After squaring away camp preparations for the night, Ganit takes advantage of the local river and spends a bit of time fishing before nightfall. Cambyl’s observation resonated in his head.
As of now, there’s no way to know for sure who was hunting who. The only we know for certain is that in the end a human was dead.
He tugs a little at the line to keep his bait (a scrap of dried meat from his ration) from getting caught on the riverbed. With his bow laid across his lap he continues to ponder the situation while he attempts to catch a more satisfying dinner. All the while, checking to ensure he was still alone.
Perception: 1d20+6
Survival: 1d20+8
This fishing stream seemed to be filled with many fresh fish. You manage to catch a few and at once moment you swear you saw a minature female elven figure swim down the river, but she was gone before you got to attempt to keep an eye on her as she moved throught he water at such a speed.
Unlike in more civilised places, it seems the fish here have lived in perfect harmoney and never had anyone fishing in these rivers. This appears to be the perfect place for fishing.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to set the traps out tonight. It may give whoever killed this man the wrong impression. We'll just be a little more vigilant on our watch tonight."
Lukan prepares his tent for the night and hopes Ganit caught enough fish for everyone.
Agreed, in these woods I feel like I am being watched. If they have not attacked up until this point, lets hope that whatever is watching keeps it that way.
I pull out and set up my tent. After a tasty dinner of fried fish, I turn in and thankfully have a relatively restful nights sleep.
Ganit returns to camp with six strung fish on a short length of rope in one hand and his scimitar in the other. He scans every face individually at the camp before asking ”Has anyone seen anything… unusual?” He glances behind him momentarily before sheathing his sword and taking rest on a large rock where he begins gutting and cleaning the fish with his new knife. ”I swear there was someone or something swimming in the river while I was fishing but when I tried to focus on it the damn thing disappeared.” He flings a sizable heap of innards from the knife into the fire as he finishes the sentence. ”We’re most definitely not alone and given the circumstances, not safe either. I’ll stay on first watch. Who will join me?”
"I'd trust my eyes on first or second watch, depending on which Carina prefers."
Not alone? Whatever animal killed that trapper may be unhappy we unburied him. He deserved to die but we can't allow animals that could kill a human to roam free either.
"I'd trust my eyes on first or second watch, depending on which Carina prefers."
Not alone? Whatever animal killed that trapper may be unhappy we unburied him. He deserved to die but we can't allow animals that could kill a human to roam free either.
First or last for me, I need a good eight hour of rest.
“So be it. Cambyl, you and Carina can cover 3rd watch. Bronwyn and I will take 1st leaving Jameson and Lukan on 2nd. Now, whoever wants some trout instead for dinner should come over here and carve up their pick.”
You all get a nice night's rest, awaking the next day feeling refreshed and ready to head back on the road.
"Thank you for the trout Ganit, it was excellent."
Ganit gives James an appreciative nod as he picks his teeth with a spine from the fish he had eaten. ”You can’t live off of trail rations and stale water. It’s better to use these natural facilities when they present themselves and save those for harsher environments.”
Ganit greets the morning with a skeptical glare.
Whatever it was that I saw in the river is likely a bad omen. I must make sure to keep watch for it today for it may be following us.
He climbs aboard his horse after packing away his bedroll and blanket and waits patiently for the rest to make their morning preparations.
After looking at the map - My vote is to continue heading west as we have been, barring the need to resupply, lets try to map the rest of the northwest quadrant before returning to Oleg's, that appears to be a viable undertaking. We will be on the trail for a few, but that is the life we have chosen.
And I am away from civilization where my rage could harm someone.
Oh, and Ganit, thank you for the trout, far superior to the rations we have been eating, wish I had learned from from my father, perhaps I can help you next time.
"Fishing is a simple enough trick. If you'd care to learn, then you should join me next time." He searches the sky for a few seconds and suddenly seems to know precisely which direction to face. "This way" he calls behind him as Felicity takes to a hustle.
"Fishing is a simple enough trick. If you'd care to learn, then you should join me next time." He searches the sky for a few seconds and suddenly seems to know precisely which direction to face. "This way" he calls behind him as Felicity takes to a hustle.
"Lead as you will Ganit, I will preform rearguard duties as usual."
Cambyl wakes early as usual to pray, and decides to bury the trapper as well.
"Lead on, Ganit. It seems a fine day!"
Bron mounts Bandit and takes Ganit's side.
So, you saw someone swimming down the river? Perhaps a beautiful naked lass?, he asks, jokingly.
Ganit turns to Bronwyn with a surprised chuckle. ”She looked like an elf only a quarter of the size, maybe less. Suffice to say I couldn’t measure her clothing, you rogue haha! In any case she was there for a second then gone again. Perhaps I’m closer to retirement than I thought.”
Perception DC 20:
Group Perception:
Catrina Stigard:
The Hermit Ganit D'Artain:
Jameson Addercop IV:
Sir Bronwyn Raslov@
Lukan Swane "Swaney":
Cambyl:
Moving back to the main trail it takes you some time to leave the forest and re-enter the grassland. Here You find nothing of note and taking your time to map out the area you all camp out having mapped out the area.
