CHAPTER 4:

[Rob]: so we go north to track the witch

[Mike]: North to the mountain pass trail.

[Mike]: What are you looking for?

[Baer]: I'm looking for any kind of hut or shanty in the woods, the ruins or remnants of any hut, any signs of habitation in the forest, and Josh's tongue.

[Baer]: For looking for a hut or ruins? I'd think that would be easy.

[Mike]: But where do you start looking? Obviously you won't see anything from the trail, or someone would have found it in the last two decades.

[Baer]: Is there any kind of overgrown trail off of the trail?

[Mike]: So where in the 400 square miles of mountain forest do you begin your search?

[Baer]: Are there any paths, old or new, that branch from the main trail?

[Mike]: Yes. Several.

[Mike]: Some are obviously animal tracks.

[Baer]: Well I'll start with the least used that I find-- that aren't "normal" animal tracks.

[Mike]: The main trail curves to the west as you follow it. MORE

[Mike]: Soon you find a trail off the right hand side that obviously once saw quite a bit of traffic, just by the way the branches haven't quite yet grown over it. MORE

[Mike]: You would guess by the amount of new growth that it's been over a year since it saw regular use.

[Mike]: You can tell it was used by humans (or demihumans) by the number of cut branches.

[Rob]: what do you think Baer

[Baer]: I look for other branch offs- but we'll keep this one labeled as "recent branch off 1" for future reference.

[Mike]: Further up, there are several spots on the left side--all within a mile of each other. MORE

[Mike]: These were obviously used by something (or things) BIG. We're talking trolls or ogres or rhinos. MORE

[Mike]: Some look as recent as the last month. Others are more grown over, but you would guess were made by the same beast or person.

[Baer]: Let's try this one, Rob. Isn't the killer creature supposed to be big?

[Rob]: okay

[Mike]: The sun is high now--maybe around noonish. But the autumn air has gotten a little colder.

[Rob]: okay

[Baer]: I want to follow these for a little ways.

[Mike]: Which of the LARGE tracks do you take? Baer shivers

[Mike]: The most recent?

[Baer]: The most recent.

[Rob]: yes I agree

[Mike]: Ah. This is easy going. Whatever it was made plenty of room. So you push easily through the thick forest.

[Rob]: so when was the last time the spider ate?

[Mike]: Soon, it joins a more well used path.

[Mike]: This new path is used by the same large creature.

[Baer]: Stop- is the large creature a horse?

[Mike]: And as you follow it further, you realize you can see footprints now. MORE

[Mike]: Something big. Walks on two legs. Wears shoes.

[Baer]: Troll sized?

[Mike]: About that. Yes.

[Mike]: You push on.

[Baer]: We'll keep going. Something that big is definitely out of place here.

[Rob]: is it dark yet?

[Mike]: You find the discarded remnants of a meal and maybe a campsite. MORE

[Rob]: lets check it out

[Baer]: We check it out.

[Mike]: It was used by at least three individuals, by the look of the flattened brush where they bedded down.

[Rob]: can we estimate a size of the men?

[Baer]: All 3 individuals were huge?

[Mike]: Yes.

[Mike]: The discarded bones are maybe from a bear.

[Mike]: The bones show signs of the meat having been cooked. So it's not trolls.

[Rob]: did the tracks indicate feet or shoes?

[Baer]: Well, whatever these things were are certainly capable of having done what the town assumes

[Mike]: Definitely shoes.

[Baer]: Giants?

[Mike]: Smallish giants maybe.

[Rob]: we may need help?

[Baer]: Can we tell where they left off to?

[Mike]: Like half-giants (the Verbeeg or Firbolg). Maybe ogres or small hill giants.

[Baer]: ugh

[Rob]: lets continue to follow the tracks

[Baer]: That's more like it.

[Mike]: Their path further into the forest is obvious and easy to follow.

[Baer]: We follow

[Mike]: It's now mid-afternoon. There's maybe three or four hours of daylight left. If you wanted to head back to the inn for the night, you would make it just after nightfall. Otherwise, you could camp out here.

[Baer]: Let's camp out here when we need to .

[Baer]: We push on.

[Mike]: OK then. We push on.

[Rob]: I agree

[Mike]: The trail leads into a more hilly area.

