Maul for one and one for Maul.

Maul faced off with the group as they attempted to parlay their way through the situation.  Outside this very chamber an army waited, well armed and ready to attack at a moments notice. 
     "How might you be able to help me?"  asked the Maul.  His eyes were difficult to read, he did not seem to have any evil motives however they must be in there somewhere.
     "It depends on what you are trying to do here?" replied Fox.
     "And how is it that I know you are not here for other purposes," Maul said with a smirk, "how can I gaurantee that you are not working for someone in Stret?"
     "We are actually wanted in Stret." blurted Auren, he realized immediately that this may not have been the best card to play.  As the stone giant perked up he quickly changed the subject.  "I notice that your men are well armed, what kind of Weapons Master do you have?"
     The group shifted as a figure emerged from the shadows behind Maul. 
     "I must introduce you to Cest." he detailed as a dark elf emerged from the shadows.  Her menacing face showed no sign of excitement to the newcomers. 
     "I see we have a surface elf in our midst," her eyes burned a hole through fox.
     Fox instantly connected the dots.  Spider on tabard means Lolth the maniac god.  'Of course I should have seen this coming, we may not make it out of here' he thought to himself.  Looking over at Auren he noticed a smile break across his face.
     "I prefer dark meat myself." Auren winked at the drow.
     The elf's eyes widened and she began to boil. 
     Fox took a deep breath and calmly looked around at all of the exits preparing a departure.
     Cest unfurls a whip and does not take her eyes off of Auren as it slides snake-like across the stone.  She rears back twirling the braid over her head.
     "STOP!" roared Maul and the party shuddered.  A group of pidgeons squeaked as the fleed the hayloft.  In the hushed silence that prevailed his booming voice came back twice from the mouth of the cave that rested just outside the chamber.
     The Drow turned her fury to the stone giant.
     "You may be bigger," her eyes were filled with hate, "but we outnumber you."
     "I just might get to kill you before this is over." he said with an endearing smile.
     After a prolonged and intense silence Fox decides to get back to business.
     "So what needs to be done?"
     "There is an artifact in that cave," Cest replied, her temper decreased mildly, "but a group of gnomes have been nothing short of a thorn in my side."
     "Sverf Neblim I presume." Fox new immediately that this was bad news.
     "Sverf indeed." smiled the Drow.
     Fox knew that this was not a task that they would likely survive for many reasons.  He had heard stories of Sverf in the days of his sewer youth and knew that this was not a foe they were ready to take on, especially in his home turf.  It is also common knowledge that almost all partnerships with Drow end up in death.  New priority, getting out of the keep alive.
     "May I talk with you in private?" his question was directed at Maul which made the dark elf furious.


NEXT UP:  A little alone time for Fox and Maul
  
   

Storming the Gates

One hundred plus archers lined the walls of the island keep.  Through the adamantine portcullis a large stone giant lumbered with shackles attached to his wrists.  Attached to the shackles were large snarling beasts.  The only thing protecting them from the onslaught of a hundred arrows was two oversized boulders which the troupe huddled behind.
     "I could smash through the door and kill them all." Groth shouted.
     "Are you crazy?"  Raddick asked.  "That will never work, I will ride on your back and you can hoist me onto the wall."
     "But what of the arrows?"  cried Groth.
     "They won't bother me if I'm on your back."  snickered Raddick.
     "I will take care of the arrows."  replied auren as he leaned out from behind his boulder and loosed three arrows.  Three archers fell from the wall, screaming to their ends in the misty sea below.  Two dozen arrows were returned in his direction clangin on the boulder and sticking in the surrounding ground. 
     It was clear that a tactic other than brute force would be needed to breech the walls of the keep.  After a timely shouting match the group decided to attempt to appeal to the keeps master and parlay their way through. 
     Acheiving contact Auren and Fox stated that the group was of a particular skill set and looking for work.  The portcullis lifted slowly and steadily.  They cautiously made their way across the bridge and through the entrance.  Once inside the vast task ahead revealed itself.  Along with a hundred archers manning the wall there were equal that inside the walls.  The portcullis slammed to the ground and a resounding echo clattered between the walls.
      Pas gulped hard and surveyed his flanks.  Batallions of men lined both sides almost forming a gauntlet.  Their eyes burned through him and their chests heaved.  He could sense their rage and fury.  If given the signal they would all converge live bees on a hive. 
     The grey stone giant stood in the center of the keep bordered by a cave.  His arms stretched outward in a sign of welcoming but his expression said otherwise.  A tabard unfurled behind him.  A large black spider suspended over a red background haunted the group.
     He led them through a chamber guarded by a hayloft and wagon.
     "My name is Maul!"  the stone giant rumbled with intent.


