Gair Hearthseeker |
Gair is quiet for much of the day, staying at the front of the group and saying little. Wary of the hobgoblins, his axe rarely leaves his hand as they finish exploring the hex.
He does manage a small grin at the iron deposit though, "With any luck it will be serviceable. At last we'll be able to outfit people with some proper weapons."
I believe we are now finished exploring this hex, correct? Should we head back to the campsite and try to determine which direction the hobgoblins reside in?
Istiel |
I would like to note that this is the first time Kal'tos has smiled. Ever. I did a search function through his posts. A true dwarf, this one is.
Isitiel looks over the iron deposit curiously, but mostly seems uninterested. "You brother did well making my armor, Kal'tos. I hope he will forge a proper sword for me one day."
How long does it take us to explore a hex at 30' speed? It has been 2 days.
Hassan Antar |
Hassan continues to kneel as he talks to the distraught halfling woman, "We are having trouble coming to terms with his actions as well. Could you at least tell us what he said about Thayer before he left? Did he talk about what had made him so angry?"
He pauses as she mentions Bern's fate, "It is a difficult situation, but everything we know supports the boy's story. If it happened as we believe, Hearthseeker acted to preserve the life of a member of this community, such as it is. The end result is a tragedy we all agree, but the boy must live with what he has done. We have not the right to punish him further."
He looks at Vallen for a moment, sucking his teeth before turning back to Gwen, "The priest might bind the boy's tongue to the truth if you wish, but Silverclasp won't be around all the time, we must come to trust our own judgement. I urge you to speak to him yourself if you feel you are up to it? See the truth of his words for yourself if you hope to find peace."
Gair Hearthseeker |
As the sun drops below the treeline, Gair steers the party back towards the abandoned campsite that saw the end of Valentinian's group. Once Istiel finds them a suitable place to bed down for the night, the kellid settles in.
Once more advising against a fire, he makes a meal of cold rations, still keeping clear of the meat harvested from the small monkeys, "Be watchful tonight. There may be more the imps hiding nearby..."
Istiel |
Istiel also avoids the strange monkey-meat, wanting to at least cook it first. While eating, she glances at the pyre they built. "I wish to light the pyre as we leave, but it would put the hobgoblins on high alert." The elf is obviously conflicted in the matter.
"I hope we find them. Castien and Limglad must be avenged." She says softly, staring at the lake.
DM Nerk |
That finishes 15c and day 21 for the explorers. The Newspringers are still at dawn of the planet of day 21.
Gwen looks away, biting back tears.
"I will hear for myself what Thayer and Hearthseeker have to say. You all may have decided Ben deserved to die, or maybe that killing a halfling just isn't so bad." She stops and shakes her head, pulling in her anger. "I would like to hear what they have to say. I do not ask for any magical aid, just to be allowed to hear the proof that has made Ben's death acceptable."
Vallen Silverclasp |
Vallens sits up, nodding. "You can speak to them now if you wish. if you'd like." The tired dwarf paces for a few feet, rubbing his hand over his face. "I don't find Ben's death acceptable, Gwen. He was a friend..." Vallen trails off, recalling their scouting mission a few days ago."...but there was nothing I could do."
Istiel |
Day 21
Istiel is awake and on watch with Kal'tos when the humans rise, the first rays of sunlight always seeming to stir them. "Are we tracking the goblins or returning to Newspring?" She addresses them, staring off at the light filtering through the trees.
"I wish to avenge my brothers, but it can wait. I also wish to light the pyre, but defer to your judgement, Gair."
Hassan Antar |
Hassan quickly bites down on his offense, continuing as calmly as he can, "You've asked me to watch over you, I hold each and every life precious. No one believes your husband deserved to die Gwen. Hearthseeker's actions are deeply regrettable but were an act of defense. In times such as these, we cannot punish anyone for acting quickly to prevent a murder."
"Come with us, I will take you to see Thayer first, then the boy."
Taking the others to the Thayer's tent, Hassan requests a moment with Edmund from whoever is watching the tent, "I know he is resting. The man has been through much this night but this is important."
Gair Hearthseeker |
I think you mean Day 22 Istiel.
Gair checks his weapons a last time before answering Istiel, "Wherever the hobs lay their hearths, it is many miles from here. I think we should be able to light the pyre with little worry. I would not leave your brethren to wander the afterlife alone."
"The goblins tracks are not far, let us see if we cannot pick up the trail better now that we have proper light?"
