Alban rises with the sun and goes through his morning routine packing his gear and getting ready to head out. Once the rest of the group is ready Alban takes off on his broom with his owl flying ahead.

The group rises, packs up their things, and heads off back on their journey home. They were nearly there and each of them could feel the need to be home growing stronger. This would be the day the group would make it home, at least that was the hope.  As the group headed onward they found that the day was a pleasant one, at least until the group spotted four brutish looking humanoids with tusks, pointy ears, and dark skin coming their way.

Malkus adjusts his cloak so that isn't covering the hilt of his sword, not so much as a threat but simply so that it will not get hung up should he have need of it.

"Good afternoon, folks!" he calls out to them.

Izayah watched the approach of what he thought from a distance might be orcs but wasn't sure. His eyes flicked to the side to glance at Malkus when the man called out to them. It wasn't like both groups didn't see each other, and maybe they were friendly for a change - that would make Elisar happy.

But Izayah prepared for the worst. He readied himself to move quickly.

Elisar kept quiet. He knew that Izayah was probably making that face but didn’t want to look and find out. Instead he followed Malkus’ lead and flicked back his cloak to allow his weapons to be easily accessed, then waited for the creatures to respond.

As he stood he regarded their features, wondering what they were. Gnolls, bugbears, hobgoblins? Ugly beggars, whatever they were.


07:19, Today: Elisar Moonraven rolled 1 using 1d20.  Insight.

For all I know, they are really copper dragons in disguise!

The creatures that approached the the group were none other than orcs armed each with a great axe and two javelins across their backs. Without any doubt this group looked ready to do battle, if that is what it came to. The first to speak up seemed to be the leader of the group  and he put his axe towards the adventurers, "Halt. You are in Swift Tusk territory. You pay tribute, we let you leave with your lives."

Wightvane reached into his bag of holding and withdrew the large winter wolf's head and held it aloft, "No, you are in Smith's Gambit territory, and you will pay us tribute, or you will die like like all the others and then we will take tribute from your corpses."

Intimidation: 21

17:08, Today: Wightvane rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  Intimidation.

Seeing the decapitated winter wolf's head the leader's pulls his axe back to himself and says, "Wolf slayer, if that is really your kill then you have shown much strength. You need not pay tribute to us. You've earned your right to hunt in these lands. Your from Smith's Gambit, then we have a common enemy. The Red Foot tribe will take much strength to take down."

Wightvane considered for a moment, before tucking the wolf head away. "We've been out for some time, so I've no knowledge of this Red Foot clan. Speak, and we will listen."

"The Red Foot is a tribe of hobgoblins enslaving the lower of their kind and forcing them to wage war on the Rimewood itself. They kill all who aren't goblin. They seek to wipe out all who aren't goblin and rule what's left. White Worgs claim Smith's Gambit as allies against Red Foot."

Never taking his eyes off the warriors, Malkus speaks to his companions in a low voice.

"I haven't heard of these 'White Worgs' or 'Swift Tusk', but maybe you folks or Smith have. It would probably be useful to learn the whereabouts of their encampment in case we need to have dealings with them in the future."

Izayah frowned as he listened to the orcs. He wanted to doubt them and think they had ulterior motives, but they sounded sincere. And the threat sounded like it could be real, and a real danger to Smith's Gambit. He gave a nod.

"As he said, we've been out for a while, but if what you say is true, having allies is always good."

He glanced at Malkus and shrugged, then spoke to the orcs once more. "Does Smith, or someone there at the town, know where your camp is if we need to send word to you of danger or anything?"

20:41, Today: Izayah Hamadrell rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Insight.

"White Worgs - the albino goblins who do not fear the cold? I'm familiar with who they are, but have not met any of them myself. If you say you are an ally to Smith's Gambit, then talk with us while we return there. We need to resupply, but if you give me reason enough to seek out the Red Foot, then I will speak to the settlement about organizing a strike against them."

Whether they agreed to come with us or not, Wightvane then asks them for all information related to the Red Foot; where are they located, are there signs to look for to recognize their territory, markings or other symbols they use to identify themselves, their habits and tactics, the names of their known leaders, and so on.

