A good soak....

[Zee]

The man cackles to himself at the rangers show of strength. "Strong willed lass aren't you. I believe this should be more fun than I had hoped." The man shifts the knife to the other hand and circles around his captive. Nodding to the bushes "Noticed that too did you. Quite observant as well. Don't worry though lass. I don't believe those men watching us shall harm you or your friend." Taking his free hand the man raises it to the swanmays hair at her shoulder gingerly lifting it to his face and giving it a quick sniff. "Until I tell them to."

On cue as if that was their signal the men in the bushes step out of their hiding spots. One from a bush to her right, another from behind a tree to her left, a third dropping down from a tree just above where she sat on the rock. The lot of them strong and calm, advancing casually as if they feared the woman no more than a gnat. The woman can hear the whistler laughing loudly now as the three men have made it into striking distance.

The ranger seeing little option lashes out at one of them. The man in the middle being the unlucky one receives the rangers staff directly to his throat causing him to gasp and clutch at his collapsed airway. It was just then when the woman had a glimmer of hope that the men may be easily defeated that everything goes black. She can feel the roughness of a sack as it was placed over her head by the fourth man that surprised her from behind. Violently the staff is knocked from the rangers hand and she feels the strong hands grab each of her arms holding her in place. Lashing out with feet and head for a few moments the ranger soon feels the futility in her actions.

The ranger feels the heat of her breath trapped by the bag. Her sight taken her ears start to pick up more and she hears a faint grunt. Moments that feel like forever pass before she feels a hand take the side of her head and push it sideways to avoid her being able to head butt anyone. She feels the bag press in around her neck and feels something tighten around it. She feels something press against her cheek softly, almost a caring feeling to it. She hears the whistler whisper into her ear. "Come and get me." Taking the hand that had been holding her head the grip changes to that of an embrace and she feels the man kiss her forehead.

She feels the hands release the grips on her arms and her head. Before she can lash out a strong shove on her back sends her stumbling forward doing her best to maintain her footing until she hits a rock and falls to the ground. Reaching up to the tie holding the bag over her head the woman finds it easy to untie and removes the bag casting it aside. She finds the men gone, vanished as if they were never there. The only proof they were is the man she slew and her leaf pendant on the ground at the feet of her friend with a dagger in her heart.

[Zee]

The pendant rests on the ground serving as a paper weight for the slip of paper underneath. The paper simply reads: "Yours truly, Burcanto".




OOC: Sorry bout that, hit the post button with out proof reading.

[Paks]

Having pulled the bag from her head, Paks climbs to her feet and looks around the little clearing in disbelief. When her eyes rest on her dead friend, she falls to her knees, her head falling into her hands as she let's out a sob of grief. Though she had only known the woman for a few months, her death felt like, as the ranger imagined, loosing a member of her family. A sudden rage comes over her. She leaps back to her feet and grabs the closest rock she can find and hurls it as hard as she can into the surrounding forest, letting out a howl of frustration.

Noticing the paper signed "Burcanto", the ranger screws it up and throws it too, pocketing her leaf pendant for the moment. Reaching Red, the ranger gently removes the dagger from her heart. Ripping a piece of material from her tunic she wraps the dagger and puts into her belt. With a final sigh, she looks around the clearing until she finds her staff and collects it. Passing the screwed up piece of paper on the way, the ranger leans down and picks it up. "And as for you" she whispers to the paper, "You can count on me coming to find you." She pockets the paper and heads back to her dead friend.

Having no tools in which to bury her friend, the ranger decides to cover her with stones to stop the forest creatures from nibbling on her body. Before she does, she pulls out the silver pendant from her pocket and lays it over the wound on Red's heart. "I'm so sorry" she whispers.

Once the burial is completed, the ranger takes one long last look around the glade, one last futile search for tracks that Burcanto and his men may have left before heading back to the Inn.

Back at the Inn, the ranger seeks out the Inn keeper. Producing the paper from her pocket she then unwraps the dagger, showing him the design.
"Burcanto" she says, staring down at the man. "Have you heard of him, or anyone that might have? I have a debt to settle with him and I want it was done, sooner rather than later."

[Zee]

As the ranger completes the stone burial numerous ducks and and other water fowl glide their way down the creek and waddle onto the shore gathering around the stones. They linger for a few long moments no movement or actions before they all simultaneously lower their heads and waddle back to the creek to go their own ways.

Arriving back at the inn the barkeep looks at the dagger the woman lays before her, picking it up and turning it over a time or two. "Fancy, very fancy. Pretty penny this would have cost, canna say i know it though." Returning the dagger to the woman he leans back from the counter and rubs his chin. "Burcanto, naw canna say I know that name either. Maybe you could try your luck with some of those book keepers in a major city. Mayhaps one of those traveling song tellers could know, they tend to have quite the network of connections, may wanna see if you can track one of them down. Come to think of it, one of em passed through about a month ago. Headed north he did." The barkeep takes a glass from a table dips a rag into a bucket of water before wiping out the insides of the glass, waiting to see if the woman has any more questions before going about his business.

[Paks]

Paks takes a moment to think over the Inn Keepers words. They made sense really and though she had hoped for more, it was better than nothing. At least now she had some kind of direction to take.

"Headed north you say" she says looking over the Inn Keepers head and staring blankly at the wall. "You wouldn't by any chance be able to tell me what this... song teller looks like? A name perhaps? A more specific destination he may have been heading for?"

