A Herring Without A Shrew - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/8/478
Log
The Freeswords guild is all a buzz with activity, the new blood looking at the easy missions, rescue a cat, build a fence, and all those simple jobs while the more experienced ones are looking at the more dangerous jobs. In a corner stands a representative of the merchants who posted the contract, but rather surprisingly he is not surrounded by eager sellswords as one would expect. The chubby and nervous looking graceful clan chimpanzee bites his thumb as he looks around, waiting for anyone to accept the job.
Around him, 'friendly' Freeswords warn others in hushed whispers about the job from the merchants.
Zuri makes his way through the throng of beings, taking note of the various jobs and smiling at all the new faces. He himself had spent not much time in the Freeswords' guild proper, and was eagerly catching up on all the goings on by chatting with some of the beings he recognized. The jovial salamander, walks past the chimpanzee being at first, but pauses and doubles back when he notices the absence of being willing to take on whichever job he seems to be offering. He steps forward, waving at him to catch his attention. "Hello Sir!" He looks around, at the small clearing in the crowd created by the beings that seemed unwilling to go any closer to the merchant. "I assume you have a really dangerous job lined up huh? What's it about?"
Thelergramor looks over the various contracts and other freeswords, stroking his muzzle ponderously... Primarily interested in the job for the chimpanzee, not caring much for the warnings given. He knows bandits, doesn't consider it to be too difficult from the sound of the job. The basilisk, for he tends to be a basilisk when working, heads on over to the chimp, smiling behind his plague mask as he approaches him behind Zuri. He says nothing yet, simply listening for his response to the salamander.
Elijah lumbers over to the job boards and looks to the nervous chimpanzee with a grunt. "You the guy needs help with some Cliffside bandits?" he rumbles, "I figure me and Grizz could help you out." He hikes a thick thumb over his shoulder at his gigantic, gleaming golem that looks like a mechanical twin to the bear himself.
The chimpanzee practically beams as he sees not one but three beings answering the call! The chimpanzee quickly shakes his head, "The job is not dangerous, and as far as we know the bandits are from Sweetwater. It is just that someone started a rumor that we are actually tricking people into attacking a Cliffside guard post to aid in our smuggling operation. But that is preposterous!" the chimpanzee says with a shake of his head, "But people were quick to believe that especially with that recent thing in Braevales, they say that the contract owner posted it in the Freeswords. I mean obviously the guild would double check any contracts after fiasco! Idiots." The chimpanzee grumbles and sighs.
"Anyway, you are not here to hear me rant. You are interested in the contract. It is simple really. You see the Cliffside troops patrolling a certain path we use for caravans were moved closer to the city of Cliffside, something about the events there, I don't know. But because of that some bandits who dwelled in the Saltide swamps moved into that area and began hassling our caravans. The Sweetwater militia refused to help us because they are busy with the Criage, and we can't find a way to contact the Cliffside army. So now we are forced to pay for our safety! Ridiculous!" the chimpanzee quickly shakes his head, "Sorry about my outburst again..." he takes a seat and looks up at the three, "We want a permanent solution for this problem, we don't want you to kill them unless you are forced, but we want you to at least arrest them all. We don't want to see those bandits again. For that we are willing to part with a couple of carts to help, and six hundred crowns for each one of you, but if anything happens to the carts we are taking it out of your pay. Questions?"
Zuri nods slowly as the chimpanzee mentions the Braevales debacle. Best not linger on that one for too long.. He smiles at him and nods. "Everyone's paranoid right now. Don't worry, we'll take good care of it all and make it as clean as possible. Some violence will likely be necessary, if it is bandits we are dealing with, at least enough that they will think twice abou returning in stronger numbers." He purses his lips. "A permanent solution would mean either a show of force big enough that it scares them off for good, or destroying their stuff to the point it's not viable for them to return. We'll have to see." He turns back to te others, looking over Elijah appraisingly, but smiling brightly as he spots the familiar wolf in his plague mask. "I have a good feeling about this, tho! What do you fellas think?"
