Legendary Planet - an Adventure beyond this World

Game Master Zesdead

Well... Don't split the party!

Rav drops the body, which doesn't fall because it's in a bubble. "Rav never get have fun. No boom booms, no fix crystal, no tattoo 'I like Orc Butts and Cannot Lie' on Zoreck's but in Orc. Not sure why Rav here." The Rav freezes. "Oh, Rav being paid be here. Where Rav pay?"

"Whoo...what did he do, marinate in the stuff?" Palo gags at the stink of alcohol coming off Zoreck. "Geeze, no fair having that much fun while the rest of us are out risking our necks! Tattoos are definitely in order if it happens again...for any of us, to make it fair," she adds lest Drancis or Rikkan object.

"Now come on, let's make our report and get him to bed."

Baron Yacob has mixed emotions at the report given by the group, destroying the tear would likely allow the mine to be fully exploited... but at what cost? Declaring it as a problem for another day, he shrugs, "I don't think I can be the one that returns the desert... if I have to close the mine then so be it".

Turning towards the needs of the group, "Whilst I wish you had brought me better news, you must be rewarded for your efforts... you must stay here tonight, I can promise you finer fare than you would have endured in the Barony of Dust!!! And then tomorrow, we can discuss compensation".

Just as a reminder... you folks have had a couple of suggestions about heading to the St. Albat monastery... that's where, supposedly, you may find out some more about the structures around the planet... and maybe a way off planet. Of course, if you want to hang around Trebelbet for a bit, that's fine too...

Rav shakes his head. "Is not choice between working mine and returning desert, or closing mine and keeping moss. Is choice between keeping moss and having monsters spawn and babies born with extra limbs or missing limbs or extra heads and fixing or destroying or shielding crystal. Stuff coming out of crystal like poison, but take time to seep into local water supply, local rocks, plants. There be plenty poisons that be good to feed plants, but kill humans and other animals. This be like that. If keep leaking out, eventually people be having dead babies born, or losing hair, or developing sores, or having babies with deformed bodies. Things with short lifespans, like insects and small animals, they be hit first, develop weird. If you no sure you should fix it, should at least gather city council together and talk about it. See if any signs already here." He turns to everyone else. "We should go ahead and leave town, not safe stay here and eat food and drink water from here. Unless want to glow in dark." He looks at the unconscious gunslinger. "He probably already dead and not know it, drink that much contaminated booze." That last statement is probably an exageration of course. Probably.

We should head to St. Albat then, this town is a death trap

Also, Palo and Relas should be fairly taken aback at how clearly and precisely Rav is talking. He never takes the time to be articulate unless its really really really important, like life threatening but complicated important

Drancis stares at the goblin as if he had just been affected by the 'radiation' he warned the Baron against.

This goblin is MUCH more intelligent than even I gave him credit for! Alas I think he is right...if we stay here then we share their people's fate...

"Yes, I do agree with Rav here. We cannot stay here long...BUT I also know the journey to the Monastery is a long one. We need to resupply here before setting out." He glances back to where the Baron sits in audience, "We can claim some supplies as part of our recompense!"

"I don't know, I think glowing in the dark would be kinda neat," Relas remarks thoughtfully. "It'd make sneaking up on anyone impossible sure, but it'd look super cool!"

"Relas, if you want to glow so badly I'll figure out a way to graft light stones into your body or something," Palo responds with exasperation. "Look, if Rav's being this serious about all this and what that cracked crystal can do then we'd do well to leave this place sooner rather than later. Stay the night, stock on up anything that isn't food or drink, and move on. Find this monastery and see if we can learn more about how to get off this planet."

”Palomia’s got a good plan. Bed down for the night. Take what supplies we can barter for and head out first thing in the morning. I’m afraid we are about guilty of overstaying our welcome on this particular planet! And it’ll be fun to watch how bad Zoreck feels in the morning when we leave at first light...”

Baron Yacob's hospitality is quite remarkable, the food and drink - whilst consisting mainly of Moss-based fare - is pleasant enough... and he regales the group with stories of Trebelbet's rise from nothing to where it is now - a self-sufficient, if small, town that is the envy of various raiders and wandering tribes. Soon enough fatigue takes over and the group are shown to comfortable rooms and can finally recuperate...

