"Nay, lads. The last proper ale I had has long been gone. I tell you when we get a proper civilization in this place, a brewery by Adabar is a must!" The dwarf says looking at the fire. He finishes his meal before getting some sleep.
The rest of the night is uneventful, but really cold. The fire keeps you somewhat warm, but towards the morning hours the wind blows even stronger.
Morning dawns with a strong wind blowing through the trees, threatening the fire to die, freezing all of you to the bones. Sergej rubs himself to get a feeling in his fingers and make him warm, shivering a bit.
There is something to laugh about though, since Agerron wakes up with now bright violet hair.
Before leaving the group to their exploration, Sergej thanks you for the place on your fire and bids you a farewell and good luck with the fey.
Fort Queslin's elven awesomeness allows him to make it through the difficult night with only a minimum of discomfort.
He wishes Sergej good hunting.
Survival
If I think the weather will break, we finish this hex and continue on to the next in line.
If I don't think it will break, we go back to Oleg's.
Queslin's elven awesomeness tells him that it is going to rain or even snow today, up until noon, then the weather is going to clear up a bit. The afternoon is going to be sunny-er and the wind is going to die down.
Michael shakes Sergej's hand and bids him a safe journey under Ol' Deadeye's gaze.
Fort Save +4
Michaels hardy upbringing allows him to go through the day with out being chilled to the bone, but he comments loudly on the fact he should of brought some more layers or he needs a fur coat.
"The new hair colour suits you" Majet informs Agerron upon seeing the change in colour
You all are riding rather stocky builds, with a thick hair coat against the winter coldness.
The horses are doing okay in the cold.
Fort save:
Big Ern just frowns at the hair. "Har har."
Big Ern has a jug of rotgut he's willing to share, if it'll keep those bloody pixies away.
"Suits you," Michael comments at Agerron's new hair colour, "might even give you an advantage in a fight while the opposition roll around laughing."
Before leaving the camp, Queslin makes a small meal of some of the sweets made by Majet on top of some hardbread plus a few nuts from his rations. He fashions a bowl out of some wood pours some of Michael's wine into it. Queslin places all of this on top of some cloth cut from his sleeping blanket to make a picnic. Then he decorates it by adding some wildflowers.
Sylvan [spoiler]"Friends, I leave you this gift to thank you for all of the fun we've had."
Queslin moves out to explore and map. "Let's get back to Oleg's. There's some supplies I want get."
Surprisingly, Agerron doesn't seem terribly upset at the hair color change. "A few of our tribal sorcerers in the past would dye their hair various colors, so it's not totally bad."
He studies himself in the reflection of pot for a moment, though and adds with a frown, "Still, it may be best if we don't catch it, as I might still wring a neck or two ..."
After seeing Agerron's hair, Delfey chuckles and Devlin says, "It looks good on you. Makes you more...fearsome." Devlin smirks.
While breaking camp, Devlin suggests, "I know I said we should give fey a chance, but when it comes to mites, they shouldn't be given a chance. They are to other fey as orcs are to you and I." Delfey nods in agreement.
Devlin continues, "I feel we should find the mites and eliminate their presence in the region. Agreed?"
"Sure, let's beat the s@~& out of 'em. But let's use some strategy -- I don't want to crawl on my hands and knees through some tiny tunnel full of bug s@%@. I got too much dignity for that," Ern grumbles, then lets loose a tremendous fart.
Leaving behind the 'picnic' for the fey, you make your way back northeast.
An hour after leaving the camp, you step out of the wood, shortly after Agerron's hair turns back to it's normal color.
Queslin's sense of nature hits the group a short while later, with the heaven openning his gates and raining on them. Together with the wind coming from the direction they ride against it's an unpleasent experience.
Close to noon you arrive back at Olegs.
Inside the old fort you are greeted by Oleg, who introduces to you Kesten Garess, head of a small band of troops that got sent to help defend Oleg's.
The soldiers set up their tents inside the forts palisade, along the south wall, close to the stables.
Kesten thanks you for defending Oleg up until this point, and speaks: "The swordlords in Restov really appreciate your deeds, and while I don't have your reward with me, I suspect it won't take much longer for it to arrive."
