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| + | '''The DM:''' As you pull out of Treborg, the sky is clear, there is little wind at all and the temperature is cool. You travel along the familiar route again, past the forest and into the tundra, bouncing over rocks in lieu of a pathway. You won't reach your destination by the ship for the full day of the 5th. The weather is warm in the morning and cools a bit in the afternoon, but nothing uncomfortable. It is very plain that you're in summer now, as you haven't seen a cloud in two days. |
| − | '''The DM:''' [I know I should pay more attention, but I'm still unclear as to where the wagon has been this whole time. In Treborg?] | |
| − | : Through the night of the 31st, it begins to rain again. This light rain ends an hour after sunrise, but be clear, night lasts about 4-5 hours this time of year (though it is dim much of the time, as the sun swings around low against the horizon). You break camp amidst cool weather, a northeast gentle breeze under a sky with fluffy clouds. First, you must climb again towards the low pass (where you pass by the other route you did not take, the narrower "choked" valley). There's the place where you camped after your first day out of Treborg; and here is the pass, and there is the way towards the small village. As you set up camp late on June 1st, after a whole day of walking (2 lbs. each for food, please), it begins to spatter rain again. The breeze blows from the northeast now, which often heralds a new storm (but not always). Just now, the sky is almost clear, except for some high thin clouds.
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| − | : Treborg is about four hours away.
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' We have the wagon/cart with us. I think I should have been more clear about that as we were setting off from Treborg. Is that a problem? I've marked the food off - how much was Embla able to forage? | + | '''—''': After arriving at the ship, do you intend to do anything else that evening before turning in to sleep? |
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| − | '''Pandred''': Importantly, now that I'm ''certain'' it's a new day, here's some bottle hp Vafrandir. '''2'''. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' [composed this on the thread for the 4th, posting here for clarity] Before setting out, I'll ensure that we've packed our remaining 47 lb of food, 5 tents (Odds, are you coming with us?), and 10 torches. What does the tripod weigh? |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' Oddsdrakken's presence depends on Pandred's orders. |
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| − | : '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Much appreciated!
| + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I don't think there's anything we can do in the dark besides set a watch. 2 lbs of food each for traveling? |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' Correct on food. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' No, it's not a problem. There's no logical way you could drag the wagon as quickly across this terrain as I had you do, but that was ''my fault'' and certainly not yours. I should have asked more explicitly. We'll just say that, by chance, the path you took was very friendly to wagons. Just to check - is it four wheels, or is it actually a cart with two wheels? | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Great, accounted for. I'll start to set up the tents and gather wood for a fire. |
| − | : Embla was able to forage 6 lbs. | + | :'''The DM:''' Aren't you glad that at present I haven't chosen to employ my nutrition rules? |
| | + | :: '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Part of me can't wait...most of me is relieved! |
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' It's two-wheeled.
| + | '''The DM:''' Before moving on, I'd like to get a confirmation from someone else that there's nothing else to do until the morning of the 6th. |
| − | :'''The DM:''' Good. I'll remember to call it a "cart" going forward. Apologies.
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| − | :: Any other actions, or shall we continue into Treborg the next morning?
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll remember "cart" as well. On to Treborg! | + | '''Pandred''': Confirmed from me. Also Odds is staying behind. I don't think I have need of him for this errand. |
| | + | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' Seconded. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' presumedly, any other opinion can be retconned. There are no encounters on this last four hours of the journey. Throughout the night there is a slight drizzle, which clears, continues, clears, then continues again, finally becoming a good steady rain as you're breaking camp. This continues steadily the whole way back, so that by the time you get yourselves into the hostel in Treborg, you're soaked to the bone. Norway. | + | == After Sunset, June 6th == |
| − | : It is the sixth day after leaving the village; the stakes have been laid out for your house already and the holes are being dug for the foundation - a series of holes into which will be poured mortar and broken stone, upon which the flooring will be laid. This flooring will be flat pieces of carefully chosen stone, fitted as a pavement with mortar; flat, but not perfectly so, and a foot above the surrounding ground so dry throughout the year. Even if the roof breaks, the floor will drain any water away.
