26 Barrakas (Alex) : The longbow makes sense

Heron arrived this morning at his usual time, one thing you can say about the veiled elf - hes punctual if nothing. Practice started with the usual warm ups and gentle weapon work with the wooden stick (or so the local children call them) WE'd just moved to the real weapons and were trading parries and blows when something distracted me, Herons Scimitar clanged off my helm almost knocking me senseless. Needless to say he was not only apologetic but suprised - until I pointed the plume of smoke above the treeline to the south.

Well it seemed a number of the locals noticed it as well, so quickly everyone seemed to gether outside the Druids Grove where the new Gatekeeper had taken residence about 10 or so days past - Grigora. (female human, mid 30's dresses in greens and browns, seems okay and definately a winner with the local children.)

She suggested we (As in me, Heron, Zebadire (the house lackey) and Saffron go take a look before the small plume becomes a bigger plume). Loading up a couple of horses with shovels and picks we did just that.

It wasnt as far as we expected, in fact by noon we had found the cause, a set of wagons, overturned and burning themselves out with a number of bodies in there midst. One of the regular trade wagons heading up the trade road from the settlements to the south. Most of the bodies where obviously human, dead by arrows for the most part. We found one alive - a human trader named Rithero (or something like that, he had been hit pretty hard and mumbled a bit) Seems he was travelling with his family and they were missing. Also missing - particularly - was a crate bound for the Sanctuary of Hope and destined to land in the lap of Brother Ignatious.

We decided to follow the bandits trail. Along the trail we hit upon a strang sight. A black goat with a bell was tinkling along the path (must have been funny looking back to see a pair of armed, and ready for battle warriors stood blocking the game trail facing down a goat!) Followed by what Saffron later described as a fey. This one spoke in riddles and rhyme and called himself the seeker (we seek him here, we seek him there kinnd of thing. What ever he was he was crazy, even more crazy than the lackey) He told Saffron to 'ware the sky that sings' or at least i think he did. Hard to tell, did I mention he was Crazy?

Further down the game trail Buckthorn attracted attention in the form of a pack of wolves. Saffron spoke with them (yipp yip yowl, yippy yip yap. Odd thing to see but it worked) we learnt that the bandits were holed up in some caves ahead. Finding them (the caves not the bandits) we approached with caution into the the cave system which was kind of a rise in the forest with a crevase in, the central cave had had its roof collapse but a couple more spread out still covered. Those who could see better in the darkness moved into the cave (it was night and the moon was out by now) and spread out, finding the bodies of several of the bandits, the horses picketted in the cave to the north and in the southern cave a man crouched ready to attack and the two women in the back of the cave.

That was when all hell broke loose Or in reality the sky began to sing. turned out where faced a harpy archer. And what a problem that was for us. imagine, your wearing a heavy breastplate, carrying a large steel shield and you have to pull yourself up various ledges and overhangs to get to the damned infernal monster. I havent felt more useless in a battle since the battle of Goodward fort where i was knocked out by one of our own slingers mere minutes in the battle. (that though is definately another story) Ultimately the group overcame the creature - though we should be wary of its singing and voice - it captivated several of the party and only sheer will power, bloody mindness and help from the Flame (in my case) were we able to overcome it. Zebadire's fireball quickly dealt the final insult dropping the creature.

We rescued the girl(s), reunited them with the merchant - gave him some of the horses and the tack and stuff the bandits had kept recovered the crate (it was fairly small but felt heavy) and sealing up the crevase (well Saffron did her thing and hid it nicely) we trekked back to High Barrow feeling rather pleased with ourselves. Oh and I swallowed my pride. I had often wondered why the longbow was the Flames favoured weapon. Seems this might have all been a lesson to teach me or remind me that the Flame knows best and I shouldnt mock or snigger at those who choose to face battle a couple hundred yards away behind a longbow. Afterall I didnt land a single blow on the Harpy. I now keep a longbow and arrows on the horse for just such situations as when i cannot reach the thing im fighting.

Yes, to the Silver Flame, I've learnt my lesson (again)