Along the Border Watch

[ChubbyPixie]

"Montego, Cassius, there you are! We have a job to do. Justice to exact! I'd like you to meet my new acquaintance, Obi. His friend was murdered! And what's more the culprits —" Kranston begins when he is cut off by the screams coming from the north. He looks back to them with alarm. "We should probably check that out," he says and hurries towards the sound.

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

The short elf looks at Kranston and then to his new acquaintance. Cassius glances at Montego and shrugs. "Nice to meet you?"

As the screams cut through the air, he registers what was said. "Murdered? It sounds like the culprits aren't done yet!"

He motions for Montego to follow as he chases the Dwarf to the north.

[Hotgoblin]

Muldgarr smiles at the comment, then is taken aback from the scream that filled the air. He locks eyes with his companions...he yells to them..Hurry, we must locate, whoever is in agony...

[OGRE MAGE]

Montego stares at the tiny creature for an uncomfortably long time, nervous about newcomers ever since the altercation with the bizarre shape-changer.

"It is nice to meet you Obi. Would you like me to carry you along with us while we investigate that scream? It sounded like it came from that wizards tower yonder."

If there is no objection, the ranger does just that.

[hedgeknight]

After cauterizing the puss filled stump and setting aside the sword. He returns to the arm and gives it a once over. Casts his last cure light wounds to make sure the infection is gone. He bandages the stump with clean bandages and throws the old stuff in a pile.

Yes, Yes, I think He will live. His wounds are healed and the stump has stopped bleeding. He just needs rest and some fresh air. Priest open the end flaps on his tent. The smell of dead and decay is overwhelming in here. This is a healing place not a grave. Get some fresh air through here. Help me get him up and out of here. We will take him for a short walk. fresh air will do him good.

The young guard's companion agrees and helps Sai get the wounded man to his feet. With a lot of grunts of pain and discomfort, they lead the man out of the infirmary and down toward the river.
The air feels nice and the man takes some deep breaths, looking at the flowing water with awe, certain his eyes would never see it again after his encounter with the...

His gaze turns toward his right, looking over Sai's shoulder, and manages, "Um...who be they?" in a hoarse wheeze.

Sai turns and sees his companions hurrying toward him > Kranston is huffing and puffing along, with Cassius and Muldgarr close behind the Dwarf, and Montego bringing up the rear.
And riding on the ranger's shoulder is a tiny person.

[Darklin2]

Sai

Sai waves with his free hand.

Those are my companion's. You are quite lucky we just arrived at the Fort. Otherwise you would probably be fertilizer by now. You need to enjoy the fresh air and not worry to much about everything else. You need time to recover before you are doing anything. You will be weak from blood lose and need to eat as much fruit as you can find to help your body rebuild. Losing an arm is traumatic and you will have some mental issues to work through as well.

Once they arrive.

Sorry guys, I found this guy in bad shape in the medical tent. Took all my spells but looks like he will live now. Who is your new friend?

[OGRE MAGE]

Montego

"Did you guys hear the screams? We were just moving towards the tower to investigate."

"This is Obi. KK's new pal. He needs help too, but I think he is just coming along for the ride, for now anyway."

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

Cassius nods in greeting but is distracted by the screaming urgency. "Very kind of you, Sai. We'll fill you in on the way, let's go!"

[hedgeknight]

Montego "Did you guys hear the screams? We were just moving towards the tower to investigate."

"This is Obi. KK's new pal. He needs help too, but I think he is just coming along for the ride, for now anyway."

The wounded man's companion gives Montego and Cassius a frown and says, "The only one screaming like a girl is this one here." The man grins and jostles the wounded man, who threatens to drown his friend in the river "as soon as I am up to it."

"You deserve to be drowned!" screeches the diminutive creature now standing on Montego's shoulder. "You murdered my friend, Pudding! I followed you here and now, you're gonna pay the iron price!"

