Very good... in which case Smendor has now given her the following gear...
One cut of Bandit loot
1 Horse and Saddle (riding or otherwise, no worries at this point)
20 lbs of Flour/Grain
4 lbs of Tobacco
2 lbs of Salt
1 jar of Honey
20 days of rations
1 Cure Light Wound Potion
1 Set of Healing herbs
1 long bow
16 arrows
1 short spear
1 hatchet
1 dagger
4 yards of Qadira Silk
1 bottle of fine wine
Raw coin collected
4 PP, 45 GP, 25 SP, 20 CP
Hermia, please dispose of the gear as you see fit. As each "set" of gear is on a horse (this includes now Tess's horse, which you still have in the party), then the horse, saddle, and gear is on your horse, and Smendor's too, if he prefers to distribute it.
Hearing Smendor's comment to Ariarh, he turns sourly to the dwarf."Oh don't worry... WE'LL do our best..."he adds then kick his pony into a canter and begins the trek back to Oleg.
Ry squeezes her legs and Tal starts to canter. She turns around once to look back at the companions still present and then turns her focus back to Brett and his pony in front of her. Dior is sitting in her lap, watchful as ever.
Very good... in which case Smendor has now given her the following gear...
One cut of Bandit loot
1 Horse and Saddle (riding or otherwise, no worries at this point)
20 lbs of Flour/Grain
4 lbs of Tobacco
2 lbs of Salt
1 jar of Honey
20 days of rations
1 Cure Light Wound Potion
1 Set of Healing herbs1 long bow
16 arrows
1 short spear
1 hatchet
1 dagger4 yards of Qadira Silk
1 bottle of fine wineRaw coin collected
4 PP, 45 GP, 25 SP, 20 CPHermia, please dispose of the gear as you see fit. As each "set" of gear is on a horse (this includes now Tess's horse, which you still have in the party), then the horse, saddle, and gear is on your horse, and Smendor's too, if he prefers to distribute it.
Hermia please tell me you know how to bake bread.
Running over to Brett,"If my parka is done bring it back with you."
Running over to Brett,"If my parka is done bring it back with you."
A word to the wise Smendor. That is the perfect spot to say Please! I am not trying to start a fight, just pointing out what we were talking about earlier.
Alaric yells this out as Smendor runs over to Brett.
Hermia watches the lady Ry and Brett leave on their horses, her elated features transfixed in a grotesque mockery of mirth when she recognizes that she was completely ignored by them.
Another false friend, she thinks, then fixes her charming smile on her face and turns and regards Smendor.
"Of course I know how to bake, silly," she dismisses. "I may not have a particularly skilled hand at it, to be sure, but I've never known a hungry mouth to spit it out."
She swallows hard and looks cautiously to the common room. "Say, are the others still within? If we're going to scout, we should get moving. I don't know if your horses will be particularly useful here. I know that I have never spotted a root from one, or can tell one herb or another from a height so much greater than myself. And," she pauses and flushes. "I never did learn to ride."
Running over to Brett,"If my parka is done bring it back with you."
Brett calls down "I thought it be Gideon's "parka" but I be bringing it back fer him who gets it, if she done made it..."he called out from the far distance as Brett and Ariarh have been riding off for a bit.
Hermia watches the lady Ry and Brett leave on their horses, her elated features transfixed in a grotesque mockery of mirth when she recognizes that she was completely ignored by them.
Another false friend, she thinks, then fixes her charming smile on her face and turns and regards Smendor.
Hermia watches the lady Ry and Brett leave on their horses, her elated features transfixed in a grotesque mockery of mirth when she recognizes that she was completely ignored by them.
Another false friend, she thinks, then fixes her charming smile on her face and turns and regards Smendor.
"Of course I know how to bake, silly," she dismisses. "I may not have a particularly skilled hand at it, to be sure, but I've never known a hungry mouth to spit it out."
She swallows hard and looks cautiously to the common room. "Say, are the others still within? If we're going to scout, we should get moving. I don't know if your horses will be particularly useful here. I know that I have never spotted a root from one, or can tell one herb or another from a height so much greater than myself. And," she pauses and flushes. "I never did learn to ride."
I made sure you got the horse that will not spook. You have no need of a ride skill.
"I always seem to be the bad person. So be it. I won't be drawn into childish tantrums."
Hermia watches the lady Ry and Brett leave on their horses, her elated features transfixed in a grotesque mockery of mirth when she recognizes that she was completely ignored by them.
Another false friend, she thinks, then fixes her charming smile on her face and turns and regards Smendor.
"Of course I know how to bake, silly," she dismisses. "I may not have a particularly skilled hand at it, to be sure, but I've never known a hungry mouth to spit it out."
She swallows hard and looks cautiously to the common room. "Say, are the others still within? If we're going to scout, we should get moving. I don't know if your horses will be particularly useful here. I know that I have never spotted a root from one, or can tell one herb or another from a height so much greater than myself. And," she pauses and flushes. "I never did learn to ride."
I am still here, and so is Gideon. I would go with you scouting as I have some knowledge of woodscraft myself. I am no tracker but I know about the plants and herbs of the area.
** spoiler omitted **
"Thank you, Master Smendor," Hermia acknowledges with an incline of her head in a bow. "I do not know when I will be able to make up the cost to you, but you have my word that I will try. Were it not something useful, I would not have accepted at all. That's not out - pardon me, my way."
