Reborn- Evoker

by Luka Petrov

  “This looks like a good spot,” confirmed Cecily. “We should be into Arne by tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Lovely,” I replied. “We must leave at the crack of dawn. I need to get to Hamon,” I confided.

  Yves tied our horses to a tree that jutted out along the side of the hill. Walter cleared the rocks away from the entrance of the enclave, where we would sleep under some shelter.

  Cecily cast Fireball at the pile of sticks and twigs that she gathered, making a roaring fire that crackled as the wind howled.

  “I’m sure everyone is ready for dinner,” announced Walter as he took out his lobster and stuck it on a spit to roast. We all followed suit, finding slender branches to use as spits to heat up our lobsters.

  “I never thought crustaceans would travel so well as these lobsters have,” I admitted, surprised in Walter’s choice of food, but astonished that at how well they kept and how appetizing they smelled.

  “What did you expect me to pack?” Walter asked. “Travel bread? Maybe some cheese and apples? That is not my style at all.”

  My lobster was done roasting, and the exoskeleton appeared to be charred to perfection. I broke open the shell and ate the tender meat with the tomato cream sauce that Walter had brought to accompany our lobster meal. “This is absolutely delicious,” I said, my lips oily from devouring the luscious arthropod meat.

  “Walter, great choice!” Yves affirmed. “I can’t wait until our next meal.”

  “My neither. Tomorrow it is pork loin with gravy and eleven bread. If we need something to tied us over until dinner, the smoked salmon will be a great source of protein to stave off the hunger pangs,” explained Walter, de-shelling his lobster and removing the fatty meat.

  “So, we should arrive in Arne tomorrow afternoon,” I stated, changing the subject off of our extravagant meals.

  “Correct,” affirmed Cecily. “I’m not certain where the magic cloister is once we arrive in Arne. Ed, do you have any idea?”

  “I’m not sure if all of Arne is under siege. From what I gathered from the messenger, that appears to be the case. I’ve never been to Arne, so the only information I am basing my decisions on is the map that Cecily has,” I explained.

  “Right, I’ve never been there either,” confided Yves. “I have my doubts that we will be able to find the magical cloister. It’s not like there will be a sign that says, Hamon is Healing Here.” Yves paused for a moment and then continued, “I hate to be the Debbie Downer of the group, but I doubt we will in fact find Hamon. I hope he is in hiding and is difficult to find.”

  Yves did have a point, but there was someone we could go too if needed. I confided, “I heard Balfomeir is in Arne as well.”

  “Balfomeir!” Walter shouted, appearing to be surprised at what I said.

  “Right, Balfomeir,” I repeated.

  “But he wanted to murder us,” interjected Cecily.

  “That was when King Harold was forced to give me up to save the City of Gilmore. King Harold is no more. I am not certain, but hopeful that Balfomeir will protect us and provide us with help if we asked,” I asserted.

  “This is hysterical, Ed. I find it hard to believe that the very Eldritch Knight who battled us, hunted us, and wanted to offer you over to the Demon Lord is now going to help us if we ask?” Cecily interjected, appearing to be amused. “I have always found you arrogant, and this one is now taking the cake.”

  “All right, all right. We will keep that option as a last-ditch effort. If we have no other choice, we will ask Balfomeir for assistance,” I relented, realizing Cecily’s rationale did hold merit.

  Shortly after our dinner, we put out the fire and went to sleep for the night.

  The following morning, all four of us were up before the sun. The shadows of the night were subsiding as the solar star made its way into the sky. “Are we all packed?” I asked, looking at our camp that was for the most part cleared.

  “We are,” answered Walter.

  “Very good, let’s mount the horses and proceed,” I commanded.

  “Don’t these beasts need water,” suggested Yves.

  “I’m sure they do,” I replied, climbing atop of my gelding. After surveying the land from the hillside, I noticed there was a stream flowing through one of the fallowed fields. “Let’s stop off by that stream on the way out,” I said.

  The two other horses followed behind as we made our way down the mountain side and back down to the green, rolling hills.

  Trotting over to the stream, I dismounted my beast and led it to the water. The girls and Walter followed suit.

