Anakri was correct about one thing.  In the air, it is cold.  It’s not just the temperature, it’s the wind.  Frost starts forming on Cirostis’s beard, and Tawna shivers.

But the ground drops away beneath them.  The Dragon turns east, flying over forest, brown where the leaves have been shed, dark green where the land is covered in conifers.

Absecon does not speak to anyone.  To give any impression other than “exiling” some annoying Humans, is just wrong, in Dragon terms.  Nor does the Dragon look around to see where Petra and Tugdual are.  Absecon seems to have decided that they choose to fly along, they may.  If not, the Dragon gives no sign of caring.

Absecon had very generously given time to prepare, and Haakon had taken that time, selecting first his finest furs to keep him and his bride warm (even though said bride planned to travel in his backback. With weapons, fur and what fabric he could carry, he stood ready to be hoisted aloft by the dragon and exiled to Mogiantacum.

When Tawna shivers, he wraps the furs closer, letting his body heat warm her in the backpack.  "Deutschland", he whispers experimentally, "Perhaps that is the name of the plague we must release."

The cold, at least, was not a concern for Petra.

Warded by the power of the Gods, the temperature was comfortable.

However, it was the only that could be called so.

As the wind whipped and hurtled about her, driven up and forth by Hermod's mighty pinions, she did her best not to look down. The whole thing was just more manageable if she didn't do so.  She'd deduced that right away.

She trusted to Hermod to know what distance to keep between them and the dragon.  She did not want to fall behind, but staying too close seemed unwise.  Just in case of any unexpected or spontaneous maneuvers.

Noting Tugdual not far away, she wondered if flying was all old hat (or, old bear skin) for him, now.  Or, more likely, if he inherited the chosen shape's instincts, which would make the whole thing a damn sight easier.

As for herself...doing this would be an acquired taste.  So she kept telling herself, at least.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Ha ha ha haaaaaAaaaAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The ice crusted dwarf hollard screamed and shouted, his frozen face sticking through the beasts great knuckle. Was it pain? Was it the joy of flying or a fear of heights? Of maybe some combination it is hard to tell. He quieted down but would still moan or hoot  whenever there was turbulence or a G straining manuver.
Whaaa? Ooooh.
If anyone looks at him he would look back with a frozen wide teary eyed expression and then continue looking forward and down at the land passing by.

Haakon enjoyed the view from the dragon's claw... for a moment or two.  Then he closed his eyes for a moment.  Then he opened it again.  With Tawna wrapped in his fur as precious cargo, he knew he would worry more about falling, but he supposed Absecon could be trusted at least to carry them to where she said she would.

In the meantime, he began seeking for landmarks on the ground far below should he ever need to return.

 Before taking off, Tugdual had warned the others not to wait for him -he was not fast enough to keep up with a winged horse or a dragon...

 There would probably be hours after their arrival before the avian druid catches up.

 To make sure he does not get lost, Tugdual agreed with Hermod on a signal or a gathering point.

(I’ve grown used to the fact that running this game often means looking up unusual things.  Today’s is, “How fast does a Heron fly?”  And we find that Tugdual can keep up- if the others don’t push it.  As long as Absecon keeps the pace “leisurely” he can do it.)

It is cold, so high up, and everyone but Petra feels it.  Well, that is, everyone but Petra, who is protected by her magic, Tugdual, who has the heat-conserving metabolism of a water bird, and Tawna, who is snuggled down in a fur in Haakon’s pack.  Cirostis and Haakon are both very cold, and they probably wish someone had invented goggles.  On the other hand, staying high up means Cirostis does not have to worry about bugs in his beard.

Tugdual knows this land, even from the air.  He’s been in this form before, and it’s a great way to learn about the landscape.  And Absecon’s route brings him over familiar territory.

Somewhere down below, a young man points skyward, and shouts excitedly to the older man walking with him.

“There’s a Dragon!  Look!  A Dragon!”

The old man stops, puts his weight on his twisted, knotty walking stick, and follows the younger man’s gaze.  “Yes, that’s a Dragon,” he says calmly.
A moment later, the younger man is even more excited.

“That’s… hey!  There’s something after it.  A winged horse!  A Pegasus!  A Pegasus is CHASING the Dragon!”

“Indeed,” says the older man.  “That’s a sight you don’t see every day.”

But that’s not the end of it.

“And.. Look, chasing the winged horse!  A bird!  A.. a Heron!”

Suddenly the older man seems to have realized some importance in the sighting.

“Chasing a winged horse?  A heron?  But… my eyes aren’t what they used to be.  Can you make  out what kind of heron?”

“Grey Heron, I think".

  “A Grey Heron!  Of course!  Ah, Tugdual, the gods only know what you may be up to, but well done, Tugdual, well done!”

The Dwarfcicle shivers.

This conveyance has now exceeded being whacked into next week by Teutons hammer as a challenging way to move from here to there.

OMG - great post Cirostis!   Can totally visualize.

Tugdual -  welcome to passenger aboard Hermod, if needed, for rest or if there is any trouble keeping up.   I'm sure Petra would have arranged with you beforehand.

 Tugdual flies fast, faster than he usually would, and almost to exhaustion. Luckily for him, Absecon flies a comfortable and enjoyable pace -perhaps out of concern for her cargo ?- and he is finally able to keep up.

 He wouldn't feel comfortable as Hermod extra passenger ; for a variety of reasons, among which the main one is personal comfort.

 While he is up there, Tugdual does not miss on the opportunity to observe and note the changes in the landscape ; where land seems tamed, where it is still wild, where the forest follows a clear pattern and where it grows without order, where the roads seem maintained and where they are lost.
 He would not remember half of it, but maybe the bits he does remember may come to good use at some point.

 Hours pass and the "banished" are finally dropped... before landing near Cirostis and Haakon, the druid will fly around for a little reconnaissance of the area.

 where exactly do we land ?

Meant in bird, or some other small form -- don't think a second humanoid rider would work at all.

Not quite sure one person would really work on a winged horse, let alone two.

Never mind how it actually flies.

But, the answer is magic, of course...

It is a five hour flight to the Dragon's destination.

It is a low, forested ridge, within sight of the great Rhine river.  The Dragon's final approach is low, barely above the treetops- Cirostis is scraped with a few branches.

Absecon circles, to make sure the intended landing site is clear of any witnesses, and then sets the "cargo".  Before landing.

Tawna hastily unpacks herself, and gets to a position where she can see.

"Haakon, that's the Rhines river!  We were here!  There's... that's Mogontiacum!"

"It is," Absecon says.  "And it holds answers for you.  It is one of the greatest of the cities they hold on the Rhine."


The Dragon turns to Petra.  "But you... you have further to go if you wish to find Philea.  The horse is faster than I am, but you will not get there with the hours of daylight you have left."

Indeed, the sun is low in the sky.  There are only a few more hours of light.

"Follow the river south, when you go," Absecon says.  "When you find Dragons, and a city, you have found Basilea."

 Tugdual lands next to the others, only minutes after they have been dropped. He soon abandons his Grey Heron shape and for a few minutes, he stretches and cracks and tries to recover full usage of his muscles.
  "By Teutatès, I had never spent as much time in avian shape as I have since this grand adventure started... it is exhausting."

 The druid clasped Cirostis' shoulder and laughed :
  "My man ! You seem to have enjoyed the banishment ! Frost and twigs and... is that a sparrow in your beard ?! Poor thing, how did it get lost in here ?"

 Turning to the charming spy couple, he bows and says :
  "Haakon, Tawna, I realize that although we have been in this for a moment, we haven't been introduced ; really I know close to nothing about you two. And unless I'm mistaken, you must know nothing about me..."

 He points out a small grove on a sloping meadow, just behind them.
  "I have spotted a number of pear and apple trees up there ; it might be a good place to spend the night and have a bite, before heading to Mogontiacum in the morning. And we can share our stories there."

Haakon nodded, "I'm sure we would be happy to partake of such a feast", he said, "Although I hope you will not object to my adding a hare to the pot?  I know some of your calling are not keen and I will respect that if such is your view, but I did see a rather appetizing specimen around here."

  "I like your style." the druid comments.

  "Those of my calling who refuse meat usually object the animal husbandry and domestication.
  They do not tolerate an animal becoming a good that you can purchase or exchange.

  Hunters and preys though are part of the cycle of life. I am not a great hunter myself, but I'd be happy to assist you.

  And I think I still have some of that mustard condiment from Divonia... ah ! Yes, there is some left. Not much though ; that will probably be the last mustard supper."

  Tugdual realizes that he has forgotten about his auroch companion again...
  Poor big Vurambix deserves better that that... I should let him go and befriend a bird...

"Fruit trees?"  Tawna asks, surprised.  "Here?"

But its not unusual.  The Rhine Valley was, for a centuries, a rich land.  Only in the last century has it fallen.  Maintaining the orchards is not a priority for the Hun overlords, so the ones that the much reduced Human population can't manage to maintain themselves have gone feral, often blending into the forests that are encroaching and retaking abandoned lands.  It takes a long time for an orchard to lose the slow struggle with wild forests, and so many abandoned groves of fruit trees still exist.  In this time of year it would be down to the last of its fruit.

This one is relatively close to the city, only a few miles away. It is therefore "partly tended", kept up by Human serfs who manage to slip away from time to time.  They can tell at once that this is very deliberate- the underbrush has been allowed to grow to conceal the perimeter of the grove, but it is cleared in the middle, maintaining the orchard's neat rows while making it less obvious to passers-by.

It is indeed, a safe place to spend the night.

"The bird trick is really good," Tawna says.  "I never heard of a Wereheron.  I don't think there are any.  But I could be wrong, there are Wereswans.   But I don't think you're a Lycanthrope.  Too much talk of other gods."

She looks around the orchard, looking not just for food, but for concealment.

"We brought blankets, right?"

OOC: thank you for the cuddle that's really nice.

Absecon set the dwarf on the ground in standing position, and in that position he remains - completely stiff - for a few moments like a father hesitating to extricate his numb tingling arm from under the child who is finally asleep. When Tugdual extracts the bird it seems Cirostis is now free to move
And he shakes like a wet dog and roars like a surprised lion. Ice twiggs and leaves come out of him. He stands now, his normally well kept beard and head of hair a spiked dirty mane of mange.

Aaaargh! Dwarves were not meant to fly!
But that was ... It was well... Well more well than I could've imagined I'll say that.

After catching his breath and bidding a kind-hearted adieu to Absecon Cirostis looks at Tug -
Ail need some water, and clean myself up. Then I can get to your beard friend.

Petra stood off a little ways - glad to be standing upon the earth, once again.  Not there wasn't a certain amount of exhiliration connected to being airborne, on the positive side of it.   But, she want't at all shamed to own up she was a wingless creature of the land, and belonged upon it.

The easy comraderie of the group made her smile.  She was just coming to understand that Haakon's betrothed, to whom she'd not been introduced as yet, was a citizen of the fabled Lucimburic.  And herself a lycan being.   What sort, exactly, she wondered-?

The priestess was glad to hear that Tugdual wasn't meat-averse, and that they might have more than pears for the evening pot.  "I can help you hunt, if you like," she offered to Haakon.

And...poor Cirostis!   Dwarves were most especially beings of Earth, here it was plainly seen.     Still, it seemed he would indeed live to carve another beard.

"And, I can shelter up to three from the chill, tonight," she added.  "Since I will replenish all of my spells in the morning, there is certainly no reason not to.   I am sorry for not getting to you before we left. Our departure was abrupt; I didn't know who in total was going. And, wasn't certain if spells might be needed for other things, depending if we encountered any trouble."

Haakon smiled, "Of course I bought furs.  I only wish I'd thought to wear one.  It gets cold up there in the sky.  I wonder if it gets really hot down below."

He looked around the orchard and said, "You know, this would make an excellent headquarters.  It looks as thought somebody comes here regularly, and it's not the Huns, hence the attempt at disguise, so maybe we could set up here.  Come to think of it Tugdual, don't you need a sacred grove or something?"

He unslung his bow then and said, "Right, hare for dinner then.  Won't be long", and with that, he set off to look for prey.

Haakon does some hunting and exploring as the sun slowly sets in the west.

The others prepare a camp in the orchard.

Hermod finds some apples.  He loves them.  That part of him is all horse.. but the wings come in handy.  There are good apples up there on the high branches.  No, Hermod cannot hover.  But the Winged Horse has been around a while, and he knows that a flyby, kicking the upper branches, will often result in a windfall of fruit below.

There is the sound of thumping apples, and then, the winged horse is on the ground, eating his fill.

The ridge runs north south, coming closest to the Rhine river at the north end.  The city of Mogontiacum is several miles to the east.  The ridge becomes more pronounced towards the north end, where it becomes a promontory with a fine view of the town.   Haakon works his way along it, catching a pair of rabbits.

Tawna checks out the view.  From here, as the dusk darkens the scene, she can see the fire lights of Mogontiacum.

This is something she reports back to the others:  “There are a lot of lights in the city.  It’s a pretty busy place, from the look of it..  And the slave barges we saw last time… there are a few still there.

For the sake of Tugdual and Petra, she recounts their earlier travels, how they met a slave merchant named Graunch who was, it was claimed, half Orc and half Ogre.

”He was shrewder than people expected, or Orcs expected,” she said.  “That was his game.  He looked like a big brutish monster and he played the part, but it concealed a thinking mind.  He uses barges to move slaves.   They’re like portable prison camps.  He even had some Elven slaves the Orcs had take at Beda.  Later on, we freed some, and they way they were treated motivated a lot of Elves to join the cause.  I think he still has some.  We know he kept his slaves scattered on different barges, and we never got to them all.”

And speaking of Elves… Haakon had become familiar with Elven equipment.  They’ve certainly seen enough of it recently.  So when he finds the waterskin, boots, and quiver lying on the ground, partly concealed by vegetation, at the high point of the ridge, he immediately knows they are Elven.

 While Haakon scouts and hunts -assuming he does not need assistance- Tugdual will pick out the smallest and sweetest amongst the apples, and enchant them following an old Celtic ritual. A half dozen fruits will now each provide a healthy and hearty meal with curative powers.
  "This works better with berries... but this time of year, good luck finding any in the area !"

 The druid then hands out an apple to each of the companions, and adds :
  "They're only good for about a week, so when the skin starts to wrinkle, make a dessert of it."
  http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/goodberry.htm

 To make the semi-abandoned orchard more enjoyable and comfortable, Tugdual will create a pond of fresh water, and make a lantern out of a big pear (with a cloth to cover the light if needed). Light and Create Water

 After a hearty meal of roasted hare in mustard crust with braised pears and apples, Tugdual will call on the powers of nature to speak with the biggest oldest and best tended apple tree around. In all likeliness, she must have witnessed some interesting activity in the past few weeks. Of course the friendliness and desires of an apple tree is objectionable.
  "My dear old Braeburn, consider we will spread your seeds throughout this vast valley after this meal... and even further if you so wish !"
 http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/speakWithPlants.htm

 Later in the night, and if Haakon or Tawna think it may be useful, Tugdual will suggest yet an other ritual : if they recall and describe a place or person in Mogontiacum well enough, he might be able ask the local sprites for some information on the subject.
  "That slaver Graunch perhaps ?"
 http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/scrying.htm

  Camping with a druid : the next best thing to staying at the Hilton.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Mon 16 July 2012.

Cirostis begins to feel his pride again and enjoys the comforts offered. He starts to decline the elf-lady's offer but on second thought says:

I wouldn't want your spell to go to waste.

With the others focussed on food, Cirostis decides getting more is not really needed right now. So he begins putting the camp together.
You know I'm thinking it is not a good idea to have a fire right now. How do you plan to cook the meat? Is there more magic that helps with that?

Petra laughed, in more than a little amazement, at the panoply of natural bounties Tugdual managed to conjure and coax from their environment.

"I've an uncle who is quite the woodsman.  I wish he was hear to experience this.  On the one hand, I'm sure he'd consider it 'cheating.'  On the other, I am equally sure he would be delighted by it all.  Who needs civilization, when you have a Druid about, eh?"     Petra only wished that both Bernhardt, and Heolstor, were here to enjoy it with her.

Having listened to Tawna's tale of this 'Graunch', the priestess bridled inside.  Slavery sat very ill with her -- particularly imposed upon free spirits, such as the Elves.   More particularly still at the hands of some orc-ogre mongrel.   Here interest was piqued when she heard that Tugdual might be able to locate the fiend via the druidic scrying.

"I think that there is," she put in to Cirostis' last question. "But I am willing to be that it too makes flame in the process," she added with a wink.  "If he knows a spell that can cook without fire -- well, that is it.  I think I must conclude I should have become a druid!"

Of the Gods Petra served, Eostre was one of the foremost.  In fact, some of Her priesthood were druids.  She was one of the few that had both.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Tue 17 July 2012.

Haakon smiled as he returned with the rabbits.  He skinned them as he spoke, making sure the pelts came off in one piece, while at the same time, ensuring the meat would cook as well as need be, whether heated on a shield in Scythian style or boiled in a pot.

"I'd love to see what Graunch is doing", he said, "Not least because I'd like to avoid him. I tried to persuade him to use his trading network for other purposes but he's a slaver right down to the bones.  A shame really, because if we could set up regular routes on the Rhine and Danube, we could unite the land from Black Sea to North and be ready to defend against any further invaders from whereever Huns come from."

Tugdual speaks with a tree.

The apple trees know very little beyond their immediate surroundings.  They don’t know much about the Huns or the city of Mogontiacum there.  They barely know Mogontiacum even exists.  All they know is that people live there, and so do Orcs, and it is a place called Mogontiacum by the river.

But they do know, that Elves have come and gone from this ridge- many times in the last few months.  And the Elves had business in Mogontiacum.

“They spoke of rescuing their kin,” the Apple tree says.  “And over the season they did just that.  A dozen of them, they retrieved.  Some from Mogontiacum.  Three from a further place, across the river.  I do not know where.  The Elves spoke of barbarians in the forest, primitive men.  They sought the help of the Orchard Men.”

The orchard men, the tree explains, are Girard and Gefrond and some others, that come here from time to time.  The trees do not know where they live, other than a place beyond what I know. “

But something went wrong, and the Elven mission was discovered.  There were skirmishes around the ridge, and the Elves fled in haste.  That was three weeks ago.  They have not been back.

Eventually, he gets around to scrying.  That's less informative.  While he does get an image, of a huge, obese creature that seems to combine the worst of Ogres and Orcs, scrying does not guarantee that the subject will be doing something interesting at the time.  He's eating.  And it's a close-in view.  Indoors.. hard to tell where.  The surroundings are dim.

Graunch's table manners are inferior to those of warthogs.

* * * * * * *

Tawna, for a moment, contemplates a return to her Lycanthropic weasel form.  Weasels have no problems eating rabbits raw.  But... she decides against it.

"Maybe we should just have bread and nuts," she says.  "We can cook in the morning, if you think the fire will attract attention."

 When Cirostis asked whether magical means could cook without fire, Tugdual couldn't help answering with a satisfied smile behind his beard :
  "Most glad you asked, my dwarf friend. May I ?"

 The druid borrowed a buckler, shield or axe, anything metallic that could be used as cookware. He asked Haakon to prepare the rabbit in thin slices (unusual for this kind of meat, but very appropriate to this type of cooking). Bathed in mustard sauce and sprinkled with herbs, the slices are carefully spread on the improvised cooking plate.

 Tugdual then calls on the powers of Ucuetis, Celtic god of the forge... to heat the metal plate, only for half a minute but hot enough to make the slices of meat crispy on the outside while remaining tender and pink on the inside.
 The smell might attract some scavenger, but at least no smoke or fire may be spotted from a distance.

  "Dinner's ready."

  ooc : I love to cook....
   ooc2 : also, not changing my spell selection ever again.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Wed 18 July 2012.

Wow, Now that's how I like to use my shield
Once again the Druid has dramatically impressed Cirostis. He enjoys the meal and offers nutcakes to any who are brave nough to try them  After dinner, the dwarf takes what utensils they have includig his dirty shield down to the river or preferably a fast moving stream
to wash up - he will use the time to clean himself up as well and return ready to tend to the hair of anyone who needs it.

He cuts braids, and contours his own hair and beard, then turns his attention to Tugdual and then anyone else.

His hands move quickly and his professional skills are displayed with pride.
13:25, Today: Cirostis rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Beardcarving.

Petra slapped her forehead in mock exasperation, but actual good humor.

"Ah, actually, I do know that one," she said in regards to the spell utilized.  "Bless Sun and Lady!" (ooc- Domain spell ;)) "I'd just never thought of such a completely clever usage!" she shook her head, her laughter carefree, for the first time in awhile. This pastoral little interlude was welcome, short lived though she knew it must be.

Afterward, Petra too began to clean up, turning her thoughts toward rest.  She would likely need it.  Who knew what Basilea might hold? She needed to be prepared for the unexpected.

Petra did look on as Cirostis applied his barberism (ahem) with seemingly expert precision.

Truth was, her hair was in need of a trim.  She would like to be as presentable as was possible, when she next saw Heolstor.   She was tempted to request.  Willing to pay for a job well done, for that matter.

Yet...a dwarf cutting a half-elven priestess' hair.  It was the sort of thing that sounded like fodder for some ludicrous tavern song.

The sort where the audience laughed their heinies off at the song subject's ill-contemplated decision, and resultant misfortune.

She chewed her lip, hesitating, considering.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:48, Wed 18 July 2012.

This is one of the most creative uses ever seen for a Heat Metal spell.

Tugdual creates a field improvised Hot Plate, and serves up a rustic version of 6th Century Rabbit Bulgogi.

Tawna looks relieves, and helps herself to a portion of rabbit.  “Truth is I hate vegetables.  We should be eating rabbits, not eating the food for rabbits.  If the gods meant us to eat the vegetables, what did they make rabbits for?  Just didn’t want Haakon to see a weasel eat one in the raw, that’s all.  Not… civilized.”


Tawna blinks, watching Cirostis doing an above par job of hair styling. She looks at Petra looking at Cirostis.  She blinks again... She isn't thinking.. is she?

Maybe, if she was up on her Germanic mythology, it wouldn't seem as strange- Sif's golden hair was made by Dwarves.  But Tawna's never heard of such things.

At length, she said, nonchalantly, "So.... who are we going to talk to about Hun armies, and is he going to talk willingly?"

[ooc my regular face to face DM refuses to allow this use of heat metal but I think that's what heat metal is FOR]

Haakon gives Tawna a squeeze and says quietly, "When are you going to realise, Tawna that there's nothing you can do to make me want to leave you and the thought of you eating a raw rabbit would be pretty far down the list even if it was possible?" He grinned, "You're stuck with me."

OOC: I strongly feel players should be commended (as was done here) and in some circumstances rewarded for ingenious ideas not punished or restricted.

Cirostis finishes up and looks over at the priestess.
That's it, you too - I can form top beards as well and you wont be your best making do with a mop on yer head.

He gives the lady a trim, accepting any advice the good druid cares to provide, as he has already proven himself to have a creative eye for beauty. Once everyone is done he cleans his tools and sits comfortably reclined near the rocks where they would have made a fire.

Well, I suppose we can scout the area in the morning - will the lovely couple plan on making thier way into town right away? Or would you wait awhile to get some details?

 Tugdual will gladly share his good advice on women hairstyle. His personal taste goes towards a wild luxurious mane, but Petra's frame and features seem more fit for sharp edges and straightened volumes.
  "I would strongly recommend two interwoven braids on either side, gathering behind your neck... with maybe a silk ribbon. But I lack the dexterity. Maybe Haakon could help ?
  You mentioned your craft was fabric, and isn't hair the most precious of women's textiles ?"