"I know I sound pushy" the ranger says, snapping her attention back to the man, "But it really is important."

[Zee]

The Barkeep furrows his brow in thought. "Well missy, I canna say for sure but I believe I heard one of his young admirers saying if they could they would travel to Rockbridge to see his next show. A little town up the road about a weeks walk north. Nice inn there, cousin of mine runs it, Lorn is his name. Like I said though, dunno if I over heard the little miss incorrectly or if she even knew for sure where he was going but I reckon I heard her say Rockbridge."

[Paks]

Nodding in thanks, the ranger takes her leave and heads back to the room she had let out for the night. After checking that the remainder of her gear is all there, she sits down on the edge of the bed and let's out a sigh. Rockbridge. She had no idea where that was only that it was north, she's have to ask directions in the morning. Good thing she had her horse Clyde, he would make the journey that much faster.

Pulling her boots off, the ranger glanced towards the door. She was certain she wouldn't have to worry about trouble tonight. If Burcanto wanted her dead, he's have done it already. No. It seemed like he enjoyed the chase more. Climbing into bed, sleep was a long time coming but eventually it did.

Paks was out of bed as soon as the sun rose in the morning, dressing and strapping all her weapons in place. She headed down to the common room and ordered herself some breakfast and a strong tea. When it was served she asked the Inn worker for directions to Rockbridge.

[Zee]

The serving girl hands the ranger her morning meal and points her thumb up the road. "Bout a weeks journey due north. Little quicker by horseback. If ya get lost just follow the stream it runs right under the towns bridge."

[Paks]

Finishing her meal, Paks pays what is due and heads out to the stable. Finding the stall that Clyde had spent the night in, she rubs him down and saddles him. Leading out into the yard, she mounts up and heads off in the direction the serving girl had sent her, not bothering to look back over her shoulder for a last glimpse of the town.

Starting off at a brisk walk, she ponders how she will go about seeking her revenge. Clearly she would need more than just herself if she wanted to stand a chance but who else could she count on? Shaking her head in frustration, she nudges Clyde into a trot and looks towards the horizon, a week till Rockbridge. Let's hope this part of the journey at least goes smoothly, she thought.

[Zee]

The rangers trip for the first half of the week is largely unremarkable. Following the road to the north it weaves in and out of the woods and crosses the river with small wooden bridges easily crossed. When the ranger gets into the 5th day of the journey she comes across the river again in the woods with the road crossing over it.

The ranger leads her horse over the bridge when Clyde rears and whinnys. His hooves stomping down on the bridge scares the little ambushers out from underneath. Covered in moss and mud the ranger sees two little goblins with wooden  pikes appear, one on each side of the bridge. A third goblin appears out of the woods shaking his head "Ya were suppose a waited til she was past and skewered'er in the back idiots!" This goblin is obviously in charge and carries a short sword and wears a mail jerkin. (3 Badguys)

[Paks]

Having had the last few days of a peaceful journey, the ranger isn't too surprised when she's ambushed at the bridge.

"I knew it was too good to be true" she mutters as she throws Clyde's reins, freeing him. "Just don't go snapping your bridle Clyde" she whispers to her steed as she swings her staff into a defensive position.

Giving her attention over to the goblin and his lackies, Paks gives a deadly smile. "Seriously, if you're going to take to hiding under bridges, the least you could is dress up like a troll" she says, the tone of her voice intending to bait them.

[Zee]

Clyde takes off at a full gallop down the bridge nearly trampling the well equipped goblin who had moved up to stand right at the foot of the bridge. As Paks takes her position the goblin on the right thrusts his pike at her to give his mate a chance to gain a footing on the bridge.

Paks' rolls (one for each badguy)
:1d100+76:
:1d100+76:
:1d100+76:

Badguys rolls
Gobo with pike #1 :1d100+39:
Gobo with pike #2 :1d100+34:
Gobo with sword and mail :1d100+50:

[Zee]

((Bah!))

Paks
Rolling 1d100+76:

(42)+76: Total = 118

Rolling 1d100+76:

(84)+76: Total = 160

Rolling 1d100+76:

(35)+76: Total = 111

Gobos:
Rolling 1d100+39:

(20)+39: Total = 59

Rolling 1d100+34:

(6)+34: Total = 40

Rolling 1d100+50:

(28)+50: Total = 78

[Zee]

((My badguys suck... anywho, Paks defeats all three of em with out taking any damage))

[Paks]

(( No, no, your rolls don't suck at all, feel free to roll more like that!!))

Between Clyde and Paks, the pathetic excuse for goblins are defeated rather quickly. The ranger looks over the goblins with an audible sigh, "I really think you would have had more luck in a troll disguise" she says to the leader as she nudges him in the side with the tip of her boot, just to make sure he was really done with. When she is certain they aren't going to jump her, she gives them a quick once over search and pockets anything of value.

Leaning on her staff, she whistles to her chestnut horse and waits for him to return. She checks over her staff while she waits, cleaning off goblin blood here and there till it was as good as new. Giving Clyde a pat on the neck when he reaches her, she looks him over for any damage before swinging up into the saddle.

"Right then, no point dwindling here, who knows how many more of them are out in the woods and honestly, the mood for finding out has past me. The sooner we get to Rockbridge, the better" the ranger says, nudging Clyde to a trot.