Hermia beams a smile at Alaric. "Then we should get going right away! All these walls, they are having a negative effect on our perspective. I am sure that if we spent some time in the open air, and listened to the will of The Mother, we will come to rights again."
Speaking to Hermian, "If there is any part of that loot you do not want it can be put on a pack horse. Can you even use a long bow?
Hermia blushes and shakes her head. "I am not exceptionally skilled with weapons of war," she apologizes. "I was taught to use a sling, and I have some bullets in my pack. Apparently they were not as of much value as my feyleaf and mushrooms," she says with no small amount of distaste.
She looks at her bare feet and grinds her dirty toes into the wood floor nervously. "I am far better with healing herbs, spells, and my ink and quill. Trappers would hunt for us, and cut our wood before winter. Me and my Aunties were very spoiled. I am sorry I cannot be of any more help to you."
Just tell me what you cannot or do not want and I will keep it.
Hermia bites her lower lip. "I believe that we should keep a store of food within. Storms cannot be predicted, and if we are to use this place as a shelter while we explore this area, it is beneficial to have some manner of surplus if there are days when we cannot hunt. And, I agreed with you about the value of these things for barter. Not many trappers I am aware of keep or even have use for coin this far deep into the wood."
She offers Smendor a bright smile. "It probably were not my place to pry, since I have only just met you all, but I recognized that your heart is good. It... I suppose that you could call it my particular gift."
Meanwhile…
Brett and Ariarh have pushed their mounts as safely as can be. It is slow going as they need to constantly be checking on goods and gear even as they travel back to Oleg’s. They arrive there on the evening of the 12th, several hours after sundown. The sky is cloudy and it looks like rain, as usual, before it grew dark.
Oleg comes to the door, yet he seems rather cautious and as if he is putting a bold face on things. When he sees it’s Brett and Ariarh he seems somewhat relieved.
”Come in, come in, masters,”he says warmly. ”I wondered what had happened to you in the wild like that, no mistake. Where be all your mates? Not hurt, I’d pray,”he adds the last with some concern even as Drake comes from inside. His face is grim and he sees your gear, and helps you with the mounts and gear to bring inside the compound. Oleg sees Drakes look, starts to speak, then says nothing on it, and continues to help unpack.
”Where be the lass and yer lovely wife?”Brett asks cordially, stretching out the kinks in his back.
”They be inside… we’ve had… troubles… why ye be gone,”Oleg says uneasily.
”What kind of troubles, sir?”Ariarh asked, a concerned look on her face.
”Master Oleg, perhaps you’d let me discuss this while you attend to the gear?”Drake says gently.
”Aye, Drake lad… I be doing just that… ye want this gear with the rest of yer stuff… usual terms and rates for sale and such?”
Brett nods in agreement and waves Oleg off, who seems to be more eager to catalog the loot rather then talk on troubles.
Drake seems like a different man. His face is grim, but he is now dressed rather well. Well oiled and tailored studded leather is fitted well on him. The blade hangs from his side, and a quiver on his back. You see a bow lying near the wall, and a dagger at his hip.
”You look dressed up fer fighting lad… more trouble with bandits…”Brett asked curiously.
”Of a sort,”Drake responds, as if thinking a moment. He lights a pipe and hands the ember to Brett who also lights up, then moves to the gate and looks out over the wide plains… seeking in the distance of the grasses.
”About two nights ago we met another bunch of lads come by. They also had copies of the same charter that you were no doubt given. They seemed decent enough, at first, but they were less cordial with Oleg and his wife, never mind Dasha. They paid for what was taken, but they were rough and rude, and I think that only my presence dissuaded them taking actual action against them.”
”What kind of action…”Arairh says with concern.
”Hard to say… between their leering at the lass and heavy drinking I think they may have tried to force themselves on her, so I sent her to bed. They kept demanding that she be brought out, and some of them passed out… there were four… and the last one stayed up. He was an ugly drunk, and kept making demands as I tried to keep him sitting in the common area outside, and prevent him from going into harass the girl. Then Oleg snuck out and struck him in the back of his head with a skillet, and knocked the fellow out cold. In the morning he remembered nothing, except that he had a hard headache.”
Drake glances out to the road, and draws the heavy gate closed and laid the bar in its place as he talked.
”That was two days ago, as I said. They went east of here, and said they would be doing some exploring or something. I don’t where they went or how long they would be gone. Their chief, the ugly drunk, he paid for a bunch of gear from Oleg, fairly liberal with his coin… Oleg’s keeping your books proper for all that, too, by the way.”
”Well… don’t sound much more then whore-house brawl…”Brett said somewhat genially. ”These things happen, eh?”
”Aye, they happen, but that’s not all… “Drake adds somewhat quietly. ”Stranger things have been afoot… the horses getting spooked again; things going missing… yesterday at midnight we heard the sound of low moaning and shuffling outside, like a man be groaning or calling for help… I came out later to look, but I saw not a track in the mud; and I’m no mean tracker. I am starting to fear for the girl who is with us, and what troubles she may be dealing with. I wondered if there be dead things about, a residual effect of the dark magic of the foul priest that was slaughtered. But I don’t know… But that’s not all, though,”he added thoughtfully.
