You all have gathered at one of the Mouth Cairns tucked in the shadow of a hulking metallic structure along the Wander. These shallow, circular hollows— each marked by a short, round wall built from the jaws of dead Peregrines—are considered among the few safe places along this stretch of the route. Those who enter a bone circle must give some promise of their good intent to the slain lest the dead mouths awake and cast their retribution. Even those who don’t believe in the so-called Slaytongue may find themselves at the end of a weapon if they try to break the peace here.
Still, you have likely heard the rumor that something’s attacking even those sequestered in the cairns. Travel through the area is more dangerous than usual. Others camping in and around the Mouth Cairns have heard similar stories.
Galahad had only gotten to the Mouth Cairn a few hours prior, but it was clear that people were more on edge than they usually were. He knew why, of course. Rumors circulating that folks had been attacked, even in the Cairns. People were talking about Slaytongue, but Galahad's shin was on numenera activating erratically in the area. At least it would be, if he had any shim left.
"You never know what sorts of things can be unearthed with just a slight breeze. Some animal eating a cypher that looks like food. Bizarre numeneric resonance. So many things we don't know about what's right under our feet... that has to be it," Galahad thought, staring at the fire.
Amadeus walked into the small settlement late at night, he had been walking for a long time and was absolutely determined to sleep in a shelter tonight. The local Aeon Priest had been performing his duties exactly as he was supposed to, so there was no need to do anything on his part.
He had noticed while walking through the town that his old mentor Dol-Zon, the one who had first taught him how to swing a sword without cutting his legs was there. He hadn't let nostalgia get in the way of his duties as a Knight, but since the Priest wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary, a side trip was not out of turn. At the mention of traveling along the Way, Dol-Zon had said that there had been more attacks than usual, even on those in places previously believed safe, and had asked Amadeus to look into it.
The next morning Amadeus followed his exact morning routine.
First check your surroundings. Then do your stretches, unarmed forms, and meditations. Strap on the armor. Double-check each strap, the weapons can wait. First the left arm. Move to your right. Next is the shield. Put it on, basic blocking forms. Good. Check the blades. Broadsword is good, there are no nicks. Basic forms, check the weight. Good. Sheath the broadsword and strap on your shield. Last is the greatsword. No nicks, basic forms. Everything is good.
Amadeus set out to find the Cairn Dol-Zon had told him about.
A man decked in hides, furs and scavenged equipment crouches low against a cairn wall, a helm fashioned of a broken hound's skull on his head. His skin is a dark olive, marked with tattoos and scars. On his feet are form-fitting boots of a non-reflective black material, revealing his long and finger-like toes. Silently he marks all who enter or leave the cairn, idly pulling a hand back and forth along the jawbones of the dead. He says little to engage his fellow pilgrims, the better to keep his ears open.
Dead pilgrims mean an opportunity for shins. No concrete reports yet, but the mood of fear sings of opportunity. If the drunks at the Fourth were right and this is a mature maffedet, the great cat with the stinging poison tail and light-bending pelt, it could make my career. If only a talkative pilgrim would point me in the right direction...
Callidus had been doing so well, starting to make a place for himself, building up a stash of shin, cyphers, and necessities. Maybe one day he would be an actual above-board citizen of somewhere ... but in his latest endeavor he had stolen from the wrong family. Just a simple Catseye Lens ... but Valeri "Globus" Glugech was no-one to be trifle with. Callidus was to be made an example of ... hang him for all the other Slyer's to see. Callidus didn't even see it coming, the next thing he knew he was on the floor of that Peregrine dive breathing drit, on the edge of life when that dumb-ass Jack stepped in and saved his life. With what that Jack, Galahad, did to a couple of Glugech thugs a simple death now looked quite appealing.
Galahad was not even aware how deep he was in it. The Jack was already on his way to the Mouth Cairn, some drivel about finding treasures in the drit so Callidus made up some story to tag along. While Callidus was not pleased with the "Globus" Glugech situation, knowing he could never come back to this town, he would never speak his mind to Galahad. Galahad knew his secret. Years before Callidus had needed someone to run the bootstrap and seed the encryption for his cerebral-fuse. Had Callidus been able to afford a legitimate fusing this wouldn't be a problem, but now Galahad could hold this over him forever. The price of back-alley fusing.
