Hobgoblins On The Rise

November 26th 2006

Players: Aipoc, Rafe, Taymon, Blu'Shim, Raergar, Annalisa

From right outside of the city gates, just out of sight of the guards comes a scream followed by a loud cracking and then deep laughter. If one were to approach they would find about seven rather tall hairy humanoids, they have pointed ears and feral eyes. These humanoids are currently surrounding a lone wagon, the driver currently on the ground at one of the creatures feet, cringing with his hands over his head.

Rafe slides off his horse with a mutter and draws his Sword "Not again!" Carrying his sword at the ready he moves quickly towards the Wagon.

Aipoc was apparently down at the docks, as he comes quickly to the scene, robe and vestments trailing behind him, his armour peeking through. His flail comes easy enough to hand and he eyes those that are gathering here with some disdain. He spots the feral humanoids and his eyes narrow as he tightens his grip on the flail. The silvery moon on his blood-red and black vestments is the only one visible in the darkening night.

Taymon comes on foot, his pole-arm at the ready as he whips it around before him. His eyes are honed, after all this is what he does. His glaive is sharpened and ready. He does not stop, his feet keeping the movement as he just runs to the aid of the man in the wagon.

Walking along Blu'Shim hears a problem just a little ways away, she quickly takes to the shadows and moves in to see what's going on. Upon seeing the humanoids surrounding the lone wagon she starts getting closer but keeping to the shadows.

Coming from the town with a swagger in his steps, Rum upon his breath, and the all important bottle in his hands. Raergar isn't drunk yet, But give him a few hours and he might be upon his way to that ever lovely spot. stopping at the sight of the beings in front of him, the gnome studies them quietly. Carefully. And then, With a soft smile upon his features He offers a finger wave to them, "hello. Luv...Rum Savvy?" He offers with a broad grin.

Annalisa is wrapped up in her white cloak as she walks along the port road. She hears the noises of the feral humanoids. She takes out her white rose mace and rushes towards the add of the driver, "Get back you foul brutes." Annalisa holds up her shield with the white rose in the front of the shield.

One of the humanoids, the one a bit larger and then the rest turns to look at the group approaching them. With a bit of guttural talk he get the attention of the others and soon they are all eyes the group, some with rather evil looking grins and all adjusting the grip on their weapons.

Hob6 grins and speaks to his companions as he starts to walk closer to the group, sword clutched tightly in his hand. Something he says makes the others laugh as well as himself.

Annalisa pauses and she begins to pray. She whirls her mace above her hand and finishes the prayer. Bright white light comes from the end of her mace and the light spreads to all those that are fighting with her. She continues to move towards the humanoids.

Taymon is not one who is scared of the gore of war. His pole-arm in hand as he slides on his feet, as one of the beasts is left severed clean in two from a mighty gash of his long and precise swipes. Another comes at him from the side, stepping as his reach is more than just a way to keep him safe, it is part of a deadly dance...practiced as the one who raises his blade is impaled through the chest and falls to meet his friend in the afterworld.

Gob4 takes a step forward to attack Taymon but is quickly taken down by the man's good defenses. The humanoid drops to the road dead before he could even try to hit the man.

Rafe sprints towards Hob6 his sword arcing cleaning through the air and cleaving the Beast cleaning.

Maybe he shouldn't have had those drinks. When the fighting starts the drink with in his hand is dropped to the ground and allowed to smash with a grimacing look upon the gnomes face. His bow is brought forth and a single shot fired off at the enemy, Missing horribly.

A guttural string of words emanates from the large halforc holding the heavy flail. When it cuts off sharply and he points at the leader of the hobgoblins with something in his shield hand that looks like a small iron rod, the hand glows baleful, nauseatingly yellow before the ghostly radiance flows forward to strike the leader of the hobgoblins, freezing him in place. A wicked grin, full of evil malevolence covers Aipoc's face as he contemplates the held hobgoblin.

Hob1 is held rigid by the spell cast upon him and Hob5 moves forward to attack Rafe but misses, his weapon clanking harmlessly off the mans armor.

Hob2 takes a swing at Annalisa but misses horribly, its sword swishing through the air to her left. Hob7 approaches Aipoc and swings, managing a solid hit and even leaving a bit of a scratch.

BluShim hiding in the shadows she slips her little hand crossbow out and loads a bolt in it, she gets hob1 in her sights thinking he's an easy target being held by the spell, she gets him in the sight and pulls back on the trigger, the bolt fires right past hob1. Blu'Shim hangs her head slightly.

