Hearth Fire

The four Dwarves and one ram stepped onto the road finally leaving the small village behind. The river was half a days journey from the village. Having traveled only half an hour when they heard the steady beat of hooves trotting up the road behind them. Sir Armand was mounted on a large horse, who was as armored as the knight himself. A caparison hung from the horse’s neck and draped over its flank blowing in the breeze as the knight road. The steady fight jingling of metal meant the caparison likely covered a chain mail barding. The once white fabric was grayed with age and dirtied from the road. An embroidered red rose stood stark against the white fabric on each side of the horse's hindquarters. Armand himself was armored as before except a simple bascinet houndskull hung from a leather strap on the saddle. A tricolored wooden lance rested on the knight’s stirrup. Red, black and white color spiraled from the lance’s handle to the tip. The tip rose into the air and a scarlet rose flag flapped in the breeze from the top.

Stronric turned and sighed heavily, Sir Armand slowed his horse to a stop and hailed them. “Goud morning friends, I ‘ave been sent to accompany you. My lord Sir Giles, sends ‘is regards and myself in ‘opes of being aid.”

Stronric and Bauru exchanged looks, both squinting in suspicion to the gift of aid. Gromli waved to the knight over excitedly.

Rugiel stepped forward and hailed back the knight. “We are most grateful for your lord’s honorable offer, but we must respectfully decline. We find ourselves quite self-sufficient and in no need of further assistance. Please convey our deepest appreciation to your lord.”

Armand rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. “I beg your pardon, my lady, but it seems I ‘ave been temporarily dismissed from my duties, perhaps by ze spirit of youthful rebellion. My lord awaits me once zis task is complete, and I am to rejoin 'im after we rid ze river of ze beast.”

“How could a knight of your esteemed rank permit himself to be so easily dismissed by his charge? Are you not sworn to guard him from danger and guide him with wisdom? It seems quite unwise to abandon your duty and allow him to face harm alone.” Rugiel said as she raised her head.

"'Ee remains unbloodied and surrounded by 'is entourage; no harm will befall 'im on 'is march toward ze portal. 'E needs space to flourish, and I dare not stand in ze way of ze light zat might guide 'is growth. Besides, I grow weary of trailing after ze baron’s spoiled child. 'E wields 'is words like a clumsy fool swinging a sword. Frankly, I’d much prefer to spend my day on more thrilling adventures—perhaps somewhere I can be truly appreciated, if only for a while." Armand said climbing down from his mount. He snapped a leather strap to his lance and pulled the reins over his horse’s head to join them in their walk.

Stronric didn’t like the idea of having an outsider, let alone the baron’s guard, spying on them. “Armand, I do not want a spy amongst our mist. Your boy lord means us no wellbeing. We prefer to keep the company of our own.”

Armand eyes squinted and his cheeks flushed slightly at the insult. “A spy? You z'ink I would spy for zat spoiled brat? I swear upon my knightly ‘onor, I am ‘ere as a friend and companion. I long for ze days of traveling alongside brave knights, facing adventure and danger head-on. My duties now leave me bored and stiff, with no challenge to stir my soul. It would be a great ‘onor if you allowed me to join your party, to once more indulge in ze thrill of adventure.”

Stronric and Armand locked eyes, the air growing tense, neither willing to break the gaze. “If ye so much as harm one of my clansman or cause them to come to harm I will split ye from head to arse.” Stronric said turning around and continuing down the road.

“I would sooner cast myself upon my own sword zan ever betray your trust!” Armand shouted running to join the others.

They made their way to the forest before the river following the tracks of the slave party without further event. Bauru would stop to examine the tracks to ensure they were still following the gnolls and their captives. Based on the tracks and the report from the village guard captain, Bauru estimated roughly forty humans were taken. Bauru estimated the raiding party of gnolls was around twenty. With that number of slaves taken and gnolls driving them, the river camp must be bigger than originally estimated. The increased camp size didn’t phase the dwarven clansmen, but Armand was concerned about the growing numbers.