Obi huffs and then pulls a tiny golden whistle out of his tiny shirt pocket and blows on it with all his might. Strangely, the whistle makes no sound...or at least no sound you can hear.

After a few seconds though...you hear a muffled thud, followed by another, then more. Obi claps his little hands and says, "Oh, you're gonna get it now!"

Suddenly, a horn sounds an alarm and you hear men shouting "To arms! Northeast! To arms! The forest!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Okay, you guys are near the river on the opposite side of where the noise and alarm is coming from. The town's not too big though, so it should only take a round or two to get back to your wagons.
Actions!

[Hotgoblin]

Mulgarr

What has this little creature done? Others are going to get hurt, just like your Pudding or Puddington did... He looks to the other two men... why did you kill this little one’s friend?

[Darklin2]

Sai

Sai looks at his patient's companion and back at his patient.

Someone needs to come clean and tell me what is going on? Are you two friend's? Or are you both trying to kill each other? This man has come close to death because I assumed he was defending this fort. If this is because of some game you two are playing then I will end you both.

He releases the wounded man's arm and lets the weight fall to his friend to see if he will support him.

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

The sudden rage of the little Obi takes him off guard. He notes, with appropriate irony, that emotions aren't dependant on size. He shakes his head and grimaces. "Well, that took a turn. Whose side are we on, by the way?"

He pulls his bow and glances over the river at the commotion.

[OGRE MAGE]

Montego grabs Obi by the back of his shirt and lifts him off his shoulder, holding the little fella out at arms length so he can address him sternly.

"What have you done, Obi? You didnt say anything about calling on any harm to come to this place. We were trying to help you, remember? Just what in the hells is the iron price? "

The massive human looks at the two men next.

"And what do you two have to say about all of this?" His free hand moves quickly to his sword pommel. "Did you really kill poor Puddington?"

[Darklin2]

Sai

Sai looks at Montego.

Who is Puddington? Sounds like something you step in on the side of the road. This man here is my patient. When I found him in the medical tent he was seconds away from death. I healed his wounds and cauterized his arm stump but it sounds like these two are up to no good from the start.

Turns back to his patient and friend.

What do you two have to say for yourselves? And tell the truth or I'll freeze you where you stand!

[hedgeknight]

Explanations and Exclamations

"To arms! Northeast! To arms! The forest!"
This is the cry that goes out to all in the small fort village of Morsten, as the sun sets on a late summer evening. The commotion finds the companions of the Border Watch in a confrontative situation.

What has this little creature done? Others are going to get hurt, just like your Pudding or Puddington did... Muldgarr looks to the other two men... why did you kill this little one’s friend?
The non-wounded man rounds on Muldgarr, anger coloring his face.
"We didn't kill nothin' tha' twernt tryin' to kill us first! We were on patrol up the river when this feathered bear came chargin' out of the brush and attacked. Damn near killed, Tomas, our best scout! What were we supposed to do?"

Cassius is shocked by the accusations and looks back and forth between his companions. "Well, that took a turn. Whose side are we on, by the way?"

Sai lets the wounded man, Tomas, go and the man slumps against his companion with a groan.
Someone needs to come clean and tell me what is going on? Are you two friend's? Or are you both trying to kill each other? This man has come close to death because I assumed he was defending this fort. If this is because of some game you two are playing then I will end you both.

Montego jerks the small creature off his shoulder, holding him at arms length.
"What have you done, Obi? You didnt say anything about calling on any harm to come to this place. We were trying to help you, remember? Just what in the hells is the iron price? "

"I haven't done a thing! Those two and their friends killed my best friend in all the world. And now my other friends are gonna make them pay. The iron price is paid with blood - their blood! Give yourselves up and maybe they'll spare your tall-legged companions. Maybe not! Either way, Pudding will be avenged!"
Obi twists and turns and tries to untangle himself from Montego's grip. If he can reach his pocket...

"And what do you two have to say about all of this? Did you really kill poor Puddington?"
"Pudding! Her name was Pudding!"

