Real World Summary
From 7 to 23:23
A more detailed evening on the 30th August appears also below.
Author's Note
Due to changes in the reality matrix the following names are changed in accordance with bardic lore of Naming found in paragraph 9 sub-section 18.- Conahan the Barbiran changed to Isa (Dud asked Is a what? No reply was given)
- Ang to Red
- Big Job to Big Bob
- Quiet Man to Treyvere
- Weird Stick Man to Brella (although that is just what Dud calls him, the rest just say Um)
Summary
The Rogues had an attack of sudden gold appearing from coffins in the crypt, they left via tunnels below the castle only to be attacked by a Goblin Horde (well okay maybe not quite a horde). Eventually they made it out and found themselves in a village which have had their men pressed ganged into the war (its more of a siege really). Dud and co visited a Witch who provided Dud with lost memories of a lost love along with a song that's very catchy.In attempt to pass on their stolen gold goods they traveled to Westryer via a Stone Circle (magic portal to you and me) to find Fen the Fence. Only to discover he had taken a ship to Norhye a city up north and there was not another ship for a week. They returned to the village.
Norhye or Bust
After much discussion back at the village it was decided that the party should travel via the main road to Norhye despite Dud's many suggestions that they should use the Stone Circle to get their quicker. And for a small amount of time this put Dud in a bad mood and with bad moods comes mistakes.
Dud is on the second watch, they had been traveling only a day down the road which according to Dud is more likely to have soldiers on than if they had taken the shortcut through the woods which just so happens passes the Stone Circle.
He had wondered away from the fire in an increasing circle, he hears something and turns to face back down road. Instead of raising an alarm he ventures towards the sound only to confronted by a wolf which tries to bite him. He jumps back and two more wolves appear on either side of him. He uses his sling to throw a stone at the lead wolf which takes out the wolf's left leg.
Dud shouts and boy can he project his voice when he wants to, "Alarm, alarm!!!"
Meanwhile Big Bob had chosen to sleep under the cart to protect the goods hidden within the cart. He woke up to Dud's shout but decided to snooze a little longer. Before he could close his eyes he saw a wolf appear out of the trees and head slowly towards the cart. Big Bob pulled out his spear and skewered the wolf in short order. 'Oh! Well! I'm up now.' Big Bob thought.
Treyvere was by the fire asleep and dead drunk. Brella jumped over the fire towards wolf coming from the front. Red and Isa came out of their separate tents (who knows about women anyway) and attacked the wolves that had appeared to right of Dud.
A wolf hits Brella directly in the head (what with his wet nose) anyway Brella is knocked out and wolf despite millions of years of evolution chooses not to eat him. Of course being shot in the eye by Isa may have something to do with it. Red kills another wolf. Dud has discovered a knack for hitting wolves on their left legs turning them all right-pawed. He also tried to blinding them with a light spell which only briefly illuminated the surroundings.
The pack however had decided that the easy pickings were not so easy and retreated. Big Bob picked up the dead wolves, skinned them and cooked them on the fire. Treyvere woke up briefly, "Did I missed something?"
To those that can see up above this action much fried chicken was consumed.
Trollgate
In order to get to Norhye they had cross the river or travel back to the castle where a war/siege was going on. The Old Toll Gate Bridge when it came into view looked impressive (see pics below) and the bridge was truly amazing.
When the party arrived a short man came out of the main building, "Where b thee going then?"
Dud always eager to talk to new people, "We are going across the bridge of course to Norhye." The man looked at the party and then their cart.
"Your cart is empty, nobody goes to Norhye with a empty cart." Dud tried explained that it had just previously contained them whilst Big Bob pulled it. Big Bob however was not interested.
"Is this an Inn do you have beds?" At this the man's eyes lit up and replied, "Yes we have rooms, why don't you take your empty cart round back. Don't go near the barn and make much noise."
The party followed the cart and Big Bob's eyes widened at the sight on a Cave Troll sleeping very loudly in the barn. The troll was as tall the Toll Gate which was three stories high. The party left quietly and entered the building to find trestle tables and a bar to which Treyvere instantly found the only unbroken stool.
Big Bob said, "How much for the night?" The Bridge keeper said, "One gold piece each." Big Bob exploded, "Are you mad that would pay for the entire building ten times over. I'd rather sleep with the troll!"
Dud jumped into the rescue and cast a glamour spell on Red to make her even more beautiful than before, "My friend Red here would like to suggest a better price for you."
The keeper despite being enamored with Red's beauty would only add in free and beer for the night for the same price. Big Bob stomped off to the barn. The keeper brought out fish stew which everyone barring Dud couldn't stop eating.
Dud does not like fish at all, the keeper asked again about their journey, "Why do you have an empty cart?" But no one was really paying attention but Dud noticed that keeper looked worried. The keeper brought out more food and beer and went up the stairs. Dud followed because he is well very curious.
In the barn Big Bob had woken up the Troll and was conversing in the Trollish language. The gist was the keeper had chained him to stop him from wandering but to also insure that the visitors or people crossing the bridge would pay their bills. The troll stayed because he had a roof over his head. Before that big bridge it was his bridge many many years ago. Big Bob soon realised that this was just a cave troll but a Ancient Cave Troll as if a standard troll was not dangerous enough.
Big Bob shared a dead wolf with the troll, in turn the troll picked up a huge barrel of beer in its hand which made the barrel look small in comparison and put it front of Big Bob. The troll poked his finger into the top. Big Bob smiled and wondered idly how to drink it.
