The Guild of Adventurers

 

Here begins the tale of Ragnar’s Ravens and their epic Quest to save a sleepy settlement from the ravages of the foul Orc Warlord Gramdark.

Ragnar himself is a Wilderness Ranger who can fight equally well with his hand crafted longbow or his trusty broadsword, but disdains metal armour.  He has just been to the Adventurers Guild in Oventor and contracted for a quest where he is to head to a settlement to the north that has been having trouble with their new neighbours, a warlike race that seem intent on destruction of anything in their path. The settlement of Thistlebrook sounds idyllic and poorly suited to defend itself from raiders, this seems like a righteous quest worthy of his efforts.

A quick scan of the posted contracts board has lead him to assemble a diverse party as he has no idea what they may be facing.  

Doric is a sarcastic yet formidable Dwarf fighter armed with a finely sharpened axe.

Earl is an Shooter, he’s known to be a steady aim in the face of howling enemies.

Aldaran is a Rogue, there’s no fine way to put it, if he wasn’t an adventurer he’d be a mugger, footpad or worse. Every party needs one.

His choice of Magic User will raise some eyebrows, Ssarama is dragonkin, but is an Arch Mage amongst her kind, and with both Illusionist and Firestarter magic at her command is major asset on any quest.

Finally in the starting Party that by the end of this quest will be known far and wide as Ragnar’s Ravens, is Zoltan. Little is known about this Fighter, they have never been known to take off their helmet, so even whether it’s a man or woman under there is a mystery.  As long as they can fight though, Ragnar doesn’t care!

Ragnar is content, “This new quest will pay well although it will no doubt keep me on the road for months, and the party I was able to assemble seem like a good match for whatever might get thrown at us along the way. I guess it’s time we were going …”

Game 1 - Waylaid (Low Difficulty On the road battle against Archers)

It’s just a pleasant stroll until the arrows start flying.

We were not far into our journey but had crossed the border from Valention into the more wild land of Mendiple where Thistlebrook is situated, when we ran into our first taste of battle, Orc archers that clearly want to suggest that we turn back already. Sadly Zoltan had already taken a tumble in this rocky terrain, but the rest of us were in good shape, and as usual Aldaran was already ahead and heard the grunting language of the Orcs ahead and gave us the warning.

Round 1 - Aldaran’s prime position spots our first Adversary, while the rest of us start moving forward.  Then more Adversaries started to show themselves, including one popping up in a position where Aldaran was no longer concealed!

Round 2 - so that Orc became the primary target!  Earl and I both shot it, then Ssarama cast a spell making it think there was an enemy behind it.  Aldaran sought better cover now his position was exposed.  The Orc fell for it and fired at the illusionary foe, while their two fellow archers just stood there gaping at the foolishness.  Aldaran kept a watchful eye and thought he saw movement, but it was a false alarm.

Round 3 - while the poor confused Orc tried to figure out where the person they were aiming at had disappeared to, Earl and I both shot it again, and it died, still very much confused.  This meant that Aldaran was now hidden from prying eyes again and he snuck bak to his original position, while their two fellow rest of the Ravens scuttled forwards, keeping cover between them and the other two Orcs.  One did take a shot at Zoltan, but missed, while the other decided to cower behind cover.  At which point, not one but two more Orcs appeared, and one was right next to Aldaran!  It was a close call as to which of them was more surprised!

Round 4 - Again there was an urgent target for the Party.  Earl shot the Orc, but there was a nasty “twang” as my bowstring snapped!  Ssarama then cast Blind on it, followed by Doric giving it a mighty whack with his axe that left it rolling on the ground in pain, at which point Aldaran also hit it causing another wound.  The poor thing had no idea what was happening to it and just stayed down.  The Orc hiding behind the rock had had enough now and ran off, but the other two fired at Zoltan and although one arrow struck rock, the other struck flesh.

