Chapter 1: The Block And The Dryad

General Summary

Our story begins with two horse drawn wagons being escorted into the town of Thornhollow in The Pale. Each loaded with two prisoners bound at the wrist with rope. The first carries two human males, while the second carries a half-orsimar male and a strange fox-like female. As the prisoners rouse from their slumber and take in their surroundings, August Ironbeard one of the human prisoners in the lead cart manages to dislocate his thumbs and slip his bindings. With a clever slight of hand he maintains the illusion that his hands are still bound.
Noticing this his co-captive says, "Hey untie me."
Growling August Ironbeard replies "Shut-up and maybe I will."
Meanwhile, in the other wagon Carric Naïlo the half-orsimar uses his magic to grow sharp fang-like teeth and attempts to saw through his bindings.As soon as his teeth hit the rope he is greeted with a thump to his head as the driver of the wagon clubs him with a cudgel, hissing through gritted teeth "Watch it Orsimar," his distaste palpate-able.
Moments later the wagons roll over a stone bridge and into the town of Thornhollow, where the streets are lined with guards. In the center of town the townsfolk surround an executioner's block where a waiting executioner sharpens his ax. The guards who were part of the escort flank the two wagons and instruct the prisoners to step down. Pointing in the direction of an officer holding a ledger, the captain bellowed "Move you Rats!"
Forming up into a line led by August Ironbeard, Carric Naïlo following, and Terra Divello bringing up the rear they headed in the direction of the officer. It's at this time that the fourth prisoner whom was in the wagon with August Ironbeard yelled " I don't want to die!" and tried to flee in the opposite direction.
The simultaneous "THUNK" of three crossbows firing, followed by a grunt of pain and the sound of a body crashing to the cobblestones could be heard by all. There sprawled on the street a dozen yards behind them the lifeless corpse of the fourth prisoner lay, three still quivering crossbow bolts protruding from his back.
"Step Forward!" Shouted the officer.
Imprisoned for being Orsimar the officer said to Carric Naïlo the half-orsimar. This one for theft he said nodding to Terra Divello. This ones not in here he called looking again at his ledger looking for something about August Ironbeard.
"See I'm not supposed to be here. You can just let me go, no harm no foul." said August Ironbeard
"Sorry" the officer said dispassionately, "wrong place wrong time." nodding to the block. With that two guards grabbed the back of his tunic and forced August Ironbeard towards the block.
One of them sneered "face your death with some dignity." Having had enough of this bullshit August let go of his bindings and attempted to throw a right hook to the side of one of the two guards head.
The guard ducked under the punch while his companion used his shield to strike August in the back of the head and kicked the back of his knee, forcing him to the ground. The two guards forced his head to block and the one he had tried to punch with a cruel smile said "any last words?"
"Yeah, Fuck You!" spat August
As the executioner drew back his ax, everyone watched on as suddenly the ax was continuing backward followed by the execution. Everyone looked in confusion at the sound of the ax hitting the stone below, noticing the crude arrow protruding from his throat as his lifeblood gurgled and spilled onto the cobblestones. Seconds passed and then dozens more arrows rained into the crowd felling no less than three of the guards. Looking in the direction the arrows had come from there was no mistaking the Orsimar warband attacking the town.
Guards quickly forgot about the prisoners to be executed and drew their weapons running towards the raging, roaring warband intent on pillaging this town. The onlooking citizens fled indoors trying to get to safety.
With unparalelled swiftness August scooped up the fallen executioner's ax and ran towards the oncoming onslaught of warriors. Carric ran towards the tavern to get to safety, tripping over his own feet stumbled and fell landing flat on his face. As Terra turned to flee and take cover in the nearby trees, August yelled "Over here, I'll untie you! I figure we're in the same boat." With that she dashed over to him as he hefted the blade and brought it down between her wrists with unbridled accuracy severing the ropes, eliciting an excited yelp of "Yay, I'm free!" from Terra, turned and planted the blade in the chest of a charging Orsimar warrior.
Noticing a felled squire nearby who posessed a scimitar and shield August discarded the heavy ax and scooped up the sword and shield. At this time a grizzled guard ran up swung his blade freeing Carric. When asked why the response was "I care not bout yer past, I only cares bout m' town! Now get up and fight!" Turning and running headlong into the fray of battle.
Carric quickly got to his feet scooped up the ax seconds before August had discarded and launched a spell into the chaos down the street. Missing his intended target it exploded harmlessly in the street. Looking into the battle waging in the street ahead Terra noticed a large heavily armored orc, easily twice the size of the smaller grunts they had previously been fighting striding towards them. She began to chanting a spell and moving her fingers with the spell causing a dense cloud of for to fill the streets obscuring the battle from sight.