 Scratching his newly trimmed fluffy beard, he added towards Cirostis :
  "Facial hair would be our equivalent, as we know cranial hair to be ephemeral..."

 The evening goes by and soon the only light around are magical -and dimmed so as not to be seen from a distance.
 After this enjoyable break, this short evening of simple and pastoral joys, time has come to go back to importing and concerning matters...

  "Spying on Graunch through magical ways has brought nothing -nothing worth mentioning at least.
   Finding out what happened with the elves could bring some information...
   Freeing slaves could get us on someone's good side. That's an entry point.

   Then... there's the option of finding a soldier, possibly of higher ranks, and try and squeeze intelligence out of him. I do not like the idea or the method though.

   Petra, what will you be doing ? Do you wish to stay here for a while or move south towards Basilea right away ?"

"Ah! I love it! Thank you!" she exclaimed as she regarded her new do in a small mirror, giving all involved a hug.  Courage, and a little trust, had paid off in this instance.  A lesson there to apply in other things, to be sure.

"I think that after sufficient sleep, I will be Basilea-bound. It is what I told Heolstor I would do.  If there is something there to be gleaned, then I think we should know of it as soon as possible."   

The dwarf blushes, standing very still When hugged.

Haakon searched in his pack... then turned away (can't go revealing the tricks of the tailoring trade) before producing two ribbons.  "Here you go", he says.

Tawna shakes her head, amazed that the night before their planned infiltration of a Hun stronghold, the major concern appears to be… hairstyling.

Of course, where she comes from, hair styling is a very serious issue, and she tells the others how it is back home in Lucimburic.

”Back in Lucimburic we don’t have a lot of barbers and hair stylists, and most of them are Humans.  Why?  Well, it’s a strange thing.  Ages ago, we noticed an interesting trait of Lycanthropes.  If you have a Lycanthrope  with well brushed, clean, neat hair, and it turns to Human form, the Human’s hair will be clean and neat and well brushed.  Now, if that same Lycanthrope then gets its hair all messed up and dirty and mussed, and turns back into animal form , you get an animal form with messy hair.  Now, the interesting part is this: even if only the hair on the head in the Human form is messy, when it changes to animal form, the fur is messed up all over!  Amazing!  It gets stranger.  If instead of messing up the hair of the Lycanthrope in Human form, you gave the Lycanthrope some interesting, elegant, artfully arranged hair style, lo and behold, in animal form, the fur will mimic- as far as possible-  the hairstyle it had in Human form!  Were-Owl wizards named this the Law of Transmorphic Esthetic Continuity.

”We think it’s related to the same power that makes the Human form of a Lycanthrope echo the animal form.  You know, how the Bears are all big and beefy, and the Swans are all elegance and grace and…”

Tawna leaves the rest of the thought unsaid.  Being a Wereweasel, she has that petite, furtive… weaselly...  look.  She goes back to talking about hair.

“And since many of the things you can do to Human hair will look ridiculous on an animal and vice versa, it makes the job of the hair stylist in Lucimburic very challenging.  He does not want his client to look silly.  So he has to cut the hair in such a way that the style also works well for the animal form.  This isn’t easy.    Of the various tribes of Lycanthropes, some do not have fur in animal form that is long enough to echo a Human hair style, but many do.  So the Hair Stylist must be familiar with a number of different animal types.  They tend to be Human, because not only to Humans have a good sense of Esthetics, they spend their whole lives in Human form so they have pretty good manual dexterity.  Were-Rats are pretty dexterous, but they have no esthetic sense, (they think they do, but be serious!) and does anyone really want a Were-Rat with sharp objects so close to their neck?  Humans are also regarded as “not too connected to any tribe”, so anyone can go to them and feel okay about it.  I Lucimburic city there are about a dozen hair professionals, and just about all of them are Humans.  One is an Elf.”

They take turns keeping watch in the night.  It is very quickly obvious that the one great hole in the group’s “stealth” plan is Hermod.  The Winged Horse does his best, hunkering down in a the most hidden section of the orchard, on the reverse slope away from Mogontiacum, but it’s clear that infiltration of any sort will be impossible.  Winged Horses soar and swoop, they do not sneak.  But, the orchard is big enough, and surrounded by enough heavy vegetation, to hide even him this evening.

The morning comes, and it is going to be a warm (for the season) and slightly humid day, from the feel of it, and from Tugdual’s “read” of the weather.  Some chance of rain, but if it comes it will be that easy, light kind of “warm front” rain, and not a heavy downpour.

Ben- Petra has the artifact with her.   Hermod can go back into the "garage", when it becomes needful.  ;) 

Petra listened raptly to Tawna's tales of tailoring tresses in her homeland. The whole thing was rather surreal.  Lycanthropes were almost creatures of legend where she was from.  The thought of growing up in a city full of them, of being one, and all the peculiarities living in such a civilization would entail, (ahem, redux)was food for some provoking thought.   "Normal" was very much a matter of perspective; she was certainly coming to grasp that, as she saw more and more of the world beyond Frisia's borders.

She was glad Tugdual's report of the weather was clement enough.  She did not particularly want to test her fledgling aerial skills in a torrent.

There was nothing left to detain her then. Thus she gathered her gear and made ready to depart for the territory of Basilea.

"Farewell, friends and comrades," she bade the others. "Thank you all for the wonderful evening respite. May the Gods bless you in what lies ahead.  I will return with a report of Basilea as swiftly as possible."   

With that, Petra mounted the wind-steed, and was off.

Before you go lass, I would like to get the book on demons, i believe what you have is a copy and yours rightly. And ill give it back to you but you see the orriginal was ours and we let it out to be copied and were told we could share in your copy for our study ... Arctos would never forgive me to have let it go again.

Petra flies off into a new thread here, Petra's Journey (she can work out in PM any last minute response to Cirostis’s “before you go” request.

Tawna checks the route into the city, from the vantage point where Haakon found the gear left by the Elves.

”No one going out to the fields yet,” she says.  “No work gangs.  So we can’t slip in with them, unless they send a few out later in the day.  How do we want to do this, and where are we going in the town?  Remember that tavern we stayed in last time?”

Surely the two of you want to get in the city, but ... Is that the best place for me?
Tugdual, can move in and out with ease, once in - you two may be challenged to come and go. Out here I can move around the place, look at river and road traffic and try to spot some of the telltale signs of war preparations. Unless you think I would have a place there?


Unused to spy work, Cirostis is looking for advice.

Haakon nodded.  "I think we need to wait here and see who is tending this orchard.  It's an ideal place for Tugdual and perhaps for you but we are probably going to have to sneak into the City so it may just have to be the two of us.  Until we talk to the Orchard tenders, I'm not sure of the best course."

 "We could stay here for now, while you try and enter the city." the druid commented.

  "I can turn into a small bird and reach you if needed."

On the ridge overlooking Mogontiacum, they await the Orchard Tenders.. whoever that might be.  Considering the time of year, it’s actually a fine strategy.  The grove is hidden, which means the produce must be as well, which means it must be moved in small batches- and that means frequent trips.  This being November, the last of the fruit must be collected, or it will be wasted, and the people living under the Huns have learned to never waste food.  Winter is coming and it is a hungry time.

So they don’t have long to wait.

The first visitors are girls- just a pair of girls in their early teens, each with a bundle of sticks- apparently, they are out gathering sticks for their fires.  They’ve cleverly arranged the bundles so that each has a hollow core that can be filled with apples.  They move into the orchard as if they know every inch of it, scurrying from hiding place to hiding place, looking behind carefully, and obscuring tracks.

Their focus seems entirely on “Orc”, though.  They are not paying attention to the possibility that someone else might already be in the orchard.  They don’t yet notice the party.

Haakon waits until the girls are close before saying, "Good afternoon Ladies.  I wonder if we might introduce ourselves?"

Tawna senses that the girls are on the edge of assuming the very worst, which is entirely logical given the circumstances.

Before they can react she intervenes.

"No, no, it's alright, he's a traveling dressmaker.  Really."

A girl gives her a very confused look.

"No, really,"  Tawna repeats.  "It's complicated."

Once they are calmed, she turns them over to Haakon.  "All yours."

The two introduce themselves.  Olivia and Bonna, from Mogontiacum, of course.

By their appearance, peasant girls.  But then, others wouldn't be out like this.

 Tugdual comes out of the thick bushes with no weapon and a warm smile.
  "She is right girls," the druid started. "I am a druid, we travel together. Be not afraid, we are enemies of the Huns and we are here to help."

Haakon nods, "I am a dressmaker by trade and a nationmaker by vocation and as you see, not an orc.  I trust it was orcs you were afraid of?  This fine orchard you have hidden from them is a fine example of the German spirit and you young maidens are to be commended.  Well done."

Cirostis remains silent calming little girls is not his greatest gift

The two girls cautiously explain that they are mere serfs, and too young to be given off as mates, so the Orcs don't really care about them and don't watch them.  The Huns let them in and out because they know youngsters like this wouldn't flee (they'd die in the wilds) and so they do all sorts of menial tasks- gathering acorns, firewood, things like that.

They come up here about every other day to grab some apples, and they smuggle them in.  The Orcs don't like fruit, but they wouldn't like the idea that the Humans have anything of their own out here.

They've heard of enemies of the Huns.  Elves, especially, but... they seem surprised.  Nobody here is an Elf?  Who else would be enemies of the Huns, other than some of the forest tribes.. and you are definitely not them, either.  For one, they don't have dressmakers.

Haakon grinned at that, "Oh I used to be a trapper and farrier but there was less call for that in Burgundy so I started making dresses.  I'm from Thuringia", he added, "And an enemy of the Huns... so the question is, how do we go from here.  Do you know of a way two forest tribespeople (even if not from the forest tribes) could sneak into Mogiantacum?"  And then... "and more to the point, what are the orcs doing in Mogiantacum? We heard their troops had withdrawn into the cities".

They know about sneaking.  After all, they are here, defying the Huns.  That's a bit of sneakiness right there.

There are two ways to do it, the girls say.

Sometimes, people slip in an out with the labor gangs.  Every day, the Huns herd people out of the town for work- mostly men, and these days, its to cut wood, and to prepare the fields for winter wheat crop.

They describe it as horrendous physical labor.  The men don't have many draft animals left, and they have to do most of the plowing themselves.  Every day, they return at evening, exhausted.  The Hun overlords watch to make sure none try to escape, but they don't watch so carefully that no extras show up.

The second way is along the river.  The big barges of Graunch block the view and if you are low to the water you may not be seen, the girls say.  In the summer, sometimes people swim- but the Rhine is a long, long swim.  Now, it's too cold.  But small boats and rafts sometimes slip in and out.  That's how the people here keep up their "black market".

Haakon grinned, "Didn't we use a couple of stolen Graunch barges to get into the last but one city we sacked?  Must be even easier if we're just trying to infiltrate.  We don't want to see if three people can sack a city do we?"  Haakon's tone at his last question is almost hopeful.

 Tugdual lets Haakon handle the conversation with the kids. He can be blunt and intimidating at times, even if he means well and is actually quite good with the little ones.

 He remains aside with Cirostis and comments :
  "So, what would the strategy be ? You remain outside, the two of them infiltrate the city and I play messenger dove ?"

"Sacking is pretty much out, but I don't think anyone would complain if my paws are a bit sticky.  No one built a place I can't sneak into," Tawna says.  "If we want a little boat I can get us a boat. If we want to march in with the shlubs... I'm up for that too, but then we have to think of a way out.  If it was up to me I'd st.. borrow a little boat and slip in past ther barges."

Haakon nodded, "I concur and will bow to your judgement on the sacking.  Let's steal a boat."

  "You know, stealing is against everything some people believe in. Not I though."

 Tugdual starts mentally listing the aquatic species he is familiar with that would help on this journey. He really regrets not having had a chance to familiarize himself with the large crocodilians that live in the southern part of the Roman Empire...

 For now he would have to make do with a large fish, probably a sheatfish. Big enough to not be mistaken for food by other Rhine dwellers.

Tawna insists the others wait.. well, maybe not Tugdual, if he wants to be a fish.  They won't take much notice of a fish.

Or a weasel.

She scurries down to the riverside, looking for a little boat.  In a short time, she has found what she needs- a little hide-hulled coracle, low to the water, used for paddling around and checking the fish traps.  She "borrows" it, and brings it to a stretch of bank upriver from the town, where a thick grove of reeds hides the shore.

Then they regroup.

"I see what the girls were saying," she says.  "Graunche's barges... they're like floating houses, and the block the view of little things on the water.  The river really is the best way in."

Cirostis stays with the others -
So these boats hold slaves? What's the purpose? Are they being taken somewhere?

Haakon said, "They were going to Basilea and beyond until we sank one and captured another.  The point of them was to disperse the elves and destroy the memory of their community.  I guess they still go up the Rhine"

"Those are like... prison barges," Tawna tells Cirostis.  "They're not flat rafts, they are like floating rooms.  Each one has cells inside, and they can link them end to end and have a portable prison wherever they want on the river.  That way, they can play shuffle-the-elves."

She explains the vile tactic the Huns used against the Elves; how they knew, absolutely knew, that Elven prisoners would attract Elven heroes, and they expected it, so they planned against it.  Including traps in which to ambush Elves that came to rescue other Elves.

"That's how I got into this," she says.  "There were Wereweasels in my line always doing sneaky, nasty things... only some were doing it for the wrong side, and it besmirched all of us.  The only way to clear us was for me to volunteer for service to the Duke of Lucimburic... because the truth of the world is that good or bad, everyone needs someone who can do sneaky things for them.  And the Duke decided, in order to build trust with the Elves and the Humans and the Were-folk, he'd assign his sneakiest to helping out the Elves trying to get their people back.  The Elves have great scouts who can turn into animals, too, but none of them... well, they don't think the way I do.  Weasel.  That can be an edge."

She gets back on topic.

"But, the Huns use all kinds of tricks.  They've dispersed the Elves.  They've disguised Humans to look like Elf prisoners and Elves to look Human.  They've given some away.  The twist is, they don't like to kill their Elf prisoners, because they are so valuable as bait, and so much fun for them to torment.  They took a lot of Elves alive when they destroyed Beda.. It wouldn't surprise me at all, shuffled around the way they were, if many were still prisoners."

The excesses of evil continue to surprise Cirostis.
Huh, Sounds like a lot of effort in war time.
He shruggs with a wincing pained look to the boats.
I suppose we need to lay low to get our info. We're looking for the army. First order is to get you two set up. As to sacking a city on our own - it may be a bridge too far but we will listen to your ideas once you have some real intelligence to work with.

"A lot of effort, but the Huns had the right idea," Tawna says.  "The Elves needed their best and bravest to rescue those the Huns held captive.  And of course, those prisoners were Elves take alive in the Battle of Beda- mostly, those who couldn't fight.  Many were children.  If the Elves lost a hero for every ten captives they got back, they considered it a victory.  And the Huns did the math the other way, and they figured, if they killed one Elven hero for every ten worthless slaves the Elves got back, the Huns won.  So they laid out the bait and the Elves had to take it.  They didn't count on the Elves having help, and that's where we came in."

"There's been something new, though.  More barges.  I don't think the Huns had as many when we were last here.  It doesn't make sense, because they haven't captured more prisoners since then."

"Now, where are we headed to?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Mon 06 Aug 2012.

Haakon frowned... "How do we know they're headed out?  Perhaps they're headed IN.  That would be real bad news..."

He turned to Tugdual... "You're some kind of priest aren't you?"

  "That depends... If you're going to ask for a confession, I am not your man.
  If you need some sort of augury, I could help. "

 Tugdual considers the news about more barges, and naively asks :
  "Are we sure these boats are not full of orcs ? They could have been turned into military transport... That would be both bad news and swell opportunity..."

Haakon grinned.  "I was going to ask you to conduct a wedding before we go in".

With that he went down on one knee and said to Tawna.  "Tawna, would you do the honour of becoming my widow, or my wife if we survive this?"

Tawna takes a moment to replay Haakon’s words in her mind, as if uncertain of what he just said.

He can see.. almost… a tear in her eye.  She blinks.  She answers with three simple words- spoken from the heart in absolute sincerity.

“Are you nuts?”

A moment later, she expounds upon her question.   “We’re here in the middle of Hun-Land, we all smell like wet badgers, we’ve got this one mission ahead of us… Haakon, give me one thing.  Home.  Where we can invite the other Wereweasels and there will be wine and music and probably too much wine.  I owe them.  They have to see me doing right.  And… this is so you don’t have it too easy.  You want a Wereweaselwife, you’ll have to get home to Lucimburic after this.”

She turns very suddenly to Tugdual.

”Boats full of Orcs?  Well.. I didn’t check.  Doesn’t matter, they could just get on the boats…  Where could they get to from here, anyway?  You know, if they built the barges to move Orcs, they wouldn’t be the same as the prison barges on the inside, would they?”

"Am I nuts?"  Haakon thinks about this.  "Dunno but what I do know is, I have a shop and a house I never use in Vesontio.  I could sell 'em and we could set up in Lucimburic, as long as there's a roof and I don't have to sleep inside, then it's fine.  Besides, we might be dead before any of that matters.  So... was that a yes?"

"That is a weasel-qualified yes," Tawna says.  "When we get home, we will be married, and every Wereweasel will want know who it is that Tawna the master sneak has brought into the family.  It's been a while since we had a wedding.. the Wereweasels need some good news, since so much of it has been bad.  I owe them this, at least. You can invite friends and family too, of course.  Maybe they can get to Lucimburic.. maybe by then the Huns won't even own the roads anymore."

She thinks a bit and adds:

"I should warn you.  If you invite friends and family, tell them not to wear jewelry at the wedding.  The temptation... with Wereweasels, wedding presents is a different sort of concept."

Haakon nodded.  "Right then... now we have a city full of secrets to open up to the eyes of the world."  And then he kissed her.

Um ... Right.
Well are you two going in to the city or shall we check out the barges first?

It's not that Cirostis is uncomfortable with the joy of marriage, but he's not quite sure how to handle the loving rejection he just saw, congratulations have already been given. So he wants to focus on the task at hand.

The barges are line up along the main riverside quay of Mogontiacum, a double row of barges, eleven barges long.

It is certainly more than where here the last time.  The line of barges, much as the little girls said and Tawna confirmed, effectively block the view of the river from the town, and as long as one keeps low and careful, one can steer a boat in without being seen.

So, from their place along the river upstream of Mogontiacum, the daring party of spies paddles towards the city.

As they slip along the river, Tawna looks back at Haakon.

"You come up with the weirdest times for things.  We have to focus, Haakon. We have to find out where the Huns intend to attack, send the news back, and go home.  Hmm.. I wonder if we can use this boat!  The Mosel joins the Rhine somewhere, doesn't it?  And it goes all the way back to Lucimburic!"

The barges loom larger and larger as they approach.  Of course, since the party cannot be seen from the city, they cannot see the city.  All they see is the line of big black painted hulls in the water.

"Maybe they hired Gnomes to build them all," Tawna says.

Haakon grinned, "Let's face it, the Huns are as good at keeping secrets as I am at sleeping in coffins.  It's the opposite of what we do.  We probably just have to listen and we'll hear without even having to ask.  On the other hand though, perhaps we'll have to set up a network. We can't pre-empt either option."

"So..." Tawna ventures.  "Were are we going to sit and listen, then?  We can't just float here next to a random barge.  We need to get... somewhere."

Haakon grinned... "Let's find an Inn."

As the others go into the City Cirostis stays behind,
Send Tug back when you wish to find me - I will be in the grove most nights.

He spends the morning watching the barges from a hidden place -

One thing they’ve learned about Hun controlled cities…
Once you’re inside, the Huns seems to assume that you’re supposed to be there, and if your Human and supposed to be there, it means you are working for some other Hun.  And the Huns are cautious about picking fights with other Huns.

Haakon and Tawna have been here before.  They remember that there are Human businesses still here, working under the often arbitrary and burdensome rules and taxes the Hun warlord imposes.  Among the rules:  Only a few taverns can rent out rooms.  (The Huns don’t want Humans wandering everywhere, willy nilly.  That would lead to chaos.)

All of the taverns “licensed” for guest rooms are in the heart of the town- close to the bridge, along the west bank of the Rhine river.  Things haven’t changed much since their last visit.

The “bridge plaza” area of Mogontiacum is  the hub of commerce, as far as Mogontiacum has one.  There is a large paved plaza here, a fountain that no longer works, a tall ornate column dedicated to Jupiter, and a pair of empty pedestals upon which sat statues that have been since removed.

There are some people with pushcarts selling food, drink, and other items.  The offerings don’t look too tempting.  The carts are mostly bare.  The vegetable sellers seem to have better carts, the Orcs don’t go anywhere near them.  They prefer the fried Rat-On-A-Stick.  None of the pushcart vendors are Orcish- that seems to be one of those demeaning jobs they leave to Humans.  Even the more prosperous pushcart vendors look poor.  They are wearing dirty, ragged clothing, and some have visible scars and injuries.

Orcs are present in great variety.  There are some in heavy armor, carrying weapons, apparently here to oversee order and security in the plaza.  On the other end, around the perimeter of the great but empty stone fountain, there are some sleeping in their tattered hide armor, in the broad daylight, surrounded by flies.

There are three large taverns that take in travelers here.  All have stables in the back that can handle the wagon and mules.  They are distinguished by their large signs:  The “Pig in the Pot”, the “Spear and Other Thing” and the “Rhinemaiden Tavern”.

The Spear and Other Thing is named for its sign, of course.  Like many taverns, the owner chose two semi-random objects to display, the familiar pattern of the many taverns, “Rose and Crown”, “Pipe and Fiddle”… but in this case, after several changes of ownership, invasions, and Hun occupation, no-one remembers what that other thing is next to the spear.  It’s some sort of round… with a… damn, what the heck is it?   Despite this is it is the largest of the three.  The “Pig in the Pot” has the loudest crowd, and the Rhinemaiden Tavern looks small and downright timid.

Haakon and Tawna recall that they stayed at the Rhinemaiden last time.  The “maiden” which gives the place its name is a large carved wooden statue of a nymph at the doorway.  Last time, there was a flower basket in front- it’s not there now, as the flowers are out of season.  Inside, they recall, there was intricately carved furniture, and stained, hand tooled wooden trim and moldings, all with a very feminine, floral theme- wooden columns are carved into nymphs holding strategically placed baskets and bouquets of flowers.  Haakon had deduced, apparently correctly, that the décor of the place- a very flowery, ‘girly’ theme, inside and out- was repulsive to the Orcs.


They recall that Orcs tended not to visit the Rhinemaiden, making it a sort of Human refuge.

"Rhinemaiden?" suggested Haakon.  "It almost looks like a setup but should be safe enough if we're in listening mode."

Pm
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Wed 15 Aug 2012.

Tawna does not have the same doubts about the Rhinemaiden that Haakon does.  “We stayed here last time,” she say.  “Pretty up and up place, for what it is, although.. I recall Dobby hating it.  Big rough Slavic warrior couldn’t face rooms with pansies decorating the walls.  At least they have soft beds.”

She is sure to get a room with a river view.  Looking out over barges, of course.  Where Cirostis is doing some quiet investigating.

***
Meanwhile… along the river, Cirostis pokes around the barges.

Being a Dwarf he’s not all that familiar with watercraft, but he can tell, basically, it’s a big box that floats.  Roofed over, too.  That’s uncommon for a barge.  Of course, it would be just the thing if it was a prison barge.

