Chapter 5 - Rocks and Trees

[BigRedRod]

Tigris leads onward with his long, swift strides out of the town. The horses keep pace at a slightly slower rate than they are used to being pushed by the party. Leaving the walled city behind, the road beyond is found to be quite empty. A few messengers on horseback thunder to and fro from Gran Arco and the sun continues to shine in a blue sky apart from a pair of light grey clouds.

With time the wind begins to pick up, and by the time the group have left the main road to approach the forest it has become quite a nuisance. Cloaks flap constantly and grit lands stingly in the eyes of the four riders every few minutes. The guide continues to walk ahead without saying a word.

The distant woods gradually draw closer as the four retrace the path they took when relocating the former experiments of Lucas. As the mass of brown and green seperates into individual trees it becomes clear that the edge of the wood is far from deserted today. Lumberjacks work busily at the outermost trees, waging an epic war on the forest itself. A little way back carts of logs stand while they are filled throughout the course of the day. The scale of the operation is quite breath-taking, such industry would not have been imagined in this area when the party first passed during a storm and with a horde of mis-shapen creatures following.

A gap in the trees appears, and the path which cuts in to the Cavernous Woods reveals itself. One or two large men hack at trees and look with suspicion at the sight of two mounted men, a dwarvern rider, a gnome on a pony, a dog and the mysterious figure of Tigris on foot in front, heading inside the infamous forest.

Slowing his quick pace as they enter the shadow of the woods, Tigris stops after a minute or so of travel. Above the sun filters through the leafy canopy of the trees and the air is filled with the ghostly sound of the wind. The man studies the ground for a moment before reaching within his mantle with both hands. After a few whispered words he pushes his right palm into the damp earth. A number of tiny green lines of light trace random angular patterns away from his palm and across the ground. His ritual complete, Tigris stands,
"Lucky. This road has seen more traffic in recent weeks than I would have imagined. All in the same direction for now."
He waves an arm along the road, with it's steep earthern bank on either side,

Progress forward continues slowly, with periodic stops for Tigris to pay particular attention to some random object on the ground. A stone. A clump of wet dead leaves. The remains of a rabbit crawling with maggots. After an hour of slow movement he stands from one of his investigations and turns around,
"It seems that is the end of our lucky streak. The trail breaks into two."
He waves an arm onwards down the path which the group themselves barely recognise from their dark storm-plagued task,
"A cart, at least one other horse and some feet went that way. Recently too."
Turning slightly he indicates an area where the embankment has collapsed, spilling earth on to the road and forming a crude ramp, which allows access to
the darker, more dangerous looked depths of the Cavernous woods
"Or up there. A little more regular, although not as recent and smaller groups, one maybe two at a time. Usually horses, although it looks like we've had ramblers up there too."

Clapping his hands to his sides, Tigris shares his demonic chuckle with the party,
"I'll allow you to choose our port of call. Which way is it to be? The road or the rather more difficult to travel forest floor?"
As he waits, the figure massages his right hand with his left. Both hands are covered in dirt from his explorations of the surface of the path which has led this far into the forest. A closer look reveals that his right is also covered in dried blood

[elpresidente]

"Hmm our friend does seem to be trying to make himself rather hard to find i would probably say the forest floor."

[SuperJosh]

Roth nods then turns to their guide. "Is there any way you could give us an estimate on how old these trails are? That would help us reach our decision."

[BigRedRod]

Tigris shrugs,
"The cart trail is new, I'm fairly sure I can pinpoint it near exactly too. The cart was heavy and rolled by during the storm. As for the other trail it hasn't been travelled since some point before the storm, but I don't know when."

Turning to regard the forest floor which which the second trail winds the guide addresses the comme tof the gnome,
"Ah, the more difficult option. If we go that way we'll have to proceed in single-file. The floor is too treacherous to be walking on without caution. If you are lucky a wrong foot could just twist an ankle, if you are unlukey you'll fall in to a natural pit and break all your bones in the process. We'll move slowly, just keep control of your horses and stand only where I do."

Clapping his hands together the mostly hidden figure of Tigris turns to Roth,
"So then, the forest floor or the path? Are you all in agreement with my good friend the Gnome?"

[The Alcotroll]

Dron gives this a moment's consideration, in what he hopes is a non-suspicious fashion, before announcing: "This messenger was on his own, according to our missing man, and was able to evade the man's familiar as well. It seems unlikely that he was traveling with a cart. I say we go along the forest floor, although I think we should leave the horses."

[SuperJosh]

"I agree that it the forest is most likely the more promising of the two options, but I am loathed to leave the horses behind. If only the farmers house was not so far away I am sure we could pay him to take care of them." Roth says. Turning to their guide. "What are the horses chances of survival is we follow you lead? I do not want to leave them, but I will do that before I injure one of them. Is there a place in town we could pay to leave them? And if so would we mind an hour or so delay while I take them back?"

[BigRedRod]

The guide shrugs,
"I'm paid until the job is done. If you leave your horses here they will dead when we return. If you take the horses along the trail then the risk to them and yourself is less although if you have any doubts about your riding ability it could just lead to further problems. If you want to head back to town to stable them, then do so. It would seem to be the best of the options although it depends entirely on how urgently you need to track down this messenger"

[elpresidente]

"Well stabling the mounts is cheaper than buying new ones and it will be slower going if we take them with us, swo we should return, the sooner we do it the sooner we're back."

[The Alcotroll]

"I'll go with that." Offers Dron, "we really should have thought of that earlier."

[SuperJosh]

"Dron, do you want to come back to town with me? I figure we can each handle 2 horses and the others can wait here for us." Roth says.

[The Alcotroll]

Nodding assent, Dron attempts to clamber back onto his horse.

[Black Plauge]

Silent, Durn merely shrugs in agreement at the suggestion about what to do with the horses. His mind was more on the cart trail they had been following up to this point. While it was obvious that the trail was not well traveled, Tigris had gone straight for it without hesitation.

I certianly hope our concession to those goblins, or whatever they were, doesn't come back to haunt us later.

[BigRedRod]

Roth and Dron dissapear back down the trail leaving the two wizards with Tigris at the diversion of tracks. As the minutes roll past tension begins to mount, the guide stands in silence and an odd feeling overtakes the pair. A feeling like they are being watched from within the trees. A feeling to which Tigris seems oblivious. A feeling which continues to grow until it is almost unbearable.

The tension is finally broken by the woodsman, who turns back to face the remains of the party and begins to recount a few tales and legends associated with the cavernous woods and nearby lands.

Most of the Cavernous wood is badly or simply not charted, although the area around the path is fairly well known to Tigris. The path itself is ancient and paved with flat irregular stones which have long since been covered in layers of dirt and leaves fallen from the banks, it doesn't reach particularly far into the forest, ending at a huge gaping cleft in the ground. Many have attempted descents into the pit although the treacherous climb coupled with the nest of large antlike beasts within seem to have prevented anyone from performing a thorough examination.

One common story tells that the forest was riddled with the hidden tunnels and caverns that gave rise to its current name after some kind of great destructive event. Some say it was the ancient race of dragoon creators experimenting with new weapons, possibly being forced to use them in an unready state to wage a great battle. The forest later grew over the ruins and blanketed the unstable ground. Tigris himself seems to doubt such tales, but he has had quite a few other clients who he has led into the trees in search of ruins.

"...hunters pay well and keep coming back for more even when they find nothing. And who am I to refuse such good fortune befalling me?"
Tigris nods slightly, the two wizards turn to see their companions have finally returned on foot. The horses having been safely stowed at the same stable the party used on the night which Dron spent in one of Gran Arco's flophouses.

