Prologue: The Mad Scientist

[MundayKnight]

Hurin runs after the woman bumping into the wall as he runs past, trying to continue his drunken charade, "]

Dice diplomacy:

1d20+6

(5)+6

Total = 11

Don't leave me!"

[Adamah]

Hurin turned the corner to find that he was yelling down an empty alleyway. Twenty feet in front of him, a tall fence blocked the path. The night air was strangely quiet, given that a woman had sped through here not moments before.

[jalroy]

When Gnar heard the woman was running and Hurin calling after her, he let out a loud curse in Ork and went running after to catch up. He knew from what little he saw of the attack a few nights ago this woman was fast and able to hide quickly in the night. Gnar wasn't as used to speed or stealth, and knew he was likely going to loose her in these winding alleys and city streets if she was bolting again.

"Don't just cry after her! Chase after her!! She's getting away!!"

Gnar drew his sword and continued to chase after the direction she bolted.

 

Gnar isn't in his armor so moving double move of 60.

[Adamah]

Gnar's frantic dash took him down the dark alley and to the top of the fence. He peered over it into a grassy courtyard beyond, seemingly empty.

Behind him MacKenzie panted to a halt, "Do you see her?"

[MundayKnight]

Hurin punched a nearby wall, frustrated with the situation and himself for not making the right choice. "I screwed up, I pointed you all out to her trying to get her trust. By the gods this woman is good." Hurin

Dice perception:

1d20+1

(18)+1

Total = 19

searched for the woman before

Dice survival:

1d20+1

(11)+1

Total = 12

attempting to track her.

[Adamah]

Hurin and Gnar jumped the fence to try and locate their elusive prey. The alley opened onto a fairly nice backyard. From the street it would be impossible to tell it was even there.




They poked around for a few minutes, but found no trace of her. In fact, it was suspicious how someone could have run through the yard only moments before they arrived and left not a footprint.




Suddenly, they heard sounds from the building behind them, and lights turned on in the window. It appeared that their presence had been noticed.

[jalroy]

Gnar couldn't believe she had vanished again so quickly. He wished it was like his uncle Hrusk, with an uncanny nose who could track people by smell. Had he that talent, finding her or the way she had gone would have been easier. He was about to cast Detect Magic, something that took some concentration and effort, yet might lend a clue just the same, when the lights from the house turned on.

Quickly Gnar grabbed Hurin and pulled him out of sight from the windows. "We gotta go! She's gone and so should we!"

Gnar wasn't going to stick around, he quickly sheathed his sword and helped Hurin get over the fence to make a fast exit before they got in any more trouble.

[Adamah]

The two cadets and MacKenzie quickly ran off and were not pursued. By unspoken consensus they decided that the night was over and immediately headed back to the barracks. Filled with more questions than when they left, they nevertheless managed to sleep soundly and awoke the next morning ready for travel.

---------------------------------------

Trunau was a hard week's march northwest of the port city, and no major settlements stood in direct line between the two. Because they were taking such an unused road, the going was tough. More than one day saw them carrying the wagons over impassable conditions, and they were all sore when they entered the woods near the border with Belkzen.

As they made camp that night in a clearing near the road the soldiers, who had been growing steadily more tense the further they traveled, elected to post a double watch. "I've heard nasty stories about this wood," one of them said to her buddies.

 

The group is about a day from Trunau, I've placed this break here to let you guys insert any conversation you may have had during the journey.

[jalroy]

The harsh week of travel towards the village of Trunau left Gnar rather quiet during the walks. He did make an effort to both befriend and keep an eye out for the soldier Thomas, who’s older brother Nicholas had joined in following and pestering Gnar in the spirit world. Nicholas had died in battle three years ago and felt it would devastate his family to have tragedy strike the family again should Thomas fall. Gnar grew to like talking with Thomas and the two seemed to get along, though Gnar never told him he was speaking with his older brother in spirit form. Agatha the older hag spirit was still following him for some reason, since she still had a wicked tongue and dislike of Orcs. Yet her and Dracknor were often talking for hours about either magic or other arcane subjects, or just insulting each other. A few other spirits followed, but most could be ignored.

Gnar was concerned about the woman, the thief and the stolen orders. He wanted to make certain they were prepared for this battle, as now their orders could be in the hands of some hidden enemy, or who knows what other surprises could await them. He kept an eye out for Professor Iggy when possible, confirming he had anything he needed and not to wander off. Gnar didn’t know about alchemy, but he did know a thing or two about herbs and useful remedies. He hoped to perhaps learn a bit more, or at least get a better understanding of his healing arts.

When they entered the forest, most of his small gaggle of spirits went rather silent. Even Agatha shut up and was weary, only spouting warnings and cryptic portents of danger. Gnar wasn’t certain if he truly trusted these warnings, but the silence was a welcome change to the usual. Even still, Gnar was still staying alert of his surroundings.

Gnar was removing his armor before setting up his tent for the evening when he heard the soldier speaking.

“Stories you say, what have you heard?”

[Xbow]

Akoragh spoke little throughout the journey, though he did ask some questions to Mckenzie. Where is the stronghold the weakest? where do we believe they will attack? how many cannons will we have? What do you think the ratio is us : them ?

[MundayKnight]

The travel was a difficult one for Hurin, he felt the escape of the bandit was his fault and even his conversations about the fortification of the village did not get his mind off of it. Knowing he had done something that could have cost the life of hundreds of men before battle even began weighed heavily upon his heart.

