Behind you the ocean rumbles and laps peacefully against the thin rocky shoreline and the bumping of your longboat against the peer forms a gentle cadence.

Before you, the cold pine trees loom around a rough-cut path through them.

In reply to GM (msg # 1):

James takes a knee, picks up some of the dirt and grinds it between his fingers.  He carefully studies the prints (survival 10).

He is looking for if they are human or fey, how many, how long ago were they last here.  Did they bring horses.  Is someone likely in that tower.

In reply to James (msg # 2):

"To the tower," Conrad commands, walking past James as he carefully examines the prints. "Let's see if anyone's home."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 3):

*sigh*

You gnomes have no tact or sense of the dramatic.

In reply to James (msg # 2):

The footprints are Human.  You can tell from how deep they are thus betraying their lack of grace, poise and stance.

If you had to guess, you'd say there were, at some point, a dozen or more men tramping back and forth.

The freshest Human tracks are a few days old, and indicate running.

The animal tracks are sheep, of which many have come and gone and have likely been doing so for years.

In reply to GM (msg # 5):

"A dozen humans and some sheep, fleeing something," Conrad clarifies when James relays the information. "Nothing four gnomes, two fey, and a clockwork... thing... can't handle."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 6):

Its not the humans or the sheep I'm worried about.  Its what they were fleeing.

You go check the tower

He pulls his bow and nocks a poison arrow

I'll cover you.

In reply to James (msg # 7):

Magni and Hom ready their carbines, but Conrad keeps his weapons sheathed -- and near at hand.

With a nod, he stomps off toward the tower, flanked by his allies.

Uthor and the AutoGnome follow Conrad, weapons at the ready.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 9):

As the group crowds around the door, James looks over to Alveris who grins manically.  James sheepishly puts his arrow away, he taps Uthor and says

Watch my back.

With that he shoulders the needle gun aiming it at the door.  He stays close to the rest of the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Wed 26 Mar 2014.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 9):

The Gnomes move off down the path, slowly and with weapons ready, while the Fey stand guard at the docks.

After a moment, the Gnomes vanish around the corner in the path, leaving the Fey alone with the chilling winds.

Shortly after losing sight of the beach, the Gnomes see the base of the tower.

It is, maybe ten meters in diameter, with a single sturdy wooden door and no windows.

The path branches toward the door with the other branch continuing on north through the trees.

The door has been battered down and hangs open.

In reply to GM (msg # 11):

"Promising," Conrad says, rolling his shoulder in preparation for the power axe, should he need it. For the moment, however, he settles on a flashlight, which he snaps to his armor to keep his hands free.

He tromps over to the door and takes a look.

[Notice: 9]

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 12):

Peering through the door, you see a horrible mess.

The bottom floor of the tower is one large room with a fireplace at the back and stairs through a doorway leading up and around the circumference.

There are tables, chairs, barrels, crates and even a few chests scattered here and there.  It's all Human stuff, and some even bears the Templar cross.

Everything is covered in blood but there are no bodies.

In reply to GM (msg # 13):

James and Alveris watch as the Gnomes move carefully down the path and around the bend out of sight.

Alveris finds a way to compare the present situation to his penis.

There is a crashing sound and James whips around, arrow trained on the approaching shape.

After more crashing and rustling, a baby sheep pops out of the woods.  It stands at the edge of the grass looking at the Fey.

In reply to GM (msg # 14):

OK I officially hate this place.  Lets go find the others.  As he continues to train his bow on the sheep.  He bgins to walk... briskly towards the tower.

In reply to James (msg # 15):

They Fey leave the sheep behind and follow the Gnomes.  They come around the bend quickly and see the group peering into a large stone tower.

Over their (rather low) shoulders, a scene of destruction and violence can be seen.

In reply to GM (msg # 16):

Ewwww gross. 

In reply to James (msg # 17):

"Let's take a look and see if we can find any clues."

Conrad opens the door and enters the room.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 18):

James searches in the safest way possible, he never is first into a room, never last out of one.

In reply to James (msg # 19):

Carefully, you enter and search the tower.

Fortunately, there isn't much door to open.  Though large, heavy and solid it has been torn from all but one hinge and falls to the ground with a crash when touched slightly.

It appears to have been battered in by something and there's blood all over the outside of it.

It appears that all the furniture was at one point piled up against the door, but that barrier was pushed in and toppled over.

There are some pegs on the far wall near the fire on which some heavy traveling cloaks adorned with the Templar cross are still hung.  The fireplace is cold but the ashes are fresh.  The floor is covered in Human debris, bowls, mugs, spoons, paper (they appear to be holy writings, nothing of interest), candles, etc.

All over there is blood.  From the streaked patterns leading toward the door, you surmise that the bodies were dragged out.

It is a bit of a climb through the back door to the rooftop.  Halfway up is a storeroom, but it's totally empty.

The air on the roof is blessedly untinged by the smell of death and fear that fills the rest of the tower, and you pause there to catch your breath from the climb.

From here you can see all the way to the Red Spring to the south, and to the jagged peaks further north on the island.  The trees are too dense to see the path you were on, but in the distance you can make out clearings here and there.  In one of them you can see a small flock of sheep.

In reply to GM (msg # 20):

James jumps as he touches the door and it crashes to the ground.

DAMNIT CONNIE!  THIS IS WHY WE CANT HAVE NICE THINGS!

He shuffles through the religious papers looking for some particularly rousing passages and commits them to memory.

When he gets to the top of the tower and sees the flock of sheep he mutters

Fucking Sheep.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:28, Fri 28 Mar 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 21):

"Hmm," Conrad says, frowning. "If there was a battle, where are the bodies? If they were used for... parts, let's say... where were they taken?"

He strains his eyes in search of further clues. Regardless of whether he finds more or not, he turns to Magni.

"Raise our flag above this tower. I (re)claim both it and this island in the name of the Empire, and there's no better spot to find our bearings than the high ground. Though we should re-secure the door."

Conrad glances at the sky to ascertain how much time remains before dark, the first embers of a plan burning in the back of his mind.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 22):

It is still midmorning, let's say 9am.

Magni gets to work erecting a flag.

In reply to GM (msg # 23):

Congratulations commadore fireface.  The island is yours.  Good job soldier lets go grab some shore leave somewhere more fun.  I have heard there is a port in Vintus that has singers... and wine that will make your head spin.

In reply to James (msg # 24):

"More fun than an icy island that smells of death and sheep?" Conrad says, raising an eyebrow at James. "You surprise me. Perhaps once we sort this business out, we can talk about a nicer place to visit. Provided that doing so advances the Empire's goals, of course."

He sighs as he glances down at the island.

"Well, we didn't find a cold iron storage unit here, so we'd best explore the rest of the island. Let's secure the door behind us and be off."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 25):

Why is it always the empire's goals with you?  What about Connie's goals... and even more imporantly James' goals to have a wonderfully good time.

The only person here who is happy about the sheep is Alveris and that's only because he hasn't seen a woman in a while.

If we have to patrol the creepy island of cold death and random parts with a horrible flesh golem in the middle of it I suppose we may as well get a move on.  We may want to bring some stuff to start a fire... you know just in case.

/ooc apparantly if Alveris' character is Archer... mine is Zaphod Beeblebrox. /ooc

In reply to James (msg # 26):

Without proper tools and materials, you can secure the door by standing it back in its place and fastening it there with rope and boards, but you cannot truly repair the hinges.

The Gnomes accomplish this task quickly, leaving you outside the deserted tower with two directions to walk, back toward the shore or north deeper into the forest.

In reply to GM (msg # 27):

James sarcastically says

FOR THE EMPIRE

he starts marching... slowly into the island.  He lets Conrad overtake him and lead them down the path.

Uthor follows Conrad where he leads, with Jeeves in tow.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 29):

The trail to the north curves sharply a dozen or so meters from the tower, then continues in a slow lazy arc roughly north.

The ground is covered in tracks from Humans, sheep and others.  It is difficult to make out what these other tracks might be due to the preponderance of deep bloody gouges which look to be the marks of bodies being dragged along the path.

After a brief hike, you come to a fork in the path which is in the middle of a natural clearing where it is too rocky for many trees to grow.  Long before you round the corner and see the clearing, your noses give a hint of what you will find there.

At the middle of the fork is the remains of a wooden signpost, though only the post remains.

Propped up against it is the corpse of a headless man in a long brown robe.  There is a small metal cross in one hand and laid on his lap is a large leather-bound book.  The entire front of his robe is bloodstained.

The path leading right looks to be clear, but the path to the left is blocked by the source of the smells you had noticed earlier.

The blockage is a pile of dead acolytes, stacked into a wall several feet high that spans the path.  Even from a distance you can see that their eyes are scratched out and their spines have been ripped out.

The question of why you didn't find any weapons is also answered.  Though each corpse is still dressed, their trousers have been pulled down and their swords shoved up their arses halfway to the hilt.

In the very center of the pile, A spear has been jammed with the robed man's missing head jammed onto the top like a grotesque flagpole.  That head too has no eyes, and there is a paper scroll jammed into its mouth.

Somehow, though there are flies and maggots aplenty, no larger animals seem to have disturbed the corpses yet.

In reply to GM (msg # 30):

Lets go home.

In reply to James (msg # 31):

Conrad blinks at the scene before him, ignoring the fey as he activates his power axe with its distinctive click-whrrl.

"Shoot anything -- ANYTHING -- that moves and isn't us," Conrad says, raising his voice to ensure anyone nearby would hear the order.

At this gesture, Hom and Magni ready their weapons, covering the Lt. Commander as he approaches the wall of corpses to retrieve the scroll.

C'mmander, wait!

Uthor holds out a hand toward Conrad.

I don't trust much anything on this island.  Let Jeeves pick it up.

The AutoGnome steps forward to retrieve the document.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 33):

Conrad nods.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 34):

James looks at the needle gun slung over his shoulder

I have a feeling this won't help us here.

He knocks an arrow and holds it ready

But this will

In reply to James (msg # 35):

The AutoGnomes steps forward fearlessly, disturbing some of the flies from the makeshift corpse/wall.

Hom and Magni nearly open fire when the AutoGnome carelessly bumps into the wall and a man's arm shifts slightly.

The machine retrieves the scroll and stomps back with it.

Conrad opens it while Uthor nervously re-winds the AutoGnome.

The scroll is covered in bloody smears with something written in in the blood, which Conrad reads aloud.

"All welcome, come visit!"

Uthor orders the AutoGnome to drop the scroll, then follows Conrad wherever he decides to go.  Jeeves comes with him.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 37):

Why do I feel like I've just been lied to.

In reply to James (msg # 38):

The AutoGnome drops the scroll on the ground where the cold wind, which seems to be coming from the unblocked path to the East, rolls it around in the dirt.

