Date in Real Life: Thursday, 20 October, 2022
In Game Day: Shta’im, the 13th of Sawol
The team struck off through the woods, following Edward’s impeccable sense of direction. Nothing much happened for a tick or so, except for Hector stumbling on a tree root.
“Sorry, M’Lady, but I can’t go on,” Regulus said. “I need to rest.”
“Of course,” Starflower said. “Hey, Edward! Hold up! Regulus needs a break!”
Edward stopped and looked back patiently.
“I’m hungry anyway,” Hector commented.
Edward glanced up at the sun. “I suppose it’s about that time. Let’s have supper.”
In a few moments, Edward had a small campfire going, and everyone was enjoying some field rations.
“Why do you keep glancing over your shoulder?” Philip asked Edward.
“I feel like we’re being watched,” Edward replied. “How far away can you sense evil?”
“I’ve never really measured it,” Philip admitted. He paused a moment, closing his eyes. “I’m not sensing evil right now, for what it’s worth.”
“Still, I feel like we’re being watched.”
“We’ll stay alert,” Philip promised.
Starflower glanced around. “There’s an owl over there, staring at us,” she pointed.
“Strange,” Edward agreed, “But I don’t think that’s what’s giving me the feeling.”
“Maybe I’ll try to talk to it,” Starflower said, getting up.
“I’ll come with you,” Philip said, rising as well.
“The Overlord is with us!” she greeted the owl as they drew closer. Maybe it was a talking owl.
“Hoo?” the owl chirped.
Overlord, grant me the ability to talk to this creature, Starflower prayed. “Hello there,” she hooted in owlish. “How are you?”
“Hoo? Me? I am fine,” was the reply.
Thank you, Overlord. It’s working. I understand. “Are you following us?”
“Hoo? Me? No. I am hunting mice.”
“Anyone else around?”
“Hoo? Troll and goblins? They are hunting you.”
“Oh, dear. How far away are they?” Philip tried to hoot along.
“Far? I don’t understand,” the owl replied.
Owls would not have a measuring system for distance, Starflower thought, shaking her head. “Let me do the talking,” she whispered to Philip.
“Where are they?” Starflower tried.
“Who? Them? Back there,” the owl gestured with its head back the way they had come.
“Thank you. Hope you find some mice!” Starflower said, waving goodbye.
“Hoo? Me? You too!” the owl replied.
Philip and Starflower turned and came back to the others.
“The owl says we’re being tracked by a troll and some goblins,” Starflower announced.
“I thought so,” Edward commented.
Hector finished putting his cooking utensils away in his bag. “So, do we keep moving, or stick around and wait for them to catch up?”
“We could set traps,” Philip suggested.
“They might show up while we’re still making the traps,” Hector pointed out.
“If we make it to Badun, we might find reinforcements,” Edward pointed out.
Starflower glanced at Regulus. “You okay to keep going, Regulus?”
Regulus rose to his feet. “I can continue for now, M’Lady.”
Starflower nodded. “Let’s keep going, then. I’d like to avoid another fight with a troll so soon.”
This seemed to settle the matter. The team quickly finished packing up and set off through the forest again.
About a tick later, Philip reined in his horse. “Hey, what’s that?” Philip pointed to something jutting out from behind a tree. He slid off his horse and went around the trunk. Hector came up behind him.
Edward paused and glanced back behind the team, nervously. “Don’t take too long, eh?”
“Of course,” Philip said.
“A picture frame?” Hector asked.
Philip frowned. It was a picture frame. As he came around the tree, he could see it was a painting. A portrait of some lady. Was this some sort of trap? He and Hector looked all around, but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. He reached out with his lance and tapped the frame. It fell over onto the forest floor. He glanced around. Nothing happened. Philip shrugged and picked up the portrait.
“What is it doing here?” Hector asked. “How did it get here in the middle of the forest?”
“She looks familiar,” Philip said.
