[Game Thread] Chapter 1: A Choice To Make

[Ieiunitas]

Edi sighs as he overhears the group discussing what to do with the goblins. By this point, he's made his way back to Elise, and is making sure she's calm - although the fighting was probably far enough away that it didn't bother her much. When Edi sees the other goblin running away, he's almost glad; as it is, it sounds like his companions are planning on torturing the remaining ones. 'I'll probably have to speak up again if that happens...' he thinks. Even though he'd just made a decent oration, speaking his mind like that tended to make Edi...uncomfortable, to say the least. For the moment, he hoped that Elana would share his viewpoint and keep the rest of them from getting violent.

Edi looked down at his mace. He'd hoped there wouldn't ever need to be living blood on it. The fact that he'd given into his rage so easily distressed him. He sits down next to Elise and begins the slow process of cleaning his weapon.

[corporealself]

Drubner did his best to help with the burial. Honestly, they really didn't have the tools for this. He mostly broke up the dirt along side the path with his spear and cut impediments like roots away with his dagger until the hole was finally big enough and deep enough to lay Alessandra in. Drubner retrieved her greatsword and the ring he'd always seen her wear and set them aside along with any of the traveling gear she'd brought with her. He made it a point to keep the gear separate from the sword and the ring.

"Edi..." he called over the distance, a bit louder than he was used to, "Edi, I don't know anything about last rites... Could you..."

He motioned his hands in futility and then gave up to help Elana with Kinnon's grave. Before they finished he set some of Kinnon's belongings aside as well. Most of the gear went to the large pile, but some, like a paint set and a mandolin, were placed carefully near Alessandra's ring and sword. As he finishes though, he catches sight of Mardigan's half-hearted pursuit.

Cursing under his breath at the one everyone calls "mongrel," Drubner decided to give the half-elf something to do, "You've got some rope right? Could you at least tie up the other one."

[Ieiunitas]

Responding to Drubner's call, Edi sets down his mace in the grass and walks to where the graves are being dug. This is one of the duties of a cleric that he tried not to think about. Though Edi had never laid the dead to rest before, he knew the rites well enough from his studies. He worried for a moment that he didn't have a set of vestments, but then realized that hardly mattered in this setting. As the bodies of Alessandra and Kinnon were placed in their graves, he said the final prayers, asking the Sovereign One to bless them as they passed into the afterlife and accept them into His kingdom. Though inside he's filled with roiling emotion, on the outside he appears calm, a few stumbled over words being the only sign of his inner turmoil.

After Edi finishes with his petitions to the Sovereign One, he addresses the group. "If anyone who knew Alessandra or Kinnon well would like to give a eulogy, please do so now." he says softly. Now that the rites are completed, he steps back from the graves and stands among his companions.

[Pilgrim]

Mardigan nods, tying up the remaining goblin. Meanwhile, Thomas takes a moment to check on the unconscious ones, and bandage their wounds.

[Moridain]

Sakura just sits back in a crouch as the people set about doing some very strange things. First they kill them in a shockly efficient manner, now they care about their rotting bodies? In her experience dead things tend to vanish by themselves if left alone, or at least most of them, so the idea of burying them or doing last rites seems a bit strange to her.

Eventually she speaks up "But... Shouldn't we just leave them here? I mean... eventually their own people might come for them right? They might not like it if you bless their deaths in the name of a differant god... And if they don't come back, thats okay to. More for the flies and vultures."

She pauses then turns to Mezio "Oh, and Wolves wouldn't eat them like that. They are actually pretty picky, usually, and prefer to only eat their own kills."

She points at her mount "Cant we just take the ones we want to question and put them on this, and then question them when the others wake up? If we stay here the ones that got away might come back with more."

[11cclark]

Elana eyed Sakura as she spoke. As much as she hated to admit it, the half elf was right.

Sakura has a point, she said, We need to head out before more trouble comes to greet us.

Elana walks over to the tied up goblin, and hoists it over her shoulder as she heads over to Sakura's horse.

[Moridain]

Sakura nods happily, seeming overly happy at being listened to. Its not something she is used to after all. Millenia old dragons tend to be such know it alls, and never take constructive critisism, even when it would lead to a tidier lair...

"So, should we just follow the path then? I mean, they attacked us on mass here, so I doubt they have anything else planned for later."

She looks back "They seem to act like Predatory Mammals, so they probably have an ambush behind us in case we ran. If we go forward we should be able to skip them entirely."

[Casino Jack]

"They're goblins. There's always more of them." Mezio said, his voice still ingrained with a tinge of anger. He snorted when the paladin lifted the vermin onto her horse.

"Don't know why you're keeping it alive. Either they attacked because it's what they bloody do, or they were told to by whatever opposition is against us. No matter what, its doubtful it'll know anything useful."

[Moridain]

Sakura tilts her head in confusion, then draws a dagger, "So, should I just kill it then?"

The idea of killing an unconscious and helpless opponent doesnt seem to bother her. You get the feeling its actually prefered. After all, when unconscious they don't tend to fight back.

