Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

?I do not hold you to be evil for such warring, lest all men be found equally evil, for all will fight when backed into a corner. My purpose here is not to judge you for these acts, nor is it to help men take your lands. If I fight by their side, it is an accident of circumstance and because there were many innocents in this town needing protection. I notice you did not bring your women and children to battle."

The raider responds evenly.

"No, we do not bring our women and children to battle. We also do not place them in the hunting grounds of a grassland lion. The sunset people place their women and children in such peril."

He pauses.

"It was not our intention to kill any women or children." He looks up from the ground to look directly into Erk's eyes. "Only to drive them back out of our lands. These weak men cannot live off the land - they need their towers of wood and stone. This is not their land. There is no stone or wood for them to build."

"Yet still they invade the grasses and destroy our hunting grounds." He spits.

Erk considers his words, and notes that he has been very forthcoming with information. He realizes that he hasn't asked any questions about Tossuc, or the whereabouts of the other attackers. He's not sure how the man would respond to such questions, and he isn't willing to press the issue.

?If you help me with a few more things, I and my band will move on to other business. What is this ?tall grass? you speak of that the men drive you into? We are following an expedition of men from my city who may have gone into it. Would you know of them? When they were lost, other men followed to find them, and were lost as well. We seek either or both of these bands. Can you tell me anything of them, or the land they went into??

"If they traveled into the Tall Grass, they are lost. You will not find them, and if you look you will not return. The Tall Grass is the land of the animal gods, and those who venture too far are never seen again."

He pauses again, and lowers his voice.

"I can tell you that they were not attacked by my people. Without wood and stone, the sunset people cannot survive the wilds. It is better to wait for them to starve and be killed by predators, then claim the abandoned weapons and equipment."

"I did see a long train of wagons many, many, and my tribe kept an eye on them, waiting for them to fail and turn back - or to die. But they did not stop. They walked into the Tall Grass just south of the buffalo marshes, and we knew then that the gods would claim their spoils."

At the mention of the buffalo marshes, a flicker of recollection passes across Buchek's face. He knows that land. It was several days travel to the south of the territory claimed by his father during his childhood - if this man was part of Tossuc's band, and Tossuc had expanded that far... he may truly be trying to unite all the People. Otherwise, this was a man whose tribe was destroyed, and he joined the Tossucat for survival.

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

Erk says, "Thank you for your help. No matter the side you fight for, I can see you are a man of honor. I will do what I can for you."

After he gets up, he will take the guard aside. "No harm comes to them until a lawful trial is held. Do you understand me? If any here take vengeance on helpless men, I will see to it that you pay the price for such lawlessness."

Erk will leave with Buchek. Once they are out of earshot, he will ask, "What do you make of his words? What are the tall grasses? Why do your people fear them so?"

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

"The Tall Grass is the land beyond our own. It is the territory of the Animal Gods, and it is where the Sunset People's caravan disappeared. No one with wisdom enters the Tall Grass willingly. Those who do so without the favor of their gods rarely re-emerge. The best those who disappear can hope for is a quick death from the bite of a viper. The Grass Children devour the souls of those less fortunate, leaving their bodies to wander forever through the swamps. Others the gods choose to play with, or consume, or enslave.

Buchek touches the ruined side of his face. "It was in the Tall Grass that I was given this. I thought--hoped--that the fact that I survived the Tall Grass meant that I was favored by Kipshaa. Now I am not so sure. Perhaps Death spat me back for its own reasons." He shrugs. "Perhaps it was chance."

Visibly changing the subject, Buchek says "I am troubled by what this man said. He said something about the Buffalo Marshes being a part of his tribe's lands. The marshes are several days travel from the Cushat's traditional lands. If the Tossucat has grown so large that the marsh dwellers are a part of it, his power is even greater than I had feared. I only hope that this man was tribeless, and sought refuge with the Tousscat."

He pauses for a moment. "He did not seem like an evil man. I was surprised. I thought that any that followed Tossuc would have been tainted by his evil, or killed out of hand. What the man says of the Vegetable Eaters stealing our ands is true. It the man leading the coming assault were someone else...I

would not oppose him. What he seeks to do is just, and the dream of the People reunited is a good one. With Tossuc's evil lurking in the heart of the One Tribe, though, it is sure to collapse, and perhaps destroy the People along with it.

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

"Buchek, if the expedition went into this 'Tall Grass', is there any chance of finding them? We have lost many men already, in the first expedition and in the rangers who followed. I would not want to see us waste more lives on a hopeless gesture. Tell me true, is it possible to move through the lands of your people, and find those we have lost?"

