A/N: Sorry the last chapter was so very short. I'll try to lengthen each
chapter up.
Chapter 2: The Adventuring
Koren looked at his joyful companion. Whenever he cast his eyes on Phauran, he felt strength welling up within him. They shared old memories, and Koren learned that Phauran had many adventures before their reunion. Phauran had been hunting a band of orcs when they had met. "Their leader is very notorious for his cruel deeds. His name happens to be Thoran Bloodaxe." Koren felt his blood boil at the name: he did not have the best experiences with any Bloodaxe orcs. "Do you know where they are right now?" Koren inquired his experienced friend. "I have been tracking their movements, and they're moving south and west." "Towards the river Fondura?" "I'm not sure, but if they keep at this course, they'll reach the river within three weeks."
The friends set out in the wake of the band, with Koren relied on his friend's expert knowledge of nature and experiences in tracking to follow the orcs. They soon picked up a fresh trail, and Phauran commented that they might catch up in a week. Days of tracking followed, and they soon exited the forest. On the plains, they saw a dust cloud far away. Knowing this was their objective, Phauran and Koren set out at a faster pace. At night, the band settled down and set up camp. Koren and Phauran saw this and mapped a quick plan. The comrades bid each other luck, and Phauran set out to do his job. Koren then donned his breastplate, and hustled around to the West Side of the camp.
Phauran set his jaws and drew the bowstring as far as it would go. The muscles on his back tightened as he sighted down the arrow shaft to aim at the nearest orc. Phauran prayed silently once more for luck, and let go of the arrow. The shaft flew through the air, and pierced the orc through its spine. A piercing scream followed. Notching another arrow to his bow, Phauran the high elven ranger aimed once more.
Koren heard the scream and drew his longsword. One more shot and he would charge.
Phauran saw the orc panic. 'Panicking targets are the easiest to shoot.' Phauran thought as he loosed his second arrow. The arrow was not completely on target, and it only skimmed the orc's side. Muttering a curse, Phauran quickly drew another arrow and fired. He smirked in grim satisfaction as the arrow pierced the orc's chest, and smirked again at the scream that followed.
Koren heard the second scream. He charged into camp and slashed out at the nearest orc. The orc fell without even a sound. On the far side of camp, Koren could hear that his friend had taken to his longsword and shortsword. Slashing through another orc's neck, Koren kicked out at his next target. The orc was taken by surprise, and dropped his battleaxe. Koren did not lose his chance to strike downwards at his fallen target, and smote through the fallen orc's scale mail. He looked up in time to see an orc charging, and dodged to the side as the battleaxe came down harmlessly. Koren followed his dodge with a stab towards the unfortunate orc's stomach, and the orc released a spurt of blood before dying. Seven orcs charged at him to try and avenge their fallen comrades. Koren laughed as he threw out his taunt: "Come join your friends at the pits of death! Don't be shy, evil! The more the merrier, you know!"
As soon as the arrow left his bow, Phauran drew his two swords. Charging into the fight, Phauran crashed through the camp, orcs without their armor took up their weapons and charged towards Phauran. The ranger smirked at their stupidity as he clove through two to his right and stabbed the stomach of a third. He spun to meet the next victims and dispatched yet three more. Following his attack with a backhanded attack, Phauran heard Koren's voice rise over the din of mêlée. Strengthened by his bold friend's words, Phauran increased the intensity of his attack. Carving a path towards his friend's location, Phauran attacked all orcs that came into reach. Soon, the ranger's armor became covered in orcish blood, and the ranger allowed the rage within him to build up.
After two tiring minutes of the battle, an exceptionally large orc stepped out of his tent, wielding a greatsword and wearing an expression that could probably scare ghosts away. At his presence, the orcs stopped, as did the adventurers. "I am Thoran Bloodaxe." The orc called out in a booming voice, "Anyone who dares to challenge me remain standing!" All orcs fell to their faces, and only Phauran and Koren remained standing. At this, Thoran gave a loud laugh and stepped towards Phauran. "So, elf, you dare challenge me? Very well, you shall have the honor of being slain in battle."
Phauran only lowered into a battle stance. The orcs moved themselves into a circle surrounding the two combatants. "My second shall be Holg, my captain." "And my second shall be Koren, the paladin." Thoran gripped his greatsword and raised the point into a guard. Phauran then charged with the fierce battle cry of the high elves. Torchlight flashed upon the whirling blades and Thoran and Phauran parried each other's moves and countered with their own attacks. Thoran clove through Phauran's guard and tore the shoulder of the ranger. Phauran grimaced in pain as all orcs burst into a shout, banging their axe shafts against the ground. Phauran rolled to lessen the damage, and came at the orc in frenzy. Thoran was taken aback by the elf's fierceness, and made a mistake in letting his guard fall slow compared to the attacker's blows. Phauran's longsword slashed into Thoran's side, and Thoran yelped in pain as more blows came. Then something happened that Phauran did not expect. Thoran raised his arm and the orcs charged.