Starflower came over. “Let me see,” she examined the portrait in Philip’s hands. A noble looking woman in a yellow dress. Seated by a window. “Oh, yes, we met her. This is,” she snapped her fingers a couple of times, “Countess, uh... Countess CaliCaliCala! We met her in Hoyde. The princess’ friend.”
“Oh, yeah, now that you mention it,” Philip agreed.
“Still doesn’t explain how it got here,” Hector repeated.
“We can take it with us, I suppose,” Philip said.
“Who’s going to carry it?” Hector asked, eyeing the large frame.
“I’ll just strap it to Johnny. The horse can carry it.”
“Great, let’s keep moving,” Edward said.
“Squirrel,” William pointed.
“I see it,” Starflower said. The creature was sitting on the ground, holding a nut, and not running away from them as they approached.
“Hi, squirrel!” Philip said. The squirrel dashed up the nearest tree, then sat on a branch, looking at them.
“The Overlord is with us!” Philip tried to greet the creature again.
The squirrel glanced around, as if trying to identify which person in the party was the Overlord.
“Sorry to disturb you,” Starflower said. “Is the road near here?”
“You mean the human trail?” The squirrel replied. “Yes, just south of us. Not far at all.”
“Are goblins following us?” Philip asked.
“I hope not. How would I know?” the squirrel replied.
“Never mind. Have a good day,” Starflower interjected. Starflower walked back to the others. “The squirrel says the road is not far. Just south of us.”
“Sounds about right,” Edward agreed.
The team found the road soon enough, turned left and headed east, hopefully in the direction of Badun. They were right, and soon arrived at the outskirts of the village. One moment they were on the road in a forest, the next moment, they were standing among stone buildings with thatched roofs. The forest still loomed over the rooftops, and they could hear the river to the south.
It was getting late, and the sun was setting. There were still a few villagers heading here and there. As they continued down the street, they spotted a woman standing guard at a large intersection. She had banded mail armour and was wielding a ranseur. The fancy pike was charcoal grey. A large black bear was seated beside her. She turned her head towards them, her short grey hair framing her face.
“Hello, there!” Starflower said, raising her hand in greeting.
“Hi,” the woman grunted. “Strangers from the west. Are you from Hoyde?”
“Uh, yes, we came on behalf of Hoyde,” Starflower said.
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s the soldiers?”
“The army was still gone, fighting orcs. But we came to help fight this... this...” Starflower still didn’t know what the note had warned about.
“Gummy cow?” Edward tried.
“Yucky now?” William suggested.
“Bunny Lov?” Hector tossed out.
“You mean the Crummy Sow?” the woman asked.
“Yes, that must be it. It was a little messy. Did you write it?” Philip asked.
“No. But it was written in a hurry. It is the Crummy Sow.”
“What’s a Crummy Sow?” Philip asked.
“Do you know what a wild boar is?” she asked, her hazel eyes piercing him.
“Sure,” Philip responded.
“Well, the Crummy Sow is a giant wild boar. It has huge tusks. It comes to the village every couple of days when it is hungry. Destroys things looking for food.”
“When was it last here?” Starflower asked.
“Couple of nights ago. It seems like we’re due for another visit, soon.” The woman was answering in a curt tone of voice.
“Nice bear,” William commented, stepping closer with Bill at his side.
The woman smiled. “This is Breder,” she stroked her bear’s fur.
“This is Bill,” William offered. Bill crept closer and sniffed Breder. “They seem to like each other,” William observed. “I’m William, by the way. William the Bear Knight.”
“Bear Knight, eh? Interesting title. I’m Ealhbun,” the woman said, sticking out a hand. “Breder is my animal companion.”
“How long have you had him?” William asked.
“About a year, I suppose. You?”
“Almost two years, now, I think, right Bill?” William scratched Bill’s fur.
Do you want me to answer out loud? Bill thought telepathically to William.
No. William mentally replied.
Ealhbun relaxed her shoulders. “Thank you for coming, I guess. I’m not sure how much you’ll be able to help...” her voice trailed off.
“I’m confident we can take care of this Crummy Sow,” Philip said. “Are there any guards in this village?”
