Birthright: Tuornen Chapter Five

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald looks to the direction of the innkeeper, "Keg of your best for the bear!" He then returns his attention to his failed assassin. "So, who thought I would be improved by a crossbow bolt to the neck? If you don't tell me, then I'll cook you in that beer before I feed you to the bear."

[ewancummins]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS-


''Ah! No, no, don't get crazy! This wasn't my idea. It was Fez, Fez paid me to drop you!"

[Varrus the Ethical]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS

"Who's Fez and where can I find him? And be careful with your answer, because you are one lie away from becoming Clyde's bear-battered entree."

[ewancummins]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS

"Who's Fez and where can I find him? And be careful with your answer, because you are one lie away from becoming Clyde's bear-battered entree."

"He's a thief and informer in Riverside. I swear, it's true! A real scum-bucket! He put me up to this. He paid me twelve silver stags, check my purse! That was the advance..."

[steveflam]

...... removed ....

[ewancummins]

SCOUTING IN THE MOUNTAINS

Cormac and Dietric climb up the mountainside to get a proper look down in the courtyard, clinging to the rocks when the fierce gusts try to rip them loose. Slowly, patiently, they crawl upwards. The rough slopes, studded here and there with gnarled dwarf pines, provide at least a little cover and concealment.

When the two men reach a shallow cave set a hundred feet above the monastery, they rest and observe, seemingly unseen by the enemy below. The angle of the morning sun illuminates most of the courtyard of the monastery, and the upper part of the watchtower and the main building. Cormac and his helper see at least a score of goblins moving about like angry bees in a hive, scanning the grounds around the walls from the battlements and watchtower, clumped near the gates with spears ready, or gathering for a hasty sort of drill in the well-trodden dirt near the gardens.

The wind howls louder and the sky darkness a little. A few fat raindrops splatter against the stony slopes.

Dietric whispers, "We'd better get back down."

[Adam]

Cormac seems distracted as he stares down at the group, eyes narrowing at the size of the group inside. "Aye, lad. Ye're right. Le's start climbin'. Foerde's incantation's gotta be gettin' close tae ready." He holds a hand out to catch a rain drop. "Looks like his Aerik's gonna be with us today."

He starts descending, muttering under his breath. "At least, we'd better hope so."

[ewancummins]

Cormac seems distracted as he stares down at the group, eyes narrowing at the size of the group inside. "Aye, lad. Ye're right. Le's start climbin'. Foerde's incantation's gotta be gettin' close tae ready." He holds a hand out to catch a rain drop. "Looks like his Aerik's gonna be with us today."

He starts descending, muttering under his breath. "At least, we'd better hope so."

Cormac and Dietric reach the rocks where they left the others just as the first streaks of lightning flash and the first dull roars of thunder break in the wind-tossed clouds.

Foerde stands in the lee of a big boulder, his hands lifted and his tawny mane crackling with sparks.
The men hang back, near the horses, bows and other weapons at the ready, half watching Foerde and half watching the gaps in the rocks for the approach of any goblins.

[Varrus the Ethical]

THE KRAKEN"S ARMS INN

"He's a thief and informer in Riverside. I swear, it's true! A real scum-bucket! He put me up to this. He paid me twelve silver stags, check my purse! That was the advance..."

Roald leans down and pushes his dagger against his assassin's neck. "You should've been more careful with your choice of employer." He leans his weight into the dagger and draws it across the assassin's throat.

It's not a clean kill. The man jerks as Roald first tires to cut him, leaving a long gash across his face. Roald grabs the man's hair to hold his head in place as he cuts again, slicing open the man's throat. Hot blood spatters over Roald's arms and chest.

The deed done, Roald wipes his dagger clean on the assassin's cloths and grabs the dead man's coin purse. Hefting the purse, he checks the coins before he tosses them to Torfur. "This aught to cover Clyde bar tab. Now, how would you like to join me on a little trip to Riverside?"

[steveflam]

Torthur watches but says nothing. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind followin ye there at all. Too bad ye stained yer dagger on that scuzbag. What yer wantin ter do with this Fez fella?" He catches the coin purse and tucks it away.

