Greyhawk: Against the Giants: Return to Hochoch

Alex says, "I have a few Feather token(birds) that could be used to send messages to known locations"

Ghorenfore looks at FORLIN, and MARILYN
"FORLIN at your first opportunity please contact your friend in Lynlai, apprise him of our situation and see if there's anything he can do to render assistance. We will definitely utilize the sending spells to keep updated on the situation of both parties. The two of you can alternate days, MARILYN you'll start tomorrow."

Ghorenfore's attention goes back to FENNIGAN and then back to ALEX
"We'll also check with Midwood fort, ALEX can use his floating feathers to contact Commander Shannah Idol, perhaps send her advance notice of our arrival and needs, perhaps she can even get those troops out quicker."

Ghorenfore looks back at LADY GLASSBLOWER.
"Sargent ALEX, Miss FAWN, and HLIN and Lieutenant MARTIN will be accompanying us, back to Hococh."

Ghorenfore's attention finally settles on Clara
"Miss Clara, what would it take to convince you and your team to stay as well?"

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 18:05:12

FORLIN nods at GHORENFORE's order.
"I will attempt to contact NANNEN tomorrow morning, before we set out."

MARILYN says
"I will contact you in mid-afternoon to give you an update on our situation."

CLARA gives GHORENFORE a side-glance. Her tone is flat and she grudgingly says,
"Honestly, if Lieutenant MARTIN is going with you, I would rather stay here, for my own safety. However, if you want me to stay here with my men, then I want your word that this is a mutual agreement. Under no circumstances am I, or my men, to be conscripted into your army. When I believe my service is ended, I want the freedom to leave on my own time. IF we are in agreement, then you have my blades."

HIMO is helping HLIN get ready for the trip back to Hochoch after that HIMO goes to LADY GLASSBLOWER asks her "I was wondering LADY GLASSBLOWER if i can call Lynlai home until I find my tribe?" HLIN after getting ready for the trip to Hochoch starts talking to CLARA "Where are you going after Hochoch CLARA?"

Ghorenfore smiles at CLARA
"You have my word, no one here will conscript you or your men, we have an agreement."
Ghorenfore passes a glance to Marilyn to make sure its understood, and then turns his attention to HLIN
"I would very much value any type of alliance we could forge with the dwarves, please let me know if there is anything I can do to further that process."
Ghorenfore looks around and nods.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow mourning, I expect everyone to be ready to go. If you have any questions or need to see me please come to me immediately. Otherwise, meeting adjourned."
Ghorenfore nods and steps back.

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 18:06:42

The meeting breaks up.

CLARA turns to HLIN
"Were you not paying attention? I'm staying here with HIMO. I do admit, however, that I hope you return from Hochoch with extra blades. At the moment, I see the fort as undermanned in the center of enemy territory."
CLARA heads to her men to relay the news.

Lady GLASSBLOWER grips HIMO's left shoulder. Her grip is strong and assuring.
"Of course you can call Lynlai home. If you wish, you should work with Brother NYDENT closely while the two of you are stationed here at the fort. It may help in bringing the elves around here together again if they see a high elf and a wild elf working together."

MEL stands up as the meeting breaks up
"I have set up tonight's watches.
"First watch will be ARLIE, NYDENT, FENNIGAN, LEYLADIN, TANYA, two of our troops, and one of CLARA's men. FENNIGAN will be in charge during the first watch."
"Second watch will consist of HLIN, FAWN, FORLIN, Lieutenant LOWLYN, KIRAK, and three troops. Without a doubt, Lieutenant LOWLYN will be the commanding officer on watch.
"Third watch will be handled by HIMO, BEKAH, ALEX, CLARA, three more troops, and I. I will take the lead for the third watch.
"I want those on watch with low-light and darkvision to be in the sentry posts on the high ground. Keep diligent guard on the west bank of the Olvewater. I don't know how soon we can expect trouble from the giants."
MEL pauses for a moment
"Well then, first watch is up. Be diligent."
MEL goes to her men to assign who is doing what watch. CLARA does the same with her men.

