Greyhawk: Against the Giants: Return to Hochoch

The member 'Ghorenfore' has done the following action : Dices roll

'd20' : 6

spot check result = 8

(OOC: Squirrel!!!)

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:25:24

KISA's canoe comes to shore first and MEL helps pull the canoe on to the shore. MEL guides KISA off the canoe.
"Your grace, it is a pleasure to have you in our little hovel of a fort. I am Sargeant MELISSA LANSE, call me MEL. Lieutenant GHORENFORE will insist on your campsite being next to the command tent."
She points to a tent on the northern section of the low ground. The "command" tent looks no different than any other tent

KISA smiles
"Thank you, Sargeant MEL. I am Lady KISA GLASSBLOWER from Lynlai. This is Lieutenant LOWLYN of the Lynlai militia. Behind him is Brother NYDENT from the church in Lynlai. We will set up our tents as soon as we can."

KIRAK and CLARA's BANDITS assist the other canoes as they get close to shore. FENNIGAN thanks KIRAK for the assistance, TANYA passes KIRAK a flirty smile.

MEL notices ALRIE, FAWN, and FANG coming in on the last canoes. She marches over to them
"I will need you to set up your tents and belongings on the western side of the low section of the island. There will be no walking on to the high ground if you are not on watch. While you are here, you are under military command. Everyone, with the exception of Lady GLASSBLOWER, is expected to pull their weight and help out during your stay."

One of the soldiers hands the bundle of javelins to one of CLARA's BANDITS. The soldier also says
"We still need to pick up more visitors. We will need all of the canoes, Sarge."

MEL looks back at the soldier
"What are we a tavern/inn? We need to start charging like one."

TO PLAYERS: There will be more of a description of the fort when all characters are at the fort. There is a map on the website too.

FAWN instantly looks angry again & starts opening her mouth to make a remark when MARTIN gives a sharp "Yes, sir!" & leaps from his canoe. He marches over where MEL instructed like a recruit fresh from boot camp ... but he's not carrying anything. Upon reaching the west side, he stops & looks around in a bit of a panic. The first unmade tent he spots, he rushes over, grabs it, & starts setting it up in the west-most corner.

At MARTIN's outburst, FAWN turns & watches him in worried shock.

Once the canoe stops rocking in the water from MARTIN's leap, ARLIE also gets out & goes over to FAWN. "Nothing further from you today, please. I have enough of a headache. Just go help Martin. Keep him calm & keep him alive. And pleeease! Pay attention to what you're doing! I don't want fights with anyone here. We can leave in the morning, but for now, you need shelter as much as Martin. You used your best spells healing people & tearing apart the orc & ogre ranks for everyone to pick off, so it's not the best time to go wandering without support." He holds out a hand for FAWN. "Come on, young lady."

FAWN takes ARLIE's hand & climbs out of the canoe looking about ready to cry. She turns & gathers her belongings from the canoe. She says "Come on, Fang!" & starts walking towards MARTIN.

ARLIE goes back to the canoe, grabs his & MARTIN's gear, & follows FAWN.


handle animal check by FAWN
+16 Handle Animal:
-2 Charisma +10 skill ranks +2 animal affinity +4 animal companion Link +2 gold bracelet

The member 'CondieBerks' has done the following action : Dices roll

'd20' : 18

results: handle animal 34

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:25:42

MEL watches Lieutenant MARTIN fumble with a spare tent. A pained, confused expression crosses her face. She side glances at KIRAK looking for answers.
Her voice is subdued, barely more than a whisper.
"Lieutenant . . ."
Her thoughts and words are lost with a deep exhale.

One of the soldiers walks up to her
"Sarge, we need to help the rest of the team on the west bank. We need another paddler."

MEL is snapped out of her confusion and turns back to the soldier.
"Of course, I'll go along. Men, back in the canoe. Come on, let's move!"

The paddlers get into the canoes and the boats are pushed back onto the Olvewater. MEL and the other pilots hop into the back of each canoe.

MEL turns again to look at MARTIN and then back to KIRAK. Her hardened, professional demeanor is visibly shaken. She turns back to the Olvewater after only a few moments. The canoes head out to pick up the remaining team members.