| + | '''The DM:''' Having no indication of who is on guard at one time, I'll randomly determine that it is just before midnight, with Pandred awake and feeding bits of dry peat onto a smoldering fire. Unexpectedly, she hears a resounding '''THUD''', as something tremendously heavy striking the ground a goodly distance away. The full moon was only three days ago, so the landscape is well revealed by moonlight, but there is no hint of what it might have been. It could not have been a meteorite, or else Pandred would have seen the trail of light as it hit; but there was no light at all accompanying the sound. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' so what's next? | + | '''Marcule''': Do i wake up? |
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| − | == Father Arvin ==
| + | '''The DM:''' Good question. Yes, it's loud enough. Everyone wakes up. |
| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Is there a chapel here in Treborg? Or someone who can properly bury Fjall? | |
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| − | '''The DM:''' Yes, there's a chapel and a graveyard. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' "Shall we investigate?" I'll take the time to buckle on my shield...just in case. |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' You may do so. |
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' It's probably too late tonight, but in the morning, we'll go over and see what can be done about the burial. | + | '''Marcule:''' "Lead the way Vafrandir" |
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| − | '''The DM:''' It is never too late to knock on a priest's door with a dead body. It is sort of one of the things surrounding the profession. They'd want to begin managing the body as soon as possible. You wouldn't want to take the body to the hostel. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Once I'm strapped, I'll draw my sword and head cautiously towards the noise. "Pandred, from where did you hear it?" |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' I'll presume Pandred gives you the general direction. As you move off Vafrandir, take note that you've already spent at least a full day here, and that the landscape is fairly regular. After searching for about five minutes, however, you can't help noticing a large, grey stone, about nine feet in length and about three feet high, where you cannot remember a stone of that size having been here before. The stone is about 70 or 80 feet away when you notice it. |
| | + | :'''—''': for the sake of clarity I'll just add that I am taking your elven infravision into account in describing what you can see at this distance (it is somewhat better than moonlight and not spoiled by it, as per [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Infravision my rules]). |
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| − | '''Marcule''': I imagine some sort of cost for burial? | + | '''Pandred''': I'll tag along. Oh boy! |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' Pandred is human and does not have infravision, so she cannot see it as well. I did, incidentally, add the sage abilities for [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Pocket_Timepiece_(sage_ability) pocket timepiece] and [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Infravision_Goggles_(sage_ability) infravision goggles] to Marcule's sage ability of Steam & Gasgear. Marcule has yet to choose his two pre-existing items from his sage study. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' (welcome back) huh. Things not included on the prices table. The average per capita income for persons is usually around 9 g.p. Let's say a 10% tithe of that: 14 s.p. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll describe what I see. Can I tell if the earth around it has been disturbed? As would be the case if the stone had fallen from a great height. If I can't at this distance, I'll cautiously approach. |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' There doesn't look to be a pit surrounding it. You don't see any sign of the hit you describe. |
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| − | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' I pay it. And I think a good rest is in order while Vaf and Willa recover. | + | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' I approach, axe in hand. |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' How close do you approach, in feet? |
| | + | :: '''[[Embla Strand]]''' I keep pace with Vafrandir. I keep about 10 feet away from it. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' Father Arvin hears your story about how Fjall died, blesses each of you for bringing him back and asks who Fjall is and where he comes from. The father explains that he will write a letter (yes, they have those) to his folks in Stavanger. They may not want Fjall buried here. He asks you which of you have been baptised. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll get about 10 ft away. What does the surface of the stone look like? Smooth or rough, etc |
| | + | : Gnarled and uneven. From this angle, one end appears to be the shoulders and back of a humanoid, but there is no heat being emitted. |
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Is that part of our backgrounds? | + | '''Marcule:''' (out of game: i will take pocket timepiece and Infravision Goggles.) Handing Pandred my goggles "these should help" i back Vafrandir staying out of the way but close enough to jump in. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' It isn't. I won't make a character adopt a religion, so the truth is none of you have. But that is quite common at this time in history, so it is nothing to be ashamed of (many people simply never received the opportunity). The question right now is whether or not you wish to admit it. The father will probably offer to do so if you ask, but it will commit you to Lutheranism. | + | ['''OOC-DM''': I'm going to be afk for about 45 minutes] - I'm back. |
| − | : '''The DM:''' I feel I need to stress that the ostracism against those outside the faith was not as strong at this time as it is often perceived today among hard-core religionists. That ostracism is largely part of the evangelistic movement; in 1650, Europe had just fought a 30 year war of religion in which somewhere between 8 and 30 million died, from irrational hatred of other people of other religions. As such, forgive and embrace is much more the standard than is hate; even if you were truthful about your baptism, the community would probably see you as people who would eventually come around, rather than people who deserved to be cast out.
