–Froderik Penderghast – Male Human Wizard. Logical and self-important wizard. Accompanied by his hawk familiar, Mordecai. A little time to indulge his scholastic interests seem to have put him in a better mood.
–Raskin Daggermaw – Male Half-Orc Rogue. Huge, muscular braggadocios letch who is especially good at stabbing folks, if not interpersonal skills. Still eager to use the powers of his new dagger, Onyx Razor. Less eager to deal with nobles.
–Edella Montfort – Female Human Paladin of Vesper. Somewhat sheltered and naïve but always out to help anyone she comes across and punish evil. Currently wields the Mermaid’s Spear and is looking forward to planning out the coming battle.
–Zenga – Female Human Witch. Accompanied by her scorpion familiar (and brother) Janis. Eager to unleash her new spells on the poor fools who make themselves her enemy.
–Beybulat “Bey” Tasho – Male Human Swashbuckler. A barbarian from the Plains of Galmar, he’s slowly learning the local language, though the customs are still baffling to him. Comfortable with the familiarity of planning a battle.
–Delilah Farmeski – Female Human Cleric of Farmesk. A battle nun from the Eastern Realms who worships the God of War. As always, eager to smash her enemies in Farmesk’s name. Now wielding the Stouthammer and eager to unlock it’s secrets.
–Ronald “Ron” Cunningham – Male Halfling Bard. A wandering halfling poet from Roadshire. Since joining his magic and bardsongs have been as appreciated as his cheery attitude.
5th of Wolverine, 1159
Before turning in for the night, Edella and Bey, having heard that Belina was in camp as a commander of a small company of mercenary archers. They found the woman easily enough in a small tent hunched over a map. She looked up and brightened considerably upon seeing the two and she greeted them warmly with a hug each.
They caught each other up on recent events since they parted ways. She explained that she, Grak’Thul and Cliff Boulderback had headed off to Fishton, but were captured by a patrol of Emeronian guardsmen. Fortunately they were far enough from the city that the soldiers had to camp on the way to return them, and Grak’Thul had been able to escape and free the others, where they were able to overpower the guards and take their gear and mounts.
Upon arriving in Fishton Grak’Thul and Cliff separated from her to set themselves up in town, while she fulfilled her plans to return cuts of treasure to the families of the Fishton Fighters. From there, she explained, she couldn’t just sit around when she knew that several armies were attacking the kingdom and the evil gods were trying to destroy the rest of the deities. She decided that she would appeal the matter to the baron of Fishton, Hamar Bexley, whom she’d heard was a good man. Eventually she managed to talk to the right people and the baron agreed to fund a mercenary company to help defend the land if she was willing to lead it. Hence, Belina’s Bows came into existence. She admitted that this would be their first major battle though.
Edella and Bey filled her in on all they’d been up to, including telling her about the Spider People. She said they’d been invited to the War Council meeting and Belia said that as a commander of one of the mercenary companies she’d see them there. After some more friendly talk Edella and Bey took their leave to get some sleep.
6th of Wolverine, 1159
Froderik and Zenga stayed up all night studying from the Red Wizard’s spellbook in his tent, with the former acquiring the Teleport spell they suspected they’d need in the coming battle. As the dawn came they blearily dragged themselves to meet the others and break their fast.
Edella used her powers to reduce fatigue for Froderik and Zenga and a short time later they were summoned to the command tent for the war council. They found several commanders and generals, including Belina, seated at a large table. The man at the head of the table introduced himself as Sir Godgis Abare, son of the Duke of Rupmon and commander of all armies in the duchy. Seated next to him was the Red Wizard, who gave a subtle nod to the group to verify that this was true. Standing behind the Red Wizard as an advisor was Shren.
Sir Godgis gestured to the empty seat at the end of the table. “General Montfort,” he said, informing them that he knew their identities. “Please join us.”
Edella sat down, while Raskin took an empty seat and the others formed up behind Edella as if to bodyguard them, Zenga opting to float a few inches off the ground for maximum intimidation and effect.
“The Red Wizard informs me that you are here to help and that you may have a way to break the stalemate we have with the enemy. He also has informed me of a number of other matters, that he should have brought to my father’s attention far earlier,” he said giving a pointed look at the Red Wizard, “but that is neither here nor there. The crown may want your heads, but for now my duchy is under attack and the crown is preoccupied waging war on the Queen’s brother-by-law in Antyoch, so if you can help me defend my father’s lands I’ll be happy to work with you. Let us hear your proposal.”