As arrows began streaming through the fog, screams of pain could be heard over the battle as guardsmen were felled by the Orsimar archers. Arrows that missed their mark due to the obstruction of the fog came hurling out of the fog. August's lightning fast reflexes and sheer instinct brought his shield up stopping an arrow coming directly at his head. Noticing a hand crossbow in the hand of one of the now deceased guardsmen, August dashed over grabbed and fired where one of the Orsimar warriors was before the fog spawned.
Carric ran into the fog to find some Orsimar of his own to slay, while Terra cast and ice spell into the fog freezing an Orsimar warrior solid. The battle raged on and Terra's magic formed an icicle which she launched into the fray piercing an Orsimar chest and exploding outward slaying the creature. While in the fog Carric heard a gurgling and saw a guardsman lifted off the ground and hover through the fog. Knowing that can't be good he strode after it. Another volley of arrows flew out of the fog. One stray arrow flew directly for Terra and before she had time to react struck her in the chest piercing into her, dropping her to the cobblestones below. Just as quickly the fog began to dissipate.
Seeing his companion topple like wet sand, August rushes to Terra's side. Doing what he can to staunch the bleeding from her chest and stabilize her from dyingwith the knowledge he has. When she is stabilized he turns to see the largest Orsimar he's ever seen wielding the largest greatsword he's ever seen. Impaled on the blade is the corpse of a felled guardsman's lifeless body.
With a flick of his wrist the large Orsimar clears the corpse from his blade. The body sloshes off the blade with a wet thud and pools at his feet. With Terra stabilized and no longer dying, August fires a shot from the hand crossbow aiming for the large armored Orsimar's eye. The bolt struck inches below the eye denting the helm, but leaving the Orsimar otherwise unharmed.
With the fog cleared Carric now able to see the towering monstrosity charges at its back with the executioner's ax. The head of the ax connects and finds a weak point in the Orsimar's armor, hacking deeply. Blood spilling from it's sides it rounds on him bringing down its giant greatsword. Carric barely dodges out of it massive arc. Two guardsmen rush in to flank it hammering it with blows. August leaves Terra's side runs to join the fight against the massive Orsimar chieftain. Leaping over the corpses strewn at it's feet, Launching himself onto it's back driving his blade between the plates of its armor and into the meaty flesh below.
The hulking Orsimar attempts to shake August free, causing his blade to slip out and him to land behind it. It then cleaves with its greatsword at Carric striking twice in rapid succession rending deep wounds into him, man he falls with a meaty slap. August attempts to climb on its back an drive his blade through the side of its head, making slight purchase, but its sheer size and the thickness of its armor allow little ground. With August still on its back one of the guardsmen is slain. August grips his blade and forces it through the helm, deep into the ear canal and vaults over it using his weight to tear the monstrosity's throat out. It's head snapping back like a gory child's candy dispenser. August thrusts his leg forward and standing on the beasts chest rides his falling corpse as it falls back slamming into the ground.
Carric begins to stir recovering a little from his wounds. The remaining guards help him to his feet. A few other go over to Terra giving her an herb that helps her recover. She opens her eyes and with an excited squeak says "Did we win?"
"Aye lass, that we did."
"Yay!"
August tightens his grip on his blade preparing to continue fighting for his life, after all they were set to be executed moments prior. When the grizzled guardsman from earlier, now coated in Orsimar blood steps forward. "Relax lad, we've no qualm we ye. Sides you lot helped save our town."
"What about our executions?" replied August
"Seems to me that folk wanted ye dead met with a similar fate. Sides, memory serves you were never here, and his books covered in blood." He said pointing at the officer with the ledger. "So..."
With that August begins stripping the massive chieftain of his valuables.
"We can put ye up for a few days give ye time to recover. Offer what we can as a reward to, but can ye's help clean up some of this?" He waves his arms at the carnage spread before them.
With a nod the three adventurers begin loading corpses on the wagons that brought them into town, looting what they can as they go of course. They spend the next couple days at the inn drinking, resting, and fucking their way to recovery.
After four days of recovering, they start talking to Talbus the tavernmaster, inquiring about horses to leave town. Talbus claims there isn't much to spare, but he could probably arrange for one horse and possibly one of the wagons they came in on, though it would take several days to arrange it. Agreeing to wait for the horse and cart to become available, they inquire if there are any contracts open. Talbus informs them of one in Wolf Howl Woods dealing with spiders.
"Wolf Howl Woods be a haunted place. None round here dare to enter em. All manner of strange beasts inside. If ye be serious bout the contract, speak with me bastard brother Calbus at the big estate at the other end of town. Oh, and one more thing. Punch that fucker in the nose and tell em I want me bloody money."
"Talbus, the town's paying you for us." Replied August
"Are they?" Talbus scoffed
They Companions get up to leave and start heading for the door. "Me Bloody Money, Don't Forget!!" Talbus hollers.