The wind catches some of the pages of the dead man's book and flips them back and forth gently.

In reply to GM (msg # 39):

Jeeves grab that book and bring it back here... please.

In reply to James (msg # 40):

The AutoGnome swivels its head to stare with unblinking gem eyes at the Fey but does not respond to his command.

In reply to GM (msg # 41):

Conrad, scowling about the scroll, orders Uthor to order Jeeves to fetch the book and bring it to him. In doing so, he ponders for a brief moment how inefficient the chain of command can sometimes be, then dismisses such concerns as lunacy.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 42):

*sigh*

In reply to James (msg # 43):

James says to the autognomes back as he goes to fetch the book

You're super creepy you know that?

In reply to James (msg # 44):

The AutoGnome fetches the book, which is forcefully pries from cold dead fingers, and returns to the group with it.

It is a heavy leather volume, but not particularly old.

(OOC:  Contents of the book are now added to the "documents".  A new version of the island map, from the book, is also added as a new map for you all).

Uthor holds out a hand.

Hold on.

He looks to the AutoGnome.

It's alright, Jeeves.  Go ahead and get the book.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 46):

Conrad reads through the passages with the others, looking disturbed.

"At least we know exactly where to go to complete our mission," he says at last. "Perhaps they were punished for taking things, and our returning them will end the curse. Though I don't trust those sheep. Changelings can't become sheep, can they?"

He frowns more severely when he reaches the last "real" page of the book.

"What does this mean?" he says, turning to James and Alveris in turn. "What's a redcap, and what are these winged demons he speaks of. Are they feyic, as he claims?"

This message was deleted by the player at 16:12, Mon 31 Mar 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 47):

James reads the initial pages with a smirk

These guys can't spell for shit.

As he gets further into the document he gets more serious, until you get the the series of pages reading Redcap, at which point he goes white as a sheet.

I'm leaving.  We are done here.

He turns on a heel and begins to stride away.  When he realizes the others aren't following he looks around nervously and runs back.

OK here is the deal.  The redcap are fey species, closely related to brownies... the more feral type of fey.  They are disturbingly wane in complection and fortitude... don't let that fool you.  They have long beards sharp teeth, and wear white caps.  They are called redcaps because the blood of their victims stains their hats.

These are so primal, so dangerous and unpredictable they fey court doesn't even really like dealing with them.

He takes a break and runs fingers through his long hair.  He takes a fortifying breath and continues.  Conrad looks unimpressed.

Let me put it to you in a way you can understand...  These things seek out war zones.  When they get to one they set up shop and kidnap soldiers where they torture them for no more reason then they like to see them in pain... and they like to play with their blood.

Conrad looks appropriately disturbed.

Thats not even the worst of it... He picks up two sticks and walks behind Modi.

I knew a traveling group once who encountered these.  While going up a mountain path a redcap attached itself to the leads chest.  The swordsman behind him... as skilled with his swords as Alveris is with his knives...

Alveris flourishes prettily for emphasis.

Skewered the little beastie with both his swords

He drives the sticks down in an x pattern infront of Modi's chest.

The lead cut off the redcaps arm and they threw him off a cliff.

He walks around back into the circle of the group.

When they reached the top of the mountain... they found the Redcap.  He had crawled up the mountain; swords still in him; seething venom and seeking revenge.

I will have nothing to do with redcaps.  There are no curses there is no punishment, there is only death.

To answer your other questions; yes changelings can look like sheep, maybe a large sheep but yes they can.  If you want to kill the sheep I'm all for it but lets do it on the way back to the sub.





I want nothing to do with redcaps.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Mon 31 Mar 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 49):

Conrad furrows his brow as this information is relayed to him.

"The journey to the keep was, what, a day and a half? But they were dragging carts with them, which must have slowed them down."

"We must return the hand to its cold iron prison. The Templar's ship was not safe from it, and neither will our sub be safe until that's done."

He shakes his head, then turns to point at Jeeves.

"How long will he last without being rewound? He has no blood, and thus may be safe from those things."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 50):

Its possible they are working with something else... though alliances with redcaps are... transient at best. 

In reply to James (msg # 51):

Conrad sighs. Nothing is ever easy.

"Well, I think the book says we push past the wall of corpses and then follow the road east at the next fork. Is that what the rest of you gathered?"

He turns to James.

"I know you want to leave -- so do we. But I promise, you'll be safer here than before the Captain once you explain to him that our medic abandoned us over the course of the mission."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 52):

I'd rather take my chances with the captain.  That being said I have grown... fond of you and would hate it if you were flayed alive and your insides became your outsides.  Also we would need to retreat as a group or the redcaps will make easy pickings of us.

So how about this.

We throw the hand as far as we can into the forest and let the redcaps and the horrible flesh golem take it back to whatever dark end they are serving that I will bet you more money than you will ever see in your lifetime lives in the keep.

Then we go our merry way back to the ship and we go vacation... with the empires permission of course.

James smiles his most charming smile.  Its completely ineffective as it is far too panicked and desperate (persuasion 2)

Conrad Scowls

Come on Alveris back me up on this!

Alveris says something about wanting a redcap skin loincloth.

You know their skin is remarkably thin and won't keep you warm.
A sudden wind burst obliterates whatever Alveris' response to this is as he gestures to his crotch; and the world is a better place for it.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Mon 31 Mar 2014.

C'mmander's orders.  We're not leavin'.

Uthor scratches his head, looking the AutoGnome over.

Well I'd say he'll keep runnin' about...

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 54):

James folds his arms defiantly infront of his chest.

Then lead the way, comadore over... around, or through the dead bodies?

In reply to James (msg # 55):

"They didn't go the other way, did they?"

Conrad looks at the book again.

"We might take a look that way first. I don't want to be surprised."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 56):

James goes firmly in the middle of the group, gnomish shields all around him.  He keeps an eye out for any movement or evidence of redcaps (notice 16).

Come out come out wherever you are... I'll see you.

... Well, depends what he's doing.  If Jeeves is marching or fighting, he won't stay round more than a couple of minutes.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 58):

The dense woods remain firm around you, defining the three options:

-Turn back and head back to the tower and the shore.
-Go West over the pile of bodies into the part of the map covered in blood (on the newer version)
-Go East into the cold breeze toward the 'traps' on the map (older version).

In reply to GM (msg # 59):

Conrad sighs, then shakes his head.

"If we want to do this quickly, we'll do it the way they did it."

Armed and wary, he leads the group along whatever route the people in the journal took, aiming to reach the Keep and the Cold Iron and, eventually, his bunk back on the sub after the job's done.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:34, Wed 02 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 60):

Conrad leads the way around (and partly over) the pile of corpses down the path leading to the West.

There's room enough on each side to squeeze past, so you're able to avoid actually touching the rotting humans.

The Gnomes follow, armed and ready, leaving the Fey to follow from the rear (in future walking, if you want different marching order let me know).

The path ambles more or less straight West for some while, but in the distance you can see it curve to the right.

As soon as you move around the pile, you notice an object lying in the center of the path some meters from the pile.

It's a severed human hand, loped off mid forearm, holding a dark metal dagger in whitened fingers.

There is a dried pool of blood beneath the stump.  A circle has been gouged into the dirt around the hand/dagger with a radius of a couple feet.

From the look and smell, it appears that someone(s) have defecated all around the circle and likely urinated on the hand as well.

The dagger appears to be a single piece of metal with an unwrapped handle and wide triangular blade that tapers quickly to a point.

In reply to GM (msg # 61):

Conrad blinks at the hand, then turns to James.

"What do you think? Barbaric act, or feyic magic? Either way, I've a mind to burn it."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 62):

What about Barbaric magic?  I agree.
James will travel in the middle of the company.

In reply to James (msg # 63):

"Enough riddles," Conrad growls, growing impatient. "Give me an enemy I can smash."

Conrad draws his power axe and sunders the earthen ring around the hand with a savage chop that plows up a wedge of earth and sand, then uses his long-handled power axe to flick the hand itself out of the circle. If nothing untoward happens, he'll approach the hand, kick the blade out of its grip, douse the hand with brandywine, and ignite it. The blade he'll carefully observe, never touching it without gloves.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Thu 03 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 64):

The circle does not react to being sundered.  The hand/dagger react very unsurprisingly to being kicked, they fly through the air a bit then land with a thump.

Conrad kicks at it again, but the hand seems to have gone stiff around it.

He pours the stinking liquor on it and sets it aflame.

The hand withers and blackens, opening enough that he can finally kick the blade free.

Conrad bends down and carefully looks at the weapon without touching it.

The blade, handle and pommel are all one solid piece.  There are no markings of any kind (it's shaped roughly like a Kunai if you want a reference).

The metal is dull and dark but you cannot immediately identify what it is.


(OOC: the blade is still on the ground, un-picked up at this point)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:18, Thu 03 Apr 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 65):

Conrad looks at the size of the knife, the size of the (burning) hand, and his own hand.

"A human hand," he says quietly. "And a dark, bloodless blade..."

He checks to see if the blade is serrated, and if the hand looks to have been sliced off cleanly or sawed off.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Thu 03 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 66):

The blade is straight, not serrated.

The rotting, burnt hand looks to have been ripped, bitten or clawed off.

In reply to GM (msg # 67):

"James, was this knife among the things listed in that book?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 68):

He shakes his head slowly...

No mention of this.  I think we are in the section that comes after the REDCAP written in blood.

In reply to James (msg # 69):

Conrad looks at the knife for a long minute, then uses his axe to chop a huge clod of dirt from the ground. Still using the axe, he sweeps the dagger into the hole left behind, then covers it back up and marks it with a stone.

"Let's get to the keep. We can always come back to this if it turns out we need it."

He leads the way further down the path toward the keep.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Tue 08 Apr 2014.

Uthor stops to re-wind the AutoGnome.  Then, he and Jeeves follow behind.

He mutters, I don't have a bad feeling about this place... but I've got a bad feeling about that.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 71):

James squeezes into the middle of the group.

Be sharp boys.  Redcaps are stealthy.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Tue 08 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 72):

You walk for some short while, bends in the path giving way to an overall clockwise lean.  The corpses and their stench are soon behind you.  The sun shines down on you pleasantly and if only there were a single bird tweeting, the forest you travel through might be pleasant.

But there isn't.

The air grows slightly warmer too as you make your way from the crossroads. After an hour or so of marching, you think you hear the sounds of animals in the distance, carried to your ears by a gentle breeze.

In reply to GM (msg # 73):

James Stops abruptly.  Uthor walks into his back.  You hear him speak softly in an answering sound of animals.

 He says something so quitely only uthor can hear him.

In reply to James (msg # 74):

There is a rustling in the nearby thicket and voices float more clearly now on the air.

In reply to GM (msg # 75):

James jumps from a thicket bumping into the autognome.  He surruptitiously grabs Conrad by the belt to drag him closer.