Following what remains of the tracks the group found earlier, Gair attempts to discern some idea of which direction the hobgoblins are likely to have departed Hex 15C.
Survival(Tracks): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Aid another anyone? :D
Istiel |
Istiel is appreciative of Gair's comments. Before they leave, she borrows his flint and steel, lighting the funeral pyre. Go now, and be reborn as a ferocious beast.
The elf assists Gair in picking up the hobgoblin tracks, looking for some kind of direction the trail leads.
Survival aid Gair: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 +2 for Gair from Istiel. Kal'tos and Cueta also have survival, everyone on the aid train choo choo. Well, as many aids as Nerk will allow anyway.
Cueta Guiding Star |
Cueta stands somberly watching the funeral pyre go up in flames, not saying anything so as to avoid detracting from the moment. When Istiel gathers her things, the Mwangi does the same, and sets out to help the others look for signs of the hobgoblin's passage.
I think the amount of people that can aid is up to Nerk:
You can help someone achieve success on a skill check by making the same kind of skill check in a cooperative effort. If you roll a 10 or higher on your check, the character you're helping gets a +2 bonus on his or her check. (You can't take 10 on a skill check to aid another.) In many cases, a character's help won't be beneficial, or only a limited number of characters can help at once.
In cases where the skill restricts who can achieve certain results, such as trying to open a lock using Disable Device, you can't aid another to grant a bonus to a task that your character couldn't achieve alone. The GM might impose further restrictions to aiding another on a case-by-case basis as well.
aid another survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Sorala |
As they walk towards the Thayers' tent, Sorala steels herself for a possible lashing from the halfling woman. Someone is going to have to be the bad guy here, it seems.
"Gwen, you still haven't answered the question put to you from Hassan and I. You say that Ben was upset but not about what. Husbands tell their wives things - this is part of the duty of marriage, even if at times it is a burden. What was Ben so upset about as to try and murder Edmund in his sleep?"
Gair Hearthseeker |
Gair stares deep into the roaring flames. After a moment the Kellid looks as if he is going to say something but after a glance at Istiel he seems to think better of it.
As the others grab their gear, he sets out along the trail left by the hobgoblins.
DM Nerk |
"He didn't tell me what was troubling him," Gwen snaps. "From the first day we got here he'd hated the Taldans, so when he was angry after meeting Edmund, I wasn't particularly interested." That thought seems to stop her in her tracks and she lowers her head. "I don't know what they were talking about."
Edmund looks deeply uncomfortable when he sees her, but he repeats his story without any significant new information. He finishes with the kind of awkward condolences you give to the widow of the man who died trying to kill you.
Bern falls to his knees as you approach, though on his knees he's still a good bit taller than Gwen.
"I'm so sorry," he tells her. "I couldn't see his face in the dark. I thought we were under attack again." She asks him a few questions, but it's soon apparent to her and everyone that Bern is devastated, and she ends up inviting him to help bury Ben.
===========
I can't see any reason why a nearly infinite number of people couldn't help look for tracks.
Istiel was actually right. The new day is 21, the Newspringers are on day 20. My mistake.
Gair leads the group northeast (into 14d) slowly. Each time he loses the track, someone else is there to find it.
Tracking means moving at half speed, which means it will take 16 hours to cross into the new hex. Without looking at an almanac or anything, I'm pretty sure you won't get 16 hours of daylight in April at this latitude. Will you light torches or dwarven shields to push the whole 16 hours, or will you stop when it gets dark?
1d20 ⇒ 11
1d20 ⇒ 17
Istiel |
I believe we only wanted to indicate the direction of the hobgoblins, and then head back to Newspring? We didn't really discuss what we were going to do after you figured out the direction of the hobos. We have 1 day of normal food left and 5 days worth of monkey meat with us.
Vallen Silverclasp |
Vallen watches the exchange between Edmund and Gwen, feeling incredibly awkward just by standing there. He rolls his holy symbol around in his hands, sometimes staring at it for long periods of time. Am I your instrument of law in this new place, Torag? The corruption of the other dwarves.... I could be the only dwarf on this continent who knows the warmth of your flame.
When they begin to discuss funeral arrangements, the dwarf snaps out of it and steps in to help, offering his religious services and blessings. He suggests that himself and Septimus work together closely on this matter, and in fact lead the ceremonies under Vallen's guidance. If the man is interested in speaking to the gods, he must learn how to send off souls to them.