The group decided Bauru would track the gnolls and slaves along their path. The rest of the party and the mounts would make their way to the river and follow it just inside the tree line. This would help cover the sound of their movements and keep them oriented in the right direction. Bauru would leave them markings along the way to move the party where he needed them and communicate what he found. The group moved to the river together, stopping briefly to water the animals and to refill their waterskins. Bauru ate a quick lunch provided by Gromli and said his farewells. Rugiel and Bauru spoke quietly before he departed. The rest of the party set to making their equipment as silent as they could. Rugiel banded the hem of her dress with leather, the loads were tightened down on the animals and anything that made noise while walking was tied or stuffed. Once their tasks were complete and they felt Bauru had enough of a head start, they departed into the forest.

They entered the forest and the day darkened as the dense canopy above blocked out the sun and shaded the world below. The forest was old, the trees grew wide and tall, some trees were as wide as a horse, the tops hidden high above. Little vegetation carpeted the floor of the forest as the group walked in silence. Stronric breathed deep taking in the scent of the forest. He had always loved the forest, even though it it lacked the fresh crisp cut chill of mountain air.

Stronric, Rugiel and Armand continued to travel through the forest and easily found Bauru’s first marking. Carved into a tree was the number six circled by a simple arrow. Below the circle, three lines were carved with the center line X’ed out. Armand looked at the carving and turned to the others as he did not interpret the meaning. Stronric and Rugiel explained the three lines below meant there were three patrols and the six meant there were six gnolls per patrol. The X meant Bauru would take out the middle patrol and leave the outer and inner patrols for them.

“You got all of zat from zat lil circle? Fascinating.” Armard said looking between the dwarves and their markings. “’ow do we go about ambushing ‘em? You ‘ave sent ahead out only archer.” Armad took in the two warrior dwarves and their weapons and paused on the third wielding his war-ladle.

Stronric and Rugiel looked at each other, evil smiles slowly spreading across their faces.

“Oh no, I zink I might ‘ave made a mistake.” Armand said, not liking the look on their faces.

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The patrol of gnolls came walking down a worn path in the woods when they spotted a human it was wearing that silver clothing of theirs, that made cutting flesh harder. It was leaning against a tree holding its foot. Stupid human, too stupid to walk in woods without hurting its soft pink paws. Douk Scuzmouth smiled revealing all of his teeth and let out a quiet warning chuckle. The other gnolls of his war party stiffened and looked at the human. They quietly crossed the forest and surrounded the human. The human looked hurt and scared.

“Now friends!” The human said looking scared. “Now friends! Now!” it said again. Douk let out a laugh signaled that promised his patrol they’d have some fun before they brought this human in. Douk closed with the human, baring his fangs and cackling in the human’s face. The human brought his hands up to cover his face in fear. The stupid human must be so scared even his hands weren’t working right, he just kept shanking them in front of his nose.

“Oh ‘eavens now!” The human shouted again. “Zis foul beast’s stench assails me like a weapon I cannot parry!”

This human is so scared and stupid! Douk snarled at him again. Certainly this human will wet himself. The human signed and leaned down. This human is scared it lays down! The human stood up holding a weapon. Duok drew back ready to fight when he bumped into something. Duok turned around saw a tiny human, it was very large and laughed like one of the pack. Duok cackled back until he saw the dwarves axe fall towards his head.

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Stronric and Rugiel were wiping the blood from their weapons and laughing at Armand.

“You dwarves zink yourselves amusing, but trust me, you are not! I’ll be smelling zat beast’s foul breath for a week. You both owe me a drink—and a proper bath—once all of zis is over!” Armand said, wiping the blood from his own weapon.

They all fell again, but when Rugiel and Stronric made eye contact they both broke out with laughter.

“Fine, fine I’ll buy ye a drink, and a bath but ye gotta admit that was funny. Dumb beast thought ye were scared!” Stronric laughed again.

