Book 2: Chapter 1 - The Hills of Dunland

[Boronind]

Blain watches Hartley give aid to his kinsman with a look of great worry and concern. He and the others remain kneeling encircling Balwain. They all emit a sigh of relief as Hartely remove the piece of flint shrapnel from Balwain's chest with his nimble and delicate fingers. They rise up and turn their gaze to the Ranger and the Elf for instructions on what to do next.

[Muskrat]

Halleth says, "We need to make some improvised stretchers out of cloaks and branches--then we can carry the wounded up. Telurin, maybe you want to run up and warn the woses that we'll be moving our camp up there? And ask them how they've dealt with the local orcs--I have trouble believing they've never been attacked. Though maybe the orcs just figured them for statues like we did."

[Blubbo_Baggins]

"I will go speak to them, and you see if you can find something to make a stretcher."

OOC

Do we still have the cart we used for Airic? Can we use it again for him and Balwain?

[Wbweather]

OOC

Oh, I forgot about Airic. We all took a little damage during that opening volley, well at least several of us did.

From down the valley slopes a dozen wolf riders come. Up over the rim of the dark valley's edge you see the shadowy silhouette of a particularly large beast, it howls, and the others swarm down on you like a wave from both sides. The arrows fly and before you realize it in the dark shadows of the valley many of you are hit. Dubthach takes an arrow to the shoulder, Hartley one across the leg, and Telurin as well is gazed by one of the shots. Balwain and Oxdis of the dwarves are struck hard in the side, while poor poor Airic is once more hit in his leg and screaming he nearly passes out, never fully healed from the last fight.

...

The southern foes are too far to see or care about his lamp and they press in on the dwarves and others there. Dubthach ducks an attack, and orin and Varan and Blain all avoid arrows. Dorin however is his with a glancing dart, but fights on. Its poor Fundar that takes a wolf bite, and a goblin's dagger to his side and comes out the worse for it.

Hartley continues among the other companions, bandaging their various scrapes and bruises. He also attends to Airic who has taken an arrow in his leg and lies mercifully unconscious for now.

OOC

Is Airic dying or just wounded? Do I need to perform a healing roll on him as well?

[Vardaen]

GM

I had you make a roll on Airic, in my last post. Failed, but Hope would be a success.

He's on the brink, dying.

Hope for Balwain, sure AP.

So much bloodshed, its hard to keep things straight. Eventually Telurin heads up to see the Pukel Men, while Halleth puts some of the dwarves to work making stretchers for Balwain and Airic while Hartely turns to the Dunlending Guide once more.

The wagon has enough supplies to last you, but you won't be able to take the wagon itself up the side of the cliff, still there is rope and tarps, and even some poles to use to portage people and things with a bit of work.

[Muskrat]

Halleth says, "Let's get the wounded somewhere safe first--then we can come back for the supplies. We can always go hunting and foraging for more supplies if need be--we can't go hunting for people's souls if they die." He takes up one end of one of the improvised stretchers.

[Seosaidh]

Dubhthach seems worried about Airic. Although he doesn't know him well, Airic is still one of his people, and Dubhthach had been the one to tell his companions how to get Airic to agree to join them in this mess in the first place.

He goes over to help move Airic up to the safety of the Pukel-men's camp.

[Vardaen]

It isn't easy to move the wounded, and it takes all your effort to safely lift them up the stairs and cliff side to the Front Porch where the Dreudain are. The Pukel men don't help you, nor do they hinder you either. After a time, and much moaning and groaning from the wounded you have them there. There are tense moments, since all of you are focused on this, you worry if the orcs would return, but they don't. They won't return for some time after what you did to them.

Then the supplies, its well after dawn by the time you get the last of the supplies up to the shelf like overhang high above. All that remains below is the mule, and the wagon. Neither of which are going to make the trek up those narrow and dangerous paths.

Hartley returns to tending to the wounded, and because of that skips out on having to haul the supplies to be delight. The rest of you are exhausted, only a half's night sleep, a battle, and then up and down a half dozen times.

The dwarves, normally very hardy, slump down, Vara exclaims, "I'm done. A pipe for me, then some sleep." He packs his pipe, and starts puffing on it, eyes drooping.

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Telurin sees that all are situation and can rest or sleep. "I'll watch for a while," he offers, "though from this position I doubt any Orcs would dare attack. They'd at most be able to come up this shelf one or two at a time, and just two of us could easily defend it."

He stands and watches, then decides to sit and watch, next to the Pukel man. "How long does it usually take for the Chief to come? Another day or so?"

[Wbweather]

Despite avoiding the task of hauling gear up the cliff, Hartley is exhausted from the battle and tending to the wounded. He almost has to force himself to get up and cook dinner, and even then the smell of cooking food just puts him in a mood to sleep.