Chapter Four

Campfire Stories

By nightfall, you had made good progress across the countryside following the river. Every so often Jack called for a break whilst he searched the surrounding areas to make sure you were heading in the right direction. The first definite sign was about late afternoon - a small deserted fire pit, still warm, with animal carcasses strewn about. Closely studying the area, many Orc footprints were clearly identifiable. You were on the right track! “I can’t guess how many, but lots,” mentioned Jack, “and they were following the river also.”

Around the campfire, everyone shared his or her rations to make a good stew. Ivan stretched out near the fire, massaging his legs. “I’m clearly not used to this sort of life!” he joked, “We’re each used to different pressures. Perhaps, Jack, you would tell us a story whilst we eat?”

Jack looked into the fire and nodded, “A fireside story is a good idea. Let me tell you the story of Iolo. He was bard, bowman and freeholder, as well as a champion of Waterdeep. It was not strange, therefore, that his neighbours should turn to him in during a crisis.”

Jack took a mouthful of stew before continuing, “The nature of the crisis at hand was a single man named Edric, a brigand by trade, who had come to haunt the trails that cut through the wild forests and hills of that region. He was a most cruel villain, with no thought for the lives or honour of his victims, and robbery was the very least of his depravities. So the honest tradesmen and farmers of the region came to Iolo to beg him for deliverance. He did not hesitate, but put aside his lute and took up his crossbow, kissed his wife goodbye, and left the horses in her capable hands. And as he left, he swore in the name of his Lord that he would not return until the menace of Edric the murderer was removed from the land.”

“After seeking for some days, Iolo began to pick up the trail of his quarry and it led him into a rough and hilly region where he pursued the villain across the treacherous heights and valleys. At last, they came to a high cliff far above a small mountain village and there, with Iolo only minutes behind him, the brigand executed a plan of horrid efficiency. He pried loose a single boulder and set it to rolling down the cliff face, and as it rolled it caught more rocks and boulders, which in turn caught more rocks and boulders, until at last a mighty avalanche fell down upon the tiny village. The rocky deluge annihilated many of the homes and shops, and the one pass that allowed the village to communicate with the outside world was blocked.”

“Iolo stood aghast at this carnage, and his rage against Edric knew no bounds, but nonetheless he broke off pursuit and descended down the perilous mountainside to the village, and there he spent some days digging out the living and the dead, and helping to clear the pass. And while he was thus occupied, the brigand made good his escape and returned to his larcenous ways.”

“But as soon as his conscience permitted it, Iolo resumed the chase, and it did not take him long until he again pressed his foe. But this time Edric was more ready to deal with his nemesis, and he lead Iolo to a certain forest town, and passing through it at night the creature poisoned the town’s only well. So when Iolo came to the town the next day, he found many of the townsfolk stricken with a horrible, deadly affliction. And again Iolo paused in his pursuit and helped to minister to the sick and the dying, and laboured to cleanse the fouled well. And again, Edric used the time to get far away.”

“When he resumed the hunt, Iolo was like a fury of vengeance, and he pressed the fugitive hard. In the heat of the chase, Edric was forced to flee desperately away from all human habitation - which was according to Iolo’s plan. At last, Edric came to a cavern mouth and thought to elude Iolo within. But this was folly, for it was no cavern - this was one of those protean pits of vileness that have infested our land since time immemorial, and the name of this particular dungeon was Despise.”

Jack broke off his story to look around at everyone, “I don’t suppose you’ve heard of it?” Seeing the shaking of heads, he said, “I don’t know myself of the location, only that many stone archways lead up to the entrance. But I digress. Now the perils of Despise are many, and some time later, when Iolo entered, more carefully for Iolo knew the place well, he was soon greeted by a black and gaping deadfall. And far below, from some unguessed depth of the pit, the voice of Edric was pitifully crying for aid, pleading that his leg had broken in the fall.”