"Unfair little freaks!" Koren spat as he rushed to his friend's side. Koren slew Holg, and the scared orcs became less enthusiastic in their attacks. The orcs' fear grew even more when Phauran slew the injured Thoran. The remaining orcs dropped their axes and ran, in hopes of surviving this encounter. Koren stopped his crazed friend from further pursuit, and Phauran sat down to rest and try to heal. Koren and Phauran both rested on the band's supplies and recovered from the attacks they had made. The friends did not take any "treasure" because Phauran hated the orcs anyway and Koren, being a noble paladin he is, did not loot his enemies. Koren did take a golden holy symbol of his god from the enemy's stash, however.
After two days of resting, the two friends marched towards the nearby river town of Lûduth. The two days' march was uneventful, and the duo arrived at the small town early in their third day of travelling. The town was strangely quiet, and the two friends wondered at this.
Suddenly, a piercing cry split the air and the two rushed towards the sound. They skidded into a town square where most villagers were trapped in the center of two ogres and an ogre mage. The ogre mage saw the two enter, and immediately stepped back and focused on his inner arcane powers and turned invisible. The ogres whirled to meet them and charged. The villagers saw this as a chance to run and did so, running away from the town square as fast as possible. Phauran dispatched an ogre with a quick slash and a stab to its head, and Koren thrust his longsword into the stomach of the second after dodging a swing from the ogre's club. Suddenly, the ogre mage became visible, and from its outstretched hand came a blast of cold wind, causing both Koren and Phauran to gasp as the coldness drained the heat from their bodies. Phauran, reacting to the visibility of the mage, stepped forward and struck out at the giant. The ogre mage growled as the longsword slashed his chain shirt open, and drew his huge greatsword to strike at the ranger. Phauran did not react fast enough, and the sword clove against his armor and bashed him twenty feet from his former position. The mage then took to flight, becoming invisible once more in mid-air.
Koren rushed to his friend's aid and with his divine powers mended his friend's wound. The townspeople returned after some time, and thanked the adventurers for saving them. The mayor stepped forward to explain what had happened.
"We were holdin' a festival, we were, an' the ogres come ou' o' nowheres an' trap us. If it wern' fur you fellas, we wouldda died! We thankee from the bottoms o' our harts, we do. You two'll be welcomed in this town here fur a long while, you'll be! We thankee agin, fellas."
Koren and Phauran said that it was their duty to do so, but could not restrain the villagers from giving them special hospitality. Koren purchased a shield of good make, and Phauran's injury healed in no time with the help of the townspeople. After promising to return, the two set out again.
~-O-~ Koren, male human Pal7: CR 7; Size M (6 ft., 3 in. tall); HD 7d10+14; Hp 58; Init +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved initiative); Spd 20 ft.; AC 18 (+1 Dex, +5 Breastplate, +2 Large Steel Shield); Attack +10/+5 longsword (melee), 1d8+2 or +8 shortbow (ranged, 60 ft.), 1d6; SV Fort +10 Ref +6 Will +7; AL LG; Str 14, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 17
Languages spoken: Common
Skills: Heal +13, Diplomacy +7, Handle Animal +5, Ride +5, Listen (cc) +5, Feats: Power attack, Cleave, Weapon focus (longsword), Improved Initiative
Possessions: Masterwork longsword, shortbow, 28 arrows, breastplate, masterwork large steel shield, trail rations (3), 14 GP, 3 SP, and 13 CP.
Phauran, male elf (high) Rgr9: CR9; Size M (5 ft., 6 in. tall); HD 9d10; hp 61; Init + 5 (+5 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 18(+5 Dex, +3 studded leather); Attack +11/+6 longsword, +10/+5 shortsword (melee), 1d8+2/1d8+2+1d6+1/1d6+1 or +16 longbow (ranged, 100 ft.), 1d8+1; SV Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +6; AL NG; Str 12, Dex 20, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14
Languages spoken: Common, Elven
Skills: Wilderness lore +14, Handle Animal +8, Move Silently +10, Ride +10, Listen +9, Spot +9, Search +7 Feats: Weapon focus (longbow), Alertness, Dodge, Improved two-weapon fighting
Possessions: +1 longsword, masterwork shortsword, +1 longbow, masterwork studded-leather, 29 arrows, trail rations (4), 41 GP, 5 SP, and 34 CP.