[Mike]: The going is a little tougher, but fortunately, the things you're trailing really clear a path.

[Mike]: Stop! Did you hear something?

[Baer]: We stop and listen.

[Mike]: Something big just moved in the brush off the path up ahead.

[Baer]: Rob, stop and listen

[Baer]: I ready my crossbow and motion for Rob to stop and stay still.

[Baer]: I want to creep in the direction of the noise.

[Mike]: There's a rustling of leaves just off the path up ahead. Something is trying to stay quiet and is obviously very bad at it. [Baer]: quietly

[Mike]: It's maybe 30 yards off.

[Baer]: I motion Rob to follow.

[Rob]: do we see any thing ....smell any thing?3.

[Mike]: Both of you roll a d20.

[Baer]: Shit

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=18 = [ 18 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=17 = [ 17 ]

[Mike]: You can see it now.

[Mike]: About 8 or 9 foot tall.

[Baer]: I have my crossbow trained on it.

[Mike]: An ogre just off the path.

[Mike]: It's holding a large axe and is watching you.

[Baer]: do I see others hiding?

[Mike]: It looks nervous and keeps checking over it's shoulder down the path.

[Baer]: Eh?

[Rob]: lets just talk to it ...we only know rumors

[Mike]: It looks to be alone.

[Baer]: There's going to be three.

[Rob]: Baer should I talk ?

[Baer]: I say we shoot this one before the other two get here.

[Baer]: Green light?

[Rob]: lets do this girl!

[Baer]: Thud. Baer shoots her crossbow at the Ogre, drops the weapon immediately and pulls out her sword and warhammer.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=11 = [ 11 ]

[Mike]: Partial cover for the trees. The shot misses by a hair.

[Mike]: The ogre stops looking nervous and springs into action.

[Baer]: Rob- let's keep an eye out for his friends.

[Mike]: OK--you get the general idea. 30 yards between you (each hex is about 2 yards). The path runs up the middle.

[Mike]: Roll Initiative (d10 each)

DICE for Baer: (1d10) : 1d10=4 = [ 4 ]

DICE for Mike: (1d10) : 1d10=10 = [ 10 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d10) : 1d10=6 = [ 6 ]

[Mike]: Declare action (slowest person first) Baer:

[Baer]: I'll run half the distance and pull out my weapons-- keeping an eye out for others down the path.

[Mike]: Rob?

[Rob]: I move 5 hexes and defend

[Mike]: The ogre bursts from his cover and into the path. He is brandishing his axe, and heaves a largish rock at Rob with his other hand while charging at top speed.

DICE for Mike: (1d20) : 1d20=10 = [ 10 ]

[Mike]: He would've hit, but he's running too fast.

[Mike]: He missed you Rob.

[Rob]: yes

[Mike]: Rob--move your five hexes.

[Mike]: Baer moves

[Baer]: Initiative!

DICE for Baer: (1d10) : 1d10=10 = [ 10 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d10) : 1d10=6 = [ 6 ]

DICE for Mike: (1d10) : 1d10=2 = [ 2 ]

[Mike]: Roll d20 twice (sword then hammer)

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=5 = [ 5 ]

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=12 = [ 12 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=4 = [ 4 ]

[Mike]: Both miss. You suck.

[Mike]: Rob also misses.

[Mike]: Ogre brings oversized axe down on Rob.

DICE for Mike: (1d20) : 1d20=15 = [ 15 ]

[Mike]: And hits for:

DICE for Mike: (1d8) : 1d8=3 = [ 3 ]

[Mike]: 7 points damage. [Baer]: Initiative!

DICE for Baer: (1d10) : 1d10=9 = [ 9 ]

DICE for Mike: (1d10) : 1d10=4 = [ 4 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d10) : 1d10=2 = [ 2 ]

[Baer]: I'm gonna beat the hell out it.

[Baer]: Two swords and a hammer, respectively

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=18 = [ 18 ]

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=4 = [ 4 ]

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=17 = [ 17 ]

[Baer]: sword damage

DICE for Baer: (1d6) : 1d6=5 = [ 5 ]

[Mike]: Sword and hammer both do damage vs Large creature.

[Baer]: plus two is 7

[Mike]: hammer

DICE for Baer: (1d4+1) : 1d4=4 = [ 5 ]

[Baer]: 12! Sweet.

