Tales of the Old World 22

<Tales_GM> The year is 2512 on the Imperial Calendar...
<Tales_GM> The trip from Weissbruck to Bögenhafen will take another three days, Josef informs you, when he instructs the crew to make a stop - the timbers holding the mainmast in place require urgent reinforcement.
<Tales_GM> "Bloody flames ate deep... I'll need you to help me, lads. We'll need to find us a healthy tree with sturdy lumber to help brace the mast."
<Roderick> "We're at your disposal Josef."
<Thorek> "Not my forte Josef, but I'll do my best to lend an eye or hand."
<Afrock> "You have my axe."
<Far_Foririan> "And my eyes."
<Shivva_Runna> "I have a crowbar and drugs..."
<Tales_GM> "Not taking inventory," Josef says with a dismissing hand.
<Tales_GM> "I'll need to stay aboard and make sure the mast is well rested. I'll prepare her for the repairs."
<Tales_GM> Gilda, for her part, is on the main deck with string and needle, patching a stretch of sailcloth.
* Seig secures the gangplank and heads onto shore. "Shouldn't be too difficult."
<Roderick> "Let's head ashore and find Josef a tree then."
* Roderick heads down the gangplank and onto the riverbank, weapons at his side just in case of trouble.
* Thorek joins the others a little later after gathering his gear and putting it on. Already he misses his cloak.
<Tales_GM> Josef calls to Wolmar, giving him instructions as he uses the ratlines and pulleys to create the tension necessary to keep the mast upright.
* Far_Foririan makes his way down following Roderick.
<Seig> "We're looking for a tree with a nice straight section of trunk without too many thick branches coming off it, knots could weaken the lumber."
<Tales_GM> Far'Forian's innate intuition with nature helps guide you through the vegetation into an opening long ago cleared by a raging fire. Across the clearing, burnt stumps give way to a treeline, where the renewed forest begins.
<Tales_GM> "They look healthy enough. Do they have the characteristics needed?" Dietrich turns to ask Seig.
<Seig> "We should be aiming from one of the younger trees, will be abit more of a pain to cut down but serve us much better on the boat."
<Seig> Seig takes a few moments to look at the trees before pointing out a likely candidate. "This one here should do the trick."
<Tales_GM> "Simple enough. We'll need an axe."
* Roderick looks towards Thorek and Afrock
<Roderick> "Your areas of expertise."
<Afrock> "Aye."
<Thorek> "You have any experience cutting trees, cousin?"
<Afrock> "Cutting yes, trees no."
<Thorek> "I was afraid of that...neither do I. Hopefully we don't butcher it, ha!"
<Tales_GM> The cracking of axes on wood echoes through the forest.
<Tales_GM> Through the noise, a single silent projectile flies dangerously close to Far'Forian's head, only missing as the Elf flinches to one side.
<Far_Foririan> "What the!" he begins looking in the direction the projectile came from.
<Seig> "Hmm?"
<Roderick> "What's the deal Far?"
<Far_Foririan> "We have company I think." he begins to look around by doesn't see anything.
* Thorek continues thunking away at the tree witth Afrock.
* Far_Foririan eyes flick back as he notices something.
<Tales_GM> As the Elf turns to face the direction of the first projectile - high, and to the right - a barrage of other projectiles, whistling through the air, pepper all around you. They are oblong, with tapered edges, some made of stone and others of lead.
<Seig> "Frak."
* Thorek curses as he immediately makes himself a smaller target as he readies his crossbow
* Afrock takes an arrow to the leg, screams in anger, and prepares for battle.
<Roderick> An arrow wings Roderick causing him to curse loudly and unlimber his shield from his back.
<Shivva_Runna> "I would like just ONE DAY without getting shot at."
<Tales_GM> You hear a sharp whistle, pitching up and down in a pattern. Rustling on the trees above follows, and then...
<Roderick> "That's not likely in our line of work Shivva!"
<Tales_GM> Another projectile arcs through the air, and lands on Far'Forian's cheek with a low thump.
* Far_Foririan annoyed at getting hit in the head, he quickly takes his bow and launches a arrow at the target who just had hit him, instantly killing them.
<Tales_GM> The figure that drops from the tree is the size of a child, and the calls that follow tell you the rest - Halflings.
* Thorek grumbles to himself as he lines up a shot with his crossbow pulls the trigger, feeling that satisfying kick as the bolt flies true and strikes one of the halflings.
* Afrock moves as fast as he can foward into cover.
<Afrock> "Bloody cowards staying at range."
<Roderick> Kruger prays for Sigmar to protect the wounded, faithless doctor and ducks behind a tree to put some distance between himself and the assailants.
* Seig runs up behind a tree.
* Shivva_Runna runs towards the tree line to get some cover.