Clearing her throat, Edella explained that Vossk wielded a gem that made him impossible to kill without the proper weapons.
“Yes,” Sir Godgis interrupted. “We know this, we have the report of Alexander’s Vengeance.”
“Well, we have the weapons,” Raskin interrupted drawing the Onyx Razor and jamming it into the table. At the sight of the strange blade a ripple of mixed apprehension and appreciation passed through the room.
“Yes, as you can see we have the ability to kill Vossk…” Edella said, trying to steer attention away from Raskin’s etiquette breaching demonstration. She proceeded to put forth the plan discussed with the Red Wizard previously, that they would teleport behind enemy lines and rendezvous with Lord Rivel Donne and his forces to strike the enemy from the rear in a co-ordinated attack with the main army attacking over the bridge. Edella admitted that since Lord Rivel was only said to have around 250 men, some additional forces would be helpful. Sir Godgis agreed, but stated that any kind of mass exodus of men could tip off the enemy and cause them to prepare for a flanking attack. They ultimately decided to order Fishton’s 60 calvary under the command of Dame Aille Gerial to head north with the group and ford the river, allowing an additional potential flank.
With the conclusion of the war council the group headed out to make their preparations to depart before dawn the next day. The group tarried a moment in a private meeting after the main war council so Edella could warn Sir Godgis and the Red Wizard that two of the members of the war council, Sir Bryall Gerial and Sir Mathyew Mesym, had evil in their hearts. Sir Godgis advised that he was unsurprised, as both had rather ruthless reputations, but he was unsure that it indicated they could be an enemy spy. Still, he promised to be wary of them.
Edella, Raskin, Delilah, and Froderik meanwhile decided to locate Shren, easily finding him in a small tent filled with alchemical equipment. He greeted them warmly (seeming to breathe a small sigh of relief when he realized Zenga was not with them.) He advised that the Red Wizard had asked him to lead his conscripts into battle, and showed off a number of new alchemical concoctions he’d discovered since he last saw them. The old companions caught up on recent events and by the time they departed he’d siphoned off a few of the potions he’d made for the Red Wizard’s forces to give to them for the battle to come.
The group made their preparations to travel, including requesting rations and fresh horses of better quality than those they were able to acquire in Reikland. Bey made a point of visiting Belina to say goodbye and wish her well. The Galmari warrior had difficulty expressing his attraction to the attractive ranger, but she seemed to reciprocate, stating that after the war they would have to catch up.
With that the group got some sleep, ready to awake before dawn.
7th – 9th of Wolverine
The group awoke and slipped out of camp with Dame Ailee’s forces well before dawn, heading north to ford the river at a narrow point two and a half day’s ride north. Casting a series of Wall of Ice spells, aided by some Engineering tips from Ron, Froderik was able to essentially create an ice bridge across the river, allowing the troops to cross the river in record time and with no danger of losing anyone to the rapids.
Once everyone was across the group made camp and Froderik attempted to scry upon Tumaini, finding him sitting around a campfire along with a number of other figures, two of which he recognized from Redwyne. He could tell there were several more campfires around him, and he surmised that they’d made contact with Lord Rivel’s forces. To verify this, however, Delilah cast a Sending spell to the warrior, advising that they’d be coming soon. Tumanini confirmed he was with Lord Rivel’s men and that they would expect them.
They decided that in the morning they would teleport to Lord Rivel’s forces and march east with them to initiate the attack, and that Dame Ailee would march her forces south through the Bitterwood Forest to disguise their approach and attack the enemy from the north during the main battle.
With their plans made and ready, the group went to bed, anxious about the battle to soon come.
DM’s Notes: A nice session of planning and RP. No combat for the dice slingers in the group, alas, but hopefully since the trip to the camp was lots of slinging it balances out.
The visit to Belina and Shren was some nice RP, as well as Bey’s awkward courting towards Belina. What will Briac say?! As for Belina’s little side trip with Grak’Thul and Cliff Boulderback, that was a little encounter I’d rolled out ages ago. When I decided Belina would turn up again leading a mercenary company, I considered having her two erstwhile companions be part of the company, but it ran counter to my idea of them. They wouldn’t be interested in fighting the good fight, they’d want to get themselves set up again in Fishton to try to make up for what they’d lost in Emeron City. Oh well, maybe if the PC’s go to Fishton they’ll see how the duo is doing.
So, the plan is agreed to, allies have been made. The only question now seems to be: how will the battle go?
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