They look very much the same from a distance, but they are different, when he sees them close up. For one, most of the barges seem empty and deserted.  No noise, no light, no one comes and goes.  The others- a group of eight all in a row- do have more activity.  Servants make deliveries.  There are sounds of distant, muffled voices.  And lights.

The “dark” barges also look different. The “busy” barges have little doors, on the sides. And little windows, just slits.  The dark barges have the same little side doors and windows, but there is also a very large door on the front of each barge, that seems to be designed to flop down like the drawbridge across a moat, rather than open to the side like a normal door should.

Haakon nodded... "And me, well I'm not keen on rooms of any kind... but as you say, it has soft beds and a fine view through windows that open wide."  He offered his arm with as formal a bow as he could muster. "Shall we?"

If I had a few of these - Cirostis thinks - I could make a marine assault.
But where?

He counts the dark barges, and looks for some sign of how they would be propelled, do they have sails, oars, or something else. He tries to guess how many he could fit in one if it is designed to hold as many as possible. And where the door goes, is it high as if to land on city docks or low, to hit the riverside.

He looks from a distance at the 8 busy barges, how are the people coming and going dressed, what do they carry, are there guards coming and going?

"Haakon, you're terrible," Tawna says.  "We have to watch.  Cirostis is out there, creeping around.  What if he needs us?"

That, it seems, is why Tawna wanted the river view room.  To watch over Cirostis.

"I can't see him," she says when she looks.  "But that's a good thing, it means no one else can.  Probably.  He must be behind a barge.  But look, there's Graunch.  She points to the huge, menacing figure standing atop a barge.

* * * * *

And that is precisely where he is.

From a vantage point, he watches a few people come and go from the "active" barges.  They go in and out with buckets- they look like servants, and he realizes... they are.  From the top deck of one barge, a monstrous looking... whatever.. bellows at one of them.  The creature has the look of an Orc.. a huge Orc... somewhere were Orc and Ogre overlap.

Cirostis looks for some means of propulsion and wonders, how would it move?  There's no masts on the things.  The modified, empty barges nearby have rows of holes in the side- evidently, room for oars.  He can't see the others well enough.

Haakon stood with his bow beside him and nodded, all joking aside.  "Shooting Graunch would be a very stupid thing to do.  So I won't do so unless Cirostis is in real danger.  You watch the water, I'll watch Graunch."

"There you are, my pretty"
Cirostis says quietly to himself as we watches the big fellow. Is the slaver just a slaver? Master of a few barges? Or does he have more clues to share? He remains quiet and still. He watches until all quiets down.

ooc : back from holidays, sorry for the long silence.

 Tugdual had followed Tawna and Haakon, using his fish shape to go unnoticed and do a little underwater scouting. He did not expect to find much down there, but given the opportunity, it would have been foolish to not take a peek.

 Once in town, the druid remembers why he loathes these large cities, too many people on too small a piece of land, smells and sounds and sights horrified him... Then Huns' ways was responsible for a good deal of it, but he could not help thinking that he would have disliked the place anyhow.

 Of the three inn options, the floral themed Rhinemaiden had definitely his preference. He walked in there with a smile, happy to see that some of the citizen probably shared his nostalgia and sympathy for wilder scenes... He does not ask for a room, as he intends to fly out and rejoin Cirostis for the night. One dwarf can get lonely when it's dark.

 Until then, he could hang out in the tavern and listen to friendly conversations, surely if someone shares his views on nature, he may find a way to mingle.

 But before that, the druid would take on the opportunity to spy on the ogre-orc-slaver. Thanking once again the spirits of nature for his fantastic ability, he will take the shape of an urban animal, something that would not stand out in the scenery, and as much as possible, something that does not look too edible. Of course, seeing how successful deep-fried rats are, this might be a tricky task... he will stick with a large cat. Mostly he will move on the roofs, until he reaches a good vantage point to keep an eye on Grauntch and possibly hear what he has to say. Hopefully he uses other languages than his native orc-ogre dialects.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:49, Fri 24 Aug 2012.

Tugdual does well as a cat.  There are a few of them hanging around: semi-strays that patrol around the taverns and the riverside, looking for the vermin, and whatever handouts they get.  No stray dogs, though.

Meanwhile.. Tawna is impressed with Haakon’s restraint.  “Yeah… look at that middle he’s got, and arrow or two could probably go a foot deep and not hit anything important. He's made out pretty well, you know?  Something tells me he's the kind who makes a profit no matter who wins the war."

Cirostis and Tugdual observe into the night.

Things do not quiet down for a while.  Then, all the noise seems to converge around Graunch, and his own private barge.  He's got company, it seems.  Food, beer, some Orcs, even a Human.  They settle into his barge.  From what Cirostis and Tugdual can hear, they're having a good time.

Cirostis heads back to the grove to get some rest, he has learned several useful things today and will be patient.
He marks the private barge in his mind, recalling its features.

Not
Going straight he makes a
Wide circle around the city, starting from the river on one side to the river on the other he looks for any sign that an army has camped around the city, or that one is on its way. He counts and notes all roads and paths leading in and out. Then in the night, he returns to the grove and grumbles quietly to himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

 While in cat form, Tugdual will try and listen to potentially informative conversation around the barge, and perhaps even on the barge if an infiltration seems feasible and not overly dangerous. Committing very seriously to his character, the druid will hang out with other felines, hunt down a bird, anything it takes to access more information than he currently has. The feline crowd can be very well connected in small towns.

 At nightfall, after a short debriefing with Haakon and Tawna at the tavern, he will assume a bird shape and head back to the grove.

In the Rhinemaiden Tavern, or in the camp in the woods, they get some sleep.  For those staying outdoors, it’s a chilly night.

 In the morning there is loud bellowing; great beasts, like boars grown to the size of oxen, with long, sharp tusks and foul dispositions, are being paraded through the town.  They are each wearing frightening looking armor, and so are their riders, because each carries a heavily armored Orc warrior.

Orcs that are not part of the spectacle show up to line the streets, hooting and shouting their support.

In the Rhinemaiden, there are a few people up early, setting out breakfast for those staying here, and those others use this place for a haven.  They’re worried.

”I haven’t seen them this worked up in a year,” says the proprietor, a frail looking man who looks too young to look so worn.

”Like when they went to war last year,” a guest agrees, while eating a large slab of bread.

The noise can be heard even outside the town, where Cirostis and Tugdual are getting themselves ready to face another day.

 During the morning, after a debriefing with Cirostis regarding his observation of the day before and his schedule for the day to come, Tugdual will use his shape shifting ability to head back to town.

 There he meets Tawna and Haakon at the Rhinemaiden, and discusses the boar-mount conundrum.

  "These creature are obviously not natural ; they must have been grown through demonic powers for the purpose of war... I will try and figure out where they come from."

 The old druid will chat with whoever seems willing at the inn, hoping to gain information regarding the boars. If he finds a source that seems reliable enough, he will ask more direct questions concerning the possibility of a large hunnish army gathering somewhere around.

Tugdual joins Haakon and Tawna at breakfast at the Rhinemaiden.  His chainging ability allow him to slip in and out of the town easily.  Breakfast is eggs and heavy brown bread, and while they eat, the great “war beasts” are outside.

They quickly realize that there is no need to go find a big Hun army- the Orcs along with the warbeasts ARE the big army.  There are scores of war beasts.

They also realize, those creatures are pretty big to put on the barges!  There is no way all of them could fit, if that’s what they Huns are thinking.  And the warbeasts are not alone.  There are many Orc warriors parading with them.  And some that are clearly not Orcs- big, bulging Ogres out of the lonely eastern Forests, and a few snarling Worgs.  But the great bulk of the troops are Orcs.


The other Humans in the Rhinemaiden take a "don't bother them" approach.  Don't even look.  Just mind your breakfast, stay out of their way, and hope they don't want to bother you.

durring the night Cirostis reads the book signs of the enemy.

He  wakes and chews on some nutcakes. When Tugdual visits and tells him about the giant boars he nods,
Aye the Gauls favor those beasts giant boars - they're tough I'll give em that. Hey if you could turn into one you would be a very safe spy.

He chuckles. he tells Tug what he thinks of the boats.

So the boars can't Ride the boats ... This is planned - it is well thought out. They will chi it a target by water and another by land ... Or the same target.

We can figure it out ... Or ... We can just start screwing it up and hope we hit something that matters.

Hmmm? Sounds like they are getting excited - you better go inside.


He scouts around the town, keeping a wide distance - he looks for roads leaving the city and considers his knowledge of geography.

Where does the Rhine go? Where the roads?

He also looks for training fields, what are they practicing?

Haakon is real good at not bothering them, but he's also real good at listening, and he understands Orcish.  He sighed.  He'd have to go listen in the Shield and other thing, or the spear an other thing... whatever, that other inn.  He would be damned if he was going to sleep there though.

"So", he whispered to Tawna, "They're not subtle, there's a big army and their moving for war.  None of the humans know where they're going though, so I guess that means we have to go listen to the orcs in the other taverns.  If I know orcs, they'll not be exactly secretive about where they're going."

"No... Orcs are not subtle," Tawna says.  "Stupid, ugly and brutal are kind of hard to put in the same box as subtle.. But those.. those are Goblins.  They can do subtle."

Tawna points to a group of Orc-like things walking in behind a troop of Orcs.  They seem to have a lot of similarities, but they are smaller, leaner, and have a sly, cunning look about them.  And pointed ears reminiscent of Elves.

"I heard a legend once, that said they were bred from a race of Orcs mixed with Fey.  Pixies and stuff like like that.  So they're trickier and sneakier than Orcs but not as strong.  It's quite a show they have going on.  Yeah, I'll bet tonight this town will be full of drunk Orcs boasting to each other."

* * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Cirostis does what analysis he can, outside.  He doesn't know the roads or rivers well.  The Rhine.. as far as he knows, it's a big river.  It goes to the Ocean because that's what rivers do.

He has better luck watching the Orcs.  A lot of them seem to be showing off- too each other.  There's shouting, yelling, some contests of strength... and then he gets to watch some Orcs practicing with the barges.  Squads of Orcs run into barges, practice rowing them, beach them on the river bank, and run back out as the doors flop open, screaming and waving their weapons.

They're being judged.  Some very important looking Orcs, with garish armor and squads of bodyguards, praise the good and curse the bad.  After some trials, one group must have done better than the others, because the leaders praise them the most, and they hoot and scream with joy.  It looks like they were promised a reward, because they all pack off in a group- leaving the others to keep practicing.

As they do so, the barges are approached by some Human slaves, dragging wagons with very large tripod mounted crossbows.  They get to work on some of the other barges, mounting the weapons on the roof.

Cirostis pays close attention to the training.

Haakon, though, pays close attention to the boasts of orcs... On the other hand, as he tells Tawna, he does not believe that goblins are half-fey because neither orcs nor fey breed like that.  He pauses while speaking to catch a cockroach and crush it between his fingers.  "So, it must be something else".

(OOC for our American readers, that'll be the European Cockroach - Blatella germanica rather than its smaller American cousin.)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:07, Sat 01 Sept 2012.

OOC: Wait a minute...just how many 'other hands' does Haakon have?

OOC A fair point well made (now corrected)

Each in their own way, Cirostis in the field and Haakon and Tawna in the city, linked by Tugdual who can cross both domains easily, they engage in Intelligence Gathering.

 Cirostis has an interest in the training of the Orcs.

He watches the barge crews.  They look like they have practiced this for a while, but still need the fuming and shouting of their leaders.   Some things do not come naturally to Orcs, and one of them is the coordinated repetitious  motions needed by rowers.  Heavy drums are beaten, there is shouting and an occasional whip crack.

Once out of the barges, though, they are quick, tough, aggressive Orc warriors.

The barges hold about fifty Orcs each.  When they park, they leave no one behind- there is no separate rowing crew.  All the Orcs storm ashore at once.  The lead Orcs all have oversized shields and they hold them aloft as they charge.  It's clear that they expect to fight right off the river.  Well, some river.  Cirostis doesn't know the rivers here, what is navigable and where, or what connects to what.

There are heads affixed to some of the shields.

Meanwhile…

The Orcs avoid the Rhinemaiden Tavern, of course, so Haakon and Tawna head over to another one, after the morning of parades and triumphal marches comes to an end.  The Orcs actually pay their way.  The taverns, as Haakon and Tawna know, all pay a substantial tax to the city, so no doubt the Hun warlords frown upon even their own warriors skipping out on their bar tabs.

They quickly learn that the Orcs are looking forward to fighting Elves.  They expect to come back with a much bigger haul than “last time”.  This time, “All the Elves”.

They think it will be a very good thing to have Elven prisoners again.  They are almost out of the ones they have.  The Orcs think the Elves are weak creatures that do not last long as prisoners.

“Except for the ones Graunch keeps!” one Orc says.  “Expert, him!  Keep em alive, they talk, they squeal, they wimper!”

Another Orc mentions that even Graunch is running low on prisoners.  Just a few remain.  But soon… when they win, there will be many.  Their screams will entertain everyone, for years!

Very quietly, one Orc wonders, “Den what?”

When they meet, Cirostis discusses what he saw with Tugdual.

Can you make wood to bend my friend? I don't need to know where they are going to know this is a well laid plan. Sabatoge it, and we will delay them for weeks, or we will force them to go only by land and improvise. I've been looking at their boats, you can warp a plank or two on the bottom and she will fill with water and sink in the night. I can watch over you, how many can we get? Can you do it as a fish? Make it look natural?

 Tugdual smiles widely when Cirostis suggests to warp planks in the barges.

  "I like the way you think, my friend...

   I have been pondering that option, and considered my capabilities. I could do it inconspicuously, with the appearance of a harmless catfish. Four barges each day, but I reckon the orcs could fix them at a similar pace, and prevent me from keeping up when they realize that magic is at work and start keeping an eye open for saboteurs...

   The idea is good though, and I will gladly put this plan to execution... when the barges start moving, when they are full of soldiers... sink one during a tactical manoeuvre, and jam a whole parade of boats...  "
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Wed 05 Sept 2012.

Haakon leans against the wall, out of the way of the boasting orcs, but he is listening, and Tawna, no doubt is listening,  And he is watching.  In particular, an orc who said "Den What?"  Such forward thinking for an orc is most unusual.  For a moment, he wonders whether this orc is one of the heretics who should be hiding in order to survive the destruction of the orcs.

He says nothing at the time but later, when he and Tawna are out of sight, perhaps after memorising the orc's route at least out of the tavern if not 'home', he says, "ALL of the Orcs and ALL of the Elves.  We don't even need to ask where this battle is.  Nobody's going to be subtle.  This is shaping into what the Greeks or Persians or whoever call Apocalypse and we Germans call Ragnarrok, the end of the world.  When we do find out where it's going to happen, I suggest we pass on the information and then arrange to be somewhere else, somewhere close by so we can reach the battlefield when it's all over."  He smiled and shrugged, "But of course, you'd already thought of that already hadn't you?"

Tawna is native to Lucimburic.  Lucumburic occupies a chunk of the Ardennes forest, but the bulk of the Ardennes belongs to the Elven Ardennes kingdom.  But being a daughter of the Ardennes, Tawna is more knowledgable than the others on the subject of local geography.  Well.. with the possible exception of Tugdual.

“They’re after Elves, and they want to do it by way of a river,” she says quietly, piecing things together.  “Haakon, Tugdual, there’s only one river that branches off the Rhine, and goes anywhere near the Elves, and is navigable.”

Tugdual would know at once that Tawna is referring to the Moselle.

“It’s got to be where they are going.  We have to warn the troops we came with, and the Elves, and my people too.  Otherwise, they could have hundreds of Orcs up the river, anywhere, and then all these war beasts following along.  I think getting there and warning is more important than anything else we could do.  After all… there are hundreds of them.  Thousands.  All those boats.   If the battle is really that big, what could we do here?  Damage a few boats, kill a few Orcs, and then get chased by five hundred of them?  What we've seen...  what we know now...  is more important than anything we could do.

"But then, Haakon… Tugdual can turn into a bird.  He can get back alone if he wants to, faster than we can.  If he’s going to pass the word, and you’ve still got crazy ideas on your mind, I’ll stick with you.”

pm

Haakon nodded.  "You're right Tawna.  Tugdual needs to do that now, Cirostis should go back too, or come with us, deeper into the Orcish empire.  This is not natural and it's beyond what orcs can do and while, as you say goblins may have the sneakiness, there's no way an army of what... hundreds of thousands of orcs? ... is going to follow a goblin.  You're right.  We can't stop this by sabotage.  The only thing we can do is find the orc emperor and kill him.  We should get back to the Rhinemaiden and ask if anyone knows where the Orcish capital is.  I just don't know whether we are too late... and if we're too late, then I'm for returning to your home, gathering the werefolk and making a stand at the Final Battle.  If that's what we have to do, I just hope we can gather a few slaves along the way to come and join us.  Better for them to feast in Valhalla than rot at Hel's feet in Niflheim."

Cirostis continues his evaluation of the troops.

OOC: please note the number of boats, and how wide the river is, and size of troops estimated.
Also will wait for Tugdual to explain before I respond

Tawna raises an eyebrow, momentarily baffled by the sudden "battle to the death" wish of Haakon... and then remembers... oh yes, he's Germanic.

"Haakon... you know the legends your people have.. Sigfried, Brunhilde... slay a dragon, defend honor, die gloriously, all of that...  just remember they were all written by people who didn't die gloriously.  I have no intention of doing that.  We help out, we do what we can, the Elves win, we go home and I open my school for Wereweasel children.  That was the plan, and I'm sticking to it!"

Haakon is able to learn about the Orcish Emperor.  It's common knowledge, even here.  He moved himself into the middle of Gaul, and rules from a place called Lutetia Parisiorum.

Very far away.

Much closer, he knows, is Lucimburic, and Tawna's home.  They used that route before, going in the opposite direction.  Haakon is reasonably sure he could navigate back, especially with Tawna's help.

* * * * * * *

Cirostis moves back and forth along the river, trying to count the boats.  The barges are as big as, well, barges, but he's trying to do it without being seen, and it's cautious, slow work moving from one hiding place to another.  He counts twenty seven barges.  Of course, that's including Graunch's private barge, and the barges that still look they are used for their original purpose:  prison barges.  There are five of those.

 If at some point, the four spies manage to occupy the same space at the same time, Tugdual will speak thus. (otherwise he will assume his messenger dove role...)

  "The greatest urgency is to let Heolstor and Anakri know of the Huns' plans. In the absence of Petra and Hermod, I shall bring that news to the army.

   Tawna, do you know of a place called Contionacum* ? It lies south of Treveris**, where Mosel meets Rhine.

   I am not very familiar with river navigation, but the manoeuvre there ought to be a tricky one. If there's any chance of slowing this army, it should be done there.

   Also, it lies very close to Lucimburic, I'm assuming you could seek help there.

   I will fly back to the Ardennes, no later than today. I cannot guarantee I will be able to deliver the message to the commanders before tomorrow. I will meet you in Contionacum* in a few days."

 * modern day Konz, Germany
 ** modern day Trier, Germany ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...gusta_Treverorum.jpg )
This message was last edited by the player at 08:58, Fri 07 Sept 2012.

Haakon was aghast.  He looked at Tawna and said, "What do you take me for?  I'm not looking for glorious battle. The point is to avoid death for as long as possible but then, when it's no longer possible to get out of it... keep on fighting.  I was planning on writing the book if I could... while you (we) teach a passel of wereweasel children (and hopefully lots of half-wereweasel children)."

Then he grinned and kissed Tawna on the cheek.  "So... shall we get outselves to Contionacum?"

“I know the place, very well,” Tawna says.  “It is just beyond the border of Lucimburic.  A small town, near Trevorum.  In fact, the closest town on our eastern border.  Do you think the Huns are going there?  They would attack us?  In our homeland?”

Tawna looks shocked at the very idea.

”Haakon, we must go!” she says, sounding very worried.  “It’s been Elves this and Elves that, but what if they want to get to the Elves through OUR land?  The Elves are poorly defended on our borders now, they expect no trouble from Duke Barstow!”

Haakon nodded.  "On it.  How quickly can we get there?  It's downstream so I guess a boat would do it but it's a bit conspicuous.  I don't see any horses around and I can't imagine being able to ride a warbeast. If I have to, I guess I could run but I wouldn't be good for much when I got there."

Cirostis thinks a moment ... Well, I suppose you need to fly off and warn everyone. And find a way to meet at that place with what you can to sabatoge the boats. I can take maybe three of them down but I will be easily found once explosions go off if I don't have an escape plan.

I do think damaging their boats is improtant as their plans are based on them. I can move out when the army does and stay ahead of them as I'm a lot faster than other dwarves.

... Also ...

I wouldn't mind, if we have enough time ... I wouldn't mind killing that slaver when the army moves out.  See what the tailor thinks, would he be able to cover me for that?

Haakon sighed... "This is when Tinker Dee Tall and his Torspeedoes would come in useful.  I wonder where he is.  The elves will know, somebody needs to tell them. As for killing the slaver, tell Cirostis to go for it if he wants but don't let it jeopardize anything.  We REALLY need to get to warn the werefolk pfq."

OOC note to self, try not to write dialogue just after watching Doctor Who

OOC: the plan in Cirostis' mind is:
Tug leaves now to warn and set up ambush.

We stay till the army goes. When they go, the very hour they go, Cirostis is considering assassinating the slaver. He wants to know if you would back him up? He is confident he can catch and pass an army if he lives, but he is a dwarf scout. You may be challenged. Horses would help if they exist.  Armies of course move a bit slower than individuals because of all the organization and supplies.

Haakon, and no doubt Tawna too, tell Tugdual... "No, you need to tell the Elves and Tawna needs to tell the Werefolk.  You fly to the army and we'll run to the rendezvous at the Mosel.  Cirostis should get back to the Dwarves.  We know what we know and as for Graunch... later, we'll set up a task force, capture him and hand him over alive to face Elven justice.  He doesn't deserve the quick death of an assassination when the elves could imprison him in a tree or whatever it is elves do when they're wrathful."

It seems to me if I were this fella, and the war ended badly, I would kill all the prisoners and run away.

I'm also not too sure why I should 'go back to the dwarves' when the battle is not yet won - I'm not even sure where I would go back to. But I understand if you're not comfortable helping me in a fight.

You've done strong work. Maybe you should look around for a wagon you can take out of here.

Cirostis knows that he came north to aid the Elves. He should try - of course he won't be stupid about it, he has a family to live for. Without backup he knows his odds are less.

Once the others have chosen their path and Tugdual is on his way out, Cirostis will spend his time for the next few days casing the slaver and looking for daily patterns and opportunity. - perhaps he takes an evening walk in the woods?

He watches also to see how many guards seem to be working on the barge. When they sleep, etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Sun 09 Sept 2012.

  "I could take Tawna with me, travelling by means of flight, and drop her in Lcimburic. Meanwhile Cirostis and Haakon may follow the Rhine, and we shall meet in a few days in Contionacum.

 I do not know whether the Orcs plan on rampaging through Lucimburic on their way to the Ardennes... what I know is that for someone wanting to attack the Ardennes, passing through Belgicum is a lot easier than try and cross the Rhine and the Vosges. (I should perhaps make a note of this for my descendants...)

 What do you say ?"

 (ooc : I really hope we have an other way of brainstorming than Tugdual delivering messages between the dwarf and the cute couple...)

ooc how far is it (as the crow flies or the ranger runs) to Contionacum?

Sadly, with Cirostis maintaining his field observations, and Haakon and Tawna in the town, Tugdual is the only means they have of staying in touch with each other.  Conversations are through him.

