Deathworld D&D 2

Staffen	Night is upon you before you arrive back in Stirov. The road through the village is empty; the homes, quiet and dark... but the inn where you rested this morning is fully lit. A dozen voices sing from within.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"I don't know about you," Rafiq says while yawning, "but I'm bushed. Think the inn-keep will shit his pants if we come back to stay the night?"
	Edric_Haart	dismounts his horse, and approaches the inn's entrance on foot, leading his horse forward.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Maybe I should sleep out here?" he says glumly
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"I'll take that as a yes." He mutters to himself before getting off his own horse and following behind. He pats Croaker, his horse, as he walks behind.
	Mizzo_Arbor	walks back and forth nervously, before entering after them
	Sanjai_Geben	ties his horse near the rest of them and follows before Haart.
	Sanjai_Geben	enters the inn.
	Sorel_Draven	shrugs following suit.
	Staffen	What seems to be another group of adventurers is partying away inside the inn, sloshing drink around and singing heartily in a foreign tongue.
	Staffen	The innkeep takes note of your entrance. "Welcome back, lads. Didn't expect to see you home so soon."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Any room?" Rafiq asks the inn-keep.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Excuse me, are any room available?" He corrects himself.
	Staffen	The innkeep nods. He moves to speak, but one of the adventurers tosses a coin to him before can.
	Staffen	"Another round of your best for the boys!" calls the man.
	Staffen	"Right," the innkeep replies, "let me take this lot first."
	Staffen	He looks back to Rafiq. "We've got one more spare room, aye. But if you don't mind me asking..."
	Staffen	"Did you manage to take care of those hooligans we spoke of earlier?"
	Edric_Haart	"That, and more."
	Edric_Haart	takes a seat.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"We'll take whichever rooms are left, Innkeep, but first, some ale. He then takes a seat opposite of Edric.
	Staffen	"Oh?" The innkeep leans against one arm while he reaches for a fresh mug with the other. "What's this, then?"
	Sanjai_Geben	takes a seat and lets off a sigh.
	Sorel_Draven	takes a seat.
	Edric_Haart	"Pendogast's Keep was occupied by more than just rabble."
	Mizzo_Arbor	takes a seat next to Rafiq
	Mizzo_Arbor	"You know Rafiq, I think you'd be very interested in seeing how my transformation practice is coming along." he whispers excitedly
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Perhaps. Though I'd wait 'til we're in the woods."
	Staffen	"Sounds like a right-proper adventure, then." The innkeep turns to begin filling some mugs. "Board's on me, lads. Come morn, I'll fetch the elder and we'll see about getting you a reward."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"ah the woods..." he says, pulling out a pipe
	Edric_Haart	"Very kind of you, innkeep," Edric says, raising his drink.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Sounds grand old man." He starts gulping down the alcohol as soon as it's in reach.
	Sorel_Draven	"Fun times ahead then."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Who are the other adventurers?" he says aloud
	Edric_Haart	"Mercenaries from across the Eastern borders, it would appear" Edric replies, after taking a gulp of his drink.
	Sanjai_Geben	takes a sip of his drink.
	Staffen	One of the celebrating foreigners -- a wide man with braids in his beard -- smacks his hand against his table. "Who're we?!" he exclaims. "Who are these OTHER adventurers, the boy asks!"
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I'm more of a young adult i'd say."
	Staffen	"Mercenaries, the little lord says," coos another, a thin cowled woman wearing a smugly-smiling mask.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"You keep referring to us as smaller beings, is there a reason for this?"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	almost chokes on his ale as he chuckles. "Gods-damned Mizzo, don't kill me."
	Edric_Haart	[Dwarven] "Am I wrong?"
	Mizzo_Arbor	puffs his pipe thoughtfully
	Sanjai_Geben	starts rubbing his temple.
	Staffen	"Wrong, yes. But perhaps a little right," answers another adventurer, clutching her breastplate in her arms. "Drunk is what we are, regardless."