Chapter 2: The Adventuring
Koren looked at his joyful companion. Whenever he cast his eyes on Phauran, he felt strength welling up within him. They shared old memories, and Koren learned that Phauran had many adventures before their reunion. Phauran had been hunting a band of orcs when they had met. "Their leader is very notorious for his cruel deeds. His name happens to be Thoran Bloodaxe." Koren felt his blood boil at the name: he did not have the best experiences with any Bloodaxe orcs. "Do you know where they are right now?" Koren inquired his experienced friend. "I have been tracking their movements, and they're moving south and west." "Towards the river Fondura?" "I'm not sure, but if they keep at this course, they'll reach the river within three weeks."
The friends set out in the wake of the band, with Koren relied on his friend's expert knowledge of nature and experiences in tracking to follow the orcs. They soon picked up a fresh trail, and Phauran commented that they might catch up in a week. Days of tracking followed, and they soon exited the forest. On the plains, they saw a dust cloud far away. Knowing this was their objective, Phauran and Koren set out at a faster pace. At night, the band settled down and set up camp. Koren and Phauran saw this and mapped a quick plan. The comrades bid each other luck, and Phauran set out to do his job. Koren then donned his breastplate, and hustled around to the West Side of the camp.
Phauran set his jaws and drew the bowstring as far as it would go. The muscles on his back tightened as he sighted down the arrow shaft to aim at the nearest orc. Phauran prayed silently once more for luck, and let go of the arrow. The shaft flew through the air, and pierced the orc through its spine. A piercing scream followed. Notching another arrow to his bow, Phauran the high elven ranger aimed once more.
Koren heard the scream and drew his longsword. One more shot and he would charge.
Phauran saw the orc panic. 'Panicking targets are the easiest to shoot.' Phauran thought as he loosed his second arrow. The arrow was not completely on target, and it only skimmed the orc's side. Muttering a curse, Phauran quickly drew another arrow and fired. He smirked in grim satisfaction as the arrow pierced the orc's chest, and smirked again at the scream that followed.
Koren heard the second scream. He charged into camp and slashed out at the nearest orc. The orc fell without even a sound. On the far side of camp, Koren could hear that his friend had taken to his longsword and shortsword. Slashing through another orc's neck, Koren kicked out at his next target. The orc was taken by surprise, and dropped his battleaxe. Koren did not lose his chance to strike downwards at his fallen target, and smote through the fallen orc's scale mail. He looked up in time to see an orc charging, and dodged to the side as the battleaxe came down harmlessly. Koren followed his dodge with a stab towards the unfortunate orc's stomach, and the orc released a spurt of blood before dying. Seven orcs charged at him to try and avenge their fallen comrades. Koren laughed as he threw out his taunt: "Come join your friends at the pits of death! Don't be shy, evil! The more the merrier, you know!"
As soon as the arrow left his bow, Phauran drew his two swords. Charging into the fight, Phauran crashed through the camp, orcs without their armor took up their weapons and charged towards Phauran. The ranger smirked at their stupidity as he clove through two to his right and stabbed the stomach of a third. He spun to meet the next victims and dispatched yet three more. Following his attack with a backhanded attack, Phauran heard Koren's voice rise over the din of mêlée. Strengthened by his bold friend's words, Phauran increased the intensity of his attack. Carving a path towards his friend's location, Phauran attacked all orcs that came into reach. Soon, the ranger's armor became covered in orcish blood, and the ranger allowed the rage within him to build up.
After two tiring minutes of the battle, an exceptionally large orc stepped out of his tent, wielding a greatsword and wearing an expression that could probably scare ghosts away. At his presence, the orcs stopped, as did the adventurers. "I am Thoran Bloodaxe." The orc called out in a booming voice, "Anyone who dares to challenge me remain standing!" All orcs fell to their faces, and only Phauran and Koren remained standing. At this, Thoran gave a loud laugh and stepped towards Phauran. "So, elf, you dare challenge me? Very well, you shall have the honor of being slain in battle."
Phauran only lowered into a battle stance. The orcs moved themselves into a circle surrounding the two combatants. "My second shall be Holg, my captain." "And my second shall be Koren, the paladin." Thoran gripped his greatsword and raised the point into a guard. Phauran then charged with the fierce battle cry of the high elves. Torchlight flashed upon the whirling blades and Thoran and Phauran parried each other's moves and countered with their own attacks. Thoran clove through Phauran's guard and tore the shoulder of the ranger. Phauran grimaced in pain as all orcs burst into a shout, banging their axe shafts against the ground. Phauran rolled to lessen the damage, and came at the orc in frenzy. Thoran was taken aback by the elf's fierceness, and made a mistake in letting his guard fall slow compared to the attacker's blows. Phauran's longsword slashed into Thoran's side, and Thoran yelped in pain as more blows came. Then something happened that Phauran did not expect. Thoran raised his arm and the orcs charged.