Next up:  Who Does Number 2 Work For?

The Truth About Comments

"Housekeeping!" squealed a high pitched voice just outside the door.

At the bottom of each post is a little orange phrase that says "comments" or "no comments".  This powerful tool allows you to leave your legacy upon the Fox and Friends blog forever, forever, forever.  Here are some examples to get you started in the fine art of commenting on the blog:

• Wow, you're really cool.  I wish I could be more like you.
• My character didn't say or do that!  Here is what really happened...
• This is the greatest blog ever.
• You forgot the part where Raddick left he stockades and...

If you see any discrepancies, half-truths, lies, or just good stuff, leave a comment.  If I am missing anything, go ahead and comment. 

I should have last nights stuff up soon, thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

3 DUB

Pay the Troll Toll

The island keep could bee seen from atop the ridge.  Specifics could not be made out, however a hive of activity was taking place within the keeps walls.  Of more importance was fortification of the path guarding the bridge leading to the island.  The path narrowed and squeezed through two large boulders adorned with lanterns.  Auren slid down the ridge to recon the situation.
     "There are at least 2 Trolls and a half dozen gnolls," Auren whispered to the group.
     "We should lure them up the ridge and end them one by one." roared Groth.
     "Wait, I have a plan!  I saw this in a movie," cried Auren with a finger in the air, "into the woods."
     The group receded into the forest and began chopping down dead trees and harvesting large sticks.  They put together an army of stick soldiers to be erected menacingly atop the ridge in the morning.  Auren decides to take the nights watch.  With the rest of the group sleeping the sounds of the night took hold.  On a distant hillside a light flared in a cottage window revealing a head that looked all too wolfish.  The face lingered watching and contemplating.  The sounds of wolves grew closer now.  The howling, fighting and gnashing moved through the forest.  It came close but did not break their camp.
     In the morning a half-eaten elf adorned the path leading out of the wood.  They carefully placed their stick army and waited while Auren moved down the ridge to diplomacize. 
     A few yards down the ridge Auren noticed movement near the two large boulders guarding the bridge.  A dozen gnolls swarmed out and moved up the rocky expanse.  Behind them two trolls lumbered out and stood watch.  Howling and yipping the gnolls surrounded Auren.
     "I am Baron Vonn Puddleduck," he shouted with a clear voice, "do not come any closer, I will explode." 

     The gnolls ignored the warning and closed in.  Auren gave Phae the "Jazz Hands" signal and a fiery burst rained down killing 6 of the knolls and sending the rest running back to the boulders.  An apparently angry Troll stomped down on one of the fleeing gnolls. 
     A second wave of knolls poured over the bridge and reached the boulders when a second fiery burst decimates their numbers.  Three Trolls charge up the ridge to Auren one trips while the other two make it to their mark.  Auren quickly tosses the black-hole onto the ground and out sprang Raddick.  In a whirl of fury he deals out heavy blows to one of the trolls as Groth charges the hillside.  In a blind rage the beast reaches the melee and begins swinging.  His great sword takes it's first breath after all three of the trolls had fallen into a bloody heap.  His chest heaves with massive breaths.  A fourth troll charges from the boulders only to fall on Groth Nasty's blade, slumped with the rest.  Phae rains fire down on the pile of troll bodies to secure their demise.
     After cheering and high-fiving they scan the bridge and the walls of the keep.  Over a hundred archers lined the walls with arrows trained.  Howls and growls could be heard from inside the keep.  The adamantine door looked too large to blast through.  It was clearly a death-trap.
     "Let's get in there!" exclaimed Auren.


