Day 11: Ulfgard will try to find a contact of the 9th Legion and starts to explain his quests so far and his deeds in defence of Trunau to improve his status with the faction!
"This sounds like a perilious journey. Heck good that Torag favors the bold! I am game. I can´t wait to bash that Grenseldek kneecaps!"
Ragnir spits when he hears about a giant, "Nothin' I be likin' more'n kickin' a giant's arse." Ragnir grins at Ulfgard, "Ye only be gettin' one kneecap. T'other be mine."
During the days, Ragnir will help with rebuilding the town's defenses.
Haskyll takes the time to wander around and sell things for the party, and then heal all those that still require healing in the party.
Aye, I can be seeing as how you want payback for the town, I am in.
I go where he goes, Mordea points to Haskyll, then remains silent.
Of course I'll be going. You'll probably do it wrong if Ah wasn't there.
Day Thirteen
"Well remind me not to piss on druids shoes. At least if there are a few!"
Anga reveals the information above to the party.
Before leaving she will scribe several scrolls, details in discussion
Don't know much about will o' wisps except they are dangerous. And like swamps.
Anga shrugs
Maybe?
"Well, can Willowisps still speak? Maybe we can remind them of duty and honor.... Well maybe!"
No idea if they can speak. I have never run into one
Evil creatures that feed on the strong psychic emanations of terrified creatures, will-o’-wisps delight in tempting gullible travelers into dangerous situations. In the wild lands where they’re most common, will-o’-wisps favor simple tactics like positioning themselves over cliffs or quicksand where they can easily be mistaken for lanterns (especially if they can set their traps near actual signal lanterns), allowing them to lure unwary travelers into perilous situations. On rare occasions, will-o’-wisps seeking easier pickings will move into a city and take up residence near gallows or follow along invisibly behind an army in order to harvest the fear of the dying men; why the vast majority choose to remain in the swamps where victims are scarce remains a mystery. Will-o’-wisps only use their electric shock ability under extreme duress, preferring to let other creatures or hazards claim their victims while they float nearby and feast.
Will-o’-wisps can glow any color they choose, but are most frequently yellow, white, green, or blue. They can even vary their luminosity to create patterns—many will-o’-wisps are fond of creating vague skull-like shapes in their glow to further terrify their victims. Their actual bodies are barely visible globes of translucent spongy material 1 foot across and weighing 3 pounds, capable of emitting light from every surface. A will-o’-wisp’s light is approximately as bright as a torch, and though they do not seem to use sound to communicate with each other, they hear perfectly and can vibrate their bodies rapidly to simulate speech.
While vilified by most other sentient creatures, will-o’-wisps are actually quite intelligent, if utterly alien in their reasoning. Sometimes organized into groups called “strings,” their society and goals remain complete unknowns to outsiders, as do their origins, though they have sometimes been known to strike bargains with those who can offer them vast quantities of appropriately frightened victims. As will-o’-wisps do not age, and are effectively immortal unless killed by violence, particularly ancient will-o’-wisps can serve as fantastic repositories of knowledge from the ancient past, although convincing one of these cruel creatures to cooperate with an interrogation can be a trick in and of itself.
High Defender Halgara seeks out the party around mid-morning, "The Half-Orc Skreed is to be executed for the murder of Rodrik Kurst this evening. He is to be hanged. He wore a heart-shaped locket. He has requested to wear it at his execution. It is linked to another. It may be a statement. It may be a mistake. We are inclined to let him wear it."
I have no issues with that, I cannot speak for the others however.
"Just check that she can´t use it to cheat the short fall and sudden stop!"
"The locket should not interfere with the execution. It should, however, notify whoever is on the other end to this criminal's just demise." It is clear the High Defender is wanting to send a message.
the half orc is a murderer and scum. Why cater to her whims. She didn't.
"Agree. But whoever is on the other end of this locket will likewise know that this scum was not successful and is DEAD," Halgara has a flash of anger. "They need to know the folly of attacking Trunau. This town has survived and WILL survive. Afterwards we will return the locket to you."
Anga sighs. Kaos, laddie, on your worst day you wouldn't be as bad as that one. she looks at Halgara.
the orcs and their allies will find out the town has survived before long anyway, and they are stupid, so they will attack again eventually regardless of past history. And as long as this town has stout hearts and strong walls, it'll hold. Ah think this is a risk. Execute her and be done.
Skreed Gorewillow is executed that evening without the locket.
Day Fourteen
High Defender Halgara gave the party good directions to find Captain Raag Bloodtusk's Keelboat. It was an uneventful journey of about eighteen miles due North of Trunau. When you arrive you give Halgara's letter of introduction to the Captain.
Bloodtusk’s riverboat is a large, modified keelboat with a sturdy wooden hull. Assembled from the scavenged wrecks of several other vessels, the riverboat looks ungainly, with a wide forecastle and tower-like structure at the bow, and a high aft-castle at the stern. The boat is 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a draft of 10 feet. It has a single mast with a large sail as well as rowing banks.
Bloodtusk's first mate is a tough Half-Orc known as Coxswain. There are eight other Half-Orcs crew members on board.
"This will be no pleasure cruise. You will row. You will work and you will fight. I would say if necessary, but it will be necessary. It will take many days to reach your destination," Bloodtusk says in a matter-of-fact manner.
"We will leave at first light," Bloodtusk says.
Day Fifteen
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Kaos will give a node to the captain. Then after the captain leaves Kaos will look to the party. Well this should be fun.
I believe I will head below and see how I far at rowing.
Looking around Ulfgard will move towards the forecastle. Finding a decent spot he binds most of his weapons, just keeping the hammer and prepares to guide to boat.
.
The fresh air and soft rumbling aid the dwarf to get easy pinpoints to guide the ship.
Anga will try sounding
Haskyll goes down to attempt to help with the cooking.
and makes a passable, but not good meal.
Ragnir will try his hand at fishing:
"Dwarves weren't meant ta be sailin'. Much less fishin'."
Being barefoot is Mordea's preferred condition. She gleefully removes her high soft boots and climbs effortless to the crows nest to lookout.
At first light the keelboat begins heading generally east down the Kestrell River.
Kaos ably mans an oar. The other Half-Orc Oarsmen ignore the chatty big human. But they do note his strength.
Ulfgard has an uncanny ability to negotiate hazards. Early on he negotiated a potentially damaging log in the water.
Mordea ably ascends to the crows-nest to keep watch.
Not long after the boat takes off that two Half-Orcs and Ragnir begin to fish with lines and nets. You manage to net several fish into the net. As Ragnir leans over the rails to haul up the fish, the railing gives way.
Ragnir hears the railing crack as his weight hits it, and tries to catch his balance on the non broken part of the rail, which gives way as well, and he plunges into the water, but manages to thrash around furiously enough that he stays afloat and swims clumsily for shore. Once ashore he takes up his shield, and waraxe and spits on the ground, "Alricht ye overgrown lizards, let's tussle."
Without hesitation Ulfgard grabs the closest rope, takes one end between his teeth and throws the rope to Ragnir.
Ragnir stretches out to the fullest extinct of his squatty body and barely manages to grab the rope.
Anga, if on deck, grabs her crossbow and loads it, moving to a position she can aim covering fire from.
If not on deck she'll look up from cooking and say
what's happening on deck? and move on deck to see.
I have no idea what is happening up there.
He grabs his spear and crossbow, and heads for the deck as well.
Anga recovers her crossbow on the way up (she'd keep it handy).