Brotherhood of the Stone Fields

[Ancalagon]

Session III, 22-Jan-22

1.

Before we departed for our dawn attack, I asked of Andre if he had any specific orders from Sir Magnus regarding his participation. “Only to support your efforts,” was the answer. I commanded Andre to serve me as he would Sir Magnus. The scout seemed a bit confused. Before he could say anything, I commanded him in no uncertain terms to remain at my side and serve as my bodyguard. Since I had no intention of directly participating in the melee, I hoped both of us would remain unharmed.

Decmitius, Valgard, and Tiberius decided to utilize a two-pronged strategy for engaging the pirates’ camp. The south end of the camp consisted of a wooden, single floor building. Decmitius and Valgard followed a path to the south end of the structure where a where a closed door was located. I followed. Tiberius and Uhlgren broke off and circled to make their approach from the west.

Decmitius and Valgard quietly moved to the door and found it locked. Before they could force the door, I conjured flickering flames the color of Augustan red along the edge of Decmitius’ gladius, Valgard’s bearded axe, the ancestral weapon called Stormrage, and the eyes of both to enhance their already fearsome demeanors. The flames would not, of course, harm either Brother.

Decmitius kicked open the door then Valgard charges inside the building. As Decmitius followed, I expanded my conjuring to include smoke trailing behind him with multiple skull shapes within the trail. Almost immediately, sounds of battle and fear-filled cries of “Demon!” came from within the structure. My conjurings had their intended effects.

Soon enough the sounds of battle, pounding of doors, and other commotion ceased. Decmitius called for me to move up into the building.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

2.

The building was a tavern complete with a few tables, several chairs, and a bar. A very nice setup for a bunch of river pirates. Several bloody bodies were on the floor. A woman was on her knees next to a table, hands bound behind her. Tiberius and Uhlgren were behind the bar, examining a door on the north side of the room.

I reached Decmitius at the back of the tavern, facing east. A short distance from the door was a 20’+/- wide branch of the Tot River. A drawbridge spanned the water. It was rising from our side. Two men on the far bank cranked a mechanism to raise the bridge.

Decmitius threw his pilum at the man on the left side of the drawbridge. The weapon sunk into the pirate’s chest. He fell then died. The drawbridge was about hallway raised. I told Decmitius to point his gladius at the remaining pirate. As he did so, I again expanded my conjuring. The still-present red flames flickering along the gladius flared, crossed the water, and engulfed the pirate who promptly collapsed and died. I could not help but quip to Decmitius, “You didn’t think you had that in you, did you?”

I suggested to Valgard and Decmitius to use rope and hook upon the elevated end of the drawbridge to scale and cross to the other side. The bridge could then be lowered for the rest of us. Valgard carried out the plan. As the drawbridge descended, four more pirates appeared atop a small ride to the north of Valgard. Without waiting for any of us, he drew Stormrage then charged all four pirates!

~ D ~

[Necron 99]

Haha, good stuff. It's too bad Uhlgren is missing out (well, not the PC, but I am). I'll probably miss the next session too, if it's this weekend; out of town for competitions again. The upside, though, is this is the only weekend in Feb so I should be clear for the next one.

[sbaldrick]

Valgard cut a bloody path through the river pirates, including splitting their captain's head down the middle with his ancestor's Bearded Axe.

[Ancalagon]

Valgard cut a bloody path through the river pirates, including splitting their captain's head down the middle with his ancestor's Bearded Axe.

Indeed! Does the axe have a name?

[Captain_Blood]

So far Ulghren survives, but he hasn't been idle. I look forward to your return Jay.

[sbaldrick]

Valgard cut a bloody path through the river pirates, including splitting their captain's head down the middle with his ancestor's Bearded Axe.

Indeed! Does the axe have a name?

"Stormrage"

[Ancalagon]

Valgard cut a bloody path through the river pirates, including splitting their captain's head down the middle with his ancestor's Bearded Axe.

Indeed! Does the axe have a name?

"Stormrage"

Copy that. The two most recent journal entries are edited to reflect that detail.

[Ancalagon]

3.