In reply to James (msg # 76):

The voices respond to James, moving from one side of the path to the other.

Uthor lets a hand slip down to his axe, ready to draw it at the first sign of danger.  His eyes dart around the area, searching for the source of the animal sounds.

[Notice 15]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 78):

James continues, nervously


He pauses then continues

In reply to James (msg # 79):

In an extremely low growl of gnomish James says

Be ready, bad things are about to happen.  He palms a syringe of the poison in his hand (sleight of hand 4)

In reply to James (msg # 80):

Conrad, bewildered, brings his power axe to bear. At his signal, Magni and Hom cock their weapons.

"What in the bloody depths is going on?!" he says, either tired of or oblivious to the subtle conversation around him. He raises his voice, fury in his eyes.

"We're here to return something that should never have left the island.  I'm not going to steal anything, nor do I want to kill anyone. If you have a problem with our mission, I'm willing to be flexible on that second part. If it helps, we have no love of those humans and will be gone on the morrow. Leave us be."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Tue 08 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 81):

James raises his voice again.

In reply to James (msg # 82):

At James' previous comment Alveris smiles wolfishly and makes a rude comment.

To the group in quiet gnomish

I have just staked my life we will take nothing from this island, if we are left unmolested.  Let us see how they react.

In reply to James (msg # 83):


There is a pause, then the voices return.  Even for those of you who don't speak Low Fey, the giggles punctuating the speech are unmistakable:

In reply to GM (msg # 84):


James stops and huddles everyone around him.  He speaks in gnomish.

We are defiintely dealing in redcaps here.  They are fucking insane and dangerous.  They have agreed to let us go so long as we kill one of our own and take nothing from this island.

He pauses, and then shrugs.

I say we kill the autognome.  What do you think?  Its either that or fight; and you damn well had better protect me.

In reply to James (msg # 85):

"Tell them we'll kill one of our own on our way back from the keep, not before."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 86):

James smiles.  In gnomish

I like the way you think

He stands up.

In reply to James (msg # 87):

In a show of good faith James removes the papers and anything else he took from the tower by the shore, paper, medicine etc....

In reply to James (msg # 88):

As Conrand and James discuss killing one another, Hom and Magnis eye them nervously.

To those listening closely, whispering can be heard among those in the woods, but you cannot make out what is said.

Then a single voice calls out.



A chorus of giggles comes from another direction.

In reply to GM (msg # 89):

James sighs heavily.


In gnomish very quietly.

They want us to cut off someones cock to sate their blood thirst.

He fixes Alveris with a steely stare.

One word out of you and I'll cut yours off.

He looks very sad.

I fear negotiations are breaking down prepare yourselves. These are vile creatures.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Wed 09 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 90):

The chittering stops and a single voice speaks.


Then the voices are silent and you hear nothing but the breeze in the tops of the trees and the distant crash of waves.

In reply to GM (msg # 91):

"As long as they bleed when they're shot, and die when they bleed, we have nothing to worry about. I think our offer was more than reasonable. Their offers... have not been."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 92):

In gnomish

Connie, they bleed when they're shot.  Its the part about dying when they bleed that doesn't really happen.

They have departed for the time being.  Please keep triply aware as they will not hesitate to ambush us.  They have told us to proceed... without fear which is a lie.  They were... upset when I told them we would not cut off genatalia for their amusement.

We should have brought Francis then we could have cut off his head and kicked him into the forest for them to play with

He brightens

We could feed them Rags!  Lets run back to the sub.

He gets serious again.

I guess our only option now is to stay together and be ready to fight.  Everybody be quiet and talk in gnomish, I don't know if they can speak common but I'm fairly certain they dont understand gnomish.

He continues in the middle of the group he keeps his hand on Connie's shoulder, his rapier in his other hand and pulls the group tight around him.  He looks around (notice 5)

After a minute or so of walking you hear a quiet voice

Does anyone know any good religions?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Wed 09 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 93):

You continue walking, but more cautiously.

Conrad, Hom and Magnis take up the front, weapons drawn and ready.  Next come the AutoGnome and Uthor with James hiding between the Gnomes.  Alveris takes up the rear, girls twirling in his fingers.

After a short while you see something written in the dirt of the trail, in common.

REDCAP!

In reply to GM (msg # 94):

*sigh*

Gnomish:

Welcome to hell gentlemen.

In reply to James (msg # 95):

Conrad kicks dirt over the word, obscuring it, and bares his weapon.

"Die then," he growls at nothing in particular. "Or do I have to piss on it to bring them forth from the shadows?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Thu 10 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 96):

Fine lets see if we can call them out.  Yell something at them gnomish, I will translate.

In reply to James (msg # 97):

There is a rustling in the woods to the East.  Uthor has it covered with his weapon before anyone else can react.

A scraggly object lobs through the air and lads near you with a dull thud.

It's the severed head of a Human.

You can hear giggling in the woods where it and the rustling came from.

In reply to GM (msg # 98):

He shrugs, quietly in gnomish:

Connie Challenge them.  Tell them their caps are white or some such nonsense to drag them out of the trees, or we just keep going until we find an advantageous place to fight.

In reply to James (msg # 99):

There is more rustling to either side.

A half-dozen more heads come flying out of the woods and land all around you, one bouncing off the brass plating of the AutoGnome.

The giggling continues and a single voice calls out.

In reply to GM (msg # 100):

in gnomish James translates

They want us to eat all of the heads... no mustard.  Then they may let us go.  I think they are lying.

This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 101):

Conrad switches to the common tongue, and raises his voice.

"This is meant to frighten us? Human heads you found laying about the woods, left there by a greater foe?"

He grips his axe, ready for anything, and continues.

"I am Lt. Commander Conrad Deepsavior. I have plunged headfirst into the gaping maw of death and propped it's thrice-damned jaws open with my bare hands. I fear nothing that lives, and less that dies."

Conrad's eyes flare with anger as his rage takes over.

"You want to see the color of my blood? You'll find it's as deep and blue as the sea, and runs through my veins like ice. So limp back to your whorish mothers while you can, or I'll shove your pure white caps so far up your ass they'll turn brown."

[Intimidate: 3]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 102):

Nicely done.

James translates, adding some imbellishments.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 103):


The giggles give way to raucous laughter.

To the South (behind you) further rustling in the trees gives way to a small figure who pops out of a bush and stands in the middle of the path.

He is the size of a Gnome, but thinner, almost emaciated.  Judging by his wrinkled skin and white beard, you would guess he's old.  He wears very little on his body, a few scraps of cloth wound about his torso and nethers.  Apart from that he wears a tall pointed cap dyed deep red and on his feet are heavy iron boots with pointed tips.

Though his eyes glow slightly, it is the glow of something long dead and gone, like the last embers of a once-great bonfire as it is smothered to nothingness.  Rather, it is his mouth that draws attention.  Dark cracked lips give way to an unnaturally toothsome smile composed of teeth large, small, crooked and missing.  These he grates together so that his mouth seems to be a revolving chainsaw of pointy enamel.

He is armed with a pike longer than he is tall, though you can see that his fingernails are like claws.

"Redcap!" he calls in common tongue.

There is further rustling and two more emerge from the woods to your North.

"Redcap," they agree.

~~CROSSROADS~~

(OOC: There are 2 Redcaps on the path to the North and one to the South.  They are roughly 15 units from those of you at the front/rear of the group respectively.

The path is wide enough for 4 Gnomes or 3 Fey/Humans to walk abreast.

You have roughly a round or so worth of time to take up a combat stance/aim/attack/talk or whatever before combat will start.)

In reply to GM (msg # 104):

Conrad switches to his repeater carbine and trains it on the elder redcap. Magni and Hom do the same.

"Nice of you to show your face. What do you want? Not 'what would be fun'. What do you WANT?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:20, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

Uthor draws his axe, taking a combat stance but keeping his eyes open for more enemies from the bushes.  The AutoGnome switches to its carbine as well, taking aim on the elder redcap.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 106):

James puts on his haughtiest expression and translates


He clicks the needle gun into place and takes an aim action at one of the two redcaps.

In gnomish.

Now is a time for brutality.  If you think you have gone too far, that means you have not.  They do not die easily.

In reply to James (msg # 107):

"REDCAP!" the long Redcap calls out, the other two laugh heartily.

They lower their pikes and charge.

~~COMBAT ROUND~~

You are all on hold so you can act first, continue to hold or attempt to interrupt their charge (opposed agility roll).

The 2 RedCaps are 15 units away from the front of the party, and the lone Redcap is 15 from the back of the party.

In reply to GM (msg # 108):

James rolls a 4 to interrupt the charge.

In reply to James (msg # 109):

Conrad calmly holds his position until the elder redcap is within 10 units, then opens fire.

[Shoot (Conrad vs. Elder): 1, 1, 5, 1, 1, 4, 4]

Only one bullet manages to hit the small, rapidly moving target, but it catches him in the shoulder and draws blood.

[Damage: 9]

Seeing the elder redcap still charging, Magni and Hom unleash their weapons, as well.

[Shoot (Magni vs Elder): 1,2,1,5,14,11]

"FOR MODI!" Magni screams, burying three rounds into the redcap elder's chest.

[Damage: 18,15,10]

Hom takes James's advice to heart and blasts the elder redcap, now wounded several times, with his own weapon.

[Shoot (Hom vs Elder): 2,3,3,4,5,2]

One bullet strikes true, catching the elder in the jaw.

[Damage: 8]

Instead of moving, Conrad drops his carbine to the ground and hefts his axe. Hom and Magni do the same.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

The AutoGnome turns and takes aim at one of the redcaps on the other side.  Uthor brandishes his axe, ready to interrupt a charge, should one of them somehow reach him.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 111):

As the redcap on the left pulls within range james pulls the trigger on the needle gun.  With a soft hissing sound the needle flies out of the gun and buries itself into the charging redcaps shoulder (shooting 5).  The needle hits home but does little damage (damage 1)

This should be interesting...


He stands the needle gun up at his side carefully watching it to make sure it remains undamaged.

/ooc do we have to beat toughness to get the poison effect?  Did the needle inject into the redcap?  If not then I have to get get Sven to make this more powerful. /ooc
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Fri 11 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 112):

The creatures move with, frankly shocking speed!  To the South the single RedCap is upon you almost instantly!

The lone RedCap absorbs a substantial number of bullets from the Gnomes.  These tear into his shoulder, chin, and chest, spraying blood and bile out ruptures in his back.

The creature collapses to the ground.

The two redcaps to the North charge in, pikes aimed for your throats.

One catches a needle to the shoulder but it doesn't seem to bother him immediately.

(OOC: go ahead and roll your shoot Uthor/Autognome.  They WILL reach you this round... they have ways.  Toughness 5).