  “Girls gather some hay or alfalfa for the horses, they must eat,” suggested Walter. “I’ll help Ed lead them to the stream.”

  Walter took the girls’ horse and his and we led the horses to the stream to drink. “Thanks for your help,” I said to Walter while we watered the horses.

  “It pleases me to know that I can actually carry my own weight,” he replied. I did not know he found himself to be a burden all of this time. I was under the impression that he enjoyed taking advantage of us. “I still feel horribly guilty about Agnes,” he confided. “I feel we are doing all of this for her.”

  “We are. Whatever we do, we will always do for Agnes. She would love to be on this adventure with us,” I replied.

  The girls had returned with arms full of hay and alfalfa. “We found a ton of hay for the horses,” said Yves. “The farmer must have just fed his horses or cattle.”

  “Very good,” I said. “Let’s let them eat for a bit before we get back on.”

  Walter helped Yves and Cecily feed the horses, while I took in the peaceful countryside. The fog was starting to roll back out to the sea, and indication that we were fairly close to Arne, a coastal town. I imagined we would be there just before nightfall, and then the real work would begin.

  While I was watching the girls and Walter feed the horses, Walter picked up his head from where he was feeding his horse and yelled, “Edward! Duck!”

  Startled, I obeyed Walter’s command and felt the air flow right over me as I bent down in a low squat. “What in the world?” I muttered.

  After feeling the air particles move above me by something. “Clipeum!” I shouted. A blueish-transparent, curved disc appeared over my left arm.

  Edward cast Shield.

  I had no choice but to cast Shield to protect me from whatever was attacking. As I turned, I saw what it was. A farmer, dressed in drab, brown linen clothing had swung a pitchfork at me, attempting to bludgeon me with it. His humble attire hid his muscular and burly body. His bald head and long beard concealed a grimace that he wore on his face. His hair grayed and bleached from working the fields in the sun.

  He swung again, this time from the other side.

  Farmer used Tools of the Trade.

  I ducked under the transparent disc of magical energy.

  Edward made a successful agility save and was unharmed by the farmer’s attack.

  As the pitchfork hit the Shield, a loud clang reverberated and the farmer fell back from the vibrating tool, landing with a thud.

  The magical energy from the shield caused the metal in the pitchfork to be electrified. The farmer took -8 lightning damage.

  I did not want to hurt the farmer, but I also did not want him to hurt me. As he laid on his back, appearing to be out cold, I bent over him to make sure he was still breathing. I put the back of my hand against his nose to feel the air flow from his nostrils. Feeling a sigh of relief to sense that air was indeed flowing from his nose, I stood up.

  “Let’s get going guys, he’s out cold, but alive,” I shouted to Walter, Yves, and Cecily.

  Just as I started to step toward my horse to mount it, a hand grasp around my ankle. “Aaaahhh!” I shouted, not expecting the farmer to wake up from his unconscious state. He pulled me toward him, and I fell face first on the ground.

  While lifting my head off of the ground, I saw my three friends get off their horses to come over and assist,
“Don’t hurt him,” I pleaded. This poor farmer had been a peasant his entire life, never slaying a dragon and imperiled by nobility for his entire life.

  The gravel rolled under my belly as the farmer pulled me toward him.

  Farmer

  Armor: Light

  Weapons: Crossbow and Net

  Saving Throws: Constitution, Strength

  Equipment: Shovel and pitchfork

  As the farmer held my ankle, he stood with his legs as thick as tree trunks planted firmly in the ground. It was as if my body weight had no significance on his stature as he rose, reaching for his pitchfork. This farmer was tougher than I expected, all of this days working in the field while the sun was hot and high could certainly make one strong, and boy, was this one strong.

  Farmer intended to complete disabling wounds.

  The farmer reached for his pitchfork and I was certain he was about to pierce me and skewer me like a kabob, when I heard Cecily’s voice, “Cons Ignis!”

  Cecily cast Fire Cone at the farmer. Farmer took -8 damage.

  A burst of red and organize energy came from her palms, blasting the farmer and sending him back onto his back once again.

