Two horsemen ride up to a tavern...

Kou nods at Thrand "It is good they were able to make it here so quickly I was worried the town would be under defended during our absence. We should introduce ourselves and give them the lay of the land."  

"You're the Keeper, introduce away!" Thrandimir chuckles with a blasé wave of his hand. However, the wizard does guide his horse to follow Kou towards the soldiers.

The column marches closer. The being mounted on horseback turns out to be large red-scaled dragonborn wearing black armor with the same verdant green trimming that the rest of the soldiers present. As the column approaches, he raises a red fist. With a clatter, the soldiers come to a halt.  "Halt, citizens," the dragonborn says in common. "What's your business on the Heartlands Trivard this evening?"

Realising that these soldiers may not , in fact, take kindly to the idea of their travelling to loot an ancient ruin, Thrandimir quickly thinks of a way to present the facts in a way that suits their party best. "Good evening, brave soldiers! It's about time you arrived... Orcs have been raiding Fireblade for weeks , dontchya know? Whole damn city of the buggers back in them thar hills. We were hoping you'd turn up soon!"

The dragonborn squints at the grey-robed wizard. "Are you lot from the community?" he asks, his voice a low rumble.

Kou nearly winces at Thrandimir's remark only saying "Former Keeper" in reply. His thoughts over take him for a time, this whole endeavor would be much easier if he could rely on the Citadel to intercede. Especially in figuring out a solution for the unimaginable power that Marianne kept locked up in a backwoods tavern. But The whole reason he was here is he found that he couldn't rely on the Citadel, they were more apt to play politics than truly help those who needed helping. The dragonborn's question shakes Kou from his intrusive thoughts. Giving a deep bow to the dragonborn, he says "No my friend, we are travelers who felt obliged to use our skills to repay the kindness the village has shown us. My name is Kou Shin, I am truly glad that you are here. Have you been sent to aid the village with the Orc problem?" His eyes piercing into the dragonborn hoping to gain a measure of the man as they speak.

"Captain Beshk, second Heartlands company," the dragonborn says. "We've been sent to defend the village, yes. But you still haven't answered my question:  what are you lot  doing out here?"

"We're headed for Crossroads," Thrandimir explains with an air of nonchalance. "Just got done seeing off the most recent band of raiders, but I'm afraid that their stronghold is too hard a nut for us to crack alone."

Beshk looks curiously at Thrandimir. "Wait a moment. Stronghold? You found a orcish city?"

"Well found is maybe overstated," Thrandimir replies with a laugh, "we took some prisoners and interrogated them until they broke. We have a good idea of where Ore'Agah is, but it sounds far too heavily fortified for a small group like us to handle," the wizard tells the soldiers with a congenial smile.

Beshk nods, then takes a small, leather-bound journal from a saddlebag and looks back to Thrandimir. "Where's this city?"

Thrandimir describes the general direction of Ore'Agah to Beshk, along with the waterfall and any other visual markers mentioned by the orcs.

The dragonborn captain makes note of all this and then nods. "Safe travels, then," Beshk says. He raises a red-scaled fist again, and waves it forward. The company of soldiers starts marching again to the west, toward the settlement of Fireblade. Most of the soldiers keep their eyes forward as they pass, but a few of their gazes wander toward the party as the company passes by.

As the soldiers trailed out of earshot, Cal let out a bursting sigh of relief, worried had he been that things might have gone proverbially south there. "Whew, that worked out real smoothly, didn't it?" Turning to look towards Katrin, he gives a nod towards the marching company, "Hey Lady Katrin, you're pretty familiar with these parts - you reckon those fellas would have a chance against the orcs of Ore'Agah?"

"Well, I hope they cause no trouble for Marianne and Na'arik, it can do no harm for the village to have some more defenders, at least I dont feel worried that our absence could spell trouble for the locals now." Kaed muses as he rides on, sparing a glance over his as they move further apart from the troops.

Kou looks to Thrand with a sincere smile "Nicely done Thrandimir. It appears you have a silver tongue to go along with your wit. Hopefully the ploy works and the Heartlanders solve the orc problem or at least keep themselves occupied and out of Marianne's hair."

Thrandimir shrugs as though it was nothing. "This way is best for everyone. I want to see Fireblade protected and the soldiers want to know what they're dealing with..." His twinkling eyes hold Kou's for a couple of seconds. "...but thank you."