Thelergramor shrugs at the chimp, but listened to the whole explanation. "Works for me. Have any idea on their numbers? Bandits aren't successful unless they've got some training or numbers on their side." The basilisk would know. "We'll drive them off, though." Glances down at Zuri. "Maybe not a good feeling, but, I have more than enough experience dealing with bandits, so I'm not concerned too much." Then nods in Elijah's direction. "Elijah, nice seeing you again, yeah?"
Elijah snorts derisively. "Too damn bad," he says, producing a cigar from a pocket and a book of matches from another, "Would have been a treat to lay into some Cliffsider scum. Way more satisfying than the regular kind." He lights up his thick cigar and takes a long drag before nodding. "Count me in," he says, "Don't much care for lawbreakers either. I'll help see that they're dealt with." The burly grizzly nods to Zuri and frowns at Thelergramor, not recognizing the face, but definitely recognizing the gear. "Idiot wolf," he mutters under his breath as he makes a check over the etched steel bands around his biceps, forearms and wrists. It is probably just a term of endearment.
The chimpanzee shakes his head, "That is why we are giving you two carts. We don't want you to drive them off, we want them captured and brought here to the City Guard. You either do that or I am not hiring you." the chimp says as he eyes the, "Capture them and bring them here or kill them if forced, but we are not paying for half-assed jobs. Don't worry about one or two escaping, but we prefer if you get all of them."
The chimpanzee shrugs, looking at some papers in front of him, "Some of the caravan drivers mention that they saw about seven or eight of them. There is definitely a mage among them, the leader in fact. They also use archers, but thankfully no muskets or other firearms."
Zuri nods at the chimpanzee, listening to him. He glances sideways at Elijah as he speaks so derisively about Cliffsiders, but doesn't make anything of it. Instead he returns to smile at the chimpanzee. "Arrest them then, got it." He looks at the others, then back at the being offering them the contract. "I'm ready to go now, or whenever things are set up."
Thelergramor gestures vaguely. "Right, capture or kill. That's what I meant... Phrasing." The basilisk pockets his hands, peers about. "Archers and a mage, yeah?" Sounds like his old group. "Drop the mage first, then." Starts plotting, checks his equipment... "Yeah, I should be good to go, where're your carts?"
Elijah grunts his assent. "Ready," he says, "Come on, Grizz." The enormous grizzly slumbers out of the guild hall with his golem on his heels, waiting outside for the others to catch up.
The chimpanzee nods, allowing the croup to sign their name on the contract, "Very well, the carts are outside, two drivers will drive them for you. I will be waiting here with your payment.
After the group embarks on the carts, the transports exit the city of Firmament and move as fast as they can towards the Firebough, the horses used by those merchants and the carts sure were top quality as the distance takes the racing cart only a couple of days to cross before the group begin their movement into one of the many paths of the huge mountain. "This is the caravan path we use, not the shortest one, but used to be one of the safest due to the Cliffside army presence, not now." he says as he stops the cart near a relatively wide mountain path, "Ok, what now? The ambushes usually happen either around this path or in a small clearing we use for rests about an hour or two from here, easy to find. It looks a bit like a cave at the entrance but enter and you will find that it has no roof to speak of. We would rather not risk our lives, so choose what you will."
Zuri hops off the cart and takes a quick walk around as he surveys the landscape, quite happy to stretch his legs a bit as he thinks. "Well, if we want to bait them, what better than a lightly guarded, heavily laden cart, right? Let's load up on anything we can to make the cart look full to bursting, and drive it slowly up the path. We can probably go just the three of us, and they won't be able to resist that. I can lay down some protective math as well." He observes the cart for a moment, then turns to the others. "Unless one of you folks has a better idea?"
Thelergramor signs his name. His actual name. This doesn't happen often, the chimp should be grateful! If he knew that, anyway. Thel nods. "Alright." Then turns and heads out to the carts.
