Birthright Chapter Six

[VAN]

Filbert smiles at Renn's comment.

"Lets say that I'm a fool that really likes to help the Duke and the army whatever that takes. As about my fighting abilities, well these aren't that high but I do my best even if I'm not a soldier and never have had a proper training."

When Devlin comes out Filbert says:

"Your Grace there are 10 soldiers survivors. With your permission I will go inside and try to arrange for them a place to stay."

The halfling then bows and heads to the farmhouse.

[RocEter]

Cormac nods, dismounting and slapping the furred monk on the shoulder. "Aye, there's a fine grove an hour's ride from here. Aeric guided me to it, yeh might say. Thinking about putting down some roots there, eventually. Fer the time bein', however, I'm thinkin' it's time to press the offensive against the vermin."

"From what yer brother there said, most o' the abbey's occupants have been marched outta here. They're probably headin' to goblin lairs as we speak. I'm thinkin' the best thing we can do is try to harry their supply caravans, get to the plan we had in mind from the first place. I'm thinkin' ye're ready fer some more payback, too, so ye're welcome to join. What do ye think?"

"I do like the sound of that but if leave to go harry our enemy what becomes of those we left behind?" Foerde says, indicating the people removing the dead bodies entangled in the garden. "We now have more than just ourselves to look after."

"I'm not going to ask you or other to stay. I will ask for your help though." He says. "Ride to Fox's Run, tell them what we have done here. The gods willing, the Duke's armies have already made it there and have begun to engage the goblins. Tell them that we have survivors in monastery and need reinforcements. Even if there are no armies, you can try and convince Gunnar to lend us some more men." He says.

[JMaytr]

Croaker Norge-


"Of course Filbert, see to it at once!"

Devlin clasps Ghonallison on his upper arm.

"It is good to see you Captain. When the archers arrive, we will both march north towards your father, and push out the goblin army for good."

[Adam]

Cormac nods. "Aye, a wise course." He strokes his beard. "We need to open up a corridor between here an' there regardless. I doubt we have supplies to provision this place fer long. We can leave on the morrow."

[ewancummins]

• GUNNAR’S WARBAND

Safana, Gunnar, and the Esquire, all invisible and all holding a line in their off-hands, walk with measured tread down the wooded slope and into the big camp. None of the soldiers or servants where seem to take any notice the three intruders, but all go about ordinary camp tasks.
Gunnar gets a look at the steeds; big, strong warhorses fit to carry knights into battle, each separated within the corral by smaller makeshift fences set up to keep them apart. Even with such precautions, several of the big animals snort, stamp, and whicker at one another over the flimsy fences. A couple of grooms feed the animals out of buckets or sacks of oats and apples, moving with caution near the powerful and irritable creatures.

Safana, looking the other way, spots a big tent near the middle of the camp with pages or squires coming in and out, bearing trays of roast meat and jugs of wine. She hears indistinct voices from that pavilion.

Ranald tugs on the cord and whispers just loudly enough for his two companions to hear him “Look to the badges. The Black Tower of the Baron of Sorelies. We are in the midst of our foes.”

If Gunnar and Safana look, they too notice black tower badges sewn on the surcoats of many of the men and boys in sight, besides some men with blank coats or other sigils


• CROAKER NORGE

Flibert locates the town’s single physician and brings him back to the farmhouse to help the survivors of the rout. While the Half-Man and the local people do what they can f or the broken remnant of Monsedge’s pike company, Duke Devlin despatches riders to meet a company of archers coming up the Moor Road, a sunken stone highway to the west of Croaker Norge.
…
Within the hour, the archers, nearly two hundred strong have arrived and taken up temporary quarters in and around the town. Their captain, a gaunt fellow with an egg-bald skull and moody eyes, stands on the porch with his duke and offers a report.
"We are ready to march or fight or do what you will, Your Grace."


Sevet enthusiastically questions a bowman about the fletching on his arrows, mentioning that it might come from a sort of mountain hawk he’s interested in writing about.

Gatt stands back, sizing up the newcomers with a long, sweeping look. He turns to Rennault and says “ Pechallin men. I reckon at least a couple of the graybeards has fought goblins.” He looks around, notes Devlin standing out of earshot on the porch of the house and in conversation with an officer, and finishes with “Or, belike, Elves.”



