The Last War

1. The Last War

   #81

   Although it was not quite pitch black, it was still an hour before the sun would begin to light the sky. Tantus awoke. It was time to get up and pray, as he did every morning at this time. His waking thought was to see if Smeed was well. Tantus took his pulse, and ever-so-gently felt the arm for swelling. The little man did not even stir. His healing would be especially quick, for Tantus had "Laid Hands" on his injury for hours while they slept. This was his gift from the Lord, and it opened doors to the hearts of the Lost.
   
   He then looked over at Grumple, who lay on his back with belly distended, groaning loudly. Had it been anyone else, Tantus would have been over there in a second to heal him of his dread affliction. But this was Grumple, and upon a closer look, it was obvious he couldn't have been happier.
   
   Time was precious. He quietly spoke the words of the Fugitive's Prayer, from the time when St. Logan had been forced to flee his persecutors: "Lord, guide my feet while I run to you. Amen!"
   
   The monk caught the first whiff of metabolized alcohol. Yes, large quantities of metabolized alcohol, combined with larger quantities of freshly-consumed alcohol. A drunk somewhere. Who had been drinking? Rory drank wine, and seemed to let on that he was a lush, but showed profound discipline and self-control under the surface.
   
   Tantus stood up to his full 7-foot height. Holding his precious book of St. Logan and his pack, he strode over to Holly, Rory, Baldwin, and a tall newcomer. That would be the drunk. The smell was overwhelming to Tantus' sensitive nose.
   
   Muttering to himself, "Saint Logan would accept him," Tantus tried not to be judgmental. He said instead in his deep and resonant voice, "Welcome, friend. By the way, you might be interested to know that the last man who laid a hand on that lady lost his arm. Followed by his head."
   
   Immediately, Tantus turned to speak to Baldwin before the newcomer got startled before a bugbear, as they always did. He had already discerned that the brother that appeared younger also appeared to be the leader. "Baldwin, if I may suggest, we need to leave right away, before dawn. Can you give the order? Neither Grumple nor I can ride a horse, but if you set a reasonable pace, we will keep up."
   
   "Brother Grumple! Come!" he said quietly in Trollshaw. Of course, "quietly" still sounded like a cross-cut saw grinding through a hollow glass log stuffed with dying jackals. Grumple stirred.
   
   With a loud groan that couldn't possibly have come from a creature smaller than, say, a water buffalo, Grumple rolled over and stood up. Picking up the spear, Grumple dragged it behind him as he waddled uncomfortably over to Tantus. Strangely, he appeared to have grown not so much wider as a bit taller. Grumple grinned and rubbed his enormous gut.
   
   "Go Now." Grumple replied in Trollshaw.

2. The Last War

   #82

   Holly narrowed her eye's and turned to Baldwin "I agree, i believe we should move as soon as possible, theres something not right here and i don't like it" Holly turned to the drunkard stood behind her, looked at him with a suspicious look, then turned away to find a horse to ride on, she found a 16 hand black horse, quite muscular, showed signs, of speed and power, Holly ran her hand down it's hind and felt at a small gash on it's leg, nothing serious but should put some healing herbs on it just in case, she pulled a small bag out of her cloak, and dabbed her finger into the small green substance, she gently rubbed down the horses leg again and found the gash, she put the green substance onto the gash and the horse whinned, showing the new-found pain in it's leg, Holly stood up and walked to the horses head, gently rubbing down the white ridge on it's nose, "you will do, i can tell your quite fast" the horse whinned to show it understood.

3. The Last War

   #83

   Tantus, always trying to be open, said to the stranger, "My friend, we hate to run, but as you can probably tell, there has been trouble here. We do not wish to encounter more."
   
   "If you stay here you may well be blamed for what you see about you. But we must go. May the Lord go with you."
   
   Tantus bodily picked up the sleeping Smeed and effortlessly placed him on a horse before the animal (or the man, for that matter) could bolt. The monk nodded at the brothers and Holly as they sat on their horses. Then Grumple and Tantus started trotting down the road through the woods away from the scene of carnage and towards Halbad.
   
   As he loped along behind Tantus, Grumple back looked over his shoulder at the dead horses and whined sadly. Such a waste.

4. The Last War

   #84

   Holly pulled herself onto the black horse, and kicked it into motion, it shot forward at a slow trot and then began to walk quite fast at the back of the group, "stranger come if you will but be warned on false move and i will have your head" she called out behind her to the drunk man, who still seemed to be staggering around, Holly kicked the horse into a fast trot and caught up with tantus and Grumple, the horse pulled back as it came in line with them, but holly said something into it's ear and it continued to walk next to them, "i fear that if we do not get there quickly, then we will be too late" she looked at tantus, and then at grumple, "we need the army of Halbad, they have one of the biggest and strongest army's in the east, they just do not realise it, if they are attacked the king he will flee, and the troops will be without a leader, he always was a wimp" she stated with a giggle, she looked over her shoulder to see if the others where coming.

5. The Last War

   #85

   "It was St. Mancel who once said that he would rather have an army of sheep lead by a lion than an army of lions lead by a sheep." Tantus said as he did his best to keep pace with the horses. It wasn't as difficult as the humans might have thought it was. He was long legged and could take greater strides than the average human. One of the things that St. Logan had taught was that even once converted to the faith, one's race didn't change. A bugbear he was born and a bugbear he would always be.
   
   "Perhaps this wicked spear can be brought to an advantage. It seems quite obvious that the men who destroyed Palaten want it quite badly, you as well." Tantus said to Holly. "That means it is important to them, important enough for them to send several mounted patrols after it. They wont stop now. If they come against Halbad..." He paused.
   
   "What am I thinking?" He wondered aloud. "The spear is evil and it would do everyone good to see it destroyed. It turned Master Wenderfern into a killer, and once he lost the spear he was so overcome by his deeds he will be under the heel of his conscience for years or more without atonement. How can we expect any man or woman to resist its power. I think it is only the simple mindset of Grumple that prevents the spear from dominating him as easily as it did Wenderfern."