Next morning you all march into the next hex, again no surprises and taking the time to map out no other creatures appear. It seems to be all going well as you map out this hex.
You manage to notice in a bush of berries that there is a burial site. You can't tell much but it appears to be ancient since the blackberries have had time to build up all around it and to totally obscure it from anyone who isn't that perceptive.
Bron looks surprised for a second.
So you really saw a woman in the river? Beware, for there are many tales of sirens who charm man to the waters. These men are never heard from again!
Well, just for the sake of security, call me next time you see a nakes woman by the river. You know, for protection?
"Of course, for protection haha!"
Ganit dismounts from Felicity as he spots a bush of berries thinking they may be edible and save him the trouble of eating another unsatifying trail meal bought from the outpost. As he brushes his arms through the branches he notices a peculiar rock formation and after studying it for a short while he realizes that it is a makeshift tombstone.
”Nobody eat these berries,” he proclaims as he rises to the rest of the group. “It is bad luck to ingest fruit grown from a man's grave.”
Whof? Bron says, mouthful of berries.
*Phhff!*
Bron spits out the cherries.
Dead man's berries?, he asks, looking for ths so-called tombstone.
"Of course, for protection haha!"
Ganit dismounts from Felicity as he spots a bush of berries thinking they may be edible and save him the trouble of eating another unsatifying trail meal bought from the outpost. As he brushes his arms through the branches he notices a peculiar rock formation and after studying it for a short while he realizes that it is a makeshift tombstone.
”Nobody eat these berries,” he proclaims as he rises to the rest of the group. “It is bad luck to ingest fruit grown from a man's grave.”
On a closer look it looks like the burial site of a barbarian. Only those that are considered "nobles" of their kind would be buried in such a manner.
Patrols from Rostland drove out these particular barbarians of the Tiger Lords and raided every one of the burial sites they found and looted them. This one appears to be untouched however.
"Who would bury a man here, so far from civilization? Are there other towns out here or is he a member of a barbarian tribe? Don't they build cairns for their dead."
Jameson looks around at the open prairie.
"Oh, right."
"Interesting. Can you make out anything? Maybe a name?"
Lukan waits for a response as he dismounts and walks closer to the bush. "I've heard of soldiers looting graves like these..."
He kneels down and takes a closer look at the grave. "We should probably leave the dead alone, but I can't help feel that leaving this tomb here would be the same as looting it ourselves. Who knows when the next detatchment from Rostland will patrol through here. Maybe even sometime during the winter when this bush is not full. They'd easily spot it then, and if they discover it, it will turn out like the rest. I would propose that we exume the body and burry it safely somwhere else. What do you all think?" He poses the question to the rest of the group, looking up from the grave.
Bronwyn stands by Lukan, arms crossed, and ponders out aloud:
It's a difficult decision, folks. I'd rather just leave the dead be; it'd be the honorable decision to take. But this here isn't a one of our compatriots, it's a barbarian from the south, that used to invade the northernlands to pillage and destroy, stealing treasure and women. Doesn't sound to me like the kind of good folk that deserves respect.
"perhaps if we can bring more order to these lands the soldiers won't disrespect the buried dead... If you want to do something, Lukan, I would suggest eliminating evidence of the grave rather than moving the body."
Lukan looks perplexed by the responses. "Hmm, I am not too familiar with the history of these lands. I was not aware that whomever was burried here was a raider." As he mulls it over he turns to Cambyl and replies, "I'm not sure about you Cambyl, but I for one would feel that removing all evidence of my grave-site would be similiar to pillaging it."
"Perhaps it would be best to find out who is burried here and make the decision after that?"
"We should respect the dead, or our laws are meaningless. I would like to mark the berries as dangerous and when we have the proper facilities we can place a monument here. Perhaps something that honors our past enemies while showing them they have not the strength or need to plunder us again."
Having spoken his peace Jameson falls silent and awaits the group decision.
Well, Lukan, for them to be this far north they would have to be some sort of enemy for the people of Brevoy. These Tiger Lords burned, pillaged and stole so much that the swordlords had to respond, amassing an army and driving them out of their lands. I for one respect the will of the Aldori, and would see this body burned and destroyed, but will defer to the decision of all. If you prefered, we'd leave the grave undisturbed, but paying homage to ancient enemies of Brevoy? I believe not.
Well, Lukan, for them to be this far north they would have to be some sort of enemy for the people of Brevoy. These Tiger Lords burned, pillaged and stole so much that the swordlords had to respond, amassing an army and driving them out of their lands. I for one respect the will of the Aldori, and would see this body burned and destroyed, but will defer to the decision of all. If you prefered, we'd leave the grave undisturbed, but paying homage to ancient enemies of Brevoy? I believe not.
Carina imagines the witch doctor looking at her and telling her: He was your enemy, pillage the body and make use of its weapons and armors. Remember, only the strong will prevail. No - While I understand the need to remain strong, I will not despoil this warriors body. If there is equipment which will assist our quest, then that is a different matter. These barbarians will respect us if we respect their dead, but they would steal from their own dead if it would strengthen their attacks.