Svetlana and Oleg are delighted to have the group of explorers return pretty much unharmed (save for Delfey having a case of frostbite on his 'toes'). Oleg seems surprised to see Taras still being around, but doesn't speak of it, while Svetlana frowns at the sight of the former bandit.
Queslin asks Majet and Svetlana if they can make some candies to leave for the fey if they meet up again. Plus he asks for some small shiny trinkets and pretty ribbons and such. He asks after some cold weather clothes too. Finally, Queslin asks Oleg if he has some sweet wine or cider.
*Knowledge-Nobility +6 (+1 Int, +1 Rank, +3 Class Skill, +1 Trait)
Michael greets Kesten with a firm hand shake and a polite nod, but is obviously cool and distant to the nobleman. "Well met Master Kesten, I am Michael, I am afraid to admit although I know your name I can not place where I should know it from." After the pleasantries, he adds, "now if you will excuse me, I have horses to tend."
After seeing that the horses are cared for he will also look at procuring some winter wear for himself and Taras.
"Well met. I am Queslin. How would you be addressed? It seems that Oleg has informed you of our misadventures thus far."
Big Ern squints and says: "So you bozos are going sit around Oleg's trading post all nice and cozy while we're out there with our balls hanging in the breeze looking for the Stag Lord? Suits me just fine."
Agerron shakes Kesten's hand, appraising the man and his guards. "My goal is to make sure your jobs are as boring as can be. The fat man may be rude, but we do aim to take out the Stag Lord. And as I am a greedy man, my hope is to keep all of the battles to myself!" he says with a grin.
Queslin asks Majet and Svetlana if they can make some candies to leave for the fey if they meet up again. Plus he asks for some small shiny trinkets and pretty ribbons and such. He asks after some cold weather clothes too. Finally, Queslin asks Oleg if he has some sweet wine or cider.
Svetlana is happy to have an opportunity to bake some cookies and quickly agrees to provide Queslin some. She also has some colorful pieces of fabric but would have you pay for them (depending on how much Queslin wants to take between 1gp and 30gp for all of it).
Oleg has enough furs and leather in shop to supply all of the group with cold-weather outfits (7gp each), but remarks: "Been pretty chilly, true, but that's probably the last of winter you felt. I doubt it's going to be that cold again this winter. Spring's to come."
Oleg's got 2 bottles of wine and 5 pitchers of cider, in addition to the strong liquer you brought him. He's willing to sell all but one pitcher of cider and one bottle of the liquer.
*Knowledge-Nobility +6 (+1 Int, +1 Rank, +3 Class Skill, +1 Trait) 1d20+6
Michael greets Kesten with a firm hand shake and a polite nod, but is obviously cool and distant to the nobleman. "Well met Master Kesten, I am Michael, I am afraid to admit although I know your name I can not place where I should know it from." After the pleasantries, he adds, "now if you will excuse me, I have horses to tend."
After seeing that the horses are cared for he will also look at procuring some winter wear for himself and Taras.
Kesten Garess slightly flushes when Michael tells him that he knows the distant nobles name, but doesn't say much to it.
"Well met. I am Queslin. How would you be addressed? It seems that Oleg has informed you of our misadventures thus far."
"I would not call them misadventures, from what I heard. I am glad that you took out those bandits, every one of them dead makes this land saver.
Call me Kesten. My family's name don't mean much in this wilderness and so does my status. I'm just in charge of these men, and that's that."
Big Ern squints and says: "So you bozos are going sit around Oleg's trading post all nice and cozy while we're out there with our balls hanging in the breeze looking for the Stag Lord? Suits me just fine."
Two of the soldiers laugh at Big Erns talk, while Kesten makes a bit of a sour face hearing the enormous man speaking. He doesn't answer him, seeing Agerron approach.
Agerron shakes Kesten's hand, appraising the man and his guards. "My goal is to make sure your jobs are as boring as can be. The fat man may be rude, but we do aim to take out the Stag Lord. And as I am a greedy man, my hope is to keep all of the battles to myself!" he says with a grin.