	Edric_Haart	"Then let us join you" he says with a smile growing on his face.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I found being intoxicated unpleasant." he says, scrunching his face
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Intoxication's wonderful Mizzo," he finished his mug of ale as he says this. "Innkeep! Another!"
	Staffen	"Aey Swemiy," says the woman with the breastplate, beckoning Edric over. "Join us in our cups, lordling. Tell us of this keep you and yours've plundered."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Though I wonder how I would react in another form..." he puzzles over this
	Edric_Haart	rises, and makes his way to a seat nearer the group
	Staffen	The innkeep slips aside, grabs a new cask, and taps it fresh. "That'll be a spell, friend. Gimme a moment."
	Sanjai_Geben	[Elvish] "Best not change forms. Someone might try and kill you."
	Mizzo_Arbor	looks to Edric, then to the party, Then back to Edric before rising to join him
	Sorel_Draven	motions at the inkeep. "Send an ale my way when you're through."
	Staffen	"Ay, ay! Hush up, hush up, comrades!" shouts the woman. "These laddies have a story to tell us. But first and proper, introductions are in order, ye? What's the name of the pretty face I've got before me?"
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I am Mizzo Arbor
	Mizzo_Arbor	."
	Edric_Haart	"The half-elf speaks true. And I am Edric, of House Haart." he nods
	Staffen	"Never heard of your kin, friend," the woman says. "But you're well-met either way."
	Staffen	The innkeep hurriedly makes the rounds with a fresh set of drinks.
	Edric_Haart	"Haartfort lies a few days' march from the lands of the Ahngrin Pact. Yours are a people I have grown around, and come to appreciate."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I have no kin to speak of." he says, ignoring Edric
	Sanjai_Geben	taps on Gelihad and points towards the man in the corner.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	gets back to his drinking. He grunts, annoyed. "What Sanjai?"
	Staffen	The bearded man notices Geben pointing, and looks back. "Ay, ay, ay! Sigifr, wake your arse up! The boss is treatin' some Dowytri!"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	The ranger then looks towards where Sanjai is pointing, raising an eyebrow, before looking back to Sanjai.
	Sanjai_Geben	[Elvish] "Didn't notice him at all when we entered the room."
	Staffen	The furs stacked in the corner tremble, and begin fall to the floor. They rise, revealing a pair of massive boots -- and then a huge, bald, tattooed head emerges from the stack. The man in furs (Sigifr?) grumbles groggily. "Bal motre in dok?"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	[Elvish] "Future problem you think? Or can I drink in peace?"
	Sanjai_Geben	[Elvish] "Well, he's moving. So hopefully its noting."
	Staffen	"Pay attention, you giant fuck," snaps the bearded man. "Be polite-ful and all that. These aren't our lands."
	Staffen	"Methinks your orphanhood a blessing in disguise, halbeldii," says the thin masked woman to Mizzo. "Oft they say the kinless child what reaches maturity is the most resilient."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Also having an extremely powerful and wise Elf as a guardian didn't hurt." he says proudly
	Rafiq_Gelihad	sputters into his drink a second time. He begins to roar in laughter. "Hey Miz, she wants your nethers!" He continues to laugh.
	Mizzo_Arbor	turns confused "Those are mine for the keeping!"
	Sorel_Draven	grabs his ale and begins chugging.
	Sanjai_Geben	takes small sips of his drink, every so often.
	Staffen	"Aye," grumbles the giant. "In halbeldii vint: al Ngoze seid montres vant. In dotre mag filda sin sine pidron."
	Mizzo_Arbor	[Dwarven]"Know firsthand?"
	Staffen	"Bal bomry!" shouts the woman with the breastplate. "Stop scaring our hosts. I want to hear this fuckin' story already!"
	Staffen	She cups Haart's hands mockingly. "Now please, m'lordling, I want to hear of this keep and what it contained. How fair is this land?"