[Mike]: Ogre takes 12 points of damage.

[Mike]: Ogre continues to hack at Rob.

DICE for Mike: (1d20) : 1d20=20 = [ 20 ]

[Mike]: Roll for grievous.

DICE for Mike: (1d20) : 1d20=6 = [ 6 ]

[Mike]: You're lucky punk.

DICE for Mike: (1d8) : 1d8=2 = [ 2 ]

[Mike]: 6 points damage.

[Mike]: Rob attacks.

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=16 = [ 16 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=11 = [ 11 ]

[Mike]: Both hit.

[Mike]: Give me d8 twice for damage.

DICE for Rob: (1d8) : 1d8=8 = [ 8 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d8) : 1d8=1 = [ 1 ]

[Mike]: 13 points for Rob.

[Baer]: 25 so far. Initiative!

DICE for Baer: (1d10) : 1d10=3 = [ 3 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d10) : 1d10=3 = [ 3 ]

DICE for Ogre: (1d10) : 1d10=9 = [ 9 ] Ogre is in piss poor shape. Ogre runs for it, breaking back through the trees.

[Rob]: we follow

[Rob]: scratch that we shoot bows

[Baer]: I give chase

[Rob]: I fire a freeken arrow

[Mike]: Rob is firing over Baers head.

DICE for Rob: (1d10) : 1d10=5 = [ 5 ]

[Mike]: Initiative.

DICE for Ogre: (1d10) : 1d10=10 = [ 10 ]

DICE for Baer: (1d10) : 1d10=9 = [ 9 ]

[Mike]: Baer--it's obvious you won't catch him. He has much longer legs and knows these woods.

[Mike]: Rob fire two arrows.

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=15 = [ 15 ]

DICE for Rob: (1d20) : 1d20=12 = [ 12 ]

[Mike]: The first arrow hits.

[Mike]: Roll d6 damage.

DICE for Rob: (1d6) : 1d6=5 = [ 5 ] Ogre falls over and lays still. Ogre is still breathing.

[Rob]: lest go see

[Baer]: I kick his axe away (or drag it)

[Rob]: I chop at his head.....be sure he is dead

[Baer]: No!

[Baer]: We want Info!

[Rob]: why not?

[Baer]: He's not dead!

[Rob]: oh .

[Mike]: Rob runs up to hack the ogre to little pieces.

[Baer]: Let's tie him up and torture him

[Mike]: Baer stops him.

[Mike]: The ogre is unconscious and bleeding.

[Rob]: we could force him to eat your pus

[Baer]: I tie him up and stop him from dying.

[Mike]: Baer rolls d20

[Baer]: I look for gold and magic items.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=6 = [ 6 ]

[Rob]: Baer you search him and I will keep a look out for the others

[Mike]: You pull out the arrow and patch up the cuts pretty well. He won't die yet.

[Baer]: What did the ogre have on him!

[Mike]: 15 coppers, 5 silver, and 3 large greasy slabs of cooked meat wrapped in leaves.

[Mike]: The meat sat on top of the money and it's all pretty greasy too.

[Baer]: What kind of meat?

[Mike]: You can't tell what kind of meat.

[Baer]: I'll take three silvers and give Rob everything else.

[Rob]: I need to be patched up

[Mike]: But these are steak sized, so they came from something medium to large.

[Baer]: Human?

[Mike]: Doubtful if it is human, but you've never seen people steaks, so...maybe.

[Baer]: Horse?

[Mike]: Horse or cow or bear or deer would all be good choices.

[Baer]: I pick up my crossbow

[Mike]: While you two are quibbling over greasy money, the ogre starts to come around.

[Baer]: Have I tied him up?

[Mike]: Yes.

[Rob]: Baer point the cross bow at him

[Mike]: And he immediately panics and struggles with the bonds.

[Rob]: were are the others Baer point the cross bow at him

[Mike]: What language?

[Rob]: I kick him in a wound ...were are the others

[Baer]: Common

[Baer]: We act very threatening

[Mike]: The ogre appears to not understand.

[Mike]: He says something in what sounds like orcish.