"And I think that can conclude story hour for now gentlemen. If you would like to follow me, and I ask that you do so to the very best of your ability as a misplaced step could prove problematic wdue to the nature of the wood."
The mysterious figure strides up the earthen ramp and into the woods without looking back at the party

[SuperJosh]

Pausing barely long enough to catch his breath Roth nods as the guide leads them on.

[BigRedRod]

With Roth taking up the rear and Tigris leading the way the party are led deeper inside the forest. The trees drawn ever closer as the trail leads further from the path.

Occasionally the squawking of a bird is heard over the constant rustling caused by the wind, but apart from that the journey is quiet. Little light makes it through the canopy to the forest floor, that which does only illuminates patches of unheathly looking vegetation.

Every so often Tigris stops and ponders for a moment before taking off again in a slightly different direction. Quite how he is tracking anything given the conditions is a mystery to the party but he seems to know what he is doing.

At one of these pauses he freezes in position for a moment seemingly listening to something. Straining their ears the party hear nothing. After a second or so of listening Tigris drops to one knee and speaks a calm warning to the party,
"We aren't alone"
Now the guide is holding an exotic knife in either hand. A single piece of dark metal composed of a diamond shaped blade, short cylindrical handle just long enough to be gripped and a small ring at the hilt.

Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
???

Map
[ooc: The brown path is the path followed by Tigris and contains no hidden pitfalls. The circular things are trees and no one can currently see anything hostile]
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
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*END m5ngx5

[The Alcotroll]

Dropping to one knee, Dron hurriedly loads a bolt into his bow and scans the trees, the weapon raised to his shoulder, looking for something to shoot at.

[OOC: saving my action until something moves, at which point I'll shoot it.]

[elpresidente]

Algerdar clicks a bolt into his crossbow as he draws back the string and starts scanning the woods and canopy ready to shoot.

[ooc: as dron]

[SuperJosh]

Drawing his Falchion Roth spins 180 degres to face the rear, in case some of their stalkers managed to sneak behind unnoticed.

[Black Plauge]

Not having heard anything, Durn scans the forest curiously, but readies himself for action just the same.

"What is out there?" he asks of Tigris in a low voice.

[OOC: Ready to cast magic missle at anything that attacks us.]

[BigRedRod]

The four wait, attacks at the ready for whatever Tigris is expecting to make an appearance. Just enough time passes to make it seem that the guide is both being quite rude in not answering the wizard's question and possibly wrong about an unseen foe.

A loud crashing noise, the sound of branches being snapped in two and leaves being thrown out of the way directs the attentions of each to the forest beyond Tigris' trail. Another sound mirrors the first behind the party and then a third in a the woods between.

The third however is not just a sound. Bursting from what looks to be solid ground comes a snake of unthinkable proportion. At least a man and a half in height and seemingly hiding at least that much in the honeycomb of sub-forest floor tunnels, the creature is covered in thick armoured ridges along it's brown-green skin.

Most men would simply panic when faced with such a beast erupting from the ground, the four however send a pair of crossbow bolts and a pair of arcane orbs of force streaking out toward the target. Neither Algerdar or Dron seem to have the quick reflexes to fire and strike the target under such pressure, both bolts embed themselves in the thick tree trunks which surround the encounter on all sides as far as the eye can see. Durn's magic however is better suited to such situations with the lack of aim required as both of his arcane projectiles strike the creature's exposed body leaving bruises of soft purple light on the camoflagued skin

Tigris hurls one of his odd knives toward the semi-emerged snake. The throw is well performed and the end result is one of the exotic blades piercing the hide of the beast and only the handle protruding. However, a larger weapon might be slightly more use in this particular situation

Despite the flurry of attacks the monsterous snake lunges out of its hole and opens its jaws wide. Teeth almost a whole foot in length puncture the stout frame of the dwarf and leave their deposit of acidic venom within to start its journey through the circulatory system of the mage.

Dron is equally unlucky, with allattacks expended on the first snake all he can do is turn as the second erupts from behind him and clamps down on him sending long fangs deep into his body. Aside from the agony caused by the acidic nature of the venom neither man or dwarf feel any immediate effects which might be attributed to the poison of such beasts.

Shifting from his crouched position Tigris turns to face the second snake pulling out another of his throwing blades. Mid-turn the guide flicks both of the weapons out toward the snake, the first is turned aside by one of the armoured ridges covering the creatures while the second finds a home just below the head of the creature and sinks deeply within

Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green)
Snake #2 (blue)

[ooc: the map has migrated over to the location thread to keep things clearer in this thread (hopefully)]

[SuperJosh]

Roth quickly rushes to melee range in a desperate bid to aid Dron. Eager for the hunt Cy follows.

(OOC: Move to the SW corner of the blue snakes grid and attack it)

[The Alcotroll]

Dropping his bow in a panic, Dron fumbles for his rapier and attempts to beat off the attacking reptile.

[elpresidente]

Algerdar Puts down the crossbow and makes an arcane gesture towards the green reptile releasing a magic missle spell.

[Black Plauge]

Seeing Dron fumble around with his rapier, Durn fires off another magic missle, this time at the snake bothering him.

[BigRedRod]

Lunging forward, Dron half trips as he manages to place his foot in to what turns out to be a small hole covered in rotted leaves. Puck smiles on his follower however, and the small trip adds momentum to his thrust. Against a man the rapier would have penetrated deeply becoming a lethal blow, the armoured hide of the snake-beast manages to resist to a higher degree. Still, the indept swordsman manages to leave a deep gouge which oozes blood

Even before the corssbow has landed on the damp forest floor, the Gnome has started to weave arcane runes in the air with his now-freed hands. A pir of softly glowing points of mystic energy drift toward the snake currently attacking his companion Wizard. Both strike home firmly leaving the ridged green hide of the creature glowing softly

With Cy on his heels, Roth rushes from the proven trail toward the second snake. Cy pounces as Roth himself performs a short jump to add force to his own blow. His hound clenches its teeth around little more than a boney protective ridge and quickly releases as he realises his bite will do more good. Roth's own blow strikes firmly and opens a wide vertical cleft on the creature. Gore spills outward for a moment but it seems that it takes more than one solid strike to stop a creature of this size.

Turning away from the nearest threat, the stout dwarvern wizard conjures his own pair of arcane force orbs. Both strike the snake currently doing battle with Dron, Roth and Cy, but still the creature battles on.

Seemingly unsatisfied with its neglect the snake to have first emerged descends once more beneath the ground, sending up a small cloud of dirt and ancient leaves as it quickly sinks back into its tunnel.

Enraged by Roth's blow the snake out of which he managed to cleave a chunk strikes at him, mouth psread wide. Trusting the forest floor to remain solid Roth jumps sideways at the last minute and leaves the snake to snap at empty air, dropping small globs of acidic venom on to the ground where fractions of a second before the tribesman had stood

Rather than wait for the hidden snake to re-emerge Tigris directs all of his attention to the visible foe. Another pair of of the razor sharp knives glide through the air. By the smallest of margins the first misses and embeds itself in to a tree, the second however finds a brief home in the lower jaw of the creature. The blade pierces the thinner hide but fails to find purchase in the flesh beyond and drops away from the snake after inflicting minor damage


Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green) (submerged)
Snake #2 (blue)

[The Alcotroll]

Dron tries to remember what little he was taught about rapier-craft, lunging with his sword at the snake's eyes, hoping to blind it or at least discourage it from biting him again.

