Session 12: The Aureate Path Report

General Summary

The 3 days of preparations went quickly with each member of the Scales seeing to their affairs before meeting up in the early morning of the determined day. A'varia had arranged for them to travel with Copperpot Expeditions. They arrived to find 20-30 wagons being loaded with goods and materials, with a wagon 4-5 times the size of normal, with multiple stories, fine glass windows, and ornate wood working upon the exterior. A gnome in a fine leather jerkin would approach them stroking his well groomed and waxed mustache. His hair was dark and his eyes a brown with flex of copper in them "Ah, Scales of Fate yes? A'varia said you would be traveling with us!" The Gnome would introduce himself as Glimwhick Copperpot and would shake each member of the scales hands and invite them into his home away from home. The Interior was finely furnished, most furnishings fixed to the floor or walls so as not to move during travel. The trundling home on wheels would have small rooms on the second floor, sleeping 2-3 to a quarters would be cramped but more comfortable then bedrolls in the dirt.  

After stowing their things and coming back outside Glimwhick would flag over another gnome. The woman would have fine blond hair, and a grim look, he would smile, "This is my security captain and second in command, "This is Tilarosa Swifthands, Tily for short, if she gives any orders Id ask you treat it as tho it came from me." Tily would give a nod "If their is trouble just dont get in front of me," a double barreled dwarven musket slung over her shoulder and a bandolier across her chest with powders and cartridges. A'lar would tilt his head some at the name but decide to leave it for the journey.  

The next week would pass on uneventfully as the caravan made good time across Amaranthis territory towards the border. Glimwhick would be a fine host entertaining everyone with stories from across Ioban, music and games. Tily would spend most of her time alone in the tower that jutted up above the second story of the wagon watching their surroundings from her vantage point. A'lar would corner her one morning at breakfast, "Ah tilly, is Swifthands a common Gnomeish name?" She would frown, "Not here that I have scene, but I am not originally from Ioban." A'lar would nod, "I just knew a Swifthand briefly off Ioban." Tily would seem somewhat interested for a brief moment, "Oh? I was from the Empire before being taken here." He would nod, "Yes it was on Atlyrias." Tily would close up and shrug, "Dont know anyone from their and my family is all dead." She would wrap up the rest of her food and excuse herself to the tower, frowning finding Ayrien there keeping watch. "You aren't like that A'lar fellow are you?" Tily would ask. Ayrien would smirk a bit "No not really." With a satisfied nod the two would watch the horizon in silence.  

The Border of Aureate had a small guard post monitoring traffic, to which Glimwhick chatted happily with and got the caravan moving on with little issue. Several days into Aureate territory, Tily would nudged Ayrien who had taken to keeping watchin the tower, "You see that" pointing east along a tree line. Ayrien would look out and shake her head, "Where should I be looking?" Tilly would frown and hand up her scope pointing low along the tree line, "Small folk, tree line." Ayrien would peer thru and nod "Yea...Kobolds?" Tily would nod and shout below, "We Have Trouble!" Just as she did the wagons would lurch to a sudden stop jostling everyone within, Glimwhick would frown, a sending stone would crackle with magic "Hey Boss, roads blocked" and with that drums and shouts of charging kobold raiders would be heard.  

Copperpot caravan guards would form up in short order, 4 squads of about 20 warriors each, Tily in the tower providing overwatch and Glimwhick went forth to rally and command the troops. The Scales arrayed to the east, as Kobold raiders poured from the woods, lead by orcish commanders, and it appeared Dwarven riflemen supporting them. Also from the south a young front giant emerged from the trees with a goblin upon his shoulder screaming orders. The Caravan Guards took up defensive positions forming an overlapping shield wall and preparing to repel charges of Kobolds as the enemy closed upon them. The crack of Musket fire drowned out the battles cries as ball and shot ripped thru caravan guards and splintered off the great wagon. The newly trained fighters of A'lars Claws shifted to the right and engaged the first group of Kobolds that crashed into the Carvan guards cutting thru many and giving support to the besieged shield wall. Indalell would duck around the wagon and burst thru the flanks of another squad of Kobolds, his twin side swords slashing thru one after the next, pressed by another group of caravan guards, having the Elven death dealer amidst them and in their flank broke the Kobolds that survived and they fled. Tilas musket began to answer the fire from the Dwarven gunners but she was greatly outnumbered, but perhaps a stronger marksgnome. Adalon upon his mighty steed Opal would charge into the Kobolds the claws had engaged, with Vera at his heels breaking the remaining kobolds bodies and resolve. Ismaril and Ayrien would defend the wagon, her psionic powers flaring strengthening her body and emanating an aura of terror. An Orc captain would roar in rage at Indalell breaking of his unit and would drive his battle axe into him with a heavy blow. Bliss and Idrial would engage an orc fighter that rushed the wagon, cutting him down. Longwei would dart far to the east trying to flank around to the gunners positions while A'lar summoned illusionary Elementals to slow down the attack from the north and Neia Adalaons squire would shout tactical orders supporting the Scales and helping them work together.  