Now, they were at one of the Mouth Cairn's with all the other dead-eyed birds ... trying to blend.
Just another slack-jawed Peregrine here, looking for "salvation" ... yeah right, we'll be lucky to find dinner.
Galahad gave the place a good once-over, searching for any obvious signs of trouble. Brushing the drit off of the drab clothes he wore for travel, he turned to Callidus.
"He's being awfully dour. I wonder what's up," he thought.
"What are you so bummed about?" Galahad asked, needlessly cheery.
"I dunno' maybe because we're sitting in a ring of human f'ing jaw-bones and that's considered safe ... "
"Aw, you know people will believe anything. You sensing any numeneric activity in your ol' metal bones? I can't imagine the scraggly pack of broken hounds we encountered on the way over here are the cause of all the fuss I've been hearing."
Amadeus left a glass shin at the wall as a symbol of his good intentions, looking up he saw a pair of men talking.
As good a place to start as any, I suppose.
"I dunno' maybe because we're sitting in a ring of human f'ing jaw-bones and that's considered safe ... "
Would you prefer it was a single large jawbone of some long-dead creature with swords coming out of its head? Because that town's about a month's travel thataway.
The armored glaive gestures vaguely back toward the central area of the Steadholt. His voice is deep and gravelly, like he's unused to speaking at normal volumes and is restraining himself from yelling.
Nasir privately cringed in his position against the low wall, hearing the familiar voice.
Wonderful. Some fools sly their whole lives with no problem; I do it once and it keeps coming back to haunt me.
"Neither will be taking a nip any time soon. Whatever's outside the cairns and not bound by the Peregrines' geas, well.... different story.", says the savage-looking customer near the wall.
The camp is mostly peaceful, with about a dozen travelers sharing the sleeping and cooking space. There is no light swarm, but there are stars and glowglobes and a little drink, and the weather in the lee of the structure is dry and passable. In the early evening, you hear some disgruntled talk about the lack of a light swarm and a few whispered tales of the Iron Wind coming into the area. But it’s only when the conversation turns toward a recent rash of deaths in the Mouth Cairns that the group grows restless.
"By the Amber Pope himself, it is just stupid rumors," insists one old man, both palms and the exposed length of his arms covered in elaborate bloodscar.
"My mother saw it with her own eyes," says another, younger man, who points at a woman sleeping along the edge of the hollow and then makes the circle of augmentation with his fingers. "She has mech eyes, and trust me, she sees everything." There is nervous laughter from the group. Most everyone has a mother,after all, and remembers her impossible eyesight, augmented or not.
"Likely not human at all," says a third traveler, and a fourth and fifth agree.
Nasir perks up and walks over to the conversing travelers.
"You.", he says brusquely, pointing to the young man,"What did your mother see? How long ago and where?"
The young man looks at Nasir in irritation. "Who are you? You look and smell like an Ithsyn," the young man loudly exclaims drawing the attention of the other pilgrims.
Nasir curls his lip.
"And you look like you wouldn't be throwing insults around if you had to back them up. I am Nasir, a hunter. And I'm willing to pay for information."
Social roll:
Callidus, leaning back, watches the verbal sparring bemusedly. "Oh come on bird ... tell us your mother's story ... entertain us."
Nasir curls his lip.
"And you look like you wouldn't be throwing insults around if you had to back them up. I am Nasir, a hunter. And I'm willing to pay for information."Social roll: 1d20
"Nasir, the hunter, ha, more like Nasir the bumbler or Nasir the fool" say an unfortunately familiar voice behind you, You recognize the voice of one of your fellow bounty hunters you has never liked you. "Don't tell him nuttin boy, He's probably scouting for those who be killing us poor pilgrims."
An angry grumble starts from the pilgrims in the cairn.
"I do love being entertained. Won't you regale us with your story?"
social assist
"I do love being entertained. Won't you regale us with your story?"
