Teela shrugs on both accounts of the kobolds being mad and the amount of radishes requested. "Well, she wants to make soup and preferably have some leftovers in stock afterwards? Quarter barrel... ish? A third?"
I hate radishes, Graham mutters quietly, nevertheless wrenching several of the roots from the ground.
To the question of how many, he speaks a little louder. How many can we carry? That's how many we should bring back. Svetlana gave us the best food we'll likely have for some time, and repaying her kindness is paramount. Besides, radishes can last two seasons, or more, if properly stored in a cellar.
Dismounting Parable, Alvis walks over to the patch and tries to see about its condition. How much more have be harvestd without harm to the wild field? Is it already too late? Can any seeds or shoots be taken and transplated to a closer known area near the tradepost as to start farming them?
As he looks over the field Alvis says, "Wait a bit, I'd like to see about this fields condition, if it is salvageable, and if we can take something transplantable to a better location. This might become a farmable trade product."
More than looking Alvis pokes at the soil and roots, sniffs arould the plants and checks for future viablity. After that he will tell everyone the results of his investigation.
Alvis has some farming experience, but radishes, especially the wild moon radish, are beyond his ken. He can tell they have strong presence in this clearing where there is available sunlight, but whether they can be transplanted to near Oleg's (or anywhere in the Greenbelt) is anyone's guess. Many are harvested, but there are many more still growing and not ready for harvesting yet. It seems this patch, even with over-eating kobolds nearby, is sustainable.
"Your call." Teela chimes in. "I have essentially no experience with this stuff."
Alvis shakes his head, "I'm not familar with this crop and soil type, not sure what we can do with this right now. How about we take the basket and head off? We don't have a lot of storage left anyway."
The group gathers the bushel basket of moon radishes and finishes the day exploring the hex between the river camp and Oleg's without any further interactions. Judging time and distance, they expect to be back to Oleg's tomorrow.
Looking over that land Alvis says, "We're close to Oleg's, should we press on or explore around this area? I think we should explore now and then go to Oleg's and rest tomorrow. We need to plan our next move anyway."
"Better search this area for any interesting land features and mark them on the map. Might as well get it out of the way." Teela shrugs. "Not like we're in a hurry or anything."
"We’re not far from Oleg’s now, and I agree with Alvis and Teela. Best to complete our survey of this region while we’re here."
Then, with a faint smile "And besides, I’m growing rather fond of our aimless wandering through thorn and thicket."
Velas nods in agreement with the others. "As long as these radishes won't go bad in a day, I agree with we should explore this area. It seems to me that we'll be making regular trips back to Oleg's post, so it's even more important to the area close by."
9 Pharast, Near Oleg's Trading Post, The Greenbelt, Stolen Lands.
The night in the woods, not terribly far from the comfort of Oleg's, passes without further incident. The next morning is a bit foggy and cool, the hint of winter still hanging around. As you head northeast, the dense woods of the Greenbelt begin to thin out, and soon the forest is replaced with again with the sea of grass and wind that you saw as you left Restov some time back.
It's not long before you see Oleg's fort rising in the distance, but instead of making directly for that shelter, you explore the lands around your base of operations. As you are somewhere southwest of the trading post, you see, from the height of horseback, a group of wolf-like thylacines cutting through the tall grass away heading towards (generally) the stockade. There appear to be 3 of the carnivores from what you can tell in the tall waving grass. One of them raises up their heads sniffing the air worrisomely, but they do not seem to have spotted your group yet.
Velas quietly asks if anyone knows what these things are. "I've been city folk most of my life. Are these creatures predatory? If they are, better to be rid of them now. They could cause some issues this close to Oleg's."
He doesn't immediately charge the creatures and waits for the opinion of someone with much more experience in the wild.
At Velas’s question, she tilts her head slightly, thinking about what she knows.
"I propose we intercept them. Swiftly, before they get too close." Her eyes scan each companion in turn. "Unless anyone has a better solution?"
Teela's face goes pale. "Oh gods. It's these things again. I will say it now. If you want me off the horse, you will have to tear me down."
Alvis comments, "I'm not sure yet but I think these are the smaller cousins to the one we fought earlier. Still, it appears that they are hunting and heading towards the stockade."
It looks like the wolf-like thylacines are heading in the general direction Oleg's and are in full hunting mode. They spread out to search, and gather together regularly as you watch, moving swiftly through the tall grass. You do recall Svetlana's milk cow and brood of chickens outside the stockade walls. At this distance, its unlikely that's what's being hunted, but you see no other prey at this point.
Thylacines are fierce marsupial carnivores who hunt with pack tactics and can be a handful in groups. These do appear to be a smaller size compared to the ones you tangled with before.
Velas dismounts his horse and hands the reins to Faen. "You stay with the horses and make sure one these creatures doesn't harm them."