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| − | :: '''The DM:''' Beginning to feel I lost you guys.
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| − | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' I admit to not having been baptised and will happily accept one from the Father. | |
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I will accept a baptism as well. [''I was in a meeting that required more attention than usual, apologies''] | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll circle around it. I have my suspicious as to its nature (for obvious reasons) but I'm not sure Vafrandir would suspect a golem. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' never apologize. I just felt I had put you on the spot is all. The father will waste no time with either of you, and will insist on performing the ritual at once. Each will take about 5 minutes but it can only be done once in your lifetimes. You feel enormously better, the pain that Vafrandir was experiencing from the leftover spider poison vanishes (though hit points are not restored) and you both will enjoy a +1 to all saving throws until 2 p.m. on the 9th of June (1 week). | + | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' I take out a javelin and tap it on the shoulder-y part. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' By the way, it's not late at night. It was only 4 hours of travelling on the 2nd to reach Treborg. | + | '''The DM:''' Vafrandir, as you circle around it, you see Embla use her javelin as described. To Embla, if feels as though the javelin were touching stone ... but as you come around, Vafrandir, you can see that it is a humanoid shape. There IS heat coming from it, but only from a series of gashes and wounds covering its chest, arms and thighs. You can see a brightening pulse from a heart beat. It is a living humanoid, probably about 9½ feet tall, one that has suffered from some fight that it has had. |
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| − | '''Marcule:''' I will remain quiet and choose not to be baptized. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Do the wounds look recent? I'm wary to meet the other guy. |
| − | :'''The DM:''' Understood. | + | :'''The DM:''' It's hard to judge, because this is a sort of humanoid you're not familiar with, but yes, they do look fresh. |
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': When Fjall has been buried I'd like to ask Father Arvin if he's the only man of letters about, and if so if he could write a letter to my own family. They like news, and I can't receive gifts if they don't know where I am. If there's anything this derelict airship has shown me, it's that you've got to leave a forwarding address. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Is there any intelligence in the "face"? |
| | + | :'''The DM:''' Because it is night, and because the face does not betray any color for your infravision (as if it is made of stone), it isn't possible for you to know the answer to that. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' Father Arvin tells you that he can manage that nicely. He was going to send along a nurse, Monica, to help care for Vafrandir, as Arvin has no healing spell to give. She can aid Vafrandir's rest so that he will heal more quickly. Monica can read and write as well, so she may take down your letter. The father will inquire especially of Pandred if he is baptised, because he has not heard yet. | + | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Understandable. As it is, I'm not sure this thing represents an immediate threat (possibly a future one). There's also the possibility of whatever wounded it still lurking about. My suggestion is to head back to our camp, have the watchman keep an ear pointed this way, and re-investigate in the morning. What say you all? |
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' "Thank you, Father." | + | '''Pandred''': I don't know how I feel about leaving this thing to lick it's wounds, nevermind whatever caused them, but I don't have a better idea. Let's do it. |
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| − | == Hostel ==
| + | '''The DM:''' Accepted. |
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| − | '''The DM:''' I'm not sure if people are waiting for me to say something; retconning Pandred's response to the father, feel free to return to the hostel tonight, leaving Fjall in the father's care. Is there anything else you'd like to deal with today, before sleeping. It is too late for Vafrandir to get any rest today (I trust he hasn't been gaining h.p. since beginning to travel).
| + | == Morning, June 7 == |
| − | | + | After midnight, a thin bank of clouds roll in and it begins to drizzle. As the cool morning breaks, you find the land covered in a fog, but not so thick that you cannot see the figure still laying out there. A very light breeze suggests the fog is not going to last long. |
| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I believe I'm at 4 from Pandred's salves.
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| − | : If you'll let her, Monica will take you to her parent's house to rest in a proper bed, rather than a plank; and she'll dote on you. According to the rules under [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Aid_Rest_(sage_ability) Aid Rest], you'll heal at 2 levels higher than your present: so 4 h.p. per day from rest. Pandred can come around there to give you a salve if she wants to. Are you willing?
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I am certainly willing!