END SCENE

NEXT SCENE: OLVEWATER WEST BANK

OLVEWATER WEST BANK
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:26:42

GHORENFORE watches the canoes approaching the shore again. The soldiers, REBEKAH, LEYLADIN, and ALEX are on their way back from picking up more gear; GHORENFORE can hear them walking closer to the shore.

MARILYN and FORLIN are waiting near the shore for the canoes. BRAKUS is taking a drink from the cool river water.

REBEKAH, ALEX, and LEYLADIN are about 30 feet from the bank of the Olvewater. They are carrying another collection of gear from the orcs, as are the soldiers accompanying them.
They are carrying a total of 5 suits of scalemail, and 2 greataxes. There are 6 greataxes still left at the battlefield.

Ghorenfore looks at Rebekah, Leyladin, and Alex as they approach
"Lets get the rest of this equipment down to the shoreline, I'll have Mel form a detail of men and return for the equipment once were all back."
Ghorenfore looks down at the ground his gut twists up in knots as an uneasy feeling settles over his nerves.
"I have a feeling they'll be back with bigger numbers and we need to be ready when they do.--"
Ghorenfore looks back and forth finishing his thought in his head as his eyes narrow slightly
Pelor grant me the strength,
His head fills with scenarios as his mind reels from the events a few minutes earlier
We cant afford to be fighting each other at the same time were fighting them. That kind of planning will get us all killed!
Ghorenfore takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, moving to help with the axes
Let us hope the tension is resolved sooner rather than later or we could be in for a long night.

Rebkeah Leyla and Alex in unison say, "Aye sir."
Rebekah puts down her load of armor, turns to Leyla and Alex, "You heard the man lets go get those axes"
Leyla and Alex drop their burdens and turn to follow Rebekah

OLVEWATER WEST BANK
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:27:42

The canoes arrive at the shore just moments after GHORENFORE, ALEX, LEYLADIN, and REBEKAH head back to pick up the remaining greataxes. MEL hops out of the canoe as MARILYN pulls it onto the shore.

The soldier in the canoe is talking to MEL, while pointing to another soldier, Jacob, on the shore.
"I mean he said 'Yes, sir' to Jacob, too. Jacob does not even have a rank, except grunt."

Jacob chimes in from the shore
"Exceptional grunt."

The soldier with MEL continues
"The lieutenant has lost his mind, Sarge. Something has happened with the new look."

MEL snaps back at the solider
"Stow it, Marcus! You will not speak ill of your commanding officer! Especially not in my presence, or so help me you will be fishing in the Olvewater with your teeth!"

The soldier pleads
"But, Sarge--"

MEL stares him down.
"Shut your trap! That is an order!"

The soldier, Marcus, goes silent and salutes.

MARILYN steps forward.
"MEL, we have Lieutenant GHORENFORE and three new guests on their way back with more supplies from the fallen orcs. He will want you to make a detail to pick up this gear after our visitors are safely at the fort."

MEL nods
"Not a problem."

********

GHORENFORE, ALEX, LEYLADIN, and REBEKAH return to the shore with the greateaxes in their hands. The canoes are ready to ferry passengers to the fort.

MEL salutes GHORENFORE and addresses everyone else.
"The canoes are ready to take you to Fort Olvewater."

Setting the axes down on the shore, Ghorenfore Nods and salutes to Mel in turn.
"Alright--" he says loudly "--Everyone in the boats and shove off. Mel, Can you please form a detail and return for this equipment later?"
Ghorenfore walks over to the horse checks the straps and hops on.
"I'll wait till everyone is safely on there way, then I'll follow"
Turning the horse around he makes several good checks of the area to make sure no one (or nothing) is watching or hiding in the distance.
"Lets Move Out!"

Spot check x3
(Up stream, Down Stream, and Outward)
+3

The member 'Ghorenfore' has done the following action : Dices roll

'd20' : 11, 3, 8

Spot check Results
14
6
11

OLVEWATER WEST BANK
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:28:24

Lieutenant GHORENFORE sees nothing along the Olvewater or its banks that could be a threat. The forest remains quiet and indifferent.

MEL looks at GHORENFORE
"Yes, Lieutenant, we will return for the supplies. I will see to it, personally."

MEL then turns back to FORLIN, REBEKAH, ALEX, and LEYLADIN
"I am Sergeant MELISSA LANSE, we will be taking you to Fort Olvewater. The fort is in under military command, so mind yourselves and our rules. We expect everyone visitng to be able to pull their own weight. This is a wayspot, not a resort. There is room for two people per canoe, not including a paddler and a pilot. To the boats!"