Valgard was engaged with the pirates by the time I crossed the drawbridge. It was plain to see his skill surpassed theirs but the numbers were against my Brother. The flames I bestowed earlier upon Stormrage still burned but to them I added yet more such that every swing by Valgard left behind a small trail of sparks which shrieked as many men in terror and torment. It was then that fear overtook one of the pirates who turned to flee. As he did so, Valgard cut him down.

Sounds of battle, cries of pain, and wails of the dying reached my ears from across the water. Apparently, Tiberius and Uhlgren were engaged in some sport of their own though I could see neither them nor their foes.

One of the pirates who faced Valgard was better dressed, wielded a great axe, and possessed some authority over the others. This man stood his ground against Valgard and exchanged blows with him. Soon only he remained though blood poured from several wounds. Valgard pressed his attack and the pirate leader shouted for aid from someone whose name I could not discern due to the din from across the inlet.

Within seconds, the pirate’s wounds ceased their weeping then closed on their own! It made no difference to Valgard as he sidestepped the pirate’s axe head then surged forth with an overhead swing that brought down the fiery, shrieking Stormrage onto the top of the man’s head. The axe stopped only when the haft contacted the top of the slain man’s sternum.

Valgard was wounded though not terribly so. We advanced up terraced ground to where a cottage sat overlooking the river. Decmitius and Valgard eyed the cottage as Andre and I took position at two tables upon the lawn. Again, the thought crossed my mind that this was quite nice accommodations the pirates had secured for themselves. I silenced the shrieks of Stormrage so that we might listen for sounds from the cottage. With none heard, Decmitius and Valgard entered.

As I waited outside the cottage, Tiberius and Uhlgren walked up the terraced ground then joined me. Tiberius looked terrible! He was nearly covered with blood, much of it his own. He stated, “lots of bad men stabbed me.” Uhlgren told me he and Tiberius found a nest of pirates. Tiberius immediately engaged even though they were outnumbered 8 to 2. The number would not have mattered to Tiberius as he is exceedingly brave and struggles to count beyond 2.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

4.

After several minutes, Decmitius emerged from the cottage carrying over his shoulder an unconscious maid who was bound, gagged, and bore marks of mistreatment upon her countenance and clothing. Decmitius put the maid on the ground none too gently. We also retrieved from the tavern the woman who had been left there with her hands bound behind her. She was sat upon the ground beside the maid.

Before questioning began, I commanded Andre to return to Plotchk and inform Sir Magnus that the pirates are slain and that he should come to inspect the site. The scout set out straight away.

Valgard, Decmitius, and I briefly discussed how the pirate leader’s wounds appeared to heal on their own. None of us knows of any means to heal another at distance. All healing magics and miracles known to us require a touch. Another thought, left unspoken as I had no evidence, then came to my mind. Perhaps the man was not actually healed. Perhaps our eyes were deceived by a spell.

We returned to the pirate leader’s corpse. Near the head, unnoticed during the melee, we found a broken circlet of silver and jade, cloven in twain by Valgard’s death blow. Found upon the body was a hunter’s horn fashioned of stone and amber, very nicely made. I wondered from whom it was stolen.

Valgard mentioned he found letters during his search of the cottage. As he is illiterate, I examined the documents. The only thing of interest concerned a vessel that was to be on the river about a week before I penned these words. From the vessel a captive was to be taken.

As I read, Decmitius used his ability to “lay on hands” to heal the maid. Her injuries vanished but she remained unconscious. Decmitius then struck her with his open hand to wake her for questioning. The first part worked quite well but as for the latter, the maid was too frightened to respond. I motioned for my Brother to back away then knelt to speak calmly with the maid. In short order she calmed then I learned her name was Eva and the vessel upon which she travelled had been attacked and she was captured some 5 days prior. Eva’s father is a merchant to the south so I suggested it most likely she was to be ransomed. At this, Eva doubted her father would pay for her release as she lowered her gaze to her torn and soiled dress. I understood the inference. The pirates had taken her maidenhead. I told Eva that the pirates had paid the price for their crimes, no further harm would befall her, and that we would ensure she reached Plotchk and the custody of Sir Magnus. She was most grateful and asked who we are that rescued her. I answered, “The Brotherhood of the Stone Fields.”

~ D ~