1d20 social assist
The crowd grows silent as the rich, cultured voice if Galahad captures their attention. One of the peregrines exclaims "You'se that wuxia performer ain't you? I saw your show. You be amazing. Can you'se do part of it now. I gots shins to pay with." The other pilgrims gather around and add their money.
Once Galahad performs a bit of wuxia, the young man relates his story. "My mom was getting some water for a bit of cooking a couple of nights ago when we were stopped at another cairn for the night. On her way back from the well she saw what looked like 5 or 6 skulkers running away from the camp. The other pilgrims that had been at the camp were gone (even the little ones)"
Nasir curls his lip.
"And you look like you wouldn't be throwing insults around if you had to back them up. I am Nasir, a hunter. And I'm willing to pay for information."Social roll: 1d20
"Nasir, the hunter, ha, more like Nasir the bumbler or Nasir the fool" say an unfortunately familiar voice behind you, You recognize the voice of one of your fellow bounty hunters you has never liked you. "Don't tell him nuttin boy, He's probably scouting for those who be killing us poor pilgrims."
An angry grumble starts from the pilgrims in the cairn.
Nasir fumes, trying not to visibly grind his teeth and stay as cool as possible.
" 'Us poor pilgrims' is it now, Elochaid? Last I heard, you had nothing but disdain for, how did you put it? "Slack-jawed gawkers on the Wander"? Fine then. Tell us all exactly what's out there and how exactly I could be spying on the Peregrines by offering good shins for information. What's in it for me to do something so ridiculous?""And you might as well tell us about your way with women, while we're listening to make-believe stories."
Social roll to avoid a tar and feathering:
Galahad is happy to show off his physical performance skills in an attempt to cool the hotheads.
"I dont really believe that stuff, but id hate to find out it's true..." Galahad thinks of the Slaytongue beliefs.
He will borrow a quarterstaff from one of the birds to improve his minor performance, if they have one, not wanting to disturb the peace by drawing a blade.
" 'Us poor pilgrims' is it now, Elochaid? Last I heard, you had nothing but disdain for, how did you put it? "Slack-jawed gawkers on the Wander"? Fine then. Tell us all exactly what's out there and how exactly I could be spying on the Peregrines by offering good shins for information. What's in it for me to do something so ridiculous?""And you might as well tell us about your way with women, while we're listening to make-believe stories."
Social roll to avoid a tar and feathering: 1d20=2
Luckily for Nasir the crowd is quite entertained by the efforts of Galahad and ignore Nasir. However, he is quietly shunned by most even as his rival, Elochaid, is feted like a hero.
Fists clenched, Nasir finds himself an isolated spot to fume.
As Nasir approaches Amadeus cocks his head slightly, then almost immediately suppresses it.
Oh, it's that one. Well, can probably trust him to be out for the shins at any rate.
During Galahad's show, Amadeus stands to the side, scanning the crowd.
Callidus shakes his head at the festivities and starts scanning the squatters for a mark, noting those with tech, those with abundant food, those that are careless or unaware. While he would likely honor the pact within the bone circle, information was power and he hoped to have as much of it if he ran into any of them again on the Wander.
Galahad finishes his little show with a bow, and gives the quarterstaff back to its owner before collecting the shin that a few of the birds wanted to spare for him.
Turning to the man with the story, Galahad asks "What cairn? What direction from there did the skulkers go?"
Callidus shakes his head at the festivities and starts scanning the squatters for a mark, noting those with tech, those with abundant food, those that are careless or unaware. While he would likely honor the pact within the bone circle, information was power and he hoped to have as much of it if he ran into any of them again on the Wander.
No one looks to have much tech except for Elochaid who wanders off into the semi-darkness with 2 other young men. You get the feeling that Elochaid is likely carrying Cyphers.
As Nasir approaches Amadeus cocks his head slightly, then almost immediately suppresses it.
Oh, it's that one. Well, can probably trust him to be out for the shins at any rate.
During Galahad's show, Amadeus stands to the side, scanning the crowd.