	Edric_Haart	nods. "We set out to clear a ruined keep from bandits using it as a base of operations. Made short work of them; the untrained rabble being used to harassing the peasantry. But inside was a far more sinister creature..." he looks around at the people sitting on the table.
	Staffen	The Ahngrin party visibly leans closer, listening to Haart.
	Edric_Haart	"A vile creature from beyond the grave. Ugly as you've imagined from the old wive's tales. A being refusing to leave this world, greedily holding on to unlife... my lads and I lured the monster out and cast it back to the world of the dead, as the gods had intended."
	Staffen	"Beyond the grave, you say?" the masked woman steps forward. "What kind of creature was it? Rotted flesh, numbing bite?"
	Sanjai_Geben	stands up slowly and moves toward Haart.
	Sanjai_Geben	"A Ghast."
	Edric_Haart	nods
	Staffen	The masked woman, Ngoze, cocks her head. "That's highly astute of you. You've confirmed my suspicions, then. But color me impressed -- you killed a wretched ghast. Saved us some work, I suppose."
	Staffen	The woman with the breastplate in her arms stands. "Quite right. You've my gratitude. I'll beg your pardon, Lordling: suppose I owe you introductions."
	Edric_Haart	"That, we did."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	finishes his second mug of ale.
Staffen	The woman clicks her heels together and puts her balled fist to her sternum. "Oda Ghenwyf, former Captain of the Deep Brigade of the Sacred City of Kendreb."
	Edric_Haart	"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain."
	Mizzo_Arbor	makes his way over to the large man, sizing him up
	Staffen	"Cheers, Lord Haart." Oda gestures to her companions. "This merry band of pretentious cunts would be my cohorts. We've been traveling your countryside for the last year."
	Staffen	"The skulking creep with the wits about her is Ngoze en-Elan Alvaan," says Oda, pointing to the masked woman.
	Staffen	"The goliath shivering in his furs is Moors..."
	Staffen	Moors the goliath bows, spilling furs across the floor.
	Edric_Haart	"Quite the band you've brought together"
	Staffen	"And the fat bearded fuck is Pedryt Algost," Oda continues, "the tallest fucking dwarf you ever did lay eyes on."
	Staffen	Algost raises his cup. "Bom brikka."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Are you trying to impersonate an animal with all those furs?" he asks the giant
	Sanjai_Geben	[Elvish] "Best not upset the giant who could rip you in two."
	Staffen	Moors pats Mizzo on the head -- having to reach down below his belt to reach the druid. "Me body's cold."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Are you from warmer climates?"
	Edric_Haart	"Well, Captain. My men and I have an audience with a local elder in the morrow. We'll have a discussion on the matter of reward, you see. I do hope you will excuse my turning in early."
	Staffen	"That's the hell of it," says Oda. "Goliaths mostly come from the coldest, tallest mountain in Ahngrin. So tall and so cold even the clans don't want to touch it."
	Edric_Haart	[Dwarven] "Fortune be with you, and your band."
	Staffen	Oda nods -- but then puts a hand on his arm. "One thing, Lord Haart, if you'll forgive me being so forward."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	[Elvish] "Miz's always been too curious for his own good."
	Edric_Haart	"Speak your mind, of course," Edric nods
	Staffen	"There's an off air of the forest, come late. Animals're skittish," says Oda. "It's an omen, I say. Keep your wits about you and try not to find yourself sleeping in the woods for the fortnight."
	Sanjai_Geben	responds to Gelihad's comment with a simple [Elvish] "Indeed."
	Edric_Haart	"A warning well received. Thank you."
	Mizzo_Arbor	turns at this "Is that so?"
	Mizzo_Arbor	"My lord, I'll go investigate." he says with a stiff nod
	Mizzo_Arbor	walks over to the table and collects his staff
	Staffen	Oda nods, grabs her breastplate, and then whistles to her group. "Sleep, lads! We'll need to break fast early tomorrow morning as well."
