Deathworld D&D 3

	Staffen	You stand now in Stirov -- or its burning wreckage, anyway. Smouldering corpses litter the path into the village. Somewhere, a pair of blades loudly clash; elsewhere, a child can be heard crying at the top of its lungs.
	Edric_Haart	brings his horse to a halt, taking in the horrific sights, sounds... the stench.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"It looks worse from high up." Rafiq says in hushed tone. He stops his horse next to Edric's. "What now?"
	Edric_Haart	"We find whatever is doing this, and get a good look at it. Count Sender will need good information, if he is to respond to this."
	Edric_Haart	taps his horse's sides with his heels, urging the beast towards the sounds of clashing steel.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	follows along behind Edric cautiously.
	Staffen	A house on the corner collapses as you pass into the center of town, spitting sparks. But this now allows you to spot the fighting:
	Rafiq_Gelihad	pulls on the reins of his horse, steering his beast away from the house as it collapses. "Place is a damn mess..." he comments wearily.
	Staffen	Oda Ghenwyf, the mercenary captain you met last night, is locked in a desperate fight with a strange assailant. The Captain is bleeding profusely from a number of wounds, but refuses to surrender.
	Mizzo_Arbour	rips loose a terrific roar before charging in
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"That's it alright," Rafiq shivers despite himself. He takes his bow and makes ready. "So, boss? We gonna help the merc or leave her for death?"
	Edric_Haart	adjusts his lance
	Edric_Haart	"Don't miss," Edric replies, as he charges forward.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	sighs. "That answers that." He swings off his horse and nocks an arrow before moving a tad closer. "Whatever you say boss. Forests protects us all."
	Staffen	Despite a clear display of mastery in parrying her strikes, the captain successfully lands a strike against her attacker. But she will not hold for long.
	Staffen	The assailant, having been partly distracted by your arrival on the scene, now puts some distance between himself and Captain Oda. It almost appears as if he's floating for a brief moment...
	Staffen	He steps aside, and lifts his blade in preparation for whatever approaches. The Captain chooses to reengage, charging him... but it is too easy, and he slips out of her swing.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	pulling back on the arrow, using his back-muscles as one should, he quickly aims and looses. The arrow flies...and misses. "Dammit."
	Staffen	The attacker narrowly contorts to dodge first an arrow from Rafiq, and then the charge of Lord Haart's lance.
	Staffen	... But he is promptly tackled by a raging bear.
	Staffen	Though he recovers quickly, it is clear: the attacker bleeds, and he does so now through the shredded sleeve of his livery.
	Mizzo_Arbour	lets loose another roar of approval
	Rafiq_Gelihad	breathes a sigh of relief. 'If it bleeds, you can kill it.' His old master's words ring true in his head at the sight of the foes blood.
	Edric_Haart	Yanking at the reins, Edric makes a quick turn around and kicks forward once more.
	Staffen	The attacker, now gravely outnumbered, floats back from his outnumbered position.
	Staffen	He raises his sword once more -- and Captain Oda seems poised to once again accept his invitation...
	Staffen	But then a noise, an ear-piercing shriek of metal grinding onto metal filles the burning Stirov ruins.
	Mizzo_Arbour	raises onto his hind legs before smashing back down to the ground
	Edric_Haart	winces at the assault on his senses
	Staffen	The attacker, bleeding, lowers his sword and dashes away in full retreat.
	Staffen	Captain Oda gives pursuit.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	winces. Though not similar to the beasts he's been trained to hunt, it still reminds him of it.
	Mizzo_Arbour	pulls his paws over his ears and whines in protest
	Rafiq_Gelihad	The ranger nocks another arrow quickly, aims swifly, and looses. He is rewarded with a meaty thunk as it flies true and smacks into the enemies shoulder.
	Edric_Haart	Watching the arrow hit its target, Edric suddenly has a realization on the markings upon his retinue's prey. The opportunity to find out why someone so foreign to these lands has traveled so far cannot be lost. He urges his horse forth at full gallop once more.
	Mizzo_Arbour	acts upon the bears instincts and gives chase to the fleeing prey
	Staffen	The attacker flees at inhuman speeds, fitting of his method of escape. He quickly outpaces Captain Oda, though Lord Haart and and the morphed Mizzo are able to nearly keep pace with his flight...
	Staffen	But as Captain Oda passes a burning building -- an explosion of flame and smoke engulfs her, as a figure, as tall as the giant Moors, runs her through with a burning sword.
	Staffen	It is a monstrosity of glossy, jagged, heavy plate. A molten glow emits from the joints of its armor. It is the source of the metallic noises -- it emits another screech as it gazes upon its next victims.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	notices Oda getting run through, and with a cry of warning to his comrades he nocks an arrow and looses it at the tall figure, not taking more than a moment to aim. He's doing all this while swiftly backing away from the intimidating enemy.