”A few days ago, one of the horses grew lame, broke a leg. I went inside to get a hammer to put it down, because it would be a hard thing to let it suffer, as I see it. When I came back Dasha was with the horse, said the beast was fine. I thought she was simply trying to protect the animal, but she made me check it again. When I did I could see that the bone was fine, and the flesh was untouched. Yet there was still blood on the foreleg!”he said, his eyes gleaming over the pipe stem.
”There wasn’t even a slash in the muscles there, the skin wasn’t even broken. I checked it twice… the beast was fine and moved without incident. I would have assumed that I imagined the entire thing, but for the blood on the leg. And if there was no wound… why the blood?”he added shaking his head.
”I asked Dasha about it, and she seemed nervous and afraid. I pressed her, sternly I’m afraid, for I myself was stunned at this turn of events, though I did little but raise my voice. She fled into the house weeping, and left me quite out of countenance. Did she heal the beast, or was I losing my head? She would offer no explanation, but seeing what had happened I shrugged my shoulders and moved on, saying nothing of the incident to Oleg and Svetlana. The good woman is already unnerved by the young girl, I fear this may set them off further…”he said leaning back, and glancing to the stars.
Brett leaned back too, and Ariarh looked quite stunned.
”But, good sir, this is quite a tale! What happened to the good Dasha afterward?”she queried.
”Nothing happened since. I said no more about it, and just pretended it did not happen. So has Dasha, too, apparently. If she has not been unnerved by the entire thing… I don’t know… between you and I, I wonder if that magi you rode with may have caused the fuss when he threw his ring down the well. If it was a cursed thing that had dark powers… even now its taint may be lurking deep beneath the bowels of the inn… then again, it may be a last curse heaped on us by the death of that dark priest… or these events may be entirely unconnected.”he added with an uplifting of his hands.
Brett reached from his coat and produced the fine silver hip flask that bore the crest of his Duke. He sipped a drink and handed it Drake, who also drank a sip, and offered it to Ariarh, who politely refused, then back to Brett.
”So… other lads be searching the plains, eh? Well, any case, we be getting our claims in first, so tough stones to them,”he added with a grin, trying to break the dark mood somewhat.
”They are searching, though they move fast and with a purpose. I am glad you returned when you did, else I think they may have beat you with the speed of their exploration and you would have returned to find much of what you explored to be already “claimed” by another. They were quite… displeased… to discover you had already claimed the lands that bordered Oleg’s property. Their captain tried to bribe, then bully, Oleg into changing the charter; but he held true. I think that after their swagger they were mollified at the idea that he would risk much for the integrity of the charter. It stands to reason that they would want someone to behave the same way over their claims as well.”
Brett nodded sagely at this then pulled out the map at his side and spread it over the table.
”What do you know about these,”he asked, showing Drake the map, specifically the crossings.
Drake looked at it and frowned.
”Have you been here already, or did you discover this?”he asks, his brow furrowed.
”We been here, but only here,”Brett adds pointing at the northern camp. ”What do ye know about the rest?”
”Hmm… not much. They are not just crossings, they are bandit camps… Bandits hold the crossings all along the river; some of them charging very extreme tolls to simply cross the river, others simply ambushing folk at bridges…”he adds looking at the map.
”I was at the northern camp recently; it is governed by a cruel woman of base birth; Numerian… if I don’t miss my guess. Goes by the name of; Kressle, if I recall…”
”Went by that name, maybe, but she goes by nothing, now. We settled her hash, but good,”he added with a thump on the table.
”That is a good thing, for she had an evil name, even with the other men. She enjoyed to torture, and was cruel with her punishment for ill-discipline. I am pleased that she perished, and more so that it was by your hand,”
”Thanks indeed,”Brett beamed, then, catching a look from Ariarh he swallowed a bit. ”Er, yeah… well, it was kind of a group effort,”he added with a sheepish shrug. ”But the rest of the river crossings? What do you know on it?”
Drake pointed at the second one down the river.
”This bridge often has ambushes set up at it… the bridge is old of a purpose, and only one lad may cross safely at a time. If more then that, especially horses, try to cross, the bridge will most likely collapse into the ravine. So, as one person makes their way across they are often ambushed on the other side. Yet, as of now, I know of no permanent base camp here,”he muses.
”This place is a narrow crossing, more of a ford then a bridge. But there is often bandits camped here, for it is the only safe ford for many miles north and south. They often erect tents and other structures in the colder months, but it is likely you will find some bandits here at least. I was kept here for a time, doing highway robbery, and make-work around the camps; fortifying positions, digging trenches, and so forth. At this time of year it will be well fortified, or near empty. With the heavy rains I suspect that it will be heavily flooded so that even the ford will be dangerous. This makes me think that the true point of threat comes from any that would camp on the western side of the “rickety bridge”. You did neat work on dispatching the bandit camp north, for if they came down on you unawares in the wilderness, shooting at you from the trees… it would have gone badly, I should think. The other thing of true note is that these markings the bandits charted out are accurate, as I recall. This means that though you did not explore this area formally, you have mapped it formally. As such, I think this is a good thing, for your companions and you have now claimed the only three passes I know of on this river for at least sixty miles down the length of it. Whoever claims the passes of the river has done a good thing for themselves, I’d think,”he says with a friendly nod at this unexpected piece of good news.
Brett thanks him for this advice and information and soon he and Ariarh settle down and sleep in the cabin. It almost feels like home, and in the morning they are awakened by Svetlana bringing them breakfast, which they eat eagerly. Dasha greets them shyly, and Drake is been up since before dawn, tracking elk for slaughter. The discovery of food has pleased Oleg, and he has informed you that his “payment” will most likely be traded in food rather then coin, if you don’t mind.