	Edric_Haart	"Hold on that, Mr. Arbor. We've been traveling long enough as is. I'll need you well rested."
	Mizzo_Arbor	stops, then gives a weary sigh. "Guess it isn't anything TOO important."
    Rafiq_Gelihad	"Sleeps important, even for an almighty tree-humper as yourself, Miz."
	Staffen	Amusingly -- by the time your party wakes, Oda's is still seemingly asleep. The innkeep, however, is out chopping wood behind the inn.
	Edric_Haart	walks out of the inn to breathe the morning air, and make sure his horse is being tended to.
	Mizzo_Arbor	is sitting by a nearby tree, trying to get the attention of a nearby squirrel
	Mizzo_Arbor	"If you'd just calm down and talk to me..."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Have you heard about any strange goings on?" he chitters
	Sanjai_Geben	and his squire are trying to put on their armor with assistance from Alfried.
	Staffen	The innkeep sees that Haart and company is awake, and leaves his axe to greet them.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	is loitering on the porch of the inn, playing his flute, while watching the skyline.
	Staffen	The innkeep sees that Haart is awake, and leaves his axe behind to greet him.
	Mizzo_Arbor	furiously chitters at the squirrel, making exasperated hand gestures
	Staffen	"M'lord," he says. "The elder should already be awake. If you'd be willing, I can bring him here."
	Mizzo_Arbor	strolls over to the group fuming
	Edric_Haart	"Do so, innkeep. I shall wait here."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Squirrels are never very direct, something about fires in the woods, maybe a forrest fire budding?"
	Sorel_Draven	"I think someone would have noticed fire in the forest by now." He mutters dryly.
	Staffen	In a few minutes the innkeep comes back with an old, hunched-over man. "These are the ones, Elder."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Squirrels are one of my least favorite creatures, they know very little and talk to much."
	Sanjai_Geben	"Much like you, ELf"
	Staffen	The Stirov elder peers at Haart. "I wasn't aware our benefactors would be nobility. Hail to thee, scion of Haartfort."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	[Elvish] "Sure is old enough to be the Elder." He snickers, before putting away his flute.
	Edric_Haart	"Lord Edric," he acknowledges
	Mizzo_Arbor	[Elvish] "He is merely a child compared my master."
	Sanjai_Geben	"Talks way too much."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I could crush you if I wished to Knight."
		Staffen	The elder bows. "Forgive me if I do not kneel, Lord Edric. I'm afraid that my seventieth spring has brought with it pain in my joints. I am however told we have you to thank for dealing with our accursed brigand problem?"
	Edric_Haart	"Brigands, yes... And a ghast."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Ugly bastard, he was." Rafiq quips from behind.
	Staffen	The elder ponders this. "And these bandits, they roosted at the ruins of Pendogast's keep, yes? This was the place? Ironic. They thought they would be safe breaking tradition. But tradition is not held without reason."
	Edric_Haart	"Indeed. Pendogast's ruined Keep."
	Staffen	"At any rate, Lord Haart -- we owe you greatly for this service. I have a small pool of gold prepared by the villagers for services; twenty gold pieces. I think you deserve it for this business."
	Edric_Haart	"I will accept your village's reward."
	Staffen	The elder rummages through his pockets for a bag of coins. "It's a mighty shame our village isn't under the rule of Haartfort. The Count of Kein has been neglecting us these days. I wish you and yours safe travels, Lord Haart."
	Edric_Haart	"Thank you," Edric says receiving the bag of coins. "Perhaps in my travels I will cross paths with the Count and bring your people's needs to his attention. A Lord who ignores his people, fails in his duties."
	Staffen	The elder bows to Haart, and takes his leave.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Well that was simple."
	Staffen	And so the group takes to the road again, headed for Medyir to have their treasures appraised.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Fire, from the way we came."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"From that village, you mean?
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Just the general direction."