The AutoGnome, on Uthor's signal, unleashes a barrage of bullets from the carbine as the redcap comes within range.  The bullets strike, one after the other, ripping the creature to shreds, spinning it with momentum a few more feet before it collapses in a bloody mess.

[Shoot (Advanced Weapons): 4, 5, 10, 4, 12, 4]
[Damage 6, 6, 18, 13, 32, 8]

Uthor stands ready for the other redcap to come into melee range.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 114):

holy crap those repeators are effective... I may have to learn how to use one of those.

The normally *relatively* calm James has a wild gleam in his eye, and you can see the primal urge to survive for a being that has been alive a long time and wants to live a much longer time.

They aren't dead yet!  If you get them down chop off their damn heads, legs and arms!

He screams frothy spit on his lip.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Mon 14 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 115):

The remaining RedCap closes with surprising speed, aiming its pike directly at Conrad.  The Gnome parries with his axe just in time.

In reply to GM (msg # 116):

"Think you can handle that?" Conrad grunts, finding time to answer James while batting down the gleaming pike a Redcap tried to introduce to his face. "The lads an' I will knock them down, and you can saw off their heads. That way you're never interacting with something that's actively trying to kill you."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Mon 14 Apr 2014.

Uthor swings his axe at the redcap as its spear darts out at Conrad.

[Wild Attack 7]

[OOC]Would be helpful to know the Parry value.  Assuming the attack hits, the following happens.[/OOC]

The redcap raises its spear just in time, but the force of the blow knocks it off balance.

[Damage 5 - Shaken]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 118):

James smiles like a cat... as toothy as his grin was, more like a shark.

With pleasure.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Mon 14 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 119):

~COMBAT ROUND~

Uthor & AutoGnome - Jack of Hearts
Redcap - 5 of Hearts and 6 of Hearts
Conrad & Crew - 4 of spades
James - 2 of hearts

The RedCap to the South is down and bleeding profusely.
One RedCap from the North is down, the other is engaged in Melee with both Conrad and Uthor (Parry 6, Toughness 5)

The AutoGnome drops its carbine and clicks the handaxe out of its waist slot.  Its arm spins around with a pneumatic hiss, landing a blow on the startled redcap.

[Fighting 6 (+2 gang-up, -2 multi-action.  The modifier in the dice roller was incorrect, so I corrected it here.)]

The axe bites into the creature's chest, causing blood to pour from the wound.

[Damage 6]

[OOC]Not sure if this drops the redcap or not, but it should inflict a wound, killing a normal extra.[/OOC]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 121):

The third RedCap goes down flat on his back, grin still plastered on his crooked-tooth mouth.

~~END COMBAT~~

In reply to GM (msg # 122):

James removes his poisoned axe and with disturbing savagery cuts the heads arms and legs off of the redcaps.  He throws the parts in random directions as far as he can throw them.  He asks Connie to help him dig a hole.

all of the heads go into the hole and are buried.  The torso's are then piled up.

Connie give me some of that brandy stuff.  I'm burning the torsos.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 123):

James goes about the grisly business of hacking up the three RedCaps... and with good reason.

You notice as soon as you begin that they have already stopped bleeding and their wounds have begun to knit.

Quickly you separate their parts and toss the limbs away.  The heads are buried in a shallow grave and the torsos set aflame.

In reply to James (msg # 123):

Conrad blinks, but provides the requested brandy.

"Who knew you had the heart of a warrior in you?" he grins. "Now we just need to channel that fury into living targets."

Conrad, Magni, and Hom reload their weapons.

"That wasn't so bad," Conrad continues. "Onward to the keep, then. Or is there more to this than meets the eye?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 125):

No matter what he says, I am my father's son.  As unhappys as that makes both of us.  That was way too easy.

He says straightening up and wiping his hands off.  He coughs at the smell of burning redcap.

If this is all there is to the redcaps then their reputiation is greatly inflated.  That being said; those templars didn't die and impale themselves... the only thing I can assume is that the redcaps did it, meaning they defeated an entire force of heavily armed humans.  Be extremely wary.

If we stay we can make sure that the redcaps don't somehow regenerate from this...

He motions at the stinking pile of ash and spits

But I don't know how long we would have to wait to be ensured of our safety.  So I say we press forward and maybe we can dump the hand and get back to the ship before whatever is going to happen happens.

He reloads the needle gun, and says with a lopsided grin

So where to fireface?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 126):

Conrad stoops to scoop up three white hats splattered with blood. He slips them onto the carabiner hanging from his armor's grappling hook attachment.

I'll bleach every one of these I find, he muses.

"To the keep," Conrad says, his expression as grim as the trophies now hanging from his armor. "We're completing our mission."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 127):

Reloaded and ready, you press on down the path.

It's only a minute or two later that you hear more rustling in the woods.  The voices are back.

In reply to GM (msg # 128):

Conrad sighs.

"James, in your opinion, would setting the woods on fire get rid of the Redcaps?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 129):

I don't know, maybe.  They just told us that taking their caps was a mistake.  Maybe that is how they survived.  Watch my back.

He snatches the hats off of Conrad and pours some alcohol from his healing pouch on them, strikes a match and sets them on fire as well.  He speaks in the strange language of the low fey.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

The AutoGnome reloads its carbine as it and Uthor walk along with the group.

I knew I had a bad feeling about those hats.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 131):

Conrad looks irritated.

"They're hats. We can cleave off their heads but not their hats?"

He glares at no one in particular.

"Is everything feyic so ridiculous?"

Conrad continues to march toward the keep, not bothering to stop while James addresses the voices.

"Fight and die if it pleases you,," he says to the wilderness, power axe in hand. "But nothing you can do will stop me from putting that cursed hand back where it belongs."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 132):

James fixes Conrad with a withering glare.

The fey realms are home to powerful magic that you cannot fathom.  You would be wise to remember that when dealing with fey; gnome.

He looks at Uthor

If fireface isn't stopping for us to burn the hats, please have the autognome carry them so we can assure they are burned?  Next time we kill them... i'm certain there will be a next time we burn the heads and bury the bodies.

Reload gentlemen.  We will need it.  Stay close if they can splinter our group we are in trouble.

He continues with the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:37, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

Uthor nods, and the AutoGnome reaches out its arms to hold the burning hats as the fire quickly washes over them.  This is, of course, assuming that the AutoGnome is sufficiently fireproof.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 134):

Beginning to wonder if we are better served capturing them.  I think I could have some fun experimenting on a redcap.

In reply to James (msg # 135):

The AutoGnome holds the hats over the flames.  They catch and go up surprisingly quickly.

There are screams from the woods around you.



There is a pause, then the voices start again.



There is rustling in the woods as they run along the path to get ahead of you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:02, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 136):

They're coming again.  Ready yourselves.  They seemed sarcastically unhappy that I burned their hats.  Not sure if its real or not.

James nocks an arrow.

Uthor readies himself, drawing his blade.  The AutoGnome raises its carbine.

[OOC]Note: Uthor periodically winds the AutoGnome while we are walking out of combat.[/OOC]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 138):

Conrad does a quick check on him ammunition: three cartridges on his person for rapid reloading, three more already loaded (one in the carbine, one in each of his two pistols), and eight being carried among the other gnomes' gear, for a total of 14 unspent cartridges.

He nods and trades his axe for his carbine once more.

"When they told me duty wasn't always easy, I somehow doubt this is what they had in mind."

Conrad grins slightly at the prospect of combat.

I haven't felt so utterly alive since... well, since before the transfer. Funny what a set of fancy armor and a good arsenal can do for a gnome's state of mind.

Aloud, however, all his says is: "Let them come. There's plenty of bullets for everyone."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 139):

James relays Conrad's speech to the trees.

He gestures grandly at Conrad


That should get their attention.  Next time I will be more thorough.

In reply to James (msg # 140):

The reply comes quickly:

"REDCAP!  BLA HA HA HA!"

At that, your foes leap out of the woods to the North.  Unless you're mistaken, the three miserable wrinkly creatures with dull glowing eyes and smiles that would make a demon clown cringe are the exact same you dispatched earlier.

They attack.

COMBAT

The disposition is as shown in OOC box.  Three RedCaps are to the North (up), meaning they can engage only Conrad, Hom and Magnis unless they go back into the woods.

RedCaps - Black Joker! - 1st
James - Queen of Clubs
Conrad & Gnomes - Jack of Diamonds
RedCaps - Jack of Hearts
Uthor & Jeeves- 10 of Spades

The Redcaps close immediately, cackling and repeating their favorite word.

"REDCAP!"

Two engage Conrad, poking at him with their pikes, while one slips past and tries to jab Magnis.

It's possible that you're too good for their poking, but equally possible that they're just messing around...

In reply to GM (msg # 141):

James will hold until Connie and the gnomes have gone.

In reply to James (msg # 142):

Conrad drops his carbine, activates his power axe, takes a half-step toward the elder if his weapon can't reach on its own, and attempts to cut the elder recap in half.

[Fighting: 3] BENNY -> [Fighting: 7]

The blow connects, leaving the elder shaken (and maybe wounded, too).

[Damage: 10]

Magni and Hom each take a few steps backward and take aim at the elder, to improve their chances of not shooting Conrad when they discharge their weapons.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 143):

With a shockingly feirce and hauntingly beautiful battle cry James looses and arrow at the Redcap that poked at Magni.

The arrrow takes the redcap in the throat (shooting 6) (damage 12).

The redcap tries to say its catchphrase but gurgles as blood fills its mouth

RED BLRGHGRHRGHRGHRGH

the redcap collapses.

James spits on its {temporary} corpse

That was for Modi.

He winks at Magni.  James steps back two squares to be one square behind Uthor and the autognome.

In reply to James (msg # 144):

Two RedCaps being down, the third presses on as if he doesn't care.

He jabs at Conrad once more, but misses entirely.

The AutoGnome drops the carbine and draws its axe, moving with Uthor to engage the remaining redcap.  It spins its arm around and brings the handaxe down on the enemy, but the vile fey ducks out of the way just in time.

[Wild Attack 4]

Uthor anticipates the redcap's maneuver, swinging his handaxe in an arcing blow that catches the creature directly in the neck.  Blood sprays out, and the redcap crumples to the ground.

[Wild Attack 8]
[Damage 14]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 146):

Just as Uthor downs his opponent, one of the other two begins to clamber slowly to it's feet, resting on it's pike.  Before your eyes, wounds heal, bones knit and the bleeding stops...

"REDCAP!" he points out.

COMBAT ROUND... AGAIN

Two RedCaps are down, one is standing and Shaken.

James - 9 of Clubs - 1st
Redcaps - 7 of Clubs,
Conrad - 5 of Hearts
Redcaps - 4 of Hearts
Uthor - 4 of Diamonds

In reply to GM (msg # 147):

Finish them once they are down.  Chop their damn heads off.  Lets see them stand up from that.