6. The Last War

   #86

   OOC: Naw, Scras, it's just that Smeed's a total wimp. :wink:
   
   IC: Swinging from side to side on the back of the horse, Smeed's eyes eased open as he slowly regained wakefulness. The first thing that met his eye was the rough ground below him, steadily passing by underneath the trotting horse. Rocks and grass, with odd little flowers peeking out like forgotten confetti, in muted purples, reds, and yellows. It was mesmerising to watch the land go beneath him...
   
   A deep voice, almost a growl, brought him back from his reverie. "...the simple mindset of Grumple that prevents the spear from dominating him as easily as it did Wenderfern..."
   
   Wenderferns, thought Smeed lazily. With an 's'. Everyone made that mistake, even after he corrected them. Then the rest of the sentence pierced through the fog, like a solid arrow through the growing mist of dew about the horse's legs.
   
   Dear lord. In a flood of emotion, the night came back to him - the pain, the carnage, the terrible feeling of having betrayed himself. And all this thanks to one evil weapon. Driven by a sudden rush of anger, Smeed jerked his head up, heedless of his tear-stained, red-rimmed eyes' wild stare. His wandering gaze fixed on the bugbear, loping along beside him. "Where... where is it?" he croaked. He would tear that poxed spear apart, end its vile whisperings of bloodshed, even if it killed him.

7. The Last War

   #87

   Odat just seemed to remain stumbling in the same place for a while. His mind was turning over the sudden sequence of events.
   
   Not a waitress.
   
   What in the world did she mean by that. Maybe she was one of Those girls. The ones who did more than wait on tables. Maybe that was it. If she weren't a waitress, and she wasn't more than a waitress, then the bouncer would have thrown him out. Or maybe he did throw Odat out. After all, nobody else was around anymore.
   
   Odat made a quick decision. He would find out what she was. Just go ask her. He would head right back in there and find out...

8. The Last War

   #88

   "...the simple mindset of Grumple that prevents the spear from dominating him as easily as it did Wenderfern..."
   
   Grumple looked up as someone said his name. "Huh?" Grumple thought. "What they talking about?... ...Grumple? Spear?"
   
   Grumple continued to lope along easily, his long, bony arms swinging, at the pace a human could run.
   
   Grumple got it. They wanted to cut some Wenderferns, with the spear. Probably something for healing. People always gathered ferns and tree bark and useless plants that didn't taste no good no how. If they ate plenty frogs they wouldn't need ferns to heal. Grumple ate plenty frogs, and Grumple never got sick or stayed hurt very long.
   
   The sun was peeking over the horizon through the trees. Thinking of frogs, Grumple started to think about: what might be for breakfast?

9. The Last War

   #89

   Baldwin sat atop his recovered horse feeling the bunch and flow of its muscular flanks as he set off down the road toward Halbad. He grudgingly accepted the fact that the Bugbear was what he claimed. Baldwin had heard the fugitive prayer before, but never spoken with such piety. Tantus was either a supreme actor or the genuine article. Baldwin decided he would trust the sword. Besides, it was very difficult to continue to find fault with the bugbear when everything that come out of his mouth made good sense.
   
   The morning breeze felt refreshingly cool after the intense focus, and exertion of the previous night. Rory had no problems sleeping after the fight, as usual, but Baldwin was a different sort. He always replayed the tactics the sights and sounds, how he could have done things differently or better. As far as Rory was concerned, it was what it was. Done was done.
   
   Anyone who didn’t know better would swear he was asleep now. He lounged in the saddle in opposition to Baldwin’s ramrod straight bearing and his eyes looked half closed and unfocused. Baldwin knew better and showed no surprise when after the group had been riding for an hour, Rory opened his eyes and said, “We have company.�
   
   Baldwin called the group to a halt. Rory addressed them all, “There are about twenty people in the woods up ahead. Mostly women and children. They appear to be refugees from Palaten. Probably frightened, hungry and tired.� He ran a hand thru his unruly mop of dark hair, looking at Tantus, “Maybe we could help them…but we should be careful how we approach them.�
   
   “Are you sure?� asked Baldwin, loosening his sword in its scabbard. Rory shot him a look.
   
   “Ok..� Baldwin conceded. “Perhaps we should help them. He glanced at the rest of the group. “What do the rest of you think?�…

10. The Last War

    #90

    "Perhaps we can help them." Tantus said. "Grumple and I can see about gathering some food while the rest of you deal with the refugees. I doubt a bugbear and a spear wielding troll are the first things they want to see."
    
    "Grumple," Tantus said, swtiching back to trollshaw, "We should go hunt. We need plenty of meat. Our bellies are as empty as yours. Your belly grumbles like a storm already." He said with a deep vaguely trollish laugh.
    
    "Once we return, I can look to healing those who need it but I think that some food might do them as much good as healing." He said. "Besides, I think that the drunkard is still following us. He needs to join with our group completely or be gone. I don't want to be tailed all the way to Halbad by a stumbling fool that even a novice cavalryman can track for 100 paces."

11. The Last War

    #91

    Grumple thought, "Grumple's belly not empty now." He rubbed it for good luck. Lots of horse in there. All being properly digested and healing the wounds and helping Grumple grow up once more.
    
    Then he thought again, "Good idea, go hunt for food anyway." There probably was never a troll that didn't think it was good time to go get some more food to eat. Couldn't hurt.
    
    Only Grumple hadn't figured out yet that Tantus wanted him to do more of the "go getting some more food" and less of the "eat."
    
    Grumple grabbed an empty supplies bag from one of the riders and ambled down to the stream that followed alongside the road. There was usually something worth hunting where water was found.
    
