Returning to Treborg

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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.
Treborg is about four hours away.

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?

Pandred: Importantly, now that I'm certain it's a new day, here's some bottle hp Vafrandir. 2.

Vafrandir: Much appreciated!

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?

Embla was able to forage 6 lbs.

Vafrandir: It's two-wheeled.

The DM: Good. I'll remember to call it a "cart" going forward. Apologies.
Any other actions, or shall we continue into Treborg the next morning?

Vafrandir: I'll remember "cart" as well. On to Treborg!

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.

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: so what's next?

Father Arvin

Vafrandir: Is there a chapel here in Treborg? Or someone who can properly bury Fjall?

The DM: Yes, there's a chapel and a graveyard.

Vafrandir: It's probably too late tonight, but in the morning, we'll go over and see what can be done about the burial.

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.

Marcule: I imagine some sort of cost for burial?

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.

Embla Strand I pay it. And I think a good rest is in order while Vaf and Willa recover.

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: Is that part of our backgrounds?

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.

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.
The DM: Beginning to feel I lost you guys.

Embla Strand I admit to not having been baptised and will happily accept one from the Father.

Vafrandir: I will accept a baptism as well. [I was in a meeting that required more attention than usual, apologies]

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).

The DM: By the way, it's not late at night. It was only 4 hours of travelling on the 2nd to reach Treborg.

Marcule: I will remain quiet and choose not to be baptized.

The DM: Understood.

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.

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: "Thank you, Father."

Hostel

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).

Vafrandir: I believe I'm at 4 from Pandred's salves.

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 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?

Vafrandir: I am certainly willing!

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

The DM: Heh heh, no worries. You know, she might be Embla's woman. 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.

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.

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.

The DM: I am being called out in the time of covid to do an errand. I managed a rewrite of the Hunting skill, so that's there for your convenience. 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.

Continuing

The DM: So where are we today, then? What does the party want to do with the evening of June 2nd?

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.

Marcule: once we have supplied should we return to the ship?

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.

The DM: foraging: if you look at the foraging page that I've created, Embla can reliably forage an average of 10½ lbs. of food until Sep 7th.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Vafrandir: I'm certainly ready to "sack in."

Marcule: I'm good to call it a night

June 3rd

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.

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.

Embla Strand In that case, I'll see if I can help our contractor build our house.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Pandred: Ready freddy.

After 5 hours, you find yourself within 13 hexes of a small rabbit. Choose your weapon and don't forget the strengthened arm ability for determining range.

Pandred: Locking and loading the Heavy Crossbow. Ka-chunk.

The DM: A rabbit is AC 10

Pandred: Well, a 1 hit AC 17, so if this is a particularly clumsy rabbit I might have a chance.

The DM: um, roll a d6 to see if you've screwed the mechanism.
(also, technically, you'd have loaded the crossbow earlier; I allow players to load a crossbow so that it can be held ready to shoot for about 10 rounds; and 2/3rds or 3/4ths loaded for up to half an hour. you'd have seen the rabbit before getting as close as 9 hexes; that's just as close as you can get without scaring it away).

Pandred: A 3 has hopefully spared my poor weapon.

The DM: a 3 has, in fact, spared your weapon. Do you intend to keep searching?

Pandred I don't think so. Am I right in believing that I'd be re-rolling the search chance across the whole table? So, a minimum of 2-3 additional hours no matter what it is I find? I've already got a 2-hour hike back. I think I should get to it.

The DM: No, that's not accurate. Each item is considered individual, so while it is unlikely you would get another burrower (though it's possible), anything might come up yet.

Pandred: Well...alright, in that case, I give it another 3 hours before heading back. I know the exact time of day when outside per my sheet.

The DM: you'll feel it in your bones, too. You find a group of fat mallards sitting in a small shallow pond adjacent to a copse of trees. You're not fast enough to get more than one, but ... the shot is 19 hexes away, and you know enough to get them to burst before firing. Oops, forgot to add that this is just about the moment you're ready to quit, 3 hrs. later than the missed rabbit. In the air, they're AC 10.

Pandred: The dice gods refuse to smile on me today. 4, hitting AC 14. Let's pack it in.

The DM: Amen.

The DM: Anyone else? Are we ready for June 4th?

okay. Lots of fun guys; I'm feeling burnt out from writing, so let's leave off until tomorrow. Be good, buy something nice for yourselves.

The DM: (Oct 30): same question. Are we ready for the next day, June 4th?

Embla Strand Aye

The DM: Waiting for a confirmation.

Pandred Aye aye.