Bugbears On The Rise

Players: Markus, Kathulaodh, Esperanza, Taymon, Taharqa, Rafe, Blu'Shim

Markus wanders into the park from the din of the Kauppatori to the north, trailing smoke from his pipe, and the periodical plodding noise from the staff he uses for a walking stick.

Kathulaodh walks southward from the Delve, cutting through the park to avoid some of the hustle and bustle.

BluShim sits in the flower garden admiring the winter roses, cloak pulled tight around her, hair tucked into her hood.

Esperanza has her cloak pulled tightly around her form as she navigates the park, with Tah in tow. She looks over her shoulder, "It's a little place called the Hero's Rest. It's not a luxury resort like I would like, but it keeps me warm." She smiles, "One of these days, I'll find something better."

Taymon moves into the park as he works, his breastplate shining and his weapon tucked against him as he walks. It is held upright, being almost ten foot at length. "What a night...what a night."

"I am glad you're able to find lodgings on such short notice," Taharqa replies in his friendly tenor. "Perhaps you could look into a room at the Silvertine? It is a rather nice place. I enjoy sitting next to the fire with a book and some honey tea." Taharqa follows along behind Esperanza carrying his

scythe in one hand and a crossbow in the other. "In the meantime however I'll have to find proper thanks to the woman who gifted this to me..."

Taymon hrms as he moves though the park, gloves on his hands holding the shaft of his weapons close. He whistles a tune to himself as he passes down the walkway near the fountain.

Markus brushes his free hand through his beard, thinking to himself as he walks. As he is going the same direction, he crosses paths with Kath, smiling and greeting the dwarf with a "Hello" and a "Pretty night, isn't it?" as he nears.

Esperanza nods to Tah with amusement, "The woman is truly generous." She tugs a little on her cloak, "She offered me this /beautiful/ cloak. The only thing she asked in return is that when I fall into wealth, I share with those in need."

BluShim watches all the people walking through the park as she sits among the winter roses, listening to random snippets of passing conversations.

"Indeed, it is a rather finely made cloak by the looks of it. It is rare to hear of such generosity, but I cannot deny a lady," Tah nods with a smile.

Taymon seems to mind his own business, stopping at the fountain with a small sigh, looking into the cold waters. "What a day...kiddos were to hyper before bed."

Rafe walks along slowly listening to the others talk amongst themselves, hoping for a quiet night.

Markus shrugs, and continues on, now moving closer to Taharqa and Esperanza. "Hello," he greets, saying a bit more cautiously this time after taking a puff from his pipe, "Pretty night, isn't it?"

Esperanza nods with understanding, "Well, I'm sure you'll come up with something that would appease the woman." She shivers, shaking her head as she moves through the park. "I know if it were me, I'd be appeased by having eternal warmth while out here in this heat-forsaken hole."

Blu'Shim continues watching the people walking through the park as she sits among the winter roses, listening to random snippets of passing conversations.

Amongst the quiet friendly chatter around the park there comes a bright light, right smack dab in the middle. The light dims a bit and one can see a portal which three rather large hairy humanoids walk though. They stand about seven feet tall, they are thick and muscular with a mouth full of long sharp fangs. They come with weapons already drawn but the look on their faces is a bit of confusion.

Taymon blinks, yes the man blinks in confusion as his weapon comes to bare. "What the hell are those?!" he calls, looking to those about, knowing he cannot rely on them. He has to fight for himself and help who he can. Yay, battle!

BluShim eeps slightly as she sees the portal open and close leaving the creatures behind in the middle of the park. She takes to the shadows to watch what happens and see if she may help.

Rafe sighs and shakes his head, so much for a quiet evening in the park. He draws his sword, the massive weapon gripped tightly in both his hands as he moves towards the Humanoids.

"Well perhaps the rangers of the area would know of a warmer clo....," Tah stops at the flash of the light and the sudden yelling. "I don't remember seeing them here before."

Esperanza is about to answer Markus with an incredulous look; however, that incredulous look turns towards the critters walking through the portal with weapons drawn. "Everyone just needs to calm down..." Ok, her voice may not have been heard.