Dud had slowly followed the keeper the up the stairs all three flights to a hatch in the ceiling which Dud peeped through to see the keeper with his back to Dud. Dud however could see the glistening of gold and bottles of potions. He came slowly out of the hatch in the floor, draws his pugio (short dagger) purely for protection of course you can never tell with people. Dud is directly behind the keeper and suddenly the keeper steps back straight onto Dud's dagger and instinctively Dud lunges forward pushing the blade further in.
Back in the barn Big Bob and the Troll hear a curdling scream from above, the troll turns its big face directly into Big Bob. A troll's breath is terrible indeed, "WHAT! WAS! THAT?" Big Bob ever the quick thinker, "Well it sounded like someone died and it was most likely your master. Interested in going halves on the loot plus you get your freedom?"
The troll unfolded itself and stepped out into the night, the chains dragging behind him not even slowing the troll down. The troll peered into the top window of the building and saw Dud standing over his master's body.
The keeper had fallen to the floor not quite dead judging by the gurgling noise coming from his throat. Dud looked, "Opps! Err sorry it was accident. Well your going to die anyway so sorry for the next bit as well." Dud stepped on the keeper's throat to help him die quicker but that didn't work. Dud stabbed him several times in the head, then keeper stopped gurgling off key to Dud's annoyance. He wiped his blade on the curtains and returned it to its scabbard.
Downstairs Red and Isa was staring up at the ceiling in alarm, "What has he done now!" Isa shouted, "Come on!" Isa rushed up the stairs closely followed by Red and Brella. Treyvere however continued to eat and drink.
Dud noticed a shadow cross in front of the window when he was wiping his blade clean and instinctively he smiled and waved. He turned back to the room and could hear heavy footsteps on the stairs below. He picked up a couple of bottles of potions and a few gold pieces which disappeared into his many pouches.
The troll dropped back down to Big Bob level, "He waved at me!" "How about I go in and see what is exactly going on and then we discuss it further, in the meantime let me take those chains off you." Big Bob said. The troll however had other ideas and snapped the chains off in an instant. "50 50 OK?" Big Bob said. The troll wander off towards the trees. Big Bob rolled his eyes, 'What hell has that idiot bard done now!' he thought as he left the barn and entered the inn.
Isa jumped through hatch closely followed by the ever beautiful Red. Dud turned and smiled stepping away from the body of the keeper on the floor, "He tripped!" Isa came over and looked at body, "Yeah! Right! He tripped into your dagger several times from the looks of things." Dud tried explain that it was accident but nobody believed him. Big Bob came through the hatch and noticed that despite the dead keeper on the floor everyone packing up all the loot.
"I promised the Troll a 50 percent split?"
"Look I found I mind control potion, which could use that on the troll." Dud exclaimed.
"The troll freed itself he is no longer in chains."
"Just put it in the water or beer, look another potion for making inedible food delicious."
"What!" Isa said and started to gag.
"We are not drugging the troll besides it is unlikely these potions will work otherwise why did the keeper keep him chained up?" Big Bob reasoned.
Brella said, "We should bury the body, I found his history over here. His wife buried out back by a tree and his son went off to war." Dud looked at the book he had picked up before everyone turned up. Judging by the contents the keeper was a man after his own heart a teller of tales. He put the book into one of his larger pouches for further reading later.
They buried the body and each went to their separate bedrooms apart from Treyvere who elected to stay on watch by bar and the beer.
I Hate Elves
In morning the troll had returned with a tree branch which he gave to Big Bob and they agreed upon a 50/50 split despite having packed far more than 50 percent into the cart.
Dud was starring across the river towards the other end of the bridge when he heard the sound of marching boots and saw the tops of banners on the other side of the river. He rushed down back to the party to raise the alarm. They trooped up to the battlements over the gate itself.
About 50 troops came into view waving blue banners, Dud excellent eyesight saw elves, "Look they are elves, I've always wanted to them!" Big Bob, "No you don't! They are always always bad news!"
The troops marched half way across bridge and with extreme military precision parted in the middle to let a tall elf walk between to the front. The troll's head appeared above the gate battlements, "Look its Alaric!"
Alaric did not noticed the troll at the Tollgate or the rest of the party. 'I'm a sorcerer and they send me out to destroy a bridge! Any third rate apprentice could do this.' Alaric thought to himself as his raised arms and whispered a few words in elfish. The bridge shook in the middle and then just collapsed into the river. Alaric looked at the soldiers and dared them to complain about unimpressive that was and walked back off the bridge. The soldiers turned and followed.
"I Hate Elves! Didn't I say bad news!" Big Bob said.
Dud was quick to revisit an old discussion, "Looks like the Stone Circle it is then."
Big Bod turned to the troll, "Could you carry us across one by one and our cart?" he asked.
The troll looked at river and he stepped down into river and at it deepest point only his head was showing however when he reached the broken section of the bridge it was less deep and the water only came up to his waist.
"OK!" The troll shouted.
The troll took the party across one by one and the surprisingly heavy cart also. Whilst the rest of the part were walking towards the end of the bridge, the troll leaned close to Big Bob, "Stay on the road, don't go in the forest, GO FAST!"
The Road Goes...
Dud found himself starring at the trees, "Err! I'm sure that tree just moved?!?"
"Keep moving Dud unless you want to stay behind!" Isa said.
Despite the growing darkness they moved as fast as they could through the forest staying on the road until they came upon a rising plain. Next morning through the disappearing mists they saw the smoke rising from the city of Norhye.
On the outskirts they found a tavern, it was suggested that Dud, John and Brella enter the city to find the Fen the Fence.
