Chapter 8 - Orc Recon

[Zhym]

Angus closes his eyes and shakes his head slowly. "Boy, tell me that robe didn't rip where I think it ripped."

[Zorroroaster]

"Did it get colder in here all of a sudden?"

[onlyme]

Dandelion keeps a vigilant watch, not recognizing or trusting the new faces.

[Storm11]

Tempus looks out at the approaching elves in wonderment. He is particularly enchanted by the fair race. Surely they couldn't be bad news, so graceful and touched by the fey as they were. The little
Halfling rubbed his hounds head as he watched the more experienced members of this chaotic band work together.

[Inferno]

"Come to think of it, I'm fair sure I ain't much heard Alleborg called 'fair,' neither—leastwise not by folks what've actually been there. You sure that's where you're from?"

"I never said Alleborg was fair," the elven young man said placidly and politely. A smile played at the edge of his passive face. These men were very different than what he was led to believe.
"Yes, I've lived my whole life there. Nearly a century and a half. I was raised by a human family. Four generations of them."

[media_junkie]

The elf maiden steps into the camp while eyeing the odd group assembled before her. "Lorilee Ravenholme, pleased to meet you all."

[enn.in.me]

"Come, sit by the fire and talk with us. It is time for a meal. I'm Yenny, pleased to meet you."

[Marullus]

"Cuckoo." Hellebore slides around the archway like an unfurling vine, stepping across the snow in a circle around the new elves as she stares at them intently.

She pauses, tilting her head slightly. "Elves are like cuckoos. Leaving their children for others to raise. You're the fourth such that we've met. Never seen an elf raised by elves." She raises a hand against protest. "I find this quite wise, in fact. Having helped raise my sister, Arlandria, it is unarguably the wiser course, if one of less integrity. I commend your third-father, particularly, who spent his entire lifetime during your adolescence." She shudders a little, involuntarily.

As she stands still, a raven flaps down and quorks, trying to perch on her shoulder just as a massive wolf pads out from the interior to sniff them. "I am Hellebore Frogmorton, and this is Rrkox and Qatkir,"she says, animal noise punctuating each name's inflection.

She looks around, pointing at the others. "Clear enough, from the Alleborg ceremonies. Hyde, honest and brave, if you see past his teeth. Our best fighter at the moment, without question." Then, ticking through the others, each statement said as if it is self-explanatory as she introduces them."Angus is true and belongs to the wood. Yenny is wise and clever as gnomes go; her Gods are even more curious than she. Chet, is a monk... If he's the example, I like Monks quite a bit. Arnulf..."She pauses, looking at the man holding together his ripped robes. "...has potential. He hadn't gone insane when we found him locked in a cage in an orcish prison, so he has more grit than shows. Tempus, Dandelion, and Galan are new, but acquit themselves well, as I'm sure you will."She looks them over, her words plainly spoken.

She pauses, considering. "Our experience with elves has been mixed. Eduard was wise, fair, and the truest leader we've known. Lived centuries, but survived less than a fortnight once he joined us." She pauses soberly to add emphasis. "Since his death, you see we've lacked much of an organizing principle. We also have Ilfirien, the elf-bitch. Might have manners if she ever had met another elf. She's obnoxious, usually, and stole from us all once, but I think we're over it.... Not all Cuckoos make good choices in placing their eggs, you see. She is amazing to watch in battle. She took our last outing hard, being hit by a spell that showed her true weakness... she gave an excuse about cleaning her garments but I think she just needed time to recover."

She pokes the snow at their toes with her spear while the bristly wolf sniffs around them, still suspicious. "That is why I welcome you. You are the cuckoo's children, misfits in the place you were raised, as were each of us. Nature has a way, you see, of bringing forward its champions... One who never fit in knows no fear moving out of safety beyond the perimeter. Only one who was ill-fitted can know the value of home, enough to fight ferociously for it." She steps aside and motions them towards the pair of small fires illuminating the hallway beyond. "Though, it is distressing to know we are so noisy and easily followed.... do you have any objection with killing orcs?"

[Inferno]

The young elf listened intently to Hellebore Frogmorton's description of this company, as a student might hear lore of legendary heroes of mythology.

His tranquil visage smiled gently when Hellebore spoke of his adolescent decades. Then he sat near Yenny and said, "Thank you. Lorilee and I are unrelated. And I was told my parents died saving my life.

"I am Khahl-Ehl. And I have no objection to killing orcs."

(pronounced kal-EL.
Nice post, Marullus. Good to be gaming with you again.)

[AleBelly]

Two visitors of elvish stock happen upon the party. Introductions are made, pleasantries and tales exchanged, and pasty white backside is revealed.