Katrin purses her lips as she watches the soldiers disappear behind them. She looks at Cal and shrugs. "Maybe, maybe not. Fortified city, about 20 or so men? Even if the orcs just sent small raiding parties, like they have been? They don't stand a chance. But if the King declared war and threw everything he had at them? Maybe." She turns her gaze forward again, heels digging gently into the sides of her pony, wanting to make as much distance between her and those soldiers as soon as possible. "But then, I have no love for the King or the Heartlands. His warmongering is only going to cause pain and misery for everyone else."

On that cheery note, the party travels on. Eventually, Ascian spies a suitable spot for camp. The party sets up atop a hill with a craggy rock overhang. It's a dry spot and there is plenty of grass for the horses to graze on. The night passes uneventfully, with the exception of a few loud crows that frequent a spot on top of the rocky overhang -- plenty of shelter from the light rain that rolls in as to not disturb the wizard's spell research. Thrandimir's alarm spell along with the keen eyes of those on watch pick up nothing dangerous as the night passes by. The next morning, the party saddles their horses, who are a little damp, but unperturbed, and gets back on the road. After a few hours, the road has mostly been clear.  A shadow darkens Thrandimir's perceptions. He whirls just in time to see a barbed needle come flying out of the sun and scrape past the his shoulder. It fires a spike at Kaed, who is able to prevent the spike from digging too deeply into his flank, and one more at Katrin that misses the dwarf by a few feet. The party turns to see a ghastly creature descending out of the sky toward them, with the face of a man, the body of a lion, and the wings of a dragon. It cackles in a hideous imitation of a human laugh. "Who wishes to die today?" it shrieks.

Kou nearly jumps out of his skin as he hears the spikes fly and the beast's horrible cry pierce the air. He had trained for years to be vigilant of his surroundings, it was truly rare that something would be capable of slipping past his notice. Cursing his inattention he closes his eyes and summons the power of Tempus. Lightning arcs between his hands as he reaches out with his senses towards Kaed & Ascian. Once he finds the two he sends a bolt of energy towards them blessing them with Tempus' might.  He then jumps from his horse and runs towards the beast and yells "This is your one and only chance to leave in peace. If you persist it will be your life that will be lost today". Sinking into his combat stance as he finishes speaking

The manticore's spike flies toward her. Her eyes widen as it nears, and she raises her left arm instinctively, the spike bouncing off of her shield with a dull thud. The pony stamps it's hooves nervously. No unnecessary deaths here. Jerking the reins, she moves away from the new menace. She slides out of the saddle, and draws her sword with a resounding sssshhhing! The blade glows softly, barely noticeable in the daylight, with the Forgemaster's Blessing. "Smart move, monk!" Switching to her native Dwarven, she says, "Let the Forge light your path!"  Thrandimir and Callahan both feel a fiery warmth well up inside them as Katrin imbues them with the power of Tempus. She rushes back towards the group as the warmth wells up in her own chest. "Why don't you come down and say hello!" She's becoming so caught up in the moment, it doesn't register that she's still speaking her native tongue.

Feeling the rush of magical energy and warmth welling up in and around him, Cal gives a nod to Lady Katrin and turns his steed in her direction, galloping hurriedly to her side as he channels the excess magic into a pulsating ball of radiance in the palm of his hand.  "I apologize sir," he says, extending his arm out towards the monstrosity,  "but none of us have any plans to do that today."  Callahan releases a bolt of heavenly power straight at it, the shot blasting into its side.   He quickly leans down towards his smaller companion and whispers, "None of us had any plans to die today, right? I figure not, but uh, just want to make sure I'm not making any wrong assumptions ya know?"

"Oh this is going to be fun." Kaed quickly nocks an arrow, and from horseback fires into the creature, hitting but not troubling the creature. Looking down at the scratch on his shoulder where one of the tail spikes grazed him he calls put to the others,   "he can't keep firing those all day, block as many as you can, make him come to us."