Scanning the crowd you notice that three young men separate themselves from the rest and move to a darker area of the Cairn.
Galahad finishes his little show with a bow, and gives the quarterstaff back to its owner before collecting the shin that a few of the birds wanted to spare for him.
Turning to the man with the story, Galahad asks "What cairn? What direction from there did the skulkers go?"
It's another one of the Mouth Cairns. It's half a days hard walk closer to Cylion Basin. The skulkers were headed north into the wilds. The skulkers disappeared quickly though into the darkness so they may have moved in a different direction after that.
Fists clenched, Nasir finds himself an isolated spot to fume.
As you sulk, you notice Elochaid give you a hard stare before walking into the darkness with 2 other young men.
Nasir counts to three in his head, then creeps off after them.
Sneaking with silent boots, expending 2 speed points to lower the difficulty one level:
Your attempt to move quietly attracts the attention of almost everyone at the camp. You see folks stare at you for a moment then go back to what they were doing. Luckily for you that doesnt include your target as they are still too far away to notice you. You quickly realize that you're going to need someone to distract the 3 men if you're going to be able to get close enough to them to hear their discussion.
Callidus sees Nasir try to follow after the men skulking into the shadows. If someone is going to chave these birds it's going to be Callidus not these idiots.
Shaking his head at Nasir's bumbling Callidus stands up and walks to opposite where Nasir is and begins to perform a mockery of the wuxia Galahad just performed. Pulling off his feathered hat in lieu of a sword or quarterstaff Calliduses performance is enhanced by the occasional chirping from the hat. As the wuxia continues he gets more and more outrageous, modifying his performance and positioning to best distract the thugs.
Galahad will watch Callidus's performance, laughing.
"you have a long way to go, friend!"
Luckily the distraction by Callidus combined with Nasir's effort bring the task rating to routine to get close enough to overhear at least part of the conversation (the rest is drowned out by laughter and applause coming from the Peregrines watching Callidus perform.
Elochaid - "...murderer...loot...ambush him when he leaves...no witnesses."
Unknown Man 1 - "...plan...split his Cyphers."
You do not hear the other man make a comment.
Ok then. As expected there goes the headhound. Is he pulling the long sly on this settlement? Warrants investigation.
Ok then. As expected there goes the headhound. Is he pulling the long sly on this settlement? Warrants investigation.
[dice=Stealth]1d20
Amadeus manages to get within a few feet of where the three men are talking. It becomes clear to him that they plan on ambushing, robbing and killing Nasir as soon as he leaves the Cairn and is out of sight of other pilgrims. Amadeus also has a clear feeling that the third man is extremely unhappy with the idea of ambushing Nasir but is not going to confront the other two men alone.
Finishing his, shall we say 'elaborate' dance, Callidus takes an extended and exaggerated bow holding out his hand for shins. After an awkward pause he stands erect, replaces and adjusts his feathered cap and walks back to where he was sitting.
I'd rather not kill more people than I need to. Are these dritbrains behind the attacks?
Amadeus will wait and if he can get the reluctant one on his own. If not, he'll try to follow them and interfere.
So much for just living through the night... Gotta stay visible... Traveling performers are visible...
When there's an opportunity, Nasir approaches Galahad and/or Callidus. His eyes dart toward Elochaid and his posse's location when he isn't looking directly (and kind of unsettlingly) into the other person's eyes.
"That was a good act. And not a moment too soon for my health, as it worked out. My um thanks. Even if it wasn't your aim. Don't believe a word that loudmouth said: my intentions here are to find the cause of these disappearances... And I take it that interests you as well? I'm far more competent on the range without all of these eyes: I could help you. Perhaps we could pool our resources?"
"... And I believe Elochaid is planning to kill me when he has an opportunity. I don't doubt that he's seen the shins flowing into your hands tonight, either. Or the cyphers you may be carrying. Working together, we're all more difficult targets, wouldn't you say?"