The sleet continues to fall. It pings lightly off the armor and weapons, playing like an atonal symphony - not that any of our heroes would be familiar with such a spectacle. The thought of a warm fire appeals to all.

Will the party build one within the tower?

Excellent RPing, folks!

[CAI4]

Chet eyes the newcomers suspiciously, but is cordial. At least at first. "Well, I'm ok if you want to stay with us. But we'll keep an eye on you. I don't want you to chop our heads off while we sleep tonight!"

[media_junkie]

"Have no care of that happening, Chet, I've left my head chopping axe at home.", Lorilee says with a smile.

Looking around the tower the group is camped out in she cannot help but shiver. "I for one would not mind a fire, does anyone have any objections to us setting a blaze alight?"

[onlyme]

Dandelion shakes her head,
No. Of course not. But, we need to be vigilant. As, I am sure the glow will be visible some distance off.

[Inferno]

Khahl-Ehl, elven archer:

Not wishing to impose his opinion, the tranquil elf remains silent on the topics of fire building and nocturnal decapitations.

If this area seems likely to support game, and if the group decides to build a fire, he'll try to hunt something to roast upon it. If he fails, he'll at least try to bring back more firewood.

[Marullus]

To catch you up on our current location, here's the picture, descriptions, and maps in this post.

As Yenny sets a fire, Hellebore ushers everyone safely inside and prepares to set her magical snare. If the new elf departs, she waits until all have returned.

She crouches by the fire, calling over Arnulf and asking for his help and his map in explaining recent events. "We just took a brief sojourn to eliminate a goblin nest to the east after seeing their impact on the farmers there. We now focus our attention here - to the west, and the orc threat. You can see where we are here at the Tower, about halfway to Strohd, where the orcs have conquered and established a capital. The Sambords have a fortification to the south and hold the line against the orc depredations, which may be the only reason they haven't come in greater force against the Alleborg farmers and perimeter. We aided them in destroying a slaving operation on the outskirts of Strohd, saving Arnulf and bringing home many Sambords. We have a name for ourselves among the orcs because of this, as we learned when we defeated one of their hunting parties sent to find us. The orc's map identified "town no go" the Ogre Pit, and the Frogmen. This is a dangerous land for us now, so we came to scout. We thought to start here at the tower once more and use it as a base for excursions."

She looks to the rest of the group to include them in the conversation. "We know that the stirges, what you call batsquitos, nest on the top floor. They are an abomination and we can rid them on the morrow. The floor above us belongs to the spiders... Many young ones rest in their sacks waiting for the spring thaw to hatch and I suspect the parents have died with the winter cold or hibernate. I will plan to negotiate with them tomorrow, too - the spiders belong, and control the population of stirges. I see no reason we need, or can use, the upper floors and this is their home." She looks around for dissenting grumbles, then continues.

She regards the elves. "If you wish to join us, and you are willing to go lightly armored, that gives us four who can move adeptly as a scouting party, composed of elves and hobbits. The others are a more armored band of warriors and spellcasters. I suggest we range from here for a few days, learning what lies between us and Strohd, investigating the orcish landmarks, and hopefully finding points we can use to our advantage. The city needs food and water, as all cities do. Our maps have not shown a river near Strohd, as there is in Alleborg. Finding the orcish water supply is of interest to me. If we find something suitable for a more significant offensive, we can report it back to the Castleman."

She looks confidently at Arnulf. "Arnulf, though, was imprisoned among their slaves and farms for weeks. Now that we return that way... Do you have more to tell us?"

Map of the area:

GM: Did the eagle bring back any gamecourtyardDoes Yenny choose to make one large fire in the courtyard with room for everyone but in the rain, or two smaller fires in the cramped hallways with a roof overhead but windows open to the outside?

[AleBelly]

GM: Did the eagle bring back any game today?

The eagle was able to feed itself today, but did not locate extra game.

viewtopic.php?f=176&t=5286#p236074

[media_junkie]

"I have no problem with being part of the scouting party.", Lorilee says to the assembled group.

[Nuke66]

Galan responds finally. "I can appreciate your assistance here. We have quite a bit of things to accomplish. so long as we are all willing to , shall we say, remove the foe, you are welcome here. Join us for some food and fire and let us be ready on the morrow."

[Zhym]

"We can use some good fighters, ain't no doubt about that," says Angus. "Welcome."

"I got no bones to pick with spiders long as they leave us be. But we might want to think about using the higher levels of the tower for strategic position against attackers. Hellebore, you think you might talk the spiders into letting us pass unhindered?"

[enn.in.me]

fires in the hallway.