The next morning Baron Yacob is awake early to greet the waking friends, "My friends, I am afraid that I must leave soon... I have business to attend to. I have taken the liberty of loading a pair of camels with enough supplies to get you to the Monastery of St. Albat - and maybe beyond. There is also a monetary reward there, I'll not have it said that the Baron doesn't pay his dues".

When it is checked later, the loaded supplies have a coin purse containing some 1500gp of rudimentary currency.

Passing Drancis a sealed scroll, Baron Yacob smiles, "That should be enough to sway the monks of St. Albat to assist you... it is a long, and dangerous, journey to get there though, you are sure you're ready? A way out of town you will find the dried riverbed of the Singwheel... follow that north-west for fifty miles or so and you'll find the monks". The Baron has one final warning before he bows and leaves, "The river may be long since parched... but it still attracts the wrong type of folk - scavengers and robbers use it for navigation... a sort of a highway if you like".

...and, with a final smile, the Baron leaves.

Anything left to do in Trebelbet or navigating towards the Monastery of St. Albat?

Rav, Palo, and Relas needs to be paid, or made a full member with a full share, one of the two.

Rav shakes the hand of Drancis and Rikkan. He nods at Zoreck (he never shakes the hand of anyone who's knickname is 'unclean'). "Well, Palo, Relas and Rav need payment for mine work. Then guess we go separate ways unless you want pay us to go to Monastery with you. Sound like river be dangerous. If want make us permanent members of party, think could do that." He looks at the other two to make sure they are ok with it before continuing. "Would need to split stuff 6 ways then, one share each."

When it looks as if people might balk over a six way split, he sighs. "Ok ok, Rav know, Palo not show off very well so far. Rav and Relas worth full shares, and half share for Palo?" He counteroffers.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

This goblin is MUCH more intelligent than even I gave him credit for! Alas I think he is right...if we stay here then we share their people's fate...

Rav isn't 'smart' he just gets annoyed with people thinking goblins are dumb, and gets stubborn and learns stuff to prove he can. Average intelligence but sheer goblin angry stubborn forcing stuff into his head so nobody can call him a dumb gobby. So lots of self inflicted learning combined with a ton of common sense. The two combined are probably better than genius with lack of common sense.

”Seems like the lot of us make a good team. Even Palomia, I suppose,” Rikkan says with a laugh. ” I don’t have a problem with a fair split for everyone. If you are interested in trying to get off this planet, I’d be more than happy for you to continue traveling with us.”

If we do a 6 way split, I suggest Relas use his 'share' to buy team equipment stuff, like disposable components (alchemist stuff, healing wands, tanglefoot bags, etc).

Drancis considers the offer carefully before nodding slowly, "I have no objection to offering you a full share of the loot we discover, but we do expect ALL of you to pull your weight here. If we are going to escape Rhyths we need to work together, glancing at both Zoreck and Palomia.

Sounds good to me. Not sure what supplies we need to get but maybe some hot weather gear since the river is parched. Also using any spare loot on extra ammo would be a good idea.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 16

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...without me around who'd drop idiots into pits for you? That makes your job almost literally like shooting fish in a barrel," Palo 'grouses' back to Rav during their breakfast pow-wow the next morning. "Anyway, I'm not really sure what you think Relas needs with money but if it makes the math work out better then sure, give him a share too."

"You can put me in charge of buying extra stuff," Relas grins toothily. "Supplies, food, whatever. I can't take anything material with me when I go home at night anyway."
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If you want to treat Relas' 'share' as what would essentially be the group funds, that works for me :)

"Sure, that works, Relas. You can buy you a saddle too, so you're not so uncomfortable to ride. Those wings make it harder." Rav says, grinning at Palo.

About an hour after the group returns, Zoreck regains consciousness.

"Oh, hey guys. Wait... how'd I get..." and then he realizes how hung over he is, and what had happened.

He then finds his waterskin and drinks deeply.

"Cayden's balls! I thought mossbeard ale was, y'know, ale... and that's how I was drinking it. Turns out, it's more like rum!. By the gods, I hope I didn't totally embarrass myself! Believe it or not, I really don't enjoy getting that plastered."

"So... what did you find out?"

BTW: Zoreck doesn't call himself "unclean": That's what his clan declared him before they exiled him. He does use that term when telling his backstory. In his tribe's parlance, "unclean" means "uses high technology, such as guns."