The basilisk yawns, insomnia having set in a bit during the trip, leaving him to not do much to amuse himself. Managed to somehow not flirt with the driver, through some miraculous amount of restraint. "I like Zuri's plan. Use us as bait, you wait here and let us drive the carts. Not the safest plan, but, no way to track or draw out the bandits otherwise... Though I've got all the time in the wolrd to wander around searching for them, if we'd rather just search for... possibly days." The basilisk shrugs, stretches a bit and puts his hand in his pocket.
Elijah snorts, waking from his soldier's doze and listens to the proposed plan. "Fine," he rumbles, "Just cover me and Grizz up with a tarp or two. We're a bulky a cargo as you are likely to find out here. Means that you two will be on your own driving." He looks between the other two beings and frowns. "I'll ride with the shortstack," he says, "Grizz will be behind the idiot wolf." With that, he climbs out of his spot beside a cart driver and into the back of the cart, directing his golem to. . . well, to stay put in its own cart.
The driver shrugs and gets out with his friend, "Sure, we will wait here, but remember, don't hurt the horses or the carts." the being says as he takes out some equipment, food and water as well and sets them in a little spot, "We will spend a couple of days here if need be, but don't keep us waiting. Also you probably don't want to make your magic really visible."
The carts themselves look quite sturdy, in fact Elijah and the golem could both fit on one of the carts if the group wishes to reduce their load. In the carts there is tarps and some wooden bits and tools if one ever needs to fix a cart as well as other bits and pieces.
Zuri grins. "Of course, we'll just be using the.. uhm.. subtle stuff that's going to help us in case of an ambush. And that's going to help the animals survive as well if they get caught in the crossfire. And on that note.." The small salamander raises his hands and starts gesturing towards the two carts, mentally tracing the symbols of Divine Math corresponding to one of his favourite bits of Divine Math, something to boost the vital strength of both the Freeswords and the horses, and help them survive any harm that may befall them.
Thelergramor moves up to the driving seat, also known as a jockeybox, which is a silly name. "Your cart'll be fine, don't need to worry about that." The basilisk grins back at Elijah from behind his mask. "I'm gonna have to come up with a name for you one of these days, eh? Anyway, get yourself all setup and covered or however you want to do this." Nods at Zuri once his magic stuff starts.
Will begin driving the cart when everyone's ready. "I think we should avoid the 'cave' they rest in. Archers and no roof. Too good an ambush spot, I think."
Elijah makes himself comfortable under the tarp beside his golem. "Damn," he mutters, "Gonna be hot as hell under here." Though he does feel rather better when Zuri's magic washes over him. "Let's get to it!" he growls.
The two drivers begin setting up a small tent as the Freeswords depart with the cart.
It takes the group about a couple of hours to reach the cave entrance that the drivers mention, and until now there is no sign or mention of the bandits. Perhaps they might be waiting in ambush inside the clearing or perhaps even further away, it is hard to tell right now.
Zuri peers around from his seat next to Thelergramor, the small salamander huddled up next to the big wolf. He's unarmed, so there's little he can do to prepare for the ambush itself if it happens. Instead he hums the main chorus to a bawdy tavern song, trying to while away the time.
Thelergramor may recognize the song, but doesn't show it. He continues to drive, cautiously glancing around, wristmounted crossbow loaded and ready for any bandits they may run into... "...Too bad it's not raining."
Elijah sits quietly in the back, cursing the heat and the fact that he can't smoke under the tarp. The bear can't help but grin a little bit at the sound of Zuri's humming. Who knew the kid would know THAT song? He readies his oversized pistol. Just in case.
The merciless heat continues showering the group, thankfully Zuri's maths help in that regard. As the group waits, nothing happens. The large entrance to the clearing is on their side and the rest of the path is in front of them nothing else is here except the occasional vulture hovering above.
Zuri reaches the end of the song's verse, and stops humming for the time being. The small salamander huffs, starting to really feel the effects of the heat even throgh his protective incantation. There's another spell he knows that would definitely help but... he'd rather not risk exposing the group. Instead he just wipes the sweat from his brow and undoes the front of his shirt, getting some more air circulation to help deal with the heat.