[Rob]: lets kill him Baer he is of no use to us

[Baer]: I try dwarvish

[Rob]: I want him to here that

(Master whispered to Rob): Rob--your orcish is from another area, but you're pretty sure he is saying, "Let me go and..." something about money.

[Baer]: Rob- we can try to interrogate him- if he's living in the woods- he may know something about the beast

[Mike]: Dwarvish doesn't fare any better.

[Rob]: Baer he is muttering something about money

[Mike]: He grunts and keeps babbling in his pig-talk.

[Baer]: what language?

[Rob]: I tell him were is money

(Master whispered to Rob): He's saying someone can pay you.

(Master whispered to Rob): He says let him go.

[Rob]: I kick him in his wounds again and say were is money?

[Mike]: Rob is speaking in orcish to the ogre

[Mike]: The ogre looks relieved. He babbles again.

(Master whispered to Rob): The money is in my bag. Pay you... something about his father.

[Rob]: I ask again were is the bag?

[Mike]: Rob speaks in orcish--the ogre answers.

(Master whispered to Rob): That is my bag. I only have a few coins. But my father is rich.

[Rob]: were is your father?

[Mike]: Baer finds no other ogres lurking in the brush.

[Rob]: were dose he get his wealth?

(Master whispered to Rob): He is at our home up the mountain.

[Baer]: I reload my crossbow

(Master whispered to Rob): Take me to him. He'll pay you well.

[Mike]: They're both still grunting that pig-talk.

[Rob]: have you been terrorising the towns people?

(Rob whispered to Master): why are you here

(Rob whispered to Master): what were you doing

(Master whispered to Rob): "No!" He's very upset that you suggested this. "We would never break our truce. Grumdi would kill me if he thought I was there."

(Master whispered to Rob): "I am out hunting. Watching the border."

(Rob whispered to Master): who is Grumdi?

(Master whispered to Rob): "The kobolds have been too close lately."

(Master whispered to Rob): "Grumdi is my father."

(Master whispered to Rob): Grumdi is orcish for "Devil Ant"

(Rob whispered to Master): were are the others you were with?

(Master whispered to Rob): "I'm here on my own. I swear."

(Rob whispered to Master): were is Grumdi?

(Master whispered to Rob): "I told you. My father is in his home up the mountain."

[Mike]: They go on and on.

[Mike]: The conversation is hard because they each only follow half of what the other says.

(Rob whispered to Master): I think we beat up some one who didn't deserve it

(Master whispered to Rob): I think that's possible. But who knows.

(Master whispered to Rob): Since when has an ogre been up to anything good.

[Rob]: Baer we need to get this guy back on to his feet

(Rob whispered to Master): good point

[Rob]: Baer scratch that

(Rob whispered to Master): Have you herd of the old witch

(Master whispered to Rob): "Bethyaga? Groneldim?" Groneldim is orcish for "The tiny witch"

(Rob whispered to Master): yes were is she

(Rob whispered to Master): we will let you live if you can lead us to her

[Rob]: Baer he knows of the witch

(Master whispered to Rob): "Ha! I've never met her. My father keeps her skull hung from the fireplace in our home."

[Baer]: How so?

(Master whispered to Rob): "Grumdi killed her long before I was born."

(Master whispered to Rob): "That was the day he rose to lead our clan"

(Rob whispered to Master): you lie! if her head hangs then so shall yours

(Master whispered to Rob): The ogre is angry. "You call my father a liar? She tortured our people! The evil one got what she deserved."

[Mike]: Rob has said something to make the ogre mad.

(Rob whispered to Master): do you know of the beast that threatens the town

(Mike whispered to Rob): "No." The ogre is quieter now.

[Baer]: Rob, I'm going to prod on his wounds a bit and I want you to ask him again about the beast that terrorizes the town.

[Rob]: okay Baer pokes at the Ogre's open wounds

[Rob]: and I say that stuff

[Mike]: "I don't know what you're talking about."

[Rob]: we need to find those other guys

[Baer]: Again Baer prods a little deeper in his wounds [Mike]: You've started him bleeding again.

[Mike]: "What beast?! In Barlow?"

[Rob]: were are the others

[Baer]: Yes- in Barlow

[Rob]: yes in b town

[ Rob left the game ]

[ Baerstolwef left the game ]

Continue to CHAPTER 5