Birthright Tuornen Chapter 3

[Adam]

"Not lost," Cormac returns. "On the trail of some men who attacked the Auld Oak inn. They seem to have joined up wi' some goblins."

He drums his fingers against the length of his spear. "Ah'm hopin' yeh ain't one of 'em they left as a rear guard."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

STREETS OF HAES

Renn is on his way to the palace when he sees a child ambling toward him in the distance. But seen he sees it's not a child at all, but the hafling from the court.

"Hail!" He calls out to the halfling. "Filbert, yes? I heard you scrambled over the city walls the first night of the siege. That must have taken some brass, friend. What in all the demons' names were you doing out there?"

[Lord Skybolt]

"Aye, why don' yeh go do yer scoutin'," Cormac agrees, creeping over to his horse. "We'll see to the rider. Meet back here when it's done, yeah?"

He joins with Dietric presuming Gunnar agrees, turning and trying to lead the horses silently in the direction the rider is coming from.

On looking at Cormac looking at him to scout he looks at his departing back thinking: I can't scout in field plate as it does not make for a quiet scout . He waits with the horse for Cormac to come back for him to take look as he is only in leather armor, which is much better suited to scout a hill than what Gunnar is armored up in .

Gunnar waits...

Pebbles roll down from the heights. Looking up Gunnar spots a half dozen bent figures creeping over the top of the ridge, headed right for his position. Ugly, hissing voices cry out-
''A human! We found a human!"
Gunnar picks out the points of spears and arrowheads glinting in the early morning sun.
The goblins haven't reached his position yet. He still has time to mount and flee. Looking at the steep slope, Gunnar knows his horse would have trouble charging up at the oncoming goblins. Will he run, fight, or talk? Whatever his choice, he must make it soon, of the patrol will catch him.

Gunnar Pulls his Bow and takes two shoots at the goblins as they come into good range for his bow . After he takes his shoots he mounts his horse and pulls his weapon and shield to kill any other goblins that come to him . If they don't he will pull a fighting withdrawal to where the others are if needed .

[ewancummins]

GUNNAR IN A GULLEY-

Gunnar drops two of the six goblins. The others jump back down the far isde of the ridge.


The northman stows his bow, mounts his restless horse, takes up his shield and pulls the strap snug.


Gunnar hears some screeching and scrabbling from the other side, and some howls.
He sees dust rising into the red sky.

He draws his bastard sword...

As dozens of angry, chattering goblins crest the ridge, accompanied by at least a dozen slavering, gray-furred wolves big enough to carry off whole sheep. The goblins aim arrows and spears at Gunnar, who no doubt presents a fine target atop his horse.

One of the goblins, bigger than most and wearing a coat of mail, calls down in Anuirean speech-
“We are just the vanguard, human. Surrender and you live. Fight and you die. Run, and you die tired.”

[ewancummins]

THE HILLS, OUT OF SIGHT OF GUNNAR'S GULLEY

"Not lost," Cormac returns. "On the trail of some men who attacked the Auld Oak inn. They seem to have joined up wi' some goblins."

He drums his fingers against the length of his spear. "Ah'm hopin' yeh ain't one of 'em they left as a rear guard."

The hooded rider seems familar to Cormac, though his face is hidden by a twist of dark cloth. The cut of his garb, the timbre of his voice, those yellow eyes...

[ewancummins]

FREE CITY OF ENDIER, THE TEMPLE OF THE CELESTIAL JEWEL

Roald and Dominica find the temple they seek in a cleaner, better-kept part of the city—much nicer than the neighborhood of their inn. The temple, with its baroque portico of pinkish marble, stands out even amid the large, well-built homes of the wealthy merchants and master artisans. Double doors fashioned of carved and silver–inlaid cedar wood stand ajar; sweet-swelling fragrances drift from within the bright interior, where dozens of candles and incense sticks glow in shelves visible along either side of the frescoed entry hall.
Approaching closely, the two travelers may note a recurring motif in the decorations; the merchant’s scales.

