D&D Post Game 7-14-18 Part 2

To the North they go.........
After procuring a trio of horses, one stolen by the rouge and two purchased, the trio of adventurers ride northwards to the inn now known as Harrigan's Last Stop (a trio of management changes have occurred there). The barbarian had purchased two bottles of dwarven rot gut whiskey to continue his drinking binge on the trip northward.


The first day up was uneventful as they passed several caravans, traders and travelers coming to and from Stonekeep. They made camp for the night off the side of the road and had an uneventful rest. The barbarian had finished his first bottle of whiskey and properly passed out.
Day two and the trio continued northward. By mid-day they saw a pair of hunched figures rifling around in the tall grass of the road. The figures spotted the party and rushed off into the woods nearby. The rouge and monk went to investigate. The barbarian took a slug from his second bottle of booze, mumbled something about a trap, swayed in the saddle and urged his horse forward.


Into the forest.....
The rouge and monk searched the area and found two dead human males. They had been stabbed and robbed of their belongings. The pair rushed off into the woods after the figures they saw. Once in the forest the rouge stepped into the shadows and began to track the two figures. The monk walked forward looking for any tracks or clues to where these two figures ran off too.
Soon the rouge managed to sneak around a few trees and discover a trio of armored hobgoblins and a heavily armored human whispering orders to them. The rouge continued around them and then saw a second group of three hobgoblins and another human in heavy armor leading them as well.
The monk was soon to arrive in the area and he managed to spot a pair of the hidden hobgoblins and he quickly rushes them. The rouge sees his chance sneaks up behind a hobgoblin and drives two daggers into its back. A skirmish has begun!
The barbarian mumbles to himself and continued to slowly ride north.





Skirmish!
The rouge and monk launch into battle against first group of hobgoblins and their human leader. The monk and rouge dance between opponents driving daggers into sides and unleashing flurries of fists. The human warrior alongside the hobgoblins was shouting orders and rallying cries. This kept the demi-humans in line and also seemed to improve their combat prowess and occasional appeared to heal their minor injuries. The second group hearing battle starts to move toward the sounds of combat.


As the first four enemies fell the next for rushed the monk and rouge. Luck was with them as their second group of enemies wasn't as well trained as the first (mostly due to poor rolls on my part). Still the human leader of the group maintained a military type order of the group and bolstered his followers with rousing words as well. However, words were not enough as the second group of four enemies was cut down as well.


The rouge and monk take a moment to catch their breath before searching the bodies and area. There are no distinguishing marks, tribal marking, symbols etc. on any of the bodies. There are also no long term supplies as well, meaning that they must be stationed somewhere nearby. They looked for tracks but couldn't find any besides the route to and from the main road. The pair decided to get back to their horses and catch up with the barbarian.


Harrigan's Last Stop
Here the party stops for the night. The barbarian begins drinking heavily again. He ignores his partners and eventually stumbles up to his room to pass out on the floor.
The rouge and monk notice that the inn and tavern have many many magical wards on the outside and inside of the buildings. They discuss local events with the barkeep and learn that there are all manner of strange events in the north forest. There have also been a lot of strange shadowy figures and armored men moving about the region. The description seems to match the groups the monk and rouge fought earlier. The monk remembers the lair of the Battle Brothers is near this location. If there is a place for strange figures and evil men to be hold up, it would be there.


Off to the North woods.....
The following day the party made for the long thought empty cave lair of the now defunct Battle Brothers. The barbarian nursing a hangover grabbed another pair of bottles of hard liquor to nurse this and get back to a full drunken stupor. The rouge and monk look on is disbelief and despair. Their friend is lost and seems to want to be helped.


By mid-morning the trio make it to the woods where the strange happenings are occurring. Here the foliage is either way too large of way too small. The flowering plants are multicolored or constantly change their colors. Insects have too many legs or not enough. The animals one would see or hear in the forest appear to have all left. There are light breezes blowing from the wrong or multiple directions. There is a palpable amount of strange magical energy occurring here, but where it is originating is unknown.


As the party dismounts and begins to lead their horses through the woods, they come upon seven humans in splint mail with shields and swords. They are in the middle of what looks to be some sort of military training or maneuvers.


