Good luck! I’m sorry to see the game conclude. It was fun and very enjoyable. Plus, I got to play Savage Worlds for the first time. Thank you!!
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Septimilius grunts as another bolt hits his shield. ”Enough of this!” he shouts as he crosses to the nearest attacker. His mace swings down in a hurried arc.
”Argh! What?” Septimilius calls. One of the bolts impaled his shield and nearly hit his forearm. The second bolt punches through his armor into his abdomen. He doesn’t feel blood flowing, but his stomach hurts.
”I don’t think this is a good idea,” Septimilius says after Demetrio apparently has convinced the others to investigate the off-limit areas. ”I’ll stand guard, but don’t be too long. The job might be that exciting, but it beats starving or cleaning out horse stables.”
I like the hinderances Septimilius has. Thanks for the reminder though that they are removable with xp. Another thing he can “lose” money on are charms to protect him against sorcery. i imagine them as rocks, wood, cheap metal, and bone too that ward against evil eyes, blood magic, etc. Of course they don’t work so he spends a good amount of his money convinced the next one will. Or maybe that they do provide a low level of protection (not in any game mechanic sense of course) but he is just unlucky enough to run into some intense situations. Good use of using medical treatments to divest him of coin too.
Septimilius gave 7 luna to the temple. The pickpocket urchins took him for six luna. He also had to have his boots resoled. The soles were slowly separating at the forefoot. Each day the gap grew as he patrolled the estate . During his off-hours he found a cobbler and had his boots repaired.
Septimilius gives a substantial donation to one of the Mitra temples. Thirty percent of his recent earnings. Once he returns home, he discovers that he was pick-pocketed; probably by those urchins he brushed away when he was buying a bowl of fish soup.
Thanks for letting us know. I have no problem with the pace of the game. I’m enjoying the setting, story, and RP with my fellow players.
”I’ll go along for now. I need the money after all,” Septimilius says. ”Let it be remembered I had some misgivings about this. I’ll ask around about Zheng-Ya to see what the locals say about him. I don’t think we should kill anybody on guard duty. It’d be a storm of trouble if we mistakenly kill Zheng-Ya or his agents.”
During one of the moments of downtime with his companions, Septimilius asks, ”Don’t you think this is a little strange? This is Zheng-Ya's place and wouldn’t mind Yetara making himself at home? Where are Zheng-Ya’s servants? This doesn’t feel quite right to me. Is this bothering anybody else?”
Septimilius takes the pouch of coins and slips it into an inner pocket of his vest. ”Yeah, I’m willing to do that. What is the pay?”
Seeing his first attacker drop, he turns to the other assailant. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Sefu begin running away with the money and for a moment he wonders if this is an elaborate con to avoid paying them. ”Hey, Sefu, we’ve fought ghouls and sorcery! These people pose no harm.” He feints by taking a step back then swings his mace towards his opponent’s leg.
”I don’t you’re important enough to have bounties on you,” he says. Advancing with his shield up, he swings his mace in a chop, trying to smash one of the man’s shoulders or collarbone.
”Ah, Messantia!” Septimilius says as the city appears in the distance. ”I know some really inexpensive lodging if you’re interested. There’s a bit of a smell at one. It’s right by the tanneries. It’s an abandoned building, so it’s free! You just need to make sure the city guard doesn’t find you. They go through the place if they’re bored.”
Kneeling on one knee and patting the ground, Septimlius laughs, ”I guess that means you and I get a double watch, Dog.” Mirian’s dog stares at him for a moment then lies down at her feet. Septimilius finishes laughing with a shrug. ”Well, perhaps not. Looks like it’s you and me, Greyfeather.” He looks at the thatched ceiling. ”Too bad I don’t have a net. I could have rigged it above the door.”
Septimilius slips his shield over his left forearm but leaves his mace at his hip. He stands next to his companions but keeps his attention on Sefu to see if he had any instructions. ”I have a feeling they’ll ask for a travel fee to use the road,” he whispers.
Before returning to the caravan, Septimilius examines the dead camels and the corpse that first drew their attention to the area. He does a quick check to see if the man had a coin purse, any valuables, or signs of identification. Next he does a brief inventory of the items being transported, looking for anything worth bringing to the caravan, even if it takes two people to carry it.
Septimilius keeps quiet as he inspects the back of the cave. He keeps his shield up as he slowly steps closer towards the newly animated birds.