Round 5 - the Orc got its sight back just in time to see Doric’s axe hurtling towards its head.  Ssarama attempted to cast Terrify but lost concentration and wasted her power. The rest of the Ravens gathered in, and I hurried forward in search of a replacement bow. Doric was now a bit exposed and the two Orcs both fired at him, he dropped in front of me with two arrows sticking out of him.  At this point a sixth and final Orc popped up on our right.

Round 6 - Earl took a shot at one Orc ahead of us, a powerful shot that dropped it prone.  Aldaran used the distraction to get to a new concealed position. Ssarama used the remaining point of power stored in her staff to cast Misdirect again, and it succeeded at again making an Orc think someone was behind them, and Zoltan started off towards it. I grabbed up the bow from the Orc that Doric had killed and got a shot off wounding the other Orc in front.  The prone Orc scuttled behind cover, the one I shot fired right back at me an caused a wound, the one on the rock was caught between Zoltan on one side and an imaginary foe on the other and didn’t know what to do.

Round 7 - I continued tit-for-tat wounds with the Orc, but Earl missed. Ssarama started gathering more power.  Aldaran and Doric got ready to go after the cowering orc, and the one on the big rock was surprised when the foe in front vanished and Zoltan charged up the incline at him and with a well positioned thrust killed it in one blow! This happened in plain sight of the other two orcs and sent my opponent heading far far away, while the other one got to its feet and sauntered off at a slower pace.

Round 8 - Earl and I fired after the retreating Orc, with Earl getting a solid hit that floored it again, while Doric and Aldaran followed up behind it. This turned out to be enough encouragement for it to leg it.  Battle over.

Aftermath - Thankfully there were no casualties from our first fight, and the Party members all performed well, starting to work together as a team already, and though nobody gained any personal experience, and there was no gold to be had, we did gain 4 Renown.

Game 2 - Help them (Low Difficulty Settlement battle against Rabble Fighters)

It looks like the farm labourers are about to be attacked, seems you got here just in time! 

Our journeying through the lands of Mendiple took us next to a small farm and we arrived just in time it seems. Aldaran was again scouting ahead and Doric was in great shape, but again Zoltan had a niggling injury and I’m starting to worry about them.

Round 1 - Aldaran quickly started spotting the adversaries, some rabble like orc fighters, but the milling farmer workers and the terrain made it hard to see how many. He was so engrossed with this that he nearly missed the lumbering sound behind him that heralded the arrival of a giant lizard like beast!

That could be a problem! The rest of us were blissfully unaware though and crept forward, looking for Orcs.  Earl was first to attack, putting an arrow into an Orc so forcibly it dropped to the ground. I followed up and got a bead on another one, it was lurking behind a tree but my shot flew so true it dropped dead from a single arrow!  Ssarama, sensing that Aldaran was in trouble ran to try and get in sight and in range of the reptilian horror.

The Orcs now started reacting to our presence.  The one Earl had shot got up and headed towards us. The one Earl could see in the field was unaware that Earl was there and seemingly hadn’t noticed the monster behind him either as he just stoop there staring at his fallen comrade.  Then another Orc stepped out right in front of me.

Aldaran couldn’t believe his luck as the lizard went straight past him, heading for the unsuspecting Orc. It seems the two farm hands there did see it coming and headed off at speed though the rest of them seemed rooted to the spot!

Round 2 - Aldaran still couldn’t believe his luck, and certainly wasn’t about to trust that it would hold out, so he hurried off not caring if an Orc might spot him.  Likewise, Ssarama moved to where should could keep an eye on the lizard but stay out of reach.  Meanwhile the rest of us concentrated on Orcs. I shot and killed the fool that had stepped in front of me, even I was surprised at such good shooting though of course I didn’t show it. Earl hit his again and although it went down it wasn’t dead, so Zoltan stayed with us, while Doric hustled forwards. 

Earl’s target did indeed get up, but seeing three of us waiting for him, decided to head the other way.  The Orc with a giant lizard breathing down its neck suddenly woke up to his plight but then made the very rash decision to fight the thing! Amazingly he hit so hard that the Monster took a wound and ended up prone, though by no means dead.  At which point the remaining two Orcs appeared, one where lizard had come from and one at the far side of the farm where Aldaran now is. At this point the lizard rolled back to its feet and took a huge bite at the Orc which left the Orc wounded and rolling on the floor instead.