Velas nods to Graham. "You and I at the front? Let's make sure they don't eat any of the farm animals at Oleg's."
Velas attempts to sneak up on the thylacines before springing the attack.
Graham already has his blade in his hands as Velas speaks. Right with you, he says, heading forward as well.
Quintessa will let those with hands on blades do their blade things. She will be prepared at a safer distance, but still staying within range.
Alvis, not remotely stealthy, will stay with Quintessa. He will keep watch on the swordsmen as well as he can, ready to move to healing range if needed.
Thylacines in the Brush - Round 1
23 Red Thylacine
22 Teela
18 Velas (stealth)
13 Graham (stealth)
12 Yellow Thylacine
12 Blue Thylacine
8 Alvis
8 Quintessa
As the fighters sneak off to waylay the hunting creatures, Red Thylacine catches the scent and then sight of Graham, spinning and rushing at the fighter, looking for a quick meal. Jasw snap shut on nothing but air as the first creature makes an unproductive attack.
critical miss
Graham easily avoids the initial assault and counters quickly against Red.
"Let's go!" Without her instrument in hand, Teela resorts to a quick clapping and finger snapping rhythm instead. As she does that, she kicks caramel softly to move closer to the fray.
Taking advantage of a quiet advance and catching the thylacines unware, Velas lies in wait for the other two creatures to come closer.
Thylacines in the Brush - Round 1 - continued
23 Red Thylacine
22 Teela
21 Faen
18 Velas (stealth)
13 Graham (stealth)
12 Yellow Thylacine
12 Blue Thylacine
8 Alvis
8 Quintessa
Moving forward on her mount, Teela begins her instrumental spellcasting which brings martial prowess to the troops. She also determines these are similar brush thylacines that you fought before, but these look more emaciated, hungry, and generally weaker than the other pack you've faced.
Velas lies in wait for the creatures to come to him in the tall grass.
Graham makes a pair of attacks against Red. Both hit for significant damage and in addition the target is frightened of Graham for a little bit.
Yellow Thylacine double moves, past the hiding Velas, and comes adjacent to the still-mounted Teela, trying to take a bite of whatever it can. Fortunately, the bard's boots are fine thick leather and the bite does not penetrate them.
Blue Thylacine moves up, and howls and cries at Graham, trying to Demoralize him. Then it follows up with a bite attack that scores a hit. Graham laughs off the fear, but the bite does hurt and blood runs off his wounded flank.
fail
Velas comes out of hiding to attack the beast that's after Teela. He rears back with his Aldori dueling sword and slashes at the thylacine with magic enhancing his attack.
◆ Step
◆◆ Spellstrike w/ Gouging Claw
Alvis gently rides Parable forward to get within healing range of the engaged party. He cast his heal towards Graham since two of the beasts are threatening him.
Heal as 2 actions.
Quintessa strides forward with a purpose, weaving her hands through the air and summoning a molten force. With her final step she thrust her right hand towards the reddish creature and transfers a blast of superheated air towards it.
Thylacines in the Brush - Round 1 - concluded
23 Red Thylacine (12hp dmg, frightened 1)
22 Teela
21 Faen
13 Graham (22/30hp)
12 Yellow Thylacine
12 Blue Thylacine
18 Velas
8 Alvis
8 Quintessa
Velas leaps from his hiding place and lands a magic-infused strike on Yellow, while flanking with Teela. The damage done is severe but not quite enough to end Yellow.
Alvis gives the divine healing of Abadar to Graham, restoring any damage he took on the fight to far.
Quintessa conjures a blast of hot air that boils the remaining fight out of Red which drops dead and roasting in the grass.
End of Round 1
fail
Thylacines in the Brush - Round 2
22 Teela
21 Faen
13 Graham
12 Yellow Thylacine (19hp dmg)
12 Blue Thylacine
18 Velas
8 Alvis
8 Quintessa
Graham wheels about and takes the fight to Blue.
Clap-clap-clap, Teela continues with her rhythmic bodily percussions as more rocks lift themselves off the ground to pepper the creature that is attempting to snap at her legs. "Chew on stones, you mutt!"
1a Courageous Anthem
2a
Thylacines in the Brush - Round 2 - continued
22 Teela
13 Graham
12 Yellow Thylacine (19hp dmg)
12 Blue Thylacine
18 Velas
8 Alvis
8 Quintessa
Graham engages the dog-like creature nearest him, dealing it a pair of wounds, and causing it to be intimidated by his mere presence.
Nearby, Teela hurls stones from the ground in a pounding cannonade against the morally wounded Yellow. The bludgeoning damage is more than the weakened creature can take, and it succumbs dying in the tall grass.
