5. The Wood of Sharp Teeth

The sun has reached its highest point in the sky when the party arrives at their point of entry into the Wood of Sharp Teeth. Up until now the party has largely skirted around the Wood, or taken the maintained roads that cut through it. To find their bandit prey and rescue Aldous, however, they must press deeper.

The companions find a secure place a few dozen feet within the treeline to tie their horses, and then proceed on foot.

The section of the Wood in which the party expects to find the bandit camp is an expanse known as Peldvale, more than twenty square miles of tangled vegetation. It isn't an ancient, magical forest like those in the stories. There aren't many huge, gnarled trees that hint at a bygone age. But what trees there are, are many.

It will take some skilled woodsmanship to make good progress through this forest, as well as to find traces of the bandits that inhabit it.

Let’s be off!

As the group moves deeper into the forest, Runeson finds the surroundings... familiar. He doesn't remember traveling the Wood, but he finds something pressing on his mind, something like a fleeting dream, or movement at the corner of his eye. A sort of subtle mental itch, calling for attention but impossible to scratch for relief. If he focuses on the sensation, he feels a headache begin to build. But he discovers that by keeping his focus on the quiet rhythm of Aiwe's drums, his subconscious takes over and he knows where to go with a sort of confident intuition.

Around this dead oak tree, past that fallen log, up over the next rise... Runeson leads the group forward.

After several hours of hiking, before them appears a sudden drop, several dozen feet, down to a stream of clear, fresh water. And there, on the far side of the stream, are two men wearing the rough-shod attire the party has seen on other bandits. They have longbows over their shoulders, but the men don't seem to be expecting trouble here. Their heads are down, cleaning their hands and faces in the stream and filling their waterskins. They haven't yet noticed the party.

Then, having spied those two men, the group looks beyond them to see what can only be the bandit camp: perhaps twenty tents and makeshift cabins interspersed among a thin copse of trees. All the structures are topped with branches and leaves; no doubt it looks like just more of the tangled Wood from above. Half a dozen wagons in various states of repair can also be seen scattered among the structures, as well as large piles of boxes, crates, and chests. More bandits sort through these piles, separating out valuables and supplies.

Being this close to the camp, the party understands that there must be sentries or patrols out and about. Their current location, about 300 feet from the edge of the camp and overlooking it from their perch above the stream, could be a useful vantage for spying on the camp, but is also risky unless measures are taken to hide the party or discourage searching the area.

Stella's sparrow casually flits into the bandit camp, lighting on branches here and there and having a look at the camp's layout.

It seems the camp is divided nearly in half, with the hobgoblins of the Chill on one side, and the human Blacktalons on the other. Run-of-the-mill bandits move among both sides as they do various jobs, but avoid getting too close to any of their betters.

Easy to pick out on the Blacktalon side is an imposing man in plate armor, a massive maul strapped to his back. As he walks around inspecting his side of the camp, the sparrow hears the other Blacktalons addressing him respectfully as "Taurgosz", or sometimes "Tenhammer". All the Blacktalons appear to look up to him and follow his orders without hesitation.

(History: He earned the nickname "Tenhammer" by once slaying 10 men with one swing of his hammer.)

On the Chill side, the camp is spotless of trash or refuse, and the tents are laid out with painstaking order. All of the hobgoblins wear crisp uniforms and well-maintained equipment. Their leader, Ardenor Crush, is marked by a dozen badges of rank on his cloak. He remains by a small campfire where his mercenaries know where to find him, and issues orders from there. He looks much like what one would expect of a hobgoblin military leader, but there's something in his gaze that speaks of greater wisdom and experience, as though he's already seen everything and survived it all.

All groups avoid the very middle of the camp where the largest tent is. It's easily three times the size of any of the other structures, and there are two guards stationed at its entrance.

There's no sign of prisoners; if there are any, they're out of sight within one of the tents.