"I will survive"
  

Snake Bite

Watchers Assignment:  Collect Intel on the mysterious island

The King's Highway was not as busy as it had been previously.  A handful of farmers traveled here and there.  However the overall increased traffic had brought in some unsavory characters.  In all the crew rounded up two groups of bandits consisting of 5 men who were now tied in a chain and walking behind Groth's cart.

     Passing around the outskirts of Stret a group of guards hailed them and questioned their business on the highway.  They offered the bandits as good will to the guards however they were left unconvinced.

     "How do I know that you all are not the bandits and that these are not honest farmers?"  asked the young guard.

     "We have just dispatched a deadly Pyrohydra in Hanset and are now on official business down the highway."  replied Auren.  "Does that sound like the work of  lowly bandits to you?"

     "What business might you have down the King's Highway?"  he badgered.

     Noticing a commander atop a horse Auren decided to throw caution to the wind and utilize his newly acquired Watchers Hand-Jive.  Immediately the Commander called the young Guard back and exchanged words.  The man returned, collected the bandits, and bid them safe travels.
     The group headed back on their adventure.  With the last visible bits of Stret Disappearing in behind them they felt a bit of relief.  They lost focus of security and began bantering loudly along the Highway.  The group was suddenly halted by the screams of Lt. Raddick.
     Without notice a Large armored snake had slipped out of the undergrowth along the path.  It was a shiny blue-metallic with distinct bands of color.  Metal horns jutted from it's skull and it's huge jaws now held a writhing Raddick.  As if by instinct Auren turns and looses an arrow sending the creature in pain.  Phae and Groth miss as the creature swallows Raddick and turns it's fury on the Green Giant.  Groth flies into a fury only to be interrupted by Auren.
     "Return Raddick!"  Auren shouted with a firm stance.
     The snake stopped and stared.  Cocking his head in deep thought the monster appeared to be weighing the options.  After a minute or two of intense staring the monster broke into convulsions and a slimy Raddick slipped out of it's mouth.
     "It smells like dragons."  sniffed the snake as eight razor sharp sprouts emerged from it's body.  It reared up exposing it's deadly new weapons.  "Not my taste anyhow."  it hissed before departing.



Next up: Island of Misfit Toys

Watchers Gear and Memorabilia

All in attendance have earned the rights and responsibilities of membership into the order of the Watchers.  The new inductees were donned in ceremonial robes taught the super secret Watchers Hand-Jive and awarded the following:

Belts of Battle +2: with 3 black pearls, 1 = Move Action, 2 = Standard Action, 3 = Full Action

Auren: Awarded Masterwork weapons and a ShlongBow

Nera : Awarded a Ring

Phae:  Awarded a Vibrant Purple Ion Stone

Fox:  Awarded  a Bag of Beans

Groth:  Awarded a +1 adamantine great sword of speed

Lt. Raddick:  Awarded a portable hole


Stay Tuned as the Gang relaxes on Island Time.

Phae: Training Notes

Phae was quite late to his training session.  So late that we decided to skip it and grant him honorary membership into the Watchers.

Lt. Raddick: Training Notes

Same ol, Same ol.  Bull in the ring.

Raddick knows the drill, at least he better.

Auren: Training Notes

Excerpt from Cheech's Training Journal

Auren met me in my courtyard.  I could sense his lack of clarity.  My blue flame would go out every time he came near.  We tried a few more times with no luck.  I decided to administer some special tea that would help him loosen up his minds eye.  Once the brew took hold I had him stare at a specific patch of lichen.  His concentration was unbroken.  He continued to stare for quite some time.  All was well until he started babbling about two dudes banging a cherub.

I hereby witness Auren into the the Watchers, he has passed his tests.