Taymon moves towards the battle as he lets his weapon take lead, missing the beast as he growls. "Bug Bears!" he calls, trying to keep them at a distance. "Be careful."

Kathulaodh turns his gaze, a bit startled, and reaches down to sling his Axe and bring about his shield. His eyes move about quickly to make sure no more pesky 'portals' start opening up elsewhere.

Esperanza sighs quietly, watching a couple of people rushing towards the critters and bugs and what not. She starts to sing, "Go to sleep... Go to sleep... Go to sleep, you bugs that creep..." She then starts to hum while swaying back and forth. During the casting of this musical spell, Bug 1 and Bug 3 start to look on at Esperanza with a blank stare, if that's possible to tell.

Markus frowns. "I suppose I'm the only one who thinks this is a pretty night... Well, was a pretty night," he corrects himself as the portal appears and deposits its cargo of bugbears. He pulls his pipe out of his mouth with his free hand and moves it about, drawing a symbol with the smoke while he mutters in some deep-sounding tongue. The air between him and the portal shimmers slightly.

Bug2 approaches Taymon and after deftly avoiding his attack it tries to hit him. The creature misses horribly though, its morningstar not even coming close to hitting him.

Bug3 is just staring blankly at Esperanza, its weapon pointed towards the ground now.

Taymon backs out of the beasts range, his glaive at the ready and before him. The beasts attack had missed and his thrust is not off this round. His blade sinks and slashes upon it's flesh, wounded, but standing it remains.

From behind the bushes by the winter rose garden Blu'Shim hides, seeing the Bugbears she quickly pulls out her hand crossbow and loads a bolt into it. Getting

Bug1 in her sight she aims at it's head and fires, the bolt sailing through the air and pierces the bugbears ear.

Bug1 is still just staring at Esperanza, even the bolt piercing its ear does not affect it.

Taharqa lets the crossbow in his left hand fall to the ground next to him. "Keep singing miss, they seem to like it," Tah says to Esperanza taking his scythe in both hands.

Esperanza does indeed keep singing her little lullaby. Her movements are swaying and serpentine-like, not wishing to break the spell. "Put your weapons away... watch me while I sway... put your weapons away... watch me while I sway." Her eyes remain upon her two bugbears that she has under her spell.

Markus sticks his pipe in his mouth and steals a puff before exhaling a cloud of smoke and more chanting. He draws a pinch of sand from his belt and throws it in the general direction of the bugbear attacking Taymon. It wavers for a moment, and then buckles, snoring.

Bug3 slowly puts away its weapons then stands there, still just staring blankly at Esperanza.

Taymon notices the beast fall into slumber, biding, waiting, aiming. With a quick and well delivered thrust the beast has a pieced heart and falls into death, a coup de grace style death...fun!

BluShim loads another bolt into her little hand crossbow, she takes aim again at Bug1. When she goes to shoot the branch of the bush she's hiding in moves in the way and hits her hand as she fires making her aim go way off.

Kathulaodh starts to jog over to the other group, shield at ready though he sees the Bugbears have been lulled into a stupor, so he rushes to the hairy beast and then swings a wide arc outward and across the creature's throat, splitting it back so far that only tatters hold its neck to its head, and the head lolls back while the body slumps forward and the dwarf sidesteps the falling beast.

Bug1 also puts its weapons away, still staring at Esperanza, even the hits on its body does not distract it.

Rafe steps into the action finally his sword arcing through the night air cutting into the Bugbear, cutting into it pretty deep.

Taharqa sets his scythe on his shoulder, the blade hanging behind his back. The Cleric then begins to wave his hands before him and they acquire a purplish glow, "Dok devail denve`!" he calls raising a hand at the bug bear figure in the dark. The beam which springs fourth misses the creature however leaving tah to rub his eyes to clear his vision.

Esperanza doesn't break from her serpentine movements and constant swaying, while her voice lulls out yet another verse to her spellsong, "Stay there, stand still... your thoughts are my will... stay there, stand still... your thoughts are my will."