Brett confirms this is a good plan, and is well pleased that you have sold four horses to the new scouting party for gold, and the gold is now in Oleg’s “Vault”… rather, the gold Oleg has collected now, after the other fellows have came bustling in, is buried in a little hole inside the compound. But they don’t know that.
Brett takes some fresh bread and a jar of cream and honey for lunch from Svetlana, who informed them it was made by Dasha in the evening as a treat for them when they leave. Brett knows that they can push their horses much faster now then before, as they are not traveling with so much goods and gear, and have less to keep an eye on. He is only bringing one extra horse with them now; which is trotting behind them. It has the same gear he brought initially on his first journey, but with some jars of honey, and the coffee.
Soon, by around five o’clock, on the 13th they have returned to the bandit camp. Brett indicates they have about seven to eight hours to explore the rest of the hex they are in, and wants to know what you would recommend doing at this point. He is also happy to share the information he collected from Oleg’s.
”Well… we’re back,”he says as he and Ariarh return. ”And I got some interesting news… I think I’ve managed to discover the meaning of the letters we found on that bandit lady…”he adds. ”But it be a bit grim in the reading, I’d guess…”he says. ”There be the translation… see fer yerselves,”he adds, tossing the papers to the table in front of them.
Huh? Oh... clearly you mean to say...
4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42
:)
but if you really are confused, it seems like a good time to ask questions. While we're at it, does anyone know where they want to go next?
Well I know right after Brett leaves Smendor and Hermia will be going out to explore the local area. I am not sure about the others, but that was the plan we had set a while back, and they will be staying back at the fort after they are done. They will be hunting as they go looking for tree nuts, really any food items or anything that could be of some value.
Smendor is also looking for any rock outcropping for signs of ore, hard wood trees that will sell well, and more or less just walking and talking. He will have his animals with him. He will be taking the walk slow.
Are there any signs of a native population?
In the interest of restoring balance and promoting peace, Hermia devotes the time elapsing during Brett and the lady Ariarh's absence to the following:
1. "Scouting" with Smendor and whoever else agrees to follow. Hermia is looking for sign of medicinal herbs, cooking type herbs, and root type consumables should the very worst happen. Her priority is to find and harvest a few samples of previous growth in the area for further study, hoping to find some clue about the availability of water elsewise, how much sun plants at the base of the forest can get at the height of the growing season, &c. She knows better than to speak of all this while they are surveying, however, but while she is studying, if any think to ask she will gladly explain it to them.
2. Hermia would also like to address some of the points that Brett made about the long term safety of the structure, and Smendor's assertion that it could be a base of operations in the future. She will ask the more martial characters if they believe that the design can be improved upon to maintain their safety within or without, and lend any help she might to that purpose. It is her argument that holding the stronghold to explore from is extremely smart, given that winter is upon them and game is likely to be at best thin on the ground. Also, if there is someone with the ability to map so familiar with the area, they have to consider that the bandits who are less learned might have better knowledge, and taking to the cold ground in tents is at least equally if not more foolish than attempting to hold the camp.
3. Perceiving Kressle's boudoir to be... well, abhorrent, really, a den of decadence and unwholesome designs, she will ask Smendor and Gideon to assist her in clearing the room and removing the elaborate and lockable door. She wishes in particular to be rid of the feather bed, and might suggest that the wood that holds it together, being the only they can really spare if her appraisal of their situation is correct, might be used to fortify any windows against archers, and fire without compromising their ability to assess the situation from them in the event of an emergency situation. She will ask them to move a pair of the bunks from the common room to that room, so that it might be occupied by persons not on watch, simply to hold the area. Her intention, however, is to set up the room as a sort of study where they can use the journal, or any other medium to keep accurate track of what supplies they have remaining, of their exploration, of any events of note that pass with the intent of maintaining a record they might call upon later should things go sour, with intent to improve upon any mistakes. Essentially, she wants to establish an objective record they can revisit at another time in hopes of gaining a different perspective about their decisions.
4. With Puck Sparrow's help, or even without, it is her intention to take as accurate a survey about the inside of the structure as possible, and also clean it and remove any unsavory elements so it is less of a bandit camp whose former occupants have been eliminated and more of a fortification for the good guys that should make them feel a little more at ease. Also, without her books, or a lab to sit at, idle hands make for dark thoughts.
5. She will ask Smendor, or anyone else proficient with horses to help her "train" on one, if they can find the time, essentially so she can get used to the animal and assuming a saddle, etc. She will also volunteer to attend the animals with Smendor and take the chance to appraise their health and address any concerns that might be forthcoming in that arena.
6. Finally, when the time is appropriate she will offer a number of words and thoughts of forgiveness for being a party to soiling the beauty of the area with violence, and that The Mother hold the bodies of the fallen in her keeping and allow them to nourish and promote growth and a new understanding of the humanity, fraternity, and intimacy. She will also pray that The Mother temper her, and lend Her power to the little structure that appears to her to be so negative an influence on the hearts and minds of the group so that they might be reminded of the importance of community, and that however isolated, no one man can effectively do the same amount of work as he and his neighbors united, whatever amount of distance lie between them.
Hermia will answer any questions directed to her throughout, if anyone is interested in learning more.