Septimilius swats the feathers away from his face. Once the air is mostly clear of feathers, he says, ”I’d leave that here, Mirian. Who knows what trouble it can cause? Of course it’s your decision,” he shrugs and grins. ”It’s probably a demon-bird or her spawn,” he answers Mirian about the terrible cawing sound coming from the back of the cave. As he makes his way towards the back room, he attempts to avoid stepping on any of the dead birds.
Septimilius heavily pants as the crone’s body lies at his feet. He looks at her body for any signs of life. At Demetrio’s words and drawing of his sword, Septimilius takes a half step back. His mace could help decapitate her by shattering her neck, but a sword is the best weapon for the task. He watches the birds as Demetrio strikes.
”Arggh!” he yells as he swings his mace at the crone, following the attacks of Demetrio and Mirian.
With the crone’s body revealed, Septimilius readies his shield and mace. ”I’ll fend off the birds while you stab the crone. Demetrio, do you think it might help if we burn the body?”
”Gloves would be nice,” Septimilius says as he shifts the palm-fitting rocks to the side, trying to judge the best spot for revealing the torso. ”I don’t want to see her head until we’ve stabbed her in the heart a few times. She could give me the evil eye...and I'm watching for her hands too,” he nods at Barnabas.
”How’s this for an idea? I move the rubble and one of you be ready to bash her brains in,” Septimilius suggests as he begins warming up his arms and legs. ”Or stab,” he adds with a nod towards Mirian’s rapier.
Septimilius nods in satisfaction after Demetrio binds his wounds. ”Thank you!” While getting bandaged he had lost track of what Mirian and Barnabas were doing. When he heard that ravens with their eyes sewn shut were in the crone’s possessions he shuddered. He looks down into the pit where the crone is covered by rocks, to see if she is still alive.
”Hopefully the birds don’t bother the caravan, while we send her to the underworld.”
”I’m injured Demetrio. Not much. Just enough to make life difficult,” he points to the various cuts and scratches he received from the birds. ”I didn’t bring a torch. Didn’t think we’d be going into a cave.” He eyes the birds at the mouth of the cave as he rolls his shoulders and flexes his arms. Clearly he’s getting ready for a continuation of the combat. He pauses and sighs. ”Do you have bandages with you Demetrio? I’ll probably fight better with some of my bigger wounds bound.”
”Still alive?!” Spetimilius says as he diverts his attention away from the cave’s mouth to the pile of rubble burying the crone. ”We could bury her more. Though in a way, killing her quickly would be more humane. How to do it with the least amount of risk is the tricky part.”
Septimilius shifts, turning his back to Mirian, so he can face the cave’s mouth. He swings his mace back and forth trying to hit a bird into the cave wall, but his eyes haven't quite adjusted to the dimmer light level and has trouble seeing the dark birds.
He hears a scream and some distotred echoey words coming from the cave. Septimilius calls out to his companions, ”Birds going into the cave!” He moves towards the cave as well, attempting to club the birds as they pass and dive.
My condolences Barnabas. Take all the time you need.
The bounty hunter is able to shift and pivot away from the more damaging blows, letting his leather armor and shield take most of the hits. While moving towards the cave’s entrance, Septimilius keeps his shield high as he swings at the birds attacking him.
For the current round, Septimilius will just take a Spirit roll as his action to remove Shaken. Save a benny for another time.
Septimilius screams as the birds’ claws and beaks pierce his skin. He fees a painful gouge on his cheek and blood sliding down his right forearm to his palm. His grip on his mace is slicker than he likes. ”We’ll be feasting on your birds tonight you hag!” he taunts. ”Can you push into the cave? Give the birds less space to attack us!” He swings his mace from side to side, similar to his childhood when he’d hit rocks and over ripe fruit with a stick. His injured arm gives his attack a clumsy quality that misses the birds.
Septimilius grits his teeth as the birds claw and peck his exposed skin. The armor and shield protected his most vital areas, but who wants to get scratched up on his arms? Through the swirling storm of feathers, beaks, and claws he sees Demetrio has reached the crone and Greyfeather is running towards her — and so is Barnabas! He decides to keep fighting the crows, trying to keep them from attacking Greyfeather since she is closest to him. ”Get the hag! I’ll protect you.”