Now all of the troops and Kesten, even Taras let's out a laugh.
"I'm glad to hear that. Those boys don't know the blade of a sword from it's handle, so the less trouble we see here, the better." Kesten replies, obviously making a joke and speaking on: "At least after a week of training they know how to get in and out of their undergarment!"
While the men he commands make sour faces and talk back rude, they all do it with a spark of jest in their eyes.
Devlin says while approaching Kesten, "Greetings Kesten and company. I am Devlin, a bastard son of the Medvyed's. This odd looking fellow is my oldest and most trusted of friends, Delfey. We welcome you and are pleased to know Oleg's will be a safer place for you being here." Delfey executes what passes for a bow. Devlin continues after a pause, looking around at the group, "We seem to have a high proportion of folks from the various noble families of Brevoy." He chuckles while shaking his head.
Queslin buys some cold weather gear, 1 bottle of wine, 2 bottles of cider, and 5 gold worth of pretty fabric. He thanks her for the cookies and tells Svetlana what he wants it all for in case the trading post becomes a target for the mischievous fey.
I almost forgot, Queslin will spend some time making small bowls and saucers out of wood.
Big Ern will buy some cold weather clothes, too. And he'll buy some of the cheapest booze that Oleg has (having no time to distill his own).
Branomonrik Greets the New arrivals "Greetings I am Branomonrik Assia, Humble servant of Adabar and a pleasure to meet you. I fear you most over look the dreadful manors of Ern, I feat not even the vaultkeeper himself could civilize that one."
Branomonrik, when he has time will also buy some cold weather clothing and shall make a copy of the map so far and keep a record of the exploration to date. If he can find it, he will also buy more parchment to replace that he has used.
When he can he will check up on the boy they left here to work off his dept.
Devlin says while approaching Kesten, "Greetings Kesten and company. I am Devlin, a bastard son of the Medvyed's. This odd looking fellow is my oldest and most trusted of friends, Delfey. We welcome you and are pleased to know Oleg's will be a safer place for you being here." Delfey executes what passes for a bow. Devlin continues after a pause, looking around at the group, "We seem to have a high proportion of folks from the various noble families of Brevoy." He chuckles while shaking his head.
Kesten nods and greets Devlin, throwing a strange look at Delfey, but doesn't say much to it.
Queslin buys some cold weather gear, 1 bottle of wine, 2 bottles of cider, and 5 gold worth of pretty fabric. He thanks her for the cookies and tells Svetlana what he wants it all for in case the trading post becomes a target for the mischievous fey.
I almost forgot, Queslin will spend some time making small bowls and saucers out of wood.
Oleg charges you 7gp for the wine and 12sp for the cider.
Svetlana raises an eye at Queslin mentioning the fey then says: "Ah, Perlivash and... whatshername... Tit..? no. Tut-ty... no. ... I don't remember. Something with many t's in it.Ah, you don't know them, but they played some pranks on you, right? I will make sure to make the cookies extra sweet."
Big Ern will buy some cold weather clothes, too. And he'll buy some of the cheapest booze that Oleg has (having no time to distill his own).
Branomonrik Greets the New arrivals "Greetings I am Branomonrik Assia, Humble servant of Adabar and a pleasure to meet you. I fear you must over look the dreadful manors of Ern, I fear not even the vaultkeeper himself could civilize that one."
Branomonrik, when he has time will also buy some cold weather clothing and shall make a copy of the map so far and keep a record of the exploration to date. If he can find it, he will also buy more parchment to replace that he has used.
When he can he will check up on the boy they left here to work off his dept.
"My greetings to you, Priest Branomonrik. I'm glad to see a man of the vaultkeeper already out here in the wilds. So, Abadar sees chance in this region, to turn it into fertile ground for cities." Kesten speaks, while shaking the dwarfs hand.
Oleg's got enough parchment to satisfy your needs, which he sells at 24cp per sheet.
Dimitry is doing fine and Oleg's pleased with the boys work so far. Svetlana is doubly glad to have another helping hand at the trading post, helping her at her garden, the dishes and getting water for the post.