Gideon is his usual quiet self, but he does what he can to be helpful. He'll clean and scout and other tasks as appropriate or as requested.
Hermia did not expect Gideon to offer to assist with the chores, but having learned early in life that tedious work goes quicker and is far more pleasant with company, speaks to him.
"I apologize that my miscalculation has brought this about," she says of the situation. "Having been an outsider for so long," she pauses and shakes her head, and the pendulum beats softly against her chest. "When you become accustomed to people moving in and out of your life, you tend to take for granted them that stay - or try ignore them if they are odious," she adds after a minute and shakes her head again.
"I have acted poorly. These walls," she gestures to the structure with a nod. "I prayed to The Mother she would allow me some respite from my confusion within them. Until then, just focusing on the simple tasks is best, I believe."
Well I know right after Brett leaves Smendor and Hermia will be going out to explore the local area. I am not sure about the others, but that was the plan we had set a while back, and they will be staying back at the fort after they are done. They will be hunting as they go looking for tree nuts, really any food items or anything that could be of some value.
Smendor is also looking for any rock outcropping for signs of ore, hard wood trees that will sell well, and more or less just walking and talking. He will have his animals with him. He will be taking the walk slow.
Are there any signs of a native population?
Smendor, this is a response to your questions below...I have a few questions of my own before I can answer them better
1. Are you formally "Exploring" the rest of the area, or just out and about... Exploring is set by a time schedule, so I need to know your plan there. Formal exploring also takes you pretty far afield of the camp, not just a mile or two away from it.
2. You are free to try using the survival skill to find food... however, this will radically slow down your rate of "exploration" as your movement speed is not halved. While you have several days worth of food in the cabins, it will not be a bad thing to "hunt" more food. But if you decide to do this, you will not realistically be "exploring" the new grid. I kind of need to know which is your preference.
3. If you are taking your animals with you, I presume that means all four horses? In which case, that will also radically be effecting your chances of succesfully hunting via survival, though you may be able to get food of the "nut and berry" stuff. I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm just saying it will take extra time... more time then exploring, and more time then just hunting... and all three will take a long time if you are going to combine all of them.
4. There seem to be no signs of any native population. This is not surprising in the least, as the "river kingdom" do not have any known settlements this far north. Other then a bandit camp or an animal track, it is likely you will find nothing. At best, you may want to keep an eye open for a place to start building your own basecamp from scratch. And if you plan on building a village/town/city/empire... you may want that area to be a little bigger then a grid of land less then 25 yards square on a map.... just a suggestion.
In the interest of restoring balance and promoting peace, Hermia devotes the time elapsing during Brett and the lady Ariarh's absence to the following:
1. "Scouting" with Smendor and whoever else agrees to follow. Hermia is looking for sign of medicinal herbs, cooking type herbs, and root type consumables should the very worst happen. Her priority is to find and harvest a few samples of previous growth in the area for further study, hoping to find some clue about the availability of water elsewise, how much sun plants at the base of the forest can get at the height of the growing season, &c. She knows better than to speak of all this while they are surveying, however, but while she is studying, if any think to ask she will gladly explain it to them.
This can be done with a basic survival roll, if you are trying to gather food and supplies. A knowledge: nature roll will also suffice if you are trying to gather data. In either case, the 'gather info" roll will take you about an hour for each, to really plumb the following terrain.
2. Hermia would also like to address some of the points that Brett made about the long term safety of the structure, and Smendor's assertion that it could be a base of operations in the future. She will ask the more martial characters if they believe that the design can be improved upon to maintain their safety within or without, and lend any help she might to that purpose. It is her argument that holding the stronghold to explore from is extremely smart, given that winter is upon them and game is likely to be at best thin on the ground. Also, if there is someone with the ability to map so familiar with the area, they have to consider that the bandits who are less learned might have better knowledge, and taking to the cold ground in tents is at least equally if not more foolish than attempting to hold the camp.
The chief concenr is really the outer wall and the inner roofs. Both of them are poorly made, a hodge-podge of damp earth and logs. As such, it is reaking of mold, fungus, and probable rot by springtime if it is not tended. The assumption on the bandits knowledge is a bold one. How wise a bandit is or isn't remains to be seen. Their wisdom and knowledge of nature may surprise you.
3.Perceiving Kressle's boudoir to be... well, abhorrent, really, a den of decadence and unwholesome designs, she will ask Smendor and Gideon to assist her in clearing the room and removing the elaborate and lockable door. She wishes in particular to be rid of the feather bed, and might suggest that the wood that holds it together, being the only they can really spare if her appraisal of their situation is correct, might be used to fortify any windows against archers, and fire without compromising their ability to assess the situation from them in the event of an emergency situation. She will ask them to move a pair of the bunks from the common room to that room, so that it might be occupied by persons not on watch, simply to hold the area. Her intention, however, is to set up the room as a sort of study where they can use the journal, or any other medium to keep accurate track of what supplies they have remaining, of their exploration, of any events of note that pass with the intent of maintaining a record they might call upon later should things go sour, with intent to improve upon any mistakes. Essentially, she wants to establish an objective record they can revisit at another time in hopes of gaining a different perspective about their decisions.
