Defense of Waymeet

The group finds itself within the Thayvian cave used for staging the attack.  The howls of retreating hobgoblins reverberate off the underground walls while painful wailing and cursing in fire giant nearly blows the eardrums out of the more sensitive elf.

An undead giant is relentlessly pummeling one beneath him, yet there is a lifeless fury in his eyes.

A dead Thayvian wizard garbed in the red trimmed black of a necromancer lies broken against a wall.

A diminished earth elemental continues to pummel those monsters that cannot escape, but besides the din the party has a moment to collect itself.

DonBrapp signals the undead fire giant to move his hobbled brother to the side of the cavern.

Kailute turns to DonBrapp and asks him to have the earth elemental spare any hobgoblins who surrender, prompting Quilro to scoff.

Frustrated, Kailute turns to the wounded giant. “Be still.  DonBrapp, provide this captive something for his pain.”
Reluctantly DonBrapp provides magical healing while Quilro curses under his breath.

“You befoul Wuzar!  Make Wuzar thing of death!  I will slaughter all of you!”  Gargles curse as last breath if murdered “May the fires of EmberPeak burn you eternal!”

“Git yer information, Orc.”  The dwarf snorts.

“You win fight.  Master looking for you.  EmberPeak clan from mountains of Thay serve wizards.” The wounded giant states with barely concealed anger.  He indicates a desire to return to his clan, and that they fight for Szass Tam who is looking for the cauldron stolen from Thay.  The giant further offers that the Red Wizards hold the Heroes of Waymeet responsible for the destruction of the Thayvian enclave in Hillsfar.

Kailute unsuccessfully presses a binary argument about the use of animated dead for military purposes but finds no ideological common ground with the fire giant.

The giant acknowledges the use of fire as portals for travel, and the fact that there are other groups surrounding Waymeet for attack.

DonBrapp rolls the wizard corpse over and activates a contingency that momentarily engulfs the dwarf in flames.  From the body four pouches and a traveling backpack are recovered, as well as a ring with the name Evris Daynemer inscribed.  A note directs the wizard to recover the cauldron or not return at all.

Returning to the fire giant, Kailute attempts final entreaties.  “What do you want, little green one?”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?” the half-orc exclaims exasperated.

The giant promises his unending desire for vengeance.

“Make the rock-humper heal me, so that I may walk out of cave.”

“For a year’s service to the heroes, we will heal him and let him live.”  Quilro counters.  Both express interest in killing the fire giant outright.

Quilro reviews the necromancer’s spellbook quickly for relevant spells.

Leaving Girvis the fire giant hobbled the group leaps into the fire and find themselves several miles outside Barla’s farm.  The night air is wet and heavy with an impending storm.

Approaching the farm the light of torches is readily seen.  Quilro transforms into a raven and takes to the sky.  Brad and his cousin are playing cards in the kitchen while three others are lounging about.  Quilro flies directly into the kitchen and resumes elven form.

“Hard at work defending our farm, lads?” The elf says, nonplussed.  Brad and his cohort jump up uncomfortably.
“Take a bell, and find a position on the roof.  If anything approaches, sound the alarm!”

Quilro grabs a torch and signals the party to approach.  Kailute smells hobgoblin scent to the south.
“Quilro, scout to the south.  Danger approaches!”  Kailute states.

Returning to raven form Quilro observes three lines of hobgoblins, gnolls and a human wizard approaching Wayment from the south, west of Barla’s farm.

Reflecting upon his bloodied wounds, Quilro asks the dwarf for much needed healing.  Putting a vial of healing in his hand the dwarf states “Here.  And suck it up, leaflicker.”

DonBrapp invokes the blessing and prayers of Vergadain, and the increasing snowfall dampens all sound.

The hobgoblins are approaching in two ranks of six in the lead, with the wizard and a third rank behind them.  The party moves across the road to the west of the farm and takes up positions to ambush the advancing monsters in the rolling grassland.

Quilro, Kailute and Shuos scout around to the flank intending to get behind the approaching monsters as the dwarf and fire giant advance directly toward the threat.

After ten minutes the boar, elf and half-orc observe the shadows of the advancing monsters, fifty yards to their west.   The group allows them to pass, and creep in behind their march.

Shuos begins to growl lowly…  and Kailute stumbles and lets out an errant curse that is muffled somewhat by the weather.  One of the lines of monsters appears to stop for a moment as the first two continue to advance.
Kailute signals the elf to move forward with a stabby stabby type hand-signal.

The sky flashes as the wizard in the rear casts a light spell to illuminate the area, sending both Kailute and Quilro to the ground.  After a few moments, they continue to march forward.

“Stay behind me.”  Quilro whispers moving quietly forward to the wizard, wearing a fur lined red cloak and a dagger at his hip.

The elf levels his wand at the wizard and speaks the command word.  The wizard stops frozen.

Kailute and Shuos creep forward, pulling the frozen wizard from his feet and moving him as quietly as possible along with the advancing forces.

Tiring of carrying the human, Kailute slits his throat with his dagger.

The dwarf feels internal pain at the onslaught of shamanic magical attack.  Seeing the opposing line, the undead fire giant raises his arms in anger and DonBrapp calls forth a gout of flame from the sky, eliminating three of the hobgoblins in the right light.

The lines make ready for battle, observing the enormous giant in the light of the bolt of fire.  The undead giant advances from the front as Kailute and Shuos leap into the rear line, axe and snout ripping through the monsters.