[SuperJosh]

Roth continues to hack at the monster in front of him. Cy circling opposite his master, reveling in the thrill of the hunt.

(OOC:Roth will move to flank the creature.)

[Black Plauge]

With everyone focused on the one visible worm, Durn reverts to caution and looks around for the possible re-emergence of the other, readying another spell in case it does.

[BigRedRod]

Dron quickly finds that attempting to stab his weapon into the eyes of a creature which keeps its head out of reach except when lunging is almost impossible. His weapon simply strikes one of the many ridges covering the thick hide of the beast causing no damage or pain to the snake-fiend.

In a risky gambit the Gnomish wizard weaves one of his other prepared spells. With a swift gesture which brings the stubby extended arms of the mage across one another a burst of flame extends outwards engulfing the visible snake and much of the forest in the immediate area too.

The beast cries out in agony as the magical flames roll over its beaten body. A fragment of a second later the flames die down, and the upper half of a heavily singed snake that can't be far from the end of its existence returns to view amidst a scene of gently burning forest. Luckily the small fires caused by the spell don't seem to be lasting well in the damp wood, just enough to accent the smell of cooking snake-meat with smouldering bark and leaves.

With his companion's spell as a distraction, Roth sets of wheeling around the huge snake beast. Any attempts the snake would have attempted to stop him seem to have been forgetten as the creature continues to screech in pain. Taking further advantage of the situation, Roth thrusts forward with his sword and manages to drive it deep within the creature. The blade pierces hide and mangles the organs of the snake as it glides inside the weeping red slit.

For a moment it seems like the snake may yet continue despite the continuing assault, it opens wide it's jaws and lurches at Algerdar only to fall limply on the ground as it does so. The body of the beast continues to spill forth blood onto the forest floor which hungerly soaks up the foul liquid.

Without Durn's caution, the party may have lost one of their number as the second snake re-emerges from beneath the earth. Clods of mud and other natural debris fly through the air as the snake bursts free from its hiding place. The snake opens its mouth wide and lunges directly at Algerdar, the Dwarvern mage weaves a spell with unbridled efficieny and sends a crude arrow-shaped glob of acid toward the monster.

Feeling the spell's impact the snake loses its focus and clumsly butts its target rather than landing a bite and injecting its own acidic venom. The gnomish mage staggers, his back heavily bruised from the impact. The acid rolling down the creatures body however seems to be causing it little discomfort, in fact the arcane acid seems not to be strong enough to have caused any damage whatsoever to the single remaining snake.

Tigris leaps backward in response tot he return of the threat of a second snake. Twisting in mid air he manages to toss but a single of his knives which embeds itself in a tree rather than the snake.

Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green)
Snake #2 (blue) (dead)

[The Alcotroll]

Beginning to panic now, Dron turns on the other creature. Drawing closer and lunging despite his better judgement

[OOC: stabby-stabby D20+7..]

[Black Plauge]

Upset that his spell did not have the desired effect, Durn switches back to the one he used first, which had done what he wanted.

[OOC: Cast magic missle at the living snake-thing.]

[SuperJosh]

Roth turns and hacks at the exposed man-snake.

[BigRedRod]

Seemingly unwilling to leave the safety of the trail created by Tigris' path, Algerdar remains stationary and begins weaving another spell. Taking advantage of his diverted attention the snake suddenly streaks toward him, almost exposing its full body from the tunnel it lurks within, and clamps its teeth on the gnome. Given that the snake's mouth is almost as large as the wizard the damage is significant with teeth penetrating his sturdy body and leaving a heavy deposit of acidic venom. The pain disrupts his focus and the energies of the spell simply disperse around the gnome as he staggers backwards. Instantly a chill spreads through the wounded form of the gnome as the poison takes hold of him

Roth charges past the reeling gnome with Cy on his heels and manages to land a powerful blow against the thick hide of the creature which sends a thin horizontal stream of blood spraying for a few moments before the muscular body of the snake presses the wound closed.

With the snake now returned to its immobile but semi-concealed position, Durn summons a further two magic missiles and guides them toward its visible head and upper body. The orbs impact with small flashes but the creature doesn't even seem to recognise the damage caused, instead it focuses solely on Roth.

Back in it's vertical position for just long enough for Durn to strike it, the creature lunges forth again. Although this time it doesn't extend itself anything like as far, choosing to enact its fury on the tribesman stood in front of the critically injured Gnome. Roth twirls sideways but the creature still manages to catch his off-arm in its jaws. Failing to inject its venom it still manages to crush the arm for a moment before releasing its grip and pulling back to safety.

Reaching once more in to the hidden store of seemingly infinite knives, Tigris hurls two more of the exotic blades at the remaining snake. Both land within an inch of one another and dig deeply beneath one of the boney ridges lining the body of the creature

Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green)
Snake #2 (blue) (dead)

[SuperJosh]

Seeing only one of the beasts left Roth continues to attack.

[The Alcotroll]

Deciding to encircle the creature, Dron moves behind the monstrous reptile and attempts to find and area of likely-looking back to stab.

[elpresidente]

Reeling from the wound and numbed by the vemon Algerdar backs away knowing he is a liability at close quaters and locks a bolt into place in his crossbow.

[Black Plauge]

Running low on offensive spells, Durn draws his crossbow and loads it. The beast seemed to feel the sting of normal weapons well enough. No need to deplete his spell repitoire all at once.

[BigRedRod]

Wheeling around the creature, Dron attempts to shift in a better position only to have the beast twist on itself and lunge for him. His nimble feet almost fail him as he tries to both dodge the snake's attack, avoid tripping and not strike Cy, however, he lands successfully having avoided the snake and lunges with his thin-bladed sword. The blade strikes true leaving a deep puncture wound which trickles with blood.

The gnome steps backwards to remove himself from the creature's range, only to half-trip on an exposed rock in the forest humus and accidentally fires his crossbow in the process of attempting to steady himself. The bolt strikes a tree and firmly embeds itself in the wood with a thunk

Using Dron's position to his advantage, the tribesman performs a flurry of slashes against the creature, each being deflecting by the bony ridges and thick hide of the towering creature. Apart from supportive growls, Cy chooses not to launch his own attack at this particular moment

Durn joins the gnome in attempting to provide support in the form of a hail of bolts, but first he has to combat the time-consuming loading mechanism

Hissing in pain the creature vanishes from view, returning to burrowing both the forest floor for the moment and bide its time. Tigris grips one of his throwing knives tightly and searches the forest with his penetrating eyes for any sign of the beast

Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green) (submerged)
Snake #2 (blue) (dead)

[The Alcotroll]

Struggling to his feet, Dron looks round wild eyed and dishevilled, balancing on the balls of his feet to react when the creature emerges again.

[OOC: ready action to stabbity-stabbity Mr Snake]

[elpresidente]

With a grone Algerdar rights himself and begins to reload his crossbow, while nervously eying the hole the snake has burrowed into.

[SuperJosh]

"I do not know about the rest of you, but I do not feel like waiting for this thing to spring up behind me, or for it to get more of it's kin. I say we head out." Roth says as he looks about in case the creature attacks while he is talking.

[Black Plauge]

His crossbow ready now, Durn waits for the snake to reappear.

"I'm inclined to agree with Roth, but know little of the habits of such creatures. Tigris what do you advise?"