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

OOC: What are the rest of us doing? I'd like Holn to get some food and rest. He needs his spells replenished.

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

"The Tall Grass is not for the faint of heart, but I believe that a small party, well equipped and wary of the dangers, would have some chance of finding the caravan, or what is left of it. If I believed that walking into the Tall Grass was suicide, I would never have let my mother lead my little Buchekat into it."

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

"Well then. I suppose we will bow to your experience in such matters. We should find the others and tell them what we've learned."

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

"Agreed," Buchek says, and walks with Erk toward Holn and the others.

Subject: Re: Approaching the Prisoners

Tearing flesh from the unnamed meat that the villagers have provided, Holn feeds Fancek. She lies quietly in his lap, staring into the fire sleepily and purring. She suddenly pricks up her ears, and Holn can feel the strirring, turning his head in time to see the two approach the hearth.

"What have you got from our enemies? Any new information?" He asks.

Subject: Check in?

Okay, so, here's where we stand after a week off. (Not sure why that happened, but... moving on!)

Buchek and Erk have interrogated the prisoner and found out that they entered the Tall Grass at a place Buchek is familiar with. Their interrogations have also yielded that Tossuc's influence has expanded through a greater section of the grassland wilds than Buchek had thought possible.

They have come back to Telwyn, Holn, and Elotai to report what they have discovered. I'm going to assume they have told the basics, though feel free to roleplay a bit about each character's individual interpretations of the facts.

Bermid has effectively removed himself from the party, taking command over what's left of the Caro outpost. This has left what appears to be Erk in charge of the expedition at the moment, as he's the one who seems to be taking the most initiative.

Kayla has turned in early, and it is now around midnight by anyone's best guess. There is no way to see the moon or stars between the clouds and the smoky haze. Telwyn would approximate that it was just after midnight, based on time elapsed - but time spent fighting tends to distort estimates.

The group is tired after a long day of travel and fighting, and all want to rest. If the conversation is over regarding the prisoners (meaning no interaction beyond the very basics), it needs to be decided where the party is heading the following morning. I would assume the group would be heading out to the place in the Tall Grass where the expedition disappeared, but it's never good to assume.

Please check in so that I know what the next morning will hold. If you are going to let Erk and Buchek make the decisions, please say so. Also, is anyone going to wake Kayla up and let her in on the discussion?

Once everyone checks in, I will write up the next turn.

Subject: Re: Check in?

Buchek will wake Kayla, and will advocate heading for the spot where the caravan entered the Tall Grass.

Subject: Kayla's check-in

Because Kayla's been asleep, she's going to want Buchek's description of what she missed.

Buchek, if you could e-mail her a summary in your own words, that would be awesome.

*yawn*

She's willing to go where others vote. Kayla doesn't feel strongly about it.
-Clara

Subject: Re: Checking in

Telwyn remains quiet as Erk and Buchek relate their findings. He idly pokes at the wound in his gut, wincing at the pain. He had been so sure of his own expertise. This "Tall Grass" might be dangerous to these city folk, he had thought, but he knew what he was doing. Life has a way of dealing with such hubris, though. It would be almost funny if it had been a stage play or some bard's song. But it was his life, a life that had almost been spent on the dirt of this outpost.

Even so, he can't turn back now. This was his best hope--indeed, his only and last hope--of ever finding his parents. It had been twenty-five years; maybe he was stupid to think that they could still be alive. But it was something. And if not, perhaps he could still find some answers; after all, his father had come from the east.

Telwyn speaks softly. "It will be dangerous. My uncle Harmon once went into the Tall Grass with several others, following some... slavers." He pauses for a moment, a strange look in his eyes. "My uncle was a good fighter in his day. Even so, they didn't all make it back." He turns to Erk.

"I'm as good an outdoorsman as any--it's no brag to say so, and false modesty is as arrogant as any boast. I can't guarantee that I can bring everyone back out safely. But Holn and Buchek know the tribal ways, and maybe between the three of us we can get around or through whatever obstacles we might find. No one has any better chance than we do, and there are people who need us." A certain intensity blazes beneath Telwyn's calm words; it's not completely clear whether he's just talking about the settlers.

Subject: Re: Checking in

Erk nods. "Then we go. If there is any chance to find the others, we must press on." He turns to Buchek. "Is there any reason we can't leave in the morning? I will be able to petition Clangeddin for additional aid in the morning, and can probably have everyone back at fighting strength before we leave. Is there anything else we need?"