GHORENFORE walks over to KIRAK
"My friend I need a word with you."
KIRAK smiles as they walk away from the group.
"What do you need?"
GHORENFORE looks at his old friend as they walk.
"I need you to stay here with the troops."
KIRAK pauses and stops in mid track.
"My place is with you, it always will be."
GHORENFORE shakes his head,
"Not this time, I need you here, and I need you serving under Mel."
KIRAK raises an eyebrow.
"Your Conscripting me? Seriously?"
GHORENFORE nods
"You'll be Mel's Sargent and help her where she and MARILYN need you. This fort represents a strong effort for the alliance between the Elves and the Humans. A stand must be made here and maintained. Loosing this fort would be a loss I am not ready to accept yet. I need you here, representing Hococh like the others."
GHORENFORE places his hand on KIRAK'S shoulder
"You've kept a certain balance for me these past few weeks, and have been a great friend and a great alley. I value our friendship, but I cannot put my personal feelings in the way of what needs to be done. Watch the fort for me, and more importantly keep all of our friends safe. I need you here, now more than ever."
KIRAK stares at GHORENFORE for a moment then salutes him.
"Aye Lieutenant!"
GHORENFORE returns the salute and nods smiling.
"Report to Mel for your orders, and let her know whats going on."
KIRAK nodds
"Aye Lieutenant!"
As KIRAK walks away, GHORENFORE whispers
"Be safe my friend..."

GHORENFORE proceeds over to Martin's tent not waiting for him to stand up or even look at him.
"Lieutenant Martin, You'll be going back to Hococh with me and the others in the mourning for a court martial, Pack your stuff."
GHORENFORE turns to walk away but stops short, looking down at him,
"The sad part of this is, everything you said came true, but not for the reason you thought. Not because you were an orc or as racism, fact is no one here really cared. It all happened as you said because you wanted it to, and because you couldn't handle it, not because of anyone else."
GHORENFORE shakes his head
"We have a long trip to Hococh, show me you can still be a man and a soldier, and I'll consider standing up for you at the ourt Martial."
GHORENFORE Turns and walks back to the command tent.

KIRAK proceeds to walk over to Mel, Saluting her as he walks up.
"Sargent Kirak Oathbound Reporting as ordered by the Lieutenant."

After the meeting Rebekah, Leyla and Alex go to find Forlin.
When they catch up with him Rebekah turns to Alex and Forlin and says, "You two be safe and may your gods watch over you and the rest of those traveling with you."
Leyla chimes in with "Good fortune be with you both"

FORT OLVEWATER
Freeday, Ready'reat 28th, 586 CY
Time: 18:08:12

Master Sergeant MELISSA LANSE looks at KIRAK with a raised eyebrow. She returns the salute.
"Sergeant? The Lieutenant is giving the title away, now. Well, you have second watch, Sergeant. Work closely with Lieutenant LOWLYN. I recommend sleep until your watch."

FORLIN is with HIMO and HLIN when the other three find him. FORLIN looks at REBEKAH.
"I need little more than a walking stick and good pair of boots, but thank you for the concern."
FORLIN turns back to HIMO and HLIN
"Well, since all of you are here, I must mention that I will not be returning with Lieutenant GHORENFORE. I asked Lady GLASSBLOWER and she agreed to take me on as an aide while she works with the nobles in Hochoch."
FORLIN smiles.
"Please, I do not want to hear any arguments from anyone. This my choice. Perhaps our roads shall meet again."

Rebekah says, "You will be missed my friend, I look forward to the day our paths once again merge."

HIMO and HLIN gets ready for the plans of day. HLIN says to CLARA "To many bumps on head to rember somethings."

HIMO ask FORLIN " Stay with Lady GLASSBLOWER tight I dont trust some city dwellers can you for my sake plesae FORLIN?"

Sunsebb 1st, Starday (first day of winter)
Luna: waning moon (almost new) Celene: 1st Quarter Moon
Sky: Partly Cloudy Temp: Warm (63 F)
Sunrise: 6:52 Sunset: 16:54
Wind Direction: SE Average Speed: 6mph Gusts: 16mph (Light)

OLVEWATER EAST BANK
Starday, Sunsebb 1st, 586CY
Time: 07:45:00

The night passed by slowly, but without event. Throughout the night a SE wind kept the temperature from dropping as the night dragged. After sunrise the temperature began to rise to an unseasonable high.

Those who are leaving for Midwood Fort and Hochoch have their gear packed. MEL and her men have moved the travellers to the east bank to see them off on their journey. MARILYN is also there to see them off.

MEL salutes to GHORENFORE
"Good luck out there, Lieutenant."

MARILYN nods
"May the nobles see it right to bring us more aid."