[BigRedRod]

Durn's words are lost to the unique sound of a large beastial snake bursting through the ground. Clods of earth are hurled through the air along with chunks of general forest debris and finer particles which create a mushroom shaped cloud around the emerged snake. The party turn as one to face the snake, all except the gnome are too far to do anything. Algerdar himself however is too close, much too close.

Falling backward as the earth beneath him folds to compensate for the snake's hole while shielding his eyes from the dust with his other hand, the wizard is easy prey. His small frame vanishes as the maw of the beast widens and descends upon him. Lifting back its head it clamps down on the flailing body of Algerdar, the small wizard already much weakened by the battle fails to put up much resistance and soon goes limp and slides down the throat of the creature. Despite his small size, Algerdar makes an obvious bump in the body of the creature as he slowly travels downwards.

Recovering from his suprise at the sudden reappearance of the large ridged snake, Durn levels his crossbow and fires, taking care not to strike the gnome-shaped lump. The bolt embeds itself just below the creature's head

Beneath his layers of clothing and mystery it is hard to tell whether Algerdar's predicament has any effect on Tigris, until he opens his mouth,
"If you want your friend to live we have to finish this now"
A pair of knives accompany his statement, both landing just above the lump that is the swallowed gnome. Blood trickles from the wounds and the snake howls in pain


Initative
Tigris
Dron
Algerdar (currently inside Snake #1)
Roth
Durn
Snake #1 (green) (submerged)
Snake #2 (blue) (dead)

[Black Plauge]

Reloading just as fast as he can get a bolt into his crossbow, Durn fires again, hoping Algedar will be okay.

[The Alcotroll]

Scrambling forwards, rapier uneasily in hand, Dron rushes towards the snake, taking some care to stay out of Roth's way as he begins to stab at it with his puny rapier.

[SuperJosh]

Seeing his friend consumed by the snake Roth recklessly charges the creature, his only thought to attack the animal.

(OOC: Charge and Power attack brings my total attack bonus to +10 -1 for power attack brings the grand total to +9 TAB and +8 damage for my falchion)

[BigRedRod]

Running swiftly across the uneven surface and hopping on to and over the remains of the dead snake, Dron lunges at the beast aiming low to avoid striking the slow-moving bulge that is his Gnomish companion. His blow fails to make contact as he clips the trunk of a tree with his free hand and sets off into a spin. All focus is lost as Dron just about manages to maintain his footing on the treacherous surface.

Roth rushes across the forest floor putting all of his strength behind a single blow. His exotic weapon crashes down in a fierce diagonal slash as the tribesman slides through the debris of the forest floor, sending a small shower upwards as he does so, in an attempt not to fall in to the widening hole surrounding the snake. Despite the added bulk of carrying a Gnome in its gullet the snake remains supremely agile and suffers onlt the lightest impacts of the blade as it lurches backward.

The dwarvern mage joins the frenzied attempt to slay the bestial snake monster launching a bolt in to the fray. Durn's lack of talent with such weapons shows itself as the projectile fails to even approach the proximity of the target and instead embeds itself into a tree some distance away

Seeing the battle turn against it, the creature turns its gaze upon Roth and straes at him with eyes of pure primal hatred before suddenly retreating beneath the ground in a shower of soil and dust.

Tigris rushes to the hole and looks in to for a moment before speaking,
"I'm sorry."
Without the snake to hold the opening it has already started to collapse,
"With its mate slain, there is little chance it will return so soon after capturing a meal..."
The guide looks down at the ground, unable to meet the eyes of the three remaining party members and unable to say anything more

[Black Plauge]

Fury edging into his voice, Durn asks, "Can you track it? We could still follow it and rescue Algedar, couldn't we?"

[BigRedRod]

Turning to face the dwarf Tigris shakes his head,
"No. Unter-snakes travel too far below the surface to make a mark I can follow on the surface. The only way would be to follow its own tunnel, but there isn't enough time and we lack the tools."

The mysterious man seems genuinely ashamed to have to admit that he is unable to do anything to find and rescue the Gnomish Wizard

[SuperJosh]

"Gone..." Roth whispers as he stands there abashed. "I can't beleive Algerdar is gone." Turning to Tigris Roth hears the end of the ranger's comment. "Then what do we do?" he asks, his question addressed to knowone in particular.

[Black Plauge]

"There has to be something that we can do!"

[The Alcotroll]

Rubbing his arm where two red weals mark the entry of the snake's fangs, Dron stumbles towards the hole and peers inside. "I think he's gone..." he mumbles dazedly.

[BigRedRod]

Tigris is clearly uncomfortable standing the now silent forest with three men who have just lost a fellow. A few times he opens his mouth but can't produce any words, instead he steps back from the edge of the hole and carefully walks a few steps away from the three remaining party members.

After several minutes have passed, the guide clearly decides that if he doesn't take the initiative then they will all stand here until the end of time,
"I'm sorry for your loss. Truely I am, but you need to decide what we do next."
His voice is faint and uncertain and the words trickle out a little too quickly

[SuperJosh]

"Yea, yea. Oc course. You are right." Roth stuters. "I guess we keep going?" he says in an askance voice.

[Black Plauge]

Shaking his head in frustration, Durn replies, "Yeah, keep going. If there is nothing else that we can do for Algedar then we've little choice. We still have a job to do."

[SuperJosh]

Motioning to their guide Roth sheaths his falchion. "Lead on then. Killing ourselves by traveling in the dark will do Algerdar no good."

[BigRedRod]

Leaving their fallen friend to his seemingly inevitable fate as the meal of the surviving Unter-snake, the five-now-reduced-to-four trudge onwards. The remains of the journey are silent, timeless and uncomfortable for all involved. Occasionally Tigris stops for a moment to regain his bearings, usually involving him crouching to the ground and seemingly searching the forest floor itself for clues. On a few rare occasions it is even possible to make out the marks of passge without the guide's help, an obvious hoofprint here and there marking that the path is most likely true.

How much time passed before Tigris finally stopped is hard to measure. The sun is still in the sky, although it has started to fall and warp the colours from blue to various shades of pink and purple. At first it seems most likely that the mysterious guide is unwilling to travel further in the waning light, but following the direction he points with his arm it is possible to see a break in the trees.

With the trees opening at one end it suddenly becomes possible to almost see a path on the trail followed by the party today. The clearing at the end of the trail seems quite large and has a large squat stone building at its centre. The building looks to have seen better days, at one time it no doubt has more than a single floor, although now the top of the building is little more than rubble marked by a large tent built at one end. The winds starts to pick up once again sending the fabric flapping and bringing faint unplacable noises. Without the litter provided by so many trees it is clear that a number of horses have marched too and from the building on a regular basis. Bare earth has been exposed in places marking out the rough track leading around one side of the building.

The ruined building pokes out less than six feet from the earth and it gives the impression that it has lost several floors beneath the gorund as well as those which have crumbled from above. However, no guards or people of any kind of visible from the current location of the party a few hundred feet away from the nearest grey-stone wall.

Tigris whispers to his three surviving clients,
"I think we are here."
His voice contains an element of suprise and it seems quite clear that the burden of Algerdar's loss has already fallen from his mind and is replaced with a smile,
"Lucky and unlucky. We aren't the first to stumble across these ruins. I shall remember this port of call the next time someone wants to go ruin hunting in the woods. It looks like your messenger friend has managed to find himself what no one else could."

The man turns and waits expectantly.

[Black Plauge]

Turning to Roth and Dron, Durn comments, "Truth be told, I didn't expect to find something quite so soon and haven't really thought about how to approach whoever, may be there. Do you think we should hunt around first, hopefully without revealing our presense, or take a more direct approach?"

