Savior
Chapter 11
They traveled for three days when they reached the beginnings of the hills. Rick went hunting daily. One day, he was lucky and came back with a deer. After they collected the firewood, they roasted the buck over an open fire. They even saved some of it for the next day. It was very tasty.
They now needed to find a way into the mountains, so they searched for a path.
"Found it," Gina called out, and they all joined her.
"It's a path, all right," Roy agreed. He led them into the mountains.
oo0O0oo
Roy came around a tight bend and stopped dead. "What is it," Rick, who was right behind him, asked him. Only to see Roy raise a finger to his lips, warning Rick to keep quiet. "What?" Rick whispered and traded places with Roy. Then he saw what Roy did. Rick watched for a time and finally recognized one of them. He backed up. "Those are Orcs with an encampment set up right in the path."
Rick went and told the others. "The Orcs have set up a wall. There's a gate in the center of the path and at least one guard up high.
"I can cast a Knock spell, force the gate open," Kate said.
Rick shook his head. "And alert the lot of them. Maybe we could take them, but maybe not."
"We wait for darkness, then we make our move. We need to plan what we do," Roy told them. "In the meantime, we wait here."
oo0O0oo
They put together a plan while waiting for darkness to fall. Then they waited another four hours, trying not to fall asleep. Rick sneaked forward and lined up the shot that would tell them if their plan would work.
Rick had bought arrows in town, and his quiver was full. He fired four arrows into him. Those arrows hit him, and Rick saw him fall. Then, he motioned for the others to join him.
"Knock the gate and pray it does not make too much noise," Roy told Kate, who cast Knock, and the gate flew open. It did make a sound, so they waited to see if anyone came. When no one did, they went through the gate, getting their first look at the base layout.
They spotted a catapult off to the right, two huts off to the left, and a small tree dead center. There was also another wall with another gate dead center beyond the tree.
They took the first hut. Roy and Rick went inside it and saw four sleeping Orcs. They ended them, not bothering to search them, before taking the other hut, where they found another four Orcs sleeping and killed them.
They moved to the next gate and saw it was open a crack. So they looked inside and saw a well. They also realized that the two round-looking buildings were towers and that there were four of them with a bridge interconnecting all four of them.
They noticed a pen to the right and four huts to the left, decided to leave the others right there, and took the four huts. There were two huts forward and two aft. They took the first one on the left and found five sleeping Orcs that they killed. Then they took the other forward hut, found five more Orcs, and ended them.
Then they moved to the aft hut on the left, where there were five sleeping Orcs. They ended them as well. They took the other hut and saw five sleeping Orcs that they killed. After that, they returned to the others.
"All clear. We'll take this tower while you three take that one." Rick pointed at the front tower on the right. Inside was an armory filled with arrows, spears, clubs, and a ladder leading up. He poked his head up but saw no one.
The three of them found the same thing Rick and Roy found.
The rear two towers also held the very same thing.
Then, they came upon a hut twice the size of the others to the left and two smaller huts to the right. They decided to go left and find out what was in the large tent. Roy and Rick went first and spotted a man and a woman putting on their armor with weapons nearby.
Roy and Rick rushed them and took out their weapons. Roy struck the male, while Rick hit the female. They both did damage, failing to kill either of them.
Lanie and Gina entered and saw a fight taking place. They took out their weapons and moved into position to attack while the man and woman picked up their weapons and swung against Rick and Roy, hitting them both times and doing damage to them.
Roy and Rick swung and hit them, doing damage but not killing them.
Lanie and Gina moved into position and attacked them, swinging at them and hitting them. The female died, but not the male.
Kate stepped in, saw what was happening, and cast Magic Missile on the male, killing him.
Then they went to the other two huts, where Rick and Roy entered, saw an Orc looking over a crate containing food, and killed him. The other hut turned out to be where he slept.
That left the pen, so all four of them went there. What they found was a sleeping person. He was different, with blotchy skin showing different colors of gray, some dark, some lighter, and others were his light skin. And he was incredibly tall, around eight feet.
The pen was stone with pointed sticks angled inward and one gate. Kate had to cast Knock on the gate to get it to open.
Rick went into the pen alone while Roy and the others stood guard. He leaned down and jostled the man to wake him. Doing so, Rick saw plenty of dried blood on him. He watched the man wake, who at first looked afraid until he realized Rick was not an Orc.
Rick knelt beside him. "Can you tell me your name?"
He whispered since he was so weak, he could barely talk. "Kevin."
Rick had never seen the like of him before. "What are you?"
"Goliath," he managed to say. "Third-level Tattooed Monk. Three tattoos."
"You want to be free of here and come with us?" Rick asked him.
Kevin nodded slightly. "Yes. Not sure I can."
"Gina," Rick called. "Get in here and help him."
She hurried in and cast Cure Moderate Wounds.
"Any better?" Rick inquired.
Kevin nodded again. "Yes, thank you."