[corporealself]

Drubner really didn't have anything to say really. Actions, for him at this point, would speak loader than words. Carefully he hefted the gear he'd taken from his companions and lifted them into the back of his cart. With a great deal more reverence he placed the smaller pile of items on the seat next to him, taking a great deal of care to ensure that they were secure. Once he was done it was time for him to address the matter of the captive goblin.

"Mezio, I want him alive because he might actually be useful. If we hold on to him and make it clear that the only way he'll live is by helping us, then he might be just as good as an early warning system."

Drubner looked at the goblin and snapped his fingers to get it's attention, "Hey. Look at me. I'll only say this once. You tell us if your buddies have something planned or if you see one of their set ups and we let you live. I'll cut your ropes myself at the city limits. Screw us and I'll cut you."

Drubner patted his dagger for emphasis, "We got a deal?"

[Pilgrim]

OOC You will need a day's worth of food for each of you. I'm assuming you eat rations rather than foraging, since that would reduce your speed by half and you are already going pretty slowly because of the cart. However, if you forage you only get 3 more miles, rather than 11, for a daily total of 8 instead of 16 on day 4. Also, what equipment did you take from Alessandra and Kinnon? Everything but weapons and armor? Lastly, you should probably discuss watch order in the new Party Banter thread.

Day 4 The goblin nods his understanding. "You no kill Nogbucker, Nogbucker keep peeled eyes." The creature stares a moment, thinking, then adds, "You gots food?" Questioning the goblin reveals that the raiders were looking for dinner that night - they aren't particularly picky about what winds up in their pots, and cannibalism doesn't hold the same taboo for them. You resistance ensured you didn't become the main course for the tribe that evening. Your plodding journey continues, and you get about 11 more miles down the road over the course of the day. As the sun sets, you can find a good spot for an encampment with little trouble.

Day 5 The night passes uneventfully, and morning arrives heralded by the chirping of birds. You have some distance ahead of you to go, and once you strike camp you set off again, traveling for three hours uneventfully...

[Casino Jack]

Mezio pretended not to notice the three approaching strangers, instead speeding his walk to catch up with Drubner.

"We're being followed, keep your voice low and warn the next person in line." he whispered between gritted teeth.

[Ieiunitas]

Immediately recognizing one of the figures to the west for what it was, Edi grabbed his morning-star and jumped off Elise to the ground below, the foremost thought in his mind being 'This is what my weapon was made for.' Edi is aware that his rage is taking control once again, but this time every part of him is screaming that it's justified. Raising his mace as he runs to prepare for the inevitable strike, he lets out an uncharacteristic feral growl, not paying heed to anything except the monstrosity before his eyes as he weaves through the trees. It's very similar to the forest that he remembered, and as a result his mind begins to blur the line between memory and reality; though not so much as to hamper Edi's desire to smash his mace through the things skull.

[corporealself]

“I know,” Drubner whispered back, “I see them.”

“If they start any trouble…” Drubner patted his explosive vials for a little emphasis, “I have ways to dissuade them.”

He urged his mule on a little faster to catch up to Sakura’s horse and leaned over to whisper to her in turn, “There’s something following us not far off. Not sure what it is yet, but pass on the word, and quietly too. No sense in provoking them…”

At about that very same instant Drubner saw Edi, mace in hand, charge off to confront their pursuers. The half-orc was sure that there were things to say at a time like this, but they escaped him. Instead he slowed his cart to jump off of it and back Edi up before he lost another companion.

OOC Yeah Drubner took most of their equipment and the items he specifically laid out. It's in the cart for everyone to use, except, of course, the specific items which he saved for the sole purpose of giving back to the families of the deceased.

[Pilgrim]

Surprise Round Name ID Init HP/Max AC Saves Other Actions Comments =>Drubner Dr 18 9/9 14/12/12 3/4/0       **Thomas Th 17.3 9/9 15/12/13 1/4/2       **Elana El 17.2 13/13 17/11/16 4/1/2       *(Enemy #1) X1 17.1 Unknown Unknown Unknown       *Mezio Me 16 11/11 13/11/12 4/1/4       *(Enemy #2) X2 12 Unknown Unknown Unknown       **Nogbucker No 11 Unknown Unknown Unknown       *Edi Ed 9 12/12 14/10/14 3/0/5     Is now 30' into the woods, 60' from the enemies. Mace drawn. *(Enemy #3) X3 6 Unknown Unknown Unknown       **Mardigan Ma 3 15/15 16/12/14 3/2/0       **Sakura Sa 2 8/8 11/11/10 3/1/2     Mounted.

Fight! Edi uncharacteristically growls and runs into the woods, drawing his mace...

Comments As you can see, I have decided not to use a map on this fight. Mostly because I haven't had time to make one and I couldn't find one I liked online. Hopefully it won't be an issue for you. I also assumed that someone gave Mezio some healing at some point. Lastly, those that couldn't see the enemies (or those that could only see some) you'll get descriptions on their turns.