	Edric_Haart	brings his horse to a halt, and turns around to look.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"I could investigate if you wish, wouldn't take me too long."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Up to Edric."
	Edric_Haart	"Make it quick. I may be a lord, but I haven't got an army, and I would much rather not have to face an invading force."
	Edric_Haart	sighs
	Mizzo_Arbor	morphs into a wolf, giving Edric a doggy grin
	Edric_Haart	"Sender be damned for his inattentiveness. I'll make sure he knows of his debt to me. Ser Geben, we ride back and hope for the best. Perhaps Captain Oda and her band are still around, and we won't be alone."
	Sanjai_Geben	"Let's ride."
	Mizzo_Arbor	sighs and morphs back, jumping onto Rafiq's horse
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Oh great, here we go." He complains to no one in particular. Rafiq pats Croaker's mane, hoping his horse won't hate him too much.
	Staffen	It's little less than a half-hour's ride back to Stirov. As your party comes further along the path back, the forest darkens. The smoke in the sky grows thicker, and darker.
	Edric_Haart	"Sorel, Mr. Gelihad, scout ahead."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Gods the forest's ablaze, who's done this?" He asks horrified. He merely nods in answer to Edric as he gallops ahead of the group.
	Sorel_Draven	"Hopefully bandits and nothing worse." He says before following Rafiq.
	Staffen	As Rafiq and Sorel slip off deftly into the forest, an ear-piercing screech bounds through the woods; like metal scraping against metal. It is loud, and seems to drone on for fully half a minute before fading off.
	Edric_Haart	"Gods have mercy..." Edric says moving his head from side to side in an attempt to clear his ears from the lingering ring.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Spooky."
	Edric_Haart	adjusts the chainmail on his arm
	Edric_Haart	"The thrice-damned smoke will make it difficult to see. Ser Gaben, Jacob... we must stick close. I will let your instincts guide you, Mr. Arbor."
	Sanjai_Geben	"As you command. Squire follow."
	Mizzo_Arbor	gives a thumbs up
	Edric_Haart	"Assist me, Jakob." Edric says, undoing the straps holding his lance to the mount.
	Sorel_Draven	"The towns under attack, the attackers where small in number but Rafiq believes they were using animals as well." He shouts as he arrives. "He stayed behind to scout but we need to hurry."
	Edric_Haart	"Bandits? Soldiers?
	Edric_Haart	"Bandits? Soldiers?" Edric asks, kicking his heels to bring his horse to a trot.
	Sorel_Draven	"Soldiers, maybe mercenaries most likely given their number."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"Should I help out Rafiq Immediately?"
	Edric_Haart	"Go, both of you. Ser Gaben, Jakob, prepare to charge..." he brings his horse to a full gallop.
	Edric_Haart	"Charge!"
	Mizzo_Arbor	at the sound, begins to run forward, sprouting hair and building mass until he is a fully grown brown bear
	Sanjai_Geben	"To battle, my squire!"
	Sanjai_Geben	pulls out his long sword.
	Staffen	As the group comes within the final stretch to Stirov, Rafiq emerges from the woods with Croaker at full gallop.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Stop!" He blocks the road while stopping his horse with a yank of the reins and a digging of his heels into the horses flanks.
	Edric_Haart	lifts his lance upright as far as he can. "Hold! Hold!"
	Mizzo_Arbor	comes to a stop, resting on his haunches and grumbles
	Edric_Haart	His horse comes to a halt no further than three yards from Gelihad.
	Mizzo_Arbor	"GRARaRWAR."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"GRARaRWAR."
	Edric_Haart	"Spit it out, Mr. Gelihad. What's going on?"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"I've only seen two enemies, and they're fucking terrifying. One of them's a metallic beast, looks like a mastiff, not natural at all. The other killed some of the adventurers we met earlier, almost effortlessly. It even killed that giant without taking a scratch."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"It had no eye-slits or holes in it's helm."
	Mizzo_Arbor	"GRRRERARER."
