and all points north

See Also: Bardic Knowledge

Lord Fulco, Baronry of Maasen, has hired phoenix_force to recover some heirlooms that were stolen from him recently. Now that they are in his employ, the Baron explains that the item in question is a large banner staff that is grandfather brought back from a raid beyond the Stoneheart mountains. There was a tattered cloth that still hung on the staff, but it was impossible to tell anything from the scraps remaining. The staff itself was carved from a bone taken from some impossible monster as it measured over six feet in length and was the thickness of a man’s forearm.

Upon the recommendation of the the Lord's steward, they set out to study the few records that exist in the hopes of uncovering who would steal such an item. The steward and a page bring scrolls and hidebound books to Phoenix Force and stand by ready to help as well as watch them in case they attempt to filch anything. After the high bell a serving girl brings in food and wine for everyone. It is nearly nightfall when the rest of Phoenix company arrives. Julianna seeing everyone reading immediately this boring and heads off to the tavern.

Hellstrom Darkmaster, Gul, and Tharen Starlight remain behind to do the grunt work. The scrolls were not well preserved and many of the oldest ones are very difficult to read clearly. It was in a small sheaf of loose papers that some of the answers were found. Obviously penned by someone of no small skill, the notes described a banner of power that when soaked in the blood of your enemies it would grant you the strength to defeat them. The description of this banner was obviously the one that had been stolen. However, it still left open the question of who had stolen it.

With that bit of knowledge the researchers returned to the common room of the tavern for some well-deserved sleep. The next morning after a greasy breakfast they split into pairs and proceeded to talk to the townspeople about anyone that had traveled through recently – or any other occurrence. Most of the leads were useless, but one farmer recalled coming across the campsite in the north woods. Fearing it was bandits he informed the guard captain immediately. Following up with the captain he tells them is was an abandoned campsite and his men looked for tracks and found nothing recent.

With little else to go on the party makes for the campsite in the north woods. Immediately they feel that something is not right about the entire situation. The campsite looks old, but Cohen find orc tracks north of the campsite that seem to simply appear out of nowhere. East of the campsite Julianna finds orc spoor and the bones of two large boars that were fiendishly concealed. These were no common raiders, they had a purpose and the skill to conceal their tracks. More worrisome was the fact that Hellstrom determined that a spell was cast upon the campsite that would gently dissuade anyone from spending too much time here. It was already affecting Gul, making the little gnome happy to help out anyone anywhere else – even if they did not ask for help.

Lord Fulco is visiting the southern villages today so the party gives the information to the steward and then begin to follow the tracks of the orc raiders. It is made difficult by the orcs skill as well as the rain that has come through recently, but they make steady progress north and west. However, they have to stop well before sunset as the visibility is getting poor. They make camp within sight of a small river.

With a crescent move overhead, Julianna and Gul are on watch. She has been aware for some time that several people have been moving closer to the campsite. She has already awoke Ridolf by kicking him and telling him to stop his snoring, using that excuse to pass on the message. Ridolf rolls over and taps Tharen awake. Gul stokes the fire while standing near Hellstrom, but cannot awake the mage without making the attempt obvious.

When she judges the time is right Julianna shouts, “Now Gul! And covers her eyes.”

Streaking white light arc out from Gul's hands to strike the nearest attacker – causing bright white sparks to shower the area. Their sight temporarily blinded, those sneaking up have the tables turned as Phoenix Force is among their numbers dealing death. Blades flash, bows sing, and magical fire light the battle for brief moments in time. The attackers may have numbers on their side, but Phoenix Force more than make up for it in skill and ferocity.

When the battle ends Phoenix Force stands triumphant, most of them bleeding from several wounds but none of them too seriously injured. Their attackers were orcs each one of them with a black spread-fingered handprint on their face. None of them had ever heard of any tribe using such as their symbol, but given the sheer number of tribes in the Stoneheart mountains it was not difficult to imagine such a tribe existed.

The only odd thing was that within their many pouches each of them had a number of dakarian coins. The orcs fancied the silver coins, but would quickly melt them down into silver to use in the jewelry that was important to them. Therefore these orcs got these coins recently and in fairly large numbers, moreso than they would have from simply raiding small hamlets.