"What did we find out?" Drancis echoes Zoreck's words with a wry smile, "Nothing good I am afraid," he proceeds to fill in his friend on what the group discovered whilst in the mine. "So, long story short: We have to leave this town quickly...AAND we have a couple of new partners," he adds indicating Palomia and Ravboom, "who agreed to help us get off this planet, for equal shares. A bargain price if you ask me," he finishes, glancing at the goblin.

Now if only Palomia would just lighten up some, this may actually turn out to be a somewhat tolerable journey...

"Should get some lead sheets and lead glass next time in big town. Even if no can fix broken gates like that, might be able do something with shards if we have way to store and carry without killing everyone." Rav says, regretting they can't fix the gate or close off the radiation.

"Maybe we can come back to this place later, once we have better materials," Palo suggests, actually being quite sincere. "It's not as good as being able to do something right now but any help is better than nothing, right?"

"True." Rav capitulates, still sounding disappointed.

Zoreck nods.

"Alright then. Let's get what supplies we need, and then get the hell outta here."

While the group is buying supplies for the trip, Zoreck also looks to see if he can purchase supplies to make more gunpowder and bullets.

While the group is buying supplies for the trip, Zoreck also looks to see if he can purchase supplies to make more gunpowder and bullets.

No problem with folks doing some housekeeping and buying whatever they need off camera / retcon stylee...

Taking their leave of the small town, the friends head northwards following Lord Yacob's directions and soon arrive at a wide chasm in the land. This is, according to the description given at Trebelbet, the long dry riverbed of the main tributary through this region of Rythes. There are well trodden trails that lead both 'upstream' and 'downstream' from here... and so, with the suggestion from Yacob that there is danger in this journey, the group trek northwards - a mile or so distant from the bank of the dead river...

It takes less than a few hours before the group are once more in dead terrain, the moss of the Trebelbet region giving way to scrub and then dust... and no more than hour after that, the sight of dust on the horizon behind them suggests that there are others on this trail...

"Let Rav see what following." Rav climbs up on an old dead tree and lays his gun forward and zooms his scope in, adding his glasses to the combo.

Perception, with scope: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31 Halve range penalties due to scope

Drancis gazes back down the trail, eyes squinting against the glare of the noontime sun, "Anyone following us here does not have our best interests at heart," he grimaces, "Palo can you send Relas to get a better look at whoever is following us? As for the rest of us I think finding a place out of sight would be wise."

Survival (possible hiding spot): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Could just be four other idiots going to same monk house." Rav reminds Drancis about this being the main road north.

”That may be right, Rav, but why take chances? Let’s keep moving forward and when a spot presents itself, we can hide or make ourselves scarce and check out whomever is following us for whatever reason.”

"You go ahead, Rav catch up after see who following. Not take long, better know so know what need to hide from."

"He can go have a look from the air, sure, but trying to hide when there's nothing to hide in or behind is another story," Palo says, gesturing to the scrubby, open desert terrain. "But maybe if he's up in the air then they won't notice anyone creeping along on the ground...if they look like they're unfriendly, anyway. What do you think, Rav?"
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If need be, Palo can hit Relas with Unfetter so he can get some distance up in the air without poofing back to his home plane.

"Rav think everyone need let Rav see what Rav see first. Could be herd of scruffy nerfs stampeding." Rav responds, trying to focus. Mostly waiting for GM result of perception and dropping pop culture references.

From far enough away that the other group surely haven't yet seen them, Ravboom sets up his scope and peers into the far distance... hazy in the midday heat and with a cloud of dust obscuring them a little, Ravboom sees around ten riders. Humanoid, at least as far as he is able to tell, they are mounted on what appear to be oversized boars... and are travelling at a determined pace.

"Ten riders, riding on boars." Rav says, hopping back down. "Look like they got something on their mind. Think we exit river and find defensive spot off river? If they leave river, we start shooting at distance, give warning shot once, head shot after. If pass us, they not interested in us, we keep going follow them."

"On boars? Where the hell do you get boars to ride? Why aren't we doing that?" Palo grumbles, always ready with the most important of questions. "But sure, let's see if we can hide. If they seem like they're looking for or following us I can probably dump a few of 'em into the ground if we can get the drop on them."

Drancis shakes his head in wonderment at the woman's words, "I am sure if we ask them politely they will allow us to borrow a few," he mutters sarcastically before he hastily grabs the reins of his camel and pulls it off the trail. "Rav is right. Let's get moving."