    Ah, yes! Ahead. A wild boar. Very big, very stinky. And very, very tasty.
    
    ********************
    
    Corporal Fox was cautiously heading back to the clearing in the forest where two Dekms had been decimated by unknown forces. He had been so exhausted when night had fallen that he was first to sleep when the Sargeant had ordered the men to made a defensive position. Of course, the price to be paid was that he was the first one ordered up and back on the job at dawn.
    
    The other riders of the Blackhand broke camp and hurried back to the city for reinforcements. They had the whole trip back to properly hone their stories and excuses for failure to a razor's edge. At this point, they were wondering whether it would have been better to have never returned. The Captain would be unhappy; very unhappy indeed.

12. The Last War

    #92

    Baldwin dismounted from his horse, motioning for the others to do the same. “We should approach on foot. Mr. Smeed, you are the most learned and well spoken among the group so I think you should be the person to speak first.� Besides, thought Baldwin, he looks the least dangerous. "Holly and Rory do your best to look friendly."
    
    The four strode up the road with the midmorning sun at their backs. The foliage of the woods was thick here and pressed right to road’s boundary. Rory pointed out a small path, almost invisible leading off the road and into the dense woods. As they headed down the small twisting path sound of their footsteps was devoured by the mossy ground. Tree limbs and small branches pulled at their clothes like determined beggars seeking alms. Baldwin looked about the forest as the thick canopy of trees began to defeat the sun’s efforts to bring light to the mossy sward below. This would be a good place for an ambush. True to his thoughts he heard the rustling in the brush just prior to hearing the words coming from the path up ahead.
    
    “You’re surrounded!� The voice was high pitched but determined, sounding like it hadn’t long before left the joys of childhood. “Drop your weapons!� A figure appeared ahead, a waif of a girl, face smudged with dirt. She wore a leather tunic that looked three sizes too large. Bright green eyes, wide with fright that belied the determination in her voice took the party in, dark circles beneath them from lack of sleep. She pointed the business end of a short sword, that looked more fit for decoration than combat, in the group’s direction.
    
    Baldwin nudged Smeed forward…

13. The Last War

    #93

    As the sun began to rise, Corporal Fox moved cautiously through the clearing on horseback. It was quiet. The birds were twittering here and there normally; he noticed the vultures were circling over the trees as might be expected. They obviously had spotted the bodies, since there had not been enough time for the stench of death to develop. They were not afraid.
    
    All was quiet, but, he expected something, well, dramatic to happen. He heard it all from the survivors before he had slept -- invisible arrows shot with stunning accuracy from fantastic distances. Arms and heads cleaved clean off. Exploding fireballs. Skinny little old men with superhuman invulnerability and battle prowess. Even reports of giant man-eating tree frogs! The most fantastic part was that the early reports (before the usual embellishments) sounded like honest witness accounts.
    
    Fox studied the tracks, the positions where the horsemen were cut down, the movements and tactics of the enemy, ahhh... the troll's blood... so the troll was still around. The shredded horse, horribly butchered by some wild beast, or the troll.
    
    Not surprisingly, some of the Blackhand's horses were missing... yes... they had been ridden out, down the trail. Four, Five, Six horses? The characteristic horseshoe prints were there. Thargis Ferrin, their blacksmith, had his own design. If the ground stayed soft, Fox should be able to track these horses forever. However, this was a well-travelled road, and other prints were unclear from all the traffic. Lots of refugees, he expected, feeling sorry for the displaced families in these times.
    
    Fox startled. A tall man was nearby. He staggered as he walked.
    
    The corporal thought maybe he should make some sort of command decision; after all, he had been promoted. Looking around nervously for invisible arrows flying his way, Fox sat up as straight as he could and ordered, "You There! Man! In the name of the Emperor, tell me what you saw here!" There. That sounded official.
    
    *************
    
    OCC: Please don't kill Corporal Fox. Also, since I'm sort of new, if you find I don't handle a NPC properly, please let me know how to improve.
    
    *************
    
    Grumple saw the male warthog snuffling by, nose to the ground. It stopped from time to time to look around. Since the troll was downwind and standing by a tree, Grumple was not noticed. When the boar went by, Grumple looked at the spear, then his hands, then stuck the spear into the ground and shinnied up the tree. Grumple was not like other trolls (as you have probably heard), but trolls almost never use bladed weapons. Swords and spears require practice and discipline, and trolls are not known for either. Why bother with finesse and dexterity when a brutal bludgeoning will do?
    
    Grumple did not feel comfortable using a spear. Out on a limb, he waited for the warthog's family to approach. One, two... three! (Sort of.) Grumple grinned, then sprang from the treelimb, landing on the sow. Kill her and the piglets would be easy to catch. But something was wrong! She was just as heavy as Grumple, who had forgotten his recent experience with the "Lose 100 Pounds Overnight Diet Plan!"
    
    Instead of snapping her neck, Grumple found himself barely able to hang on. Long troll arms wrapped around the sow's neck, and she fell. Grumple choked her while she kicked viciously at the troll with her hooves. Ow! Ow! Ow! The piglets scattered.
    
    Then, to Grumple's dismay, the warthog boar tore into the fray. Swinging his tusks, the powerful porker ripped into Grumple's butt. OW! OW! OW!
    
    One little piglet peeked out from under a log, admiring his father's style. Daddy would save them. He always did.

14. The Last War

    #94

    Holly stopped in her tracks, waiting for smeed, to talk, when he didn't for a few minutes, Holly stepped forward, she put on her most innocent smile and began to talk, slowly so not to provoke, the girl not that she couldn't handle her anyway but there were probably more of them around, "please, do not fear us, we have come to help, not to harm" she pulled her sword from it's holster and placed it on the ground, she looked to the others begging for them to do the same, "we have come from, Palaten, well some of us have, we are on our way to Halbad, we have only come to help, we can heal the wounded and we have others off hunting for food already, we do not want to fight with you, only to help" Holly stopped and took a deep breathe, she then went into a low bow, keeping her eye on the girl at all times.

