A Song of Mice and Ire (Inactive)

Game Master BastianQuinn

In the back of a rotted out stump outside Ivydale propper, a mouse with dunn fur is shouting at a shuttered doorway. The most intelligable word you hear is "thief". The shouting mouse stops as you approach and recognizes you as a foreign mouse in early spring. "Guardling, go get your master. This stump issa den o' thieves, and I'll have them hung, every one. S'not tha first time she's snuck off wit my stock, but if there's any justice inna territories, it'll be tha last."

(5, 1, 3, 4, 4, 2, 5) + (4) = 5 vs 4 = (1, 4, 6, 3, 5, 6)

While you only need to meet an obstacle, ties must be broken on a vs test. This test nearly failed.

I thought this was an ob4 harvester test, not vs4

I really need to take my time, I keep making mistakes. My apologies. I'll have some time over the weekend to get my notes sorted out. If you'd like to take some shrooms, you're welcome to. There's food'n shrooms and pois'n shrooms. I'll just mark them on Byr's sheet as "Mushrooms" since they're from his test. I do know you've got a margin of success of 2 so far on your map.

What are some things I can spend my check on? Can I sell some extra mushrooms?improve my skills? Impress Seyth in some way?

This turn, you can use your one Check to roll a test. We'll figure out what circumstances will lead to the test, as I am with Bry. If you're interested in getting stuff, that would be a Resources test, and the mushrooms can count as supply for that test as you offer it as barter. Things that come common in Ivydale include food, sackcloth or rope, and carpentry products (pulleys are pretty useful). There is also a remarkable bakery in Ivydale. Circles can be rolled to muster an ally from Ivydale.

what town is the governor Seyth is supposed to be talking with governor of?

Sprucetuck, the science town. It's the next town you'll visit, and the negotiation will be on the GM's turn (probably a conflict). Ivydale has two governors: an elected mayor, Dosin, last you heard, who oversees trade between cities, and a Magistrate, Jasmine, if your memory serves, who oversees internal affairs and quotas.

Going to follow along (and learn the rules too).

can we help with each other's rolls for free or does that cost us?

Seyth does his best to answer the questions, I expect so, but we're just starting to open the trails, might be a while before all of it gets in. Finn, nice lad, worked in the bakery this winter. I think hes with Niall, might be going beyond the borders. The war's been over a while now, I would expect conscription has been tapering off. Seyth had never liked conscription, felt wrong to drag mice from their lives, especially given how many never got to resume them, but it had been a necessity. Scent border hasn't been refreshed yet, snows still a little too deep, but our next stop is sprucetuck.

after the questions are answered (all 300 of them), Seyth goes for a bit of tea, and maybe some soup, warm his bones, maybe find a good conversation partner. Looking for a chance to use persuade or Instructor?

can we help with each other's rolls for free or does that cost us?

Helping does not count as a test, so it doesn't cost a Check.

Seyth, can you use instructor to teach Barton something new?

Barton can pass his check to Seyth, and Seyth can do both. We'll count it as Seyth, Bry, Seyth for the purposes of the double-dipping rule. The difference between Seyth using Instructor and Barton just making the roll is that Seyth will get a pass or fail regardless, but Barton gets either a pass or fail only if the test succeeds, whereas Barton would get a pass or fail depending on the result of his skill. The obstacle for an Instructor test is the other mouse's current nature. The skill being taught can be used as help. Seyth needs to have the skill at a higher rating than the student, or have someone who has the skill helping. There are two Bakers in town who would be willing to help, and would make teaching Baking not only possible, but would add +2D to the roll.

Barton would need a number of tests (not specifically pass/fail) equal to his nature to learn a new skill. Instructor can grant those tests, or Barton can roll half of either Health or Will (plug gear/help/supplies), depending on the type of skill.

If you're worried about ever overcoming that nature, try taxing it down to a lower level by rolling it in place of another skill which does not fit within running, hiding, climbing, or foraging. This will temporarily reduce your Nature, making you less mouse-like and more teachable. You can also tap your Nature with Persona, adding it to another skill, which could potentially tax it.