The Kobolds that remained would press against the shield walls of the caravan guards engaging in heavy fighting. Dwarven muskets would fire in volley into the guards and Indalell killing or wounding the remaining removing them from the field as well as wounding the Elf. As the Giant lumbered closer the Goblin would shout with glee and hurl an alchemical bomb at Idrial, finding its mark he would be engulfed in fire, the explosion hitting Ayrien and Ismaril. Longwei would rush into their flanks with a flying kick delivering a flury of blows upon on of the Dwarven rifleman, the dwarf quick to respond to the threat would drop his musket and produce a heavy hammer and swing but miss the evasive Monk. The Claws would put down the Orcish commanders around them and move to press into the gunners positions. Ismaril would step up to the giant her thinblade striking with quick thrusts to no effect against his armor. Cronos, Neias raven would dart at the giant trying to blind him by pecking and clawing his eyes with no effect as Neia cut into another orc that had rushed the Wagon. Adalon would galop over and finish off Neias foe before teleporting form his mount to face the giant alongside Ismaril and Ayrien. Vera would bound over to flank the Giant with Ayrien, teeth and war spear too would be deflected by his tough skin and armor. The giant would stop down at Vera and Adalon missing the nimble cat but slaming into the half dragon. Indalell would cut down his orcish attacker and then leap with a roll under the wagon his bullet wound bleeding. Glimwhick would appear beside him and chanting a short incantation would give a bit of reprieve to the wound. Bliss freed of the orcish fighters would rush to support the claws moving thru the flanks of the Dwarven gunners while Idrial a bit singed would move to flank the giant with Ismaril, his long sword cutting deep behind the knee. The Kobolds to the west would overwhelm the second unit of Caravan guards, ignoring A'lars elementals seeing them for what they were. The Guards to the east would move west to the other side of the wagons to try and support their comrades. As more fell, A'lar would summon another illusion of them rising again to fight as undead, however the Kobolds yet again saw thru his illusions. While the battle to the east was turning, the west was looking grim.  

The Goblin would shriek with maniacal joy as he hurled two more bombs. While both missed the explosions would engulf all those around, including his giant mount, the concussive force and flames would drop Adalon unconscious. Longwei would delivering another jaw shattering punch, dropping a rifleman and would rush over with a flying kick into another. Tilys over watch fire would turn to the east trying to drive back the Kobolds that were overwhelming her troops. The Claws would continue to sweep thru the back field fighting to meet up with Longwei removing the gunners to the West. Ismaril tired of being bombed by the goblin would turn her focus up to the giants shoulders, her eyes going pitch black as she summoned a mass of psionic energy to drive into his mind. The Goblin would shriek in pain as the energy rippled thru his brain. Indalell renewed would roll out from under the wagon and leap into the rear of the kobolds to the West, cutting several down but with far less effect then the last time. Cronos would dive into the giant again, this time his beak and claws finding home, temporarily blinding the giant while Neia rushed to her fallen Knight and poured a potion down his throat. Glimwhick too would arrive delivering another heal spell but now to Adalon. Vera would lunge forward biting onto the giant who would shriek in pain, flailing blinding, Ayrien would duck then lunge her spear slipping up under his armor and delivering a critical blow to his organs, with a groan the giant would topple and his goblin rider, despite his splitting headache would deftly summersault off his shoulder and land on his feet as the giant fell. While the Kobolds did not believe A'lars illusions their orcish leaders did, and would shriek as the undead asailed them. Moving into position he would take a shot with his cross bow and begin to cast another spell.  

The goblin would scream orders throwing one last bomb into his enemies before attempting to flee the field. Indalell would push on his blades a whirlwind of doom the Kobolds would finally break. As the Claws and Longwei were working thru the gunners and the kobolds breaking, those not engaged would begin to flee. Ismaril's eyes would again turn solid black as she sent another blast of psionic energy into the goblins mind, this time popping a blood vessel there in, with a short yelp the goblin would fall dead. A'lars spells would go off as illusionary chains engulfed the fleeing Dwarven gunners. As the scales surveyed the field, Kobolds were fleeing into the woods or laying dead, many of the Copperpot guards lay dead intermixed with the Kobolds, and Adalon was helped to his feet, feeling a bit shaken from his second brush with death, the day was won, but against who, and at what cost?