He will listen to the recommendations of Telwyn and Buchek, and work with Bermid to make sure the party has what it needs. Then he will sleep till morning and pray (same prayer list).

OOC: Matt, if you send me a character damage list, I'll heal up the gang too.

Subject: Re: Checking in

ODM: I only have two people having taken damage. Buchek is at 37 of 52 (down 15) and Telwyn is at 8 of 23 (also down 15).

Seems everyone is in agreement that you leave in the morning, heading for the spot where the travels entered the Tall Grass. I'll write up the turn if no one else jumps in tonight.

Subject: Re: Checking in

Turn is coming. I just had a buttload of papers to grade last night and couldn't get to it. I should have it by some point this afternoon.

Subject: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

The morning sun rises over the grassland wilds, lending light to the misty grayness that swept in off the plain during the night. Telwyn wakes just before dawn, gasping as he opens his eyes and sits bolt upright. Reaching for his wound, he shook off the dream and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. He had lived to see the dawn - something he would not take for granted again for some time.

Rising, he quietly dresses before walking toward the stables. The mist has beaten down the smoke in the air, leaving a crisp and fresh morning obscured by the gray. It seems peaceful, Telwyn thinks, trying to ignore the knowlege that beyond the mist lay the burnt ruins of thatch roofs and the broken tower. Feeding the pack animals and calming them, letting them get reacquainted with his sent, he checks on the gear for the expedition one more time before their morning departure.

Confident that everything is in order, he returns to the inn's common room, picking through the myriad bedrolls laid out as a patchwork across the floor. He notices Kayla awake and dressed, going through a regimen of stretches and dexterity exercises. Buchek slept heavily some paces away, though Erk and Holn were stirring already. Glancing around for Elotai, he does not find the elf anywhere inside.

Stepping out the door onto the street, he finds the elf sitting peacefully, carefully sharpening his longsword.

"Did you sleep well, my brother?" Elotai asks Telwyn in elvish, giving the half-elf a strange sense of comfort, though he can't imagine why. He has grown up mostly around humans.

"As well as can be expected." The dreamlike feeling of the arrow piercing his skin is now just a vague memory. "You're up early."

"I completed my four hours of trance. The hours after dawn but before the humans rise is a most peaceful time. The mist is so silent. Aside from the early guards, most of the outpost doesn't wake until the fog has mostly been burned off by the sun."

Elotai watches as Liwanu emerges from the mists covered in blood - its own, or another's he can't tell. Shaking his head, the blood vanishes, leaving only the wolf's normally intense features. Telwyn notices Elotai's gaze focus just beyond him oddly for a moment, and turns to see Liwanu and give him a scratch.

"I should wake Erk," Telwyn says. "We'll want to get moving as soon as possible, to make best use of the daylight."

***

The party assembles at the bridge, with expedition in tow just as the sun begins to break through the grayness surrounding the river. Bermid clasps each of their hands in turn, wishing them good fortune in their quest, and the guards walk them to the opposite side of the river before waving them off.

The day's journey takes them past the guard house Buchek remembers well, and he tells the details of his altercation to some laughs after they are outside of earshot of the morning guard. The barbarian is acutely aware of his freedom in the wilds, and has no wish of returning to the lands of the sunset peoples.

Holn and Buchek lead the expedition through the wilds, staying on what seems to be well worn paths of the plains elk and grassland boar. The grass rises to the waists of the humans, just to Erk's chest, and fully over Kayla's head. Erk follows behind with Telwyn, chatting about what they might expect in the Tall Grass, or even just among the wilds. Elotai also listens intently, asking questions here and there, seeking to know as much as he can about the east, and what might lay there for him. Kayla grows tired of the monotony of the grass quickly and climbs atop one of the mule's backs to play her fiddle.

The time goes quickly, as Holn and Buchek find an easy path to follow, almost as though they weren't looking for it. They trade stories with the group, and Telwyn joins in, speaking of strange times in the wilds, or legends of the Tall Grass. Kayla asks about the giant snakeskin that wrapped around the entire ceiling of the inn's common room, and the three fall silent.

"Stories tell of such beasts, but I have never seen one living. A man of my tribe had a longsword that was said to be a single fang of such a snake." Buchek leaves it at that, and changes the subject. The group is a little more wary of the sea of green/yellow grass swaying in the breeze on all sides.

The night passes well enough, as do the next two days of traveling. The group has found a steady routine of meals and marching that suits them, with Kayla often riding on the mule and playing happy tunes to wile away the time.

