11. Return to O'Hare

[dmw71]

From here: 10. Escaping O'Hare

---

After completing their morning preparations and paying what may potentially be their final respects to their fallen comrades, the group sets out to make their return to the abandoned city of O'Hare. Not far from your destination when you begin your journey, you find your travel uneventful. You approach cautiously.

The smell of smoke still fills the air, or is it that your senses are just playing tricks on you? Regardless, you all agree that burnt wood certainly smells better than the stench those foul swamp beasts are able to permeate. Not surprisingly, the city definitely appears different this time. From a safe distance you can tell that much, if not most, of the town has suffered significant fire damage or has been completely burnt down.

At approximately one hundred yards out, you're as close as you feel you can approach without risking detection. It's close enough make out what appears to be a makeshift fence of sorts formed from the javelins of the troglodytes sticking in the ground. Spaced five or six feet apart each, this "fence" is not meant to keep anyone or anything out, but perhaps serve as a warning.

No activity -- friend or foe -- is detected from within the town's limits.

[tooleychris]

map please
Grim looks around to see if the bodies of trogs or townies are still where they fell?

[dmw71]

map please
Grim looks around to see if the bodies of trogs or townies are still where they fell?

The city is still basically the same, only now most of the town has suffered fire damage. I will need to figure out how to reflect the damage on the map I was using, then actually make all the updates to the various structures. Give how much of a pain it is to update the map in Notepad like I was, an updated map may take a while.

No bodies from your earlier battles are visible from your current location.

[Alethan]

"Do we send someone to scout ahead? Or all go in as one?", Gwillt asks the rest of the group.

[saalaria]

[quote="dmw71]No bodies from your earlier battles are visible from your current location.[/ooc][/quote]

Is that - no bodies would have been visible as we are not in the right place to see them? Or - we should be able to see bodies but we know they have been moved?

Kaltar shifts uneasily:

"The evidence seems to suggest that the battle was lost and the town overrun. I wonder if those strange fellows we met in the first inn are in on this or also now killed."

[Stonjuz]

"With practically nothing left to hide under and around, Id prefer to go in together. 'Specially since what happened last time I tried to sneak around alone."

[onlyme]

Ewell pipes in...
I believe Epsilon has knowledge of these troggy things. Can we estimate the numbers that may be here? We have killed around 20, I believe. How many more form a gang? That may determine our best approach. I of course, shall not "Sneak" for nothing. Well, maybe of that Thalia lass is still around. Did anyone see her before we left?

[tooleychris]

" In my woods, Grim begins, "Far far from here, weez sets traps fer bigger game. We git da strong arms hidden and den da fast a footers either lures er scares da beastie inta da ambush."
He looks to Gwilt.
"Maybe weez hide an send one a us in a bit, see if'n anyone be der. If'n so, him runs back and lure dem ta de Udders?"

[Computer +1]

Strom speaks upI agree. We will live or die as a group, last time we were too easily dispatched. We need to coordinate our attacks, ranged attacks first, melee once the distance is closed. Allow the better armored people to absorb the brunt of the attacks. He pauses for a moment And if things go poorly once again I will hold the Trogs off as long as I can, those who can flee must do so and return with greater numbers to see the wrongs done here put to right.

After Ewell speaks Strom turns to him Thalia was one of the fallen. I was unable to aid her or the others in time.

[Alethan]

"Then, let's do this. Remember... bows, slings, spears, javelins, rocks... whatever you have for a distance attack, be sure to let everyone use theirs first before you charge in."

Setting an arrow to his bowstring, Gwillt begins a steady pace into the town.

"More javelins for ya, Grim..." he adds, as he walks through the picket fence of spears.

[ravenn4544]

"I got me some stones here that could reach out and touch a trog from a few yards away -- usually. I'm not nearly as useful as probably some of them bows and arrows would be. Not my style a'course, but who am I to judge? eh? Hah! No sireee, no judgement here. i got plenty of trouble enough just a judgein' my self! Ain't that the truth of it tho? Ya wander from place to place full of choices and doubts and ever challenged to take the right path.... hmmmm...that's good, have to remember that......" O'rek continues to talk to himself and weave and ramble thoughts together not quite so eloquently.... likely not to remember a single one.

[wolfpack]

Epsilon will load a bullet in his sling staff.

Troglodyte tribes can range anywhere from a couple of dozen to several hundred much like any human village varies in size. There is no way to specificaly know if this is an all out assualt, scouting party, small tribe that has been displaced, foward column of a larger tribe on the move, to many variables.

[wolfpack]

before we go into battle allow thoth to give us his blessings.

as we prepare to move into town epsilon will casts bless on the group

[tooleychris]

Grim looks at Epsilon a bit nervously. "Youz let dis Thoth fella take care a hims own, Eh?"
He shifts to the outer ranks of the party. "Grim kills 'nuff last time and lives wit no smiles er favors from strange gods. Don't thinkin Grim needs'em now neither. "

[ravenn4544]

"Grim! You are as wise as your sword arm is strong to thing the gods strange... they are! Hah! O'rek has a tale or two to tell there, you can be sure! Strange indeed! 'Pee-cu-lee-r with a capital P' my aunt would have said would she be here. Talk about strange - 'ol auntie was that - in spades! Stranger than a three headed catfish caught on a single lure - or somethin' like that - i dunno... what was i sayin?...."

[tooleychris]

Grim shakes his head incredulously and laughs aloud.

[onlyme]

After Ewell speaks Strom turns to him Thalia was one of the fallen. I was unable to aid her or the others in time.

Ewell responds,
Ahh, tis sad. But, at least her grief over her fallen brothers was short. I cannot imagine the parents' emotions, if they have survived to this day.

He overhears the banter between the spiritual and the spirited. Aye, never hurts to have someone ask for good luck, whether it helps or not. But, I suspect this sword(and dice roller)will get us safely through this challenge more than that diety of yourn.

[dmw71]

Sorry, all. I forgot my laptop at home so I'm limited to my phone, and making rolls (maybe) and typing out lengthy action posts is something I'd just assume leave to when I have a regular-sized keyboard. I will try to update tonight, but will have something this weekend if not.

[dmw71]

Actually, the above notice stated, I'll see what I can accomplish the last few stops of my commute.

[tooleychris]

Lol. Forgetting my laptop would be like....forgetting to put pants on before leaving for me. Such a geek. One time I intentionally left it at home and my 5yr old girl freaked out when she saw it. "Wheres daddy? He must be here. His puter is here!"