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| − | '''The DM:''' Very well; she'll have you settled in at 3 p.m., so that each 6 hr. period after, Vafrandir will be up 1 h.p. Monica is quite social; you find that she's well-liked both by workmen and washer women, and by the father and the town's governor, Mss. Hendriksen.
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| − | '''The DM:''' At the hostel, Willa would like to approach the remaining party and explain that she'd like to take Fjall back to Stavanger. She knows that's what his parents would want.
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': Acceptable to me. Are there any basic goods we can purchase here? A town market, etc? I'd hate to have to ask poor Willa to come back with groceries. Vafrandir, I will dole out another '''3''' from the bottle.
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| − | '''Willa''': "Well, actually Pandred ... I'd just as soon bow out completely. With Fjall's mistake, I nearly died; now I'm thinking I'd rather go home, rethink my options and perhaps look up Bergthora and Lothar."
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| − | '''The DM:''' Willa really is only here because she was Lothar's childhood friend, as were Fjall, Bergthora and Peter; and now two of those are dead.
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| − | :'''—''' Also, Pandred, if you look up the list, you'll see that you already gave Vafrandir 2 points after breaking camp on your way back to Treborg, when you were four hours away from the village. Today is the same day, June 2.
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| − | '''Pandred''': Jesus, again? Sorry, not trying to flub it. Also, damn. I thought Willa was Embla's man. That's a shame, but I can hardly begrudge them.
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| − | :'''The DM:''' Heh heh, no worries. You know, she might be Embla's '''wo'''man. It's been quite a while, I could be confused about that, but I think you're right, because Lothar survived the first round with the fire beetles and I don't think Willa was there. So, I'll just change the story to say that Willa will miss you all, one way or another; she's been with you a long time.
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| − | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' Willa is my follower, but I understand her leaving. I'll give her another 50gp as a thank you for her hard work and companionship.
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| − | : '''The DM:''' Excellent. Sorry for confusing that. She will give you a hug and make you promise to look her up in Stavanger when you get back there. She just wants time to think. Then Willa will set off to arrange for a journey back to Stavanger and to talk to the father about it.
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| − | '''The DM:''' I am being called out in the time of covid to do an errand. I managed a rewrite of the [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Hunting_(sage_ability) Hunting skill], so that's there for your convenience.
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| − | '''—''' I also want to add that I'm going to take the week off after Halloween to work more intensely on some projects. It's only one week and I promise we'll be back in the groove right after.
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| − | == Continuing ==
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| − | '''The DM:''' So where are we today, then? What does the party want to do with the evening of June 2nd?
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': This evening? Nothing. I would like to know if it's possible to resupply in Treborg: when/if the market is open and what services are available. Assuming Embla can routinely forage around 6lbs then in an emergency I think we could hole up in our bivouac indefinitely out there, but I think I'd feel safer at least if we had reserves, since at 6lbs per day that means if we get in a fight she can feed exactly one of us. God forbid she get injured like poor Vafrandir, nevermind what happened to Fjall.
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| − | '''Marcule:''' once we have supplied should we return to the ship?
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| − | '''The DM:''' resupply: there is no market of any kind in Treborg; it is possible to buy fish here off the boats, if you were licensed to do so, which you're not — the fish must make its way to domestic and foreign markets and strangers who have no relationship with guilds or merchants cannot be trusted as wholesalers.
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| − | '''The DM:''' foraging: if you look at the [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Foraging_(sage_ability) foraging page] that I've created, Embla can reliably forage an average of 10½ lbs. of food until Sep 7th.
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| − | '''The DM:''' holing up in the bivouac indefinitely: I don't know about that; you're north of 60° latitude, and though Norway stays relatively warm compared to other arctic territories in the winter by the shore, you'd be higher and it would be sure to be a lot colder. Additionally, one gale will blast your constructed bivouac out of existence, leaving you potentially amidst a blizzard 14 hours from civilization with only the wrecked ship for shelter. Something to think about.
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'd like to stay here until I'm mostly recuperated. I echo the concern about reserve supplies. What do the locals usually have for day to day supply?
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| − | :'''The DM:''' They fish and grow vegetables in gardens; they harvest apples and berries; they harvest fields of oats. In early June, the apples are barely flowering on the trees; the oat fields have only just been planted; the berries aren't ripe; and none of this vegetation has been harvested since last October, so that the resident are living on the very edges of their stores, waiting for the days in late June and early July when they will be able to eat as many berries as they can stuff in their mouths. In other words, they are hungry most of the time just now, trying to make the last of their food last.