[The Alcotroll]

Dron sucks at his teeth for a moment before replying.

"As a natural coward, I'd like to delay the advent of hostilities for as long as possible. Do you think we could just hang around unobtrusively and see who comes out...?"

[SuperJosh]

" Say we sneak around and see what we are up against. I would much rather know how many enemies I face and what their nature is." roth replies after what seems like an eternity of contemplating.

[Black Plauge]

"Okay," Durn replies, "I just wish Algedar was still here. He had the spells for sneaking about. As is we'll have to rely on natural ability."

"Which means maybe one of you two should do it," he adds.

[The Alcotroll]

Dron glances at Roth for a moment, and sighs. "I suppose it's not going to be you, either."

He purses his lips and frowns at the ruins. "I'll go then. I'll do a quick circle of the building and come back. If It kicks off, you can rely on me to run like a frightened rabbit, straight back here."

Dron will stick to cover and avoid exposing himself, circling the building and making notes of exits and enterances, (both doors and windows) and signs of any recent activity.

[BigRedRod]

Setting off from his travelling companions, Dron travels around the edge of the clearing to investigate the strange ruin. Near the building, the short grass and bare earth gives way for pieces of smashed stone work and general debris, although this seems to have been largely removed around the crude path leading towards the building's only entrance. The large wooden double doors look to be in quite a poor state of repair, and the fact they are sunk almost an entire foot below the surrounding ground level has most likely added to this. To compensate for the sunken doors the ground nearby has been dug out slightly to form a dirt slope.

To the immediate left of the doors is a crude ramp almost ten feet in width formed from packed debris. The ramp leads up on to the roof of the building, where a canvas tent has been erected and flaps gently in the wind.

Windows dot the walls of the building, their odd angles lend to the idea that the building has sunk down into the earth in some areas. At one time, each of the walls of the building would have contained five or six narrow windows in order to allow in daylight and fresh air. However, the tall, narrow windows are now mostly collapsed and filled with rubble.

Circling around to put the building between himself and the party, Dron gazes out upon what seems to be a huge pit in the earth. Without drawing closer he can do nothing but guess at the purpose or origin of the massive void.

The western half of the building is strewn with the most rubble, with the roof of the building being barely four feet from the "ground" level rather than the six found at other points. Continuing his path back toward the party, Dron catches a faint whiff of an unpleasant odour on the wind. Manure. Straining his eyes, he wagers he can possibly see a large mound of the stinking refuse at the corner of the tent nearest the area of increased rubble.

Having completed a full circuit around the edge of the forest without seeing another soul, Dron returns to expectant expressions several feet from the edge of the clearing. The sun has dropped a notch further in the sky and purple is rapidly becoming the colour of choice in the sky, with a few wispy yellow clouds above the hidden sun.

[ooc: map in the ol' location thread]

[The Alcotroll]

Dron recounts his findings, including the manure and the tents.

"The presence of tentage indicates that someone was here, although whether they're still around is a mystery."

"What d'you think? Shall we take a look at these tents, or shall we watch them and see what happens?"

[SuperJosh]

"We have lost too much already by charging in. I say we watch the night then choose a course of action." Roth says as he pets Cy absently.

[Black Plauge]

Turning to their guide, Durn asks, "What say you, Tigris?"

"Can we safely spend the night under the trees while watching the clearing, or will that create dangers we haven't though of?"

[BigRedRod]

Tigris tuts, shrugs and speaks his mind in a voice little over a whisper,
"Luck isn't really on our side. You've seen the monsters that haunt the forest, we could be attacked again ... things are more active at night. If we hide and keep a careful watch, then we will most likely see the night through without drawing attention to ourselves from the denizens of the wood. Then again, keeping an eye on the wood and an eye over there may be too much."

[Black Plauge]

Nodding in agreement, Durn responds to Roth and Dron, "Tigris is right, we've already lost Algedar to what lurks here in the forest. If we can avoid it we shouldn't spend the night out here. I say we enter the clearing and see what kind of reception we get."

[SuperJosh]

Readying his bow, Roth nods in agreement. "Lets go then." he says.

[The Alcotroll]

Losening his rapier in it's sheath, for all the good it might do, Dron sets off after the others, taking up position on Roth's left flank.

[BigRedRod]

The trio carefully follow the trial towards the building, with Tigris at the rear keeping his eyes firmly on the trees for any unwanted attention they might attract from the denizens of the wood.

No light, spills from the windows and looking through them reveals only murky shaodws which could be anything but are mostly likely the remains of furniture. Apart from the gradually increasing wind, there are no identifiable sounds. The tent atop the building flaps silently in the wind and the party face a decision. Up the ramp and inside the tent, or through the door and in to the ruined building...

[Black Plauge]

Their entrance into the clearing drawing no visible response, Durn whispers to the others, "Maybe there is somebody down in the pit? We should at least look into it before doing anything else."

[The Alcotroll]

Dron shrugs. "I'd rather check the obvious first. I'm certainly not volunteering to be the first to stick my head over the edge. Maybe there's another snake down there?"

[SuperJosh]

Piping up Roth states, I would rather check the tent first as well."

[Black Plauge]

Outnumbered, Durn merely shrugs his shoulders and falls into line behind the others as they head for the tent.

[BigRedRod]

Cy sniffs along the debris forming the ramp as the party ascend, although the animal himself seems unsure of whether he has caught a scent. The ramp itself is sturdy and the tracks covering it are heavily faded although still just visible.

The opening of the tent is little more than a break in the material, although two ropes hanging from the join make it obvious that the entrance area can be vastly increased in width with minimal effort. With the daylight depleted and no light from within the tent, it is left to Durn to stare through the thin opening. In the murk he sees little, a fence just above three feet in height standing atop the ruined roof with a gate before the tent opening. At the opposite end of the tent is a wooden structure serving a purpose which Durn cannot determine from this distance, although it appears to have an open front.

Curiously, the area inside the fence is covered with hay. Tigris stretches in the cool forest-scented evening air and glances at the dwarf with a look of expectation.

[SuperJosh]

"So what do you see Durn" Roth ask's anxiously.

[Black Plauge]

"A stable?" Durn replies, clearly puzzled, "Or at least that's what it looks like. There aren't any animals that I can see at the moment, however, so I'd venture to guess that no one is here right now."

[SuperJosh]

"If it is just a stable, then I say we check the pit," Roth says, half releived that nothing is their, and half frustrated they have found nothing.

[Black Plauge]

"Agreed," replies Durn.

[BigRedRod]

Abandoning any further investigations of the tent which apparantly serves the ruin as a stable, Roth and Durn return down the debris ramp with Tigris and Dron following close behind. The group attempt to move in silence although it seems impossible to place a boot fown on the ramp firmly without setting off a miniature masonary landslide somewhere on the crude construction.

With no signs of life coming from within the ruin, the four continue toward the gaping hole in the earth beside the building. With the fading light, Roth, Tigris and Dron see nothing but a black hole. To the dwarf's vision however, the gap is rather intriguing. The hole continues downwards for further than Durn's eyes can make out and there are no lit light sources anywhere within. However, from looking at the edge by his feet, he reaches a firm conclusion concerning the nature of the pit quickly and easily.

Once a great domed structure existed, the forest level now just about level with the base of the great dome. However, through sudden trauma or ancient weathering, the dome has collapsed leaving the chamber below open to the elements.

[The Alcotroll]

Dron peers into the hole with an air of suspicion.