Rick got up and reached down to help him. He struggled to his feet and straightened up, towering over Gina. The man even towered over Rick.
"He says he's a third-level Tattooed Monk," Rick told the others. "A Monk has to be Lawful. I know that much."
"There is no Evil coming from him," Roy announced. "We have time to search this place. Kate, you're needed in the leader's hut. Let's go, people!"
They found a backpack and supplies in the leader's hut, which they thought to be Kevin's.
"This Tattoo is Nightingale. It can heal wounds, either my own or others, in addition to a certain number of hit points of damage equal to twice my current class level each day and spread this healing out among several uses.
"And this Tattoo is Tiger: Once per day per my tattoos, I can fight unarmed with a +1 bonus on all attack rolls and deal an extra 1d6 points of damage with a successful attack. This burst of martial arts ferocity lasts for one round per class level," Kevin told them.
Rick was perplexed. "If you could heal your wounds, why did you not do so?"
"I did – daily – but they beat me three times a day," Kevin replied. "I could never recover enough to heal all my wounds."
Then Kevin saw Roy come toward him, carrying something. "You found my backpack!" He took it from him. "I cannot thank you enough." He searched and found almost everything in it, including his food. Kevin put it on and was ready to leave. He still felt weak, but he could heal himself in the morning.
"The leader's tent had no magical items inside, but I did find something in the cook's hut." Kate produced a small jar. "I identified it as a jar of spices. You say whatever spice you want and get an unlimited supply. However, if you empty the jar, it loses its magic.
"Back in Calimport, I bought ten pearls," Kate told him.
"We found gold, silver, and copper pieces in each tent," Lanie reported. "We just put it in our backpacks without counting it."
"Let's move out and get far away from here just in case we didn't get them all." Roy took the lead. He looked up at Kevin. "Will you come with us or go your own way?"
"I'll come with you if you do not mind," Kevin replied gratefully.
Rick clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the group, Kevin."
oo0O0oo
Come the morning, Kevin could heal his wounds and keep them that way this time.
No one gained a level after this encounter.
They stopped at noon and counted their coins, coming to 897 gold and 1,455 silver; they left the copper pieces behind them. It meant 199 gold each plus one and 291 silver each.
They continued onward. Later that night, they set up the tent. And once finished, they had trail rations. It was Roy's and Gina's turn to use the bed. It was good that the tent was 20 by 20 on the inside since an eight-foot man was sleeping in it.
They slept soundly, and in the morning, they all went outside to do their business, then came back to pack up and take down the tent.
"I like your tent," Kevin mentioned. "It's quite unique. It's never too hot or cold and is bigger inside than the outside."
Roy eyed him. "And is ours."
"Yes, it is, and I have no problem with that. I have all that I need," Kevin assured him. "But I would like to travel with you. And if I must, defend you as well."
oo0O0oo
They traveled another day into the mountain. Now, they came out into a valley of sorts and spotted something. It was an encampment.
"I wonder whose?" Roy muttered.
"OGRE!" Rick bellowed while being attacked from a hidden corner. He had not seen it but saw who attacked him and hit him.
Suddenly, Flame barked! He found his voice and defended his best friend. Rick was shocked. He had never seen him do that before. The Ogre turned to run but opened himself up to an attack. Kevin, who was right behind Rick, jumped, kicked the Ogre, and killed him.
But that alerted the others, telling them someone was out there. "Great, that means a fight," Roy grumbled.
"If they want a fight, we will give them one." Rick took out his bow, ready to fight by long distance.
They saw five Ogres leave the campsite and take up defensive positions. As they watched, one of them became Invisible. "Uh-oh!" Roy exclaimed.
Rick fired four arrows from a distance, hitting one of them every time while Kate cast Fireball on them. See if they liked that!
The one with the arrows in him died, while the other three took damage but failed to die.
Roy, Lanie, and Gina charged them, but they had a long way to go. When they reached them, they were swung on and took damage. It was then that they swung back at them, hitting and killing all three of them. That just left the invisible one.
They glanced around but, of course, did not see him. Then Kate screamed as she was attacked, her back damaged. The only one close to her was Kevin, who attacked him.
Kate cursed a blue streak – it had hurt a lot – as she drew her dagger and attacked him but missed.
Rick spun and fired four arrows at him, damaging him.
But the Ogre got another hit on Kate, damaging and hurting her so that she screamed again.
Kevin used one of his Stunning Fists and struck him, causing damage.
Rick fired four arrows and killed him. He rushed forward and held Kate up. "Are you all right?" He was worried and very concerned.
"I will be. Just give me a minute." Kate managed to take out her Wand of Cure Light Wounds and touch herself three times, healing herself, but not completely.
Kate turned her head and looked up at Kevin. "You have my heartfelt thanks," she said, grateful for his help.
"I promised I would help you," Kevin reminded her and stepped away.
She sighed and leaned against Rick. "Thank you." And she kissed him.
