Nothing immediately appears out of the bush after Edran, and he's quickly given a warm cup of broth and a blanket to warm himself with.
Jayness approaches the center of the camp, and speaks up after an awkward moment, Um, can I go with you all today, and scout around the area? I want to feel like I'm helping out, and gathering the sheep we gathered doesn't feel heroic to me. he looks at all of you eagerly.
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Zdena's brow furrows. Don't know about that, Jayness. Those sheep could be the difference between living and starving. How is that not helping out? You're good with animals, AND a good enough fighter to protect other herders if they run into trouble.
Seeing his dubious expression, she adds, You really want to fight giant bugs, you're as likely to see them looking for sheep as looking for other things. Not a great idea to fight giant bugs, though. Feed them a sheep and run, will be like one of Abby's stories.
That does sound like something from one of Abbey's stories. Malgrim looks around the camp and notes the small herd the townsfolk had found yesterday. Zdena's right, those animals could be all that stands between us and starvation. I hope we can find a few more before we move away from this area. I'm not going to say no, cause you are welcome to come with us. But be careful about how you think about things. Wanting to be heroic makes a lot of dead hero's. Doing the best you can with the skills you have in a really bad situation ... Well that's a different kind of hero. One that doesn't get stories told about them. But still, someone who made a difference. Malgrim stands up and starts getting their things together. Maybe we'll find a few goats today. If you're coming with us to explore this area be ready in half an hour.
Ryll nods at Malgrim's words, adding support and putting her own thoughts together, then she looks at Jayness and shrugs.
For my part, I look at it tactically. Another bow with us could be handy, sure. But most of us have some way of attacking or distracting from a distance. All of us can defend ourselves. She looks over at a group of the refugees huddled together. But not everyone here can.
Another bow here means more time. More time for other fighters to react, and get into a better position. More time for those who can't fight or defend to try and get out of harm's way. It could mean fewer people get hurt. It means another guardian watching over them, helping to keep them alive.
Jayness takes in everything you've said to him, I suppose I will stay here then, there could be giant bugs near here just as well as wherever you are going. He picks up his bow and joins the herders looking for more sheep.
Abandoned Farm
About midday you stumble across what was once a farm (See new map). All that remains of this abandoned farm is a tumbledown chimney and an overgrown stand of apple trees.
Zdena stops you up short from gathering the apples, pointing up into a tree, wait, wasps... where thousands of wasps buzz and zip around the tree... The wasps don't seem to be moving toward you, but will prevent you from picking any of the apples...
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Premek contemplates a variety of options, decides they are all bad, and looks to see what Zdena thinks.
Zdena does not have any bright ideas for dealing with thousands of wasps.
Maybe just leave them alone? Apples left out all winter probably very fermented by now, anyway.
Ryll shrugs. Smoking them out is the only thing I can think of. Might not be worth it if we're sure the apples are bad. Unless we want to use the apples as bait. Maybe keep looking?
We could come back after dark. The wasps should be asleep right? Ryll and Sighere can use the ion torch to see by. Malgrim taps their drum as they think. Maybe that spell I used on the Hobs would work on an insect swarm. It hits everything in a 15 foot cone in front of me.
Sighere holds up a vial of alchemist's fire with an inquiring look at the others...
Premek looks at Malgrim in puzzlement, trying to think of what spell he means.
But, he gestures reaching out and pulling something down, then looks at the party.
Zdena's brow wrinkles in thought. Won't that stuff burn the apple trees too? Spell might work though, Malgrim. I don't know. I'd rather not be near if it doesn't. Um... if you really want to do this, maybe Malgrim first, and Sighere if it doesn't work? And I hang back to drag you out if it goes bad, can't really hit wasps with a sword. She puzzles for a moment over Premek's antics, then continues uncertainly, Unless cat has a better idea?
Ryll raises her eyebrows at Sighere's suggestion. I was thinking more smouldering leaves, less bonfire. And nighttime isn't a bad thought either.
She cocks her head at Premek's gesture. Huh. Right. But you'd need to go really slow.
Looking back up at the rest of the group, she explains. Premek can also slowly get one of the apples away from the rest, and we can see if they are still worth bothering over.
She glances at Malgrim. But maybe keep that spell of yours in mind, Storyteller. Just in case things go poorly.
Looking between Ryll and Premek. Ok Premek, if you have a way to get an apple get to it. If the wasps don't notice you, then we can find out if these apples are any good. And if they do notice you, we'll be ready with my spell and the alchemist's fire.