As you may have noted, Kressle's room is the best kept and most put together in the camp. The "common room" is a series of bunk beds and chests, and in the meantime filled with the usual slop of about ten drunken guys living together in the same room may have. Her's is filled with perfume, silks, and other fine clothes as well. At the very least, you would suspect she has "enlisted" Puck to keep her room clean of a purpose. None of the inner rooms have any windwos in any case. Windows are too cold to have in a log cabin, as it simply lets in/out heat/cold. There are a few benches around the camp near the walls. These are most likely places people can stand on to shoot over the 7 foot tall wall. As for destroying the bed... that remains to be seen based on how the others act. A goose down comforter is typically not cheap, so some may take issue with that.
4. With Puck Sparrow's help, or even without, it is her intention to take as accurate a survey about the inside of the structure as possible, and also clean it and remove any unsavory elements so it is less of a bandit camp whose former occupants have been eliminated and more of a fortification for the good guys that should make them feel a little more at ease. Also, without her books, or a lab to sit at, idle hands make for dark thoughts.
Puck is only too glad to help clean out the loose rubbish as well as get rid of the smell of fetid sweat, dung, urine and feces from the badnit camp and will eagerly do so.
5. She will ask Smendor, or anyone else proficient with horses to help her "train" on one, if they can find the time, essentially so she can get used to the animal and assuming a saddle, etc. She will also volunteer to attend the animals with Smendor and take the chance to appraise their health and address any concerns that might be forthcoming in that arena.
Smendor has already given you the saddle, bit and bridle belonging to the very same war horse that he claimed as his own from the group, then gave you. Though all the horses are trained for riding, as opposed to pack horses, this particular horse is trained as a military mount. This last point about attending the animals is somewhat complicated; as Smendor has taken four horse with him to both explore as well as forage for food. As such, other then Gideon's and Alaric's mount (Alaric has a fine steed, who is very well taken care of), there is little to do via taking care of the horses/animals.
6. Finally, when the time is appropriate I imagine that Hermia would commune with nature in the evening
As a priestess of a neutral power, you can choose to refresh your spells at sun-up, or sundown. However, once you make the choice, you cannot change it. If you prefer sun-up, it's sun-up. If you like sundown, it's sundown.. whatever makes you more comfortable. Please let me know your preference at this time.
This can be done with a basic survival roll, if you are trying to gather food and supplies. A knowledge: nature roll will also suffice if you are trying to gather data. In either case, the 'gather info" roll will take you about an hour for each, to really plumb the following terrain.
Hermia will roll a survival, and gather whatever appears to be interesting. She will study what she gathered later, however, so as not to make a huge ordeal of the survey to stop and look at pretty flowers which might upset Smendor.
As you may have noted, Kressle's room is the best kept and most put together in the camp. The "common room" is a series of bunk beds and chests, and in the meantime filled with the usual slop of about ten drunken guys living together in the same room may have. Her's is filled with perfume, silks, and other fine clothes as well. At the very least, you would suspect she has "enlisted" Puck to keep her room clean of a purpose. None of the inner rooms have any windwos in any case. Windows are too cold to have in a log cabin, as it simply lets in/out heat/cold. There are a few benches around the camp near the walls. These are most likely places people can stand on to shoot over the 7 foot tall wall. As for destroying the bed... that remains to be seen based on how the others act. A goose down comforter is typically not cheap, so some may take issue with that.
Hermia did notice that, but from her perspective the social stratification is abhorrent. Also, the whole... boudoir-ness of it is a mockery of romance, and love! It is a mystery, to be sure, but she is going with the assumption that whoever Kressle lay with is gonna be uh, well, scary, and she doesn't want to be thinking on that while she is studying at the only desk in the camp. As for demo, she will defer to the group (), she is vocalizing. She had no intent of destroying the mattress, just the base it was on, if it were on anything, actually, because it's a useless piece of furniture if no one sleeps in that bed.
As a priestess of a neutral power, you can choose to refresh your spells at sun-up, or sundown. However, once you make the choice, you cannot change it. If you prefer sun-up, it's sun-up. If you like sundown, it's sundown.. whatever makes you more comfortable. Please let me know your preference at this time.
Oh, it's evening all right. Pity the poor party member that happens across that when the weather is warmer.
** spoiler omitted **
"Truthfully, you confuse me a bit. It's not a bad thing, but merely an observation. Perhaps you could shed some light on a few topics. For example; I'm unsure what you mean when you say you behaved badly? Do you feel you've been neglectful in some way? Also, I'm a bit confused about how you refer to yourself and your god. You mentioned that we could call you mother, but you refer to your god as such. Is this a tenant of your faith? "
Alaric is interested in not necessarily exploring the hex's for mapping purposes but to try and find allies and notable locations such as we have found before. As an example things and places like Bokken's and any villages or landmarks he can find. He would like some company if anyone is willing but because he is not formally exploring he should be able to ride fairly quickly, giving the area a quick "once over" so to speak. He will go alone if needs be but would prefer not to.
Hermia: Alaric will be happy to discuss anything you wish to discuss. He will not leave the post undefended and as such will either wait for you and Smendor to come back or if he is going alone, make sure Gideon is there to man the defenses.
"I meddled where I ought not have, without understanding fully, and caused open conflict that may have been avoided elsewise," she explains. "And now the Lady Ry is upset with me, and she and Brett are gone."
Hermia beams a smile when you ask about her faith with warmth that can be compared to the afternoon sun on a summer's day. "The Mother is in everything. The air, the trees, the water. She cradles us and protects us,"she almost seems to sing. "And She is also in the animals, and the monsters, and men that hunt and... kill."
