(053) Moonshine

[waysoftheearth]

The main body of the company follow after Torben, spotting him now and then as he appears on grassy ridges and outcroppings, getting ever farther and farther ahead. By midmorning he is periodically gone from sight for a good while as he lopes ahead for a look, appearing here and there as he doubles back to signal back for the company to continue... the company march doggedly on...

[waysoftheearth]

Within an hour Torben is well inside the burned farmlands, passing grimly from one gutted farmstead to another, checking briefly for survivors or any sign of what might have happened. It's clearly a systematic razing; not a single lot nor animal has been spared.

He slows as he reaches the final approach to to Ket; the last mile; the front doorstep of Ket. Normally it would be busy with farmers and lumberers and merchants going about their business; but not today. From his vantage, crouched amid the remains of a burned barn, Torben looks down open the black fields.

There is an army encamped not half a mile beyond the town walls; a haphazard glut of two score pitched tents, surrounded by tiny figures carrying spears and shields. There are some mounts too... great wolves rather than horses, if Torben is not mistaken. And what are these? Amid the regularly soldiery there are a handful of greater figures; armour clad giants standing dutifully to attention. It is a force to be reckoned with!

The city gates appear to be open, and guarded by the occupying army; but there is no movement in or out to be seen...

d6

[mgtremaine]

Wen is appalled at the destruction when the party gets close enough see it for what it is.

"What is this, who would do this, has Ket been razed?" He would ask.

[sully]

Dorgan says, "Looks like the decision ta let goblins live inside Ket's walls was a bad one. But that ain't our problem. Ours is findin' food. Mebbe we should look a little closer at some a' these farms and see what we can scrounge."

[danhem]

"Yes, food should be a priority," Ulric agrees, "although Ket may not be the place to find it now."

Ulric marches on, the all too familiar scent of smoke and ash filling his nostrils.

"Someone has been playing with fire."

OOC: I'm assuming the main party has not seen any of the destruction yet; only Torben.

[verhaden]

Torben

This is no siege -- Ket is taken (or offered). Torben's eyes keenly scan the encamped army, wordlessly counting their numbers as best he can.

Now knowing that they undoubtedly have their own scouts watching the lands, Torben makes a silent retreat from his position, staying low. He would fall back away from the party at first, so that if he is intercepted they might remain unnoticed...

[waysoftheearth]

Torben stays low and watches a while, figuring their numbers. It's hard to say how many might be within the town or without, but the army on the field looks to be about 80 strong; with perhaps 20 wargs and three armoured giants. He also sees a separate group of about a dozen warg riders circling around the far side of the town--which, aside from a few minor spot-fires, appears largely undamaged. He guesses the town was taken with minimal resistance.

The rapid pace of the warg patrol soon has him feeling nervous, so he and turns tail and heads back...

d6

...

[waysoftheearth]

It is about midday when Torben comes loping back to the rest of the company--now about 3 miles from Ket and beginning to see the the first of the burned fields and farm houses for themselves.

Torben shares his news, while the company slate their thirsts as they listen, and then take council.

The group is positioned about halfway between the ruin and the seemingly occupied town of Ket. You could reach either destination by evening.

What do to next?

[ehiker133]

"Back to the ruins!" mutters a sightless Desmond. "We don't want that army to even know we exist until we have a plan figured out..."

[mgtremaine]

ooc: Tactical retreat...

Wen would frown. "Well this is tight spot indeed. Do we know of other ways into the City? Are there by chance underground tunnels? At the very least we might be able to send a message to the sister's or sneak a few of us in to see them."