Tugdual is native to this region.  One can never be too sure about traveling through the forests here, along the twisty paths.  Their are a few dependable routes Tugdual knows, but part of the journey would be along the Moselle river.

Without horses, four days, it looks like.

Tugdual could fly it in one.

Cirostis watches the Orcs practice.  He can tell, they wouldn't make this kind of effort if they weren't serious.  No one gets a horde of Orcs all worked and excited like that and then says "good show boys, now back to the barracks, we'll call you out in the Spring!".

No, this one is real.  And if the party starts out now, they will have a chance to get to Contionacum ahead of the Huns.. but not by much.

Tawna has something to add about Contionacum, thought.  It's just a little place.  More important is the nearby city of Treverorum. (Trier, Germany)  It has a famous temple of healing.

  "Treverorum is a large city, way too large if you ask me... it will be easier to meet in Contionacum. Besides, Rhine and Mosel meet there, so the orcs will be within reach.

  I should waste no more time. Tawna, do you wish to travel with me ? I could take you to Lucimburic within a day."

 Tugdual will fly away this very day, but having used most of his shapeshifting abilities to carry messages, he won't be able to go very far before he has to continue on the ground.

Cirostis waits to see what Tawna and Haakon do as he ponders the next steps.

Haakon waits to see what Tawna will do... he is quite happy to run to Contianacum with her but if she elects to go with Tugdual, then that frees him to work with Cirostis to assassinate Graunch (even though he isn't keen on this idea).

Tawna's preference is to go towards home, which must be warned, and very possibly defended, and she doesn't want Haakon hanging around with damned fool aspirations of being a lone assassin.

But she doesn't want to get "flown" back.  Not only is it undignified.. it leaves Haakon unsupervised, and he's been coming up with crazy ideas lately.  She wants to stay with him and take the trail back.

"If they go after Lucimburic, we'll need you," she says.  "Even if they don't, there's a shortage of really good dressmakers back home.  It would be a shame to waste one.  Graunch will get his due, one day.  Someone will see to it, it always works out that way.  But there are hundreds of Orcs aiming themselves at my home.  The most important thing is that they are defeated."

With no more Tugdual coordinating, they slip out of town that evening, and finally rendezvous with Cirostis in person, who looking rather Earthy for a Dwarf by now.  Twigs in the beard, that sort of thing.

Tawna explains- they need to get back to Lucimburic, and warn everybody.  Everybody-her people, the Elves, and Heolstor and his troops, if they can get that far.  Contionacum is conveniently located along the way, near Treverorum... and those people need to be warned too.

And from what they saw, and what they know... when they get there, the Huns will not be far behind them!

* * * * * * *

Tugdual knows the area well, and can move faster than the others.  Where is he headed first?

When the spies meet up, Cirostis greets them.
Well, I've looked into it - now is not the time to dally. Have you got all your gear?

We need to get moving. - we need a way to signal Tug, so he can find us when we get close - I was thinking we might do a brief fire late at night starting on day 3. We may attract other attention too. Do you have any other thoughts?

(I'm pushing this little group ahead at this point, to get them synched up in time again with Story Events.)

They set out, headed back west, towards the rugged green landscape Tugdual actually knows quite well.

The first leg of their journey takes them back to the very ridge where they started, though this time, they don't go near the orchard.  (No need to call any attention to the secrets of the locals!).  They use the ridge to scan the land ahead of them, looking for any danger along the route ahead.

The only thing they see are the curls of smoke rising from chimneys in the towns of Bingium and Cruciniacum- the two smaller towns west of Mogontiacum.   And more smoke, rising from the peculiar tower in the river near Bingium.

The roads run through the towns, of course. This means they have to thread their way cross country, through wilderness, between or around the two towns.  Fortunately, the party consists of those adventurers who are skilled in moving through wilderness.. even Cirostis, an unusual talent for a Dwarf,  as they are so well known for their "Chop it down, pave it over, build a bridge!" approach to dealing with wilderness.

Cautiously, they make their way west, after choosing a route.

But the real question is for Tugdual.  Fly on ahead of them and get back to their allies as soon as possible, or stick with the party to help them on the trip back?

You need to get out of here, buddy - others will take time to prepare. Watch for our night fires to get back to us.

Haakon nods.  "'strue Tugdual, Carry the news... we'll be there before we know it."

Well, since apparently, no one is going to miss him...

 Tugdual wastes no more time and resumes his avian shape. They Grey Heron it will be, swift and inconspicuous, and always ready for a little frog-snack on the go. Although this time of year, odds are he will rather stop for a young trout.

 The druid's powers do not allow him to fly all day long, therefore he will carefully time his wild shapes so as to switch from walking to flying every hour and when possible, walk downhill to save his strengths.

 Following this schedule, he should be able to arrive in the vicinity of the army around noon on the second day. Hopefully he will not waste too much time finding them... when he does, he will walk straight to Heolstor.

Haakon offered his hand to Tawna.  "Shall we run together or shall I carry you?"  However she answers, he starts running, relying on his rangers instincts and endurance to move as quickly, steadily, and inconspicuously as possible through the countryside.

Tugdual is off… but for where?  The group split up back at the lakeside village of Absecon.. but the combined force of Humans, Elves and Dwarves, there was on the move, and they certainly would not be there now.

Tugdual does his best to predict where they ought to be, given their speed and direction and intentions, and what he knows of the landscape.  He heads west in the air, and is immediately confronted with a choice of direction.

He could follow the course of the Nava river.  This takes a route through very "wild" country, but it happens to be wild country he knows well.  The only Humans he would find for the first day of travel, if any, would be a few tribes like his own that stay deliberately remote.  But there are Elves, and less friendly creatures.  The Nava river region is popular for herb gatherers, because it is home to plants that are normally only found in areas much further south.  The native wildlife can be an issue, though.  The Dragons there are not of the friendly type, and neither are the Griffons, Ogres, Trolls...

There is also the Moselle, which is more work to get to, but runs through Elven land before reaching the region of Treverorum and then Lucimburic.  Much more civilized.

* * * * * * *

Haakon, Tawna and Cirostis, meanwhile, continue making their way west, on the ground.

"I can walk," Tawna says, albeit with an expression that says riding along in weasel form might be more relaxing.

But she sees the pace Haakon intends to set, and changes her mind.

And then wonders, can the Dwarf keep up?

Indeed, Dwarves are built for endurance more than speed.  Cirostis starts falling behind, but he knows that with each rest stop, he can catch up.

Haakon, realising that his fellow Scout can't keep up, slows his speed to that of a normal human, knowing that he can endure as long as Cirostis... indeed, he suggests the two keep going for as long as they could, in the hope they can rest when they reach their destination.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

Cirostis is a scout and has the same land speed as humans in addition to the endurance of his forebears. He can match any pace through wild terrain, he likes it.  He also leaves no trail and cannot be tracked unless he chooses to be.

Of course if the other fellow wants to rest he will take the time to read his book between nutcakes and fish (-;
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

(Note that Haakon is ALSO a scout- Human, and in lighter armor)

Ha ok - sorry - I judged that book by its cover. But my armor has no acp

Cirostis struggles to keep up and finally admits he is slower.

Go on ... I'll catch up when you rest dress-maker ha! 

 Tugdual knows the region better than he know psychology and strategy, but it seemed obvious that the commanders would not have led their forces into the dangerous surroundings of the Nava river. Risking harassment from all sorts of creatures and monsters could not be a good thing for a marching army.

 He headed towards the Moselle, and this time adopted the form of an eagle. What he lost in overland speed, he gained in eyesight, and by reaching the high altitudes, he should be able to spot something of the gathered forces.
 By doing so, he realized that if the Huns had access to similar forms of magic -and he doubted not that some of their shamans had- it would be fairly easy for them to monitor the movements of the human/elven/dwarven alliance...

 Gliding a couple thousand feet above the earth, eagle eyes scrutinizing the ground, Tugdual waited to spot a sign of the army.

Petra gasped faintly, lost under the wind of course, at the sight of the things, and her allies' predicament.

Were they hounds of Hell?  She had only heard of such, never beheld any.  Or were these, yet again, tragic twistings of natural things; perpetration of the foul rites and magics the Hunnish clergy practiced.

Well, it mattered not, now;  same answer to it, either way!

She guided Hermod in toward them, coming nearer.

Once she thought there was any chance at all of being heard, she called out with all the volume she could manage:

"FRIENDS!   ATTACK!!  FROM BEHIND -- BEWARE!!" 

That wasn't enough.  She had to do something to deter the vicious attack, as well!

Although Petra was both an experienced archer and rider, she had not done a great of both in conjunction.  Generally, though the mare was battle trained, she had attempted to leave Anbruch out of harm's way, because of her love for the animal.
And, of course, shooting from an aerial mount was a much greater challenge.

But, detail such as previous experience wasn't a consideration now.  Only what she had to do.

Her bow was already strung, in anticipation of danger.  Without consciously thinking about it, she was able to get it to hand, nock an arrow, and aim.

She utilized the Elven quiver to enchant the shaft specifically against the hound closest to Cirostis, and let it fly.

Hearing the voice of Petra in the air behind him Cirostis draws his axe and shield and turns around to see this impending attack.
Move to the side and get cover! he shouts to the Man

Haakon rolled over to the side, looking for cover but not sure what he's seeking cover from.  He drew his bow and looked for a target.

10:03, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 10 using 1d20+9. ...into cover (hide).
10:03, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Tumble..

For a few hours now they have been following a stream upwards, to the Hunsruck plateau that separates the lands of Humans, Elves, and Lycanthropes from the Huns.  (Hence, "Hunsruck", but no one has knows what the "ruck" is for."**.   The stream is the Gulbach, and it is one of those streams that varies greatly with the volume of rain.  Now, much of its bed is open- damp, but stony, hard ground offering an easy route through the rugged hills to either side.  The land here has many large stones, scrubbed clean by the much stronger flow of the Guldbach after heavy rains.

Alerted to danger by their flying friend, Cirostis, Tawna and Haakon take cover and look behind.

There is Petra, on her flying steed.  And below her, two wolf like creatures running towards the party.

They are lupine in form, but much larger, and the hair seems burned away over much of their dull red leathery bodies.  Here and there it grows in bristly patches of dull black.

What makes them truly worrisome, though, are the puffs of black smoke that the creatures occasionally breath out in sulfurous coughs.

And the fact that their eyes glow like dim, hot coals. 

Petra takes a shot from the air with her bow, but she hasn't got the knack of airborne archery yet, and she misses.  The creatures pay her no attention, and close on Cirostis, Haakon, and Tawna.

 


**Etymology is complicated.  If it is indeed an Orcish word, there are no fewer than nine translations for "ruck".  Four of them are obscenities, and the other five are Ring, badger**, an injury caused by multiple sharp objects cutting the skin in parallel lines, a sour tasting raisin, and "stuff you put in a rucksack."  Naturally the Orcs define "rucksack" as "a sack for ruck".

**The confusing words might be the reason for the legendary Badger of Three Wishes.

Cirostis spares no time other than a small chuckle at one of the obscene translations of Hunsruck which he thinks the local terrain may have some shapes in common with. Doesn't look friendly

He immediately hurls his axe at the southern critter, the axe returns to his hand, bloodied and he hurls it again at the same enemy. He then steps behind the rocks to take the charge and will take any attack of opportuntity that presents.


13:12, Today: Cirostis rolled 11 using 1d10+2. Damage aoo.
13:12, Today: Cirostis rolled 19 using 1d20+9. Aoo.
13:04, Today: Cirostis rolled 7,5 using D10+2,2d6. Damage 2. damage = 12 if chaotic.
13:03, Today: Cirostis rolled 4,11 using D10+2,3d6. Damage 1. Error should be 2d6 because I am not moving 10' damage = 11 total
13:01, Today: Cirostis rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Attack 2.
13:00, Today: Cirostis rolled 23 using 1d20+11. Attack1.

Haakon fires two arrows in quick succession at the northernmost critter (V22?).  Then he reloads and climbs onto the rock in front of him to continue firing.

23:22, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 20 using 1d20+9. second arrow.
23:22, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 23 using 1d20+9. First arrow.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:51, Fri 21 Sept 2012.

Even as the creatures charge towards him, Cirostis does what Dwarves do:  he stands his ground.  And why not?  He’s got a fine rock, and it offers some protection, which he would lose quickly if he turned to retreat.

Cirostis throws his ax at one of the them, and hits, but he loses the line of sight as the wounded creature runs behind a rock- with the hunting strategy of wolves, they are splitting up, trying to come at Cirostis from both sides at once.  He sees it again just as the creature launches its attack- a blast of hot fiery breath, followed up by a pounce with burning teeth showing… but Cirostis is prevents that with his second ax attack.  The fiery breath scorches the Dwarf, though.

Petra keeps Hermod above and off to the side of the Abyssal Canines, and finally seems to find the groove of aerial archery.  She puts two arrows into the side of one, just as Haakon also hits it.  Wounded, the creature tries to help its companion with the “double encirclement” attack on Cirostis.  But it has the same luck.  It is fended off by the Dwarf’s tough armor, although Cirostis feels another blast of heat.

Both the creatures look very bad off- their vile orange-red blood is leaking in great amounts, hissing and steaming on the ground.

Cirostis has managed to avoid the much of the flame, with the aid of his handy fire-blocker, the rock, but is still scorched.  He's definitely not nearly as bad off as the creatures, though.


 

Cirostis steps to the south as far as J23 to keep a tree at his back. He activates his beard ring and shouts at the beast. With a deafening scream in the infernal language.
Lachtu'ashchkah et T'ung!
Bad dog! Leave!
Making it obvious he is not attacking with all his effort Cirostis then slashes the beast for not leaving.
And shouts again
RAaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrghh

22:21, Today: Cirostis rolled 8,3,1 using D10+3,2d6,1d6. Damage.
22:20, Today: Cirostis rolled 16 using 1d20+11. Intimidate.
22:19, Today: Cirostis rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Attack intimidating strike.
20:09, Today: Ben, on behalf of Cirostis, rolled 15 using 1d20+8.

Haakon hands his bow to Tawna and wields his axe instead. He jumps from the rock and charges into the fray, seeking to sever the life from the first wolf he comes to.

"Back to the bleak realms of dour Hel with you!!"  shouted Petra from above, as she drew a bead on the hound she had previously harmed.

The flames were a worrisome threat. Bad burns could be amongst the worst of injuries to suffer.  She knew an invocation that could offer some warding from it. But, she needed to touch the beneficiary.  That wasn't going to be practical.

Better to focus simply on putting down this enemy as swift as could be done.

Tugdual does spot the army, but it has not reached the Moselle valley  He sees them headed north, along the Rhine.  Many Orcs.  Maybe thousands of Orcs, and their huge warbeasts too.  And he can make out the line of barges, paralleling them in the river.

  From what he knows of Geography, the Moselle is not a direct course.  It winds and bends.  If the Huns do indeed intend the Moselle route, they will not reach the confluence of the two rivers before nightfall.  And then they would be into Aquilania*… the hilly forest between the Rhine and Lucimburic, the eastern flank of the Ardennes.  In Aquilania, there are some scattered Elven settlements.  Nothing Tugdual would imagine could offer up enough of a resistance in a day or two to stop so many Orcs.  The Elves always assumed time would be on their side- draw the enemy into their forest, and then defeat them piece by piece.

He also knows its hard to find the Elven settlements in the forest, but if he follows the Moselle, he’s certain to spot something.

*Eifel, today.

Meanwhile, Cirostis learns that  Hell Hounds simply don’t get intimidated.  Seriously.  When your puppyhood is spent listening to the cries of damned souls being tortured upon the red hot spikes of the iron walls of Dis, it’s really hard to get worked up over a yelling Dwarf.**

It leaps at him, seizing the Dwarf in its fiery jaws.  Cirostis feels a painful bite on his arm.

But the creature is already badly wounded.  He hits it again, and even his less than mightly effort is enough to finish it off.

At about the same time, Petra hits the other one from her aerial seat.

Tawna watches Haakon charge in surprise.

She gets up when both of the beasts are slain, and walks toward the party.

”Really, Cirostis?  Bad dog?  Bad dog?”  she shakes her head before turning to Haakon.  “And you!  You’re getting very… You’re an investment, you know.  And now we have to do something about Cirostis.”


**As Hell Hounds go, these are the Infernal equivalent of Beagles.

When I said Tugdual was trying to spot the army, I meant the Allies. Those he is trying to warn, I don't think he would stick around the Rhine valley that long.

Cirostis looks at the woman as he sits "you speak infernal?"

Well - That word for bad dog is particularly obscene and nasty. I figures something had to train them - and whoever it was spoke infernal. But I guess it didn't work.

He shrugs, and it apparently hurts so he sits down. And dabs water on his arm cursing in his own language.

Petra landed the winged steed, and dismounted.   She was just getting the hang of accounting for the presence of the wings during a dismount.   She approached Cirostis and the others.

"You must teach it to me, one day, master beard-carver.  I think it might in fact have some use in taverns.  Where I have found bad dogs do in fact congregate." 

She reached out, touched the Dwarven skirmisher, and concisely chanted...

-Petra rolled 6 using 2d8+4. CMW -Cirostis.    Ach, double ones!  Well still beats the hell out of ye old bandaid.

Haakon pulled Tawna to him and whispered, "Careful, that almost sounded romantic.  And you're an investment too, one I need to protect.  And you know very well my armour works best when I'm running... even toward the trouble." He grinned like a loon then turned to Petra.  "Anything else following us?"  He asked, "And are we still on the right track to give warning?"

"Nothing else of which I am aware, sir Pedlar.  And, forgive me if this is a touch witless -- but what are you giving warning of?  Did you learn of something while I was away?  For my part, I have learned some things that we needed very badly to know.  Nothing that will effect us right this moment -- but things regarding our true enemy, which our leaders must understand." 

"When we left, the Hunnish army was still preparing, we hoped to give the Werefolk (and elves) time to prepare, but tell me.  Who is our true enemy?" Tawna no doubt sees the symptoms of Haakon adding knowledge to the store of knowledge he will use to seek the fulcrum that will move the universe and break the Huns.  (Or being a lone assassin as she might conceptualise it).

An thank you lass - I would never teach such filth to as fine a lady as yerself eh ...

How many can ride o top yer glorious steed?

Petra considered on Cirostis' question.

"In terms of his strength to bear weight, I really have no idea.  In terms of what will fit...I do not think more than a second person.  And not a very big one."   

Hermod was a sizable stallion; but the complication was of course the space that his wings needed.

Petra then informed the others of what she had learnt from the mystical tome of the enigmatic priestess, Julia:     (-excerpted from what Ben gave me in "Petra's Journey")

The leader of the Huns that they faced was Abigor, a very martial sort of Demon.  A military strategist, who plans well for battle.  He commands troops in the Abyss, and his name is called by conquerors, and would be conquerors.  They say he his tall, and handsome. It would fit as a warrior Demon, for war can dazzle and bewitch like a comely face.  Elegant clothes, but bearing symbols of death.

His name has been called, his powers are abroad in the world already.  Some of his form is here, but not yet his full form.

He makes use of the strategy of the False Peace, he brings doom upon the ill prepared.  His form comes forth bearing in his right hand, a sword, and in the left, a stolen thing, a staff of olive branches, braided.  If the staff can be taken from him, or destroyed, he will no longer command the False Peace.

While he has it, there will be doubt.  Too many will not recognize him for what he is, or do what they have to do.

"The staff is a stolen artifact," Petra concluded.   "It's rightful place is with one of the Celestials, of the sacred mountain the Romans call Olympus.  Where it inspires true peace, rather than the false kind."

There was also the matter of what she had learned regarding Beda, from Phileas Argentos and his wife.  But that had no bearing on what they were doing here and now.  She would broach that with Anakri, or Heolstor, first.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Tue 25 Sept 2012.

Haakon looked at Tawna and he didn't say anything but Tawna knows what he is thinking all the time or so it seems.

So - thinking this through. We have to get to the randevous point, I want to sink a few of those boats and mess up the plan. Also resistance needs to be organized. Tugdual is on his way to warn the intended targets. The elves and Lycanthropes will have a few days preparation  it stops the aurprise but the main attack can still go through, we need to surprise them with a force that is ready. Perhaps you could return to Heolstor and we shall continue on our path? They can plan an attack or at least a counterattack.
 

The Dwarf looks at Petra.

I have a thing or two more to say about this false peace to the Bergundians but well save that.

Tugdual flies west in search of the allied army.  Most of the journey he covers in bird form, it's a lot faster than walking over hills and along winding rivers, and he knows the area.

By the end of the day, he's approaching "civilization"; the Moselle valley settlements, Treverorum and vicinity, are somewhere off to his right.  Lucimburic and the strange Lycanthrope folk there are further ahead, and he knows he could reach that as well, and off to his left are the hills he knows as home.  Finding the allied army could take some work- the Ardennes is a big place, and there is a lot of area to look.  It will have to wait for the next day.  In the mean time, does he wish to stop in any of these places he knows for the night, or just camp in the wilderness?

* * * ** * *

Hermod occassionally gives hints of understanding, as if the great winged horse's ears pick up everything, but only translate a key phrase here and there.   Perhaps it is Petra's imagination, but the suggestion that Hermod might be able to carry a second rider gets a reaction from him.  He shifts his feet, snorts, looks uncomfortable, and utters a quiet, restrained "neigh".

On foot, they move off to the west, getting some space between them and the Hell Hounds that tracked them.

Along the way, Tawna fills them in on some of last year's history.

"We had a Demon," she says quietly.  "That's what led to all the problems.  It was the Demon Prince of Beasts, they said, and his name was... well, maybe it's best not to use the name.  But he was clever and he had a plot all set up, and a lot of us were caught up in it, including a half dozen of my clan, and four of them died for it.  Demon Prince of Beasts... yeah, you see, cause we have animal natures... he must have figured it would be our weakness.  Now this one's got this False Peace... that's clever too, cause the Elves really like peace.  They can be pretty slow to react.  They're not cowards, but they don't come howling out of the woods when they think there's a better way. It's... they've got it pretty well figured?  If this False Peace has got a hold of them, when we warn them, we might find them not wanting to hear us.  I remember how the Demon took us... you'll have to remember, it's the Demon doing it, don't blame the Elves.  But I don't think this Demon is thinking of Heolstor and the Dwarves and all that coming up.  They won't buy into it. Not a bit.  Neither will my people.  General Texxor is a Werewolf, and he's ALL Werewolf, and he won't be taken in by a false peace.  Werewolves barely tolerate REAL peace."

(Yes, she's talking about that Texxor.)

The Elves might be inclined to hope for peace, but the Elven patrol that appears quite suddenly as the sun sets looks fierce and ready.  It is the end of the day, and the party has walked miles into the rolling forest of the Hunsruck Plateau, and without warning, four Elves just seem to be... there...

But the presence of Hermod, even walking along, puts aside any thought that they might have that these are casual intruders to be run out of Elven land.  The Elves look impressed.  They are still holding bows and the arrows are still pointed at the party, but Hermod has definitely got their attention.

One of them, after a somewhat lengthier pause than there should have been, asks, "Who are you?"

It's not certain whether he was addressing the party in general, or Hermod.

Haakon grinned as the elves approached.  "A Priestess, a winged horse, a dressmaker, a hairdresser, and a schoolteacher.  We're an army. Not a big army, I grant you, but an army all the same, and we seek to warn the people of Lucimburic among others of a coming invasion."

OOC hope I haven't missed anyone.