Balance, she reminds herself, her smile fading slightly. She scrubs the floor a bit harder, then looks up with determination. "And when we die, She takes us all, and makes us into something new. Something beautiful. We are all part of this world, and of everything in it. When we conceal ourselves from Her in these artificial shelters, we lose our way.
"We are born isolated, and raised in shelter to protect us from harm, but we are not meant to be. We are a community, one with Her, whether we realize it or not."
She nods decidedly. "I call myself 'Mother' in tribute to Her. I do Her work. Her herbs allow me to treat the trapper and his children, and his labors feed and clothe each of us. My ability to channel Her healed you, who saved me and Puck and here you are, working with us to clean this place. Together. Community."
"I meddled where I ought not have, without understanding fully, and caused open conflict that may have been avoided elsewise," she explains. "And now the Lady Ry is upset with me, and she and Brett are gone."
At that gideon smiles and chuckles slightly
"I wouldn't dwell on it, were I in your position. In time it will pass. It's possible that by their perceptions you did (he thinks a moment) ... something. However, the group does have their disagreements. In time they solve themselves with very little long term effect. Generally I will say my piece and let the subject drop. Thus far it has worked fairly well" Gideon finished the thought with a knowing smile.Hermia beams a smile when you ask about her faith with warmth that can be compared to the afternoon sun on a summer's day. "The Mother is in everything. The air, the trees, the water. She cradles us and protects us,"she almost seems to sing. "And She is also in the animals, and the monsters, and men that hunt and... kill."etc etc etc
Gideon thinks a moment than says in a calm thoughtful tone bordering on quizzical.
"I've heard of this diety before, but with a different name. I knew a hedge witch once that referd to a diety known as Menaugh with what seems to be an identical portfolio as you're mother. Perhaps Menaugh is a masculine manifestation of what you call Mother. To teach a room of students one has to present the lesson in more than one way. Perhaps, the gods look at us mortals as the teacher sees the students."His tone indicates that he doesn't necessarily believe this, but he's merely contemplating such things out loud.
Alaric is interested in not necessarily exploring the hex's for mapping purposes but to try and find allies and notable locations such as we have found before. As an example things and places like Bokken's and any villages or landmarks he can find. He would like some company if anyone is willing but because he is not formally exploring he should be able to ride fairly quickly, giving the area a quick "once over" so to speak. He will go alone if needs be but would prefer not to.
an aside, you need profession cook to cook something? since when?[/ooc]
Alaric's opinions are Alarics. You know what you know, and have guessed what you guessed, and are no doubt out exploring the surrounding land. If you wish to have more information from Alaric, no doubt you need only ask him.
As you probably know, you almost never need a skill to attempt something. But as Gideon suggests, your success is largely related to skill ranks and their modifiers. If you want to cook, cook. But you will have to prepare something "on the fly" with little to no experience. But then, even bark is edible, if you force yourself to get it down. So no doubt you can make a meal, eat it and gain nourishment from it...but will it be tasty? This is further comprimised by your lack of resources. Spices are important to good cooking, and if you don't have them, all the skill in the world can go astray.
These disadvantages for simple tasks are via difficulty penatly, of course. But unless you're trying to make a meal to "impress" someone, it probably won't matter.
Hermia brightens to hear that she is not the sole cause of the explosion.
"Menaugh?" she repeats, and then nods. "Maybe. She speaks to the creatures of the wilds, too. And through them. She is many things!"
Since it is winter, and the sun goes down earlier this far north, Hermia settles in to make supper. Given the ingredients and the lack of proper tools, it is rather simple, but warm and filling, oat porridge. She opens the jar of honey left as well, in case someone wishes to indulge. Given the tumult of last night's meal, she offers it as a conciliatory gesture.
Hermia sits down near, but not too close to her dashing hero, and speaks to him while her share of the porridge cools.
"I am sorry for having spied on you last night, and for letting my imagination mislead my judgment," she begins. "It contributed to a host of hurt feelings, which was not my intent.
"I spoke to the lady Ry last night. She... divorced me of my illusions. She seems a goodly lady, if a bit too hard for her own good. I do not know how to ease her suffering," she shakes her head.
"That is neither here nor there. Please, milord, tell me how I might be useful to you."
Translations of the Journal
Erastus 28th
Advanced to southern border of Brevoy, spied about twenty men working on contract for businessman who is building a small outpost of sorts. Men dispatched to watch and observe.
Arodus 4th
Construction continues on base camp. Primary cabin built.
Arodus 6th
Rain and mud becoming problematic, new strategy needed to formulate plan on protection from elements. Two recruits brought to camp.
Arodus 12th
Led raid against outpost. Under ownership of one “Oleg”. Robbed of gear and goods, made it personal when I took his wife’s wedding band and gave it to one of the men. This Oleg is now under our protection. Monthly tax being administered and collected now by Happs.
Arodus 18th
Secondary structure built for storage. Mud wall and trench put up; not very effective against rains. New plan to commence; Kaln was scourged today for failing to work properly; took his small finger for dereliction of duty.
Arodus 20th
Scouts have taken caravan en route to Brevoy from Ustalav. Took 20; approximate value 30 GP a piece. Four of which were fertile women, 8 virgin (six males, 2 females), and eight men. Man in Numeria offers double coin for virgin, may send contacts to him directly; miners needed in Brevoy, could send them there, or possible open connections to Ustalav.
