SESSION 4: ROUDRIK
The next morning they wake up with heavy heads and a lot of regrets, which with Risandor being a bard and all, they'll never get to forget.
Uthalin is the first up. Stretching, the muscles of the burley ranger move like steel cables. He wanders out to the front of The Salty Tusk and sits on an old stump. There he patiently begins to sharpens his weapons.
The next is Thomas. He quietly sits next to Uthalin, brings forth his sharpening stone and starts to work the blade of his long sword first and then his short sword.
The pair sit silently for ½ an hour diligently working at their weapons when Risandor stumbles out of the Tusk. Not one to enjoy the silence he immediately walks up to the pair and starts with the questions. "So Thomas why do they call you Two Battles?"
Thomas turns his head to face Risandor but says nothing. His deep, sunken eyes burn bright as the memories flood back to him. The battles, the blood, the lost friends, it all comes back. As he stares at the little Halfling he stands. Long sword in hand he launches into a menacing dazzling display of martial prowess. He is more than fighting against an imaginary foe in a practice session, he is fighting against himself, against his own past. He pauses, looks at the Halfling and the words stumble from his mouth "I don't want to talk about it…..EVER". Shaking he sheaths his sword and walks off.
A little upset with the intensity of the interaction, Risandor does what Risandor does best to calm down and sits next to Uthalin and starts with the questions again. The big Dwarf just ignores him. He doesn't even acknowledge his existence as he patiently sharpens the head of his Urgrosh.
Risandor takes a little walk around the village, Keen to explore his surroundings so that he can get all the details into his future stories of this next great adventure.
In front of the Keep, the little village consists of score of dwellings pressed in and around a small cross road. There are numerous small vegetable patches and pens for livestock and copes of trees. The Keep dominates the landscape however. The large, closed entrance gate is flanked by a tower in the west and is backed by a taller watch tower further to the north. He can see one guard in the watch tower who is sleepily turning this way and that, looking for trouble.
Having seen enough, he turns and heads back to the tavern, eager to catch up with his new friends again.
The small group has gathered out the front of the tavern and is talking through the final details. They gather their backpacks, weapons and sacks of spare food and gear and begin to walk down the still muddy track.
Leaving the village, they turn to the east. Walking along the trade road, they are flanked by a wide, but seemingly shallow, river to the south and a forest to the north. The river has a number of small mounds or islands in it. It is bordered by a seeping swamp. Mist rises from the dank, humid air of the swap leaving a foreboding feeling.
As they continue to walk they reach a narrow between the forest and the river.
A small man approaches them from behind a tree. "Where are you going?" he asks, his voice croaky with age.
Startled the party stops dead in their tracks. Risandor steps forward. "Hail, I am Risandor….."
Cutting him off Roudrik presses his question again "Where are YOU going?"
"Errr we're going to the Caves of Chaos. Who are you friend?"
"Don't enter the woods. Don't stray off the path" mutters the mad man. And slowly, just as he appeared, he steps back and dissolves into the inky darkness of the shadows.
Uthalin goes to go after him but Thomas grabs his arm. "Let him go Uthalin" Thomas whispers. "I don't like this. It's creepy. Let's get to the Caves."
Hair standing on the backs of their necks they quickly march off.
Going through the narrows between the woods and the river, the road opens out and there is a small hillock to the south. They stop on the road for a while near a small clearing and have a quick meal of dried rations and then move on.
As the road turns to the north the woods creep in from the east. It darkens as large, century old trees trespass on the clearway.
"This is the spot" utters Uthalin. "There is a small track to the west, just like the priest said there would be."
Entering the woods, sound becomes muted, like there is no wild life and what little there is, is too scared to make itself known.
It becomes dark as the woods closed over the little group and they grip their weapons tight ready for anything. In the distance a faint shriek rings out. Something bad is happening out there.
They pass through the thickets of foreboding trees and foul air and after a short while the woods open out into a deep ravine. Looking around there are a number of small copses of trees here and there and about a dozen small, dark cave entrances.
"Which one?" Ansic asks.
"Stay here I'll scout ahead" proffers Uthalin. He comes back after about ½ an hour and spreads a parchment upon the ground and quickly draws a map of the area.
"There are tracks, lots of tracks, we best be careful here" says Uthalin. And as he points to a dark, foreboding cave mouth he directs "I think that one would be best".
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Ok guys so the next step is up to you.
What do you want to try first:
a) Kobolds
b) Goblins
c) Orcs
d) Hobgoblins
Let me know and next session we'll be in the caves.
DEW