Cirostis is a little grumpy on first meeting with the elves. Not to be a stereotype or anything, it's just he is sore and tattered and he hasnt slept on anything soft since I don't know when. And for a "hair dresser" his look is most definitely awkward his normally bald scalp has grown a thick short matted fur and it along with his decorated beard sport an amalgam of dirt, singe spots and hell puppy blood.

He ignores the Elves at first looking at Haakon.
I prefer Beard Carver thank you.  He actually looks a little suspicious and upset but then relaxes and cracks a brief smile waving it off.
I guess I've got the only beard within 20 miles, hair dresser it is. a gente curse is on his lips but hard to hear.

He then addresses the sentries at first he seems very impressed and pleased, as if they were his own trainees.

Excellent approach gentlemen, yes, you've got us and were surprised - we never saw you comming.
I hope you have backup ... Yes? ... And perhaps a commander?

He walks up to them his motion confident as if he is ready to teach something.


Excellent that's how you control somebody - so now, instead of distracting yourselves with the flying horse you need to lead us to someone with authority to take a message to leadership. Be quick about it lads times a waistin

It was an act of will not to do a belly laugh at her comrades' responses.

"Aye. That is about the sum of it.  I am Petra Faust, of Eostre's temple, in martial service of lord Heolstor Strang.  My winged friend goes by Hermod.  Never mind that intelligent gleam in his eye. He is not our leader. And my Dwarven ally speaks truly; time is of the essence."

 * * *

 Tugdual flies high above the plains and forest, using all of his flying abilities to try and spot the army, and then catch up with them as fast as possible.

 The rest of his day will be spent in possibly warning local population of the impending danger... that is, provided he gets a glimpse of communities who might inclined to help his cause.

 In last resort he would head to Sarrabrucca, hoping to find help there.

The Elves seem very suspicious of Cirostis. His actions don't seem quite right to them. They watch him closely, as if anyone who wears that much metal can't truly be friendly... or at least can't be that good of a hairdresser.

"Dwerrig" one of the Elves says quietly, as if this explained it all.


An elven man with very long golden yellow hair seems to be in charge.  He steps forward.  "Petrafaust, and... "

He looks at Haakon, puzzled.  "Schoolteacher?"

"Dress maker," Tawna corrects.  "He's Haakon, I am Tawna."

The Elves look very hard at Tawna, as if something is wrong.

"What?"  Tawna asks.

"Forgive me, I do not wish to be rude," the Elf says in that "I am about to be very rude" tone of voice.

"I know, I know," Tawna says, exasperated and realizing that now, back near home, people know about wereweasels.  "Weasel, Weasel, treacherous lying backstabber, whatever.  I'm not the one you should trust.  They are.  Ignore me.  I'm only here for.. it's complicated."

The leader introduces himself: Latham Sewenoth.  He and his party are hunters, and also watchers, patrolling the Hunsruck for... well for just this kind of thing.  Strangers.  But this is very strange.

"If you bring warning to us, then you are friends, and we should hurry to our camp," Latham says.  "It will serve little good to waste time here. Come with us, there will be food and warmth."

* * * * * *

Tugdual, meanwhile, returns to Sarrabrucca, a small remote town he is very familiar with.

Haakon smiled as he followed the elf toward food and warmth and all that good stuff.  He said to Tawna, "You've never given me any reason to doubt you and I'd trust you even if you had. Of course, that's on account of you being such an important investment for me."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

PM

Excellent - lets get to camp.

Cirostis follows

Tugdual arrives in the town of Sarabrucca.

For the Huns, Sarabrucca has the same meaning as it did for the Romans, when they first established the town with the name Vicus Saravus.  It is the town on the river Saar, one of the few available routes connecting Gaul to Germania through the difficult high country between them.  It never developed great industry or agriculture.  The land and the people were always difficult to tame.  The purpose was only to hold the road.

They failed at that.  In the fourth century Vicus Saravus was destroyed.  It reappeared later as Sarabrucca, but was then taken by the Huns.

And the Huns have realized that there is nothing they need the town for, other than holding the road.  Tugdual recalls that the Orc warlord in charge here, Snarleye, and his hulking giant "muscle" Gorger have an arrangement with the Humans here that is fairly unique in Hun conquered terrritories:  Don't give us trouble, keep up with your tributes, and you can go on as you went on before.

Now the Huns live in the big fortress on the ridge overlooking the Saar, and the Humans live in the small town between the hills and the river, stretched out along the banks.  There are about five hundred Humans here.

On the edge of Sarabrucca, the remains of Vicus Saravus are a reminder of what can happen when the balances are disturbed.  The "foot print" of Vicus Saravus is overlapped by Sarabrucca.  The old Gymnasium is the town's main forum now, a sort of indoor public market.  Nearby, the But west of the town, the ruins, cannibalized here and there for good building stone, line the road.

The Orcs generally don't come down from the fortress.  A few at a time, often with Gorger, just to remind people they are still the Authority here.  They people deliver their harvest and their goods to masters they never see- it's hardly relevant whether those masters are Huns, other Humans, or the gods themselves.  And life goes on- a quiet, reserved, cautious life.

No one wants to upset things.

That is Sarabrucca as Tugdual returns.

* * * * * * *

They Elven settlement is something between a village and a hunting camp.  It looks so civilized... and yet it blends it thoroughly with its surroundings, uses nothing more than it needs, and looks as if the Elves could pack it all up and be gone tomorrow, and forest would hide all trace that an Elven camp ever existed.

There are small cabins of woven branches and leaves, looking almost like nests, in some of the trees, and large green-gray tents, well camouflaged, on the ground.

The Elves even have a few horses, but they look small and slender compared to the larger horses of Humans.  Definitely smaller than Hermod. They are white like him, but he stands out like a winged giant.

A few of the tents are lit and warmed from within, but not with fires- they have small glowing stones on straps made of braided hide,  amulets charged with Elven magic.  In the center of the camp, though, there is a well tended fire, and Elves are gathered around it.  Nights are cold these days.

The party is introduced to the others here.  One old looking Elf, Hyleth, looks to be in charge.

This is part of the Sixth Ward, he says, the Elves south of the Moselle River.  North of the Moselle, it is the Fifth Ward.  The Sixth ward is the furthest and "wildest" of the wards, the most remote from Elven situation.  And they are proud of it.  But life in this land forces those who live here to stay practical.  There is only one thing of real interest.

"They say you have word of a danger to us, and I would guess it is the Huns," Hyleth says.  "Would you please tell us what you know?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:32, Thu 04 Oct 2012.

Sir, I am Centurio Posterior Cirostis Avastus. I have come to join these good souls through our battles against not just the Huns but the Infernal demons who are managing them. I have come with a company of 300 Dwarves sent specifically to aid the Elves of the Ardennes. We know much of the enemy - they attack our weaknesses and our weaknesses are different. We Dwarves are at risk of defeat against our demon because we are too direct, too warlike. We need assistance. Youre love of peace is being used against you.

Right now an army of thousands of Huns with war beasts and barges are on the Moselle. We have seen them training and heard their boasts firsthand. They are ready to make a surprise marine landing from the river. The intend to destroy quote "All the Elves".

Our Dwarves are marching to your aid under the banners of Lord Heostor and the vulunteers of Bergundy. But they don't have this intelligence yet.

Cirostis looks at Hermod and Petra. Then back to the Elves

This army must be harassed. Their barges destroyed their plan thrown assunder. And forces must be brought to meet them before they reach their target.

Having spoken plainly, Cirostis is plainly silent.

"Your love of peace is being used against you."

The words strike the Elves hard.

"We've never been afraid to fight them!" one young Elf says.

"Yet we've never taken the fight to them, not in all our years" Hyleth says.  "But... barges on the Moselle... we've never heard of Orcs on the water.  Never before."

"It can't be true!" another Elf says.

"It sounds unlikely, but these folk coming so far to lie on the behalf of the Huns sounds even less likely," Hyleth says.  "I think, if they came with false words, they would speak soothingly, not alarmingly, don't you?"

They talk about it, but only briefly.

The path ahead is clear to them.

"We must alert others," Hyleth says.  "Especially those on the Moselle.  Even if their intention is just to pass through our lands and strike the Humans at Treverorum... they will do much damage passing through."

Pass through?
Cirostis seems to have a little temper at that

Pass through. Yes - orcs just sailing along and passing through the land of the elves.

He shakes his head.

These orcs have elf prisoners. If we did not see the warriors leaving I had meant to risk my life to help them. The orcs laugh with glee about how long they can make them scream.

Pass through is the insanity of the demon who is manipulating us. Warning is not enough but it is a start. I am here to serve you in hope that some of you can lead my people out of their blindness.

There is an army nearby - somewhere - and there are the lycanthropes, and your people. Swift action must be taken. They plan to take advantage of the long slow ways that you are accostomed to planning. The enemy is genius. We must counter their plans. A small and stealthy group could slow them with magic while the propper defenses are mustered. But action is now. I intend to meet a friendly Druid who means to damage a few of the barges in ambush.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Fri 05 Oct 2012.

Haakon holds out a hand at that point and says to Cirostis, but also to the elves who might overhear.  "Their leader has the false peace... an artifact stolen from a celestial that causes those around to believe they are at peace when there is none.  We need to warn first and then find it and either destroy it or return it to its rightful owner so that true peace can be restored."

Petra had listened in silence.  She had been prepared to do the informing, but Cirostis had done so efficiently and rather eloquently.  She had been rather used to thinking of the beard-carver as a gruff soldier. A man, or Dwarf, of action and few words.

But his concerns about his people, his hope that enlightening the Elves would in turn aid them, conveyed a certain depth she had not seen before.

Well, expect when he cut hair.  His skill at that was rather profound. He was possibly the only Dwarf in all of Europa she would allow to get anywhere near her tresses with a blade.  She admired Patre Arctos and Dunduin.  But cut her hair-?  No way...

The priestess had also taken note of the Elves' responses and reactions.  Comparing them to her mother was inevitable...the only Elf she had ever known well.  Or at least over a period of years.  Because, truly, she hadn't known her mother well.

"My comrades say truth," she added after they were done.  "The Huns are doing things atypical of Huns because what commands them is not a Hun. But something far worse, and more chaotic, than any mortal enemy.  The false peace is being used against you.  In particular, you must beware of it guised behind a fair face, and fair words.  Because that is how it, or rather the Demon whom embodies it, will try to seduce you."   
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Sat 06 Oct 2012.

Hyleth's first reaction to Petra's reaction sounds almost as if he's been insulted:  "How can peace ever be false?" he asks.  Then he pauses, as if analyzing his own question.

"It was a Demon before," one of the Elves says.  "We are plagued with them, it seems."

A third adds, "A plague.  This one makes three.  There were the reports of the Demon Tree.  That was the second.  But it was not so terrible a threat, I think."

The Elves explain what they must do from here.  This is the Sixth Mark, the large and thinly populated eastern frontier of the Elven Kingdom of the Ardennes.  The Elves of the Sixth Mark live in small, scattered settlements.  They must spread word.

Over centuries, they worked out the details- each village would send a few Elves over to other villagers, and at the same time, send warriors to gather at a few pre-chosen muster points.  In this way, the Sixth Mark could be mobilized in the shortest amount of time.

"They are coming along the river, and we must meet them there, then," Hyleth decides.  "We shall tell the others, gather to fight at Celtanc.  The river valley is steep, and friendly for us."

Tawna nods.  "Celtanc... big willow trees?  Big bridge made of wood and rope?"

Hyleth gives her a look of surprise.  Tawna shrugs.  "We've been around."

Haakon nodded, "So", he asked Tawna, "Do we make for this Celtanc or go on to keep on warning?"

Yes that can be good.

Where do you think they are going Master Hyleth? What prime target on the Moselle would you hit with specially designed barges that open up and release raging warriors? Something relatively secure from the land but vulnerable from the river.

Where the target is, we must bring our friends, they won't suspect it. The lady can move quickly on her steed and find the army of men and dwarves come to serve your people.

Then there is Tugdual's secret ambush, where as a fish he may warp the beams of several of the barges where the river bends - and your harassment at Celtanc. If you can deprive them of their barges that can be good they've obviously put a lot of energy into them. But beware - this army is designed to destroy all the elves. Do not waste your soldiers needlessly.

ooc : sorry for the delay... although it does not seem that anyone is waiting for me.

  Once he has landed somewhere near Sarrabruca, Tugdual will try and get in touch with the local informal authorities, probably a priest or druid, or a merchant perhaps.

 He tries and explain the situation and the danger that is coming from the East. Even though it may seem that they have little to gain in rising against the Huns, the people of Sarrabruca could face a terrible fate if holding this road and the bridge becomes less important in the eyes of the orcs... and that is likely to happen once they have gained control over the whole area.

 The druid explains this and also asks whether word of the alliance of men, elves and dwarves has reached this land.

 Also, Tugdual recently realized, upon browsing his Druidic Handbook, that his wildshape lasts much longer than he thought... he can actually spend the whole day in bird shape, and even has the luxury of switching shape if he needs it...

Tawna and Haakon seemed to have been to a lot of places, she noted. Hyleth's reaction she did not find surprising.  It was part of the ploy for them to feel so, she was rather certain.

"A Roman priestess I met in Basilea," she replied, "pointed out that they really are the same thing - peace and false peace.  The difference lies in the ambition of the one proposing it. And, I need not say what sort of ambition drives a Demon lord."

To the latter she added - "Cirostis is right. Our army can reinforce your own. Unless there is any reason not, I will make my preparations, and go find them as swiftly as I can." 

At this point it is probably easier to shift Tugdual back to his own thread, Bytis Castrum, even though he is actually in Sarabrucca at the moment.

The rest of the party is still in the Elven camp in the Hunsruck...


“If they come to us by barge, it is on the Moselle River,” Hyleth says.  “That is where the battles will be.  But from what you say, in numbers that we cannot face... not quickly.”

The Elves explain the balance between them and the Huns here.  The Elves are widely dispersed; that is their way of life.  They are lightly spread across the land, and they believe this is the best way to preserve their world.

But it means a dangerous calculation must be made, when they are attacked. Their borders are not held by great numbers, only scouts and patrols, as the party encountered.   It takes time to gather the scattered Elves.  The invasion has begun, the clock has begun to tick- the Orcs will advance further, and the Elves will muster their defenses.

And they will have to consider the tradeoffs and risks- how far to let the enemy advance?  Face them with a small force right away, or surrender some gains to them while they build up a force?

Time means everything.  Even before the discussion is done Hyleth dispatches messengers to other villages.  They will travel through the night.

The Elves cannot possibly be as swift as Petra can, with Hermod.  And although they know that Tugdual has already gone ahead to spread warning, they do not know how he has fared.

“If you can fly back to your army in the morning,” Hyleth says to Petra, “We will begin gathering.  Maybe we will be able to turn them back without blood, when they see our strength...

Hyleth pauses, and has a very worried look.  Then he continues.  “Or is that the False Peace you warn of?  Must we consider ourselves forced to fight?”

He looks at the others, eyes downcast, his expression very grim.   “I will go on to Celtance myself, in the morning, with my warriors.  You will come with us?Would you help us at Celtanc?”

Tawna speaks up.  "Like I said, we were there.  It’s a small town, if I remember it right.  Really small.  You don't even have a tavern there.  How many Elves are there?  Enough to stop a Hun army?"


“Not many at Celtanc." Hyleth says.  "Not many anywhere.  But they will try to slow the Huns along the river, somewhere, and because Celtanc has the bridge, that is the place we gather.  And we must gather somewhere.  I do not believe that we can defeat them at Celtanc.  Not the numbers you speak of.  But we can do something, while  priestess Petra brings word by way of her winged horse, and perhaps the something we will do, with the forces she will muster, will be enough. ”

Haakon frowned.  "How much oil do we have?" he asks.  "I only ask because a river of flaming oil would seem to be the best way to stop a bargeborne invasion.  If we don't have enough oil for that, do we know where we can find an illusionist who can make them think we do?"

"I do not think presenting a face of strength to the enemy is the false peace. More intimidation, I think.  And, I believe, the false peace will be brought to you, by the emissary I mentioned." 

As regarded Haakon's suggestion...surely these Elves, as any, would have a wizard amongst them who could perform the illusion.   In fact, based on what else was said, she wondered -

"Must you send messengers out physically to each village? Do you not have any magical way of alerting your communities?  If not, then I could bear the message to each, during the night.  And then depart to find our own forces in the morning.  Assuming, at least, the distance involved is not so much as to fully wear out Hermod."   

Of course I will remain with you, Sir.
Cirostis says clearly restraining himself from saying 'Youll have MY AXE!' as dwarves are wont to do.
I may have some background that will help.
He thinks for a moment.
If there really is no primary target, no city or population center that they could strike particularly effectively with the barges then it might change our best course. I believe your intent to attack and harrass at strategic points is exactly the right course. They will fight like we dwarves. It takes considerable effort to change from moving to fighting. Periodic harrassment will slow them considerably it will provide time to organize a massive battle for the place of our choosing. But care must be taken they shall be hit and then we need to disappear before their cavalry can get around us. We must leave them no booty and no civilians for prisoners, loot and slaves will improve morale.

We may not want to destroy the barges, if they are not a specific threat they do help us by keeping the Huns tied to the river. It makes their movement more predictable. When they give up the barges they will have more freedom. It will help if we can figure out why they have the barges.

Haakon slapped himself on the forhead... "Of course", he said, "Magic... no need for oil, when we can (I hope) web the barges on the river and then burn 'em?"

Excellent tactic my friend, but unless we know what the target of the barges is, I'm not sure we want to free the Huns to move unpredictably across the land.

Haakon grinned a mustelid grin (which he'd been practicing) and said, "I was rather hoping to burn up the huns with the barges".

The Dwarf nods without comment and listens to the elf.

Elves are skilled with magic, Hyeth assures Petra, but the spells needed to send information magically, or by animal, are not that common.  Their "better" mages will link the more important places, but out here, in the Sixth Ward, the Elves are dispersed into small settlements and camps.

"Contrary to the myths we are not all wizards," Hyeth says.  "But your aid would be valuable, and it would help spread the word faster.  I very much appreciate it.  Perhaps, if you go westward in search of your own allies, you can stop and alert the villages along the way?"

Hyeth describes what Petra might expect to see in the night.  The Elves are spread thin, miles apart, in little family and clan groups.  At night, they might be very hard for a flying stranger to see.  But... Hyeth tells her, look for trees that are bigger than the others, with strange soft lights beneath.  Those are our homes."

He sends out his messengers as well... the faster the Elves of the Sixth Ward can be alerted, the better.

As for the oil thing...

There is not nearly enough oil for stunts like that.  In fact... there is none of it.  The little oil that Elves have is mostly cooking oil, and it doesn't burn like that.  They know what Cirostis and Haakon are talking about.. they've heard of the oil weapons of the Romans and the Huns.  They've faced it.  And they've discovered that the fumes of given off by the burning "Rock Oil", (Also known in Latin as, Petra Oleum) make Elves and Fey creatures sick.  They never touch the stuff.  And spreading it on a living river would be an unforgivable atrocity, to the Fey that lived there.

The Elves pack up some food for their messengers and Petra.  The others... Hyeth wants them to get some rest, so they can move to Celtanc in the morning.

Forearmed with that information, Petra agreed to do just that.

Her comrades were (much) more experienced than she in tactics and warfare, and so she left that conversation to them.

Unless there was any further reason to remain, she accepted the offered food with thanks, and departed to begin winging her way west.

Cirostis remains thoughtful.

Master Hyeth, as the lady wings her flight I can think of three primary missions for us.

One: evacuate the vulnerable and warn the people.
Two: delay the advance until better plans are made
Three: conserve our force

What resources do we have to slow them down?

Is it possible by your magic to divert the river or can we fill it in with sand and force them to portage?
That might slow them and give a scouting team the chance to assess their configuration. Haakon and I can use such a delay to confirm that the entire force that left is following the same path. And of course orcs portaging might be good targets for a few arrows.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:02, Sun 14 Oct 2012.

Haakon looked at Tawna and shrugged.  No, he didn't know what portaging was either.  "We don't have a force to preserve", he said, "We need to continue to work as guerillas by striking where we can hurt the Huns out of all proportion to our strength (and then running away).  There is, I hope, a fourth alternative... strike at whatever is binding all these orcs and goblins and the like together.  And there is of course, a fifth, to move to our homelands and prepare to die among friends."

Cirostis furloughs his brow even further. He does not want to have disagreement here or try to one-up his companion, he slowly comes to a decision about how to respond. It begins with a hearty Dwarf smile.

Ha! You can see we have not worked together long eh?

I'm sorry, in my way I too often assume others have the same perspectives I do - I believe we are in agreement though we seem not to understand one another. My three missions were current objectives I am offering to Lord Hyleth and his force, not alternatives for you and me.
I leave it to the master here to make a decision and I will act as his support and with permission I will offer council.

The force I hope to preserve until propper heavy infantry and cavalry arrive at the light infantry and possible dragoons about 20 strong in this camp with likely dozens of other small cams that would be easy prey if they are not conserved and organized for a later fight.

I suppose when you say 'guerrilla' you mean a policy of harassment to conserve the force and slow the enemy advance is that right?

One thing I do not understand is the concept you call the 4th alternative ... I see an army bound by duty and orcish lust for battle. Is there something else? Some center of gravity that you know?

Please, give us your thoughts.

Haakon nods... "We're in agreement.  The best we can do is slow down the Huns and wittle away at their ranks before the major battle comes.  As for what binds them together... No, I don't think it's about duty or lust for battle....  Lust for battle usually sets orc against Orc and duty rarely lasts beyond the first strike... besides, there are ogres and goblins, what do they know of duty?"

Cirostis waits for Haakon to continue, he says nothing but wonders why he is dancing around this idea. He looks at the man expectantly ...

Haakon says bluntly, "There is a leader in charge with supernatural charisma... a demon according to some.  He gains, I believe, from the destruction of the Orcs as much as from the destruction of Elves. It's all sacrifice to him.  If we don't take him out, then there is danger even if we beat the Huns.  Somebody of a mystical bent needs to help us find him and kill him (or at least get this artifact of him).  The fourth option involves moving to the centre of his web of lies and bloodlust and cutting off that which holds the orcs together."

In the night, Hermod seems to know where to fly.  Such is the way, with the Winged Horses.  Legend do not speak of Belleraphon consulting any kind of navigational device while trying to find the Chimera.   Unicorns have their magic, and the Winged Horses have theirs too; knowing where to go is a part of it.  Tonight, it is westward, over the hills and valleys clutched in darkness.  It seems impossible- to a stranger unfamiliar with the shapes of the hills, every black shadow of land seems like every other one, how could they possibly find a…

And yet, they do.  Hermod alights at one village, and then another, along their general flight path.  In each place, Petra brings word and warning, and the Elves prepare themselves.

By morning, Hermod  spotted something… someone familiar.  He swoops out of the rising sun, towards a long, rustic looking building on a steep hill.

Hermod has spotted Heolstor’s horse.  Even as they land, Petra sees the tents of the troops.  But it is time for a new thread for her: “The Warning From the East”.

Haakon and Cirostis remain in this thread.. and in the morning, they head off towards Celtanc with Hyleth and a half dozen Elves, and a large fox, and a white horse.  He assures them that others have already been alerted.  No doubt, across the Sixth Ward, Elves are readying themselves and heading for the Moselle River.

Haakon spent the night enthusiastically reassuring Tawna that he had not gone mad and was not going to risk his life to cut the Gordian Knot at the centre of the Orcish empire.  Of course, as a wereweasel, she was no doubt aware of the limits of truth and so was listening to what he did not say... that he would look for a safer way to kill the Demon king.