Annalisa dodges the hobgoblin in front of her and as she tries to hit it back she misses as well. Her aim is off as the swing hits nothing but air.

With yet another sweep of his weapon, Taymon fells another one of these beasts with a slash, g2 falling for the third corpse to fall to the glaive's deadly edge.

Rafe spins after his initial attack coming face to face with another Hobgoblin, he swings again missing this time.

Apparently casting the spell and then being hit threw the halforc off balance just a bit. Aipoc raises his flail and swings a crushing blow at the hobgoblin, only to miss him entirely as it dances back out of the way.

Raergar's night isn't going /so/ well that is for darn sure. Attempting to hit H1 again...well it just doesn't work that is for certain. Hob1 is still held by the spell and Hob5 takes a swing at Rafe, his sword hitting him and drawing just a little bit of blood.

Hob7 takes a swing at Aipoc but misses horribly, the sword hitting the ground rather then the man.

BluShim runs out from the shadow she was hiding in drawing her rapier out of its scabbard as she goes, halfway to Hob1 she trips on a stupid little rock, the gnomish woman takes a tumble completely missing her mark.

Annalisa takes another swing at the hobgoblin in front of her, but this creature is just too fast for Annalisa as she swings and misses again.

With a slide of his foot and a thrusting action, the beast before Aipoc falls into death as it is pierced through the back. "This is asinine! What the hell are these?!"

Hob5 takes another swing at Rafe but misses, the man being to quick for him.

Raergar actually is able to hit something, Something actually works this time, and the shot that Raergar takes, hits the Hob5 solidly causing him to stagger but, he remains on his feet.

After the fall of the Hobgoblin attacking Aipoc, the halforc stalks over to the leader of their group, the one that was held. A malevolent chuckle rumbles up from within as he spits first upon one hand then the other and taking the heavy flail to hand swings it up. The head of the flail glints at its arc, mute and deadly, then whistles down through the air as Aipoc lets out a primitive roar. The head of the flail connects with the hobgoblin's skull, causing blood, hair, bits of bone and a splash of brain matter to sluice out into the night, spattering the screaming halforc with gore.

BluShim gets up from tripping annoyed and slightly embarrassed, rapier in hand with a swift movement she slices through the air with her trusty metal friend and comes up and deep through the middle of Hob5, she yells out a small war cry as she stabs and slices it. The thing falls to the ground and she kicks it in the head and walks away from it.

Taymon sighs as he looks over the field, checking the foes and then looking to the man who has fallen. It seems he forgets what he is doing and moves to aid the man, and see if he is well.

Annalisa looks around as the hobgoblins to see if there is any left. Not seeing any she looks around for anyone that is injured. "Does anyone need healing? I'm a Cleric."

Rafe chuckles at the Gnomes actions to the Hobgoblin in front of him and turns to see if there's anymore around.

Raergar mutters and looks around, "Well I feel useless." he states and smiles to Blu'Shim, "hello again." he offers and moves to slide through the battle field.

The man slowly stands once the humanoids are dead and looks to the group that saved him, "Thank you. You have saved me."

BluShim doesn't say anything to anyone, she just nods curtly to Raergar so's not to seem rude.

To the victor goes the spoils, or so it would seem. The large halforc's battle cry trails off as he bends down to the hobgoblin whose skull he crushed. Grimly he takes hold of the mangy hair of the beast and dips his fingers down into the crushed place, taking a bit of blood and brain matter upon his fingers. Lifting those fingers to his mouth he sucks them clean with a stoic face, then mutters, "Strength of my enemy, become strength of me, linger not longer upon the face of Arol, but reside in me a while to gird me up 'gainst my foes. May the blood moon cradle your spirit to her bosom this night."

Raergar chuckles quietly and pulls out a bag from one of the corpses. Testing it carefully, The Gnome smiles. "About 400 Silvers." he shouts thats..." he looks about and does some math in his head, "About 66 silvers a piece and some coppers."

BluShim searches some of the bodies of the dead that lay scattered around she holds her arm up with a pouch in her hand "I've found a set of thieves tolls on this one" she says and tosses it a few feet away from her.

Rafe chuckles at Raergar "You seem to have a knack for finding stuff like that"

Taymon smiles as he looks to the others. "He is ok!" he calls to them. "Come on, Sir. Lets get you checked out and set right...can you tell us what happened?"