15. The Last War

    #95

    Holly's interjection jerked Smeed out of his faraway silence. He gave a small, thin cough, and looked rather hesitantly at the blade brandished by the small girl. "Hold a moment, miss!" he began, stuttering.
    
    "We mean you no harm. Indeed... indeed, I possess no weapon, and am a man of learning rather than violence..." Or had been, up until last night, his torn conscience accused - but Smeed tried to quell his thoughts as best he could. "As for my companions, I can vouch heartily for the fact that they pose no threat to you in any way. We simply seek refuge from the oncoming soldiers - and to warn the city of Halbad of its impending invasion. We are bearers of tidings, not of bloodshed."

16. The Last War

    #96

    The sword point dipped slightly yet the green eyes behind it narrowed slightly, still suspicious of the newcomers. Yas and her group had been running for three days straight and had seen their parents and everyone close to them die at the hands of the enemy. Her eyes, watered as he thought of their sacrifice. She sniffed back a sob. She didn’t have the luxury for this, not now. The others depended on her. She’d not be taken in by tricks. It would be wonderful if these people could help them. They needed food and had people who were wounded, but… she had to be sure.
    
    Her voice cracked as she spoke, “Who are you? Where did you come from? Why do you want to help us?�…

17. The Last War

    #97

    Smeed swallowed a sigh of relief. At least this child was going to hear them out before running them through with the sword. He didn't want another scene like the soldier fiasco.
    
    Smeed cleared his throat and went on, slightly less nervous. "We are naught but humble travellers, several of us fleeing from the soldiers that have pillaged Palaten. As for why we wish to help... It is the duty set us by the Lord to look after our neighbors," he finished, drawing from his meagre stores of religious quotations. No doubt Tantus would want his say in that sort of thing as well.
    
    The thought of the bugbear gave Smeed another idea. "One among us is learned in the arts of healing," he continued, glancing down at his bound wrist as he spoke. The pain was still present, but marvelously diminished. "While his appearance is... rough, I have learned through experience that he is a worthy creature nonetheless."
    
    Smeed refrained from looking at the massive monk - he felt a wave of humiliation cross his face as he remembered how he had shunned the bugbear before. Hopefully the monk would realize that this was his way of apologizing for that.

18. The Last War

    #98

    It would be a bit of an understatement to say that his was not going well. Grumple's "bacon was in the fire", not the warthogs'. Knocked off the sow by the boar's charge, Grumple fell over on his back and was immediately under the shredding tusks of the furious pig, which had a serious weight advantage on Grumple. The troll's feet, which were almost as dexterous as his hands, held the furious animal back briefly while Grumple scrabbled in the dirt for a grip. Grumple's powerful hand clawed up a large rock. He swung it with tremendous force into the side of the warthog's head, and it staggered back.
    
    With that lucky break, Grumple sprang up and ran up to the tree, climbing up as fast as possible, which was barely fast enough. The boar chased him, and circled the tree several times raging and snorting. It grew tired of that, and went back to its mate, who had choked from a crushed larynx.
    
    The boar nudged it a few times, then gathered up the piglets. With a contemptuous snort in Grumple's direction, they all trundled off into the bush.
    
    Grumple rubbed his bleeding bum. It hurt to sit on the tree limb, so Grumple stood. After a few minutes, Grumple carefully climbed down and went to inspect his kill. Porkchops! Excellent... Although a tender piglet would have made a nice snack later on.
    
    The sow wouldn't fit in the bag, and was too heavy to carry very far for a little troll. Grumple needed both hands to drag it, so Grumple stuck the spear into the pig's shoulder and dragged it by its hind legs.
    
    It was frustrating. The spear kept falling out, but he couldn't bear to leave it behind. Finally, Grumple had to wrap one hand around the spear and the pig's leg at the same time. As if the weapon was having a hissy fit for missing out on the hunt, it managed to nick his fingers once or twice, so Grumple had to drag both the spear and the pig by their respective butt ends back to his friends.

19. The Last War

    #99

    Yas lowered her sword, “OK� she said. “OK� she said more loudly. Five more figures materialized from the gloom around them. They were children, all younger than Yas. They were dirty, disheveled and had the vacant stares of those who had seen things no child should see. They carried crude makeshift weapons, farming implements and such. One had a kitchen cleaver and looked as if he wasn’t afraid to use it. Their clothes were not much more than rags.
    
    Baldwin admired their gumption and their woodcraft. They had stayed quiet and unseen while Yas approached from the front. That took tactics and discipline, their ability to fight, he looked dubiously at their weapons, was questionable.
    
    They fell in step behind Smeed, Rory, Holly and Baldwin as they walked deeper into the woods. Yas told Smeed that the other survivors were in a clearing just ahead. They walked around a large boulder just in time to behold…
    
    Grumple stumbling out of the brush, bleeding bum and all, dragging his grisly trophy, trailing blood. The troll looked like an apparition from the gates of hell brought to life. He gnashed his teeth and spoke in Trollshaw, “Hello friends.�
    
    To Yas and the other refugees the simple greeting sounded as if the troll was preparing to rend the flesh from their bones. His toothy smile was the opposite of helpful.
    
    As quickly as rabbits the five refugees who had been hiding fled in various directions. Yas drew her ornamental sword and assumed a fighting stance…

20. The Last War

    #100

    "Please do not worry, he is no more harm than me or the rest of our group, he has been hunting for food, although his appearance is some how, disturbing, but he is off no harm, he only means well" Holly walked over to Grumple and bent down, "i shall take the boar" she said slowly trying to make the troll understand, she walked to the boar and shouldered it, it was heavy, but heavy was nothing, Holly could deal with heavy, she was stronger than she looked, she walked forward towards the girl, "we offer this boar to show that we are only here to help, and would be delighted if you will feast with us tonight, if you fight with one of us then you fight with the others" she looked at the young girl hoping that she understood that they were not there to fight, the battle back at the other clearing, had been tiresome, and not many of them had had a good night sleep.