Cueta Guiding Star |
As the group follows the tracks, Cueta often stops and drops to a crawl, looking closely at the tracks, other times walking parallel to them, shifting her body and stepping as the tracks seem indicate, even on occasion lowering her nose into the ground and inhaling deeply, seeming to try and smell any remaining remnants of the goblins' passing.
The Mwangi pays particular attention to any variations in the tracks - whether they seem to zig-zag and meander about or head more or less straight to the northeast, whether the tracks indicate the hobgoblins stop, and if so, how often they stop, and if it seems the hobgoblins engage in any other activities than just walking and stopping, such as fighting, sleeping, laying an ambush, or anything else.
Cueta is trying to figure out, as much as is possible, any intent in the passage of the goblins. Are they heading straight for their home or do they spend time meandering about, hunting, etc.? Is there urgency in their journey (judged by how often they stop, how straight the trail they leave is, etc.)?
Sorala |
Sorala closes her eyes as she listens, over the throbbing in her head, to Gwen's interactions with Edmund and Bern. Once discussions for a funeral begin, the historian sighs, and opening her eyes, lightly puts her hand on Gwen's shoulder.
"Gwen, I'm sorry for my bluntness before. If you need to talk, you will find I'm an excellent listener, and I may be able to help you navigate these murky waters you've found yourself in. Certainly, I can use the help with them myself. We are sisters of a sort, now. Unhappy sisters, but sisters none-the-less." Turning to everyone, she says, almost in a murmur, "Let me know what I'm needed for going forward. I'm happy to help with Ben's burial in any way I can."
Ducking out of the tent, Sorala makes her way back to her sleeping area, and immediately records every image, thought, sound and smell that she can recall from this horrific evening. An hour or so later, the young woman closes her eyes and throwing her arm over her eyes tries to get a few minutes of sleep before the dawn sun creeps over the treeline, but her migraine gives her little respite. When the sun peaks over the treeline, every shift that brings the morning light onto her face brings a sharp pain as if her head is being split by Bern's axe.
Istiel |
As the group follows the tracks, Cueta often stops and drops to a crawl, looking closely at the tracks, other times walking parallel to them, shifting her body and stepping as the tracks seem indicate, even on occasion lowering her nose into the ground and inhaling deeply, seeming to try and smell any remaining remnants of the goblins' passing.
Istiel's lips are pursed together tightly as Cueta's unique brand of tracking is on display throughout the day. The elf attempts not to look at her much, but inevitably she witnesses the Mwangi lower her nose to the ground and sniff the earth. The warrior lets out an involuntary chuckle, which is quickly covered by clearing her throat. She avoids making eye contact with Cueta and seems to be deeply interested in a formation of moss-covered rocks.
Cueta Guiding Star |
The warrior lets out an involuntary chuckle, which is quickly covered by clearing her throat. She avoids making eye contact with Cueta and seems to be deeply interested in a formation of moss-covered rocks.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Cueta goes about sniffing the ground, blissfully unaware of the elf's chortle as she inhales every last sent of the damp forest earth, the Mwangi's face down in the mud, ass up in the air, tea kettle over tea cup, as it were.
:)
Istiel |
Okay now you're making ME laugh :p
Gair Hearthseeker |
Ha! Indeed!
And yes, I may have failed to spell it out clearly enough but my plan was to follow the hobs back to their home if possible. We need some idea of what we are dealing with before we can make an informed decision about how to deal with them.
For his part, Gair seems to appreciate the Mwangi's almost comical efforts as they pay off several times, catching faint sign that he himself had missed.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
At Istiel's muffled laugh he simply raises a slightly accusing eyebrow in the elf's direction. Well out of Ceuta's range of vision of course.
I'm with Kal'Tos, we make camp for the night and continue on in the morning. If this changes disregard what follows.
Once the light begins to fail completely, Gair leads the others a short distance off the path of the hobgoblins and suggests they make camp, "We'll be hard pressed to follow any trail in the dark. At least there is one to find. I can't imagine the trail continues much further without a proper camp of some sort. We will have them before the sun sets on another day..."
Unrolling his furs, Gair portions out some of the fast dwindling food brought from Newspring, holding out hope that they will find something else before he must break his fast on the imp-flesh...
Hassan Antar |
Hassan is much relaxed ofter Gwen has finished her talk with Bern. He offers the halfling woman a tight smile, "We will see Ben is properly remembered tomorrow evening. For now, it has been a long night. We had best all try to get what sleep we can."
