly creatures, another leapt from the hole in the wall as well: a short being, grey and thin. He may have been a fellow prisoner but I think it more likely he was my captor. Perhaps if I have "business" it is in finding him and finding his purpose in taking me from my home. Did you see him descend as well?

He adjusts the backpack that remains, and stretches before wincing in pain. He wonders, what doesn't ache.

Quite possibly the best mid-campaign intro I've ever been a part of. Kudos, Grognardsw.