21. The Last War

    #101

    Odat managed to turn around at the sound of Corporal Fox's imperious voice.
    
    "Imm look'nn fur er bar. Should be one some wherrre roun here. I uz juss therr a lil bit ago, bud now I cann' fined it. Da you have enny food. I iz startin ta ged awfffull hungry, an I uz jush lookin furr somethin roun here bud I cann' fined it I think."
    
    "oh thas right, I uz looking furr... furr a waitresss. she was with thisss young lad. Ugly boy"he said as he scratched his head, "ann hunngry too. Looked hunngry enough ter eat a horshhh." Odat paused, as if just realizing the irony in what he had just said
    
    "Oh yess, an he had some sord of spearrr too" He finished, his epiphany having just passed him by.
    
    "Havvv you seen herrr arroun by any chance?"

22. The Last War

    #102

    Smeed surveyed the ragged band of children with sorrow. It was clear these poor souls had come from Palaten like them - except they were the only ones of their families to make it out alive. Smeed's family had left long ago, either dead or lost to his knowledge - he had had nothing to lose in Palaten but his clientele. These lost boys and girls, however... It awoke a kinder side of Smeed.
    
    He may have been petty, cowardly, and sometimes miserly, but Smeed Wenderferns was not cruel. He watched the children with sympathy as the girl explained their position to him. More survivors? At least these refugees weren't toally alone. He hoped there were adults left too.
    
    The approach of the troll brought Smeed back to the present. The creature was a grisly sight indeed - but its diminished size marked it as the same one that Brother Tantus had befriended. Fortunately, Holly made this clear, and Smeed nodded approvingly when she offered the survivors the troll's hunting results. "Indeed," he added, "We would be honoured if you and your companions would accept whatever help we can offer."

23. The Last War

    #103

    Corporal Fox looked down at this drunk, and tried to look as commanding as possible. "Where is the spear? Take me to it now, man!"
    
    (He did not catch the reference to the "ugly boy". To the average person, it would be unimaginable to think that trolls could shrink, and so dramatically.)
    
    Fox thought, "If I recover the Captain's spear, he'll make me Sargeant!"
    
    **************
    
    "Bad". Grumple muttered, staring at the blonde woman first and then at all the others with dismay as she took Grumple's dead warthog. Grumple counted on his left hand, "One, Two, Three... Three people! Plus,... (he managed to count his thumb for this one) ...plus, Grumple! That makes, well, that makes Three..." (although somehow it seemed much worse than that.)
    
    "And only One Pig!" (He was pretty sure of this.)
    
    This was looking very bad, from Grumple's point of view.
    
    Grumple noted a stern glance from Tantus and decided not to raise a fuss. "Friends should share" the little girl had told Grumple so many years ago.
    
    Grumple decided next time to make At-Least-Two-Fewer friends, and stomped off to see if something else could be found to eat.

24. The Last War

    #104

    "Please set yourselves at ease for the moment." Tantus said, trailing behind the troll. It had been rather fascinating to watch the doughty troll regenerate the wounds he had suffered. There were heretical texts in the monastary that detailed the inner working of the living body, examining it for the layers of skin and the grain of muscle and pathway of nerve and blood vessel. In the little troll the diagrams were moving things, knitting themselves back together with ease. No wonder Grumple was always hungry.
    
    "If there are wounded I can tend to their injuries."

25. The Last War

    #105

    The mind of a child, even one close to the summer of adulthood is malleable. Not wholly, formed and thus unsure of itself, or it’s place in the world. Unlike the “mature� minds of those who call themselves adults, childlike minds are not hampered by the constraints of myopic views that, serve as safe mental constructs but, have little basis in reality. In short, the refugees had never seen a bugbear before, so they didn’t know that, if they thought as most adults would, they should fear Tantus, or Grumple for that matter. And so, after a bit of discussion with her “Lieutenants� Yas agreed to let the group help the refugees and share the spoils of Grumple’s hunt. She led them to a clearing in the woods that held the rest of the survivors from Palaten.
    
    Her group of survivors, twenty strong, were ravenously hungry. All but one had merely superficial wounds. The other, a young boy named Yancy, had suffered a broken leg. Yancy was Yas’ younger brother and they had seen their parents slain before their eyes. The boy was feverish and Yas looked at Tantus with eyes that dared to hope he could do something for her brother.
    
    Meanwhile another group of children were attempting to braid Grumple’s hair. Children often have no fear and can see to the heart of things…and Trolls for that matter. Baldwin and Rory were overseeing the digging of the firepit they would roast the boar in. They had many small but strong arms to help them…

26. The Last War

    #106

    holly was talking to a small group of children telling them the tail of the fight which happened not long ago with the soldiers, they were sat there listening intently, gasping at the right places and sighing in relief at others, she stood up slowly as the children groaned "i will finish the story later, i must help my friend's first and then over dinner i will tell the rest of the story" Holly turned and walked to Rory and Baldwin, "there so young!" holly sighed and looked round at the makeshift camp made by the refugees, it was quite homely, the sleeping quarters made of manly leaves and grass obviously collected on the way off there travels, they were bright young children, but some not even old enough to off left there mothers yet, Holly sighed again, she said in a quiet whisper to Baldwin "once we have helped these people, then what? they will need constant food to keep them alive, and they will need somewhere better to stay, they can't all come with us to Halbad, it will be too much of a attention bringer, you know i'm right Baldwin, But we can't just leave them here to die." a young girl ran past and fell over grazing her knee slightly on the floor, but starting to cry, holly walked over said a few comforting word's to the young girl and picked her up, gave her a nice big cuddle, and then set her down to go and play with the rest of the children, Holly felt the anger burn up inside her once again, the hatred for the army who done this to so many innocent children, she would get them if it was the last thing she did, she would destroy them all, every last one of them, she took a deep breathe, once she meet up with the king of Halbad, she would ask to borrow his army, the war would be the biggest ever it would be the last war, the war between good and evil, maybe the children could come with them, they could fight, they could be trained given proper aquipment, taught to use it the correct way, they could avenge there families, kill those who killed the people they loved, they will pay, Holly breathed deeply turned and stormed out of the clearing, she needed some space.