[Lord Skybolt]

Gunnar and his group of goblin killers managed to ambush a goblin patrol and kill them all .
Unfortunately in the process Gunnar gets his pride wounded by a tree branch . With Safana help he kills the two worgs that are with the patrol . One of the goblins figures out that it is an ambush and calls for full retreat after Gunnar and Safana take out the worgs . Gunnar calls for his men to provide covering fire while him and Rumble move into the deadwood that the goblins had been using as cover from the men's arrow fire . At the same time Safana sends her magic ball of flame to kill 2 goblins that were hiding in the deadwood .
While his men move up to deadwood to flush out any fleeing goblins that decided to circle around and flee off in different direction . Gunnar walks into the woods with Rumble and slaughters the rest of the goblins that are hiding in the woods . In the process Rumble loses a shoe that flies off and kills a goblin that he is attacking . Gunnar has the men bury the goblins in such away as the make it almost impossible to find them . One of his men says he has the perfect spot . Also at the same time a few men makes sure any small fires that may have been caused by the ball of flame that the magician used are stamped out .

He has the trappers in his band to cut off the heads to the worgs and leave them there while the rest of the body is skinned for cloaks and the rest of the body is scattered around the battle field . Asking that if at all possible that the smell of the worsg stays in the cloaks when they made into cloaks, if asked why he tell them he wishes to use the worgs sense of smell against them .

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

CATHEDRAL

Rennault gives a derisive snort at the mention of Boeruine. "Ha! They play at being woodsmen. This very minute there's a pugent little rock-digger who could forest better than most Boerlings. Al they really care for are the twists and turns of that that bawdy-house dance they call a Court."

He clears his throat. "Forgive me, Your Eminence, I speak hotly. Thank you for considering Beatrix. I think you'll find her incredibly bright," he says, neglecting to add 'for a girl' at he end i deference to the Lord Mayor.

Rennault stands. "Now I must beg your leave, to see to my courser and head for Croaker Norge while it's still light." He bows. "Lord Mayor. Archprelate."

[Adam]

"Have faith, men," Cormac shouts to any that seem nervous about the incantation, "The power o' nature's with us today. There's gonna be fried gob's by this evenin', jus' like when we went into the village."

With that he sits down and sketches out a rough description of the fortification. "There's abou' forty of 'em in there, so I don' fancy our chances in a straight up brawl. I had thought abou' triggerin' an avalanche o' rocks on the buggers, but we don' know how many prisoners they have an' I imagine Foerde wants his temple back more or less intact."

[ewancummins]

IN THE MOUNTAINS

"Have faith, men," Cormac shouts to any that seem nervous about the incantation, "The power o' nature's with us today. There's gonna be fried gob's by this evenin', jus' like when we went into the village."

With that he sits down and sketches out a rough description of the fortification. "There's abou' forty of 'em in there, so I don' fancy our chances in a straight up brawl. I had thought abou' triggerin' an avalanche o' rocks on the buggers, but we don' know how many prisoners they have an' I imagine Foerde wants his temple back more or less intact."

The wicket opens; a goblin pokes its head out and looks around. The ugly little fellow withdraws. A moment later the whole gate swings open and about twenty or thirty goblins of all sizes, with a couple of wargs in the mix, BEGIN to move out...

[ewancummins]

CATHEDRAL

Rennault gives a derisive snort at the mention of Boeruine. "Ha! They play at being woodsmen. This very minute there's a pugent little rock-digger who could forest better than most Boerlings. Al they really care for are the twists and turns of that that bawdy-house dance they call a Court."

He clears his throat. "Forgive me, Your Eminence, I speak hotly. Thank you for considering Beatrix. I think you'll find her incredibly bright," he says, neglecting to add 'for a girl' at he end i deference to the Lord Mayor.

Rennault stands. "Now I must beg your leave, to see to my courser and head for Croaker Norge while it's still light." He bows. "Lord Mayor. Archprelate."

The prelate and the mayor wish Renn the best of luck on his trip...