Thrandimir moves just in time to avoid serious injury, before glancing down and delicately extracting the tail spike from his robes. A wicked glint twinkles in the wizard's eyes as he turns to look at the beast approaching them. A manticore. He'd heard of such creatures. They were sentient, but not especially intelligent . Toking on his pipe, Thrandimir puffs a series of smoke rings in the monster's general direction, before making it a suggestion . "I say, you need to calm down , my dear fellow. Why don't you let us go about our business and we'll be right on our way?" The words are laced with arcane magic and an enchanting lilt.

"Nobody plans to die," the manticore hisses. "These things just happen!" It punctuates the statement with a barrage of spines. Two of them impact the grass near Callahan, and one shatters on impact with Thrandimir's magical shield. The beast gives out a monstrous howl of anger and frustration. "Pretty pretty tricks."

The creature’s sentence is punctuated with an arrow in its flank as it soars towards Katrin and Callahan, and Ascian lowers his bow. It speaks? Even as the thought occurs to him, he  doesn’t wait for acknowledgement of the wound before kicking his horse into gear and skirting behind Kou, Thrandimir, and Kaed to a better vantage point, reaching into one of the quivers crossed across his back for yet another arrow. 

Kou's grey eyes spark with lightning as he glares up at the beast. Taking a deep breath he shifts from his fighting stance moving his right arm towards his chest while pointing his left to the air behind him. In a split second he lets out his breath and quickly moves his right arm forward unleashing a bolt of lightning that hurls into the Manticore. Striking the beast in it's chest.  Regaining control of his breath he says  "It is not to late to end this, there is no need for blood to be shed today." as he shifts his body into a defensive stance that greatly boosts his mobility. 

As the attacks start to rain on the creature, Kaed nocks another arrow and watches it fly true once more but it shivers apart against the tough skin of the manticore, looking back to Ascian the tribesman  shouts over "You seem a lot better at this, when we have killed this ridiculous thing maybe you can give me a few lessons?" He looks directly back at the flying creature adding, " That's right, you look ridiculous. You heard me."

"I don't know anything about this thing, but I don't think it wants to end this the way we want!" She says to Kou as the flying menace flings another salvo of spikes at the group.  "Alright beasty. Taste fire." The warmth in her chest builds and a ray of radiance bursts out from her chest, the center of her holy symbol and strikes the creature. It doesn't seem too fazed, but it doesn't seem happy about it.  

Cal watches Katrin send a similar streak of energy up at the Manticore and attempts to keep the chain of blasts going, but his second attempt sails wide.

"Fire..." Thrandimir muses as he lowers his staff after being forced to call upon one of his more potent wards. "I like the sound of that." The wizards lips twist in a cruel smirk as he mutters an incantation and flames spring to life where Katrin's guiding bolt struck the manticore. The monster screams almost silently before arcing around in the air and fleeing to the north-west.

"Lessons? A deal, if you show me how to take hits like you without shattering. Just one." Ascian glances towards Kaed, watching the tribesman lower his bow and Katrin send fire hurling towards it. It seems only a few seconds later before the monster's wings start beating and Ascian kicks his horse into action, galloping after the shadow it casts over the grass. After the business with the lions he half-expects Callahan to stop him, but if there are calls for a halt, he doesn't hear them. Skirting the cart slows him enough to be frustrating, and he's forced to still and aim when barely at the crest of the hill. Nevertheless, the arrow narrowly finds its mark, lodging itself deep within the creature's body. The pale feathers of his fletching quiver against the monster's flesh, and though his expression doesn't change, he seems to sit straighter in the saddle.

"Its easy, you just have to really, really not want to die ", Kaed calls back, effortlessly steering the horse with his knees whilst readying another arrow. Gaining slightly on the manticore he fires another, the magic from Kou's spell aiding him. The arrow sinks deep into the groin of the beast, bringing a smile to Kaed's face. " You know what Ascian, it isnt as hard as I thought, I'm really getting the hang of this."

Thrandimir brandishes his staff towards the fleeing manticore, watching the distant flicker of flames glimmer in the air above the hill. "Burn," the wizard murmurs quietly to himself, twisting the staff as he grips it in concentration.

And "burn" the Manticore does. The party can see the monstrosity's wings falter, then stop all together. It tumbles out of the sky, and Thrandimir's spell suddenly has no mind to connect with.

"We should be cautious," Thrandimir warns his companions, feeling the monster's life snuff out as it hits the ground. "Manticores often serve a master that can provide regular prey. Perhaps a band of orcs or hobgoblins. Perhaps a hill giant, or a lamia. Keep your guard up."