With a flourish James produces an arrow knocks it to his bow and shoots to the right of the standing redcap.  He curses in fey.

The redcap smiles at his frustration

Redcap.  He agrees.

You know, I don't condone genocide... but I'm beginning to understand it!

In reply to James (msg # 148):

"You can't break a promise, or you die," Conrad says, "Is there a similar action that causes Redcaps to wither?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 149):

The RedCap lunges at Conrad, just barely missing him this time.

In reply to GM (msg # 150):

Nothing comes to mind Connie... usually we just lock them up and throw away the key.

In reply to James (msg # 151):

Conrad obliterates the remaining Redcap.

[Attack (Power Axe): 19]
[Damage (Power Axe): 13]

Magni and Hom lop off his head and the heads of the other Redcaps, toss them in a pile, and douse them with Brandywine. Conrad gestures for James to do the honors of burning them.

"This time, we're going to sit here and watch them for a little bit," Conrad orders. "If we have to stake the heads onto sticks and carry them with us like flaming torches, we will... but I'd rather not."

He pauses as a thought occurs to him.

"James, what causes the healing? Is it their blood? Could it be used to heal others?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Mon 21 Apr 2014.

Be sure you burn the hats, just in case.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 153):

The headless bodies, the bodiless heads and the hats are all burned.

You leave the smouldering pile and watch it.

Sure enough, before too long, there are signs that the charred flesh is beginning to renew...

Are the heads growing back on the headless bodies, or are new bodies sprouting from the heads, or both?

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 155):

A little of column A a little of column B, but there will be the same total number of RedCaps (3).

In reply to GM (msg # 156):

If I separate the heads permanently from the bodies, such as by carrying them, will the body grow a new head? With the head grow a new body?

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 157):

Conrad draws his knife and shoves it through the regenerating Redcap's heart. He leaves it there, and motions for Hom and Magni to do the same to the other two.

"A recurring wound might do it," he growls. "Every time it beats, it'll skewer itself anew."

He looks at the forest around him.

"If it works, we'll need to make some stakes."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Tue 22 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 158):

Connie how much time do you want to spend on this?  I love the way you are thinking... If we want to harness their powers, we will have to research them.  Meaning we need to restrain them and get them back on the sub.  Otherwise we will have to stay here and continuously kill them until we can figure out a good way to fix this.

Permanent restraint may be the way to go.

Hold on a second.  James says to Hom.  He speaks quickly to Connie

They are still in process of regenerating.  Lets test your idea of the recurring wound on two of them.  Keep an eye on those.  Why don't you and I play with the third redcap.  Its going to be a grim and bloody business but if we understand their regeneration we can stop them from it.

He smiles with an evil but excited gleam in his eye.

I'm going to be the first fey to harness the powers of a redcap.

In reply to James (msg # 159):

"I don't want to spent much time on this," Conrad sighs, "But if we can't kill these three, we'll never survive the huge swarm that the book describes, and to get the keep and back was written to be a multi-day journey. Learning now, when there are few, is for the best."

He nods at Hom, who keeps his knife, though Magni skewers the second Redcap like Conrad did the first.

Conrad nods at James and watches the third one slowly come back to life.

"What do you want to try first?"

Uthor and the AutoGnome stand by, Axes readied, waiting to strike if the redcaps get too active.  He periodically winds the AutoGnome when needed.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 161):

James and Conrad crouch over the wrinkled and filthy forms of downed RedCaps while Uthor and the AutoGnome see to hacking up the third whenever he rouses.

From what you can tell, it takes only a few moments for them to regenerate, longer for more grievous wounds like decapitation or burning.  When you stab them in the heart, they'll be back on their feet within a matter of seconds (a few combat actions).  Decapitation takes a few minutes.

The ones skewered through the heart DO come back though, and you're forced to repeatedly stab them to keep them down.  The heart will stop, then start again and they will flail about before you drown them in their own blood.

No matter what, you cannot seem to wipe that godawful smirk off of their faces.

By this point, you're coated in blood and you're intimately aware that you'll feel the burn in your stabbing muscles come morning.

Between gurgled calls of "Redcap!" from the fallen, you think you can hear movement in the woods, though no more attackers appear for the moment.

In reply to GM (msg # 162):

Conrad allows Alveris to take over for him in the stabbing department while he stretches and thinks aloud.

"So, what do we know about these things? Nothing's immortal...fire doesn't work. Normal blades don't work. Poisons don't work. Crushing blows? Something else?"

He unsheathes the runic claymore that was captured on the Templar's ship, and holds it unsteadily using two hands.

"Feyic magic for a feyic foe. Let's see what happens..."

Conrad uses the sword to laterally bisect one of the redcaps in a single hefty swing.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 163):

The sword cuts beautifully, as if it had a sharpened blade, but nothing more special than that.  As you watch, the RedCap begins to regenerate just as with a normal blade.

There is one exception, however.  In cutting through the RedCap, the blade passed through one of the creatures iron shoes.  This metal it cut through as if it weren't there.

In reply to GM (msg # 164):

I think restraint may be the best way to go. Maybe we carry them back to the ship and throw them in a cell or something.

Remember what I told you Connie... Bleed yes.  Die... not so much.

In reply to James (msg # 165):

Or interrogation... though tell me how to kill you certainly lacks in finesse.

In reply to James (msg # 166):

Though I do like the idea of chaining them up, an throwing them in a room in the sub and then flooding it.  Lets see the little assholes regenerate from that.

He halfheartedly kicks a head from a previous experiment down the road.

In reply to James (msg # 167):

"Can we drown them? For now we might need to chain them up and move on..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 168):

You know about as much about these things as I do.  I must say I get a 'pulling wings off of a fly' kind of thrill from doing this but these guys are a pain in the ass.

Problem is... do any of us have chains on us?  Alveris?  Any help here?

In reply to James (msg # 169):

Conrad smiles at the sword, wipes it clean, and returns it to its scabbard.

"We're getting nowhere fast and wasting time. So far they have been unable to harm us. Recall, in the book they didn't seem to be a huge problem until night fell."

He glances up at the sun and sighs.

"When we separate the heads from the bodies, only one Redcap is restored, not two. Behead them and leave the heads, but take the bodies with us. When they grow new heads, behead them again. It's taking them several minutes each time, so we should be able to walk and slay at the same time."

"Unless you have a better idea?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 170):

I have a bad feeling about this... I think we should properly restrain them, meaning back to the boat and hit it in the morning... Maybe get sven to weld them into a box or something.  These guys can be as elusive as they are difficult to kill.

In reply to James (msg # 171):

"We're supposed to return the hand, not capture the island's residents," Conrad says. "And I don't want these things mucking about the ship. You saw what the gremlin did."

"If you're proposing we weigh them down and toss them into the ocean, though... that I could see some merit to."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 172):

Lets split the difference.  Have Sven weld them in a box and throw the box in the ocean.  I like it!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Wed 23 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 173):

Assuming the Redcaps can be bound, Conrad will continue the journey toward the keep, dragging the bound Redcaps with them.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 174):

One second.  I want to try one last thing.


He grabs the polearms from the redcaps, he tosses one onto the smoldering pile of corpses fans it to fire he takes one of the polarms for himself, and tosses the other to Uthor.

Here this will serve you better than that dinky axe.  If one of them doesn't recover, then we know to burn the other two.  If not... then we have new weapons. 

/ooc I want to burn something else but have a question first /ooc

In reply to James (msg # 175):

Conrad nods slowly.

"And, more to the point, they won't be armed."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 176):

James steps close to Conrad and lowers his voice

Notice 7 to hear what James is saying.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 178):

Conrad nods at James.

"I'm all for restraining them, but if their nails and teeth are as sharp as they look, we need steel for that. I didn't bring iron chains with me. Did anyone else?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 179):

Fresh out all I would have are chemical sedatives... which we have proven ineffective.  I hate these things.  Thats why I think we go to back to the ship.  Not the fastest method but the most certain.

In reply to James (msg # 180):

"Dealing with these three won't help us handle the swarm. Best bet is to return the hand and hopefully that will make them calm down."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 181):

Dumb question... Can't we just...

He drives a pike through a regenerating redcaps face and flicks the top half of its skull down the road.

chuck the hand in the woods and call it a day?

In reply to James (msg # 182):

Conrad looks tempted for a moment, but ultimately shakes his head.

"Without a cold iron container, it would continue to create more of those parts-craving zombie men. That's the kind of thing that eventually catches up to you if you ignore it and pray it goes away on its own."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 183):

The RedCap polearms are mostly metal, so they don't burn very well.  However, the haft does blacken enough that you can break it in half.  This seems to have no measurable effect on the RedCaps.

In reply to GM (msg # 184):

OK Connie.  I'm out of ideas lets go.  Do we want to let one regenerate and interrogate it?

In reply to James (msg # 185):

"They just blather endlessly. What would the point be? Bind them and keep an eye on them. Being dead can't be much fun. Maybe they'll behave."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 186):

You mean to bind them and let them regenerate? Wait a second...

James takes the rope and decapitates a redcap, he wraps the rope several times around the body and across the stump of the neck then he tightens it tightly.

Lets see what happens now.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Thu 24 Apr 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 187):

After the blood stops spurting, a new head begins to reform on the RedCap.

It's quite frankly a horrible process to watch as a small pinkish bud expands and lengthens, wrinkles and pulsates then finally grows horribly skewed teeth, purple lips, hateful eyes and a white scraggly beard.

The creature looks up at you with an evil leer, but doesn't bother to struggle against its bonds just yet.  It mouths a word silently, 'RedCap'.

In reply to GM (msg # 188):

He speaks to the redcap

He holds up the heart that he had cut out of the redcap and tosses it lightly over his shoulder.


He smiles with bad intentions.  Intimidate 7

/ooc I gave myself +2 to intimidate because I have been hacking them up all day /ooc

In reply to James (msg # 189):

The RedCap chokes and gurgles on blood and spittle, but its smile never wavers.

It whispers something hoarsely at James but only he can hear it and even then he has to put his ear dangerously close to the creature's lips.

In reply to GM (msg # 190):

James sighs heavily.

in gnomish

Connie do you think its worth trying to make them walk a while or do we stick to the plan.

In reply to James (msg # 191):

"One more test."

Conrad lops the head off a Redcap, holds the head in his left hand, and the body in his right hand, and waits to see which part regenerates.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 192):

After a moment or so, a new head begins to bud on the body of the RedCap.

In reply to GM (msg # 193):

Conrad sighs and hands the head to James.

"Apparently we can keep pieces of the Redcaps. Do fey have any way to extract knowledge out of a brain? We seem to have an infinite supply."