Tensions in the camp are made abundantly clear when a small handful of Blacktalons, off duty and drunk, wander into the hobgoblins' side of camp yelling taunts and jeers. Just about the entire camp is drawn to watch the resulting scuffle. Ardenor Crush and Taurgosz glare at each other, daring the other to draw their weapon. The ordeal is broken up when a man of monstrous size and musculature (presumably Tazok himself) storms from the center tent. His words are loud enough for the party to hear:

The crowd quickly disperses, and Tazok fumes back to his tent in the middle of camp.

From what Stella can gather, the magic used to ward Aldous must be similar to the nondetection spell. That particular spell is normally reserved for students of arcane magic, but perhaps Viconia has been granted special access to it or similar magic through her worship of Shar. It certainly seems fitting for a goddess of secrecy to gift a spell that conceals its target from conventional magic.

Stella also thinks, considering how the material components of such spells are generally sprinkled over the target, that the countercharm in place on Aldous would affect his clothing as well.

Still, such magic tends to wear off over a day or so, and would need to be renewed periodically. Viconia could very well be somewhere in the camp, staying nearby in order to keep the countercharm active.

Either that, or there's a mage of some sort around here.

Tazok's tent is a large affair, and not just because it houses a formidable half-ogre. As her familiar explores the outside, Stella sees that it's larger than some houses she's seen. It seems to have some thick wooden beams holding it up.

Pausing near the rear of the tent, the sparrow finds another entrance, also guarded by a pair of bandits. The guards don't seem to give the sparrow more than idle glances. The sparrow does hear a voice that could belong to Aldous. It's hard to make out the words through the thick tent fabric, but he seems to be having a calm conversation with at least one other person - someone with a deeper voice than the young Silvershield. And then both voices pause to... laugh? It's a wry chuckle, heavy with weariness. Perhaps Aldous isn't the only prisoner here, and he's found someone to commiserate with.

"Quiet in there!" One of the guards, a Chill hobgoblin, smacks the fabric covering the entrance with his longsword. "Don't think you're so important Tazok will mind us taking a finger or two!"

The deeper voice within the tent returns the threat with a crude summary of what the guard could do with a finger, and the sparrow clearly hears laughter (mocking this time) erupt from the back of the tent. Yes, Stella is sure she hears Aldous' voice in it.

The hobgoblin guard snarls and lifts the tent flap to go inside, and the sparrow catches a glimpse of Aldous sitting on the ground, chained back-to-back with another man.

The sparrow flits quietly in on the hobgoblin's heels. Tazok's tent seems to be partitioned off in a few places by more of the thick fabric, effectively making separate 'rooms'. This one is small, and gives the hobgoblin guard barely enough room to aim some kicks at the two prisoners.

Aldous' laughter cuts off with a harsh cough as the hobgoblin plants a boot in his sternum, and the other prisoner, an orcish fellow, gets a similar kick to the face. Koveras grunts, then leans to one side and to let out a stream of bloody spittle. "When I get out, I'm killing you first, wretch."

The hobgoblin guard snorts and gives the half-orc another heavy kick for good measure, then leaves the tent to return to his post. Stella's sparrow slips out as well, and then surreptitiously makes its way back to where the party waits.

Mission assigned, Dieter hoists the bandit body up over his shoulder and steals off. Thanks to his natural agility, some magic from his elven boots, and the custom work done on his armor, the young man has no trouble moving unseen and unheard. He plants the prepared corpse on the bank of the stream just a couple hundred feet away from the enemy camp, and then makes his way back to the group without any trouble.

It doesn't take long for a handful of Blacktalons to come to the stream for a drink. Upon finding one the slaughtered bandit, they immediately take up a cry of alarm. As mercenaries of all types arrive on the scene, one of the Blacktalons holds up the torn Chill badge and shouts accusations at the hobgoblins.

The raw hostility in the camp is building to a head, with drawn weapons and heated words. Even Taurgosz and Ardenor Crush are shouting into each other's faces. The slightest spark (perhaps even literal) will start a fight that can't be ended without bloodshed!

Sparks trail behind Ida's arrow as it goes far over the heads of the gathered mob, then plummets down to pierce right through the roof of Ardenor Crush's own tent. It doesn't take long for the Chill structure to start spewing noticeable smoke and embers.