Turning to Sighere Can you hand one of those to Ryll or Zdena? If this goes badly we might need to burn the wasps out quickly. And don't worry about throwing them next to me... I ...inherited some fire resistance from my mother. Malgrim looks away from the group and looks bashful, maybe ashamed.
Malgrim turns to face the wasp swarm and keep an eye on Premek as the cat moves to take an apple. Their hand drops to their drum again and starts gently tapping a quick double beat upon the canvas.
Premek wriggles his whiskers and utters some odd chirpy sounds, then looks at an apple on the closest tree which begins to slowly fall towards the ground and then, floating just above the ground, slowly move towards the party .
If wasps appear to be following the apple, he will send it off in a different direction.
An apple falls off the tree, and slowly makes its way over to the group. When it arrives, you find its small, and a little tart, but completely edible....
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Huh. Weird. Zdena scowls suspiciously at the perfectly fine apple and then at the swarm of wasps guarding the remaining bounty. Guess we have to do this.
She pauses, and switches to a toothy grin. Wait until I tell Jayness he got out of regular-sized bugs and bringing in the harvest.
Malgrim's drumming gets more intense and everyone feels the pull to act courageously. Malgrim in particular seems to have needed this little boost as they take a deep breath and walk toward the giant swarm of wasps. Getting just a few feet away they incant a few words and slam their hand down upon their drum. The drum is silent. Raising their hand up to chest hight they thrust it forward and open their fingers wide.
BOOM goes the drum.
Malgrim casts Chord of Shards DC 15 Reflex save to negate damage
Sighere hands vials of alchemist's fire to Zdena and Ryll...
Malgrim's drumbeat smashes into the swarm of wasps, diminishing their numbers by a large amount. Sighere moves forward, flinging alchemist's fire into the area occupied by the wasps, but the vial falls short of the target, instead bursting nearby, although some of the wasps are caught in the brief inferno...
Cursing under her breath, Ryll hurls her vial of Alchemist's Fire at the diminished swarm.
Premek coughs a spray of acid at the swarm.
[ooc]That's all correct, sorry for the confusion - ranged touch attacks don't go against armor, usually just Dexterity. Otherwise it is just like the regular ranged attack modifiers (distance, BAB, Dex bonus, etc)
Between the alchemical onslaught and the ball of acid from Premek, the wasp swarm is driven off. Leaving many apple trees to harvest and a tumbledown chimney as a stark reminder of someone's failed dreams so long ago....
Malgrim breaths a deap sigh of relief. Oh good, I really, really didn't want to get stung by thousands of angery wasps. Let's gather up as many apples as we can and get back to camp.
Malgrim walks cautiously into the old orchard looking out for more wasps and starts picking the apples.
Premek scampers under an apple tree. Apples fall in an unnaturally neat pile next to him.
Ryll arches an eyebrow at Premek. Show-off, she says fondly.
She turns to Malgrim, I'm going to take a quick look at the remains of the steading, then I'll give a hand with the apples. It's likely been picked clean already, but it's worth a shot.
Ryll pokes around the area where the chimney and the house used to be.
Premek, Malgrim, and Zdena are able to work for a while and gather the following:
The apples are small and tart, but provide 5 PP when harvested from the trees, which is about 25 lbs worth of apples.
Ryll is able to find, a loose stone in the chimney reveals a small niche, concealing a long-dead settler’s wealth:
210 SP
75 GP
A masterwork Javelin
A Masterwork light crossbow
A large citrine Appraise DC 20
You've explored your surroundings for the encampment and are heading back to camp. This would be appropriate for foraging survival checks for the day...
Well, that's better than expected. Premek appears to have sniffed something out.
Hey Zdena, are these mushrooms poisonous?
They're not?!? Really?? We should pick some for camp then
Returning from the tumbledown farm and its apple trees, the party is able to gather a brace of pheasants, some rabbits, more edible mushrooms, and some other foodstuffs.
Upon returning to camp, you see today's recent additions, four deer roast slowly over the fires, with Anyikha and Jet supervising the cooking. The food additions of the party are welcomed with huge smiles, and the bags of apples are distributed among the refugees.
As you approach the fires, Jet pulls the lot of you aside, I'm doing everything I can here, and its working out... All this will go a long way toward making the whole group more sustainable; thank you for that. I'm worried we can't sustain ourselves without your help, but this will all make it easier.
As she finishes, the remainder of the refugees of Phaendar enter the dell, driving 5 sheep and 4 goats before them. Cries throughout the camp of joy ring out, What good luck! and Huzzah! ringing out from the hunters and camp builders.