"Get 1000 ft or so from river, find defensible place. If they no stop, Rav start shooting boars out from under them at 1000 ft, scatter half of them so only 4 or 5 get to us on boars."

"I wasn't asking if we could borrow any from them," Palo snaps at Drancis. "Just wondering where you'd buy them! They'd probably be much more fearsome than the camels...maybe not as practical for a desert trip, but sometimes fearsome makes a big difference," she huffs.

"If they attacking, plan on shooting boars. Boar taste good. Plenty of meat for trip." Rav seems rather happy at the thought of blowing the heads off the boars and eating them. "Relas, you like boar meat yes?" He asks, slapping the feline on the shoulder with a grin on his greenish face.

"Oh sure, I won't turn down some roasted boar ribs," Relas responds with an equally big grin. "That's one thing I really like about this plane - it has some of the best food!"

”That’s a good plan. If Rav’s weapon will let him attack from that far away, he can really soften them up before they close with the rest of us. And I’ll gladly eat some boar during the rest of the trip!”

"I like your plan, Rav. Let's do that. And, yes, I am not one to turn down a pork dinner."

Rav can hit touch AC out to 2000 ft, so yeah, he can hit them at 1000 ft. :P Mythic Range for the win!

The land here is desolate, the river is long dead and nothing green grows... fortunately the river must once have been a turbulent thing for there are many rocky outcrops along the dried banks - the opportunities to hide are endless. Retreating back from edge, taking care not to leave any obvious tracks by moving across rock rather than sand, the friends take a position several hundred feet from the likely route of the riders. And then, with Ravboom finding an outcrop where he may watch unseen, the group wait...

The sun is high in the sky and the air is still, sweltering conditions in which the shade of the rocks does little to avert the discomfort, and it seems to take an age for the boar riders to draw close... the noise, as they finally pass the group's position, is quite something - the snorting of the boars, the jangling of metal and voices - dozens of barking voices as the gnoll riders shout to each other.

...and suddenly, amongst an escalation of shouting, the pack stops. Climbing down from their mounts, three gnolls examine the ground - it is obvious that they are looking to pick up a trail.

Actions? There are around two dozen gnolls and they are about one thousand feet from the group... and, so far, they don't appear to know where the adventurers are.

"If they find path, put bullet over their heads, Zoreck." Rav aims for the biggest boar in the group, with the chintziest looking saddle and bridle, figuring that will be the leader's. "If they want peaceful talk, they start yelling and waving hands. If they want kill, they start charging us, and Rav start killing mounts, if keep coming, start killing them. Only shoot if they start coming toward us." Rav says, his voice soft.

"So...does that mean we're going to just wait and see if they keep on going or does one of us need to get their attention and start talking?" Palo hisses, understanding Rav's plan but not the lead-in.

Drancis crouches down out of sight, giving the woman another irritated look. "It means we sit tight and wait for them to pass us by...if they decide they want a fight THEN we give them one," he whispers back harshly, "In case you hadn't noticed they are looking for us...AND they outnumber us!"

"Hey, just making sure," Palo grumbles in reply. "And I can see they outnumber us, I'm not blind! Believe me, I'd rather wait and let them stroll on by too - it'd make my day a hell of a lot easier!"

Rikkan stays quiet, pulling two extracts from his belt, Shield and Invisibility. He does not drink them yet, waiting to be discovered before quaffing his not so tasty beverages.

For a tense ten minutes or so, the passage of time is difficult to track, it seems that the hunting party may turn their attention away from the bank of the dead river... and inland towards the groups' hiding place. Quietly the group prepare for what seems inevitable - until, carried by the faintest of winds, they hear one of the lead gnolls call to the others. There follows a crescendo of barking and the entire group gallops northwards... maybe picking up on some other unfortunate's trail.

Another hour or so passes before the group are truly confident that the danger has passed and so, with the sun starting its long descent towards the horizon, they once more follow their map... In the end, it is a full three days of travelling with few signs of life as the river doubles back on itself several times in a snake-like fashion.

Eventually, and broadly where Baron Yacob suggested the monastery may be, the river broadens into a huge canyon filled with the rhythmic chanting of humanoids caked head to toe in sunbaked mud. They sit upon flat stones, arms raised to the cloudless sky. A number of misshapen slabs of tin and wood also lie scattered across the ground all around them.