Thelergramor shifts about in his seat, looks over to the clearing he was told the merchants rest in. Considers his options, stays on the path. "So, Zuri, what'd'ya think that stuff in the back is worth, eh? Few thousand? More? You'd think they'd hire some guards... greedy bastards." The basilisk says, tone jovial and unconcerned as he tries to draw the attention of any bandits who may be around... Drops his mask down, letting it hang around his neck as the heat starts to bother him a bit.
"Get a move on!" Elijah grumbles, "I'm melting back here! If you want to gab at least find us some shade!" The bear shifts the tarp just a little bit to get a breath of fresh air.
The group waits...and nothing happens still.
Zuri chuckles at Thel's words. "I wouldn't worry about it, nothing's gonna happen. Besides, what if someone tries to rob us? I'm not paid well enough to die over some merchant's stuff, and neither are you. We're just here to drive this thing is all." He doesn't know if this kind of bluff will have any effect, but might as well play along. "Ugh, this heat is murderous!" He reaches for a water flask and takes a quick swig, then offers it to Thel.
Thelergramor grumbles a bit. "Damn heat. Let's keep moving." Quietly adds: "Throw that back to the bear, I'm alright." Basilisk continues to drive along the path, cart moving and such. Assuming he's not stopped by anything, will keep going until nightfall, where he expects they'd be more likely to be attacked. With the darkness and such... IF that doesn't work, will need to put themselves in a bad situation just to draw out the bandits.
Elijah grumbles quietly in the back. If he had known how long he would have to wait back here with the chunk of smoldering steel he would have just stomped off into the bandit's den instead of dealing with the heat.
The group move away from the clearing and continue on their path. An hour passes in the sweltering heat of the Firebough before the group moves into a wider section of the path, here Thelergramor spots a shadow in a small outcropping higher up in the mountain. It appears that this might be the bandit's current ambush spot. However there is no movement yet, looks like they are waiting for the group to move right into a possible trap or spot...and in hindsight there does appear to be a number of large rocks up ahead, enough to hide a being...
Thelergramor grins a bit, nudges Zuri. "Up ahead, behind the rocks." Keeps the cart moving, throws a glance back towards Elijah. "You good back there? Think we've got 'em." Could be wrong, should know once he can see their equipment... The wolf pulls his mask back on, continues to grin.
Zuri takes another swig from the flask, then tosses it in the back as if disposing of it. Actually he's passing it to the poor being sweating it back there, hoping it will give him some relief. He nods at Thel's words, and starts mentally preparing to launch a few quick phrases of Divine Math as soon as the action begins.
"Just keep moving!" Elijah hisses, "Sooner we get there, the sooner I can get out of this heat trap!" The bear drinks greedily from the tossed canteen and moves carefully so that his golem's metal bulk is between him and any shots of opportunity.
Thelergramor continues his path until he finally reaches, what one would assume is the 'spot'. Not a second later do four beings appear from behind the rocks, each brandishing a sword in hand, one of them with a buckler as well. Two arrows quickly fly by, hitting the cart on the side. "Your money or your blood!" shouts one of the four guards as he points his sword at the group, "Leave the cart and go back, and we will let you live!"
The three other beings begin slowly circling the cart as they wait for the drivers reaction, there is still no sign of the mage however.
Zuri was ready for the beings to appear, and rather than look surprised he actually smirks. "Finally!" He reaches over to touch Thel's shoulder, and in his mind he visualizes the shapes of a phrase of Divine Math he's quite familiar with, an incantation to protect his friend Thel.
Thelergramor silently watches the bandits, theirs shouts bringing back old memories from when he was on the other side of similar ambushes... But as Zuri shields him, he lifts his left arm and fires his crossbow at the archers. Then dives off one side of the cart. The basilisk remains silent as he rolls over the ground.
On the side opposite the archers.
"Finally!" Elijah sighs, then lets loose a roar, flinging aside the tarp and using his personal golemcraft enhancements to spray out a shower of brilliant sparks as he and his golem burst from cover! Both are ready for a fight! The rune inscribed bands on the grizzly's arms and around his legs glow with a pale green light, active at last.
