Paris, having won Claire to her way of thinking about the need for information and the lack of a need for the cart and ox, spoke to the others and got them to agree as well. The hung-over bard managed to understand enough to get out of the cart and climb a tree in which he seemed to think he could better sleep off his potations. Although Paris explained to all that she thought they should stay together and use the time to tell about their new-gained abilities and spells -- to be better prepared for encounters with fell creatures -- Anton did not change his mind and come trotting after the crowd until Red spoke. In a worried tone, the giant admonished Paris loudly with, "Doesn't he know that we won't be coming back this way?" Paris looked at Red with approval tinged in wonder. "You remembered that I suggested we head south west, rather than straight west!
Thus, a discussion ensued about each person's new skills. When Paris revealed that she could do some healing, Red spoke again, mentioning the wound he took in the battle with orcs. Abashed that she had not thought to ask about everyone's injuries, Paris performed a laying on of hands, healing Red. Paris was now a fighter with a healing spell and some knowledge of poison. Red was now a bowman with a strong interest in animals. Calais admitted to being able to get into locks and other places with more skill than previously. Brillig was now a healer and a fighter; he particularly was interested in building a great staff and a staff sling if he could find the materials. Mia could now make opponents unable to run quickly with her water spells, and she could create some sort of ice armor... "and that's about all - for now," she stuttered with shy nervousness, clutching her cloak tightly around her. Claire could also hinder movement and make herself tougher, as well as create some sort of earthen barrier. Anton beat around the bush, listing all the skills he had previous to the encounter with the Font of Chaos. Eventually he admitted to being able to fly. He levitated for a second or so in proof. He claimed he could use his bow in flight albeit not upside down. The Party noted that when Anton levitated in the cart, it proceeded along without him, leaving him hanging in mid-air for a moment until he caught the cart edge and hauled himself back in.
Back at the gate the guards explained that the Baron's people would know more about the area in question and directed the Party towards the area near the Jouet settlement that the seneschal had mentioned. To save time, Brillig, Red, Mia and Claire elected to take the cart back. Calais and Paris set off towards the baron's square. Anton, having failed to engaged the guards in storytelling, almost got distracted watching the bustle of town. He came hurrying after the twins.
Looking around the baron's square, the twins noted a crude 3-stars sign hung outside one of the buildings. The 3 Stars had been an inn back in the Baron's town. Entering, they were greeted by a woman close to their own age, busy at trying to get the new locale into useable order. Paris asked her for information and, as the girl displayed more and more distress in the (unhampered) telling, learned that the area south was the baron's hunting preserve. It included two lodges each on one of the rivers that bracketed an east-west valley. She also learned that there was somewhere in that area a lovely place romantically scented with roses. The preserve was patrolled by 6 foresters, 4 of whom had been out on patrol and unheard from since the Orc Devastation. The girl, Yvonne, broke down. When Paris offered sympathy, they learned further that one of the missing foresters was Kivan, Yvonne's betrothed. Paris promised to look for the young man and, somewhat awkwardly to her mind, managed to take her group away from the inn.
Observing a seamstress establishment, Paris commented to Calais that if the foresters had wives, daughters or mothers, they may well have gossiped with the seamstresses. Calais noted that at the very least the seamstresses would know if the foresters wore a special symbol or uniform. Indeed, amongst many digressions of which the chatterboxes proved capable, Paris learned that the foresters tended to wear brown and green and the baron's badge. Everything else basically confirmed what was learned from Yvonne -- particularly as the questioners were directed back to the innkeeper. Paris politely ignored the fact that one of the near-sighted old biddies had mistaken her for a man. In her new armor that was understandable. Paris gave a mental shrug. Calais gave an audible snicker.
Back at the gate at mid-morning the Party regrouped. Unknown to Paris, the ox cart group decided to leave the ox and cart with the women of Jouet, reasoning that at least someone would get the worth of the pay that they figured the ox's owner would extract from the duke. They did not recall that the Party contained Jouet's three most experienced surviving ox tenders. [*sigh* Paris is going to feel _so_ responsible if that ox -- or any of the innocents of Jouet -- come to harm in this mischance. *sigh* Not to mention that she'll feel obliged to face the duke and tell him that she's responsible for the pledge of some of his monies to the ox's owner. *sigh* *sigh* The duke is not likely to be pleased..... *sigh*]
Mindful of Claire's caution, Paris waited until all were outside and a-traveling before she related what her group learned about the lands south.
As the Party skirted the new-cleared farmlands, Brillig scanned the downed trees and brush piled at the edge of the road. He did not stop to choose any pieces though. Red, discovering that the older man was interested in building some wooden staves also eagerly -- and not so subtlety scanned the slash. Calais eyed it too, seeking suitable hardwoods from which he can whittle lock-pick tools. He found some within harvesting distance.
Once out of the area the duke's new settlers were farming, the Party headed west southwest, moving through old forest fairly easily. Late in the afternoon, Red spotted a cloud of flies. He moved off their direction of travel to investigate. Paris followed. Red saw something humanoid, still but alive with flies. He turned it over and flinched. "What is it?" Paris asked. "A pig face!" Red muttered. The orc had died with an arrow in its throat. The two scouted around and discovered that a large group of orcs had traveled fairly quickly in the direction from which, Paris decided, the arrow came. "Chasing the bowman," she guessed, "not all that long ago." Having explained their find to the others, Red and Paris decided to follow the trail of orcs to see if their quarry was still in need of assistance.