Agerron laughs at the men's jesting, and claps Kesten on the back. "Excellant! And if you need any help whipping these rubes into shape," Agerron winks at the men to show he's just ribbing them, "I'm your man!"
"Let me welcome you all here appropriately. When you have time, and aren't on duty, let's share a bottle of the good stuff. Oleg, let me buy another bottle of that green liquor to go with this one." Agerron pulls the bottle from his pack, but doesn't mention the other two he has stashed away ...
"Indeed" Branomonrik says to Kesten "Adabar seems to inspire no love here, however loved or not he will be here. This place has the seeds of civilization, the seeds of great things and I will see the Vaultkeepers will done. It is nice to see another that understands these things" He says with a warm smile
"Well, I'll help you both pacify the land here. Once the fighting's done, I suppose I don't care what you build!" Agerron slaps both Kesten and Branomonrik on the back. "Yes, I think we'll all have loads of fun here!"
"Don't worry too much, Agerron, I'm sure that it will be a long time before all the fightings done. If history is any indication, even as Bran is building a vast empire there will be fighting to do."
Majet buys herself some cold weather clothing
"So were are we going to head next?" Majet asks the others
"True enough. From what I gathered, Brevoy hopes to be able to claim land here in maybe 4 months time. But it's not like they count on it to happen on Erastus 1st. Which would be quite odd, considering it being Erastil's month. But who knows what happens in that time to come? An intrigue here, a diplomatic mission there..." Kesten says, to which Oleg grumbles: "Just gettin' rid of the Stag Lord would've been all I be askin'."
Michael sifts thorugh his purse and parts with 21 gold coins, enough for three lots of winter clothing, he equips Kay and Taras with theirs.
Sense Motive on the nobleman.
Michael works with the horses a little bit more, leaving the banter and the planning to the others. "Looks like you will have to eventually move south if you want your peace and quite Oleg?" he chimes in as the others speak of civilisation, his voice doesn't sound like he is as happy with the idea as the others.
"In the morning we should set back out. We need to finish mapping the surrounding area before going after the Stag Lord. If we stay on task and the weather holds, it shouldn't take us more than a few days to finish the lands around the trading post here. Can everyone be ready at first light?"
I'll lead the group back to where we left off and continue from there.
"What!? Are you some kind of coward, afraid to go after the Stag Lord? What the hell?" Big Ern sputters in astonishment.
"We can do all the dicking around you want afterwards, buddy."
After greeting Kesten and his men, and purchasing cold-weather gear, Devlin goes to assist Micael with the horses while Delfey is, as becoming habit, on the walls, watching for anything needing the groups attention.
While helping, Devlin asks, "So my friend, what do you see this land becoming with our help?"
"What!? Are you some kind of coward, afraid to go after the Stag Lord? What the hell?" Big Ern sputters in astonishment.
"We can do all the dicking around you want afterwards, buddy."
"Not that I'd put it like him, but I actually agree with the fat whatever he is. Mapping, exploring, getting peed on by pixies ... maybe that's your taste, but we need to take care of business first. We have bandits, mites, kobolds, and goblins to get rid of; then maybe we can worry about exploring all we want. Land would be safer then."
Ignoring Ern and talking to Agerron, "As a group, we made a decision to map the area surrounding the trading post before going after this Stag Lord. That way, if we need to fall back, we can better fortify against anything that is coming for us. We should complete the task we set for ourselves before doing anything else."
"Well maybe we should try mapping the areas South of here?" Majet suggests
Big Ern slaps Agerron on the back. "I like you, Killer, you're all right! Say...why don't you and I and whoever feels like it take a ride out towards the Stag King while the others do their mapping? We can take a look-see and maybe soften up the opposition a little. Then we'll meet back here in a few days. Whadaya say?"
Michael works with the horses a little bit more, leaving the banter and the planning to the others. "Looks like you will have to eventually move south if you want your peace and quite Oleg?" he chimes in as the others speak of civilisation, his voice doesn't sound like he is as happy with the idea as the others.
"And abandon the post here? Aye, I could do that. Move south in 3 months, would be. But after that? It's going to come to us again. The worlds going to get smaller and smaller for me." Oleg answers.