Round 3 - I think Ssarama was getting bored as she fired off a fireball at the newly appeared Orc.  Aldaran, in full view of the other newly arrived Orc, decided to get behind a tree and hope for the best. Earl and I both hit the retreating Orc near us and between us finished it off.  Doric and Zoltan still don’t have anything useful to do.

Then a hell of a thing happened, a story I will tell in every tavern, and yet none will believe!  The Orc being chomped by the lizard got up and tried to skirt round the beast, which must have distracted it, just as the Orc with part of his armour on fire leapt over the hedge and straight into the cold blooded beast, killing it in a single blow!  

Meanwhile, I believe the other newly arrived Orc on the far side of the farm was distracted by the battle and stayed right where it was.  

Round 4 - As the rest of the main group headed towards the lizard killing Orcs and Aldaran bided his time behind the tree, Ssarama attempted to cast Terrify at one of the Orcs, but maybe the distraction of a farm hand being nearby threw her off, as the spell failed.  The two Orcs in the field must have remembered we were there as both sought cover behind the hedge.  The other Orc decided it really should go and help them, so headed that way, but then one of the remaining farm hands got annoyed, stabbed the Orc with her sheep shears, and ran off!  Meanwhile the farm hand between Ssarama and the Orcs must have sensed his danger and hit the deck.

Round 5 - Ssarama is down to the extra point of Power residing in her staff, which she uses to successfully ignite Doric’s arrow, making it a fire arrow, which he then fires through the hedge into an Orc!  I then figure it is best to shoot at the same target but alas my arrow just gets stuck in the hedge.  Doric is desperate to get into a fight and runs towards the Orcs, with Zoltan in a somewhat less speedy pursuit.

Meanwhile, on the far side of the farm, Aldaran has waited patiently for the Orc to get close enough and now leaps out in a sneak attack, surprising said Orc, wounding it, and knocking it over! Unfortunately this Orc is not going to be seen off so easily, it gets up and takes a swing but Aldaran just manages to get the better of it again. 

Back at the hedge, one Orc snuffs out the fire searing into it while other looks on aghast, neither thinks to move, or to prepare for the onslaught of a desperate dwarf.

Round 6 - Finally Doric is into combat, he fairly launches himself at the first Orc he can get to … forgetting it’s the lizard killer! The Orc spits him on his spear and Doric drops in a heap!  Zoltan, still limping, can’t get close enough to engage, Ssarama is out of Power, it’s down to us bowmen.  My shot flies true this time, the Orc takes a fourth wound and finally drops dead, while Doric also gets a hit on the other one. Over a the other fight, Aldaran scores a fourth and fatal wound on his opponent too.  There’s on Orc left, he heads away from the battle.  

Round 7 - two arrows plunge into the back of the retreating Orc, the battle is over!

Aftermath - Doric is livid, he swears (loudly and in and out of dwarven) that he tripped.  It seems he’s fine, but the locals were impressed and the farmer is so grateful that we both saw off the Orcs and dealt with the lizard that had been plaguing them (guess they missed that bit of the fight) that he hands over his heirloom sword (a Sword of Fast Striking).  Doric sheepishly says he prefers his axe, so Zoltan ends up with it.  After a great meal and an overnight stay, we continue on our way.

Game 3 - Scavengers (first special battle, against Orc Scavengers in the valley)

You are still a few days from your destination when you start through a valley and see movement on the hillsides above. 

Our journey to Thistlebrook was taking us away from Mendiple and into Dourland, with the border being about halfway through the valley we were just about to enter. Aldaran was a little way ahead on the left and I could tell Earl was suffering from a niggling injury.

Round 1 - Aldaran signalled back that he could see a couple of orcs at the far end of the valley, but then one stepped out onto the path and we could all see it, so we scattered of the path at a run. The orcs must have spotted us too though as the remaining three then showed themselves.