Well my friend, demon hunting is admirable. I wish you good fortune in that.  My mission is here, I have a my own demon to return to in my home before all is done.

Cirostis travels with the small band, he had hoped for more to come with them. He is glad in any case to have made contact and set the Elvin defenses in action.

Cirostis thinks about Tugdual. He probably won't make it to the randevous but the Druid doesn't need him to take out a couple barges. He will surely count the barges when he sees them and look for evidence of the Druid.

He also thinks about Dunduin and Arctos. Hopefully they are nearby and will meet again on the field.

Haakon moves with the small band, always on the lookout for a place to lay ambush, places to run to and hide, and vantage points from which to shoot at the orcs.  He discusses them with Tawna as they go... especially the ambushing and hiding bits.

The Elves of the Sixth ward live in scattered settlements, and semi-permanent camps.  Several times, soon after leaving Hyleth's village, the party comes across temporary Elven lodgings currently empty- small tree houses.  THese have only climbing ropes for access.  The Elves who grow up here become very adept at life in the trees.  In fact, often, Hyleth's Elves quickly scurry up a tree to get a look around.

After about an hour, they come across another little village.  They were already alerted during the night by a runner.  It's a depceptively efficient operation- each camp and village knows just who it is supposed to alert, and word of anything important can be spread across the Sixth Ward in a matter of days, even without using magic.

Hyleth warns against over reliance on magic, and other tricks.  Such things have already cost the Elves dearly.

"The danger of any special plan or trick is, if the otherside learns of it, or even guesses it, they can use it against you.  They said that last year, in the Beda war, the Huns had a spell that would mimic a Message Spell.  False messages were sent and many Elves walked unknowing into danger, or failed to come to the rescue of those in need.  They seem like simpletons, but they have very capable masters.  So we have relearned ways the Elves have used for thousands of years.  Runners in the night.  A little slower than magic, but nothing that can be faked."

The advance warning from the runners pays off.  The little village has four volunteers, packed and armed and ready to join up.

More will be joining up ahead, they say.

The Elves have a grim, worried look.  The new ones that join immediately realize that Cirostis was "The Dwarf with the Winged Horse, who brought warning."

Obviously, some things get a little garbled in the rapid passing of verbal messages.  But the gist is clear, at least.

Although they do ask Cirostis about his winged horse, and things he saw while spying.

"So, the messengers didn't say anything about me? Or Haakon" Tawna asks, uncertain of whether this is an insult or an oversight.

Haakon looks at Tawna with an expression she usually shows to him. "On the whole", he whispers, "Being overlooked is a good thing, even if it hurts sometimes."

He puts his mouth to the end of his bow and demonstrates why the bow was invented (as a musical instrument) tens of thousands of years before the arrow.  Then he takes it away from his mouth, grinning and still caressing the string, "If we are not mentioned, we can keep a low profile"

Always best to keep it simple.
Notes Cirostis approvingly regarding the runners.
When asked about the horse he replies with. Ah yes... Beautiful creature .. I remember when it was discovered. When it joined the service of the lady just after the battle of Tullum when we destroyed the demon Sonellion. Terrible creature it was it thrived on pain and torture the people of Tullum were in deep suffering.  Hermod was freed as I understand it, with a menagerie of other amazing creatures. And he has been steed for the lady ever since - I almost shot him once ... We had set out a trap for these flying impish things, Hermid called them Urds. I had organized a team of Omniformes to hide and wait with a group of archers in hiding and we lured several ...



Cirostis gladly tells stories as they go. In moments of calm he'll describe all that he understands of the greater Demon War.

Oh yeah, "The Greater Demon War" it has a nice ring to it. I was thinking perhaps we could call it "The first Greater Demon War" just to keep the next generation on thier toes. If your kids are anything like mine they have serious responsibility problems and thier always finding new ways to break perfectly good siege artilliary when they should be building fortifications. But I figure some priest will object saying how the demons fought the first war when they were cast down and all ...

Anyway, the demons see - they have this whole thing planned for at least a thousand years. Each nation is being attacked by different demons. Each of them gains power from different forms of suffering. And they want to make us suffer. Especially the humans, I think they might be willing to destroy the Elves and Dwarves and Fey alltogether so long as they can enslave several hundred thousand humans and use them as power sources to enhance their own world in the abyss.

We've intercepted several demon manifestos, spoken with a trapped demon and learned more from this here book.
We've taken several of the Demons out. But my comrads and I were unable to effect the one who has taken hold in our Dwarf lands. Mastiphal -
Cirostis spits at the mention and grows serious.
He uses our battle rage to turn dwarves into something else, corrupted and evil. If not stopped, we will be gone and an army of Duergar will come up from the south. Our king sent us to seek allies to help.



Anyway, one battle at a time. What is our tactical profile for this mission?

Cirostis will make thoughtful suggestions to the elves.

Haakon frowns more and more as he listens to Cirostis' stories.  "If there are many demons", he whispers to Tawna, "then maybe it's not a demon that's holding it all together but what else could it be?  Some Hunnish genius with a preternatural grasp of strategy and tactics and diplomacy and stuff?  Whatever it is, maybe the solution is to organise the civilised world against it.  Maybe we need to find us an angel?"

If there is a moment to rest, Cirostis takes out the map he made back at the university to get an understanding of the broader picture. He looks at it with Hyleth and Haakon.

What is their strategy? Where else could they be going? He ponders. I wish I knew where our friends were.

Tawna has an answer for Cirostis's latest pondering- where our friends are.

"The rendezvous was to be in Contoniacum.  On the Meuse, near Lucimburic.  That's what we planned."

Hyleth looks at Cirostis and at Haakon with a "you could have told me" look.

"I thought everyone knew," Tawna says.

Hyleth shakes his head.  "If your friends are gathering there, and putting out word to gather there... some Elves might go that way, and some to Celtanc.  We may be far more divided than we should be, and then there would be not nearly enough at Celtanc to do any good before we are overrun by sheer numbers.  Perhaps we should get there, and then turn towards Contoniacum, to find your friend?"

Haakon shrugged, "Whatever we do 'twere best done quickly, nicht wahr?"

“I am expected at Celtanc,” Hyleth says.

“How far is that from Contoniacum?” Tawna asks, rarely missing a chance to hit the obvious questions.

“Contoniacum is upriver, maybe two days.  It is through Human land.  We rarely go there.”

“Issues between you and the Humans?”

“Oh no, not that much.  But it just a small place.  When we go to trade with them it has always been at Treverorum, which is much larger.   And there is an important temple there.”

“Yes,” Tawna says.  “Asclepius,  the healing god.  Famous old building, garden, nice people in white robes.  I have an aunt there.”

“A healer?”  Hyleth asks.
“Patient,”  Tawna says.  “Permanent patient.  She went loopy a while back and they've been trying to heal her.”

“I am curious,” Hyleth says.  “With such an important place like that nearby, why would you have picked a place like Contoniacum?  It's just a village.”

“I think a mixture of paranoia and another kind of paranoia,” Tawna explains.  “Tugdual hates cities.  He's a servant of the old... your gods.”

The Celts, it is known by many, and the Elves, have the same pantheon, although with notably different outlooks and interpretations.

They travel on as they talk, and several more times, the party grows as Elves are added.  By afternoon there are about thirty of them.  Some, especially the younger ones, begin to feel bold and enthusiastic about their chances of taking on the oncoming horde.  There will surely be more, and they might have a hundred or more when they link up at Celtanc.  A hundred Elves, in the forest, is a force to be reckoned with!

Hyleth leaves it to Cirostis, Haakon, and Tawna to burst their bubble and tell them what they are up against.  And there is still the question of whether to go there at all... but Hyleth must.

“I must be there,” he says.  “That is where our people will gather. But we shall take stock of our numbers there, and if they are light, we should not throw away our lives.  If staying would be death, we should give them Celtance and turn for the rendezvous with your friend.”

Haakon nods... "I guess we can go via Celtanc though, but we do have to get to Contiacum. That's where we stand for the battle and it is from there we will launch our war."  He nods emphatically.

Cirostis finally gets it. Oh I see!
I though Contiacum was closer to the Huns than Celtanc. I assumed we were too late to reach him.

Done is done my friend - I will stay with you Hyleth. The Druid can see evidence of our success or failure. If he is a lone fish than I would only hamper his effort to sink the barges. If he has mustered friends than we may give them some additional time to prepare. We must melt away when our attack is spent and harrass from the wood. Then we can fall back to Contiacum and hope.

Haakon shrugged.  "Hope? 'Fraid not, but I go on anyway."

"Haakon," Tawna says in a worried voice, "please, you'll worry the Elves.  I think they get discouraged easily."

They do kind of look that way, although the Elven troop grows all they way to Celtanc.

They reach Celtanc at the end of the day, tired from trekking through the hilly, rugged Hunsruck for hours.  Even the Elves seem winded and worn, and it is their home turf.  But there are many Elven warriors gathered here, and a few wizards as well.

Celtanc is as they have seen it before- the heart of the town is the impressive rope bridge strung across the Moselle between two of the great Home Trees of the Elves.  The bridge is big enough for wagons to cross- indeed, that's how they crossed it last time.

The way the homes are built up in the trees it is hard to judge just how big a town Celtanc is.  There is a cluster of buildings on the ground on the south shore end of the bridge, where paths intersect- an actual town center, something you don't see often with Elves.  In the tree above it, a great wooden terrace.

An Elf in a tree calls out to Hyleth.

"Hyleth!  We've heard, we know already.  How many do you bring?"

"Five dozen, and three other volunteers," Hyleth says.  "Are the Whisperwinds here?"

"Ten from them," comes the reply.

"I thought there would be more," Hyleth says.  "I am worried, they are the closest of the Great Tree Families."

"Their elders are making an attempt at parley.  It seems strange... Huns, parley... but they are trying."

Haakon says, "That'll be the false peace we hear about.  Does that mean the demon is nearby?"  After a pause he grinned and said to Tawna, "Drat, I caught myself hoping again.  It's a burden not being easily discouraged... not being discouraged at all".

Cirostis examines the area looking for routes he would use to attack from by land with the great war-beasts. How is the terrain? Are there place where these beasts and footman can not go, or can be cornered and neutralized for the fight?

The rope bridge home trees and centralized buildings are of course obvious targets. Would you like to remove anything for safekeeping?

We need a defended escape strategy, remember they have cavalry units in addition to the barges and the footmen. Some will circle around, they are expecting magic and arrows. We can't disappoint, but if we can prepare some special ways to use the land and even the larger trees we might be able to channel them in ways to be less effective.

They have some time.. in fact, the Huns are still more than a full day away, down river, and so Hyleth and a few of the other Elves give the party the “local tour”.

The river here is exactly the kind Elves like- it loops and bends around hills and bluffs, many quite steep, and mostly covered in forest.  It’s wide and strong enough to make boats or bridges a necessity.  Because the waterway makes an easy natural transport route, and offers its own resources in the form of fish, including large pike and sturgeons.

The Elven villages along the river, other than Celtanc and Lei, have less than twenty members each.  Lei is a larger village with about 50 Elves.

Hyleth believes that the Huns would want Celtanc especially because of its bridge.  Without it, movement between the 5th and 6th Wards becomes difficult.  But after hearing of the nature of the attack force, the Elves believe that even at best, they can only slow down the Huns.  Stopping the barges merely means the attack proceeds purely on land.  The Elves have faced massive Hun forces before.  Elven strategy is always to use the forest- slip away, vanish, and come back again and again to chip away.

The Battle of Beda was the only time this failed, because the Elves were quickly and unexpectedly encircled.  They do not wish to repeat this.

Cirostis and Haakon gather that no matter what happens, the Elves will not go for a “fight them here until we are dead” strategy.  They will fight, and they will do some damage, and then they will retreat into the forest.  They are a little concerned over Cirostis.  He is a  Dwarf- when they vanish into the forest, will he be able to do the same?

Below- a picture showing typical conditions on the Moselles, and a map of the immediate area.

 

 

Haakon nods appreciatively..."I agree with you entirely, run up, do damage, run away is much better. I'm not as strong as an Orc but I'm faster and probably smarter, and don't worry about Cirostis, he's pretty nimble too."

But then he frowns as an idea dawns.  "How would you feel about cutting down the bridge?  Could we do it in a day and then hide the bridge in the woods, ready for repair at a later date?"

The Elves giving Haakon and Cirostis the tour look at each other.

Taking down their own bridge... something that they would never think to do on their own.  But yet...

"It makes sense," says one of the Elves.

"And we have the magic to restore it.  We can cause the ropes to mend... but it would take a year or more to replace the ropes if the Huns destroy it."

"This is what we shoud do," the first Elf says.

The party members see the pain in the Elves' eyes, though.  Tearing down their beloved bridge will be hard on them.  But it must be done.

"Carefully," one Elf notes, just because it seemed like someone had to note the obvious.

They will have us surrounded as best they can with their beast to sniff out escaping elves. If I were them I would have units on the east side of the river waiting in the glove hand here where the river makes a bottle neck. And more would move around these hills to block access to Beda and come from the west. Our escape could be on the water but it will do no good if we are not faster than the beasts.

We could arrange to escape downstream the way they come from....
Or there might be places we can go into a gorge or set of cliffs where they can't reach... What are our options?

Haakon grinned, "But if the bridge is gone, would they even stop?"  Then more seriously, "If they do that, then we're bottled in, but their force on this side is likely to be smaller... if they could get that many over, they wouldn't need the briedge in the first place.  Let's find the best place to keep us bottled in... and then the best place to massacre anyone trying to use it for that purpose."

Their plans are ready set. If they are attacking here, they are attacking with overpowering force and they mean it for keeps. They will kill us all for no reason at all and then get angry that the bridge is down. Our mission here is to buy time, survive and move to rejoin the others.

”If to buy time and survive and be of any use in the battle ahead, we must be on the north side of the river,” Hyleth says.  “That is away from my home, but it is where our heartland is.  It is where the Huns will go.  If we are caught south, we might find ourselves alive, but cut off and unable to rejoin the others in time.”

Tawna points out, “Celtanc and Lei are both there on the north bank.  We should defend at one of them, you think?”

Hyleth shakes his head doubtfully, then looks at Cirostis.  “You are right, the narrow neck where the river almost turns upon itself is a good place to hit them first,” he says.  A few volleys of arrows.. they will keep going, but they will have to take the long way around. We should be able to retreat back to Lei, or even Celtanc, before they make it.  But the narrow neck is where we start.”

He talks a little about the terrain nearby.   There are gorges in the steep, rocky hills.  They can be easily defended.  Elves don’t usually think of them.  They are quicker to think “into the trees”.  Down in the rocks just doesn’t have appeal.  But he passes the word- hide in the gorges, if they have to.  Hun numbers will not be such an advantage there.

”Make sure the gorges have another way out,” Tawna says.  “Just in case.  Weasels always keep a way out.”

* * * * * * *

Haakon nods, "Weasels are wise creatures."

We have the makings of it now, Sir.

We have agreed to remove the bridge at celtanc and hide it for the future.
The majority of us will stand in the base of the glove to ambush and harrass any party there. We will confuse them by using the gorges. From this height we should be able to see the approach of barges up the river. And possible signs of an overland force to the west if it doesnt mov too wide of the river.

Those in Celtanc will watch out for a possible overland force from the west.

We will need to communicate in case something is amiss.
Can a group in Celtanc prepare anything to send down river against the barges?

For retreat we should make it to Lei and from there escape to the north.

Are there boats for us to leave by the riverside for this?

War consist of a lot of tramping around from one uncomfortable place to another, and then waiting.  The actual fighting is short.
There are little boats on the river at Lei.  Nothing more than the canoes the Elves use for fishing and transport on the river, but they can get around, if need be.  They are also light enough to carry cross country, if need be.

The party can take boats if they want to, but Hyleth does not see the necessity in doing this.  They can retreat speedily enough on land, since they are traveling light.  The party spends the rest of the best part of the day traveling to their planned ambush point.  The land is covered with trees and rocky hills.  The only obvious path parallels the Moselle River, but the Elves very deliberately avoids this.

Tawna approves.  "Never assume the enemy hasn't thought of sneaky stuff too," she says, invoking another Wereweasel saying as a way of complementing the Elves.

By evening they reach the bank.  Along with the party and Hyleth, there are about twenty Elves.  The rest stayed back, to deal with the Celtanc bridge, move non-fighters away from the river, and prepare the next layer of defenses.

Hyleth warns that Elves favor booby traps- if forced to flee, do so carefully, and follow an Elf.  He briefs everyone on the typical Elven trap symbols, and tells them to watch out for these.

A trio of Elven warriors arrives in a small boat on the river.  Hyleth signals to them.

When they land, they say that the Huns will be here tomorrow.  The three Elves look like they are in somewhat of a state of shock, having seen the size of the Hun force headed this way.

Haakon frowned... "Wouldn't it be better?" he whispered to Tawna, "To flee through the Hunnish lines if we have to flee... Orcs hate being in the rearguard and get lazy and drunk.  Tends to make their lines a little porous don't you think?"

Cirostis pays close attention. He works with Hyleth and executes the mission the elf has decided on.

Haakon, nevertheless, buckles down to help Cirostis.

If we get trapped in our own spot and can't reach the boats. Going through the lines as you said will be our only choice.

“I would flee through their lines if I thought there was something worth fleeing to,” Tawna says.  “So it all depends on where their line is.  And so far, it isn’t.  But I think a fairer question is, what do we intend to do when they show up?”

They continue on, and the “war party” arrives at the point by the narrowest neck of the river.  It is the location that gives them the best chance of retreat, if they have to.  Here, the river is quite narrow.  A few hundred feet across; Elves can actually shoot all the way across with bows.  If the Huns continue on upriver, they have to round a long bend, which will take them hours.  If they beach the boats and attack, they will be attacking up a steep slope, again giving the party time to retreat.

”This is the easy one,” Hyleth says.  “I don’t think that from here, there will be any problems shooting and then running.”

”Your arrows won’t stop the boats,” one of the Elves who has arrived from further downriver says.

”No, they will not,” Hyleth says.  “But we shall think of something.  At least, to get them to waste some time here.”

They move to a steep slope with a good view of the river channel to the north.  The Elves take cover behind rocks and trees.

 

Haakon frowns as he contemplates the shape of the river.  "How do we get them to charge through us and into the oxbow?" he muses, "That would seem to be the best way to win a big prize."

But then he shuts up and hunkers down with the elves and with his bow at the ready.

Cirostis readies himself with the others, he is watching and waiting, prepared to begin with his crossbow.

OOC: This is not at all what i was imagining when talking before, so I'm just going along to match what the GM has in mind, i'll catch up as we go

(:

(Oops.  I thought it was Cirostis's idea.  River, bottleneck.  Well, it was a heck of a time for thinking things through, no power and all.  I'll blame that.)

  Of course, as they wait, now that they realize it wasn't exactly what Cirostis had in mind... what do they have in mind now for stage two- where to retreat after the initial attack?

The Elves expect that one of two things will happen:

1)  The Huns will take their losses, ignore the attack and continue upriver in their barges.  They will need a few hours to make it around the bend and reach that little hamlet.

or 2)  The Huns will respond to the attack, beach on the bank below the ridge, and attack the party.

Tawna suggests Option Three.

The Elves look at her, baffled.  One asks, "There are more options?  How many have you thought of?"

And those who know Wereweasels know... she's probably thought of several.  But neither Elves nor Orcs have minds as devious as Wereweasel minds.  Fortunately.

"Option Three is, 'The Huns Do Something You Don't Expect."  Tawna says.  "You have to expect that, or you'll be in big trouble."

"So", suggested Haakon, "Imagine you're a goblin in charge of a bunch of boneheaded orcs who would kill you as readily as the leaf-eating elves you're fighting.  You're not much use at fighting but you're an officer and all you have to offer is your skill as an imaginative strategist.  You meet this situation.  What do you do?"

After a pause he said, "If I were that goblin, I might block off the oxbow and then set things on fire.  I might run away after convincing the orcs they were surrounded by a superior force, and pointing them in that direction.  I might massacre the children in the nearest village... you get the picture?"  Then after a further puase he said, "I might even suggest that the orcs expect the unexpected, but of course, they're not as imaginative as elves, are they?  So maybe that wouldn't work."

He hoped that would get the elves thinking.

“Block off the oxbow… you mean the peninsula of land with the water almost all the way around it?  And seek to trap us inside?  Well.. we won’t go that way, and we won’t have to.”

”I don’t think he was trying to be specific,” another Elf says.  “I think.. just setting ideas out, trying to provoke more, get us to think of the unusual.  The Huns have done it before, linking themselves with rogue Lycanthropes.  Which, if I am not mistaken…”

”Yes,” Tawna almost snarls, “included my kind.  I know.  I know.  It’s why I’m out here in the first place.  I volunteered to help Elves, to get my folks back on the good list, because you Elves are so far from Evil you can’t even begin to imagine the kinds of things they would do.”

”That’s not exactly it,” Hyleth says.  “It is not an inability, it is an unwillingness, and there are…”

He is interrupted by a whistle from a tree.  One of the Elves he posted as lookout.  Hyleth scurries up the tree.  Tawna goes after him… and then changes, and in weasel form, goes much higher.

She’s back down in less than a minute.

”The barges are coming.  Dozens of them.  And columns of troops already on shore, on either side of the river.”

"How wide are the columns?" asked Haakon.  "How far would we have to get from the river to harrass them and how quickly could we do it?"

To the elves he said, "Attack the enemy where he is weakest.  Then run away.  That's all we need to know."

Cirostis focuses on the report. To Haakon be says, yes certainly
Then he looks back at the scouts.
What Cavalry did you see? How many barges?

We need to know where the cavalry are, did they move around to box us in? Is there a segmented force?

"Oh yes", Haakon hadn't thought of Cavalry and that was a mistake, "They'll have porciary won't they?"

Hyleth looks up into the tree.

He calls out to the Elf above, who has taken up an observation position in the upper branches.

"Fentanyl, what do you see?"

The Elf describes the approaching onslaught.  The good news is that they are over a mile away.  They will arrive in about a half hour.  They are on both sides of the river, and the column on this side, as well as some of the barges in the river, would be within easy range of missile weapons.  The column on the near side of the river will pass about 300 feet away  horizontally, and about 300 feet below.  The middle of the river is a horizontal distance of about 500 feet.  It is at "extreme range" for bows, but the Elves can do it, because of the vertical advantage.

The bad news:

"Columns with hundreds of Orcs, and their warbeasts and other creatures," he says.  "And the barges... the enemy does not need our bridge, Hyleth, they could cross the river walking across the barges!"

Cirostis hardens his countenance.

We're ready, we must take positions now. Are any of your people able to warp wood or smash it at a distance?
... Can we make land slide or rocks fall? The river is narrow what if we could put enough rocks into it to scrape or stop the barges.

Cirostis looks at the cliffs surrounding them to see if there is a place where a good exploding bolt might discharge and send some boulders down into the river.

When all the archers are ready we should have a set signal, we need to attack when they are spread out in front of us and keep them from getting anyone around us.

Haakon moves as far from the river as he can before finding a vantage point to shoot at the enemy.... but he makes sure there are routes for he and Tawna to escape (or to rush into the fray and take prey by axe or knife).  "Today", he whispered, "They are cattle and we are wolves."

Warping of Wood," Hyleth says, thinking it over. "I can do that, but only close."

"Can you cast the spell into an arrow?"  an Elven warrior woman asks.  She is holding a large, delicately rune-carved bow.

"I can cast Warp Wood into an arrow," another Elf says, scurrying over to join them.