"Either way, we need to get moving. I don't know what to do to these things to make them stay good, and I want to reach the keep -- or a more defensible area -- before nightfall."

A thought occurs to him.

"Why didn't these things attack the men on the ship? They were allowed to leave with the hand..."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 194):

James shakes his head

No Connie, no magical brain extraction technology...  These things are not omniscient... just annoying.  So maybe they snuck away.  Or it is possible that whoever has employeed these redcaps wanted the hand to get out.  Either way I'm certain we can find out more when we reach the keep.


I have another couple of ideas... I'm... almost... beginning to feel bad.




Almost.

James takes one Redcap, cuts his nails so no more claws (do these regenerate?  If not he declaws all of them).  He sharpens a stake, ties a noose around its neck and strings it up into the tree, He ties the hands of the redcaps behind him and his feet infrong of him (imagine hanging from your neck with your feet infront of you and your hands behind you.

He takes the other redcap and deftly snaps his neck he then takes the loosened neck and ties it to the body in such a way that once it heals it snaps again.

He takes a third redcap and ties its hands over its head, and wraps the rope tightly around its chest; constricting every time the redcap breathes.  However not enough to do damage, just enough to suffocate it and/or kill it via high blood pressure... like a python.  The then ties it off and watches.


/ooc Jon I don't like the thoughts you are making me think. /ooc

In reply to James (msg # 195):

James spends some time carefully preparing his totally reasonable and not at all creepy 'restraint methods' on the three RedCaps.  He first discovers that trimming their claws A) Requires help to hold them down, B) more or less removing their fingers since the claws are sharp and hard as hell and C) they do regrow.

He gives up on this and goes about hanging one RedCap, breaking the neck of and hog-tying another and just wrapping up the third.

The end result is that you have one RedCap strung from a tree gagging continually and one RedCap wrapped completely in rope (you apparently brought lots of rope).  You are able to tie him tightly enough that he probably can't breathe so he just lies there motionless.  Alive, dead or unconscious you cannot tell.

The broken-neck RedCap sort of twists and contorts as he heals, thereby getting his head out of the tie.  You take turns chopping his head off in shifts to keep him down.

In reply to GM (msg # 196):

James, being far too pretty to be creepy gestures grandly to a scene that would make the Marquis Du Sade blanche

He checks the breathing and vital signs of the wrapped redcap.

There you have it.  Maybe the python method is the best way to go.

In reply to James (msg # 197):

"Whatever works. Let's get a move on it."

Uthor nods, ready to move on.

He winds the AutoGnome.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 199):

I find your lack of enthusiasm towards my safety disturbing Connie.

Lets bundle up these redcaps and get a move on.

In reply to James (msg # 200):

Conrad helps bind the Redcaps and leads the group onward toward the keep and/or the next challenge, eager to put the withered hand, the Redcaps, and the island behind him.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 201):

James takes one peice of rope and binds it around the redcaps necks choking off the Jugular.

No kill like overkill right?

He flashes a wan smile at Conrad

In reply to James (msg # 202):

You take a few more moments to gag, strangle and bind the two untied RedCaps.  One of them manages to get out a few choked words to James before his face turns red then purple, but you can't make out any details.


You line the three packages beside the path and recollect your gear and yourselves.

Although you've only been at the business of hacking up RedCaps for what seemed like a little while, the path before you seems darker than it did when you began.

The sun above doesn't seem to have moved any faster than normal, but there are ominous clouds on the horizon and a strange shadowy haze moving ahead of it.

This message was deleted by the player at 13:08, Mon 28 Apr 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 203):

I've heard that line of bullshit before on this trip.  He says straightening up from his work.

He relays the redcaps words to the team.

Whatever is in that castle is going to be decidedly unpleasant.  Lets get this over with.

In reply to James (msg # 205):

Conrad nods.

"We knew that going in. Let's go... I want shelter over us before the storm breaks."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 206):

Agreed.  Lets go.

In reply to James (msg # 207):

You leave your 'captives' beside the trail and press on, undaunted by the encroaching gloom.

For a quarter hour or so, nothing surprising happens.  The path curves gradually around the circumference of the island and the forest continues to be eerily quiet.  Only the breeze in the trees and your own footfalls keep you company.

Alveris attempts to lighten the mood by offering bits of his more notable adventures, but even he is quieter than usual.

You round a corner and in the distance make out what looks to be a pile of something soft white and red.  You take a few cautious steps closer until you can make out more detail.  It appears to be a pile of dead sheep blocking the path.  From the looks of them, they haven't been dead long.

To the East, you hear someone whistle.  Magnis and Hom ready their weapons instinctively and everyone tenses for attack.

A few seconds later you hear the whistling again, but now to the East and just behind you.

A little latter the whistle repeats, always to the East of the path and moving back the way you came.

In reply to GM (msg # 208):

"No more games," Conrad mutters. "Stay alert, but let's keep going."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 209):

You move cautiously forward but meet no resistance.  The whistler moves off down the path the way you came until you cannot hear him any more.

The makeshift barricade is indeed made of the corpses of freshly killed sheep.  It looks as if their throats were slashed or bitten open.

In reply to GM (msg # 210):

Conrad has the autognome -- if Uthor's willing -- clear a path through the sheep, then continues onward past them. It's fairly obvious what did them in, if not why or how.

He does take a moment to consider the "when".

"Freshly killed," he mutters aloud. "None of this makes the least bit of sense."

Nothin' on this island has yet, C'mmander.

Uthor directs the AutoGnome to clear a path, per the Commander's request.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 212):

The AutoGnome sets down his bundle and begins about the work of clearing the carcasses.  It is a somewhat clumsy process, clearly the designers did not have corpse relocation in mind when they programmed the automaton, but it gets the job done.

The work takes only a handful of minutes and you once again have a clear path.

In reply to GM (msg # 213):

Conrad continues to lead the group onward toward the next inevitable barricade of corpses he'll have to move out of the way.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 214):

The group moves through the barricade without much trouble and continues on.

As you walk, the gloom continues to settle in from above and you're fairly certain the temperature has dropped a degree or two.

You walk for a few hours.  The path twists this way and that slightly but clearly curves clockwise around the island.  The walls of pine trees to your side sway sometimes in breezes you cannot feel but otherwise provide only an unbroken green barrier.

An hour or so into this march, Uthor holds up his hand to signal a halt.  The team splays into combat stance, weapons ready.  You listen for a few moments.  In the distance, you hear what sounds like a herd of sheep further inland.  When nothing else materializes, you continue the march.

You stop to rest where the path widens out slightly and there is a large rock on one side to sit on.

The AutoGnome stands mutely with his dead/unconscious/undying load while the rest of you stretch your legs and have a drink or snack before moving on.

Consulting the map, and if your calculations are correct, you might be able to get around 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the stronghold by nightfall, perhaps to the point of the path branching off to the West.

That is, if the night comes when it should.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:49, Fri 02 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 215):

As James stretches he pulls the gag from the redcaps mouth and speaks with him in the strange language of the redcaps.

In reply to James (msg # 216):

The RedCap whispers horsely.

In reply to GM (msg # 217):

Conrad will want to make camp at any particularly defensible-looking area they come across once the sun begins to dip toward the horizon.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 218):

Just as Conrad's thoughts are turning to defensive postures, strategy and fortifications, you hear again the whistling from earlier.  It is a good distance behind you down the path.  As soon as you are all quiet (and armed) the whistling stops but you hear a loud raspy voice call out.

"REDCAP!"

This is followed by a chorus of laughter and at least two other voices repeating "redcap!"

In reply to GM (msg # 219):

James asks the prisoner some more questions but once he hears his companions shouting he just grins and grinds his teeth.

"redcap..." he chokes out.

In reply to GM (msg # 220):

"Lock and load," Conrad sighs, drawing his power axe. "Is there anything we can do to make this less fun for them?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 221):

AUTOFOLLOW

Well I'M having fun, aren't you?

Alveris twirls his knives but remains, somehow, out of sight and out of mind.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 221):

These things are crazy, I have no clue.  It seems like they enjoy what we did to them in the clearing back there as it makes us 'more like them'... I hate these creatures.  We fight they love it, we don't they kill us and dance in our blood, jump rope with our intestines and they love it.

Must be a hell of a world view.  I still argue to weld them into a box and put them in a flooded room.

In reply to James (msg # 223):

"I'm not opposed to it. You gotta box handy?"

Conrad sighs, pondering his options.

If we can't kill them anyway, we might as well plow through the night toward the keep. Maybe they ignore apathy? Or maybe they'll stab us as our backs are turned... but if we can't kill them, we'll end up dead anyway if they're serious about killing us. We can't stay up all night stabbing them... we'll need to sleep...

"New plan, troops," Conrad barks in Gnomish. "Might as well make this an all-nighter. Let's get to the keep. Ignore any Recaps you see. Absolutely ignore them. If there's a swarm of them and they mean to kill us, there's not much we can do about it with them healing as rapidly as we've seen. If I'm going to be up all night anyway, we might as well use that time constructively."

"That said, keep your weapons ready. If it's NOT a swarm, we'll need 'em. James? Release that one. We're not taking him with us any further."

Uthor signals to the AutoGnome, who drops the bundle of redcap and draws the carbine, fully loaded.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 225):

James loads up his needle gun. Knocks an arrow.


Fuck him. Let his friends cut him out

In reply to James (msg # 226):

Conrad nods and continues onward toward the keep. He does not stop until he 1) reaches the keep or 2) is physically attacked.

"Whistles and chatter and slaughtered sheep?" he says to the rapidly darkening skyline. "You'll have to do better than that. All you've taught me so far is to ignore you."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 227):

You dump the bound RedCap and soldier on, this time at a brisker pace, soon leaving the cackles behind.  The whistling, however, follows you.  Always the same distance behind and always a jaunty almost mocking tune.

You march quickly for nearly an hour (OOC:  the morning of fighting, chopping, tying and marching is starting to be felt.  There will be Fatigue checks in the near future) without any company other than the breeze and the whistler from behind.

Before you see the next barrier, you smell the smoke.

You round a bend and see a large pile of logs which have been set ablaze.  It looks to have been hastily built, and if it was once a well-arranged barrier it has since collapsed into a haphazard pile of logs and coals.

It's mostly died down, but the pile of burning logs and smoldering cinders spans the path and is nearly two feet high (to the bellybutton or so of a Gnome).
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Mon 05 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 228):

"Why are there so many barriers?" Conrad grumbles, pouring himself a glass of Brandywine to keep his spirits up.

Better tired than dead, he muses to himself. If we can't kill them awake, we'll never kill them while groggy, and that whistling not likely to allow us to sleep soundly anyway.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 229):

Without warning, a chorus of small voices behind you call out in unison.

"REDCAP!"

A group of RedCaps burst out from around the bend in the path, lead on by a particularly large and grizzled-looking one.