Kesten chimes in on the conversation between Ern, Agerron and Queslin: "From what I know, you are charted to map a specified area. I am going to report your progress and the difficulties with the bandtis to the swordlords.
Maybe I can persuade them to give you a charter to go after this Stag Lord? That way you would still attack him, but would also get paid a bonus.
If you get done with him right now, you probably get a formal thanks and a handshake. But, as soon as they recognize how dangerous this individual is, they surely offer you money to do it.
So, I don't know how you feel about it, but I rather let something be, if I don't get paid for it.
If I get promised money for something though, like the money for those Kobolds that are on that reward-poster over there, now, ..."
The noble points to a new installment on Oleg's Post that you just now notice:
On the inside of the gate you see a wooden board with a wooden sign upon it reading: 'WANTED'. Pinned on the board are two pieces of parchment and a piece of paper. All three have a bit of text on them, and you can read:
One of the parchments is written in Svetlana's handwriting, saying:
Wanted: Tatzlwyrm
Bring one head of a tatzlwyrm back to Oleg's and you be rewarded 800 goldpieces, if it's in good shape!
Task: The way everyone talks about tatzlwyrms, one might think they’re swarming throughout the Stolen Lands. This isn’t the case; they’re actually quite rare. A tatzlwyrm head would be a great conversation piece at Oleg’s. He has promised a reward for anyone who can deliver one.
Completion: Slay a tatzlwyrm and deliver its head.
Reward: Oleg will pay 800 gp for a relatively undamaged tatzlwyrm head.
The other parchment sports a manlier handwriting, and isn't much more than a note, saying:
Wanted: Tuskgutter DEAD
That monster-boar took my leg, so I want its hed! Hoever brings the skull to OLEG gets my longbow (mahsterwok) and my last six arrows of animal bane.
Task: Every Greenbelt hunter has a story about Tuskgutter, each wilder than the last. Whoever manages to kill the ill-tempered beast will get a nice reward from old, retired Vekkel Benzen, who lost his leg to the monster pig a year ago.
Completion: Deliver Tuskgutter’s head to Oleg’s.
Reward: Vekkel has promised his masterwork longbow and six +1 animal bane arrows to whoever can kill Tuskgutter. He also promises to share the head cheese he plans to make out of this trophy.
The third note, written on finer paper and in a scolar's fine print reads:
Kobolds in the hills
Be it known that the swordlords of Restov are willing to pay 1000 gold to the person or group that deals with the Kobolds ravaging in the Kamelands. Report to Kesten Garess, head of the Restov-troops at Oleg's Tradings outpost to receive the gratification.
Task: The Sootscale kobolds dwell in a cave somewhere in the Kamelands. Normally not a problem, they’ve been riled up by something lately.
Find their lair and ensure that the kobolds aren’t going to continue being a threat.
Completion: Either slay the kobolds or forge an alliance of peace with them.
Reward: The swordlords send a reward of 800 gp once the kobold activity is under control.
"A big fat reward, eh? Kesten, I like the way you think! Okay, let's keep mapping for now. Maybe we can get some o' those posted bounties while we're at it."
Toilday, Pharast 9th. 4710AR
Having replenished the foodsacks and brought some warm clothes, the group is riding back the way they came from the forest, though bringing along Kay as well.
They only need to ride the same path some more times and it's going to be a road just there. Well, more like a game trail, but you have to start somewhere.
Around noon the group comes to the place they camped at when they met Sergej. From there the riding back and forth through the forest starts again and goes on for hours.
You managed to not get lost in the thicks of the woods, even though the landscape (as far as you can see) doesn't change all that much during the afternoon.
Late in the afternoon you come close to a clearing in the woods, hearing silent moaning over the soft sound of the horses hooves on the forests ground.
Perception
"Huh what is that noise?" Majet asks
Perception
"It looks like a wounded kobold. Be careful. It's probably a trap. Kobolds are cunning foes." Queslin whispers. He then sneaks to a better vantage point, ready to loose an arrow without hesitation.
Stealth