I think that we should respect the body. However, if he were buried with arms or weapons, he has no use for them now. This is an enemy warrior, if he came upon the graves of one of us, or our families, he would not hesitate to loot the graves.
Would I be offended if this occurred? Yes. However, I would understand that this is war, and in war you have to seek out and use any advantage you can find, irrespective of whether that advantage comes from a store, a slain enemy, or the grave of the deceased.
Truthfully, I do not understand what the difference is between taking equipment from a slain enemy and the grave of a dead enemy, either way you are looting the body of the deceased. So, my vote is to see what secrets this grave holds, and then respect the grave and leave it in a state so that others will not despoil and destroy this grave.
Ganit stands several yards aside and lets the honorable men argue their honorable agendas.
As noble as it would be to let the corpse lie in peace, these people seem to forget that the only thing buried here is decayed bones and some sentimental trinkets. No man, no soul, no worth. Anything of value down there would likely be trophies from excursions against our employers. Well, my employers; their royalty. It didn't seem to bother the rest of the Rostlanders to desecrate the grave of an enemy. It makes me wonder what kind of code each of these men follows and how they came to adhere to it...
His quiet meditation is cut short by Carina's burst of opinion. He looks to the sky, then to heap of stones, and then to his companions. Reaching into Felicity's saddlebags he retrieves his shovel and spears it's spade deep into the earth positioned between the five patriots.
"A dead body is nothing more than a dead body. A dead body buried in the middle of nowhere incites curiosity. And curiosity, be it yours or anyone else's , will uncover this grave. So do what you will, in any case you'll need my shovel."
"I agree, we should uncover what is burried beneath these stones and then decide our next course of action. If this proves not to be the grave site of a barbarian then our course may change. If it is indeed one of the barbarians you speak of, then they share no right of burrial in the lands of the Sword Lords."
Lukan begins moving the stones to the side of the grave, exposing the earth beneath.
You take half an hour digging up the grave and coming upon the bones. The skill appears to have been smashed in on the side of the head which was most likely the cause of his death.
The only items of worth upon him are his hide armour that appears to be made from a local creature known as a Thylacine and has been perserved over the many years by the magic in the armour, a ring that depicts a eel and frog locked in a tangle and a ornate silver bangle worth 85 gold. Both the ring and armour glow under detect magic.
"As you will, looting an enemy long dead and an enemy killed by your hands amounts to the same."
A savage land. I suppose I must adjust if I am to return to Rostland some day rather than fill a grave here. Not that I would fill it for long it seems.
That is very nice armor, but a few weeks ago I would have asked for it. For the last few weeks, however, I have found armor to be very uncomfortable. I wonder what the ring is, looks like something involving swimming.
We should get this grave recovered and leave some indication that it contains nothing of value and should not be destroyed.
"You certainly are a strange group. Do you really plan to treat this as a buried equipment cache? Dig out the important things and simply rebury the leavings. There would be no point if you ask me, the grounds have already been disturbed and the wolves will claim these bones tonight," Ganit explains as he looks down to the group from his horse.
"Make sure that shovel is clean when you're done with it."
Bron shrugs.
Well, next time we reach Oleg's I can take my horse and go pay a visit to the alchemist nearby. He's the closer thing to a magical expert we're going to find around.
He offers to hold onto the items until such a time.
Cambyl watches the companions dig up the grave, but does not assist. "If there is evidence of a grave, nothing can be done to prevent others from digging it up as we have. The ring and the armor are magical, but i do not have the skill to see what properties they have, so it may benefit us in the end, but it may not. There are reasons to leave the dead buried in peace, even enemies. But there is no longer any reason to do so here. Recover the bones or not, it matters little in my mind."
Well, my friends, let this dirty deed be done, and let us focus on the matter at hand. Namely: We have to find Kressen and her band. Each day they stay at large is a day of risk and peril for the goodfolk of the Greenbelt.
He mounts Bandit and looks to the woods.
I mount up.
Westward it is. What is next, more woods or back to the prairie?
Jameson massages his eyes with one hand while watching the group reassemble.
"Ganit, you have led us this far, which way to this...Kressen? I'm not familiar with that name. Is that a bandit leader?"
Kressen is the leader of a bandit group that camps somewhere in these woods. They had been intimidating and stealing from Oleg and Svetlana for quite some time, and we have defeated quite a sum of their underlings. I fear that she could engender a retaliation based on our action, and I have been defending the notion that we should try to find them before they strike against Oleg.
"What I recall from an interrogated captive, Kressen is one of the Stag lord's generals; the 'Lord' obviously serving as leader. Before Swaney decapitated the unfortunate boy, he told us that Kressen's camp was a few days south of Oleg's outpost. It's been well over a week since our encounter so there's a chance she may be growing concerned over their disappearance and planning an expedition to discover their fates. West is this way." He leads Felicity gently with his legs as she trots in a well mannered fashion towards the direction he points.
Bron nods, defering to Ganit's expertise, and follows him west.