There are a total of four RedCaps now.  Three that are likely the same you've dealt with before and one larger.  The larger RedCap is dressed similarly to his brethren, but that his cap is particularly long and tattered.  It trails down behind his head and flaps behind him as he runs.

Runs?

Yes, the RedCaps are charging down on you, screaming and howling as they do.

COMBAT ROUND

Disposition:

Uthor, Magnis and Hom are standing in a cluster around the AutoGnome nearest the burning barrier.  Conrad is standing off to the side a bit.  James and Alveris are on the other side of the path.

The RedCaps are 20 or so units away (see map).  Normal RedCaps are armed with claws and metal shoes.  The Whistler has his pike.

Uthor - Hold
James - 10 of clubs
Conrad & Gnomes - 9 of diamonds
RedCaps - 6 of hearts
AutoGnome - 4 of hearts
RedCaps - 3 of clubs
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:45, Tue 06 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 230):

"Redcap?" Conrad retorts, hefting his axe with a smile. "I do believe those are fighting words."

The AutoGnome raises its carbine and discharges its contents at the charging redcaps.

[Shoot vs. Big Redcap 5, 4, 4]
[Shoot vs. Small Redcap 5, 2, 3]

[Damage vs. Big Redcap 11, 11, 8]
[Damage vs. Small Redcap 10]

Three bullets sink into the large redcap's flesh, sending it reeling back and dropping it to the ground.  Another hits home in one of the small redcaps' foreheads.  It falls in a gush of blood.

Uthor readies his axe, holding for the enemy charge.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 232):

James takes an aim action against the big redcap knowing he will be back up shortly.

Get the small ones keep them the fuck off of me.  Uthor why are you using that peice of shit axe when I gave you a polearm?

He says with a tinge of panic in his voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Tue 06 May 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 233):

Conrad holds his action until a Redcap manages to stumble into slice 'n' dice range. He doesn't like it, though.

This is a waste of time.

"In the stories, James, how do your people deal with these things?"

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 234):

Lock them in a box... We avoid, redirect and imprison.  As you can see they can regenerate out of anything.  We are on their turf now...

In reply to James (msg # 235):

Hooting and screaming, the RedCaps charge into the group.  Their speed is quite frankly astounding, and they are able to close the distance to you (though they aren't able to attack effectively this round).

The Whistler engages Hom (at reach).  The two RedCaps flanking the Whistler move past to engage Conrad and James respectively.

These are engaged in melee but did not attack.


T   T
T   T
TxxxT
T    T
T M T
T U T
TCAJT
TrHrT
T R T
T r T

Conrad is in melee and free to attack his ReCap.  James, being in melee, cannot attack the Whistler, nor use his bow.

The AutoGnome CAN still shoot, but risks hitting companions (I think his rolls were all good enough to avoid that).

Uthor cannot engage in melee until someone moves to give him space.

In reply to GM (msg # 236):

The AutoGnome fires into the RedCaps.  The one engaging James collapses, freeing him from melee.

The Whistler staggers but doesn't collapse (3 wounds, he has Hardy).

Uthor dips past his allies, standing over a fallen redcap.

[Agility 10]

He takes a wild swing at the Whistler, who dodges the blow.

[Wild Attack 5]

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 238):

[Agility (Conrad, Magni, Hom): 5, 2, 9]

Conrad steps into the Whistler's charge and slashes at him with the power age.

[Wild Attack: 10]

[Damage (Whistler): 9]

The blow connects, dealing damage and dropping the largest (or at least the loudest) threat.

Magni is not fast enough to attack before the charging Redcap can, but takes the first opportunity afterward to drop his gun and slash out with his axe.

[Wild Attack: 6]

The attack deals a glancing blow, but Hom is quicker, attacking first and drawing blood.

[Wild Attack: 11]
[Damage: 2]

... just not much of it. The Redcap he struck is undamaged.

Conrad did not need his First Strike, but will summarily execute anyone dumb enough to get adjacent to him... and moves into a forward position that makes that all but inevitable.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 239):

The Whistler reels from the blow, blood spurting all over Conrad.  With a laugh the creature stands, impossibly wounded yet alive.  As you watch, the blood stops flowing from the wounds and the bones within begin to knit...  He glowers menacingly but takes no further action.

The two other downed RedCaps stand up (Shaken).

The standing RedCap in the back of the pack swings around and vanishes into the woods.

COMBAT ROUND


T   T
T   T
TxxxT
T    T
T M T
T   T
T    JT
TCHUT
TrRrT
T    T

The two regular RedCaps are Shaken.  The Whistler has 3 wounds but is not Shaken.
Conrad, Hom and Uthor are engaged in melee as are the RedCaps and the Whistler.

James - Ace of Clubs
RedCaps - 9 of spades
RedCaps - 7 of diamonds
Uthor - 4 of diamonds
Conrad - 2 of spades

In reply to GM (msg # 240):

James unleashes his arrow at Whistler, it hits him and passes clear through his shoulder (Shooting 4, Damage 5) the whistler seems completely unaffected

Redcap!  He mocks.

James sneers at him and makes an inarticulate sound.

He takes one step to the middle of the path and one step backwards towards Magni.  He prepares to switch to his polearm.

Magni stay alert that other one is going to attack from the side or behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Thu 08 May 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 241):


T   T
T   T
TxxxT
T    T
T M T
TrJ  T
T    T
TC UT
TrRrT
T    T

The two RedCaps fix their glowing dead eyes on the enemies directly in front of them.  The first swings its claws at Conrad but the Gnome handily parries them with his axe, giving them a slight trim in the process.  The one in front of Uthor is more successful, giving him a fierce swipe across the face (damage 7).

The bullet holes in the Whistler seal up, dropping the bullets to the dirt path below (down to 2 Wounds).

He cackles and gnashes his teeth, then takes a mighty swing at Hom, but swings wide and misses horribly.

Unsurprisingly, a RedCap bursts out of the trees near James and kicks at him with iron boots but doesn't connect.

The RedCap fighting Conrad continues to dance but again fails to hit.  The one before Uthor fares better, slashing at his legs this time (damage 6).

The Whistler's wounds close, leaving only horrible scars that even now look fleeting (down to 1 Wound).  He smashes Hom with his pike, knocking the Gnome off his feet and to the ground.  Blood oozes from where his neck meets the shoulder (damage 15, Hom is out of commission).

The Whistler purses his lips and whistles a Benny Hill-esque "uh-oh".  He then quickly wipes his weapon off on his hat and grins at you all.

In reply to GM (msg # 242):

"Hom!" Conrad yells as the gnome goes down. "Gods DAMN IT, we can't kill something that heals as soon as you cut it. This is futile."

He turns to the others and switches to Gnomish.

"Magni, with me. We'll distract them, kill them, wound them, whatever it takes. James, see what you can do for Hom. Uthor... get out of here. Those logs are ash -- fragile and falling apart; they won't stop you. Take Jeeves and the hand he carries, find the keep, and finish the mission. We'll buy the time you need with blood."

Sensing their hesitation, he hardens his voice into an order.

"GO."

"Magni," he calls out, making the hand signal for 'grenade'. "Lights out."

The gnome nods with understanding, and he waits for his opening (and for his turn).

Assuming they will obey, Conrad's fingers hover over the power axe's OVERDRIVE switch as he waits for his opening (and for his turn).

"Come at me, then," he snarls at the Recaps, making a rude gesture that pantomimes wiping his rear with a hat. "I'm going to teach you how to die if it's the last thing I do."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Thu 08 May 2014.

Uthor steels himself against the blow, absorbing the shock with only superficial wounds.

[Vigor (Soak) 17 - 1 benny spent]

He nods to Conrad, following Jeeves as he crashes through the burning barricade.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 244):

Do your thing Connie!  But if you die... it will be the last thing you do, literally, I think that may have been redundant... I'm not sure.  Just get this asshole off of me!  And try not to die, if I can get my hands on one of these things alive I'll be the best surgeon on the planet.

In reply to James (msg # 245):

Conrad moves to place himself directly in front of the large Redcap, who is flanked by other redcaps on either side.

"Die," he says, activating his power axe's overdrive module. The device springs to life like an angry chainsaw, spewing steam and oil as Conrad directs it toward his enemies.

[Wild Overdrive Attack: 9 (vs all three targets)]

The machination catches all three enemies squarely in the chest, claiming life and limb in equal measure.

[Damage: 15 (vs all three targets)]

Each of the redcaps take severe damage (2 or 3 wounds, I think), and hopefully crumple to the ground in a bloody heap.

"Now!"

Magni activates the Slumbercap grenade and detonates it in such a way as to catch as many redcaps as possible -- heedless of allies caught in the radius. Well... almost heedless. He would prefer not to catch James, since Hom is bleeding out.



I have no idea how the sleep spell works... GM, a little help?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Mon 12 May 2014.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 246):

Magni hurls the grenade and bolts after Uthor.  It lands on the dirt with a thump just behind the RedCaps.

"Run you prancy fool!" he shouts at James as he speeds past.

Alveris doesn't need any chidding, he's already hot on the heels of Uthor and the AutoGnome, leaping gracefully over some burning logs to make his escape and falling into a perfect and perfectly unnecessary dramatic tumble.

Those fleeing hear Conrad bellow and the RedCaps cackle madly intermixed with the rip of chainaxe and the splash of blood, guts and limbs.  Then there is a loud crack followed by a whooshing noise.  A thick greenish fog rolls out of the combat you just left and makes it nearly to the burning logs.

~END COMBAT~

Uthor, Magnis, Alveris, the AutoGnome and James(?) stand a little ways down the path to the north.  The remains of the burning logs smolder quietly and beyond that the heavy green mist that seems to linger unnaturally.

You pause for a moment but the mist does not seem to be dispersing, or if it is not very quickly.  You listen carefully but don't hear anything.  Nothing, no birds, no animals, no breeze, no footfalls and no voices.

Before you, the path is clear, the trees serene and quiet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:19, Mon 12 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 247):

James cuts down a tree branch and uses it to fan away the mist.

Magni!  Cover me.  Watch for any of those redcap bastards.  When you see one even if it is dead or asleep kill it.  Chop its head off.  I don't know how long this will work against them.

James tosses the pike to Magni and uses the tree bough to blow away the mist as best he can.  He goes straight (as he remembers) to where Hom and Connie should be laying.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Mon 12 May 2014.

Uthor presses on, following orders.  When he looks back to see James using a tree bough to clear the fog, he follows suit.  The AutoGnome reloads its carbine and Uthor winds it from time to time.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 249):

The cloud of mushroom spore gas is quite dense and does not dissipate easily.

Fanning does push it around, but not enough that you can walk into the area immediately.

