Memory Lane PBP (Inactive)

Game Master Winterwalker

Flavor text:
Dark clouds still swirl overhead, gathering and intensifying. Not a drop of rain has fallen however, a stark contrast to the massive charcoal colored clouds.

The party currently makes their way downstream, their surroundings look much the same no matter which direction they look to. A dense swamp filled with twisted tree's fighting for light grow at broken angles.

The river you ride on opens up as you pass the4 day by staring at the same scenes over, and over. Forty five feet wide at least in most places it's pockmarked occasional with a small sandbar you need to navigate around.

The day is also hot, not unbearably hot, but uncomfortably so. It does nothing to work the knots out of your poor sleep conditions from last night. The sting of every mosquito and parasite the swamp threw at you seems to ache and demand you to give it attention.

Plops and splashes can be heard from nearly every angle and direction as snakes lazily fall from tree branches into the water, or frogs (of the normal size and variety) pop their heads up to see what your raft is all about.

Much of your day is spent simply floating downstream towards the unknown, hunger gnaws at your insides now.

Today's results:

"Ye'll ha'e ta do better dan dat clouds, if ye be wishing to scare the likes of Caith Crunnelonn!"

Caith keeps both hands on his axe however just in case the clouds do try anything, all the while snacking on some trail rations mixed with food from the feast prior.

As night begins to approach, I suggest that those more familiar with the ways of the wilderness might be on the lookout for a good camping ground.

I eat a ration and then pulling my cloak over my head and try and get some sleep while the bugs have retreated some.

If you need help oaring the raft wake me

Simn has decided, over the course of the day, that he really dislikes the swamp. Nor does it show any signs of coming to an end. If this continues, he's going to start getting a little worried about their food situation. He certainly hadn't packed for an extended period in the wilderness, and he has no idea of how to go about harvesting the swamp's 'bounty'.

"Probably not a good idea to keep going overnight," he remarks, "Too much chance of hitting something in the dark."

As Grenep guides them along the river, hecalls on his training (1d20+7=11 1d20+7=26) to try and spot anything edible or helpful along the way. As the day moves on her also starts looking for a suitable campground.

Not sure if that was supposed to be 2 rolls or not. Also, being a swamp, he's aware that there's a good chance of finding rare and/or special herbs and such and is on the lookout for those as well. If would need a 3rd roll please feel free to roll it yourself GM

As Grenep guides them along the river, hecalls on his training (1d20+7=11 1d20+7=26) to try and spot anything edible or helpful along the way. As the day moves on her also starts looking for a suitable campground.

Not sure if that was supposed to be 2 rolls or not. Also, being a swamp, he's aware that there's a good chance of finding rare and/or special herbs and such and is on the lookout for those as well. If would need a 3rd roll please feel free to roll it yourself GM

I'm combining that roll into 2 skills:

Spot: Yes, you do spot something (details later today, as this is the start of tonight's encounter.)

Survival: The challenge with the survival roll is increased greatly due to not having adequate space to search out game (being on a raft and all) however your roll was high enough to provide 1/2 the normal gathered food a roll would normally produce.

Herbs: Yes, allow me to find my herb charts so I can be specific, but the swamp holds many common and uncommon herbs.

Proud to be able to display his Nature skills, Grenep shares out the food stuffs he'd found that day. There was just enough to feed everyone. I think?

As he munches he smiles contentedly that all could eat without any animals being harmed or killed.

Proud to be able to display his Nature skills, Grenep shares out the food stuffs he'd found that day. There was just enough to feed everyone. I think?

As he munches he smiles contentedly that all could eat without any animals being harmed or killed.

Enough for 3 people, given the limit hunting range (the raft) which is still impressive. you were pulling snakes from low hanging branches, snatching frogs from river banks, a stray fish perhaps caught with a poke from one of the raft poles used to steer it etc.

The sun fully sets, placing the PCs on edge as the creatures of the night again stir and move with a rhythm set to a silent song.

Night: (any other day "actions" need to be marked as day time stuff if you didnt get a post submitted in time.)

While floating aimlessly downstream on darkened waters, a light breaks through the gloom of night.

A little island of dry land rises out of the
stagnant water. The light comes from a fire that
forms the center of a small camp. In the flickering
light, you can clearly see a colorful gypsy wagon,
two old mares, three gaily-clad children, and an old
woman. A moment later, two men step into view.

