February 2005 on Sakeriver.com

Sa'id Reflects a Bit

Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Raja

Subject: Re: One Night in Nesalin

Wine, cheese... a roaring fire... Sa'id had almost forgotten that such luxuries existed over the past two weeks. The necromancer watches the firelight play on his glass, creating dancing patterns and beauty out of nothing. Fire brought warmth, but it also brought death. That so versatile and powerful a tool could also give rise to such simple beauty...

The orange glow makes Sa'id's wine seem darker, thicker. Blood. The Murrkat screaming as Sa'id's rays of flame burned them alive. They screamed as though they still had their souls, they screamed the same way he would scream if his own arts were turned against him.

Why, he wonders suddenly, did I seek this power? It differs from Garyth's skill with the blade and Rennik's with the bow. Even from Farron's conjuring skills. This destructive force bore more resemblance to what the others had told him of Cadfael's explosive wrath at the lodge. Anger manifested as raw destruction on a scale that swords and arrows could never hope to match. Yes, it was more in line with what he knew about the priestly ability to destroy the undead. The undead whose workings he understood so very well in theory, on paper, but that disgusted and repelled him in real life even as he stole them from their masters and bent them to his will. Even as with each step he drew closer to attaining the ability to create them himself.

Could the gods work their will even through reluctant vessels such as himself? Were his arts... godly? His own flame simply a reflection Pelor's sun? If Cadfael could wreak such devastation through Pelor's grace, why not him?

Or was that destructive power born of the priest's inner struggle, the explosion of anger brought about by the Devourer's influence? Should it be resisted? Its use avoided?

But, a small voice whispers, you like it. Enjoy it, even. Derive pleasure each time you unleash the flame. And you are not limited to the righteous destruction of undead abominations.

You can sear the skin of the living, soulless or not. Good, evil, or uncaring.

Sa'id blinks. The voice is gone. There is only Farron, seated across from him, similarly lost in thought. The necromancer shivers -- despite the warmth -- and drinks deeply from his glass. Mentally, he recites a prayer to the sun god, a prayer from his homeland. It feels good to think in his native tongue.

"Salaam alei'hon," he murmurs to himself. Peace be with them, peace be upon them. "Aw alei'na salaam." With us as well.

[OOC: Back to Fellus' in the morning, yup.]

After Day 1 of Marching

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mike

Subject: Re: The exodus

It's been a long day. So far, Garyth is holding up fine, but most of the group hasn't spent years in marching drills, strengthening their endurance. Signs of exhaustion are already obvious on many faces, and today is just the first day. Looking around, Garyth wonders if any of them will make it. He hastily shoves those thoughts down. There is no room for doubt in this; doubt kills. He goes to find Osred and Captain Bragga, to help coordinate the watch.

"We won't be able to stop as long as we'd like," he says to the Captain. "We have to keep moving in order to stay ahead of the enemy. We should move out at first light."

OOC: Garyth thinks there are enough guards for three watches, and he'll volunteer for the first. He'll be willing to go to four watches if Bragga thinks there are enough men for it.

The Exodus, One Night in Nesalin, To the Garret Farm

Thu, 17 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mark

Subject: ?

Has anyone heard from our fearless leader? Is he still alive?

Mark

From: Ty

Subject: Re: ?

Sorry fellas.

He is in the middle of a giant prototype.

He fears that he may never waste time at work again.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

From: Ty

Subject: The exodus

Garyth waves a sad goodbye to Rennik as the halfling leads Pensive and the three Falcons off to the Garret farm. He still remembers seeing Cadfael walk away on what was only to be a short trip back to his temple. He also remembers the hacked body they found later. There was a time when saying goodbye to a friend was tempered by the certainty of seeing them again. He has lost that. This is what it is to be a soldier. Not walking the palisade with your comrades, sneaking a sip from the ale flask when the sergeant's back is turned. Not late nights in the barracks, playing dice and talking about women. Not even standing with drawn sword between evil and innocence, though there is that as well. No, being a soldier is agreeing to bear the burden of uncertainty. Accepting the uncertainty that he or his companions will be alive the next day, so that these farmers can be certain their wives will return from the market, and their children will return home from school. For the second time, Garyth remembers the vow he took. I will be the wall around my people. It seems that each day he learns a little more about what that actually means.

Melani rushes past, after clasping hands once with Rennik. She jumps up onto her pony, and quickly leads it to the front of the column. Garyth follows her, moving more slowly so that he can shout words of encouragement to the people he recognizes. Up near the front, an old man steps from the column into his path. He looks familiar, though Garyth can not remember his name. "My nephew left with you two weeks ago, captain." The old man stops for a second when he is joined by his wife, her face an agony of worry and fear. "He left with you, and we've heard not a word. Is there no word?"

Garyth is about to speak when the old woman says, "Where is he? Where is my Farron?" Garyth is almost overcome with relief that in this case, the only news he has is good. He can't imagine what effect an ill report would have on this sad old woman.