Ealhbun shook her head. “Not really. Just me and a couple of other heroes. Andes and Ecin.”
“Heroes?” Starflower asked.
“Long ago, in our younger days,” Ealhbun explained.
“We’re Lightraiders,” Philip blurted out.
“What’s that?” Ealhbun asked politely.
“We serve the Overlord of Many Names!” Philip exclaimed.
Ealhbun scoffed. “Pshah! What a waste of time!”
“Where do you think you came from?” Philip challenged.
“My mother.”
“And where did your mother come from?”
“Her mother.”
“Mothers all the way back?” Starflower suggested.
“Yes,” Ealhbun agreed, rolling her eyes.
“And the first mother came from where?” Philip asked.
“Pond scum,” Ealhbun retorted quickly. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go check on Andes. Bye!” She turned and walked away from the conversation. Breder followed her down the street.
“Not open,” Starflower said.
“I can see that,” Philip replied.
“So what do we do now?” Hector asked.
“Keep talking to people and wait for this Crummy Sow to show up,” Edward suggested.
“If it even comes tonight,” William muttered.
“Perhaps if we find some lodging?” Hector asked.
Edward shook his head. “We’re being tracked by forest trolls and goblins and now there’s a giant wild boar that might come, too.”
“Troll. Singular,” Starflower said.
“What?” Edward asked.
“The owl said ‘troll’ in the singular. Not ‘trolls.’”
“There’s still two trolls unaccounted for,” Philip pointed out. “And twelve goblins.”
“If we’re being technical,” Hector said, “then there might be goblins and trolls elsewhere. We have no evidence that was the only camp in the forest.”
“Gah!” Starflower said. “But there’s only one troll following us, with a maximum of twelve goblins from the camp we were at.”
“Assuming the one tracking us is from the camp we attacked,” Hector said.
“Yes. Fine. Assuming it is a troll from the camp we attacked. I think that’s a reasonable assumption.”
“If that’s the case, it is probably safe to assume he won’t have all twelve goblins with him. If there were two trolls missing, they probably each have a squad of goblins, so the twelve will be split into two groups,” Hector said.
“Are we done?” Edward asked. The others nodded sheepishly. “As I was saying... We don’t know who’s going to attack first, the Crummy Sow, or the troll, singular, with his goblins.”
“Or her goblins,” Hector said. Edward glared at him. Hector shrugged, “Might be a female troll. We don’t know it’s a ‘him’.”
“The troll, singular, with his or her goblins!” Edward’s voice rose a bit. “Or the Crummy Sow. Maybe they’ll even attack at the same time!”
“How is a Crummy Sow a wild boar?” William asked. “How can you be a sow and a boar at the same time? Which is it?”
“Ealhbun mentioned tusks. I think boar,” Hector said.
“Wild boar is the species name for both male and female,” Starflower said, “and both males and females can have tusks. I think Sow.”
“Are we done interrupting?” Edward demanded. “My point is that where ever we lodge, we might put people in danger. I think we should plan to stay up tonight or set a watch and sleep in the open. Maybe in the town square or something.”
“Would the troll attack?” Hector asked.
“What do you mean?” Starflower asked.
“I mean, if I was a troll, I’d wait for the opportune moment. Maybe they’ll wait on the outskirts of the village until we leave town. Maybe they’ll take advantage of a Crummy Sow attack. They’re not stupid, you know.”
“Yes they are,” Philip put in.
“Okay, maybe a little stupid,” Hector allowed, “I’m just saying I’m not too worried that the troll will attack first if we stay in town, but I’d still post a guard tonight.”
“In case they sneak in and murder us in our sleep,” William said.
“Yes, exactly!” Hector said brightly.
Starflower rolled her eyes.
“There’s someone,” William pointed. “Excuse me, miss!” he hailed a tall, slender woman with brown hair. She was wearing well-made peasant clothing, and was leading a goat with a rope. She turned at the sound of his voice.
“Yes?”