The three holstered their weapons weapons, Stronric and Armand set to hiding the dead bodies and Rugiel went to fetch Gromli and the animals.There weren’t many places to hide bodies, so Stronric and Armand found a low spot amongst the forest ground and dumped the bodies there. There was little vegetation but as long the gnolls patrolled quickly and didn’t pay attention the bodies could be passed. Stronric shrugged at the vaguely hid bodies. If we succeed with this mission, there wont be any gnolls to come back and find them anyways. Once the group was together again, they continued their journey towards the river camp. Gromli was a little upset they hadn’t allowed him to join in on the action. Stronric knew Gromli wasn’t a fighter and until he could train the dwarf, he didn’t want to chance the overly excited dwarf getting hurt.

They found the next patrol at the next signal Bauru had left. A simple arrow was carved pointing up. When the group followed the signal up, they found the middle gnoll patrol hanging from their feet above them. Armand whitened and shook his head. Stronric and Rugiel had known something had changed inside of Bauru ever since he fought the thistle bears. Bauru was himself when relaxing inside of the hold, but when outside in nature, all his jovial spirits drained away and he became like a predator. Bauru constantly watched the shadows. Rugiel was worried Bauru was becoming paranoid. Stronric wished the young dwarf didn’t have to shoulder such a burden, but Stronric also knew learning the hard way was better. Stronric knew many more trails were to come and hoped it was he who would bear the brunt of them.

The party continued along the trail. It wasn’t long before they found the next patrol of five gnolls sleeping around a tree. From what the party could see there was only one gnoll left awake standing watch. The one awake gnoll was leaning against his spear and nodding off in the cool shade of the forest. Stronric turned back and motioned to Gromli to stay with the horse and Indomitable, then Stronric signed to Rugiel and Armand to continue forward. Stronric pulled his weapon free and the other followed suit. Rugiel veered to the left and waited in front of two of the sleeping gnolls and Armand was on the other side in front of the remaining two sleeping gnolls. Stronric continued forward towards the one awake gnoll still nodding off blissfully with his back to the approaching dwarf.

Stronric started to count down on his hands. Three, two, one. Rugiel brought her war hammer down on the head of one. Its head broke with a crunch, the gnolls body went limp. She drew the weapon back and smashed the second gnoll’s head with the back swing. Armand two handed his sword and pierced the gnoll’s chest. His blade sank deep piercing the gnoll’s heart like a warm blade through butter. The gnoll didn’t even so much as twitch, before dying quietly. Armand quickly withdrew his sword and in a fluid movement, danced forward like a fencer and finished off the second gnoll, like he had the first.

Stronric snuck up behind the sleeping gnoll and with one hand, Stronric snapped its neck. Next Stronric walked to the mostly sleeping gnoll on watch. Stronric lashed out with a leg, splitting the spear in half and sending the gnoll spilling onto the ground. The startled gnoll let out a yelp and quickly turned towards his attacker. The gnolls eyes were filled with hate and anger as he took in the dwarf, but the expression quickly turned to fear when the gnoll took in the sight of the other two warriors and his dead companions. The gnoll prepared to let out a yell, when Stronric kicked it in the gut. The beast wheezed and drew the weapon on his hip. The Gnoll swung the weapon at Stronric. Stronric brought up his left arm and activated his Iron Hide ability. He wanted to test the limits of it. The scimitar cut down his greying arm, but Stronric’s iron skin held out the blade slid off his flesh without causing a wound. There was a shiny line where the beast had stuck him but no damage.

Stronric had still felt the power of its gnoll’s blow, just the wound itself seemed to be blocked. Stronric’s axe flashed out before the gnoll could react and the beast collapsed to the ground dead.

“Sorry, wanted to test out my new ability.” Stronric said as his skin turned back into its normal pink hue.