27. The Last War

    #107

    Grumple sat patiently, or at least, patiently for a troll, as the kids braided Grumple's hair. It grew from Grumple's head, and was about shoulder length. Grumple never cut it. Troll hair grew only so far, and then stopped, unless damaged. It was green and rather greasy, so it braided easily.
    
    [As long as we're on the subject, Grumple did not wear anything besides that hair. This was less obscene than one might imagine, since trolls have no visible reproductive organs. They do have a muscular butt -- one that is no more handsome than yours -- but the fact was, people do not attack trolls because trolls ought to wear more clothes, but for more basic reasons like a troll's appetite and ability to fight back so effectively.]
    
    The truth was, Grumple liked children. (No, not for dinner.) They laughed and played and did not automatically attack Grumple. Grumple had talked to children, more or less, when Grumple worked as a guard. And in this case the troll wasn't a hulking 200 - 400 pounds. Grumple was back up to only about 110 now.
    
    Having worked among humans before, Grumple looked over at the others digging a pit and groaned. Grumple knew what they were going to do with the pig. Hold it over a fire until the flavorful scent of roast pork filled the air.
    
    That is, basically, ruin it. Oh, well. Maybe someone would let Grumple have a raw kidney or uncooked brains to suck on.
    
    Grumple sat still; glad that at least Grumple's butt wasn't sore any more. Grumple's chest didn't hurt any more, either, but Grumple had forgotten about that. On the other hand, Grumple was not quite able to forget the wound caused by the spear, or for that matter, the spear itself. Not quite. And he could still remember Captain Kraggis.
    
    ********************
    
    The Captain could also remember Grumple; at least Grumple's ugly butt. That was his last view as the wounded troll had run off with The Tooth.
    
    And now, here was Sargeant -- no, make that Corporal -- Griswold standing there making excuses!
    
    "You're telling me that the #*!%$@! troll is dead, but a mysterious group of warriors decimated two Dekms?!!" Kraggis roared. "But you miraculously managed to escape?! And let me get this straight!... They had the help of Parthian Archers, a tribe of Blonde Amazons, and several Wizards?! And, oh, yes! This is the best part... Giant Flying Tree Frogs that tore Lieutenant HandsFree, I mean, Lieutenant Hanley to pieces?!!"
    
    (The guard at the manor barely managed to suppress a snicker at this one. Fortunately for him.)
    
    "Get out of my sight, CORPORAL Griswold!! NO! Wait! Make that, tell Lieutenant Millerson to form up a Full Penkwe together. We will leave at dawn!! Get those ballista teams mobilized, too!"
    
    "And where is that lazy scout, Fox?!!"

28. The Last War

    #108

    Smeed sat alone, apart from his companions, the children, and the firepit. He needed some time to think things over - and he doubted his spindly limbs would help in the digging of the pit.
    
    Smeed suddenly felt very old, surrounded by children. He had lost count of his years, but he reckoned he was close on sixty - yet he had never been fit, even in his prime. He had been wiry, lean, but not muscular. And now he was just decrepit. He sighed in frustration.
    
    And now fire and steel had come to the lands, and Smeed was completely out of his element. He was used to a little change, being a travelling fortune-teller, but never of a violent sort - this war would turn his world on its head. Of that he was painfully sure. And he had already proven that he was simply a burden in combat. He was useless in the eyes of his companions.
    
    Smeed's sense of honour felt disgusted at him. He was nothing but a burden to the group - even these children before him were ready to fight if needed. Smeed knew that he could never again shed blood - not after the shock from the spear's malign force. Which made him worse than baggage. Even Brother Tantus could do his part and heal the wounded. All he could do was shuffle cards and mumble about lifelines.
    
    Which reminded him - he hadn't cast his horoscope lately. Smeed usually made a point of divining his own fortunes every so often, just to be on the safe side. The last time he had done that was before heading into Palaten - it seemed like a lifetime away. He shuffled in his pack for his cards.

29. The Last War

    #109

    Damn, thought Baldwin, Holly was right about the children. How would they survive if the group left them to fend for themselves. The thought of being responsible for twenty souls tore at him. He looked at his brother Rory, who was busy teaching a smiling nine year old boy to build a fire, while also teaching him a bawdy drinking song that was a bit mature for a nine year old, or a nineteen old for that matter. Baldwin couldn’t help but smile. Rory was a bad influence.
    
    Soon the fire was lit and the boar was cooking. Grumple looked quite foolish in his new pigtails and Rory couldn’t look at him for more than a few seconds at a time without collapsing into silent laughter that shook his slender frame and nearly brought him to tears. Rory hit Holly up for some more of her wine and after teaching some of the kids how to shoot dice he sauntered over to Smeed who had produced a deck of cards from his bag.
    