MEL moves to the canoes and waits for everyone to get in. The soldiers help to usher the everyone into the canoes. When everyone is the canoes they are pushed from the shore by the paddlers who jump in the back. MEL is one of the last ones into the canoes.

GHORENFORE watches the canoes depart from the shore and head toward the fort.

Rebekah turns to Alex and Leyla, "You to take that boat and we will meet up on the otherside." She smiles and then turns to Forlin still smiling, "We have been traveling together a long time," she motions to the canoe, "shall we?" She then turns to get into the second canoe.

Alex and Leyla then turn and climb into the first canoe at Rebekahs direction.

Waiting a moment as the Canoes sail away Ghorenfore pats Brakus on the head and smiles.
Sorry Pal, I know the waters cold
He lighting digs his heals in, indicating he wants the horse to move forward and he follows the canoes out. Keeping a close eye on all his surroundings as he makes his way across the water.

Fort Olvewater
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:29:24

The canoes and GHORENFORE reach Fort Olvewater. CLARA's BANDITS, KIRAK, and TANYA help to pull the canoes ashore.

The soldiers assist their visitors at getting out of the canoes. As everyone assembles on to the shore of the fort, MEL says to FORLIN, ALEX, LEYLADIN, and REBEKAH
"For those of you who are new here, The northern side of the island that is about thirty feet above us is off limits unless you are manning a sentry post. We want as little movement up there as possible. I will need the four of you to set up your tents and equipment in along the south side of the island near the earthworks. It is a little cramped here for a fort, but we need to make due."

FORLIN heads over to the south side of the island.

FORT OLVEWATER: AT A GLANCE

Fort Olvewater is built on an island in the center of the Olvewater River. It sits in the middle of a reliable ford of the river. The river has an average depth of 3 feet along the expanse of the ford (800 feet). There are several other small islands that make up this area, none of them large enough for a fort. The river was probably diverted a long time ago to make this unique ford. It is possible that the original flow pattern for the Olvewater was further to the east. There is a young oxbow lake further east into the Oytwood to support this.

Fort Olvewater is divided into two sections, high ground and low ground.

LOW GROUND
The low ground is the main fort. All supplies, troops, and visitors are stationed here. The low ground is elevated 8 feet above the Olvewater, except in two areas where the canoes are put onto the river. This ramps were excavated by MARTIN's troops when they first arrived at the island.
SURFACE AREA of the low ground: 15,000 square feet

At the moment the supply tent is in the center of the of the camp, surrounded by MARTIN's TROOPS and MEL. The northern quadrant is home to the command tents. GHORENFORE, KIRAK, BRAKUS, and FENNIGAN are stationed here. MARTIN used to be stationed here before he left. KISA, LOWLYN, and NYDENT are making camp here too.

The east side of the fort is occupied by TANYA, MARILYN, CLARA, and CLARA's BANDITS.

The west side of the fort is occupied by FAWN, FANG, ARLIE, and MARTIN.

The south side of the fort is occupied by FORLIN, ALEX, REBEKAH, and LEYLADIN.

The south side of the fort also has an earthwork being built in a crescent-shaped pattern. At present the earthwork is five feet from the island's eight-foot dropoff and is about six feet high. The earthwork was constructed to prevent spying from the downriver.

HIGH GROUND
The high ground is larger and is used specifically for watching the rivers and its banks. Some drills are also conducted on the high ground. Two sentry posts, a tent set up in a excavated depression, were constructed on the east and west side of the high ground to watch the river and the banks. The high ground rises another 30 FEET behind the command tent post. The rise is very steep and there are crudely constructed steps leading up with knotted ropes for support. Soldiers like to climb up the ropes and skip the steps altogether. Fort Olvewater is the only island that possesses a low and high ground along the ford.
SURFACE AREA of the high ground is 35,000 square feet.