"How many?"  the woman archer asks.

"Four," says the Elf.  "It is useful magic, when defending the forest."

"Then start.  I will shoot the lead barge when it comes into range."

"No," Hyleth says.  "Let it closer.  You will need to aim carefully.  Just above the water line, otherwise the timber you bend might not open a gash underwater."

The woman nods.  "Closer then."  She takes cover and readies her bow as the other Elf prepares to enchant arrows.
Tawna looks around at the possible escape routes.  There are many, the best but possibly most vulnerable being a narrow draw that leads towards the top of the ridge they are presently on, and then presumably, over it.


Cirostis examines the slope for spots where an avalanche might be triggered.  Overall, the slope is about 45% down to the river.  But the river is  four hundred feet wide here.  Any slide of rocks or logs would be hazardous to someone on the slope, but the debris would just slosh into the water at the bank, and pose no danger to anything even 10 feet off shore.

But there are a few spots where he could trigger a decent sized slide of at least five hundred cubic feet of rock.


The Elves hunker down with their bows...

The oncoming Hun force has over thirty barges, and columns of Orcs with their warbeasts, and other allies on both sides of the river.  There must be over a thousand Orcs on either side of the river.

"So many..." one of the Elves whispers.

Hyleth's voice rallies the worried Elf.  "Let them know our land is not cheap.  But neither are we.  We do not throw ourselves away here.  Do not get trapped by them.  Our numbers will gather, and we will win."

"One thing is certain," the woman archer says.  "We have no shortage of targets."

The Elves half ten archers among them, and they draw beads on targets- leaders, or the drivers of the warbeasts, or other important looking Orcs.  They wait for the first arrow- which will be the attack on the lead barge.

And the archer takes careful aim... at the third barge.

"Not the lead?" Hyleth asks.

"They would expect it.  Now those in front will turn away from me, to see what happened."

The first arrow flies, and lodges in the wooden hull of the target barge.  A moment later, a great wooden board bend and splits, and immediately the water of the Meuse rushes into the stricken vessel.

Behind the first arrow, there are more.

Haakon adds his own arrows to the elven rain, bringing down a rain of flint and iron and wood upon the heads and other bodily parts of the orcish hordes.  And then he says to Tawna... "Now, let us run further, fire inward, give the impression there are always more archers further away.  The strength of the orcs is in their concentration, their weakness is in the widths to which they can be stretched."  He grinned, "And still we can make them think they are surrounded."

Wait till they cross in front of us, we can catch their first wave in the rockslide.

Cirostis works with the archer, timing their attack. When they begin the warp wood attack in barge 3 he fires a shatterbolt at the waterline of barge two making a nice dwarf sized hole in it. Then when the enemy turns to hurl more than insults in their direction he fires into the earth another precious shatterbolt to start a rockslide.

"Ha ha! Take that pretty flower!" He shouts in orcish.


crossbow using shatterbolts.
19:19, Yesterday: Cirostis rolled 23 using 1d20+11 dwarf sized hole in wood (extra damage to wood)
19:19, Yesterday: Cirostis rolled 22 using 1d20+11 start avalanche behind rocks (extra damage to stone)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Wed 28 Nov 2012.

Orcs begin to fall- a few, here, there, carefully chosen.  Sniping is the Elven way of war.

Dwarves have a somewhat more direct approach.  Cirostis puts a big hole in the second barge.  It too begins to flood.

Orcs are already bailing out of the first, and some are pulling the damaged barge to the shore.  And others are assembling on the roof of the barge, with big...

Very big...

Tripod mounted crossbows.

Cirostis recognizes them.  Humans and Dwarves made them over the past few centuries.  They were very popular with the legions.  The Huns must have located a stash of them, or have access to engineers who know how to build them.
Just seeing them, Cirostis knows they are more than a match for the range of the Elven bows, even if the Elves have the height advantage.  The Elves are not as familiar with them, but they instantly recognize them as some kind of big, dangerous weapon.

It's quite clear... this is the time to retreat.  All the Elves seem to recognize that fact simultaneously.

As Cirostis sets up for his rock slide, he sees that the lead barge is continuing on ahead.  It will, as Hyleth said, take a few hours to round the Meuse oxbow.  Meanwhile, some of the other barges are being gathered together into a line across the river.

"They don't need the bridge at Celtanc at all," Hyleth says in dismay.  "They've got a floating bridge."

And Orcs are pouring towards the base of the hill.  It is a steep slope.  A slope with a 45 degree average slope (100% grade) is difficult to climb, often needing free hands.  The Orcs are going to have a long haul up... but that is exactly what they set out to do.  They would be easy targets, but they are covered by a torrent of missile fire.  Orc arrows ricochet off Cirostis's armor as he sets off his rock slide.  It will slow them.. but that's all.

One large bolt hits Tawna, cutting her across her back.  For a moment, it looks like she could not possible survive, but then, there isn't nearly as much damage as their ought to be.

"Not silver," she says, having no time to say anything else.  She scurries towards the ravine, headed west.

The Elves take parting shots.  Staying is lethal.  Heading over the the ridge top now would have them "skylined"- they could be hit by the heavy crossbows.  So Hyleth leads his band into the ravine, with the others.

"And now we must find a second place to shoot them," he says.

Haakon runs alongside Tawna, quite slowly then by his standards, which gives him time to find places to shoot from as they approach the ravine. As soon as he does, he shoots, one, two or three arrows and then moves on to catch up with Tawna.

Cirostis retreats with the others doing his best to ensure the elves are out he takes any shots he can at any pursuers.

Once past the ridge he checks to see if they at being chased or not. He speaks with Hyleth.

That was good, two boats damaged and we still have several warp wood arrows. Let's hold a moment to see if we are followed, we can escape to the northwest and reassemble at the cliffs overlooking the east-west part of the river with a beach just beyond this Ox-bow.
If they don't follow or don't send enough to dislodge us - we can go back to the same place after they passed and his the last few barges to damage them as well.
 

The Huns have the luxury of sheer numbers on their side.  Vast numbers.  They are not swift and nimble like the Elves, but their terrible mass allows them options the defenders lack.

As Haakon and Cirostis retreat through the ravine, the Huns send a large force of Orc and Goblin infantry up the hill.  If the Elves were strong enough, they know they would be able to inflict terrible casualties as the Orcs picked their way up the steep slope.  But at the same time, the Huns are sending even more around the flanks, and those forces include Ogres.  The Elves know they must flee or be crushed.  There is no hope of trapping the Huns in the bend of the oxbow.  Even if they could trap the force moving to their south, the Elves would in turn be trapped by the force encircling to the north.

So they withdraw, staying to the high ground, pulling back to a second position, a hilltop.  Here the approaches are again steep and exposed, and they repeat their earlier tactic- shoot, cause losses, withdraw when the Huns get too close.

This time, though, it is clear the Huns have changed their plans.  They are not relying on those barges anymore.  They are attacking in columns, on either side of the ridge line.

"We have been focusing our thought on the barges," Hyleth says as they retreat along the ridge.  "But for the Huns are leaving them behind."

"Then Celtanc is safe and we tore down the bridge for nothing!" one of the other Elves says.

The woman archer elf, who is walking in the back to cover the retreat asks; "If they don't want the river, where are they going?"

Hyleth frowns.  "They want to go back to Beda."

 "There is nothing left in Beda they could want," the woman says.  "It is empty and dead.  It is graves, theirs and ours, nothing more."

"But we will not defend it, so it is an open doorway into the heart of our kingdom," Hyleth says.

He looks at the little group.   The fighting has cost them three of their number, and several have injuries.  So does Tawna, but hers is not severe.

"We must get to Celtanc," he says, "and tell them, the Huns goal is not there, but more ambitious.   We must also move faster now and stay well ahead of them, or there will be no rest for us."

(Beda is modern day Bitburg, Germany)


The numbers on the map:

2:  The party withdraws, following the raving across the narrow neck of the oxbow.
3:  But the Huns pursue them up the ridge, with large forces moving to encircle them from the north...
4:   ...and the south.
5:  Meanwhile, only a few of the barges keep moving around the bend.  The rest stay behind, forming a floating bridge, and a floating camp.
6:  At a hill top, the group fights a second skirmish, this time against the Huns moving along the land.
7:  And then they retreat again, keeping to the ridge.

 

If I may, it may be more wise for us to not return to Celtanc. You can send a few runners, keep a scouting party here from Celtanc to monitor enemy actions and remain unseen, an have the rest to join us and go to Contaniocum.

We need to find a larger force and put together the battle at a place of our choosing... If we are quick enough, and if they take a little time to regroup, make repairs and consolidate we might have a chance to surprise them at Beda. Either when they arrive, or shortly after while they are still organizing.

Cirostis does not stop moving while giving council. His crossbow is loaded with a splintering bolt. He will wait for the chance to fire of any Orcish leader he can pick out.

Haakon nodded. Though pausing now and then to send doom toward the Huns in the form of arrows he said, "I agree with Cirostis, although if there are some of us who can move fast enough, perhaps if we won't defend it, we should also go to Beda and get it burning nicely to leave nothing for monsters or Huns, laving them no rest and no respite, letting them grow weary with frustrated goals.  It doesn't take much to get orcs to turn on their masters."

In the late afternoon the sky is a dull leaden gray, the kind of December sky that threatens snow.

Hyleth studies it worriedly.

"If it snows our tactic will be for naught," the Elf says.  "We are quick we know our home woods thoroughly, and we have magic that will hide our tracks, but not repeatedly, again and again.  If they can track us easily, we cannot continue to harass them."

It's clear that the party has had an effect.  Some of the barges of the Hun force have reached Celtanc, a runner reports, and the Elven village is now in Hun hands, but it is only an advance force- the bulk of the Hun troops are strung out along the ridges and hills north of the river.  They are a day behind schedule.

Hyleth guides the group through a thickly forested valley, headed west.  He's not clear on why Contoniacum is such an issue- it is west of the Human city of Treverorum... and would the Humans simply give that place up to the approaching Huns?  They ponder these things as he leads them on.  At certain places he becomes adamant that the trail be held to precisely, and that none of the non-Elves move except right behind him- the Elves have been placing hidden traps, some physical, some magical, in the forest.

The Huns are on the high ground close to the river so Hyleth keeps away from it.

 They find an Elven village where they can spend the night, Lisera.  (Wittlich, Germany).  Hyleth suggests everyone go up into the trees for the evening- if they are surprised, there is a tree canopy bridge network they can use to escape.  He has rotations of scouts keep an eye on the forest to the east, and they report that a few early surprises convince the Huns not to advance into the valley in darkness.*

At Lisera, Hyleth's force is augmented by more Elves, who have been coming in from the scattered settlements of the Fifth Ward.  They mention that many of the available fighters are gathering north of Beda in a place called Celbisa, an Elven settlement known for its very defensible position.  The nearest Huns are three miles away, but they have stopped for the night.

And they have also heard that the "allied army" under Heolstor is coming, and it has already crossed into Elven territory.   It is headed for Beda, the reports say.

Mention of the place seems to worry the Elves.

"I do not want Beda at my back," one of the Elves says.  "Perhaps it is better to let them take it."

"I believe that is what the Huns expect out of us," Hyleth says.

More reinforcements arrive in the early evening, as the cook-fires of Lisera produce a hot meal for the motley defenders:  It is Tugdual, and he has gathered two score Human volunteers, and two score more Elves.

*Orcs see well in darkness.  But so do Elves, and even with their night vision, Elven tricks and traps are easier to spot in daylight.   They know that moving through an Elf forest in darkness invites all sorts of Elven treachery.**

**Treachery, to an Orc, is "Stuff the other side does that we would too, if we could".

The dwarf embraces Tugdual.
Well met, my friend. I was just considering how to get to Contoniacum so we could meet, and here you are!
I trust your flight went well? Has the allied strategy pulled together?
Cirostis takes the information told by the scouts, he looks up smiling -
That's it!
If Heolstor and my kin are moving to Beda, that is where I must go ... But the Orcs may get wind of them if they have time to scout ahead.

What if we can pull them with us, moving quickly in chase? Can we hit them again? We would have their Porciary to deal with, I'm not sure we would be able to move fast enough to outrun them if we return to strike again. Tugdual, when will the army arrive in Beda? How can we best augment their plan?

 Tugdual seems happy and relieved to see Cirostis and Haakon still in good shape. He is followed by twenty Frankish horsemen and as many infantrymen from Treverorum, and some forty elven archers who tagged along as they were nearing this location. Two men in robes bearing the Rod of Asclepius follow this gathering : healers who will be much needed when battle starts.

  "I'm glad to see you made it, friends.

 Disappointment was the word when I realized I could not find the allied forces... fortunately an other herald has reached them, I have learnt reading the auguries. I assumed that it would be Petra, though Gwalarn would tell me no more.

 I'm thus afraid I cannot bring you news from Heolstor and Dunduin, nothing more than that they are en route."

 The druid seems altogether bothered by the situation ; even if he appears with reinforcements, he fears that it is not very substantial considering the time invested.

  "You will will have to fill me up on the situation... Oh, also..."

 He opens his pack and produces an odd sort of glove, made of sturdy stinky leather, seemingly orc-made, with a number of coarse metal hooks at the tip of each finger.

  "People in Sarrabrucca have intercepted a crate of these... if you have an idea on what they might be for, it might give us some insight into the Huns' plan."

Ah yes, first i would like you to meet Hyleth, who leads the security of the Elves of the 6th ward. This is Tugdual, one of our team, follower of the ancient gods and guide to Dwarves. As you recall there were 27 barges and n thousand troops including z hundred warbeasts.

OOC: Ben I see several places where we tried to estimate the size of the force but can't find the answers will you let us know once again? It may help in evaluating their movement and strategy.

Five of those 27 barges were prison barges, I was not able to check if they had come with the others. But we were able to disable 2 barges giving them 20 attack barges holding some 1000 Orcs for an amphibious assault.

Hyleth says there is no target he can think of in Elf territory where landing 50 at a time from barges would be a decisive advantage for the orcs. But I saw them training and it wasn't for nothing. They also have siege crossbows they mount on the barges and they use the barges as a makeshift bridge to cross the river at will.

Cirostis looks at the men,
Could they attack your city in this way?

We were followed after our harrassing ambush by a large contingent, they seem to be leaving the barges behind. But it makes no sense after the effort they put in to building them. I think the force may be dividing. Or making a sortie only to return, we would know more with eyes in the sky.

Hyleth suspects they want to take Beda to make a foothold. The elves do not want to defend it, and that may be what they are counting on.

We have the chance to feel out the enemy here, but there is much risk in remaining. We need to know where our forces and what the Huns are doing. We need a way to communicate in order to play our part.

Cirostis leaves that question open to the group. He looks at the gloves.
Hmmm... They remind me of the tree climbing gear we saw a dwarf making once, though these are crude and poor copies.
He thinks through what other uses these things might have.

Haakon frowned.  "Tree climbing gear?  And elves build cities in trees.  They're no use to Orcs as conquests but if this evil god of theirs seeks sacrifice...."

He left the question hanging then added, "Could it be a double bluff?  They want us to think they want to attack Beda when in fact... what is the most populous Elven city in these parts?"

 "The river runs through Treverorum... and it is the most important target in the area, for many reasons."

 The druid turns to the two healers who have accompanied him, if they want to develop on the topic.

 "If these barges can move inside the city walls and vomit their load of orcs and warbeasts in the streets... there will hardly be a battle at all..."

Haakon nodded then shrugged, "Let it be known that all Orcs captured, found wounded, or otherwise gathered without surrendering first, will be clothed in bright green plant-woven fabrics such as linen and fed on a strict vegetarian diet".

There is a target - and that must be the plan...Trevernorum. We must warn them

We can try to widdle them down one by one ... It might work. Or the men of Trevernorum could fill the river with boulders ...

Another option is to let them win and throw a wrench in at the end.

Hyleth, you were able to do magic through your arrows on the warping wood?

Could you make arrows that magically seal a door shut?

Or bolts that do the webbing that wizards use to annoy the stout of heart?

I'm just thinking if we could bring enough archers hidden inside Trevernorum.
Let them fight a normal battle while we wait, when the orcs get in and the men seem to fall back before the huge siege crossbows then blam!
A few sealed doors or attackers stuck inside once the door opens and the plan is neutralized and once we take out the crossbows they can be trapped in their boats inside the city. The men come back and drown or burn the attackers or hack them up.

Some will have to get out in the beginning to bring the others in, we'll need protection, but it is an option.

  "While that seems like a sound idea... We cannot risk letting the orcs inside the city... if something goes wrong, they would be able to destroy the temple to Asclepius before we have a chance to react...

 Consider Treverorum warned, I spoke with the High Priest just this morning. And there are men there, who will be ready to defend their city, but we must do everything so that Heolstor can reach the city before the Huns do."

I thought Heolstor was going to Beda? Is he then moving to Trevernorum?

....

You may be able to provide communication and surveillance Tugdual. You could also do the fish thing once in a while to sink a few barges.

Hyleth, what is your priority? If the Huns split, will your people consider continuing to harrass the barges or prefer to defend against the land force?

There may be severe consequenses if either arm can succeed.

He shakes his head thoughtfully.

 </Blue>It may also be, they are not splitting. We need to get a good view of them in the morning.  </Blue>

  "I have no knowledge of Heolstor's plan. It was mere assumption on my part that the allied forces would be moving to Treverorum... If you know their current position, I might be able to go there now and be back in the morrow."

The party is in the Fifth Ward.  There are population centers here, but none are very large.  Beda was their biggest, and it is gone.  Adenova is now the biggest town in the Fifth Ward, and it has about a thousand Elves, including the Marquis and Marquessa of the Ward.  They are about 32 miles to the north, but they have already left with their warriors, headed south.

And they wait for the morrow…

The problem with the morrow is that it follows the night… and in this war, there is a 24 hour news cycle.

Through the night, the Elves keep watch on the Huns a few miles away, launching little attacks when they have clear opportunities.  They do this in part to keep the Huns away from Lisera.  Even Elves need a refuge in which to rest.  But the Huns are determined to drive them out of it.

Before dawn, word arrives that Celtanc now belongs to the Huns.  Numbers allow the Huns to work their army in shifts- and the troops now at Celtanc are digging into rest, while another wave prepares to move.

And this is the worrisome part:  The Hun force is moving away from the river.  The barges have disgorged their troops, and most of these are now assembled on the north bank, and are pushing inland, their course being due west.

Towards Beda.

Some of the Elves express the opinion that it would have been better had the Huns gone towards Treverorum- it would have brought Humans into the fight, in greater numbers.  And Beda… as far as they see it, there is nothing there.   No reason for the Huns to want it.  And yet, they seem to.

“Give it to them, if that is what they want,” the Elven archer woman says bitterly.

“All the more reason not to give it to them,” Tawna says, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

“Why?” the Elf asks.

“They want it.  We don’t need to know why.  The fact that they do means they should not be allowed to have it.”

There is something else here that wasn't here when the group retired for the night.  A very large owl.  It must be 10 feet across, with wings outstretched.  The Elves are talking to it, about what it has seen, and where the other Elves are converging.

Is this one of your friends, Tug?

Er... Hello Mr Owl. I'm uh Cirostis Avastus ...

Cirostis looks at Tugdual for support.

So they seem to be headed to Beda, we cannot deny it to them, we can only harrass and anoy, In any case, we need to find our friends and coordinate.  That has been one of your great talents oh guide.

But surely there are some orcs remaining behind. They've taken Celtanc and they may be guarding the barges for later...

How long would it take for a runner or other messenger to reach Trevernorum?

Where will your people gather Hyleth?

 In the morning, Tugdual spots the owl and it drags most of his attention... soon he finds himself trying to establish communication and will use spells if need be.
  "I can't say I know him... but let us find out."

 If the owl is inclined to conversation, he will listen and transmit any intelligence which he may bring to the elves and Cirostis.

  "Tawna is right. Whatever the reason, the Huns want Beda and it behoves us to stop them from getting what they want. I cannot believe that they would make us believe that they want this position if they do not have a strong reason for it... It might be something simple and stupid, or something potent, dark and long-forgotten..."

 When he gets a chance, Tugdual will use a bird shape to scout the area and note Hunnish troop movements.

Much to their surprise, the Owl speaks.

It speaks Elven, in a very formal fashion, with a strong accent that can only be described as "Owlish".

And the Owl has a name: Stryx.  Stryx seems very surprised by all this attention- all it did was show up to report on things, and suddenly everyone wants to talk to him!

Very soon there is an explanation:  the Elves are not without allies in the forest.  There are clans of giant owls living here, and one is not far.  They have responded to an Elven call for help, and for hours they have been searching and reporting, and here and there going into battle.  Stryx does look he would be a formidable warrior.  The talons are razor sharp and ten inches long, and the beak looks like it could shred flesh easily.

The Owl is worried, though.  It's home is a place called Dalon, and is unfortunately between Beda and the current Hun positions.

The Owls, like the Elves in the path of the Huns, are evacuating.  This is fairly easy, except for a few fledgelings who are not flying yet.  (Giant owls such as Stryx take much longer to mature than their ordinary counterparts.)

Fortunately, says Stryx, there are no eggs to worry about- it's the wrong season.  "If the Orcs did anything to our eggs," Stryx says, "there would be many angry birds."

But now that the Owls are up and helping, the Elves have a much easier time coordinating with each other.  The Owls are linking up small bands of Elves, and the small bands are joining into larger bands.

"The Elves will defend at the Celbis river," the Owl says, "and then fall back past Beda.  The more they fall back, the more Elves will join them.  But the Celbis river means giving up Dalon.  It is sad, it is our home, but there is no choice.  We must be as one."

"The Celbis is a good place," Hyleth says.

"It runs too close to Beda," one of the other Elves says.  "It passes through darkness."

"We must endure that," Hyleth says.  "The Celbis is shallow.  They can walk across it.  But there is steep ground on both sides and heavy forest, and much of it linked in tree-ways.  We can make it costly for them."

A number of Elven heads suddenly look at Cirostis.

"A Dwarf in the tree-ways?"  one of them asks.  "Is it possible?"

Stryx tells them that there is no need to send a runner to Treverorum.  He will arrange a message, if someone can tell him a good landmark, that an Owl could find, to deliver it."

One of the Elves who has joined them here is a wizardess, an Elven woman of one of those undetermined ages... they seem to hold their youth for so long, it is hard to tell.  Quietly, she approaches Cirostis.

"The hook glove is enchanted," she says.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Sat 08 Dec 2012.

"Are they ma'am? Thank you, thank you indeed. "
Cirostis gets a sly smile -
"Tree ways, enchanted hook hands, I'm beginning to like these Huns, much more clever than our Goths. "
He puts both gloves on and tests his theory by leaping, well maybe scrambling up the tree, if he can.

If it works he whoops and holars a bit then returns.
If it doesn't he just falls on his rear and scratches his head ( after removing the glove) "well, maybe something else"

"I do have a message to recommend to the men of Trevernorum, master Styx. But first, have you seen an army about? It would be parts Bergundian men, Elves and Dwarves and there maybe an Elvish lady riding a winged horse. I can't imagine such a force would escape your eyes."

Haakon asks the elven wizardess, "Do you know the purpose of the enchantment?" he asks, "Is it for climbing, or for rending flesh?  If the latter, it would almost be a relief, because if the former and there are so many, that makes Treverorum a more likely target."

Then to Tawna he said, "Everyone thinks it's impossible but we, my love, need to find a way to deny them Beda, whether by force, by fire or by whatever horrors we can call from our imaginations when we see the site."