Raergar looks at Rafe, "Well, I am very keen in the eyes." The gnome points out, "About as Keen in them, as Blu'Shim here is upon them." Just...please don't stab him Blu'Shim.

The man looks to Taymon and says, "Just let me sit on the wagon a minute." he steps up on the wagon and sits down, amazingly the horses did not even raise a fuss through the whole fight, "I was just riding into town when they blocked the road way, when I tried to ride through them my horses just stopped and would not go any further." he frowns and glares at the horses, "They dragged me down from here and had just started to hit me when you guys showed up."

Blu'Shim arches her eyebrow at Raergar, she gives off the vibe of unreleased still pent up rage, she's looking around to see if there's anything else is still out there.

Annalisa looks over to the gnome as no one else is hurt. She moves over towards the the man, "Do you need any healing sir?" She listens to the man recount his story. "Do you mind if I ask if you are carrying anything valuable that they might have wanted?"

Finishing his odd ritual and prayer, Aipoc moves to begin divesting the corpses of the hobgoblins of their weapons. He stacks long swords into one pile and javelins into another pile. He ignores the others as they gather, simpering around the drover. Finally after the weapons and anything that seemed to be of any worth as a weapon are piled up, the halforc begins piling the dead bodies of the hobgoblins together by the side of the road. As he does this he sings a guttural song, slow and steady.

The man shakes his head a bit, "I only have a load of grain to take to the bakers. I suppose if they have been desperate for food they might of wanted that but this usually does not happen so close to town."

Taymon nods with a small smile as he pats the man on the back and begins his walk back towards the city. "Well if I am not needed, you all can split the spoils and I can get back to my business." he muses, leaving as fast as he came in his odd, but neutral way.

The man nods to Taymon and then the group in general, "Thank you again. I should be getting to town as well." he picks up the reigns to the horses and clucks, moving the cart up the road slowly.

Finally done with his labours the half-orc calls out to the drover as he begins to drive off, "Sir. Sir! If you would wait but a moment, I would liefer load your wagon with these weapons and things to carry to my temple. Tis but a small price to pay for the salvation of your life, if you would?"

The man pulls the horses to a stop and turns to look at Aipoc, "Sure." he says, "It is but a small price."

Aipoc nods and motions the man down from his bucka to assist him as he begins stacking the swords and javelins into the back of his wagon. "Take them to the temple of Forstorelse, sai, and someone will no doubt accommodate you for your trouble." his voice is a low rumble in the dark, muted only slightly by the flurries of snow that scatter down from the sky.

In one area, there's a deep ravine that goes down about 20'; however, there is a narrow 'one way' bridge wide enough to support a wagon which crosses the gap and makes travel easier.

Aipoc finishes loading the wagon and dusts his hands off as he looks around, watching the others depart with a cynical eye. He then nods his thanks to the man and turns to begin gathering wood for a pyre.

The man helps Aipoc load up the wagon then pauses before getting back on, "Do you want a ride back, friend?" he questions, watching with a half raised brow as Aipoc gathers wood.

Aipoc stops for a moment and shakes his head, "Nay good sir, the walk will do me fine, and someone must tend to the final rites of yon warriors. They fought valiantly and were no doubt simply attacking you for the food that you carry. 'Tis likely that they otherwise would have gone home with empty bellies this night. Now they lie stiffening in the winter snows, dead instead of full. Such is life and the risks we must take. The Blood Moon honours those with the strength to rise up and meet their enemies, but she does not forget the slain once they lay dead. Go thou and make sure you thank the Queen of Blood for your salvation this night. Tell the priests at yon temple that you have the blessing of Aipoc, War Childe and strong hand of Forstorelse."

The driver nods his head and gets back on the wagon, "Very well. Have a good evening, sir." that being said he clucks to his horses and disappears inside the city gates.

Blu'Shim leans against a tree watching the man and the half orc talk amongst themselves.

Aipoc turns back to where he is gathering the wood and goes about that, though he does consider BluShim for a moment before continuing the work. After a while he has gathered a sizable amount of wood together and he begins laying it out in pyre fashion.

"I can't carry any heavy pieces or any large pieces but" Blu pauses for a moment "would you like some help?" she asks from the tree where she's leaning.

Aipoc pauses his work and nods to Blu'Shim as she offers her help, "If you would honour the dead, though they be your enemy, aye. Even the smallest of us can do something to honour those who fight, no matter what side the fight on." he takes a largish log and sets it down, squaring it with three others to form the base of the pyre. "You can, if you like, gather some kindling and build up a small blaze so that we may be warmed by it while we work if you wish. It will also provide spark for the pyre when we finish."