“Hello, we’re travellers,” William said as the party came up to her. “We’re looking for the town square,”
“Oh, you’re almost there,” she said. “It’s just one block more in this direction,” she pointed the way they had been heading.
“Thanks very much,” William said.
Starflower spotted a wooden necklace on the girl’s throat. It was a symbol of the Fountain and the Flame. A holy symbol of the Overlord.
“The Overlord is with us,” Starflower said just as the girl was turning to go.
She stopped and turned to face Starflower. “Yes, he’s with me, too,” she said, her free hand straying to her necklace.
Not the typical Keledan response, Starflower thought. “I see you wear the Overlord’s symbol on your necklace.”
“Yes, so the Holy Spirit can protect me,” she said.
“What do you know of the Holy Spirit?” Starflower asked, keeping her tone light.
“The Holy Spirit is the chief angel that the Overlord sent to help us,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Chief angel?” Edward echoed.
“Yes, chief angel.”
“The Holy Spirit is not an angel,” Philip said.
“Someone wasn’t paying attention in catechial school,” she sing-songed.
“No, really,” Edward said. “That’s not what the sacred scrolls say.”
“And what do they say?” the girl asked.
“Uh...” Edward snapped his fingers a couple of times near his head, as if that would help spark a memory. “All that’s coming to mind is John 11, where Jesus says he will send a helper.” He glanced at his teammates for help.
“Yes, that helper was his Chief Angel, the Holy Spirit.”
Starflower cleared her throat. “No, the Holy Spirit is God. Listen, it says in the sacred scrolls in 1 John 5:7: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
“It really says that? That the Holy Spirit is God?”
“Absolutely.”
“Whoa, my cleric never read that to us.”
“Don’t you read the sacred scrolls for yourself?” Edward asked.
“No, we’re not allowed to. In case we misinterpret it.”
“Ah, that’s the problem. The truth has been hidden from you,” Starflower said.
“I wonder what else I’m missing,” she said.
“Well,” Edward said. “Perhaps if we started at the beginning. The Everlasting Spirit wants friendship with you.”
“Say what, now?” was her reaction.
Edward proceeded to explain the Great Rescue to her. Some parts she knew or had heard of, but she was especially astounded by how easy it was to repent. She happily prayed with the team, becoming Keledan, a Twice-Born.
“It feels like a burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. I’m Enel Bery, by the way. And this is Reyny, my goat.” Enel had a huge smile on her face. Starflower couldn’t help but laugh with joy at the brightness in her eyes. They all introduced themselves.
Edward pulled out the elder dagger. “Have you ever seen something like this?” he asked.
“It’s a fancy dagger.”
“Yes, we’re trying to track down where it came from. We heard it came from merchants of Badun. Have you seen anyone with it?”
“Not exactly. I might know a couple of merchants who might deal with those sorts of things.”
“Where?”
“Well, in the market square, but it’s night. Maybe if you meet me in the square tomorrow morning, I can introduce you to them?”
“Great. We’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Edward said.
The team made their way to the town square. A an old man with white hair and wearing chain mail was standing in the square.
“Hail and well met!” Hector greeted the man. They could see he had a flail at his side.
“Greetings,” he replied. “I am Andes. You must be the helpers from Hoyde that Ealhbun spoke of.”
“Indeed, that is us!” Hector confirmed.
“Bill!” William suddenly blurted out, “Get out of the garbage!”
“But there’s dead fish in here,” Bill mumbled quietly so that Andes couldn’t hear him.
“Do you think the Crummy Sow will come tonight?” Hector asked Andes.
“That seems likely. Based on her behaviour. I’m certain of it.”
“Let’s go get it!” Philip exclaimed, brandishing his battle axe.
“Whoa, wait a moment,” Hector cautioned. “How about we make a plan first?”
Andes shook his head. “She comes at random times, from different directions.”
“Maybe we could lure her here,” Hector suggested. “To this open square.”
“How?” Andes asked.
Hector glanced around.
“There’s lots of dead fish in these garbage barrels!” William called out.