Arriving in front of the estate on the other side of town. Carric approaches the grand door, and without hesitation proceeds to bang on the door. After a couple minutes of no answer he decides he's going to open the door, much to the chagrin of his companions. He proceeds to fling the door open to a wet crunch and a yell of "FUCK!!"
Standing in the doorway is a portly man very similar to Talbus, though slightly shorter and a good deal rounder not to mention his now ruined bleeding nose. "Mother Fucker, who just opens somebody's blasted door. The fuck are you? The Fuck you want?"
August with anger on his face replies " the people who saved your fucking town. We're here about the damned spider contract in Wolf Howl Woods."
"Ah, yyeesss..." Calbus stammers, reaching up and grabbing Carric's tunic sleeve to wipe his bloody nose. "Well the contract is to bring back proof the threat has been eliminated. The cave is in the woods, but we don't know where. They pay is 200 gold. Here is a copy of the contract." He hands over a piece of parchment, reaching and rewiping his bloody nose on Carric's sleeve for a second time.
Snatching the parchment, "we'll be back." growls August "And your brother wants his coin." Turning they leave and start out towards the forest.
After walking all day they decide to set up camp in a small wooded ravine. Deciding they want something besides trail rations they track a deer. Sneaking up on it the three of them are on the hunt. Terra steps on a twig with a loud Snap! Startling the deer, causing it to flee. August fires a shot from his hand crossbow piercing its side, but not killing it. Carric tries to launch an eldritch blast at it, but misses hitting a fallen log the explodes to splinters. Meanwhile, Terra wanting to redeem herself for startling the deer in the first place forms an icicle and hurls it out driving it through the creatures heart killing it instantly. August makes quick work of field stripping it and carries it back to camp, where they butcher and roast it over their campfire. Back at camp Terra uses her frost magic to preserve the hide so that they can tan it later when they return to Thornhollow.
Preparing to retire for the night they decide August will take first watch. Other than a wolf howling at the twin moons miles away and a couple deer fucking in the woods his watch goes by uneventful. Rousing Terra from her slumber so she can take watch and he can get some much needed shuteye. Opting to sleep in his armor rather than remove it he passes out as quickly as he hits his bedroll.
A couple hours pass by uneventful, in her boredom let herself become complacent and failed to notice the two creatures near the mouth of the nearby rock outcropping. As she passes by on a leisurely stroll they reach out to slash at her. one missing while the other finds its mark and rends her flesh with hands resembling branches. A yelp escaping her throat, but her companions do not stir in their tents. Slashing at her a second time they both find their mark and this time she lets out a scream, waking her friends. As they both rush out of their tents to see whats going on August notices a third creature atop the ridge above her. After realizing the danger his companion was in fires a shot from the handcrossbow missing its target skidding of the rocks behind it. Carric fires off another eldritch blast this time hitting center mass on one of the twigblights reducing it to kindling. Terra tries to grab the remaining one but its branches bat away her hand, so she tries to flee and he reaches out slashing knocking her unconscious. August rushes in leaping and bringing his blade down through its head splitting it like a log in two, shouting there is a third one up top.
Carric looks but doesn't see anything. Says "there's nothing there."
"Blind fire! I know I saw something there." came the reply. Listening to his friend Carric fired an eldritch blast above to create another shower of splinters.
August moves to the center and looks around spotting a treelike woman he recognizes as a dryad across the ravine on the other side of their camp. quickly reloading the hand crossbow and firing a bolt striking her shoulder. Carric moves to Terra's side uncorks a healing potion forcing it down her throat revitalizing her.
The dryad looks her stare on August shaking his head he gets confused and thinks that she is his ally and he needs to protect her. It whispers "eliminate" to him pointing at his companions.
Standing Terra fires an icicle at her striking her. Simultaneously Carric fires off his magic missile spell peppering the dryad with magic explosions. This of course angers the charmed August causing him to strike out Carric with his blade gouging his flesh. Carric's veins in his neck bulge as his hand grows sharp knifelike claws that shimmer with liquid, slashes out at August. He throws up his shield arm deep furrows smolder and sizzle in the face of the shield as Carric drags his acid coated claws through its surface.
Preparing another volley of spells Carric and Terra watch as the dryad places her hand upon the tree and steps through it disappearing from sight. Only to reappear from a tree to their left swinging its claws to rake their flesh. Both launch their spells into the dryad at the same time. She staggers backward, leaves falling from her, the pale green glow of her eyes fades as she collapses backwards. As she hits the ground August's head clears, the dryad's charm broken as horror crosses his face. He remembers attacking Carric and being unable to stop himself from doing so. He offers him his healing potion.

Report Date

01 Apr 2019