They searched them and their campsite and found some gold, silver, and a lot of copper.
None of them went up a level after this encounter. They found 633 gold and 566 silver, making it 105 per person plus one and 34 silver plus one.
oo0O0oo
The sparse trees soon gave way to heavy trees, all conifers. Some were short, while others were tall and fat around the base. It made following the trail, if there was one now, very difficult. Also, checking behind almost every tree to see if there was someone there made for slow going. There were none, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be.
They camped in a clearing while Rick went out hunting. "Where is he? He's been gone for hours." Kate was getting worried for him.
"Relax, Rick can take care of himself. He'll be back," Roy told her, but even he started looking for him. Then Roy saw him. Rick was dragging something that was very big. So they both ran toward him and saw what it was.
Kate announced the obvious. "It's a bear!"
"This beastie had the gall to attack me, so I attacked back. And it's heavy, too," Rick complained. "I had to stop and rest several times. But he'll make good eating and a good coat for someone once I skin him and hang him up to dry. It's getting a bit chilly at night, you know."
"I noticed. For a mountain, it sure is humid and warm. But at night, it can get downright cold," Kate said and felt goosebumps on her arms.
"Help me drag him," Rick asked, "and I'll start cutting while everyone gathers firewood. We'll eat very well tonight. If we stay long enough, maybe the next night too. It will take me some time to skin him properly."
Lanie walked up and looked it over. "You bagged a heck of a bear!" She was quite impressed.
They ate very well that night and the next since they allowed Rick time to skin it and hang it up to dry. "Not a bad skinning job, even if I do say so myself," Rick said with pride after he hung it up to dry.
"At least you're good for something." Kate kissed his cheek and walked away to get more bear meat.
"Something?" Rick caught on to what she said, and Kate smiled as she walked.
Kate sat close to him as they sat around the campfire that night. With luck, tomorrow would be dry enough for someone to carry the hide along with them.
The hide was dry enough to carry but not to make into something for two more weeks. Kevin took it since he was the tallest of the group. He towered over everyone, especially Gina. He was close to five feet taller than her.
They stopped and set up camp again that night while Kevin hung the skin up to keep drying it. This time, they had a cold campsite mostly because they were tired and wanted to turn in for the night after eating trail rations.
Come the morning, after everyone did their business, they packed up, took down the tent and put it away, then began walking when suddenly, they came across a clearing. What was in that clearing interested them.
"It's a good thing we had a cold campsite last night. Imagine what would have happened if we had a campfire this close to an Ogre camp." Just thinking about it made Roy shudder.
"We can't go around them or wait for nightfall, which is hours and hours away," Rick told them. "How many do you see?"
"I make out four towers and what looks like five huts, plus that big one in the back. So say up to four per hut, which makes 20 of them plus the leader, who, I'm guessing, lives in the big one in the back," Roy told them.
"Come on, we can take them. They're only Ogres." Gina was itching for a fight. She wanted to make it to the seventh level.
"Even so, sneaking up on them in broad daylight is out," Roy warned them.
"Maybe if we just walk right up there showing no fear of them. They might run for it." Rick saw the looks he was getting. "It was just a thought."
"I could cast Dimension Door on myself, get in close, cast Fireball on a bunch of them, then jump back and do it again," Kate offered. "All while the rest of you charge down and attack them. Maybe by then, there will be fewer of them."
oo0O0oo
In the end, they went with Kate's plan. She cast Dimension Door on herself and ended up right where she wanted to be. The drawback to her plan was she was unable to move or do anything for a minute. But that seemed to have worked out since they spotted Kate and walked toward her as a group.
So she cast Fireball on the lot of them, saw the damage she had caused them, then cast Dimension Door on herself and moved to a new location.
Meanwhile, after the first Fireball, the rest charged down and into the camp.
Again, Kate cast Fireball on the bunch of them and killed all of them. She alone got eight of them, making the odds more in their favor.
Naturally, a fight broke out, and they won! The leader came out and was hit with a Fireball straight away. He cast Invisibility on himself and vanished, only to turn up behind Kate, attacking her. She cried out in pain, but Rick was ready for him and put four arrows into him, killing him.
Gina cast Cure Moderate Wounds on her right away, and Kate felt much better. Then, they searched the place and stumbled on gold, silver, and many copper coins. They also found barrels of apples and other fruits, along with sacks of rice, all piled in one place.
Gina and Kevin each went up a level after that encounter, but no one else did.
Gina gained a fourth-level spell and some skill points, while Kevin gained nothing but some skill points. He was now at the sixth-level and needed to reach the seventh-level to gain another tattoo.
They departed and were far enough away when they set up camp and counted their coins. They gained 856 gold and 1,467 silver, making it 142 gold per person plus one and 244 silver per person plus one. Not bad, but not great either.
Rick went out hunting and came home with a deer this time. He gutted then carved it, and they ate well that night.