FORLIN looks up at the sky and lets out a long sigh. His eyes drop to scan the woods ahead of them. He inhales slowly and deeply, closing his eyes. He opens eyes with his exhalation. He grabs a vial of holy water from his pouch and places a couple drops in his hands. He walks to the shore of the Olvewater and flicks some of the water from his hand.
"For the road behind."
He then walks to the line of trees bordering the east bank. He flicks the water from his hand again into the forest.
"For the road ahead."

DM POST: XP

Whoops, completely forgot. There is XP to be given out for the last combat encounter.

These XP points are for ARLIE, FAWN, MARTIN, HIMO, HLIN, and some NPCs ONLY!

XP Awards: 470 xp for each character

Please add these to your characters as soon as possible.

Ghorenfore spent the early mourning Hour praying for guidance from Pelor.

GHORENFORE salutes MEL
"To us all! Master Sargent.

GHORENFORE then turns to MARILYN and salutes her as well.
"Agreed, and may Pelor AND Mayaheine guide both our steps, and bring safety to us all."

KIRAK, forgetting his conscription momentarily from the night before, looks at Ghorenfore.
"Be careful out there, I don't want to have to come fish you out of any rivers or anything..."
quickly remembering his station salutes and adds.
"...Lieutenant"

GHORENFORE chuckles laughs and winks,
"Same goes to you, Sargent!"

As he gets ready to turn quickly adds, with a smile
"...Oh and Master Sargent, feel free to use Kirak as you need to!"

Kirak simply raises an eyebrow.

OLVEWATER EAST BANK
Starday, Sunsebb 1st, 586CY
Time: 07:45:54

MEL raises an eyebrow too, glancing at KIRAK. She turns back to GHORENFORE.
"As you command, Lieutenant."
MEL turns to KIRAK and the men.
"All right, let's move the boats back to the fort. Lieutenant MARILYN if you will take the lead boat, KIRAK you are after her, and I will follow in the rear."

Lieutenant LOWLYN looks at GHORENFORE
"We should get moving as soon as possible. This weather will not hold for long. We will be racing giants and snowstorms. I'll take the lead, I know the trails."

MARCHING ORDER:
LOWLYN, ALEX, GHORENFORE (on or off BRAKUS), MARTIN, FENNIGAN, Lady GLASSBLOWER, FAWN, FANG, FORLIN, HLIN

Alex walks up to Lt. Ghorenfore just before they leave and asks, "Lieutenant would you like to use one of my feather tokens to send word to Hococh or Midwood and requests reenforcements?"

Ghorenfore raises an eyebrow.
"Yes please send the message to Midwood fort, Informing Knight Commander Shannah Idol of our arrival, situation, request for troops, and the fact we are coming with Lady Glassblower. Thank you Alex."

Alex quickly prepares a note saying "Knight Commander Shannah Idol, This message is being sent on behalf of Lieutenant Ghorenfore to inform you that we are leaving Fort Olvewater on our way to Fort Midwood with Lady Glassblower, an elven noble from Lynlai. Currently we are expecting a return force of orcs and giants to strike back at Fort Olvewater in the coming days so we are also requesting reenforcements be sent there as soon as can be arranged. Signed Sargent Alex of the Expeditiary Force"

Alex shows the note to Lt Ghorenfore, "Is this ok Lieutenant?"

Ghorenfore adds,
"She'll have no idea where the Fort is, as its brand new and not on her maps. We were sent by Mohad Xeni to set up a new Fort. Please include the location and make sure you mention Lady Glassblower is on her way to Hococh to negotiate an alliance with the Nobles."

Alex Says "Lieutenant, do we have a small map we could sent with the note to we Knight Commander?"

Alex sets to rewriting the note to includethe requested information
"Knight Commander Shannah Idol, This message is being sent on behalf of Lieutenant Ghorenfore to inform you that we are leaving Fort Olvewater on our way to Fort Midwood with Lady Glassblower, an elven noble from Lynlai whom we are escorting to Hococh to discuss an alliance with the nobles there. Currently we are expecting a return force of orcs and giants to strike back at Fort Olvewater, which is about 37.5-38 miles north of the Olvewater Bridge at a natural ford, in the coming days so we are also requesting reenforcements be sent there as soon as can be arranged. Signed Sargent Alex of the Expeditiary Force"

Then Alex takes the new draft to the Lieutenant for approval, "How about this draft Lieutenant?" Alex looks up with hope filled eyes.

Ghorenfore,
"Looks good thank you. Please send it."

"Aye Lieutenant"
Alex sets the Feather token down speaks the command word attaches the message and commands the bird to take it to Midwood Bridge Fort.