	Edric_Haart	Edric hears the calls, but is keen on closing the final distance to the wounded warrior ahead.
	Mizzo_Arbour	turns and charges the monstrous freak, but is unable to land a blow
	Staffen	The fleeing stranger continues his retreat, and before long is passing through the village fields.
	Staffen	The metal monstrosity takes a wide, reckless swing at Mizzo, tearing into his shifted form with its searing sword.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	While moving back, Rafiq nocks yet another arrow and shoots at the engaged, sizzling enemy. He lands yet another hit.
	Mizzo_Arbour	Gives a roar of defiance and tears into the creature tooth and claw
	Staffen	In retaliation, the metal terror strikes Mizzo yet again, carving through fur and muscle with a fiery wrath.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	like clockwork, he looses another arrow, and is rewarded with another hit.
	Edric_Haart	looks around him, realizing how far he's getting from his retinue, who -by the horrid sounds of it all- are likely engaging some other fiend. He pulls back on the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. With a sigh and a glare to the retreating attacker, he turns about, and heads back to the village
	Staffen	Battered and dented by the mauling of a bear, the molten monstrosity makes one finally, finishing blow upon Mizzo, silencing the bear. It turns its attention now to Rafiq.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Why. Wont. You. Die." He says as he goes through the motions of loosing another arrow at the enmey.
	Mizzo_Arbour	reverts back to his human form, but remains down
	Staffen	The burning machine staggers as the arrow impacts into its chest, but it continues towards Rafiq. The fletching of the new arrow immediately bursts into flame. The creature grips the shaft with a hand, which promptly crumples into charcoal in its fingers. But as this hellish entity plods along, it is floored by the horseback charge of Lord Edric Haart's lance. The armor is rent open by
	Staffen	the attack to reveal its glowing core, pouring waves of heat.
	Staffen	The monster lies dead. But with it -- Stirov.
	Mizzo_Arbour	staggers to his feet
	Mizzo_Arbour	"Hot..." he says, sweat dripping down his face
	Staffen	Captain Oda makes a soft gurgling sound, gripping at the hole through her ribs.
	Staffen	She says something, but her voice is so weak it is inaudible. She gestures to Lord Haart.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	lowers his bow, and the next arrow he already had nocked. He puts the arrow back into his quiver and the bow to his back.
	Edric_Haart	slows his horse, having made his pass against the creature, and turns to face the downed mercenary captain.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	The range sees to helping his old friend Mizzo out.
	Edric_Haart	Edric dismounts from his horse, and closes the distance to her on foot, taking a knee when he reaches her.
	Mizzo_Arbour	"Thanks friend..." he says tiredly
	Mizzo_Arbour	makes his way over to captian Oda
	Staffen	Captain Oda Ghenwyf utters something as blood pumps from her mouth.
	Edric_Haart	"Rest now, warrior. You have done your duty," Edric says in the Dwarven tongue.
	Mizzo_Arbour	begins to chant healing words over the woman, try desperately to save her
	Edric_Haart	Looks over to the approaching Arbour. "Make her comfortable" he says in the Elven language.
	Staffen	Content in her conversation with Edric, she turns her head to Mizzo. She clasps his wrist, tight as she can.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"I'm going to secure the perimeter, make sure nothing else is going to surprise us." He pauses before looking around. "Maybe someone survived this," he mutters to himself.
	Staffen	Then her head falls back, and her grip loosens.
	Staffen	In the smouldering wreckage, a child cries.
	Edric_Haart	gets up, and makes for the wreckage.
	Mizzo_Arbour	sits down next to her for a moment, defeated
	Mizzo_Arbour	then moves towards the sound of the child
	Edric_Haart	"Find the child, and bring it to safety!" he commands.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	raises his hand in the affirmative as he makes off.
	Staffen	Lightning cracks in the distance. A soft rain begins to fall.
	Edric_Haart	goes to retrieve his lance - it could be used to move wreckage out of the way.
	Staffen	The corpse has not cooled. When Lord Haart removes the lance, the tip is bright-hot.
	Edric_Haart	Edric sinks it in the mud below.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"I've found him!" He yells back to his comrades.
	Edric_Haart	rushes towards the ranger
	Staffen	"Oda!" screams the boy. "Oda!"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	emerges from the house, changeling in one arm.
	Staffen	When Rafiq emerges from the house he is holding a child -- a white-haired boy with chalk-white skin, dressed in clothing befitting a noble. The boy struggles in his grip.