The bandits surely didn't expect this as the group bursts into action. Zuri's spell works wonderfully well as a layer of stone appears on Thelergramor, looking really sturdy.
The wolf's throwaway shot, either by luck or skill, hits its mark. Sadly the distance was short, the archer was not protected, and he didn't see it coming as the bolt lands squarely on his throat, the being's only reaction a look of horrid surprise as he falls backwards, lying motionless and away of the group's sight.
Elijah's own actions surprises two of the beings nearest to him, the shower of sparks making them spend their time shielding their eyes.
The third being stands there, still recovering from shock, while the buckler being rushes towards Thelergramor, attempting to swing a sword at him while the archer also shots at him. However the wolf proves the better being as he effortlessly dodges both attacks.
Zuri hops inside the cart after his spell successfully shields Thel. The small salamander surveys the landscape around him, paying particular close attention to the two boulders being used as cover by the beings attacking them from the same side as the still-living archer. He raises one hand to each boulder, focusing on them as he tries to shift the earth underneath them to make them tilt and roll closer to each other, to form a protective wall for the small cart.
Thelergramor flicks his wrist as he dodges, collapsing his crossbow back into place as Zuri's spell armors him. Rolling to his feet, arrow impacting the ground behind him, he shifts his footing as the buckler wielding being swings his sword at him. The basilisk easily (Actually with a lot of effort, but makes it look easy) slides between his legs as the blade flashes past. Grinning, Thel gets up and launches himself at the being, grabbing for the shoulder and aiming an elbow for the base of the skull in an attempt to knock him out.
Elijah does not mince words as he leaps from the wagon, golem-clad left fist crashing down on one being while Grizz throws itself onto the other stunned bandit.
Thelergramor's attack at the third being is a resounding success as he completely knocks him one. While Zuri saves the wolf from further attack by swiftly moving the two boulders together into a mock wall, causing the earth underneath the group to rumble and quiver.
Elijah and his double's attacks also land successfully causing the two beings hit to reel back, the being hit by the golem falling down on his behind.
The other archer pops up again and throws another arrow, but the arrow thrown by the short bow merely bounces off one of Elijah's shoulders bands. "They are putting a fight, we need help." the archer screams up wards as a group of beings begin moving down from a nearby, higher outcropping.
Zuri huffs tiredly, that last spell really having taken it out of him. He flops back down into the cart and takes cover as he recovers. He watches with widening eyes as more beings start to pour out onto them. Seems they're in for a long fight.
Thelergramor ducks after dropping the swordsman, grabbing his sword. "..." Not satisfied with it compared to his own, he drops it and draws his sword-rapier and dagger, one in each hand as he slinks around the stone wall Zuri made. He glances around, hearing more beings approach. The basilik grins again, moving to cut them off while trying to keep in cover/out of sight to ambush them as they approach.
Elijah frowns as a ball ricochets off his armor. "Smokescreen!" he shouts along with a mental order to his golem, Grizz, "Keep 'em from firing!" Then, as the golem starts to spew thick, white smoke from every hinge and crack, he raises an oversized pistol and takes a shot at the archer. Don't want another surprise, after all.
As Zuri plops down and Theler hides behind the wall the rest of the beings move down.
Elijah's shot manages to hit the archer on his shoulder, making him drop his balls as he tumbles down unconscious to the road below.
The rest are two other beings following a robed figure who is obviously the mage, they land behind the wall Zuri erected and begin moving to surround the cart. Another, large being lands in front of the cart. The heavy clan being is clad in dark red leathers, his skin crimson colored as well. The red herring being is wielding a wicked looking great sword as he snarls and eyes the group, "I am Clancy Roth, the Crimson Scar of the Eastbank Forest and the Firebough Mountain, face me if you dare!" the being bellows as he gestures with his sword. "You shall fall before me!"