    “Mr. Smeed,� said Rory with a twinkle in his eye. “Will you read my fortune? He spun a silver piece on a pointed finger…

30. The Last War

    #110

    holly slid down the tree she was leaning on, putting on a small smile, but there wasnt a smile in her mind, there was anger and frustration, the young girl walked over to Holly and sat next to her "ar' you alrit'" she asked in her little sweet childs voice, holly smiled and nodded "yes i'm fine, just hungry" the young girl laughed a joyfull rightoues laugh which filled holly's ears with the happiness of the young, and how blatently oblivious they were of the real world, of all the danger sat staring into there eye's, Holly sighed and leant back agaisnt the tree, she watched Baldwin and Rory closely, she closed her eye's just for a moment when there was a scream from along the path, Holly's eye's shot open, she stood up and in a flash she had began to run towards the path, there surronding a young girl and a older boy, were Goblins, each Goblin held a 2 inch long knife, and a spear, on there back was a quiver of arrows and a bow, at there side was a long sword, The goblins laughed evily throwing there heads back knowing what they were about to do, the youngsters quivered as they closed in Holly was on her own and she couldnt take them all on, she needed the others here now, where were they? what was taking them so long? Holly retrieved her bow again, and shot one of her special arrow's at one of the goblins, it shrieked, falling to the floor, the others turned on her sneering with faces full of evil.

31. The Last War

    #111

    Grumple heard the scream and looked that way. The blonde lady was running there. Some of the other adults were jumping up and heading that way with weapons drawn. For a second, Grumple wondered whether to stay or go help?
    
    Only a second, of course! Grumple remembered the pig-on-a-spit. (Not that he had ever forgotten it.) Grumple thought, "Not ruined yet! Hmmmmm." Glancing around furtively ...good ...everyone's attention was on the danger. Grumple left the spear behind stuck upright in the ground, and snuck silently through the shrubs around to the firepit in best troll-sneak -- which was pretty darn good. Grumple had years of experience, after all.
    
    Leaning out from the bushes, Grumple stretched out his long, bony arm for the pig; knobby grasping fingers wrapped quietly around a cloven hoof. Fixed on the prize, Grumple's tongue hung out, saliva dripped, taste buds were trembling with anticipation.
    
    "One leg! Just one leg!"

32. The Last War

    #112

    OOC: Aww, nuts. Goblins? There goes Mister Smeed's card trick. Oh well. Back to being useless in a crisis... :cry:
    
    IC: Smeed was about to wave the coin away - he needed no payment from a friend - when the scream filled his ears. Sweet Lord, what now?
    
    Smeed sputtered his apologies to Rory and clambered to his feet again. "Your fortune? Gladly, good sir, but I fear this shall have to wait... Hark to the cry!" Not waiting for an answer, he left his pack resting where he had sat, and hastened in the direction that Holly had gone, hoping the others would follow suit.
    
    Why was he bothering? He couldn't be of any use in a fight... So why did he rush to send help he couldn't provide? Smeed had no clue; he was acting on instinct alone.

33. The Last War

    #113

    Holly turned and saw Smeed running up the path, she shot another arrow at the goblins, they all growled in unison, then one jumped then another then another they were coming forward and strong, they had forgotten about the two youngsters and had now managed to surround Holly, keeping close together so as not to leave any gaps for there pray to escape, holly pulled out her sword and stood in a fighting stance, was Smeed the only one who had come to help, holly would have to fight alone if they didn't come soon, but she couldn't die not now not yet, she had too get too Halbad before she died, she had too face the army who had destroyed her home town, she had too, The goblins were closing in swinging there spears and there knifes, some now reaching for there sword's all with the look of repulsion on there faces, Holly stood breathing heavily "come on come on hurry up" she thought to herself as she waited for the others too come.

34. The Last War

    #114

    As the goblins left their intended quarry, Smeed seized his chance. Maybe he could be helpful after all. Edging around Holly and the enclosing goblins, he stumbled over to where the two children stood, their eyes wide with fear. He grasped each by the hand, his knuckled fingers closing comfortingly around their smaller, smoother ones.
    
    "Come, now," he said, in a falsely soothing voice, "Come with me, let's get the both of you away from here... You're not safe..." He wished his voice would stop quavering - the children were still shaking and unsteady on their feet.
    
    Half-dragging, half-coaxing, Smeed ushered the transfixed youngsters to a safer place, half-hidden behind some nearby shrubs. There was little he could do to assist Holly except keep them safe, so he concentrated on calming the two down. The younger girl had started to cry silently, and the boy had the strained look of one who is trying hard not to. Poor things - they had already seen too much, and now this on top of it... "There, there," he said, trying to sound soothing. "It'll be fine, Miss Holly can hold her own against worse than a few goblins..."

35. The Last War

    #115

    A goblin jumped at one of the children in Smeed’s care, growling, foul breath close enough for her to smell, the wind from its breath blowing her hair back. It drew back with a long knife to swing at the hapless child then suddenly stiffened as a blade swung across its lower back. The goblin spun with a snarl as Yas backed up, blood dripping from her sword. Fearful determination was stamped on her face as she took another step back. She heard a whizzing sound as something flew past her left ear, tousling her hair. The fletching of Baldwin’s arrow appeared in the goblin’s mouth, the point of the arrow piercing the back of his throat and exiting the back of its neck. The second arrow pierced its chest and the third thudded into the torso of one of the goblins surrounding Holly.
    
    Rory was among them then swinging his staff with wild abandon, moving his body like a snake. He thrust his staff into the face of one the force of the strike knocking out three of the monster’s teeth with a shower of blood and broken bone. Swinging the weapon the other direction he came down with a vertical sweeping blow dropping his weight into a low stance. The staff crashed into the collarbone of an onrushing goblin hard enough to fracture it. The goblin fell to the ground with a groan where Baldwin’s fourth arrow thudded into its skull putting it down for good. Four goblins down. Rory scanned the clearing looking for more opponents...

36. The Last War

    #116

    holly pulled out her sword and swang for a goblin the blade contennecting with the spinal cord, the goblin twitched and fell to the floor, another clean sweep and one off there heads flew from it's place and landed with a thump on the floor, Holly spun round as one of the small knifes cut into her leg, she kicked at the goblin sending it flying into the air, with a move as swift as the wind the blade swung with such strength that it knocked the goblin back into the air like a volley ball, blood spurting all over the place another one ran at Hollys back she spun round caught the goblin by the throat and threw it into a tree pinning it there with another arrow.