"I'll return shortly," Markus asides to Tah and Esperanza, hustling off toward the remaining bugbear. A cloud of smoke shows his trail.

Taymon moves in on the one that is left in slumber, his glaive lashing out with yet another lethal stroke, aided by the others to bring down this monstrosity. "That was not a pleasant battle...not pleasant at all."

Kathulaodh moves over to one of the bugbears, and commences wiping off his blade on the creature's clothing if it had any, or its fur. It will get a more serious cleaning later to purify it of any uncleanliness.

Esperanza raises an eyebrow at Taymon, "Uh... not pleasant?" She chuckles softly, "I think that was fairly easy?" She looks around, "Everyone's ok, right? No one is hurt?"

"Battle is not supposed to be pleasant," Markus remarks to Taymon as he arrives, stops, and leans on his staff to observe the man's handiwork. He nods, impressed.

Taymon shakes his head. "No no...killing while they were asleep. Not pleasant waking up to that...if it did wake up before death. Just not pleasant to die like that."

Rafe smiles a bit and wipes his sword on something then turns around scanning the area muttering under his breath 'Three nights and three attacks....

Blu'Shim comes out from the bush she was in "Isn't there anymore?" she asks standing there with her rapier in her hand it's jeweled hilt sparkling even if only the moonlight hits it. She almost looks sad. The she starts searching the corpses of the bugbears.

"Most interesting," Taharqa notes to himself picking up the crossbow he set aside a few moments ago. Taharqa stands by and listens to the conversation starting up as he is seemingly content to stand by the wayside. As he does so Taharqa looks to the sky to gauge the weather.

Kathulaodh says "Is this related to the war by the Orcs? And why send a few bugbears like this alone?"

Upon searching the bugbears Blu'Shim snorts in disappointment "I have only found this" she holds up a token that has a feather on it.

"Possibly. However, it is my philosophy that battle is not about being fair or pleasant. It is about killing them before they kill you -- preferably when they can do nothing about it," Markus replies, pausing to take a puff from his pipe. "At least now, they won't be able to kill a random passerby. It is a good thing all of us decided to take a walk through the park on this... decidedly pretty night," the bearded man says, smiling.

Taymon hrms as he shows a pair of gems he finds to the others with a small sigh. "I found these...we could get them appraised and split what they are worth." he admits. A blue quartz and a moss agate.

Rafe shakes his head "I don't think they are alone, just a small part of something greater, this is the third such attack in as many days...I don't believe in coincidences.

Esperanza waves her hand dismissively, "Y'all are the ones that got bloody, I just looked good. So please, split things amongst yourselves. I'm good for now." She wrinkles her nose, "Well, I could use immunity to this infernal cold, but that's neither here nor there."

Taymon nods as he moves to put the gems in a safe place, watching the others as he lets out a long sigh. "A portal...shall maybe we look for a source?"

Kathulaodh goes to finish cleaning his blade off, "I think the city guard should be notified."

Tah does some more Arcane weaving, "If you would allow me to see those items you have found please, to observe them a moment," taharqa asks of those searching the bugbears.

BluShim shrugs and hands Tah the token she found.

Taymon nods as he holds out the two gems, knowing the man is casting dome arcane web. "I do not think them magical, but I will get them appraised and see what they are worth." he admits.

Upon the dwarven warrior's satisfaction he flips the blade around as it rolls rapidly in the haft on his heavy palm, and then slides it away at his hip. "This is why a Dwarf keeps his weapons close, even be they mattocks or Pick."

BluShim looks around after giving Tah the token "Now for the messy question, who will take care of the dead?" she asks all those who are standing around.

"First time is an accident," Taharqa begins accepting the feathered item, "Second time is coincidence, and the third time...," he pauses to let the dwarf speak,"the third time is enemy action." Taharqa hands back the token with a nod. "Thank you miss. As far as I can see it is not magical."

Taymon nods as he looks at the gems in his hand, looking back over the bodies as he hrms and sighs. "Here, what to do with these two things?" he asks, having searched.