  “Hurry guys, back on your horses!” I shouted, aware that the farmer would be exceptional at the Constitution save and would be back up and fully functional in no time.

  All four of us rushed back to our horses and mounted in a blink of an eye. “Ride!” I shouted, leading the charge out of running distance from the farmer.

  My heart pounded in my chest as I had feared this burley beast would be our heels in no time. I took a moment while my steed galloped. I did not see the farmer laying or standing. My stomach sunk as I had wondered where he could be. The only option I had was to lead our group further and hope that the farmer could not keep up.

  After a few more moments, I shouted, “Hoe,” as I pulled back on the reigns of my steed. Peering over the landscape after coming to a stop I said to the others who were right behind me “Any idea where we are?” I asked. “I feel like we got put off track after outrunning the farmer.”

  “Did anyone see where the farmer went?” Walter asked.

  “No!” I replied. “When I had a chance to look back, I saw no trace of him,” I explained.

  “Yeah, I didn’t see any sign of him either,” confirmed Yves.

  “I think we should go this way,” Cecily suggested.

  “How do you know?” I challenged.

  “I am fairly sure it is the king’s road to Arne. It goes from Gilmore to Arne for trade,” explained Cecily.

  Her rationale sounded good enough to me, she seemed like she knew what she was talking about. I led the group onto the road as we walked on it for a few minutes, Walter suggested, “Guys, I hate to interrupt, but I don’t think we should be on the road.”

  “Oh! Why’s that?” I asked.

  “Well, I don’t think we should be on any road,” started Walter. “We know that Arne is under siege and Balfomeir could be using this road to men or supplies from Gilmore to assist Arne. It is only a matter of time before we are spotted, and I don’t think that’s what we are wanting at the moment,” Walter said as we continued down the road on our horses. “I mean, I’m sure we will want to make our presence known eventually, but now is not the time.”

  “We will want to make our presence known?” I asked, trying to clarify his sentiment.

  “Well, after we find Hamon, won’t we assist in the defense of Arne?” Walter asked.

  “I wasn’t planning on it,” I argued.

  “You don’t want to play a role in banishing the Demon Lord for good?” Walter asked.

  “We are not ready for such a task. I think we will just get Hamon and bring him back to Draererth to finish his recovery,” I retorted.

  “Very well,” replied Walter. “Even more reason we should get off this road.”

  “That was a good idea. Let’s follow the road, but keep off of it,” I relented, leading my horse a few meters from the King’s Road. Walter and the girls’ horse followed.

  “Not to mention, we don’t want to have to pay the toll for using the road,” stated Yves. “We need every bit of silver we have.”

  A few more meters of travel, I saw a dirt road that was hidden in the shrubs of the that outlined the King’s Road. “Hey, guys, let’s travel on this,” I suggested, guiding my horse through the shrubs to the other side.

  “What is this?” Cecily asked, looking puzzled.

  Walter responded, “I believe it is a road for the peasants. It looks like it goes parallel to the King’s Road.”

  We traveled further and traveled further and further along the peasant road, which had large rocks in the path, making the ride very rough. Branches cut into the path, making it difficult to get through. As we traveled, we saw a few men from the Gilmore army gallop by.

  “Gilmore must be sending more men,” I turned to the others and said.

  “Only a few,” affirmed Yves. We watched the four men, clad in purple and green and wearing chainmail and the crest of Gilmore ride by. They paid no attention to us, as we were far from the road and they were riding exceptionally fast.

  “I’m glad we made it, just before sundown,” I said as we entered the small coastal town of Arne. My nostrils filled with salty air that emanated from the infinite sea.

  “That’s strange,” said Walter.

  “What’s strange?” I asked, trying to clarify what he was referring to.

  “There are no armies here. Not one. No one from the Gilmore army and not one pitted fiend or demon from the Demon Lord’s army,” answered Walter.

  I took a moment to take in the area. Walter was right, there were no signs that Arne was under siege. Not one sign. The way the messenger made it sound, there would be blood in the streets. If we did not see the Gilmore soldiers barreling down King’s Road, I would have never guessed anything was out of the ordinary.

