Bywater Adventures

Part 1

Vala stood on the banks of Bywater scanning the water for any signs of danger. Her trusted travelling companion Yendor was perched on her shoulders playing in her hair. Being that Vala was a Half Orc and Yendor was a Forest Gnome she barely noticed he was there until he pulled her hair a little too roughly. She briefly reminisced how much Bywater had changed over the last two years. Back then Bywater was such a lovely little place, a literal hub of activity with people coming and going, the gold flowed freely, life was good. Then on that fateful night as most people were asleep in their bunks, a flaming ball that could only be described as a star fell from the sky, splitting in two just before splashing into the sea. Ever since that fateful night people stopped travelling and the money dried up. Times were hard for everyone, but times were especially hard for Vala, Yendor and their travelling companions. They relied solely on their wits and all their opportunities vanished overnight.

Yala turned away from the shore to face her other companions. Almodus the Human Wizard approached. He smiled at Vala and asked if she was thinking about the star, and she grunted in approval. Glancing up at Yendor he looked back at Vala and said, “I don’t know how you tolerate that little trouble- maker” she replied, “He’s no trouble”. Yendor noticed the exchange and grinned at Almondus saying “You know you love me”. While they spoke a man that could only be described as a 7-foot-tall human giant splashing in the water yelled at the group “Gronk hungry- Gronk need food”. The friends knew that when Gronk was hungry it was best to provide him with food as fast as possible, as he was for lack of better phrasing prone to fits of rage. As they all simultaneously reached in their pouches to look for something edible, they noticed an unnatural movement in the water 20 feet from the shore. As it got closer, they noticed it was Eye their Lizardfolk companion swimming towards them. As he reached the shore it was apparent, he had a large fish in his mouth and another two, one in each hand. He tossed one to Gronk. Wasting no time Gronk violently devoured the fish. Eye walked out of the water and handed the other fish to Vala and said, “This should be enough for you three”. Vala delicately placed the fish in her pouch for later observing admirably as Gronk was finished his fish whole and uncooked. Vala was a Half Orc, while the Orc in her wanted to follow suit and eat the fish whole, in most cases she attempted to embrace her human side.

Work was hard to come by and the group entertained any job that came their way, and they all made their way back to the caravan they had agreed to escort to the town of Bywater. Their employer was a merchant farmer who was heading to town to sell his recent crop. The money was not great, but it was better than nothing. As the group sped up to catchup with the caravan, they noticed a tree that had fallen over the road. Yendor jumped off Vala’s shoulder climbing on to the top of the lead wagon. Vala and Gronk walked toward the tree in front of the lead wagon to attempt to move the tree. As they got closer to the tree, they noticed 4 human men walking out from behind the tree. Each of them had swords and did not look friendly. Eye and Almondus were in the rear of the caravan when a noise behind them alerted them to turn around. They saw another three human males approaching from the rear. 

In the front of the group Gronk and Vala prepared for action when a small arrow whizzed between them striking the far-left bandit squarely in the crotch and he fell over in pain. Gronk and Vala heard Yendor giggling behind them. Gronk approached the bandit beside the one screaming in pain swinging his staff over his head, after he swung it three times above his head as he yelled “Gronk casts Sleep” and just before smashing him in the head the bandit gave a confused look, before falling to the side. Vala reached in her pouch as the third bandit slowed his approach in anticipation, when he saw her pull out a wooden flute, he laughingly continued toward her. Vala fumbled and dropped her flute on the ground as the bandit slashed at her slicing her arm. At this point the fourth bandit approached and received an arrow in his hip as Gronk smashed the third bandit that sliced Vala in the gut knocking the air out of him and likely smashing a few ribs. The last of the bandits noticing his three companions had all been incapacitated turned to run, but Vala grabbed him by the collar spinning him around towards Gronk yelling “Gronk casts Fistol Cuffs” repeatedly punching him in the face until he ceased moving. 

As this is happening in the front of the caravan, in the rear of the caravan Eye began moving toward the three bandits. He glanced to his right where Almondus was standing but he wasn’t there anymore. He turned to see where he went and noticed Almondus retreating to the wagon, scurrying under the wagon for cover. He shrugged with a smile on his face and thought to himself, “More rations for me” as he bared his teeth continuing toward the bandits. Eye pulled out his blood-stained short sword and swung it full force at the first bandit making contact diagonally across his chest, at the exact same time another small arrow struck the second bandit square in the belly. Eye made a mental note to thank Yendor later for the assist. Times like this made Eye grateful he never made a snack of the little Gnome, no matter how much of a pest he could be, he always seemed to make himself useful. Eye could hear Almondus muttering some words and noticed the third bandit began to yawn and slowed his approach. Apparently, he was attempting to atone for leaving his side before the engagement began by casting a sleep spell. It was only partially effective though and the bandit swung his sword nicking Eye’s shoulder. It did little more than enrage the lizard man. Eye dropped his sword and dove at the third bandit biting at him. He was aiming for his face but between the bandit’s grogginess and his fearful retreat Eye instead latched on to his crotch. The second bandit screamed in terror as another arrow zinged through the air finding a home in his face. Gronk and Vala approached with Yendor jumping on Vala’s back as they passed. When they arrived at the scene Yendor was nearly sick when he saw Eye making a meal of the third bandit. Vala looked at the second bandit with the arrow in his stomach and asked “What about him” to which Yendor replied he will pass soon enough. Gronk grunted and said, “Me put him to sleep” and he walked over to the second bandit- he swung his staff three times in the air and again yelled “Gronk casts sleep” and brought his staff down crushing his skull. Yendor whispered in Vala’s ear “After all this time I still think its funny Gronk thinks he’s a wizard” to which Vala replied “He may yet surprise us all one day”. Vala scanned the horizon and asked, “Where is Almondus?” Yendor having the best viewpoint on Vala’s shoulders finally spotted him still under the wagon fumbling with his spell components nervously. Vala tapped Eye on the back and said, “Eye we need to hasten things up and get moving” Eye glanced at Vala side eyed and said, “I am finishing this guy off”. 

The ragged band quickly searched the corpses and found little to nothing of value. Gronk proclaimed how peaceful they all looked sleeping the day away. The merchant who had been hiding inside his carriage emerged to survey the carnage and proclaimed in a disgusted manner, “Why did you all attack their groins?” Yendor gleefully responded, “That’s why we are called The Crotch Goblins” Vala was quick to correct him saying, “No one calls us that” to which Yendor replied, “Not yet they don’t, but they will” with a big, crooked smile on his face. The merchant switched his mood to business and said, “Can someone please tell the lizard to stop chopping off body parts for road snacks so we can make it to Bywater before the sun goes down.” After Vala and Gronk teamed up to finish the task of moving the tree the group continued their journey leaving what was left of the bandits to the buzzards.