• BUSHWHACKERS

Torthur scouts the barn and finds no people inside: just a milch cow and a couple of nanny goats. The other stalls all stand open and empty, though several are strewn with tramped straw and traces of manure. A strong animal smell hangs in the air. Plenty of room for Roald’s men to conceal horses, unless peasants return to this place leading other animals.


Work on the road proceeds with haste under Roald’s leadership. A narrow ditch is dug and stakes are set up as he directs. The trap as it stands will certainly make passage on a laden wain difficult, but it is also not hard to spot.
Reese suggests “Maybe the dwarf can help us hide this stuff a bit? He seems to be kind of, umm, woodsy, Boss.”

Some of the work gang of peasants out in the eastern field have stopped their labor and seem to be watching Rolad’s men, but none of them appear to actually be doing anything like running away, much less advancing. They just stand about an quarter mile distant and watch.
A little dust rises from behind the gentle slope of the road to the south, as of riders or maybe a wagon’s approach.

[RocEter]

Cormac nods. "Aye, a wise course." He strokes his beard. "We need to open up a corridor between here an' there regardless. I doubt we have supplies to provision this place fer long. We can leave on the morrow."

Foerde nods. "Good. I figure you, Dietric, one of the poachers and one of the lumber jacks go back. A small party is easier to hide and can move faster. I'll stay here and hold things down as along as I can, if we have to leave this place we will meet up at the Poachers hide out."

[Adam]

"Fine. I wanna set some o' my lads to work gatherin' lumber for me while I'm gone." He chuckles. "Churches don' build themselves, after all. Ye'll prolly wanna see who's fightin' ready outta those we rescued, in case we have to mix it up here at the monastery again."

[Varrus the Ethical]

BUSHWHACKERS

"Good thinking, Reese." Roald looks at the dust cloud. "We probably don't have much time. Take one of the men and lead the horses to the barn. When you see Torhtur, ask him to see if he can't make our trap a little less visible." He looks at the peasants staring at them. "Hopefully our audience won't tip off our prey."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

CROAKER NORGE

Rennault gives a short, voiceless laugh at Gatt's comment. "Or elves," he notes. His gaze drifts West, out towards the Manslayer's lands. "They might get the chance to use those skills, one way or the other."

He approaches the Duke. "My Lord, some of the survivors expressed concern that the Alamian forces may yet still be in pursuit. Perhaps it would be prudent to dispatch outriders to scout the areas east for us, to make sure we are not caught unawares?"

[Lord Skybolt]

• GUNNAR’S WARBAND

Safana, Gunnar, and the Esquire, all invisible and all holding a line in their off-hands, walk with measured tread down the wooded slope and into the big camp. None of the soldiers or servants where seem to take any notice the three intruders, but all go about ordinary camp tasks.
Gunnar gets a look at the steeds; big, strong warhorses fit to carry knights into battle, each separated within the corral by smaller makeshift fences set up to keep them apart. Even with such precautions, several of the big animals snort, stamp, and whicker at one another over the flimsy fences. A couple of grooms feed the animals out of buckets or sacks of oats and apples, moving with caution near the powerful and irritable creatures.

Safana, looking the other way, spots a big tent near the middle of the camp with pages or squires coming in and out, bearing trays of roast meat and jugs of wine. She hears indistinct voices from that pavilion.

Ranald tugs on the cord and whispers just loudly enough for his two companions to hear him “Look to the badges. The Black Tower of the Baron of Sorelies. We are in the midst of our foes.”

If Gunnar and Safana look, they too notice black tower badges sewn on the surcoats of many of the men and boys in sight, besides some men with blank coats or other sigils

Gunnar looks where Ranald points out and whispers back to him"Then Sir I would suggest we try to hear what they are talking about without revealing ourselves then . So no Hostile actions unless absolutely necessary . I would like to know if them being here has any thing to do with Goblin army being in this province . Then we need to inform the Duke, if this is so ."

[ewancummins]

• GUNNAR’S WARBAND

Safana, Gunnar, and the Esquire, all invisible and all holding a line in their off-hands, walk with measured tread down the wooded slope and into the big camp. None of the soldiers or servants where seem to take any notice the three intruders, but all go about ordinary camp tasks.
Gunnar gets a look at the steeds; big, strong warhorses fit to carry knights into battle, each separated within the corral by smaller makeshift fences set up to keep them apart. Even with such precautions, several of the big animals snort, stamp, and whicker at one another over the flimsy fences. A couple of grooms feed the animals out of buckets or sacks of oats and apples, moving with caution near the powerful and irritable creatures.