He also asks the similar questions of the Swift Tusks, so that they might know their allies and how groups of adventures can express themselves as allies to avoid confrontation, and know where to find them in the event of a major strike force against the Pinky Toes. Er, Red Feet.

White Worgs, Swift Tusks, Red Foots? These was all unfamiliar names to Elisar. When Malkus spoke quietly he simply shook his head to indicate that he had no knowledge of any of them. Wightvane seemed to be developing a rapport, so for now he kept quiet and kept his distance.

The orcs refuse to walk back with the group, saying they need to stay to protect their territory, but they do answer any questions the group might have in regards to the Red Foot and their own clan.
The group learns:
The Red Foot have multiple camps and villages set up all over the Rimewood, but their main base is far to the north. One of these villages is at Burning Stag to the northeast.
The main sign to recognize the Red Foot territory is that they clear the forest in areas they want to access easily.
The Red Foot symbol is a white shield with a stylized red foot painted on it.
The Red Foot take any goblins who don't willingly serve prisoner and brainwash them until they are willing to fight. They also send goblins ahead to steal supplies before attacking a settlement. They rely heavily on fear to demoralize their opponents. Since Three Claw Point was taken more tribes are willing to fight back.
Largath is the known leader of the Red Foot tribe.
The orc shows a mark on his arm with the picture of two white tusks on a blue background and says that this is the symbol of their tribe. The adventurers should remember it in case they run into more of their tribe and give them the name Lorg The Eagle. He says that is his name and that it should show them as allies.
The Swift Tusks are at the Swift Stream village northwest of here.
Margul the ancient is the name of the leader of the Swift Tusks tribe. If you wish to speak with him bring a gift of meat.

"Very well, Lorg The Eagle. We thank you for your information, and allow you to depart. I will speak with the others when we arrive and see how they wish to proceed. We will bid you a good day, and good fortunes."

Malkus heads back with the others.

"I bet Smith will be grateful for that information. It should be of use to the Gambit."

Elisar listened carefully to the conversation, gleaning as much information as he could from the exchange. At the conclusion he finally spoke. “I know a ode about an eagle that seems apt for you, Lorg.” He cleared his throat and began.

“Mighty eagle! thou that soarest
O'er the misty mountain forest,
And amid the light of morning
Like a cloud of glory hiest,
And when night descends defiest
The embattled tempests’ warning!”

07:23, Today: Elisar Moonraven rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Performance.

As soon as Elisar opened his mouth and looked like he was going to singing or reciting something, Izayah began almost frantically looking around for the wolves of some sort that usually popped out to attack them after. But none showed up this time, strangely.

He raised an eyebrow at the orcs and gave them a nod. Then, barring anything else from them or his party, he turned to continue leading them back.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Fri 23 Apr 2021.

Lorg stood silent for a moment, then spoke, "That eagle sounds brave."

And without further ado...
Izayah takes the lead as the group gets back on their way to the Fierce Hearts village. The rest of the journey goes smoothly with no more disruptions, and (thankfully) nothing more to fight. After a long 5 day journey you each successfully make it back to the Fierce Hearts village.
Well done! You each get 5 downtime units and 600xp! Strange Magick is now complete, well almost. You guys still get to talk to Hexia for the rest of your reward and to fully complete the quest. So please move to the Fierce Hearts Village thread.

OOC: Yay! I forget, how much does it cost us per day in addition to rations?

As long as you pay your lifestyle expense you don't need rations and if you have the survival skill and are in the wildness then you lifestyle expense is zero. Rations just subtract from the cost of the lifestyle expense by however much they cost.

In reply to The Narrator (msg # 844):

In this case, since we are being credited for the DTUs, do we even worry about expenses yet?

Or do we pay lifestyle costs once we actually use those DTUs (like for crafting)?

Sorry guys I meant 6 downtime units not 5.

In reply to Malkus (msg # 845):

You pay the lifestyle expense after you've used 2 downtime units.