"May I be the first to suggest that we find somewhere to sleep, and worry about this Puck-forsaken ruin and it's attendant pit in the morning."

He pauses reflexively, and then adds; "Or even the afternoon."

[Black Plauge]

Explaining what he sees to the others, Durn voices agreement with Dron, "It'll take far longer than we've spent already to fully explore the area. We should use what time we have left to make camp."

Looking over at the tent, Durn continues, "You know, we could make use of the tent for shelter. We'd be protected from the elements an only have one approach to watch."

[SuperJosh]

"True, but that would also leave little chance of escaping unnoticed, should the owners return." Roth states. After thinking a while he reconsiders. "Still, it is better than sleeping in the same woods as the snake creatures."

[The Alcotroll]

Relieved that no-one is suggesting an examination of the pit or the ruins, Dron nods.

"The tent it is then. Hope it doesn't smell too bad..."

[BigRedRod]

Abandoning the search of the clearing until morning, the three and Tigris return to the tent atop the central ruin. Stepping inside the party is greeted by a sudden wave of stench. A smell which helps back up the earlier suggestion that the tent served as a stable. Along with the overpowering stench of manure comes a gentle neigh, and Durn sees an indistinct shape shuffle about from within the wooden structure. Drawing closer he sees three more such shapes, and a few more steps confirms that they are in fact horses.

Setting up camp, the four have a chance to reflect on the odd tranquillity of the tent. The fabric manages to block out all noises of the wind moving between the tree outside, while managing to ensure the smell of manure has little opportunity to escape.

Cy grumbles to himself before lying down on the cool stone roof upon which the tent is erected.

...

Roth sits on the ground at the far end of the animal pen within the tent, his eyes fixed on the tent flap which now admits a small beam of light.
His fellows are all still asleep, including Cy who has hardly move since he lay down many hours earlier.

The body of the tribesman is riddled with aches and pains from the previous days trek and battle and no doubt the new day brings more of the same. A few more hours and camp will have to broken in order to make the most of the day.

Suddenly shifting as if someone were entering, Roth freezes in position as the tent flap moves. After a moment he accepts it was only the wind and concludes that if a person were to scale the ramp he would be able to hear their boots crunching on the debris ramp.

Clearly such a conclusion was wrong however as the tent flap shifts again and a figure enters. Roth closes his eyes as the tent flap parts to allow in far more light that his dimness adjusted eyes can tolerate. The flap falls back and Roth realises the figure has yet to notice him.

"Morning everybody"
Says a happy voice belonging to the figure. He wears an open white shirt, smart black trousers that stopped actually being smart several washes ago, tall leather boots and has a sword at his hip. His hands at the moment both carry buckets of water, one of which he sets down to open the gate in to the animal pen before entering. One of the horses strides out toward him to return the greeting,
"Yes, yes, I'll feed you in a minute. Wouldn't you like a drink first?"
The words are clearly kinth as Roth is able to understand them, but the accent is strange and unknown to him. Then again, this is the furthest east in Dagern he has ever travelled.

His companions are still asleep, but neither Roth himself or them seem to have been spotted in the dimness of the tent yet.

[SuperJosh]

His hands help out where they can be seen Roth slowly stands up. "Greetings!" he says in a loud clear voice. "I am Roth, a lost traveler, I hope you do not mind me taking refuge in your tent, but it is cold outside and I have already last a companion to the woods." Roth speaks slowly, clearly and semi-loudly, his goal to wake his companions and give them cover noise to do what they deem nesseccary while not being loud enough for anyone outside the tent to hear him.

[BigRedRod]

At seeing Roth's form move, the man leaps backward in suprise and his hand darts for his weapon. He glares at the tribesman in the dim light, his hand unmoving and replies in a gruff voice unlike the one used to greet the animals moments before,

"You're a long way from home, Tribal. Why were you wandering in these damned woods?"

[ooc: To keep things interesting, BP and Alco can expect a PM when their characters wake up]

[SuperJosh]

"Well to tell you the truth, I am lost." Roth replies loudly, "I our group was attacked by some snake monsters and we fled and got seperated. I found this clearing and took shelter in this tent."

[BigRedRod]

Clearly not satisfied by Roth's answers and possibly having suspicions about Roth's overly loud voice for two men in a tent, the man beckons with one hand and keeps his other on the hilt of his sword,
"You keep yer hands were I can see them and step over in to the light"
He point to the tent flap while keeping his eyes on the tribesman

[Black Plauge]

Rousing himself at Tigris' shaking, Durn notes his signal to be quiet and, while moving as little as possible, looks around the tent to take in what is going on.

[SuperJosh]

Scrunching up his face, Roth thins for a second. "You what be to come over there?" he asks as he starts to walk. "Don't worry, I will not harm you." he says in the same loud voice as he slowly walks over to the man holding out his hands.

[Black Plauge]

On one hand, Durn can't believe that Roth would use such and obvious ploy as on overly loud voice. On the other hand, it was probably the reason he was awake now, so he should be grateful. Taking a quick inventory of the spells he has left from the previous day, Durn realizes that he doesn't have anything prepared that would really be helpful in this situtation. A couple of defensive spells and a spell desigened to frustrate an enemy. And maybe one left that's designed to kill. Nothing, however that could incapacitate without harm. Helplessly, Durn watches the scene with Roth unfold. Hopefully the erstwile tribesman would find a way out of this.

[The Alcotroll]

Brought to wakefulness by a hand over his mouth, Dron struggles for a moment in panic, before self control reasserts himself. Not quite comprehending what is going on, he looks searchingly at Tigris, receiving in return a glower and a hurried gesture to shut up and stay put.

He does so.

[BigRedRod]

Roth careful walks around the edge of the tent with his hands in the air, until he stands between the flaps and the horse groom. The groom shifts slightly in order to avoid Roth simply becoming a silhouette against the bright stream of light pouring through the gap in the tent flaps. As the tribesman moves, he notices a few subtle movements on the oppsite side of the canvas structure, it looks likes his companions have awoken and are waiting for a cue before acting.

Still with one had on the hilt of his weapon, the man gestures to the ground,
"Set down that big sword you have slung over your back then ... that'll do me for proof you mean no harm"

[SuperJosh]

Stopping dead in his tracks Roth takes a step back. "What, Can you speak up? I can not understand you." Assuming the man repeats his request Roth will unstrap his sword and toss it about 2/3s of the way between him and the man, then start approaching again.

[BigRedRod]

The falchion flies awkwardly and lands at the horsetender's feet. With the tribesman now unarmed, he visibly relaxes, although he still keeps one hand on the hilt of his own shorter blade. As Roth enters the pen, he begins to speak,
"Now then friend-"
Stepping forwards, the man pulls forth his weapon and grips it in both hands, delivering a sudden unexpected blow to the side of Roth's head with the hilt.
"you should learn not to go snooping around."
However, the tribesman fails to crumble in to the heap which the horsetender clearly expected. His gambit having failed, the man steps on Roth's blade and prepares to follow up his attack.

Initative
Dron
Durn
Tigris
Man (armed with a shortsword)
Roth & Cy

[Black Plauge]

Seeing the man strike at Roth, Durn's reaction is as quick as he can make it. Hoping to avoid more hostilities than are necessary, Durn hopes that frustration, and lack of sight, will sufice to deter him from trying to attack again.

[OOC: Cast Blindness/Deafness to blind Roth's attacker. Fort save DC 19 negates.]