Quilro sneaks forward and reads a lightning bolt directly from the spell book down the rear line of monsters, ripping through them with electrical energy and felling all six of the hobgoblins.

“Your wizard’s dead, your shaman is ours!  Lay down your arms or die!” Kailute yells in a tone that is offensive to hobgoblins.

Quilro moves forward past the slaughtered monsters.  Kailute and Shuos run toward a gnoll and make quick work of the sergeant.

Directing the giant to the right, DonBrapp invokes divine aid upon himself.

The giant brings his fist across the line, rag dolling one monster nearly in half and into the rest of the battle line.

Swinging their swords two hobgoblins land blows on the half-orc who returns with a brutal backswing of his axe.

The monsters attempt to rally around Kailute while one grievously wounded hobgoblin attempts to crawl away.

Quilro continues to head back toward the farm where Brad is on watch on the roof.

Kailute and Shuos continue to axe and bite their way into the monsters in front of them as Wuzur pulverizes another one.  This shatters the morale of most of the hobgoblins.

“Surrender and live!” Kailute shouts as DonBrapp turns the giant to the remaining monsters in the fight.

Quilro directs Brad’s cousin to take the fastest horse and ride to Waymeet while directing Brad to do the same using a different route on foot.

After minor pushback, Brad retreats into a corner broken as his cousin gallops into town.

Kailute, DonBrapp and Shuos assisted by the fire giant kill the remaining hobgoblins, felling two of them as they attempt to flee.  Kailute kicks the weapons from the three most grievously wounded and makes to bind their wounds as DonBrapp yells “For the love of Vergadain;  We don’t have time for this!” and directs the giant to stomp on the three hobgoblins.

As midnight comes a steady snowfall begins.  DonBrapp rummages through the hobgoblins and wizard for whatever coin can be had. The wizard has a sketch of a half-orc and an elf that bear resemblance to two members of the party.
DonBrapp assigns the giant to watch as he does some prayer;  assuages Brad’s concern and rests for the night.
As Kailute and DonBrapp approach the village they hear and then observe a fight in progress.  Twelve hobgoblins are attacking the line of defense established by Faeranal.

Quilro aims his wand at the red wizard and fells him with a bolt of lightning.  The Barovians are fighting aside Fyrnlocke and Faeranal.  With the death of the wizard the attack has broken.  Six of the villagers lay dead.
“EELF!  SNEAKY EELF ATTACKS FROM BEHIND!”  Pyotr shouts, slapping Quilro on the back.

Kailute heads to the Flagon and buys the village a round.  He gives a rousing tribute to victory, calling out to name the men at arms and each villager he knows as the group rallies in its defense.  The tavern is entirely full, mostly of the locals who just repelled the attack.

Quilro puts an eye on Barla and then does a couple laps around the town with his eye for any approaching threats.  Any time he leaves the circle of torchlight it is nothing but a pure snowstorm.  Kailute sends Faeranal with another man at arms to assist Quilro on patrol.  From his reconnaissance there is evidence of another group that moved toward the town, never attacked and instead withdrew to the west.

Upon returning to the wagon, Barla has made tea so an exhausted Quilro can study his spells before collapsing.
Kailute continues the patrol until dawn, during which nearly four feet of snow has fallen.  When a gray light breaks on the horizon the corpses of the attackers are no more than small bumps in a snow swept landscape.

DonBrapp directs Brad to tend to the animals on the farm.

At the Flagon Belgar prepares a stout breakfast for all that remain.

Kailute and Quilro sleep late.

“EELF!  EELF!  OPEN UP!” Pyotr and Narbondel are stomping their feet outside, and ask about liquor.  Accepting whiskey in lieu of vodka, they come in.

“Go to Heelsfar sooner rather than later.  Introductions for business.  We introduce you to Strahd, count of Barovia.”

Barla emerges, giving a long eye to the two foreigners.

“Ees your slave?” they say with a joking smile.

“Mostly the other way round.” Quilro responds.

“Looking forward to travel.” The Barovians depart.

DonBrapp directs the giant to the barn.  The dwarf invokes the power of Vergadain to leap to the sky and walk from the air regally as those out in the snow cheer the arrival of the cleric.

Inside the Flagon, Fyrnlocke makes a couple comments about how he would like to expand his influence in the Hillsfar thieve’s guild.

DonBrapp examines the rubies he recovered yesterday.

The group discusses the outlays for the fallen, and what cash may be required for the leaders of Waymeet to cover losses for Bosmos’ gratuitous spending.

Waymeet is ecstatic and supportive of the defense of Waymeet by the heroes.

Rosvetta is in her cups, and paying particular attention to the half-orc, sitting in his lap.  Leaning over to Quilro “This one’s for you, Buddy.” And swings the blonde over his shoulder to his retained room.

The following day the storm breaks, and a beautiful sunny winter day prevails.  Quilro and Barla make snowmen, with a third little snowbaby.

“I can’t wait until we get to Hillsfar, and you buy me all of the dresses!” She squeals. “How come you didn’t bring me any dresses from the elf city?”

Faeranal leads the effort of six underlings, two new hires in clearing the wagons for the winter road.
DonBrapp and Kailute burn the totem and send the fire giant zombie through the portal while releasing it.  The smell of gangrene and wounds is powerful.  The giant is floundering in the snow, dying of his wounds.  DonBrapp releases the zombie as his giant brother begs for the release of death.

Finally Kailute is able to convince the wounded fire giant Girvis to serve for one year.  The giant builds a bier of pine and lights a pyre that immolates his brother’s remains.

The group moves back toward Waymeet in the snow.