During the early afternoon of the third day, Buchek and Telwyn are walking at the fore of the group when they stop suddenly short. The grasses and path are disturbed ahead. They each stoop to examine the ground and the broken grasses, whispering back and forth to one another.

After some time, Telwyn ranges out into the grasses for several minutes before returning to whisper some more with Buchek and address the group:

"We have been seeing some stray tracks here and there along our path, but these are different. The mud was scored deeply by a wagon wheel - so deeply that it appears the wheel had to have been replaced. It happened some time ago, but the deep impression in the dried mud remains."

"I scouted ahead to be sure and found broken wooden wheel spokes in the grass. The metal frame is gone, as are all other steel parts of a wagon wheel."

Buchek continues, "We believe that scavengers came afterward and took these metals. This is a good sign. We are entering the territory of the Kubalcat, who were once allies to my father. It is only another day's journey to the border of the Tall Grass after tonight..."

With these words, a distant screech is heard, almost like a squeal of pain. Liwanu and Fancek Fa's ears both immediately perk up, and Liwanu looks from Telwyn to the grass and back, wanting to investigate.

From the sound, Telwyn's best guess is that the sound came from over the a rise some 200 yards away, possibly further.

[ODM: Please check in with actions.]

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Buchek freezes for a moment as the screech splits the pollen scented afternoon air. (OOC--Matt, has he ever heard an animal cry like this, or does it sound more like a human sound?)

IC--Dropping into a crouch that brings his eyes just above the top of the waving grasses, Buchek motions to Telwyn, then points from himself to Telwyn to the wolf, and finally nods in the direction of the cry. He strings his bow, knocks an arrow, then swiftly and silently begins moving toward the rise, not looking back to see if Telwyn and Liwanu are following.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

A look of annoyance flashes across Telwyn's face as Buchek moves ahead alone. The arrogant bastard had better not get them killed. He signals for Liwanu to heel, then crouches low and moves quietly to the base of the rise. Once there, he nocks an arrow, then slowly brings his eyes just over the top, trying to keep the top of his head below the level of the grass.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Holn's senses fill with the sights and smells of the grassland as Fa jumps to his shoulder, looking toward the disturbance. Caution seems to be the proper order now.

He crouches next to Telwyn, watching Buchek advance, ready to throw mana.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

The sound is so strange to Kayla, she repeats the sound in her head, trying to figure it out. She glances out toward the sound from the mule, but if she can't see anything she will dismount immediately, staying within sight of Erk.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Elotai watches Buchek move off into the grass, his expression blank. This barbarian seemed to live even quicker than most humans. Following Telwyn's lead, he unshoulders his bow and nocks an arrow, keeping low as he follows and trusting the ranger's eyes.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Just waiting on Ty.

He hasn't checked in on either of his games since Monday, so I'm guessing work has gotten busy. When I get Erk's turn, we can creep over that rise.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

OOC: Yeah, been out of town two days at client sites. Sorry.

IC: Erk will follow the stealthier party members from some distance back. He knows that he is a big clanking pile of shiny metal, so he will not get close enough to them to give their position away. He will, however, try to stay within earshot, so he can rush to their aid if they call for help.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Buchek rushes ahead through the tall grass, drawing his axe to the ready. The squeal was certainly one of pain, but he knew it couldn't be human. It was like someone had kicked a dog, or more like some sort of night scavenger. But it was so... loud. No animal could have projected that sound, at least in Buchek's mind. Yet, as he quickly pressed for the top of the hill, the hairs started rising on the back of his neck.

Telwyn followed closely behind with Tichenor moving with head low at his side. More careful, his bow drawn out of caution, he fans just to the right side of the barbarian and presses for the rise. The sound made no sense to him. It sound like... well, like the sound rats made when he shot them with arrows as they crept along the perimeter of his campfire. But that sound could not have been made by any rat... or, any normal rat.

The rest of the party follows from behind, leaving the mules behind to graze on the tall grasses around the trail they had been discussing. Pressing up the hill, trying not to make too much noise, they see Buchek and Telwyn stop suddenly short at the top of the rise, standing uncharacteristically tall with no thought of concealment or stealth. Getting closer, Erk notices their shocked stares and mouths slightly agape, then follows their line of sight to the plain below.

There, flanked on all sides by warriors of a barbarian tribe, was a staggeringly massive weasel of some kind, at least sixty feet long, thrashing wildly at the long pikes struggling to keep it at bay. Spears sprung forth from its blood-soaked back like the quills of a hedgehog, rippling with the wild, jerky movements of the beast, and one pike had pierced the neck clean through from one side to the other and whipped back and forth with the creature's frantic head movements.