Rafe grins at Esperanza and chuckles "Still haven't adjusted to the cold yet hmm?"

Kathulaodh nods his head, "Which is why the Guard must know. Ever dwarf is to some degree in the militia, but I am a career soldier. I will make sure they are made aware, but shall we not let the Crown be aware."

"As far as the dead goes, allow me. I am a cleric and will tend to the matter," taharqa states.

Esperanza holds up her hands, shaking her head, "Y'all killed them. Y'all take care of them." She then looks to Rafe, wrinkling her nose, "Hello no. I don't think anyone can get /used/ to the cold." She exhales, "But I am concerned about the coincidence between the critters out by the outpost, and these portal hopping critters."

Taymon sighs as he nods, moving to help dispose of the corpse, nodding to Rafe. "We will inform the guard, but we need to get the corpses out of the park...thats all."

Markus pulls his pipe out of his mouth, and asks Kath, raising a brow, "Perhaps we should. Are you volunteering to be our spokesman? You sound like you may have contacts enough to make sure the information gets to where it needs to go."

Kathulaodh considers thoughtfully, "I'm a member of the Militia, but we'll want to let a crown guard be aware of what happened." lets make it back to the street. I'm surprised the noise didn't catch someone's attention."

Rafe smiles and walks over to Esperanza "How have you been, outside of cold?"

Kathulaodh says "Apart from that, I can make sure Captain Thunderhammer is aware of what has transpired though.""

Esperanza shrugs a little to Rafe, "Well, I have a cute new cloak." She does a twirl with a smile, "See?" She winks playfully, "But other than that, I guess I'm all right. What about you?"

"Please transport these corpses to the Temple of Evighet. I can take care of them there." Taharqa turns to Esperanza, "I have things I must attend to now it seems. Forgive me but I must take me leave. Should you need anything, any of you," he says loudly to those gathered, "seek me out at the temple if Evighet at the top of the hill."

Kathulaodh traverses the steps from himself to Markus, offering the man a thick hand. "Kathulaodh, at your service."

Rafe chuckles "It looks very nice" He admires the cloak, he looks around and shrugs "I've been dealing with these attacks"

Blu'Shim trots over to Taharqa "Thank you" she says simply, meaning for taking care of the bodies.

Taymon nods as he looks to Taharqa with a smile. "I will help drag one there, no worries...not all by yourself." he admits.

Markus grins, and offers his own, bonier hand, the other still clutching his staff. "Markus Sift at yours," he replies, "And I thank you for your service to the militia, as well."

"We should be able to get a cart once at the roadside. I'll see if I can find one while you pile these bodies in an easy to get to location," Taharqa nods at his own words. "I'll return shortly."

Esperanza nods to Rafe, showing her curiosity, "So three attacks similar to this? Any other clues that we should be aware of?"

Kathulaodh shakes the hand gently, but with a stony firmness. "Mmm, I thank you as well." he dips his head some. A stout fellow, he says, "Any news from the battlefront at all? I know some lads that went out there."

Blu'Shim perks her ears up to Kath's question "it seems that some are back now, I know that Corrin is" she offers

The Dwarf's mismatched eyes move toward the gnome, "Ah!? Then perhaps they might educate us a bit more than we might by tossing guesses in the dark like darts at the wall blindfolded."

Blu'Shim chuckles at the dwarf's analogy and starts to wander off.

Taymon lets out a low whistle helping haul one of the corpses by hand as the temples are not that far, but he still is having a heck of a time.

After a few moments Taharqa comes back riding alongside the driver a single horse cart. "This man has offered us the use of his equipment to deliver the bodies to the top of the hill," he says climbing down. "It will be easiest to load from the rear."

"I've no news of my own," Markus replies, putting both hands on his staff to lean on it once more. "Anyway, I have some business to attend to at the library. Thank you for agreeing to be our spokesman -- and if you or the militia should need any magical assistance... I would be happy to help. I've been taking my nights at the White Hart recently."

Kathulaodh nods his head, "Pleasure to meet you Markus."

November 27th 2006