OLVEWATER EAST BANK
Starday, Sunsebb 1st, 586CY
Time: 07:49:48

FORLIN stops in his tracks and pulls out his holy symbol from around his neck.
"NANNEN, I need to contact NANNEN."
He reaches into his pouch and pulls at a length of copper wire, about an inch in length. He wraps it around the holy symbol while chanting. He holds the the holy symbol close to his face as the chanting ceases. FORLIN's lips begin to move, but you cannot hear his words, but he does appear to be talking to the holy symbol. The copper wire begins to glow and vibrate.

After a few agonizing seconds, FORLIN nods to the holy symbol. His eyes narrow as he listens intensely, and they widen suddenly. The copper wire vanishes and FORLIN places the holy symbol back under his armor. He is silent and still.

Lady GLASSBLOWER walks over to him.
"FORLIN?"

FORLIN looks at GLASSBLOWER. FORLIN's eyes are glassy and distant. His voice his low as if shocked ripped away its volume.
"NANNEN and Captain OBIDIAS sent a team to Luttrell Lake; they found undead swarming all over the place. They will not be sending reinforcements."

LOWLYN stops in his tracks and looks back at FORLIN.
"We must go back."

GLASSBLOWER looks at LOWLYN. She speaks firmly.
"No! We have a mission to complete. I trust NANNEN and OBIDIAS to handle the problem. This just proves to me that we need to hurry. Lieutenant GHORENFORE, get me to Hochoch so you can return to your fort. Your comrades at the fort will only be getting help from us and Hochoch. We are all we have."

The team escorting GLASSBLOWER heads into the Oytwood, hoping to bring some stability to this ravaged land.

END SCENE

NEXT SCENE: FORT OLVEWATER

FORT OLVEWATER
Starday, Sunsebb 1st, 586CY
Time: 07:55:00

The canoes have been beached on the shore at Fort Olvewater once again. MARILYN and the rest of the Fort Olvewater team disembark. MARILYN immediately calls a meeting with everyone in the fort. MARILYN moves to the center of the camp after the canoes are secured.

"Sergeants, soldiers, and mercenaries, here is my plan for how the fort will be commanded until the return of the Lieutenant. I am dividing everyone into three groups for watches. These watches will cover an eight hour period of the day. That gives everyone an eight hour period of watch, eight hours of downtime and eight hours of sleep. Use them wisely."

MARILYN pauses, looking up into the sky for guidance. Leveling her head once again to everyone around her, she continues.

"The first watch will be between the hours of 0800 and 1600 during the day. On that watch will be CLARA, BEKAH, and I. Also, I will have the soldiers Marcus, Jacob, Crane, Aaron, Lee, and Richard on my watch. The watch period lasts from 0800 to 1600 so our downtime will be split before and after the watch period: 0400 to 0800 and 1600 to 2000. Obviously, we should be sleeping between the hours of 2000 to 0400.

"The second watch will be from 1600 to 0000 during the evening and night. The watch will consist of Sergeant KIRAK, LEYLADIN, and HIMO. KIRAK, you will have Terry and Kip as the soldiers to assist you, and you will also have Biff and Stauder from ClARA's contingent. Your downtime is split between 1200 to 1600 and 0000 to 0400. Your sleep period will be from 0400 to 1200.

"The third watch will be from 0000 to 0800. It will be covered by Master Sergeant MEL, TANYA, NYDENT, and ARLIE. MEL, you will have Malcolm and Jerry on your watch as well as Vic from CLARA's team. Your downtime will be from 2000 to 0000 and 0800 to 1200. Your sleep time is from 1200 to 2000.

"Now, those who have downtime my be ordered to cover some tasks I am thinking of doing to increase the effectiveness of this fort. Any ideas would be appreciated. Also, while securing this fort is the most important goal at present. We should be thinking of how to accomplish our other goals, secure alliances with the woodsmen and elves of the forest and hindering what could be a supply train along the Midwood Trade Road. Remember all ideas have to be restricted with our current area near the fort, perhaps within a radius of two days. We do not have the resources to expand further at present.

"One a final note, we must act with a self-sufficient philosophy. We cannot expect aid for weeks. Well, if there are any questions, you are free to ask."

"MARILYN how about a recon party?" HIMO asks MARILYN "I know it is a harder to do with a small of people and small amount of supplies but it help with securing this fort, it will also put us out there looking for the woodsmen and other elf kind. Because it helped me and my tribe in meeting others when the giants took over some of our areas; the recon parties helped by finding ways out giants hands."