| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Mannfred attempts to bite the cat beast.
The cat seems to realize it is in a bad spot, and attempts to stay latched on to Mannfred while moving away from Grodar.
"Hmmph better get its attention."
Giles charges.
Oops add 2 to both (not sickened).
"Eldan! Open your tent and blast the beast!"
Giles brings Agrimmar down on the beast in a fury. There is a sickening crunch and it falls to the ground.
Mannfred turns back to human form. He is bruised and bleeding.
"I hope there are no more skeltercats around. I fear I would not survive another attack."
faint screaming in the distance
Zigil finally comes to herself after a few more seconds. The mule stands nearby, grazing at the scrub.
Garm slinks his way into Giles' tent.
Zigil will make his way back to the camp, bringing the mule if it is nearby to Zigil rather than nearby to the camp.
"Can anyone assist me to bind my wounds?"
The party all return to the camp.
Garm is laying on Giles' bedroll, tail thumping against the ground.
Giles will take the next watch as he has a long time to wait before he goes back to normal size.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"If you don't get smaller within four hours, you should talk to a healer. "
"Speaking if which, can someone please heal me?"
"I can heal you. It seems like the least I can do after losing control like that."
"Ummm... I'm not very good at this."
"Whoa....."
"You appear to be very good at it. Thank you."
Mannfred heads over with Dog to go back to sleep.
Zigil spends a few minutes looking and listening for any new dangers before turning in.
The rest of the night passes without disturbance.
In the morning, the group carries on to the river, where a strange-looking boat awaits.
The riverboat appears ungainly, with a wide, towering forecastle and high aftcastle. A central mast holds a single sail, and a bank of rowing ports are visible on the side. Another structure between the mast and forecastle appears to be a stable.
A scarred, muscular half-orc waits near the gangway.
"About time. Was specting you last night."
"Halgra didn't say nothing about wolves."
"Don't much matter what you were told. We are the ones you are waiting for."
Giles hands him the letter of introduction.
"You sure that thing is safe?"
"This is just my dog. He's very friendly."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
*Menacing deep rumbling growl*
The half-orc has a quick glance at the proffered papers.
"Right. I'm Captain Bloodtusk. Up by the tiller is Coxswain Halrex. There's another 8 crew around working. Like you soon should be."
"You can bring your beasts on board, but if they harm any crew or horses, you're all off. And probly shy a beast."
"The deal with Halgra was this is a working voyage. You'll be fighting anything that attacks the ship, specially them oversized river vultures. On top of that, you'll each take a duty each day. We need help with rowing, lookout, fishing, cooking, sounding, and mucking the stable. Once your on board and settled, report to the Coxswain and choose a job, then we'll be underway."
"Not afraid of a hard bit of work but lookout suits me just fine."
“Pleased to meet you Captain Bloodtusk. I am Eldan though many in Trunau call me Whitecrow. Is it this way to Coxswain?” Gesturing up to the front of the boat.
“I can help out with the rowing.”
"The coxswain is aft at the tiller, near the ballista."
"You can stow your things in the crew cabin in the forecastle. Going to be mighty crowded in there, can fit four at most. Two of you will have to sleep in the galley. Not sure where you're going to keep your beasts, but it better be away from the horses."
Perhaps we can rig up our spare tents on the deck each night for the animals.
"I spose that might work."
"Now get aboard so we can try to make up some time."
"I bet I'd be good at sounding! I'm a really good singer."
Zigil boards, stows her gear in the crew cabin, and goes to see the coxswain.
The group boards the ship, and takes their extra gear forward to the crew cabin. The mule is taken to the stable, while Garm and Dog are left on deck.
There are a half-dozen half-orcs working in various places on the deck, but the coxswain is an angry-looking orc woman.
"I'm pretty sure you'll all be useless, but choose your jobs so we can start! If you don't answer quickly, I'll choose for you."
She has an unpleasant grin after the last statement.
Giles is led to the mast, where he must climb to the lookout post.
Grodar is taken below to the rowing banks, where he is later joined by the coxswain and some of the crew. The coxswain beats a large drum to set the pace for the rowers to strain to.
Zigil is stationed at the bow and given a rope with a lead weight on the end, to help in the frequent shallow areas of the river.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I would be more than happy to sleep wherever Dog must sleep."
Mannfred beams.
"And I feel I am best suited to take care of the animals, or 'muck the stables' as you put it. I will ensure the animals are being treated as free spirited individuals with their own identities."
He picks a tiny squirming thing from his hair and pops it in his mouth.
"This one must have lived a very fulfilling life before giving itself up for my enrichment."