Seyth strolls into Ivydale's bakery and spots a familiar face. Jasmine, the magistrate, sits at a long table with an abacus and ledger, looking frazzled. The sleek black fur on the left side of her head is sticking up from scratching. Spotting you, she sets down her work and smooths her fur. "Seyth! Gwen still running you ragged, or are you here to retire?" She sticks out her tongue and smiles. She must be pretty good at dissemblance, because the cloud of stress over her has dissipated completely. The abacus is carefully placed over the ledger.

what skill do you want Barton taught?

Jasmine, good to see you. Not retired yet, they'll get this cloak when they take it off me cold corpse. Seyth says, ordering a warm lunch. me an' me tenderpaws 'ave cleared the path from 'ere to Lockhaven. Should be mail coming soon, trade negotiations from Gwen and all that. he takes a long sip of his tea.

'Ave ye heard of Berach's demands, 'e gets less reasonable each year. he says, finally getting into the meat

Jasmine sighs, "I haven't seen the numbers, no, but I can see where he's coming from. Last fall wasn't great, you saw how high grain was trading by the end of fall... It just got too dry for too long, and we've got to catch up now or no one will have . and scientists don't like hearing they might not get paid more than labor and materials. Any mouse can find a meal, but those barrels of fake whiz are all that's between us and the bears, wolves, and other predators. A year without the boarder could send us into the dark ages." She sighs. "I've got my own ends to meet, and I'm sorry to say I'm not entirely faultless... The last thing I sent him last fall was a stop shipment notice, and this is more than likely about that. He's been behind on his trade agreements... if we're accounting for the raised prices." She's not going to apologize or make excuses, and she looks well-prepared to stand her ground against criticism.

No need to roll until we know what you're persuading her of.

Hunter, persuader or baking would all be good for me.

I understand. It's never simple. But you must agree that we need to arrange a treaty that allows the scent border to be maintained. Seyth downs a good amount of tea, and brings out the old agreements.

He's been setting the price higher every season since the war, but it's reached the point where it could well endanger the territories. He finishes the bun. Don't suppose you'd be willing to adjust your prices with Sprucetuck, if They'll adjust theirs?

Persuade+RP+old trade agreements: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 4, 4) = 19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Working with Barton~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, boy. Yer almost decent against Mice and weasels, but you'll 'ave to deal with snakes, birds, turtles, an' worse. He says, standing with the tenderpaw out of the city, in a clearing. Let's start with snakes. First thing to know, those scales are tough. Ye wanna get yer sword between them. Find places where the snake is coiled, it makes those gaps larger.

Other weak points include the eyes, if ye can get onto the head. but it's a dangerous strategy. Speaking of dangerous strategies, sometimes if they're striking at you, ye can get them in the soft inide of their mouth, spike 'em through the brain. works better with a spear or halberd than a sword, though. and if it's venomous, it'll probably lay ye up for weeks, if it does na' kill ye

Instructor (hunt): 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) = 5

Bry would go and try to find Seyth, taking note of the dunn furred mouse. When he does find Seyth he will approach without any thought for manners.

Sir, I seem to have stumbled across an angry mouse and a, and I quote "thieve's den". I was asked to find you but would like to investigate.

Barton remains an easily distractable mouse, and a lesson that should have taken a few minutes burns through the morning hours. By the end of it, Seyth is muttering to himself about whippersnappers, but Barton does get it through his head.
Seyth gains the condition Angry and a failed test, but Barton gains a test toward learning Hunter.

-------

"I hear you, but is it Ivydale's responsibility to shoulder that expense? The issue as I see it is that Sprucetuck is losing valuable mouse-hours in the winter producing the stuff, and Lockhaven can only afford to pay so much, right? That sounds like it would be better handled with taxes- Now, I know some of the further territories, Port Sumac especially, are against Lockhaven levying taxes, but this is exactly the situation that calls for it. The costs for the border, split thirty six ways... Each of us only pays..." Jasmin taps at her abacus. "Forty Sprucetuck mint, or twelve grains of silver. Beats tapping out Gwen's coffer every spring and fall. My point is, good will can only get us so far. If we're to continue to industrialize we need to get these systems established on more than a paw-shake. All of the territories depend on the scent border, and it's not any one city's responsibility to keep it paid for."