“Wait, you just got your abilities?” Armand asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Aye, so what of it?” Stronric replied looking nonchalant.

“I zought I was traveling with seasoned adventurers! Yet ‘ere you are, still wet behind ze ears?” Armand replied looking shocked. “‘Ow do you zink we attack a camp full of gnolls and survive, when I am traveling wiz what is little better zan squires?”

Stronric lifted his axe onto his shoulder and walked up to Armand. “Are ye calling me a beardling?”

Armand looked confused. Rugiel put a hand on Stronric shoulder and shook her head. “Calm yourself Stronric, that’s not what he is saying.

“I do not mean to insult you, Stronric, but I am surprised you ‘ave taken on zis part of ze mission if you are just now discovering your abilities. ‘Ave you faced zis many enemies before? Do you know anyzing of tactics? Your clansmen follow you loyally, oui, but zat is often ze way good men get themselves killed.”

“Ye dare to tell me how to lead my kinsmen? Once we are finished with this mission and the gnolls are dead we will be having words.” Stronric said his tone was growing cold and steely.

Armand out of reflex stepped back and his hand dropped down to his weapon sheathed at his hip. Stronric smiled at Armand, “Scared are ye manling?”

“Stop this at once! Both of you, behaving like children.” Rugiel chastised them both. “Armand, are you not a knight of the Scarlet Rose? Then conduct yourself as one. And you, Stronric, Thane under the mountain? Ha! More like a child under the mountain. My brother is out there risking his life for us, and you two choose to bicker like boys? Enough of this foolishness!” Rugiel finished angerly.

Stronric and Armand both looked ashamed of themselves.

“Whats goin’ on?” A voice said coming from the woods?” Bauru stepped out of the shadow of a tree holding predator.

Bauru’s voice broke the standoff and Rugiel smiled at her brother, relieved to see he was alright.

“Ye got to stop doing that Bauru.” Stronric said with a smile on his face. “Nothing is going on, just a little bit of a disagreement is all.”

Bauru looked Armand up and down and then nodded. Bauru shouldered his heavy crossbow. “Come on I found a spot we can talk and I ave quite the report for yer.”

The group went back and collected Gromli and the animals. They did their best to hide the second group of bodies before moving to the location Bauru scouted for their camp. The shadows were darkening as sun passed over head and the forest canopies became thicker, and the trees grew bigger. Bauru beckoned the party forward. He pulled a branch back exposing a path leading to a large, grassed clearing.

Grass grew inside the alcove and stones outlined the border of the circle. In the center of the clearing sat a stone table. The air was warm and filled with the smells of a pine forest on a warm summer day just before fall. A small brook bubbled at the base of tree and crossed a small area of the clearing before disappearing back down inside of the ground.

The adventuring group were amazed at the find, Gromli ohhing and awing at the sight.

“This is like out of those folk stories I used to read, about the elven druids and their lost craft.” Gromli said as he sat his pack down and kneeled to take a drink from the brook.

Stronric nose was upturned when he spat, “Reminds me of elves, and their obsessions with tree.”

The group settled in and formed around the stone table. Gromli began to unpack his back and break out drinks and food for the group.

“Well, what is this report ye have for us Bauru?” Stronric asked.

“The good news is that the camp is barely protected, the guards are all sleeping or drunk.” Bauru said and then he sucked in a breath. “The bad news is, they have a troll.”

“A troll?!” Everyone said at the same time, Stronric with excitement and everyone else with fear.

“Worse yet, I think they have a spell caster with them. An old gray Gnoll with a staff topped with a purple kind of stone. I saw it do something to the captives and then the humans just mindlessly started working, no chains or overseers. Stronric, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“I zink we should call for reinforcements for zis. Our reports said noz’ing of a troll and a spell caster. Even with a full squad of knights, I would be ‘esitant to attack zis place. We must err on ze side of caution.” Armand said looking at Stronric.

Stronric smiled, “Guess ye’ve never fought with dwarves before!”