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': I mostly meant "the foreseeable future" by indefinite. I don't think it's wise to hide in an abandoned boat through the winter, especially when we'd have a small house by then. I have the crossbow for hunting, so if we have need I can assist in that regard now.
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| − | '''The DM:''' Understood. However, until I hear clear statements from more than one player that say to the effect of, "I am ready so I sack in for the night," I must presume you're still talking and sitting up. I'm in no hurry; but you haven't done enough in physical actions at this time for me to push the clock forward, and I'm a stickler about that.
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'm certainly ready to "sack in."
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| − | '''Marcule:''' I'm good to call it a night
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| − | == June 3rd ==
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| − | '''The DM:''' Vafrandir receives the first 4 h.p. under Monica's care, learning that she is the governor's niece, that she is unattached and that she is "profoundly moved" at getting to know the first elf in her experience. The remainder of the party sleeps on plank beds with blankets for padding, listening to the wind outside and being grateful not to be out in it. By 9 o'clock the next morning, the sky being blue with a few clouds, a moderate wind blowing and absolutely pleasant weather that will let you wander about in your shirt-sleeves, all of the party feels rested.
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| − | :'''—''' There is nothing to forage here, it's been picked over, so you will have to walk an hour before you can begin searching; hunting is regulated in Treborg's environs, so you will have to walk two hours before you can begin hunting. If anyone would like to take a hand at fishing, you can do that anywhere.
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| − | '''[[Embla Strand]]''' In that case, I'll see if I can help our contractor build our house.
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| − | :'''The DM:''' Oh, I am most sorry. Without any actual construction experience, your contractor Anders Hagen could only use you as labour, and he doesn't need more labour.
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| − | '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I am glad for Monica's attention. Although I can't go, I think a hunt might be a good idea for a few of the able-bodied among us since we can spare a few days.
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': I will try to hunt for burrowing animals. I'm concerned that without the ability to track, I can't really do much. If I don't down a larger animal in one go, I have no way of following it to finish it off.
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| − | '''The DM:''' First time using the rules: the die shown +1 die, since you don't have hunting ability. You hunt for everything on the list simultaneously: 4-48 hours for ground fowl, 2-12 burrowing mammal, 3-13 waterfowl, 3-18 light herd animal, 4-24 heavy head animal, 3-30 predator. Two hours to get started and I roll for everything. Ready?
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| − | '''[[Pandred]]''': Ready freddy.
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| − | : After 5 hours, you find yourself within 13 hexes of a small rabbit. Choose your weapon and don't forget the [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Strengthened_Arm_(sage_ability) strengthened arm] ability for determining range.
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The DM: As you pull out of Treborg, the sky is clear, there is little wind at all and the temperature is cool. You travel along the familiar route again, past the forest and into the tundra, bouncing over rocks in lieu of a pathway. You won't reach your destination by the ship for the full day of the 5th. The weather is warm in the morning and cools a bit in the afternoon, but nothing uncomfortable. It is very plain that you're in summer now, as you haven't seen a cloud in two days.
—: After arriving at the ship, do you intend to do anything else that evening before turning in to sleep?
Vafrandir: [composed this on the thread for the 4th, posting here for clarity] Before setting out, I'll ensure that we've packed our remaining 47 lb of food, 5 tents (Odds, are you coming with us?), and 10 torches. What does the tripod weigh?
- The DM: Oddsdrakken's presence depends on Pandred's orders.
Vafrandir: I don't think there's anything we can do in the dark besides set a watch. 2 lbs of food each for traveling?
- The DM: Correct on food.
Vafrandir: Great, accounted for. I'll start to set up the tents and gather wood for a fire.
- The DM: Aren't you glad that at present I haven't chosen to employ my nutrition rules?
- Vafrandir: Part of me can't wait...most of me is relieved!
The DM: Before moving on, I'd like to get a confirmation from someone else that there's nothing else to do until the morning of the 6th.
Pandred: Confirmed from me. Also Odds is staying behind. I don't think I have need of him for this errand.
Embla Strand Seconded.