Persuader(3) + abacus: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 1) = 15

"I'll tell you what. You take that sentiment back to miss Gwen. I'll write you an agreement to take to Berach, contingent on his agreement to centralized taxation. I'll even get it printed real neat and leave space for the other governors so you guard can get it circulating..." Jasmine writes something on a dry leaf and passes it off to a younger mouse who scurries away. "The little ones will have it ready for you when you leave."

----

As Bry interrupts your tea break, Jasmine's ear perks up. "Thieves?" She eyes Seyth. "This is serious, and likely internal business. I should join you..." She closes her ledger and passes it off to one of the little messenger mice who scurry off to secret it away. "We've had problems with banditry in the past, but not generally in the winter. I won't stand for hoodlums dragging Lockhaven mice into our business."

So what does that mean? How many checks do I need to learn a skill?

You'll gain Hunter(2) when you've gained a number of tests (pass, fail, or instructed) equal to your current maximum Nature. That's 3 more for Barton. Until then, attempting to fight beasts will be a Health test, halved and rounded up after help and tools.

Awesome!

So, if I'm very interested in learning new things from Seyth, I should try to tax my nature, but the actual target to learn something new is max nature not current nature?

Yes. If you Tax your Nature to 0, the max is reduced by 1, and the current is reset to the new max. You regain Nature by leveling it up. You can always roll Nature in place of any other ability.

Bry merely stares at the new mouse. It wasn't one of the 'thieves' who dragged me in. It was a very loud angry mouse yelling at a door. It would be no trouble to investigate. Barton and I already took care of setting up a mushroom farm. Talking to the mice in the house would be a good bout of social work. I don't see why it would be any hassle at all. I am here to do good days work, so it would be irresponsible to leave it up to you folks.

Bry shrugs and walks back before anyone can stop him.

Wouldn't be the first time that's been proposed. Seth says finishing his tea it'd be a right bugger trying to get everyone on board... an' somehow, I suspect Gwen'll make sure I'm sent to give the proposal to port sumac, and wolfepoint both. But I'll propose it all the same. he says. it's a small detour, and might well offer the chance to test out the tenderpaws in diplomatic situations... well, perhaps Bry in any case.

then Bry rushes in. says his case. Am I readin' too much ina it, or is jasmine a tad defensive?. If ye'd rather 'twas handled locally, we'll leave it to your city guard. he says, then adds unless Barton is already in hot puruit. E's not, is 'e? he asks Bry

I dunno but Bry took off XD

Barton stood, mouth agape, as Bry ran off. After he could compose himself he hesitantly addressed his mentor.

So, uh, is this a thing we're comfortable with now? Running off for some vigilante justice? Because I'm very into that, but I've been lead to believe that you're against the idea. But if Bry is going, I should probably go too, for backup. We, uhh, we wouldn't want him getting into trouble.

Barton started to shuffle away slowly, perhaps believing that Seyth's eye-sight required motion and if he moved slowly like Bry he'd be invisible.

Damn it all, and I was hoping this one would be less impulsive. Seyth says

No, Barton. We're gonna go talk to them, and see if the reports are true. ye aren't ta draw yer weapon unless they draw theirs first. he says as he rushes off after his younger tenderpaw

Back at the rotted stump, the loud mouse is dragging a dusky grey mouse from the stump's broken doorway. Bry is the first to return, but Jasmine will arrive soon.

"He's not well! I can't leave him!." The grey mouse spills out of the dunn mouse's grasp and scrambles back to the door.

"Guardling, help me with this here weevil. She's a biter."

Barton followed closely. He wasn't the loosest cannon in the group, and that knowledge made him nearly skip for joy. His sword stayed dutifully in his scabbard, but his hand rested on the hilt, ready to draw.

Bry, completely unaware he is being a loose cannon will carefully try to separate the dunn furred mouse from the grey one by stepping between them. Please no more fighting. What is going on grey one? Dunn mouse step aside, you are making the situation worse.

The grey mouse adjusts her torn shawl. "M'name is Brisbey. My youngest brother is very sick. Y'can't deny a dying crawler his medicine!" Several pairs of eyes peek out from the doorway.