One is old and thin, the other young and strong. They
settle themselves beside the fire. Then the old man
looks up, directing the gaze of his good eye upon
you. The other eye is milky and blank. The man
smiles and motions with his withered hand, inviting
you to join his group

Catching the attention of his allies, if no one objects, Grenep starts steering the raft towards the island

"Oh great, wandering folk. Keep your valuables hidden. But a fire and food would do wonders about now."

Alvartus has consumed his only ration.

Above is in character, obviously.

I raise a hand in greeting as we pull closer to the wandering band.

"Salutations! This may seem like an odd question but we are in need of directions... Could you be telling us where we are?"

It is easy enough to guide the makeshift raft to the shore. The area here seems to be a bit more solid than where you landed from the flaming wreckage that was one Charles ship.

Scene: Huddled around a cooking for are 3 adults, 2 ancient looking ones at that, Dressed in what would amount to "gypsy" clothing. Colorful and noisy with medals and charms, they make various clinks and noises as they move.

Three small children play about the fire, dancing and having fun. They are also dressed in the colorful, loose fitting clothing, but seem to pay you no mind.

There is a closed wagon, tied to a couple horses not far from the campfire. The horses look like they are still tethered to the wagon but resting for the night.

An ancient pair of humans smile and wave you over, inviting you to sit with them. The old man smiles as he sets his good eye in your direction. Just as ancient is a plumply round woman with laughing eyes who sits to his side.

Three children run and dance, playing around the campfire as the other man among them watches on, clearly in an agitated mood, he flicks long strands of his raven black hair out of his face as he nervously pulls at his equally black mustache.

Younger adult: "We tally here to long as it is, we should be on our way, away from here while we can."

Older Man: "Mind your manners Carloni, the swamp has brought us guests."

Older Woman: "I'll get some more bowls, please strangers, come, sit with us and share some food. You look as if you could use a rest."

Older Man: "Come, share our food, we have plenty. Share the fire we have until morning comes. Perhaps even if there is time..." he says with a sparkle in his eye. "...we will have time for a fortune or two."

"Thank you good people," I say, "Your hospitality is most appreciated. But tell me, where is this swamp, for our party came here in no usual way and we are in need of direction."

Old Scarengi: "This is my wife Ryna, and my son Carloni, those are his children over there, and I am Old Scarengi. You are in the swamp that lies close to the village Marais d'Tarascon. As a matter of fact you are not far from it at all. But it is not a place to visit on a night such as this."

Under his breath Carloni adds: "Better to stay in the swamp."

Ryna: "To speak of even is to invite it to dinner."

"Aye, Me mates and I could sure use da company, we be sailing on a thin piece of wood all day, and I could use the time to stan don solid land and a good meal."

"The name is Caith Crunnelonn, these be me new friends..."
I introduce the players and take a seat near the fire and warm myself and hope there be meat involved.

"A pleasure to meet you all," Simn says enthusiastically, "I must admit, the swamp gets to you after a while. I'll be glad to spend the night on dry land."

Sensing the a possible evil, perhaps something worthy of my quest, I say to the older couple, "I am a servant of the Swift Sword and the battle against darkness is my mission? What is wrong in this village that you speak of? And is it far from here? That is, would it be possible to make the journey there in the morning?"

"Praise to all the gods in earshot! A hot meal and a dry bed!"

Kavelin is all politeness and smiles to these people, and acts as if every small kindess they offer is a lifesaving gesture. He will sit and eat, working the knots from his shoulders and listen to whatever the people have to say to Muerdon.

I sit to the side of the fire quietly listening to the back and forth, eating a small amount of offered food.

Alvartus lurks at the edge of the firelight, leaning against a wagon or tree if possible. He licks his lips at the sight of a decent meal, but is hesitant to join the gypsies.

"Must be serious trouble in the village if a people used to the swamp are afraid. Or maybe it's just superstition?"

Ryna notices the hesitant party member and balls her fists into her hips as she admonishes him.
Ryna: "Sit, eat, we won't bite you."

The younger man agian quips under his breath as he rolls his eyes.

Carloni: "We won't anyway, but if your going into town at night I'd watch out."

The old man turns his 1 good eye on the cleric, and nods slightly to an unspoken question and answer.

They refuse to speak about the evils during dinner, and while the children are awake.