After a few moments you can see that the gas is dispersing slowly into the woods, but it will take a while before you're able to enter safely.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Mon 12 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 250):

When it becomes apparant the spore cloud is not dissipating from the tree branch James looks over to Uthor

Have the autognome get in there!  Have him pull Hom out.  It may not be a bad idea to get Connie out of there as well.

In reply to James (msg # 251):

James looks around him to see the quickly diminishing back of Uthor and the autognome booking it down the trail.


Well shit.

In reply to James (msg # 252):

Magnis lags somewhat behind Uthor and the AutoGnome.

"He was a good Gnome, and a better soldier.  But he said to 'go'.  We have to use the time he bought us and serve on in his sacrifice."

Unsurprisingly, Magnis seems completely willing to march on without Conrad, though he clearly isn't happy with the situation.

The gas IS clearing, you'd guess that it will be dispersed within an hour.

In reply to GM (msg # 253):

James demonstrates his unwillingness to give up by taking a deep breath and dramatically entering the cloud, only to pop back out half a moment later gasping for breath.

He takes a moment and goes in again...

In reply to GM (msg # 254):

After half a moment, James emerges from the cloud, muttering something about a body and how damned heavy Gnomes are for their size.

He collapses to his knees and falls asleep in that position.

In reply to GM (msg # 255):

Crap.

In reply to James (msg # 256):

Outside the Mist

James snoozes on his knees, visions of sweet pears and fatherly love flit through his head.

In the Mist

...

Path going North

Uthor, Magnis and the AutoGnome quickly leave behind the smell of smoke, the sight of slumbercap spores and the sounds of James panting and railing against the heavens.

The path curves again and slopes gently upward.  Once again you are making your way past rows of evergreens.  Still there are no sounds of life beyond yourselves, but at least there are also no sounds of RedCaps.

After jogging for a half an hour or so, you slow your pace to a brisk march.

"He had the streak," Magnis muses, "Always thought he did.  What makes a Gnome risk his life for Comrade and Empire: that's what he had."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:51, Tue 20 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 257):

The Scene of the Battle

James awakens some time later.  Looking around, he seems to be alone except for the prone form of a Gnome just beyond the dead ashes of the fire wall.

The mist has cleared entirely and though there is a great deal of blood, there are neither RedCaps nor Conrad to be seen.

On the Path

Uthor, Jeeves and Magnis continue to march, stopping only briefly and keeping weapons ready at all times.  Alveris trails behind, keeping largely to himself.

The sky has been taken over by ominous clouds, adding to the encroaching darkness of nightfall.

The path has begun to wind East and just around the time when it is becoming too dark to continue to march, you find the split in the path.

There is a small clearing but no sign of any sort.  Your options are North East (toward the stronghold) or West toward the shore.

In reply to GM (msg # 258):

James awakes well rested and immediately sets to his tasks with a will.  He mutters curses as he dashes over to the downed gnome (assuming its Hom) to see if there is anything he can do for him (Heal 8).

James does everything he can for the gnome.  He looks up the path to where his friends went, sighs and begins tracking the redcaps that took connie (Survival 19).

Assholes.

In reply to James (msg # 259):

James finds Hom stable but unconscious.  He tends to his wounds as best he can but the Gnome won't be on his feet for a long time.

James searches around and very quickly determines that the RedCaps did not directly follow his companions along the path, but went back into the woods.

In reply to GM (msg # 260):

He looks deep into the woods and they loom dizzying above him.

You know what?  He says to noone in particular.

He takes his pike (if it is still there) and uses it to cut down some long tree branches he then uses them to fashion a makeshift litter.  While he is making the litter he grumbles under his breath

Fuck this.  Fuck Redcaps.  Fuck gnomes.  Fuck disembodied hands. I'm done.

He takes Hom and places him gently on the litter.  He carves a sign into a tree denoting the spot at which the redcaps took Conrad and the direction.  He ties the litter to himself and begins walking back towards the shore and the sub.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Thu 22 May 2014.

Uthor thinks for a moment, then leads the group down the path to the stronghold, per his orders.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 262):

Headed to Keep

"Sir," Magnis puts in.  "Will we press on through the dark or find somewhere defensible and camp?  We've got some luck on our side that we haven't run across more of those retched creatures, as they could surely catch up with us if they wanted to."

Headed to Docks

In a rare showing of a Fey participating in hard physical labor, James tows the injured Gnome south toward the docks.  He encounters no resistance other than the cruelty of gravity and heavy loads, though he somehow manages to make huffing and puffing look glorious.

Quite a bit of time and several breaks later, the sky is considerably darker and the stench of decay tells him that he is nearing the fork in the path and the unpleasantness therein.

Once again, some distance from the pile of corpses is a single human hand (now burned) gripping an ugly metal dagger.

In reply to GM (msg # 263):

James will skirt around the hand keeping a wary eye on it and his dagger clutched in his hand

Uthor looks around each time he stops to wind the AutoGnome.  Let's press on unless we find a defensible spot.  If we do, we should camp there and not waste the opportunity.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 265):

South

James carefully moves around the hand and over/through the horrible wall of corpses.

Soon thereafter he reaches the tower.

The sun not quite setting, but the dark clouds have made it so that it is almost as dark as night.

The sound of the waves crashing can be heard along with the sound of your rowboat knocking gently against the docks.

Far in the distance, someone whistles.


North

Magnis nods and pulls out a heavy flashlight.  Although the sun is an hour from setting, it is getting dark very quickly due to the oppressive mists high above.

You continue your march and very soon need to use those flashlights.  The AutoGnome's eye crystals glow brightly and it trudges on obediently.

The path continues on much as it had, winding gently here and there but mostly keeping a circle about the island.  There aren't any clearings that you can see for two hours of marching after it gets dark.

At that point, however, Uthor's ears prick up and he stops to listen.  Far behind you is a sound... something like a large number of feet tramping together and a large number of voices calling out...


[OOC:  DING! James and Uthor.  Also refresh Bennies... you'll need them!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:52, Tue 27 May 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 266):

AUTOFOLLOW

I wonder if their offer to let me live in exchange for killing you lot was good...

Hey, I'm just thinking out loud here!

In reply to Alveris Alderis (msg # 267):

James will check Hom's vitals to determine his course of action.

/ooc I'm looking for Strong/Weak/Dead /ooc
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Tue 27 May 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 268):

James checks over his patient.  He is stable but weak.  You'd guess that with the proper motivation he COULD ambulate but it would have a chance to worsen his condition or kill him.

If left alone and with minimal care, he should recover.

In reply to GM (msg # 269):

The Tower

James pauses for a moment to consider his options and put down his load.  Fey don't sweat, but James wipes some glow elegantly from his brow.

He freezes at the sound of a twig snapping behind him.

"Don't turn around Fey, raise your hands slowly."  A voice commands in Common.

The Stronghold

?

Northern Path

Uthor, Magnis, Alveris and the AutoGnome hold still for a moment trying to identify the rising noise.  You're not sure but it seems that there is a faint glow appearing down the path further south...

In reply to GM (msg # 270):

James does as commanded without a moments hesitation.

In reply to James (msg # 271):

I have nothing of value on me, I am just trying to take my wounded back to our sick bay for medical care. 

In reply to James (msg # 272):

The Tower

"Good man, you're not stupid, and compassion certainly counts.  Hold still, my companion is going to frisk and disarm you but we've no need to shoot you unless you force our hand."

There is a pause and footsteps behind James.  The unmistakable feel of a gun barrel pressing into the skin of the back signals the start of the search.  "Don't move Fey, or it won't go well for you," a second voice hisses.

"Who's the wounded, what happened to him?" the first speaker continues.

In reply to GM (msg # 273):

The wounded sailor is named Hom.  Our group had a run in with a band of redcaps.  We captured three of them and left them subdued, but their leader a fat one who likes to whistle let them loose and lead them to attack us. 

He gestures with his head at the pike on the ground

That pike was one of theirs.  Be careful with my weapons as they have been coated with a poison of unknown efficacy.  Though we do know a small cut will render a gnome uncsonscious. The fat whistler nearly cleaved poor Hom here in half.  Our group only managed to escape by detonating a slumbercap grenade.  When I awoke, everyone was gone and our leader had been taken hostage but our wounded remained with me.  I stitched him up and I am trying to get him back to our ship that is awaiting offshore.

He bounces his medpack on his leg indicating that he is indeed a medic.

We've read some nasty accounts on what happens on this island at night.  How do you manage to make it through?  Its getting dark and I don't want to be dragging Hom through the night, he's stable but if I push him it could tip him over the edge... and I'm not much of a fighter, despite all the weapons.

Is it just the two of you?  If you have any wounded or sick in need of healing I'm willing to wager that I'm the best healer on this island.

In reply to James (msg # 274):

"I don't doubt it, Fey, but we've no interest in you and especially no interest in RedCaps," the first speaker replies.

The second, right behind you, undoes your belt and kicks it to the side, knives and sword together, then does the same with bow etc.

"We'll leave you to tend to the Gnome, I have no doubt he's a loyal servant however misguided, and we've no time to help him.  Tell me true Fey, your ship, it's still waiting offshore?  You're certain of that?  And what about the Red Mantle, is it aboard or on the island with your friends?"

In reply to GM (msg # 275):

To the best of my knowledge it is offshore.  The red mantle is not with my compatriots, but I have not seen it since I had to don it myself to retrieve one of our own.  That thing is severely creepy.

Please I beg of you, I am no fighter, if half of what I have read about this island is true then leaving him alone with me is as good as killing both of us.  If you can't help us actively then at least give me a safe place and a bit of information so I can make it through the night and get Hom up and walking again.  I know that tower is not safe.

I have to say you gnomes are involved in the most civil war I have ever seen.  We have treated your mole aboard our ship well, please do the same for Hom. (Persuasion 7)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Thu 29 May 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 276):

The Gnomes behind James pause for a moment, then the first, apparently in charge, speaks.

"Fine.  Get down on your knees and keep your hands where we can see them.  If you're telling us the truth we've no quarrel with you right now.  We'll let you take the wounded into the tower and give you some medical supplies for him.  Do you have a means for signaling the ship?"

In reply to GM (msg # 277):

James gets on his knees hands behind his head.

You have seen everything I got.  Which is absolutely nothing.  No way to communicate to the ship.

In reply to James (msg # 278):

"Fine, we'll do it the hard way.  I hope you're telling the truth, Fey.  Don't try to follow us or you'll regret it."

There is a thumping sound as one of the Gnomes tosses something into James' pile of belongings.

"Get that brother to the tower and for goddsake stay away from those RedCaps!  If it comes to it, try not to die like a coward."

The comment is punctuated by a whistling in the distance.

Before James can guesstimate how far away the sound is (not far), the two Gnomes vanish into the night and are gone.

A quick inspection reveals that they have taken none of James' possessions, and have left a small medical kit.