Upon seeing his own tent burning, the hobgoblin leader has had enough. "Slay these fools!"

Taurgosz responds in kind. "Let 'em have it, boys!"

And just like that, the camp becomes a raging battlefield.

Caught up in all the excitement, Stella's thoughts slide by too fast for her to make sense of. When they're out of this situation and have some peace, she might be able to sort it out or ask Aldous for more details.

If Viconia's laid a trap... Well. There's not much to be done about it now.

With Aldous slung to Aiwe's back and Koveras grimly watching the rear, the group moves out.

Chaos assaults their senses. Smoke, blood, the clash of metal on metal, the screams of the fighting and the dying. The bandit camp is tearing itself apart.

Instead of a large unruly mob, the forces have all splintered and spread throughout the camp to fight their battles in small groups. The more skilled combatants stalk the battlefield, seeking out easy targets, while the most craven are cut down as they try to flee the nightmare.

The four companions move as quickly and silently as they can, trusting in Stella's magic to keep them safe. And for the most part, it does! The eyes of enemies seem to slide right off of the group, and the few bandits who pass too close are easily put down.

They just make it to the stream below the party's hiding place when a mote of fire flits past them through the air. It's obviously magical in nature. And it's obviously a fireball spell."Tazok!" A voice magically booms over the battlefield. "Your prisoners flee!"

A mage in purple robes strides across the battlefield. He's portly, even for a dwarf, but he shines with a nimbus of arcane power. He must have somehow tracked the group in its sneak across the killing ground.

Round 1 Player Phase!

Round 1 Summary

The roar of the fireball ends and its flames die away. Somehow, all of Stella and Aiwe's group are alive. Aldous manages to put his back against a large rock and lift himself onto his foot, grunting the words to a spell as his hands clutch at the air in clumsy arcane gestures.

Above, the Flaming Fists follow orders and unleash a volley of crossbow bolts at the dwarven mage. Six bolts fly towards the mage, and six bolts stop dead in the air just before impact, then fall to the ground. A ripple of purple magic around the mage reveals his trick: a spell that wards him against most projectiles.

Unfortunately for the mage, such a spell doesn't hinder Dieter's arrows at all, which he fires from a magical longbow. One such arrow pierces his hand, an expert shot, forcing him to drop his spellcasting focus - some sort of glass sphere. It's too large for Stella's familiar to grip well, but the bird does manage to scoot it several feet away from the mage. When he tries to pursue, Stella's radiant bolt hits him in the shoulder, lighting him up for all to see.

This dwarven mage is made of tough stuff, though, and manages to keep concentrating on his defensive spell. He points a finger at Stella's familiar, ready to zap it with a mere cantrip, when Aiwe's silence spell slams into place on the area. The mage's lips turn in a silent snarl as his spell fails, and then to an expression of fear as he realizes his doom. Looking for a way out of the silence sphere, he turns to run...

But not before Koveras catches him! Patches of flame eating at his close, it seems the half-orc chose not to jump into the stream, but instead charge the wizard head-on. But how did he cover so much ground so quickly? It's a sore point for the wizard, who takes a nasty slash on his arm from Koveras' longsword (Koveras deals 13 dmg to Mage). The half-orc looms over the dwarven mage, but grips the sword in only one hand. The other arm looks too severely burned for use in battle at the moment.

As warrior and wizard glare at each other, each sporting grievous wounds, it's hard to say who might come out the victor. But while the mage is alone, Koveras isn't.

Twin fire snakes swim through the air, unleashed from Aldous' outstretched hand, and streak across the battleground, into the effect of Aiwe's silence sphere, and bite into the dwarven mage with searing fangs (Aldous casts Scorching Ray, deals 14 dmg to Mage), then dissipate into smoke.

The mage, somehow still alive, drops to his knees before Koveras and lifts a bloody hand in surrender.

The party doesn't have time to celebrate the victory, however, for the battle between bandits still rages around them - and at least one of them heard the dwarven mage's initial call.