Montego and Cassius prepare for the worst, hands moving toward weapons...as Sai speaks directly to his companions.

"Who is Puddington? Sounds like something you step in on the side of the road. This man here is my patient. When I found him in the medical tent he was seconds away from death. I healed his wounds and cauterized his arm stump but it sounds like these two are up to no good from the start."

"Pudding! Pudding! Damn it all!" squeals the tiny creature in Montego's grip.
"Kranston! You swore on your family to help me! You're a liar!"

Kranston stammers and stutters and looks back and forth at his friends...but Sai speaks first, turning back to the men of Green Company.

What do you two have to say for yourselves? And tell the truth or I'll freeze you where you stand!
The wounded man's companion has had enough. He draws his sword and shakes it at Sai. "You've done enough! Thank you for your help. But threaten us again, and I swear I'll gut you and throw your ass in the river!"

A loud horn blows on the opposite side of town, near the gates where you entered. Three sharp blasts...a call to war!

[OGRE MAGE]

Wondering if Pudding was the owlbear he’d heard about earlier, Montego quickly uses both hands to contain the wiggling Obi, but tries not to squeeze hard enough to injure the tiny fey. As he does so, he shouts for the men to stand down.

“Calm down! No one’s guttin anyone! You two shits really think you can take all six of us or what?” The big man winks at Obi. “Besides, ain’t you supposed to be answering those calls to arms?”

“Now Obi! You need to think this over a little better! This sounds like a mistaken case of self defense to me! But, if it’s only these two you want, we can certainly arrange something. You need to call off your friends before more of your kind is needlessly killed. You hear those war cries? Don’t let a slaughter happen here, on both sides, just for a little taste of revenge. It’s not worth it, believe me. And I think deep down you know I speak the truth. You’re better than this, aren’t you pal?”

If the pep talk doesn’t seem to be working, the ranger eventually squeezes the sprite a little harder and starts running towards the oncoming attack. “We need to try to stop this Kranston! What have you gotten us into here? Why does it seem like trouble just follows us around wherever we go?”

[Darklin2]

Sai

First backs away from the two Green Squad soldiers.

You two best get to your posts, before I change my mind. Your Sergeants will hear about your mischief.

He then unshoulders his bow and moves to the closest place he can see the incoming attackers at the river. If able he will move to the upper platform along the wall. View of the incoming is most important.

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

"Ah. I see. We've stepped into a race war. Those never end well." Cassius nods at Montego's attempt for peace but sighs when he hears that Kranston swore to help Obi. "It looks like we're going to make enemies either way. I personally don't owe this town anything, but I'd like to know who Obi's people are before fighting anyone."

The urgency of the horn increases the tension and seems to speed up time. "If we can even get that luxury. Time is running out."

He pauses for a moment, then decides. "These two, and Obi, stay with us until we figure this out. I don't want a rampaging army destroying the town to look for them."

He leans in and whispers to Montego. "Or, as an alternative, we wash our hands of it all and get the wagons out of here."

[hedgeknight]

Kranston Kranstonson doesn't know what to do and Muldgarr seems confused as to what to do first. Worried about their horses, the pair head off toward the wagons, Kranston's drum bouncing on his back and he runs.
I'll be happy to do something else with Muldgarr...but I haven't heard from Hotgoblin in awhile.

The two guards look back and forth between the three remaining heroes (and Obi, of course, struggling mightily in Montego's unforgiving grip.) and wonder what to do. It is the injured man who speaks first.
"Well...should we stay or should we...go?"

Another horn sounds from the tower. You look up there and see a figure in white robes and a black staff with a green glowing gem atop it. The figure raises the staff and a greenish bolt of energy flies from it with a clap of thunder!
You don't know the target of the bolt, but you do hear a roar of something...monstrous.

[Hotgoblin]

Muldgarr goes to the horses and their merchant brethren. Their job is to protect and guide their caravan and that’s what he’s going to do. He has not pledged any help to either of the two factions in this fight.