“That could work,” Andes said. “She’s always looking for food.”
“Let’s make a big pile in the middle of the square as bait,” Philip said. He had put away his axe, hopped off his horse, and was already moving a barrel.
After half a tick of grunting and dumping, they had a huge smelly pile of fish.
“Why is there so much dead fish?” Starflower asked.
“Fishermen couldn’t sell their wares since people needed money to rebuild their homes. Damage from the Crummy Sow.” Andes shrugged. “She’s ruining us.”
“We need to fix this,” Philip vowed.
Some time later, a scream was heard in the north end of the village.
“She’s come,” Andes said, rising to his feet.
Philip jumped up from his spot at the campfire and mounted Johnny. He wheeled his horse about and stationed himself between two buildings in a narrow alley. The others also crept into the shadows, weapons at the ready.
They waited several tense moments, praying the smell of rotting fish would attract the beast.
“It’s not working,” Hector mumbled.
“Patience,” Edward whispered.
Two minutes later, the Crummy Sow came into the market square. They could barely make out the details in the light from the campfire, but they could see it was at least four or five times larger than Bill the Bear. The beast had great tusks and a huge bulk of a body. The legs were comparatively thin, but were still powerful. Its hooves clopped on the cobblestone square as it cautiously advanced towards the pile. Its nose snuffled the air.
It’s going to smell us! Hector worried. The giant wild pig gave no indication, however, of smelling anything other than the pile of fish in the square. At last, the beast stuck its head in the pile and began munching.
Hector stepped out of the shadows, his sling whirling. He let fly, as did his companions with their slings, and one of Starflower’s arrows. He could hear Philip’s horse charging across the square.
Hector’s stone must have hit the beast first, because the Crummy Sow dropped its food and turned towards him! Half a second later, it was charging fast at him. Hector barely had time to think, and dove out of the way. He could hear Edward yelling, trying to distract the beast. Hector managed to avoid getting gored, rammed, or trampled, and rolled away and up onto his feet. He was just in time to see the Crummy Sow charge at Edward. Edward didn’t have time to react. Hector could see the bright purple flash of his armour as he was thrown several feet.
The wild sow spun around, looking for the next threat. It set its sights on William, but before it could charge, Philip came crashing into it with his lance. The beast stumbled and Regulus leaped on top of it, sinking his teeth into the back of its neck and ripping with force. The sow went down and didn’t get up.
“That takes care of that,” William remarked, stepping forward. He started pulling throwing daggers out of the animal’s hide. Hector hadn’t even noticed he had thrown any daggers.
Philip pulled out his sword and took several swings at the sow’s neck.
“I think we got it,” Starflower said. She still had an arrow nocked in her bow, just-in-case.
“Just making sure it’s good and dead,” Philip grunted.
“How are you doing, Edward?” Hector rushed to him.
“Not good,” Edward moaned. He sat up. “What’s this?” he had a flask in his hand.
Hector took it from him and held it up to the fire light. “It’s that bitter healing potion. A gift from the Overlord.”
Edward took the bottle back, opened the cap and sniffed. “Ugh, no. I don’t think I can stomach that right now. I think I’ll use my healing herbs from my pack.”
Hector retrieved the potion, and said a healing prayer for Edward.
“Why do I still hear screaming?” Edward asked.
Hector paused and looked north. There was light. Something was on fire.
“Is it a dragon attack?” Starflower asked no one in particular as the team ran north out of the square, Andes following them. As they got closer, she could see a flaming arrow come from the woods and land on a thatched roof. No. Not a dragon. The village was under attack.
“Are those our goblins?” Hector asked.
The team caught up with Ealhbun and her bear at an intersection.
“The shots seem to be coming from a couple different directions,” Ealhbun said as soon as they arrived. She pointed, “that way and that way.”
“Okay,” Starflower said. “How about you and I go left with Hector and your bear and my lion. The others go right?”
“Race you!” Philip said, moving forward. “First one to kill all their goblins wins!”
“Be careful!” Starflower called after him. “Goblins see really well in the dark!”