OOC: Does Cirostis know what is so bothersom about Beda to the elves? He would ask if he doesn't...I don't.

Styx tells Cirostis- it has not seen this Army, but it has heard from those who have.  It is on its way.  It has already crossed from the land of Lucimburic into Elven territory.  It is not far- less than a day on the wing.  Perhaps two days on foot, for you.

The Owl is curious… Cirostis does not know about the Elves and Beda?  But then..   Dwarves are from far away, aren’t they?

Styx ruffles his feathers.  Owls aren’t like cats.  Owls give straight answers.  They are the animals of the goddess of wisdom, after all.  That’s not a position taken lightly.

”I am not surprised they would not tell you,” Styx says quietly.  “It is a shadow within the Elven heart.  You see, Elves live their lives on a different scale, not like Humans, or Dwarves, or Owls.  Their aging has nothing to do with years.  It has everything to do with the sadness they see in life.  An Elf swallowed up in grief can mourn his life away, and one surrounded by beauty and joy can drift through centuries and not feel the touch of time.”

Beda was a terrible tragedy for the Elves.  The Huns surrounded the place, and proceeded to kill or capture every Elf trapped there.  They did it at terrible cost to themselves- it seemed that making the Elves suffer was worth any price.  Though the Huns were forced to retreat, with just a fraction of their force surviving, the damage they caused was horrific.  Experiencing the place where it befell them can take many years off an Elven lifetime.  What is only grief for a Dwarf is like poison to them.

* * * * * * *

The Elven wizardess does not know the purpose of the magic.  That would take more than the simple Detect spell she cast, and this is certainly nothing an Elf would ever make.

That alone, though, tells her that it is more likely a climbing device.  The metal hooks could help them hold onto wood.  Orcs know they cannot match Elven grace in the trees.   In battles in the forest, the trees have always been an advantage to the Elves.  Perhaps this is a way the Huns are trying to offset that?

But she has a question of her own.  “Why would climbing tools make them want Treverorum?  The Humans do not live in trees.”

Cirostis gets a twinkle in his eye considering what he has learned.
"I believe this foe is crafty and agile, not the orcs many would expect. They are prepared for both an attack on Trevernorum and for settling and defending a foothold at Beda. Had they come and retained surprise, I believe they would have taken Trevernorum first, possibly as a supply route, or just to put them so far back they would not be a resource to aid their neighbors. But they intended all along to reach Beda. They are prepared to move in the trees now. This would have been a surprise and a costly one if discovered in battle.

We know their mission, it is clear and it is genocide. 'Destroy all the Elves' this is what Haakon heard them say. They may have another force somewhere. We don't see the whole of it yet, but here they clearly aim to use whatever they can to their advantage, and Beda is a very important piece. It gives them a fortress where you are weak.
But if Heolster and the others arrive to give battle at Beda, what then will they do? What are the priorities?

We must limit their options. Hyleth, this is your land, I dare not preach at you but I have some recommendations for communication, if you please ..."

People with diplomatic skills seems to say please a lot, Cirostis hopes he's using it well.

"The messenger to Trevernorum: I would ask you to watch what is done as the army moves out. How many are left behind with the barges, are the barges, beached, tied, destroyed, or what? Then you should go to Trevernorum and tell them. Tell them 'the barges are here with the army to attack them. We believe we have rerouted them to attack into Beda first by taking away surprise.' If the barges remain say: ' the barges remain, guarded by so many or unguarded. We ask that you send a force to destroy these barges and their guards, if any. Then they will not have the option of returning to the barge if they succeed or fail in the Ardennes. Then tell them: please be prepared, once we can deflect danger from you we may ask for aid, either supplies or direct comrades to fight."

Another messenger I would send to find the army of Heolstor: to them I would say: Lord Hyleth of the 5th ward sends greetings from Master Haakon, Mistress Tawna, and Centurio Posterio Cirostis. An army of several thousand with warbeasts has left the Meusse at this place, traveling toward Beda, expect they want to take Beda. Irks have enchanted gauntlets for tree climbing. Small harassing forces available, please send word about where and how you hope to meet the enemy we will support.

Finally, I assume you have already sent runners to notify the other wards we are under attack and to be alert, but I would ask if a message can go fast to whatever body organizes the security for all the Ardennes and that they be informed of the strength and position of the enemy and our allies and that they be asked if any other wards are under attack. Knowing if and where any other forces are, may help us in guessing the next move.

What did I miss?

Cirostis looks at Tugdual.


I'd prefer you not be a messenger master Druid. If we are to fight again you can aid us much closer. If Styx and his gallant flock are willing to support.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Mon 10 Dec 2012.

 When Tugdual hears that the glove bears an enchantment, he feels utterly stupid for a moment. This had not even crossed his mind. Given that they had found a whole crate of these, he had not considered it even remotely likely than these might be magical in nature...

 The druid seems happy to see that the forest denizens join in the fight. It somehow makes his presence every bit more logical. (on numerous occasion he had questioned his involvement in this war... this was a good sign)

  "Cirostis, you seem to have summed up the situation rather thoroughly. I am not nure that Treverorum will be able to send us support, or even take care of the barges, though. We may hope they do."

 Tugdual waited to see the results of Cirostis experimenting with the gloves. He was curious and ready to help out if his powers could help.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:50, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

Cirostis does a little exploratory climbing while wearing the gloves.  He's not at all surprised to discover that the gloves aid in his endeavors considerably, in fact, more than could be explained simply by having little metal hooks on his hands. 
Stryx heads back for its home- it will meet up with other owls there, and pass on the message to go east.  The owls have had long years of practice at this, and have discovered that they are actually most efficient with hub-and-spoke networks.

Hyleth considers Cirostis's words.  Elves have a penchant for decentralized structure, with everyone simply coming to a consensus on what must be done.  But there is risk there, when the question is "where do we form up to fight the Huns?"

There is a standard Elven answer, though:  "We will seek out the Marquis and Marquessa of the Fifth.  Where they go, many of us will gather under their banner."

There are six Marks of the Elven Kingdom of the Ardennes, plus the Royal Domain, and the Fifth is the kingdom's northeast.  Each has been ruled by a single lineage since the beginning of recorded Elven history.  The Marquis and Marquessa of a Mark are always accorded equal status though only one is born to the lineage.  But whichever has the noble lineage passes that line to the children.

From Hyleth and a few of the other Elves, the party learns that here it is the Greenstag family, and the Green Stag is a symbol associated with them.  The Marquis is Golyan, and his wife is Tairthala, and they have ruled the Fifth Mark for centuries, become known as very conservative (for Elves) "set in their ways" rulers.  Despite the fact that rule over one of the more rural Marks, they are known to be scholarly Elves with a fair knowledge of wizardry, and both studied in Human academies in earlier days.

And from what the Owl reported to Hyleth, they are headed for a twisty stretch of the Celibus river, with all the supporters who have come to fight alongside them.  Hundreds of Elves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:45, Tue 11 Dec 2012.

To Tugdual:
"Wow, these really work!, do you want them back?
It could help me keep up with the Elves.

Regarding Trevernorum, if they won't destroy the barges, it will be Trevernorum that is at risk if the enemy changes course once again, it think we should tell them but it is their risk to assume."

To Hyleth:
"Do you Sir, agree with my recommended communications? Will the Marquis and Marquessa be able to communicate with all the other Marquessesesae? If I were the Huns, I would attack the Ardennes with several armies to confuse this decentralized system and force the elves to lack unity of action, and it seems their plans are very clever so far..."

To Styx: "To confirm, will your kin take all three messages and return with replies?

--thank you, great bird"

Ben, Can One use any weapon while wearing the gloves?

Tugdual has no objection to Cirostis taking the gloves.
 " I anyway wouldn't need them... I'd rather travel under avian or mustelid shape..."

Haakon frowned as he heard of the Elves' feelings about Beda.  "Let Humans, werepeople, dwarves and whoever else we can find deny Beda to the Huns.  Meanwhile, let the elves stop Trevenorum becoming a similar nightmare.  I believe we need to go to Beda.  Is anyone with me?"

Unless we can coordinate with a larger force there would be nothing for us to do at Beda. We need to get comm from the Marquis and Marquessa or Lord Heolstor and get someone to intercept in Beda or on the way there.

...

If we can't get a force to intercept our next best action may be to deny the Huns their ground... We would want to drive out or destroy any source of food or resource they could use. That we might be able to do, as a small force, particularly with the help of a Druid.

"If we have a druid, all the better.  We can destroy Beda if we can't defend it... but I suspect if we could surround it with a series of trenches, perhaps we could even defend it... filling some trenches with water, some with fire, some with spikes and others with armed men, anything to disrupt the advance, and make them pay a huge price for every inch of advance."

Cirostis steps close to Haakon speaking discreetly and with sincerity.
"My friend, I both respect and admire you. I and my kin are here to help the elves in hope that they in turn will send wise and thoughtful emissaries to our aid. I am committed to their defense but will not take a suicide mission. I have a family to return to."

He looks around at the others and speaks a little louder.
"Perhaps as a compromise we can send the messengers, fall back to the next Elvin position on the way to Beda and hope to receive word from our messages there. We can plan to raid. The Hun lines tomorrow night, as they fear the Elf night work. If we get no message back by then, we can move with haste to Beda, scatter any animals and spread a message to the land itself and by looking upon the place we can make a plan. "

  "I have to agree with Cirostis... the time has not come yet to make a last stand. I wish it does not come to that."

 Despite his advanced age, the druid felt he still had things ahead of him... and could still bring something to this world. Taking ten orcs to their grave and slowing their kin would not be worth dying in Beda.

  "We have to work in synergy with the elves... wherever they will be more numerous and more fierce, that is where our presence will have the most impact. Unless you have a commando mission in mind..."

"Well, you know me well enough by now to know that I'm not keen on the idea of dying", said Haakon, "and with Tawna's help, pretty good at staying alive.  That's still the case.  My intention is to live forever.  What I was thinking of was getting there ahead of the Huns, destroying Beda, or leaving it ringed with trenches and traps, and then leaving, perhaps in the direction of Treverorum, perhaps in the direction of Lucumburic."

Hyleth is baffled by Haakon’s plan.

”Beda is already destroyed,” he says sadly.

He explains.. it was the largest settlement in the Fifth Ward.   Close to two thousand Elves lived there.  But Elven towns are not like Human towns.  A Human town has about1000 square feet of space per person. An Elven town would have ten times as much.  Beda sprawls over a space that would be a major city, for Humans.

”It is a place, not a thing,” Hyleth says.  “We cannot destroy it, or even garrison it sufficiently, and we have no wish to fight there.”

”But the Huns want it,” Tawna says.  “Or… they want you to fight there.  The Owl told us one reason.  It’s dangerous for you, isn’t it?”

”In ways you cannot know,” Hyleth says.

”Don’t be so sure,” Tawna says.

”But we must still go back, in that direction,” Hyleth says.  “We need room, and a defensible place, if we are to make a raid tonight.  That much, we can agree on.”

* * * * * * *

This time of year, at this latitude there are about eight and a quarter hours of daylight.  Hyleth wants to use as much as possible of it moving, so they can prepare for a battle in the darkness.

Along the way, owls go, and owls come.  They’ve fully mobilized now, and they are linking up all the major Elven groups.  The task gets easier as the Elves consolidate.

Five hours later, the group arrives at Dalon, the home of the Owls.  The Owls have withdrawn, because of the potential danger.  It is too close, and their young must be protected and cared for.   But there are other Elves here.  Some live here among the Owls, and there are Elven homes among the tall trees.

The group is met by an Elf in a silvery cloak, a mature looking man with white hair, who introduces himself as Aglan Moonspear.

He’s heard back from a few of the Owls.  They have tracked the Orcs, and they will be here by nightfall, if they stay to their course.

”Bound straight for Beda,” Hyleth says.

”It seems,” Aglan says.  “But the Humans and Dwarves and our Southern Kin approach Beda from the West, even now.  Perhaps the Huns wish to destroy this place as well.  We can remain here, and fight them in the dark and then pull back, or pull back now and prepare for the fight at Beda.  It will be tomorrow.  There is no question now, the two forces approach each other, and they will collide.”

Greetings master Moonspear, I am Cirostis Avastus, officer of the Dwarven Legion. We have sent word to them through the owls, do you know if they were reached?

It feels like a good night for fighting, they had some trepidation about venturing in the dark, we should reinforce that, I think it is healthy for them have their confidence shaken here and there and to be denied a good sleep before the main battle. "

Cirostis smiles with a hint of wicked pleasure. The Dwarf then draws out the gloves Tugdual had lent him -
"you should know this, if you haven't heard the message - crates of these ensorceled gloves were found, they enable the orcs and even me to climb and brachiate through the trees like an ape. The treeways are not a sanctuary. We would be well served to fight both above and below. "

He gives way to allow Hyleth, Haakon, Tawna and Tugdual to speak, when they begin preparations for the fight he says:
"I assume you have prepared the battle area with traps and other tricks to get us started?"

It is more complex., sir Dwarf,” Aglan Moonspear says.  “We know traps well, we make frequent use of them.  But to prepare the battle area, we have to know what the battle area will be.  Mostly, we Elves use traps to funnel the enemy into places where we choose to fight, or to keep them away from areas in which we are weak.  Remember, the enemy also gets a say in where we choose to fight.”

”And they won’t be hitting this place in darkness,” Hyleth says.  “They have not been willing to fight at night.”

”No?”  Aglan says, sounding surprised.  “They see well enough in the dark, as we do, I’ve heard.  And they dislike the sun.  They are cave creatures.”

”But they have learned to fear the forest at night.  They move only with the sun, now.”

Aglan looks skeptical.  The daylight is less than nine hours, now.  Moving only in light the Huns will move slowly, and that would work against them.  Still, Hyleth has been dealing with them longer, in this war.

”Then the defenses we’ve prepared here will do us no good anyway tonight,” Aglan says.  “And tomorrow we must move away to join the others.”

They keep a watch on the forest anyway, while Elves and Owls remove whatever they can from the village here.  Anything that is not nailed down is evacuated to the west.  And they set their traps, sharpened stake traps, toxic plants of several kinds woken with magic, and caused to spread, spells sown into the vegetation… And then… Hyleth is shown to be mistaken this time, as one of the Owls reports in, after dusk.

It looks a lot like Stryx, to everyone but Tugdual.  He has a Druid’s eye for animals, and can pick out the subtle differences.  It is a kin of Stryx:  Strios.

”They come,” the Owl says.  “Even in the night.  In columns, in the forest, warbeasts in the lead.”

"Lo I see my father coming", said Haakon, "And his father behind him, and all my fathers, going back to Arminius and beyond, and they are happy.  I have always thought myself a coward, but today If I run, I run toward Beda, and my bow sings like an Alemanic Lyre."

To all he said, "Beda is no longer a suicide mission, it is the essence of all of our survival."

To Tawna he said, PM  and then he spoke louder, for all to hear, "this night we will dine in Valhalla!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sat 15 Dec 2012.

"Let us make an attack here, until we get word back from our messages we do not know when or if our army will reach Beda. We must slow the enemy while we can."

OOC: metagaming can be terrible but reading the other thread it seems our message did not go to them. It only says we are coming without the request to coordinate and get direction from them. I can only hope they realize we need some info so we can organize.

So does that mean the message to the Marquis was also no specific?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Sun 16 Dec 2012.

  " ...and slow them we will." Tugdual repeats after Cirostis' words.

  "As for dining in Valhalla, or the Elysium, or strawberry fields... I sincerely hope it can be postponed.

 Fight and fight well my friends... but try and live to see an other day and fight the orcs again. This war will not be won at Beda, I fear."

 Tugdual thinks for a bit and explains to the elves :
  "Nature is our ally, if I have archers with me, we can make each and every of their step extremely painful. I can entangle them and summon resilient soldiers of Nature, in order to block them... make sure you have your arrows ready.

   If some of you are trained in elven magic or the druidic arts, let me know. Make use of all of your powers to hamper their mobility and their senses."

 He gathers Haakon and Cirostis apart, hands them a potion each.
  "These can heal you. It's not much, but sometimes it's the difference between life and death.

 This one is for you Cirostis. It can make you undetectable to animals, and that would include their warbeasts. I do not know how, not yet, but I think it could come in handy."

  potions : clw and hide from animals

The owl born messages do make it there and back (allowing for the slight mismatch in time between the two groups!) and the party in the Owl-woods at Dolan learns of the sleeping Trolls at Beda, and that Heolstor’s army has chosen to dig and defend at Beda.

Initially surprised, Hyleth sees the wisdom in this.  “They are not us, and Beda will not weigh on their souls as it would us.  They sought to use Beda as gap into our lands, and now it will be the place where they are stopped.  But it also means, we few here cannot stop them.  Only bleed them some and slow them.  Our strength musters at Beda, and north and south of it, along the Celibus river.  Those of us who escape this night must withdraw to the Celibus river, and join  our kin or the army of Heolstor.”

“I am all for postponing Valhalla as long as possible,” Tawna says.  “At the battle of Dinom Fields, when the Lucimburic General Luvarde shouted out ‘Who wants to live forever’… you should know, all the wereweasels had their paws up in an instant.”

Hyleth looks at her.  “Wereweasel,” he says, simply as an observation.  “You know that we know, there is no pretending it is not true, of all of us, you could survive most easily.  One weasel, slinking away through the forest… you would never be seen, nor tracked by the best hunters of the enemy.  Yet you stay.”

“Life is strange,” Tawna admits.

Aglan Moonspear returns Cirostis’s greeting, worried at the thought of climbing Orcs in the trees…. And then a little skeptical at the thought of a Dwarf in the trees.  But then… stranger things have happened.

“If they want to climb up after us, let them,” Aglan says.  “Orcs wish to climb, we shall teach them to fly.”

In the night, there are noises to the east- the warbeasts are not known for stealth.  A few of the great, hulking forms can be seen pushing through the trees.

“Two big for our traps,” one of the other Elves says.

“I know,” Aglan says.  “But they will cause pain and annoyance, even to the warbeasts, and hopefully steer them where we want them to be.  Take to the trees, we will attack them from above!”

The Elves look astounded at the GM’s new creation:  The Night Vision ™ Tactical Map.



 

The owl born messages do make it there and back (allowing for the slight mismatch in time between the two groups!) and the party in the Owl-woods at Dolan learns of the sleeping Trolls at Beda, and that Heolstor’s army has chosen to dig and defend at Beda.

Initially surprised, Hyleth sees the wisdom in this.  “They are not us, and Beda will not weigh on their souls as it would us.  They sought to use Beda as gap into our lands, and now it will be the place where they are stopped.  But it also means, we few here cannot stop them.  Only bleed them some and slow them.  Our strength musters at Beda, and north and south of it, along the Celibus river.  Those of us who escape this night must withdraw to the Celibus river, and join  our kin or the army of Heolstor.”

“I am all for postponing Valhalla as long as possible,” Tawna says.  “At the battle of Dinom Fields, when the Lucimburic General Luvarde shouted out ‘Who wants to live forever’… you should know, all the wereweasels had their paws up in an instant.”

Hyleth looks at her.  “Wereweasel,” he says, simply as an observation.  “You know that we know, there is no pretending it is not true, of all of us, you could survive most easily.  One weasel, slinking away through the forest… you would never be seen, nor tracked by the best hunters of the enemy.  Yet you stay.”

“Life is strange,” Tawna admits.

Aglan Moonspear returns Cirostis’s greeting, worried at the thought of climbing Orcs in the trees…. And then a little skeptical at the thought of a Dwarf in the trees.  But then… stranger things have happened.

“If they want to climb up after us, let them,” Aglan says.  “Orcs wish to climb, we shall teach them to fly.”

In the night, there are noises to the east- the warbeasts are not known for stealth.  A few of the great, hulking forms can be seen pushing through the trees.

“Two big for our traps,” one of the other Elves says.

“I know,” Aglan says.  “But they will cause pain and annoyance, even to the warbeasts, and hopefully steer them where we want them to be.  Take to the trees, we will attack them from above!”

The Elves look astounded at the GM’s new creation:  The Night Vision ™ Tactical Map.  For full effect, turn off lights and set RPOL color scheme to black.)



 

Haakon squeezed Tawna's hand and nodded, "Living forever is my preferred option too". He took the offered potion from Tugdual, "This should help".

He took bow in hand, made sure his ax was where he could easily grab it when the bow proved futile and moved rapidly to the North East [OOC aiming for M1] looking for a clear field of fire toward the nearest warbeast. "Look at all that suede on the hoof", he muttered grimly.

Ha!
They've dug in at Beda and are bracing for a fight! Yes - I did not expect it to go so well.
Well hurt the orcs and fall back - and yes, we can live to see more battles and none too far off.

Cirostis puts on the gloves and climbs after the others brachiating and closing in on the enemy.

  "I won't be able to speak later on, so I'm going to say it now : stay alive, and make sure we meet at Beda."

 This said, the druid falls on all four and meows its way into a relatively large lynx. His large ears catches the sound of a warbeast and he is gone, climbing with amazing skill from branch to branch, soon to find himself in a vantage position.

 The strategy is simple : use entangle and briar web to block the enemy long enough for the archers to rain the famed elven arrows on them. Use dominate animal to send one of the warbeasts against its masters at the worst possible time for them. Summon a few allies to block the orcs on the ground while the elves deliver some more arrows. Maybe a few giant spiders, as poison is likely to affect the vile orcs even after the summoned creature is gone.

 In last resort, Tugdual will jump into battle himself, hoping to tear a few orcs to shreds with claws and fangs...

 so yes : entangle(7min), briar web(7min), dominate animal (7 rounds), giant vermin (7min), summon nature's ally II and III (7 rounds)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:58, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

The Elves have never seen a brachiating Dwarf  before.   It's not one of those things that comes around often.  Some stare in amazement.

Haakon shifts to the north,

It is dark and Haakon can't see any targets clear enough to hit, other than the big warbeast. He knows there are Orcs out there, but all he can see in the darkness is the warbeast.  Hitting it is easy, but hitting that doesn't seem to bother it.  How many arrows can the creature absorb?  Arrows.. traps...

They get to see why it is the Orcs like to use the giant warbeasts when attacking Elves.  Elves are well known for the traps they set in forests.  It is possible to build a trap that would be meaningful to one of these warbeasts, but that would involve not merely craftsmanship but engineering.  It would be a project far beyond what Elves can create simply and effectively.  So the warbeasts step on concealed spikes without noticing, and one gets a foot momentarily caught it an Elven snare- it pulls, the tree limb the snare is tied to bends, and then the rope snaps.

To make matters worse, the sides and rear of the creatures are protected by their great shaggy hides with added leather.  But the heads- .which their Orc drivers try to keep aimed at the Elves-  have armor- cured thick leather, reinforced with strips of metal, wood, resin, and more leather.

Tawna taps Haakon's arm.  "You can't fight them like that.  You can't fight them at all.  Assassinate them, maybe, not fight them."

Tugdual gets his first two spells off.  He isn't pleased with the results.  The sheer strength of the warbeast allows it to tear through entangling plants with ease.  They, and the thorns, are obstacles and annoyances and cause a little pain, nothing more.  (And he's not sure Dominate Animal will work.  It's big, and it's not a natural animal, and it might already be under some kind of control.. but maybe... he doesn't know.)

From the creature's back, Orcs climb up onto the tree platforms.

The Elves concentrate their attacks on the one warbeast slowed by Tugdual and wounded, albeit lightly, by Haakon.  Their magic flashes in the night.   The heavy barrage the creature is taking seems to actually be hurting it.

And then.. there's a third.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Tawna says.