After Sunset, June 6th
The DM: Having no indication of who is on guard at one time, I'll randomly determine that it is just before midnight, with Pandred awake and feeding bits of dry peat onto a smoldering fire. Unexpectedly, she hears a resounding THUD, as something tremendously heavy striking the ground a goodly distance away. The full moon was only three days ago, so the landscape is well revealed by moonlight, but there is no hint of what it might have been. It could not have been a meteorite, or else Pandred would have seen the trail of light as it hit; but there was no light at all accompanying the sound.
Marcule: Do i wake up?
The DM: Good question. Yes, it's loud enough. Everyone wakes up.
Vafrandir: "Shall we investigate?" I'll take the time to buckle on my shield...just in case.
- The DM: You may do so.
Marcule: "Lead the way Vafrandir"
Vafrandir: Once I'm strapped, I'll draw my sword and head cautiously towards the noise. "Pandred, from where did you hear it?"
- The DM: I'll presume Pandred gives you the general direction. As you move off Vafrandir, take note that you've already spent at least a full day here, and that the landscape is fairly regular. After searching for about five minutes, however, you can't help noticing a large, grey stone, about nine feet in length and about three feet high, where you cannot remember a stone of that size having been here before. The stone is about 70 or 80 feet away when you notice it.
- —: for the sake of clarity I'll just add that I am taking your elven infravision into account in describing what you can see at this distance (it is somewhat better than moonlight and not spoiled by it, as per my rules).
Pandred: I'll tag along. Oh boy!
- The DM: Pandred is human and does not have infravision, so she cannot see it as well. I did, incidentally, add the sage abilities for pocket timepiece and infravision goggles to Marcule's sage ability of Steam & Gasgear. Marcule has yet to choose his two pre-existing items from his sage study.
Vafrandir: I'll describe what I see. Can I tell if the earth around it has been disturbed? As would be the case if the stone had fallen from a great height. If I can't at this distance, I'll cautiously approach.
- The DM: There doesn't look to be a pit surrounding it. You don't see any sign of the hit you describe.
Embla Strand I approach, axe in hand.
- The DM: How close do you approach, in feet?
- Embla Strand I keep pace with Vafrandir. I keep about 10 feet away from it.
Vafrandir: I'll get about 10 ft away. What does the surface of the stone look like? Smooth or rough, etc
- Gnarled and uneven. From this angle, one end appears to be the shoulders and back of a humanoid, but there is no heat being emitted.
Marcule: (out of game: i will take pocket timepiece and Infravision Goggles.) Handing Pandred my goggles "these should help" i back Vafrandir staying out of the way but close enough to jump in.
[OOC-DM: I'm going to be afk for about 45 minutes] - I'm back.
Vafrandir: I'll circle around it. I have my suspicious as to its nature (for obvious reasons) but I'm not sure Vafrandir would suspect a golem.
Embla Strand I take out a javelin and tap it on the shoulder-y part.
The DM: Vafrandir, as you circle around it, you see Embla use her javelin as described. To Embla, if feels as though the javelin were touching stone ... but as you come around, Vafrandir, you can see that it is a humanoid shape. There IS heat coming from it, but only from a series of gashes and wounds covering its chest, arms and thighs. You can see a brightening pulse from a heart beat. It is a living humanoid, probably about 9½ feet tall, one that has suffered from some fight that it has had.
Vafrandir: Do the wounds look recent? I'm wary to meet the other guy.
- The DM: It's hard to judge, because this is a sort of humanoid you're not familiar with, but yes, they do look fresh.
Vafrandir: Is there any intelligence in the "face"?
- The DM: Because it is night, and because the face does not betray any color for your infravision (as if it is made of stone), it isn't possible for you to know the answer to that.
Vafrandir: Understandable. As it is, I'm not sure this thing represents an immediate threat (possibly a future one). There's also the possibility of whatever wounded it still lurking about. My suggestion is to head back to our camp, have the watchman keep an ear pointed this way, and re-investigate in the morning. What say you all?
Pandred: I don't know how I feel about leaving this thing to lick it's wounds, nevermind whatever caused them, but I don't have a better idea. Let's do it.
The DM: Accepted.
Morning, June 7
After midnight, a thin bank of clouds roll in and it begins to drizzle. As the cool morning breaks, you find the land covered in a fog, but not so thick that you cannot see the figure still laying out there. A very light breeze suggests the fog is not going to last long.