"Doesn't bother me any, as long as you don't get too hotheaded. And you'd have to deal with this sour pus," he says, motioning to Callidus, "although he must be in uncharacteristic spirits, I have never seen him dance hahaha"
"Yes a group may be desirable on the Wander. I like increasing the chances someone else gets picked off." and all those cephers and shins in pockets around me is nice too.. "In any case, my 'dance' was a distraction, that Elochaid seemed like a waste of drit."
"Yes, exactly. Don't worry about my temper... I don't like people generally, but I know the size of my bite."
Nasir takes a seat, pulling some preserved meat from his satchel.
"A snack?", he offers, holding it out.
"Can't say no to that. Aside from tonight's light entertainment, I haven't seen shins in awhile." Galahad takes the proffered snack.
Finishing his, shall we say 'elaborate' dance, Callidus takes an extended and exaggerated bow holding out his hand for shins. After an awkward pause he stands erect, replaces and adjusts his feathered cap and walks back to where he was sitting.
[dice=comedic performance/bluff]1d20
A young women comes up to you after the performance. "That was very, uh, odd. But I did enjoy it. Please accept this token." Your fan gives you a feather, perfectly normal except it seems to be made of glass. As you hold it in your hand you notice it glows a light blue color.
I'd rather not kill more people than I need to. Are these dritbrains behind the attacks?
Amadeus will wait and if he can get the reluctant one on his own. If not, he'll try to follow them and interfere.
You see the reluctant man say something quiet to the others and then shake off a hand put on his shoulder. He angrily stomps back to the communal fire and sits alone.
Amadeus looks up to see where Nasir went. He sees he's talking to the performers.
Good. He ought to stay busy with them. He seems a savvy little bird.
Amadeus walks over to the reluctant one, making sure to emphasize how big and heavy and clunky he and all his gear is and stands over him.
I know what you're planning to do. No, don't interrupt, just listen. I can tell you've got no taste for murder, so I'm going to let you scurry on back to whatever it is that the rest of you Cairnfolk do to make the shims move about without having to kick in your head like I'm gonna do to your would-be pack of jackals over there. Sound good?
Amadeus looks up to see where Nasir went. He sees he's talking to the performers.
Good. He ought to stay busy with them. He seems a savvy little bird.
Amadeus walks over to the reluctant one, making sure to emphasize how big and heavy and clunky he and all his gear is and stands over him.
I know what you're planning to do. No, don't interrupt, just listen. I can tell you've got no taste for murder, so I'm going to let you scurry on back to whatever it is that the rest of you Cairnfolk do to make the shims move about without having to kick in your head like I'm gonna do to your would-be pack of jackals over there. Sound good?
[Dice=Intimidate?]1d20
"Oh, go merc off. I'm not planning anything. I just want to go about my pilgrimage in peace."
Late into the night, talk of odd wounds and dead bodies leaves everyone chilled despite the soft air, and the discussion finds many of the circle awake long after their usual hours. Still, in the end, everyone sleeps, as they must, and there are not a few who find themselves surprised to wake in the morning whole and unharmed. There is something delicious about opening your eyes to a lifting light and realizing that it’s neither the glow of the afterlife nor the shine from the falling blade of a knife. The realization gives the morning’s activity a boisterous and comradely feel. Conspicuously absent during the breaking of the camp are Elochaid and his new friend who disappear into the wild at first light,
As you’re breaking camp, there is the sound of hooves in the distance. From far away, it perhaps sounds of an army, a huge number of creatures making their way toward the hollow, although there is no sight of such a thing, not even from the augmented eyes of the mother. Eventually, however, she makes out that it is actually just one creature,
a scutimorph, coming across the sands from the direction of the False Woods at a superb pace, carrying at least two riders. There is a low murmur from the group at this news—herds of scutimorphs fill the False Woods at the northern edge of the Fifth Stretch, wrapping their segmented bodies around the heat-conducting trunks. No one rides the creatures.
You sure what you’re seeing, mother? asks the young man, only to be shushed by the others who strain their eyes northward.
Galahad looks about to see if any other folks are preparing for a scuffle with this thing or just trying to let it go by. He will slide over near a low wall and attempt to remain unseen.