Brynn Shander

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Two days later Bjorn stopped the group. "we're near Brynne Shander. Cameron, you got out last. Can you guide us here?"

 

" Aye, but you'll have to take a load off." he told them, " Anything metal not covered, should be covered of left behind. The goblins like shiny things and have a good eye for it."

Cameron had no metal, all leather, so he took the time to look for the patrols and time their schedule. He wasn't very surprised to find the camp was in dissorder. Many of the monsters had left and now the camp had at least 500 goblins! This should make it much easier. Knowing goblins they would stay in the palace.

When the others were finished he ran ahead to an over-turned wagon outside the tree line. He pointed at Darren to come to the wagon. The little halfling came sprinting out surprisingly quietly aswell.

" Wait here until I am beyond the second hiding place, then motion for the next person to come forth, then go to next hiding spot. Got it?" He whispered. After recieving a nod, he bolted out into the darkness.

 

Shadowflame pulled back into the shadows. He seemed to just melt into the darkness. He rushed forward at Darren's signal, keeping to the shadows which in the bright sun were few and far between. When Shadowflame reached the wagon, Cameron rushed forward to the next spot, an empty building and Darren took Cameron's spot at the crumbling wall. Shadowflame then signaled to Jex, who ran forward to join him at the wagon. The mage ran to join Darren at the crumbling wall, who in turn joined Cameron in the building. The party continued like this until the whole party stood in the building.

 

"So," Daren whispered, with pipe in mouth, "What do we do now?"

 

Shadowflame casually walked around the building. "What was this place?" He asked to no one in particular. He turned suddenly to Cameron, "Is... was this an inn?" Without waiting for a response he continued, "What part of town are we in? We need to find the richest part of town. Let's find the most expensive place in town." Shadowflame looked at Cameron expectantly who was standing up against the wall next to Bjorn and Jex. Daren was sitting in the corner, almost invisible in the low light.

 

Bjorn also looked to Cameron. "I'm not that familiar with the town. I know the outskirts were Berg worked. Isn't the best part in the center?"

 

"Well the most expensive part of town, is probably the wolf's den. The goblins will be swarming the place. The best way to get there would be..." Cameron paused, deep in thought," the sewers might get us there, unfortunatly, neither I or Shadowflame can fit through. Bjorn, you might be able to. We would have to split up. Darren and Berg you should go exactly straight untill you come to the... 87th man hole I think. Then you be right in the middle of the rich houses, the sewers will get you into any house. Find an empty one and light a lantren in hte top east window. We'll come to you." Cameron whispered, he didn't really need to, but he was always a cautious one.

 

Daren's jaw dropped, "Oi! You want me to go in there?! But it stinks!! I don't wanna, I don't wan--" Berg grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw him into the sewer with a soft splash. Berg flashed a grin at the others and dove in after Daren.

[ March 21, 2006, 19:50: Message edited by: Elwithral Irenicus ]

 

Bjorn jumped down after Daren and Berg. It would be a tight fit but he was slim and with a little crouching thought he could make it through the sewers.

He gagged on the smell but swiftly overcame it and moved on.

 

Jex stood by impassivly. "I'm not going through the sewers. There isn't a goblin alive who could spot a drow sneaking through the night."

 

"Alright, but stay close, we'll have to go the long way around." Cameron said as he sprang into the darkness. They got into the rich area and waited for the light.

 

Shadowflame paced around the alley glancing impatiently at Jex and Cameron. He was kicking himself for not thinking of an idea earlier. He was trying to figure out why he hadn't attempted to use a mass invisibility spell, instead of all this hiding. It would have been faster and they wouldn't be waiting for the others to give them the sign. He assumed there had been an unconcious reason but he couldn't think of it.

Suddenly there were several loud noises around the corner. Cameron stood quickly spear in hand, Jex and Shadowflame followed suit both melting into the shadows. The sounds came again, this time the were recognizable as bugbears. Shadowflame whispered to Cameron assuming Jex would hear as well, "I don't want to get in a fight here."

 

Daren, Berg and Bjorn move uneventful through the sewers checking manholes as they go. Reaching the correct one they exit to the surface. By good luck they are in a basement. Carefully approaching the stairs they move up into the building. From a window they look out onto a dark street. Bjorn can easily see the damage caused by the invading force. He shakes his head sadly and looks around the room. Another stair leads up. This building appears to have escaped the havoc caused to others.

Gingerly they go up the stairs to the next floor.

 

"We have the element of surprise. We don't have much of a choice. I say we stand our ground. We can launch the first strike and the bugbears won't even know what hit them until it's to late." Jex whispered to the others his hands on the hilts of his scimitars and a fire burning in his eyes.

They had a matter of seconds to decide it was either stand their ground and fight the bugbears or hold that the shadows would hold and they remained undetected.

 

Grudgingly Shadowflame drew his blade and nodded. He waved his hands in an intricate pattern casting a spell under his breath. Two bugbears walked past the entrance to the alley. The third caught Shadowflame's three flame arrows in the chest and fell to the ground dead. Shadowflame charged into the street on Cameron's heels. He swung his blade in a high arc and came down through the leg of a bugbear. The beast shreiked as the blade bit into the bone.... and everything went dark, as Shadowflame crumpled to the ground under an overhead blow.

[ April 10, 2006, 14:48: Message edited by: Cirrus ]

 

Jex rushed the Bugbear, sinking his scimitar into the beast side and useing it as leverage as he lept into the air. Swinging his remaining scimitar it slashed through the bugbears throat. Pulling his blade free, the half drow landed silently and ready for another attack.

 

The three in the building found no one in the building. It had been looted but the looters were gone. Daren found an oil lamp, lit it and placed it in a window. They looked out but nothing moved in the streets below them.

They hoped the light would not invite unwanted guests and settled in to wait for the others.