If the others are satisfied, Hassan returns slowly to his make-shift bedding. There is little sleep to be found however. His mind cannot stop turning the night's events over and over in his mind. There must be more to this altercation that we know, there simply must be. Perhaps I will find some answers in the morning..."
Istiel |
Istiel does not make eye contact with Gair. Those rocks must have been utterly fascinating.
The elf is less talkative than usual, which is to say she did not speak a word as she ate the last of her rations and leaned up against a tree to meditate. Her sword was laid across her lap, one hand on the hilt.
DM Nerk |
In Newspring, things are tense, but Gwen returns to her family and they begin the process of readying Ben's body. When the evening comes, they gather around a fire to tell stories. Some seem impossible, some you know are true. As they settle down for the night, Walton seems to be keeping a vigil by his brother's body.
Bern stays for a short while before he wanders away to find his bed. Edmund and Sandra Thayer stay close to their tent, with their allies gathered close.
"So it begins," Ingwe says, ominously, as he walks through the growing village.
===========
As dusk falls, a place is found to camp near a stream. The explorers make ready to sleep and prepare their campsite.
Any specifics?
Sorala |
Ingwe, man... That's one inscrutable NPC.
Day 21
Business is slow, Sorala's migraine won't let up, and there is a pall around Newspring. The historian is already in a funk when the half-Mwangi wanders by, muttering his ominous predictions. Sorala sighs, and grabbing the Garrack-statue, strides over to Ingwe. "What, Ingwe? What begins? If you have something of importance to say, just say it!"
-----------------
As nightfall sets, Sorala watches - from a distance - the preparations put on by the halflings, her mind wending in circuitous thoughts back to the recent funeral of her loved one, and then back to the present, and back to the past again. Once darkness falls and Newspring quiets, Sorala takes Garrack and casting a long glance back at the slumped figure of Walton by the watch fire and Ben's body, Sorala heads off to bed and lies awake staring at the stars above, the pain in her head coming on like waves at high tide.
Cueta Guiding Star |
Cueta takes her utensils and cooking pot, and as the night before, ties them to Kal'Tos's tripwire, a makeshift alarm. Settling in for the evening with a cold meal and her back against a tree, the warrior sighs and closes her eyes, wishing for a hot meal and a warm fire. She thinks for awhile about Newsping, and offers a quick prayer to the spirits of her youth for the safety of Deeshka and Melilla and everyone she's met in the last three weeks, and grudgingly even the Lady Kralish. A wave of guilt washes over the young woman and Cueta pushes it out of her mind, reasoning, It is good that you are not there, girl. You can do more good for your sister out here, looking for threats and fat game. Opening her eyes, Cueta scans the forest and listens to the night bugs, hoping to pick out sounds of creeping goblins or overhead "imps".
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Istiel |
No specifics here, same watch as before.
Vallen Silverclasp |
Vallen takes on the role of instructor during the funeral preparations, schooling Septimus in proper ceremonies and sending a soul off from its loved ones. He mostly has his trainee do the work to judge his abilities, but adds in his on words and gives the family the blessings of Torag.
DM Nerk |
Night 20
1d20 ⇒ 13
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d20 ⇒ 18
1d20 ⇒ 7
1d20 ⇒ 10
1d20 ⇒ 6
Midway through the night, Gair hears whispering in the woods just a little ways off. Before he can react, though, there is a hollow sound. Someone is banging one of Cueta's pots. The sound repeats, loud and distinctive enough that everyone knows what it is.
Kal'Tos is the only one who can see in the dark, and as soon as his head turns that direction, he sees a hobgoblin standing in the trees, tapping the pot with the wooden hilt of a stone knife. Seeing the dwarf turn to face him, the creature falls back out of sight.
Cueta Guiding Star |
Oooohhh! Are they are friendly group of hobgoblin bards, too cash-poor to buy proper instruments, but talented (and confident) enough to try and drum up some coin with an impromptu middle-of-the-night performance? Too much to hope for?
Cueta sits ramrod straight, strangling a cry in her throat before it can escape her. Grabbing her bill and a javelin from next to her and crouching, the Mwangi scoots around the tree she was sleeping against, putting it between her and the clanging.
"Kal'Tos! Light!"
Current AC is 12, not that this is going to end in combat or anything... Istiel... :)
Istiel |
Too bad we don't have Vallen with us, but honestly he is pretty sick of adventuring at this point. :p Istiel sleeps in her hide shirt cause it's light armor and quite warm.