Ascian watches the creature fall and crash into the earth before turning his horse to approach the cart again, a faint frown on his face. No recovering that arrow. "Unusually far east, wasn't it."

Katrin looks curiously at the manticore as it falls. "Too far....." she muses absently. "Band of orcs, you say?" She raises an eyebrow at the wizard. "Ore'Agah would certainly exceed the criteria...."

"Mhm," Thrandimir muses. "Perhaps this Duar'ken has more influence than we thought. Keep that sending stone handy, Kou."

" Or perhaps they are still nothing more than locals with their own agenda and we have faced a minion if the greater force in these lands,the one we are ultimately to defeat... " Kaed's faraway look indicates he is probably imagining the glory and wealth attached with being the saviour if the continent.

The rest of the day passes by uneventfully, but the thought of orcish-sent Manticores keeps the party checking over their shoulders for the rest of the day. The evening comes, and camp is made, but nothing assaults the party during the night and they awake well-rested, ready for the next day of travel. The road winds between larger hills and over a few smaller rivers rushing toward the Dragonvale Lake. As the party rounds one particularly large bend, a roadblock comes into view, with a 10 feet tall wooden tower behind it. Two beings stand atop the tower, while five more mill about below. As the party comes into view, they come to attention and grip their crossbows a bit tighter. Their leader, a hobgoblin, gestures to a green-and-pink banner hanging from the tower. "King's road. Got to pay the King's toll," he says, his voice thick with authority. "Three gold each, plus five more for the cart. And one for each horse. So that's...uh...." A robed figure atop the tower shouts down. "Twenty-nine total." "Yeah. Twenny-nine," the hobgoblin says.

Callahan squints up at the hobgoblin, the sun glaring into his eyes over the man's shoulder. Even through the sun's rays, it takes hardly a second for Cal to notice the scene is all wrong. Raising a hand up to give himself some shade, he calls out,  "Ho there, my good kingsman! Have to admit, hadn't even noticed we'd come upon a King's road. Not from 'round these parts though, so I'm real sorry, I'm sure we'll be able to get this all settled out. Just give me a chance to fish out my King's gold for the King's toll to aid the King's road so we can continue on our King's roll." He let's out a hearty laugh as he reaches into his bag, rummaging around for several seconds as he searches for his coin pouch. "You know, it's the darnedest thing though," he calls out, hand still deep within the rucksack, "I passed through here not but a few days prior, and far be it from me to claim the mightiest of memories but I could swear on the sun and stars I ain't never seen no toll out on these dirt roads that whole time." He laughs again, "Musta slipped my mind in all the commotion these last few days though." His hand finally finds purchase on what he'd been looking for and he grins, "And with the kingsguard we ran into not a day ago, you'd forgive me for not recognizing your King's clothes there. A bit less fancy than I recall the fellas were wearing yesterday. Must be hitting hard time's hitting for the King's own to look so King's broke." Pulling out the small crystal orb from deep within the bag, it starts to shimmer in the sunlight, "Here we are! 'Fraid it's not exactly King's gold afterall, but I gotta admit that even for a northerner like myself, the highway banditry routine has gotten a little King's old, dontcha think?"  He gives the hobgoblin a sheepish grin as he gestures to the rest of the party as he finishes addressing the men, "Now why don't we settle this in a way you don't have to get too hurt, ya know?"

Seeing the guards lack of uniform and hearing Cal's proclamation Kou dismounts from his horse and takes a loose stance. Shaking his head at the level's of depravity people will sink to, in the name of greed. Looking the Hobgoblin in the eye he moves to speak but Thrandimir beats him to the punch.  

Thrandimir sits perched atop the cart, peering forwards between the horses and their riders to catch a glimpse of roadblock. Rolling his eyes at the obvious banditry, the wizard hops down from his less-than-stellar vantage point and wanders up alongside the Firbolg's horse. The robed figure atop the tower catches his eye. That's where I'd be. "I wish I could say that you all were smarter than you looked, but we can't always get what we want..." Thrandimir drawls sardonically. "You might want to look behind you though," he adds, swirling magic between his hands as he conjures an illusory marilith demon atop the tower that leaps to attack the man in question.