Tazok steps out of the fray nearby. In one hand he brandishes his sword, and the deceased Ardenor Crush that lies impaled on it. In the other massive hand he holds Taurgosz above the ground by his helmet. The Blacktalon leader's legs kick as he futilely punches at Tazok's arm. Until Tazok squeezes, muscles in his arm bulging, and crushes the helmet in his palm.

The half-ogre's gaze falls on the party and his escaped captives. "Do I feed your livers to crows, or do I EAT THEM MYSELF!!!"

He charges towards Aiwe and Stella, the nearest of the companions.

Round 2 Player Phase!!

Round 2 Summary

It's not easy, being a half-ogre. Most often neither side of your parentage want you around, if they don't kill you on sight, and so you're stuck fending for yourself even as a newborn. You have to be one tough, mean badaxe your entire life in order to survive.

Fully caught up in his bloodlust, Tazok greets the party's attacks with a bellowing chuckle.

First, as he feels Stella's spell warming his metal armor, he hucks Taergosz' entire body at her. The plate-clad corpse slams into the young woman and knocks her down (Stella takes 18 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone). Whistling arrows and bolts are ignored as they bounce off his thick armor (One deals 4 dmg though!). But Dieter's arrows... They sink into the already-heated metal and burn just as hot. The half-ogre won't be able to ignore those wounds!

Next, Tazok kicks Ardenor Crush off his sword at Aiwe as she approaches, thinking to bury her beneath the hobgoblin's remains. The battle-bard sees the trick coming though and avoids the attack, all the while beating her rhythm.

Tazok roars and raises his freed sword to chop at the belligerent young woman, but Runeson gets there first! Shining warhammer slams once, then again, and even mighty Tazok is shaken by the smiteful blows. He turns to meet this new warrior and is taken aback for a moment by what he sees. "I thought you were dead! Begone from here, ghost!" His emphasizes his words with a mighty swing from his sword, beating past Runeson's shield and armor to deal a grievous wound (Runeson takes 20 slashing dmg).

Bleeding and burning, Tazok bellows, "Bring me your skulls, that I might DRINK YOUR LIFEBLOOD FROM THEM!!" (Tazok uses Second Wind and regains 20 hit points.)

Further out into the battlefield, the group can just barely hear the dwarven mage's pleas as Aiwe's silence spell dissipates. "...please, Koveras... lad... please..." And then Koveras ends the bearded spellslinger with a sword through the chest, twisting the blade so violently that it breaks off in the dwarf's body. Koveras tosses the ruined weapon away as the dwarf's body slumps to the ground, then calmly picks up another from the many that litter the battlefield. One burned arm still held tight to his side, the half-orc's eyes move to Tazok, seeking a weakness. His feet move in an impossible blur, and he speeds across the battleground to strike at the bandit boss. Given his mistreatment in captivity, it's a disappointment but no surprise when he fails to pierce the half-ogre's armor.

Aldous moves along with Ida and Jorik as the battle carries on, doing his best to keep his footing on wet rocks and mud. But when he notices Stella's injury, his brow furrows in anger. "You won't touch her!" Jorik's grip on the young noble's arm slips as Aldous turns to mist, flowing faster than the wind over to Stella where he corporealizes once more (Alous casts Misty Step). He carefully shifts his weight, then reaches down to help her to her feet (Stella is NOT prone!).

Round 3 Player Phase!!!

I try my best to shrug off the damage Tazok inflicted. "The only ghost here will be you!"


47 damage to Tazok
HP : 24/44
AC : 20

Tazok takes up his sword in both hands, ready to butcher his way through the party, but it's obvious the hulking warrior is in great pain from the wounds he's sustained - and from his heated armor. Blinded by pain and rage, he almost seems to become a feral beast.

He swings at Aiwe with immense strength, an angled downward slash that cuts the bard in half and continues on to dig a deep furrow into the earth... except as Aiwe's halves slide apart, they shudder and vanish. An illusion!

As the party unleashes their attacks, Tazok turns to another opponent - Dieter. He lunges forward as the young warrior approaches, extending his sword to its full length to skewer him... but flinches as the extension causes his armor to shift, pulling charred skin with it and searing a new patch. Dieter turns the weak blow aside.

