I received word that a messenger had arrived with potential employment from one Strorbout Cragdigger, a merchant who was restoring a trading post and shrine to Chorollis to the south of Throal, with a promise of a great reward for some unspecified service. This seemed like a good opportunity to get myself better equipped, and even more so once I discovered that I would be accompanied by a weaponsmith who would offer a discount to fellow adventurers.
Joining me were Thorkell Gulbrandsen (Troll Weaponsmith), Vralino Hammershield (Ork Swordmaster), and Therbis and Oria Stone-Singer, (both Obsidimen; Troubadour and Elementalist, respectively). We headed south along the road and came to the small trading post. Met with a sharp-tongued Dwarf named Darellon Highpeaks, the engineer who was in charge of construction on the shrine. She seemed annoyed to have to waste her time on us. Sent us to meet with an ogre who they had been trading with. A deal had been brokered; we were to escort one of the ogre's tribe on some sort of quest, and the ogre would divulge the location of a mine filled with True Earth. Seemed odd to me, but I'm not here to judge, as long as their coin's good.
We met with the ogre, off to the west of Clear Creek Crossing about a day's journey. Met a young Dwarf who we would be escorting. I'm not sure how the lad came to be in the ogre's tribe, but I wasn't being paid to ask questions. The ogre, Gvarn, indicated we would be journeying to the Servos Jungle to help the boy obtain some special wood. The boy's name is Sharim, and he can barely speak Throalic. Thankfully we have a troubadour along for entertainment, and had brought rations from the crossing, since the journey turned out to be quite long.
Found a good path through the jungle; was very helpful, as none of us were skilled navigators to my knowledge. Fortunate that we didn't encounter whatever made the trail, I think. Got ambushed by some troajin; we drove them off, none were killed, though one was unconscious. The others were hurt quite badly in their initial assault, but I was able to strike hard enough to drive a pair of them off by myself. This is a good axe; it's blade bit deep. They would not be back to bother us again, we were too difficult of a meal.
Arrived in an area with a creek running through it a few days in. Sharim says we are almost there. Humming up ahead turns out to be a group of large preying mantis, about the size of a large dog. When I examine them, I find that they are infused with wood (and not good to eat), and that their claws are poisonous. Very dangerous. They jump a lot, like to hang on the trees. We try to group together, and they avoid us. Oria takes one down out of the tree with a spell. Vralino stands in the open, and is immediately attacked by several of them. She is hurt badly, but we come to help as quickly as possible. Again my axe bites deep. One down, 3 to go. Oria strikes another, almost dead, and Therbis finishes it off as I strike down a second. The last one goes down to a flurry of attacks from all of us, but Vralino is poisoned and slowly loses consciousness. She is barely alive.
Sharim comes running along shouting something, probably in ogre language; must've crossed the stream and gathered some wood while we kept the bugs busy. Two very large mantis things follow behind him, tall enough to look Thorkell in the eye. Must be some sort of construct or spirit or something; I can't analyze them at all. Glad they stop at the water. Would be a very difficult fight even if all of us were fresh and our group at full strength, and we are neither. Perhaps bound to the location. Perhaps they fear water. They look wooden. Possible source of True Wood here, they may need it to survive. Perhaps Cragdigger will pay for another expedition once he figures out there is wealth to be had. Wish I knew how to make maps, could've made a fortune.
We are fortunate to face no further dangers on the way out of the Servos. I am able to stretch my supplies further by living off the land. So is Oria. We should have brought more supplies, but what we have lasts long enough... barely. Gvarn is pleased, Sharim is safe, and we return to our employer. This time we meet with Cragdigger himself. He is not in a state of perpetual anger like his engineer. Thorkell makes the mistake of describing Darellon as a secretary, and I am thankful she was not near to hear him. She has the lungs of a drill sergeant and the temperament of a dyre. Seems he is interested in some blueprints on her desk. I am interested in getting back to Throal. I have things to do.
I use my pay for training to raise my circle. I am getting stronger. I learn how to track, how to live off the land, and get better at dodging. Thorkell eventually comes back to Throal and forges my axe as he promised. I also pick up some medical supplies. I'm no expert, but I don't want to run out of supplies at a bad time. Perhaps next time someone gets poisoned they will need it. Perhaps that someone will be me.
The mantis are dangerous and vile, but I am inspired by their mobility. I will need a mount soon, and that kind of ability to move around would be very useful to attack from unexpected angles. Perhaps I should hire someone to research where such a mount could be found. But not insects.Statistics:Posted by Sharkforce — Wed Jun 24, 2020 4:31 am
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