“Ya, ya, I know!” Philip’s voice trailed behind him. Edward and William ran after him, followed by Bill the bear and Andes.
Starflower ran with her group to the edge of town, then slowed to a cautious walk as they entered the woods.
“I see one,” Hector hissed. “Psalm 24:1. The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; Psalm 24:1.”
Starflower heard several hissing noises as unseen goblins dissolved into fungus. Praise the Overlord.
She peered into the darkness. Was anything else out here?
M’Lady, there’s a troll! Regulus’ thoughts broke into her mind. I can smell it!
Where? Starflower thought back. She held her bow uncertainly.
Dead ahead. About 20 feet in front of us, by that big tree.
Starflower planted her feet and raised her bow. She saw a small orange glow. What was that? She realized too late that it was probably the lit end of a forest troll’s cigar. She could smell smoke on the wind.
“If we kill it, we’d be heroes,” Hector whispered.
“That’s true,” Starflower said. “Imagine how the villagers would thank us.”
“Maybe even a parade. Think of the influence we could have, here.”
Regulus charged in with Breder the bear charging up behind him. Starflower gleefully fired an arrow. Killing trolls was child’s play for a mighty warrior like her! Look how much Badun honoured their old heroes! There were new heroes in town! Her name would go down in the history books and her fame would spread. They would sing the tale of this very night as the first verse in their songs!
“M’Lady,” Regulus was suddenly in front of her, panting. The troll was dead. Her lion was injured.
“We got him! Weren’t we magnificent?” Starflower said.
“M’Lady!” Regulus said again, more forcefully. “The Overlord is magnificent. We are just servants doing his will. Not seeking our own glory. I can hear your thoughts.”
Starflower did a double take. “Gah! Sin enchantments again! Thanks, Regulus. Hector, get over here, let me talk to you.”
Hector had truth talked into him, and then gave Regulus the bitter healing potion they had picked up earlier.
They doubled back to the village and joined the bucket brigade to put out the fires on the buildings. Late into the night, when the fires were finally out, they stumbled back to the town square.
“Goblin’s night vision is no match for Edward’s ability to blend with surroundings in a forest!” William joked loudly.
“Oh?” Starflower asked.
“I totally sneaked up on a goblin!” Edward agreed. “Slashed it down before it even saw me!”
“Skewered two on my lance,” Philip said nonchalantly.
“Sounds like you boys had fun,” Starflower said. “How many did you find?”
“Four,” Edward said. “Plus the three you said you heard, plus the troll, that leaves one troll and five goblins unaccounted for from that camp in the woods.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” Hector asked.
“Andes got bit a couple of times,” William said. “He has chain mail armour, but I heard him cry out in pain, so we might have a goblin sin enchantment on our hands.”
Andes was already in the town square when they arrived. He was examining the Crummy Sow, who was bleeding on the pavement. “Check out these tusks,” he mumbled as they approached.
“How are you, Andes?” Hector asked.
“Fine,” Andes said gruffly.
“Are you hurt at all? I’m trained in the medical arts,” Hector offered.
“I’m fine. I should get to bed. Good night. Thanks for your help,” Andes got up and moved off.
“We’ll need to check on him in the morning,” Starflower remarked. The others grunted in agreement.
“So is this a dark creature, or just a wild creature?” Edward asked, coming near the Crummy Sow.”
“Can’t tell,” Starflower said. “I didn’t notice any sin enchantments while attacking it.”
“Not all dark creatures attack with sin enchantments right away,” Hector reminded her. “Trolls aren’t always smoking. Goblins need to be close enough to bite.”
“We can take another look in the morning,” Starflower said.
“So, we’re sleeping here in the square?” Hector asked.
“Yes, our camping stuff is already set up here,” Philip pointed out.
“With the dead fish and the rotting giant wild boar/sow thing?” Hector confirmed.
“Of course,” Philip grinned, swinging down from his saddle. “Little late and a little dark to go anywhere else. I’ll take first watch.”
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