They do freely share a fine, warm, meal. A thick and meaty soup, spice baked breads, and some hard cheese. They have no alcohol on hand Sorry Dwarf but do offer some somewhat freshly squeezed juice.

After the meal the children are brought into the large wagon for bed, it is then that another person you have not yet met joins the circle.

The door at the back of the wagon opens to reveal a shapely young woman with dark, expressive eyes.

She smiles shyly, then settles nearby, beside the fire. “This,” Scarengi proclaims proudly, “is my beautiful daughter Valana. She will tell your fortune.”

Valana gazes at each of you in turn, with the firelight shining in her large, black eyes.

“The trouble began when I cast the cards for that quiet and lost young man,” she explains sadly. “Perhaps it will end with another casting.”

She holds a deck of cards in her lap and a small piece of black silk in her hands. Then, after gazing once again into your eyes, she drops the cards one by one onto the smooth silk.

Photo of the Cards Drawn (image file)

“Three rows down by three rows across, the cards shall be drawn. Row one your past, row two your present and row three your future.”

She flips the first card in the first row over: The Demon's Lantern

"This card represents what already happened in the past, it is misaligned, meaning there is an opportunity or a guide that will arrive at a perfect moment to show the way. Have you had such a guide already? Was some disaster averted? It seems so."

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She flips the second card in the first row over: The Locksmith

“The Locksmith, it is a true match no less! You have already received the tools needed to unlock your destiny. The locksmith does not provide you with the insight as to how or where to use them, but you already have the key. This card also represents a strange, magical, or ancient object.”

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She flips the third card in the first row over: The Eclipse

She pauses and looks to the Servant of the Swift sword quickly then back down to the cards.

“Another true match. This card represents self-doubt and loss of purpose. This card afflicts those with faith in the divine, and their talents can wane under stress. It can also indicate a loss of way along a path, and that seems to ring truer to me.”

“That was your past, now for the future.” She skips the middle row, that of the present, and turns over the future cards one by one.

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She flips the first card in the third row over: The Uprising

“Your Future - A neutral card, you will be caught up in the clutches of something more powerful than you are. The crown held high represents an overthrowing of a leader of some sort.”

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She flips the second card in the third row over: The Beating

“This card is misaligned, it represents finding strength while under attack from all sides. This element of the future is unclear though.”

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She flips the third card in the third row over: The Betrayal

“One closer to you than you think hides an evil heart and will seek to betray you when most opportune. It is partially misaligned and could also foretell a twisting of the heart by envy, greed, or lust.”

She then eyes the party again, the dying firelight flickering in her dark eyes and turns over the next card.

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She flips the first card in the second row over: The Dance

“Your present, it advises staying in perfect step.” She pauses to look at Alvertus and smiles. She speaks in your direction Alvertus. “Knowing your place in the pattern of the universe, the greater good, those that step out of place face peril.”

She then skips the middle card and turns over the last card in the middle row.

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She flips the third card in the second row over: The Sickness

“The Sickness… sadly, another true match. Plague, Pestilence, Famine, and Disease, you will face all of these in the future. You face those who’s very soul, or souls, is corrupted. Some one is calling upon evil forces… but who?”

She again pauses before turning over the last card.

"Let us see who."

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She flips the last card, the middle card, in the second row over: The Lost

“The lost one has called you!” Valana gasps. Each member of her family hastily makes a protective gesture.

“The dead will walk with the coming storm, and you must find a way to put them to rest. If you cannot, the rain will turn to blood! It will drown you—you and all of Marais d'Tarascon.”

Scarengi quickly ushers his wife and daughter into the wagon. “No charge for your fortune,” the old man adds hastily. “It is time to rest after the adventures of the day. Be our guests and sleep beside the fire.”

Nothing the PCs do can stop Scarengi and his family from retiring. Only Carloni remains outside, settling upright into the driver's seat of the wagon with a heavy cloak around him. He closes his eyes as if to sleep.

As the PCs begin to settle for the night, they see Valana's shapely form outlined in the wagon doorway.

She speaks barely above a whisper, but the
PCs can hear her clearly.

“Beware the madman,” she says.

She then adds very slowly. “Beware …his …blood.”

Then the door closes and Valana is gone.

I check my belongings in case I was glamored.

"Bah! 'Tis a tale of woe indeed. Someone needs to be fixing this, and We thinks that may be We. What ye thinking, Muerdon?"

