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Severi is all in favor of continuing to ride, being fearless of rain.

We'll be wet no matter what. Ride on!

Rhys the Traveler

"It's a good, cleansing rain," is all Rhys says, determined to ride through it.

Tev Meren, Fighter

"Let's find some shelter," Tev suggests. "This storm looks like it has teeth."

The adventurers press on, braving the rain and lightning. Several bolts strike within a mile or so, but no closer. I no is clearly uncomfortable, and come nightfall Severi is forced to expend some of her healing magic to simply keep the grievously wounded gnome alive. Luckily, the companions are not molested during the night; the rain does not abate, however.

Klarmont 8, AC 1000

The rain continues through the morning, finally tapering off two hours before lunch. Again, Severi must magically intervene to keep Ono alive. By mid-afternoon, the adventurers reach the Duke's Road. An hour before twilight, just as they begin looking for a place to camp, they come across a half-dozen wagons drawn into a circle just off the road. Heavily armed men scowl at the adventurers until a middle-aged woman comes forward, dressed in the clothes of a Darokeen trader, the crest emblazoned across her chest is of an anvil before a shining sword. "If you boys are heading to Threshold, you might want to think twice. I'll hire you all on to accompany me and my goods north to Selenica. Threshold's under siege and the road south's cut off."

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev strides forward, pleased to see another Darokin. Does he know her crest? His cloak, dark and heavy with rain, doesn't entirely do its job of identifying his guild, but he introduces himself to her as a member of the Selenica branch of the Puissant House of Lawful Reclamation.

"Who has the town under siege? How and where is the road cut off?"

Caravan Guard

A thickset guard in stained leathers and cradling a crossbow spits to the side. "Goblins and orcs, mostly. Come out of the hills northwest of town. The Baron'd just gone down to Specularum to Council with the Duke, most of the Guard had left to reinforce Penhaligon."

Tev Meren, Fighter

"Huh. How many we talking about? Is the town holding up?"

Atlictoatl wrote:Tev Meren, Fighter

"Huh. How many we talking about? Is the town holding up?"

Tev recognizes the emblem as belonging to House Toney, the smallest of the great Darokin trading Houses. The woman give Tev the once over, nods slightly, and introduces herself. "I am Callista Callister, grand-niece of Malcom Callister, current Head of our House. We have heard rumors that Karameikos was becoming unstable; I see that this is so." She does not bother to hide the disdain in her voice when uttering the word Karameikos. "I do not know how many enemies besiege the town -- certainly a hundred or more. The bulk of them are positioned south of the gates; we fought our way through their northern lines and only lost a few men." Indeed, the adventurers note that many of the guards bear signs of recent conflict; torn or rent armor, bloodstained bandages, well-worn blades.

The guard who had spoken earlier adds "we faced mostly orcs; and left at midmorning, while they were still adjusting to the light from when the storm broke. I saw goblins south of the gate, mounted on wolves, and some giant brutes, maybe ogres, maybe worse."

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

Severi points at Ino. "We've got a badly wounded gnome with us. Needs to get out of the rain. If you'll set someone to nurse him in one of these wagons, we'll look at the siege. If we can't pick off enough of them to break it, we'll escort you on."

Thurgan, dwarf

"Always happy to be able to kill more orcs". Thurgan says with a smile.

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys ushers the group to the side for a private discussion. "I agree, we should get a closer look at the siege, first. Besides, I don't know about the rest of you, but Threshold has been good to me over the last few months; I don't know if I can just leave it in trouble like that."

Quint Kacie
Quint seems alarmed at the prospect of taking on a large force of goblinoids.
"Surely you don't think our small group can do much against a force this size? We're wounded, out of spells and low on supplies as it is. I suppose we can try to do some sort of scouting and perhaps thin their ranks with an ambush or two, but... Threshold's guards may be outnumbered right now, but they are better equipped and trained to deal with a siege than we are. I think Severi has the right of it."

Klarmont 9, AC 1000

The night passes uneventfully, thought the merchants are on edge and maintain a double watch. In the morning, as the adventurers debate their strategy, Ono approaches and inform the party in his stilted, accented tongue his intention to continue on with the caravan. "If you are ever in Highforge, my friends, come to the Guildhall and ask for me, and I will see you richly rewarded for rescuing me from a fate worth then death."

The companions bid farewell to the caravan, and cautiously continue their way south. 'Ere too long, a column of black smoke can be seen rising into the sky, to the west of the trail. The road turns slightly, and the party sees before them the ruins of one of the logging camps that dot the shoreline of Lake Windrush. The ramshackle buildings composing the site have collapsed and are smoldering; the ground around the camp has been churned and is dark with blood. In the center of the encampment are a half-dozen pikes thrust into the ground; each pike is festooned with what looks to be a human head.

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"I don't think they'll have left much for us to pick through. Let's carry on, and see if we can approach these vandals by stealth."

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys readies his great bow as they approach the logging camp. "They slaughtered them all... We should return the favor."

Quint Kacie
"Nothing but savages," mutters Quint after grimly surveying the scene. "I'm no hero, I know," he says to his companions, "but if we can prevent this happening again then I'm ready to try."

Bent on avenging the slaughtered loggers, the adventurers press on. The road takes a wide curve around the lake, so the state of the other logging camps cannot be determined. Several hours after passing the burnt-out camp, the adventurers come upon the tower of Myraal, the Guild-mage. Or rather, the former tower of the Guild-mage. Never a structure designed to withstand a prolonged or determined attack, the doors have been wrenched off their hinges and the insides gutted and set to the torch, leaving only the stone shell. Half-burnt and water soaked pages litter the ground in a circle around the tower, along with eight goblin corpses, their bodies burnt as if touched by lightning. Of Myraal there is no sign.

Continuing on, the companions estimate they are but three miles from Threshold when a barrage of stones sails about them, coming from the woods to their right. Quint, Severi and Thurgan are all struck by the stinging missiles; Thurgan takes a bullet right underneath his eye, a strike that could have been disastrous had he not moved his head at the last moment. The party has been surprised by a group of a half-dozen or so goblins, scattered about the trees!

Severi

Severi, maddened by their earlier acts of book-murder, charges the goblins with his sword bared.

Thurgan,dwarf

Thurgan draws his sword and charges the goblins yelling dwarven war cries.