During the travel Hurin began speaking with Professor Iggy, while the man was eccentric Hurin felt he could learn much from him that could come in handy when they got to Trunau. Most of his questions involved how best to utilize alchemical ingredients but from time to time he found himself discussing strategy for board games or, on one rather enlightening occasion, discussing how best to deal with a fly with a hammer and an anvil. Hurin over thought the situation and simply could come up with nothing better than waiting for the fly to get on the anvil and trying to smash it to which the Professor simply laughed and said forget the hammer and anvil and just use ones hand.

After the conversation about smashing a fly with Professor Iggy Hurin began trying to think of something simple that they had all managed to overlook but if the Professor was giving some cryptic hint to the man he was either too stupid or too smart to get it.

[Adamah]

When Gnar spoke up to the scared soldier, she gave him a wide eyed stare. "It's dangerous this far north, between the orcs, the witches, the demons, and the undead I'm surprised anybody's able to live this far north."

She continued "This is one of the closest woods to Gallowspire, where the whispering tyrant lays. I heard that he once held sway over this area, left behind all sorts of undead nasties for us to deal with. Then there's the orcs," she gulped loudly, "there's always the orcs."

While Gnar was talking to her, Akoragh was questioning MacKenzie. "We never know their exact numbers from year to year. The orc host often outnumbers us ten to one, but often much of their force watches as their disgraced brethren charge, so it's hard to say exactly how many we will be facing."

When questioned about cannon, he replied, "We're carrying ten cannon in the wagons and a good amount of gunpowder and shot. Though they won't win the battle alone for us, I'm hoping that they at least will make a difference."

Finally, after thinking for a minute, he continued, "Trunau's walls are strong, but they are probably the most vulnerable to open assault, explosives, and fire. The cliffs will keep the horde out, but in the past lone orc infiltrators and even small groups, have been able to scale the cliff walls in the dead of night."

------------------------------------




Later that night, the group was woken up by a loud agonizing scream that was abruptly cut off. The whole camp stirs. Everyone frantically looking around and grabbing weapons and armor, trying to figure out what was going on.



"That was one of the sentries!" someone yells, and suddenly everyone can hear the dull rumble of scores of pounding feet. As one, the camp turns to see the snarling face of an orc leading a charge of warriors down their throats!



The young captain in charge opened his throat, voice quavering as he yelled, "Hold them off boys! We have to get the cannon out of here!"

OOC Instructions The task force is under assault, don't worry about initiative just go ahead and post actions for each of your turns. The tokens around you are the friendly soldiers, the tokens coming out of the woods to the northwest are the orcs. The road to the west is towards Trunau, which is about a day's hard march away. The objects to the south are the wagons, they each hold two cannon, the two horses pull each, and they are tied up next to their wagon.

[MundayKnight]

Hurin puts his fingers to his mouth and lets out an ear-piercing whistle to call for Firemane. As Fire comes Hurin roars out to the soldiers "Tighten formation, spears tight up front, archers fire into the enemy flanks, cavalry to me! Backlines get some torches lit so we can see the blighted things!" When Fire gets to him Hurin Standard action mount as failed at swift mounting.mounts him as quickly as he can and surveys the battlefield. He could see no area of great advantage but if the troupe could keep their calm and remember their training then they should come out of it okay.

 

Dice ride:

1d20+8

(4)+8

Total = 12

[jalroy]

Despite the unease of the evening in the woods, Gnar was exhausted enough to find sleep, and to find himself in a grand dream, a happy place he would have been content to stay in longer, when he awoke with a start. Dracknor was already alert to potential danger when the scream pierced the night, and took control of the body while Gnar was still just waking. Hurriedly he took and equipped Gnar’s armor which lay by his side, looking about to the impending attack.

“Rise My Host, Battle and Blood Awaits our Blade!” Gnar grumbled but woke fully as adrenaline hit him and he fastened the last of his armor tight. Seeing that Hurin was already barking orders, Gnar turned his attention to the wagons which held the precious cannons.

“Those damn stolen orders… the Orcs must have known about the Cannons…,” Gnar said to himself and Dracknor. He focused his mind to the battle at hand.

“Protect the Wagons! Get them Out of here!”

Gnar then rushed to the side of Iggy, intending to protect the Alchemist should any assault get close to the best asset they had in the upcoming battle at Trunau. Dracknor was biting at the bit to get into the fight, but Gnar felt the true target needed protection first.

 

OOC: Besides donning armor, Gnar is spending first round protecting Iggy and ordering the other soldiers to protect the wagons.

[Adamah]

The force only had a small detachment of cavalry, five in total, as they had expected to fight from behind a wall. Hurin gathered them to him, then turned to look out over the fight.



As the orcs swarmed forward and met the hasty lines of the defenders, Iggy pulled a thin tube from his pack and pointed it toward the sky over the battle. A bright light shot out, and exploded over the melee, illuminating an area with light as bright as daylight.



The glare stunned the orcs, who raised their arms up to shield their eyes. Taking advantage of this, the defenders swarmed forward and cut down a dozen while reforming their lines into a more orderly fashion.



However, the light also showed the massive number of orcs who were still moving up toward the action. The forest practically seethed with them.



Realizing the untenable nature of this position, Sgt. MacKenzie turned towards the cadets and shouted, “Get the cannon out of here, take as many crew with you as the wagons will carry! I will hold them off to buy you time, then conduct a fighting retreat to Trunau!”

OOC Instruction Each wagon will hold five people total, the soldiers can drive them, but if anyone wants to drive them it takes a DC 5 Profession: Drive, Handle Animal, or Charisma check to get them going.