The first bang stirs Istiel from her meditation, snapping out of the pleasant memory of her 100th birthday she was reliving. The second tap on the pot has her drawing her longsword from its sheath and scrambling into a low crouch.
She maneuvers around the tree to the others, breathing quickened "They're sizing us up. Just wait. What was he armed with Kal'tos?" She whispers, gripping her sword tightly.
Cueta Guiding Star |
Yeah, Cueta won't sleep in her lamellar until she gets endurance next level, because that rule has always seemed silly to me (about sleeping in light armor, not the endurance feat, which just seems weak). Hide armor I could totally see sleeping in, though - especially bear hide. That would some comfy armor!
Gair Hearthseeker |
Oh, this should be fun. I'm still not certain if they are just taunting us or are hoping to talk? Preferably the second honestly.
Cracking open an eye as the banging begins, Gair leaps to his feet as it comes a second time, snatching his axe from the ground beside him.
As Kal'Tos relates what he has seen the kellid moves to stand with his back against a nearby tree, "Yes, light! We can't deal with them in the dark! They must want something."
The warrior strains his ears for the sounds of movement over that of his own crashing pulse. He curses his weak eyes and begins to contemplate lighting a torch himself if Kal'Tos takes much longer providing them with some light.
Gair sleeps in his armor as well. I've honestly never had a problem with the rule. In fact, I've made a chain shirt, sturdy enough for proper protection and while it wouldn't be overly comfortable, I could probably sleep in it if needed :P
Hassan Antar |
Hassan is nervous come the morning, news of Ben's death has now spread throughout Newspring and it's clear that everyone is on edge.
Starting his rounds, he takes care to spend extra time around the dwindling supplies, both keeping an eye on the settlers to make sure tempers haven't begun to flare over the reduced rations and taking a moment to speak to the guard on full duty here.
He gets a report on anything out of the usual and asks as subtly as he can if anyone has noticed any of the supplies disappearing or running low faster than expected?
Regardless of the answer, he continues to make his rounds as long as possible, trying to keep his mind occupied. As he meets with each of the men and women of the guard he asks that they be wary of any idle gossip about the previous night's events and do their best to quell any that they hear. The last thing we need is people riling each other up right now...
As evening falls, he makes his way to the ceremony to see Ben laid to rest. Being a simple mercenary, he feels he has little to contribute to the situation and remains silent unless called upon for anything.
DM Nerk |
The party snaps to battle-readiness quickly, more quickly than they would have even a few weeks ago. Their struggles are starting to show, not just in scars and muscle, but in their responses. The new world is hardening them.
As light blooms from Kal'Tos shield, the forest is striped with the shadows of trees. Frightened voices are heard from the forest, beyond the range of the light, and you can hear footsteps scrambling back further into the darkness.
"ydych yn siarad yr iaith hon!" a voice calls, and one steps into view, a grizzled looking hobgoblin in rough made leather armor with a longspear held in one hand. He points with it at the shield and waves his other hand down towards the ground.
Istiel |
As the lights fills the darkness of the forest, Istiel reflexively closes her sensitive eyes for a moment. She forces them back open in a squint and looks around the side of the tree, hissing an Elven curse as the sound of scrambling voices comes from the trees. The warrior watches the girrzle'd hobgoblin's gestures and speaks to Kal'tos. "He's asking you to lower your shield. They do not like the light."
Regardless of what Kal'tos does, the elf sheaths her longsword and starts to quickly string her shortbow from behind the tree. "This will be a short parley if none of you speak goblin."
Istiel |
As Istiel watches for the reaction of the hobgoblin leader, she glances at Gair. "I'm eager to join battle with you, Kellid. I've heard the stories." The elf is clearly predicting a fight, her body tense and slender fingers gripping her shortbow tightly.
Cueta Guiding Star |
Cueta closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Heart pounding, skin tingling, the warrior steps around the tree, holding her weapons out at her side, and steps towards Kal'Tos, speaking all the while in a low, loud, and calm voice.
"Istiel, there's a lot of them in the woods. They could have killed us in our sleep if they wanted, and they can still kill us now. Don't let your need for retribution end our lives. There's time for settling scores later."
Once Cueta reaches Kal'Tos's side, the Mwangi drops her weapons, and holds her hands out towards the grizzled goblin, empty and palms up. "Desna, let us be lucky tonight. I have no wish to end up in mother's army."
"Anyị na-eche na unu nsogbu!"
"Ni volas diri ke vi ne faru malbonon!"
"We mean you no harm!