[Adam]

Cormac's eyes narrow. " 'Ave we met before, stranger? You seem dead familiar."

[RocEter]

Cormac's eyes narrow. " 'Ave we met before, stranger? You seem dead familiar."

"Just who do you think I am?" The rider says. "You know, you and your friends are in a good bit of danger. Three against a whole raiding party of goblins?" The riders says and then whistles.

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald studies the scales on the door for a moment. "Well, I'm sure we'll be able to find a healer in there, my Lady. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they charge a premium. Sera is the Goddess of Wealth, not the Goddess of Charity, after all. Perhaps we should find the Temple of Nesirie, instead? We could get you healed and make an offering to Nesirie to help ensure we have a safe voyage to Coeranys.

[steveflam]

Dominica shrugs. "I suppose that will be acceptable." She turns and exits the Temple waiting for Roald and Reese. "Now we have to find it."

[Adam]

"We ain't exactly tryin' to fight the gobs," Cormac returns, "Was trackin' a group o' bandits that attacked the Auld Oak a few days back. Unfortunately, they seem to be workin' with the wee blighters."

[ewancummins]

GUNNAR-
In the few seconds the goblins have had to get in position and to speak,
Gunnar has already taken note of three possible escape routes or sheltered areas:

Up the gully just a few yards lies a twist of stunted trees and big rocks that could provide cover and concealment against goblin arrows. Even Rumble would be protected in that spot.

Down the gulley a few yards, the way Cormac and Dietric rode, an overhanging lip of rock on the enemy side would shelter him from direct fire coming down if he rode bent low in the saddle.

A cut at his back, in the south side of the gully, would allow him immediate escape at the risk of a few shots. Having paid attention on the nighttime ride to the gully, he's aware that a gentle downslope on the far end of this cut would allow for fast riding.

[ewancummins]

CORMAC AND THE HUNTSMAN

Cormac's eyes narrow. " 'Ave we met before, stranger? You seem dead familiar."

"Just who do you think I am?" The rider says. "You know, you and your friends are in a good bit of danger. Three against a whole raiding party of goblins?" The riders says and then whistles.

Just a few heartbeats after the Huntsman whistles, at least four or five of the 'wee blighters' pop up behind him about twenty yards distant, and shoot at him!
Arrows rip through the Huntsman's cloak; one nicks his neck.

"Surrender, humans! We take the horse!"




DIETRIC

Dietric lies flat on his belly behind a shrub, watching and listening. As the rider gets closer to Cormac, the brigand recognizes the mounted figure from several night back, at the Auld Oak.
The Huntsman’s haughty admonition to Cormac about going after goblins in a gang of three brings a nasty smile to the bandit's leathery face.

Sounds as if you're after 'em by your lonesome. If we're stupid, what does that make you? Mad? Feckin’ idiot, drunk on your own legend.

When several gray-skinned, wide smiling goblins up up from a low ridge not far away and shoot at the Huntsman, Dietric slides further behind cover and makes for the horses…

[Adam]

"Take cover!" Cormac shouts as he hustles behind a nearby boulder, reaching into his belt pouch for a flower petal. He skids to a halt and scoops up some clay from the dirt below, barking out some eldritch words and pointing towards the goblin which spoke earlier. He nods in satisfaction as he hears the sounds of buzzing echoing from the horizon.

"Dietric!" he shouts, "Watch out! The gobs are on us!"

[VAN]

STREETS OF HAES

Renn is on his way to the palace when he sees a child ambling toward him in the distance. But seen he sees it's not a child at all, but the hafling from the court.

"Hail!" He calls out to the halfling. "Filbert, yes? I heard you scrambled over the city walls the first night of the siege. That must have taken some brass, friend. What in all the demons' names were you doing out there?"

Filbert hasn't seen Renn, but when he called him the halfling stops and gets closed to the Captain.

"Captain Ghonallison, I was coming to Militia HQ to look for you. His Grace the Duke wants talk to you and asked me to fetch you at the palace. As about my adventure was kinda eventful and not something I will look farward to do again unless there is an important reason of course."