	Edric_Haart	"What manner of unholy creature are you describing?"
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"If I knew I'd tell you. It looks like an armored humanoid. Otherwise  you've got me. All I know is that the creatures attacking that village are the biggest bad news I've seen since I fought my first monstrosity as a child."
	Mizzo_Arbor	lets out a roar of challenge
	Sanjai_Geben	"I have only heard of these creatures in children's stories."
	Sorel_Draven	"Fantastic, lets leave and never return."
	Edric_Haart	"I will see the beasts myself."
	Sanjai_Geben	"We have a duty to perform Gentlemen and bear."
	Edric_Haart	kicks his horse forward.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	"Seeing them will equate to us dying very horribly, Edric."
	Edric_Haart	"Then leave my service. If I am to report this incident to Count Sender, mine own eyes must be the witness of these attacks."
	Edric_Haart	"Ser Geben!" Edric calls, continuing forth.
	Mizzo_Arbor	turns his big, broad head at Rafiq and moves his massive shoulders up and down
	Sanjai_Geben	"I am with you, my Lord."
	Rafiq_Gelihad	groans. He grumbles and complains as he follows along.
	Mizzo_Arbor	trods along with him
	Staffen	By the time the group enters into the burning village, the flames have reached their climax: homes are collapsing; charred bodies shrivelling in the heat; and shed blood steaming. Sure enough, as Rafiq said: Moors the giant lies dead, a massive landmark in the crossroads of Stirov. Not far from him is the undignifiably slouched-backward remains of the bearded warrior Pedryt.
	Staffen	Somewhere in the flames, a child can be heard crying.


Rafiq Perspective:
Staffen
	Staffen	As Sorel rides off with the news, you find yourself now faced with an interesting situation: the village lies ahead of you another hundred meters out, burning. You are perfectly concealed.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	Rafiq leaves his horse tethered in some nearby bushes for concealment, he then stalks ahead, looking for a great vantage point to allow him to look down into the village while not giving himself away.
	Staffen	As you approach, you can hear the sound of swords clashing. But more prominently, you spot, through the trees, what looks like a large mastiff of some sort bounding around the village perimeter. There's a problem, however: it is a metallic beast, easily half as large as a man, with flames erupting from its glossy-steel ribs. Its paws leave ash where they hit the soil.
	Rafiq_Gelihad	'Shit' he thinks to himself.
	Staffen	Towards the village center, you see the swordfighting: the bearded Ahngrin warrior Pedryt is fighting with someone -- and losing. You catch the sight of him being run through by his opponent's longsword.
	Staffen	You can make out little detail -- but whoever it is they are only lightly armored. White metal covers black cloth or leather. You make out a distinct, bright red plume streaming from their helmet, like a long and narrow pony's tail. The way they pull Pedryt's corpse from their blade is almost casual -- they put their boot to his toppled body and shove him off before heading further in.
	Staffen	The next person to fight this warrior is the colossal Moors. The goliath wields a hammer easily as large as a man in wide, deadly swings, but the swordsman spitefully slinks away from each strike.
	Staffen	With a single, impossibly effortless swing, the swordsman takes the giant's head. Moors falls, dead in a plume of dirt.
	Staffen	The swordsman hesitates for a moment, and then, quite abruptly, turns his head to you. It is an incredible distance, and you are so concealed as not even the best of rangers or hunters should find you concealed. But somehow, this figure sees you.
	Staffen	It is now that you see:
	Staffen	His helmet does not, in fact, have eyes. Not an eyeslit to be seen.
	Staffen	Something catches his attention, and he turns away from you, disinterested. Another victim?...
	Rafiq_Gelihad	sees all of this and his first instinct is that this is all bad news, very bad news. Oh fuck really fucking bad news. He immediately falls back, running as silently as a man spooked can. He finds Croaker where he left him and mounts him. "Shit shit shit shit." He urges Croaker on the road and back towards the party.