"Master and Misses Underhill," he gives them a respectful bow from the waist. "Your nephew, Farron, is quite well. He remained behind in Nesalin, to aid the Lords of that city in an important investigation. He asked that I look for you here, and make sure all was well with you. He will be very happy when he hears that you were able to escape the town with us."

The look of relief on their faces is so powerful, Garyth finds himself fighting back a lump in his throat. He slides off his horse to embrace the old woman. Stepping back he grips her husband's hand. "Farron is my good friend. I must look after you both as if you were my own family, so please, if there is anything you need, find me." The old woman bursts into tears and hugs him again.

Later, back on his horse, Garyth spots his brother Philip walking along side one of the large food laden wagons. After greeting, Garyth says to him, "Phil, there is an old couple a few hundred yards back in the column, traveling alone. The Underhills. Can you send someone back for them? Have them brought up here and put on the wagon? I need you to make sure they make it all the way with us. They're family, Phil." Philip just smiles, "Of course we will. I'll send a boy back right now. We'll make sure they're taken care of." Garyth rides off for the front of the column.

At the front, he meets up with Osred. "Where is the scout?" Osred points off south. "She left her pony with me, and took off on foot." He interrupts himself to yell over at Munch, "There's one, boy." He points out to Garyth a bit of cloth tied to a bush, fluttering in the wind. "She's marking the trail with cloth. Can't leave 'em here for the ghouls to follow."

Garyth rides off to the side, to watch the column pass. A thousand soldiers can march thirty or more miles in a day. In a forced march, they can do fifty. Watching the townsfolk walk by, he realizes that they will be lucky to get twenty. To make up for the pace, they'll have to march for twelve, maybe even fifteen hours to make the same ground. That will cost lives. Even a trained soldier will wear out after several days of forced march. But it is either risk losing a few on the road from exhaustion, or risk losing them all when the army catches them from behind. And this is what it means to lead, Garyth thinks. Making decisions about who will live, and who will die. Not for the first time, Garyth wonders if he will want to remain a soldier when this is all over. Giles' life on his farm, with his pretty wife and litter of kids, is looking more and more attractive. Giles' life and death decisions all involve cows, pigs, or chickens.

A quarter of an hour or so goes by, and the last stragglers come out the Overlook gates. The city is empty. Or, as empty as it's going to get. Garyth fights an urge to go back in and search the streets for anyone left behind. Instead, he shouts at the guardsmen in the rear to keep the stragglers moving. He rides up the column, back to the front, and tells Osred to pick up the pace. He does a quick mental calculation. "About 170 miles as the crow flies. Add on 30 for our little jaunt south first. 200 miles, and I'd like to do it in five days if we can."

Osred just looks at him. "We'll lose a few."

"More than a few, but our goal is to not lose them all. Tomorrow, we'll need you moving through the column and giving wait aid and prayers you can to keep the weak or sick moving."

Osred nods, and points out another strip of cloth for Munch. The column marches for the rest of the first day.

[RP or special requests for the first night of camping, plus plans for the next day. Gracias]

From: Ty

Soul-Drinking Knives == Bad

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Raja

Subject: Re: update

Invitation accepted. We should totally spend the night getting good and drunk on some nice wine while we're in the city. :)

From: Karl

Subject: Re: update

While staying very alert so as not to be snuck upon by someone with a soul-drinking knife.

From: Raja

Subject: Re: update

Magic Circle against Evil should do nicely. I assume that still works even if the caster goes on to get good and drunk. ;)

What Everyone Is Doing

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mark

Subject: Re: When Garyth was in Kor Garesh land...

OOC: Has anyone actually told Melani that she can not go to the farm? Unless she has been ordered by Garyth, and maybe even not then, she is planning on helping him out by going to the farm.

Ty, would Melani know the following: How long will it take the people of Overlook to reach the forest of the Kalama? If this farm house is only 1/2 a mile a way and she is with a mounted group, they should be able to get to the farm and back with in an hour. The people of Overlook are mainly on foot, right? Can she reasonably think that she can get to the farmhouse and get back to the refugees long before they get to the forest?

Mark

From: Celia

Let My Garyth Go, The Sunmaster

Wed, 09 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Karl

Subject: Re: a check in

Farron will wait for the Sunmaster's response. (With bated breath, I might add.)

From: Ty

Subject: When Garyth was in Kor Garesh land...

Rennik and Melani move off to take the lead position, Rennik pausing only long enough to stuff his food pouch with jerky and dry tack.

Garyth turns back to his men. "Has anyone seen the elf?"

Vincy is just starting to shrug, when pensive runs up. "The elf is right here."

[I need the RP between Garyth and Pensive on recent events.]

From: Scott

Checking In

Tue, 08 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Karl

Subject: Re: question for raja and karl

Farron will let Sa'id respond since it was his idea to go there. ;-)

:-D

From: Ty

Subject: a check in

Can I get a quick check in from everyone? No one has stuff they want to do?