”We’re not a weak merchant,” he yells at the woman while he pulls out his sling and loads it with a bullet. ”Stop this or face our wrath.” Walking towards her, he spins the sling half a dozen times to gain momentum then fires at the group of birds coming towards them.
Septimilius follows Mirian about ten yards from her left side. ”Let’s be careful. I don’t see why anyone would set an ambush so far off the road, but you never know. Plus whatever got the camels could come after us,” he finishes echoing Demetrio's comment.
Septimilius shades his eyes, with his forearm. He peers intently at the scene trying to identify what the carrion birds are feasting on.
"Camels," he says, looking for any boulders or vegetation where an ambush might occur. "They've strayed off the road...about what, half a mile, so an ambush is unlikely."
”That’s true about helping,” Septimilius says. ”Though, should one of us stay here to guard the caravan? Maybe it’s a trap of some kind. I don’t know how far to trust the mercenaries.” Septimilius watches the mercenaries for a reaction to the birds. If one doesn’t look too nervous, he’ll go with the group. If a mercenary does look like he might start to cause trouble, Septimilius will stay.[/ooc]
Septimilius offers to help Demetrio with his swordsmanship and offers to wrestle with him and teach him some exercises like squats, pushups, and lunges. On the third day’s morning, he shades his eyes and looks the way Barnabas is pointing, ”Birds? Oh those birds. Probably just a dead animal. Does anyone feel like checking it out.”
”Okay,” Septimilius says. ”Looks like I’ll be third watch.” He stands and stretches. ”As I said, I’ll get firewood.” Not bothering to put on his boots, he gathers kindling and larger branches for making a fire.
Septimilius sits on the edge of his bedroll, massaging his feet after the day’s long walk. His leather armor lies next to him as well as his shirt and boots. ”Well, one down, many more to go,” he laughs. ”Refreshing to have a peaceful day. Septimilius won’t mind walking each day if it’s this tranquil. Gives me time to think and simply enjoy the scenery.” Lacing his boots again, he says, ”Septimilius will get some firewood. How’re we doing the watches? Any preferences? About two hours each? I’m a light sleeper, so I’ll take any turn. We can always rotate each night. Greyfeather first tonight, second tomorrow, third the day after, for example.”
”Septimilius will take the rear guard,” Septimilius says. In Aquilonian, he introduces himself to the other mercenaries. If they don’t understand he uses Kothic. He shakes their hands with a smile and making eye contact, but at the same time he sizes up their confidence and trust worthiness.
”That’s an interesting way of speaking about yourself Sefu. Septimilius likes it!” he says with a laugh. ”Looks like you have four guards ready to leave before dawn. Much like Greyfeather I want to know, what are we transporting? Or is this one of those jobs where it’s better not to know?”
Septimilius is the first to sit as Sefu asks them, but the last to drink the water. ”And we have diverse talents,” Septimilius adds after Mirian. ”As my Uncle Giffedo says, ‘Ox and horses pull carts. Donkeys are better as pack animals.’ I’m not saying I want to be a porter, but most jobs I’m willing to do. I’d be especially grateful for anything avoiding sorcery.”
”Hakketh...perished during Otto’s rescue. There wasn’t much we could do.” He adds silently, Once more a practitioner of sorcery met a bad end. He was a nice enough man though. The dog like him. ”We don’t have much choice, so getting hired as guards is okay for now. Ask for Sefu? Mile south on the Satin Road. Large quartz stone.” He feels the coin in the bag with some satisfaction then looks at the two newcomers. ”I’ll split this with the two of you. You earned it and my gratitude.” He gives each man a quarter of his gold. He looks at the sky in thought. Handing a few coins to Turel, he says,”Buy me a turban, an eye patch, and a crutch, please.”
Ah, so I screwed up thinking Fighting was linked with Strength. Okay, so to fix this, Fighting goes back to its original value, d8. For N1, Agility increases to d8. Now for N2, since Agility and Fighting are equal, I’ll raise Fighting to d10. Sorry for my part in adding to the confusion. The character sheet appears to be fine, right? As for where the PCs are going next, Septimilius prefers Aquilonia; but a side-track along the way where they end up in Khitai is fine :) I know I wasn't keeping track of the treasure. Septimilius has the poverty hindrance, so IC he probably shouldn't be trusted with the party's funds, but I can add a spoiler "treasure" spot on the character sheet with the item and the owner. At least to start, unless someone else wants to do it. |