All stood in wonder for a moment as they watched a group of three warriors press forward with pikes at the massive weasel's throat, then stared horrorstruck as the animal seized the lead man with its teeth around the midsection. With a rapid twist of its head, the unfortunate man's body was torn in two in a spray of blood that caused the ring of tribesmen to fall back momentarily before rushing in once more.

Everyone in the group stands in utter silence and awe, unable to look away or see anything but the startling speed, strength and agility of the enormous animal. [Pathetic saves vs. fear against DC 15: Buchek, 3; Erk, 12; Telwyn, 9; Holn, 5; Elotai, 6; Kayla, 12]

Buchek stares in disbelief at the melee, whispering only, "they have invoked the wrath of the weasel god...". Holn swallows hard at those words, fighting to fit the presence of the totemic beast into his view of the world and his people, but not able to find any words to describe it.

Erk says an instinctive prayer to Clangeddin for protection against supernatural forces, and Kayla vividly pictures what the weasel would have done to a halfling over and over in her mind. Unconsciously, she takes a step closer to Erk and his metal shell.

Elotai takes a step back, startled by the gruesomeness of the man's death before his eyes, never imagining that particular vision could have been so gut-wrenching. He fights the bile rising in his throat as his eyes follow the man's torso as it flies through the air, raining blood in all directions. It lands against the side of a tent, and Elotai finally realizes that there is more going on than the battle with the giant beast.

This was a village, or at least an encampment, and he can pick out the wreckage of temporary structures torn and knocked down, littered with torn corpses of women and men. Glancing further from his high vantage point, he can see a small huddle of women and children hiding in the grass a hundred feet or more away from the battle, surely praying to their gods that their warriors emerge triumphant.

Another shrieking squeal from the weasel snaps his attention back to the fight, and he sees a spear protruding from one of the beast's eye sockets.

Subject: Shock and Awe

Damnit, I meant to change the header on that last email. Hmph. Ah well.

Just for clarity's sake, you are all still about 600 feet or more away from the battle, at least two football fields.

Subject: Re: The Journey Begins; A Distant Cry

Buchek watches the battle below, struggling to master his fear. As the wind shifts, he gags slightly at the beast's oily musk. He almost thinks that he can smell the copper tang of blood, the stench of the dead men's offal, but knows that it's his imagination, filling in the details. He is too far for such a scent to carry to him.

He shakes his head slowly, torn as to what to do. As a boy he'd sat at his father's fire, shivering with delicious fear at tales of gods such as this thing. But when Kipshaa failed to protect his father he'd angrily turned his back on her. Had turned his back on her until he awoke on in the Tall Grass with his grave goods laid out around him, the unruined side of his face covered with burial tatoos. Since then he had been less sure. Had a god brought him back from death for some purpose? Had death spat him out as the Cushat had, unwilling to count him as its own? Had he merely been lucky, survived by chance?

All of this doubt shrinks to a tiny, irrelevant speck in the face of the attack going on below. There is a god down there, tormenting The People. And for what? For some missed sacrifice, when they could barely feed themselves on the lands left to them by the Sunset People? Because they were pawns in some other god's plans? Anger flares through him, and his fist tightens on Nauhata's haft. Those were his people down there, being trampled and gored by an avatar of Khoftak. Not his tribe, true, but more like him than any other here, save Holn. He can't just stand by as they are killed.

And yet...a part of his mind argues. This is not his fight. Khoftak is not an ally of Kipshaa, but neither is he an enemy. They fight sometimes, but just as often they do not. If he attacks this avatar below there is no guarantee that Kipshaa will favor him for it. And honestly, can he even be sure that Kipshaa counts him as one of her own? If so, why would she allow his uncle to succeed?

No, it would be foolish to enter this battle. It can do little more than earn him the animosity of a god, a god whose territory he will soon be entering. This is not his fight. The screams of the tribesmen below carry across the grass. Damn it. This is not his fight. And yet...

He turns to Holn. "Those are our people being slain down there, brother. We cannot leave them to their slaughter, Khoftak's anger be damned." With this he starts forward, then stops, suddenly aware of all of his companions. "We cannot leave them," he repeats more loudly, almost defiantly, as though they rather than he had been arguing against taking sides in this conflict. With this he turns and begins striding toward the battle, trying to resist the temptation to look over his shoulder to see if his companions follow.