They see the party and form up into pairs with weapons drawn. One man steps forward and introduces himself as Captain Anton Salazar the leader of this group and the now defunct Silver Chalices. He thanks the party for travelling up here as it makes it so much easier to exact revenge upon them. He calls his men to action and they quickly advance on the party.


It begins and ends....
The rouge and monk are rushed by four of the soldiers. Captain Salazar and two men rush the barbarian. The party quickly realize this is no mere rabble. These men are well trained and their sword play is better than expected. Not only that, but their defenses seem much harder to penetrate as well. This would be no easy fight. However, the party had faced much tougher odds before, especially with their battle rage filled barbarian friend in battle. As fist and dagger met sword and shield the 1/2 orc drew his two handed vorpal blade and swung it in sloppy wide arcs with only one hand. His other hand was still holding a bottle of booze as he tried to drink and fight three men. Captain Salazar smirked and advanced on the 1/2 orc looking to gain his revenge for the death of his friend and former commander.


The barbarian stumbled about swinging his sword wildly at all three men attacking him. Captain Salazar and his men took their time and attacked when they saw openings. The barbarian was dealing vicious blows to his opponents, but his wild swings were not accurate and didn't have added punch behind them. Soon Captain Salazar raised his sword and unleashed a magical wave of magical healing on him and his men. He then drove forward with a pair of vicious slashes to the barbarian's midsection. The barbarian stumbles back a few feet, coughs up some blood, laughs and takes another pull off his whiskey bottle.


Captain Salazar seeing the 1/2 orc in this condition smiles and urges his men forward. The trio facing the barbarian attack with renewed vigor and anger. As the barbarian lashes out on the two soldiers, Captain Salazar steps behind him. The 1/2 orc lands blows on the two men before him, as a long sword is driven into his back. Captain Salazar removes the sword, turns the barbarian to face him and drives his sword into his chest. He whispers a single word, revenge, to the barbarian. The 1/2 orc loses the grip on his sword as he reaches for Captain Salazar's throat. The human steps to the side and the barbarian falls to the ground in growing pool of his blood.


The rouge dashes between opponents driving his daggers into exposed flanks, backs and bellies. The monk continues to punch, kick and stab at anyone who advances upon him. Both of them soon realize that the barbarian has not flown into his well-known battle rage. They try to make their way toward him only to be cut off by men facing them. Soon, they have cut down the four of the warriors facing them only to see their friend fall to his knees at the hands of Captain Salazar.
Captain Salazar and his remain men advance on the rouge and monk. Everyone left in this fight is bleeding from wounds of varying amounts and depths. The remaining two soldiers are stunned via Ki strikes from the monk and finished off by sneak attacks from the rouge.


The Captain Salazar wades into battle and drives his sword into the belly of the rouge and quickly removes the blade and reverses the blade to strike the incoming monk. The rouge is now on the proverbial ropes bleeding profusely and is moments from falling in combat. The monk seeing this and the unmoving 1/2 orc in the foreground, knows that he has only one chance to drop this man in front of him. He digs deep and strikes out with sword and fist the incoming Captain.
The human raises his shield to turn the punch and counter with his own sword thrust. His blade and the blade of the monk pass each other with just a hair's width between them. Cloth and armor give way as blades drive forward seeking purchase. Flesh is hit and both men stop. Their weapon arms held straight and taught.
Captain Salazar smiles at the monk and thin line of blood falls from his mouth. His steps back, the monk’s sword slowly sliding from his torso. He sees that the tip of his sword is held tight in the bloody hand of the monk, a few millimeters from his heart. The Captain's eyes roll back and the word revenge passes his lips as he falls to the ground dead.


The monk and rouge rush over to the barbarian but it is too late. The 1/2 orc is unresponsive and had succumbed to the grievous wounds he was dealt in the battle.


The rouge and monk tend to their wounds the best they can. They collect their friends' body and the sword of Captain Salazar. They stumble back to their horses and head back to Harrigan's Last Stop.  What or whomever ordered this attack on their home is still a mystery, but they have an idea where to search for answers. Now they knew three things: they needed medical attention for themselves, maybe a high priest fro their dead friend, and more help to solve this issue.