Groth: Training Notes

Excerpt form the Drill Sargeant's Training Journal

The great ogre-man was led through the double-gates into the Ogre pit.  All six were chained by the throat and snarling.  I had my men pass the heavy weapons down to the chained assailants.  The half-ogre had a grin upon his green face.  At one point during the fight a Mage was sent into control Groth's mind.  He was clearly not happy with that.  When the melee was over he just sat there in the puddle of blood picking his teeth with a splinter of bone he had pulled out of his arm.  He has a genuine lust for carnage.  I now have to go out and capture more ogres for training.  The men hate that.  


I will vouch for this creatures entry into the order of the Watchers.

Nera: Training Notes

Excerpt from Old Elf's Training Journal

Nera met me at the temple with something to prove.  And prove she did.  She entered the first level of my temple critically injuring those who came across her path.  She came across enemies of varied levels carrying weapons of varying difficulty.  She made it through all five levels with a stronger spirit than when she entered.

I shall vouch for her initiation into the order of the Watchers with a passing grade.

Fox: Training Notes

Excerpt from Dagger's Training Journal

I led the amateur assassin into the barracks and through a small door.  I sensed that he had some faith in me but was still a bit unsure.  Once in the darkness I closed and bolted the door.  He pounded twice and yelled something at the steel.  I believe he realized that silence would be his only friend.  It took him quite a bit of time to navigate but he eventually passed through all of the traps and pitfalls unscathed.  He even disabled and re-wired one of my favorites.

I award a passing grade to Fox the Assassin

Training Day

Not far from Brownsville on the King's Highway a small path led off and down towards the Plum Valley.  Broken down keeps lined the North side of the valley while cave entrances pocked the southern side.  Crops sprung up in the middle of the valley.
     As they rode closer down the path the main keep became visible.  Soldiers rode in a field practicing with bows, others worked on hand to hand combat within the keeps walls.  A wall of animal pens was visible on the other side of the keep.  Many of the pens were quite large.  On the far edge of the valley winged creatures performed aerial maneuvers with soldiers in saddle.  Resting peacefully in the center of the valley was a great plum tree flanked by a fountain.
     Riding down the path lead into the keep.  In passing soldiers stopped and saluted Lt. Raddick.  An older man halted the group, Raddick dismounted and saluted.
     "I am Drill Sergeant Ermey," he stood at attention and stared at the group, "which of you is the assassin?"
     Fox spoke up and was sent with a gentleman named Dagger to the barracks.
     "Nera, you will head to the temple and test your faith." he pointed to the building behind the barracks.  She nodded and  followed suit.
     "Groth, I may have to take you on myself." he smiled.
     "Lt. Raddick, you will follower your regular regiment."
     "Yes sir!" shouted raddick.
     "Auren, we may have to send you to concentration camp." shouted the Sergeant.
     The group split up for the first time in their travels and braved the mysteries ahead.
   

A Dressing Down

-Enter an angry Captain Pierce

     "I have spoken with Phae, he outlined your recklessness in great detail." scolded Captain pierce.
     "We handled it just fine," replied Auren.
     "Handled it?  You handled it?  You guys are a liability!"  His hands flailed wildly in the air.  "We can't expect you to face these types of things," he turned his back to the cowering group, " I also can't have you running up and down the King's Highway causing collateral damage!"  He pounded his fist on the desk.
     "I helped to deliver a baby." Auren shrugged.  The Pierce started at him mad eyed, he slowly rotated his neck and eyed each member of the group.
     "You just might make me regret allowing you an opportunity to become part of the Watchers,"  he sat down and reclined back in his chair, "report to Plum Valley immediately."



Tails between their legs, the group set off again on the King's Highway.

