"We'll see soon enough . . . "

Thamkis tottered back to her wagon and followed to the side of the road to watch for the coming horsemen.

"Hoof beats, many horses! Kanits, like tall woman!"

Barg did his best to hide in the tree after that.

With the thunder of hooves came the cries of men and orcs. And the clash of steel on steel. Passing by their clearing, as if the party wasn't even present, a horde of mounted warriors bolted by on horseback, fighting from the saddle. Several riders fell, both Orc and Man, in the fight. More were coming as the first riders passed nearby. It was hard to tell what was really happening. It seemed as if a battle had broken out nearby.

"We need to get her out of here, this is not safe!"

"Protect the wagon! We can't move through them, so we either stand and fight or we hide at this point."

Brengalyn motioned back towards the wagon, hoping the goblin wasn't feeling particularly cute today

There was an articulate roar as a pair of Orc riders cut loose from the rambling melee and began charging for the wagon. It was apparent to Brengalyn what had happened what the roar had been; an Orc leader of sorts had ordered the pair of riders to attack the wagon. Or specifically, to 'take the supplies'.

Barg leapt down from the tree screaming in a high tone, colliding mouth-first into one of the orcs and tearing with his teeth.

OOC: attack 18, damage 14 (20 if the target is flat-footed). If target survives, grapple check 24 against his CMD

The Orcs were caught off-guard when Barg descended from a tree limb like a bird of prey. The Orc he collided with was well braced in the saddle, an experienced horse warrior, which sent a painful shock through Barg's neck as he teeth sank into the Orc's exposed neck.

The other rider was shocked when Barg suddenly fell onto his companion. Out of reflex he swatted at Barg trying to dislodge his gnashing teeth. The flat of his longsword caught Barg full in seat of his trousers. As the Orc under Barg's teeth gurgle-screamed his surprise Barg's small frame was swatted away by the other Orc's sword swipe. Barg never let up taking a huge mouthful of the Orc's neck with him.

The Orc grabbed his neck as his horse ran on several more strides, then fell sideways from the saddle to spasm and die in the underbrush. Barg was sent sailing through the air, smiling like mad, and landed awkwardly on his side.

(OOC: Barg took 1 point of damage from the impact with the Orc, 2 points of damage from being batted off of the Orc by his lngsword wielding companion, and another point on landing on the ground after being knocked off of the Orc while it rode a running horse. Total of 4 points of damage for Barg, good work!)

Brengalyn was at a charge with little notice, heading for the remaining orc with her ankus in both hands. A small leap up and bringing the weapon down she tried to slam it through the orc's chest

<"Let him be a warning to the others!"> she shouted in Orc, a common phrase when felling a foe and a challenge to call attention that one faced a worthy foe

"Barg, get up and protect the wagon!"

Thamkis jumped down from the wagon and moved as close as she could, her hands moving in a circle before she pounded one into her chest . . . and vomited forth a swarm of spiders that surged towards the orcs, between Brengalyn and Barg hopefully leaving the two of them unharmed

OOC: vomit swarm, one swarm of spiders is now on the field and heading for the fighting

Barg, gore covered again, stood up next to Brengalyn. As the pair watched, Thamkis vomited a small hoard of spiders onto the ground. Brengalyn winced. Barg smiled and wondered how the spiders would taste now. With a spoken command the horde went hustling across the damp soil like a thousand little soldiers marching off to war.

Moments later a horse screeched and reared, the Orc on its back went flying and landed awkwardly. A heartbeat later he began screaming and swatting at himself with his good arm.

A trio of riders, two men and an elf, broke from the throng and guided their mounts towards the wagon. They were all wearing heavy armor and carrying spears, shields hung from their saddles. They made a grand sight in their matching surcoats and painted shields. They were moving quickly but not with their spears lowered or giving battle cries.

Seeing the elf warriors barrel down on them, Penny looked inward to that spark that had fallen and blinded her. It brought a feeling of peace. "No more fighting!"

ooc Casting sanctuary

Brengalyn retreated to the wagon as Thamkis' swarm of spiders roiled forth

This was why she didn't throw in with magic, this was.