The stable contains eight stalls which each have a draft horse in them. A makeshift area has been made for the mule in the aisle between the stalls, with straw scattered over the deck. The stalls need to be cleaned and the animals cared for.
Taking 10 gives Mannfred a Handle Animal result of 17.
Giles will attempt to climb taking 10 for 13. If that is insufficient he stows his armour and tries again for 16.
"Oh. This isn't what I expected. I'll do my best."
When the party returns, most pick their jobs while a couple hesitate.
Coxswain Halrex speaks up, "Right. Since you can't decide... Elf, you're on fishing (too bad somebody took the stable). Halfling, you're rowing."
Eldan is sent to haul in the fishing nets as the boat travels. It's exhausting, physical work, and he can only bring in one of the four nets successfully.
Surprisingly, Slei holds her own with the rowing. However, it's probably good that it was not a full day, as it would tire her out. Grodar's muscles feel the workout, but he is not fatigued.
Giles has no problem shimmying up the mast, and finds that the lookout perch is a good vantage in case the boat comes under attack.
Zigil soon discovers why her job is necessary, as the river hides many shallow spots which the boat could run aground on. Still, he has no problem helping Captain Bloodtusk avoid those spots.
Mannfred can see that the conditions mean the horses will require constant care to avoid getting ill. The beasts are docile enough, and seem suited to pulling a plow, or in this case pulling the boat against the current. One of the horses responds particularly well to the druid's care. The friendly giant is past his prime, but Mannfred can see signs of long-healed battlescars.
The boat travels downstream for the rest of the day, then anchors by the shore for the night.
Eldan looks at the fishing nets and then back at rest of the crew, muttering to himself “Fishing? Really? Clearly they are not good judges of talent here.”
Strength check: 15 - 1 = 14
In the evening, the heroes join the crew for dinner. Almost all of the crew are half-orcs except for the coxswain, who is an orc. As well as Halrex and Bloodtusk, there are Barka, Gashnakh (the cook), Ghorza, Krothu, Oorug, Sharg, Taug, and Urul.
At night, Mannfred settles on deck with Dog, Giles and Garm sleep in the galley, and the rest crowd in with the crew.
Giles would be happy to row if anyone wants to climb the mast instead.
Giles will drink quietly among the crew and see if he overhears anything interesting.
Grodar is fine with sticking to rowing, but could take lookout.
A couple of the half-orcs talk about how much Captain Bloodtusk hates river drakes, and wonder if the ship will run into some again.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Hmm, I've never encountered a river drake before. Dog and I are more used to hunting Or--uhh orrrderly processions of deer!" He looks around at all the orcs nervously.
"So I'm looking forward to mucking the stables again tomorrow". Mannfred changes the subject quickly. "I noticed one of your horses has some battle experience. I thought I might ask him about it tomorrow"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
One of the crew suggests, "Perhaps tomorrow you could avoid rolling in the dung."
Zigil also attempts to socialize with the crew and gather info about the captain and the river.
Zigil will be happy to sound again the next day.
A couple of the crew warm up to Zigil, and let her know that the trip to Ghostlight Marsh should take about 6 days, assuming no interruption. The boat will travel downstream on the Kestrel for about 3 days, then the horses will be deployed to help pull the boat upstream along the River Esk. The journey passes through hazardous territory, but the boat is known to the Belkzen orcs and they will leave it alone. Similarly, the fortresses of Lastwall will provide no danger. The heroes only need to worry about monster attacks.
The crew also seem in awe of Captain Bloodtusk, who they say was a former gladiator in the fighting pits of Urgir, but is a fair captain who treats the crew well. Coxswain Halrex is more harsh than the captain, and the heroes had best pull their weight to avoid angering her.
Giles turns up in the morning with a duty roster with the following assignements based on our relative strengths.
"Any objections? I'm no leader type but I know how to divvy up the chores."
Slei- Lookout (good at climbing and perception and uses ranged weapon)
Mannfred- mucking because he likes it.
Grodar- Rowing
Zigil- Sounding
Eldan- Cooking (hoping he can conjure some spices)
Giles- Fishing
We will all take 10 unless it is clear that will not do it. Note that Giles does not tire easier (can ignore fatigue) if that helps with his task.
"Those seem like good choices to me."
Mannfred is happy with his assignment taking care of the animals.
In the morning he takes 'Speak With Animals' instead of 'Endure Elements ', and strikes up a conversation with the horses. He wants to know the background of the battle scarred horse, but more importantly, he wants to know if he can trust the regular crew on the boat, and if there are any secrets or issues he should know about.