	Staffen	"Oda!" the changeling child cries. "Oda, help!"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Dammit buddy, cooperate please."
	Edric_Haart	holds a hand up, in front of him. "Listen to me, changeling."
	Mizzo_Arbour	walks over to the child changeling, putting his hand on the childs shoulder and giving him a warm smile as he casts the spell.
	Staffen	The child calms instantly under the influence of the magic.
	Edric_Haart	"Oda has died. She and her band. I don't know how well you knew her, but that hardly matters now. I will take you to Windspire myself."
	Staffen	"Oda..." the child buries his head in Rafiq's sleeve.
	Edric_Haart	"Do you understand what I am telling you, boy? That means no more wrestling away from Mr. Gelihad. We will protect you now. No running off, now."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Indeed..."
	Edric_Haart	"The boy will ride with me, Gelihad. Help him on my horse." Edric says, as he mounts up.
	Mizzo_Arbour	prepares a hole to bury Oda in
	Rafiq_Gelihad	nods and moves to help the boy up.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	With that done he goes to find his own horse and mount up.
	Edric_Haart	Edric steers his horse towards Arbour for the boy to see Oda for one last time.
	Staffen	The boy reaches out. "Oda!"
	Mizzo_Arbour	shifts form into a giant wolf
	Edric_Haart	puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.
	Staffen	"Oda!" he cries, leaning out beneath Haart's arms. He continues to fight to reach out towards Oda's remains, long after they are visible.
	Staffen	Time passes. As you leave the town, the boy's screaming turns to sobs. And before long, he has worn himself out. An hour into the trail, he is silent.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	brings his horse around so that he's riding right next to Edric. "There's a wolf watching us, has been since we left town. It's following us, isn't normal for a wolf, be on your guard."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Looks like it's about to head us off."
	Edric_Haart	Edric simply nods.
	Edric_Haart	He keeps his hand on his sword's hilt.
	Staffen	Sure enough, when the trail comes to a bend -- there the wolf waits, standing on all fours, watching your party with its head lowered.
	Staffen	It does not move. It only watches.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	snaps the reins a bit to go just ahead of the group, but not by much.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	The ranger makes an effort to stare directly at the beast.
	Mizzo_Arbour	"Who are you." He growls
	Staffen	"Spare me your snarling, halbeldii," says the wolf, in perfect Common.
	Staffen	Ngoze en-Elan Alvaan promptly shifts back into her true form.
	Mizzo_Arbour	promptly sits on his rump and cocks his head
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"By the forests."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"So I take it you've seen what's become of your comrades, then?"
	Staffen	"I have," says Ngoze. "Much as it pains me, I was not meant to die there."
	Staffen	She lifts back her hood. A pair of animal-like ears perk up upon her head.
	Staffen	"Did the Captain explain to you about the child?" she asks, pointing.
	Edric_Haart	"Only that he is to be taken to Windspire. He will travel with us until we reach the Capital."
	Edric_Haart	"But..." Edric adds.
	Edric_Haart	"Not before I speak to Count Sender about what happened back there."
	Staffen	"If you wish to risk it, then so be it." Ngoze lowers her head, staring at Ser Edric behind her mask. "You will be pursued every step of the way to Windspire."
	Mizzo_Arbour	"By whom?" he barks
	Rafiq_Gelihad	groans.
	Staffen	"By the Watchman." She flits her cloak back, revealing a belt of masks and pouches. "The man responsible for destroying that precious little hamlet."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"And I take it you won't be joining us.
	Edric_Haart	"Your 'watchman' is in no condition to pursue. Not for a few days, at any rate. We will reach the Count in a few days' ride.
	Edric_Haart	"
	Staffen	Ngoze laughs. "You underestimate the determination of the Stumer Empire's Royal Guardian. He likely has already recovered from whatever scratches you gave him. But at the very least he is an incompetent tracker. It will take him a short time to find our trails..."
	Staffen	"... Longer to figure out I don't have the boy. So no, for his sake I will not be joining you."
	Mizzo_Arbour	"Will you be alright, can you outrun him?"
	Edric_Haart	"Why are they after the boy?"
	Staffen	She shrugs. "Alone, yes. But he'll catch on..."
	Staffen	She looks again to Haart -- to the boy. He is sound asleep in Haart's lap. "I take it news does not reach this far west of the 'One True Empire'? There has been a most interesting turn of events in the Imperial court."
	Staffen	"The Emperor and his thirty-three sons -- dead. All but one."
	Edric_Haart	"It was surprise enough to see one of their agents so far out West."
	Staffen	She points to the boy.
	Edric_Haart	"Ah.'