[The Alcotroll]

Startled by the sudden onset of violence, Dron pushes himself to his feet and heads towards the fence. He clambers over the structure carefuly and moves into the man's blind-spot, taking care to move quietly.

[OOC: Dron is setting himself up for a sneak attack next round.]

[BigRedRod]

As Dron quietly sneaks away through the dimness, he is ever so slightly hampered by Durn's loud arcane chanting. The target of both their attentions turns as the spell completes and suddenly the dimness of the tent interior becomes an eternal blackness as his vision fades.

Tigris takes the opportunity to spring to his feet although he holds back from hurling a pair of his knives, drawn from a hidden yet seemingly endless supply, waiting to see how the rest of the group wish to deal with the solitary blind man they are now battling.

Shouting with rage, the man swings his sword from left to right, and Roth easily dodges the sweeps. Cy starts to growl for a moment and then surges forward barking loudly, leaping over the short animal pen fence and taking position at Roth's heel.

Initative
Dron
Durn
Tigris
Man (armed with a shortsword and blindness)
Roth & Cy

[SuperJosh]

Crouching low, Roth rushes in and grapples the horsetender.

(OOC: Yep, try and grapple him)

[BigRedRod]

Even without a sword, a large muscled tribesman is sill a very real threat, especially if you are blind. Roth collides with his foe and both fall to the ground, the short sword clatters away and it's bearer is left in a position where he has few options. The figure beneath Roth screams incoherently in anger at the sudden turning of the tables.

Cy stands beside his master growling loudly, throwing in an occasion bark, and the figure stops squirming and shouting in response as he prepares himself for what comes next.

[ooc: we can end the combat mode there, the man is helpless really]

[Black Plauge]

Getting up and dusting himself off, Durn moves over to where Roth has the man pinned down.

"I'm sorry to have deprived you of your sight, but it seemed a better option than depriving you of your life. Attacking an unarmed man is not a way to endear yourself to his friends."

[BigRedRod]

Lying still on the ground the man remains silent to the words of the dwarf. His eyes stare blankly up toward the large tribesman sat atop him, each covered with a milky film.

[The Alcotroll]

Saying nothing for the moment, Dron recovers both swords and moves to stand beside Roth and his prisoner.

[SuperJosh]

"Someone want to get some rope and tie this guy up?" Roth asks still grappling the fellow, Assuming that someone does, Roth stands and reclaims his sword from Dron.

[The Alcotroll]

Handing Roth's sword to Durn for safe-keeping, and tucking the prisoner's through his own belt, Dron rummages amongst the items of horse-tack and saddlery before returning with rope.

Handing that to Durn as well, Dron indicates for the dwarf to help the tribesman tie the prisoner while he himself saunters over to the tent-flap and cautiously lifts it, taking care to remain within the shadow while he looks for any companions the man may have had.

[BigRedRod]

While the dwarf does his best to prevent the blinded man from moving with the length of rope Dron filched from the horse supplies, the former apprentice mechanist goes to stand by the tent flap and peer outside.

Outside the sun shines down happily on the clearing in the Cavernous Woods. A few dark shapes shift between the trees in the distance, but nothing nearby seems to be moving apart from a few birds in the upper reaches of the trees. Oddly enough, from his position just inside the tent, Dron is unable to hear the birds, or possibly they just aren't making any sound.

[Black Plauge]

Speaking to their prisoner, Durn tries to learn a bit more about him, "Now, while I understand that finding strangers in your horse tent is not an everyday occurance, what possesed you to attack my friend here? Attacking cooperative individuals who have given up their weapon as a sign of good intentions isn't exactly the way to make friends."

[SuperJosh]

Retreiving his sword from Durn, Roth shakes his head. "Some people are just mean and the world is better off without them. Maybe our friend here can convince me he is not one of them." he says, the anger in his voice very real.

[BigRedRod]

The man ignores the words of the dwarf remaining silent as he lies blinded and bound upon the hay covered ground of the animal pen within the tent. The horses are make quiet worried noises from their crudely constructed stable. At the realisation that his continued silence could result in his death, which occurs shortly after Roth speaks, the man spits out a few loud words seeped in anger,
"A long traveller? Lost in the Cavernous woods? Bollocks. I'm not about to beg for my life from whoever the fuck you are, and I'm not telling you owt."

[The Alcotroll]

Dron maintains his watch on the outside world, paying particular attention to the dark shaped in the trees.

[BigRedRod]

"Hmmph. Just as well I wasn't alone"
It is clear from Roth's voice that he is unwilling to orally concede he is the wrong, despite his own growing belief that opening the encounter with a string of lies may not have been the best course of action. What's done is done thought now and he can't change the past.

[Black Plauge]

"Lone traveller or not," Durn replies, "you attacked a man who willingly disarmed for you to show his good intentions. Had it not been for that action on your part, I'm willing to bet that this scenario would have developed very diffrently."

"Now, how many of you are there out here? And are they all as friendly as you?"

[The Alcotroll]

Still looking out, and hopefuly unseen by the bound man, Dron keeps quiet, but listens carefuly to his response.

[BigRedRod]

The man snorts, seemingly quite happy to be uncooperative despite how easily the men around him could end his life, the anger in his voice remains as he spits out each and every word,
"Go around trespassing and lying a lot do you? I was just protecting myself from the big bugger ... shoulda known he'd 'ave his mates watching."

From his position, Dron sees no signs of anybody else coming to investigate, just the morning sun filtering down through the clouds on the silent forest.

[The Alcotroll]

Bored of his vigil, Dron gestures for Tigris to make himself useful at his post, and moves quietly to stand behind the man, out of his vision.

He draws his rapier slowly, allowing the steel to slide against the sheath in the hope of unnerving the man. Pitching his voice low, with a menacing edge, Dron speaks to Roth and Durn as a harsh and cruel master would address his servants.

"Enough of this prattle. When will you understand that you must be harsh with men like this, offer him an inch and he'll take a mile. Next he'll have you convinced he's a harmless traveller!"

He tickles the back of the man's neck with the tip of his rapier and leans close. "We're all alone, after all..." he whispers, "...and there's no-one to hear you scream."

He straightens, now thoroughly into the role of sadistic captor and watches the man's reactions with interest as he adresses Durn in a commanding voice:

"Dwarf, find me that cooking oil. It's a shame you hadn't the foresight to pack all my equipment, but such limitations imposed on my genius by mere menials like yourself will only drive my art on to greater accomplishments!"
Waving at Durn to walk over to the stalls where they slept and rummage in their equipment noisily, "Bring some means of flame, too!" he calls at the retreating footsteps.

As a final touch, he extracts his mechanist's tools and lockpicks from his pouch and opens the roll, letting the impliments rattle ominously. "It is most fortunate," he croons, "that my... special... tools are too dear to me to part with."

Extracting a particularly evil-looking twisted thing for probing traps, he caresses the man's cheek with the cold metal. "I do hope you offer some resistance, for I am quite excited about the prospect of breaking you..."

[OOC; Mountains of bluff, with a side salad of sense motive. The bluff to convince him that I am in fact an evil torturer, and the sense motive to see if he squirms when I mention his lack of friends. If not, it would be logical for Dron to attribute his lack of fear to the expectation of imminent reinforcements.]

[Black Plauge]

Not sure of what Dron is trying to accomplish, Durn nevertheless play's along. Its not like it hurt anything.

[BigRedRod]

Tigris takes over from Dron at the tent flap, although from time to time he peers over to see what the man is going to do to the prisoner. As Dron talks, the man grits his teeth as he prepares for whatever torture he is about to undergo.