37. The Last War

    #117

    OCC: Everyone: I'm sure you have plans for your people; character building and all -- but whenever Grumple is "occupied", and puts down the spear, you are free in my opinion to grab it. You know, see how it affects your people or something? Just a thought.
    
    Anyway, back to the scene of bloody carnage...
    
    
    IC: Grumple lay on his back in the bushes, gnawing on the sow's rear leg. It had taken a bit of tugging to get it to let go of the lower back, since it was rare. Very rare. Like, extremely rare.
    
    Actually, it was raw, which suited Grumple just fine. The fact that the whole pig, spit, uprights, apple and all had fallen into the fire while he had pulled on the leg didn't bother Grumple at all. Grumple had fixed on the prize and won it, and gnawed it like a hound; with the primordial glee that any carnivore displays when relaxing in its favorite pastime. Eating meat.
    
    "Hmmmmm. Liver?" Grumple thought, looking down his nose and across the leg bone sticking out of his toothy mouth. The question wasn't answered, though, since a goblin came running full speed into the camp. An arrow flew in behind it with deadly silence and hit the annoying little creature in the back. It fell headlong into the pit and began to roast on the coals with the pig.
    
    "Good. Nobody blame Grumple for pig." the troll thought, and stood up with the long leg bone in hand. Like Samson of another time and place armed with the jawbone of an ass, Grumple strode forward and split the Goblin's skull open with a mighty crack, and then clubbed another that came in as it fled from the warriors nearby. It too fell. Grumple clubbed it again for good measure; mostly because he was annoyed at the children watching the mayhem from various location.
    
    "No liver now." thought Grumple.
    
    "Little eyes watch Grumple." He smiled sweetly (for a troll) at them.

38. The Last War

    #118

    Baldwin slung his bow, and drew final judgment halfway out of its sheath. The familiar blue glow faded as the remaining goblins breathed their last. It was soon gone. He breathed easy, his eyes scanning the woods for other threats. The glow disappeared totally and he slid the sword home. He looked at Yas with surprise and growing admiration. She’s got heart that one. She looked at him and straightened her back a little, looking at the surrounding forest as she saw him doing.
    
    That was before she was distracted by Rory jumping into the firepit.
    
    How he didn’t get burned to death was a mystery. Grabbing the flaming body of the goblin he heaved it out of the pit his hands were a blur as he stamped on the flames at the bottom of the pit in a vain attempt to put them out while patting at the flames on his clothes. As the flames spread up his tunic he thought to himself that it was smart for him to have taken off his oversized cloak before jumping into the pit while at the same time questioning the wisdom of his decision to jump into the pit in the first place.
    
    Baldwin’s eyes bulged in alarm. “Rory! What the…!� He lunged toward the firepit, “Give me your hand fool!� Rory bent down, trying to lift the bulk of the boar but it slipped in his hands. He stopped to bat some flames that were trying to make a home in the ends of his hair before trying to lift the bulk of the boar again. He bent his knees and hoisted the pig upwards, bracing it on his legs. “Take it!� He yelled at Baldwin.
    
    “You DOLT!� Baldwin shouted. “Forget the pig, you’re burning up!� Rory coughed from the smoke of his burning boots then gave Baldwin a cross look that said: I know I’m burning I’m the one that’s on fire.
    
    “Win, take the pig. It’s hot in here, cough! Cough!� Baldwin teetered on the edge of the pit about to fall in, then grabbed the boar with both hands, heaving with his back, muscles standing out in ropy knots on his arms. With the combination of the brothers’ efforts the boar flew out of the pit as if launched from a catapult crashing into Smeed and three children and knocking them headlong. The children were startled but unhurt by the flying pork. Rory followed the boar, the rear of his pants totally engulfed in flames and smoke, he was laughing hysterically now and Baldwin was perhaps…overenthusiastically trying to beat out the flames with a tree limb.
    
    Rory fell in a heap, side shaking with mirth. Baldwin stood above him letting a stream of expletives fly demanding an explanation for Rory’s reckless actions.
    
    Rory answered with smoke wafting from his singed eyebrows, “I’m hungry, and I wanted to save the pig.�…

39. The Last War

    #119

    A pained screech and a wet thud heralded the final goblin's demise, and Smeed stopped shivering a little. He found he was still holding on to the two childrens' hands, rather more tightly than was necessary. He loosened his grip and gave an embarrassed cough. "There! See, you're safe now, thanks to Miss Holly, Sir Baldwin, and Sir... Rory, I believe."
    
    But what of his cards and his pack? Smeed hustled over to where he had dropped them, stopping only to usher the children over to Rory and Baldwin. They seemed the most capable leaders.
    
    As luck would have it, his cards were scattered, but not damaged - more than a few dirt stains and one that looked like a goblin had spat on it - and his pack was undamaged. Bustling around to gather up the tools of his trade, Smeed remembered his promise to Rory. But, judging by the furious cursing and helpless laughter coming from that quarter, the fellow needed a bit of a rest. Smeed supressed a chuckle.

40. The Last War

    #120

    Holly took a deep breathe and turned as the same young girl who had fallen and grazed her knee had come running up to her, cheering as if she and the others were hero's from another world, Holly smiled leant down and picked her up "thank you"she said with a small curtsey she walked back to the clearing and watched as Rory was engulfed in the flames and the sound of his laughter all around, she looked around the camp, most people were shaking but had a more than pleased look on there faces. Holly placed the girl down where she ran away giggling, holly leant on a tree and slid down it resting her head in her hands, and her arms on her knees, she was tired and she needed to sleep but she couldn't she looked up and looked at Rory sat there laughing and Baldwin looking quite serious over him, smeed picking up his stuff and grumple sat there, he seemed to be the only one eating.

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