  “Look over there,” shouted Yves.

  “What?” I asked, looking around. “Look where?”

  “On the sea,” she answered. I looked at the horizon, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Only a peaceful harbor day. The sea gulls flew and skimmed the surface of the sea, the waves crashed as they hit the shore, what in the world was Yves yammering about?

  “Do you see them?” Yves asked. “The ships in blockade formation right outside the harbor?”

  “Huh?” I replied, confused and soaking up the sun on my face, oblivious to any of Yves’ concerns.

  “Look Ed! Over there, surrounding the harbor is the fleet of the Demon Lord!” Yves shouted, pointing where I had glossed over.

  I did not understand what she was exactly talking about at first, but then I saw it. I angled my eyes onto the roaring sea, and there I saw the signs of a war.

  Walter took a glance to where Yves had pointed. “Seems like they are doing a close blockade on the harbor of Arne,” he said.

  “Oh?” I asked, not knowing that Walter was now a maritime expert.

  “It’s a naval strategy,” added Walter. “My guess is they are attempting to starve the town of Arne out. Luckily, from what you said Ed, we won’t be here for long. Once we get Hamon, we’ll be headed back to Draererth and away from all of this.”

  “That’s right,” I confirmed. The presence of the Demon Lord made me feel uneasy as I looked toward the edge of the harbor and witnessed the eight ships, close together blocking the entrance of the port. The black ships with the faces of demons carved into the bows appeared to be surrounding the entryway of the harbor. The purple and black sails of the Demon Lord blew in the wind, and ominous presence as the threat of a raid loomed.

  I had no idea that the Demon Lord had such an elaborate fleet. The ships were angled so their port hulls were facing the harbor. Each one appeared to be a hundred feet long.

  Fleet of the Demon Lord

  Ship Type: Colossal

  Fleet Number: 9

  Ship Names: Hellfire, Dragon’s Belly, Burning Heat
hen, The Fallen, Black Beast, Nighthaunt, Demonbrand, Gorgon’s Horn, Havoc

  Armor Class: 2 (Iron Plates +3 Bonus)

  Hull Type: Broad

  Hull Options: Reinforced Oak

  Number of Hulls: 4

  Hull Hit Points: 1560

  Oars HP: 320

  Sails HP: 1400

  Rigging Locations: 9 and Crow’s Nest

  Rigging Options: Silk Rope

  Maximum Speed: 60/60/120

  Acceleration: 30

  Maneuver Rating: Poor. Max speed change: 5ft, Reverse 5 ft, Turn: 45 degrees/120 ft, Turn in place 1: 45 degrees, Max turn: 45 degrees.

  Weapons: Gun Deck: 12 Pounder Cannon (3) Port side. (6d 10/x3). Range: 220ft. 4 crew members required. 68 Pounder Cannon (1) Stern Range: 420 ft. 9 crew members required. 3 Full-round actions.

  Ammunition: 1,000 cannonballs, 1 ton of powder

  Ramming Damage: 8d8

  Sailing Check: Diplomacy/Intimidate, Sailor

  Means of Propulsion: 140 oars, 80 squares of sails, 2 masts

  Equipment: Oars, sails

  Decks: 2

  Crew: 200

  Sails: 80 squares

  Str: 46 (+18)

  Dex: 5 (-3)

  Base Speed: +6 Poor

  Into the Wind: +3

  With the Wind: +12

  CMB: +34

  CMD: 41

  “We need to be careful because there will be patrols roving around to keep the civilians safe,” I warned.

  As we entered the city, we followed the flow of people, mostly merchants who came into town to gather good for trade with other cities and towns.

  Going through the city walls the guards who lined the border appeared to be bored rather than on high alert. There was something not right with all of this, as my stomach sunk.

  I became relieved that the guardsmen looked lethargic rather than on edge, however, a weird feeling came over me. The men stood at attention but stared off into space as they wore the yellow and red colors of Arne. “I thought they would look more tense,” I whispered to Walter as we walked by one of the guards who lined the entrance into the coastal town.