Blue, having lost both his companions, and afraid of Graham' stabbing martial prowess, takes one half=hearted bite, then turns tail and rushes off in the other direction, tail between its legs.
miss
After Teela dispatches the beast between them, Velas spins to see Graham hacks at the final thylacine as it runs away. For a moment, Velas thinks about pursuing, but thinks better of it.
"Well done, all. It's nice when we can get the jump on them!"
Velas cleans blood and fur from his blade before heading back to the horses, making sure that his horse is calm and not frightened.
"Back on the trail to Oleg's, yeah?"
Teela looks after the fleeing thylacine. "Here's hoping they don't hold a grudge. The mature ones we met the other day were a pain." She quickly inspects Caramel's legs for wounds. She also glances at the two dead critters. "Reckon those hides are worth anything? Or the meat? Soup, at least? Leaving them here seems wasteful." She looks around the party.
"But yes, to Oleg's. Hope we can reach them by nightfall. I yearn for an actual bed.", she looks into the distance.
Alvis agrees, "Yes, let's finish exploring any area we don't know about around here and head to Oleg's. The beast is likely to find another hunting ground; the packs losses should convince even the hungry to look elsewhere."
Answering Teela, "The hides might be worth something, but the meat of a predator is rarely worth eating."
Graham has already dragged the body of Red to another spot. I don't know much about tanning a hide, he says, wiping his brow, but maybe Oleg does. Velas, can you grab that one too? he says, pointing at Yellow.
Velas quickly walks over to the other dead beaset. "Yes, of course. I don't mean to hurry us along. Like Teela, I'm looking forward to an actual bed soon!"
Carrying the rather thin corpses of the two thylacines along with a bushel basket of moon radishes, and all the gear recovered from the Thorn River bandit camp, you soon make your way back to the front gate of Oleg's Trading Post, just as the sun starts to set in the west.
Oleg and Svetlana seem happy to see you, and a hot meal is prepared for you, while you sit and retell the story of the lost lovers at the bandit camp, and the ensuing combat. Svetlana is happily surprised to take the basket of radishes, and promises to cook you her special moon radish soup.
A soft bed is also not far away, when you are ready to retire for the evening.
Teela lets out a reliefed sigh once the trade post is in sight. "Last one through the gate is on guard duty! Hyah!" Without giving others time.to react, she pushes Caramel into a sprint towards the gate.
Satisfied with herself, she dismounts and greets Oleg and Svetlana. Then finds a quiet corner to clean the mud and muck off herself and Caramel .
Assuming the trade post can sell her the appropriate supplies, she will start working on the map.
Oleg just happens to have a compass (the case is dented but the needle still points north) and a surveyor's astrolabe left by someone who was supposed to survey a road leading to the outpost from Brevoy, but wqs waylaid by predators of some kind and did not survive. He agrees to part with the cartography kit for 30gp, which is a significant discount especially for this remote corner of the world.
Graham and Velas present the slain thylacines to the Levetons. Perhaps you can make something of these hides, Graham says, and the meat might be gamey...but it's meat, at least.
As the group settles in for the night, bellies full for the first time since last they were here, Graham dutifully takes his guard duty since he was last through the gate.
"These are fine tools. Although not something I used before. Anyone can make use of them?" Teela looks around the group. "If we can make a map with them, I can translate it onto a cloth over time. We will need some chalk and coal for drawing, and some needles, threads and a loop for the stitching. Oleg, Svetlana, you have anything of the sort? And a large hemp or linen cloth? A bedsheets or two, perhaps?"
"These are fine tools. Although not something I used before. Anyone can make use of them?"
Alvis rides in saying, "Hello Oleg and Svetlana, hope things have been peaceful, and is there any news of late?"
He also leads Parable to the stable and does proper grooming.
Looking around he frown, "No guards yet? Perhaps one of our number can be spared to recruit some guards for here, we need to about searching. Oh yes, do not worry about the nearby camp, we found and took care of it, but only one ignorant man survived, and he knew nothing of worth, but that there are other camps. Sadly, we tried him and found him unrepentant and did what was needful. Leaves us with little to go on to further protect the land."
Alvis shakes his head, "I can use a compass but I'm not familiar with the rest. We also should see to the getting someone with such skills. Oh, we did not find your ring, I'm sorry. The bandit we questioned claimed it had been stolen from them. We'll continue to look. But we did get much other stuff, please appraise it and see how much is sellable, if you would be so kind, Master Oleg".
As the others haggle with Oleg over the prices for selling the gear they found and exactly which items to buy for mapping supplies, Velas retires to the group's sleeping arrangements for a bit of privacy. After being gone for about 15 minutes, Velas pulls Svetlana aside to ask a question. "Do you and Oleg ever send mail back to Restov? I have a couple of letters that I'd like send home."