	Edric_Haart	"
	Edric_Haart	"
	Edric_Haart	""""
	Edric_Haart	""""""
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Oh great." Rafiq muses.
	Edric_Haart	"Does the Crown wish to hold an Imperial heir hostage?"
	Staffen	"Perhaps," Ngoze shrugs. "It would make sense. I hear the northern lords of Anatia are terrified of invasion by Stumer. Ahngrin is fighting a desperate war against them on their eastern borders."
	Mizzo_Arbour	whines and shakes his head
	Staffen	She shifts to one foot. "But we -- I -- brought the boy here because his mother wished it to be so."
	Edric_Haart	"What-all does the boy know?"
	Staffen	"I remember telling him, once," says Ngoze. "I don't think he really grasps the matter, though."
	Edric_Haart	"Does he have any family waiting for him at the Windspire court?"
	Mizzo_Arbour	begins to chase his tail
	Staffen	Ngoze shakes her head. "He does not. He was a bastard-born, and a bastard-conceived, regardless of his mother's true nature as a changeling. But Prince Ilarin is aware of the child's coming, and welcomes him into his court."
	Mizzo_Arbour	walks over to the woman and begins sniffing her
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Mizz, knock that off."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Druids." He mutters to himself, while looking for one of his flasks.
	Staffen	She approaches Edric's horse, cautiously, reaching into one of her pouches. "His name is Alhaym."
	Mizzo_Arbour	shifts back to normal form
	Mizzo_Arbour	"Why bother with all this political mumbo jumbo?
	Mizzo_Arbour	"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"It does affect the forests, Mizz."
	Edric_Haart	"Very well. Until we reach Windspire," Edric turns to his retinue, "I have a nephew. His name is Alan."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Or could, I should say." He says after finding one of his metal containers for alcohol, and sips away."
	Mizzo_Arbour	"The forests are perfectly fine under my masters watch!" he says back with a huff
	Mizzo_Arbour	"You have a nephew?"
	Edric_Haart	"Mr. Arbour, there are matters far beyond your expertise."
	Staffen	Ngoze nods. "And, one final thing." She offers up a smooth, plain locket on a chain to Edric. "His mother's keepsake. It's all he has of her. Do not let it be lost."
	Edric_Haart	swallows it whole
	Mizzo_Arbour	shrugs and pats the boys head\
	Edric_Haart	[redacted]
	Edric_Haart	takes the locket and puts it in a pouch.
	Edric_Haart	"Very well. The boy and the memento will be safe with me."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"We'll look after him."
	Staffen	Ngoze steps back. "Good. Be safe on your travels. But, perhaps a worldly experience will do him some good. It is best he experience life beyond the isolation of a noble's playpen."
	Staffen	She lifts her cowl back over her head once more.
	Edric_Haart	"Indeed," Edric comments, tapping his heels on his horse's sides.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	waves at the woman before following along.
	Staffen	Ngoze slips away into the woods. Before long, she is gone from sight.

Other:
	Staffen	Following the sound of the wailing, you enter into what was once the ground floor of a home.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	picks through the house carefully, as he makes his way towards the sound of what he thinks is the child in question.
	Staffen	From the moment you approached, the child had stopped crying. They think themselves to be clever -- calling for help and then going silent when someone inevitably comes investigating. But you know better.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Come out little one, it's safe now." He says in as neutral a tone as possible.
	Staffen	Realizing they've been found, a child -- no older than 5 summers old -- scrambles from an artificial pile of rubble, only to stumble on the ruined planks. It is a boy, dressed in nobles' livery.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	fishes into one of his pouches for some jerky, before approaching and helping the boy up. He proffers it to the lad.
	Staffen	Something strange happens when you pick up the boy. His hair quickly shifts colors. At first it looks to be a trick of the light, but the mottling quickly spreads to the child's skin, and then the boy's entire skin becomes a solid, chalk-white.
	Staffen	He backs against the broken wall. He stares at you with deep fear through white eyes ringed with black sockets.
	Staffen	It's a changeling. The child is a changeling.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"A Changeling....What are you doing here?" He turns back towards his comrades. "I've found him!"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	gets on one knee so he and the changeling are eye to eye.
	Staffen	The child tries to break for the doorway, but you grab him by the waist in your arm.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"That's not polite." He chides the changeling, before hauling him out of the house into the street.
	Staffen	A wolf -- perhaps the most normal-looking animal you've seen all day -- is watching this scene unfold from the fields. When it sees that you have spotted it, though, the wolf slips away.
	Staffen	The wolf is still following. Something is off about how it is trailing you, however.
	Staffen	You watch it hurry past your group, through the tree-line -- it is likely to emerge along the road ahead based on the way it's moving.