OOC: Knowledge (nobility) check 7, likely nothing unless the company is VERY prominent

Barg did a little dance as the chaos grew, cackling wildly.

When the platemen rode up though, he eeeped meekly and scrambled to get close to Brengalyn

"Barg is with tall scary lady and short scary lady and Penny Purse! Barg not fight you! Barg good!"

"Hail!" The leading rider called out as he drew up to the little group near the wagon. "I must say, I have never seen such a use of magic as that little trick of yours with the spiders. What a way to go out! Are you for the camp of the Black Company?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm just a simple woodswitch from Bell's Hook."

Thamkis moved back towards the wagon to keep their charge safe

"But we're willing to put out weapons down if you are willing to do the same. Do you have an officer among you who might be able to show us the way to your commander?"

Brengalyn took a moment to produce her oilcloth and clean her ankus, holding the weapon in such a way as to not look ready to use it.

"We seek the Black Company, so perhaps you can help us find them?"

"Good, we have been awaiting your arrival." The rider said. "It's been over a week since we had mail, herbs, or wine."

Uttered quickly to their surprise, the rider turned to his companion and said, "Renni, lead them around the fight. Take the lower route to the camp."

The other rider nodded and walked his horse forward as the lead ride wheel his horse about and spurred it back into the fight.

"If you would please follow me." The rider said. With that he slowiy walked his horse off into the wood further east, off of the road they were on.

Moving to get her mount, Brengalyn mounted Velvet and waited for the others to get in the wagon.

"I'll take the rear to defend us if we're attacked, you all follow Renni."

Once on her horse and situated at the rear of the wagon she drew her ankus again to be ready for trouble.

Barg scrambled into the wagon and dug in his chest for his noxious smelly armour. The stench intensified with the wearing, it was how you knew it worked

Putting on his headband of a woven braid of twine looped through a blue bead, he sat on the back of the cart with his shield on his lap, watching the big woman ride behind

With everyone loaded on the wagon Thamkis gave a snap of the reins and a whistle, the donkeys moving along.

Though the insect swarm was still out there somewhere, she tried her best to let them disperse back into the fey energies they'd been conjured from

The trip to the camp was deceptively further than they would have expected. Nearing sunset they rolled into a very well organized, and very well concealed, camp. Sentries with bow and spear watched as they passed. Camp goers were either idly resting or they performing chore such as tending fires, stacking wood, grooming horses, etc.

The rider led the wagon right to a large black tent. A tall pole mounted and old fashioned cavalry flag. Two men guarded he entrance as others came an went quickly. After a moment the rider turned to the little group.

"Stay here, you'll be sorted out momentarily." He said, turning his horse he added over a shoulder, "and thanks, coming out here is no low task."

As the man walked his horse off into the camp a tall man exited the tent. He was handsome and powerfully built, clad in a mail huaburk with a sword and dagger at his trim waist. He looked at the wagon curiously.

"You are not the Weavers. This isn't a mail run." He sighed. "What is the trouble now?"

In reply to GM (msg # 68):

"We've come as an escort for one of the villagers who has business with someone in your camp. and we have come to speak with you about the goblin attacks."

Brengalyn stepped down from her horse, holding the reins in one hand as she considered the tall warrior.

"Who are you in this camp, and can you take us to your commander?"

Speaking professionally was beginning to wear on Brena, and she longed for a drink and a game of dice, or some other chance to unwind after the road.

"The trouble is we've an expectant mother."

Thamkis had not the patience that Brengalyn had for this puffery and titles. She fixed the man with the kind of stare only a grandmotherly halfling could manage.

"The goblins we can speak of later. I need what passes for a camp doctor or physic to attend, and this child's father as well."

Penny nodded in agreement with Thamkis, she took a wide birth of Barg and his armour and came forward, "Someone tried to kill her so maybe we can get someone in here to protect her while she sleeps?"