"Unfair little freaks!" Koren spat as he rushed to his friend's side. Koren slew Holg, and the scared orcs became less enthusiastic in their attacks. The orcs' fear grew even more when Phauran slew the injured Thoran. The remaining orcs dropped their axes and ran, in hopes of surviving this encounter. Koren stopped his crazed friend from further pursuit, and Phauran sat down to rest and try to heal. Koren and Phauran both rested on the band's supplies and recovered from the attacks they had made. The friends did not take any "treasure" because Phauran hated the orcs anyway and Koren, being a noble paladin he is, did not loot his enemies. Koren did take a golden holy symbol of his god from the enemy's stash, however.
After two days of resting, the two friends marched towards the nearby river town of Lûduth. The two days' march was uneventful, and the duo arrived at the small town early in their third day of travelling. The town was strangely quiet, and the two friends wondered at this.
Suddenly, a piercing cry split the air and the two rushed towards the sound. They skidded into a town square where most villagers were trapped in the center of two ogres and an ogre mage. The ogre mage saw the two enter, and immediately stepped back and focused on his inner arcane powers and turned invisible. The ogres whirled to meet them and charged. The villagers saw this as a chance to run and did so, running away from the town square as fast as possible. Phauran dispatched an ogre with a quick slash and a stab to its head, and Koren thrust his longsword into the stomach of the second after dodging a swing from the ogre's club. Suddenly, the ogre mage became visible, and from its outstretched hand came a blast of cold wind, causing both Koren and Phauran to gasp as the coldness drained the heat from their bodies. Phauran, reacting to the visibility of the mage, stepped forward and struck out at the giant. The ogre mage growled as the longsword slashed his chain shirt open, and drew his huge greatsword to strike at the ranger. Phauran did not react fast enough, and the sword clove against his armor and bashed him twenty feet from his former position. The mage then took to flight, becoming invisible once more in mid-air.
Koren rushed to his friend's aid and with his divine powers mended his friend's wound. The townspeople returned after some time, and thanked the adventurers for saving them. The mayor stepped forward to explain what had happened.
"We were holdin' a festival, we were, an' the ogres come ou' o' nowheres an' trap us. If it wern' fur you fellas, we wouldda died! We thankee from the bottoms o' our harts, we do. You two'll be welcomed in this town here fur a long while, you'll be! We thankee agin, fellas."
Koren and Phauran said that it was their duty to do so, but could not restrain the villagers from giving them special hospitality. Koren purchased a shield of good make, and Phauran's injury healed in no time with the help of the townspeople. After promising to return, the two set out again.
~-O-~ Koren, male human Pal7: CR 7; Size M (6 ft., 3 in. tall); HD 7d10+14; Hp 58; Init +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved initiative); Spd 20 ft.; AC 18 (+1 Dex, +5 Breastplate, +2 Large Steel Shield); Attack +10/+5 longsword (melee), 1d8+2 or +8 shortbow (ranged, 60 ft.), 1d6; SV Fort +10 Ref +6 Will +7; AL LG; Str 14, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 17
Languages spoken: Common
Skills: Heal +13, Diplomacy +7, Handle Animal +5, Ride +5, Listen (cc) +5, Feats: Power attack, Cleave, Weapon focus (longsword), Improved Initiative
Possessions: Masterwork longsword, shortbow, 28 arrows, breastplate, masterwork large steel shield, trail rations (3), 14 GP, 3 SP, and 13 CP.
Phauran, male elf (high) Rgr9: CR9; Size M (5 ft., 6 in. tall); HD 9d10; hp 61; Init + 5 (+5 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 18(+5 Dex, +3 studded leather); Attack +11/+6 longsword, +10/+5 shortsword (melee), 1d8+2/1d8+2+1d6+1/1d6+1 or +16 longbow (ranged, 100 ft.), 1d8+1; SV Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +6; AL NG; Str 12, Dex 20, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14
Languages spoken: Common, Elven
Skills: Wilderness lore +14, Handle Animal +8, Move Silently +10, Ride +10, Listen +9, Spot +9, Search +7 Feats: Weapon focus (longbow), Alertness, Dodge, Improved two-weapon fighting
Possessions: +1 longsword, masterwork shortsword, +1 longbow, masterwork studded-leather, 29 arrows, trail rations (4), 41 GP, 5 SP, and 34 CP.