* Roderick hefts his shield and closes the distance between himself and one of the halflings. Once closer the bang and flash of the pistol results in the death of the pint-sized bandit.
* Far_Foririan opens fire on another of the halflings.
<Tales_GM> A whistle-like call sounds repeatedly, then. The figures begin to shift, and leap away to trees further away.
* Afrock runs foward into the next line of trees.
* Seig slows his pace slightly shield readied stopping at another tree.
* Shivva_Runna runs following the tree line trying to catch up to bandits while trying to stay in cover.
<Roderick> Kruger recites a prayer and bolsters his allies ability to shrug off harm.
* Thorek spends his time in cover reloading his crossbow with practiced efficiency.
* Roderick continues to pursue and fire his pistol into the trees towards the midgets.
<Tales_GM> The Halflings continue to swing away from you as fast as they can. Even when one is struck by a round, it carries on fleeing.
* Far_Foririan takes aim at another halfling hitting them with the arrow in the head.
<Tales_GM> A shriek follows, the Halfling gripping tight on a branch while turning to make himself invisible behind the tree. The shrieking continues in short bouts even then.
<Tales_GM> You hear calls and shouts in the distance. Desperate, and loud, foregoing any attempts at a silent retreat.
* Afrock runs foward towards the nearest target while maintaining target.
* Far_Foririan senses something off in the distance, he then shouts, "Fall Back!"
* Thorek curses as he misses his next shot with the crossbow.
<Seig> "Fuck sake was nearly on him..." Seig backs up at Far Foririan's call.
* Afrock grumbles in anger.
* Shivva_Runna ran towards the bandits
* Roderick hears Far's call and begins moving back towards the group, shield raised in case the enemies begin pelting him with stones once more.
<Tales_GM> The vegetation is disturbed, and the sound and vague movement of snapping sapplings catches you off-guard; the elf was right, and now an Ogre roars forward from your flank.
<Afrock> "HAHA FINALLY."
<Thorek> "Umgak." Thorek says simply.
<Tales_GM> Its charge speed is deceptively fast, and with the swing of a club that was once the lower part of a proud tree, Afrock is stricken and swept clear to off to the side as the Ogre moves on to swing at Seig.
* Roderick mirrors Thorek's sentiments. "Frak."
* Afrock grunts in pain.
<Seig> Having slightly more warning than Afrock, Seig is able to dodge out of the way.
* Far_Foririan reacts to seeing the Ogre move forward and grabs another arrow and launches another arrow hitting the Ogre in the body.
<Tales_GM> The arrow impales the Ogre just below the ribs, visibly causing it pause as it looks down at its wound.
<Tales_GM> Some distance behind the Ogre, a Halfling with an arrow in its head, falls from behind a tree, blood loss at last ending its life.
<Thorek> "Mighty ugly," he comments as he reloads his weapon again.
* Afrock flies into a rage and starts slashing at the ogre.
<Seig> Having dodged away Seig drops his shield and dives in for an attack on the staggered ogre swiping its arm.
<Tales_GM> The Ogre menacingly drops something from his collar at your feet in a territorial gesture. To your horror, it is a rotting human head, its teeth marks clearly marked at the point of severing.
* Shivva_Runna charges into melee with crowbar against the lumbering Ogre.
<Roderick> Kruger prepares to bless his allies should they need it.
* Roderick reloads his pistol while scanning the treetops for adversaries and muttering under his breath.
<Roderick> "Warp-damned halflings."
* Far_Foririan changes his aim and fires at one of the remaining halflings hitting it but not a kill.
* Far_Foririan sees one of the halflings fire another small object at him, he is able to move out of the way from getting hit
<Thorek> Not wanting to hit his comrades who are currently in melee with the Ogre, Thorek continues to try shooting the halflings. Unfortunately missing again.
* Afrock keeps attacking the ogre.
<Tales_GM> Another wide swing against Afrock sees the Dwarf move while deflecting the giant club. A matter of inches saves the Slayer from certain death.
* Shivva_Runna takes another swing at the monster with his crowbar.
<Tales_GM> The crowbar lodges itself through the Ogre's lower back. The already injured giant roars in pain and falls to its knees, the crowbar firmly inside it.
<Tales_GM> With a final exhale, it drops flat on its face.
<Afrock> "YEEEAAAH!!!"
<Seig> "You got it man!"
<Tales_GM> The Halflings make themselves scarce, fleeing at great speed.
<Shivva_Runna> "Let's get the wood and get out of here!"
* Seig recovers his shield and checks his injury.
* Afrock takes a breath and relaxes.
<Afrock> "Let's get that wood."
* Far_Foririan lowers his bow "Well, glad that is over, good job Shivva."
<Tales_GM> "Shivva the Ogre Slayer..." says Dietrich under his breath.
<Thorek> "Excellent job dawri." The bountyhunter reloads his crossbow just to be sure, despite the combat being over.