Vane approaches you as you sit for dinner, I've been busy gathering plants all day, and wanted to hand you this, found some really good late-running sap which will help make this work. He says, offering a burlap wrapped package....
Zdena manages to bring down a deer while keeping an eye on Malgrim's first foray into mushrooming.
She absolutely teases Jayness about him missing out on regular-sized bugs and bringing in the harvest as soon as he gets back with the herders. But she adds, more seriously, Hey, Coz. Just as much boring work out here as at home. Harder work, more dangerous. But we're helping people. It's important.
Anyway, Jayness wants to be a hero. Actually... how much extra busy you want to be? Lots of people here could use some survival training. But I'm most worried about Jayness doing something stupid.
On the way back from the farm Sighere will break off from the group. Making a simple sling and using Caleb he'll try to flush out some small game and fowl to add to what was caught previously.
Arriving shortly after the party, laden with some additional meat for dinner tonight. He sits down to begin helping with cleaning.
Malgrim celebrates with the others at the good fortune that the herdsman had finding so many new animals.
We are almost self-sufficient on a camp day now. Less so on a travel day but not much we can do about that right now.
After making a circuit of camp, checking in on everyone and trying to keep morale up, Malgrim settles in to practice speaking Terren with Graund. The language comes haltingly, but much progress has been made in such a short time.
Premek makes a point of seeking out the other cats, checking how the day went, and trying to figure out what can work better with them helping the humans. Then confers with Ryll to get the human perspective and see what can be adjusted.
He starts to settle in for a nap, but when he hears Malgrim speaking with Graund, he scampers over to join them.
Ryll gathers up a small bushel of fat fiddleheads, and manages to catch a rather sleepy woodchuck, with Premek's help.
Upon returning to the camp, she touches base with the people who were partnering with the cats to see how things went. What worked, and what didn't. She encourages them to bond with the cats when they aren't actively working, and to even share a few bits of their meals with them. Doesn't have to be much, I know things are tight, and they can hunt for themselves. But nobody likes feeling like they did a bunch of work for nothing.
Afterwards, she shares tidbits of her own dinner with Premek, while they talk about the partners, and what needs to be adjusted.
I, uh...thanks. I'm fine, I'm fine. The woods are always dangerous, but we're being smart. Zdena, Malgrim and that Sighere fellow are good in a tight spot. Her voice brightens, as she tries to lift the mood. Besides, I've got Meckie with me, and he won't let anything happen to his favourite pack mule , she says with a wink.
She sobers, thinking for a long moment, and then starts to speak in a rush, saying the ideas as they occur to her. Keeping people's spirit's up, and keeping them busy. Helping teach people how to put together shelters. She grins at her uncle That name of ours isn't just for show! And even the little kids can be taught to weave together branches.
She turns towards her aunt. Helping them stay organized. Camps can become a mess right quick if people aren't used to living like this. Where to set up the midden, and to keep it tidy. How to keep food so that animals don't get into it. Common sense things, but not everyone knows to do it, or thinks to do it when they are scared. Things like that.
Aubren's doing the best she can, but she's still not well, she'll need people she can lean on to help her lead.
The evening winds on, Martin again performs a few simple illusions (mostly by palming random objects and making them appear in the ears of the Westfield children), and Anne sings a beautifully sad song in her natuve tongue. The smells of roasting and smoking meat permeate the camp overseen by Jet. While Garrett and Avis set to the joyful task of setting the latrine pits aided by the farmers.
Sarah smiles at you, I told them, pointing at the crew roughly digging a latrine over yonder, Have to get that organized first and foremost, and while Garrett is a stick in the mud, he’s done time in a military somewhere and knew what I was talking about right away. She smiles, The wives and some others are working to keep order around here and make sure everything is tidy. Lots of food to manage, but Jet’s doing a great job with that. She smiles.
Thank you, for listening, it'll be okay. I know we'll figure it out somehow. You and the others have been great, brave and great. So thank you... As she says that Caleb alights for a moment next to her, immediately a flying fox alights next to her, and she absently pets it, without realizing.
Caleb has what you recognize as a smug look upon his face, he turns and takes flight again. His inscrutable mission completed. The flying fox climbs up Rhyna's arm and settles on her shoulder, and she continues to absently stroke it. Thank you Sighere, Erastil must have sent all of this as a sign to me; I can't express my thanks enough...
Zdena snorts amusement and clinks her tankard against Abby's. Your god is more fun than the ones I grew up with. Zwycięstwo Caylen.
After a few minutes, she calls out across the campfire, Hey Malgrim, you want to take a turn at entertaining us? Good night for celebrating small victories.