SUPPLIES at the fort:
FOOD and PROVSIONS to supply 20 people with basic food and neccesities for two months (exactly 56 days from Sunsebb 1st [tomorrow]) This includes BRAKUS.
5 spare longspears
5 spare shortswords
5 spare longswords
4 spare longbows
5 spare shortbows
800 shortbow arrows (careful, this boils down to 40 quivers of 20 arrrows each)
400 longbow arrows (20 quivers of 20 arrows each)
5 spare heavy metal shields
5 spare tents (includes winter blanket and other tent anemities)
5 bullseye lanterns
20 pints of oil
300 feet of rope total (in 30 foot coils)
3 grappling hooks
10 sets of spare winter gear
5 sunrods (to be used only when absolutely neccessary)

New supplies (once they are brought over):
16 javelins
8 greataxes
8 longspears
8 suits of scale mail

Ghorenfore steps on shore and hops off his horse, looking at the supplies that are being brought in he looks at Mel.
“Mel--” he says quickly “--I want Arlie, MS. Fawn, Leyla, and Martin worked into the night watch shifts respectively. Their eyes will be a great benefit to us; we might as well use them.”
Ghorenfore looks around spotting Martin setting up a tent in a hurry. A breath of frustration escapes his mouth quickly as he finds himself muttering to himself, and thinking.
Because THAT’s where our priorities are? Is the Elvish Nobles safe and set up? Are all our guests on shore and safely acclimated? Is the gear being brought over? ---No I need a tent to hide in!!
He takes a few steps toward Martin’s position and with a raised eyebrow pauses for a moment and counts to ten.
“Lieutenant Martin, I need to see you in the Command tent.” Ghorenfore pauses getting ready to turn but realizes how much of an issue following orders has been lately. Then quickly adds “Now Please!”
Ghorenfore turns on his heal and heads toward the tent, not waiting to see if he’s followed or not.


Kirak Freezes as he hears Ghorenfore’s request
“Ohh Shit--” His eyes look at Clara “--I think the big guy might be a little pissed off!!”

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 13:29:42

CLARA meets KIRAK's eyes. Her expression is a mix of vindication and worry.
"I think I'm ready to share that drink with you, now."

She holds hold out her hand, awaiting a flask.

Kirak's eyes watch Ghorenfore walk towards the command tent, he slowly takes a flask from his robe unscrews the top and hands it to Clara.
"Ten Gold Says the Paladin rips him a new one!"

CLARA takes the flask. After a long swallow, she says
"I have no desire to part with ten gold, today."

Politely, she hands the flask back.

MARTIN instantly halts work on the tent, snaps to attention, salutes, & gives a foreceful "Yes, sir!" He makes a sharp turn on his heel & marches - like a recruit fresh from boot camp again - behind Ghorenfore towards the command tent.

FAWN is only able to stand there looking very worried towards MARTIN.

ARLIE sighs. "Here we go again..." He steps over to where MARTIN was in front of the tent. "Hey Ghorenfore! Could you please TRY to keep him calm? You have to realize by now he's not in his right mind. After today's events, I doubt he's fit to lead a rat, let alone people .... though I've actually never really seen him LEAD in the nearly two weeks he's been travelling with us." ARLIE shrugs as he finishes the statement.

ARLIE continues "I'm guessing he's grasping for any structure or order he can find based on how he jumped at that Mel lady's orders like they came from the Gods. We showed up. She told us to stay off the hill & setup tents over here. He said 'Yes, sir!' & went off in such a rush, he left his own pack on the boat. Of course, there's also the very different reaction you just got from him versus when he was going off at the world earlier. Just something to consider..." ARLIE turns & begins setting up the tent where MARTIN left off.

MEL groans under her breath just loud enough for KIRAK and CLARA to hear it.
"MEL lady? What in the hells is that? Sergeant LANSE or MEL, not MEL lady. Show a little respect to those who allow you to use their fort."

Again she shakes her head
"MEL lady? I don't get paid enough for this."

Jacob quips
"Yeah, because you're no lady."

The other soldiers who were prepping the canoes for another trip all stop and look at Jacob as if he were a dead man. MEL stares the poor soldier down.

Jacob quietly corrects his words
"Because your no lady, Sarge!"

There is a long pause.

MEL replies to Jacob
"Get in the canoe before I have you wade across the river with me on your back!"

Jacob hops in the canoe.

MEL turns to the other troops
"And what are all of you gawking at? Did I give you the order to gawk?"

"No, Sarge!"
The other soldiers stumble into the canoes, frantically attempting to look purposeful.

MEL turns to KIRAK
"We are going to pick up the orc spoils that are still on the west bank. We will be back quickly. Don't burn the place down."

The canoes are pushed out onto the Olvewater again.