The man remains almost motionless throughout the pantomime, and the rogue doesn't learn anything from his body language. Cooking supplies are laid out beside the pair by the dwarf, who stands back slightly to watch what his companion will do next.

[The Alcotroll]

Ever so slightly disappointed, Dron glances upwards and makes a quick prayer to his patron deity. For Puck's sake, please let this work...

In his 'harsh master' voice he snaps at Durn. "Well don't just stand there peasant! Get a fire going!"
As Durn sets flint to tinder, Dron roughly divests the man of his shirt, with much unnecessary tugging and pulling.
As the scent of burning kindling rises in the air from Durn's simple cook-fire, Dron places a pan on the fire and pours a little cooking oil in. Winking reassuringly at his colleagues, he waits in silence for the oil to warm suitably and the scent of hot oil rises. He takes from his pouch a strip of beef jerky, and then unstoppers his water canteen.

"Let me tell you about hot oil." he says conversationally to the prone man.
"It holds heat marvelously, which is of course why it is used so often in cooking."
He pauses to let the implication sink in before continuing.
"When it touches flesh, it cooks in moments. To you, it will feel a icy cold at first, as the terrible heat kills your skin and cooks your flesh. Your body won't even realise it's cooking... for a while."

With the sound of dice rattling in his head, Dron tosses the strip of beef jerky into the oil and allows a few drips of cold water to fall on the man's back.

"Like this..."

[BigRedRod]

As much as Dron may enjoy playing torturer his lack of technical skill can lead some endeavours to end in a catastrophic failure. The blinded and now shirtless man gulps visibly when Dron starts to describe the wonders of oil.

The smell of cooking meat instantly fills the room as the jerky touches the oil and the water droplets touch the bare skin of the man. For several seconds the man bucks wildly and makes garbled noises of pain. The noises gradually change after a few seconds as the man begins to gasp uselessly for air. A small amount of thick yellowish liquid oozes out of his open mouth, and it becomes clear that the man is choking on his own vomit. The revulsion at the ideas put forward by the would-be torturer were clearly too vile not to warrant a physical reaction and in his bound state lying upon his back he was unable to deal with such unpleasantness the way nature intended.

[Black Plauge]

Turning the man on his side so that he can get rid of the vomit, Durn says to Dron, "Enough of this. Its obvious that torturing the man won't get us the information we want. We'll just have to find another way to learn what we want to know."

[SuperJosh]

Watching from the side, Roth is disturbed by the sight, but in a dark way that he would prefer not to know about, pleased the man at least thinks he is getting what Roth so vehemently thinks he deserves.

Walking over to the man, Roth says, " You better start talking, I am not one for pansey tools, oils and lotions. I will not treat you like a pampered princess like these fools are. If I want you to talk you start losing body parts."

[The Alcotroll]

Dron shrugs at Durn as if to say; "You deal with him then."

He stoops to fish the beef jerky out of the pan and saunters off to one side, juggling the meat in his hands before popping it into his mouth.

[BigRedRod]

The man coughs and splutters as Durn helps him get the last of the vomit out of his windpipe and mouth and in to the hay. Roth talks over the gagging and wheezing as his companion hands over the reigns of interrogation. Taking several deep breaths, the man sags in to the closest thing to a comfortable position possible in his bound state and waits for the next round of questioning.

[SuperJosh]

Pulling out his knife Roth reiterates the question, "So how many of you are there? And are they all going to attack on sight?" If he gets no answer Roth will calmly ask the man what apendage he would like to lose first, the ask again.

[BigRedRod]

Knowing that he is beaten, the blind man answers Roth's question. His voice is level and the words come slowly as he tries to avoid falling in to a futile rage,
"Four of us serve here. And I think you'll be hard pressed to find a man anywhere in Dagern who will welcome you with a smile and tea if he finds you trespassing on his property and is only met with bold faced lies."

[SuperJosh]

"Be that as it may, it is a rare man that will attack a man that willingly disarmed himself to avoid conflict. Now what are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere? not exactly the best place to raise horses!" Roth says now that the man is in a more talkative mood.

[BigRedRod]

"Not a lot, we hardly had a sniff of action until recently and I still got to do eff all. So we'll wait and play bloody caretaker until the next thing comes along."

Tigris turns back to peer out of the tent flap now that Roth seems to have broken the man and be getting answers without spilling blood. Cy pushes his muzzle against Dron's leg in an attempt to draw it to the man's attention that only one of them is eating jerky.

[Black Plauge]

"What happened recently?" Durn asks, picking up on the possible implications of the man's statement.

[BigRedRod]

"Three of those fancy bloody pilots turned up out of the blue. Strutted about the place for a full two tendays, maybe longer. Nobody'd tell me what the fuck they were doing."
Clearly the blind man bears a great deal of resentment about these events from the obvious anger in his voice. He has a few things he'd like to get off his chest and even if he has only one chance to air them, to the same men that blinded, bound and threatened him with torture, then he'll gladly take it.
"Then they just sod off, come back an hour later, have the cheek thank us kindly for our cooperation and then they just vanish!"

[Black Plauge]

"Did they have anyone with them when they came back before vanishing?" Durn asks, hoping against hope that it might really be that easy.

[BigRedRod]

Thinking for a minute, the man attempts to shrug seemingly forgetting that he is tied up,
"They barely left their dragoons, but I didn't see no one. Unless he was rammed up in the little cargo bits that they 'ave."
A smile crosses his face as he entertains the little fantasy.

[The Alcotroll]

While the questioning contines, Dron sulks in a corner of the tent, amusing himself by feeding Cy with strips of jerky and ruffling the big dog's ears. As the man mentions Dragoons however, Dron's ears perk up.

"Who do you work for anyway? Why are you here?"

[BigRedRod]

The man's smile continues to broaden at Dron's question and despite his perilous position at the hands of the man whose threats caused him to vomit, the man half-giggles,
"I can't believe that you are here without knowing."
Suddenly the smile fades,
"Shit! This was a test wasn't it? I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, don't kill me. It was one mistake, just one!"

A look of abject terror quickly spreads across the man, the colour drains from his face leaving him pale and motionless. Only the slow movements of his exposed chest reveal that the man is in fact still alive.

[The Alcotroll]

Ever the opportunist, Dron decides that the time is ripe for another bout of bluffing.

He advances , kneeling beside the blind man as an oppressive presence at his shoulder.

"You are a man of the world," he begins in a soft, soothing voice, "I'm sure that you're aware that some of the greatest works of our empire must so often be of a... clandestine nature. Sometimes it is best for all concerned that the left hand is unaware of the movements of the right, lest envious eyes behold our ambitions and seek to thwart us."

He pauses for a moment to let the insinuation sink in.

"And of course, with such secrecy, it is inevitable that there are... problems. Not all men strive for the betterment of the Imperium. There are those who would further their own ends, those who would see us thrown down from our rightful place in the world."

Leaping to the conclusion that the bound man is an Imperial lackey, Dron is playing on the corruption and shadowplay inevitable in such an organisation to suggest that the captive's masters are working outside of Imperial control, and that his captors are Imperial agents sent to deal with this errant threat.

"It is your misfortune, my friend, to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, I am sure you were just following orders, but we can't let that be an excuse can we?"

"So perhaps you can tell me: Who do your masters say they are, and what are they doing? And if you are co-operative, then perhaps we could be convinced that you are merely a humble servant of the Empire, led astray by those who should have known better."