Miklos returned to the bar to the delightful news that he was roped into guard duty. But best of all it was starting now. Not that Miklos was at all keen on saving the village in the first place, they still had to get back to Specularum and Caldwell to claim their reward.
Still at least he didn’t have to endure the snoring dwarf and he was likely to be sound asleep before it became an issue. Miklos did not make ideal guard material. His eyesight at night wasn’t all that great. He’d spent the vast majority of his formative years pawing over manuscripts and making notes by candlelight. The only times (apart from the last few weeks) he had walked the streets at night, he had been drunk. Students do these things.
Miklos decided that this was just one to those occasions. “Anya, would you pass that rather fine looking Shiraz? Thank you, how much?” In gratitude for their help, Anya refused to accept any payment. Miklos thanked her and went in search of Bram to start his turn of the watch. As an afterthought he pocketed his spellbook and grabbed his sturdy staff.
As he left he turned to Feldard, Saeth and the others, “We’ll see you later. Good night.”
Soon enough, the dwarf was settled and his resonating snores could be enjoyed by all. Despite the noise, Maruc sat cross legged on the bedroom floor and, with symbol in hand, he performed his rites to Halav. He took of his gear and had a bath. This he relaxed in for some time allowing him a while to reflect on his past adventures. The heat of the bath made him very drowsy and it was an effort to pull his clean undertunic on and crawl into bed. It was soft and luxurious. Well, in comparison to his pallet in the cloister anything could be described like that, but he felt it was justified in this case. He was soon sound asleep.
Night had fallen upon the village. To pass the time Bram spoke to Miklos of village life. He was a simple farmer with three boys. Times were tough since the disappearance of many of the animals. He was thankful to them for their help. Nicolai patrolled the camp, accompanied by Bram’s eldest son Igor.
When their shift ended, it was time for the demihumans to take over the watch. Their nightvision was well-suited for the task. Feldard bade the young humans a good night then went to meet up with Nefen. Standing beneath the canopy of trees at the edge of the woods. He and his human partner kept watch through the pitch of night. Feldard was at an advantage with his dwarven infravison. Still the dwarf suspected that this was going to be a long night in the rain. Even knowing that the Elf was just as wet and sodden as he, on her roving patrol, didn’t make his watch of the woods any more enjoyable. He almost wished something would dare attack.
Meanwhile, the Elf shivered as she trudged around the village outskirts. If she thought better of the Dwarf’s intelligence, she’d have believed he picked her shift for the rain that started midway through it. As it was, she banished those ideas and peered into the darkness, cursing even the dim candlelight that spoiled her infravision. As they walked, Casimir, the village cowherd, spoke of several occasions when he was in the fields and a mysterious sleep overcame him. When he woke, there would be more cows missing.
Another shift of the watch passed without incident.
“Maruc! Maruc get up.” Rough hands were shaking him awake. To the priest it seemed like only a few moments had passed since he had laid down. Once he had woke the cleric, Feldard began his patrol of the village accompanied by farmer Stanislan Czelb.
Maruc was joined by Burr Silecz, another farmer who also made a living as a potter. The man seemed to be paranoid, turning his head at every sound in the night. Clearly, he was out of his element. “Poor Grigore! No doubt Thaddigren Dentiata has thrown him into a dreadful labyrinth dungeon below his tower, where fearsome beasts and man-eating plants devour any unfortunate wretches the mage catches!”
The rest of the night passed uneventfully. Everyone was glad to see the morning sun rise, but they all wondered what sinister doings was Thaddigren Dentiata perpetrating in his tower.
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February 21, 2007 at 4:30 pm
The dwarf stifled a yawn as he entered the tavern for a warm morning meal. “Morning,” he mumbled to his companions as he sat down heavily at the table.
Last nights’ watches had been uneventful, so it seemed there was little left they could do to aid the village other than check out the Tower itself. But Feldard was reluctant to suggest it, nevermind do it, due to the presence of yet another evil mage. He’d had plenty time last night with Nefen and Burr to rethink his initial reaction to the orcs presence. Even cracking a few orc heads, didn’t seem worth the risk of messing with this Dentiata. However, if that’s what the party decided, he would not let them go alone. But he wasn’t the one that was going to bring it up – no way, no how.
That decided, he turned his attention to the conversation of the others.
February 21, 2007 at 5:45 pm
As everyone gathered in the tavern to discuss the nights’ events Maruc put down his drink and spoke up. “Well it seems we were fortunate last night but I doubt after one nights vigillance we would catch anyone causing mischief. we will have to challenge the power of Denetiata in his own stronghold if we are to put a stop to his dealings. What are your thoughts?”
February 21, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Miklos tried to think of another way around the problem but none of his soultions could circumvent actually facing Denetiata. As he has said before surprise was their best hope.
“If we are going to be foolish enough to tackle Denetiata at all our only hope would be surprise. Some sort of lightening raid where he has little time to react or prepare. Maruc was right we are as prepared for battle as we are ever likely to be so the logical answer would be to strike now.”
February 21, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Sitting at the table, Saeth gave a slight nod to the entering Dwarf. “Any luck rounding up the Orcs, Feldard?” She sipped her ale, and looked about. “They are most active just before dawn, if I recall correctly…”
February 21, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Feldard glanced over to the Elf at her little quip. Shaking his head sourly, “Nothing was seen on either of my watches. And if the cycle goes as we were told, there won’t be more raiding until just before the next new moon.”
The dwarf took a moment to break fast with a bowlful of hot cereal while he considered the priests and the mages words. Swallowing, his last bite he nodded to more to himself than to the group.
“Waiting it seems will only put off the inevitable. If we’re doing this lets get it done.”
February 25, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Skelly’s Tale:
Saeth: 10xp +5xp
Maruc: 10xp +10xp
Miklos: 10xp +10xp +10xp
Nicolai:
Feldard:
TOTAL:
Saeth: 4655/8000
Maruc: 4655/6000
Miklos: 4590/5000
Nicolai: 4325/4800
Feldard: 4530/8800