Safana, looking the other way, spots a big tent near the middle of the camp with pages or squires coming in and out, bearing trays of roast meat and jugs of wine. She hears indistinct voices from that pavilion.

Ranald tugs on the cord and whispers just loudly enough for his two companions to hear him “Look to the badges. The Black Tower of the Baron of Sorelies. We are in the midst of our foes.”

If Gunnar and Safana look, they too notice black tower badges sewn on the surcoats of many of the men and boys in sight, besides some men with blank coats or other sigils

Gunnar looks where Ranald points out and whispers back to him"Then Sir I would suggest we try to hear what they are talking about without revealing ourselves then . So no Hostile actions unless absolutely necessary . I would like to know if them being here has any thing to do with Goblin army being in this province . Then we need to inform the Duke, if this is so ."

Gunnar and his companions move to a spot alongside the big tent where they can hear the voices inside more clearly.

A smooth voice speaks in courtly accents,
“You really ought to speak. I'm enjoying this far too much for my own good."

Gunnar and the others hear a series of dull thuds, each thud punctuated by a muffled scream.

“You mustn’t bite your lip like that, dear girl. Just scream out loud. There’s no shame in it. I’ve broken strong men, many times. You cannot possibly expect to hold out for much longer. You are brave in the face of blows. But there are other ways I can hurt you.”

A girl’s voice, raw and angry-
“You won’t dare leave marks on me!”

The man replies
“Won’t I? I can mark you in such a way, child, that you will never feel whole again. Tell me where it’s hidden . Now.”

[steveflam]

BUSHWHACKERS

"Good thinking, Reese." Roald looks at the dust cloud. "We probably don't have much time. Take one of the men and lead the horses to the barn. When you see Torthur, ask him to see if he can't make our trap a little less visible." He looks at the peasants staring at them. "Hopefully our audience won't tip off our prey."

Torthur comes walking back, information from Reese fresh in his mind. He finds Roald and with his guidance and the help of the men, the traps are much better hidden now. Roald explains Torthur's part of the plan in acting a drunk and the dwarf readily agrees.

"Imma need an extra wineskin jest ter soak meself with. Git me some wine, quick!"

Some is found. "Go an hide ye all. Judgin by the cloud comin it ain't gonna be long now."

He sips some but also deliberately spills some on his clothing, hair and face, rubbing it in good. He really wants to smell like a drunk dwarf.

After he downs the wine he takes his ale and sips a big swig, beginning to walk oddly on the road, swaying back and forth. He belches for good measure, and sips his ale some more walking back and forth, swaying slightly.
He is humming a tune in dwarf as he walks back and forth. He does rub his eyes to make them red and dabs some dirt on his face and clothing as well. Now he just bides his time for the caravan of money to arrive. As it approaches he will sit and put the wineskin to his lips, spilling a little on purpose as he blinks at the now closer caravan. He sits down on the ground... legs spread slightly and wineskin at his lips, a big happy grin on his face. He belches again for good measure and now waits. Once it is close enough he will stumble try to get to his feet by all fours and slowly stand, wobbling slightly.

[Varrus the Ethical]

BUSHWHACKERS

Hiding among the trees with his men, Roald watches Torthur, whispering, "I hope he remembers he's only supposed to pretend to be drunk."

[ewancummins]

BUSHWHACKERS

Two riders appear over the rise in the road. The rumble of wagon wheels and the clatter of hooves sound from some point further back. The horse-drawn wagon and and several more mounted riders briefly appear on the road a bowshot back, and then vanish as they move closer and are cut off from view by a curving hedge.

The outriders trot their mounts forward, looking about. As they get closer, Torthur (and the hidden men) get a better look at these two horsemen: both armed with stout clubs and dressed in brigandine. Both wear horns on their belts.

One of the men rides close to the dwarf, who staggers about the road in a pretty convincing imitiation (?) of being drunk. The young, fresh-faced rider leans forward and shouts in a friendly voice- "Ho there, dwarf! Have you, uh, seen anything odd around here?"

The other man, older and heaiver, scowls.
"Lookit that big pot-hole up there!"
He points at the ditch Roald's men had dug, only partly concealed by some light brush thrown over the top.
"Is this rock-sucker one of the repair crews? Where are the others? Damn it, we were told this road would be clear."

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald aims his bow on the older rider, waiting for Torthur to make the first move.