“Iolo cried out, greeting Edric and saying, ‘I would happily lower a rope, but I have none.’ Then he added, with perhaps pardonable cruelty, ‘I could go and fetch one if you like; I should be back in no more than a week.’ Edric, who was quite unmanned in his terror, pled with Iolo not to leave him alone. ‘I know you are a Bard and a man of Compassion,’ the villain begged, ‘Climb down and help me out, I pray you.’ ”

“Iolo stood there on the lip of the pit, quite aghast at the audacity of the creature, but at last he spoke. ‘I see that you, who have so grossly abused my Compassion for so long, have no true idea of its nature. Compassion is the due wage of innocence, and for a child or honest farmer I would cheerfully brave that pit. You, however, have no claim on compassion whatsoever, for your proper dish is Justice.’ But then, as Edric blubbered below, he added, ‘However, I am no judge so I will grant you such Compassion as is prudent for one such as yourself.’ ”

“Without another word he went out of the Dungeon, but only so far as a sturdy tree, from which he cut a long branch suitable for use as a crutch. And he returned to the hole from which Edric still blubbered - swearing now that he heard things slithering in the darkness - and threw the crutch down.”

“ ‘Here then is your Compassion,’ said Iolo, ‘that you need not wait for death immobile and helpless. With this you can move about, and you already have water, tinder, torches and a sword. Now get up, and make your way out if you can. You have my word that if you ever see the open air again, I will be waiting for you.’ ”

“Giving no further heed to the brigand’s cries, Iolo left the dungeon. But he pitched a camp in view of the entrance, and bided there two nights, waiting attentively. And on the morning of the third day he broke camp and returned home. And no one can say for certain that Edric perished in the pit of Despise, but it can truly be said that he was never heard of again in Waterdeep and the surrounding provinces.”

A quiet rumbling noise came from Father Herman, who had fallen asleep during the recital. With a smile, Jack suggested everyone turned in for the night. Arranging fair watches, most people got some good sleep until Ivan shook everyone awake on the last watch. It was very early morning, before breakfast. “I hear grunting!” he hissed quietly, “Lots of grunting, from down by the river!”

Everyone moved quickly. Ivan kicked dust into the fire, Jack and El-Shad packed the bedrolls into backpacks, and Erica readied her bow looking to the trees.

Within a couple of minutes, everyone was packed up - the benefit of travelling light. “Let’s pull back to deeper cover,” urged Jack, “and then evaluate the situation.” So with weapons still drawn, and frequent glances over the shoulder, everyone moved deeper into the forest and further away from the riverbank.

“How many do you think?” Jack asked Ivan, who shrugged.

“I have no idea! I don’t speak Uruk, but I would hazard a guess of three upwards.”

“I shall move closer and have a look,” stated El-Shad, clearly in no mood for time wasting. Before anyone could say otherwise, he melted into the forest… An agonising wait… minutes passed that felt like hours… weapons were kept loose in their scabbards… the voices started to fade into the distance… Eventually, El-Shad silently reappeared, “I saw four of them, armed and armoured,” he whispered, “probably a scouting party. Heading the same way we were.”

“More likely a rear guard then?” stated Jack, glancing at everyone for their opinion.

“Would that be good?” asked Father Herman, resting against a branch of a tree.

“Yes,” replied El-Shad, “In more ways than one. We’ve definitely identified the likelihood of an Orcish presence, and if they’re the rear guard we’re safe from stumbling across any other patrols.”

Jack cut in, “Furthermore we can follow them directly to the main Orcish encampment and properly assess the threat.” Ivan opened his mount to say something, but a cracking noise turned everyone’s heads in the direction of Father Herman. An odd surprised expression crossed his face and he fell backwards; the branch behind him had cracked under his weight. He hit the ground with an exclamation.

“Quiet you fool!” hissed Erica, “You’ll get us all killed!”

An agonising few moments passed, but the Orc group did not seem to notice, and their guttural speech continued to fade into the distance.