" Glory to the brave! " Kaed wastes no more time talking, spurring his horse forward, as his sabre flashes in the sunlight, he moves towards the hobgoblin, feeling the icy calm that aids him in battle settle. This time though he feels, even before he sees, the darkness emanate from him, strands of a shadow world appear in his wake, darkening the world around him. The blade slices out once as he barrels forward into the hobgoblin the blow meeting a desperate block hard enough to drive the humanoid down to one knee, Kaed's sabre still manages to draw blood causing a nasty looking cut down his face, just missing his eye ,stunning him with the ferocity of the attack.  Kaed snarls at the failure to injure his foe more decisively, but the look on his enemy's face is enough to tell him he has made a good start in their duel. Shield balanced and ready the tribesman baits his foe, " You should have run, instead of trying to rob us, you will die begging for mercy that will not come."

The overly boisterous threat of extreme violence forced a sigh from Cal. He hadn't really expected a sudden calm negotiation, but screaming bloody murder seemed a bit excessive. Nonetheless, these were bandits. Plain as day, they were out here doing one thing and one thing only; preying on random innocent passerby's to make some quick coin.  Drawing on his well-rested reserves of energy, he drew the pearl up into the air, allowing the radiant sun to make it glimmer. A wave of energy rushed into him and amassed around his hand as he eyed the hobgoblin. From the look of him, he was likely made of sturdier stuff. Must be to operate so boldly out here like this.  This ought to do it. Cal took aim as he finished bringing his steed along to the side of the road. The blast fired off, and a moment later slammed into the would-be-king...sguard. To Cal's shock, it exploded on contact in a burst of convulsing light that visibly seared the man's armor and left him staggered. Shoot... did I overdo it?

Seeing Kaed charge forward as Cal let's off a mighty blast Kou decides it's time for him to join the fray as well. He sees no clear path forward until an idea from the diving strikes him. No need to go around he was strong and fast enough to go right over their puny barricade. The monk darts forward like a bolt of lightning leaping over the barricade and landing in gracefully in crouched position.  Tapping deeply into his body's spiritual energy he unleashes on the would be bandit. Leading with an uppercut with his clawed handed, using his bodies own momentum as springs up to cut into the man. He follows this up with a downward slash and then jabs at the mans face for his final strike. The bandit's armor absorbs a decent bit of his assault but the final strike drew blood leaving a bleeding gash on the mans face that was likely to scar if he survived the day.  Looking at the man with disdain he begins to speak with his voice nearly dripping with contempt and says "Not as exciting when your victims can fight is it?"

The robed figure atop the tower lets out a heavy sigh and reveals an orb from his long, flowing sleeve. With a few arcane gestures, he casts a sickly green haze down at Kou, but the monk shakes it off, much to the robed figure's frustration. The hobgoblin, surrounded on all sides, pushes against Kaed's horse, then thrusts his greatsword in Kou's direction, using the opportunity to move out of range of the two warriors. While he runs, he pulls a small vial of red liquid from his belt and drinks it. His wounds stop bleeding and begin to seal over. Ascian's action.

Ascian watches as the hobgoblin shoves past his companions in a blur of motion, reaching for something at his belt. He lifts it to his lips at the same time Ascian lifts his bow, pulling the string back and feeling the wind ruffle mane and hair alike as he closes an eye to perfect his aim. He breathes in, imagining the taste of healing and soothing and red ; something interrupted by the pierce of an arrow high between the shoulder blades, as something else red bubbles up to join it - something thick and hot and choking. It's hard to see as far away as he is, but he imagines it spraying out onto the dust and grass in front of the hobgoblin, an unexpected gasp and mingling of vital and vital-saving fluids.  Ascian reaches for another arrow, watching the horrible pain wrack the creature's body in spasms.

Katrin spies the fleeing hobgoblin as he breaks away from the wall of pain that had nearly obliterated him. Without really thinking, she spurs her horse forward, grasping her amulet with one hand, the other on the reins. Her sword remains sheathed at her side. She didn't need it. "Burn." The word is short and harsh in her native tongue, and she repeats it, growing in volume and fervor until everyone can see the halfplate glowing red-hot. The hobgoblin screams as he is roasted alive inside his armor. Katrin flicks her attention to the other bandits, intent on cleaning up.