Round 2 - with no sign of any enemy archers, we hurried forward, except for Earl limping along and Aldaran who started trying to outflank them. The orcs seemed eager for a fight too with four of them coming forward.

Round 3 - I draw a bead on the orc heading my way but my bowstring breaks, I guess I’ll be going hand-to-hand with these orcs.  Aldaran gets into a nicely hidden position to start his sneaking and Earl manages to drag himself into a commanding position on a hilltop, just hope has better luck than me!  Zoltan is ready to get into a fight with the nearest orc but first there is a sizzling noise as a fireball scorches past them to burst on their target. The hapless orc was so distracted that Zoltan had an open target and dispatched it with one blow!

That didn’t stop the next orc flinging himself at Zoltan and scoring a wound on them though, or three of the others continuing their advance, but I did notice that the one right at the back was having second thoughts and sidling away.

Round 4 - Earl got a good shot at Zoltan’s opponent, tge arrow hitting home with such force that the orc fell to the ground, leaving Zoltan an easy opportunity to score a wound on it too. I decided to take the fight to my would be attacker and cut him down with a single thrust! Ssarama, seeing that Zoltan didn’t need help, caused the orc in front of Doric to go blind.  Unfortunately this was the worst thing she could have done, Doric leapt in with a huge swing off his axe but the orc was flailing about blindly a cut him down on the spot!

Zoltan’s opponent decided to it was time to leave and headed away from his opponent, though towards Aldaran now sneaking back into play. The other orc on my side of the valley seemingly wanted to avenge his dead friend and headed towards me, while the one who had been sidling away grew a backbone and started back towards us.

Round 5 - Aldaran pounced on Zoltan’s orc so fast and stealthily that the orc felt the stab and yet had no idea how it happened as Aldaran was already back out of sight.  While it stood there being puzzled, Earl shot it again. It died with a strange quizzical expression on it’s face.  I took the fight to my next opponent but he proved more able than his friend and although I bowled him over he was still alive.  Ssarama used the bit of power stored in her staff to cauterise Zoltan’s wound, who then headed towards the no longer blind orc.

My opponent leapt back to his feet and engaged me again, but I bested him a second time. The orc that Ssarama had blinded, still upset by that sudden occurrence and seeing Zoltan heading towards him, decide to start heading home, while his mate headed for Zoltan.

Round 6 - a third round of combat with my opponent knocked him on his backside again. Earl shot the other advancing orc, while Aldaran worked his way around him and Ssarama gathered up fresh power. My opponent was brave enough to continue the fight and too my surprise won that round. The one Zoltan was chasing down lunged forward and caught them off guard, Zoltan is down! This turn of affairs was enough to embolden the third orc who stopped their retreat.

Round 7 - my slog ended as a fourth wound was caused to my opponent and he finally fell. Ssarama and Earl worked together to fire a magically burning arrow into Zoltan’s nemesis, keeping the orc’s attention clearly fixed forward while Aldaran worked his way into range for a sneak attack. Incredibly the two remaining orcs were not perturbed and kept coming forward.

Round 8 - Aldaran sprang from cover at the unsuspecting orc, scoring a fourth and final wound.  Earl shot the last remaining orc before I crashed into him and bested h8m in combat, and this was more than enough for the poor creature, he lit out of there like he had been the one with a magically burning arrow fire arrow in him!

Aftermath - I was checking on Doric who by now was sitting up and shaking his head, he was fine, when a cry went up from Ssarama … Zoltan was dead!  With reverence we buried them there in the valley, in full armour, never knowing what race or gender they were. Though Aldaran kept the magic sword!

We passed through the valley without further incident and our first stop in Dourland was a roadside inn where our spirits received a much needed left as a below announced the presence of my kinsman Sigurd! Hearing of my quest he had hoped to bump into us and had a gift for me from my father, his charmed Longbow 8 (Bow of true flight). What’s more, on hearing of the sad loss of Zoltan, Sigurd announced that he would accompany us!