"Also, we be needed a clear leader if we be going to battle, someone with da clear head and all to follow orders, it not be a good 'thang to be taking orders from two different leaders, if Ye 'ere where Me be coming from."

"Me thinking we need a vote on 'dis."

"I have a leader already, the will of my god," I say with a smile, "but your point is well taken. I plan on traveling to this village these folks hint at in only hushed, fearful whispers, for it seems certain that there is something evil afoot. If there are companions willing to make the same journey for the same reason, I will gladly join them and if there is one whom we each think is best equipped to make strategic decisions for us, I will consent to listen to their wisdom."

"Yet, I am thinking perhaps we each have different talents and each might be better equipped to guide us through different trials. Myself, I am well trained for battle and fighting the minions of the dark. But I have no head it appears for overland travel."

Your stuff seems in place Caith, nothing is missing.

Follows orders means trusting who gives them, and I am not sure anybody here qualifies just yet. Pick who you want as a leader, and if his orders seem sensible then I'll follow them.

Eyes each member of the party

"I would agree that leadership is best earned. Still and all, are we all in agreement on traveling together to this village?"

Grenep pipes up in his deep yet soft voice "If people need help there we should probably help them, right?"

Caith mubles to himself a bit, but speaks up.

"Aye. I wasn't nominating myself for da job, hell's no. Me be working much better when directed. Tis a shame about the Paladin though, the swamp be dangerous, but this town sounds more so. He may have made a good leader, what with his primping and such at the church."

"Could of been anyone one of us eh?"

"With all Ye respect, Me think Me be following you Muerdon. Or at least, taking Me orders from Ye anyway. Ye head's on straight, got a god or two at your back, and no offense meant - but I followed Magi and Lockpicks in the past. Never does turn out well in the long run."

"Corse Me be a Dwarf, and we fight different than them, that's all I be meaning."

Then he turns to the Half Orc.

"Aye son, 'Tis the right thing to do when ye can. We need to be fixing their hurt if possible. So says the Father, so Me be doing it."

"The undead aren't exactly my area of expertise, but if the group is set on traveling that way, I'm with the rest of you."

"Most undead ain't to much for those prepared such as we. Goblins be smarter then them. It's the smart ones that give ye trouble. Stick behind Me axe, it'll be clearing a path should those soulless try to get in our way."

Caith spits on the ground in disgust, then takes out a sharpening stone and starts grinding down the dull edge of his axe to a new sheen of sharpness.

"These folk, don't seem much of the fighting kind, didn't even see a dagger on the lot of 'em. So Me be guessing they won't be heading back for a ride into town." Caith gruffs. "Best be getting some rest then, we got a walk in the morning."

"You can count on me for first watch, I need time for that meal to digest anyway or Me and my stomach get cranky."

I gather then that we rest (with guards) and then in the morning head towards this village.

Very well.

Strangely, and even though you may try not too, something forces you all to fall asleep.

None can resist, though absolutely nothing seems to happen during the night other than the absence of the caravan when you all stir in the morning.

"Did anyone think to get directions before we all fell asleep," I say in the morning as I put on my sword and armor.

I take the time to say my morning prayers, then rising with a stretch, I take stock of the swamp, listening to its sounds, searching the sky for signs of the weather.

"Did anyone think to get directions before we all fell asleep," I say in the morning as I put on my sword and armor.

I take the time to say my morning prayers, then rising with a stretch, I take stock of the swamp, listening to its sounds, searching the sky for signs of the weather.

Basic directions were given during the night, even if I didn't point that out as obviously as I should have.

"So who's making breakfast," I ask hoepfully.

We still around?

I am... but the story seems a bit stuck... :)

I agree, sorry this didn't work out better. I'll be restarting it perhaps in the future but for now it's closed.

I think we were just waiting for something to happen or move us along?

Personally I was starting to get into the game and would like to see the story continue...

Fair enough, if your all still in I'll continue it. If everyone is still interested in going on I'll gladly get it going at a faster pace. If your still in, let me know here and I'll fill some spots and get it moving again.

I'm in

I'm in. Apologies for the lack of posts, I seem to have missed the resurrection. Still, I'm paying attention now, so that shouldn't happen again.

"Have some breakfast Simn," I ask, having done what I could to forage something up when nobody else leaped forward to volunteer.