The Six Mighty Adventures Miserable Adventure
Chapter 4
The small town was encircled by the remains of a large tent town used by the remaining people's army that still numbered in the thousands. A rough earthen berm lined with sharp steaks surrounded the town with rows of lizard mounts carefully laid out that they were told made up the people's cavalry.
Groups of citizen soldiers were gathered around the fires with the people still quite jubilant from their victory. To one side sprawled the battle field which was still covered in the bodies of the vermin horde. At the rear of what had been the enemy army position was a large funeral pyre which was being fed a steady supply of looted enemy bodies. Around the towns small burial grounds the people were readying a new enlarged cemetery to lay to rest the good people who had fallen in battle.
It took a while for Squire Hammy to explain to the alarmed people that the six adventurers were friendly and were here searching for Bob. This could be mainly due to their brutish primitive cave dweller like appearance of filthy furless bodies with rough sac clothing and bits of rat/bug armour. Of course the sight of praying mantis claws used as long swords, various mandibles for daggers or short swords, rat made bronze daggers and bronze short swords plus bug head helmets added up to a barbaric appearance expected of savages about to go on a rampage.
With the misunderstanding cleared up they six were yet again continually being greeted as Bob's faithful minions. A common greeting they received usually was along the line of.
"We welcome Sir Bob's most loyal servants who have come looking for your master. This is most commendable and worthy of you in your service to him. Such loyalty and dedication is to be commended".
They were eventually welcomed by the crowd but when the six inquired about Bob's location the people did not seem to know exactly where Sir Bob was at the moment. The people had heard about him being around here and there during the day helping out but they don't know exactly where he is right now.
The people were happy to suggest looking for Sir Bob in various places such as.
A: The council tent was their best bet, B: The healers station saving the wounded, C: The village square leading the musicians gathered there, D: Inside the old and mysterious little hut beside the square where Sir Bob found a magic sword, E: On the battle field policing the dead, F: Accompanying Sir Jeepea and the peoples cavalry as they chased fleeing enemy marauders, G: With the bird peoples receiving flying lessons, G Part two: Off somewhere practicing his flying lessons (The last two brought a few questions from the six "What do mean he can fly. Since when can he fly?), H: keeping a protective watch in the top of the highest tree or I: spotted "resting" in an abandoned tent somewhere in the encampment with a beautiful fairy maiden (which raised another question, What fairy maiden?), (Amongst other rumours).
Several of the party members searched the battle field hoping to yield any repairable or modifiable armour and shields. More bronze swords (any type), bronze daggers, clubs, maces, bronze axes, any crossbows or bows with bronze tipped bolts and bronze spears. All they found were left over lower quality items as the best had already been looted by the people's army.
Among the rumours and questions the others heard during the search included various things such as a philosophy group debating Bob's species and it now included the six adventurers.
Their questions to you ranged from conspiracy speculation to knowledgeable discussions such as. -You were sent to gather information for your home land, as some sort of advanced contacts. -Because of how hideous your true pan spiritual body looks, you are now in a solid form or projection for the people's convenience to easily comprehend and mask your disturbing looking true form. -Your upright stature, lack of claws or sharp teeth was a purposeful handicap, to put the people's at ease, or perhaps to disguise your incredible abilities when you move on all fours or sing from tree to tree. -Humans were a mythical primitive giant race from before our known time, and Bob was the harbinger of their glorious return, but only if Sir Bob judged the world worthy to worship them. -You have come here from a parallel reality, to prepare the people for magic reappearing. -You all secretly have wings, but they were invisible, ephemeral and not very good for flight in this realm as shown by examples of Sir Bob's poor flying skill. Oh and any person who managed to touch them would die, or maybe live forever. -The hero's council may or may not be under his mental sway, or you're trying to secretly aid or control us. -Eating meat gave you powers, and once you'd eaten the meat of every sentient race of the world, you'd become an almost deity like being. -Bob is… well, the explanation was a little long, but some rough equivalent to a succubus with the way that ladies swoon over him, as one elder commented "I don't get why some near hairless single, male, musician, magician, healer, fighter, adventurer, fate chosen heroic-leader gets those females all hot n bothered like".
It seems like some local drunken revelers were also making a song about your minion. It is certainly a work in progress at this moment but they kind of have a loud chorus now "SIR BOB THE GREAT really he's such a nice fellow, SIR BOB THE GREAT he will give a welcome hello, SIR BOB THE GREAT life gave him so little fur, SIR BOB THE GREAT makes ladies hearts all astir, ….pause…. ahem, or so they say something something….pause…anyone got any more ale, or idea? Then onto the next drunken verse]
Eventually the six adventurers come full circle with no real knowledge of Bob's location. Only that he has popped into the command tent for a brief check then headed out again before they got there, again.
The helpful but nervous and quiet leaders of the council in the tent set the six up in a large nearby tent to rest while their armour was properly modified for them, their looted bronze weapons were sharpened for them and seamstress would be replacing their sack cloth garments with something less itchy for their tender skin.
Towards early evening a simple meal was provided as the rumours and reports of Bob's location and actions became more ridiculous showing that no one seemed to truly know his location, especially the now very nervous council's tent attendees. Ransarn had also searched for berries to cast the good Berry spell upon but the good ones were already eaten by the people's army, the rest were unripe and unsuitable for use.
Amongst the newest tales and wild rumours the party had collected that evening included that.
-They heard from a friend that your great leader Sir Bob and your party are from a far realm where he was chosen by fate to come here and aid us by using his skills and knowledge to help win the war. -He is a mighty war mage and used his own skills at arms to confound and destroy the forces of evil. Among these and many more deeds the various people speak of and swear to include: - His rousing speeches the day before the battle, speeches the day of and right up to and during the battle. - Urging the people to practice hard and imparting his skills and strategies to survive and to win. - Using the food poisoned by the enemy in traps against them, also altering the field of battle to our advantage with our own traps and barriers. - Flying about the battle field on a bird to stop the enemies from breaking through or to go slay enemy leaders. - He drew the legendary Sword of Justice from its stone as foretold of our great leader. - He retrieved the legendary raiment of blessing, the Tabard of Honour from the clutches of evil. - He savaged the enemy's greatest beasts head and drove it from the battle field. - He used music magic to reveal and root out the enemy assassins hidden within the people's army. - He is truly a master healer, saving so many lives with his magic healing berries. - He is experienced in engineering works and has an amazing command of battle field tactics. - He is a master war mage whose magic slew hundreds of the enemy's elites in battle. - He sang songs of magic, songs of inspiration and hope that protected the peoples mind against evil. - He was setting fair maidens hearts all aflutter by his mere presence and gentle touch, or so they say. - He turned the tides of fate so that the villainous army was destroyed with our own having few casualties. –He has allowed us victory so that we shall soon return home to resume our peaceful lives. All hail the great Sir Bob, savior and leader of the free people!
The thoughts of the six adventurers about these revelations ranged from:
Barely contained laughter (Loro). Wondering why they couldn't get these idiots to believe that BOB WAS THEIR side kick (Ani). How the heck did he do all this? (Tulo). Is there something causing delusions in the local water? (Ransarn). Impervious stoicism (Ghengis). And lastly, Oh I am so going to chew him out for dragging us into all this nonsense! (Xena).
Loro eventually went into their tent and laughed himself to sleep despite his sore ribs from laughing.