Meet me at the After Party

After cutting up and saving what scraps they could of the Hydra Hide, eight 5x5 sections, the group headed back to Hanset.  There they were greeted with joyous occasion and a grand feast.  The Duke sent for squires to clean and polish their armor and hang up their pelts.  He also arranged for them to be put up in Hanset's finest Inn.
     Once washed up and rested a Cineshaw arrived to take them to a great dinner at the keep.  Inside the dining hall of the keep the Duke of Hanset introduced Fox and Auren to some of the areas biggest wheels.
     "Are you all available for local tasks?"  asked one.
     "I have a purple worm in my field," stated another.
     "I have a purple worm in my---," Groth began.
     "In the future we might, however we will be off in the morning for more pressing matters." interjected Fox.
     In great spectacle the Duke quieted the hall and announced the victories of "Fox and Friends".  The crowd cheered and applauded as a local bard sang a song recounting their harrowing battle.  The group was awarded a purse of 400 gold each.  Auren spoke alone with the Duke and asked about the woman and child whom he helped through labor on the King's Highway.  He wanted to award 370 of his purse to the woman and child and the Duke was happy to take on the task.  Auren always had a thing for pregnant women.
     After returning for the night and resting the group was woken in the morning to a commotion in the square.  Fox rushed a disguise a joined the large group of people gathered around a large pool of black blood.  He elbowed his way through the mass of people to peek out the center.  Laying in the town square was a large foreleg of a scaled beast.  Dark glistening muscle tissue poked out of the relatively clean tear.  It was clearly the leg of a smaller dragon.
     "A God has cursed our town!" cried a woman.
     "How could this be, where is the rest of the beast?" questioned a soldier.
     "Possibly it fell of." an old farmer postured.
     This is not for us, thought Fox.
     Armed with this new knowledge the group quietly headed up the King's Highway bound for Brownsville.
   

Swamp Loggin

The group has been left with a decision to make.  Enter the swamp to search for the fallen Hydra's treasure or head back to Hanset.  The group had decided to split.  Phae would travel back to Brownsville, report to Captain Pierce and collect Pas.  Raddick and Nera headed back to Hanset to see if the Duke needed any assistance.  The rest agreed to brave the swamp.
     They made it only a few meters up the winding pine needle ridge before a black swarm of bird sized mosquitoes enveloped them.  Some covered up in orange peels others used thick black mud for insect repellent.  The pine ridge came to a decline and ended in ankle deep water.  The swamp water slowly crept up as they made their way.  A trail had been forged through the swamp with short walls of smoldering stumps jutting out of the water on either side.  Any trees still intact reached out in all directions with thick green vines. 
     Along with a burnt path the Pyrohydra had dredged out a trail through the swamp that now left our heroes in black, chest deep water.  Auren tracked ahead of the group, quietly displaying his orange bandanna out of his back pocket so that the rest can keep up.  The swamp was quiet, very quiet.
     The narrow stretch of water opened up to a large lake.  It was shaped like an oval roughly 100 yards by 30 yards.  It was surrounded by cypress, cattails and mangroves.  Directly across the lake rose a large stately Mangrove.  The cattails in front of this mangrove had been trampled down exposing a large rotted out hole.  
     Auren spots something large in the water on the north end of the lake.  Scanning the tree line he sees a large burning eye surrounded by reptile skin.  Fox tracked to the opposite side of the lake and spied a row boat off in the distance near a narrow inlet.  He is also aware that something large has been following them through the swamp.  Whatever it was, it might be on their side.  It had plenty of opportunities for a sneak attack.
     As they moved around the lake Fox and Auren halted the group.  Fox turned around and notified the group, "Head out!"
     "We gotta go," Auren followed up.
     They had noticed a Skull Dragon across the lake.  Squealing and growling suddenly echoed out across the water.  Auren shuddered at the distinct sound of baby hydras squealing.  Amid the thunder of noises Fox heard voices.
     "Let's get outta here, it's not worth it." a gruff Scurvy Pirate voice called out.
     Feeling the same way, the group leaves the swamp.

Corrections

I know that there are a lot of confused folks out there whose minds are being blown by some incorrect sequences.  Auren did not cast the final spell that dispatched the Hydra (Phae did, sorry Phae).  Auren did however cry after the baby was killed.  There are two new aliases that may have been bandied about (Fox = Lord Shinkleboo), (Auren = Dr. Baron Vonn Puddleduck).