Realizing that battle might be expected, the magic users of the Party requested 5 minutes to prepare their spells. Leaving Calais to guard the mages, the two fighters scouted ahead. When the trail went over a hill, Red opted to stay at the hill crest to watch and report. Paris continued forward, tracking.
She rounded a tree to find, in a more open area, 3 orcs who darted from behind cover to toss rocks up into one particular tree. Theorizing that the bowman has been treed, Paris faded back, intending to return to the Party and report. Before she has retreated far, though, shouts from behind convinced her that she has been spotted. She sprinted off, hoping to find a defensible place where Red could see and help her. As it happened, she soon realized that she was out-distancing the orcs and, figuring that if they all followed, the bowman might be able to climb down and slip away, she slowed her pace so not to loose the creatures. This proved effective and Paris had time to choose her battleground with all the characteristics she had hoped for. She was within a bowshot of Red. She shouted to him to inform the others and then took her stance -- and her beaked hammer -- against the orcs. Two engaged her, with two more coming up behind. Paris grinned somewhat grimly. It had worked. Now.... It didn't take long to discover that her armor was very good protection against these (medium-size, she noted) orcs. And she herself could, with a good blow, stun one. She settled down to this somewhat uneven trade of blows. Red plunked arrow after arrow into the centers of their shields.
Once ready, the mages stood around bemused, having expected their fighters to return to them. Calais started to get an uneasy feeling and, when one of the orcs actually laid open Paris' thigh, found himself urging the others on to a more rapid pace.
One orc was down when Calais, Brillig and Anton mounted the rise. Anton strung his bow while Red and the others moved forward. Calais surged up to place himself at his sister's side. Seeing him, a flash of fear at his relatively unarmored state made her blood burn for a moment, but she managed to grate out, "Don't get hit." He grinned and swung his sword. In short order, the fighters and bowmen had managed to down all of the enemy.
Claire and Mia then joined the fighters and managed to stanch Paris' wound. Brillig and Anton made certain of the downed foe with a relish apparent to any who wished to look. Once the fuss had died down, Paris managed to explain what she had found and to warn the group that there might still be orcs harassing their victim. Calais scouted the area and found that to be true.
Suddenly Red again remembered an earlier conversation and, turning to Mia, said, "You could hold them in place. You said you could. And we could shoot them full of arrows." "A plan!" exclaimed Anton, "We actually have a plan!" Paris looked at the simple giant with warm approval. Calais refined the plan with a suggestion that he try flanking the orcs, on the off chance that there might be more hidden in the far brush and not yet showing themselves.
So it happened. Mia cast her spell and when she loosed it at the three orcs around the tree, they started to run towards her --- only to find themselves running almost in place. As Red had foreseen, the bowmen -- Red chief amongst them -- and Brillig's superb rock throwing were able to take down their brutish foes.
Paris approached the tree. "Are you all right?" she called up.
A young man dressed in the garb of the baron's foresters dropped down. "Yes! My thanks. I'd used my last arrow taking out the one back there." He nodded back the way the Party had come. "Do you by chance have any you can spare me?"
Paris, disgusted with her own poor showing with the bow, scarcely hesitated. "Here. Take these." And she handed over her quiver of 18.
"Th-thanks," the young man returned, somewhat at a loss. "Here. In exchange...." He reached into his tunic and pulled out a card: silver on one side and blank on the other. "It'll make you feel good when you use it."
Paris hesitated and then took the card. "I'm Paris," she started the introductions.
"I'm Kivan," the other returned, holding out his hand.
Breaking into a wide smile Paris, grasped it. "I've been looking for you!" Information was exchanged. Georges and Kivan survived and made it back close enough to see that the baron's town was no more. They were still trying to find their two missing comrades (and killing random parties of orcs now infesting their forest), which accomplished, they would go on to the duke's. Paris explained that Yvonne had survived and was worried about him. He seemed to be desirous of the Party taking a message -- or some such -- until Anton stopped him with the information that we were searching for a man with books who might have gone to the baron's lodges. Kivan offered to guide the party to the nearest lodge where all could spend the night. He also explained that he'd found those blank silver cards under the armor on some of the orcs. The Party agreed to let Anton and Calais ransack the bodies from the recent fight. 6 more cards were found.
Paris gave her card into Calais' keeping (the Party having agreed that, as he'd 'lift' them anyway, at least we'd know where they all were) after extracting a promise that he would give them back to the Party.
En route to the lodge, Brillig continued to look for an appropriate sapling. Then he noticed a stand of ancient oaks hung with mistletoe. He drew the Party's attention to it and someone realized that the old growth stood in a circle. Kivan said that there had always be oaks here but, he had never seen a circle of oaks. Anton felt that there was something decidedly strange about - he thought of it as - a Place. But he could find no overt sign of magic. There was new growth within and around the circle. The puzzle was left behind and Anton engaged Kivan in a conversation about sleeping in trees.
The first lodge was reached. It was latched and without any trace of intrusion. Inside were a lord's bedroom, a large common area, and a kitchen area. Kivan offered his hunting catch while the Party pooled assorted vegetables for Mia to exercise her culinary talents upon. And night fell.
The second lodge - also property of the baron - would be about a day's travel further south, Kivan said.
Party EPs: 7 cards
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