Blu'Shim nods and without saying anything starts collecting pieces of what would be kindling for the large half orc but turns out to be quite an armful of wood for her and starts to pile it several feet from the tree she was leaning against a moment ago.

Aipoc begins laying the wood out once more, building the pyre up to about hip height. Taking his time and interlacing the wood together as much as possible, pausing once every now and again to send up prayers for the dead creature's spirits.

Every time Blu'Shim hears you stop to pray she stops until you are finished what ever you're saying, without asking any questions or disturbing you she just goes back to collecting more wood.

Aipoc finally finishes building the pyre, nodding to Blu'Shim that there is now enough wood there. He then begins to stack the bodies of the halforcs atop the pyre, folding their clawed hands over their chests as he does so. After this is done he takes a torch from his pack and hands it to Blu'Shim, wordlessly nodding to her.

Blu'Shim nods and takes the torch from you and lights it off of the fire she just lit and hands it back to you.

Aipoc takes the torch from you and holding it out in his right hand, lifts what seems to be a holy symbol, fashioned upon it five heads of a flail radiating from a central shaft. Speaking in a graveled but cultured voice he says, "Now we light this pyre, sending these brave warriors into the fire, may their souls rise, light into light, ever spiraling in the night, may they rise to the Bloodthrone and take there their rest with her. May their ears glory with the sounds of the eternal battle and the screams of the overthrown rise to meet them in this, their eternal hour. Light into light, fire into fire, dust into dust, we return these warriors back to their place of languor." he tosses the torch onto the pyre and it sputters at first, then begins to slowly catch.

BluShim watches from the little fire by the tree, being respectfully quiet and watches as the flame starts to consume.

The smell of the deadwood is soon overpowered by the smell of the roasting flesh. The flames dance and rise into the night, throwing out stupendous heat as it rises to consume the dead hobgoblins upon it. Aipoc stands through this, the whole time praying earnestly, holy symbol clasped in his hands. Finally he opens his eyes and lets his holy symbol drop back into place where it hangs around his neck. He glances over at BluShim and says simply, "It is done."

Blu'Shim nods and turns she walks back over to the little fire she started and sits facing the pyre. She straightens out her cloak and brings her knees up wrapping her arms loosely around her knees.

Aipoc wraps his robes around himself and moves to stand beside the small fire. Taking a small piece of jerky from an inner pouch he begins to eat a bit as he watches the pyre blaze up and consume the dead. Standing vigil there beside the fire the light of the two fires plays over his features creating savage shadows that dance and writhe across his features.

Blu'Shim doesn't pay too much attention to the half orc beside her, instead she is lost in her own thoughts and memories as she watches the pyre. She heaves a fairly large sigh but says nothing.

Aipoc seems content enough to stand in silence as the pyre burns down. After a long while, as the pyre burns down to nothing but coals he moves over to it and searches through the embers and bones with a long branch. Finally finding what he was looking for he taps something out of the pyre. As he nudges it into the snow to cool it, it becomes obvious that it is the skull of the hobgoblin that he slew. Once it is cooled down some the half-orc bends to pluck it from the snow and takes it back to the smaller fire, turning it to and fro in his hand, examining it, peering into the place in the skull where his flail connected.

Blu'Shim watches as you go over and bring the skulls back. She looks over at the skulls as you examine them. She gives her head a small shake and then goes back to gazing into the small fire.

Aipoc takes a small piece of twine from his pack and threads it through the top of the skull, down through the place where the spinal column attached to it.

This he ties off onto a strap on his pack and, examining the job nods his appreciation. Finally he stands from where he was kneeling and glances about, "Well then. That is finished small one. Would you, then, stay here in the biting cold?"

Blu'Shim shakes her head from side to side "No I think that I should move on" she says quietly and stands.

Aipoc nods and says, "Aye, so shall I, as well. 'Tis not good to linger in a place of death overlong." he dusts the powdering of snow off the knees of his robes and straightens his pack on his back. "You are welcome to travel with me a bit if you wish. I journey to the Hart and would buy you a cider if you wish it."

Blu'Shim kicks snow onto the small fire, putting it out. She nods and then starts walking tiredly towards the Hart.

Aipoc walks along, moving easily alongside you as he moves towards his ultimate destination. He seems content to walk without speaking for the nonce.