Seyth arrives with Jasmine at his heel.

"I' says no thievin' in the square! Don' say nothing' 'bout 'cept if there's dyin' pinkies. That brew ain't cheap. How's I t'be compensat'd?" The loud mouse spits. "Colin."

Bry pauses for half a second before turning to the loud mouse.

Then take your damn brew you cowardly mouse! the young idealistic mouse said too the loud one without raising his voice. How can a good mouse sit back and watch when a little one is sick. Get out of my sight, you disgust me! I for one am glad they don't let mice like you into the guard.

Then, calming himself he turned to the grey mouse. Don't worry Brisbey. I will see what I can do. I am a healer myself and can't stand to see another mouse in pain. Show me to your brother please, I don't want to waste any time if he is sick.

Bry looked to Seyth and Jasmine. Took you long enough. I have this under control. Please get the loud one out of here, there is healing to be done.

Seyth watches shaking his head as his tenderpaw leaps into a delicate situation. I apologize for the boy... I'll speak to him about this after he's done his work. he says, to Jasmine and the dunn mouse.

The girl stole from ye? But by appearances, ta save a life. That don't make it right. he says, before the dun mouse can reply But it does make me question if the full wrath of tha law is meritted. Jasmine, remind me the punishment for theft in Ivydale? then he turns to Barton. and ye, boy, what do ye think is air, here?

"Darn right." Colin scratches his shoulder.

Jasmine sighs and speaks over Seyth's question. "What did she steal?"

Colin nods. "She's made off with a jug of brew twice a month since fall. It's a brandywine, and not so easy to distill as the town's staple whiskey."