Raja, can you write up the turn where you ask about the stuff on your list?

Gracias.

From: Mark

Pensive vs. the Brothers, A Touching Family Moment

Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Ty

Subject: Re: I'm back.

In honor of Raja returning, I will get off my fat ass and do some turns today.

From: Mark

Subject: Re: I'm back.

All work and no play makes for a fat lizard. :)

Mark

From: Ty

Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook

Pensive says, "That was foolish," and feels the tattoo on the back of his neck begin to burn with power. As always, the heat flows down his arm and into the stonesash clutched there, making the cord and extension of his own body. But even as this happens, his two opponents are shifting into combat stances, weapons ready.

[Initiative rolls Pensive 10, Cale 16, Spurt 13]

Before Pensive can snap the stonesash up and into position, the talkative rogue is already lunging across the five or so feet between them, his long knife slashing at the monk's throat [Attack 24, hit; Damage 4]. Pensive is able to turn the blade with the flat of his left hand, but earns himself a painful cut on the palm.

His silent partner runs past Pensive to block the doorway [Tumble attempt to pass through occupied square without AOO; roll 24 vs DC 25, failed]. The small man is extremely quick, and almost rolls right past Pensive faster than the monk can react. But Pensive is quick as well, and is able to snap one end of the stonesash down as he passes [AOO natural 1, miss]. Unfortunately, the cord strikes only the floor behind his opponents back, and then the grinning murderer is in place between Pensive and the door.

[pausing here so that Scott can change plans based on what happened.]

From: Ty

Raja Back in Action

Sun, 06 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Raja

Subject: I'm back.

I'm ready to resume, Ty, whenever you'd like to write up what the Sunmaster thinks of our discoveries. :)

Raja

Osred Starts Organizing

Fri, 04 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook

The discussion thus far has left me more or less convinced that a delaying action would be disastrous. I think our best bet is to get on the road as quickly as possible and hope for the best. Garyth will want his group in the vanguard to try to clear the path of any small groups of undesirables and/or steer the herd around any large groups. We'd also want a good-sized rear guard, but I don't think splitting the party is a good idea. Anyway, unless someone can convince me otherwise, this is what Garyth will be doing.

From: Mark

OOC Discussion: Delaying Action

Thu, 03 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook

OOC: Overlook has, what, about 50 guardsmen? And the opposing force is 300+, mostly undead, less any losses from the clash with the Nesalin Army. At least some of the guardsmen will be needed to shepherd the civilians, which cuts the guard force down to more like 20 if we stretch the guards very thin among the civilians. We could probably get some civilian militia going, but there isn't much time for that, so realistically we're talking about attacking a force of 250 to 300 undead and mercenaries with maybe 30 or 40 soldiers, some of which would be untrained, and no magic-users or artillery. It's quite possible that the entire force would be wiped out. Now, this is just the type of thing that Garyth would want to be in charge of, but at this point he's also questioning his motivations--is this to atone for his failures, or maybe just for the glory, or would it actually accomplish something good?

Even with superior knowledge of the terrain allowing for an ambush, the fact that two thirds of the attacking force is more or less arrow-proof makes it an unlikely gambit. Add in that they have a flying witch and the situation looks even worse. We do have the firebombs (I think), but I don't think we have any way of throwing them any great distance. I'm not convinced that a delaying or diversionary action would help.

From: Mark

Garyth Makes the Call, A Case of Mistaken Identity

Wed, 02 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook

The breath catches in Garyth's throat. There is little hope that a thousand civilians could be mobilized in less than an hour. But that was what time they had, and there was a chance that some people could be saved.

"Send runners through the town now and tell the people to gather at the gates. Tell them to bring only what food, weapons, and warm clothing that they have at hand and can easily carry, and mounts if they have them." They wouldn't like that, and many would resist or try to delay, but there was no time for more. "Send another detachment to the barracks and have them gather as many supplies as they can in half an hour. We march in one hour; anyone not at the gates by then will be left behind." Saying those last words nearly breaks Garyth's heart. There will be stragglers--the elderly, the sick, the young, or just people who want to try to bring one more piece of home with them. Some people won't make it in time. These are his neighbors, his friends, his family. But there is no other way.

From: Mark

Garyth Delivers the News, Pensive Prepares for Ambush

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook

The relief in the young guardsman's eyes--his name is Teo, Garyth remembers--is obvious. Just a few hours ago, Garyth had the same faith in Nesalin's armies. Now, though, it seems naive.

As soon as the party is through the gates, Garyth dismounts. He notices Pensive break from the group, but there isn't time to deal with that now. "Close the gates," he calls, then turns to his men. "Vincy, you and the men get up on the wall. If you see anything, come running. Osred, you're with me." He turns back to Teo. "I wish I had good tidings, Teo, gods know we could use them. We've little time to spare. My companions and I," he indicates the halflings, "must speak with Captain Bragga and the Alderman immediately."

OOC: Sorry about that, Ty. Been swamped at work lately.

From: Ty