Feeling the impossible happening, his strength flagging, Tazok pushes futilely against the wall of defenders before him. He swipes at Runeson next. "...head... on a SPIT! Kill... you... DEAD AGAIN!!!" But Tazok's swing is no match for Runeson's shining shield, just as his jaw is no match for Runeson's smiting uppercut.

The half-ogre, commander of the Blacktalons and the Chill, falls backward with a crash. Dead, the only sound that comes from him is that of his own still-sizzling flesh.

Looking down at Tazok’s body, the last few moments of the fight replay in Runeson’s mind, and he distinctly recognizes the power of Hoar coursing through him, giving him the strength to take Tazok head-on and win. The Doombringer, the God of Revenge, was with Runeson in this battle more than in any time the paladin can remember.

But memory is a fragile thing. Runeson gazes into Tazok’s dead eyes and feels a flicker. He knew this beast of a man. And today, Hoar saw fit to help him extract his vengeance from the half-ogre. And so Runeson is left with a burning question, one that makes him feel curious and hollow at the same time:

What was it that Tazok took from Runeson that would lead to Hoar blessing the retribution so?

Part of Runeson, a deep and hidden part, trembles in fear at the question. Upon being noticed it immediately stills, pulling the veil over the young man’s mind tighter. Hoar’s will has been fulfilled this day; whatever provoking sin staining Tazok’s hands doesn’t matter.

It’s better this way.

The group's decisive movements cut easily through the whatever bandit dregs might be left within the camp, and they promptly arrive at Tazok's tent. They move cautiously through the front entrance, but find the place devoid of living creatures. Here near the entrance there's a large table, and behind it an even larger wooden throne. In one corner lies the mangled corpse of a Blacktalon courier, his broken neck suggesting that whatever news he bore wasn't well-received.

One makeshift door leads to the area where Aldous and Koveras were kept as prisoners. There's not much of note there beyond the dead hobgoblin guard, the abandoned manacles, and several small blood puddles staining the ground.

A second door leads to Tazok's bedchamber, which isn't much more than a large pile of furs.

(Investigation: In the corner of Tazok's bedchamber is a patch of disturbed ground. Hidden beneath the fur sheets is a hand shovel with dirt clods clinging to to the scoop.)

I bow my head and whisper a prayer to Hoar. "I accept this burden and thank you for the strength. May vengeance be done."
No tears will be shed for Tazok and his band.

About six inches down, Aiwe's shovel hits solid wood. A few minutes of digging around yields the unearthing of a chest. A large padlock keeps the thing closed tight.

(Perception: There's a nearly imperceptible glint of thin metal within the padlock's keyhole. A needle, likely poisoned, and poised to prick the finger of any would-be thief.)

Well said! What information do you have that might help us on this quest?.

The initial fire Ida set in Ardenor Crush's tent spread to many of the others nearby, but it's mostly burnt itself out by now, leaving piles of smoky and charred wood and fabric. Searching through that half of the camp is easy, but messy, work.

After a time spent looking through crates, chests, and rubble, Dieter and his helpers find a full dozen banners with the Chill symbol on them, some of which have are even in decent enough condition considering the fire. They also find an assortment of valuables taken from the bandits' victims: gems, jewelry, and plenty of coin. All told, it must be worth another 1,200 gold.

OOC:

Probably easier to just keep track of the valuables as a coin amount, and keep in mind that if you need gems or jewelry for anything, you've got some available.

Most carts and things wouldn't have made it this far into the Wood of Sharp Teeth unless they were in a good state of repair, so it doesn't take long for Dieter to get one ready.

The horses, on the other hand, might be some hours in arriving, perhaps not until nightfall.

Food, rest, a trek back to the Friendly Arm Inn, then more food and more rest! While the party remains vigilant for danger, both on the road and even at the Inn, they enjoy a good couple days of peace and recovery before eventually arriving at the Cloakwood...

Upon hearing Aiwe’s request, I too try to lend my modest carpentry skills to help while I formulate a response to my lady friend.

After helping Aiwe with the leg for alduous I set about writing a letter. Once completed I find the innkeeper and send it off to Candlekeep.