Arodus 24th
Problem with slaves; had to hamstring all fertile women to keep them in line. Two male slaves killed; crucified one of their men as a reminder to stay in line. Scouts reported the growth of a trading outpost on southern border of Brevoy.
Arodus 28th
Sent Happs to collect monthly tax from the Oleg fellow. Should be back in five days or so. Floor boards constructed under cabins, should prevent overflow of mud and deluge from washing out support structures.
Rova 1st
Received word from Ustalav. Agent whishes to do business for trade of slaves and other valuables. Provided chest of various treasures from the world to show sincerity; extremely high value.
--- Not sure why a minor baron would wish to pay us out to import slaves from here, Numeria or Brevoy simply to stuff his coffers. Needs investigating.
Rova 3rd
Dispatch from agent of Brevoy. Due to difficulties with transport and passage to Ustalav, whishes to pay a yearly “tax”. Offer flat coin annual if we promise not to harass their caravans. Not sure; this may prove useful in long run. Need to do numbers here, determine cost breakdown of hiring, staffing lads at this place verse the cost of hitting every single caravan that comes through. A flat “tax” of the noble caravans for a promise of not being assaulted by our lads may be useful. Must send word to the Chief and see what his take is on this.
Rova 5th
Scouts dispatched with letter, but there’s been problems in the area. Trappers moved by recently; tried to take their goods, bit of a tangle. Killed them all, collected their furs and coin, but position is dangerous. Beginning construction of outlying wall or defense. Fortifying personal cabin from such attacks.
Rova 8th
Wall finished, scouts returned from Chief. Recommendation that we take the coin and the lad for hostage for more. Send to Brevoy; arrange “meeting”.
Rova 15th
Heavy flooding becoming problematic. Bridge being worked on, agents dispatched to Brevoy should have arrived by now, at least. Expecting response soon. Demanded 5,000 GP as annual tax; and personal meeting with agent of noble house to “discuss details for long term contract”.
Rova 19th
News from west; a priest with outriders is coming east. Twenty outriders and noble lord for some secret mission. Won’t offer information on the plan, but they claim it is important. Contacts traded in Ustalav succeeded! Letter on file, encoded by read.
Rova 23rd
Preparations are made for Ustalav agents. Word from the Chief that coin will be turned over to the Ustalav priest to further strengthen bonds with western lord.
--- Odd thing for the Chief to do. Why is he concerned with Ustalav lord and not Brevoy lord? Is there something else going on? Consider this later.
Rova 25th
Brevoy prince and five outriders have arrived, with coin and some pages and servants. Looks more like he is dressed for a party then a true business venture. Killed outriders, took Brevoy prince and chief bodyguard, coin and servants for slaves. Holding here for ransom, offer them all to Ustalav lord when arrives.
--- addendum: Brevoy prince NOT prince, but only squire. How a squire earned so much coin for payment of annual tax escapes me. Attempted to get in my good graces by seducing me. Had him flogged. May not be worth much for ransom then, in which case just give him to Ustalav priest.
Rova 29th
Ustalav men have come. Hard rain; bivouac outside, giving Ustalav lord my room, taking the storeroom for tonight. Ustalav priest has own slaves, claims they are for sacrifice. Gave priest all the goods and gear, and dispatched Happs to escort him east to wherever he is going. After mission instructed Happs to return to Oleg’s to collect tax.
--- Adendum: monthly tax will be delayed as Happs is under orders to take priest to borders first, than pick up tax afterwards. I don’t want any complications or pettifogging with a petty pick up of goods and gear to distract us from our purpose.
Lamashan 2nd
Caught priestess outside borders; taken her for questioning. Has document or “charter” to explore lands. May cause complications if noblemen are scouting the area. Sending word to Chief for further details. Happs returned. Executed for incompetence.
--- Addendum: Could these scouts be connected to the encroachment of Brevoy noble?
Lamashan 7th
Dispatched outriders for hunting expedition and to meet with lads at southern crossings; rains have made things complicated lately, not much business as trackers have been avoiding area. Problems with Kobolds becoming increasingly problematic.
Lamashan 9th
Word from Chief came; outriders en route to meet here. Should arrive on or about the 14th. Chief wants to find out what happened with Happs and Ustalav contact. Very unhappy at results.
There are no further entries at this time…
Alaric is interested in not necessarily exploring the hex's for mapping purposes but to try and find allies and notable locations such as we have found before. As an example things and places like Bokken's and any villages or landmarks he can find. He would like some company if anyone is willing but because he is not formally exploring he should be able to ride fairly quickly, giving the area a quick "once over" so to speak. He will go alone if needs be but would prefer not to.
Hermia: Alaric will be happy to discuss anything you wish to discuss. He will not leave the post undefended and as such will either wait for you and Smendor to come back or if he is going alone, make sure Gideon is there to man the defenses.
Propper "Exploration" takes the same time it does to "map" something. You are welcome to do both, or choose to do only map or seek a particular thing in the hex (such as a home or village, or what have you), but you will not be able to find such a thing without going the "explore speed". As such, mapping is only a choice, not necessity, but you do get XP for mapping, and you do get an updated map with the hexes you explored.
I do also understand that for RP purposes you may wish to avoid actually making a map, but it's completely up to you.
Wait, it is literally written in this style? Calculated, without emotion? Why did... OH! wow... wow. Puzzle puzzle indeed.