Jasmine nods. "Two months in the mills. If she's lucky she can turn it into an honest occupation. If not..." Ivydale's mills are underground, and such a large operation that working conditions are quite hostile with the dust and physical labor involved.

~~~

Bry enters the rotted stump, and is assaulted with the scent of an unkempt home and the coppery taste of mold. Inside, little feral crawlers skitter in the shadows. In the back of the small room, there is a pallet of spotted grain husks with a small sleeping mouse, breathing unevenly. There is a small pile of broken alcohol jugs beside the pallet.

This mouse is Sick. Treating the sickness is an ob3 test. If you beat it by one or more, you won't use up your moss (if you use it as a supply for the test).

Poor little one, Bry whispered to himself as he maked his way towards the mouse. Bry set his pack down, pulling out some of his loss and started to treat the young mouse carefully.

It will be better little one

healer+ moss: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 6, 3) = 21

Bry steps away for a moment looking at the house. Mold, not the cleanest place. What kind of conditions will it take for the town to do something and help out. Guess I will start the cleaning once this little guy is feeling better.

Barton followed closely behind Bry, annoyed that no one lifted their sword and annoyed that no one would. Still, someone was suffering, and maybe he could help.

I know a little about measuring medicines. Mixing them too. I can help prepare the moss so we only use what we need to help the boy...

Using science to help

1d6 ⇒ 5

When I use skills to help tests, I put myself at risk for the associated conditions...do I also take the benefits of the pass/fail toward skill improvement?

Bry: you could also have used Moss-wise for +1D. Wises can be used to help yourself.

Barton: nope, you'll have to roll a Science test or get instructed to advance Science. You do help keep the moss supply for future tests, and get to look helpful.

I am starting to think Bry's imstoctive care for other mice won't let him be a fan of someone like Jasmine. Or goverment that isn't helping the people.
Also i thought so but didn't know thank you gm

Arrangements are made for Brisbey's community service, and Jasmine assures Colin that her earnings will be sent to him. When they've finished, he leaves. Jasmine takes Seyth asside. "I know Gwen's a softy, but you know better. Get these jumpers some real field experience, and make sure they know their role here. I appreciate your help when you've got it to give, but you've got no authority on Ivydale matters, and they should know that by now... Good seeing you Seyth. You'll outlive us all." With that she gives Seyth's shoulder a thump and wanders off.

Inside, the little one is breathing easier. Bry and Barton do their level best to clear out the home, open some simple ventilation, and ensure the stump will serve as a home. The process is not unlike rebuilding a shelter on the path. As they work, the crawlers try to help or ask for food, drink, money, or simply "why" ad nauseum.

Brisbey returns, looking bleak, but she sees the little one's got his color, and she thanks Bry with a spinning hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I'll be fine. I've worked the mill before. If I'd known a little theft would get me work, I'd have stolen more. -kidding... mostly. I just can't leave all these little ones to fend for themselves, and when Tim fell sick, I couldn't leave the house."

There aren't any more rolls to make here. We can continue the scene for information and RP, but our next move is to embark for Sprucetuck. We will need a Pathfinder ob4 test first, and it may change the circumstances of other rolls. Barton can let his Cartographer roll ride at a margin of success of 2, or try to roll to increase that (or potentially decrease it) cumulatively. It's still an ob2 test. Since you still have the spare mushrooms from the evacuation shelter, you can opt to skip the Harvester roll to restock these shelters with those mushrooms (removing them from your sheet). I'll have to see the Pathfinder test before I can set the obstacle for the Harvester test. Once we are at Sprucetuck, we will head directly into the Conflict without a Player turn in between. Keep in mind that Seyth is Angry, which will affect the Conflict.

Can I wait until the pathfinder roll to see if I net any bonus dice? Also what would additional margin of success do for me?

Yes, definitely. Gwendolyn doesn't expect an accurate map, and mostly just wants you keeping sharp. MoS of 2, the map is accurate enough to save lives during the clearing efforts. MoS of 4 would be an uncannily accurate map. It'll be transfered onto Gwendolyn's next map, and you'd get recognition.

Mechanically? Another Cartography test marked. Gifts if you're really good. Is there anything else you can think of?

I can't think of a thing. Other than perhaps leaving in a huff, convinced Ivydale is corrupt.

Seyth gets back to the road., sending the two tenderpaws to get lunch (I don't wanna hear ya bellyachin'). He spends their lunchtime cobbling together some shovels.

When they get back, he turns to Bry. Boy, Ye need ta understand yer place. Yer not the law, yer a guard. When yer in town, and ye learn of something like that, ye need to go to the people in charge, and inform them of it. he takes a deep breath. an if they say they would prefer to handle it internally, ye ought to respect that.

Fer underminin' Jasmine, and running off on yer own, yer on shoveling duty. he hands Bry one of the shovels. then he turns to barton, and hands him the other shovel. and ye, well, shoveling is good fer the sword muscles, and ye need to practice yer pathfindin'.

armourer to bodge together a couple shovels: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 3) = 17 paw to paw, useful?

If it's not our place to help then what is our place sir, Bry will respond. Or are the legends of the Guard being those who help ones in need lies?

Bry will happily go and do work.

I never said it wern't our place ta help, boy! Seyth snaps at the boy. it is yer place ta help, but ye gotta respect protocol. We don't 'ave authority in cities, 'cept what authority magistrates and governors give us. If ye had been a little calmer, ye might have helped that girl more. If ye'd stuck around, ye could have spoken out, defended the girl. If ye were respectful and reasonable, Jasmine might well have listened.

Instead, ye rushed off, didn't stick around the bakery long enough for Jas an' I to get our bearings, then ye worsen the situation by not even stickin' around after the scuffle. By leavin' with the girl, ye put jasmine in a right foul mood. Girl probably would have gotten less, or at least not 'ave the magistrate pissed at her. ye did right treatin' the kid. Use that brain o' yers with people too.

Barton eyed the shovel with suspicion. Are you sure you don't want me to...map our route?

This hardly seemed fair. He didn't run off, didn't cause trouble and he's still being punished! He hadn't drawn his sword or backflipped off a falling log or sailed on a leaf once so far! What's the point of being in the guard if you can't even have an adventure!

Fair enough. hand me that shovel, an' let yer sword muscles go to rot. Seyth nudges Barton as he takes the shovel. Looks like I'm pathfinding. Guess that make you the harvester.

pathfinder+map: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 1, 2) = 13

as he walks, he fills the two in on the situation with governor Berach, hoping to avoid any incidents here.

Bry listened to Seyth before getting to work. He took stock of what they had from the mushrooms and wondered for a second if he could plant some when they reached new areas.