Zuri rises up from his hiding place in the cart, the being looking at the developing situation with some worry. This Clancy looks like he means business with that sword of his, and he's afraid his friends will suffer from the combined effects of the insane heat and the exertion of battle. He blinks, then grins. Time to prepare two spells in a row that will surely fix this. He starts gesturing at the air around him, combining water magic with his own dedicant powers to begin to gather moisture in the air, both to replenish the energy of his companions and to prepare for something bigger...
Thelergramor grins as he sees the mage, who is dressed like a mage... Mistake number one that mages make... He shifts his stance as Clancy drops nearby, squinting at the large clan with the greatsword. Rapier's faster, at least... Decides to go after the mage first, moving with as much cover as he can get to bring himself in range of the mage.
Elijah leaves the robes to Thelergramor, focusing his attention on Clancy. By now, his golem's smoke screen should make the area around the cart a dense, white fog which ought to hide the bear a bit, from anyone outside. The grizzly urges his golem silently to engage the red fish with a brutal shield bash!
The mander sure made the weather even more inhospitable by removing whatever left of water in the atmosphere, luckily for his group it was infused into them, making life much better. The beings finding breathing easier and the weather more tolerable even as the smoke screen covers everything around the cart.
Thelergramor is stopped at the bend to circle towards the mage by one of the beings who was doing the same thing. The being quickly bringing down his sword at Thelergramor, who dodges.
The two beings Elijah and his golem attacked earlier are finally staggering back up on their feet to continue the fight while Elijah's golem exits the smoke screen and colliding directly with Clancy outside in the open. The red herring, who surprisingly isn't a red herring this time, grunts and staggers back from the direct hit, spitting on the ground and swinging a sword at the golem, "Cowards! You send those unfeeling machines to do your dirty work! You shy away from glorious combat, pathetic! I shall slay your monstrosity and defeat you after it." Quite the character, but true to his word the sword is swung right at the golem.
Zuri takes a heaving, tired breath, the constant use of magic really taking it out of the talented, but still inexperienced salamander. He figures he has one last spell in him tho, now that his friends are properly hydrated. He concentrates on the two living beings, drawing on both the ample earth beneath their feet and the water he's concentrated to build layers of ablative defense around them, one last big spell before he collapses tiredly back onto the cart.
Thelergramor sidesteps the blade, narrowly dodging the swipe. He steps to one side, slashing vertically at the being's hand with the cutting edge of his sword-rapier. He remains silent, feeling Zuri's magic help with the heat as he tries to disarm the being by injuring his hand.
Elijah growls and reaches a hand into his tool belt for a fist sized ball of wire that he promptly tosses toward one of the advancing bandits. "Should have stayed down, boys," he rumbles, "Now I gotta beat the living daylights out of you!"
Meanwhile, Grizz takes the hit like the wall of steel that he is, sparks flying as the Herring's broadsword puts a sizable dent in the golem's breastplate, slowing it a bit, perhaps, but certainly not taking it out of the fight yet as it swings another of its huge, shield bearing arms at the large being.
The attack continues as Zuri wraps his friends in more stone, the gesture covering Elijah in much needed protection while simply adding a small layer on Thelergramor, no sense bulking the wolf a lot after all. Thelergramor rapier strikes true as the being drops down with a shriek, leaving the path open.
Elijah's ball explodes into a bunch of webs that covers both beings and brings them down again, the two struggling to get out.
Meanwhile, Elijah's golem attacks once more squaring another direct hit at herring to which the herring answer with another swing of his sword, hitting the golem at its side, causing another dent, "This machine is no match for good old steel, and being sweat!" the red herring shouts before grunting and resuming his attack stance.
Zuri pants tiredly, feeling that was the last of what he could pull off in terms of Divine Math for this fight. He turns back to the cart to look for that water flask just in time to spot another being, a bandit, trying to clamber onto it. He yelps and hops off the cart, landing near the two rocks he had pulled together to make a wall. With his back to the wall and his feet on solid ground he prepares to defend himself, getting ready to duck out of any attacks this being may throw at him.
