SESSION 52: SECRETS WITHIN SECRETS
The door to the Salty Tusk flies open and four caravan guards walk through. Smiling and laughing they slap each other on the back as they drop and shields and weapons at the door. Removing their helmets and wiping their brows they stagger towards the bar. Their eyes are thirsty and their mouths parched as they order the first rounds of drinks "Four of your finished ales Master Hester" the dark haired one says.
As the guards drink they watch the little halfling tapping his drum and talking of great adventures at a place named the caves of chaos. They encourage the little being and hoist him to the bar so he can better tell his tails.
Halee watches the four guards and after a while joins in their revelry.
She befriends one of the guards, Gerlach. He tells her of his travels, the places that he goes, the types of caravans that his guards, the most memorable taverns and his friends. Halee in return tells him of her friends and their adventures of at the caves of chaos.
Halee meets Gerlach the next day and she asks him if he could get her a veterinary healers kit and an alchemy kit. Of course, Gerlach is just a simple fighter and knows nothing of these things so Halee patiently explains what is in each. He asks why would she want something like that and Halee describes how she wants to use the alchemy kit to make potions things to use as the caves and that they healers kit is to help her to help the local folk and her fellow companions, should they get into trouble. She pays Gerlach some of the money for the kits in advance and will pay him the rest later when he returns. He says he'll try his hardest to find the kits and he should be back in about two weeks depending on how long it takes for them to back haul. She tells him to leave the kits with Eldred if she happens to be out when he comes back.
Later that day Gerlach leaves on the caravan out.
As the caravan leaves two incredibly bloody men with two dogs approach the hamlet, carrying a third man between them.
Trone and Lothar look like they have been in a war. Ansic and Uthalin stop their training and rush over to help the warriors back to The Salty Tusk where they immediately go and rest.
The next day all three emerge from their common room. They are still heavily wounded but Lamarr has been brought conscious by Lothars healing (just, he's now on 1 hp). Whilst Trone goes to collect the bounty on the ears Lothar and Lamarr tell Halee, Risandor and Thomas of their battles against the kobolds. Thomas becomes visibly shaken at the recounting of the battle, particularly when Lothar tells the part of the entire party becoming unconscious and he becoming surrounded by the kobolds.
Lamarr's voice softens as he describes the actions of his fellow guards "We lost Tedrick because that damn Georg broke ranks and ran. If he had have stayed Tedrick would still be here today. I'm only here because Lothar and Trone saved me. Where is Georg? I want to talk to the coward."
Risandor rubs the back of his head trying to recall the last time he'd seen Georg "Well you know I don't think he's come back here. I haven't seen him."
Halee agrees "Me neither."
Thomas shakes his head in the negative.
"We'll when you see him let me know" requests the guard.
Halee updates her map from Lothar's description of their attack.
A few mornings later the party has finished its week of training and preparation.
They come down stairs for their final breakfast before they go.
Eldred is sitting behind the bar reviewing his stock and cleaning the glass ware. He stands slowly, leaning of the bar to give him extra strength to lift his weight. His foot steps are heavy as he approaches the party. A broad, natural smile naturally comes to his face as he sees his friends again.
He flicks the wash cloth that he was drying the glasses over his shoulder and says "Well now I'm so glad to be seeing you again. Tell me what you want for breakfast and I'll get Karla to fix it for you and then we'll see if I can get another story from you before you go. Tell me of your adventures at the caves again."
Just before they leave Halee pulls Eldred aside and asks a favour. "Eldred, I've asked for some extra equipment to be brought in from afar, for you know Erdan only has basic goods at The Good Trade, and some of it might arrive when we're out. Would you mind holding it for me for when we get back?"
Placing his hand upon Halee's shoulder Eldred smiles "Certainly Halee, that'll be no problem."
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Georg slowly wakes up. His head is thumping in pain and he lifts his right hand to sooth the bump on his skull but he can't move it for some reason. He tilts his head towards his hand, opens his eyes and notices that his hand is chained to a wall. Suddenly, he becomes wide awake.
Looking around Georg can see that he's in a dark and dank 30 x 20 room with an iron door in the north eastern corner. Inside there is a number of humanoids chained to the wall as he is. Kobolds, orcs and even some fellow humans.
In the centre of the room is a fire, a bucket and a table with a restrained orc upon it. Struggling as it does the monster cannot break free and is firmly fixed to the table. Shrieks of horror come from its mouth as two large bugbears approach it with hungry evil grins upon their mouths.
One has a saw. The other holds down the orcs leg. Then the first begins to saw.
The orcs scream is intensified by the rock walls of the room. In a few moments it's all over. The bugbears cauterize and then bind the orcs leg with rags, more it seems to keep it alive rather than by compassion. They then chain the ½ dead orc back to the wall.
Brushing off some of the dirt they place the fallen limb into the bucket and leave.
The room grows darker, with only the coals of the little fire giving any light.
Looking feverously around Georg sees that the human next to him has opened his eyes. He murmurs "Please, please get me out of here. They eat us alive……" before he passes out once again.
DEW
